CCJack

Yes. I got that message too ( to try at 120 days). It should let you in at 125 despite what it says now.

Agree... we are in a similar situation and when i do the math I say keep it. Keep in mind if you cancel both drink packages you don't get all the gratuities back because some are for the SD.

At least they are providing the kids a snack at that price. Goldfish crackers maybe?

If you are off the ship by 8, you likely would make 8:25. Thing do happen however. On our last cruise to Flam, our ship docked, they let only cruiseline excursion people off, then they pulled back to tender everyone else, while another ship docked. So we tendered and we tendered off well after our posted docking time. I still don't know what the rational was with that arrangment. All that said, the train is not a very expensive ticket, I would book the 8:25 and likely you will make it. Just my opinion.

How does the Uber app fit into this discussion? I have read that Athens does not allow Uber in the typical fashion (privately owned cars being used as Uber) but some taxis now use the app and you can call a taxi using the app. If so then wouldn't the app calculate the fare and charge your credit card accordingly? Or is the app being used just to hail the taxi, then you are on your own to negotiate?

Yes, this is a good suggestion, to check that. We have been on 2 cruises where departure was delayed from 4-ish to 8-ish pm but ship was in dock early in the am. The Quebec City departure was delayed (announced a few days prior) because they were having a hard time getting the NCL Air people on flights that arrived in time for 4 pm departure. ( I guess that computer algorithm that waits until the very last moment to find cheapest flights for NCL waited a bit too long and they couldn't get flights for everyone that arrived in time !) We also had a delay out of Amsterdam, announced about 3 pm we would leave 5 hours late. The local authorities there can arrange ship and boat traffic through the lock (the lock is an hour or so away from Amsterdam) but they sometimes make the big ships wait and let more smaller vessels go first. At least that is what they announced on our ship.

on our last NCL departure from Quebec City, the ship' s original sail time was 4 pm, but they changed it to 8:00 pm a few days before the cruise left. No changes in board time schedule. We reserved a 9:30 am check in time (which was the first time slot). On board by about 11:30 am. Boarding early is not necessarily for everyone, but since we were in QC for a few days prior it made sense to board early and relax rather than another afternoon in QC. Plus I had to make a dining reservation change, etc. and best to board early if you need to do that. Have fun...

I cruised a lot with my kids at that age, and it is a good age for them to travel. I hope you have fun.... My recommendation is not to choose a cruise based on the kids program or on ports that are kid friendly. I would choose the cruise you want and I feel kids that age will adapt and will have a great time, on any ship. We went on Radiance Class to Alaska and it was great. I do not think smaller ships are a negative. However, that was a few years ago and Radiance Class is getting up in years. Not saying she doesn't still look nice, cause I haven't been on Radiance class in several years. However, age of ship sometimes is more of an issue than size in my opinion.... That said, I really like Vancouver as a embarkation port. Stay downtown 1 or 2 nights before, walk to ship. Really a beautiful city.

I agree that finding a table for 2 may be difficult. I do hope, however, that you get the chance to enjoy a river cruise despite this concern.... river cruises are a lot different than ocean cruises and a great experience, in my opinion. I did find that by the middle of the cruise, people tended to sit in the same spots with the same people. Perhaps you could explain your partner's hearing issues to those at your table and they may be very understanding for the duration of the cruise.

I felt the biggest perk was the 5 day head start on dining reservations. Of course the laundry bag (which our room steward said you could do any day) is worth something (maybe $30). The treats aren't worth much. Actually with a whole buffet available to you, it seems like a waste of the employee's time to bring a plate of two cookies to your room, etc. They should drop that.

I would just add that Starbucks gift cards and merchandise (thermos mugs, etc.) require refundable OBC. Starbucks drinks and food can use NR as you indicate.

Can you tell me if that 250 OBC is refundable (can be used for service charges) or non refundable? Also, I assume that OBC has to be used on the cruise you are currently on and cannot be applied to the future cruise you will book using the certificates? thanks.

Can i ask where you stayed pre cruise in Athens? We are doing same plan next september.

