Expat Cruise

If you eat at the buffet, consider coffee, water or iced tea to drink, even if you have a soda (or liquor) package. Otherwise, the waiter/waitress has to go outside to a bar to fetch your drink, and that can take awhile. ( Might be worth the wait if you want a specific drink)

If it's crazy busy, you can also fetch your own iced tea (or water, or coffee) from the drink stations.

I just request soda when I enter the buffet. I'm sorry but I do not understand why a guest would change to accommodate the cruise line. I paid for a package good in that restaurant, if the ship does not place drinks in that location it is on them. I'm sure if many started asking they would correct this.

The weather in October is nice in Singapore, Phuket, and Langwaki. It is still the end of Typhoon season but those storms are tracked very well and the ships more around them. I would not be worried or concern but it is a issue. Bali will be as warm as Singapore but not as humid. You still have the chance of afternoon rains in Singapore even without a Typhoon.

It should be a nice smooth ride but being open ocean that could change. But again I would not be concerned at all, get time to travel in Asia.

The cruise ships are not jails, they want to have happy guest. If you need a rule change for medical reasons most of the time they will be happy to do so. As long as other passengers or the ship is not put at risk. One general thing you can do is have your doctor write the information up on his pad and carry that if questioned. This line has a policy so follow that but the doctors orders can be helpful in other places.

I have never paid attention to these types of notices for delays or trying to slot me into a set time. I just follow through on my plans and never seem to have any real issues. I don't like being controlled and treated live stock so I'm not worried if my actions cause a little issues. I love the way cruise lines want to make up rules as they go along. I always just say show me in the contract that issue.

Yes they will remove. Ask the cabin steward to remove if they say no a trip or call to guest service will get it done. And grounds to remove the daily service fee if they protest over removing the bar items.

Sorry, I am looking at an Eastern Caribbean Carnival Cruise on the Magic in October. I am just worried that booking through a major online travel website would make it less personal, or less flexible if the price drops.

You can still call Carnival with questions even if you have booked through a agent, you do not lose customer service. As for deposits and being flexible you need to review the agents site. The lines policy is very simple for 6 - 9 days cruises the standard deposit is $250 per person, full payment is due 75 days prior to sailing. So you can make any changes you want up to 76 days before sailing, including full refund. Many travel sites have a no change policy and may require full payment to lock your deal in.

I book direct but if almost a 25% price difference nothing wrong with going through a agent. It is a little hard to answer because you have supplied limited information. It would be helpful to know the cruise line, ship, cruise. Because in some cases it could change the answer. In general take the best price.

A few things you should do. Sign up for the cruise lines rewards program and open a on line account with the cruise line. That way you can have the information listed in the cruise line systems and check it. But the most important thing I can say is have fun it is your first cruise, even if you make mistakes and errors, just move on and have fun. Don't waste time thinking about I did this wrong, could have fixed this way, etc. Get on the ship, explore and have fun. Welcome to cruising it is a get way to travel.

I really do not understand all the stress over passports. I have lived in countries that as a United States Passport Holder you are required to carry your passport. If question by law enforcement and you do not have or resident information you are arrested and held. Then later visited the same country as a cruise port stop and no one had passports, all held on the ship.

Local law enforcement and the port knew all about the ship and had relaxed the rules... why? Because the cruise ship stop is very important to the local economy. It is your choice but I would not carry and risk losing my passport on a port stop... unless the line clearly stated I needed to carry it. I do carry my phone with a photo of my passport and I have a laminated credit card size copy of my passport in my wallet.

While I have not lost a passport I know people who have it is not a fun process to fix. It can require police reports trips to Embassy and lots of issues. Why would anyone want to waste all this time and added cost on a cruise. I can't see it but every person is free to do what they want.

The question to which you are replying is asking about the service charge on the UBP and the SDP. These charges (when applicable) are separate from the DSC and must be paid before boarding.

No the OP clearly posted:

Norwegian Cruise Line is making a nominal adjustment to its daily service charges, effective April 1, 2018. Norwegian's discretionary daily service charges make it easy for guests to provide gratuities to the onboard staff dedicated to delivering superior guest service throughout the cruise. "

This does not need to be prepaid. It can be paid at the end of the cruise and can be adjusted.

Here is something I wondered about, if I already paid for my Gratuities for my drink Package and dining packages, why am I still paying full gratuities?

Just wondered why this wasnt reduced off my bottom line

Why prepaid in the first place? Why have to wait weeks for ma refund of the money if you not happy with the service? You will have a on board bill anyways so what difference will it make paying them at the end? It will only allow you to adjust if you want and not wait weeks for a refund.

I agree far to many people for me. I like a good size ship but these ships are just to big.

It's too bad the crew won't see a penny of their 'gratuity' increase. NCL uses obscure language to deny the crew their rightful tips.

That is one of the reason I remove from my account and tip out the people I think should be tipped. Don't want to start another tipping thread but will never agree to this form of stealing.

