Baseball fan

I bought a new roll aboard suitcase due to the revised sizing. Many years ago I worked for a large carrier and the dimensions were 23x13x9. I read about the change when frequent travelers started to get charged (and they had been traveling for years with the same bag). If ordering online, read the sizing carefully!

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Switch TAs. I have cruised solo, and am doing it again next year, and have only paid taxes for one.

Try booking it on NCL website. I've found them to be the most expensive.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I was just in London in May and agonized over hotels. I was staying with my parents and 3-person rooms were not just as easy to come by. I ended up staying at the Villa Kensington and I really liked it ... the room was clean (and included breakfast with our rate), it was in a quiet and safe neighborhood, and was about a block from restaurants, a tube station, and hop-on-hop-off busses drop point.

 

If you stay where the action is, you are probably going to pay dearly for it.

Glad to hear you liked this hotel. I will be traveling solo next year and had this hotel on my list of possibilities due to its location and on the piccadilly line from Heathrow.

If it its similar to my iPhone, then in settings turn "data off" (or "data off while roaming"). Leave voice "on while roaming". The voice functions lets you send and receive texts (SMS only) while at sea. If you get calls that you don't wish to pay for, just don't answer them or check voice mail. Otherwise, as mentioned, it's about $2.50 a minute for calls.

Check with your carrier on the issue of unaswered calls while the phone is on. I was told by my provider (AT&T) that if the phone was on and I let a call go to voicemail, I would pay for that call (and the time of the message). So if they left a message for 3 minutes, I would still pay $2.50 per minute.

Dena

My husband just turned 49 1/2 so he is just about to join. However, when i tried to price out a cruise out online, it showed the AARP price was more than the Latitudes price and by a few hundred dollars.

 

So if you are a member then just tell your PCC and they will see which is the best discounted rate for you

I had the same issue on my cruise booked for next year. In this case, it wasn't a better price.

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

Mine is up about $80 which would give me an extra $80 in ship board credit. Is this one of their best offers? Not sure if it worth rebooking. My cruise is a year away. Thoughts?

Thanks

Dena

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Looks like my cruise went up a bit but I'd still come out $100 ahead. Will check it out tomorrow. Thanks for the heads up!

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

I sailed last year solo (on another line). I have traveled solo (on land tours) but this was my first solo cruise. I got the cabin I wanted in case I wanted time to myself. I stocked up the ipad with movies and the e-reader with books.

They weren't really needed. I met some great people at the sailaway and didn't have much alone time the entire cruise.

I love traveling solo. You can do as much or as little as you want on the ship and on shore.

I already booked an NCL cruise solo for late next year. From what I've read, NCL does a lot for solo travelers.

Enjoy your cruise.

I am looking at a TA next year on NCL. I know celebrity and RCCL use choice air which has good one way fares. Does NCL have a site to book airfare? I looked on their website and it looks like I can request air but didn't seem like I could pick my flights. What have others done?

Thanks

Dena

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I never understood why people bother to check the price after final payment. You know darn well you are not entitled to a refund, or anything. Why do you even check??

I watch it for upgrade opportunities. I've gone from a balcony to a suite on RCCL just by watching prices. And other times the prices drop but they are for "new bookings only". But I know I won't get money back but I would always be interested in a better cabin.

Seems like pretty much all lines have the same rules regarding price drops after final payment.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Does Princess currently give OBC for price drops after fianl payment? If so, wow, I thought, except for Carnival early saver (strings attached), the cruise lines had stopped doing. Or are you just generally longing for your loyalty benefits of another line. Loyalty benefits are designed to do that, so no surprise if that's it.

No, Princess doesn't give money back (or an OBC). I asked on my cruise earlier this year. Like the majority of other lines, you can upgrade.

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

Thanks for the replies. It makes sense.

Dena

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I am looking at a cruise in 2015. There is a current promotion but I am hoping something better comes up. The prices are really good for cruising solo so I want to book soon.

My question is, are most promotions offered by NCL for new bookings only? Meaning they won't allow you to cancel and rebook (even before final payment). Other lines I've been on have their promos for new bookings only.

I realize If I rebook I would be at a new fare (likely).

Thanks

Dena

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I was looking into AT&T info, use on NCL. Someone listed that you will get charged $1 per incoming call and $1 per voicemail, even if you do not answer or check the VM. That does not seem correct. What if you leave the phone off entirely while on the ship, then just check VM and make any callbacks when off the ship in port. We are doing Alaska cruise next week, so almost all ports are in the US. Except Vancouver at the end of the cruise.

If the phone is off, you do not pay for the call.

Only if it is on, whether you answer it or let it go to voicemail. Then the cost is the same as if you called someone or answered the phone.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I have AT&T. I shut off data roaming but I can use it when I find free wifi. Data charges are expensive. You pay the minute it starts searching for your incoming mail, etc.

I do generally buy the international plan when traveling so I get a discount on the per minute cost of a call. I tend to use my phones for emergencies only when traveling but I don't leave it on all of the time. I am not sure if this changed, but you will pay for an incoming call also when your phone is on....and if you don't answer it, you will pay for the message they leave (also when the phone is on). The charge is the same as an outgoing call.

Dena

The activities all depend on the cruise director. On my transatlantic a couple of years ago, there were many trivia contests, even a progressive trivia where teams stayed the same and the wins were cumulative. That was a lot of fun. We had craft classes and dance classes and there were movies shown in Dazzles.

 

 

 

I love sea days, so a transatlantic cruise is my kind of thing!

Thanks for the information. I loved the TA on Celebrity last year but am willing to try another line. I too love the sea days but they sure went by quickly😢.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Hi - As a frequent traveler (land tours and cruises), it has been a few years since I was on NCL Sun. My last cruises were the RCCL Splendour of the Seas and Celebrity Equinox. I like both lines for various reasons. One thing that kept me from NCL is their smoking policy. With the recent announcement of the changes to their policy, I am looking into sailing with them again.

I am looking at a Transatlantic next year. But I have a few questions:

What is the food like on NCL? Compared to RCCL and Celebrity?

How much is coffee (ie lattes)? I know they don't have a card and it isn't part of any drink package.

They only serve Pepsi products and I am not a fan. Can I bring soda on board?

What types of activities can I expect on the sea days (and there are many of them)?

Thanks in advance

Dena

I would get her a cabin closer to the elevators. Also, you can rent a wheelchair from Special Needs at Sea. My parents did it on another line and the Chair was delivered to their cabin and picked up from their cabin. My mom is in her late 70s and prefers to have a chair just in case. We used it a bit on our last cruise for getting around the ports.

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

Depends on the cruise. They did not offer it on my Transatlantic in November.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

It is just inside the theater.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

We stayed at the President hotel near the Russell Square tube stop. We took the train from Heathrow to Russell Sq (no train change). The location is great and the hotel is fine, but nothing fancy.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I haven't used their package. If you aren't sure you will use it, I believe the standard rate is about $2.50 a minute. If you will use it, the package price is good.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

My parents used Special Needs at Sea for a wheelchair. It was delivered to the ship and picked up after they got off. They left it in the cabin and their room steward took care of it. So much easier than traveling with your own.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I've never had RCCL give me an upgrade. I've had to ask. But I have kept an eye on the pricing and moved from a balcony to a GS after final payment. It pays to watch the prices as our GS pricing didn't even last a day.

Sent from my iPad using Forums