Any reason for fewer NCL cruises from NYC?

[Red-Sol]

43 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Man, you almost had me sucked in, because I do love the Escape, until I priced it out. For the two of us in a balcony, all in it comes out to $5,714.46+DSC. We will stick with our January Meraviglia 11-day where we are booked into a whirlpool suite (not Yacht Club, but we have our own hot tub on the balcony) and $650 of OBC for $5,594+DSC. The itinerary is pretty comparable.

 

 

I admit that when I saw the pricing I gulped! However we always book through Casinos at Sea and the fares are substantially lower than the published general fares. If you donate enough money to the Casino you can get different comps which usually cut approx. 25% to 50% or more off many of those published fares.

Edited March 4 by Red-Sol

[cruiseny4life]

Thanks for pointing this one out @Red-Sol! I'm going to keep it on my watch for now list and see what pricing does, especially once we get to late October/November after final payment. Thanks for plugging it! 

 

Like your most recent past cruise, I love the ports since I haven't been to any of them! 

[JamieLogical]

11 minutes ago, Red-Sol said:

I amit that when I saw the pricing I gulped! However we always book through Casinos at Sea and the fares are substantially lower than the published general fares. If you donate enough money to the Casino you can get different comps which usually cut approx. 25% to 50% or more off many of those published fares.

 

While I do pay tithes to the Casino Gods daily on every cruise, I apparently don't contribute enough to qualify for any comps.

[Red-Sol]

6 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

Thanks for pointing this one out @Red-Sol! I'm going to keep it on my watch for now list and see what pricing does, especially once we get to late October/November after final payment. Thanks for plugging it! 

 

Like your most recent past cruise, I love the ports since I haven't been to any of them! 

 

I will be impatienly waiting to hear you say yes! 😉 I heard a little tip today that if you see insides drop in price to around $700.00 that there either will be or already are some potential savings to be had with specials.

[Red-Sol]

Just now, JamieLogical said:

 

While I do pay tithes to the Casino Gods daily on every cruise, I apparently don't contribute enough to qualify for any comps.

Have you ever called them Jamie to verify?

[JamieLogical]

Just now, Red-Sol said:

Have you ever called them Jamie to verify?

 

I haven't sailed NCL since October 2022 so I doubt my Player's Club even has relevant/any data associated with it anymore. The other cruise lines I have sailed with since then have their own casino programs.

[Red-Sol]

1 minute ago, JamieLogical said:

 

I haven't sailed NCL since October 2022 so I doubt my Player's Club even has relevant/any data associated with it anymore. The other cruise lines I have sailed with since then have their own casino programs.

There's a good chance that you are right and may no longer qualify....but it still might be worth a call to find out for sure...you could start the conversation with them saying you just want to know that...as far as any qualifications from years past?

1-877-752-9625

[BEACHBARB]

On 3/3/2024 at 1:32 PM, PatJim said:

Thanks so much.
If you do book the Escape for February 23 next year, please get in touch.  Love to meet up for drinks or whatever.  We’re in cabin #17728.

BTW, just noticed from your signature that we were on the same sailing last November 4th😎 on the Getaway.

 

Just booked last Friday.  Cabin 17704 - there were only 2 cabins left on 17.  Wish I had the go ahead from family a bit earlier - could have saved over $2,000 on a 2 bedroom.  A year from today, we'll be in Tortola - we'll go to Cane Garden Bay.  

[zqvol]

1 hour ago, JamieLogical said:

 

While I do pay tithes to the Casino Gods daily on every cruise, I apparently don't contribute enough to qualify for any comps.

Don’t feel bad very few people do. 

[UKstages]

so silly for NCL to have an entire casino department with dedicated phone numbers and cruise consultants to handle the "very few people" who qualify for casino comps.

[elcuchio24]

On 2/26/2024 at 12:50 PM, Laszlo said:

My wife and I decided to sail again to Bermuda in June. We opted to go out of Boston instead of NYC. Its a 5 hour drive compared to 90 minutes but we love the Jewel class ships

 

We're doing the same in August. Its only a 1.5hr drive for us, but its a way easier and less busy port. Hope you come up ahead of time and enjoy the seaport!

