vicbomb5

Just now, smplybcause said:

 

So before pandemic Royal had two pricing levels one for the brand new ships (Oasis class and I think Quantum too) and one for the old ships. New ship drink package was up to $13 to cover the higher prices and up to $12 on the older ships. 

 

It looks like they've just switched every ship to the $13 drink pricing but hasn't updated all the website to reflect that. Because I haven't seen anyone on AOTS post about how their drink package isn't covering a lot of the drinks. 

 

There will likely be a few specialty drinks that would be over the drink price. I know when I was last on Oasis the Champagne bar had a few fancy martinis over $13 but the majority were under. 

Piggy back away i'm learning the RCL world as I go here 🙂

58 minutes ago, smplybcause said:

I often cruise NCL too for the drink package. Like other's said ignore the % off - just look at the final price. It will be more expensive on board so definitely buy it before hand. I think the price getting into the $40s is wishful thinking now, so I usually aim for low 50s. And just check back a lot to see if for some reason it goes down. 

I will keep checking back - low $50s is a good target.

For what it's worth the price of my trip here - oceanview balcony + buying drink package still beats NCL's free drink package price by about $400 for the same trip - 3 days out of Miami to Nassau/Private island and back.  The NCL one that got cancelled was in early January 2022, but still I was surprised to see RCL so much "cheaper" at least in this instance - pleasant surprise we are super excited.

15 minutes ago, CTCruiser76 said:

The Royal 3 night & 4 night cruises tend to run higher prices for their drink packages. Except to pay somewhere between $48 to $68 per night. The good thing about Royal, is that you can book it now and cancel and rebook at lower price if it comes down. 

 

There also may be a 4th of July sale this week as well.

 

Good call - ok - did not know you can cancel and rebook if it drops with that stuff - I will hold for the 4th of July sale I think and then if its still static where it is now I'll just snag it.  Thank you!

7 minutes ago, RFerrington said:

As a general rule of thumb, you should just ignore the % off and look at the bottom line - final price.  Then you can compare that final price to see if you can save money down the line.  The % off is really just a sales gimmick and since it's based on the on board price, and they NEVER divulge what that price is - you never really know what the basis for the % discount is.  Best just to go by final price and forget the % discount.

Totally valid - thank you.

Hey everyone,

My wife and I have done dozens and dozens of NCL cruises - but due to lack of options and cancellations, we are very excited to sail on RCL - have sailings booked for October 15th and January.

Question - for the October 15th cruise - it is a 3-night out of Miami on the Freedom - on Cruise Planner it shows 30% off the beverage package.  

Is this a promo I need to jump on now?  I heard as it gets closer they offer 50% off.  From your experience, what should I expect and when should I jump on the promo?

I absolutely plan to buy it pre-cruise but I am also the type who loves to chase down deals so curious of what others have seen prior.

Thanks in advance and very excited to try out RCL this year and next in 2022!

-Vic

Hey,

I will also be on the Escape Saturday, cannot wait! Also huge UFC fan but unfortunately from past experience NCL will not televise the PPV. The cost is too high, they'd have to pay the promoter per head on the cruise ship, astronomical $. Sorry! I'm bummed as well.

Contrary to the reply you got though, I can tell you there is tons of interest outside of the U.S. :)

I believe you can get through security and check-in starting at 10 a.m. in Port of Miami. They typically start to board around 11/1130.

You will be behind Haven, as well as Platinum Latitudes members though, they can show up a few minutes prior to boarding and those groups still go first.

if you are there by 10 a.m. you should be in great shape though I think.

I've sailed NCL dozens of times and had one very bad experience last year due to a sailing they cancelled. I will tell you 1000000% that NCL Guest Relations is the worst, absolutely awful. Zero justifications for their decision and clear disregard for customers.

Contact the BBB - that is how I ended up making noise with NCL, Social Media as well. After months of making my voice heard I got contacted by the Executive Relations Dept. for NCL and was refunded every penny that was owed to me, over $1,300.

The higher-ups at NCL do care, it is the NCL Guest Relations dept. unfortunately that is understaffed, unwilling, and maybe does not even have the authority to really "make things right" with customers.

Just my two cents.

-Vic

I recently sailed on the Breakaway 4/30/17 to Bermuda, We enjoyed our cruise, but I could'nt get over the fact that I felt cheated by NCL, I'll explain

 

I booked this cruise directly with NCL by phone. I originally booked a mini suite explaining that since I am a recent widow, my adult son would be sailing with me, and I needed the beds set up as twins. I wanted to save time and have this on my booking record.

