craig01020

OK, I did it. Booked Yacht Club for a Mediterranean cruise in Oct. 2025.  Looking forward to it.

I really want to try an MSC European cruise in the Yacht Club, but the deposit is non-refundable. Since I usually book cruises many months in advance, I can't be certain something won't happen to necessitate a cancellation. I recently booked a Celebrity cruise and paid a $900 premium for a refundable deposit.

Has anyone here been able to get a refundable deposit on Yacht Club?  Thanks.

10 hours ago, Levanah said:

And from yet another senior couple, we are watching these port cancellations carefully.  We have cruised with NCL exclusively, but there are still destinations/ports we want to see.  We are still healthy, but as seniors, our cruising window is closing.  If we have to move to another line to see the places we want to experience, we will do so.

Same here. It's too bad because many other cruise lines have such unimaginative itineraries. On the other hand, it's nice that you can count on going where they say they will go.

On 4/28/2024 at 8:46 PM, RenoDuck said:

Besides the problematic, but allowable under their contract, swapping / cancelling ports after final payment, their communication leaves a lot to be desired from timeliness and truthfulness.  This seems to becoming a regular occurrence and will make me think hard before booking future NCL cruises for more unique itineraries.

I agree. I had a 9-day Baltic cruise booked with NCL for next May, but I have rebooked with a 12-day on Carnival just for the reasons you stated.

44 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

So,,, if they drop a port the day before final payment, would there be any difference???? Even one cancellation??? Probably not. So the distinction is totally irrelevant. Just a lot of hype. 

Another NCL sycophant heard from.

It's called spin. NCL is notorious for dropping ports for "environmental" reasons or any other cockamamie reason they can concoct...and usually after final payment.  Yes, it's within their rights, but that doesn't make it right.

I'm a fan of NCL overall, but this nonsense has to stop. No other cruise line routine pulls this kind of stunt as often as NCL.

I, too, just booked my first MSC cruise...a 7-nighter from NY to Bermuda on Meraviglia. Trying to keep an open mind.

8 hours ago, salty dingo said:

This is good info - I'm planning a long trip in Spendor next year and didn't realize I would need a different adapter than the Euro-style I am used to seeing on Carnival ships.

You can use the standard Europe adapter, but the lamp won't be plugged in. The link I sent is in case you wanted to plug in a US and European plug.

10 hours ago, pamesacruisin said:

Are the outlets easy to get to if beds are together?

Not too easy to reach. I laid on the floor next to bed and reached under. I wouldn't want to do it every day, but it was worth it.

With this adapter, you can plug the lamp back in too:  https://a.co/d/1rnluAU

I recently tried to book a Princess cruise and was frustrated because I couldn't choose a cabin with occupancy of more than two. Now it all makes sense.

That's actually a better method than letting us book it and bump us later, but it still stinks.

3 hours ago, AV8rix said:

Actually, CCL (corporate) got a new IT department in 2016 -- just google "Carnival Cruise Line outsource Capgemini" and it's been downhill ever since. 

 

Web site is actually user-hostile, not user-friendly.  JMO.

I don't know if I would call HAL's website "hostile", but it could be a lot better. Princess is the worst, and surprisingly, Carnival's in one of the best I've used.

Go figure.

Would it be possible to book a cabin for 3 and then delete the third person just before the cruise leaves?

I have my first two HAL cruises booked. Thankfully, both cabins are for 2 people.

If they just want to cram as many passengers as possible, they could switch to the same model as hotels: no choosing your room.

I always thought that one of the major advantages of cruising is that you can pick your cabin.

This new policy sucks!

17 hours ago, SUESEABE said:

Check deck plan map and staterooms will have a symbol to indicate type of cabin.

No symbol equals cabin for two?

On 3/5/2024 at 8:52 PM, *Miss G* said:

I went ahead and chose the Rotterdam because it’s my next ship.  I haven’t sailed on it, yet, but I’m an optimist.  🙃

Same here!

I am planning to book my first Zuiderdam cruise and would appreciate any advice from those who have sailed on her.  I'm thinking of a deck 6 aft veranda cabin with shower (no bathtub).  Has anyone stayed in one of these?  Are there any veranda cabins you would definitely avoid?

Thanks.

It's not a marriage. Don't think for a minute that Royal is not "seeing other people".

48 minutes ago, Cherful59 said:

I was in 3526 for a Sept 2023 cruise and the head of the bed would have been under the window, but in our case separated to the side as I was with my sister.

 

Edit.  I just looked my cabin was in the same spot, just on the other side of the ship.  

Thanks. That answers my original question!

1 hour ago, Sunshine3601 said:

The downside to these cabins is they are directly under the theater so you may hear noises when they are rehearsing, cleaning and during nighttime shows.

I was thinking of booking 3026, which is far enough back to have a cabin above it.

2 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

This layout is actually nicer than bed at the window.    Whenever we have had a OV cabin with head of bed at the window I hate having to kneel at top of bed to look out the window.    I looked up cabin 3504 photos and that one shows head of bed under the window.   

I agree, but now you can see why I'm asking. Maybe I'll just pay more for a balcony cabin because I prefer a sure thing.

25 minutes ago, cruiseguy1016 said:

I've stayed in many oceanview cabins on RCI ships and in every one of them, the bed has been under the window. I've never seen one 90° to the window.

Here is an example of why I asked. This is a non-forward facing cabin,

18 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Your best bet is to pick a cabin and google the cabin number to see if any photos available.

 

I am pretty sure the head of the bed will be at the window.   

I hadn't thought of this Google thing. Brilliant!

Good morning,

I'm trying to get accurate info on Jewel of the Seas oceanview cabin configurations. I use cruisedeckplans-dot-com and some photos show the head of the bed directly under the window and some show the bed at 90° to the window. I'm specifically interested in the cabins forward on deck 3.

For anyone here who has recently stayed in one of these cabins, what was your cabin layout?

Thanks.

2 hours ago, Tlbecker1 said:

We were on both of the ships last year.  They honestly are so much alike.  Pick the cheapest and best ports and don’t worry about either ship, they are virtually the same.

I chose the 8-day Radiance. Thanks all!

1 hour ago, jean87510 said:

Honestly there's not much of a difference between the ships.  They are both vision class.  I'd just focus on the ports more.  I believe one sailing goes to the Bahamas plus cococay and others go to the roatan, belize, costa maya and Cozumel.  Depends what you want honestly.  If I was picking, I avoid Nassau and CocoCay as I just am not a big fan but I'm not you.

Actually, the 8-day Rhapsody goes to Grand Cayman, Belize City, Costa Maya and Cozumel. The 7-day Grandeur goes to Costa Maya, Belize City, Roatan and Cozumel.