sparkmaster

Related to OP's question:

My next princess cruise is going to be the first with the plus/premier/whathaveyou packages. I already prepurchased the plus package, and will have a buttload of OBC to use. I was thinking of upgrading on the ship if that's a possibility. Do they offer a premier package upgrade from plus on embarkation day? Any idea of cost?

I will be joining you, physically.

I'll just look for the guy taking a lot of pictures.

I mean it's a value proposition for you to consider. If you're happy with a studio cabin and unwilling to potentially pay x dollars for an upgrade to an Oceanview or balcony then that's fine. If you'd like to upgrade then you are going to pay for the upgrade based on double occupancy. 

You can get some decent deals though. I booked a studio on that Prima sailing coming up and upgraded to a balcony for $250. Assuming the list price doesn't change it saved me about $500 compares to booking a balcony directly. To me that was worth it. To you it might not. 

Haven bidding is really a crapshoot one way or another. You could have a max bid one one voyage and a minimum on another and get one, both, or none. Depends a lot on the occupancy, which itself is derived from the ship, voyage, and time of year. 

It can also be a bit of a double edge sword. I was on the Joy earlier this year in a paid solo haven room (really good price, too good to pass up). The ship was empty...except for the haven areas. The bar was so packed and rowdy I actually ended up going elsewhere as my main drinking hole. 

To me  the logic behind assigning upgrades when they do is a mystery. Revenue maximization has to be the highest priority, but that doesn't jive with upgrading folks (me!) who bid minimums with over a week to go until departure. I'd love to know the internal logic. 

Well, lightning has struck twice. 

Booked a balcony on 11/27 joy as a solo. Offered a minimum bid on  Haven categories sans 2 Bedroom and Owners Suite, and 100 bucks for a minisuite. Had bid in the past but just minimums since Haven was always way too expensive, especially for a single. Figured I had a decent shot at the minisuite considering availability. And I got a Haven Courtyard Penthouse. 

A few days later I saw the next week had good balcony deals too. Booked a back to back. Two days ago got the upgrade advantage email, and bid minimums. I took the plunge and minimum bid on the 2 bedroom too, because why not? On the off chance I got one it would probably be my only chance at getting in a 2 bedroom ever. Today I got the golden email. Got a 2 bedroom. 

So now I, as a solo, have two weeks in the Haven on a back to back. As a solo.  I'm a little in shock. I've never been in the Haven before so I have no real idea what to expect. I guess I'll find out.

tl;dr for others considering Joy sailings: Bid minimums, you never know what you could get. 

I got it, came into my spam box. 

I can't say no to free stuff.

So essentially you're pretty much getting an inside cabin inside of a larger suite. 

44 minutes ago, hamrag said:

And....???

Still digging up stuff, but broadly there are exemptions to US nondiscrimination law for public health reasons. 

43 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

This is a ridiculous policy. I understand travel restrictions on people who have actually BEEN to mainland China in the past 15-30 days, but people who simply hold a Chinese passport? That is nonsense. I feel so sorry for you, OP, and I hope you receive refunds for all of your travel expenses.

It's not ridiculous at all. Look at the pattern. Of 40,653 confirmed Coronavirus cases, 40,197 are in China. Of the rest, *all* of them are cases either of people who have been to China or those who have had close contact with those who have been to China. Of the 161 cases in Japan, the majority of them are because of the Diamond Princess petri dish anchored off their coast. Said Diamond Princess petri dish caused, unintentionally, by Chinese citizens carrying the Coronavirus onboard. NCL has a duty to its passengers to prevent a public health crisis, and I think the courts would agree with them. Passports can be modified, and many countries don't stamp on entry or exit (not sure if the PRC regularly stamps its own citizens' passports on entry and exit). As catastrophic and unfortunate as this is for people like OP, who have not visited China in ages, a ban on certain citizens from cruising is a reasonably way to prevent a Diamond Princess-esque public health disaster. 

Edit: For Japan, 135 out of 161 confirmed cases of Coronavirus originated on the Diamond Princess. 

1 minute ago, hamrag said:

 

You have been discriminated against, absolutely no doubt despite the clear statement on Coronavirus Procedures from NCL. If it were me, I would find an Attorney offering a 'no win, no fee' service and take them all the way!

Not all discrimination is illegal nor unwarranted. An example would be a refusal to issue drivers licenses in the US to people with certain disabilities (blindness, epilepsy, certain mental disabilities). Presumably there is a public health exemption either written into laws governing discrimination in the US or carved out by our court system. I'm actually researching this right now and will hopefully be back with a real answer.  

Hong Kong =/= Mainland China.

While the State Department has issued a level 4 travel advisory (Do not travel), Hong Kong is still level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution). Hong Kong has reported 15 potential cases, fewer than South Korea, Japan, or Thailand.

I'll roll with this. Personal preference obviously

1. Encore
2. Bliss
3. Getaway
4. Escape
5. Jade
6. Sun
7. Epic

Epic had some really good people on board but my gosh it looks like it's wearing a tophat and the interior was laid out by the same folks to designed Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris. 

Chiming in late, but I was able to use my plat cert at Onda on the TA. Surprisingly good.

Booze wise, it covers what most people would probably want. All the beers, probably about a dozen wines by the glass, and a pretty good selection of liquors. I know there is a bar menu floating around somewhere on this forum. 

Still waiting on my end too. 

NCL Escape, week after thanksgiving (11/30 - 12/7). 

$299 ($469 after Taxes/Port Charges) IX Sailaway Inside

$399 ($707.94 after Taxes/Port Charges/Gratuity) IF Inside w/ booze package.

Good deals if you have some flexibility. I booked, but I'm still looking for that Balcony price drop to upgrade. 

11 minutes ago, Victorious8 said:

 

I will do my best to explore all of the bars and try all of the drinks, it's the least I can do. In the name of research obviously. 

You. I like you.

Also, trying all 20 bars in one day may be hazardous to one's health. 

Echoing what fellow drunkards/NCL cruisers say; no one pays list price for the package. Everyone gets it via perk. You need to 100% roll with the beverage package. That drops the price from $120/day to $20/day.

As painful as it is for me to say, I have given up on Cagney's as well. My first experience with them in 2015 on the Getaway was fantastic, but the quality and service has been on a steady downward track since then. At this point I'd rather go to the main dining room. At least my food will be hot.

9 hours ago, AL3XCruise said:

I read this title and I can't help but think about Jerry and George making a pitch to NCL for a new itinerary. 

This is such an underrated post.

If I had a dollar for every thread about this that gets posted, I'd be able to sail in the Haven. 

I can partially answer this. Visibility in Talkeetna is arse right now. Depending on what happens with these fires it may be arse when you get there. There may be rain in the forecast in the immediate future but who knows. Also be advised the Parks Highway is partially closed due to fire behavior and there are multiple evacuations between Palmer and Talkeetna. I've heard of extreme delays trying to get up and down the state. 

As far as Seward, it is also bad. The Swan Lake fire decided to have an encore and stood up for the first time in a month a few days ago. That may be more of an issue depending on the weather. 

Air quality is going to blow for a while, especially on the Kenai. Good luck!

The hull art still makes me feel some type of way. 

Hello fellow Encore Maidener! I've never picked a bad studio myself. I tend to avoid the blank spaces on the deck plan if I can, but I've never had a bad one.

See you on the ship!

Just booked on NCL Encore's maiden voyage! No port stops, and it's cold af in November, but MAIDEN VOYAGE! There are only so many of those and I'm pretty dang excited to be a part of one! Especially at such a reasonable price,