BunnyHutt

I look forward to your feedback! Bestie and I are doing this itinerary (or very similar) in late October on Prima. We’ve got a port side balcony booked but now I’m more concerned with paying attention to sunset times when considering excursions… will enjoy lesser crowds, cooler temps and lower prices, but that comes with less daylight.

Yep! I’ve been keeping my TA busy.

Bestie and I are on Prima in late October to Italy/Greece. Booked a Club Balcony back in September for a fare we were comfortable with. For kicks, I did a mock booking last weekend and found that fares had dropped. I moved us into a family suite w/master (SJ) for what I considered to be a very reasonable up charge from our original fare based on increased size and amenities. Yes, I am aware of balcony/slide issues and chose cabin accordingly. Was bored this morning and checked prices again. Down $350/pp from last weekend. As of right now, we’re paying $450/pp more for SJ on a 10-night cruise than we were originally planning on for a club room. The ginormous leap in price for Haven, however, still not worth it. 😆

Oldish thread, I know, but your post gave me the push to book 15196 on Prima this fall. Thank you! 🙂

In reading the OP, it sounds like they are cruise veterans and were anticipating noise… at normal performance/practice times. However, this is a unique circumstance in that it’s prepping a new show. That said, I don’t disagree with the cruise line that an entire production takes precedence over a couple of disgruntled passengers. I know it comes across as heartless, but it’s the big picture. Would you be satisfied if the amount that was offered as FCC was given as a refund instead? I guess that could be your next request.

Yup. I don’t think any there’s any intro to law or business law class that *doesn’t* cover this case. Regarding NCL’s advertising practices, it’s no different than JC Penney’s never ending “biggest sale of the year”, Kay Jeweler’s “MSRP may not have resulted in actual sales” or Kohl’s math saying I saved $300 on a $20 item.

As I think others have said, they really just need to say that you’re getting half off the cost of the certs. Period. The rep originally got me and my bestie by saying we could each apply 2 certs on our next cruise (we share(d) a cabin and stated that we were already planning on booking another cruise in a club balcony). When I read the T&C’s and saw that I could only apply 2 per cabin, I immediately when back to the desk. She was like “I said you could each apply 2 on your own staterooms.” Yeah, no. I had her change my purchase to only 2 certs at a net cost of $250. I don’t cruise enough to want extras just hanging out to be used at some nebulous point in time.

Not the person you asked the question to, but I would guess that maybe because you already know what needs to be done/what documentation is required so it just feels like a smoother process. Our now 15 and 17 YO’s have had current passports since before they turned 1. I’m bummed that the last ‘youth’ one they got/will be getting were before the age of 16 - at that point they become good for 10 years versus 5. Now Global Entry, *that* was exponentially easier the second go-round for all of us. Approved/renewed within 48 hours of application with no interview required. 🙌🏻

Here’s what I learned when the price dropped on our cruise about 4 weeks out from sail date - if the promos aren’t the same, it’s not an apples to apples comparison. Now maybe I’m wrong, but that’s the way our TA explained it. I think for us, even though we didn’t use it, the ‘gotcha’ was the airfare deal. Our TA did ask if there was a cabin we wanted to try to upgrade to based on the listed prices versus what we paid. There was not, so that was as far as I took it. Bottom line, we were happy enough with the price when we booked it. Never hurts to try for credit when/if the price goes down, but there’s no point in getting upset if it doesn’t happen.

You need an appointment to get a real ID?? At our BMV, we just fill out a form and show the appropriate supporting docs when going in for license issuance/renewal. Either way, it’s mailed to us a couple of weeks later.

When I submitted my application for Global Entry renewal earlier this week, it asked if I had an EDL. When I clicked the little “help” button, the description made me think they were one and the same so I clicked “yes.” I’m in Ohio. Oops. Clearly CBP didn’t care because I’ve already received my approval, no interview needed. 😆

I’m guessing “college-aged”‘ doesn’t necessarily mean “in college.” He does mention her working 60-hour weeks in advance of this trip. Which is why I think he may think clarifying her age justifies the situation.

Yep, I was just giving a potential excuse for not having one when she was younger.

