jgreenwo17

My wife and I have been on 10 cruises with various lines and have slept pretty comfortably on all but the one we are on.  We are currently on the Epic touring Greece and Italy.  My wife can't get a good nights sleep because of our uncomfortable bed.  We are in a mini suite.  Has anyone out there have the same complaint?

We were on the Joy a couple of years ago and did not find the beds to be uncomfortable.  We are considering another cruise to NZ/Australia on the Spirit next year.

We are a little paranoid now about the lack of uncomfortable beds on Norwegian.

Your thoughts would be welcome.

Greeny from SLC

We just returned home from a partial transit to the Panama canal and and the western Caribbean.  It was one of the better cruises I've been on, and the first with NCL.

We were sad to learn that ALL shore excursions in the canal zone were cancelled.  The reason given was not enough tenders from the Panama yacht club.  We had booked a railway tour that goes the entire length of the canal.

The Island Princess was also doing a partial transit the day we were there and guess what?  Their excursions were not cancelled that day. 

This was the Joy's first foray in this region after spending the Summer in AK.  Why would Princess have the upper hand on excursions that day?

Otherwise this was an awesome cruise.

This is a good tour.  Your luggage is safe while you do the hop on, hop off tour.  Got to the FLL airport lickety split.

On 10/14/2019 at 3:07 PM, DaCruiseBug said:

Before I get into it, I mean NCL the business model of taking advantage of customers sucks. Not the actual NCL product or all the hard working people on the ship.

 

So we have the Getaway booked for December 8th. Have a balcony cabin with the free airfare promo. We already received all the flight info from NCL etc.

 

Today we noticed that to upgrade to a Spa Balcony is only about $100 more total. So we call NCL to just pay the difference in cabin fares and they say that the free airfare no longer applies. On the website it still saying "free or reduced airfare" and it applies to this specific cabin category. So now they want over $1,000 to upgrade to the Spa Balcony because they want to charge $499 per person for the airfare. Seriously? That's their "reduced" airfare promo. The problem is that the flights we are booked on price out to $300 per ticket if bought on our own directly with the airline. So how is that free or reduced? They're charging a 60% premium to what the actual tickets cost...AND...we are already booked on those flights for FREE. When we booked the cruise 2 months ago it was completely free to fly from our city to New Orleans. But today under the same exact promo they want $499 per person for the airfare? 

When people complain about NCL this is what they mostly complain about. Sneaky business practices designed to just bend you over and take you for a ride. It's the same exact promo. Same exact wording. Same everything! Except the price. For the price they want for airfare I can buy a first class ticket.

 

The more I deal with NCL the more it makes me want to run away from them. My girlfriend is a Platinum but we're going to be looking elsewhere for cruising from here on out.

Welcome to my world!  Same thing happened to me on an upgrade from mini suite to Haven suite!  Left a bad taste in my mouth.  I have an awesome TA.  He talked to lackeys and their supervisors.  Same story.  

My TA told me that I could cancel the air, pay about $200, and then get the better cabin for the price difference.

(Sheesh).

On 10/14/2019 at 3:07 PM, DaCruiseBug said:

Before I get into it, I mean NCL the business model of taking advantage of customers sucks. Not the actual NCL product or all the hard working people on the ship.

 

So we have the Getaway booked for December 8th. Have a balcony cabin with the free airfare promo. We already received all the flight info from NCL etc.

 

Today we noticed that to upgrade to a Spa Balcony is only about $100 more total. So we call NCL to just pay the difference in cabin fares and they say that the free airfare no longer applies. On the website it still saying "free or reduced airfare" and it applies to this specific cabin category. So now they want over $1,000 to upgrade to the Spa Balcony because they want to charge $499 per person for the airfare. Seriously? That's their "reduced" airfare promo. The problem is that the flights we are booked on price out to $300 per ticket if bought on our own directly with the airline. So how is that free or reduced? They're charging a 60% premium to what the actual tickets cost...AND...we are already booked on those flights for FREE. When we booked the cruise 2 months ago it was completely free to fly from our city to New Orleans. But today under the same exact promo they want $499 per person for the airfare? 

When people complain about NCL this is what they mostly complain about. Sneaky business practices designed to just bend you over and take you for a ride. It's the same exact promo. Same exact wording. Same everything! Except the price. For the price they want for airfare I can buy a first class ticket.

 

The more I deal with NCL the more it makes me want to run away from them. My girlfriend is a Platinum but we're going to be looking elsewhere for cruising from here on out.

Welcome to my world!  Same thing happened to me on an upgrade from mini suite to Haven suite!  Left a bad taste in my mouth.

I will be on this excursion in early November.  I will let you know how it turns out.

I did call my TA to see if I could change that redeye to the day before  allowing us a full day in Miami but no can do.

I did not get my air deviation in time to make this happen.  NCL told my TA it would cost a few hundred dollars.

Oh well.

