hbe

Thanks guys. I think the best option would be to pick up a rental in FLL, do our thing for the night with hotel and what not and drop off rental at Miami International and hop the shuttle to the port. I found out that Enterprise also has a shuttle, in addition to those above named. I am waiting for a response from Dollar and Sixt on if they do as well, because they have the best rental rate I have found yet. We are so excited! 39 days and counting for a Mom/Daughter first time ever cruise!!

Dollar does have a shuttle. We've used them often

1st time cruiser here. Well, not yet, 1st is coming up 3 Jan 2016 on NCL Star.

 

On my NCL web site I can purchase $100 OBC for $111.11 CDN.

 

I think I'll get some more!

You definitely should. That's a great deal for you.

Hello,

 

I was doing some cruise browsing, and I found a really good deal on the Divina. Here they are:

 

1) I understand due to large amount of cruisers from Europe, they depart at 8PM. When does boarding end? It is $40 cheaper per person to land in FLL at 12:15, so I assume that I won't arrive at the ship until 1:30. Will this be too late? What time does boarding end?

 

2) We usually like to use the cruise line's transfer option, does MSC offer one from FLL to the ship? If not, or you know of a cheaper operator, can you give me a link to their website?

 

3) What is a "Fantastica" balcony, and what is the difference?

 

4) The cruise does not show up on the MSC website, does this mean that it is sold out? We found the deal through a travel website, but would like to see the rice directly from MSC. Could we?

 

5) What are the immediate differences between MSC and American cruise lines? I am one for cultural immersion all the way, but some in my party are only for it to a certain extent. I just don't want anyone to have an unfavorable vacation. What are the immediate differences?

 

Thanks in advance for all the help!

As for the shuttle service there is a company called SAS Shuttle. They charge $15/person one way. Have used them a couple of times and they are very good. You can check them out on the Florida ports of call forum on these boards

That may be well and good, but does it also cover some form of medical insurance, in the event you were to suffer a medical emergency? A medical emergency could well cost several thousand dollars.

Bank of Montreal (BMO) World Elite MasterCard and their Air Miles MasterCard both offer medical, cancellation and interruption insurance. Their cancellation and interruption insurance is up to $5000.00/trip. I'm not sure if that's per person or total.

To me the Epic Haven is the best of all the NCL ships. Was David still the concierge?

sorry, wrong post

Hi Lisa,

I have been following all your NCL and Holland suite posts with great interest. Now that we've just disembarked the Epic, I understand exactly what you mean. While that ship was way took big for us, the <haven experience blew us away. The HAL Neptune suites just can't compare.

We haven't abandoned HAL by any means, but NCL is now in the mix for us.

This one (of several) Haven experiences says it all: we had returned from a shore excursion an hour after the Haven restaurant had closed for lunch. We were fighting the crowds in the Garden Cafe when an employee spotted us. Calling us by name, we were lead to the glass elevator and seated in a small casual dining area behind the Epic restaurant. Alone, we dined and sipped wine overlooking a magnificent view of Sardinia. Aaah.

Happy sailings and holidays to you,

Marion

To me the Epic Haven is the best of all the NCL ships. Was David still the concierge?

Crumbs, i hope so! Surely it won't take over an hour to get a tender off the ship to the harbour side?? Pretty sure it will be ok.

 

Looking forward to meeting you all!

OK, I think i'll book it as well.

Hi,

 

We are on the same cruise. I have booked the whale watching with 'Whale Watch Cabo' (see TripAdvisor). Their communication was really good, easy to book, they go from the same area where the tenders come in (7 minute walk apparently) and the trip leaves at 8.15am giving us plenty of time.

 

Hope that helps,

 

Richard.

Hi Richard

is there enough time to catch the 8:15 sailing? The 1st tender is suppose to be at 7. I guess you'll have to be one of the 1st off the ship.

Okay, well, I'm confused.

 

On March 13-20, 2016, the Jewel appears to be doing a 7 day Mex Riv round trip from Los Angeles.

 

On March 12-19, 2017, the Jewel appears to be doing a 7 day Mex Riv round trip from Los Angeles.

 

There appears to be some Canal transits in February...? :confused:

Nothing confusing.There are 2 14 day Panama Canal cruises in Feb. LA/Mia and MIA/LA. Our sailing on 28th out of MIA is sold out and the 14th sailing has some availability. Both cruises have different port times for some reason. Mine is from 7-2 in Cabo. Your cruise is a Mexican Riviera cruise so completely different. We're only going to Acapulco and Cabo in Mexico

You sure about that time?

