CrazyTrain2

Best case might be an extra day in San Francisco. We can always take a drive down to Monterey.

Never underestimate the power of a motivated participant. You may be completely correct, but never count out deep pockets. We'll see how it plays out.

As far as the City offering "the last step" in debarkation and embarkation - Yes. it takes effect immediately. Now, whether the cruise lines take over that step or not is to be determined. I also have a stop in April. So we'll see what happens. Here is a list of the ships that were supposed to Dock.... https://monterey.org/city_facilities/harbor___marina/cruise_ship_visits.php Looks like the Discovery Princess is the first ship affected.

How fast can you run?? I always try to disguise myself to avoid being harassed. Hey this might work for scarlet night too??? Hmmm. http://www.aboutcostume.com/images/career_adult_costumes/FOR-66023.jpg

Update - My travel agent ended up getting sailor services to refund everything back to my CC except for the travel insurance (my mistake for getting it in the first place). So all good, the best outcome came through but it was a journey - Or do I call it a voyage?

Monterey, CA wants to BAN Cruise ships in the Bay. Claiming endangering the Marine Sanctuary. They are discussing and voting today 2/7/2023 https://www.ksbw.com/article/monterey-cruise-tourism-may-come-to-an-end/42782209# "The city does not have the authority to allow cruise ships into the bay — that's left up to the U.S. Department of Commerce. But city council does provide security, checking people in and out as they arrive at the Fisherman's Wharf, per federal regulations. If discontinued, security would be left to the cruise lines. "This could essentially prevent cruise lines from coming into the bay anymore. And even if they do try to seek another contract with a company, I think this sends a very powerful message that we do not want cruise lines coming into the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary," Mayor Tyller Williamson said."

If there was ever a cruise line you'd have no problems meeting other LG...... people, it would be VV.

So after cancelling my previous booking to take advantage of last month's offer, I received no breakdown of the refund/FVC for my original deposit. I called Sailor services and although the person on the call tried very hard it was clear the systems are all JACKED UP. After 35 Minutes on the phone, with coffee house noises in the background, cars honking and an ambulance (on the sailor services side), I received a piece meal answer. The was no place on any website I could see where the FVC is posted and I had to backtrack through my Credit card statements for any refunds. I love the concept of VV and I'm sure I'll love the cruise - But the computer systems are HORRIBLE for information. Plenty of pretty pictures and an interesting design but it is JACKED UP. I cannot even locate on my booking the cabin number - I have to go back to the invoice. Finally, the SS agent was able to send me essentially a screen shot of my FVC. Hopefully I can apply it to my current booking. Uhhhg, I need a vacation from planning a vacation.

Whao there, I thought " free pressed juice" was a new position from the Karma Sutra.

NCLH is making numerous major changes to their product in response to cost reductions. Inevitably they will need to raise fares to cover goods inflation, labor inflation and increased interest charges. Once people cycle through the new normal for NCL product, individuals will make value judgements on whether to continue to travel with NCL or any other cruise line versus other travel types. Right now, the lines are working through the post-covid honeymoon excess demand. "I want to go anywhere, anyhow, anyway". Once demand normalizes well see how it all flushes out.

My experience of trying to "cancel and rebook" with sailor services was not great. Sailor services could not give me a consistent answer about crediting the rebooked voyage. The answers ranged from you get everything back on the credit card to you get nothing back. Our voyage is more than 300 days out and they could not wrap their heads around how to apply the policies. I ended up just canceling and rebooking with a TA, letting the chips fall where they may. My time and sanity is worth more than the difference. If I had to do the whole process again, I would just book with a TA. My suggestion to VV would be to put more experienced services team members on more complicated transactions. The kids I spoke with seemed to be right out of filling out their employment forms - "What's a W-4??".

The ship could aimlessly sail in circles, not even dock in port - AND NOBODY WOULD CARE. Ya Man, no fighting on this ship - it's all cool 'man

I cannot wait for the "weed" packages to come out. 1. Ditch weed included in the "Free at Sea" 2. Your "Basically Baked" package for $29/pp/pd 3. "Cheech and Chong" Package for $159/pp/pd Naked Bongo playing will be on the Lido Deck @ 3pm

To who and for pennies on the dollar? These ships have a useful life and if the ship is still booking revenue then it pays to keep it afloat. The Big 3 will just slow spiral into debt death. Execs will continue to be well compensated until the end - and perhaps beyond depending on their contract. 3 Years? 5 years? Maybe they are hoping for a MEME Stock moment to dump shares?

