kismetique

We took this train many years ago. I remember waiting quite some time at the little station for the train to arrive and the ride was wonderful. We arrived at the airport at 11pm, as the sun was barely setting. The Anchorage airport was the busiest airport I've ever seen at 2am when our flight left. The airport security was training their drug dogs and they kept circling around us and we couldn't decide if they thought we were mules or what. It was disconcerting. We got on the flight as the sun was already coming back up at 2am. The flight had many long term hikers that hadn't bathed in a month. Unfortunately I sat next to one and he was so wiggly trying to sleep, I thought about offering him a $100 if he could be still for 30 min!! The stewardess came through and shut all the window shades as the sun was extremely bright and most everyone was trying to sleep. Weirdly, I have fond memories of this trip home! Enjoy your train ride!

My cruise next month is in a 2 bedroom suite with 2 mini-suites booked next door. This cruise I'm trying to upgrade is in November. I was kicking myself that my cruise wasn't booked when I finally got through to him, I honestly think he would have tried to put me in the aft balcony - maybe he liked my voice or had a drink at dinner and was feeling generous! 🤣 I quizzed him heavily about being able to buy a OOV and he kept saying YES! Yes, yes! I can upgrade that to the highest balcony. Perhaps not, but that's what he said. The guy from NCL that booked the cruise also agreed with him and suggested I book the OOV. I've got plenty of time to switch things around and the cruise is not anywhere near sold out. The only reason I looked at this cruise was the sale price and hubby was looking over my shoulder and said...yes, please! Jeeze, I care nothing about Egypt, but....I'm tacking on my dream train ride through Italy to get to Istanbul...the long way! LOL So, I said sure! We don't drink and we are perfectly fine with main dining room and even an inside. But - for 19 days, a balcony would be nice if I can swing it...if not...no biggy. For the price difference, I'd take an inside over an OV any day. When I settle on a cabin, I'll report my score - or failure. 😉 Thanks!

At the time I called, I had not booked the cruise yet (I have now based on the employees suggestions). Here's what he told me... He was very nice and helpful. He said to book the lowest level OV...I said, even the Obstructed OV? Yes, absolutely he said. He said to call back after I booked and see if they could "slip" me in to an Aft Balcony, but definitely not the Club Balcony Suite. I had the cruise on hold, but needed to make changes to the cabin and take off air, so I called to book it. He assigned the cabin and said, you don't care right, since you plan to upgrade? Correct. He then said there are plenty of balconies left, so you might wait to upgrade to see if the OOV drops in price. Get your drop, then upgrade. I like to have things settled, but I have an elderly mother in very bad health and don't want to lose my 30k points if I have to cancel. These suggestions are just what I was told... Who knows if it's the same when I call back. I was just surprised when the first guy said he could try and slip me into the Aft Balcony from a OOV!!! He sounded very sincere. Not sure if he can see what other cruises I have booked or if it even matters, but I have a suite and 2 mini-suites booked next month for a Jewel cruise. Thanks to everyone for your input!

I've not actually booked it yet, so perhaps I should call Rewards and do as you did. "What do I have to book to get xyz." The price differences in these categories are quite a bit at this point. Thanks!

Well, I wouldn't cancel any of the bookings since my bid would only include 3 ppl. I've read where others can sleep in your cabin even if they aren't assigned to it. If that was not the case, I'm sure there would be many "infractions" going on!🤣 I decided against bidding anyway. I found another cruise that I'd much prefer to spend my money on, so I'll just cruise twice this year instead!

Newbie question. I noticed I have 30,000 points on my MC and I'm looking at booking a 19 day Egypt cruise on Dawn for November this year. I was going to book an inside and just deal with it, but with the points and the possibility of a balcony, I'm looking at booking an OV to upgrade. Do I have to book the best available OV which is the Family OV in order to get an Aft Facing Balcony which is the best available - or do I have no chance of getting an aft balcony? I honestly think there is only 1 left. If I can't get a really good balcony, I'd rather just stay in my inside and save the money. This will be a month long trip for us and I'd splurge for the aft balcony but I'm not really interested in paying extra for the OV. What should my strategy be for this and should I do the upgrade online or call? Thanks for any help or suggestions!

This is silly. So, as long as they all sleep in our cabin we can get the perks? I guess I could line them all up on the floor! 🤣 I've had really good luck in the past with giving them envelopes on the first day marked 1 of 2 with a very nice tip inside. They know there is another envelope at the end of the cruise with likely a matching dollar figure inside. The ONLY perk I would like for everyone is Tender Tickets. That's it. The rest is inconsequential to us and only that one because we are in port for such a short time in Cabo, if we spend 2 hours getting off the ship, we might as well stay on! I'd love for everyone to be able to eat at Cagney's but I'm happy to pay to bring breakfast to the room for the extras and we only have 2 sea days and the young people will likely be in the Casino anyway. The rest of the days we will be off the ship at Lunch, so we wouldn't partake anyway. And I could give a flip about specialty dining. I'm perfectly happy with the Main Dining Room myself. My son, who hasn't cruised in years was actually looking forward to the dining - as he thought it was still at specific times with the same server. He was actually disappointed when I told him about the new dining rules!!!! I'll report back here after our cruise and let everyone know if my plan worked or failed miserably! It's a crap shoot at this point, I know.

