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1 hour ago, bbixler18 said:

Yes, knowledge is power...so are you 100% you are interpreting this statement correctly?  I read this as you have to book a cruise using (redeem) this FCC within one year from issue date AND it can be used for sailings departing on or before the end of 2022.  Redeeming the FCC and sailing are two different actions.

I think the OP is saying exactly what you are saying.....    many people were under the impression you had until Dec 2022 to redeem the FCC which is why they pointed it out. 

47 minutes ago, seaman11 said:

i had this same questions since, it says ala carte pricing, i was thinking you pay the surcharge to go then get charged per item.  

 

so to be clear you pay one fee and you get at least 1 of each course included with some items being an up charge?

ala carte was introduced so that people travelling with others, who have the SDP, could go with them.... or maybe you're just not hungry enough to waste a full "credit" so you pay ala carte. 

Entrees are the only thing limited to 1.  At Food Republic, Pincho, Sushi and Wasabi, an SDP meal includes 4 menu items.

Some menu items at a Specialty Restaurant may include an upcharge but it's clearly marked. 

1 hour ago, travelguy2009 said:

I was hoping to hear from someone who has actually been on the cruise thank you

You should look at all the Roll Calls of NCL cruises leading up to yours...... people will post in there complaining about it. 

On 3/6/2020 at 1:23 PM, havanadaydreaming said:

My son is on the Escape this week (honeymoon cruise) and just told me that the Margaritaville At Sea was changed mid-cruise to an American Diner. 

 

Also, the 5 o'clock somewhere bar was shuttered. 

 

in addition, the Landshark Landing at Harvest Caye was closed for remodeling. 

 

 

First I've heard of this.   Anyone have details if this is fleet wide?  

Been on the board for some time now.... 

contract expired between Margaritaville and NCL. 

1 hour ago, itf said:

Well, just to update this, Norwegian confirmed that the $15 refund was indeed port taxes, I forwarded it to the insurer and today I got confirmation that I'll receive the full £300 (£100 each x 3 people). Just to give anyone who cared closure!

Thanks for the update and good for your persistance..... 

9 minutes ago, SlipperyVic said:

Yes, I can read quite well. I know economics can be a difficult subject to understand for some people., but I'll try to break it down for you.

 

The only thing a business cares about is profit. Complaining online about a smokey casino filled with non-playing smokers will not likely get the notice of the cruise line since their bottom line is not affected. If people were to stop playing and the casino profits dropped then there's a chance the cruise line would notice and then look for a reason.

 

 

So your economic solution is for those who enjoy gambling to boycott the casino because NCL isn't enforcing the smoking by non-players?? 

That's right, punish those who play by the rules. 

2 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

As widely discussed yesterday, the new cancellation policy turns everything into a non-refundable deposit. 

I read the new policy upside down and sideways........ my question is: pre paid DSC will be be part of the FCC but if you defer your cruise until Dec of 2022 and expecting DSCs will have increased three times (April 2020 and April 2021 and April 2022)..... are you locked into the DSC price of today when you pre paid or pay the new DSC ?? That may not sound like a big deal but it is something that I can't find the answer too.   I am guessing they won't itemize the FCC and it will be one lump sum to use towards the cost of a cruise.

May want to explore cancelling the pre paid DSC as well as any other "optional" pre pay item before Tuesday. 

34 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

In the past, NCL FCC for a cancel for any reason claim had to be used on a single future purchase. Use or lose. 

 

In our case, we cancelled an Alaskan cruise and got a FCC. We tried to use part of that FCC on a cheap Caribbean cruise and were told that we would lose the unspent FCC. 

 

So, you could cancel and rebook a cheaper cruise, but be very, very careful that you don't lose the unspent FCC. Because that is the way it has worked in the past. 

Awesome point that some may overlook..... I suspect that it's not treated as a gift card that carries a balance to be used later.    Something NCL should definitely clarify. 

8 hours ago, proll267 said:

I have a 4/22 encore. I’m still within the 50% pentaly...... I wonder if I can get 50 cash 50 credit.

You should be receiving an email:

"We are making temporary changes to our standard cancellation policy. This supersedes all previously announced changes and standard deposit and final payment schedules now apply. As this is a fluid situation, any amendments or reversals of these policies will be communicated to you as they occur"

2 hours ago, bonvoyagie said:

The NCL policy appears to apply to new bookings between Mar 10 and Sept 30. I thought they had a different policy for existing bookings with regards to cancelations. 

 

You have to read at least through the 3rd sentence...... ugh

"This offer also applies to guests who are currently booked through this time frame" 

This is a perfect example of a question that should be directed to NCL or your TA.......  

9 minutes ago, maryivo said:

boy oh boy the negative replies!  i think it's a great thing that NCL informs other passengers.  i'm not sure of the exact policy but the law states people can have service animals everywhere they go.  doesn't bother me at all.  wow.

I think you missed the other posts points...... trained and certified SERVICE animals are always respected but an untrained uncertified peacock or pygmy goat as a "support" animal is not. 

13 minutes ago, alrose251 said:

It takes like 8 hours to hit the Gulf of Mexico!  Not sure when they stop charging you.

You are correct..... I mis-typed 

9 minutes ago, dmdiver said:

I think Texas charges taxes on the drinks as well.  Seems like they did & also had a limited menu until we got far enough out into the gulf.  They also like to collect taxes on any booze you bring back.  It's very annoying.  I've never had a drink package before, so this will be new to me.  Good to know that there could be some charges on my account for taxed drinks.  My Alaskan cruise is round trip from Seattle.  So, I got to wondering if we were going to be paying taxes every time we have a drink, since we are near land.  

and if you take a cruise out of New Orleans....   you get taxed all the way down the Mississippi until you hit international water which can be about 3 hours. 