[JIMESOPUS]

5 hours ago, Red-Sol said:

OK all you NYC Winter cruise enthusiasts.... time to step up and book the February 23rd, 2025 12 day Caribbean cruise (I know it's not 14 days but it may be the best we can hope for.) Officially booked it this morning and found out that it is selling very well. Posting another Pic of the Itinerary and after you look at it you will know for sure that you want to! 🤣

@JIMESOPUS MSC will need to be another time but I am sure sooner or later that will happen.

So who else wants to go? Many familiar people are already booked! 🙂

 

Edited to add...it doesn't hurt that the Escape is my favorite ship either

@Red-Sol Joe, If we didn't have a date with Aquaman in March we would jump back in the pool.

[PatJim]

On 3/4/2024 at 1:43 PM, Red-Sol said:

OK all you NYC Winter cruise enthusiasts.... time to step up and book the February 23rd, 2025 12 day Caribbean cruise (I know it's not 14 days but it may be the best we can hope for.) Officially booked it this morning and found out that it is selling very well. Posting another Pic of the Itinerary and after you look at it you will know for sure that you want to! 🤣

@JIMESOPUS MSC will need to be another time but I am sure sooner or later that will happen.

So who else wants to go? Many familiar people are already booked! 🙂

 

Edited to add...it doesn't hurt that the Escape is my favorite ship either

Congrats!  Please make note of our cabin #17728 if you want to get together with Jim and me for drinks or the climbing wall 😱 or something else, if we miss each other at the Meet & Greet.  I haven’t yet signed up on the Roll Call, but will.  

[PatJim]

On 3/4/2024 at 3:06 PM, BEACHBARB said:

Just booked last Friday.  Cabin 17704 - there were only 2 cabins left on 17.  Wish I had the go ahead from family a bit earlier - could have saved over $2,000 on a 2 bedroom.  A year from today, we'll be in Tortola - we'll go to Cane Garden Bay.  

We usually book as soon as cruises are listed, for best price and  cabin choices (Jim is very particular about cabin selection!).  Guess we initially missed this listing, so our choices were also limited.  This will be our first Penthouse Haven suite on ships with Haven bars & restaurants, as we usually book 2-bedrooms, so we got the last one near the exit door.  Jim and I will be sailing ALONE for first time in years.  Look forward to meeting you😎

[PatJim]

4 minutes ago, PatJim said:

On 3/4/2024 at 3:06 PM, BEACHBARB said:

Just booked last Friday.  Cabin 17704 - there were only 2 cabins left on 17.  Wish I had the go ahead from family a bit earlier - could have saved over $2,000 on a 2 bedroom.  A year from today, we'll be in Tortola - we'll go to Cane Garden Bay.  

 We usually book as soon as cruises are listed, for best price and  cabin choices (Jim is very particular about cabin selection!).  Our TA said a large group booked most of the Haven cabins on this sailing.  Ours is where the cabin stewards park their gear…  This will be our first Penthouse Haven suite on ships with Haven bars & restaurants, as we usually book 2-bedrooms, so we got the last one near the exit door.  Jim and I will be sailing ALONE for first time in years.  Look forward to meeting you😎

 

 

[BEACHBARB]

We've only been in the Haven proper this past January on the Encore.  Loved it.  Usually get aft penthouse for the large balcony but I enjoyed being in the proper area.  Will miss the Horizon Lounge from the Encore.  I'll be looking for you!!!

[PatJim]

22 minutes ago, BEACHBARB said:

We've only been in the Haven proper this past January on the Encore.  Loved it.  Usually get aft penthouse for the large balcony but I enjoyed being in the proper area.  Will miss the Horizon Lounge from the Encore.  I'll be looking for you!!!

We had an aft large balcony on the Bliss, and we really ♥️💕❤️ it, too.  The 220 steps from cabin to forward stairs/elevator, was a nice way to walk off meals.  But I’ve come to agree with Jim that it’s more convenient to be in the Haven proper, even if the balconies in 2-bedrooms & Penthouses are tiny.  A big Haven perk is being escorted off the ship at ports via private staff elevator.  If we forgot something in our cabin, it was a trade off to leave without it, or be late disembarking.  (Of course, I especially ❤️💕♥️ being close to our private bathroom!)

