Seas2mountains

6 hours ago, kitkat343 said:

I actually completely support the way the government of Bonaire handled this - they stated that in the future they were allowing only one large ship per day (a second ship with fewer than 700 people is also allowed to dock.). They also stated that they would honor all previously agreed upon contracts for more than one ship to dock in the same day, but they will refuse to grant permission for multiple large ships to dock in Bonaire on the same day in the future.  Given the mess that exists in Santorini, it's a good idea for the government to limit the number of cruise ship passengers allowed at one time, so everyone can enjoy this beautiful calm island.  It's also good for the island to grandfather in the old contracts so tourists won't be disappointed if they chose a cruise to see Bonaire.

 

https://infobonaire.com/bonaires-one-cruise-ship-policy/    

Yes, I’m glad this will help Bonaire.  It’s not the reason why NCL canceled this port for Viva on multiple sailings and for Gem on Dec. 20th. 

On 8/27/2024 at 1:42 PM, The Traveling Man said:

See post #7 by @CILCIANRQTS.  Bonaire has restricted the number of ships docking there.

They have restricted the number of large ships to one but NCL Viva was the ONLY ship scheduled on December 19th. Now, there is no ship scheduled in port in Bonaire on Dec. 19th. 
 

2 hours ago, dhanakorn said:

Some people may prefer the revised itinerary. Instead of half a day in Bonaire and half a day in Castries. You’ll get a sea day to rest and one full day at Castries. On original itinerary, you can’t do much in Castries. With full day, you can do Pitons excursion. 

But I booked this itinerary because Bonaire was included. I’ve been to Aruba and St Kitts recently so those were my rest days. 
 

I agree with the points made by @LUV2KROOZ
 

For St Lucia, the excursions all started at 2:30pm or later since it was scheduled to arrive at 1:30pm.
 

With the new itinerary, they had to cancel the excursions that got back after 5pm which was most of them and they haven’t offered the new ones yet. Who knows if they will or not. They are going to save $ on fuel.

And they got us hooked on this itinerary and changed it. Just like they did with two other cruises we are on this year. 
 

We will have a lovely time and we are blessed to be on this cruise. But we are sick of the itinerary changes issued at or after final payment to provide fuel savings for NCL. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review with photos. We will do online check-in later this week for our POA cruise that starts next month.

Your review made me more excited as we have been warned about some concerns with POA. I'm glad to hear you had a nice cruise!

Have a wonderful cruise! I hope your flights are on schedule with no issues. We tend to fly on United for all of our flights and have not had any major issues for as long as I remember flying on United.
 

I’m excited to follow along and learn more about Cunard. Alaska is so beautiful and I hope you have good weather. Thank you for doing this review whether it’s almost live or not. 

2 hours ago, CruiseMH said:

 

And yet, practically all cruise lines and all cruise ships still have managed to avoid summer season and holiday season for the last 20 years. Incredible how they did that.

 

Exactly!

They are going to find the dates within the dry dock window that least impactful for revenue. For POA, the month of May seems to be a low travel month compared to other month in the window.

7 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

Not really.  Dry dock scheduling is set by the classification societies (in this case DNV) on set schedules (i.e. class sets a 2 month window every 2.5 years for a dry dock), and setting the time within that window is determined by dock availability, as dry docks are in constant demand, as this docking was set 9 months in advance.

Thank you for sharing your industry expertise on the dry dock date selection. 
 

When observing the dates for dry docks, I noticed that the scheduled ones seemed to occur more frequently in the January- early March, mid-April to May and September- early December time periods.  I found a few summer dry docks but those seemed to occur less frequently than the ones during the non-peak cruise dates. Any insights into why the cruise lines avoid the peak travel periods?

Here is why the internet thinks summer and December dry docks are not typically selected. 
 

Cruise lines typically avoid scheduling dry docks (maintenance periods where ships are taken out of service for repairs and updates) during the summer and December for the following reasons:

    1.    Peak Travel Season: Summer and December are peak travel periods. Many people go on vacation during the summer due to school holidays, and December is popular for holiday travel. Cruise lines generate significant revenue during these times, so they prefer to keep their ships in operation rather than out of service.
    2.    High Demand: During these peak seasons, demand for cruises is at its highest. Dry docking a ship during these times would mean losing out on potential bookings and revenue. Cruise lines aim to maximize the availability of their fleet when demand is strong.
    3.    Weather Considerations: In some regions, weather conditions are more favorable during the summer and winter holiday season, making it an ideal time for cruising. Dry docking typically occurs during less favorable weather periods when demand is lower.
    4.    Operational Planning: Cruise lines often schedule dry docks during shoulder seasons (spring and fall) when demand is lower, allowing them to carry out necessary maintenance without significantly impacting their revenue or customer satisfaction.

