julig22

3 hours ago, luv2kroooz said:

Despite higher bookings and higher prices, yada yada yada, none of NCLHs strategies have resulted on significant returns for their shareholders. That is too bad.

Since when has NCL ever had significant returns for shareholders? Since they don't give dividends, the only way to get a return is to use the shareholder credit or sell your stock. Otherwise, it just sits in your portfolio. At least that's my perspective.

19 minutes ago, Krazy Kat said:

Julig22 - it worked just fine for me last week.  Took 4 days (over a holiday, even) and the OBC is showing on my account.  YMMV

Good to know. I wouldn't have even known there was anything new if it weren't for comments here. I also submitted 2 email requests last Sunday (before the Monday holiday) - and my credits appeared on Friday.

13 hours ago, Krazy Kat said:

This is new:

 

Follow link to online form, complete information, and then upload your stock document.  Very quick and east.

 

https://nclh.my.salesforce-sites.com/myncl?formtype=FileRequest

Yes, although I've seen a number of reports that people who used it were then asked to re-submit the old-fashioned way - so maybe not quite functional yet. 

6 hours ago, ontheweb said:

Actually, the total may not ALWAYS be the same. We booked a 2023 cruise on the Prima in 2021. During the interim, NCL raised the DSC. We (and all others affected by this) were given the option of paying in advance at the rate in effect when we booked if we paid in advance as opposed to paying the higher rate on board.

True. I booked my April 2024 cruise in late 2021. There was at least 1 increase, possibly 2. Plus that cruise crossed the international date line, so date-wise it was a 12-day cruise but in reality it was 13 days. Never was able to find out if those onboard were charged for 12 or 13 days, I was only charged for 12. Paid it in advance when BofA had their "More Rewards Day" - every little bit helps!

22 minutes ago, GLYNAGP said:

Unless I'm departing from the US I tip in £UK or Euros.  I spoke to my Cabin Steward on my first UK departure and he said he was happy with either , He said most crew collect it and convert it to whatever they need when they go ashore. So that what I've carried on doing ever since. 

Fair enough - but in the case of a US citizen who would need to convert currency in the first place, there is really no need with respect to tipping onboard. Spending/tipping while in port is a different issue.

2 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

Yes, the desirability of $2 notes is an urban myth.  Heck, even stores in the US sometimes balk at taking them.

Correct. They might be cute and as far as I know, a crew member could exchange them onboard without an issue. But definitely not worth any effort to get them. And definitely don't try to use them off of the ship. Had a fairly young bartender approach me with one in Buenos Aires, asking me if it was counterfeit because the bank wouldn't take it. I bought it from him (I actually still have it), I think that made him happier than the original tip LOL.

And, just as stores in the US aren't always happy with large bills, neither are foreign establishments that do take US currency. Plan accordingly.

2 minutes ago, commodoredave said:

I would be very satisfied if the Le Bistro menu was offered in another restaurant. I have no objection to the charter group taking over the Le Bistro location. My issue is that the food they serve is one of my favourites -- not the location. 

Then perhaps a simple request to NCL would be appropriate. It never hurts to ask.

13 minutes ago, commodoredave said:

There is indeed a difference between sold out and closed. Sold out means I missed my opportunity to book it -- fair enough. Closed means I never had an opportunity to book it. As for compensation, none is legally required; but something, however small, would show NCL cares about passengers. Even my small, neighbourhood pub would do something. 

Would you be satisfied if NCL offered the same menu in a different specialty restaurant? 

BUt then I'm on the side of give it to a large group so they won't take over the rest of the ship.

11 minutes ago, Legodude_uk said:

Hi there, sorry to resurrect an older thread but it looked the best place to ask my question, we are cruising into Miami in October and usual disembarkation is early morning, but our flights back to Heathrow aren't until later that evening, they are booked through NCL so I was wondering how that will work with transfers...

 

Do we get taken to the airport early and have to wait there? Is there an option to leave our luggage somewhere, explore then return for the transfers? Any suggestions would be gratefully received

If you are using the NCL transfer, yes, you will get taken to the airport early and have to wait there. NCL will usually offer post-cruise excursions that end at the airport but they don't make them available to see until day 50.

Hopefully others will chime in with suggestions specific to Miami.

10 minutes ago, Beaumont Barbie said:

I have two cruises to pay off by January 2025. I’ve been keeping an eye out all year. I was hoping it was offered more than once a year; it appears that’s not the case. 

From looking it up, it was new in 2022 so not a lot of history. So hoping it continues...

Your cruise confirmation should tell you whether or not they expect to tender - which, unfortunately, can change over time. Basically, it would depend on what other ships would be in port the same day. Quantity of ships in port and/or size of the ships often determines on who gets to dock, but there might be other priorities as well, such as who owns the dock. 

You can usually find the port schedules and see what they say for your specific port dates. From my experience, the ship will most likely be using life boats, at least in ports where docking is possible. It's a toss up for ports that always require a tender.

15 minutes ago, Alatraveler1 said:

Rope off a portion of the buffet seating, they are rarely full at night.  Then all venues would be available.

If the issue is special dining requirements (kosher meals for example) then they need to isolate a prep kitchen.

Wonder if you could ask to have your favorite LeBistro dishes served in another location? 

Past restaurant closures seem to be to accommodate dietary restrictions for a group booking - kosher meals for example. If it's a matter of keeping a kitchen area isolated, dishes could be prepared in other prep areas. Pretty sure the regular LeBistro chefs would still be onboard so no reason that the dishes couldn't still be prepared.

