KC12

On 12/20/2023 at 11:37 AM, lisiamc said:

Hi, we are currently on Rotterdam, on our first ever Holland America cruise, and having a great time. However, the drinks package has been giving us serious headaches. I’ve learned a lot today that I wish I had known earlier in the cruise, and I’m happy to share, in case anyone else has the questions we’ve had. We bought the Have it All package before we got on board, and that includes drinks up to $11 per drink, which doesn’t go quite as far as it did before the drink prices incresed recently. On our second day, we decided to upgrade to the Elite package. I asked if the limit was still fifteen drinks, and it is. What no one explained, and I didn’t know to ask, is that the fifteen drinks limit doesn’t include non-alcoholic drinks like cappuccino, Perrier, cans of water, soft drinks, etc. (still not sure if that applies to the Signature package as well) so we’ve been carefully counting total drinks and wondering why items were unexpectedly appearing on our bill, getting upset when two drinks were charged to one card instead of one to each, etc. Well, today I went to the Customer Service desk over some charges that I didn’t understand, and discovered that only alcoholic drinks count, so we don’t need to worry as much. I don’t think we will ever come close to 15 alcoholic drinks in one day! We had some mysterious charges where a server hit the wrong key, and an extra tip that went on as a different charge, and the wrong package level was used for calculating the excess (two glasses of more expensive wine went on the card as an extra charge of $5.90 instead of $2.36) That was easily straightened out, so all is well now.

 

If I can save anyone from the confusion we’ve had, that’s my good deed for the day. Keep an eye on your account, and if you have the Elite package, you don’t have to worry about about the non-alcoholic drinks total! 

Where non alcoholic items limited on the Have it all package? Thank you

On 11/17/2022 at 11:53 PM, Throwaway112212 said:

Hey guys.  
 

We’ll be on the encore 12/4-12/11, arriving at MIA at 7am.  NCL says disembarkation doesn’t begin for 2 more hours.  Is this accurate?  And will we really dock at 7?  I thought most shops come to port over night?

 

I realistically have two flight options, an 11:40a out of Miami and a 8:50p out of FLL.  The flight from FLL gets us home to late to be able to work the next day, but we’re afraid 1140a in Miami is too close.  We also don’t want to lug bags around with us all day, or try to kill 8 hours just waking around.

 

I guess it all comes down to how quickly we can get off the ship.  Figuring 2 hours at MIA and a 20 taxi min ride, we’d need to be in the taxi by 9:20 - is that even possible?  Is getting to MIA 2 hours early too soon?  Too late?

 

Can anyone who’s recently disembarked from Encore shes any light on the time frames?  Will they really not let anyone off before 9?
 

Sorry for the questions.. first time cruiser and I don’t like not knowing what to expect haha.

 

TIA

We are on same cruise, we originally booked 9:40 Am flight, but AA changed schedule . Last year similar cruise I got to the airport at 10AM . pack light, keep bags in room on Saturday night and easy to walk out.  Elevators can be busy. UBER/LYFT order n your way out. also taxi's. If you get up an moving no problem  do not need two hours early for Miami

On 6/23/2021 at 5:30 AM, BermudaBound2014 said:

@JamieLogicalyes, NCL are certainly one of the last out of the Florida gate so they do have an opportunity to learn from others. However; as you know,  their current plan does not allow for compromise. Their plan (for now) remains 100% vaccination thru October. NCL either amends their plan or Florida amends their vaccination rule. 

Easy solution, allow people to board but let them know that none of the ports will allow them to enter the port.  Very few will take cruise and know they cannot leave the ship

5 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

My TA informed me a while ago that prices are considerably higher for the "new" Gem as compared to our old reservation (which NCL cancelled when the cruise got cancelled May 28). We'd previously been booked into a Club Balcony for $3668. The same category is now $4823. So about $1200 for the same cabin. Not sure it even includes the BOGO air, and since the earlier booking was out of the DR, the price for just the airfare was $699 for two. Crazy! We'll stick with the oceanview we got.

since you have been on the Gem, which is better Magenta or Grand Pacific for non specialty restaurant nights? Thank you

Thank you. Fortunately they posted a new cruise from Miami today and we were able to change so now we are good, but information was helpful

I am concerned about using NCL air promotion, like 30 hour travel and 3 airlines for one way.

Positive and Negative experiences?

I am concerned about using NCL air promotion, like 30 hour travel and 3 airlines for one way.

Positive and Negative experiences?

I have not seen many references to shore excursions for Cannes or Majorca.

Does anyone have suggestions and does anyone know if we have to catch tender from either port?

