terri910

I still love my free laundry perk. Call me crazy but it makes me smile.

 

 

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I'm the same way! And now, finding out that it is per Platinum member and not per stateroom, I am ecstatic. We are booked on four B2B2B2B cruises for next year, and this will make it possible for me to keep my luggage to carryon and one suitcase!!

We have always declined various credit cards offered to us....but now we wish we'd accepted NCL's MC a couple of years ago!

I think we will accept it, now!

Dining reservations will open up to you at 90 days out form your voyage. If you are in a suite, they open up at 100 days out.

 

To complete the reservation in MyNCL, click on Explore and Plan, then Dining.

Thanks!

No as stated one bag per platinum guest.

Wow! We thought it was per stateroom, also!

Wish we had known!

You know, we were Platinum with Carnival before we started sailing more with NCL back in 2014...we turned Platinum with NCL last year, and so far, we think the Platinum perks with NCL outshine Carnival's by leaps and bounds!!!

Our next NCL cruise(s) are still over a year away.

hubby & I are Platinum, and we've been told that as Platinum Latitude members, we will get a complimentary dinner for two on each of the cruises we are booked on, at our choice of the ship's specialty restaurants, including Cagney's (yay! it wasn't included on our cruises last Fall).

We learned that you need to reserve as early as possible, since we didn't have much to choose from when we finally got on board.

But, never having reserved online before, I'm not sure how to do it.....or if maybe we are still too far out to have it available online.

I must say, I am experiencing some real sticker shock at the prices of hotels in, or even around Venice.

One way or another, we will get there, and make sure we have some time to see a bit of Venice the day before our cruise...but the pricing I am seeing is just.....

WOW!

Hi !

 

Better late than never! Thanks for your generous reply. We are Italian from Montreal and try to go to Italy every 2 years. I have never had the issue of luggages! So a quick update... The prices for B&B or hotels are ridiculous ...so I bit the bullet and tried Priceline[emoji33] and prayed! Lol!!! I won the bid for $200 Canadian for Hotel Amedeus on Lista di Spagna. Perfetto!

Now I could relax! Lol!

Thanks once again everybody for your replies.

 

 

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Was that winning bid for one night?

It usually is. When you enter a foreign country by air, you go through immigration control, and your passport is stamped. When you arrive by cruise ship, the ship gets cleared, but individual pax are not going through immigration control. (This can vary in some areas of the world, like some countries in the Med, where the ship is required to collect and hold everyone's passport for inspection and stamping.)

Is it different at airports than cruise ports, do you think??

Nope, you can no longer get additional pages. Must get new passport and ask for extra pages in it. That is the rule as of Jan 1, 2016.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/news/visa-pages-no-longer-issued.html

 

Prior to that it was $82 for 24 pages added.

Thanks! I will check out the link!

I wish I knew FOR SURE whether they will require all these pages....but the last thing we would want to have happen is to be traveling and get someone that says, "You don't have enough blank pages left to enter the country!"

We did a westbound full transit of the Panama Canal earlier this year, Miami to LA. We had no port calls in Panama, and our passport was not stamped there. Nor was it stamped in any of the foreign ports in which we actually had a port call (Cartagena, Colombia; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Corinto, Nicaragua; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, and five ports in Mexico).

 

Enjoy your travels!

 

BTW: if it's of any help to you, my detailed review (with photos) of our Panama Canal cruise is here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2456255

That sounds a lot like our PC itinerary....

We have been on cruise ships that gathered everyone's passports at the beginning of the cruise (immigration officers boarded the ships and went through all the passports before anyone ever got off the ship), and we've also been on cruises where we kept our passports the whole time....and I don't remember if passports got stamped or not!

It's awful that even though we have sailed twice on the Epic (in Fall of 2014 and 2016) I couldn't remember for sure about whether there was a slide. But, looking on the NCL website deck plans for the Epic, it does look to me like there is one!

https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/epic/deck-plans#full-images-modal

I just realized that even though our Passports do not expire until 2020, we are probably going to need to get new passports before we travel and cruise in the Fall of 2018.....we're running out of blank pages!!

So, with that in mind, here are my questions:

(1) If a cruise makes a stop at more than one port of call in a country, does that mean that the passport will be stamped at each port? I've never paid attention to this, but basically, if we arrive in Rome, they will stamp our passports. If we then take a train to Venice, I don't think they will stamp the passport, unless it is as we leave Italy on the cruise ship. But, after calling into ports in Croatia, Montenegro, and Greece, the cruise ship then calls into Naples and Civitavecchia. Will they need blank pages again for Naples AND blank pages again for Rome?? Same question for Mexico...we are also booked on a Miami-to-Los Angeles via Panama Canal cruise. It calls on either 2 or 3 ports in Mexico before ending up in California. Will Mexican authorities need a blank page for each port?

and

(2) Does Panama need to stamp our passports for the Canal transit, even though I don't see an actual call into a port where the ship will stop and let passengers off?

