hallux

45 minutes ago, Mitina said:

 They had to have known about this last month.

If the ship is going to drydock, which is a distinct possibility with that amount of time, they don't always know the EXACT dates they can get the dock for.  You just happened to book just before they got the schedule from the shipyard.

43 minutes ago, Mitina said:

but we’ll stick with a more transparent cruise line like our usual Viking sailings.

Hate to tell you - Viking is going to do the same thing with their ships, you just haven't run into it yet.

1 hour ago, 9tee2Sea said:

I hope at least 1 cruise line starts making smaller ships, that can easily navigate into ports where the townsfolk are having congestion issues.

Maybe not quite THAT small, but I think Royal has already said their next class of ships after Icon will shift smaller again.

14 hours ago, The Traveling Man said:

How do you think NCL plans to fit all those additional passengers on the last few Pr1ma class ships?  Will they add an additional deck?  Will they make the ship longer by squeezing in an additional section somewhere around midship?

Some quick research (Google is a thing) reveals the answer.  Aqua will be 70 feet longer than Prima - Prima is 981 feet, Aqua is expected to be 1,056 feet.

2 hours ago, Never cruise with NCL said:

We wouldn't be asking for a refund If I wasn't charged.

You were charged for the cruises, but were you charged the DSC for the days of the first cruise after you left the ship?

2 hours ago, Never cruise with NCL said:

Imagine this: You’re on a cruise, and due to a medical emergency or family situation, you have to leave the ship for a day or two. You’ve made arrangements with NCL, gotten the green light to rejoin the cruise at a specific port, and you’ve invested in the vacation. Now, what if something changes, like an itinerary update, and you’re not informed because you’re off the ship?

COMPLETELY different situation.  In your situation you CHOSE to leave the ship.  In your hypothetical of a medical issue you were forced to leave the ship for a medical reason.  Additionally - if you had to leave for a medical reason that has you off the ship for longer than the port stop they usually completely disembark you and consider your cruise done, they wouldn't get you to the next port to re-embark you.  Also, if they disembark you for a medical reason I've heard that they have someone that will keep in touch to see how you're doing.

1 hour ago, Never cruise with NCL said:

Can we agree that if you were on an excursion booked through the cruise line, you'd expect them to take care of you?

They do, and they would be in communication with the tour leader to keep them informed of possible changes.  Different situation as at that point you are under the direct care of someone contracted by the cruise line.

I did that cruise in January/February, same direction.  Through the canal I stood mostly on the port side, got some great pics.  I don't know what was on the other side.

Regarding sailing up the coast - you'll get some land views while leaving ports, but at sea you'll be out far enough for them to open the casino so you likely won't see land too much.

5 minutes ago, erisajd said:

but if that fee goes up the have the right to charge you for it - NCL isn't losing money on that. . .

I don't think I've ever seen a post here about NCL contacting a passenger and asking for more money because the port fees went up on a particular cruise.

2 hours ago, pghflyer said:

They have our email and phone, so why not communicate in all mediums to make sure everyone got it?

Better than that, since many lock their phone in the safe for the duration - something given to you by your waiter at dinner or as you enter the buffet the day prior.  MOST people eat dinner, it's the best place to 'catch' someone if you have to get a message to them.

1 hour ago, G-DawgMN said:

 

  Are you able to change the flights so you come in a day early?

THIS.  I'd fly in a day early just on principle...

I'll be honest - at that port I'm not sure anyone really knows as the terminal is brand new.  It was not yet finished when I was there as a port stop in Feb.

The ship may not actually shove off until even later.  You're doing a daytime transit of the canal the next day, you may push off and go through the first locks Sunday night/early Monday morning, or they may be able to wait until during breakfast on Monday to go through the locks.

There isn't much in the immediate vicinity of the port, you're going to need a taxi if you want to get off the ship and go find something to do after boarding.

1 hour ago, Erntrish4 said:

Likely widely varies port to port.

