sverigecruiser

That is not what usually happens. They will try to get you on the next flight with business available, but if it's not, you may be sitting in economy. You aren't getting a free upgrade to first. And if flights are canceled due to weather, it's very likely business class on other flights to your destination will be full.

 

Your frequent flyer status with an airline counts for a lot more than your ticket class when they try and rebook you.

I agree that the frequent flyer status counts for more than the ticket class but most people in economy have the lowest frequent flyer status anyway so that really doesn't matter much, I think. (If lots of people flying economy had higher frequent flyer status the lounges should be packed and they aren't.)

I agree that it should be better if the word suite wasn't included in the minisuite, deluxe balcony should be a much better name.

Minisuite is a bad name but I still think that it's up to the cruiser to research and find out what they are paying for.

People seem to do some research because thay know about the suiteperks but they don't research enough because they don't know that the minisuites doesn't get any suiteperks.

If JFK is closed, depending on your ticket fare rules, you could ask for a waiver to reroute to BOS or PHL or IAD. You've got train service available, though if the weather is THAT bad, there may be problems there as well. But at least you get within a couple hundred miles of NYC.

 

The original movie "The Out of Towners" (1970) might be appropriate to watch. Or "Planes, Trains & Automobiles". That is, if you have a good sense of humour.

I know that another airport can be an alternative unless the weather is very bad and other airports are closed too.

When JFK was closed, BA got us to Miami the day after and we were happy with that solution.

OP- As others are commenting, the real question is the probability of weather interrupting your flights. JFK or EWR closing is certainly one cause, but they could be open with long flight delays and the result is the same.

 

Also keep in mind that the airline system here in the USA is mostly "hub-and-spoke". A weather problem 3000 miles away can affect your flight. For example, the weather problems at DFW in early December cancelled many flights into our local airport which was warm and sunny. Departures were affected too, because there was no inbound aircraft for the next outbound flight.

 

A broader view says that air travel in the US during winter can be affected by weather....so travel to the cruise at least 1 day early and leave plenty of layover time.

It sounds like the biggest problem is flying from New York, not to New York, right? We will fly from London with British Airways and if they can land, I think that they want the plane in New York rather than waiting somewhere else for better weather.

Our cruise leaves on Sunday and we plan to land in New York on Wednesday so some delays is no problem. If the airport is closed for some days it's much worse!

The last time we were in the US was October-November 2012 and then we missed New York because of Sandy, the airport closed the same day we should get there.

We will fly to New York late Januari next year and hopefully we will fly in Club World with British Airways. If our flight should be cancelled because of bad weather and all flights the following days are full, will they let us fly on the first possible flight (even if it's full) if we agree to downgrade?

We don't like to pay for Club World and fly in World Traveller but rather that then miss our cruise!

I have followed the weather reports from the US the last days and I'm wondering how often the airports in New York have to close because of bad weather?

We will cruise from New York in February next year, do we have to worry if we plan to land in New York a few days before the cruise? Which airport is the best to fly to when the weather is bad, JFK or Newark?

The best food was the Banana Foster they served at Cagney's a few years ago but they don't have that anymore (I think).

Hi!

We have recently upgraded to a S6 Haven Penthouse on the Breakaway December 15th sailing. As this is our first experience with the Haven, we have many questions about the available perks.

We are aware of the butler, concierge, private courtyard, priority embarkation and disembarkation. But, we have read about free bottle of champagne and bottles of liquor in suite, free bottled water and soda, breakfast or lunch at Cagney's free of surcharge?? Sounds almost too good to be true? If anyone has any details about their favorite Haven perks, that would be great if you could share!

Also, we are unsure about the gratuity amount that is over and above the service charge. We are aware that it is our discretion, but would like to have an estimate so that we can budget for it.

Thank you in advance for any insight and advice you can provide! Marla

In a S6 you will not get Champagne but a bottle of cheap sparkling wine and you will not get any bottles of liquor or soda. You will get one bottle of bottled water.

On the Breakaway you will not get breakfast or lunch at Cagney's but they have the special Haven restaurant where you will get breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Consider upgrading from a BB to an SF on Spirit 22-Nov-13 in 2 weeks time.

When we booked the BB, the prices between UK and US were comparable.

Today...

Price on NCL.co.uk - £1239 (- taxes + port fees of £75) = £1164 @ £/$ * 1.60 = $1862

Price on NCL.com - $1399 approx £875

$463 more expensive in the UK for the same room!!!

I would upgrade for the NCL.com price.

But to pay NCL.co.uk $463 x 2 extra for the same room?

Well done NCL.co.uk a customer lost before we even sail

Lots of things have a different price depending on where it's bought. Lots of times it's cheaper to buy a cruise in the US and sometimes it's cheaper to buy it in the UK.

I once bought a cruise from NCL in UK instead of from NCL in Germany because it was much cheaper.

I have only cruised on Holland and Celebrity. They have awesome beds, very comfortable. But I have found an itinerary that is great, so I'm thinking of trying out Norwegian. There is nothing quite like a great bed and being gently rocked to sleep... But how good are the beds??

We think that the beds are too good! We want to sleep as little as possible on a cruise but the beds are so good so it's hard to stay away from them!

If people only tip because they get excellent service to calculate how much a butler might get in a year is WRONG! Who cares?

Sometimes people say that it's wrong not to tip because the butler need the tip since their salary is so low. Then the calculation is something completely different. If people tip because the butler need the tip, it is interesting how much they get every year. Do they need a tip if they already earn a lots of money?

I tip because I get excellent service so for me it's not interesting how much they earn but when people say that it's wrong not to tip because the butler need the tip, the calculation is interesting.

