poohdreaming

29 minutes ago, Treasure Hunter said:

Because we are treating the family to this cruise. Disney would be so expensive for them, flying and hotel etc. They are thrilled to just give the kids this opportunity to see the castle and characters and get mouse ears. It will be enough. They’re going to do a day in Colonial Williamsburg at the Norfolk stop too. 

A Disney cruise would have been great for these kids, but of course with adults - NCL would probably be less costly. If just to see the castle, characters, to get mouse ears and to get on some rides - sure, it would do.

Hopefully, NCL will stop at Orlando. You can call the shore excursion line to reserve tickets when it open up later on. You would have to keep checking on it if you cannot reserve / purchase it under your cruise summary. As for bus pick up/stop, they will tell you the time plus give you information.

In my opinion, a cruise to a port stop in Orlando for a Disney day trip - only a few hours spend at the park and only a few rides is not worth it. Why not just travel / plan a Disney trip for a few days?

39 minutes ago, mizLORInj said:

So this is a Sapphire perk.  Will there be a note left in my cabin as to when this is scheduled?   

Who usually attends and what's the experience like?

 

 

 

Thought this was cancelled. If they do bring it back, these dinners with officers are just like any other dinners. You might get someone who is not so important on the cruise ship or someone who is important. You would just sit at the dinner table talking among other cruisers with this person.

1 hour ago, mafig said:

I was alright with the email but the phone number sends a text to your phone, correct?

Send a message/text to your phone and you had to reply "YES" - this is what I had to do.

If you are booked on this cruise, go with the flow (ignore this extra covid-19 test).

If you are booked and wanted to cancel because of this extra covid-19 test  - perhaps you can cancel the cruise only if there is still the Peace of Mind or through the Covid-19 Refund/Cancellation - You need to read/do your own research if you meet the requirement. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cruisers should really look at websites on NCL to know more:

https://www.ncl.com/sail-safe

https://www.ncl.com/travel-requirements-by-country

Country Requirements

All guests must complete Bermuda Travel Authorization (TA) within 10 days of sailing. The cost of the Travel Authorization is $40 per guest. Link to form: https://www.gov.bm/cruise-travel-authorisation

All vaccinated guests (any age):

• Travel Authorization requirements include uploading vaccination card and proof of negative antigen test, administered by a verified third party or via medically supervised home test, within 48 hours of embarkation.
• Note: The upload of the antigen test results should occur at same time as the upload of proof of vaccination. Do not upload one without the other, as the application will be rejected.

All unvaccinated guests (only applicable to guests under the age of 12):

• Travel Authorization requirements include proof of a negative PCR test, administered by a verified third party or via medically supervised home test, within 96 hours of embarkation.
• All unvaccinated guests (only applicable to guests under the age of 12) will also be required to take an additional antigen test at embarkation. This test will be paid for and administered by Norwegian Cruise Line.

Where Bermuda is not the first port of call, or if the ship takes longer than 4 days to arrive in Bermuda, all guests, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to take an additional antigen or PCR test onboard no more than 2 days prior to disembarking in Bermuda. This test will be paid for and administered by our onboard medical team.

All guests must have an approved Travel Authorization before embarkation.

• A travel authorization number will be issued by Bermuda once approved
• If you have any issues with the process, please contact:
• Bermuda Tourism Authority: 1.833.570.2594 (toll-free)
• Norwegian Cruise Line: 1.800.327.7030

1 minute ago, njhorseman said:

You could do either an NAAT or antigen test two days before embarkation but that may be too late to get the result from an NAAT so that close to the cruise you should do the antigen test.

3 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

 

Just to clarify, the test needed to obtain the travel authorization can be an antigen test. It doesn't need to be an NAAT. However if it's an antigen test it must be done no earlier than 2 days before embarkation while an NAAT  may be done up to four days before embarkation.

Yes. Thanks for the detail / information.