We were on the Viking Romantic Danube so slightly different stops than you. It was a great trip, I hope you love it as much as we did. As others have said, I would avoid independent excursions. First off, there are not many... it is not like a big ship cruise where there is a market for local excursion vendors. We had no water level problems on our cruise, but schedules can still change. You want to stick with Viking or DIY with a good understanding of when the boat leaves. The included viking tours we took were typically very good but short. Typically walking from boat for 1.5 hours or so, then you could go off on your own. We did take a few viking paid excursions with mixed results..... Viking Nuremberg WWII excursion - excellent Vienna included walking tour - excellent Viking Vienna Mozart concert - I was disappointed.. I posted a separate review on this. Others like it. The bus took us to a large concert hall and a concert was just ending so lots of people exiting the theater. I assumed we were going in the large hall for a 2nd show, but instead you go to a smaller room and it is a viking only concert. It as not a full orchestra, maybe 6 piece chamber music. They told a lot of jokes and gags. I would have rather bought a ticket to the big traditional concert for locals. Viking Gottweib Abbey. The Abbey is a beautiful building and you get great views of the valley. But it is a pretty low key excursion - wine tasting and that was about it. We ended in Budapest with an overnight on the ship. So they took us out again after dinner for an evening cruise (on the viking ship)... Budapest is absolutely beautiful from the river after dark. If you have an overnight on the Viking ship in Budapest at the beginning of your cruise, they likely will do that. If not, then schedule your own evening cruise with an local boat during your pre cruise stay. Don't miss. I really enjoyed going through 20+ locks during the cruise. Very interesting, I thought. Have fun...

We were there last month disembarking off of the NCL Joy and we also had a noon flight out of LGA. We self carried our luggage and were one of the first off the ship. NCL advertised disembarkation begins at 7:30 for self carry folks, but it was probably closer to 7:45. We walked across the street (busy parkway) to the taxi stand. That area is a mad house for a big ship at least. Taxi drivers start trying to grab you as you cross the parkway, I asked how much to LGA and they said 120 cash. Instead we crossed the parkway and turned left and walk about 2 blocks to get away from the crowd and called na uber. I think it was about $65. We made it in plenty of time and had 2 hours to kill at LGA, but I would still disembark as soon as you can.

I was just there last month and we took a taxi from the airport to the old town area of QC. The driver did not take a credit card, so I paid with C$. I suspect he had a CC machine but would rather have cash so he just said that he didn't take cards. Other than that he was very friendly. We had a great time in QC.

Good luck... this is a great tour, very small group and tight quarters but very interesting. I sensed that the crew that runs this is completely different than the high volume ticket sales crew at the Vatican Museum (with computers and barcodes, etc). The folks for the Scavi tour were very friendly and great tour guides, but not the best English, and maybe a bit unorganized. Treat it like a small business and keep trying... it will be worth the effort.

We recently completed an NCL cruise and I went on their website to book another and my account was populated with two credits: FCC - i was expecting this due to a price reduction after final payment on our previous cruise and "welcome back credit" $100 It also says only credits for the person who logged in will be shown. I know my wife has a similar FCC amount. I have a couple of questions: 1) can both of these types be used if I book through a TA.? I think the FCC can but I am not sure about the welcome back credit 2) will both of us get the welcome back credit? If so , I assume we could create a login account for my wife to see the certificate.

thank you all for the input... I am thinking the 9 day plus 2 or 3 nights in Athens pre cruise. Any thoughts on a good hotel or areas to stay in Athens.

Also, I like the 8 am Flam arrival (Anthem) better than the 7 am (Apex). I felt the highlight of our trip was the sail-in to Flam. I recommend being up and on the deck 2 -3 hours prior to arrival. Plus sometimes these ships arrive early, which in this case is not good IMO. The later 8 am arrival gives you a little more reasonable alarm clock time ! Note, our ship announced nothing about the sail in, so you need to make note of it yourself and try to figure out when your ship enters the fjord.

all of those solo balconies are now showing unavailable. It must me a screw up, or maybe they are converting them to solo, but they pushed them out before all the ducks were in a row....they are offline now.

No, I am getting numbers similar to Pookie2u, book 1 person and choose this cabin $3900, book 2 people and choose this cabin $4100 total. Doesn't seem like much of a break for solos. A lot of the lower priced balconies on this ship are listed as solo. Now, to be sure I get space for my wife and I, I need to upgrade... maybe to a club balcony suite. NCL makes a confusing change on the website and now they have us all spending more money!

I am still confused.. trying to book for 2 and it lists these as an option. The way NCL operates I am afraid to have a booking that says "solo" anywhere... we may arrive at embarkation and they will only let one of us board ! My wife and I would have to do rock-paper-scissors to see who goes. Even if I won, she would then want 2 out of 3, etc. until I lose !

Getaway. Greek isles. September 2024, Athens. I don't recall the dates but i looked at 2 different dates and got same thing.

I am trying to book a cruise for 2 on the NCL website. It is defaulting to a cabin that is a "solo balcony" . My understanding is that means these are reserved for solo traveler pricing but you can still book 2 people in them. Is this correct? Anything else I am missing on this point? There would be no drawbacks to this as compared to a normal "balcony" cabin for 2 people? thanks.