BaWBarmy

8 minutes ago, spanishguy1970 said:

I getcha, i guess everyone is different. We don't take the drinking package " ever" we don't drink that much so we use our onboard credit for a drink here and there, to pay for shore excursions, or even a dinner here and there in a specialty restaurant so for us it works. The only draw back is this, but in 5 years with this travel agent this is only time we have had a problem with her.

If you're happy using a TA then I would just change TA. There is no way your TA should be allowed to upgrade without your consent.

I can see why you like to get the OBC and you put it to good use. We tend to get the drinks package, arrange our own activities once ashore and we get enough speciality dining to satisfy us through our latitudes level. As you say everyone is different, which is what makes most people you meet interesting.

18 minutes ago, spanishguy1970 said:

yeah, i've thought of that, however with NCL you hardly get any onboard credit $25 dollars to 50 dollars for inside or Balcony. With our Travel agent we have always gotten anywhere from 150 dollars to 250 onboard credit no matter if we book inside or Balcony and she gives us more when we book onboard, that's why we have not changed to an NCL PCC.

 

 

That's all well and good but we usually find it difficult to use the OBC and end up spending the last evening in the gift shop buying towels. For us, varying amounts of OBC would not be a reason to choose a TA over the cruise line.

On ‎8‎/‎29‎/‎2019 at 10:36 PM, MCC retired said:

We cruise all of the mass market lines and returned to NCL for the first time since the free drinks .

The bars on the Epic were a zoo most of the times . Hard to get a drink .

Perhaps it was  the Epic design and/or free drink madness , but we won’t return to NCL 

for awhile .

Too many other choices .

 

I've yet to see any bar on any ship I have been on, and that includes the Epic, that is even remotely as busy as a town or city centre pub on a Saturday night. It's very rare that you can't actually get close to a bar and aren't served within a couple of minutes.

E-mail your PVP and point out that you are in Europe and that having a US PVP (PCC) is useless. The time difference alone makes it impractical. Ask them to assign you a European Personal Cruise Consultant.

I've had a number of e-mails from US PVP's stating that they have been assigned to me. I always point out that a) I'm in the UK and b) I already have a PCC who I am very happy with thanks.

If you know her latitudes number, it will probably be one digit up from yours, then just register her for a MyNCL account on line. I did this for my daughter only last week. She has cruised with us twice and I thought she had an account, a search revealed she hadn't. I registered her for a MyNCL account and when I was asked if she had cruised NCL before I replied yes and entered her latitudes number. Once finished, I logged into her account and her past cruises and points were shown.

1 hour ago, caneable said:

Having spent over 25 minutes in the last two days listening to the raucous, abrasive Muzak on the NCL customer service line waiting for a never present representative, I finally decided to request a call back.  I filled in the required info, hit the submit button and, hey presto, my details didn’t fit the required format!  WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN!  This company does seem to go out of its way to wind up customers, even the positive ones.  Does anyone know if there are any staff working at NCL or have an alternative number for talking with them?

Have a nice day😀

Try 0238 208 2691 the guy is called Sergio. He has tried unsuccessfully to become our PCC a couple of times. We're happy with the one we've got but it seems he is available.

7 hours ago, Gizmosmum said:

I was looking at the Jade repositioning cruise from Barcelona to New York October 2020. I  made sure I didn't use the sailaway price but the price didn't change :(.

Its showing on my list.

But its from Civitavecchia

The price changes when you get as far as Stateroom options when doing a mock booking

I've flown into Barcelona on the same day as a cruise twice. The first was with a dedicated cruise TA in the UK so we were on the same flight used by NCL and we had NCL transfers arranged for us. There was a bit of a problem with getting all the right people onto the shuttle but otherwise it was OK, however we arrived at Barcelona airport at 11:30 and boarded the Epic at about 14:30 (she sailed at 17:00). After this, the next time we booked our flights and our transfer ourselves and gave ourselves a bit more time. Our flight arrived at Barcelona Airport at 09:35 and we had a transfer booked for 10:30 we were on board by 13:00.

I think you are definitely pushing it with a flight that arrives as late as yours is scheduled. Even if everything at the airport goes smoothly it can still take well over an hour from the plane landing to you getting to the dock and then there is the embarkation procedure to go through. That takes you to 15:30 pushing it for a 17:00 sailing and just in time for a 18:00. IF EVERYTHING GOES EXACTLY ACCORDING TO PLAN.