 

[MoCruiseFan]

On 2/26/2024 at 10:59 AM, Red-Sol said:

Anyone have any thoughts/answers/theories on why that might be?

Because it is NYC! 😉

[Beach Life 1]

On 3/8/2024 at 1:21 PM, PatJim said:

 We usually book as soon as cruises are listed, for best price and  cabin choices (Jim is very particular about cabin selection!).  Our TA said a large group booked most of the Haven cabins on this sailing.  Ours is where the cabin stewards park their gear…  This will be our first Penthouse Haven suite on ships with Haven bars & restaurants, as we usually book 2-bedrooms, so we got the last one near the exit door.  Jim and I will be sailing ALONE for first time in years.  Look forward to meeting you😎

 

 

I see that the majority of the Haven Cabins are already sold out, which seems odd for one year out.    Did your TA tell  you what group booked all these cabins?

[PartyPlannerLady]

On 3/4/2024 at 4:49 PM, UKstages said:

so silly for NCL to have an entire casino department with dedicated phone numbers and cruise consultants to handle the "very few people" who qualify for casino comps.

 

It is not a very few people.  It does not take a huge amount on any given cruise to qualify for at least a subtantial discount and quite a few other perks.  Your combined play for a year counts.  Example of perks, a friend of mine had on a casino cruise booked  and had to cancel two days prior to sailing and he got a 100% refund of his out of pocket cost without having the insurance.  Even on the comp cruises you pay port feew/taxes, DSC, and a $20 a day admin fee.  He got all of that back as well as his excursions etc.  Nice perk!

[PartyPlannerLady]

On 3/4/2024 at 2:44 PM, JamieLogical said:

 

While I do pay tithes to the Casino Gods daily on every cruise, I apparently don't contribute enough to qualify for any comps.

 

I have a great CAS rep.  She gets me cabins on darn near any cruise I want to sail..  If you jump onto the NCL page on a major social media site and ask for suggestions on who to contact at CAS I am will to bet that you will get a good reponse. 🙂

[JIMESOPUS]

another nail in the coffin for all cruise lines sailing out of NYC

https://council.nyc.gov/press/2024/03/07/2568/#:~:text=City Hall%2C NY – Today%2C,and practicable to do so.

[UKstages]

as a resident of one of the communities in which these cruise ships operate, i'm thankful for this legislation, which has been in the works for years and which has been discussed on these boards many times. it's not as if the cruise lines are hearing about it for the first time.

 

adding shore power is tremendously complicated. and the manhattan shore line is quite old and complex.  the city is only just now in the process of completing its feasibility study. we're a long way off from RFPs being submitted. and they will need 13 megawatts of power in manhattan for the cruise ship terminal; its still uncertain if con edison (the local power company) can add that to the grid. in addition, this will be a 20 million dollar plus undertaking. it'll be even more if they need to build a new substation. all of that is a roundabout way of saying that you won't likely see shore power in manhattan until 2027 or 2028 at the very earliest. and that would be an aggressive plan.

in any event, nobody is committing to firm dates yet. so, i don't see this decision as impacting any plans to move departures out of new york in the near term. if anything, i would eventually expect it would mean more departures from new york!

 

here's a clip of my city councilman explaining the key issues at the start of the hearing in which the legislation was introduced:

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3bhQXgOD6o/

[njhorseman]

3 hours ago, JIMESOPUS said:

another nail in the coffin for all cruise lines sailing out of NYC

https://council.nyc.gov/press/2024/03/07/2568/#:~:text=City Hall%2C NY – Today%2C,and practicable to do so.

It's not as onerous as you make it out to be.

 

It doesn't require all cruise ships to run on shore power. First, the ship has to be capable of running on shore power and second, shore power has to be available. Manhattan Cruise Terminal doesn't have shore power capability and based on this article the EDC has set a 2028 target date for its availability...but knowing how slowly projects move in NYC that might be an optimistic timeline.https://w42st.com/post/cruise-ships-commit-to-shore-power-by-2028-promise-community-fund-amid-expansion-plans/

 

While new cruise ships are being built with shore power capability there's nothing requiring older ships to be retrofitted.

[shof515]

Brooklyn is the only cruise terminal with shore power and princess is the only cruise line that uses it. MSC ship does have shore power but there is compatibility issues with the ship and the shore power connection