I find it interesting that the OP (who I’m guessing is well into his 30’s) mentioned the fact that his girlfriend is “college-aged” like this gives her a pass. It does not. My HS-aged sons are currently on their 3rd and 4th passports. Both had their first ones before they were 1. I got my first passport at 15 and have had a current one for 30+ years. Unless there were some custody issues that prevent on both parents being present for a passport appointment, there’s no reason for the GF not to have one. Especially if she’s been several cruises (as OP also mentions her NCL status). She’s an adult. Time to do some adulting.

I’m booked on this ship next fall after sailing a Breakaway+ last month (my first cruise on NCL). Good to know what to expect from all of the reviews. I have no doubt that we will enjoy our port-intensive Med cruise - amazing itinerary! - but some of these customer observations are really a shame. Unfortunately, we were stuck between Epic and Pr1ma for our region of choice and the cabin/bathroom layout of the former was an absolute non-starter for us.

I think the biggest issue at hand here is that it seems some have confused and/or equated “safety” with “comfort.” And while maybe some communication from the bridge after the fact would have been nice, passengers need to remember that the officers aren’t sitting around and twiddling their thumbs during inclement conditions. I mentioned earlier that we are an aviation family. One of sons and I were on one of my husband’s flights earlier this year. We had to divert due to weather over the approach and insufficient fuel to keep circling and waiting for it to clear. We ended up having to sit at the wrong airport, unable to deplane, for 3 hours. My husband provided updates every 20 min or so, even though most were “non-updates” since flight ops had no clue ***** was going on. However, we were sitting on the ground. You best bet that not a peep came out of the cockpit while they were in the thick of things. And, yes, passengers clapped when we landed at both the diverted location and our final destination. 😆

I realize the point may very well be moot, but why wouldn’t they agree to a credit? I thought for any cruise, while you may not be entitled to a *refund* if you cancel outside parameters of T&C, you have a balance sitting with the cruise line as a future credit. Same with non-refundable airfare.

I was on the previous cruise. Definitely rough for a good 18 hours. Yep, Skagway canceled. 😢 I guess things were a little rocky heading back down to Victoria but *nothing* like they were Sunday overnight through Monday afternoon. So I’m not sure where the 3 days came from. 🤪

Yeah… no. A Captain is not going to make a decision because of money. That ship and its passengers are *their* responsibility and they are not about to put their career or their life on the line if they feel that something is dangerous. Period. No, I don’t work for NCL. But I am married to a captain for a major airline and, at the end of the day, he makes the final decisions regardless of what operations or the number crunchers say.

You may want to keep an eye on the weather forecasts… there’s a major storm brewing. 😬 We were on Encore 4 weeks ago and hit some rough seas after Seattle while in the open Atlantic. Bad enough that my dreams Sunday night included sensations of getting lifted completely out of bed - can’t say that actually happened as I was semi-conscious. But a good chunk of the ship was not feeling well on Monday… enough that the staff kept commenting, but also mentioned that it was the beginning of the winter season. Things improved greatly by 4 or 5pm Monday.

It sounds like first priority was dealing with cruises out of Israel. Slow your roll and you’ll get your answer. Sorrynotsorry it’s not on your personal timeline. Norwegian is offering refunds to all customers who booked a cruise from Israel until the end of 2023. “We share in your sorrow in the light of the tragic situation that befell you in Israel and our hearts go out to all the citizens of Israel in this difficult time,” the company said. https://www.travelawaits.com/2952191/cruises-canceled-following-israel-attack/?amp

I was just reading an article written yesterday by The Points Guy. This is not just an NCL issue. The situation is awful and, if I were in this predicament (let’s face it, it’s a first world problem given all that is going on), I would cancel the cruise and the flights. Use credit on both for a vacation at a later date or another destination altogether.

Like, ever? Or just for the current Alaskan season?

FWIW, my friend and I were just on the Encore out of Seattle last month. We flew in the day before and had 11:30am-12pm check-in slot. Had a leisurely morning, Uber dropped us curbside at 11:45am where a porter came over and took our bags as soon as we removed them from the vehicle. We stepped on the ship at 12:05pm and were sitting and enjoying a drink and watching NFL outside the Cavern Club by 12:15. Rooms were ready around 2pm, IIRC. No standing in lines, no waiting around the terminal, it was glorious!

Yes!! And your wife is absolutely correct about the massage!