 

I'm on Jewel in April and were scheduled to depart Cabo at 7 PM.

 

In any case, Freestyle Daily from November shows last tender is 1/2 hour before departure.

 

Dailys here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2281413

 

Double check your times for Cabo...

We on the Jewel doing the Panama canal Miami/LA. i'ts showing Cabo from 7-2. That would leave us 1/2 to get the last tender and I believe the tour I wanted to take is not close to the tender port. I believe I'll take one from 9-11, just to make sure. Thanks for all the help.

Does anyone know what time the last tender leave Cabo to get back to the ship. We'll be on the Jewel March 11 and looking to take a whale watching excursion from 10-1. The ship is sailing at 2. Any help would be appreciated.

My cruise leaves Feb 29th. I have been thinking allot about weather delaying our flight as we booked it for the same day (we fly in to miami at 1030am).

 

Does anyone recommend getting travel insurance just in case or should we roll the dice?

We always take insurance.

We've found that when we book a suite through a TA, we don't get the printed tags. We do when we book directly through NCL.

I always book thru a TA and always receive my tags directly from NCL.

If you are a Costco member I would book through them, and return the car to the airport and choose Alamo, they offer a free shuttle to the port.

Is the shuttle free? or is there a fee from the Airport?

I believe only Alamo and Dollar have shuttles to and from the port. I have used Budget once at the location you mention and it was terrible. It would have been so much faster just to return the car to the airport. Check with Costco for rentals, they usually have the best prices.

I booked a aft balcony on the Breakaway in March, cabin 14276. Doubled check on NCL website that I did get cabin 14276 and it was clearly stated cabin 14276. In October I find out by checking NCL website that my cabin was changed to 14278, which is a much smaller balcony. NCL did not notify me or my travel agent of the change, when contacted by my agent NCL said they don't understand what happened, that I was moved and twenty days later someone else booked my room. NCL contacted the other couple and they said no way are they giving up the room, I said the same thing and they said the other couple has the room. Now NCL has offered to give me cabin 14876 and $25.00 shipboard credit or chocolate covered strawberries. My agent wants to just accept what they offered and drop the issue. I am after final payment, so what should I do now.

Same thing happened to me and they offered me a$300 OBC to change rooms.

No it doesn't.

Thanks

Tried to find it, but couldn't, does anyone know if the Jewel has the Vibe?

Thanks, that's what I thought, but wanted to check! Now my husband mentions that he thinks he may rather go on the Epic. Ugh.

IMHO the Epic has the best Haven. Hopefully you'll have David as your concierge as he's the best.

The ship's currency is USD and, assuming you don't have OBC to use, your account will be settled on the last day of the cruise at the prevailing rate.

 

Not sure what you mean by being "locked in" but if you have some US cash that you got at your rate of 1.19 then you could pay your account in cash before the end of the cruise.

I love the way you spell your location, eh

We were in the Epic Haven a month ago as the Epic came out of dry dock. Take advantage of your butler and concierge. Let your butler know if you have any special goodie requests. If you order breakfast, write anything you want on the breakfast cards and your butler will service it to your on a white tablecloth (i.e. my DW orders egg white omelets. while I always order a filet steak and eggs).

 

Your concierge will get you around most lines. David will get you into the theater and into the havens seating area if you want (we normally make a dash for better seats in the center). If you go to Cirque, David will escort you through the back entrance and seat you before the main doors open. Use the concierge to get you to the front of disembarkation lines and to the front of tender lines.

 

Have a great cruise!

If I'm not mistaken David is gone to the Escape, or he will be.

You can book directly with them, and they are close to the tender pier:

 

https://pezgato.com/

 

If you want something smaller, more intimiate, read the Trip Advisor reviews on the Rissalena.

Is Rissalena close to the tender pier. Their tour leaves at 10 and returns at 1. Our ship is in from 7- 2. I know there is no problem for the departure of the tour, I am worried we won't make the last tender back to the ship. We are the NCL Jewel

I emailed risalena last week, also, and so far, no response

I sent her an email on Monday and she answered me yesterday. I emailed her at

rissacat@prodigy.net.mx

:eek: Huh? How dare you suggest that mine was a stupid question! :eek:

 

ONLY JOKING! :p

I was about to answer when I saw you were only joking.

Sorry another stupid question, what is the difference between the UBP and the Adult Beverage Program?