After reading much about the new upgrade bidding process, I bid for several Haven upgrades. Approximately 30 days before sailing, I decided I was willing to simply pay the upgrade for the Haven Spa Suite. We have never sailed the Haven, and I had read so many wonderful things about all aspects of the Haven sailing experience.Again, I called NCL directly to make this upgrade. I again requested the beds be made into twins, I was told of course.

About three days before sailing, I saw a CC post on the fact that Haven beds could not be separated. Now, I go into panic mode, call NCL, ask them to check my booking records, see my bed request, and find out why the NCL rep I dealt with had not informed me of the bed situation. After two days of phone calls to various supervisors. I was told the ship was sold out, yet the upgrade bidding process was still active. I could purchase a studio for my son at the cost of $1,800, and write to customer service after my cruise to see if anything could be done for me to correct their mistake. I explained, I do not do business that way, and wished to correct the obvious mistake on their part immediately. I purchased the studio cabin, and wrote a letter before we set sail. That was two weeks ago, no response.

 

Please understand, I would have kept my mini suite and saved myself enough money for another cruise had the NCL phone rep informed me of the bed situation when I called to upgrade. I value the opinions of my fellow CC ers, and would love to hear from you as to how I should proceed.

Thanks in advance,

Bella

It is a la carte. If you have the dining package you pick an appetizer, entree, dessert. That is what is covered.

As long as you are there. Now if your parents took your Children on the cruise without you then they would need the consent.

Spot on, only needed if A) the child is being "checked in" without you present or B) they were 100% sailing without you (the true parents)

Where was this banner? I'm booked on 8/26/17 sailing of the Escape, so may be too early still? Was the banner above everything once you logged into MyNCL?

Strike that! Just got the email.

I'm on the 11/6 sailing of the Getaway as well, still no e-mail though....any way you can work it to get the e-mail?

Can you still call Upsell if you don't get e-mail?

I'm on Getaway Nov. 6th - no email as of yet.

In the same boat on this sailing, no e-mail yet. Don't think I'll upgrade from my mini suite anyways but very curious just to see how this looks / works.

Is it actually a website to bid on certain specific cabins? When does bidding close?

vicbomb, have you sorted the issue out yet?

 

I am having so many problems with NCL guest relations for this cancelled cruise.

Unfortunately the Coordinator for Guest Relations had no interest in trying to sort out any of my issues, literally. Beyond rude, zero interest in compromising, he essentially inferred it was all my fault I didn't record phone calls with what was promised prior.

I've filed my formal complaint with the Better Business Bureau as of this morning and small claims court is next, they should not treat consumers in this manner.

How about you: :)

-Vic

My experience with NCL and NCL Guest Relations throughout this process has been nothing short of disappointing and a joke, to say the least.

I was also cancelled on for the 11/5/16 Escape sailing and while the cancellation did not bother me, the way I have been treated since truly has.

Wait times of over 45-minutes for no answers is unacceptable and by the time I was able to talk to someone, the individual was beyond rude, abrasive, and showed zero compassion or willingness to compromise. Yesterday's wait time was 58-minutes!

NCL is losing a loyal 15-year customer to say the least, hope it is worth this charter and failing to reimburse consumers for their costs as a result of it.

If you have an issue and need Guest Relations you are probably better off going straight to the Better Business Bureau or small claims court as the Guest Relations group will take you hours of time just to get their attention.

Just my two cents on the matter.....

AMAZING upsell. We have stayed in one of these rooms in the past Boston - Bermuda and they are beautiful rooms - HUGE Balconies and you are right in the middle of everything. ENJOY!!!

So after reading all about the up sells and trying to call yesterday. We got through today and went from a Casino Comp Inside room ( which we had booked a while back) with the UBP to an Aft balcony Room 9500 WOW WOW WOW.

Questions, 1 Is this considered Haven or not? 2 Has anyone had this room before? 3. What do we get with the room? Services?

For us this is a HUGE upgrade. We usually do insides, and an occasional balcony.

And i know this is the big question. It was $ 600.00 total. There were three in the room but one person is probably not going ( It was 3rd and 4th free).

We did not get any other free offers (SDP etc.) which was not a problem. And this is our first sailing at Platinum members. Cannot Wait

Thanks so much , U guys are great help.

From what I was told you get $300 per passenger, including change fee and extra fare.

It cost me $1,300 to change 3 flights from Saturday the 12th to Sunday the 13th to get on the Getaway :mad:

Waiting for NCL to get back on reimbursement, we have 4 of us travelling so hoping to recoup $1,200...what a mess!

