dad son team

thanks!

I know all about having to get tested before boarding the ship, but my question is to do with coming back to the US.  I know I needed to be tested when I flew home from Spain, but do we need to be tested before we get off the ship in Miami?

2 hours ago, robandlil said:

We’re on the Freedom Feb ‘22.  Just got a letter informing us that due to Covid spacing requirements, they will be moving us to a different stateroom.!!

 

I've never heard of this.  Wouldn’t the walls protect us?  Anyone else?

Most likely they are trying to limit the people in the hallways.

I just booked a casino offer on the Freedom in November.  I tried a few different ships and dates through the end of the year that were offered and all were unavailable.  

Thanks everyone.  These answers make me happy!  Now the issue is can I get a cheap enough airfare to make it work.  I'm already planning a cruise in January (NCL) so I'm not sure I can budget this in

So I get home from work and there is a large postcard with this offer from Casino Royale.  It list several ship, all 3-5 days thought the end of the year.  Fine print has a few specific sailing that it doesn't apply to.  It's valid for one inside cabin for 2.  My question is, has anyone received this before, and what's the catch?

I'm looking into a Jan 2022 cruise with my son and his GF.  He downloaded the app on his phone so he could see what cruises are out there and received a call from an NCL agent.  He told them we are just looking and that I would be the one making the final decision since I am paying.  The agent advised him that if I had any credits I should keep an eye out as they are going to have a promotion soon to get people to use them up. 

So, I have a credit from a Feb. 2018 Epic cruise that was interrupted, and 2x$250 Cruise Next certs.  I'd like to use all of these for the Jan 2022 cruise.  

My question is, if I book now, do you think I would be able to take advantage of any promotions/discounts that they give, or should I wait a few weeks and see what comes out?  TBH, I'm also looking at RCCL who's fare are much less, or about the same when I add the cost of the drink package, and that's after I use all my credits on NCL!

With everything that is happeneing right now, I want to take the road that would have the best financial outcome for me, if there is one.

Currently, I have 2 cruisenext certs with a total value of $500, and an FCC of about the same from an interupted Epic cruise I took last year.  My plan was to use it all the end of this year, but who know what is happening. 

My question is, assuming the worst and NCl dissolves, do you think I would have a better chance of getting any of it refunded if I have a live booking that will have partial payment (using the certs and FCC) or leaving it as a credit in my account?  I have no idea what I will be doing next year, so I would book something far out and change it if I needed to.

I know there are so many what if's, but like everyone, we are trying to figure out our best course.  At the end of the day, my actual cash outlay of all this was only $250 so my goal would be to get at least that back.

I have 2 certs that will expire in Feb 2021 and I was planning to use them later this year. along with a FCC from an interrupted cruise that is also expiring Feb 2021.  I just looked at teh certs in my account and they now say they are good through Feb. 2023.   Did they automatically extend these for 2 more years?

I know from time to time that have promotions where you can use two certs for any type of cabin.  Does anyone know how often that sales happens?  I have two certs that expire next Feb, plus a credit from my Epic cruise that was interrupted last year that I have to use this year, but I will only be able to take one cruise and would like to use it all together.

Thanks. I love how quick this board is.

Another potential glitch, since he doesn't drink alcohol, I called and had them do the Deluxe for me and the royal refreshment for him, and I had to pay for both on my card.  Since I am still going, will his still be refunded back to my card? And since it was in a single transaction, will mine be refunded too and I'll have to repurchase onboard?

HI All,  I am leave today on the Adventure and my travel companion had a last minute family emergency and will no longer be going, but I am.  He is on his way back to the airport now to fly home.  We didn't get the insurance because we only booked it last week and it was pretty cheap so we know he lost his cruise fare.  My question is, are the Voom package and the drink package still refundable on the day of sailing or is that money lost too?  He purchased the Voom 2-device that we should share and if he no-shows the cruise does that cancel it and I'll have to purchase my own at the onboard price?  

On 11/6/2019 at 10:42 AM, WIChick27 said:

Anyone on Adventures next few sailings heard anything? Several of the dates have sold out suite classes and we are anxiously awaiting our upgrade fate! 
 

 

I am sailing on the 17th and just got my email today to bid on the Up.  We just booked an inside cabin on Thursday and everything else was sold out so I have no expectation of an upgrade, but I threw something out there.

I understand that a second cabin occupant is able to buy the refreshment package if they don't drink, but, what if they do purchase alcohol a la carte?  My travel companion said they may only have 1-2 for the whole cruise so they don't want the deluxe but I do.  Will they be allowed to purchase a drink or is there some sort of penalty and they upgrade your package to the deluxe if you do?

Mine hit my card last night.  It was about $40 more than half my base fare so I'm guessing that is port charges and fees.  Maybe prepaid gratuities?   Either way it was $40 more than I was expecting so I'm good.  

