Russiamomm

On the boarding time, we got on the QM2 last week in Brooklyn. We had a 3:00 boarding time. We had to check out of the hotel and went straight to the pier. Got there around 12:30. No problem checking in early. We were onboard eating lunch by 1:30.

I can certainly understand this perspective and am looking forward to our first small ship “premium/luxury” line. It will definitely be different than what we’re used to, You are right that the concept does work best on the large mega-ships. But again, that’s the double-edged sword. The big ships come with crowds, yes, but they also come with more activities/entertainment. There was a time in our lives we swore we’d never get on any cruise ship. Obviously our preferences have evolved. We love the variety of entertainment on those ships. But we also enjoy the relative quiet and exceptional service of the Haven. To us, it’s really no different than flying first class vs. economy. On occasion I have felt guilty walking to the front of the line, but then remembered to remind myself that I paid for that privilege.

Seriously? Maybe I do have low expectations, but they’ve always been met. Are you going to answer the question? What exactly is your issue with the concept of a “ship within a ship” on a mainstream line?

I’ve looked at the roll call but haven’t posted. Really need to do that. Thanks for the reminder!

Looks like we’re shipmates! We’re on the same cruise. 😃. We leave on the QM2 out of NYC to Hamburg a week from today. We’re taking an overnight ferry from Kiel to Oslo and will spend three days in Oslo before boarding the Sirena. Really looking forward to the trip. See you onboard!

I have to ask. Why? As stated earlier, I absolutely love the concept. Best of all worlds. 😃

@Mauibabes - all sounds delicious!

LOL. We’re actually going to be on Serena. It’s an 18 night cruise. We have our specialties booked, but will have plenty of time to try just about everything. Can’t wait!

No problem if it wasn’t addressed to me! But that was our exact reasoning for taking the QM2 to meet the O trip. My husband hates to fly and the cost of the cruise was half the price of two business class to Oslo. As you said, it was a no brainer - as long as you have the time.

I’ll try to remember to post a comparison. 😂. We’re actually most anxious about the QM2. As you can see from our choice of cruise lines, we’re not formal people. LOL. But hopefully what we packed will pass muster or we’ll be eating in the buffet a lot. 😂. My travel companions for these trips are also varied, so that will also affect the vibe. It’s just DH and I for the QM and O trips. It’s our 30th anniversary. ❤️. The October trip is a quick five nighter to Bermuda with college buddies to celebrate my 60th. The November Virgin trip is in Europe with an old friend. Two other couples are joining us on the December Virgin trip. And then three more on Virgin and NCL. At this point those are just DH and I, but we’re hoping our son will be able to join us on the January NCL trip. We booked a 2BR Haven cabin for that one. He better come! As I said, variety is the spice of life. 😂

Definitely good to have options! We were perfectly content in regular balcony cabins on NCL until we won a bid into the Haven. It spoils you forever. That being said, we have sailed in “GenPop” when we couldn’t stomach the price tag of the Haven. We’ve also stayed in Haven suites that are outside the complex, but a quick walk to it. The price point is much better than courtyard cabins. I also agree with you on the availability of less expensive YC cabins. Some day we’ll try it. Generally speaking, as long as I’m on a ship, I’m happy. 😃. (Unless it’s Carnival. LOL) As I said, our trip in three weeks will be our first time on Oceania, or any premium/luxury line (unless you consider Virgin in that category). We booked it mostly for the itinerary and the chance to experience a smaller ship. While we expect to enjoy it, I don’t expect to be turned off to the mainstream lines any time soon. We love NCL - inside or outside the Haven. We also absolutely love Virgin Voyages. We’ve never been in a Rockstar suite and don’t expect to ever book one. We just don’t see the value. Between now and January we have four trips booked on Virgin and two on NCL - both in the Haven. We’ll also be taking the QM2 to Europe to pick up the O ship. Retirement is a wonderful thing. 😂. We expect to enjoy all the trips. They will be unique in their own way and we expect to enjoy them all. Variety is the spice of life and we’re all fortunate to be able to travel - regardless of how you like to do it.

