old sole

We had trip insurance with Travel Insured International last year when my wife was hospitalized in the ship infirmary for the last three days of the return from Hawaii. That was reimbursed on a "Unused Trip Expense" form they had us submit in addition to all the other covered expenses for medical and transportation expenses. The unused trip expense was simply a pro-rata calculation of the cost of the cruise per day. The form had to be signed by our travel agent, attesting to the cost and the length of the cruise and I had to show proof of payment for the cruise (Carnival invoice and credit card statement).

You have to add the offer to the card BEFORE applying payment. It doesn't matter actually when the cruise was booked as you can still use it if you booked previously as long as the offer was added and patent was applied after the start date and before the end date.

You may be able to get them to apply it retroactively, but it's not guaranteed.

I had to make final payment on an October cruise the second week of July, and as all of you know the co-branded cards could not enrolled in this offer until a few days ago. I made a $500 payment using my wife's Hilton Honors AMEX anyway, hoping that if the wlcl link ever came alive again I could get them to honor it retroactively. That became a possibility yesterday so have now given it the ole college try.

I was spectacularly unsuccessful. Went through Customer Service, Technical Assistance, and then a Supervisor in Offers Administration who claimed to check with the merchant (although she only put me on hold for about 15 seconds, so I'm not sure how much "checking" was really done).

All of them said their hands were tied because a prime condition of the offer was that the card had to be enrolled before the purchase was made. I argued that the AMEX system prevented me from enrolling the card in the offer at the time I had to make the payment to Carnival and I even called to ask for assistance at the time. They could see that the offer was added to the card yesterday and that the purchase was made 07/07. They said that was too great a time lag, that they possibly could make the adjustment if it had been a day or 2 gap, but more than a month was far too much of a gap.

The last person I talked to said she could and would apply a $30 credit as a goodwill gesture, but could not apply the $100 credit.

$30 is better than nothing I suppose.

There is no taxi stand at the port and only the rental shuttles from the airport next door are allowed inside the port for those with reservations. You would need to research taxi companies and find one willing to pick you up, I would guess, somewhere near the port gate. But I can't see paying for a taxi each way when a shuttle is free. Are you locked into that Alamo rental? Usually, those reservations can be cancelled without any penalty. I would simply rent from one of the airport located companies who still provide continuously running shuttles picking you up inside the port, like Thrifty.

Yep, thanks Brenda. I am too much of a linear thinker for my own good! Have now switched to Dollar which does have the shuttle service.

We have an Alamo car rented at Kahului Airport in October. Since we made the reservation Alamo has apparently stopped offering shuttle service between the port and the airport.

Is taxi service readily available at the port? Is there a taxi stand to just hail one, or do you have to call and ask for one to be dispatched? Where do you have to go to get it? (I assume they can't come into the port area itself).

My offer was available this morning (6:45 a.m. on July 5). Thank you for posting the info.

But alas, the link that worked last time:

www.americanexpress.com/wlcl

which allowed you to add the offer to branded AMEX cards where the offer does not appear is not working this morning.

If anyone finds a way to get the offer added to a branded card posting it here would be much appreciated.

Yes, the only difference is location (and access to the Haven pool and courtyard). Butler and Concierge services are the same as are all suite amenities, including no service charge for room service (which is provided by your Butler). The room size, layout, and furnishings are also the same as the 2 BR suite in the Haven.

We only had breakfast served in our 2 BR non-Haven suites on Jewel-class ships, but yes, the Butler does set everything up with a tablecloth. I don't know if courses would be spaced out for dinner, but I would guess not since that would entail multiple trips to the kitchen which seems like a problem due to the distance.

Breakfast and lunch in Cagney's is a great perk, and you will have a bit of a hike to get there compared to the Haven suites which are just an elevator ride away. But the significant cost difference between the Haven and non-Haven suites on this class of ship is not worth it in my opinion, especially for a 5 day cruise. Go for the non-Haven suite.

Any comments about using SEA SALT as a substitute for ordinary salt ?

Some restaurants are now offering it as an alternative.

I feel compelled to let a little of my science geek out.

"Table Salt" is Sodium Chloride, NaCl.

NaCl = NaCl whether it recently evaporated out of sea water or is mined from deposits which evaporated ages ago.

There may be different flavors imparted by other trace elements contained in the various products labelled as Sea Salt, but those flavor differences represent a miniscule proportion of the product in the bottle. It is almost entirely NaCl, just like Morton's Table Salt. Restaurants that offer it are offering different flavor experiences, not salt avoidance.

