drew69

Between those 2 choice, stay on land, but for first time in Rhodes, I would not spend time traveling for an excursion.  The old town is a 5 minute walk from the ships and has great sites to explore right there.

Lindos, though lovely is an overpacked zoo when ships are in port and the traffic getting in and out can be a mess

1 hour ago, erisajd said:

The airline cannot keep your money for a flight you did not take - dispute the charge on your credit card - even f you don't have the US protections on your credit card - a business cannot charge you for a service you did not receive ever.  I also think you should byotche quite loudly to NCL - THEY changed your flight within XX days of travel.  Go read the Air surcharge limitations 

Yes, they can and quite often do.  Also the Air Transat website clearly states it is nonrefundable.

No refund will be provided should you cancel your seat selection prior to travel.

Other suggest travel insurance coverage- highly unlikely changing flights and nonrefundable fees are covered by insurance.

Disputing the charge only works if you are indeed in the right.  If the credit card company researches and finds the charge to be valid, it is reinstated.

12 hours ago, ciabelle said:

Ok, I've heard enough answers like yours saying it'll be the absolute most no frills fare possible, and others saying that the fare included a checked bag. So I'm honestly no closer to a definitive answer than before I asked. 

I do think it makes sense for NCL to book a regular coach ticket over the barebones flight. Flight delays happen often enough that people report missing the ship completely or having to catch up with it in another port of call. It would be salt in the wound if one not only didn't get to the ship on time, but then lost the entire value of the ticket NCL purchased for them, and had to pay the full fare to get to the next port or fly home early. 

So, no, they're not going to put you in any premium cabin, let alone first or business class without possible prior arrangements and a much heftier fee, but I will trust the others who've said a checked bag was included. 

NCL does not determine what is included in the airfare - checked bag, seat assignment, etc. - the airline does so the answers will vary based on what airline was booked.  In the end, when using NCL air, you are at the mercy of them on when your flight is ticketed and to a large degree what is actually booked.

Myself, I never let NCL or anyone else pick what flights I fly or what hotel I stay at.  NCL is a cruise line, I book my cruise through them, I book air myself via an airline and a hotel via a hotel website. 

Something I have never understood after decades of cruising.  People have long stays in hotels but do not get involved in housekeeping's life - learning of their family, financial status, taking pictures with them, asking how they are paid, etc.   Same with land based wait and bar staff.

Yet, put someone on a cruise ship and suddenly they have to adopt the room attendant, etc. as if they were children and pets - "looking" out for how they are paid, their  family life, etc.  

Guess what it is none of our business and most of the sob stories heard are just that- stories intended to induce guilt and an open wallet

4 minutes ago, PatJim said:

I was surprised to learn that bartenders also are not covered in the Daily Service Charge.  Has something to do with excluding staff who are not used by all cruisers, as not everyone drinks or is in the Haven!  We tip accordingly, usually with every drink order, plus a $20 upfront to Haven bar tender.

 

We also give tips to wait staff in Haven restaurant and elsewhere.  For quite a few cruises we didn’t know anyone did this, then on the Gem in Moderno at breakfast years ago we saw someone slip the waiter a tip, and that got us doing it, too.  This is highly subjective.  The wait staff doesn’t expect tips, and no one should feel they “should” tip.  But New York has a generous tipping culture.  A Concierge we knew once told us he was dismayed at being moved from the Gem to a ship not sailing out of NYC, because the tips were the best here.

The bartenders including those in the Haven are indeed covered - not by the DSC as no bartenders in or out of the Haven are part of that.  They are tipped by the 20% gratuity added to every drink purchase, including water, etc. delivered to the room, minbar items, etc. as well as the 20% charged on all drink packages or the value of Free drink packages.  

We have done it and it was a great day, but we were staying in Rhodes, not on a cruise that time.  The trips depart from the new town - about a 25 minute walk from the cruise port.  

I would not cut the timing too close so depends on how late you are in port.

Why not just check luggage?

Euros as that is their currency.  Why would they want USD which are worth less anyway?

That is correct.  Shorts are inappropriate in a mosque.  Lightweight cotton pants or a longer cotton dress or skirt

6 minutes ago, www3traveler said:

Carnival is also BANNING all Mobility Scooters that can fit through a cabin doorway.  Scooters must be able be stored in your cabin.

Good!!!  The scooters left in the rather narrow hallways are a danger.  All cruise lines should insist they be stored in the room and not in public hallways.

5 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Dear Lord, give me the patience to tolerate those who are clueless.  

 

Didn’t change anything.  If you have a fever you are sick, which is the entire reason medical professionals take your temp and BP when they treat you.  

 

If you have a virus or bacterial infection a fever will normally accompany it.  

 

And yes, you can

have a broken limb and not have a fever, as an example!  There are others.    

 

Done arguing!

Still incorrect

9 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

You can provide all the “ifs. ands and buts”.  

 

If you have a fever, you’re likely sick.  There is no theater involved, not when my GP takes my temp EVERY visit.  Hospitals that I get treated in require my temp be taken while in the examining room.

 

Untrue?  i know plenty of medical personnel who would disagree with you, including my GF who is an RN!

 

I would be all for cruise lines taking temps again before boarding!

