Russiamomm

I been on two TAs in the past year - one on the Breakaway and one on the Epic.  Nothing was shut down.  

Yes, you get two additional specialty dinners for 2, one with a bottle of wine.  The benefit is per cabin, not per Platinum passenger.  This is in addition to any FAS meals you get.  You will also each get a free bag of laundry.  That perk is per Platinum member, not per cabin.

Have been an NCL cheerleader for years.  But I’m not married to the line.  In the last 18 months we’ve done Virgin three times, one Carnival and one RCL.  Will never set foot on another Carnival ship.  RCL of the price is right (i.e. a casino comp).  I could live on a Virgin ship.  Love everything about it. We’re also booked on Cunard and Oceania this summer.  Anxious to try both.  But our “Go To” continues to be NCL. Always feel at home on an NCL ship.  

I’m not sure of the prices for individual items.  But for wash and fold there is always a mid-cruise special for a bag of laundry for $29.  It’s a small paper bag.  Bring a plastic laundry bag from a hotel to line the bag and roll everything really tight.  You’d be surprised how much you can squeeze into that small, flimsy bag.  🤣

4 hours ago, sunnyday819 said:

I hope I don’t sound stressed. Just wondering if this is a thing to watch out for with NCL. 
 

 Thank you for your response. What would the confirmation say if there were double points. I guess we were not aware that this is something we should look for. Not that it would have mattered after the fact since we booked this after the final payment timeframe. I think we’ll just put this under “learning experience” and be very careful when we book future cruises. But we book for the itinerary not cruise line or “extra points” but like I said my husband  was looking forward to Platinum benefit (hello free laundry) on our TA in April. 

 

 

Keep in mind that the offer needs to be in effect when you book it.  If you book outside that window you will not get the extra points.   

3 minutes ago, cruise777 said:

How far in advance of your cruise can you apply for shareholders credit ?

There is no minimum time.  Last week I applied for a cruise I’m doing in August and it was processed within two days.

2 hours ago, BDL said:

What about OBC?  Can I take some out in the casino (with the 3% fee) and gamble with it?  Can I cash it out without running it all through a machine?

What kind of OBC?  Non-refundable OBC cannot be used on the casino.  Refundable can be, but you will still pay the 3% fee.  

3 hours ago, reveur15 said:

Is it possible to buy refundable onboard credit online before the cruise on my NCL account and then cash this money at guest service without fee? Anybody tried this ?

Yes and no.  I did this in October because I had an Amex offer giving me $200 statement credit when I charged $1000 to NCL.  The offer came in five days before I was going to Alaska and I had already paid for everything, including the DSC.  I bought $1000 of OBC to get the $200 back.  BUT…. You can’t get your cash back onboard until the last day of the cruise.  While you can charge cash at the casino, you are still going to pay the 3%.  I used cash in the casino and cashed out the OBC on the last day.

Agree with others.  Why did you send it via snail-mail?  Email works great.  You get an immediate confirmation with a case number.  It’s never taken more than three days to get an email confirmation that the credit was applied and a new invoice showing it.  Also shows up in the online account.  
 

If it’s not showing up in your account, I would call them. Or resubmit it via email.

Complete personal preference.  I carry mine in my back pocket - assuming I’m wearing pants/shorts with a back pocket.  😂. Makes it really easy to whip out at any bar.  😂

Agreed.  A few more details on your questions would help.  I can say that the Joy is my favorite ship in the NCL fleet that I’ve been on so far.  I may be biased, though, since both times were in the Haven.  I’ve been on many NCL ships, but the Joy holds a special place in my heart because it was the first time we were privileged to be in the Haven.  Scheduled again in April to Bermuda, and again in the Haven,  I just like the ship.  It’s big, but doesn’t feel huge.   It’s beautiful.  Has everything you could want, except a thermal suite. But that will be resolved when it gets out of dry dock next month.  The Observation Lounge is wonderful.  
 

Do you have specific questions?

3 hours ago, bftcruiser said:

Someone told me the way around it is to start at the slots, take money from your "bank" (which is charged to your card) and then "cash out" at the slot. Go to the cage and collect your cash money. Then go play the tables.

3 hours ago, cruiserbear55 said:

You're still going to incur the 3% charge.

Yup.  NCL charges the fee to pull money at the slots.  I know Carnival doesn’t, and there may be some other lines that do the same.  NCL is not one of them, so this doesn’t work on NCL.

