crooz4fun

Totally agree.  Big disappointment!

On 10/27/2022 at 4:37 PM, Babr said:

I was thinking of medical coverage for doctors, treatments, medication or hospitalization. 
 

The medical evacuation covers hospital-to-hospital transfer if you need a higher level of care. It involves the approval of the participating doctors, the receiving hospital, and the insurance company.  You’ll be treated in country and returned home by commercial air once able to travel.

 

Your supplemental medical policy likely offers the same kind of coverage for evacuation. If you want the option to make the decision for yourself to return home for treatment, look into a membership in MedJet Assist.

My wife and I have an annual Trekkers Choice policy with GeoBlue.  You have to live in US and have primary coverage (who doesn't????). OurMedicare Advantage plan qualifies.It provides coverage when you are outside the US.  We pay under $300 for an annual plan that covers an unlimited number of trips, although no one trip can exceed 70 days. It is age dependent and costs more as you get older, and they won't insure over 95 years old.  It includes doctors, hospitals, medications and medical transportation (not with the MedJet flexibility).

A friend of ours fell in Paris and broke her wrist.  They called the toll free number and they told them where to go for care. She was taken care of and they never asked for any payment. Luckily, I've never had to use it.

On 2/14/2022 at 8:28 PM, LuAnn said:

We always board early as DH likes to have lunch on board. The only disadvantage to that is cabins that are cleaned and ready for passengers are released based on the type of cabin you have. So if you are in a standard balcony/window/inside you're the last to have access. At least that's they way it's been in the past...but everything has been changing so who knows? 

 We boarded on February 7th At 1 PM in embarkation time.  I don't know when your cruise is scheduled,  But we only had 591 passengers on board. Check in was the fastest ever. Including the covid testing we were on board In about 45 minutes. We had a window cabin and it was ready when we boarded.. Luggage arrived a few minutes later.

Saw something today that I've never seen before. While having lunch at Waves we were approached by an attendant and offered specialty restaurant dining reservations for tonight.

9 hours ago, catgirl411 said:

No,  but it isn’t crowded at all. My husband has been doing it daily. Social distancing is observed.

Thanks for the prompt response.

7 hours ago, Barrest24 said:

We are onboard for our first Oceania cruise. I am so happy we decided to not cancel. I feel very safe onboard and with only 462 onboard, the service has been great. Spent two beautiful days at the beach in St Barts and St Kitts. Even won at the first day of bingo. The food is amazing and it has been easy to get additional reservations at the specialties. The only mandatory testing will be for Puerto Rico and that will be on Day 8 of our 10 day cruise. They are very good about reminding us when we forget to put our mask back on. Any questions??

Quick question...if you are walking in the walking/jogging path, are masks in use?

15 hours ago, rbtan said:

As soon as you board go right to guest services & inquire about an upgrade. You'll likely not get it till the next day as they're getting all the pax set. It still should work in your favore, especially with the ship having far fewer pax.

11 hours ago, LHT28 said:

If you using  a TA  mention you are interested in an upsell or upgrade 

Be sure to check the regular price of any cabins offered in an upsell ...you do not want to pay the regular  price difference 

 

 

8 hours ago, Hawaiidan said:

I suppose.....but I prefer to use a  agent, well connected to O as a top producer and reap the rewards O gives to them for the business.     I find that when up-sell are offered they are given to favored agents first before opening to  general booking.

As a rule O does  not give up grades..... they give UP_SELL for $$$ ot L   

Thanks for the great advice.  I've reached out to my TA and if that doesn't work, I'll try once onboard.

10 hours ago, rbtan said:

We had a C-1 on Riviera for our Jan. 14 cruise. When we boarded we upgraded to a Concierge cabin for $280 ea. With the ships being so empty, I'd recommend trying an upgrade.

How did you go about getting the upgrade?  We're booked in a C on the Riviera and might want to try to get upgraded/upsold.

On 1/29/2022 at 7:54 AM, catgirl411 said:

Since the previous topics from on board cruisers were helpful to me, I thought I’d pass it on.

Thanks for doing this.  Booked on the Feb 7th, so this is of great interest.  Looking forward to following your trip.

14 hours ago, mhb1757 said:

Just curious how you came out with the airlines. Did you book air through Avalon or on your own. Which airline?  We are still weighing our options. 
BTW, I think your change to the April date in 2021 will give you better flower seeing options than the May date this year (unless it is a super bad winter next year).... so you scored well on this one!

