Briji04

We will be cruising to Britain, Scotland and Ireland in 2018. We have never been to Scotland or Ireland before. We have found that reading books or watching movies prior to travelling increases our knowledge or enhances our experiences on the journey. Can anyone recommend books or movies for Scotland and Ireland that would help increase our enjoyment of our upcoming cruise? We have a long wait until this cruise so might as well start reading/watching while waiting.

 

Specifically, our ports are Newcastle upon Tyne, Rosyth (Edinburgh), Ullapool, Londonderry, Belfast, Dublin, Portland (Weymouth), St. Peter Port, Guernsey and Dover.

 

Thanks very much!

I found a lot of very interesting historical documentaries from Lucy Worsley on you tube. She is the chief curator at several of the royal palaces i.e. Hampton Court Palace but she gives a lot of history and general background that you might find interesting. Also, Fiona Bruce has a video on Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

Check out Samantha Brown videos while you are on you tube for short videos of both Scotland and Ireland.

I have used Rick Steves guide books for Amsterdam and Rome and they were great. I would think his book on the Scotland and Ireland would be good too.

Happy travels!

I found this:

https://www.ncl.com/latitudes-rewards-program-enhancements

Seems easier to follow in this format

We had originally booked a suite on our upcoming cruise. However, we decided to decrease the cruise cost and increase our allowance for private tours. So we changed our suite to an inside room (I1) last month. We are platinum so we thought an inside shouldn't be too bad with the added perks like dinner for two etc.

 

My husband just called the number to upgrade our inside cabin to a balcony using 60,000 points. He was told that due to booking our cruise last year when prices were lower,we would have to pay 4,000$ on top of our 60,000 points :eek:

 

Has anyone else had this experience?

SUCCESS!! I called my PCC and told him what was going on and he said what you all have been saying. No extra cash, just 60K and get upgrade. He put me on hold while he called someone and then transferred me. I talked to a very nice lady who moved us up to a midship balcony.

Thank you all for responding to my question.

Something kind of similar happened to me - they said the difference was too much money. Called back the next business day and they took care of it no problem. When I related my original experience she checked my account and said no call was recorded - that I must have been rerouted to another department. Call and make sure you are talking to World Points and keep calling if you have to.

Thanks. I will continue to call. I'm kicking myself that I didn't even think about using points when we booked it.

Yes, we had an experience like yours.

Come to find, the first person we talked to didn't know what THEY were talking about !

(She first admitted, "I've never dealt with anyone before who had 60,000 points).

Try again.

You have done the first step... your cruise has been booked.

I don't know where or when you are cruising, but I suggest you keep working at this.

Offers seem to vary, depending on different NCL sailings.

Maybe you should just save your points for another cruise.

Thank you. I will try again

We had originally booked a suite on our upcoming cruise. However, we decided to decrease the cruise cost and increase our allowance for private tours. So we changed our suite to an inside room (I1) last month. We are platinum so we thought an inside shouldn't be too bad with the added perks like dinner for two etc.

My husband just called the number to upgrade our inside cabin to a balcony using 60,000 points. He was told that due to booking our cruise last year when prices were lower,we would have to pay 4,000$ on top of our 60,000 points :eek:

Has anyone else had this experience?

Omar O'Besso was on during Christmas but my understanding is he is leaving for vacation before we board Jan 24th. He wasn't sure who he was being replaced by

Thank you.

Anyone know who is the concierge on the Jade?

Hello Fellow Cruisers!

 

I will be sailing on the Jade when the clock strikes midnight and a brand new year begins!

 

Since I have never done a holiday cruise before, what might I expect in the way of celebrations, dress, food, etc.?

 

Thanks in advance! This will be my 4th cruise but my first with Norwegian and during the holidays (Dec. 26 - Jan. 3, 2017).

We did Christmas and New Years on the Jade in 2014. We still think it was the best time of all our cruises. My son still talks about how surprised he was that the crew joined the New Years party. Lots of people dressed up.

Make dinner reservations early. It gets busy as everyone wants to be in the atrium for midnight countdown. The room stewards passed glasses of champagne to everyone. Lots of crew joined in on the fun. The room steward also left hats and noise makers on our bed when he did the turn down service.

Have a great time!

We are on the British Isles cruise as well. I called my PCC this week with a bit of confused irritation. On My NCL Belfast and Cobh disappeared. They were listed as sea days. However, after a few phone calls he assures me those port are still there. Anybody else have that happen? After NCL cancelled our October cruise I don't want to disappointed again.

