Middleager

I'm a low class, err I mean downclass, commoner. I usually book inside, through a TA affiliated with TD bank's travel visa card. This TA does participate in the upgrade process and I do get email telling us we can upgrade. I've bid on the last 2 cruises, not successful on the 2021/Dec Getaway transatlantic sailing (with just over 50% occupancy), and was successful on the 2022/March first sailing of the Jewel since the pandemic. Both times bidding for balcony (not interested in upgrading just to oceanview)

Didn't have much success with wifi calling (Line, whatsapp) in two recent NCL cruises (Getaway Mediterranean/transatlantic 2021.12, and Jewel Panama Canal to west coast 2022.3-4).

We've stayed at several hotels in Waikiki, in several trips to Hawaii. The prices have been going up and up over the years, and now quite expensive. There is a special attraction in Waikiki, and many Japanese girls dream of getting married in Hawaii. There is a very happy feeling in Waikiki. Many enjoy people watching in Waikiki (and many enjoy being watched). Waikiki is not big. There are 7 hotels that are right at the beach, all expensive, but all good. There are many hotels from budget (even budget is expensive these days) to very expensive. It's not a long walk to the beach even if you're a few blocks away. So if you stay at a cheaper hotel a few blocks from the beach, you can still enjoy Waikiki fully. The cruise terminal is not in Waikiki. It's in Honolulu, by the Aloha Tower, west of Waikiki. Traffic gets quite heavy, roads jammed up during rush hour, but if you avoid rush hour, it'll be fine. It's usually good to get to Oahu, Waikiki or Honolulu, a few days before cruise. That way you get used to time change, and get to enjoy Oahu in addition to Waikiki. There is so much to do/see in Oahu, the Pearl Harbor, Polynesian Cultural Center, Pali Lookout, Hanauma Bay (actually not that good for snorkeling, and gets too crowded, but still a well known place so you can check off the list), North shore and shrimp trucks, Diamond Head, Punchbowl Cemetery, . The cruise ship itself may still be short staffed, but the ports are just so wonderful to visit.

I'm of the same thought. The cruiseline shouldn't go claw back the commission after final payment, if they reduce the price. But some TAs can provide the confirmed answer.

Just curious. We used a TA. If we get NCL to give FCC, for price going down after final payment, does that affect the NCL commission paid to the TA?

I told my wife to wear little and pack little.

There are other CCs that don't charge foreign currency conversion fee (usually 2.5%). Such as Brim (no AF), HSBC World Elite MC (currently has FYF), BNS has in addition to the Passport visa also the Amex (yes Amex but under BNS branding) gold an platinum cards, but they all charge AF.

Bank of Nova Scotia is based (headquartered) in Toronto. Just like Bank of Montreal is based (headquartered) in Toronto. The Bank of Nova Scotia Passport visa card does not have foreign currency conversion fee (2.5% for most CCs) and provides 6 Priority Pass lounge accesses. They converted the reward points to Scene points last year and had problems, and lost mover than 35k points in that conversion (which they admit having system glitch, have a case file, but still didn't get those points back to me yet). CIBC Aventura visa card has FYF (First year free) and 4 lounge visits by Visa Airport Lounges. BMO Ascend World Elite Master Card also has FYF, and 4 Lounge Key lounge accesses.

With only carry-ons, and you can do self-disembarkation (i.e. don't need to have luggages taken out for you and you wait for your color coded time to get off and go look for your luggage), you can get off soon after they announce, often shortly after 7am. It's a short drive from Tampa port to airport. So definitely can make 11:45am flight easily. (Yes we've done Tampa port)

By becoming Gold status or up, you get priority tender tickets.

We were in Panama earlier for Panama canal cruise. We encountered this same problem, NCL website redirected to Spanish and I tried many things to direct it to English but couldn't.