Changing your story now?  What you said and I quoted is that 

A fever of any type is indicative of some sort of viral illness!

And again, that statement is incorrect!  

A fever MAY indicate an illness ( and all illnesses/infections are certainly not viral ) but

everyone with an elevated body temperature is not ill/contagious and many people with no "fever" can still be ill and contagious.

4 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Yes!  

 

A fever of any type is indicative of some sort of viral illness!

Completely untrue!!  You can have a fever from a bacterial infection, fungal infection, or an elevated fever from no infection at all as an elevated body temperature can also be due to certain medications, hormones, and other non-infectious reasons

You can also have no fever and still have an infection and be contagious.

Taking temp would be no more than "theatre" used to shut people up and pretend all is safe.

Illness happens, everyone needs to just deal with it as people have since the beginning of time.  When it occurs, treat it and move on.

A covid test is a "snapshot" in time same as any test for an infection.  You can have negative test results and still be infectious and contagious and it just hasn't registered on the test.

Unless someone lives in a bubble, they are exposed to viruses, bacteria, infections, etc. everyday.   Take some simple precautions and live life.  

34 minutes ago, wcook said:

No, I was mislead. I later studied more and realized my mistake, but initially I was mislead. 

You were not mislead, you were mistaken.

OMG.  All advertised offers have fine print or T&Cs.  It is YOUR job to read them and understand them and not just read the "headline."  

People fail to read and comprehend and immediately claim fraud and misleading.  

The T&Cs clearly state gratuities are not included and the final pricing clearly shows all the charges before you give them your credit card to book.

• Government taxes, port expenses & fees, discretionary onboard service charges and/or gratuities are additional.

It is probably to stop the idiots who spill their drinks in the pool or leave their drink refuse - empty cup, fruit, etc. floating in the pool.

also, might help with those who never get out of the pool and relieve themselves in the pool.

41 minutes ago, Daffytoons said:

Thank you for this.  Yes, I do see this on the excursion description...... My question is how to they enforce it?  Do they weigh each individual to ensure the weight does not exceed 225 lbs.?

They don't always routinely weigh everyone but can and have done so if they feel there is a chance someone could be over the limit.

Then you should stop cruising NCL and problem solved

Just now, Bluehens12 said:

We were thinking Uber, is the taxi a better option?

In NYC, it is much easier to just get in the taxi line and in a taxi.  I rarely use Uber in Manhattan as it takes longer

That should work fine.  Exit into 8th Ave and jump in a taxi.  Just be prepared if Amtrak cancels or delays excessively to jump in the car and drive.

It changed to showing as complimentary on our June Getaway cruise too

2 hours ago, TonyB99 said:

 

Cruise ships are not "normal" restaurants, and most actively cater to those of us who prefer to dine with a group of like-minded more adventurous diners. So be it, my mistake booking NCL.

Not sure that most actively cater to sharing tables - cruise Celebrity, NCL, Royal, Princess, and Regent and have always had tables to ourselves which is just how we want it.  We do not like forced dining with others - that went out of style with the Love Boat

29 minutes ago, tonyfall1 said:

Hello,

 

I will be taking my first NCL cruise in February on the Breakaway. I have done one Princess over 20 years ago and MSC last year. I have been doing a lot of reading to familiarize myself with NCL. A common theme I read on all of the different sites or see on Youtube is how they nickel and dime you once they get you onboard. They don't necessarily provide a lot of examples, other than Starbucks or water which are non issues for me. I have the FAS package, I have booked my excursions prepaid all of my gratuities and service charges, upgraded 1 internet to unlimited.. I am not really into laser tag or things like that. It seems like I have pretty much paid for everything I would want to do or be interested in. I can't think of anything else I would really need. What kind of nickel and diming is everyone referring to? Thanks.

You will be fine then.  All cruise lines have items, experiences, etc. for extra costs but as you note, no one has to do them.  The complaints are mostly from travelers who do not research and read and are then "surprised" by the extra costs of some items.

29 minutes ago, ctlyf said:

All of these responses are well intentioned, however it doesn't answer the original question (I've also been searching for the answer so thought this post would be where I could find it). What is the cost of a bottle of water? Not a carton, not the option of using a refillable container from the dispenser... if I want to buy a bottle of water, how much will it cost me if I do not have FAS+? This factors into a decision of whether or not to upgrade from FAS to FAS+ (among other things, but I'm trying to understand all of the value that I might get from upgrading... I don't drink Starbucks, and while I can, I don't need to drink top shelf so I'm factoring in costs of things I will actually use, like unlimited wifi, shore excursion credits, specialty dining, and, yes, bottled water).

 

Please, does anyone know the answer? I appreciate that there are other options, but this is my burning question (yes, it actually is a burning question).

NCL doe snot have bottled water available, it is in cartons which is why people said cartons.  You can easily determine this yourself.  Simply look at the prices for water which can be found on the NCL website, determine how many you would consume during your cruise and compare it to the price of upgrading to the premium package.

For me, I would certainly not upgrade the beverage package simply to get free water

On 8/28/2023 at 3:30 PM, caligirl49 said:

Allianz offer so many choices, which one did you choose for the year?

We do this plan,  AllTrips Premier Plan