jules181

Depending on which day of the week you're disembarking, you could be fighting for a taxi with 10,000+ other people. Ive done the NCL transfers before, for a solo, they're the best way to get to the airport. (I've always had a flight around 2pm).

I had a similar thought. Glad I could get it cleared up. I'm an experienced cruiser and know that no one gets on the ship without their own cabin assignment.

To clarify, I have a solo balcony. My partner will be booked in a solo studio and we will both be "living" in the solo balcony. We fully intend to tell the cabin steward that the studio will be uninhabited and he doesn't have to clean it. (Also for wellness check purposes) Thank you all, it sounds like a second key is quite routine.

I guess a bit of backstory. When I booked the cruise ages ago, I was single, now I'm not. Booked solo with a balcony, got a crazy good deal. NCL wants $3k extra to add the other half to the reservation. Solo studios are going for less than $1k. Has anyone ever got them to make up an extra room key for you? Worst case, we'll just share the one key, but it would be better to each have one.

I have to say I'm a big fan of Ben and David, I find that their reviews are usually fair and objective, they always show the good with the bad, and, especially with the cruise they took in the middle east on NCL (Dawn, I think) they have been quite positive towards NCL. I've sailed on the Epic 3 times. December 2019, January 2022 and January 2023. I love the ship, it has everything I need, the thermal suite with the outside balcony is fantastic. However, I did notice a difference in both service/condition on the 2023 cruise. Lots of maintenance issues, instances of flooding, backup in drains. Service seemed strained and rushed, you could feel the cuts, bar lines were massive. (And don't give me that "well just go to another bar" crap). At 6pm for your pre-dinner drink, you're pretty much stuck with the bars on 6, 7 and 8, and they're all jam packed. We were waiting 20-30 minutes on service. Also, the ship seemed like it was straining, when your glass of wine was sitting on the table in the MDR, you could see the vibrations from the engine, more so than any other ship I've been on. I'm not sure what the answer is, but I'm not sure when/if I'll be sailing on the Epic next. I think it's fair that they're pointing out there are issues with the Epic, because there are. Hopefully they can address the ship specific issues in the dry dock scheduled for next year. Some people have a love hate relationship with the Epic, but I was in the love section before my last cruise, now it's a 'meh'.

This isn't something you'll only see on NCL. I was on a Holland America cruise last year. It was travelling the Pacific Coast of California. One city on our stop voted to ban cruise ships immediately. We knew that we wouldn't be hitting that port. They kept selling the cruise as if we were hitting that port. It took them 2-3 weeks to post a new itinerary and notify us. The cancellation of this port forced a major change in the cruise. Things happen, when you book a cruise, you need to get in the mindset that even though it says you'll go to xyz, you could end up at abc. The only ports that are "guaranteed" are your embarkation and debarkation, and even that guarantee is pretty loose. I'd gladly like to see more cruises to nowhere. Put me on a 2 week stay at a floating resort where my every whim is looked after. That's my idea of a good vacation. Ports are just a bonus, and most times I might not leave the ship, or if I do, it isn't for long. My point is, you're mad at NCL for it, but it's an industry wide practice. You won't be any happier anywhere else. It's been said many times here, the major lines are more the same than different, especially when it comes to the business operations like this. Cruises are selling over 100% capacity, the demographics are changing with younger cruisers being attracted to the industry. The lines are adapting and don't really care about the ways of old. They're looking to the future.

I think FOBC is $100 on board credit per stateroom. I have no clue what TPNET50 is. There's no Internet beyond FAS.

If they approved it, it should already be there. I just had shareholder OBC approved earlier this week. I noticed it on my reservation before they sent me the email.

Canadian butter (and dairy in general) is absolute crap compared to the rest of the world and specifically Europe. I have brought back small amounts of butter/cheese for personal use and have declared it to customs without issue. As long as you declare it, you're good.

The one thing to note is that Rome to Munich is not an "international" flight as we understand it. Flights within the Schengen area in Europe (which both Italy and Germany are part of) are essentially domestic flights. The Rome airport is a mess at the best of times, however if you're able to get off the ship first thing in self-assist (7am) and have a private transfer to the Airport (8:30am), you could probably chance an earlier flight. (10am?)

I did it on the Joy, and absolutely loved it. It was a lot more physical than I expected, we're all spoiled by power steering. There are places to pass on the course. I had a couple of fast guys and my mom who brought up the rear. We all learned how to pass her. Just to note, maximum occupancy of the go karts is one. If you want to do the course, you get to drive.

Is your Airbnb in Rome? Or in Civitavecchia? The cruise does not start in Rome and the port is over an hour away. I would be on an early train out to the port. (the port is very walkable from the train station) You never know what issues you'll run into on Italian roads or train tracks.

I was on the Joy in Feb. It was the best buffet I have ever experienced on an NCL ship. We usually eat breakfast in the MDR and went to the buffet every day. That being said. For breakfast in the MDR, you could show up in PJs and slippers.

You've been given the official policy, however in practice, is it enforced? I was on the Joy departing Southampton in February. I'm also an avid scotch drinker and find that the UK is a good place to stock up on such things. After dropping my bags, checking in, grabbing my keycard, and while waiting for boarding to begin, I decided to walk to the local liquor store and pick up a few bottles. I picked up four 70cl bottles, and carried them in a liquor box provided by the store back to the ship. There was no disguising what came in this box. They went through x-ray, and I carried them in the box on the ship, and no one said anything. I have had this experience in other ports, where liquor was ignored. So if you were to bring a case of wine onboard for your own enjoyment, there is a chance that no one will say anything. But officially, you need to pay corkage on every bottle.

Have two new ones which I don't see on the list. FOBC TPNET50

It's more a question of the itinerary than the cost. Weeklong, port heavy, Caribbean cruise, inside is fine. Two week translatalntic, balcony is required. Any intinary where there will be things to see, must have a balcony. If I can't afford the balcony on those cruises, I find a different itinerary. I've snagged some amazing balcony deals over the years.

Some of us have multiple passports and depending on the destination and ports we might want to use one over another. I also had a situation where my passport was damaged and needed to be replaced 3 years into 10. Having me enter it every time is the best way to verify. I'd rather take the extra few seconds than have customs/immigration flag my file for something outdated. Sometimes I cruise with my emergency contact. I don't think it's ever taken me more than 5 minutes to check in. Is this really a problem?

The thermal suite on the Escape has the best views on the ship.

You'll be able to use social media. You won't be able to watch movies/TV. You need the streaming package for that.

If the number of scooters on a cruise ship are any indication. There are definitely more handicapped people than handicapped rooms. If this is what matters to you, probably best not to upgrade.

If MSC is willing to pay, I'm sure they're more than happy to move their ships to another berth. For our convenience 😉

If it was a money maker it would be offered at the casino cage.

This is what I've noticed. Prices have increased for peak travel periods and high demand itineraries. If you have flexibility with dates, just want to get on the ship and don't care where you go, there's incredible value to be found. I've been taking 3+ cruises per year since the restart because the prices are so low compared to other vacation options such as the Mexican/Carribean all inclusive. The value has been unbeatable. Repositioning cruises, translatlantics, even Carribean/Mexican itineraries at the right time. I've been on 4 different cruise lines and had the same experience all around but still find the best value is with NCL. Probably have two 12+ night cruises in the plans this year. Could see about sneaking in a third. There's no better value if you're flexible.

Has anyone seen updates on which ships have been deployed and timelines for those that remain?

Does the Bliss have starlink or the legacy system?