Last year we went on a Dec. Getaway cruise. There was one excursion we tried to sign up. I could only sign up 1 person, and decided to do that. After that, that was only available in other languages but not English. I called and was told there is no waitlist, we just have to keep checking and there may be cancellation. Two weeks later, the English tour showed up, meaning there is space. I tried to sign up online but it kept giving error. I called and the NCL lady was able to add my wife to the English tour. The problem was NCL charged two times for my wife. I called about it, and they said they can see the double charge and I don't have to do anything and they (the agent) doesn't have to do anything, just wait and I'll be refunded. I was kind of skeptical, and waited for I think 2 weeks before a refund did show up. On the day of the tour, our bus was waiting and not moving, while all other buses had left the port area. Then one guy came on our bus. Turned out he signed up for Spanish language of the same tour, and when he got on that bus he asked, and they decided to send him over to us. When I was checking on the excursion online for my wife (for that 1 more seat) there were spaces for other languages (Spanish, French, German) but not English for a long time, until one day it was available and we got it. That guy either didn't read and didn't know he was signing up for Spanish tour, or knowingly signed up and hoped he can ask and be changed to the English speaking group.

Anything, Starlink or otherwise, to improve the internet on NCL would be welcome. NCL would sure be watching how it is on RC, and if the business model makes sense, they will change.

We'll be cruising to end up in Lisbon in Dec. We're staying 3 more days, then use aeroplan (Star Alliance) point redemption to fly to Ponta Delgada for a few days, then fly home (Toronto) from there. Get to see/tour Lisbon and PD for a few days.

We'd rather our room steward not spend time making animals. It takes them extra time, use extra towels, and takes extra wash. I appreciate their hard work very much, and if this is something that can be cut, I'm good with that.

Those sales are not for people prepared like you. It's for people who didn't bring their test kit, can't find in luggage, or just need a negative test proof.

So if you load up 1/2 a bag, do you get it free?🤪

For sale. Negative result antigen test kits. This will allow you to get on RCCL/CEL cruises and more. Only $5 each. You don't need to do the tests yourself and risk getting a positive result and not being able to get on a cruise. If you lost your test kit, or can't find it in your luggage, no worries, we got you covere. (I'll be sending boys to sell such kits at RCCL/CEL embarkation locations. Is US$5 too cheap?)

Toronto became number 1 in the world for flight delays/cancelled, flights held to wait at tarmac, delayed/lost luggages Air Canada and Westjet are the two biggest airlines in Canada, and obviously much affected. We flew last Dec., this March and April, and things were fine. Then the wheels fell off, five (5) times the travelers and they couldn't cope. After lots of horror stories, AC cancelled 15% of upcoming flights. Just saw a news item saying Toronto is no longer number 1, but is number 2. Still on top of the world.

In that case I'll say all 8 were my favorite, and see if I get 8 full glasses.😁

Good. It's not from Toronto, which is number one in the world - for the most delayed/cancelled flights, and delayed/lost luggages (ok, they said they're improving, but still on top of the world)

We did exactly that last year. NCL b1g1 air to Rome, with 2d deviation. When adding the 2d deviation the ground transfer is automatically cancelled by the system. We never take NCL transfers. For us, it's always easier, faster, cheaper, not to take NCL transfers. From FCO to Rome, we found a couple from our rollcall to share the transfer (reservationrlc@gmail.com or romeairportshuttles.com), to two different hotels in Rome. It was 34eu/couple. That was a 30-minute ride. Going to the port, we shared with another couple from city of Rome (2 pickups), at 85eu/couple. It was a bit more than 1hr ride. -- In Rome, we stayed at Genio hotel for 2 nights. It was 1-minute to Piazza Navona. We did a walking tour to the Tiber river (can see St. Peter's Basicila), to the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona. Next morning we walked to Castel Sant'Angelo, to the Vatican Museum, and joined the before open to public small private guided tour. It was great, got lots of good explanation, and at the end had a 25-minute quiet enjoyment inside the Sistine Chapel, before being lead to the gift shop/exit. We also bought the breakfast inside the Vatican museum, it was quite good. After that we took uber to the Colosseum. Took the English guided tour to Arena underground, and of course the rest of the big Colosseum. After that went to the Roman Forum and Pallitine.

I have also received strange email from AC with strange flight date/times. After calling, it turned out nothing was finalized in our flight ticketing, and we were told to ignore that, and wait. Later on, our flight through NCL was not even with AC.

My wife always bring her own lotion. She doesn't like to lotion provided by hotels, ships, says they are often rough or even give allergic reactions.

We like those past cruise parties. We usually order a pina colada, sometimes wife will order one more.