davencl

Really liked the Bliss, Encore and Joy, etc. Didn't care much for the EPIC due to the room layout. curved couch was very uncomfortable. Bed was OK. Other aspects of the EPIC were OK.

With some adults acting like 2 year olds this is difficult... 🙂 🙂

Rome Cabs gets mentioned allot on CC. I'll be using them for transport from pier to FCO.

Not O but disney. First cruise we did booked a guarantee on Disney due to lower price. Got a very good cabin. In O's case gty seems to be a catagory between available and waitlisted so no change in price but if you want to go on that itinerary it's logical you'd book it that way.

On my invoice in my case. Some can see it online but I can't.

The link you seek is here: https://www.ncl.com/latitudes-rewards-program/insider-offer/terms?hide_hf=true

Yes online may not show items. For instance my OBC doesn't show online but is on my invoice that was emailed to me. Others can see the OBC online so YMMV.

Added additional bolding to emphasize. 🙂 🙂

This hit on my pet peeve on announcements(true for all rooms). They say to turn on the TV to listen. By the time the TV boots up the announcement is over. 🙂

Wow I just called and had the summer sale applied to my Jan. 2024 cruise. Saved $7,300. Had booked 24 day cruise to Antarctica under all three free in March. Lost the all three free but adjusting for that I still saved $7300. About all I lost was the OBC. With simply more still have beverage package and credit for shore excursions. This was for a PH1. You must call to get this pricing.

There have been changes as noted. However cruising is just as great today as it was in 2019. I have enjoyed all my cruises just as much as back then.

Agreed the items mentioned by the OP you do not get. They are not amenities so you don't get them as you note.

You get the haven amenities but not the haven promotions. For one example you don't get the extra latitudes point per night. Here's a link to the FAQ : https://www.ncl.com/content/upgrade-advantage-faq

This is a real pain for us too. I think my DW has 6 options now when I book. Have to call and get it corrected every time. When I book it just adds another so now there are 7 LOL.

Went once. Won't go again. Entertainment was good, BBQ meat was dry and tasteless(full disclosure: I've had dry and tasteless at land based restaurants). Smoked it is not. Sides were fine and desert was great. However if you've never been you should try it regardless of the reviews.

If it's past final payment(which 2 months out would be) chances are slim.

In the last six years I've never seen a NCL "sale" end. It may change (with no change to actual cost) but you can ignore the "sales ends in xxx days" sentence... The one time price drop is after final payment in the form of a FCC. Before final payment they have always adjusted the price when I call in. Keeps the same reservation number but perks may vary. This is in the US. I don't know if UK is different.

The catch is there is no final price difference between 35% off and 50% off because NCL adjusts the "regular" price to compensate for the change. In the last couple of years this has been the case. For example during a 35% off sale lets say the cost is $1000 minus 35% = $650. Then a new sale is announced but the cost is now $1300. So 50% off 1300 is $650....

Oceania does not post shareholder credits to your account on the website. It is shown on the updated invoice emailed to you. Example as follows: Gift Orders US$125 COMPLIMENTARY SHIPBOARD CREDIT * $125.00

2 year olds acting like 2 year olds don't bother me. Adults acting like 2 year olds do.. 🙂 🙂

I should add some more detail. Earliest checkin might typically be 9:30 AM. However boarding doesn't start till 11:00 to 11:30 AM so even if no line at checkin you sit in the terminal for two hours before even boarding. Then the boarding process takes an hour. Then rooms aren't ready until around 3 these days unless you're in the haven or a suite. Others can add their experiences...

I do two or so hours before. If latest is 3PM I typically sign up for 1PM

For us the major "disadvantage" is not having to wait in any lines. 🙂 🙂 Many like to get on the ship early to begin enjoying the ship. Also first to board can book reservations before they fill up. We have decided to board later and avoid the lines. It suits our needs better.

I found the concierge in my first haven experience to be more helpful than I thought. Helped us book restaurants, helped with internet issues resulting in us no being able to log off and use up minutes etc. On a later cruise haven concierge desk wasn't much help(to my surprise given my first experience). So my experience is it depends on the people staffing the haven concierge.

This is normal. Upgrade offers are put out for all the rooms you may be eligible to bid on regardless of whether they are already booked. If I bid on an upgrade I check what is not sold out and bid on those that are not sold out.