On 8/24/2024 at 2:39 PM, YVRteacher said:

We arrived in Moderno for breakfast at 9:02. Coffee didn’t come until 9:26. 

 

It took 37 minutes for our hot food to come.  This is not acceptable. The food was good but we were ready to leave by the time it arrived.

 

 

 

It sounds like you are having a fabulous cruise with your Dad. Thank you for doing a live review. 
 

We have cruised in Suites or the Haven this past year on Pearl and twice on Gem. It is normal for us to wait 37 minutes or more for hot food to come when eating breakfast in Moderno. If you have been served your hot food faster than 37 minutes, you must be on a VIP list to bypass all other orders. We tended to arrive at breakfast about 30 minutes before it closed and expected to be there for an hour. If we went when it opened when there were only a few other people there, we’d get served the hot food within 10-15 minutes.  The buffet food and fruit kept us occupied until the hot food arrived. 
 

We have experienced getting the French press coffee delivered after the hot food arrived but that didn’t happen too often but a few times when every table was occupied. 
 

When on the Prima in a suite, there were very few passengers in suites who went to breakfast in Cagney’s so we were in and out in 30 minutes and the coffee arrived within 3 minutes. 
 

With you having to wait for your hot food, how did you have the willpower to not touch the yummy fruit and muffin until your hot food arrived? 
 

Have a great week with Dad!

We received an email one day before final payment was due for our December Viva cruise. 
 

The reason given is “optimal guest experience top-of-mind”. Translation - they will save on fuel costs by skipping Bonaire. 
 

This is our third dropped port with a Sea Day added this year. It happened on our May Breakaway cruise with Tortola being dropped after final payment, this Viva cruise and Ensenada being dropped from a late December Joy cruise two weeks before final payment. It’s getting frustrating to count on these itineraries and having them dropped to cut expenses. 

14 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

Does anyone actually tip a housekeeper at hotels anymore? 

Yes, I’m part of the 23%. 

Cruises have been canceled as late as the day of the cruise across different cruise lines for a variety of reasons. Hurricanes, fires, wars, maintenance issues, floods, droughts, full ship charters, port closures, financial reasons and more have been reasons why cruise sailings or itineraries will be modified or canceled. 
 

We are on the POA in 30 days. I know it is possible that we may get a cruise port modification or if there is something that goes horribly wrong with the ship, it could get canceled. We would be disappointed but would deal with coming up with a Plan B which would probably be a land vacation. 
 

That is why it is a good idea to get insurance as soon as you pay for any items that are not refundable. 
 

With the amount of notice you were given, I can understand it is disappointing but it isn’t a crisis. This happens. Kids I work with would tell me this is life and things happen. 
 

How is May a “peak” sailing month on POA? They are likely to choose a month where they are least impacted from a profitability perspective. 

2 hours ago, kitkat343 said:

Bonaire has been dropped from some ABC cruises.  https://www.cruisehive.com/norwegian-removes-coveted-port-from-multiple-sailings/142393?fbclid=IwY2xjawEx3PNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQJhEbxa8Ni7Kc6Lr7GqeXsdTDeqOMs1vBctghqlWJCK5hJuqoS5ZTouHA_aem_HZr4du6nRGAT3Bvxo07OOg. It's Feb, so it might be outside of final payment, although since the cruise leaves from San Juan some people might have purchased airfare. 

It is impacting us on our December cruise. We found out about the change on Friday when final payment was due on Saturday. I did post it within this thread. 

Duplicate

35 minutes ago, GALSews said:

Almost, like the Prima class, Joy has suites and Haven.

Yes, almost is true… 

Joy non-Haven suites = No breakfast or lunch restaurant. No butler or concierge. No priority embarkation or disembarkation.  
 

Prima class non-Haven suites = Breakfast and lunch in Cagney’s.  Access to concierge and butler assigned. Priority embarkation and disembarkation.  

