LGinPA

I considered that except I recently changed the CC due date to align with my monthly pension, which aligns with my other CC payment date. So I'll stick with that.

With my credit card it's Ok to pay it on the actual due date. So I'm wondering if it's OK to do this with NCL and if anyone else does it. I'm new to NCL and cruising and don't want to risk any issues with my payments and account. Also, my NCL due date is the first day of my CC cycle, and if I make the payment on the due date, my CC payment won't come due for another 8 weeks. But if I make the NCL payment the day before my due date, my CC is due in 4 weeks! Those extra 4 weeks of holding onto my travel savings will earn me enough interest for a drink, maybe. 😉

Yes, he is. And he's given 2 perks, and opted for the alcohol package. He's decided to go with the 3-meal specialty as his 2nd perk. And we'll get one unlimited wi-fi package and share among the 3 of us. Thanks to ALL for your help! Linda G

Thanks, this is useful. Another question about testing positive, initially. Did you use a test kit you brought with you to determine you were positive, or go to the infirmary to be tested?

Bump. I would also like to know this.

Good points. We will be off the ship, a lot. So we'd only use the onboard wi-fi briefly each night to check email. I checked on My NCL Summary and the perk is only for me, so only 1 account. So if he gets the 3-meal dining perk and drops the wi-fi he can share ours. I'd likely upgrade to unlimited since I don't think 250 minutes will cut it for 10 days/3 people.

OK, well, I see your point since the dining is a sure thing, it will be used. And while I know the wi-fi will be used, I don't know how much on a cruise. Wow, that's a lot of wi-fi sharing. It would need to be shared with the 3 of us, me, DH, DS. OK, now I'm liking this idea! lol So, since I have the 250m in my cabin as a perk, it is a sure bet that they'll offer the premium upgrade onboard for less than the current cost of $295?

I see that since unlimited Premium wi-fi for this 10-day cruise is only $295 (now, pre-cruise price). And maybe it would be less onboard? Hmm, let me consider that.

Thanks everyone. @European_CruiseGirl Yes, I know he'll want the a 3-meal specialty since he’ll dine with us and the others in our group who will be getting a 3-meal specialty as a group perk. We get more perks than him since he's a single in a studio. And as @wally4ever mentioned the 3-meal special meal cost $166 to add on, and the 250m wi-fi comes in at around $250 value. So really keeping the wi-fi perk and adding on the dining makes sense. Thanks for the tip on the on-board upgrade. Again, you've all been most helpful thank you!

Do you think we can book the transport for 9 am? I'd rather wait on the ship than at the airport.

On a 10-day Mediterranean cruise with a group, our son is in a studio and has a choice of 2 affinity group perks. He's taking the beverage pkg as one, but needs to decide on either the 250 mins of wi-fi or 3-nights specialty dining. I have not been able to determine the $ value of the 250 wi-fi minutes, nor determine if it's "premium wi-fi" or not. I know he'll want wi-fi and that's what's currently on his booking. Which do you think is a better value, which would you choose and why? Thanks!

Thanks to the OP and everyone else who added replies. I'm new to cruising. Is it pretty much the same for international ports? We'll be disembarking in Civitavecchia/Rome, the Breakaway is scheduled in port at 6 am. We booked a private transfer to the FCO airport at 8:30am, which is 4.5 hours before our 1 pm flight. Will this timing work OK and is there anything else I should know?

We'll have 2 teen boys on our large family group in Santorini and we're considering an excursion that includes a stop at a winery. I don't know the specific winery, the tour description only says "stop at one of the island’s finest wineries where you’ll taste some of the best wines in Santorini." Is bringing teens to a winery OK? If so, does anyone know if they would be offered any soft drinks or snacks?

I just spoke with someone in the NCL Shore Excursions department. She said that all excursions end in Fira and you are given a ticket for the cable car ride back down. She agreed that the web site and apps don't properly state that clearly. So if you're cruising with NCL be prepared to be going back via the Fira dock. In case you are wondering, for the NCL excursions that include a winery, the cost of the wine tastings is included.