Sheesh! Reading on the State Department's website that this country needs a blank page, that country needs a blank page, and these countries need TWO blank pages....I'm worried that we'll have enough pages even with a new passport!

Mind you, that's a wonderful problem to have, and I realize that, but considering we live in Ecuador most of the time, we have to make specific plans to get a new passport at a US Consulate in Ecuador (we do not plan on being in the US long enough to wait for the new passport to be processed)....plus we have to go to the Ecuador government offices to get our residency visa transferred to the new passport.

Aaack. :D

Gracias!!

Thanks to everyone that has posted information and advice!! Every little bit helps us make the best decision!

I decided to switch up the search parameters for AirBnb for Venice, to 2 bedrooms and 1.5 baths....that has brought up at least a couple more options on the isle itself.

Has anyone used one of the water transportation "passes"? I don't really know the difference between vaporetto, water taxi and gondolas, yet! And I don't know if the passes I've heard of only cover one form of transport.

I think Mestre is as far away as i would want. On a pre cruise nite we stayed halfway between the airport and venice, which was fine for that particular trip, but i wouldnt want to be commuting like that every day.

If you're staying for 3 nites, there are plenty of reasonably priced apts in venice. Use tripadvisor or HomeAway.

(2 bathrooms might be harder to find)

Yeah, that 2nd bathroom certainly ups the expense. But 4 adults getting showered and read each morning, with just one bathroom....yikes. We did an AirBnb in Barcelona with 2 other couples....6 adults with 2 bathrooms was bad enough!

The AirBnb place on the mainland is around Mestre....

When you stayed halfway between the airport and Venice...how did you get to Venice? Is it only by water or is there a tram?

I would be inclined to spend $20-$40 a night more to stay on the isle of Venice itself, but this is going to be a huge vacation to begin with (we are talking 4 legs of back-to-back-to-back-to-back cruises for a total of something like 47 days). We look to squeeze absolutely every drop of value out of every nickel. *LOL*

We just need to know what all of our options are, with all the pros and cons. It's how we determine the most value for our money. It isn't always about the least expensive, it's about getting the experience we want at the best price, and that means weighing our priorities.

I'm right there with you regarding walking in Venice at night....so I would definitely need to know if there was a cut-off time for any transportation from Venice back to the mainland!!

I thought I read something about a tram from the mainland to the isle....I'm hoping to find out more about that, too!

Booked on a cruise from Venice to Rome at the end of October, 2018. We've never been to Venice before, and I am beginning my research on possible accommodations for a couple of nights before our cruise (which will depart on the last Sunday of October, so the stays would be on a Friday and Saturday night, which I assume might make a difference in pricing).

We are going to be at least two couples traveling together. We are open to either a basic, budget-minded hotel, or even an AirBnB place that has at least two bedrooms and two bathrooms. AirBnb is easy enough to find out about, and while I think that anything in the $100/couple/night is a good price, if there is something less expensive it would be even better! ;)

I was wondering if anyone has any knowledge about the pros and cons of staying outside of Venice itself. AirBnb did have a place that had a much better price, but I don't know anything about the area around Parco San Giuliano. Is it a decent area? Would getting to Venice each day from there be a huge pain in the behind?

I have heard that we can purchase vaporetto passes for, say, a two- or three-day period (not unlike BCN cards for unlimited travel in Barcelona, etc.). Would those work in getting us from the mainland to Venice as well as travel around the canals in Venice?

Thanks in advance for any advice previous visitors (and bargain hunters!) can give!

This past November, we were on the Jade doing the same basic itinerary. We enjoyed it!

Always love Cozumel. We didn't book any excursion there, either. We took a taxi to a little beach area just north of the town, but I'd have been just as happy spending the entire time in town. We had a really great lunch at one of the little restaurants there, and bought some t-shirt souvenirs.

We'd never been to Costa Maya before, and we took a taxi into the little town there, chose one of the many restaurants along their Malecon, that had lounge chairs, tables and umbrellas for their customers to use. We picked out the two lounge chairs right at water's edge, ordered a couple of beers and a nacho grande plate and chillaxed!

In Roatan, we had arranged a snorkel trip on a catamaran....but I'm sure one of the many taxis at the port would take you to a nice beach, if that's what you wanted.

Harvest Caye was nice....at least we didn't feel the least bit rushed, knowing we weren't doing any particular "excursion." We spent time in the pool, walked around and went through their butterfly aviary. All the shops seemed expensive as far as souvenirs went, but we enjoyed strolling around the entire area.

I just realized I said we did a TA on the NCL Star.....it was the NCL Jade!!

We are booked on the NCL Star TA in November, 2018.....

We haven't sailed on the Star, yet....but loved the Jade!!

