tsahall01

I just did a status match with MSC. I am also Sapphire with NCL. I got Gold with MSC. Other than a 5% discount on the cruise and a 1 hour Spa pass, not much more comes with Gold status. No free laundry or Specialty dining. I had a wonderful cruise on Meravigilia and wouldn't hesitate to go again--in fact we were so happy with MSC that we booked another cruise with them (MSC Fantasia, r/t Trieste) Their drink package is much better than NCL--specialty coffees, waters, and better wines included! I did pay for their specialty dining . Was not happy with the package--you order off a limited menu, have no choice with which restaurants and the venues did not carry the same wines and liquors that the MDR did, so we had to do an upcharge on the drinks. I would not order the package again unless they change the terms.

It would be nice if all the ships had great TV set-ups like this!! On the Jade, we couldn't even access our account--we had to do it on the app. BTW, did dining have menus for the MDR?

Funny story! My sister, bless her heart (meant in a nice way), is a retired college professor with a PhD. She has little problems with computers, but when it comes to ordering off of a tablet, she is utterly lost!! We were in a Panera with order tablets--I had placed my order, paid for it, and was awaiting my order. My sister was shaking her head, clearing things from the tablet, and having an awful time--I tried to help her, but she gave up and just went to the line for the cashier!! It may be that I have an extensive restaurant background and placing even difficult orders is a no brainer for me! LOL! BTW--my sister is only 5 years older than me!

I like them on my phone as well! Big problem, though, is when they DON'T update properly--sometimes it isn't updated until the afternoon! It would also be nice if they would post the menus in the main dining rooms (not a problem for Haven, but for us steerage people)--it's a PITB to go to the Manhattan room everyday just to look at the menu!

Back in 1985 (gasp!!) when I worked for American Hawaii Cruises in Tahiti, the Pursers on duty (don't even know if they have Pursers now!) loved it when people exchanged money--it was a horrible exchange rate, and they all got a cut of the money over the official exchange rate! Again, don't know if this is still the case, but it certainly was back then!

The Local or O'Sheehans would have regular ice cream available 24 hours. No soft serve, though

If there are 2 NCL ships in port, be sure to get to the ferry EARLY. This last November, we were there over 30 minutes early--we were not able to board as there was no space! A LOT of angry people!! They only had one ferry going from Dockyard to St George and one coming back. This could differ for those sailing to and overnighting in Bermuda in high season, but in November, there was only one round trip offered.

I would go to the Lattitudes desk on the first day of the 3rd B2B and ask. The worst they can say is no. You never know, though. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I would at least ask.

@Hydro ergo--once off the train, you only need to catch the bus--it will take you to the port--you have your bus ticket already included, so you must take the bus--again, it will take you to the port in the loading area of the ship--no need for another bus/taxi Going the other way, you must also take the bus--the taxis cannot be bothered for such a short trip. The bus will take you right to the train station--no other bus or taxi is needed. The buses will run continuously, so you will have lots of options to go--they leave as soon as they fill up!

@Hydro ergo--just the one bus from the port directly to the train! I just did a seach and what @mapleleaves says is true--you learn something new every day! When doing your ticketing, put in Civitavecchia Porto to Roma Termini or wherever you are going--it will include the port shuttle bus so you don't have to buy a separate ticket for the bus! I've always just put in Civitavecchia, did not even know that you could set it up this way. BUT! Going to the ship, I think I would much rather take the taxi directly to the ship instead of the shuttle bus--looks like it would be easier--the cost is exactly the same!

I think we got off around 8--I know we had plenty of time at the train station. The buses I was referring to were various shuttle buses going to various places--you want the bus at the VERY END--we just asked and the people there were really helpful--we certainly weren't the only ones confused, although, being a blonde senior it didn't help! LOL! You only take the one bus--it takess you right to the train station. Be sure to have exact change for the driver--they will only take euros--I saw lots of people with either no cash or only had dollars, so be sure to save out the euros for the bus!

Just got back from a cruise that started and ended in Civitavecchia. We took the trains going both ways. We booked the faster, non-stop trains that allow for seat reservations--a little more expensive, but still cheap--try not to book a regional train as it is a free for all! When we first arrived to Civitavecchia, we were walking towards the bus stop--bus was not there yet. We were approached by numerous Taxi drivers that they would take us to the ship for the same cost. The bus is 6euros/person. Taxi was 6euros/person. It was a no brainer! We took the taxi that took us right where we dropped off the luggage. When it was time to return to Rome, it was a little confusing trying to figure out where to go--just keep walking past all the shuttle busses--at the very end there is the stop for the busses going to the station. You cannot get a taxi as they want the longer, more expensive trips. The busses fill quickly, and they drop you off at the station. I made reservations in advance for the 9:16 train # 8601 Frecciabianca--we had no problem getting to the train on time (we docked at 6 or 7). You do NOT go through customs of any kind--you will do this at the airport, so very easy to get off the ship. If you have larger bags, there are elevators at the train station (didn't know about this 2 years ago! LOL! Had a hard time lugging stuff up and down the stairs). In all, very easy to do and VERY inexpensive compared to the 100+euros to take a shuttle or taxi from/to Rome

