romalley99

Escape Jan 14 cruise was slim pickins'... not many upgrades, however, a select few did snag a balcony from their inside, but other than not, have heard of more still pending than ever before! Must be a full ship! 

On the current runs from Port Canaveral ,the clocks have been changing the first sea day moving one hour forward and on the last day after Great Stirrup Cay one hour back. 

8 hours ago, dexddd said:

Benefits are not there nor being replaced.  We too were on Prima TA.  Wine tasting sold out.  Waitlist with no call.  No bts.  No dinner with officers.  No Sapphire pins.

 

No apology from cruisenext desk.  But sure, they had plenty of time to call room to sell cruisenext certs.  No thanks.

I know Prima TA was a rough one. Lots and lots of members all wanting the same thing. Sorry you experienced this, but this is exactly my issue. They need a better way to handle this volume, even if out of the ordinary. 

3 hours ago, JGmf said:

 

Thanks for the information.

 

You are saying that selected Latitudes members are automatically signed-up for the tasting and mixology.  Is there something in your stateroom welcome packet that indicates as such and asks for a RSVP? 

 

While I agree that it's a nice thing to do to create spots for people who actually want to participate, absent some confirmation you were signed-up, it's a stretch for people to guess and/or do a preemptive visit to the Cruise Next desk.

 

Some, yes, are automatically signed up via a list sent to the ship from Miami Office. They send out invitations to those cabins. However, it is always advised for Latitudes Members to visit the Cruise Next Desk on the first day by 9:00pm, just to check in and pick up anything (such as pins, paperwork etc). They make that announcement repeatedly from the time we board until sailaway. I think it certainly is an issue that can be worked on/better communicated. But as I said earlier, this is out of the ordinary but nonetheless still a possibility.

I was just on the Escape first two weeks of December, we were the only 2 Ambassadors onboard and only 3 other Diamonds. I was still automatically signed up for everything (including Dinner with the Officers). When I received the invitations in my cabin, I kindly declined. 

It changes based off the market you are sailing in and the cruise you're picking. It could be as little as an extra point to two per night... or as nice as a multiple in-category upgrade. For example, you'll pay for an IF and you'll be given an IA. I once saw them even add a few hundred dollars in OBC to the reservation based on cabin category booked. 

On 1/4/2023 at 7:33 PM, kochleffel said:

My next NCL cruise will be my first at Latitudes Platinum. According to the website, the benefits include a wine tasting and a behind-the-scenes tour.

 

Are these currently being offered? Is the capacity so limited that it's necessary to get the earliest possible check-in time and then run straight to the cruise next desk to book them?

It is actually capacity controlled. If there are a very large number of Latitudes Members on the cruise, they might hold one event capped off at the "highest" of the tier... meaning, the top cruisers on the list, or they might hold multiple events on different days. 

For example, on the Prima Transatlantic back in September, there were over 1300 Latitudes Members, with 800+ being Platinum and Higher. I was informed by the Cruise Next Manager that the Miami office sends a list of the top cruisers and they have priority to all events. Being there were so many, they held 3 Wines Around the World Tastings and 3 Sail and Sustain Mixology Experiences. This, of course, was most likely because we had so many free days (sea days) in a row and there was time for it. However, I was informed that since I was one of 13 Ambassadors onboard, that I had been automatically signed up. I did asked to be removed from the list so that those wanting to go who haven't gotten a spot yet can.

I wish everyone who doesn't want to go would asked to be removed from the list to make room for those that to. It's inconsiderate of them to not check in with Cruise Next and make sure! Just saying this as an FYI, but it's also super rare that a typical cruise would have this many latitudes members for it to become an issue. This sailing was out of the ordinary. 

The Behind the Scenes Tour is still not available... it's the only perk they are not operating at the moment. For the Wine Tasting, since this will be your first time with access to it, give it a try. For me, it was a one and done type thing. No need to go back. It's not quite what I was expecting, in terms of having to walk around and get the wine myself, and using the "dump and pour" method. I much prefer a new glass for each wine. But this might just be me... Anyway, it's worth it to go once! 

If you're far enough out, they'll let you make changes (I believe 75 days is the deadline, but don't quote me). I have used the flight going but have ditched the return flight. I was never penalized. BUT, if you don't show up for the outbound flight, and if the return flight is on the same record locator (and on the same airline) it will get automatically canceled. 

I electronically sign all my request forms. 

I agree with everything above. Once you hit Platinum... you're all set. I am Ambassador and honestly my perks are not much different than Platimum (besides a "free not so free" free at sea perkless, latitude pointless,  cruise) and a gift, which is a tote bag. Don't rush to move up after hitting Platinum! 

3 hours ago, jmikef said:

Just to clear up what terminal the Prima sails out of at Port Canaveral, it's #5

 

Yes, you are correct. I saw it correctly in my head, but my fingers typed 6. Thanks for clearing that up! 

11 hours ago, TSUmom said:

This is good to know - we will be cruising out of Port Canaveral for the first time and I had no idea it could be out of a few different terminals.  I usually cruise out of Miami and love the new building, especially the Haven experience.  Thank you for the information.  As of yet we don't know which terminal we cruise out of.

If it's the Escape, it will be Terminal 10.... which is what I described above. Prima has only been using Terminal 6 on their Friday/Friday departures, and might also continue to in the New Year because another ship has priority at Terminal 10 (MSC). 