As business owners we too are concerned about keeping in touch. This last cruise we signed up for AT&T passport. There are different levels but $60 dollars gave us a discount on calls made and received while in port. While under way, it is considered roaming. We also budget for the added expense. It's just part of cost of doing business. Check with AT&T or on their website.

We're new to cruising and feel that after years of independent travel, cruising will suit what we're now looking for holiday wise.

 

When I joined I noticed that many members had loads of cruises lined up and marvelled at the thought of planning that far in advance. Within a few weeks of organising our May trip on the Getaway I found myself on the phone booking 10 nights on the Epic when it comes to Europe. So.....what is it about cruising that makes folks want to book multiples? A genuine question...I've never done this before in all our years of travelling. :D

We book in advance to be able to pay for trips without injury to our household budget. We usually have a cruise reward that takes care of the deposit. Then we make payments. Knowing that you will be at sea again soon helps the post cruise blahs too.

Since we ordered breakfast to be delivered to our room each morning,I was concerned about changing the sign to DND. I was thinking he wouldn't deliver it. However, our butler just called us each time he was on the way with food. We didn't even get out of bed. He came in, set the table and left. We had the curtains closed around the bed. It was nice not to jump out of bed to open the door They will adapt to your likes and dislikes.

Thank you to all who replied. I've decided to keep my spring break suite.

After a very wonderful, exhausting and yet relaxing 11 day holiday Jade cruise I am now platinum. :D

I have been reading the new benefits and I am left wondering if it is worth the extra money to continue booking suites. Aside from the extra space, Cagney's and butler service, the perks of platinum seem close to suite perks.

What are your thoughts? Please enlighten me

Thanks for posting this! I don't see any info on when the sailing will be available for booking?

 

 

 

 

The new itineraries open today for group bookings, and go on sale on December 16, 2014 for our Latitudes Rewards guests and President's Club travel partners and on December 18, 2014 for all bookings.

 

:)

So my wife wants a Haven bathrobe for Christmas. I should have bought one on the Breakaway last month but I didn't think she was serious.

 

Anyway, it appears you can't buy one with the Haven logo. Does anyone have a picture that shows the logo on the bathrobe so I can get it embroidered?

Here is the logo from the one I purchased in June this year.

I have pictures from the Getaway. Previous poster is right. The space between is only as big as the nightstand. Hope these help.

A friend of ours works at a travel agency and got a few of use to go on a weekend "booze" cruise from NOLA.

 

We booked through the same TA, but all separately. We only have two nights in the dining room, but it would be nice to get everyone together at a big table

That's the beauty of NCL freestyle cruising. Just let the hostess in the dining room know that you have 10 for dinner. You don't have to have a reservation unless you are in a specialty restaurant. You choose when and where you eat!

Enjoy your weekend!

You will love it. I'm still looking for my paperwork but I'm pretty sure we paid $149.00 in June this year. I'll let you know for sure soon.

Wait were these day passes or week passes that you requested?

I asked for the week pass but I don't think it could hurt for you to ask up front about a day pass.

Has anyone ever tried to get a day pass for the Spa through your concierge when they're otherwise sold out? There are a lot of days in port for our upcoming cruise, so a week long pass won't be worthwhile (for us), but I'm worried that we might not be able to get a day pass either.

I added a request for two spa passes to my return email listing our choices for pillows, liquor etc... When we met up with Carlos in the lounge before boarding the Gem, he stated there would be someone in the Star bar taking care of passes. I didn't have to remind him. We were able to get our passes before we went into Cagneys for lunch. There's was no need to wade through the masses of people. I would try an email to the pre-concierge giving them a heads up that you will want day passes. Then you can check with them as soon as you board. Good luck!

I was able to get 3rd and 4th person on a spring break cruise in 2015 free! Like you I was surprised they had the special pricing during my dates. Usually Spring Break is more expensive.

Glad you were able to get a good deal too. :)

I was there last week as well. Lobster tails were in the main dining room. The chocolate buffet started at 915PM for suite guests. Then like brpanthers said open to all at 945pm. It was nice. Lots of people though.

I am on the Gem right now in Nassau, Bahamas as we have missed the private island due to horrible storms and heavy waves. We will be leaving tonight and heading back to New York in hopes of getting ahead of the storm that is forming.

 

All the officers and crew on board have been very accommodating to all the guests.

 

I applaud the crew onboard this ship as they really go out of their way to accommodate the guests and make sure they are having fun and that they are also safe.

I was wondering about this cruise. We just left the Gem on the 28th. The crew was wonderful. NHC is currently calling for a CAT 1 hurricane as it passes by me here on the Carolina coast. I was concerned due to the timing how y'all,we going to get back. Thanks for the update. Sorry your trip has been cut short.