Asawi

How recently did you get off the ship? Are you sure you're seeing a credit card charge and not just a hold that might be released? What did your final statement from the cruise say?

My guess: US will probably still be able to decline drinks and speciality dinners, same as now, and still get excursion discount and Internet minutes. EU/Uk will still be "all or nothing", same as before. Substantial price increase. Benefits for drinkers, but those that don't drink alcohol still won't have speciality coffees, bottled water (sparkling or still) or cans of soda for "free". Would it really be so hard to give us that?! We're paying €30-35 per day for most cruise lengths from what I can tell (more per day for shorter cruises). As a non-drinker, for me it only makes sense to get the package if there are lots of cheap(ish) excursions. Which is rare.

Factory sealed it should be ok

I think some clarification is needed. Let's say you owed 300 before buying the certificates. After the purchase you should now owe 800. Did NCL charge you close to 1300? Meaning you paid the full 1000 for the certificates?

Ouch! That's expensive for a non-drinker!

Fewer internet minutes for long cruises. Personally I don't care about more speciality dinners and more "premium" drinks included. I'm pretty sure price will go up, and as someone who drinks very little alcohol it doesn't sound like an improvement. But I guess we'll know more tomorrow

That is how it already is for us in EU. The leaked info seems to be directed for EU (currency €). So you US guys still can't be sure how it will be for you. I have been hoping for things to go the other way: allowing us EU people choose components. Not really expecting it, but hoping.

If you don't have a drinks package it will cost you $15 per bottle of wine. Cocktails around $12 (+ 20% service? Say around $15 then) Latte I have no clue, but from what i have heard prices are about the same as Starbucks on land

I am on Star right now and tonight I will have my third meal on Ginza, the Asian complimentary restaurant on this ship. While I do (obviously) like the food the restaurant as a whole is not on par with other speciality restaurants. IF it is to become a "pay for" restaurant I hope changes will be made. For example more proper sit down tables even for parties of one or two. Not just the "propped up on bar stools by the sushi carousel" (unless of course you're actually there for that). Menu, although not bad, would also need a bit of looking over for it to be worth spending a dinner credit there. Having said that, the way menus have declined in other speciality restaurants that's probably being over optimistic. Side note: on this cruise it has been"reservations required" for Ginza. That was not the case on the cruises I did on Star last year.

Since you are staying in USA (Hawaii) you are not in transit to another country. You are entering USA in LA and then staying in USA See also the post before your

It's a smaller tour than the one you pay for. I did one on Star last week and we got to see the theatre dressing room, laundry and galley. Not sure about time, but maybe about an hour?

Bingo! I actually discussed this with my daughter yesterday after I had a very mediocre meal at Cagney's yesterday. The file mignon was a perfect medium/rare. The iceberg wedge was nice. And the rest was "meh" or worse. The meal would have been $101 according to the menu. Ridiculous!

The login page says Starlink. I have cell coverage ashore so I haven't used ship internet much. It seems ok what little I have used. My main phone is Android if that matters. On the little iPhone I use to iMessage with a couple of people I still get those Gmail notifications. I haven't looked into them though.

FWIW I have put in my DOB and so on and sometimes go to Free Websites and sometimes log in to my minutes. It's not as straightforward as it used to be though and I don't like the new look/way. But I guess I have to learn to live with it anyway. 🤔

I suspect people mistakenly thought so because it takes a little bit more than just connecting to the wi-fi now. As described by @BJ223 I am on Star right now so it's not just Viva. If not ship wide already I suspect it will be.

Agree! If all you ever do is cruise and do organised excursions (ship or independent) you surely encounter things of various seriousness sooner or later. Lost luggage, cancelled transportation, accidents, illness... I have been relatively spared (or maybe just chosen to not dwell on things once cleared up) but my backpacking daughter has been robbed (not just pickpocketed, attacked and robbed) twice but that is not stopping her from going places I'd rather she didn't. 😮 (She does however know I'll drop everything and come and get her wherever she is, should she need it.)

As for "fixed price" Vs "cover charge" I have never seen "fixed price" when looking at restaurants in the app. Moderno and Teppanyaki has always been "cover charge" for me. When I saw this top last night I looked at my 2025 cruises and saw the "cover charge" on all restaurants. Now it's back to a la carte. Another NCL IT glitch? Noooo, surely not? 😮😁

It seems to me like ship crew were not aware they were two pax short. How that can be I have no idea! I say this because there apparently were no attempt to contact them or getting their documents ashore as NCL claim is what should happen. As for not checking uo on them once they were onboard, well, I don't feel that is an issue. As for saying this is a "poor us" story there must be a problem with reading comprehension or something with the person saying so.

Yes, the "different country" part makes it extra serious. I usually book Airline tickets that are partially changeable. I can change date and cities within the same country. Offen there is quite a large increase in price for full flexibility or refundable fare.

I'm pretty easy going and can accept a lot. But changing departure or arrival port without compensation, that's going too far! So yes, I think they have crossed a line!

This part there shouldn't be any confusion about: it's per person!

I can tell when/where NOT to go: I was in northern Norway in July last year and heard fellow passengers ask about Northern Lights... Hint: it needs to be dark. 😮 Alaska April we had some. I wasn't out cruising last week, but I live near Oslo and we had awesome auroras. I bet it would have been even better en route to Iceland!

I don't remember what number I stayed in, but I had a room very near the exit to the aft pool area and spice H2O on an Alaska cruise. My room was just maybe 20 meters or so from the exit to the area and I spent a lot of time there. Most days I was up early and watched the sunrise. I doubt a balcony would have given me a much better experience and it would have cost me so much more. Since have suffered from motion sickness for most of my life I was a little bit worried. No problems though. (I'm s solo traveller if that matters, but my room on Spirit was a family inside) Edit: I had a look at the deck plan and I would not hesitate booking any of those rooms you ask about!

I'm currently on Star on a 14 day cruise. I have read numerous posts here saying it's 2 free bags (Platinum) on a 2-week cruise. To be sure I asked the Cruise Next person and she was very adamant: One bag per cruise. No matter how long! I don't really need two, so no big deal, but a little bit interested in your thoughts on this. I have another two week cruise coming up later where there migh be a bigger need.

There was a promo not too long ago where they bumped you up early if you... honestly, can't remember what... Bought CN? Booked a cruise? I didn't take much notice since it wasn't anything I could take advantage of.