Smoking is still allowed on Balconies of many ships when in Asia and other places outside the United States Cruise Routes. Here is a link to information on this site note sure if up to date but a good starting point.

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=225

They have followed the rules 100% in every encounter I or anyone I know has had which includes one family member with dozens of trips on a copy. With such an absurd hard line view I'm sure you can post some independently verifiable examples of these boarding denials.

I have made the statement believe it, don't believe it do whatever you want if you think it is false prove it false. Or don't as I already said I would never travel on a copy but you are free to do so.

The rules are clear....a copy is sufficient.

 

 

So you are saying the agents always follow the rules? That never does anyone read the rules different or change them? If you are so sure why don't you guarantee the OP will not have a issue by backing up any loss with your money?

I'm sorry but to many times when the rules are crystal clear have I seen them not followed. You want to travel with a copy of a birth certificate great go for it, I would never risk the downside of that choice.

While it is best to bring the original if you can a copy will suffice. The DHS regulations state that a passenger may bring an "original or copy" of the birth certificate. To put the debate to rest when we sailed on Pride in 2012 I presented a photocopy of my birth certificate to enter the terminal, at check in, and to CBP when the cruise was over. No one batted an eye.

Unless the person clearing you says no and declines to board you, then you have a problem. Even if the port personal is wrong that doesn't help when the ship sails without you. Don't take changes. A locked safe is not a reason not to get inside it. Just because something work years ago or with one agent does not mean it will work with the next.

I do not think this is 100% on Princess, many times videos include extra things that are not include. Many are staged, when real estate agents sell homes they bake items and place things out that are not included in the sale. I see this as kind of the same. That's my Princess Side.

Now from the Customer Side: They paid thousands extra for this cabin even if the flowers are not included Princess should have provided them to make for a happy passenger.

My wife has long hair (down to her hips) While on a RCCL cruise in a Standard Balcony Cabin the Hair dryer was also not good. When I asked about getting something better, a staff member came with another one. Better but she still was not really happy. The next day the head of housekeeping asked if the issue was fix, when I said not really she said she would take care of it. And later that day a larger brand new hairdryer was in the cabin. That is customer service.

I like Princess I cruise with them have two more cruises book this year but in this case Princess failed to meet the standard of great customer service.

I maybe in the minority here but I would not want to cruise on this ship. The bigger ships with 4 to 6 thousand plus passengers are just to many people for my taste. I do not need 20 bars, I am happy with 6 to 8 and 3000 passengers. While Royal has put many things on ships not seen or done before just to much of a cattle call.

And if a emergency happens on the ship I do not believe as safe as smaller ships with a high upper level officer ratio to passengers. Even on land I like a mid size hotel vs thousands of rooms.

As others have said 7 hours is really not a long flight. If you want long try 14 or 16 hours, those are long flights. But to be more comfortable, a few things. Business Class always changes everything but most people cannot fly in Business.

Comfortable shoes you can slip of and comfortable cloths are the 2 biggest things. Get water once on the plane and drink lots of it. If you are awake water at least every 20 minutes, small amounts. And while many will not do don't drink alcoholic drinks, will only cause issues. You should eat some food but don't overeat. Walk around the plane, all the water will help with this and don't watch the time.

Depends upon many factors but 4 to 6 hours seems to be the normal time range. The dinning room dress codes are relaxed on the first night as people may not have bags yet. Best to carry on a few items for the day and not be dependent on bag delivery.

I travel with my own medical kit which includes Broad-spectrum antibiotic and other things for food poisoning, and other illness that may happen on my trips. But do not need to use these things much. I think the cruise lines overall try hard to keep these outbreaks down. Talking about and having signs to wash hands, hand sanitizes at points around the ships. They want to reduce these problems, only one ship I have been on recently seem to not care SuperStar Virgo, never saw any hand cleaner offered on the ship or at the dinning areas. Really completely different from other cruise lines. I do not think you can enter a Disney Restaurant without using these products.

If you see a good price you should really lock it in with a hold. It gives you time to work details.

Here is a prefect example of everything that is wrong with sites like this one. The OP does a good thing, they made a choice right or wrong they believe it to be correct. They are trying to return to the owner and posters here question and attack them. Really..... Do you think is how posters should act? How about just a simple Thank you to the OP for trying to do the right thing.

The answer is yes but I believe all the major cruise lines have loss quality of service as the market has grown and the ships got bigger. The more main stream cruises become the more they more from being something special.

Like Airlines I remember when I was a young child and travel in the 1960's with my family. You dressed to fly, the service was very good, drinks and snacks serviced, free items to remember the flight. Now airplanes have become flying buses. I see the same thing happening overall with cruises.

You still have a very few high line cruise companies but even those seem to have slipped.

If you take a Asian South Pacific, Australia and most Europe cruise you will have no choice, the line collects passports at the start of the cruise and holds until the end.