Rob_H

The drinks (and the meals) are optional in "free at sea", not everybody gets them. When we get free at sea (rather than sailaway) we do get the meals, but not the drinks. On our 11 Oct cruise the "free" drinks would cost $792 (in gratuities). We don't drink often enough to make that worthwhile. Some people don't drink at all. So, many people can (and do) have the free at sea package (for the internet, for the meals, or to be able to choose a room), but not have the drinks package. We could in theory buy this upgrade - we do have the base package. But, as I said, there's no point, financially, if you don't have the drinks part, even if you do have the rest of free of sea.

For our 20 day Oct 11 on the Sun, we'd be charged $1,960 total for the "Plus" plackage (our base fare, before taxes and fees and gratuities, is actually lower than that!). We don't have the drinks package. Internet upgrade would be $354.50pp, (so $709) and let's be (very) generous and say we'd get to use the shorex credit for all 12 ports, a $600 benefit. Two extra meals are $71pp. Total benefits (assuming all ports have an NCL tour) $1451. More realistic, with half of ports having an NCL tour, would be $1151. Really it's hard to see any value for anybody who doesn't have a drinks package, or who doesn't care about upgrading their existing drinks package. Still, that leaves plenty of people, especially the less budget-concious cruisers.. The similar Plus deal from Princess has been very successful (for the company), a majority of their new bookings pay for it. If this works just as well for NCL, we'll probably see "Free at Sea Plus Extra" in a year that also includes the daily service charge and a few prioirty/premium features, for a mere $99 per day. Just like Princess have done. It's sad that NCL are now copying rather than innovating.

We were in 6511 on the Spirit on the May 19 sailing this year. No noise from the restaurants. That might be different if you're more the midships end of the hall. On our cruise, Taste was closed (not enough passengers} so even less reason for restaurant noise. We were directly under the first row of slot machines in the Casino. Whether it was from there, or from some other equipment nearby, our cabin (and the hall nearby) had a loud air-conditioner type noise that cycled on and off. We thought it would disturb us but we got used to it. The Casino wasn't open the first few days (we were in Hawaii waters). Even after it opened we didn't get any noticeable foot traffic or cleaning noise above us.

All Chromebooks have wifi.

The purpose of airplane mode on a phone is to turn off the mobile (cell) signal. Most Chromebooks only have wifi, so there is no need for airplane mode, as there is no mobile (cell) signal to turn off. You can use a Chromebook fine with the onboard wifi. Just be sure the wifi is turned on, on the Chromebook (it normally is). I use a Chromebook on board with the ship wifi, it works fine.

Sometime in the past few months (maybe earlier), FCD future cruise discounts have started appearing on your account (MyNCL). We had nine Asia 2023 cruises cancelled by NCL, each has a coupon like this, for each of us: 10% Off Discount Future Cruise Credit 37XXXXX 10% Off Expires On 6/6/2023 Sail by12/31/2024 Only one coupon can be used for each future cruise, of course (but your account can have many). It's 10% (in this case) off the base fare. No discount on port fees and taxes and other extras.

That's what we're doing after the 41 days on the Sun (and six days in Lisbon). We've had those two Star cruises booked for a long time. We were going to do something else in Europe beforehand, but the Sun cruises are more relaxed and unique (especially the TA). Also cheaper, and less flying!

The Sun transatlantic (Oct 31) is a bit of an exception, 21 days with 11 port days (including three stops in the Azores, very unusual). The downside is US$520 in port fees and taxes! But it's still one of the cheapest Norwegian cruises, per day.

How many days did you end up with? Our 21d plus 14d Sydney-Tahiti-Honolulu at the same time as you (March 2020) finshed after 25 days (in Honolulu). I think some of the Jade Africa cruises planned for 2021 (that never happened) were long like yours. The ones scheduled now are all under 20 days per leg.

We're booked on the Sun from Seattle to Miami (Oct 11 2022, 20 days), staying on b2b for the transatlantic Miami to Lisbon (Oct 31, 21 days). 41 days on just two cruises. Is this the longest pair of consecutive cruises that Norwegian have ever had? There have been long pairs before, especially to Africa and Asia. For example we had a 21n then a 17n Rome-Dubai-Singapore in 2018, 38 nights with two cruises. And of course with three or more cruises they get longer, we often do b2b2b. Still, at 41 days this is longer than even most b2b2b. There's certainly nothing else to match it in the current schedules (the return transatlantic next year is shorter). Have Norwegian done anything longer in the past?