Nine of us affected by this. Four in England. Two in Las Vegas, two in dc and me in ct for my sisters 50th birthday. England four and I have flights. Not happy about forced change and was looking forward to trying the escape having done getaway last five times since 9/2014. Trying to get confirmation that they will pay for air changes up to $300 stated and not just the change fee. Three different calls later I'm told they will cover $60 change fee but other costs for switching flights are one by one basis. To move same exact flight by one day both ends is almost $200 extra plus $60 change fee. A lot of effort on my part and I want to know I'm covered before I pull any triggers on the change of air and cruise dates. Then they give you $50 per room obc for the trouble. :mad:

If you go with one of the price protect options you will get your current perks and OBC, PLUS the $50 OBC on top of it.

Im the same boat as you with the flights, I changed my flights yesterday and it cost me $434 per person...absolutely nothing I could do it was the cheapest option. This was far too close to cancel knowing full well many people fly to Miami to go on the Escape. Booking flights 6-months out is very common practice for those who want inexpensive flights.

What if my on board credit was more than the $50 they are now offering? Do I get both?

 

I booked early to get the cabin, price, and week I wanted. Now trying to get a week that all 8 of us can do, change flights and their $300 may not even cover it, plus losing money from pre-paid hotel for two nights.

 

Really unhappy with NCL. I could see if it was further out but not at 6 months

We switched to the Getaway sailing - had to change our flights which were over the $300 max so submitted to Guest Relations for reimbursement - not much we can do they will have to honor it - out of my control.

Has anyone else gotten an e-mail? I have yet to get anything....what was offered?

Just to let you know I've had my email confirming the charter and cancellation of this sailing

Agree it is true it is only 6-months out and I'm in the same boat, got a great deal with kids sail free, the 2 free offers, $140 OBC.

Going to do a search now for charter as you said to learn more about what to expect - just hope to get this figured out sooner rather than later - it's not that far away.

Do a search on this forum for things like charter and cancelled cruise. Others have posted verbatim the emails they get from NCL about what the offer. Considering we are 6 months out from the cruise, the compensation should be good. You should be reimbursed for changing your flight. My travel agent said this must be something big for someone to charter this new huge ship just 6 months out.

 

I'm just anxious to get some info from NCL. I'm ready to sock it to NCL. I hope I can price protect a cruise on this ship for spring break 2017. My cruise was already $300 less than the posted price on NCL. Plus I had $50 OBC, $100 rebate from my TA, and $100 OBC for NCL stock. I was using a large amount of NCL credit card rewards points to pay for the cruise itself. Oh and I used a cruisenext certificate as the deposit. I was making out like a bandit.

The cruise terminal in Boston is not the most organized unfortunately so at 7/8 am there won't be much going on in terms of you being able to drop bags off. You'll have people getting off of the ship but that's about it.

They make you wait outside before they are ready to take in new passengers around 10am from the few times I've sailed.

You could probably by 9 am find a porter at least to take all the bags going on the ship, that'd be your only option though I think...

Very helpful information thank you! We should try and keep each other updated pertaining to what happens with this and what is offered.

This is not the end of the world was hoping I could just switch to the 11/6 Getaway sailing and change my return flight (assuming they cover change fees).

I guess we will see.

Thanks again,

Vic

Here's the latest I've been told as of Friday afternoon. I put in a call to the travel agent who booked my cruise. He said he saw all the red flags I did, not being able to book, etc., but also he could see on my reservation that no money was due and there was no date for payment due. Wrong... I owed money. So, he called NCL and they gave him the same song and dance about oh it's sold out. He didn't take that for an answer. He got someone on the phone who is more on the top of the NCL food chain. She said the cruise is on what's called a freeze, in other words, no more bookings. They are working out the contract for a full charter. It has not been signed yet. So, that's where we are now.... waiting to hear from NCL about what they are offering us.

Hey guys,

Any update on this? My family and I are booked on the 11/5 sailing of the Escape and after reading all of these posts I am a bit nervous now.

I called NCL and they informed me it was not a charter, but instead that it was just sold out, which makes zero sense.

They also did say if it was a charter they guarantee they would not cancel my reservation. Anyone have history with this?

We had booked our flights already as well from Boston, MA so if they change us hoping they at least cover our change fees.

Any word on when we should get information? I know some posts said a few days, was not sure if anyone had any updated info.

Thanks everyone,

Vic

Is the total price of the trip more than when you originally booked?

You pay less for the 3rd than guest 1 and 2, but you still have to pay for them unless you booked during the friends and family sail free promos, Breakaway sailings rarely qualify for those anyways.

-Vic