trivimp

For the people who thought Priscilla was too outré.... shhhh, don't tell them what Kinky Boots is about 🤣

I loved Priscilla, seen it 3x (mix of land & sea.)  Loved Kinky Boots & looking forward to seeing the NCL version!! 

Not a CPAP user, but have travelled with one... Get some magnetic hooks to string your extension cord at ceiling height.  It will look weird but you won't trip in the dark trying to get to the bathroom.  

36 minutes ago, PhillyTravelBug said:

I really wish they had the option of a non-alcoholic beverage package as a substitute for all of us that are in recovery.

They have the "Adult & Teen Soda Package," something like that?  You can find it on the "Explore & Plan" page of your cruise.  

24 minutes ago, SpainAlien said:

If you pre-book online for Teppenyaki and Moderna using free at sea and then Cagneys and La Cucina you wouldn't have to pay anything up front but can you then swap it around when you get onboard? I want to use my free at sea for the two a la Carte restaurants and my obc fior the two set price menus but I want to book them in advance

 

Yes, just tell your server if you want to use your dining credit, or would rather be billed (a la carte or prix fixe, depending on the venue,) when you are seated.  They'll sort it all out.  

5 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

It looks like NCL just saved me a phone call.  I was booked on Sky out of Miami this fall, but later booked Alaska when those cruises were reinstated.  I was holding onto the Sky booking "just in case," but as long as AK sailed was going to cancel it.  I received the email on the cancellation, offering a 10% discount through next Dec.  I already have 10% off applied to a POA Spring cruise but will see if I can apply another 10% off to our fall cruise (I don't believe that will be allowed).

When was your Sky booking?  

Edit:  AUUUGHHHH I just got my notice for 10/17 cancellation 😭

Done two b-day cruises:

- First one, didn't get anything in the cabin, but mentioned it to the server at dinner (we were at Cagney's) & was brought a slice of cake similar to the one pictured above at the end of the meal.

- Second time, I had a card waiting for me in the cabin on boarding day that said something along the lines of "NCL is pleased that you are joining us on your special day, please present this card at any restaurant for a complimentary piece of cake."  When I did so, was brought that same type of cake.  

The cake is nothing special, if we're being honest; but they will sing Happy Birthday to you & make a bit of a fuss if you enjoy that kind of stuff.  Otherwise, you can wave off the singing.  

1 hour ago, JamieLogical said:

 

The "Sky sailings" out of Miami in September are still happening, the bookings were all just shifted to the Gem. So those passengers didn't actually get cancelled. That was announced last week.

Not all of them, the Sky sailing on 10/17 is frozen because the Gem is already scheduled for a 4-day Bermuda sailing on that date.  Not at all sure what I'm going to do, that was planned as the 2nd leg of a B2B for us.  Now I've got 10/10 on the Gem & a great big question mark for 10/17.  I'm looking at 10/3 on the Gem but the prices have gone up.  

I know I'm digressing & I appreciate your indulgence 😁  It's just so frustrating, much like you experienced with the Joy cancellation.  One spends a lot of time figuring it all out & getting everything set up just so, and then it changes.  Arrrrgh

No bar service, just the water & tea.  If you try to sneak in a beverage from an outside bar they will stop you, because they don't want any glass in the spa area.  (I saw someone try to do just that on my last Epic cruise!)  

If you search that large, popular social media platform that we're not supposed to mention here, you'll find several groups dedicated to the resale of CruiseNext certificates.  Try there, I've had success buying & selling certificates.  (The groups always seem to have "CruiseNext" in the name, but, CruiseFirst is basically the same concept & should be welcome) 

I like the Gem better than the Sky, so, it works for me... YMMV... 

We booked a B2B on the Sky, for 10/10 & 10/17.  

The Oct 10 sailing was changed from Sky to Gem, so, that's all good.  

The Oct 17 is still listed as the Sky.

I thought, "Well, they'll get around to changing it next week, wait & see."  But now I see the Gem has a 4-day Bermuda sailing on Oct 17.

This will be the weirdest B2B ever if we have to change ships in the middle of it... 