The tax won't be that much so enjoy and don't worry !!

3 minutes ago, sanger727 said:

 

How do you figure that? I booked a cruise with celebrity in Hawaii with the beverage package included. I paid no gratuity and no tax on drinks in port. I believe celebrity never charges tax on drink in port when you have the beverage package - ie, they eat this cost.

 

I book a cruise with Norwegian with the beverage package included. I paid the gratuity upfront. When we were in port in Tampa and Key West I was also charged tax on the drinks I had in port.

I use the word "most" which means not all eat it and unless you go line item by line item for every cruise company to determine price differences.....   the tax that they "eat" may very well be buried in your cruise fare.....     but you give ONE itinerary example (Celebrity in Hawaii) to defend your case that only NCL does not "eat it"

3 hours ago, alrose251 said:

Wait they charge the passengers with drink packages the tax?  How can they do that?  The package was already paid with your final payment. 

I can see the tax if you go over the $15 limit, but the charge should be "0" if below the $15 limit.

Am I missing something?🤷‍♂️

As stated multiple times in this thread...... it is a state / city / municipality tax that is being charged.  This is not an NCL, RCCL, Carnival, Disney, etc tax. All the cruise line does is track, collect and pass along to the tax person. 

1 hour ago, sanger727 said:

 

 You have paid gratuity on the package with final payment... not taxes. There are no taxes on the drink package, unless you are within a certain number of miles of a city/state that requires those taxes be paid (have seen it in the US, but not in other countries in the caribbean). So there's no way for them to pre-include that since a vast majority of your drinks won't incur the tax. Some cruise lines will just eat those small tax costs in port but Norwegian does not.

EU members charge a VAT......

Most cruise lines do not "eat" the tax but will add it to your beverage package cost so you may not see it. NCL is just up front about it per drink.

1 hour ago, dmdiver said:

Are drinks taxed when in port in Alaska?

There's no state tax but local municipalities can / do charge a tax......  worse case scenario would be approx 6 - 7%

10 minutes ago, madams77 said:

I recently received an invite to bid on a cabin upgrade. I am interested in upgrading to the Haven on the Encore.  I did a mock booking, which shows that the Haven Spa Balcony is sold out.  However, when I go through the Advantage invitation link, it allowed me to enter a strong bid on the Haven Spa Balcony cabin.  Our cruise is not til June, so I suppose I could wait it out for a bit.  Has anyone has this experience?

It may be sold out today however those in Haven Spa may bid and win or there could be cancellations thus opening up that stateroom down the road. 

2 hours ago, HuliHuli said:

You too missed the point. Humor too subtle for you I guess. 🧐

I recognize humor when I see it..... subtle or not. 

Maybe you're giving yourself too much credit. 😁 

3 minutes ago, HuliHuli said:

I don’t think I have ever seen these staffers.  Are they some sort of chair hog police? 🤣

If you walk the deck at night you will see them cleaning the deck and stacking the lounge chairs...... if you go back out at 6am you will see them placing the lounge chairs out.....  they don't move magically. 

35 minutes ago, ready2cruzagain said:

On the Breakaway last month our cabin steward was not very good at all.  No ice, after asking several times, did not turn down cabin after at night a couple of times (I really don't care if my sheets are turned back but we needed clean towels) when I went to find her, her reason was "It is my first day" ... uh no, I seen you yesterday and the day before, 🙄  We would leave the cabin at 7 am and go back at 3pm on most days and the cabin was still not cleaned.

 

The month before on MSC Seaside it was just as bad.  It seems to me that the crew has gotten in the frame of mind that they are going to get paid anyway so why bother.

 

I have never adjusted the DSC but I will on my next cruise if the cabin steward has an IDGAD attitude.

While you are entited to adjust the DSC...... please remember that the DSC isn't dedicated to just your room steward.  The room steward may have a IDGAD attitude but the staff who washed your sheets, cleaned up after you in the buffet, made sure you had a deck chair to sit on by the pool, etc will be impacted by your reduction. 

1 hour ago, YankeesFan4Life said:

I think rape is a little harsh, eh?  How bout assault, battery, murder?  Why not throw them in too!

 

FYI, they cannot drink already.  The drinking age out of US Ports is 21.  With parent's consent, at age 18, they can consume wine and beer, no liquor.  They also do not qualify for an alcoholic drink package.

also important to point out...... legal custodian must be travelling with the 18 - 20 year old to get the wine / beer waiver. 

1 hour ago, Mike_DeA said:

 

It will be open at GCS, with the table games opening at about 1pm (maybe 2pm). 

 

But not while in Nassau unless you miss GSC when scheduled (due to winds/weather which is common) and head directly to Nassau that day to stay overnight there if next day is already schedule to be in Nassau.  In that case I believe the casino will open in the evening around 6pm while docked.

Really?? Been on many GSC runs and the casino is never open while there.  Good to know. Thanks. 

Side note: while in Bermuda, the casino is open 9pm to 5am while docked 

2 minutes ago, bedfordmom said:

How about if I buy a drink or soda, (neither of us are on the beverage plan).  Can I use the non-refundable OBC for that? 

Post 7

"bar and lounge purchases"