SpacemanSpiff

1 hour ago, tomk3212 said:

Just tell your server that you have a reservation for SIX at 7PM.  They'll take it from there & get you out in time.

 

Have a good meal & enjoy SIX.

Let's hope they don't get confused and think you have a reservation to see "Se7en" at 6PM... 😵

I have a blend of nonrefundable and refundable OBC.  Which gets used first as I buy things on board?

3 hours ago, RVACruiser43 said:

I like to say that the MDR Hudson's was named after this guy - Emma's cat 🙂  

 

Well, Captain Hudson has been known to be in Hudson's....

^^^  What he said.

We originally went with the BOGO deal, but that included a three-day deviation on the back end, for which NCL made us stay at their hotel.  Once I started looking into the potential flight itineraries (east coast US to Europe and back), knowing it would require a connection either at NY, DC, ATL, or O'Hare, I found almost all of the flights either had a very long connecting time (8 hrs or more) or a dangerously short one (1.5 hours or less).  There was one set of flights that had a 3-4 hour layover coming and going, and when we factored in booking our own hotel and being able to book early and selecting these flights, the difference wasn't very much, so we did that.  Once we got airfare, we called NCL (this was 11 months out from the cruise) and canceled the BOGO.  It's definitely a potentially great benefit, but we didn't think so in this case.  As always, YMMV.

38 minutes ago, Trivan said:

I use zip ties as well.  Anyone searching the internet will find how simple it is to open travel locks including TSA locks. Keys or no keys.  I follow a simple rule, if you care if it gets stolen carry it with you.  Sucks but that’s how it is these days. 

Been doing the zip ties for years.  Only times it was tampered with (twice) was by TSA, who left a card in the suitcase and resealed it with a generic (translucent) zip tie of their own.

Sure, someone might cut into it if they want to.  But it'll slow them down and, more likely than not, have them just go to an easier-to-enter suitcase.

The problem with "reliability" falls into hands of the airlines, not NCL.  That's why most folks advise coming into port the day before.

You say the hotel is too expensive. Is that the NCL-booked hotel? That's where you do some research, figure out what a less expensive hotel near the airport costs (think free shuttle) and see if you can book an Uber or such to get from the hotel to the port. Might be far more economical - and less stressful - than flying in the morning of the trip.

I'm probably on the cruise before yours (no special status, though).  Had the same issue trying to do it online at 120 days, and went with the phone route -- thanks to whoever suggested it! -- and it worked.  I passed that info to others in our group, since they had the same issues.

Not sure if this is a short-term thing, or because it's a new ship, or because of NCL tinkering with the software again,  

We also did this (albeit long before final payment was made).  It's pretty straightforward.

13 minutes ago, BunnyHutt said:

Any rum drinkers on this thread? My drink of choice is rum and Diet Coke. Preferably Mount Gay, which sadly isn’t part of the offerings. It is a golden rum. What would

be a suitable substitute? I’ll save the white and spiced rums for the umbrella drinks. 

I'd go with one of the Flor de Caña.  Personally, I'd go with the 12 year one, though some folks would consider using that kind of rum as a mixer to be blasphemy.  But that's just my opinion.  (I do the same thing with Appleton 12 year rum.)

9 hours ago, phillygwm said:

When I first moved into my house, I threw a party.  Knowing next to nothing about wine, I found a really good wine shop with people who loved to share their passion with people like me.  Anyway, I got two wines (one red, one white, neither expensive.)  To this day, I go back there and load up on the same red Cotes du Rhone label, Domaine Jaume.  It's about $16/bottle, cheaper by the case.  I'm sure it would put people with more refined palates into convulsions but my friends and I enjoy it which is all that really matters.

 

Your wine palate is better than mine.  My basic rule is that as long as it's not out of a box, it's going to be ok...  😆

On 10/9/2022 at 11:57 PM, CruizinSusan70 said:

If you have a passport and a Global Entry card, isn't a Real ID an unnecessary luxury?

