julig22

First and foremost, the process is going to depend on the itinerary. Unless you haven't traveled beyond borders, you are entering a foreign country so arrangements need to be made with immigration and customs. If you haven't traveled across any borders, you may be in violation of passenger transport laws, which is where the "threats of fines" may come into play. Fines aren't up to the cruiseline, they are assessed by Customs/Border Patrol or similar agency. They are assessed, regardless of why a passenger disembarks, but the cruiseline can absorb the cost, ask for an exemption or charge the passenger.

Because those are packages, not use-as-you-go items, and there is a difference between not using anything vs partial use. Any booked excursions should be returned, possibly DSC if she paid in advance. If she was paying on a daily basis, she probably wasn't charged additional days. Anything else would be subject to NCL cancellation policy. No different than if you were to cancel anything partway through a contract - terms of the contract dictate whether or not you get any money back.

I'm up to 7 now for my next cruise, still have more than a week to go!

There is no such thing as an up charge if you go from double to single. They don't charge extra, other than double occupancy rates, for a solo. And they also refund prepaid fees like taxes, DSC, FAS gratuities.

New machines on the Jewel in August, Sky in September. Some worked, some would not read my card no matter how much I tried. I got the "snicker" response when I asked for a new player's card on the Star last February. I'm guessing they are just phasing out the cards (at least for those of us that don't really have any casino status), so the response would depend on how many blank cards they have left...

They still do apparently. Had some first time cruisers and it was kinda disappointing. Conversation was all newbie stuff - I like to get the inside scoop!

Not entirely true - if you go to the excursion desk when you board, you can explain the situation and see if they will put you on the wait list for the time when your other family members are booked. If a spot opens up, they should be able to give you a spot. Also, keep calling the excursion desk to see if they have had any cancellations (they are the ones that told me to keep calling...). Also, you might post in your roll-call (check that other face site at well for a group) and see if there is anyone that would be able to switch.

Only people with status in the casino get a drink card. Unlikely for a new cruiser. In the past, using the casino card made it easier if you were getting drinks from your FAS package because otherwise you had to pull your room card from the machine. However, they are in the process of changing machines so you tap your card, not sure there are player's card anymore. The 3% fee is a wash if your CC gives 3% or more in points for travel. If you are using the NCL card and travel balcony or less, those points can go towards a room upgrade that can be worth considerably more than the $300 in credits.

Club balcony benefit is not the same as the latitudes benefit. Since you weren't in a CB, what you got was because of your latitudes benefit. I believe @cruiser2015's response to @RedRover96 was correct.

I have done this many times, although not specifically in Trieste. If you booked your own air, then just google flights and pick something that is arriving about the time you want to get on the shuttle. I generally try for something around 9am. There will be people with NCL signs somewhere in the area after you go through customs. It's a bigger issue when you use the BOGO airfare, so they know when your flight is arriving and they seem to have trouble understanding that sometimes people plan to return to the airport. Sheesh! In Buenos Aires they actually pulled my transfer about a week before the trip, with some nonsense about it not being possible to go back to the airport due to security reasons??? They pick you up in the same place every other passenger gets picked up... Fortunately I was able to change hotels to something nearer the port and it worked out.

I actually did that...it was a huge sacrifice to book a last minute 5-day cruise to Mexico LOL! But the added benefits for upcoming cruises were nice to have.

Also the possibility that the cabin category will sell out so no price reduction at all.

Where does it say they get a commission for booking cruises? Last I checked (which was early October), credit for onboard bookings goes to the agent that booked the cruise you are on.

I'm not a fan of tipping. Even less of a fan when a tip is % based. Does it really take more effort to bring a steak in a fancy restaurant than a cheaper burger?

You don't. Non-refundable OBC is for purchases, can't be used in the casino. However, if you have refundable OBC, you can use one of the slots to charge the cash to your account (3% convenience fee), then put the cash on the machine, cash out the machine and take the slip to the cashier to get the cash. Or just go to guest services at the end of the cruise and they will refund any leftover refundable OBC.

Who is they? If his confirmation says that he requested (and paid for) RT, then they will find him a flight. In my experience, the air department staff doesn't have a lot of leeway with respect to solving issues. However, in the past, a very polite and carefully worded email to katty byrd got my flight issues resolved almost immediately.

Bids usually open around day 110, if you check the plusgrade site. Timing of email notifications varies.

I don't complain about "nickel and diming" but I sure as heck would complain if NCL becomes all inclusive. Not everyone drinks, not everyone needs/wants specialty dining, not everyone needs unlimited wifi and so on. I have no issues with a pay for what you use model. I simply don't understand the gritching about having a fare price, then itemizing additional costs, some optional, some mandatory. Presumably done for tax/accounting purposes. And remember if you have to cancel, those additional costs are refundable... And yes, I have taken a number of free excursions over the years. When was the last time anyone bought a car for the "advertised" price? You pay taxes, license fees, dealer prep fees, etc. - if they even have the one car still available at the advertised price. Then of course there are shipping and handling charges when you buy stuff online - why do I have to pay someone to handle my purchase??

Not forgetting that the world in not the US. But NCL is based in the US. And as you point out, the promotions have been modified for various markets - whether that's because they have country-specific sales sites or it's a requirement regardless, I do not know. However, if they were forced to modify promotions, then it makes sense that they would also be forced to modify their marketing practices if they infringed on standards applied by other countries.

IMHO, the card is only has added value if you cruise NCL, balcony or lower. Other cards give equal or better value for travel in general. However as a solo cruiser that has no need for anything above a balcony, it's an exceptionally good value because I'm often paying double for the OV cabin I'm booking. I understand why they wouldn't allow upgrades beyond balcony - that limits the value of the benefit. Why they don't allow a paid upgrade is anybody's guess, probably because it starts to get somewhat complicated.

Correct. You would pay the difference between what you paid and the cost of the desired room. Best you could get out of the deal is to ask for your points back and get the $300 statement credit.

I agree. It's not like they can do the rooms in any particular order. Although if all the rooms have a DND sign at some point, that would make getting everything done a little more difficult. Sounds like a steward I recently had, although my room did get cleaned every day. She had to enter my room in order to prominently place the "Hero" card, along with her info, in the middle of my bed every day! Absolutely no contact until I asked for the "your're leaving" instructions because I hadn't gotten them. Got a too bad, so sad, get over it attitude, why are you bothering me, as surely it was my mistake, not hers!

I believe it is currently 110 days prior to your cruise.

I have sailed with NCL quite a bit post-pandemic, including 3 cruises since they went to the 1x/day cleaning routine. On those 3 cruises, I had 1 terrible steward, 1 excellent one, and 1 average. I always use the "make-up-room" marker and that seems to work well with respect to getting my room taken care of at a time when I was out - my cabin was never missed, nor was I ever disturbed when I had the do-not-disturb sign out. (be careful with the DND if you are expecting to have anything delivered, like your laundry tho!). I don't think people are saying it's OK to skip your cabin. Just a little unreasonable to expect your cabin to be cleaned on demand. Or that you have to tip. I do usually tip my steward (even the lousy ones but to a lesser degree) but at the end of the cruise, not in advance and certainly not daily. I tip on the last full day of the cruise, since there is always the possibility that your steward is leaving and wouldn't get tips left in your cabin.

Sigh. I never said you didn't. But good for you that the staff on your cruise was so attentive that they took care of it without you asking. Some of us have had to ask because it's not been an automatic function in the past (as indicated in the t&c's). Which was the intent of the original post - to point out that the old process when booking onboard may be changing.