Bruges

That is what we will do, and space is indeed what you need on the prima.
If you want to be lied to, you should stick with NCL.

Safe and happy sailings!

I will not replay to this, not worth it

Ports  can be missed due bad weather, that is not the point. 
Some passengers got a code they have to send to NCL  when home to get a refund, others were said they are waiting for an answer from Miami, we got a letter with an answer totally beside the question, you got OBC….

Why not just refund like other companies do and treat every passenger the same way.

It isn't a matter of money, it is for the principle, but NCL just gives an answer “ à la tête du client“ as they say inFrench.

1 hour ago, ontheweb said:

We missed 2 ports on the Prima, Brugge for low tide and Isafjordur which everyone missed. At some point an OBC of $14 and change showed up.

Prima did not missed Brugge for low tide, Zeebrugge is a deep sea port. Prima has a draught of 9 meter, Zeebrugge takes ships up to 15 meter draught. It is just that the way Prima is built they can not more in certain circumstances: from the bridge they can not see the quay, docking is done with cameras! But on NCL they tell you whatever suits them best.

On 20 september we missed Belfast due to bad weather. 
Now, 9 days later, NCL told us they do not refund any port and pilot fees.

On other cruise companies, we were paid back the next day without asking anything.

Even only 15 $ with 3000 pax makes 45000$….

On 7/20/2023 at 12:20 AM, www3traveler said:

NO  Simply means the tides are to low to safely sail.

No! Being from Bruges I can assure you Zeebrugge is a deep sea port handling the largest container ships afloat. 

2 hours ago, oaktreerb said:

There was an area blocked off for staff but it was just a section along one side, not the entire aft.  It was not a problem for aft viewing on the Koningsdam.  

Yes, thats the way it should be…

18 minutes ago, Yipper said:

We noticed it was closed on our NS sailing earlier this year.  Deck 11 aft was also closed on the Oosterdam last year.  I understand it is usually under utilized.  Now the crew primarily uses it as safe haven for crew to socialize and is also one of the few smoking areas for the crew.  I am sure this may be the case on the other HAL ships as well.  Perhaps with the heavy bookings lately they will open it up for guests at least on warmer sailings.

A simple solution would be to close the port side, like on the Zuiderdam or Rotterdam: everybody happy…

Yes VMax1700, it should read “aft of sundeck 11 etc… , but I can not change it….

I don’t agree you have better views: for a photographer the higher the better! And deck 9 has all the windows at the sides so if you see birds or dolphins…no way take pictures (and dolphins there were!) And when you see dolphins and first have to negotiate….who would move? 
 

54 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

The crew has always had an area for socializing.  A lot of cruises it is near Club Hal if there won’t be many children onboard 

I have never seen the intire aft deck only for the crew, just on the Nieuw Statendam. Normally the crew has the bow area.

We have been a week on board of the Nieuw Statendam now, and all the time the aft of deck 11 has been closed for all passengers. “Team members or staff only” This was also the case in May last year. We thought this was a one off, but how wrong were we…. Deck 11 is the only place on the aft of the ship were you have an unobstructed view from port to starboard-side to take pictures. It is also the only place on the aft of the ship to walk easy from port to starboard side. So at departure deck 9 is the only (crowded) option. Asking for the reason, we were told by guest services this deck is only for crew members. An officer told us it is “because of the construction of the ship” (sic!) (please take you passengers more serious!) We have no problem with crew members on passenger decks, but there is never a crew member to be seen there, they are always on port side. So close port side for us like on the Zuiderdam. Four weeks ago we were on the Rotterdam for 3 weeks and deck 11 was accessible all the time! Next year we will sail to Hawaii and French Polynesia on the Koningsdam: will deck 11 also be closed??? This is the only issue we have, food quality and choice are excellent. Friendly crew members, stateroom and ship overall excellent. 

(Sun)deck 11 is closed for passengers 😞

only open for teammembers.

This is the only aft deck where you can take onobstructed pictures…

just the same like in May last year!

no more Statendam for me if it stays like this!

On Rotterdam it was always open

been to guestservices: this deck is only for personel!!!

As we all know summer sailings with Infinity in the Med 2022 were cancelled. Alternatives were not an option for us.  Our booked flights (about 600 euros) were only reimbursed if Covid was the reason to cancel. 

We emailed Celebrity in February but got no response. Even after a recall in April, it remained quiet on the other side....

We weren't expecting a refund, but some form of onbaord credit would have been nice. (We know that NCL compensated travellers in the same case)

It would even be nicer -and more polite- that Celebrity would send at least an answer -even if it was negative....

We already booked an Antarctica sailing with Infinity for next year, and bought our (bc) flights....But after this experience this could be our last time with Celebrity. 

Anyone any experience with this? 

5 hours ago, FiftyOnePlus said:

How absolutely dreadful.

This is not a relaxing, enjoyable holiday.

 

I completely agree 51+: I am surprised (not to say flabbergasted) that 95% here is positive about going back cruising. Most of us are 60 +, so we are in a risk group. For sure, each has the right to decide themselves. But if problems (infections) will occur and the complete ship will have to go in quarantine....the whole community will pay for that.  And don't compare with ferries or airplaines: you are on this ship for one week! We cancelled all our next cruises: Med in October, Caribbean in January and Sydney to Vancouver next April. We do understand the problems of the cruise companies (with fallen stocks in the Dow Jones) but public health prevails. It is in the interest of the cruise companies that there are no outbrakes of Covid 19. If you like it or not that will take time, this is reality. 

Better safe than dead!