hylasgirl

33 minutes ago, Stockjock said:

The sailing was a 5 night New Year's Eve cruise out of Miami, sailing to Key West and Cozumel.  Made arrangements for/a resort day pass in Cozumel, flight arrangements, hotel, bought the GF new dresses, bought myself a new tuxedo jacket, etc.  Pretty sure there are penalties for cancelling the flights and the hotel is non-refundable.

Now, with roughly 2 months to go, they're changing it to a 4 night going to Nassau, Bahamas and Bimini, Bahamas.  As an accommodation, they are offering $50 per person OBC.  They'll give me until Nov. 4th to cancel without penalty.  If the price drops, I'll get that lower price.  If not, pricing will remain the same.

I like Cozumel and had not been to Key West.  So even though this was a short sailing, I was looking forward to those ports of call.  Truth be known, I've never been impressed with the Bahamas.

Can't say I'm happy about the change, the relatively short timing, or what I consider to be a pretty stingy offer of $50 per person OBC.  Do I have a right to be annoyed?  Strongly leaning towards cancellation, which would be a total bummer.  

You definitely have the right to be annoyed.  I'm on the Reflection which we alllll know there will be no Grand Cayman and still it's listed... and still they are selling it as such.  I already have 3 sea days, so if they change GC and Jamaica (which isn't open either yet as I know of?) and all I get are more sea days, I will cancel.  As much as I want to cruise, I don't want to vacation on the ship completely. I'm on the Christmas sailing so it was SPENDY! 

Uggg! What ship are you on?  I'm going to be on the Christmas sailing on the Reflection and I'm wondering if we'll be allowed to explore on our own. 

Does anyone know if we are allowed to explore from Falmouth on our own?  We'll be on Celebrity Reflection in December but I would rather not book a shore excursion if I can help it.  I'd love to just go over to Montego Bay for the day.  Does anyone know if this is allowed yet?  And if so, will it be easy to get a taxi over there?  Also, if anyone has any private tour recommendations for this port, I'd love to check into one.  Thank you! 

39 minutes ago, hallux said:

There was a discussion on this started earlier this week - 

 

Thank you! I looked for something like this but not deep enough it seems.  Thanks so much! 

43 minutes ago, debenson0723 said:

Well I am traveling to Italy and have private tours booked.  My biggest issue is that there is nothing that I can find which states the Italian Government has made this mandate.  They do have certain restrictions (no more than 6 passengers per vehicle and masking indoors) but nothing re: cruise ship passengers.  Why is it ok for 60 people to get on a bus, be dropped off in Florence or Rome (per the "on your own" tours that NCL is offering) for 5-6 hours versus 6 people in a van doing the same thing?  The issue is money and NCL wants ours (at a markup of about double what the private vendors charge). The other countries we are visiting (Spain, France, Croatia and Greece) do not have these government mandates and we are free to do as we please in these ports so I doubt NCL is really concerned about letting their 100% vaccinated passengers loose in Italy to infect their citizens.

 

I am hoping this restriction is changed prior to my cruise (not until November) but if not, I will do one of the NCL 'on your own' tours and visit/eat where I want while allowed to roam free.  But I feel bad for the Italian tour operators who are struggling to survive and thought they would finally be able to provide the services they have been so good at doing for many years.

Yes, I am finding the same as you!  I'm so beyond frustrated.  My tour company says the same thing... that this is in no way an Italian mandate.  Why would they let us all come as tourist, not on a cruise, and wander anyway we wish?  Or to be on a private tour, totally vaccinated with locator card filled out in a van of only 6 people.  And I do NOT want to put my 80+ parents on a big bus at twice the price.  It just makes no sense!   I feel bad for the tour operators as well!  This is not right!  NCL should offer a full refund if this is how they are going to handle this.  This was not as it was sold! 

On 8/16/2021 at 11:42 PM, roxette said:

EU citizens can register at EUPLF and register before they travel to Italy. There you can choose Cruise ship as transportation to Italy. So, according to official EU/Italian web sites, EU citizens who are fully vaccinated can travel to Italy and do as you wish.

 

I find this very strange, with such different information from NCL.

 

I do hope that NCL Will add some inexpensive sightseeing tours if passengers must take tours. It will be very, very pricey just to put a foot om land, otherwise.

 

My Italian tour company is saying it is NOT true that the Italian government is mandating a ship excursion.  That all they are required is no more than 6 people per van and a passenger locator card filled out. 

48 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

Oh man, that is a major bummer! I'm sorry that happened. I'm sure this is an Italian government requirement and not something NCL dreamed up. I suspect NCL can point you to their website where it does say that conditions can change based on local port authorities. Still, this is disappointing, for sure. If you used a travel agent, I'd contact him/her. Unfortunately, with Covid-19 still very much in the picture, things like this can and do happen. I just got an email from our travel agent that two ports have been changed for our NCL cruise next month. Gotta roll with the changes, I'm afraid. Italy is an amazing country and even on a cruise ship-sponsored tour, you'll have fun. But I'm still sorry this happened to you. 😥

Thanks, yea... it just doesn't make any sense.  Paying $250 per couple to just be "dropped off in Sorrento to roam on your own" versus being on a private tour.... this doesn't compute with wanting you to stay with a group on a shore excursion. 

And NCL has no proof they can offer either. 

NCL will not provide any proof what so ever.  And my guides in Italy (one of the most recommended on this site) say that it is in no way true.  I mean, seriously, you can go to Italy as a tourist and wander to your hearts content with only a locator card.  Why would this be any different than a few tourists off a ship in a private van.  My tour company says the only thing required at this point is how many people can be in their vehicles.  Why would the Italian government want 50 people on a bus instead??  It just makes no sense. 