CJDepew, what balcony challenges? We are booked in a midship balcony. How was the food and service in the main dining rooms if you used them? Is there enough open space? a lot of complaints were that it felt too closed in. Any tips? Thank you

 

Thank you everyone, I am one who can really have a good time regardless because I love cruising. There are just so many reviews that lean towards negative that I was becoming concerned.

Don't waste time worrying ahead of time....it may be your best cruise ever!

We always tell ourselves that even the things that don't seem great at the time, are all part of the adventure of travel! You will cruise, have fun, and be able to write your own review! Enjoy!

We love the Epic, were on here in November of last year for a TA. We have never done the Haven, but have done a balcony room every cruise, and love it. I think those who post the negative reviews are ones who just have to complain about something. Go and enjoy!

This is simply not true. Different people have different experiences.

My husband and I love to cruise. We are platinum with Carnival and NCL, and have also cruised RCL. We did a Trans-Atlantic cruise on the Epic. We always have a good time on cruises (hey, someone else is cooking, cleaning, making up my room....there is no way this can't be a good time), but that doesn't mean that some aren't better than others. And we were disappointed on that cruise on the Epic....the service in the Dining Room was not good, and the staff (deck staff and Customer Service desk staff) were generally unhelpful. Additionally, we didn't like the design of the cabin (I think people either love or hate that bathroom design). However, the food was good and we thought the entertainment was very good. And we did love all the sea days (if only the deck staff had actually enforced their lounge chair policy every day, rather than just the last two, after days and days of complaints and requests). We met a couple in the Manhattan dining room one evening. They were very loyal NCL cruisers, and they asked us how we would rate the cruise. We said probably a 3 out of a possible 10. They said, "You are being generous!" These were NCL loyalists and they said it was the worst service they'd ever experienced on NCL.

So, a year later, we booked another TA with NCL (on the Star) and noticed that the Epic had a 7-day Med cruise that ended up in Barcelona the same day our Star TA began, so we booked it and decided to give the Epic another chance. Obviously, the design of the cabins hadn't changed, so we didn't love that, but it certainly didn't ruin our cruise. What surprised us, however, was that service in the Dining Room hadn't seemed to improve one bit. The cruise was more port intensive than a TA, so the deck crew/lounge chair situation was a non-issue for us. When we arrived in Barcelona and switched over to the NCL Star, the first thing we noticed was how much more storage there was in the cabin....and we loved the bathroom configuration. Even though the weather was not the best on the crossing (we didn't get to go to Bermuda at all, too windy and no ships were allowed in or out), and everyone in our group took turns getting sick, we still enjoyed the ship much more. The service in both of the dining rooms was excellent. And the entertainment was also excellent.

Unless the Epic is ever the ONLY ship with the itinerary we are looking for, at the price we like, we have no plans to ever sail on it again.

But that doesn't mean that it won't be the perfect ship for someone else. As they say, your mileage may vary.

But it is simply wrong to assume that people who write negative reviews are folks who simply must complain about something.

It is all such a subjective thing.....there is no way to predict that your cruise will be like anyone else's, or that the things that others do not like won't be what you absolutely love.

Any cruise is a good cruise, IMO.

Having said that, my husband and I have sailed twice on the Epic and had pretty much the same experience both times, which was not the best for us. Unless it is the only ship with the price/itinerary we want, we have no plans to ever cruise on the Epic again.

Hi. I'm also on a sailing in the fall of 2018 and have the drink package and the 18 percent on it included. We're sailing on the Dawn on 10/26/18. I'm interested to find out what ship and sailing date you're on.

Well.....we have booked back to back to back to back cruises all on the NCL Star. :o Starting Oct. 28th (I think), we have an 8-day Adriatic beginning in Venice, ending up in Rome. Then a 14-day Trans-Atlantic from Rome to Miami. Then an 11-day southern Caribbean Miami back to Miami, and then a 14-day Panama Canal from Miami to Los Angeles.

Anybody interested in any of those, we still have cabins available and the perks for the group ARE awesome! (the other perk we chose is free gratuities, which is significant on these longer cruises!!)

We have arranged a group cruise for four upcoming NCL cruises (in the autumn of 2018)...as a group, we were able to choose two from a list of different perks, one of which was a free dink package. We have never chosen this perk before because we don't drink a lot and the 18% charged each day didn't make economic sense for us. But THIS time, even the 18% charge has been waived, so we decided that we would choose that as one of our perks.

The thing is....since we never have bothered with it before, we are not certain what, if any, restrictions there might be on it. Are there certain types of drinks that are NOT included in the drink package?

I read somewhere that the Tasting events are not included...which is fine, since as I said, it isn't like we are big drinkers. But are we restricted to beer and wine? Maybe only certain beers? How about mixed drinks?

Thanks in advance for any info!