Happy Sails 2 U

Thanks to you all for sharing your thoughts, I think Princess might be the decision! I suggested I get another type of room and my dad would not have it, he really wants me to have the same experience and he also wants his alone time on the balcony, lol! Hope to confirm booking tomorrow.

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Hi, Smiley, how cool was it to have solved your dilemma on these boards? I love it and am inspired to post my own Princess issue now, and see what these magnificent people have to say. Enjoy your time away from it all, and be sure to leave the news and your worries behind you. ;p

Just took the Jewel to Alaska. You'll find the "Dailies" (esp if you are a frequence NCL cruiser) a bit different on this cruise. The front page, which usually provides some level of description of the major activities, lacking and basically just a list. Also, you'll find that some of the game shows overlap with the professional shows (very unusual, indeed).

 

Re: excursions...we took the best one (Yukon Territory 6hr tour) via Frontier Excursions. Request Tyler...he was amazing!

Thanks Floater!

When are you sailing? I will have my staff scan them in as a pdf file. We sailed July 4-11, 2015. It may take a few days to scan them as patient care comes first. Any questions? Regards, Dr. Michael C. Fisher

Dear Good Doctor,

Not to bother you, but if your staff posts the scans to Cruise Critic, everyone will see them, which is a gift extraordinnaire.

But if you intend to email to people who ask for the PDF, I would be delighted to provide my e mail address.

Thank you for your kindness, either way.

We're going to AK on August 15 on the Jewel. Can't get there soon enough!

Can you prebook the chefs table prior to boarding on the Getaway? What is the cost? Has anyone tried it, I have done it on Proncess and it was fantastic.

Nope. Even if you're platinum and or in the Haven. This must be done on board. Good luck!

Hope this link works. You should be able to zoom in on each picture to read the sections you want. Hopefully they are all in focus enough to actually read. I have tried to put them in order from Day 1 to Day 7.

 

http://s37.photobucket.com/user/mimi567/library/Getaway%20Information%20by%20the%20Day

thank you thank you thank you!

I'm sailing on the three day in November, I'll have a very detailed review up for future ncl escape cruisers

 

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Hi, Motley and others departing Hamburg Oct 25....

Come and join us in the three-day Roll Call...

Kate

THIS 2016 TRANSATLANTIC IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR THE SAME LOW NO SOLO COSTS

This is one for the repo purists....

 

No solo supplements across all accommodation categories from insides to suites on the ex-Celebrity, now Croisières de France, Zenith on her repositioning from Venezuela to France, 29th March 2016 over two weeks.

 

The Zenith was refurbished in 2013 and her transfer to CDF by parent Royal Caribbean means there should be a French influence in decor, service, food and drinks.

 

Go to: http://www.pullmantur.com.br

Click the ‘RESERVAR’ tab

Under ‘Mes’ choose ‘Marco 2016’

Under ‘Navio’ choose ‘Zenith’.

Do not choose any other options as this cruise will not appear.

Select the 14-night itinerary La Guaira-Marseille

Select one person and your age.

On the next page, you can add one of the all-inclusive drinks packages from £15/$22.50 per night.

 

There are currently 4.54 Brazilian Reals to the pound. The top Junior suite with balcony works out around £800/$1200 including taxes and all-inclusive drinks package for 14 nights, SOLO OCCUPANCY! Lower categories of cabin are not as good value but are cheaper.

 

There is a link in my signature for the roll call, should you decide to join me.

I am in the USA, so I booked on this one for 17 nights, not 14, starting in Panama. There are a lots of choices. Balconies, verandas, insides, etc. even the Junior Suite with Balcony, as above. Just follow the Skipper's instructions. Boa sorte. ;)

Hm that's odd!

BB, too, Freestyle.

As promised Here are the freestyle dailies from the Getaway (Christmas week cruise) - hope they are helpful...

You're amazing WCT, thanks!

I started a photo review and comparison here: http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2052504

Nice job! Thank you.

Updated deckplans! See Malcolm Olivers cruiseblog (Google). :)

Also try http://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/Norwegian-Escape. It is practically complete!

Katy

U can book things from your cabin TV, from your mobile phone via the iconcierge app or by using the touch screens around the ship. You can also make restaurant bookings from tables set up or at the restaurants themselves.