This was the first of a three part trip and the last part is yet to be cancelled (but it's in France and most assuredly will).  The trip over was with Business with TAP Portugal and I think the cancellation fee is $145pp.  I cancelled online and am not sure whether they'll ding me for the fee or let it go.  The return trip was on Delta for miles and I haven't cancelled yet...hoping they'll cancel the flight before I do.  The most I could owe is $150pp to redeposit the miles.  Good luck with your changes.

On 3/12/2020 at 11:13 AM, seashell said:

My Rhine cruise is 5/2.  Avalon cancellation policy now includes all of April.  Have to wait longer to see what they do.  part of the family wants to go and part wants to cancel.  It took several years to get everyone on board to go on a trip together.  I am sad to see it not happen.  We are all getting older so who knows how many times we could go.  Guess I have to think positive and hope we can go next year.

They will allow you to change it to next year.  Just yesterday we changed our Tulip Time for 5/2 to one departing next year.  The only reason to wait is if you want to try to get a refund.

On 3/12/2020 at 12:10 PM, suntan said:

My Tulip Time cruise if 5/4.  We're all playing the waiting game.  Will the Netherlands cease all travel in and out of the country?  Will the airline cancel flights?  Will Avalon cancel the cruise?  I'm going on my cruise unless I hear one or all three have occurred.

We were booked on the Tulip Time Cruise 5/2 and just yesterday we changed it to the 4/7 cruise in 2021.  They rolled the credit over and since the sailing next year was earlier and less expensive we were able to upgrade the stateroom from A to P and add 2 precruise nights in Amsterdam for only $80.  I'm relieved to have the uncertainty removed.

16 minutes ago, shuguley said:

We do as well but it isn't looking likely at this time.  I've got some disappointed family members. ☹️

If you read the article linked unfortunately it looks like Canada won't even re-evaluate the situation until June 30th.  I would say June sailings are gone.

13 minutes ago, Eagle y said:

please do not put any more money into ncl because not only are they going to keep my money for the cruise cancellation because my cruise was scheduled 1 day before their peace of mind canc ellation policy came out ,but not only missing it by 1 day ,they are keeping my hotel and transfers ,my excursions,my extra money for internet ,my money toward bottles of water .my taxes .Plus they wrote back and said they will not make any exceptions for me or others .So there should be compromising but there not .if you write to the ceo now about that it is considered a state of emergency but he has an extended away e mail with customer service e mail .they are getting so many cancellations ,they are not answering now. so do not give them any more money

Not sure who at NCL you are talking to, but the policy states:

"This offer applies to all individual and group guests in non-chartered sailings who are currently booked through this timeframe."

Sounds to me like it doesn't matter when you booked...it applies to all who were booked at the time the policy came out.  JMO.

On 3/8/2020 at 5:39 PM, WESTEAST said:

It is interesting that with the magnitude of cruise lines currently (or since January) sailing the world that to date (other than the river cruise in Egypt) only the Princess line has had COVID-19 outbreaks. 

Also interesting to note that the Grand Princess which docked in Oakland had 21 confirmed cases and 19 of the 21 were crew members.  Princess has a problem!

On 2/28/2019 at 10:39 PM, Dori&Nemo said:

We're looking for Travelers to join us for round trip transportation to Rome (Vatican City) on June 4.

It's a turnover day so "O" tours are problematic.

Once in Rome you'll be on your own. This is likely best if you have been here before and have specific sites to visit and a grip on Rome Public Transportation.

We plan on a 7:30AM departure and return to Insignia nlt 5:30PM.  Travel time is ~1hr,30min each way so that provides about 7 hours there.

We're not hard over on the time frame, that's negotiable.

Contact: pgraef@gmail.com, or, leave a note on our door, 8005.

It's really easy to take the train into Rome from Civitavecchia and there's even a BIRG ticket costing €12, which covers travel to and from Rome, and also gives you unlimited use of buses, metro, and trams (streetcars) for the entire day in Rome.

obab

8 hours ago, Jancruz said:

Ive seen children in the Haven but always extremely well behaved ..I love the Haven and would not go on NCL any other way..

Jancruz1

I totally agree.  We hardly saw any kids on our sailing, but then again, is was a crossing and that's typical for crossings.

We have also sailed in the Yacht Club on the MSC Seaside for a 7-day Eastern Caribbean.  The experience compares very favorably to the Haven.  

21 hours ago, Paulchili said:

Crooz4fun - how did the per diem price compare?

How many people in the 2 bedroom suite?

For our sailing we we're just my wife and I.  She used the second bedroom as a "dressing room".  I was originally looking at a crossing on the Riviera from NY to London.

