FaithPlus1

Okay thanks. Was hoping to do an 11:30 tour when I got off the ship since I like to sleep in. I hate killing time in between. I'll probably do the earlier one now. 

Trying to figure out on departure what would be the best time for me to get off based on how I want to spend the day. 

This is on an Alaskan cruise that debarks at Seward. Can you stay on the ship until 11AM? I know you typically need to be out of your room earlier. 

Thanks

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

First, YMMV - it varies and one of the Calculus element is whether the upgrade categories are sold out and/or possibly available once the domino effects are triggered.

 

We sailed this May, 2 out of the 4 staterooms were booked about 10 days out - took 2 or 3 days for the offer/pop-up message to come up (as bidding is passed along and done by outsourced NCL vendor) and both last minute booking got the chance to bid (along with mine) ... scored one with a borderline poor bid.  Details/particulars on the ongoing thread for 2019.   

 

If there's a price drop, it is even possible to call in for a free upgrade or get 25% OBC for the differential amount.

I saw something on NCL's website that says if you find the same room cheaper within 48 hours, that they will refund the different or give you the difference in 110% OBC. I seem to never hear anyone here talk about it. 

This question is for those who booked a cruise on NCL very, very last minute (like 2 weeks before the cruise starts). Did you get any bidding offers or by this time is it typically too late? I know there is no guarantee that you will even get an offer. 

Thanks

I stayed at the Hilton which was fairly nice and walking distance to a shopping mall and plenty of restaurants. 

Doing the NB route that ends in Seward. My plan after one of these excursions is to take the 6PM train to the airport for a flight that leaves after midnight. 

I want to do both Resurrection Bay and the Kenai Fords cruise, but obviously only have time for 1. 

Have any of you done both? Which did you prefer and why? What did you see on each?

Thanks

Someone recently posted the dailies from a recent Jewel cruise. I would link you to it but I cannot find it (on my phone). 

This is when traveling in general:

hat...I went to Hawaii in May and rented a convertible. I'm not a hat person but when I came home, my scalp was burning and I had all this dry skin peeling off. I've never had that happen to me before (and my first car was a convertible and I'm regularly in the sun)

hair dryer...This is assuming I have a little room to spare and going on a cruise or to Europe. The hair dryers on cruises generally are really low powdered. Likewise in Europe low power. If no space, I could do without my hair dryer. 

1 meal prep container...On land based vacations I don't really eat out that often (maybe once a day or every other day). I prefer eating out of supermarkets. This was really helpful on my last long vacation because if I knew I would be out awhile, I would have a meal I could take with me (usually a small salad, a sandwich or bread/cheese, and a piece of fruit). This is really low but I am the person who takes stuff at buffets when no one is looking. It was nice to have with me a meal of 2 hard boiled eggs, a bagels with lox and cream cheese, fruit, and cheese and crackers. 

Sugar substitute packets, ranch, and ketchup- What I lose in sugar packets, I'll make it up with the sugar in ketchup and ranch.

Laundry pods.....I generally overpack because I'm someone who cannot rewear something without washing it, and I don't want to wash my clothing other than a bra and delicates in a sink. Unless my ticket happens to include 1 checked in piece of luggage, the airlines isn't getting more $ from me ($60 each one to check in on American on BA, and $30 each way on any economy ticket) so I do carry ons and just wash my laundry at a laundromat when  I need too (generally I can get between 5-8 days of clothing depending on time of year and my plans). This is where my meal prep food comes in handy lol. 

15 minutes ago, KarlChilders said:

no, your bill will look like this:

onboard purchases would be $175 (your list) plus $1000 (cruise next deposits) minus $500 (cruise next on board credit) for a final bill of $675

Thank you!

When looking at the CruiseNext deals, is it stupid to just buy 1 $250 voucher? It seems like you want to buy 2,3, or 4. 

I like cruisetimetables. Nearly all the charters on there are either for swingers or "bears". 

Just want to make sure that I am understanding this. 

Say I'm on a 7 day cruise and I did not prepay the gratuities. That ends up being $105. I also decide to pay to do an onboard wine tasting and an onboard martini tasting (I have no idea how much these costs, but I plan on doing them...to be conservative let's say each tasting ends up being $35 each). 

My onboard purchases= $105+$35+$35=$175. 

I decide to buy the 4 $250 deposit vouchers giving me credit of $500. 

At the end of the cruise I will get a refund of  $325 correct?

I'm always kind of surprised that people won't even try to call to see if NCL (or any cruise line) will give something back, an unpgrade, or OBC if this happens. The worst thing that you gave up is a little time (just put your phone on speaker and read a book or something) and hearing no. $1 saved imo is better than $1 thrown out if all it took was a little bit of effort to call (you don't even have to get out of bed to do this, and can do it on the toilet!). Don't be afraid of "looking cheap". It's your hard earned $. 

I would call Joe. 

Is your big box TA one through a well known warehouse that starts with the letter C and ends in an O?

LOL can someone tell me why we cannot even say the name of a website on here? Is CruiseCritic afraid of losing $$?

15 hours ago, CruisingNole said:

Why not just use that website where travel agencies compete for your business (not sure if I can post the URL here). NCL is genius for tricking their loyalists to use their in-house agents. Saves them boatloads of money.

 

I’m on a cruise that departs Friday. Booked it two weeks ago. Cost on NCL website vs cost with travel agency website was the same, down to the penny. The difference Travel agency gave me $100 OBC at time of booking which will cover almost all of the DSC once I’m onboard.

 

I could have booked through the NCL website directly...but what’s the incentive? Once I book and pay through the TA’s website, I have immediate access to my reservation on the NCL website, so I can book shows, excursions, whatever.

 

I like free money, and I also like to cut into NCL’s profit, so I opted to take the free $100 from the agency. No phone calls, emails, couldn’t have been easier.

I already  go to *****. They typically have deals identical to booking direct. Granted though I always book the cheapest room with no perks. 

15 hours ago, CruisingNole said:

 

Did you get an email to bid on an upgrade? 

I know that it depends on the demand of the cruise and where it is sailing. I get that. 

Probably doesn't help you but I was in a situation where my assigned roommate (this was booked with a group)decided not to go. I was worried I would have to pay the single supplement. I didn't. You aren't supposed to tell the cruise "My roommate canceled". 

This is for the Jewel but any NCL ship (not sure if this would range per ship). 

I saw on a daily that on 1 night from 7-10 there was a "lady's night in thermal spa". I know there is a fee for this, however how is this any different from any other time in the spa since the spa is open until 10 anyway???

Do any of you have a link to the menu on the Jewel (or on any NCL ship) since it went complimentary?

I would have loved to have been booked on it. They are giving you a very generous "gift" due to it getting canceled. If you would be out a lot of $$$ from the flights, I would still go to Europe and make it a land vacation. 

44 minutes ago, CardFanDubG said:

Not sure why those two items have an asterisk though as both of them were fully cooked. 

Thanks. Disappointing that lunch at Tsar's is the same everyday. I thought they had different specials each day along with the general options you can get throughout the cruise. How was the chicken salad sandwich and the cheesesteak if you had them?

Thank you! I'm hoping to do the same sailing at the end of the month. Question, what do the asteriks mean on the menu next to the salmon and chowder?

10 minutes ago, Nclgetawaymenhoney said:

Upgrade Advantage bid is always times two people even if solo

Thank you! I figured it would be like that for parties of 1. 

You need to do the math. Basic math skills is needed. 

Often times booking just a room and any perks a la carte, versus a "special" comes out the same price or cheaper. (I said often, not always before someone says "That's not always true"). 

Why would you make this post and not say how much you bid?