I'll be on the NCL Breakaway on July 7, 2023 and NCL just last week posted all their offered excursions. SOME of the excursions include the following "Need to Know" after the description and some don't. I plan on calling the excursion department to ask about specific ones I may be interested in and ask the same question the OP is asking. Need To Know: Tour involves walking for approximately 1/2 mile on level, some steps and cobblestone streets. Amount of walking and exertion during free time is up to you. Not recommended for guests in wheelchairs. Temperatures can reach extreme highs during summer months, we recommend that you drink a lot of water and use sun protection. Most tours end in Fira where you’ll board a cable car to return to the pier (cable car ticket will be provided). Lines for the cable car are very long, especially during summer or when there are several ships in port; please allow sufficient time to return to the tender landing pier.

Just today NCL posted the available excursions! I've been waiting to see what they offered. I'll review them carefully and consider cost and convenience against what we'd be getting. Thanks everyone for your help!

I agree there are several unknowns regarding the boat ride to Amoudi and the bus ride up the hill to Oia. We would not walk up. If most of my group would prefer the NCL excursion because everything is in place and a sure thing, then we'll do that. NCL has not published any excursions on Santorini as of yet, but I check every day. I was hoping to see more of the island, and the cost pp of the private tour is less and it takes us several additional places. So it's quite tempting. There's a lot of time, and I appreciate your input! 🙂

Thanks marazul and John B! I did read about the boat to the port below Oia. And with 14 of us it will sure fill up faster! Then again, what if it's mostly full and all 14 of us can't fit. 🤔 It would be important that we take the bus up the steep hill to Oia tough. I know my 2 private touring options are flexible with where and when, so it would not be an issue getting us in Oia. I particularly like this idea since it would likely get us to Oia sooner, and the small boat ride seems like fun. Thanks again!

I'm making arrangements for our group of 14. I've researched and contacted some small touring businesses who would drive us to a few other locations on the island including Oia: Firostefani, Prophet Elias high point, Megalochori, and perhaps a winery. I didn't want to manage the logistics, so having a local who can drive us and tell us a few things about the island in between stops would provide a personal and local touch. I think my group would like that.

Hmmm, your Oct experience was totally different than Mapleleave's Sep experience. I'd be happy if we got to the top by 2:30pm (our NCL Breakaway is 1-10p, and a small Seabourne ship with only 500 pax will be there already from 8am.) I was looking to book a private excursion for our group of 14, but not if we won't get up until 4pm! And walking up in the heat of July is not an option. Now I'm not sure if we should chance it. I'm leaning on taking the NCL excursion.

So even getting in the tender line at 1 pm didn't get you to the top until 4pm, wow. That's really helpful. Was there any other ship tendering, or was the cable car line mostly for your NCL ship?

Facts: Our scheduled time at Santorini is 1pm - 10pm. We'll be on the NCL Breakaway which has a guest capacity of 3900. The only other ship in port on July 7, 2023 is a small ship that arrived in the early morning. Question: If we don't take an NCL excursion and we tender to the old Fira dock and take the cable car, what approximate time do you think we'll be up on top in Fira to start touring? Linda

Thanks! I love this idea. We're fussy about my creamer. DH needs his coffee upon arising, so we'll get a coffee maker in the cabin and keep creamer in the fridge from the buffet. 🙂

Being a new cruiser I have some related breakfast and room service questions: 1. Is the $4.95 service charge per cabin or per person? (I realize someone asked this but there was no clear response. ) 2. Will I fill out one door hanger per person or one per cabin (entering numerals next to the items ordered)? 3. If I request a coffee maker in the cabin, is there a way to get real half & half/creamer? We don't like powdered creamer. 4. If I go early to the buffet to bring coffee and hot breakfast back to DH, is there a way to box it up? Are there insulated paper cups with lids for the coffee? Thanks. 🙂

Thank you. But I think specific advice for each port of call would better belong in the POC section of this board. My question here was an NCL specific one on when excursions are added. Now I know that NCL will add them as they confirm with contractors at each port. So I'll just keep a close watch. Coincidently JUST TODAY, NCL added quite a few options on the Greek island of Corfu. Nothing added to Santorini yet. I have already done research at each port (using the CC PoC section and independent research of non-NCL excursion sites) and already know what we want to do at each port. I just want to compare what NCL offers. Thanks again!