Keith and Bugsy4271 In addition to all the options Keith has listed, you can book to your heart's content at the NCL website. This was a new process to me, and I'm glad I tried!

I bought a UDP for a cruise coming up soon, and, at the 90-day mark, I was able to go online and book everything from my desktop, including Illusionarium, but the pickings were slim even on the first day they opened up the floodgates, so you have to be fast (get up early!).

I think the restaurant bookings can be done at NCL.com with or without the UDP.

At any rate, Bugsy, NCL will tell you when the booking online starts (90 days or 45 prior to embarkation).

Silly me, the OBC option is clearly better for the solo ovr the dining package.

 

We should have booked two cabins but forgot to check the solo rate was in such a huury Tues morning when the deal came up for that cruise we had been looking at it for weeks. wonder if I can change to solo without penalty.

Can't hurt to ask...

It was announced today that the relationship between the US and Cuba will be happening.

 

See: http://interactive.guim.co.uk/embed/documentcloud/index.html?docid=1382320-white-house-factsheet

Let's go to Cuba!

Which cruise lines sail there originating in the states?

Whose been there?

I'm ready!

I just booked a 7 day solo inside room on Norwegian Pearl out of Houston on January 3rd for $480 (incl taxes) with a $50 OBC

 

It cost $20 cheaper than the 5 day Solo on the Carnival Liberty out of Port Canaveral the next week.

 

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Hi, Kim, are you sure it's the Pearl? I only see cruises on the 3rd and 10th on the Jewel, and same price point.

Nice score!

Whoohooooo!!!!!

Love the thumbnail picture. Thanks for the chuckle!

Literally just completed the application and was approved for the card. Should be receiving it before our mid-October cruise.

 

If I use it for our on-board account/credit I give when I check in, will whatever we spend be at 2x points?

Just as Tricialy said, plus anything you buy that is NCL-related, will earn you double points on your Master Card account, and this includes cruise tickets purchased via a 3rd party TA (because it is actually NCL that gets paid, not the travel agency), OBC that you buy one way or another; shipboard purchases via auctions, or duty free shops, plus service charges, and TIPS! (that's right, you go right to the guest service desk and say, "please add $30 as a tip to our cabin steward," and they will, and she/he will get it, and you'll get double points); also, all online purchases for casino money, dining or entertainment or gifts or excursions. If it goes to NCL's coffers, whether you pay via your onboard account or on line, as long as you are paying with your NCL credit card, you will get 2 pts per dollar. If your travelmate(s) aren't into collecting points, you can put all of their sign and sail charges on your NCL card. Then, NCL will apply their charges to their cabin statements, but with your credit card on account, and you'll get double points for those expenditures, too. You can settle with your friends/family later on.

Happy Sails!

I have never received notifications of any bonus points....how do I sign up for that?? can't find it on the website....:o

I have not received any notices about earning bonus points, either, but I looked around and clicked around, and and voila!

• Sign in
  
• 4 white tabs, mid page, click on "rewards"
  
• on right side middle of the page, click on "learn more about...."
  
• click on "earn bonus points"
  
• explore, find store, score!
  

Good luck!

HS2U :)

We've had a Bank of America NCL CC for years, and every-so-often just exchange the World Points for cash. Easy.

 

I'm curious about your new NCL Card... does it have a "chip" like the ones used in Europe?

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/chip-pin-cards

Hi, $hip$hape, stop following me.:eek:

My card doesn't have a chip and I asked for it a few times. I have the BOA travel card, though, with foreign tax credits waived and no payment for a year and no annual fee, and it has the chip. They're all catching up with Europe in that regard; those fine Europeans have a lot to teach us. I absolutely loved Europe while I was there...

A word to the wise: If you use your points for partial or full payment of your cruise, and you have to cancel for legitimate (ie sickness, death in family, etc) or not legitimate, you will lose your points. Case in point(s): had to cancel Epic Mediterranean this summer due to injury, and I had paid for nearly all of it with points. I didn't read the fine print, although it wouldn't have mattered because I hadn't expected to miss the boat in the first place (how do you predict emergencies?). The points' value was not returned, and the points themselves were not banked, so I was ship out of luck in all regards. Seems wrong, somehow, especially since I was on the NCL Baltic cruise 2 weeks prior when I got hurt, and used (and paid for) the infirmary. I have yet to get to all the incredible and demanding paperwork for my travel protection plans...and some think the loss might be recouped through that process. We shall see. Be careful!