Depending on the lab (peak/how many they have to do), results can delayed.

So to each cruisers, you decide what test you want to do (NAAT/PCR/Antigen).

14 minutes ago, suz1607 said:

I was  told by NCL that we would be tested aboard ship prior to Bermuda arrival but to get the Covid-19 NAAT test and the travel authorization before leaving home as well as the test NCL requires. Is this correct?

You need to do the covid-19 test on your own or at the port (cost is unknown). If leaving Saturday, NCL said to do the test on Thursday. Then you need to fill out the travel form on Bermuda's website as well as to pay the $40 using your visa or mc credit card and to upload the result of this covid-19 test. Then once on board, another covid-19 test (this time by NCL medical team).

1 hour ago, JGmf said:

Just one guy's opinion, but the Orchard Garden, at least my experience on the Gem this past December, is no better than the Asian food on buffet.  Nothing special at all.

Yes, just average Asian food.

However, some cruisers would still visit this restaurant to eat for dinner.

Things where it is mostly different than the buffet:

Someone serving you vs. you walking around in the buffet

Tea

Desserts

2 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

 

Our pre-pandemic experiences at the Orchid Garden on the Gem were disappointing as well.  We've been on the Gem a number of times, and quickly learned that while the appetizers weren't too bad, the entrees were not very good.  So occasionally we'll stop by for the appetizers. 

 

 

Which is not always a blessing. 🤣

Yes, some appetizers are the best. You can order more if you like them.

As for entrees - not the best or the worst, just average food.

Fried Rice, etc.

Wow, suddenly the topic of this thread became different.

BirdTravels should of not used the word commoners.

But let's all get back to the original topic.

To the original poster, it really depends on when you cruise and each port is different.

On NCL website, it said both is fine: electronically - picture as well as paper copy.

From the NCL website, it said to get the test 2 days before your cruise. If you embark on Saturday, then you go get a PCR test on Thursday. CVS, Walgreen, Rite Aid or Home Tests. Your insurance should cover it if you have insurance.

At least you can order it if you want to.

Otherwise, for a good pizza - probably try the buffet when it open as well as the La Cucina restaurant (would need to pay).

20 hours ago, firstimerhaven said:

We recently learned that our FCC could be converted to a monetary refund.   We applied and got an email saying that upon preliminary review, we qualify for the monetary refund but it needs to go through another round of review.  But now its 3 days from our FCC expiring.  Do you think they just sent this letter to get us to not use the FCC and then after 1/31 they will say "sorry, you don't qualify" and at that point we will have lost our FCC?

 

The exact language in the letter is "we are pleased to inform you that your reservation xxxxxxxxx preliminarily meet the refund criteria and have been submitted for further review as all refund requests are subject to additional review prior to approval."

Someone posted on CC Forum that if your approval / refund was denied and by this time the FCC expired, you would need to send in like an appeal or request for the FCC to be reinstated.

To the OP - It might be that cruise that you sailed where the meet & greet was not done properly. Usually there are a large group and the person (organizer) that wanted to do the meet & greet should have shown up. In past threads, some people mentioned that the person who set it up get some types of benefits like a delivery of strawberry chocolates to their room. On my previously cruises, goodies were delivered for showing up at the meet & greet along with a note from them (a card with a list of phone numbers to contact them).

As for eating with strangers - that's what NCL is good for. You can dine by yourself, with your partner, or with your groups or eat with strangers (like joining other solos) from the solo group. For example, you can join the solo group for 1 night having dinner with them. Then you do not need to join them for other nights. If you do meet someone (another solo) that you do not mind having lunch/dinners, then sure you can continue on throughout the cruise. If not, then you can dine alone and it is fine to do so. They do not ask if you want to sit with anyone else.

Now with this covid mess, for me personally, if I do get to cruise again - I personally do not want to sit with other strangers.

If you already resolved and closed your guest account onboard, there shouldn't be anymore charges.