Mine were AWOL earlier today and are back this evening.  I think it was down for maintenance.

I thought I would relay my experience with NCL's free/reduced air.  I'm sure this topic has been hashed and rehashed to death.  But here goes.

After many cruises with other lines, we decided to finally give NCL a try.   Last April, we booked a cruise on the Joy to the Panama canal.  We live in SLC, UT and airfare to the Miami area isn't cheap.  ($600 or more round trip).  We were delighted to get air included for $99.00.  Being a newbie with NCL, I took what I saw on their website as gospel.  It looked like they chose American airline flights both ways.  A few months later it morphed into a Delta/American flight plan.  Today we are 38 days out from departure.  I finally get a confirmation # with JetBlue.   I am happy NCL got us direct flights with no stops like were showing up on the website originally,  but the flight times are not ideal.  A red eye to FLL and a 6:00pm flight home after the cruise.

I guess we will have to do our Miami shore excursions post cruise.   The other thing is do you keep a hotel reservation for the sake of 8 hours after our red eye lands?  (Or hang out in the airport lounge)?

The only other drama now with this trip is wilI we get upgraded to the Haven?  The air drama is over.  I spent many days looking at NCL's website looking for final air arrangements.

I'm looking forward cruising with NCL for the first time!

Hello,

I thought I would share my experience with  the NCL free/reduced air.

DW and I live in SLC, UT and are getting air for both at $99.00 to FLL. That is a pretty good deal compared to what it would cost on our own.  (Around $600).

We booked last April and did not find out who our air carrier was until just today.  We are 38 days out from our Panama canal cruise on the Joy.  (Our first with NCL).

As other posters have mentioned, you see hypothetical air itineraries listed.  Ours looked like American Airlines both ways at first, but then mysteriously changed to a Delta/American combination.

What did I learn?  Don't pay too much attention to what is on your NCL booking regarding your air arrangements.  If you want to get in a day early, make sure you pay the $25 deviation fee with NCL.  It would have been better to get in earlier but it is what it is.  

 I'm not excited about a red eye flight but will take it since it is nonstop.  The flight home is also non stop but doesn't leave FLL until 06:00 pm!  We will surely do a tour/shore excursion on our last day to kill the extra time.  It might be better to explore Miami the last day instead of the day before departure,

 Now the only other drama before our cruise is whether we get upgraded to the Haven!

I will be sure to find out what the deal is/was with the Haven restaurant and galley.

I did a Celebrity cruise a few years ago and had their Aqua class stateroom.  Aqua class and suite pax were able to dine in the BLU restaurant.  It was fabulous!  Ran like a Swiss watch.  I hope to have the same experience with NCL.

I think the Platinum card perks are combinable with other offers.  Does CAS have any AMEX travel partners?  If so, you should be in.

I hear they are remodeling the galley for the Haven.  I hope it is functional on my upcoming Panama Canal cruise in 40 days.

(Assuming by bids for the Haven pan out).  

This is a cautionary tale.  I choose cancel for any reason insurance.  It is more money but worth it in a situation like this.

Good luck!

I don't think you are being unreasonable at all.  I would offer you $100 OBC on your next NCL cruise.  You will feel better about them and they will be able to shake you down for your cruise dollars in the future.  Instead, your cruise dollars may be spent with another line willing to take your hard earned cruise dollars.

I won't go into it here but I got a similar type of slight with my last cruise with Princess.  It left just enough of a bad taste in my mouth that guess with whom I am cruising next?  (NCL and my first with them).  I don't expect perfection but the little things matter to us.

45 minutes ago, hallux said:

Are you on the Bliss?  I'm on the same sailing, I did see my eDocs one day last week but they're unavailable again.  Others are reporting that flights are being booked about 45 days from the cruise.  Honestly, if they're booked before next week I'll be surprised, I'm sure the people that book those are pretty busy re-booking folks that were forced to disembark in NO instead of Miami this week...

I'm on the Joy leaving Miami on 10/27/19 to the Panama Canal.  (And back).

1 hour ago, 14cruise said:

We are cursing October 27th    EDOCS not Available    They were last week but just checked to see if the flights were up yet and now nothing.   Anyone else having issues.   I thought maybe it was just yesterday but its also today.  

Welcome to my world!   I'm on the same sailing.  The Hurricane may delay us from finally knowing when our flights are going to happen.  I'm sure NCL is spread pretty thin already.  Throw in Dorian, and it will surely slow things down at headquarters.

Hang in there!

17 hours ago, CruisinFarmer said:

Have been on numerous cruises with Princess.  Switched to NCL because of the Haven.  I'm also Platinum on Princess.  If you aren't staying in the Haven, I'd stay with Princess but nothing on Princess compares to the Haven if you are staying there.

 

I have a mid-ship mini suite but have bids on the Haven suites as well.  I hope I hit the Haven jackpot!  I have done a deep dive learning about the Haven and I can't stop dreaming about it.