7 hours ago, Never cruise with NCL said:

However, none of them directly addressed my original question: his anyone ever successfully received a refund from NCL under similar circumstances? 
 

To answer some of the question in the discussion:

NCL has a duty to inform all passengers of itinerary changes, regardless of their location.
 

While this isn't the main topic, I'd like to share my perspective: this communication could be easily managed after the check-in process through an automatic text message, email, or, even better, a phone call. 

 

 

1. I don’t think you will find people on CC who intentionally leave the first half of a B2B early and expect the cruise line to pick them back up at their preferred port on the second half of the B2B after skipping the embarkation port unless there were emergency medical reasons.  If I were to do this and weather canceled the scheduled port stop, I’d take responsibility myself for taking the risk knowing each port stop isn’t guaranteed with weather issues. I don’t see this as NCL’s fault. It’s your poor planning and judgement and was a risk you took and lost. I don’t understand why you think NCL should pay you for your risky decisions? 
 

2. With 99.999% of the passengers of a cruise on the cruise after it left the embarkation port, when ports are changed due to weather, why would NCL create a process to text, call or email you when you were supposed to be on the ship? It seems crazy and expensive to create a process for 0.001% or fewer who intentionally did not get on the ship at the embarkation port. 

3. If the ship did stop at Akureyri, did you have written documentation from NCL to confirm you could for sure embark at this port? Did you have a contact person with a name and email address and phone number? It sounded like you had a verbal approval but it sounded like you talked to one person? The one you called the “Embarkation Manager”? 
 

I’m so sorry to hear about the number of days you have been without decent air conditioning and without hot water. 
 

I would file a request using a case here after the cruise. 

https://www.ncl.com/case-submission

I would request a refund or Future cruise credit (FCC) or both if you are willing to cruise with NCL again. My husband had success getting FCC when we had a minor inconvenience that lasted a full cruise day. 

It’s a challenge to cruise with young kids as it is in tight quarters but adding the loss of hot water and AC makes it worse especially when they have been in your cabin so often at various times. I hope the rest of your cruise has been better than your cabin. 
 

If that doesn’t work, you could try the credit card dispute but I can understand you might be banned from cruising NCL. 
 

16 minutes ago, RosieRoo said:

Sailed in an SJ suite in May. We were on 14 and the slide was not an issue. We absolutely loved this cabin and would book it again in a heartbeat. The Concierge was set up inside Cagneys and it was very quiet in there for both breakfast and lunch. The butler came around every day and was always available by phone if you needed him. The butlers were also stationed by Cagneys escorting suite guests off the ship for the first hour or so after the ship docked. 

Shhh.  Let’s keep this a secret. 😉 Can this thread be closed and pushed to page 10 please? 🤣

Yes, we agree but don’t tell anyone else, please. 🤫
 

19 hours ago, complawyer said:

unless you're really into scuba diving, there isnt a great deal going on in bonaire. it's picturesque,

but unless your heart was set on visiting there, personally, i wouldnt mind the extra sea day. been to aruba and curacao, if it is the same docking area, you can walk off the ship and walk to downtown curacao. it's really a nice way to spend the day.

 

also, ive been chomping at the bit to get a chance to visit saint lucia, maybe next year. cruise wise, my dance card is filled thru the end of the year

I have been to Aruba and appreciate your recommendation on Curacao as we did not book an excursion there.

We are looking forward to St. Lucia, too. The bummer on this big itinerary change is that previously we were arriving in St. Lucia at 1:30pm and now arrive at 7:00am - a whole 6 1/2 hours earlier with a departure 2 hours earlier. But, they have not changed any of the excursions to have earlier start times, yet. All show excursion start times of 1:45pm or 2:30pm. Those times won't work now with the earlier departure and I am sure they won't notify people of the time changes until we are on the ship when the tickets arrive in the cabins.

22 hours ago, The Traveling Man said:

That means that the ship will have 38 hours to travel the roughly 500 miles from Curacao to St. Lucia instead of 24-1/2 hours to travel about 450 miles from Bonaire to St. Lucia.  That averages out to about 12 knots for 38 hours instead of 16 knots for 24+ hours.  That could amount to significant cost savings for fuel.

Thank you for sharing the details on how they will save money on fuel.

Yes, it is sad that they didn't publish the itinerary without Bonaire in the first place as we get that NCL is trying to save money on fuel but they should tell us about the plans they have to save money on modifying itineraries much sooner than 1 day before the final payment is due.