If you can find it in your backpack/purse quickly enough as you approach TSA.  Had that happen where I couldn't find the passport when I was in that  line (I had used the passport at the airline counter, and couldn't remember which pocket of the backpack I'd put it in).  Rather that totally panic, I just whipped out the REAL ID compliant drivers license and went through without causing problems.

Then again, I'm one of those semi-Luddites that prints out a paper boarding pass to go along with the version on the cellphone.

2 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

Reading comprehension gets me again! I was too excited...thanks for making sure I don't say anything stupid to co-workers. 🙂

Don't kick yourself.  Remember, the 2020 Summer Olympics were in 2021...

6 minutes ago, celestialcruiser said:

It is my understanding that you have no control over the flights that the cruiseline books for you. That alone is reason for me to want to book my own flights. I'd rather pay a little more than have horrible connections or late/inconvenient departure/arrival times. 

 ^  This also.

When we started looking at what flights were available for our trip (east coast U.S. to Europe and back) we found very few flight pairs that didn't either have a very long layover (over six hours) or too short for my taste for an international flight (90 minutes or so).  We zeroed in one that end up with about a three to four hour layover each way.

A secondary issue is seat selection.  Yes, once NCL books your flights you can go to the specific airline and get seat assignments, but at that point the selection is pretty limited.

And now the sea trials are over, and they are back in the Marghera Fincantieri shipyards

^ What Novastar said.

However, you might look at similar flight prices for a month or two prior to see what's going on for those flights (though if you're flying on a holiday weekend like July 4, that might not be an accurate representation). 

We originally went with the NCL airfare deal, which included a three-day flight deviation that required us to stay in the "official" NCL hotel.  Once airfare became available, we realized we could get a much cheaper hotel (in a better location) which offset the additional cost on the airfare, bought the flights directly from the airline, and were able to cancel the NCL airfare easily.  As always, YMMV.

28 minutes ago, SeekingKillerWhales! said:

Oh, I thought those were for the nights you really, really drank too much. 😄

Well, that depends.... 🙃

Back on topic.....

They are definitely going through some crazy drills in the sea trials.

8 hours ago, KeithJenner said:

Keep checking. They were probably never actually offered. This sort of thing is very common with new ships.

Thanks Keith.

Based upon a suggestion elsewhere,  I called NCL directly when they opened this morning, and I was able to book the reservations that way. Yay!

Whelp, that didn't work -- looks like all the dining slots available has been booked already, except for Los Lobos and Nama sushi, neither of which are ones we want.  Guess we'll have to book reservations on the ship.

16 minutes ago, intrepid_guy said:

About 100 days left, give or take! 

121 for me -- so guess what I'm doing tonight at midnight! 😉

Looks like the Viva is on the move again.  "Marghera Sea Trials."

Maybe instead of multiple viewings of the muster drill, they should make passengers watch the second Bridget Jones movie. Or, better yet, Midnight Express.

5 hours ago, GuavaBerryNow said:

But as long as we're willing to pay duty, we can bring back several bottles?  We've not been able to find the guavaberry liqueur anywhere so willing to pay any duty on it.

True. As long as you declare it, you can bring back a "reasonable" amount (meaning it doesn't look like you are bringing it back for resale). Depending upon the mood of the Customs agent, he may waive the duties because it isn't worth the effort to collect it for a couple of excess bottles.

EDIT: while Customs might not have a problem, looks like TSA has a limit of 5 liters of hard liquor in checked luggage.  Not sure about limits on items of less than 24% alcohol.

4 hours ago, quack2 said:

Can I use my iphone to enter my room? 

Only if you use it to knock on the door, and the person inside lets you in.   😉

I have noticed increases in some shorex that we've booked some time ago (and there's still four months to go until cruise date). Could be the vendors -- we booked these last year, and a new contract price might have been struck -- or it might just be "dynamic pricing" as it fills up.