I had a cruise that was booked thru Casinos at Sea. I got immediate confirmation of the Shareholder benefit. This was in October of 2022. The cruise was in September of 2023. The benefit was still showing when we checked in. Luckily, I had saved all the information, including the shareholder's form that I had emailed in. For some reason, they assigned the benefit to guest 1 & 2--I was guest 3 and got NOTHING! No problem, we are all friends and I figured we could sort it out once on board. About 3 days into the 10 day cruise, I noticed that the benefit had not been assigned to ANYONE. I went down to guest services--they had no record of it! I showed them my approval email, plus the form I sent in with the stockholder's report, and the Guest information sheet that I printed out upon check-in, showing the stockholders benefit. First, they said it was because we had booked through Casinos at Sea (was not a problem the last time), then they came back and told me the form was too old!! WTH? Why didn't they say anything BEFORE boarding? So I had to make a long distance call back to the states, from Italy, to release an updated stockholder report. I scribbled out all the information except the Shareholders name, the date and 100 shares of NCL stock. They refused to accept that form!! They wanted only my account number blacked out and EVERYTHING else left showing! After much discussion back and forth and asking for a supervisor, the only way that I could get my shareholder's benefit was to submit the form with only my account number blacked out. I was FURIOUS, but what could I do?? After resubmitting the form they wanted, I finally got the benefit assigned to me and guest 1--2 days before the cruise ended. I have a cruise in November--I am bringing an updated stock report just in case they pull this stunt again! I'm still angry about it!

I'm holding my breath right now!! I live in the US Virgin Islands and I'm due to fly out on Friday afternoon for a 10 day cruise on the Breakaway! Tropical Storm Lee (soon to be major hurricane Lee) has wobbled a bit north, so we are no longer in the "cone of terror", but that can change at any time. As it stands right now, it is not due to be close to the Virgin Islands until Sunday morning, well after my Friday afternoon flight. I called American to see if I could leave earlier--but the cost would be over $2,000 to change--so I threw the dice and am hoping for the best!

We are on the next sailing!! I see that Mykonos is a tender port! On our sailing it is listed as a dock port. Was yours initally a dock port as well? Have a great tiime!

If you want to, move the left end table and push the bed left against the wall, then you’ll have double end tables and more floor space at right. When I travel solo, I have the cabin stewart separate the beds--I have more walk around room, plus a place to put stuff, if I want to

We are doing the September 13th sailing. It shows Mykonos as a port, not a tender port. Was this a change for you or was it always a tender port listed on your reservation? Thank you for your observations! Looking forward to a great cruise!

Another little tip to add--put a baseball cap on and then tie the hood around that--helps to keep rain out of your eyes--unless it is sideways rain.

Try Shared Shuttle--their rates are pretty reasonable!

Maybe they should change it to Indulge Food Hall--very popular, free venue on the Prima and soon to be Viva

I had to laugh! I am the only coffee drinker in the house and I have OVER 50 Starbucks coffee cups from various cities and countries I have been. Looking forward to adding the NCL cups! YAY!

When I discussed the OBC with my pcc, I was told I could go to guest services and have it switched over to me once on board the ship (my 2 girlfriends each got $50 and I got zippo! I'm the shareholder--neither one of them owns stock. They are guest 1 & 2--I am guest 3)

I am doing a cruise with 3 other girls (I know, I know--I would have booked 2 cabins, but they wanted to share!)--I am listed as guest 3. I got my shareholders benefit, but it was applied to guest 1 and 2! You would think that they would assign it to the shareholder, but no. They also automatically split it between guest 1 and 2--if a married couple, no problem, but with girlfriends, it could be. Luckily, I'm very good friends with them! They told me I could go to guest services once on board, but it would be tricky to switch it before sailing (plus, I didn't want to mess things up and possibly have the cruise cancelled! LOL!) Just thought it was really odd that they did it this way!

I'm pretty sure you can! I just took a FCC that I applied to a cruise in April of 2024 (not the Getaway, but for the Viva--still don't know for sure if I'm going to take this cruise or not) and moved it to a cruise for this November. If you can only apply it to a new cruise, just cancel the Pearl and rebook! Your PCC should be able to do it!

What I would do is go ahead and book the Pearl--you can always cancel and if the TA is cancelled, you can apply your FCC to the new cruise. You would have a jump on those who didn't book an alternative cruise. Of course, DO NOT cancel your TA on the Getaway--wait for NCL to cancel!