Middleager

No microwave. Nothing for guest use.

Plats get 2 bags on a 12 day cruise. We were just on one. My wife and I each get 2 bags.

We've used NCL BOGO three times. We'd use it again if the price is much cheaper. For the next cruise out of Lisbon, NCL's BOGO price is similar to if we buy ourselves for 2, so we won't use them. We always do a 2-day deviation on the way to the cruise. The first time with NCL's flights was Toronto to Rome, got KLM connecting through Amsterdam. Our flights were fine, but one luggage (mostly my wife's clothing/cosmetics) did not arrive Rome. We spent a lot of time trying to contact KLM, and NCL. The night before cruise we scrambled to go buy some clothing (not enough) for my wife. That luggage apparently got to Rome on the day of the cruise and they said they'll try to get it to the cruise. It didn't get there. After we got on the cruise, NCL gave us $200 OBC, and also free laundry. We continue to get online with KLM's website, and NCL on ship Guest Services. NCL said they'll try to arrange for the luggage to be sent to the next port. It was a transatlantic cruise with 7 ports in the beginning. The luggage never got to the cruise. But at least NCL did try to help us, and we were glad they did. -- Some people asked about seats. It really depends on the airline, and it helps if you have status or credit cards to give some perks. We usually try to select seats and most of the time had to pay for that. Some credit card have travel credits you can use, to pay for seat selection, and we made use of that. Some airlines let you select seats for free at T-24, but some don't. So if we really want to make sure we get some seats, we pay for it.

"Sleeping in another cabin, is it possible." Of course. This happens a lot on cruises.😆

With NCL, they give U$25 credit if you choose deviation of 1 or 2 days. If we do the b1g1 airfare with NCL, we always do a 2-day deviation on the way to cruise.

I get all three are down because of similar operating environment and challenges. NCLH is down a lot because it reported today, while the other two are only down a little. So I was wondering if the other two are only down a little because they are in better shape, or because they have not reported, and if they report similar challenges their big drop days will come then. I guess we'll see in the coming days when CCL and RCL report.

So NCLH is down 12% so far today. CCL is down just over 2% and RCL down 1.5%. Is that because CCL and RCL are in better shape or they haven't reported and therefore their down days will come after?

I wouldn't want to go to the front of the line, to show my card/status, to get escorted to table ahead of those still lining up there. If there is a separate line, like at the time of embarkation, I'd go there. But not when there is just one line for the MDR.

I guess this works when there is a long line, and after people get to the hostess, she gives everyone a pager, then you may be called earlier. Since the pandemic, we cruised five times, and never ran into a situation where we were given a pager to wait. There were a few times there was a line for the MDR. We waited in line, and everyone who got to the hostess would be escorted to a table (other than the very big groups).

Can you please explain. When there is a long line to get in the MDR, how do you get to a table very quickly?

No. It was TD First Class visa all the way. There was nowhere BMO came into the picture, except when TD used that reason to deny the claim initially, then admitted they made an error, and re-opened the claim (then later denied).

Love your reports. we got into Cape Town ourselves last night (after flight delays). Our Protea Breakwater hotel has pretty good breakfast with omelet station and they make much better omelet than NCL ships.This morning we went to Robben Island (had delay departing due to fog), which was great. At the end I gave the prison tour guide (a former prisoner) a good tip and a big hug. After that we went to the Long March to Freedom site of statues. On the way back to hotel, we stopped by city hall, with a Mandela statue -- marking the place where he walked out of prison and gave a speech for a large crowd of people waiting in Cape Town. After cruise, we go to Viva Safaris Tresmina Lodge for our own Kruger NP stay. We'll see you and others on Jade tomorrow.

Huh? The airlines won't reimburse anything. Whether you're flying home, booked a $40 roach motel, or booked a $50,000/night presidential suite, the airlines won't be on the hook for anything you booked at your destination.

Most hotels these days require you to cancel 1 day before, some 2 days before, and some even more days before. There had been many last minute cancellations before, and the hotels cannot hold rooms, especially during times of high demand. Booking hotels through the cruiseline would get high rates, and you don't get loyalty points because it is booking through 3rd party, but for delayed/cancelled flights the cruiseline may be able get something back, or not.

In our last cruise, Epic, late 2022, people found they can still get/send gmail emails, just no attachment. My wife uses gmail, and was able to use it, while connected to NCL intranet (i.e. can also use NCL app, Cruise Critics) but not connected to use up any internet minutes.

Hmm. That's good if it's 75%. But I guess it was 100% when I paid it and travelled in late 2021. There was one time when aeroplan redemption tickets were not covered, even though you'd pay all of the tax/fees with TD aeroplan visa. They've changed that.

I hear that from wives a lot.

