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Thanks! I'm still soliciting those who used NCL BOGO air, from US airports where there are non-stop flights to European cruise ports (FCO, BCN ATH). Please post all positive and negative experiences. Thank you. 🙂

Thank you, but will you please clarify: Are you saying NCL has booked flights out of JFK when EWR was requested? Or are you saying that people who live closer to EWR book out of JFK on their own (not NCL booked) because it costs less?

Thanks. It sounds like your home airport is Boston based on BOS-LHR-BCN. What time will you arrive in BCN, and how long is your layover in Heathrow? But I'm confused about "Direct home from Tampa on Delta". Am I correct to assume it's a transatlantic cruise that ends in Tampa?

Bumping this in case there's anyone new who chose the discounted BOGO air fare package and received their flights and.. are flying from a mid-west or east coast hub airport offering non-stop to Europe like ATL, BOS, CLT, EWR, IAD, JFK, TOR, going to a European embarkation port like Athens, Barcelona, Rome, etc. Please let me know if you were booked by NCL on a non-stop flight in either direction? If not, what were your connections? If you had deviations on either end please specify. Thank you. 🙂

Santorini Greece is definitely a tender port. Also, we get in at 1 PM, and the only other ship is smaller and arrived early. So too many ships should not be an issue. Thanks for adding to the possible tender scenarios.

I'm concerned that our afternoon arrival in port may limit what type of touring is available. We want to tour Mdina and other sites. I got concerned when looking at the websites of the 2 HOHO bus companies and they both end at 3 PM. Has anyone been here late afternoon into the evening to say what's open? Are taxis available and shops open in the evening? This will be July 2023.

I'll share our positive flight change experience on United, on a connecting flight. We were supposed to have a 3 1/2 hour layover in Newark. After arrival in Newark and walking to our connecting gate for the long wait, we noticed another flight currently boarding going to the same airport (Orlando). We walked up to the gate agent and asked if there were two seats available, and there were, and they reticketed us on the spot, we walked right on, getting there 3 hours earlier than planned. We had carry-one bags only so luggage making it to the destination was not an issue. So United was very accommodating. We were in basic economy class, not booked by NCL.

Thanks! This is still helpful even though there are no direct flights from BWI to BAR, you'd be expecting 1 connection and that's what NCL gave you. I know you didn't mention it, but I'll assume you used the BOGO air fare.

Wow, that's great! I'm keeping a spreadsheet so I'll add your experience under non-stop. Thanks! Did you have any deviations?

Thank you, this helped me understand. OK, so we may decide to book NCL excursions at the tender ports. If not we'll look for tender ticket availability early. Thanks! Yes, we will likely want a longish time ashore and will consider your suggestion. Thanks! 🙂

I'm new to cruising therefor don't understand what you m mean. How is "going to show on your own" different than taking a private excursion? And will someone please expand on "when you board, immediately pull a tender ticket"?

I see 9244 was angled. So, did you ask for a lounger and it didn't fit? Based on the pics from the other thread it seemed to fit OK. We will have an angled balcony 10184 and are hoping for a lounger. Why did you say it's not ideal? Based on those pics it appears to fit just fine.

Thank you for all your input. I want to continue to solicit replies from anyone who chose the discounted BOGO air fare package, and are flying from an mid-west or east coast hub airport offering non-stop to Europe like ATL, BOS, CLT, EWR, IAD, JFK, TOR, going to a European embarkation ports like Athens, Barcelona, Rome, etc. Please let me know if you were booked by NCL on a non-stop flight in either direction? If not, what were your connections? If you had deviations on either end please specify. Thank you. 🙂

My tipping knowledge is now complete. Thanks so much!

Thank you, the video was very helpful!

Thanks, I think I get it now. This (referenced by the quote) is the $16 per person per day service charge I see when I sign into my NCL, Summary and select Pre-Pay Service charges. It says it's shared among the staff including restaurant, stewards and behind-the scenes staff. I can choose to pay anytime early, and if not paid early will be added to my bill at the end of the cruise. As you mentioned it does not include bartenders, because.... Yes, we do have the Ultimate* beverage package and 3 nights specialty dining* as part of either Free at Sea and/or the affinity group we're in. I see on my Confirmation .pdf we have a per person Beverage Service and Dining service charge. So technically all tips are covered. I understand we can tip extra for exceptional service, and plan to have cash to do so. *OT - The name of the beverage package changed from Premium (Free at Sea) to Ultimate when our official affinity group was confirmed. I was assured it was the same as premium. And our specialty dining was increased from 2 (Free at Sea) to 3 nights with the affinity group. Thanks so much!

I'm new to cruising and I'm confused about tipping. I think I understand that the DSC I see on my NCL account, that I can pre-pay, covers general services like the cabin steward and maids. But what about wait staff and bartenders? There seemed to be a difference of opinion here. Is it expected that we tip additional, or done only for exceptional service? We'll be in Euro countries, so would it be better that we have € ? It seems strange to leave US$ for staff that may not be able to use it.

Thank you. Did you have any deviations?

Thank you. Will you please specify if you used NCL Free at Sea Buy One Get One free airfare program, or a similar program that cost you only half the price of two flights?

I called an NCL air agent and with Premier you can't use BOGO air. It's if you don't want to book the air yourself and you have NCL do it for you. So you are paying the same fare as if you booked it yourself. I don't see the point of it. The agent said it's used by people who are not comfortable booking their own flights. Hmmm. We're new to cruising, I admit. However not new to European travel. We've planned, booked and experienced at least 6 European trips independently, in the past 12 years, all with re-eye flights from Newark (EWR) to a major hub: Madrid, Paris, Dublin, Venice, Rome, Reykjavik, Paris again 🙂 On every trip we flew major airlines, arrived either earlier than scheduled, and once we were 1 hour late. We made it to the hotel on time to check in and take a needed 2 hour jet lag nap, and proceeded to tour later that day. For our future cruise out of Rome, our flights to Rome would be on United, which has 2 non-stop flights each evening, arriving either at 7:45 AM or 11 AM on embarkation day. We'd go with the earlier flight arriving at 7: 45 AM, just in case. I would expect to get the first NCL transfer to the port and need to wait to go through the process of getting on board. I anticipate being on board for lunch, and being in our cabin by 2 PM to take a 2 hour jet lag nap. Also, our first full day is at sea. Another day to get the internal clock set to local time. If anyone reads this and thinks that's unreasonable, please set me straight!

j horseman, Some in my cruise group are saying that NCL is responsible for getting us to the ship. I see now this is not true. Many thanks for clearing this up. 👋

njkate, Thanks for the input. 🙂 I realize you canceled, but if you do remember I have 2 questions: Do you recall what time of day your arrival in Athens would have been? Also, what were the flights/connections on the return deviation, and time of day departure/arrival home?

This is a great philosophy. Thanks!

Wow, that's more than "two connections, when possible"! Besides Newark (EWR), there are also non-stops from Chicago (ORD) to Athens. And yes it is helpful if only in the fact that NCL will book using this many connections! So thanks for posting. Was this flight for a pre-cruise deviation to arrive a day or two early? Otherwise, with this number of flights it would seem unlikely you'd arrive on time to make the ship,

Thank you cruiserchris. This did help. It tells me that NCL will not prioritize non-stop flights from the east coast. But it's NICE TO KNOW they booked you from your requested EWR and not JFK. 🙂 We are also considering a deviation, pre-or post. Your reply helped me decide not to use BOGO air on a pre-cruise deviation since I NEED the arrival afternoon for a nap in a bed, not on a plane or in an airport. Thanks again, and enjoy your cruise!