I'd try to change for an earlier flight and stump up the extra cash.

Enjoy your cruise.

On ‎7‎/‎27‎/‎2019 at 2:17 AM, onthewingsofsong said:

We board NCL's "Escape" on Aug 4 for a cruise from NYC to Bermuda. We found the NCL website quite confusing and we spoke with 5 different NCL representatives who mostly gave us conflicting information. Despite all this, we are excited and can't wait for our first cruise. I've poured through the forum on here and found tons of great information. Still  - a couple of questions and am open to any advice and pearls of wisdom from experienced cruisers.

 

Question 1: Does the "Escape" have metal walls and should I stock up on magnetic hooks as many have advised?

Question 2: Do they hold back a certain percentage of specialty restaurant reservations for boarding day (we've had trouble booking them on-line)?

Questions 3: Best place for our family of 4 adults to hang out in a relatively peaceful manner on deck?

Question 4: Do they provide beach towels or should we bring some?

 

Any other great tips for onboard or on the island? Many thanks from this newbie for your time.

Q1 Not really sure. We usually have enough space in the wardrobes and drawers.

Q2 We booked our speciality reservations as soon as we boarded. There are tables from all the different restaurants and a Maitre D' in Headliners comedy club on Deck 6. We were expecting a large queue but were pleasantly surprised at how few people were there booking their meals.

Q3 Waterfront (Deck 8)

Q4 Beach Towels are usually in your stateroom, if not then just mention it to your steward and they soon will be.

As previously mentioned try to make reservations for shows as soon as you can. Make the most of the free NCL ferry to St. Georges when on the Island. Most of all just relax and enjoy your first cruise. You'll find things that you like that may never be mentioned here. Part of the joy of cruising, for me at least, is finding out about the ship I'm on by just wandering round and taking it all in. 

Taken at 05:29 AM on Sunday 9th September 2018 returning from Bermuda

On ‎7‎/‎24‎/‎2019 at 12:27 PM, esm54687 said:

Literally the post before your post addressed it. 

But quoted my post in the reply.

22 hours ago, SouthLyonCruiser said:

You mean to say that they charge an extra gratuity on the State tax?  Who gets the tip, Governor Cuomo?

Where does it say that?

Your card will tell the bartender whether you get the UBP. You will  have to sign a slip for items not included in the UBP such as local taxes or when you have ordered a drink that is valued at more than $15, although you will only be signing for the difference and the extra gratuity.

US ports are not the only places you may have to pay local tax. There is/was a 10% VAT charge for any drinks purchased in Spanish waters, not just berthed up in Barcelona. In the end these charges are minimal unless you're getting absolutely blitzed as soon as you get on board.

Never had a problem with getting an Uber from the Terminal. You can book them in advance now too.

22 minutes ago, tallnthensome said:

The Escape is better than the Bliss, been on both . You’ll love it ! 

Me too. I thought the Bliss was better.

Which all goes to show how subjective CC is and why you should go on your cruise and enjoy it.

6 minutes ago, Twipenne said:

Let's start with the fact that I've never taken a cruise in my life, though it's been on my bucket list for about three years. After doing some research, I booked the Norwegian Escape for Jan 25th because between the solo cabins, the no set dining time, the fact that with free at sea I only have to spend $139 on drinks for the week, the water slides and ropes course, it seemed like a ship I would want to try. But then I found CC after I placed my deposit and all I've seen are posts saying that the line is going down hill and they've been miserable on their cruises. And when I look into RCL and Carnival, I find complaints there as well.

 

So, I ask, should I even bother trying cruising?

 Yes.

Just stop reading CC

I was diagnosed Type 2 on 31st December last year. My cruise in November will be my first since that time.

My medical team advised that I should lose weight and I am on medication for the diabetes as well as High Blood Pressure and raised cholesterol. I asked about reducing sugar and was advised that it's still OK to eat sweet things but in moderation e.g. two squares of chocolate rather than a whole bar. I changed my diet (less carbs and fat) I watch calories in and out rather than trying to reduce one type of macro, I started walking (and now cycling) every day and have lost 28lb since mid January.

I will try and eat more sensibly than I usually do on a cruise but it's a holiday and only for 7 days so I may slip up but I'll probably have a walk every morning and do a lot of walking on port days. Otherwise I'll control it much like I do at home just with a bit more leeway.