We had the Ultimate Beverage Package per person, 250 Free Internet minutes of WiFi per person, 120 minutes phone call credit per stateroom if call from suite telephone, US$ 50 shore excursion credits per person per each port of call (a total of US$ 100 shore excursions credits per stateroom per each port of call), 4 Specialty Dining Meals, US$ 150 per person shipboard credits (a total of US$ 300 shipboard credits per stateroom plus Chocolate Covered Strawberries and a Bottle of Wine per suite plus NCL.  Plus our TA took care of the gratuities.   The all in price (including the gratuities for the drink and specialty dining packages) was  $8,407 for the 15 night sailing for both of us (about $280 pp night).  That was, at the time, the about the same as a balcony on the Riviera.

Definitely well worth it!

6 hours ago, shadow2252 said:

In everyone’s honest opinion what would be better... Concierge on Oceania or NCL Haven on Escape?   I am leaning towards Oceania as it a lot smaller ship...what is everyone’s take on this?   

I will probably be in the minority on this, but I would much prefer the Haven on the Escape.  We've sailed on Oceania many times and in fact our next cruise is on the Riviera. 

As a frame of reference, we were in a Penthouse Suite on the Marina sailing from Papeete to Lima.  We also did a TA in the Haven on the Epic.  We had a wonderful time on both.

The Haven is a world all it's own on the very large ships.  Small intimate cocktail lounge and restaurant with great service, very good food, although I would give the nod to Oceania for food. We had a pool with Jacuzzi's and a workout room just a few steps from our suite.  Never any crowds, in fact hardly any other people.  We had a 2 BR suite which was far better than the Penthouse we had on the Marina.  The passengers in the Haven are very different than what some posters have identified as NCL cruisers.  Fellow passengers in the Haven will be more comparable to Oceania passengers than to the NCL passengers described in the other posts.

The only time we left the Haven was for some specialty dining and the entertainment, which was a big plus for us.  The production shows were fantastic, the likes of which you won't see on Oceania.  The specialty dining was not as good as on Oceania, but very good. The biggest difference we found in the food was that Oceania spends more and food and you get more of the more expensive ingredients.  We did not see a lobster tail, although the shrimp cocktail in the Haven was better than any I've ever had on land or at sea.

It really depends on your priorities.  If food is important and entertainment is not, go with Oceania. For us, the superior entertainment more than made up for the difference in the food.
 

On 9/28/2019 at 4:30 PM, sidari said:

Would land based hotels supply the water ? Not sure they would in Europe. I guess it would help if MSC did have it but to expect it as a right I think is going too far.

I wouldn't expect it of a hotel because you can easily go to a local supermarket/7-11 and buy it.  Where can you buy distilled water on a cruise ship??????

Here's a link that explains it:

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Manage-Your-Booking/All-Inclusive-Packages.aspx

The website indicates that all inside cabins accommodate at least 3 people (some 4).  Given the size of the cabins, they're probably drop down from the ceiling or fold down from the wall.  We sailed in 6035 and it is HUGE and had a third bed that folds down from the wall.  5035 and 6535 are the same and I highly recommend getting them if you can.  Great cabins and a real bargain.

I'll add in my own question here. I was told that I can use 2 CruiseNext certificates on one booking if I book a balcony at least 6 months in advance. This is what I plan to do but I'm curious what happens if later I decide to downgrade to an Interior or OV? Has anyone had to do this? Did they refund one of your certificates or did you get to keep both of them on the booking?

I did exactly what you're referring to (originally booked a balcony...later downgraded to interior) and was expecting the second certificate to be redeposited. Lo and behold, when my TA made the change they allowed the entire deposit (both certificates) to be applied to the new booking. Not sure if this was a glitch in their system, nor am I sure it will ever happen again, but I'm past final payment, so it's a done deal for me.

 

Perhaps you did not read the fine print but the guarantee that is built into a Guarantee is that you WILL get a cabin on that voyage. Everything else is up to them.

I don't think this is entirely true. I believe you are guaranteed a cabin of the category you booked the GTD or better. If you have an oceanview GTD, you won't get an inside.

We live less than an hour away from both Port Everglades and Port of Miami, and every now and then it's nice not to have to travel half-way around the world to catch a cruise. But as someone else said, the itineraries can get pretty boring, especially since the cruise ports in the Caribbean are very much like our home.

What's more important to us is living less than an hour away from MIA and FLL. We have flown to more cruises than we've driven to.

That said, we have a wide choice of TA's and those are the ones we drive to most frequently.