We'll be in our first Suite in a few days. We plan to relax, enjoy ourselves and take thing as they come.

 

I've read a lot of threads about what to expect and normal duties of the Butler/Concierge.

 

I've also read that there are good, great and not so good butlers and concierges.

 

Also it seems the normal tip is $10 per day per person.

 

If you get a butler that doesn't do much for you and doesn't come around except to deliver snacks. Or we don't use them. What would be a normal tip for a week? Half of the norm, $50?

 

Same questions for the concierge...

 

Thanks, looking for advice.

If we shouldn't ask for anything, we shouldn't tip anything. We normally eat a first breakfast in the suite some days ( and later a second breakfast at Cagney's/Epic Club) and then we tip for that and also if we ask for something else. We normally give the butler $20 a few times during the cruise.

Re comment that you don't get OBC by booking through a TA, that's not true. We get NCL's OBC for booking a suite, the AARP 5% discount for booking 9 months or more out, and sometimes an AARP 10% discount is offered. Look for the sales, do the math, then have your TA work with NCL to get the cheaper price. It works for us. And often your TA can give you additional OBC.:)

It is true that I don't get any OBC when booking through a TA.

(I know that the OP has no reason to use a Swedish TA but my reply was about how we can afford a suite and it's not because of discounts and high OBC because we don't get any discount or OBC.)

There seems to be quite a lot of people on this board who are discussing suites, perks for suites, which suite to book. Is there a discount for suites for returning cruisers? Special discounts somewhere? What am I missing?

For my first NCL cruise on the Pride the difference between a balcony and a suite is $2700 per couple. That's another cruise for us. Are regular balconies that bad that so many upgrade to suites or are most NCL cruises on this board just wealthy;). Inquiring minds just want to know the secret.

We are not wealthy and most people in the cheaper cabins probably have a much higher salary than us.

We never get any OBC and we always have to pay full price if we shall use a TA.

We can afford a suite because we don't cruise very often and we don't spend very much money at home.

The pools are not for swimming. They are a place to dip when cruising in a warm place.

 

 

 

I don't remember there being any actual bar for Ocean Blu just the restaurant seating. O-Blu is a pretty small restaurant situated next to the Raw Bar and Wasabi. So if you went up to the Raw Bar (the closest one) you might be able to order it from there. Alternately if you asked the restaurant Hostess at O-Blu if you could order glasses of champagne from their menu, they might be able to do that for you. :)

I will talk to the Beverage Manager about that, I'm sure he/she will help us.

Oh okay I see what you're saying.

 

The menu that I posted was part of the full Ocean Blu menu, not a separate bar menu so I'd assume you'd have to be dining there in order to purchase it that way.

Is it possible to go to the bar in Blu without eating there? If yes, I see no reason why they can't sell Champagne by the glass for "bar guests". If they open a bottle for restaurant guests, I assume that it's possible to buy it at the bar to.

It's rare for me to drink one glass on anything so I didn't think about it much while on board. lol :D --- If you're prepping for a cruise I'd send an email to Jose Contreras (the Beverage Manager on board) via NCL asking him directly. I know that they get snail mail sent to them weekly and I'd assume they'd forward the emails too. Jose is really nice and I'm sure would do his best to get back to you. :)

I'm very impressed with NCLs customer service! After sending my last post I e-mailed them and they have already answered my question!

They do serve Champagne by the glass but only at the bar in Blu! Nowhere else!

We have booked a cruise on the Breakaway but it's still far, far away so who the Beverage Manager is then is probably not even decided yet!

Is that bar only for guests eating at Blu or can anyone order a drink there? I can defenitely live with going there for a glass of Champagne everyday on our cruise!

Thanks for the info sverigecruiser! --- That definitely explains it. If they didn't offer it on the Epic it's more than likely it wasn't offered on the Breakaway either.

But on the Epic, they didn't have it on the menu!

Thank you. :) I'll have the interview with Slam Allen up today!

 

 

 

Hmmm, I'm not sure because we brought ours with us, but I do know that there were wine stations around offering wine by the glass. Did they say why? Iit would be odd for them not to offer champagne by the glass but have it on the menu, but I can't answer with certainty. Sorry about that.

They told me that too few people ordered Champagne so they had to throw away lots of Champagne.

We cruised on the Epic in November last year and was told the same thing by barstaff. After talking to the beverage manager during the captains reception in the Epic Club Lounge we were always able to buy a glass of Champagne but only after telling them to call him! He said to us that of course they sell Champagne by the glass but I'm not so sure, maybe he did an exception for us.

I agree with you, odd if they don't sell Champagne by the glass but have it on the menu!

At the bottom of the cocktail menu I saw that they offered Champagne by the glass. Do you know if they really did that?

A few days ago I got confirmation from NCL that they don't serve Champagne by the glass anymore, is that incorrect?

I'm not interested at all in Casinos so I don't care but I still think that they should be able to have their Casino opened everywhere.

Can't it be compared with the "airside" on an airport? In Sweden it's not allowed to serve alcohol before 11 am but after security on the international airports, it's okey to serve alcohol.

And when you search for a suite on NCL.com for a sailing, the mini's come up! Talk about misleading!!

I wasn't aware of that ncl.com and ncl.eu are so different. When I search on ncl.eu I can't find it misleading.

On ncl.com, do they ever mention any perks for the mini-suites?

I agree that deluxe balcony should be a better name than mini-suite but I can't say that I think it's misleading.

I have never seen any advertising where NCL promise any special perks for a mini-suite. I'm wondering how people can know about the suite perks without knowing that there are no special perks for mini-suites?