I've been on a few Princess cruises and am trying NCL for the first time in a couple of months.  I agree with other posters that Princess is more laid back and caters to an older demographic.  I'm of a mind that why not try something new and different every now and then?  I like Princess a lot but feel that I am in a rut with them.  I am stoked to try something new.  If I am disappointed with NCL, I can go back to the tried and true that I am comfortable with and be all the wiser.

Some people think they have to get their monies worth and will indeed drink a lot more.  The same mentality occurs at the buffet.  "Its all I can eat"  mentality.  

That said, I look forward to my first drink package experience on my first NCL cruise.  This is after 10 cruises that came before on other lines.

I will let everybody know if I revert to the personality mentioned above.  DW usually keeps me in line.

Great thread.  After reviewing the fares a month after final payment, I was able to get my TA to get me an upgrade to a Mini Suite.  Glad I read these threads!

Here I am whining about no self serve laundry when at the same time I am giving gobs of cash to NCL for my "free at sea,"  and upping the ante with upgrade offers.  (Possibly more gobs of cash to NCL).   

On a cruise to the British Isles a couple of years ago with Princess, I deliberately stayed on board on a port day in Glasgow.  My excuse was "We have to do laundry."  I told my wife,  "You go ahead and enjoy your shore excursion while I do our laundry." 

I had the ship all to myself all day long.  Staying onboard on a port day can be rewarding.

On 8/13/2019 at 8:54 AM, Turtles06 said:

There are so many threads here in which people have asked questions relating to the booking of NCL shore excursions when they have the $50/port shorex promo that I thought it would be helpful to set out some how-tos and advice:

 

1.  The $50 promo credit is per port and per cabin.  It is not per person, and you don't get a credit if there's a port in which you haven't taken an NCL shore excursion.  It's use it or lose it.   (There's an exception to the per-port rule for Bermuda, where your ship may spend one or more overnights.  In Bermuda, the credit is per day, up to three individual days.  In all other overnight ports, there's only one $50 credit for that port.)   The full Terms and Conditions for the shorex promo are here:

 

https://www.ncl.com/termsandconditions/promotions

 

2. Unless for some reason you want to pay for your shorex before you sail, you should book your shorex prior to sailing by calling NCL's shorex desk: 1-866-625-1167.  (You can also book on board, but then you run the risk of a shore excursion selling out.)   By booking on the phone, you will not have to pay in advance; the excursion will be charged to your onboard account.  (You'll be able to use any OBC you have to pay for the excursion on board, another benefit of booking by phone and not paying in advance.) 

 

3.  When you call to book your shorex, have your reservation number available.  If your Latitudes tier entitles you to a certain % off the cost of a shore excursion, that % will first be applied to the price, to give you a per person cost of the tour.  It's from that total amount that the $50 will be deducted after you have taken the shore excursion.  (For example, if a shorex is $100 pp and you and your spouse are Platinum Latitudes members and thus get 10%  off, the pp cost of the shorex is $90, for a total of $180.  Once you've taken the shorex, $50 will be applied to your account, making the total cost of that shorex for the two of you $130.)

 

4.  Pro Tip: Before you call to book any shore excursion, take a screen shot of the description AND the price and bring it with you on board, so you have proof of the price at the time you booked, since that price is locked in for you.   You need to do this because the email confirmation of your shorex booking that you receive from NCL will not show the price, and because, once you have booked a shore excursion, NCL's site will only show you that shorex as costing $0.  (It also will NOT show you any other shore excursions for that port, which I find ridiculous, as you might want to change your mind.  So be sure to review the available shorex for a port carefully before you book.)

 

5.  If you want to pay for your shorex before you sail, you can book on line and pay the full price by credit card then.  Once you take the shore excursion, a $50, non-refundable credit will be applied to your on board account.  This information is stated in the Terms and Conditions as well as in the auto-greeting you hear when you call the shorex desk.  (In the early days of this promo a few years ago, you could only book by phone.) 

 

I hope this is helpful.  If I've misstated anything or something is not clear, please do post a comment.

 

 

"Now he tells me!"  Great advice.

2 hours ago, All-ready2cruise said:

Apparently it's a broad learning curve.  Sometimes it's better to stay with what you know, ie, your favourite cruise line. Stuff a bag, IMO, is a great deal. I'd never want to give up my fun time in order to do laundry; if you don't like it, it's your choice to go to another line. Last time I checked, you're free to choose what works best for you. 

 

Enjoy your cruise, not matter which line  you choose. 

Cheers. 

Don't get me wrong, I bet NCL will be my new favorite line.   I'm a little tired of Princess and am ready for a change.  It is interesting how other lines operate.  I'm sure it will be awesome.

Thanks for your info!  I should have figured that NCL would rather shake me down for a $20 midweek special than letting me do it myself for $10 or less.  I'm new to NCL and am learning all about their ways of doing things.  (Like having to get in a bidding war with the upgrade fairy).