I have just been told that I cannot take my private tours in Italy.  I am beyond mad! I'd much rather be in a van with 6 of my family (2 of which are over 80) than 50 people on a tour bus.  NCL is claiming it is the Italian government, but my tour company is telling me this is NOT true!  Does anyone have any information on this? I find it hard to believe it's ok to spend $250 per couple to be "dropped off in Sorrento with time to explore on our own" but yet we aren't allowed to "explore on our own from a port"!!!  I am sooooo unhappy!  Does anyone know if this could be reason to cancel without penalty?  This is just not right that they impose this rule a month before sailing but after final payment! 

Awesome. Thank you so much. 

Wow... nobody has a suggestion for a private tour out of the Catania port? 

Hi! I am looking for a recommendation for a private tour from this port.  

Thanks so much! 

Does anyone have a recommendation on a private tour out of Livorno with a company that is not just a driver but a tour guide as well?  It seems like most companies are mostly drivers only.

Thanks! 

Thank you Blackshirt.   Well, today I can see the 1 device.  I did not see it the other day on Cruise Planner.  The difference between the two makes the 2 devices a good deal and we may likely need to be on at the same time (work stuff) so not a bad deal overall.   Thank you for your response.  

Thank you for the responses.   Just to clarify, like I mentioned in my original post, I usually sail Celebrity.  I have read that Royal doesn't give me the same perks as I get with them.....  hence this post.   Also...  the Cruise Planner mentions that I get TWO devices per person... not one.  So my question was, can me and my cabin mate share the package for 1 and both of use our own ONE device?  

There was no option for VOOM for 1 device.  It was for 2 devices. 

And in response to discounted items with my status....  does Royal give us coupons like Celebrity does?  Like laundry and wifi?  If so, I'll wait on the internet, but I read somewhere that they don't give as great as coupons as Celebrity does.

I haven't sailed RCCL in quite some time.  I'm used to  Celebrity where my status gets me free wifi.   In the Cruise Planner I'm seeing the price for the Voom package and it says two devices.  So... can my husband and I just buy for one person and both of us sign up one device?   I don't do a lot of online activity but thought it looked affordable if only one of us purchased.  Thoughts?  Thanks in advance! 

Thank you so much everyone! I'll check all of this out. I appreciate the responses.

Hi all... does anyone have any recommendations on things to do in this port? It looks beautiful but having a hard time finding things. I'd LOVE to do something active... SUP'ing or bike tour. Anyone have any experience with this port? Also, where exactly do we go into on the tenders?

We are flying Delta PE from ROC to SYD. I would have much preferred to fly Qantas out of LAX but the timing and pricing was ridiculous. My husband who has mobilty problems insists on at least one hour between flights. Plus we were able to get round trip Delta PE for $1,600 per person. There was no way flights on any other airline was going to be even close to that. I can sleep anywhere. DH has trouble sleeping everywhere. LOL So we should be OK.

You did very well on your pricing. We usually fly Delta no matter what... living in SLC and all. But to go to Auckland there was just no easy way and I was NO WAY flying to SYD first and then backtracking. If it's Delta equipment, it's the only choice. That is a great price... especially from where you are departing. I would never book a domestic flight without an hour layover and depending on the international connection, I could need well over 2 hours. That said, I have terribly long layovers for this New Zealand cruise. Uggg.

Good job on your flights! Have a great time!

Does anyone have a recommended transfer company I can reserve to get to the cruise port? There are 3 of us ladies :). Would a taxi be cheaper? I'm thinking with luggage and all, we may need something a bit larger than a standard taxi.

Thanks!

Yes! I checked Qantas a bit ago (as I do just about every day), and they are posting a Summer Sale price today of under $4,800 USD for Premium Economy seats March 26 departure with an April 8th.

 

That just might be the best price so will probably book tonight!

Is this for 2 of you?

I gather from your posts that BC seats on delta are not available for miles?

 

Have you considered getting main cabin for miles and then paying to upgrade to BC?

 

We used miles on delta for a trip to Europe . .. main cabin and then paid to upgrade to PE. The PE seat upgrade cost us $200 pp. I have no idea what it would be for BC but might be worth a phone call to delta.

Very few Delta flights are letting you upgrade after buying economy seats with miles now. It's very frustrating. What cost us $159 last year to BCN, now the ticket is more than twice as much as econo to fly PE. It looks like they are kind of reinventing the class, but they are going to have to do a lot more than offer drinks and priority boarding to what the PE cabin is now. Their international PE cabin is ridiculous. And this is coming from someone who loves Delta. I just booked flights for our NZ/Australia cruise and we can't do anything with Delta that makes sense. I'm not flying to SYD first to backtrack back to New Zealand. After terrible options and pricing, we bit the bullet and paid for nice Air NewZealand flights going from SLC to SFO to AUK... all premium economy and the seats look soooo much better than we've ever had on Delta's PE.

After doing some research I contacted Milestone Tours and received a very fair quote for a six hour tour. We ended up booking with them.

 

 

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Excellent info. I will get ahold of them for my trip in January :). Thanks!

Awesome! Thanks guys! I'll plan to be there at noon then!

Does anyone have any experience with how early we can board the ship in Singapore? We'll be sailing on the Volendam on December 6th.. after the dry dock so no one will be coming off. Thoughts? I was thinking of getting there at noon.