41 minutes ago, danielleaviva said:

Thank you! Between 17102 and 17702, is there a reason you prefer 17102?

No, not really. I just prefer the layout of that cabin more. The other side has the flipped "mirror" layout. Both identical, just reversed. A bit confusing! Lol 

Terminal 10 is totally unorganized and hard to manage. They've tried to change the way it's done by setting up a Haven Tent on the side of the building where you initially check in, and then they send you up that secret escalator which puts you right at the entry door to the terminal. Except, when you get to the top, it's a giant mess because there is no separate security line. Once you get through that, stay to the left and walk all the way to the back. The room in the back is extremely crammed and fills up quick. 

On 12/30/2022 at 9:02 AM, TSUmom said:

Although this was on the Prima here is a recent review of Haven boarding.  

Prima leaves from Terminal 6, which is a very different experience. 

I'e stayed in 17702, 17102 and 18702 before. I personally prefer 17 (more specifically 17102) because the cabins are indeed bigger on 17, and the balcony difference is remarkably bigger. Typically I prefer 18 for all other stateroom categories but when staying in any of the forward facing cabins, I prefer 17 on Escape.  

I'm cruising Jan 14th on Escape and everything is still pending for me... and the same goes for much of my shipmates, per the many posts about it. Not even that many balconies have been processed yet... only a select few who have said they've been notified. 

17 hours ago, bluesea777 said:

To tell you the truth, Encore isn’t quite suitable for Bermuda cruises - due to lack of Spice H2O. Encore is better suited for cooler weather cruises since she has outdoor heaters. 
 

We have been on all 3 other BA+ class ships (as well as Encore) and they are better suited for Bermuda cruises out of NYC since they all have Spice H2O that is usually used for late evening parties under stars. 
 

Encore could replace Prima for the Northern Europe cruise (Iceland) … Prima was built for warm weather cruises. 
 

JMHO. 
 

I agree, although it would be nice to have Encore here in NYC for at least one season. 

I did the Prima from Southampton to Galveston... basically half in cold weather and half in warm... and I enjoyed Prima MUCH more in the warmer climates... not only because of the outdoor features, but because it also moved many more people outsides which "de-crammed" indoor spaces significantly. 

1 hour ago, bluesea777 said:

When we booked in Aug 2019 the Encore inaugural TA (Nov 2019), it was already a 9 day cruise with no ports but an overnight in NYC was already in the itinerary.

it was modified on Jan 23 2019 (for a Nov sailing) — on this same day they canceled the Nov 17 first Miami sailing to maximize time in NYC and Miami for events.

These schedule changes are sadly the result of releasing itineraries many years in advance. I remember one year (many years ago) Norwegian opened up an entire NYC season for booking 2-3 years in advance and a year out scrapped the entire NYC deployment to redeploy the ship. Crazy! 
 

56 minutes ago, bluesea777 said:

When we booked in Aug 2019 the Encore inaugural TA (Nov 2019), it was already a 9 day cruise with no ports but an overnight in NYC was already in the itinerary.

It was changed earlier in the year... maybe June or earlier? Originally it was an 11-day with ports (Azores & ??) ending in Miami... I'll go back and see if I can find it, but it certainly feels like a lifetime ago. 

So interesting to see that the Norwegian Jade will be calling Alaska home in 2025. I do believe (if I am not mistaken) that this will be the first time that the Jade will be in Alaska. Also, Seward is no longer the "turnaround" point anymore in Alaska, as it looks like NCL is moving to Whittier, AK for their Northern/Southern route. This is what Jade will be doing, the typical Northbound/Southbound legs from Vancouver to Northern Alaska. 

From what I am hearing, I believe they're in the process of doing something along the lines of what happened with Encore. They want to get into NYC earlier than expected for some festivities/events for her inauguration. Encore was reduced to a 9 day (with no ports) from an 11 day. I think NCL is going to make NYC "the spot" for the Christening and Inaugural (especially after the sort-of bad feedback they had with the Prima Iceland Christening and the challenges of doing this ceremony abroad). 

We will surely see in time... 

Back in 2019 the Escape Team and Officers gave us a brilliant party in the Private Room at Taste. It was marvelous. We were able to order from any specialty restaurant onboard (mix and match appetizers, entrees and sides, even!) and then surprised us with a nearly 25lb espresso cheesecake cake! It was one of the highlights of my life, seriously. This was my only time dining in this area. 

I do believe if you have a large enough party, you CAN reserve this space. It has it's own separate galley down there, and before the pandemic, they were looking to convert this space into an additional specialty restaurant since it is so underused... Onda, I believe. It never came to fruition because of the setback from the pandemic. 

On 12/15/2022 at 5:49 PM, BirdTravels said:

Nope. Dec 6 appears to be the one and only continental US cruise of the Viva. After that, she goes to San Juan and never returns to the continental US (at least the current advertised schedules through the end of 2025).

 

From Nov 27-Dec 6 will be PR/Media/TA cruise(s) (Prima did one to Halifax) and then a repositioning cruise from NYC to Miami. 

It doesn't quite look like there will be time for a repositioning cruise from NYC to Miami. It'll very highly likely be a 4 day from NYC (invite only) and then 2 days down to Miami (without ant guests) and then two 2/3 day Inaugurals from Miami to island and back, plus a night onboard for shoreside employees.