We purchased a NCL Getaway cruise for 2021.12.5-22, and bought airfare from NCL. My wife and I flew on 2021.12.2 with KLM, YYZ-AMS-FCO to get Rome on 12.3, then get on cruise 12.5. One of two luggages (mostly my wife's cloth, face lotion, etc.) did not arrive Rome on 12.2. We quickly asked a TD rep back in Canada and was told there is coverage for delayed luggage, and to keep our receipts for claims. The luggage got to Rome on 12.3 and we asked if they can get to our hotel before we leave for the ship. Didn't get it. We got on ship, NCL tried to work with KLM to get the luggage to us in one of the upcoming ports. After 7 ports, nothing. After getting home, we submitted our expense claims to KLM and TD. After that, KLM returned our luggage back to our home. Took KLM 7 months to reimburse a bit -- which we informed TD. TD claim processing was bad, encountered error messages in submitting online sometimes, re-submitted. They kept asking questions (we paid on credit card, so some were in euro and some in US, then showed us on our Canadian CC as Canadian currencies..), and we kept answering. Late last Fall TD said they rejected our claim, closed the case, saying we paid part of the cruise using BMO CC ?!?. We re-submitted the TD statements and NCL statement/invoice, showing there is no BMO any where, everything was paid with TD 1st class visa. They then said they'll re-open the closed case and review. In late Dec/2022 TD said our claim is rejected because we paid part of our cruise fare with Cruise Next, and provided their T&C. We were supposed to pay the cruise in full with TD, in order to be covered. Anyway, it took TD one year, where they had system errors and asked us a lot of questions, then said BMO, then eventually rejected the claim because we did not pay the cruise in full using TD CC. We tried to explain that CN is like a discount, etc., but oh, well. So beware. If you did not pay your cruisefare in full with TD 1st class visa, you won't get any travel insurance coverage with TD. Other CCs may use similar reasons to reject your claim, but for sure TD does. Lesson learned. This is a consideration for using CN certs, when buying airfare through cruiselines. P.S. NCL CruiseNext cert is something we can buy onboard a cruise. Buy one cert for US$250 and get $100 OBC, or buy two certs for $500 and get $250 OBC, can use the OBC to pay for that CN cert. Carnival had something similar.

Was on Epic b2b Med cruise 2022.11.15 and 2022.11.26. No offers at all.

We were just on a Med cruise ending in Lisbon 2022.12.7. TAP had a strike and was not flying on 12.7 and I think the next day. So there were quite a few cruisers panicking and trying to make alternate arrangements. The year before for a cruise in 2021.12, we flew KLM to YYZ-AMS-FCO. The flights were fine, but 1 of our 2 luggages didn't arrive FCO. It eventually arrived the next day. I kept on calling, and asked if they can deliver to my hotel by 10am next day as we were leaving Rome city, to board the cruise. They said they'll try. The luggage didn't arrive. On the ship NCL said they'll try to arrange to have KLM deliver to our next port, or next port (we had 7 port days in a row). The luggage never arrived the ship. Only by the time we got home, after repeating trying, they delivered the luggage back to my home. Applying for reimbursement for our expenses, were met with almost no reply, and only website update saying it's been processed. Only after 7 months did we get partial reimbursement. No communication and no response when I asked what was included or excluded in our claim. So that's the experience with KLM. AC is usually good in our previous flying to Europe. Delta just announced they'll provide free wifi on their planes. Don't know the rollout timing/plan, but it's coming.

Point redemption fares don't get points. But paid fares are supposed to get points, regardless who paid, because the name is the person flying, and the person flying if providing FF number should get the points. But there are changes to how points are earned, including some low fares less than 500 miles don't get points. Or did the airlines now come up with paid fares that just don't earn points.

Ah, ok. Thanks for that info. We were on the Jewel, doing full transit last March.

From Miami, you'll go through the Gatun locks. If you're doing a full transit, it usually happens in the morning, around 8am, and it'll be around 4pm to exit the Miraflores locks in the south. It'll be good to look at the map, and see some videos of Panama canals, and how the locks operate. That way you'll get a better appreciation. Be ready to take lots of pics and videos. Have them charged up, ready to use.

We were on Getaway in 2021 Dec, TA cruise. Getaway is a big ship. So take some time to familiarize yourself with the ship. We liked going to the two smaller dining rooms, Taste and Savor, especially tables by the windows. They are smaller than the main dining room, and just felt better. The Shanghai noodle bar was fine, but it's right beside the casino. The first day we tried it it was fine. After that when the casino is in use, the smoke from the casino was bothersome, so we didn't go there any more. NCL needs to change the design to not have any restaurant immediately beside a smoking area. The rope climbing station is pretty good. On warmer days I tried it twice. There is one bar that sticks out of the ship. Only 2 persons fall into the sea each week, and I wasn't one of them -- just kidding. It can feel scary. I did it, but some people don't try that. We tried all the specialty dinings. Like Le Bistro but it felt crowded/rushed. Cagney and Moderno were good, but I'm a steak eater so they suit me. La Cucina was so so. Ocean Blues was so so, I ordered a lobster and it wasn't too good. I heard NCL has a challenge to source good consistent lobsters. It's a nice ship. Enjoy.

On our Epic Med b2b cruises, we had to sign up for the Wine tasting as we embarked (and re-embarked). We enjoyed it. We heard it was capacity controlled, but don't know if anyone was turned away for being full. No BST. We booked one NCL tour from our cabin, using the TV/remote. Found out the Plat discount was not applied. I went to the Shore Excursion desk to ask, the guy said that's right, the discounts are not auto applied, and he'll have to manually apply them. If we hadn't noticed and gone to ask, the discount won't be applied -- they need to fix that.