Totally agree, our approach is why wait, do it now. We cruised a LOT in 2018 and 2019 (as newlyweds), always saying yes to opportunities. Went to Cuba, St Petersburg, Petropavlovsk and many places in the middle east that would be difficult now.

Often the brochures distributed are out of date, printed weeks or months ago. The October 2023 Jewel transpacific from Seattle to Tokyo skips Petropavlovsk. This sailing was only announced recently, so maybe more realistic.

There hasn't ever been any requirement for a negative test when entering the US by land or sea, it was only for air travelers (which has now been ended).

Our most recent b2b was the Norwegian Spirit, 19 May Honolulu-Papetee then 31 May Papetee-Honolulu. The b2b2b were Bliss in Jan/Feb and Encore April/May.. All had onboard testing second to last day.

On all the back to backs we've been on this year, rapid testing has been provided (and required) by Norwegian (free) on the second to last day of the cruise. We had five tests across 8 cruises (2 b2b2b and 1 b2b).

Maybe when booking online before the sailing (we rarely do) the discount is applied . Using the app (or the tv) once onboard almost always charges full price and has to be adjusted later, at least on our eight NCL cruises this year so far and all earlier cruises. I say "almost always" because for a couple of tours on the Spirit last month they managed to charge them correctly but I think that was a manual process as later tour bookings on the same ship still needed adjusting. On the Bliss and the Encore this year they claimed to have new software which couldn't adjust the amounts until the last day of the cruise, "on request".

I read that as there are no longer any bonus points for the "insider offers". It doesn't mention bonus points at all now.

You're fine, assuming you're both in the same cabin. From the FAQ: "Only the stateroom that the shareholder is occupying will be eligible for the onboard credit."

On most NCL ships when you book a shorex onboard using the app the full price is charged. To get the latitudes discount you have to visit/call the shorex desk and they'll reprice, they're used to applying the discount later As yours are prepaid you'll likely get the difference back as OBC. But will there be a saving? You're booking st child rates (lower than adult) then asking for it to be treated as an adult rate with discount So, just book now. The amounts involved are small.

Keep track of the emails you sent, and the case numbers you get on the auto-responder. Sometimes they will respond to say they've added the credit. Sometimes you'll actually see the credit on your booking. Sometimes neither happens. Whether or not you get a response, and even if it shows on your booking, you'll likely have to chase it up again once onboard the ship. Wait a day or two from the cruise start. if it's not showing up in your onboard account on the app after that time, got to Guest Services and they'll ask you email them what you sent to Shareholder, and/or the case number, so they can check with Miami, it'll then get sorted in a day or two. We've had to do this onboard for six out of eight cruises this year, part of the early cruise ritual now.

It's harder to disembark after a series of cruises on the same ship - it's home! But we had to leave today. Walked off at 8am with no queuing, bags were in the terminal ok, Lyft to the airport under $20. At airport by 8.25. Honolulu cruise port is good, very clear signs to a dedicated Uber/Lyft waiting area.

Today we have a day essentially at sea, currently cruising slowly off Oahu. We can't dock at Kauai as the only dock is taken by the Pride of America. So our arrival will be (as scheduled) at 4pm. That was quite poor planning for this cruise, glad we had a day and a half in Kauai on the previous cruise.

In inside and balcony rooms (the only rooms we've been in), there are some outlets at the desk/mirror, only. The outlets are two Euro and one undersized US outlet. The coffee maker and hairdryer use Euro plugs, when they are both in use the US outlet is a tight squeeze. So bring an extension or two and multi adaptor (without surge protector). For anybody from the US a Euro adapter would also be a good idea, since there is only one US socket. There are also a couple of USB there. Each side of the bed has a fold out reading light, and another USB. Both sides of the bed have two switches for room lights.

On longer cruises, it's one bag per week per member (not per room). So we've got in the habit of sending a bag every 4-5 days, even if not full (we're both diamond), alternating the name. We've never used the coupon, just write your latitudes status boldly and clearly by your name and by your signature on the slip.

The Spirit in Hilo.