Partial Cruise questions

[Embracedbylife]

We are booked on the Jewel for June 20, 2012 that goes to Norway and Iceland return from England. We have sent a request to rccl to board the ship 2 days late in Bergen Norway and disembark 2 days early in Iceland. Assuming they approve our late embarkation and early disembarkation does anyone know these answers:

 

1. we are prepaying gratuities with anytime dining. Will they waive the 4 days of prepaid gratuities for the days we are not onboard?

 

2. We want to be prepared if the ship misses Iceland due to high winds. Our ship goes from Norway to Lerwick, Scotland, then to the Faroe Islands, then a day at sea and next to Reykjavik, Iceland for an overnight. We like the idea that the ship overnights in iceland, and then we plan to disembark and spend another 2 days there on our own. The ship leaves iceland with 2 days at sea on its way back to England to disembark, so we'd rather enjoy Icleand than to stay onboard and sail for 2 more days. I have heard that sometimes this Iceland port is cancelled due to high winds. If the ship misses Iceland, any idea if they would just spend 2 extra days at sea (making that 5 consecutive sea days) or would they divert somewhere else? We are just concerned with booking our return flight from Icleand and then never making it there and having to fly there from wherever the ship goes instead.

 

Thanks for your input!!

[NorbertsNiece]

I can only voice an opinion with regards to the gratuity side of things and that is that they won't waive any amount because you decide not to sail the whole itinerary.

 

It states on the website : The cruise price will not be discounted if guests decide to take a 'Partial Cruise', even though they are not travelling for the full duration.

[cb at sea]

Why in the world would you pay for an entire cruise, and not use it? I understand what you're trying to do, but there MUST be less expensive ways to do it.

Yes...you will need to pay the gratuities for the entire time....it's not your server's/attendants fault that you won't be there, using their services....they are there for you....but you are not there for them!

[Embracedbylife]

Great thanks! It actually turns out to be more convienent and cheaper/very similar price for us to do it this way. Sounds crazy, but it's true!

 

We were originally going to stick to the cruise schedule and fly to Sweden first to visit with friends for 4 days prior to the cruise and then fly to England to get on the ship and fly back home from England when the cruise returns.

 

But it's cheaper and more convienent for us to fly into Sweden and home from Icleland than to fly into Sweden and home from England. The flight to Sweden and home from England is $1390 per person. The flight to Sweden and home from Icleand is only $1087 per person. ($600 difference) We always fly into the departure city a day early, so we'll be paying for a hotel either way the night before embarking so that's a wash out. We'll be staying at a friends house in Sweden so the 2 extra day there won't cost us and we'll get to see our friends for longer rather than flying to England early. The ship spends the first 2 days at sea, so rather than being at sea we'll be with our friends in Sweden and then in Bergen exploring Norway a day early. (don't care for that day in England as we've been to London numerous times)

 

The flights from Sweden to Bergen is the same price as the flight from Sweden to England, so that's a wash out.

 

The main cost is going to be the food and hotel in Icleand for 2 days after the ship leaves. But we have the $600 savings from the flight for this. The ship is at sea those days so we aren't missing any ports. And, we'll be getting home on July 1 instead of July 2 so we save a day charge at the pet hotel also, and most importantly - We get to see 2 more days with our friends in Sweden, get an extra day in Bergen and we get to see 2 more days in Icleand!! That's worth it to me! :)

[NorbertsNiece]

If you're looking for a first class meal in Reykjavik I can recommend Fish Market. An amazing tasting menu

[Embracedbylife]

Thanks for the suggestions! anyone know what happens if the ship has to miss Reykjavik, Iceland? You think they'll do 5 days at sea or change it for another stop? Curious if anyone has experienced problems docking in Icleand? It's supposed to do an overnight there so I would hope they can dock, but I like to be prepared for all possibilities!