debenson0723

If you cancel before your cruise, you will get a refund to method of payment (so typically a credit card). If you cancel while onboard, you will get an OBC. And you need to call if cancelling before sailing...no doing it online. As mentioned above, sometimes they do fill up and depending on the excursion, no more are available. I always check on board if there is something I really want to do as there are cancellations.

Do you have a link to this verbiage above? All I see on the site is the Cruise policy that you posted in post #8 above. We are boarding the Prima in Southampton in September and won't arrive in Canada until 12 days later (assuming we test 2 days prior to boarding). Doesn't make much sense to me to test before embarkation.

Also, you can use the Starbucks app or card on the ship. I just load mine up before boarding with what I guesstimate I will spend. You do earn their reward Stars on the ship but cannot redeem them while on board.

Been on the Bliss 3 times and they have the cold fruit soups in the afternoon in the Observation Lounge.

I have used NCL transfers twice and they certainly did check to make sure I had paid for them before we were let on. To the OP, I got off the Jade back in November and was at the airport well in advance of my 11:30am flight to Milan...even had time to grab a snack. We used a private car transfer service as there were 6 of us and it was cheaper than using the transfers.

None of the 3 women in my group who used it are handicapped but they are very obese. I actually never saw it as I did the climb but they were at the top when I got there and had been up there for quite a while.

There is actually an elevator that you can take to the top (and back down if you want). 3 of our group took the elevator and 3 of us did the climb...I almost felt it was harder going down than up (it is very slippery as mentioned). I went in November and it was virtually empty, with temps in the 70s. I could not have done this in the summer.

Yes, I have seen a photo of the enclosed smoking area of the Casino. Similar to Bliss, Joy and Encore.

There is no 'anytime dining' per se on NCL for the MDR. You want to eat at 5, you show up at 5, want to eat at 6:27, show up then. Unless you have a large group, you will typically get in within minutes. And if one of the MDRs doesn't have room, they will normally direct you to the one that does. In all my NCL cruises, I have never made a reservation in the MDR. As for Specialties, they only release about 30% online...the rest you can book onboard (or call and tie up the line 😉).

Call or book on board.

I always give additional cash to my room steward, bartenders, maybe leave a few bills on the table at the MDR at breakfast and lunch. But, during the restart, the crew were not able to leave the ship at any point and they were in need of items. Most would tell me they didn't want anything but a few would tell me what they would like. The most requested item was toothpaste. So I would pick up a few tubes and also chips and candy. One of my room stewards stated he liked those to eat while watching TV in his down time. It's just a few dollars out of my pocket and if it makes them happy, I don't need or expect anything in return.

To be honest, it's been awhile since I have been in a studio and I am looking forward to it. I was lucky enough to snag some great last minute deals in the past 9 months so have mainly been in balconies. It will be interesting to have a real bathroom vs. the shower and W/C on the Away class studios.

My studio is still substantially cheaper than what an inside or ocean view currently is. I have multiple friends on this sailing so I probably won't spend time in the lounge at all, other than to grab a coffee or snack. If I need additional space, there is the Observation Lounge and waterfront area.

You can take photos of mine (on the first day, before I make it 'home'). I also have a friend in an inside down the hall so you can get those too.

I sort of did this on a Baltic cruise a few years ago. The cruise had two embarkation ports...Copenhagen and Warnemunde. I wanted to spend a week in Luxembourg and Germany before getting on board so I embarked in Warnemunde. But I had no reason to go back there so wanted to disembark in Copenhagen, as I was flying to Norway the next day. I had to go thru a chain of command at NCL to get permission to do this, with the final approval coming from the GM on the ship. I had to sign a document prior to boarding and scan it to NCL Corporate and also have it with me when boarding. One of the caveats was that if for some reason the ship could not stop in Copenhagen, I would not hold NCL liable for transportation back to Copenhagen nor expect any type of compensation for additional airline fees, cancellations of hotel rooms, etc. I did not have the immigration issue since a large number of passengers were getting off in Copenhagen and there were already immigration officials at the port.

This is very good advice but wanted to add one thing...if you are looking to join a table already seated, you may not find a lot of options on NCL. There was recently a thread regarding this and the majority stated they would prefer to dine with their group/family and not have strangers join them. Now this might not be the case on every sailing so it never hurts to ask. I don't have a problem eating alone in the MDR and prefer it to eating with people I have never met. I have a book or tablet to keep me occupied between courses or just enjoy the view (this would especially be true in Alaska). Only once on the Pearl did I feel uncomfortable and that was probably more a mistaken impression on my part than a fact. Enjoy your cruise.

Check out the West Coast departures board on this forum. Lots of hotel recommendations there.

When you go to book, just pick a table for 4. You won't need to specify who is paying for what until either the hostess asks you or your server. And there are no issues with the beverage package. You will use your card to get your drinks included and they will use their card to be charged for any beverages they get that have a fee. I have traveled several times with others who don't have the beverage package and its no issue at all.

To be honest, on a Greek Isles cruise I would not get either. There is just not enough time to enjoy them. I typically get the Thermal Suite pass but on my Greek cruise in November, I honestly would not have used it. Our days from dawn to dusk were pretty much spent off the ship. I have never been in the Vibe (not a hot tub, lay in the sun person) but from what I have been told by others, there are plenty of loungers. I was on the Escape in February in a Spa Balcony and the only 2 times I tried to use the Thermal Spa, there were chair hogs just like on the pool deck and the pool (which I have never really seen anyone swimming in) was packed. I have never had that experience in any of the other Thermal Spas I have been in (which are Getaway, Bliss, Encore and Pearl). I think if it was an either/or I would keep the Vibe pass and try to get a day pass for the thermal spa.

You don't need to 'drink a ton' for the beverage package to be cost effective. The gratuities are basically $20 a day so if you have 2 drinks a day, it is covered. I don't consider that a ton. OTOH, I recently went on an RCL cruise where the drink package was $89.99 a day PLUS 18% gratuities. Needless to say, I did not book that drink package

I was on the Encore twice and both times there was smoking on the pool deck. Just outside the buffet on the Starboard side. I walked on the Port side to avoid it but to be honest, there were never very many people there and I never once saw anyone in the Box.

I will be the dissenting opinion here, maybe because I live in the Southwest, but I found the food to be somewhat bland without much flavor. That being said, I do go and pay out of pocket for the tableside guac and possibly a quesadilla to go along with my Margarita. Best meal I have had on the Encore is in Onda...they have a white pizza that we still talk about (and no one at our table ordered it...they brought it to us complimentary).

I knew you would know I was referring to you, among others! 😄

I tried out RCL for the 2nd time in May and am so glad you mentioned the food. I did find some of the food inedible and really thought it was just me. I had a wonderful meal in Jamie's Italian but other than that, it was subpar at best (even Chops). The crew was not friendly at all and many were undertrained (and I understand the staffing situation so gave them a break on that). As a solo traveler, I have always made friends on NCL, many who I have sailed with again. No one engaged with me on this trip and I tried. I only took this cruise because I got a super cheap last minute rate on a balcony and had the time off. I do want to try one of their Quantum class ships and visit Coco Cay but will make sure the price is right and take someone with me.

I was on the Escape in February and the 2 shows were Choir of Man and After Midnight. They were supplemented by a Motown show (sorry, don't remember the name and didn't see it). Of course, this could have changed by now since it was 6 months ago.