10 minutes ago, UKstages said:

 

true.

 

papeete only has air lift on certain days of the week. and, invariably, disembarkation does not occur on those days. i have heard, if using NCL air, they have been known to charter aircraft.

 

i was considering this cruise on the spirit, but the other way... from auckland to sydney, sydney to papeete, papeete to honolulu. yes, a B2B2B. it would have been my first. but i could not get a stateroom that had other cabins above and below. the only cabins i could get were either adjacent to the smoking area on the ship, or below the fitness center or below the pool deck or below the buffet. i rejected them all.

I could deal with any of those issues to do this trip.  Looking at a B2B, Hawaii to Papette then onward to Australia.  Dream trip for me.

5 minutes ago, Anoynmous Phoenix said:

@Russiamomm

 

The Hawaii to Papette on the Sun in October is very tempting.

 

Could I suggest that you consider Hawai'i all the way to Sydney if you can afford the pennies and the time.   We did it a few years ago when there were even more ports visited.

I believe getting out of Papeete is a pain.   I have heard of people having to travel home from Papeete to the USA via Sydney!! depending on the airline you favour.

Hmmm.  Will definitely look into that.  All bucket list destinations!

28 minutes ago, Anoynmous Phoenix said:

A true TransPacific would be the northern route; Yokohama/Tokyo to Seward or reverse.   I don't know if they are offering a single cruise Yokohama/Tokyo to Vancouver.

 

The central TransPacific route is usually offered as part cruises; I don't think a full TransPacific is offered.   Parts are Vancouver or Los Angeles to Hawai'i;  Hawai'i to Papeete; Papeete to Sydney or Auckland.   With the reverse as well.

Thanks!  The Hawaii to Papette on the Sun in October is very tempting.

11 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Gamble $175K on slots or $350K on video poker to attain Ruby status. You would also get a black ultra drinks card for anything from the casino bar and $400 OBC on every cruise. 

LOL.  At least for me, that’s never going to happen.  I was thrilled to make Pearl on my last cruise in December, but that only took taking five cruises during the year.  😂

26 minutes ago, hallux said:

or find a bank account that will refund that fee.  Yes, my bank account not only doesn't charge fees for out of network ATM withdrawals but will also refund the fees charged by the other bank...

True.  My bank also reimburses all ATM fees.  That’s why I usually just pull cash out of the ATM.  Even if it is a wash with the NCL credit card, using the ATM keeps me somewhat on track.  I know the money is there and don’t have to worry about paying it back the next month.

11 minutes ago, UKstages said:

you mention CAS.

 

are your cruises comped?

 

be aware that for comped CAS cruises, a "percentage off" coupon only applies to the admin fee. 

 

so, you'll save about $5 a day.

I always book through CAS, but the most I’ve ever been offered is a comped inside, but I always upgrade the cabin..  I don’t gamble that much.  I had a similar offer last year and CAS was able to apply the coupon, as well as an additional small discount.  It made the TA in the Haven very reasonable.

13 minutes ago, yakcruiser said:

Spirit. 18 days by way of Alaska.

I’m looking at that one,  Looks good to me,

3 minutes ago, yakcruiser said:

I know the Vancouver to Tokyo cruise that I am on next May would count. I think the Vancouver to Hawaii cruises would also count but I'm not positive.

Hmm.  Which ship?

Unless you have high status in the casino, there is really no way around the 3% service charge.  Probably best to bring cash.  There is an ATM onboard.  It costs $6.99 plus whatever your bank may charge.  If you have an NCL MasterCard you will get the 3% back in points that can be taken as a credit to your balance, wiping out the charge.  

I looked at my NCL account and have a 25% off coupon for any transatlantic or transpacific cruise in 2024.  Transatlantic shows as an option on the search engine, but transpacific doesn’t.  I’m going to shoot a note to my CAS guy, but wondering if others here have thoughts.

There is a 3% charge.  No way around it unless you have high status in the casino. 

55 minutes ago, icedearth15324 said:

As mentioned, you gain all of the Haven perks. The only perk you don't get is the 2 rewards points per night in a Haven suite.

This is a YMMV issue.  I’ve won bids into the Haven twice and both times I got the extra point per night.

If you win the bid you get all the perks associated with being in the Haven.  That does not include any additional alcohol unless you are in the Owners Suite.