There seems to a flurry of mal-contents on the other CC boards regarding the reduction in services, price increases, additional fees, etc. from the Big 3 publicly traded cruise lines and their sub-lines. Since VV is funded by private equity versus publicly traded stock, will they be in a better position in the marketplace. Personally, it seems that VV is charting its own course and not as subjected to the whims of Wall Street. I hope VV crushes them - we need a diversity of choices out there. How say ye??

Let's look at the problem graphically. If a global pandemic hits and you have a lot of fixed assets (like cruise ships), the ONLY way to stay in business is issue debt or sell capital. The cruise lines literally mortgaged their entire businesses. This issue will spiral (in bad way) as cheaper debt issued before the pandemic needs to be refinanced with higher rates. Expect one or more of the major lines to go bankrupt either forcefully or strategically.

Remember when a regular airline ticket included: seats, 2 checked bags each, a meal, leg room and a plastic pair of wings for the kids?? Now you practically need to fly business class or above to be treated as a human. What got us to this state - Corporate debt and the need to make a profit. As far as cruising goes - it's going to get a lot worse. The debt racked up by the lines during the pandemic is extraordinary and that interest nut needs to be serviced.

I use Global Entry. It's a bit of PITA to get but it includes TSA Precheck. Once you have it, it is pretty easy to renew. As far as Facial recognition goes - It is or will be EVERYWHERE. From ATMs, to Flight gates to Toll booths. It's a real upgrade to the computer simulation we are all living in.

Yep, found it in the archives. I'm working with a TA now rebooking and dropping the Insurance. Thanks. I'll have extra bar tab so I owe you all a few.

Here is a simple request from the website - I would like to see my invoice. No can do - call sailor services. I cannot tell if the new price is better than the old price.

Booked a lovely voyage back in Summer for Oct 2023. The new rates are significantly better so, I thought I would call VV and do a price adjustment. Easy Squeezy with most cruise lines with a sailing this far out. Woe, Oh so Woe!! I made 2 rookie mistakes. 1. I booked directly with VV 2. I bought the cruise insurance No real way to reprice inside VV's system. You have to cancel and rebook. Now, I've called twice and I get different answers on how the refund is processed. So it's a crapshoot about what my actual refund will be. Some say the insurance is money out the window, others are saying it is FCC. Regardless the price difference is significant enough that I will be cancelling, calling a travel agent and rebooking with a travel agent. So net, net - VV loses money and produces a poor customer experience. The service team is enthusiastically friendly and seeming all under 30 years old, but woefully ignorant. I'm not sure who is duct taping their computer system together, but uhhg.... It's needs a LOT of work. It seems like they spent 90% of the budget on picking out good photos and very little on functionality. Sail ON!

I'm really interested to see what VV does on TA voyages. We are booked in OCT 2023, and super excited about the journey.

NCL starts Live bidding the beef filets next. I've got a $4.23 bid in on clarified butter. The real money is in live bidding the life boats during an evacuation. When do you own the vacation, instead of the vacation owning you??

It can literally mean anything. I asked for a 1 day deviation due to all the travel excitement this summer and they booked us on an overnight flight 2 days prior. If it's a nickel cheaper - that's the flight they book.

I leave in 8 days on NCL air and it is horrible - so yes, I am using the service currently - but this odyssey started 2 years ago. In my case, they are using Jet blue (red eye overnight with a 3 hour layover in the middle) with NOTHING for free. We arrive in NYC at the crack of dawn - tired with no place to stay unless I book a room for 5 hours of use. The return is on United with slightly better options but we either need to optimize packing for Jet Blue or United - either way is gonna cost us. If I would have booked my self, I would have chosen better flights, chosen seats with less total cost. It's a sales gimmick that may work for some but has been a horrible experience for us. But no worries, this will be my last cruise with NCL - fool me once, shame on you as they say.