EvanBedar

6 hours ago, Zippeedee said:

The people posting here are mostly long time cruisers who know how everything works.

But of course you have to filter those out of the hundreds of bloviators who don’t really know much but can’t resist stating bad information as fact anyway.   Bullies who try to insult you into agreeing with them.  High Horsies who state everything in exaggerated terms, like “Don’t bother doing” this and “always do” that.  
 

Saner advice is to fact check every single bit of advice you get here and on any social media travel forum.   A room full of busy bodies is not necessarily a more reliable resource than the 1 or 2 people who just give you their facts and let you decide.  

You can also cancel the Premium Drink Package and they will credit it back to your credit card. 

Recovering alkies in our household, so this online promo package wasn't our thing.

Anytime I read a review by someone who absolutely hates everything right down to the buttered rolls, I give it a wide berth.   It sounds more like someone who just felt bad the whole time, and they just wallpapered it with negativity.  

Just now, weltek said:

Yeah, if I ever take the NCL BOGO airfare, it's going to be for an international location where the cost is really high, and in that case, I'll even come out ahead if I have to pay for a few nights lodging for unexpected layovers. And really, aren't all international flight times terrible? LOL!

 

For U.S. based trips, though, I'll turn it down every time.

A non stop from Chicago to London on British Airways is outstanding.   You basically sleep the whole way.  Get upgraded to business class and you don't want the flight to end because now you have to start paying attention to your calls and emails again.

Definately communicate what you think your specific needs are going to be to the Access Desk.  Access Desk Guest Relations <accessdesk@ncl.com>

16 minutes ago, CruisingFunk said:

 

Hello,

 

We are having our wedding at sea this February on the Escape and though most items are taken care of a major topic is in question. 
 

Did your DJ also MC your wedding? Cake cutting? Introductions? And so on?

 

Our coordinator is giving us the runaround stating it’s up to the dj. 
 

Quite frankly this terrified us that we will may have to ask a guest last minute to give up enjoying the wedding to be the MC.

There are 36 guests accompanying us on the seven day cruise and hope for a somewhat smooth wedding. 
 

Hoping to hear your experience. 
 

Thank you in advance!

 

What do you mean “MC the wedding”.   Do you mean the reception?  The DJ doesn’t pick up the microphone until the weddings over.  

39 minutes ago, AstoriaPreppy said:

 

 

I think part of the issue for the OP (and anyone embarking on a cruise in Tenerife) is that most of the capacity to the island is going to be along the lines of Ryanair or EasyJet... cut-rate holiday airlines for British tourists from airports without connections to flights from North America. You'd probably have better luck with flights to a major city/port, like Rome or Barcelona.

 

Separately, is it just me or is it weird that NCL is even sailing from Tenerife? I always thought that was the holiday spot 20-something kids got into drunken fistfights over sun loungers before vomiting in the pool? 

 

 

G’bye

5 minutes ago, trish4bruce said:

Anyone have any idea when NCL may release 2025 sailings?  I am looking to book a Mediterranean cruise for my 50th and want to have first choices on cabins.

 

 

Is there such a thing as “first choice of cabins”?   They release them in groups.   All you know about what is available are the 5 or so per deck that appear online, or what they tell you is available on the phone.   I don’t think anyone can just say, “I want this stateroom on this deck.”  
 

Maybe you can, I’ve never heard of it.   If anyone should be able to it’s a couple celebrating 50 years I suppose.  

I have never booked a cruise in less time than the exact moment it becomes available on the cruise line's website (it's usually not quite two years, but 18 months certainly.)

I could never do what some of these old money people do around here, and just plop down deposits on two or three cruises a year.  By the time it comes available, I've already been researching the one I've chosen for close to 3 years.

3 minutes ago, prov2727 said:

Make sure you have a change of clothes in your carry on- they may hold your luggage (I speak from experience).

A great tip, but seriously ... if they hold your luggage you have bigger problems than what you're going to wear.

8 minutes ago, bortman23 said:

 

I feel like part of the reason for the undesirable flights/stop-overs is due what's going on with the airline industry (limited flights, over priced etc). Once things start to go back to how they were pre-pandemic we might start seeing things improve. NCL is always going to go with the lower cost flights, as long as they meet their guarantee. 

Not getting your flight itinerary until their last possible moment is definitely due to airlines' cancellations etc.  That's for sure.  But I doubt we'd ever see the itineraries stop being so cheap and inconvenient.  That's the whole purpose of them booking it; they want the absolute cheapest airfare.

18 minutes ago, Jdmfrogg said:

Just got our air (60 days out)

 

Family of 4 under 2 reservations.  They put us on different flights - wife and I leaving at 7am, son and mom leaving at noon.