5 minutes ago, purpleally said:

I read Carnival has 15 drink limit. Do not know  from  personal experience 

I know from personal experience, carnival does have a 15 limit.  NCL does not

Now that I am back I thought I would share some thoughts.  The Solo's meet and greet works OK as an ice breaker.  Ariel is the host and he is there every night, but that is about all he does.  The bar in the lounge is open from 5-7pm, but dinner each night is in either the Taste or Manhattan dining room and reservations are for 5:30pm so the group  leaves around 5:20pm.  Why not make dinner later and enjoy happy hour?  I asked and he said it was so they could get the group into the dining room before the crowds.  He escorts the group there but then leaves.  Some of us that didn't want to go that early, or wanted to go somewhere else would linger behind and go on our own.  Of the 100+ studio's on the ship, I don't think more than 30-40 people ever showed up at 5pm, and most nights it was more like 20.  The one night I did go to the group dinner there were 7 of us.  

He also makes reservations for the shows (Priscilla and Burn the Floor), but you do not go as a group.  You just go to the theater at the reserved show time.  If you see others you can sit with them, or sit on your own.  I thought it would be more of a meet in the lounge and go as a group.

There is also a solo breakfast at 8am on the schedule, but I was never up at that hour so I can't comment on it.

There are no other "group" outings or activities which was a bit disappointing.  It would be nice it they picked an excursion in each port that a group can go on.  Something generic that appeals to many.

2 hours ago, casofilia said:

@Briji04

 

However, he verified that it was on my account as a credit that can be used for 24 months. 

 

Are you able and willing to tell us what refunds you got and what they were for, please?

 

Thanks

The people on the 2/16 sailing are getting 50% refund as a credit towards a future cruise.   That is the credit she is referring to on her account.  The other 50% is supposed to go back to our credit card and I'm sure will take a few weeks.

I was on here too and agree with everything the OP said.  I never came across a crew member that was not friendly, and given the circumstances, most of the passengers were in good spirits too.  Not too many grumblers.  The shows were great, but I will advise that Priscilla is an adult themed show, and it help to have an open mind.  If you are more conservative leaning, it might not be for you.  I did chat with someone on the cruise director staff about the boy in the show and was told that there are 2 that play that character and they rotate on 6 week schedules and travel with chaperones.  He also said they are about 13 and they only see the part of the show they are in, not the whole show.  That should give you an idea of the shows content.  

 Like the OP said, the dining room food was good, but not as special as it used to be.  I didn't cook it so I'm not complaining, and I too tend to get things that I don't normally make at home so its still a treat for me.  I went to O'Shehan's one late night, or maybe early morning 😉 and I will say the nachos were gross.  I'm not sure how they make their cheese, but it needs to change.  My only complaint would be the ship itself, and that is subjective.  I didn't find it to have a lot of outdoor deck space so what it had tended to feel crowded.  The indoor space never did, just outdoors.  

2 hours ago, Mike A said:

I am currently In Nassau on the Anthem of the Seas. The Epic is docked next to us. I watched the Epic sail in using tugs. FWIW the Enchantment of the Seas also used tugs. The Anthem and Norwegian Sky did not. I took a look at the dent. It is nothing worse than a small push in dent you would have on your car. I will take a picture and try to post later. Finally regarding the Escape, they will not be able to dock until the 1st ship leaves, most likely Mariner of the Seas. 

It looks much better now that they painted it.  On Sunday when we boarded it did not look that good. I guess the extra day in PC on Monday gave them the time to patch it up

2 hours ago, Balsam12 said:

Yep... Just watching that on webcam.

 

Either there is a problem with propulsion or thrusters, or they simply don't trust the driver 

I am on the ship now, and we had to be towed by a tug when we left PC.  They hooked a line to the stern and pull us back a few hundred feet so the ship could spin around.  I was watching with a group in the spa deck and several commented that they have been on this ship before and never saw that happen.  Could it be reverse thrust is not working?  Do we need a new tranny? 

I didn't see the docking in Nassau, but it seem like it took a lot longer than normal.

21 minutes ago, Briji04 said:

 They have said we could stay overnight on the ship.

 

However, we have had to send our luggage down, exit the ship, pick up our luggage, go through passport control, drop off the luggage with porters then go through security screening and sit In the terminal with boarding numbers to get back in the ship.  It. took two hours. 

Yes, thank you Briji04 for keeping us updated so well.   I stuck with the upcoming cruise, and I hope to salvage a good time.  I'm expecting more than a few vocal people to be aboard.  There is another group here in my hotel and the front desk agent said they have done nothing but complain about everything concerning this cruise..

1 minute ago, ClarkBHM said:

I don't think so. The terms specifically say "Excludes purchases onboard, Norwegian gift cards, shore excursions and transportation to and from the ship"

Dang it.  This was starting to turn into a profitable trip.  I'm going the Epic so I've already got my cruise fare back in refund and credit, then with this and some cruise next certs, I would have another cheap cruise coming.  Oh well

I wonder if that would work with onboard purchases?  I am boarding tomorrow and would buy come cruise next certs.  I know there was an online agency that had that promo for platinum cards, but in the fine print it said it didn't apply to Delta cards.

I'm not sure is 100% refund.  It may be 100% credit towards a future cruise.  Either way, I would take that deal and run.  You just got a free weeks vacation.