We have sailed into the Manhattan Cruise Terminal four times now and have got used to it, sort of. Our biggest issue has always been baggage reclamation, twice we have had trouble finding bags because they have been left in the wrong colour group. The staff, although trying to be helpful, usually just ask what colour tag was on your bag and then direct  you to that group, where you have already looked and found your bag not to be there. Any delay hasn't really affected us, as flights back to the UK from JFK are usually very late in the day.

After finding your luggage, getting through the rest of the terminal is a breeze, especially if you can snag a porter. Immigration seems to flow quite quickly for US citizens. The queue for non US citizens can be a little slower. Once through there just walk straight on and out of the terminal (or follow your porter). Then its a case of turning left for the NCL transport or heading straight on to cross 12th Ave. and to the taxi stand. The porter we had when getting off the Bliss took us through immigration and customs in a flash and then walked us as far as 11th St and hailed us a taxi, we were staying in Manhattan for a couple of days so in no rush. Obviously a hefty tip was gratefully accepted.

On our first visit we used the NCL transport. At $40 per person for two of us it was better value than a cab. We arrived at the airport way too early for us, not the fault of NCL. On the two other occasions we spent the day with friends and had an extra day discovering New York before using Uber to get us to JFK. The other occasion was that mentioned above.

Our last visit in September 2018 was after cruising the Escape and was probably the easiest, mainly because we were getting used to the experience.

In summary we've found it isn't quite the nightmare depicted on other threads and that the NCL shuttle is good value if your party is 2 or less. The taxi stand can get quite busy, if you choose to get an Uber just wander down W48th St for a few yards and order your ride. saves somebody else taking it at the taxi stand.

19 hours ago, firstimer2009 said:

Check to see if your hotel is near an Aligaluna stop.  That water bus line leaves every 30 minutes directly from the airport so no need to take a bus to Piazalle Roma than a vaporetta.  This website has a guide to 200 hotels in Venice and how to get there from the airport or the Piazalle.  In general it's also a great guide to Venice.  We are staying at a hotel near St. Marks that is right off the San Zaccharia stop so will be using Aligaluna.

https://europeforvisitors.com/venice/

 Yes. I had already checked this out. We are within 200m of the Guglie stop on the Orange Line. The link you provided was very useful thanks.

I'm more concerned about catching the Vaporetto at the airport. Hopefully travelling in November it should be a bit quieter and our flight lands at 09:25 AM it's just finding the ticket booth in the airport, I don't want to get to the stop and find I can't get a ticket there.

We are going on this cruise but not until November. I've been to Corfu before when I was a lot younger. The rest are all new to me. We have the $50 shore excursion perk so will use that for some tours but will generally just walk around for the rest.

We have two nights pre cruise booked in Venice and I'd be really interested in experiences of taking the Vaporetto from the airport, our hotel is less than 200m from a stop. I've watched a few videos and understand that you can buy tickets at the dock as well as inside the airport.

Oh good @cruisingnole is back.

Had one cruise on NCL, didn't like it, fair enough. Now he spends his time trawling through threads and criticising NCL at almost every opportunity. Particularly dislikes the Epic, a ship he's never been on.

Troll off Semi.

FWIW I would take the cruise with a 50% refund plus 50% off another cruise and be happy to do so. Each to their own but as far as I'm concerned I'm on a cruise and that's OK by me.

We last cruised the Gem in 2015 and the Escape last year. Both times we shared a balcony cabin with our youngest daughter, who is in her twenties. Not a direct comparison as we had one of those covered balcony things on the Gem and a midship on the Escape but there was more room in the cabin on the Escape.

Having said that the Gem wins on just about everything else, and if the Great Outdoors isn't the best area on any ship, then I don't know what is. 

1 hour ago, TheTides said:

Also, it is expensive, but if you can take a water taxi from the airport to your place of lodging in Venice, it is SO worth the money.  This gives you a perfect overview of the city from the canals, allows you to see all the highlights from the water before you even step foot on land.  Really was a great way to start our trip.

Nice to hear. Our hotel is only 200 m from a Vaporetto stop. Not going until November but I'm as excited about our two days in Venice as I am about the cruise.

See my edit.

Yes it is.

Phew I hope nobody saw that.