 

I prepared myself for this possibility, so am ok with it since we still saved $, but it’s odd how they didn’t try to get us on the same planes since there is space on both and we placed a note in both reservations that we are 1 family under 2 reservations.   
 

Glad we did 1 day deviation 

It is true they find the absolute cheapest path.   If they could buy an itinerary with you stowing away in the wheel well, they’d bah-gawd take it!

39 minutes ago, DAVECHIPP1974 said:

I had no idea your difference was that much 😬 I found it well worthwhile to pay an extra $800 $900 to get the exact seat, airline, departure date/time, direct flight I wanted, when I had to fly per and or post cruise. 

They’re flying two of us for a thousand bucks.   Round air from here to Tenerife is about $1750 pp.  

5 minutes ago, DAVECHIPP1974 said:

You wouldn't let your airline book your cruise, why let your cruise book your flights? I hear countless horror stories of cruise line arranged flights, I personally think its not worth the "deal" you get, arrange flights as a secondary step and not all in one. JMHO   

Because I couldn't afford $3000 in flights.   Mm-kay.  Thanks.

3 minutes ago, JGmf said:

Don't sleep anywhere overnight without a portable white noise machine.  This is a must-bring for me on a cruise.  Rather small, so not a hassle to bring along.

 

 

I use a CPAP machine, so I'm good in the hissing department.  lol

 

It's not horrible, but if you're used to micromanaging your cruise itinerary like I am, you'd hate this like I do.  But I'll take it.

2 Layovers in both directions.   One layover in both directions is four hours.  I'm sure I'll have to recheck my bags.

I was able to select preferred seating with Air Canada on my departing flight, but not on the Swiss Air to Tenerife.   The changes cost me $270 total for two legs, two passengers.
American Airlines offers no link to change anything about the seating, nor does Iberian to get off the island.

So few choices, long layovers, and Airlines I never choose on my own.

The good thing, after all the warning, and emails, and customer service reps reminding me "your flight arrangements will arrive some time between 30 days, and as late as two weeks before your cruise date" ... the itinerary came at exactly 50 days.  So if you're one of those people counting down the days and dreading a two month wait, hopefully this give some hope.

 

I bring one of these just to store laundry until I get around to figuring out how I'm going to launder it.   Not a necessity, it just keeps the underwear and socks off the floor, and a place to toss a damp swim trunks.

They collapse to about the thickness of about a half inch.

30 minutes ago, Holly g said:

Some men wore shorts but never saw any women wearing them. 

 

Shorts are barbaric in one of the formal dining rooms.    But that’s just one of my obsessions.   I mean, if you were thrown overboard in the only pair of long pants you packed and you’re just waiting for them to dry, I guess that would be one thing.  But presuming you have a pair of ordinary mens slacks or even some jeans for goddsake … wear the damned things.  No one wants to see your tarantula legs while they’re trying to enjoy their angel hair pasta.  

1 minute ago, leithbones said:

If you haven't already

DoNotCall.gov

or

1-888-382-1222

 

 

The Do Not Call program is in shambles.   The FTC stopped enforcing complaints to that effort years ago.   It needs a complete overhaul.  
 

And, in case it’s not obvious even if it was a useful tool, it’s a US only asset.  

10 hours ago, MoCruiseFan said:

 

What the hell is business smart?

you get nothin’ from me tough guy

Sounds like a good reason to add the streaming-quality wifi package to the add ons, yeah?

Is the a la carte laundry menu really so expensive that a room full of veteran cruisers has to limit themselves to a 16 inch paper bag?   

On 9/26/2022 at 3:22 PM, UKstages said:

 

that's not actually true. you can indeed breathe in toxins from what is known as "third hand smoke." that's the name for the residual contamination that smoke from cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products, as well as e-cigarette vapors,  leave behind. the residue can re-emit (off gas) toxins into the air, exposing people to carcinogens and harmful chemical compounds long after the smoking has ended. one doesn't have to wipe one's hand through anything.

Boy is this ever junk science.   
 

Care to link to an abstract of an actual study that you’re basing this hooey on?   
 
“third hand smoke”

ha ha ha ha ha ha 

42 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

 

Just to reading comprehension, especially by the poster who seems to have accused the OP of not being supportive of his wife (who is not the one at issue here).  And called him a "D..."  I was pointing this out before any more people thought the OP was being critical of his wife.

 

As to the rest of your comment, we are in agreement.  🙂 

“D” Stands for Divorce.  
 

But now we all see where your mind is.  

43 minutes ago, uneamie said:

....just anti people ...

Well, there’s at least one thing we can agree on.