Mwright91

Straight forward question, hoping someone has experience with.

Going on the Gem out of NYC at the end of the month. Ended up booking the trip fairly late (less than 60 days out). One of the ShoreX's that I was wanting to do "sold out" online (as in no longer listing online). I called the 1-800 number and they too have it listed as sold out.

Does NCL keep a select number of slots available for on-board booking? I know I have had luck walking and making a dinner reservation right away (but didn't show as available online). Does anyone know if this is true with ShoreXs?

Thanks!

When did you book the Alaska cruise? kjquilts is actually correct, the X categories have been excluded from the Free At Sea promotion for about a year and a half now.

 

Depending on the sailing, the "lowest level" in the category may or may not be the X category. Sometimes they stop selling that category and the lowest available price corresponds to a higher category that does come with perks (even if that category is offered on a GTY basis).

What exact category did you book? Was it IX or something else? And did you book through NCL Miami or through a European office?

I booked it back in January and was looking at the new England just a few weeks ago. If that's the case, then I stand corrected. I just know I booked a guarantee level cabin and got the promo. Now when I try to book the same cruise, it's not letting me.

There is no change except in name. For quite some time NCL has not offered any freestyle perks on the lowest guarantee X category for inside, oceanview, balcony or mini suite categories. I think Sail Away is catchier than Guarantee.

That's incorrect. I booked a X cabin for my upcoming Alaska cruise. Received the perks. I was looking at a New England cruise for this fall...lowest level category had the perks. Now the lowest level on either one of those sailings no longer has the perks.

This is a bigger deal than it seems folks. It's not just a name change.:mad:

They essentially removed ALL promotions from their guarantee rooms. This is the same ALL cabin types...not just inside. As someone that likes to save money by booking a guarantee, NCL is now forcing you to select a cabin category (especially making you pay more). Their base level pricing no longer includes ANY promotions.

I would be curious how this effects booking on more full sailings...as the guarantee was typically your only remaining option (do they then remove the promotion)??

Does anyone know if NCL provides blankets on deck for the trips to Alaska?

I'm curious to see the changes to the pool deck (i.e. did they get rid of the very dated palm tree lights?).

Odd question as well, but are the towels still the old pre-Epic ones (green and white strip) vs the new, larger, blue NCL towels.

Which May sailing? We are booked on the 5/21 cruise.

 

I think we are just going to have to wait and see, but there doesn't seem to be any official information, just speculation.

We are going on the week before you. The ship was listed as going in this winter for over a year now (see CC list of refurbishments). This was one of the reasons we picked the Pearl over the Jewel.

We are booked on the Pearl for the Glacier Bay cruise this coming May. I know the ship is scheduled for a dry dock and refurbishments this winter.

I tried finding some details online on what they will be doing, but they are lacking. Does anyone have any more information - Is this just a short 5 day technical dry dock or will this be more of an overhaul like the Dawn had a few months ago?

Looks like a pattern shift is getting ready to occur late this week. Odds appear to be increasing as I have been checking this site the last few days. It went from nothing, to 50% to 60% fairly fast.

https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/last-atlantic-tropical-storm-2016

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo.php?basin=atlc&fdays=5

Here's to hoping with the 40% chance they are wrong.

When the Dawn came out of drydock with an updated hull art (no more dolphins and lady liberty)...it got me thinking...what other ships could use a modern update?

I think the Dawn looks much better, but I think the whole Jewel class could do a redesign.

My apologies if this has already been discussed...I did a search and went back multiple pages and couldn't find anything (feel free to point me in the right direction).

I've been researching Alaskan cruises for the 2017 season. Has anyone else noticed the outrageous NCL prices? I would like to sail with them, but I can't seem to justify $1,199 pp for a balcony on the Eurodam vs $1,890 pp on the Pearl.

I've never been to Alaska, but it doesn't seem like it would be a booze cruise like the Caribbean. I doubt we would drink more than the required tips for that promo. I would sail on the Pearl again in a heartbeat, but that price difference pp is more than the airfare.

Anyone have any clue to their pricing strategy for these cruises /what is going on?

Does anyone know if the Escape is going to have a dinner show venue like on the last three NCL ships? I really enjoyed the magic show and was hoping they would keep this going but couldn't find anything online.

Thanks for the information!

Considering who gets most of the money in Cuban tourism... I hope it isn't anytime soon that ships with 1000's of people are stopping there anytime soon.

This recent Politico article sums it up pretty well...

Consider tourism. The Cuban military has a enormous holding company called GAESA. One of its companies, Gaviota, operates an extensive network of hotels and resorts from which it earns a bonanza of foreign exchange, according to the strategic consultancy Stratfor. Imagine if the Pentagon owned the Radisson, Marriott and Hilton hotel chains. That is the Cuban tourism industry in a nutshell.

Looks exciting and should be fun for families. One thing I don't like about these new ships is the small size of the NCL stacks on the top deck. Most other cruise lines have very identifiable stacks that are grand in size. NCL seems to be shrinking theirs and placing objects around. Nothing beats the split design of the Epic though.

I wished the video showed more of the actual connecting of the ship... like the inside with all the parts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESl89ReTK2c

Not sure if this is a re-post or not but I found this video on Reddit. Found it very interesting to watch. Came in as the Norwegian Crown, left as a completely different ship!

http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2014/01/12/norwegian-epic-cruise/4440317/

Guess some people on here were correct. Shes going to Europe full time. Glad I get to sail on her in a few months before she makes the move over seas for good.