More likely country to country.  I've embarked in 3 US ports, all had the magnetometers and x-ray BEFORE the check-in desk, and every explanation you see from people talking about the process at other US ports indicates they're the same as my experience.

35 minutes ago, Erntrish4 said:

You’ll get a credit that will essentially cover the ala carte charge for app, entree and dessert, in my experience.

Kind of.  You simply go to the a-la-carte restaurants (recommend making reservations) and they will tell you what you're allowed on the dining plan.  In the past (as recent as January) it's app, soup or salad, entree, dessert are fully covered.

37 minutes ago, Erntrish4 said:

when you’ll clear security

By this I assume you mean security at the ship?  You typically clear security between dropping your bags and checking in at the desk.

29 minutes ago, Panhandle Couple said:

but from NCL's perspective it was their duty to protect and provide the best cruise they can for the OTHER 2,000 PEOPLE, not someone who wants to bend all of their rules.

This part can't be repeated enough!  The health and safety of 2,000 passengers that are not asking for special treatment by asking to leave the ship and rejoin at their leisure is 100% more important than catering to those 2-4 people that asked to have the rules bent for them...

12 hours ago, poohdreaming said:

Even if there was a studio lounge, it is not used for meetings anymore

so you've been on every cruise on every ship with a lounge and know for a fact that this is the case?  They certainly TRY to use the lounge, but if the group is too big they will move it.  

That's one of the things that sets NCL apart from other cruise lines when it comes to solo travelers - solo meets every day...

Have you tried?  Have you called and asked?  Have you clicked the 'view terms' link next to each one to see what that says about it?

5 hours ago, Ellis1138 said:

I never tried it, but there might be a way to leave someone in another cabin a voicemail message using the actual cabin phone.

There is - call their cabin from any wired phone on the ship (or, I believe, using the app from any device that you paid for the in-app messaging) and when they don't answer it will give an option to leave a message.

10 minutes ago, erisajd said:

since we haven't paid final yet and since they haven't added any new ports . . . . I'm figuring the port fees charge will go down . .  

Not always.  If other ports increased their fees (which NCL would have otherwise 'eaten') the 'refunded' fees from Manzanillo will first be used to cover the overage.

The port fees and taxes are ESTIMATED based on what they expect them to be and averaged over how many people they hope to have on board (it's usually a per-berth fee, regardless of how many are booked).  If there are fewer bookings than anticipated the per-person port taxes and fees would be higher, but NCL doesn't come to you asking for more.

Point is - there are reasons you may not see lower port fees or a refund for a missed port. There are many threads on this.  Oh - as recently as 2 years ago I HAVE received an OBC for a missed port during the cruise, it was all of $12 per person....

lol @MeHeartCruising we were typing at the same time.  Maybe two of us with the same answer will be believed....

5 hours ago, Asawi said:

I think it's around $10

Yes, around $10 per device.  It works ok.

4 hours ago, Lindy Sue said:

First time on NCL and traveling with another couple. We are in a club level balcony and they are not, so we will be able to book 5 days before they are able. We each have 3 meals included in our packages. Am I correct in my interpretation of this thread that I can book a table for all of us even though there are only 2 in my cabin? Thanks!

Yes.  I even booked a table for 6, as a solo.  I invited other solos looking to use their dining credits..

53 minutes ago, dexddd said:

Never had one emailed even to spam unless new.

Mine have come to my email since 2022.  I thought I got an email with it for my cruises in 2019 but couldn't find it.

It's almost as if NCL wants people to know this information - https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/joy/whats-on-board/Dining

The website is a wealth of information, you just need to look...

On the Escape last year I had planned to meet some other solos around 8:30 or 8:45 (for a 9:30 show, if I recall) to get in line for the show.  When I walked by shortly after 8 and the line was already to the elevator lobby I decided to just get in line.

4 hours ago, PelicanBill said:

on the far top deck (18?)

It's 20 on the Escape and that's a GREAT place for sail-away!!

44 minutes ago, Epic_Bear said:

The sole is my go to at the Le Bistro!

Mine too!