Your offer should update, not sure if you will get an upgraded email or how long it will take. You might try going to the plusgrade site and see what's there. Just a reminder, whatever you bid will be doubled, bids are based on double occupancy, regardless of whether or not you are booked as a solo.

 Marketing Page Title (plusgrade.com)

Not your cruise but there is a "Hallmark" cruise on the Gem in early November. So possibly something like that.

1 hour ago, prov2727 said:

@julig22 Any idea when that happened? I have FCC from a price drop (because I had already paid the solo supplement when they instituted the solo rooms start Jan. 1, 2024). My next cruise starts a week later than my last one ended so it will expire. I am going to request that it be honored (I've been told before that it would be) but extra information would be lovely to include in my plea.

I can only say that my FCC request was awarded on July 30. If you have a TA or PCC they should be able to look at the end date - it might have already been extended. Good luck.

My suggestion is to ignore the majority of the complaints, as each cruise is going to be different - and each person has their own tolerance level. Use the comments on CC to manage your expectations and pay attention to pathways suggested to resolve issues if you have any. Hint - the GM has way more power to resolve an issue than the person at guest services that tells you they can't help you.

2 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

The NCL website listed that category along with a price.  It was not listed as sold out.   One could book the cabin.  IOW, NCL was just trying to avoid the FCC by making a false statement.  My TA caught them on it and I got the FCC.

Yea, I had a minor price drop at about 111 days and got the canned 'you have airfare, so no the price isn't lower' garbage answer. The airfare offer was still in effect, unfortunately, I hadn't thought to take a screen shot. I appealed, then just got the canned "no price drop" answer. It was less than $100 so I just left it, never again will I forget to do a screen shot.

I don't think it's NCL avoiding FCC, more likely an employee who just couldn't be bothered to actually check as soon as they saw the airfare on the ticket.

3 minutes ago, vacation44 said:

So, the time frame to use the FCC was increased to two years?   

yes

16 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

NCL told my TA the category was no longer available since all cabins have been booked.

My TA asked NCL why are they listing cabins in that category if all have been booked?

I got the FCC.

They always list everything, sold out or not. In theory, there has to be an available cabin in the same category in order to have a price. Which makes sense on the surface, how do you know the price of something that doesn't exist. But I had a similar situation, the cost of a regular double-occupancy stateroom was less than what I'd paid for a solo. I didn't even bother with the "resolution" folks, fearing the auto-bot reply that @snorklinbarb got, so I wrote to corporate and told them this was a huge flaw in their solo program. I also got the FCC.

13 minutes ago, Asawi said:

Except as I understood it we were discussing BEFORE final pay date. At least I was. (Over here final pay is 30 days.)

Fair enough - I missed that part. But admin fees should still be listed somewhere in the cancellation schedule, assuming price drops are considered a cancellation/rebook.

2 hours ago, bookbabe said:

End-of-season Alaska can have weather issues, attractions closed, souvenirs sold out, staff shortages because people have returned home by that point…it’s not like prime season Alaska.  Hopefully you’ve got your plan A/B/C for those kinds of issues.

 

We did a beginning of season Alaska, and ran into lots of those problems from the other side (supplies/staff not arrived yet, etc) and while we enjoyed our trip, for our next Alaska we’ve booked in June to hopefully avoid those issues.

Not by any master plan, but I ended up with both beginning and ending season Alaska cruises this year!

I was on the transpacific in April from Japan on the Jewel, so we didn't actually go the "regular" Alaska ports. I disembarked in Seward but quite a few passengers continued on to Vancouver on the regular Alaska route. We were supposed to stop in Dutch Harbor but because the immigration folks couldn't get there due to snow, we had to skip that port. But Seward was open and ready for the season!

I've done late season before - still have those $5 sweatshirts from 5 years ago...and lots of 1/2 price stuff from late September a couple of years ago. I'll be closing out the season on the Sun this year, Vancouver to Hawaii in October. Looking forward to seeing the fall landscape.

5 hours ago, Asawi said:

300? Wow! That's a lot! I do recall my PCC telling me once that there was no point in doing the price drop thing on my room even though it had come down a lot. It wouldn't save me anything. I thought it was because of different promos, but maybe that fee was involved. Instead he did a slight room upgrade and because of price drop I got some money back (and a better room). I have not been able to find any documentation on policies which I find frustrating. Also I don't find too many Europeans reporting their experiences. I do however have a good PCC that had been very helpful.

Any price-drop consideration after final payment is a courtesy, so no, you will not find any published policy - unless you can find a TA that is willing to share (that's how the US guidelines became semi-public). Have you checked the cancellation policies for information regarding admin fees for changes made after final payment?

40 minutes ago, zqvol said:

You don’t have to pay any gratuities or service charges. They are easily removed by a trip to guest services.  

Gratuities, which are applied to meal & drink packages, are not optional and cannot be removed. You may remove the daily service charge.

1 hour ago, kaysha2004 said:

I got the same email from my TA for the Bliss Nov. 10-17, and she tells me that NCL won't refund the port taxes and fees for Ensenada.  I'm pushing back.  With thousands of passengers now not stopping there, they are keeping a ton of money illegally.  Anyone else going to push back?

No, they are not going to illegally keep a ton of money. Port fees and taxes for missed ports have been discussed ad nauseum on this site. If they have collected fees in excess, you will get a refund, probably as refundable OBC on your shipboard account. Fees and taxes are not allocated to any individual port, it is an estimated fee. If NCL underestimates, they eat the extra. If they overestimate, they refund the passengers.