There are salt substitutes which give a "salty" flavor without any NaCl at all that anyone avoiding salt could bring with them to add some flavor to unsalted dishes. Those products are usually just packaged Potassium Chloride, KCl. The Potassium ion is processed differently by the body than the Sodium ion and does not lead to fluid retention to the degree that Sodium does.

Benefits are exactly the same, except you do not have access to the Haven Courtyard/Pool.

The suite is very nice indeed, with a sitting area that includes a sofa, coffee table, TV, a counter for the coffeemaker and cordless phone, a cabinet for glassware, and a table that will seat 4 where the Butler will set up meals if you wish. The master BR has a sleeping area separated by a curtain from its very large bathroom, complete with two closets, a toilet area, a shower, a separate tub, and a very large counter with two sinks. It's really quite something.

The second bedroom is fairly small, with a convertible sofa and a pull down bunk. It has it's own bathroom, pretty much like any other cruise ship cabin bathroom.

The only drawback is a bit of a walk to Cagney's for breakfast and lunch instead of an elevator trip.

Yes, a number of guys driving bicycle-powered carts making round trips between the port and the ship. Theoretically each cart holds two people, but when I compare the size of the driver to the size of the two of us combined, I opt to walk behind them while he takes DW.

I've never had them ask for a set fee. I don't know if there is one, maybe they accept our tip as at least covering what the set charge is (if there is one).

For branded Amex cards (Delta, Hilton, etc) where the offer doesn't show, the first post in this thread has a link to a back door that allows you to add the offer to your card: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2434072&highlight=wlcl

This did allow us to add the offer to our one branded card. Once added, the promo was applied and redeemed exactly the same as our regular Amex card. We added the offer and made a $500 payment (day 1). On day 2, the $500 charge showed as pending. On day 3 it became final and on day 4 the $100 credit was added to the account.

They will bill you. You have to submit that bill to your insurance company at home, let them deny it, and then submit it to your travel insurance for payment. You will not be expected to pay cash on the ship for medical treatment.

Well, you technically don't pay in cash for anything on the ship. Everything is charged to your onboard account which is settled at the end of the cruise with whatever payment method you set up at embarkation. On our Jan 15 Jade cruise a ship's doctor office visit and treatment costs were added to our onboard account and settled at the end of the cruise just like any other charge. We did receive a detailed statement which we used to file with our primary insurance. We're still waiting for that to be settled and will file with our travel insurance for anything not covered by the primary insurance.

My wife will only drink sweet white wines. Reislings and white zinfandels don't cut it for her, not sweet enough. She did enjoy the Moscato available by the glass on our recent Jade cruise. It was an Austrailian winery. I don't remember which one, but any Moscato we've tried (several) since getting home has been OK for her. They aren't carbonated though, so if that is essential then you'd be better off bringing something onboard.

Yes, you will be able to find Asti Spumonti in WalMart and most grocery stores in the States. NCL will charge $15 corkage per bottle (no limit). The wine cost in port + $15 will still be less than the cost of a bottle onboard.

Just ended 10 days on the Jade with UDP a few days ago. 10 nights, 10 specialty restaurant meals.

Nothing against MDR, we've had pleasant meals there in the past, but the full blown UDP gave us a chance to have multiple visits to the specialties and have menu choices we would have otherwise passed up for our "favorites".

LOL... I guess I"m showing my age! I really miss the days when a cruise was "all inclusive". I think $1000 for "free drinks and 3 meals" is outrageous. that's our grocery bill for 2 months!

 

... and people wonder how my husband and I are able to retire at 50

I don't mind showing my age. I've been cruising since 1989. I have never had a cruise where alcoholic drinks were included in the base fare. "All-inclusive" has never applied to cruising in my experience.

Now, $500 PP additional to select your cabin instead of booking a guarantee cabin does seem out of line to me. I think I'd make sure that's really accurate and look at a different ships/dates/cruise lines if that's really the case. Actually, I don't generally find NCL pricing with promo's included to be very different from comparable Princess or Carnival cruises without the free drinks or specialty restaurant meals. Other than Disney (which IS more expensive, those two are my only other experience.

Why would Carnival have your SSN?

 

I don't believe they do have my full SSN. But on one of my early bookings my PVP asked me for the last 4 digits of my SSN and I gave it to her. I really don't remember if she told me that would be my PIN for future reservations (she may have), but it always has been.

Very often it's the last 4 digits of your Social Security number (or of the person listed as the first passenger). If that doesn't work then calling Carnival is the only option.

Oops - tried to edit my post but I was too late. Red Frog Pub (Caribbean bar food) is a pay-for option, not complimentary. A couple of $ per menu selection.