20 hours ago, Hadacareer said:

Agree..and be mindful of us older (and not so much older)  with hearing aids which tend to go flying when I take a mask off..so would leave it on more than risk losing them!

19 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Same with dangly earrings!

This reminds me of a silly convo I had with The Guy a while back (pre-vaxxed)

Me:  I don't like this mask, it argues with my sunglasses when I'm wearing my wig

Him:  No sympathy, you should try it with a hearing aid

One thing I haven't seen mentioned, since both you & your wife are using cpap machines, is that you may need to bring a multi-plug adaptor of some kind.  On most ships, the outlet near the desk is just that: a single outlet, not the two-outlet setup commonly used in US homes.  I travel with something like this one (not this exact model, but similar.)  Just don't use a model with a built in surge protector; the room steward will confiscate it as a fire hazard.  

https://www.amazon.com/EyGde-Extender-Outlets-Splitter-Rotating/dp/B08HV67YYP/ 

8 minutes ago, kimandtim said:

I am wondering what itinerary will be since Grand Cayman is still stating that they are not accepting cruises for the remainder of 2021.  Carnival has already switched their July itineraries to other ports from GC.

For my October 10 Sky-now-Gem sailing, Grand Cayman is axed, Roatán & Harvest Caye moved up one day, and Costa Maya inserted the day before Cozumel.  

43 minutes ago, victory2020 said:

OK, great, I have another question - I will be traveling with 2 others that are sharing a balcony - can they come to the solo lounge with me?

In the very strictest adherence to nit-picking technicality: No.

In practical application: Sure, why not, just have them follow you in to the lounge.  Don't prop the door open for anybody, though, it's considered bad form & will just tick off your solo neighbors.  

I, too, would cancel, being unwilling to risk the disruption factor.  

12 hours ago, saltsandknit said:

This changed recently you now have to pay at time of booking excursions even if you call the excursions desk. We had to pay for the excursions we made for our sept 19 Sky cruise 

Ah, well, that's a bummer.  Another thing that's changed in the post-COVID era, I guess.  Thanks for correcting my out-of-date info 🙃 

Just now, CaptainWoody said:

That is great to know!  If you book over the phone do they still show up on your on-line itinerary?  Do they send you an updated cruise confirmation?

Yes & yes.

If you book them via the cart, you must prepay; if you call the 800 number, you can reserve them without payment, and they will be charged to your shipboard account after the excursion is completed.  

Edited to add:  This is specifically for the US website.  Other countries' websites may be different.

The website can be buggy.  Check your invoice that you should have received in email, that one can be considered gospel.  If it is showing everything correctly there, you're good; you can also print it out & bring it along just in case things aren't correct once you're on board (but I have never heard of that happening.) 

I got a much more generic "thank you for your comments, I love hearing from guests but don't have time to respond to everyone individually" form letter.  Maybe we're overwhelming the office staff?? 

I just sent a similar letter.  In my experience, the best way to let a company know how you feel about an issue is to TELL THEM (& then follow up by voting with your wallet as needed.)  

Doesn't apply to the OP, but worth mentioning...

The Epic also has the largest (and best, IMO) of the Studio lounges in the fleet.  With so many studio cabins, the solo meetings are usually hopping.  

Oh good!  Before this latest change, my December cruise final payment was actually due before my October cruise 🤣

50 minutes ago, CaptainWoody said:

Do other lines have promos similar to NCL's ubiquitous Beverage Packages and Specialty Dining packages?  

Each line has something, but they vary wildly; you have to read the fine print.  Carnival has the Cheers! program, which was around $35/day when I sailed, if I recall correctly.  Celebrity (which I was going to sail last year but was covid-cancelled) had a beverage program which was a quarter of that price, but was pretty limited.  I wasn't sure I was going to be happy with it, but was willing to give it a try.  NCL, as gets mentioned a million times on this board, offers the standard bev package as a perk, but you have to pay the gratuities.  Still a bargain when you look at the bottom line.  

I had a similar experience with Carnival.  It was fun, but it just wasn't the same.