SakeDad

Got a great online quote from Aegis Travel Insurance for upcoming Encore cruise. 1/2 of Allianz price with equal coverage. Anyone have experience with them?

Got a great online quote from Aegis Travel Insurance. Anyone have experience with them?

12 hours ago, gmbhardy said:

We did too, for a Panama Canal cruise in April 2024.

See you in Vibe! There is a Facebook group for that sailing too.

43 minutes ago, paddy1112 said:

Hi, our panama canal cruise for March 2025 just appeared in the app.

It stated that vibe can be booked end of November 2024. This would be just around 120 days before the cruise.

Other here stated here that they were able to book vibe 266 days before their cruise?
Is that normal that there is such a big difference in time of booking between itineraries?

 

Keep checking in the NCL app under Entertainment and book as soon as it let's you. We already booked for April 2024 a month ago

1 hour ago, leithbones said:

15 day caribbean from NY, Getaway, Nov 2023.  Angled Balcony.

Weighing upgrade bid to Haven variants (we've never been, Min = $600pp)

vs.

Vibe @ $290pp

Only 1 new port of 10 for us, so we may stay aboard more frequently than in the past.

I've scoured Vibe threads and Haven threads.

Thoughts on comparisons for those who have done both?

Just a thought...what happens if you don't get the upgrade then Vibe is sold out?

1 hour ago, vacation44 said:

Which is what I said in my above post

 

Sorry, missed you multiplexed on the same thing.

1 hour ago, vacation44 said:

We have two cruises booked for 2025 and they are not available for both.   I do check every few days.   We will cancel one of them, the Viva, if we cannot get them before final payment.  We have a backup plan in place, which we are excited about, so we will not be disappointed.   The other one is an Alaskan cruise on the Encore so I am not too worried about availability for that  cruise. 

They are not selling Vibe 2025 yet 

1 hour ago, KeithJenner said:

The 300 minutes is time that you spend specifically logged in to internet access. You can be connected to the Wi-Fi all the time, but need to then log in to get internet access.

 

Using the app is completely different.

Yes, I'm a blond.

Last sailing we had unlimited wifi with Plus package so I never thought about it. But if we just have the 300 minutes (a) is that per person or per reservation? (b) Does that 300 include when you are on the NCL app onboard on wifi? If not how do they tell when you are on non-app wifi? Sorry to sound so newbie, trying to decide if we need to do the Plus package for a 17 day or not. We are OK with limited wifi as we can use it in ports, just trying to figure out how it works onboard.

Thanks

Yeah...we just got off the Prima and had it. $45 10 year old Talinger and Vueve (where I could get it) more than made up for the the price. I got my monies worth but if I can save on a 17 day I certainly wouldn't say no.

We are not sailing until April and will be buying the FAS+ drink package. Currently $35 a day after gratuities are added. Do they ever do a sale on these? If so can you get the difference after you purchase the higher rate? Thanks

It says tender but it's not. There is a great floating dock that has been built. FYI Prima doesn't have any tender boats so will never tender in port. Their boats are all enclosed lifeboats not suitable for tendering. You will love Prima. We just did that itinerary July 16 and loved it.

We just did 11 day Prima with FAS+ just using 2 phones for everything! We had zero issues, free data from our carrier in ports. Make sure onboard you always turn on Airplane Mode to avoid satellite charges. Also, if you want to text each other (unless you have iMessenger) you have to pay a $10 per device one time fee. We never needed that as we could use Facebook Messenger.

On 6/10/2023 at 7:16 PM, Busybeeva said:

Thank you so much! I put it on hold for Panama Canal. Appreciate the assurance!

We just booked that on an angle for April 2024 Panama Canal!

On 2/16/2023 at 12:58 PM, MCMC100 said:

I wonder if this is becoming the new normal because it makes more sense for NCL.

 

It eliminates the ability to pass on a sail date if the Vibe is sold out when shopping itineraries/dates (something I and other posters admit we would do). Now instead of the old “race to board first” to get the Vibe it will become the battle of the midnight 120- day checkin. If you check in too late and the Vibe is sold out you’re locked into a cruise that can’t be canceled without penalty.  

