Middleager

We have had two successful upgrade bids, but that was in the earlier days of cruises resuming from the pandemic. Of course there were other unsuccessful bids. NCL said they sent to you the successful upgrade in error. That is not right. If they found out they have no room to upgrade you to (after other cascading upgrades), then they cannot offer you an upgrade room, but should provide some compensation, at least some OBCs. But if they do have room to upgrade you to, that's very bad of NCL.

Which sailing? I just checked a cruise in Nov/23, and YYZ is certainly available as an airport to choose from.

Didn't know this can be done. How do you do that?

yes

I always ask my wife and pack little, wear little. She doesn't listen to me though.

True, for some of the fares. For the fares we've bought through NCL, with several airlines, we've always been able to pay to select seats in advance. Maybe we were lucky and haven't gotten fares where they don't allowing selecting seats even if you want to pay.

Every few days someone would ask a question like this, even though there are already tons of threads with lots of answers. We bought airfare with NCL before, worked out fine, much cheaper. You'll get the cheapest fare, sometimes no luggage included. One time we got red-eye flight coming back from San Diego to Toronto. Seats together -- you can pay if you want that, just like with any other airline tickets you buy these days. Upgrades, if you have status and/or want to pay, and if the fare class allows. We never take ship transfers. We always arrange our own, often uber, much cheaper and just your group at your own time. No need to wait for a big bus to fill up, and may go around to many terminals (e.g. LAX has 9 terminals).

I always thought it was really luxurious to have 2 times daily room cleaning. Many hotels are now not doing any service for short stays, and even for longer stays only on request. So ships going once a day is still quite good.

We did some research before hand. Yes definitely add another day if you can. The biggest tips I'd give is to book the early morning Vatican museum tour that starts before it opens to the public. It's a lot quieter. Our mother-in-law went before the pandemic, and said when they walked into the Sistine Chapel, there were hundreds of people behind, pushing them forward. You cannot stand still. Everyone had to keep on moving and you really didn't have to time enjoy. When I tell people that inside the Sistine Chapel we had 25 minutes to sit, walk around, and just enjoy in awe, they were surprised.

In another thread I just posted the following, as we did a 2d deviation to Rome prior to cruise: We stayed near Piazza Navona. We walked to Tiber river, saw the Vatican at a distance, Justice Dept., then walked to the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain (and more), and the Pantheon. A big bus won't be able to go to those places easily. Next morning we walked by Castel Sant'Angelo, St. Peters Sq, then the Vatican Museum. We bought the tickets for small group tour before it opens to the public. It was a very nice tour, without other tourists/crowd, and we got to spend 25 minutes inside the Sistine Chapel (just in awe). We then had breakfast inside the Vatican Museum. After that, saw a bit more of the Vatican Museum, before taking uber to the Colosseum. There we took a tour that included going to see the underground. Then went to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, bought the English audio self-guide for that.

We stayed near Piazza Navona. We walked to Tiber river, saw the Vatican at a distance, Justice Dept., then walked to the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain (and more), and the Pantheon. A big bus won't be able to go to those places easily. Next morning we walked by Castel Sant'Angelo, St. Peters Sq, then the Vatican Museum. We bought the tickets for small group tour before it opens to the public. It was a very nice tour, without other tourists/crowd, and we got to spend 25 minutes inside the Sistine Chapel (just in awe). We then had breakfast inside the Vatican Museum. After that, saw a bit more of the Vatican Museum, before taking uber to the Colosseum. There we took a tour that included going to see the underground. Then went to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, bought the English audio self-guide for that.

Tip? If you want flights together for these people in different cabins, buy. What if more people want to be together?

We don't take cruiseline provided airport transfers. We've taken uber/taxi, rented our own vehicles, or arranged own transfers. Cruiseline transfers are at higher price, usually needing to wait for big bus to fill up, and can be more waiting for drop-off at multiple terminals (e.g. LAX has 9 terminals).

That transaction would be difficult to explain.

South Beach. I remember the time when we visited and there was a special at one of the restaurant for big glass of cocktail. I ordered. When the bill came, instead of showing Big Cocktail $xx.xx It abbreviated, or just didn't have enough space,, so didn't show "tail".

We rented a car and drove. Yes there are twists and turns, but mostly easy enjoyable driving.

No microwave. Nothing for guest use.

Plats get 2 bags on a 12 day cruise. We were just on one. My wife and I each get 2 bags.

We've used NCL BOGO three times. We'd use it again if the price is much cheaper. For the next cruise out of Lisbon, NCL's BOGO price is similar to if we buy ourselves for 2, so we won't use them. We always do a 2-day deviation on the way to the cruise. The first time with NCL's flights was Toronto to Rome, got KLM connecting through Amsterdam. Our flights were fine, but one luggage (mostly my wife's clothing/cosmetics) did not arrive Rome. We spent a lot of time trying to contact KLM, and NCL. The night before cruise we scrambled to go buy some clothing (not enough) for my wife. That luggage apparently got to Rome on the day of the cruise and they said they'll try to get it to the cruise. It didn't get there. After we got on the cruise, NCL gave us $200 OBC, and also free laundry. We continue to get online with KLM's website, and NCL on ship Guest Services. NCL said they'll try to arrange for the luggage to be sent to the next port. It was a transatlantic cruise with 7 ports in the beginning. The luggage never got to the cruise. But at least NCL did try to help us, and we were glad they did. -- Some people asked about seats. It really depends on the airline, and it helps if you have status or credit cards to give some perks. We usually try to select seats and most of the time had to pay for that. Some credit card have travel credits you can use, to pay for seat selection, and we made use of that. Some airlines let you select seats for free at T-24, but some don't. So if we really want to make sure we get some seats, we pay for it.

"Sleeping in another cabin, is it possible." Of course. This happens a lot on cruises.😆

With NCL, they give U$25 credit if you choose deviation of 1 or 2 days. If we do the b1g1 airfare with NCL, we always do a 2-day deviation on the way to cruise.

I get all three are down because of similar operating environment and challenges. NCLH is down a lot because it reported today, while the other two are only down a little. So I was wondering if the other two are only down a little because they are in better shape, or because they have not reported, and if they report similar challenges their big drop days will come then. I guess we'll see in the coming days when CCL and RCL report.

So NCLH is down 12% so far today. CCL is down just over 2% and RCL down 1.5%. Is that because CCL and RCL are in better shape or they haven't reported and therefore their down days will come after?

I wouldn't want to go to the front of the line, to show my card/status, to get escorted to table ahead of those still lining up there. If there is a separate line, like at the time of embarkation, I'd go there. But not when there is just one line for the MDR.

I guess this works when there is a long line, and after people get to the hostess, she gives everyone a pager, then you may be called earlier. Since the pandemic, we cruised five times, and never ran into a situation where we were given a pager to wait. There were a few times there was a line for the MDR. We waited in line, and everyone who got to the hostess would be escorted to a table (other than the very big groups).