Thank you

Thank you, this is very helpful

We are on NCL Epic Barcelona August 25-Sept 1. We arrive 5AM, I have seen post that state people had to be off by 7:30.

Would a 10:30 flight out of Barcelona be doable/

It is on Delta and I have elite status.

Thank you in advance for any input. Coming in early so already staying extra days.

Have found Le Bistro the best Restaurant on the past two cruises.

variety of special items.  Escargot, lamb, steak and many others. We usually go at least twice

We were on the June 5-12 cruise.

showroom shows were good and worthwhile to see. We scheduled dinner so we could attend 9:30 show, we preferred entering on 7 and sitting balcony. The windjammer was okay, previous cruises entertainment was better in the lounges. DJ just fair

Ok I did a Google search and searched on here. I'm not really finding anything recent (by recent I mean within the last 2 summers). Does anyone have the dailies from taking this cruise? Also I spoke to someone on the Norwegian chat feature. She had told me that none of the ports are tendered however, I found something online that says Juneau is tendered as is Ketchikan. Is she right? I later called up Norwegian direct and spoke to someone about booking a guaranteed room. I asked about upgrading like I asked earlier. He flat out told me that with the interior guaranteed rooms that based on the inventory that the odds are I wouldn't get a surprise upgrade. I then asked him about the ocean view guarantee. He told me that I have a good chance of not getting the little porthole thing. He added that I should book today because the deals will probably be gone tomorrow.... I'm on here because I'm assuming the guy is just trying to get me to book right away.

 

So in short....

1. Does anyone have a link to recent dailies from this ship and route?

2. Are any of these ports tendered?

3. Have any of you booked a guaranteed oceanview room on this ship and route and did you get a better room?

4. The ship departs Vancouver at 4PM. If I were to get on the ship say at 11, am I allowed to leave the ship or is it once you are on, you are on?

5. I saw the wifi plans.Can you get cheaper rates if you book it in person or do the rates stay the same (or even go up in person?).

6. How is the wifi once you get off the boat?

 

 

Sorry to be annoying. I just found this trip last minute and it's actually at a rate I could afford as a party of 1. My grandfather died less than a week ago and we had his burial today. We weren't that close but from it I started to realize to just live life because you want to make a lot of great memories since you never know when you will go (I know this is probably the obvious). I got laid off too so something like this would be a positive in my life.

So in short....

1. Does anyone have a link to recent dailies from this ship and route? No Link we just went on the 5th-12th

2. Are any of these ports tendered? No but in Skagway if they dock at ORE dock do not walk back take smart shuttle $2

3. Have any of you booked a guaranteed oceanview room on this ship and route and did you get a better room? We paid for balcony there were few if any upgrades on our ship I asked around

4. The ship departs Vancouver at 4PM. If I were to get on the ship say at 11, am I allowed to leave the ship or is it once you are on, you are on? No you do not want to leave, boarding started at about 11:30-12 and restaurants are open and gives you time to get acquainted with ship

5. I saw the wifi plans.Can you get cheaper rates if you book it in person or do the rates stay the same (or even go up in person?). Pass on wifi, it does not work well and you will have wifi in each port city and we survived without, expensive and slow

6. How is the wifi once you get off the boat? excellent

WE just went JUne5-12

My cruise leaves Monday at 4:00. I'm in the 1:00-1:30 arrival time group. What time should I actually be in Vancouver? I also am just being 1 rolling carry on duffel and 1 backpack so I don't need to "check in" anything. Do they still take the duffel or can I just roll it myself? Aside from the NCL Sun, the other ships will be Crystal Serenity and Disney Wonder. This is also I realize a stupid question but on ships, can you bring liquids and gels over 3.4 ounces and is there a Trusted Traveler line to expedite things? Thanks

Not worth hauling your bags around, you are on vacation, we tipped porter and our bags were at our room by the time we had lunch. you go through a couple of lines that wrap around so it takes 20 minutes plus to get through. Sodas are expensive on board, we had beverage package, but I know there is a soda package as well if you plan on having more than 2-3 a day may be worth it. Seven seas is open for lunch and the scallops are really good.

I have a few questions about the Sun, what is the hair dryer like in the cabin? Should I bring my own? How was the wifi? Was it good enough that you could talk on your phone UDING wifi calling? I'm sure I'll have a few more. TIA

 

 

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Just went out on June5-12th. I thought hair dryer was fine, my wife did not like it.

Avoid the Wifi, if you are from US you should be able to check phone and wifi from Ketchikan, Skagway and Juneau at not charge and then again when you get to Seward. a few days without was nice, last cruise I was frustrated everytime I tried to use wifi . The world and I survived for a few days without.