HS2U;)

This 10-day maiden cruise is out of Southampton, UK, to Miami, Florida, USA, fall of next year:

NCL is running a special single supplement waived throughout--don't know when it will end or even why they are doing this...maybe they need to start paying the shipbuilders by this weekend?

Studios are 1200

Insides start at 1100

Balconies start at 1440

Family balconies start at 1500

Port fees: 87.00

NO PORTS except embarkation and debarkation.

Good luck.

HS2U :D

AI Update:

Solo travelers who book studio cabins can no longer avail themselves of All Inclusive special. Yesterday, we could. Today, not. And while we're required to pay double for any other cabin, if you book as a single traveler, and enter the promo code ALLIN, you get the same warning studio passengers get: Promo code not valid on selected sail date and/or stateroom type.

Love your father's red wagon quote, Starrgazer! ;)

HS2U :)

I see you previously sailed on Norwegian Pearl, how was that?

You weren't asking me, but now is as good a time as ever to post one of several NCL cabin reviews; this one's about the Alaska trip:

Ship -Pearl

Deck - 11

Stateroom # - 11030

Stateroom Category – SC 2-Bedroom Family Suite with Balcony

Starboard or Port Side - Starboard

Quiet Stateroom? (With comments on problems) – Very Quiet

Was stateroom a connecting stateroom? - yes...to a haven suite

Balcony View - unobstructed view. Balcony railing in the way when you were sitting in one of the chairs

Balcony Size? It is fairly large, comparatively.

Was wind a problem? Not at all. We were close to the coast for just about the whole journey.

Any specific problems with this cabin? - nope

Any other comments? We were a married couple and two friends. I slept in the child's room (it is just perfect for a small person, like me) where it was pitch dark just to my liking; my friend slept comfortably on the couch; the balcony breeze was soothing; the couple took the master bedroom which is outstanding in all respects. Gorgeous large four poster bed, bath with two sinks, a shower and a real tub with excellent view outside (don't bathe when you're in port!). We loved our concierge and cabin steward and had the time of our lives!

...then very likely they'll seat you at your own table. I usually book the early wonderfully calm and quiet time slots so that I can sit at a nice table by the window, read my book, enjoy the sunset, take in the ambience of a small restaurant, and consume a delectable meal.

If it's the company of other solos you're after, you could attend a solo gathering (check the dailies), and put the word out there. You could ask the maitre d about this, in advance, or you can put in a request when you make the reservation.

I've met some wonderful people while dining solo at specialty restaurants. The tables, while small and intimate, are close to one another, so at a minimum you'll have eye contact with your neighbors.

You can always test the waters with a greeting, and if you like the people at the table next to yours, super; you'll have company while dining, even if the tables are apart. If not, you can always go back to scrolling through your tablet.

Cheers!

HS2U :)

Hi, all, just booked NCL Escape's maiden voyage next October. Online and everywhere else all you could see were Deck 12 cabins (terrible locations, way up front...I'm dizzy just thinking about it), so I called my TA and waited more than an hour to learn that indeed they DO have cabins on 10 and 11 (far better locations, too), and I snagged a great one, mid-ship, on 10, for $1,187, in full. Not bad for ten days on the Titanic. Wait, hold on, very bad metaphor. Yikes! Skip it. :p

I'm all atwitter as well because that adorable little Bendy started the RC for this journey, and will be sailing on it. He wrote an amazing review of the Epic when it first started sailing. I may be old enough to be his mama, but he just seems like a great soul with heart and smart.

Anyway, this is my maiden post here. :D

HS2U

New to this board, this is great! Thanks for all the info everybody! Sailing Med in June with my son, but interested in solo cruising next. Hopefully the fall!

Welcome aboard EMP, I'll be sailing in studio cabin NCL Epic through the Mediterranean, middle of June. I'll wave to you, lol. And yes, great great options shown here for soloists.

Enjoy!

HS2U ;)