We've been in suites on NCL and on Carnival. There is not much similarity. On Carnival, booking a suite only gets you a larger room and a bathtub/shower instead of just a shower. I'd skip it unless extra space is important to you.

I'm no expert on the Spa and Spa cabins, perhaps someone else can identify ships that have them, but at least on newer ships (Vista, Breeze, and some others I don't know about) Spa cabins are nicely appointed and include access to the Spa. They are not NCL Haven quality in terms of amenities but I gather from comments that they are nice, especially if you make use of Spa facilities.

The steakhouses on Carnival are at least equivalent to Cagney's on NCL, perhaps a little better in ambience and quality of the meals. Most (but not all) Carnival ships have a steakhouse, all different names, so check for that on the ships you are considering.

As someone else has mentioned, look into the Chef's Table. It's a whole other level of fine dining. NCL has nothing like it.

While many (most?) Carnival ships have a steakhouse, most do not have any other specialty dining restaurants besides that. The newer ships do. Vista has the most options, including Italian, Asian, and Sushi sit-down restaurants as well as a pay-for but more casual option for Seafood.

On Vista, Breeze and Magic and some others that have had these added recently (check the Carnival website under Explore - Dining Options which you can filter by ship, and you will find quite a few counter-service food options that are included in the cruise fare.) There are more of that type of food service than you have seen on NCL. I think those do add to the overall experience. Blue Iguana Cantina (made-to order burritos/tacos), Red Frog Pub (Caribbean bar food), and Guy's Burgers are the standout examples.

There is a beverage package available, called Cheers. No dining packages.

This used to work. I have no way of testing it now since I am in the US but you might give it a try.

https://www2.ncl.com/login

It opens the login screen, where you can login if you wish but don't have to. Just don't go back to the main page.

We selected a time the first day times were available for our January cruise on Vista. The earliest time then was 11:00 - 11:30, so you didn't do so bad.

edited to add - oops, noticed that you are asking about Breeze, not Vista. Sorry.

Has it gone up to $18.95 already? :confused: In August the menu on the Star said: "Espresso or Chocolate Martini $17.95, made with your favorite vodka, Lavazza coffee or chocolate". I never ordered one, but it sounds like it's the same price whatever brand of vodka you choose.

The $18.95 came from my (faulty) memory. If a recent menu says $17.95 then that's what it is. Disappointing that you can't get one made with a non-premium vodka though and have it covered by the UBP.

Back in the day, when the UBP was not offered for free, and the limit was $11, drinks with grey goose were over the limit, and back then you couldn't just pay the difference. I just asked the bartenders to substitute another brand of vodka. I've had dark and stormies with different brands of rum.

Does anyone know if this applies to the Chocolate Martini? All I've seen is the $18.95 price, and no mention of the brand of liquor in the drink. Can one be made at all that is fully covered by the UBP and if so, how should we ask for it to be made?

We've been in 11070 twice, once on the Jade and once on her sister ship the Jewel and had no trouble with noise either time. I know that is not one of your choices but I would think 11062 would be very similar. The area above those cabins is a walkway from the pool area to the buffet. It does get foot traffic during the day but very little at night. 11062 has a restroom above it, but it gets little use, especially at night. of your choices, I would take 11062.

Avoid the cabins on the port side across from those, they are below the Kid's Club.

We prefer to be near mid ship so have little experience with the forward cabins. I would avoid being under the fitness center though.

why would they be on the bow of the ship, away from muster stations then?

 

given the photo credit (as pointed out above) from 1998, i'd bet it has to do with the fire on the 'ecstasy' in 1998... they more likely went there because it was furthest from the fire aft.

 

it's pretty incredible they decided to use an 18 year old image from an entirely unrelated event. this is why i do not watch or listen to msnbc.

It's not just MSNBC. None of the photos I have seen in articles about this incident show the current configuration of deck 11 ( from which the passenger was seen going overboard), which now has Waterworks installed. They just grab a stock photo and go with it without any thought as to whether it is current.

If the the cruise was booked using the Early Save rate and cancelled prior to the final payment date, there is a $50 per person fee that is never returned. The balance of any deposit paid is not returned in cash, it is held by Carnival in the form of a future cruise credit which may be used in the two years following cancellation. If not used by then it is lost. Any payment already made on top of the deposit will be returned in cash. If the cancellation occurs after the final payment date then the normal cancellation penalties apply before calculating the amount of the credit.

If the cruise was booked using any other rate, e.g. past guest, military, etc. (and assuming cancellation occurs prior to the final payment date) then there is no cancellation fee and the deposit and any other payment made is returned in cash.