Did they give you a receipt or did you ask for one?

What BirdTravels mentioned, you need to make sure these are actual charges.

44 minutes ago, craig01020 said:

I received my FCCs today, but unfortunately, my Platinum Travel Protection was non-refundable. 😟

 

"Additionally, if you purchased our Essentials, Book Safe Standard or Platinum travel protection plan, you will not receive an additional future cruise credit as this amount is also non-refundable."

But what about a credit for these insurance / travel protection plan even though it won't be refundable to your credit card? I do not know if NCL changed their policies, but if I remembered correctly, I believe I gotten a credit to use it toward the next cruise.

Of course prices will be higher due to unused FCCs and limited amount of cruisers plus other reasons. Good luck to you in finding a reasonable pricing.

Before the pandemic, the behind the ship tour is only for those guests that are Platinum+. Only yourself can go on this tour. Cannot give it to someone else or have another non platinum guest come along with you. Once in awhile, you might heard of rules bended but it really supposed to be for Platinum+.

As for right now in this pandemic period - only for those guests that recently cruised can answer your question. To me, I do not see it happening. 

4 hours ago, kayjaypea42 said:

Not to hijack this thread, but how does the plan work with Onda? What's considered an entree? What's considered an appetizer? Does pizza count as an app or an entree? Is pasta an entree vs the "Segundi" items?  Thanks!

For me, what's considered an appetizer is anything listed under appetizer like a salad.

What's considered as an entrée - this is your main meal course.

Anything on the specific restaurant menu like steak, pasta, salmon, etc.

Pizza - I would say it count as an entrée.

Pasta - If you go to La Cucina, for example on their menu it would say something like available in Entrée size for $5 additional.

1 hour ago, victory2020 said:

Thank you, the menus help! Seems like the Teppanyaki isn't as good of a deal as Le Bistro or Ocean Blue - I seem to like those menus better. If I change would I be missing something by not going to Teppanyaki?

All my previous cruises, I have never went to Teppanyaki and do not miss out on it.

If you like rice with grilled beef / egg / shrimp / chicken and some types of performance, then this is Teppanyaki for you. I believe their dessert is green tea ice cream or fruits.

11 hours ago, victory2020 said:

Thank you all for your help. I booked the dining package & was able to make reservations already. For Ocean Blue it only gave me option to book for 4 people. Is this normal or are all the small tables booked already? I booked Teppanyaki for 1st night as I figure i may meet some people that way. I need advice on my 4th dining selection, have the two mentioned plus Cagney's. What other one should I book on the Getaway?

https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/getaway/whats-on-board/Specialty-Dining

You can go to the same restaurant again if you liked their food or try other ones like Le Bistro and La Cucina.

While food at the main dining room are okay, in my opinion there are nothing that would stand out or be very amazing that you would regret not eating there for that night.

FYI, you are on a vacation so you can have the choice of eating at both restaurants if want to.

For example, if you had dinner at 5 pm at a specialty restaurant and then later on you're hungry, you know you can go eat at the MDR.

I would suggest to reserve for the specialty restaurant ahead of time.

17 hours ago, abby322003 said:

We have FCC for an Alaskan cruise that cancelled twice that we booked in 12/19. My aunt who is 90 is not sure she can handle a cruise by the time we can go. Where can we try to sell her FCC?

What HuliHuli mentioned is true - no selling on CC forum.

Anyway, do you or any other family members would want to cruise?

If so, your aunt can transfer it to another NCL account.

20 hours ago, casofilia said:

I wish that the Book Date had been Dec 2022 and the Sail Date Dec 2023; giving everyone an extra year to get over all the possible problems.

No cruises are sailing at this point, not everyone is vaccinated, and the pandemic is still here. So they extended it ~6 more months for those that had FCC expiration date of June 2021. Maybe NCL will change it again later on. Who knows.

NCL send out a letter today. FCC are extended.