On 8/17/2024 at 9:29 AM, WhiteOptima said:

@Seas2mountains missing Bonaire would make me angry.  Some lines do the other ports so much that it is great to have Bonaire or other ports.   I mean it is not far from Curaçao so what the heck?  The port intensive cruises like your is why I love cruising out of San Juan.

We are bummed about this, too, but this is our third cruise this year with a port day removed and replaced by a sea day. We are now expecting this to happen with NCL and expect it will happen. We loved the Prima so that is why we are trying not to get too upset about this change. I guess we will have to find another cruise with Bonaire on the itinerary and know if it is NCL, the chances of them really going there are reduced compared to other cruise lines. We realize ports can be cancelled due to weather or other reasons but this one seems to be to save money for NCL.

Here is one more. This one is within one day of final payment. However, some TAs require payment a few days before the published NCL final payment date. We made the final payment yesterday afternoon.

We are very blessed to be able to cruise twice in December so I don't want to sound like I am complaining too much about these changes but we do make cruise decisions based on the published and advertised ports.

Ship: Viva

Sailing date: December 15, 2024 - December 22, 2024

Destination: 7-Day Mexican Riviera Round-Trip Los Angeles: Cabo & Puerto & Vallarta

Itinerary Changes: Dropped Bonaire - replaced with Sea Day. Port times in all other ports adjusted slightly - see below.

Reason Given: As we continue to optimize itineraries for enhanced port and shore excursion availability for the ultimate vacation experience, fuel optimization as a part of our commitment to the environment and sustainability efforts, as well as global maritime regulations, we have adjusted the original itinerary as shown below.
NCL Notification: 121 days before cruise, 1 day before final payment 

Disposition: We have not been to Bonaire and were looking forward to it. We did have an NCL excursion booked there. With a port intensive itinerary, a sea day is fine as now we know when the Latitude events will likely be scheduled. 

Ship: Joy

Sailing date: December 29, 2024 - January 5, 2025

Destination: 7-Day Mexican Riviera Round-Trip Los Angeles: Cabo & Puerto & Vallarta

Itinerary Changes: Dropped Ensenada - replaced with Sea Day. Port times in Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta extended.

Reason Given: optimal guest experience top-of-mind - What do they mean by "top-of-mind"? Is this a new cliché phrase they are adding to justify the late changes after they have hooked the customer?
NCL Notification: 137 days before cruise, 17 days before final payment 

Disposition: Considering canceling and reviewing other cruise options but prices have increased as this is a holiday sailing. We have Vibe booked on this sailing and we really wanted to go to Ensenada.  We wanted to do some Ensenada Winery tours and see the dancing horses. We will likely keep this booking but are disappointed and booking more future cruises with Celebrity.

37 minutes ago, varpinater said:

I assume it's non refundable, it's from my TA.

Are you able to tell us what you already know the OBC can be used for so we can give you other suggestions? 
 

1 minute ago, shirtboy said:

 

I also recommend using the onboard credit to pay for daily service charges. I've never tried doing it before with NCL, but it worked for me on another cruise line. You'll need to check your daily charges on the TV a few days into your sailing to see if the credit offsets your daily service charge account balance.

 

I find it best to pay the daily service charges at the end of the cruise (instead of pre-paying at time of booking) so that any onboard credit from the travel agent can be applied to the service charges. If I had pre-paid the service charges, then I would never be able to offset the charges with onboard credit.

NCL does not allow non-refundable onboard credit to be used to pay for the service charges.  Yes, this is allowed on other cruise lines but not on NCL. 

5 hours ago, Ricks said:

we are going on the transatlantic in november on the Viva, its a 16 day cruise.... the option to purchase the Thermal suite was always up there for 14 days for $419 each.... now when you click on it, its not available. So I called and was told you can purchase for 16 days for $538 each.... I told them you can't use it on the first day and certainly not the last day.... and said tt has always been for sale for 14 days for $419.....

just did if I want it, its for 16 days for $538 each..... totally bogus ....

 

not a happy cruiser with NCL.... totally ridicules 

Has anyone else dealt with this over pricing

The Viva and Prima thermal spas are worth every penny. They are the best in the fleet. You should be able to use the spa the first day at about 5pm or 6pm.