I’m going to ignore the comments about the “ship within a ship” comments except to say it’s an experience that some like, including myself. Others don’t like it for various reasons. I can’t speak for them. I’ve never been on MSC, but I’ve heard good things about the YC and would like to try it someday. I haven’t heard such good things about MSC unless you’re in the Yacht Club. That being said, I have sailed in the Haven on NCL six times on three of its ships. Absolutely loved it and have two more cruises scheduled. I understand that the YC is similar to the Haven - at least those on NCL’s larger ships. Personally I love the larger ships. More food and entertainment options. But I hate the crowds and lines that generally exist with so many people onboard. To me the “ship within a ship” concept is the best of both worlds. You have access to everything the big ships have to offer, but also a private area with extra services, perks, private pools and hot tubs and the wonderful private restaurant and bar. I understand that the concept is not for everyone, but we’ve had great experiences. Our first sailing on O is in three weeks. We’re really looking forward to it. I’m sure we’re going to love it, but will also continue to sail the mainstream lines. In the Haven/Yacht Club/Retreat if the price/itinerary is right.

Yeah! Thank you! It will make life easier. I’m all about easy. 😂

Thanks for this. I was going to ask a similar question. We have booked private transport to Kiel when we get off the ship. Will the driver be able to meet us at the ship or will we have to take a shuttle to a central location?

Hi everyone. Has anyone traveled on a PAID trip since the new program rolled out? I’ve been on several comped cruises, but our next one we paid for. It will be the first trip we paid for since the new program rolled out. I am a “Star” in the program. Anyway, for anyone that has, I have two questions. First, I know I get free drinks in the casino. Does this extend to my cabin mate? On comped cruises I know it does, but not sure about a cruise we’re paying for. Second, on a comped cruise, it included unlimited specialty coffees for both of us, including adding shots if we wanted. Anyone know if this extends to the “free drinks in the casino” as a Star perk? Just trying to set expectations and decide if we need more bar tab. 😃 Thanks in advance!

Like I said, mine may have been a fluke or a mistake. If I recall correctly, the CAS rep sends the request to another department. I’ve done it twice and both times my CAS rep said he sent it to another department. He is able reprice a sailing before final payment date, but any of these requests after final payment date are sent elsewhere to be resolved. Probably NCL’s normal reservations desk, but I don’t know for sure. in my case, the first time I did it it was a FCC that was split between the two of us. It was posted when we returned from our trip. On the trip in April the full amount of the difference was posted as purchased OBC for that sailing - again split between me and my husband. What’s the official policy? Who knows. And it can change at any time, Just telling my experiences, but did want to note that these decisions are not made by CAS, they are made by the normal NCL reservations department.

It is a one time thing after final payment. The 25% FCC is new (or the rep was incorrect.). It used to be 100% FCC. As far as OBC goes, this is not normally an option. But I do have a caveat. I book through Casinos at Sea. For our April cruise, the price dropped and the difference was given as OBC as opposed to a FCC which I had always gotten in the past. I was happy and didn’t question it. Why look a gift horse in the mouth. 😃. I’ve since seen other posters booked through CAS have the same experience, so that may be a new change for CAS bookings.

I believe the statement was referring to MSC’s drink package. NCL’s packages definitely work in the specialty restaurants.

Just to note that the ice is made from the water used everywhere else on the ship, including the tap in your bathroom. But to each their own. on the “free drinks in the casino” comment, that stopped back in April. There are no longer free drinks in the casino for CAS guests, and thus no free bottled water unless you are at a higher tier which gives you the beverage package across the ship. For lower tiers they now leave bottled water in the room.

True. I applied in February for our cruise in August and the credit posted in two days. The only time I had an issue was with NCL when I used an older brokerage statement. They asked for a more recent one. I submitted it and had the credit posted within 24 hours.

I’ve always submitted two forms. It might work to combine them, but I try not to confuse them. LOL.

There’s no set time limit on how far in advance you can apply. I’ve done it as much as 8 months before sailing date. They do want proof of holding the stock (I use a redacted brokerage statement) dated within 90 days of submitting the request. At least NCL does. I assume it’s the same for Oceania.

This is the default, at least it is for NCL (we have our first O cruise scheduled in about a month.). As long as your onboard charges are both going to the same onboard account it should not matter. It will be applied to the outstanding balance. That being said, I have travelled with friends on many NCL cruises where we each set up our own accounts. I discovered that if I put a note on the request to apply the full credit to me (as opposed to splitting it between the two in the cabin), they have done it. If I’m traveling with DH I don’t bother. As the old saying goes “It’s two pockets in the same pair of pants.” 😂

For our August trip, the credit is showing in our account. It was added to the SM excursion credits. We booked several excursions and the cost was slightly more ($15 or so) than the SM credit. The account is showing the difference as the remaining credit. So, it appears they did let me use it to pay for pre-booked excursions. This will be our first O cruise, so I may be reading it wrong, but I didn’t have to pay the extra $15 when we booked the excursions.

Thank you! I was asking only partly in jest, but I suspect I’ll be sitting at the Blackjack table for more than a few hours over ten days. 😂