Princess@Sea

Igazu is very easy to do on your own.

Royal has great buffet. 

Jeans and tops.

Time to find out how edible the food in the buffet is ...

Maybe they are updating new itineraries. 

If you are already booked under Sun Drenched can you switch to Great Escapes, assuming it is before the final payment date?

One reason is that unlike airline fees, which the government sets per passenger, most ship's port fees and taxes are set per GT or meter of length, or other measure of the ship itself. Then, this amount is divided by the number of passengers actually booked, so that in many cases port fees and taxes can go up or down, with the cruise line usually eating an increase (not enough passengers) but crediting you for decreases. Panama Canal cruises are particularly brutal on port fees, as the canal tariff is based on the total number of passenger berths (maximum capacity), not on how many passengers are onboard. However, canal cruises also have some of the most volatile fees, as the number of passengers varies through the booking period.

That is good to know. I was wondering why the same same cruise could incur different port fees sailing to sailing.

I just tried a mock booking. NCL posts a total price that updates dynamically as you add things. Here it is after I added the Choice Beverage and Choice Dining packages:

 

 

I don't see how you can have "sticker shock" after adding those things in when it appears on the right side, in real time, as you select each item. As soon as you select the cabin type, the price is shown along with the "govt fees and taxes". Add in promos and click "Continue" and it updates in real time.

 

You can choose what the final price is by choosing different promos, or cabins. I guess seeing the price rise as you work through the booking is it? Maybe it's like watching the taxi fare meter keep clicking adding .40 a minute when you are stuck in traffic.

 

 

I had sticker shock when the final price appeared. Not sure which part you could not understand.

You know what, I generally do not begrudge any gratuities paid to the crew but it is really getting to be a lot.

Also noticed NCL tends to charge more for ports fees and taxes too for similar or sometime the same itineraries from Carnival. Anyone else noticed the same thing?

Last night I found great deal but after port fees, taxes and doing the math with gratuities, I had sticker shock at the final price.

They are running free gratuities now?

Basically nowadays if you want to choose your own room you have to pony up for these "free" perks.

Since both ships are new to you, pick the one with the better sale. At the same price I'd give the edge to Allure. But if you get a tremendous price for Getaway, go for it.

One thing about Getaway class, it doesn't handle crowd as well. If you are going in holiday weeks or summer, I'd avoid still go with Allure.

Are there casual options for dining on Silverseas and Seabourn for Antarctica cruises?

Seems like those managed to stay on board got the best deal out of the fiasco. For those who had fly the charter back, especially those who didn't wish to fly, do they also only get 25% future cruise credit?

You will be fine.

Fashion a subjective matter. I hate most formal cloths and think they look stupid.

... or the sales team only mentioned what they wanted the op to hear.

But since the OP hasn't come back to give us the scoop, I'm betting that the OP was wrong in her assumptions.

I also bet OP were led to believe they were getting something different than they were because the sales team were telling them only part of the stories.

yes, you are right, but my post was directed at people who are saying cruise lines sales people are out right lying. No, we do not know what happened. it is pretty obvious though if you do put 2 and 2 together the situation isn't quite like the way OP is explaining it.

I think of all the times I have cruised, stayed in a hotel, etc and when I was a sales manager for a large hotel chain: never have I been misled on anything. And I would never have allowed any of my agents to mislead a client. I may have misunderstood, which would be my own problem. I have heard agents give bad advise because they didn't totally understand but not because they just lied.

I wouldn't say never. And yes, it is obvious OP is not getting what they were led to believe they were getting.

I think perhaps you do not understand what really happened. I do not think anyone was lying to anyone. There was a misunderstanding yes, but it goes a little deeper. :eek:

None of us knows what really happened.

whenever these cruise lines and their trusted sales agents tell you a "good deal", always assume they are purposely only telling half of the story and the deal is something you have to jump through hoops to get.

because most of the time, they are.

assume they are skillful liars and you will be less surprised.

That new itinerary looks really good. Tortola and Dominica seem to be recovering the slowest.

I think you can reach the bow on all Princess ships except Royal and Regal. Caribbean, Crown, Grand, Sapphire all have a similar setup as Ruby, is that correct?

They certainly are not doing a good job at communication. I would think your itinerary will be similar to the 10/31 and 11/11 sailings

I just found a FLL to Copenhagen one way are at $150. Last minute fare.

Sounds like the NCL sales rep gave you the wrong information. It's a shame they do not hold their sales team accountable for giving out wrong information.

Just be aware it happens during on board sales too so be very vigilant if you want to book next cruise on board.

And unfortunately it's not just NCL either.