Instead of foot speed it’s going to come down to internet speed. 

We're 244 days out and I purchased our Vibe passes on the app.

What is the advantage to Encore Vibe Cabana vs just Vibe pass? We already have Vibe in April as there are several sea days and I didn't want to miss out. But as there are only 4 cabanas is it really worth it? Never used Vibe but looking forward to it.

10 minutes ago, John Bull said:

 

 Yes, but not a flat fee.

Minimum is about £6, it shouldn't be more than £10 to any cruise terminal - or City & Horizon cruise terminals are walkable in about 15 minutes - level ground. all on sidewalks, plus pedestrian-friendly lights to cross the main road

 

JB 🙂 

I'm thinking we may walk if the weather is good. I hear traffic into the ports can really get grid locked and I don't want to sit in  taxi when I could be on the ship!

2 hours ago, Phzx90 said:

Just got the official email from NCL.  Isafjordur will be replaced on our July 6th sailing with a 1:00 PM arrival and overnight in Akureyri.   Departure the following day from Akureyri is the same 4:00 PM.  

Odd...the letter I saw posted for this week's cruise leaves at 4 AM, meaning they have a sea day before Reykjavik. 

4 hours ago, Snate said:

Just to add on for the sailing July 6th, my external tour just notified me it is cancelled since they were notified that Prima won’t be docking on the 7th.  It is my first time on a NCL ship but they def dropped the ball on communicating this to their customers.  I guess they can make more money by making it a sea day and forcing people to spend money on the boat versus off it.  

Considering the drinks and food are already paid for for the most part unless your gambling or buying from the shops they are not making more money on a sea day when they have had to refund all the excursion fees. 

35 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

And it would be impossible for management to inform them? They have been skipping the port since May. It is not something new.

If they were hoping to get in and the port doesn't tell them until the day before it's still not ready there is nothing to tell.

We want to do the city on our own and go to the "top of the mount" as well. We are looking at HOHO bus as well as the little blue "train" they have there. Do you recommend booking both or just one for a port day? Thanks

10 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

It is not based on size. The Prima’s lifeboats, like those of the -away plus ships (Bliss, Encore etc) are not designed for tendering.  The Star’s lifeboats were designed for tendering.  When the Bliss was in Alaska last year and there was a rockslide in Skagway and the Bliss had to move away from the dock on one of the days she was there, the Holland America ship ended up using their tenders to get passengers back to the Bliss.  I know the question is “why don’t the lifeboats work as tenders on these ships?” And I don’t have an answer. I do know this is the reason Prima is not not visiting Ísafjordur. The dock was supposed to be ready and the dredging of the harbour was supposed to be completed in Ísafjordur by spring 2023 and this did not happen yet.

Thanks for the clarification. I had not heard that. I am on the July 16 sailing and hopefully we make the port. But in any case I will make sure I talk with an Officer and get the REAL DETAILS about why the lifeboats can't tender. As former crew on other ships this is the first I have ever heard of this. I don't doubt you but I want to know the actual reasons for it. I will post once I get those details.

7 hours ago, bluesea777 said:

 
The Star is in Isafjordur today, at anchor in the fjord, and using her lifeboats as tender.

 

People need to stop comparing the Star and the Prima as they are completely different ships. Star is 91,740 gross tonnage with 105 ft max beam and 2348 guests max with a total of 14 decks. Prima is much bigger at 142,500 gross tonnage, 133 max beam, 3099 guests max with a total of 20 decks. It matters.

6 hours ago, bluesea777 said:

 
The Star is in Isafjordur today, at anchor in the fjord, and using her lifeboats as tender.

 

I was asking about Prima. Star is a different class/size ship.

8 minutes ago, UKstages said:

regardless of their physical location, all reps have access to the same tools and resources… namely, a knowledge base, which is a repository of all information on products and services, policies, FAQs and such. no supervisor on site if they’re working from home, that’s true, but typically there is a help line available through e-chat or phone. the reps who have earned the privilege of working from home are typically senior reps with good decision making skills and good product knowledge and need to consult a supervisor less often.

One would hope but certainly has not been our experience or our TA's at all times. Hits & misses best describes it.