After doing more reading I see where the bidding process has eliminated the possibility of folding 3 rooms into 1. You'd think they would want the other 2 rooms to put back into inventory to make even MORE money by re-selling them. I would just upgrade mine and then the other 2 rooms would go unused if everyone slept in the GV - and why wouldn't they???? The extra people wouldn't get the perks, which that's fine, they don't get them now either being in mini-suites. I think I let my emotions get the best of me thinking how great it would be if all 8 of us could be together with the same perks. I see now, that is a VERY low possibility. 😊 I think I'll throw in a bid and know I won't get it but that way I can dream each night of how wonderful it could be since there IS at least a .0000000001% chance of it happening.🤣 Thanks!!!

Not sure if I should start a new thread, but I have an upgrade question. I have booked 3 cabins 50 days till sail date - 2bedroom suite with a connecting mini-suite and the next door mini-suite with a total of 8 passengers. I got an email today with upgrade offers. I'd like to bid on the 3 bedroom Garden Villa just for sh*ts and giggles because the cruise shows sold out. I would want to fold all 3 of the rooms above into the Garden Villa for the upgrade. Is this permissible and should I just call and tell them this is a desire and how much I'm willing to pay to upgrade? If I bid, on the Garden Villa - is it per person - I have 3 booked in the 2 bedroom suite, so would my bid be X3, or X2? Thanks for any insight!

The only perk I would like to extend to the other members of my party are tender tickets for our 1 tender port. Really, the rest of it, I don't care and don't even really need for myself. Embarkation is not an issue - I don't care when they get on as opposed to when we do. Debarkation - we're flying on Norwegian's flights, so hopefully they see the need to get us all off quickly, least we miss our flights (I've heard NCL won't help you out in this case - but then I'm so NOT a nice person when I feel I've been wronged). The two without a flight, live in the destination port, so no problems there. I'm perfectly fine to pay for breakfast room service. I do not want anything we haven't paid for, that's not fair to others and could ruin future perks and would even be willing to pay for the extra tender tickets, but I know that's not how it works. Here's my plan and I'll report after the cruise if it works. We are celebrating 3 of the cruisers birthday's. My 2 children were born on the same day 3 years apart and my son's wife was born 3 days prior to their birthday. Hence, the reason I'm paying for the whole trip - birthday presents. I plan to write a quippy little poem and politely ask if I can have extra tender tickets, but being clear that I do not expect it if they are unable to accommodate the extras. I plan to hand the cute poem with Envelope 1 of 2 on embarkation day to each the butler and the concierge. Perhaps knowing they will be well compensated with an additional envelope at debarkation for anything they decide to give us extra will help....maybe - maybe not. Can't hurt to ask and I don't mind tipping - we always tip well anyway.

We did think about this, but the 3rd cabin is not true family. He's like my adopted son. The 2 families that would be in this suite together do not wish to be in a suite together! 🤣 They are best friends, but they both have small children that would create chaos the entire trip. They say they are happy with the arrangements as is and as per usual - it's likely only me having issues and worrying about how things will play out. I do appreciate your input and I have absolutely no problem paying for any room charges associated with them getting extra perks - like room service breakfast. Thank you for confirming some information I had already wondered about!

Great idea! I plan to do just that!

Excellent suggestion! I had planned to speak with him and ask what the NCL policy was since they connect the 2 rooms - obviously they have rules regarding the issue. I've tried every which way to wiggle out of going ashore on port days to stay aboard and enjoy the food - but my children won't hear of it! LOL We've been to all these ports many times, we could care less about getting off. I figured most will sleep late unless we get off the ship early in port so breakfast won't really be an issue. And they all may be in the casino on sea days and so lunch might be on our own anyway. I have 3 in my suite - myself, my husband and my daughter. Would I be questioned if I were to take a different 3rd person than my daughter? I certainly don't want to break any rules - it just ruins it for others.

Oh, trust me - it will be very hard for me to not partake of the food perk! I love food as well! But....alas, I love my children more...most times.🤣

Thank you for your input - those a good suggestions! My main reason for posting the question, since I'm well aware of what I get and don't get / paid for and didn't pay for - was just exactly like your suggestions. I know I cannot be the only person to be in this situation. I wonder why NCL allows a suite to connect to a mini-suite and not think that those services from the butler might spill over from time to time. I certainly don't expect a full 8 people to be serviced when there are only 3 in my suite. But my children are split - my daughter is with us since she's not married and my son/DIL/Grand is in the mini-suite and a very close family friend (who is like my adopted son) is in the other mini-suite. I'm not going to create hard feelings within my children because one gets the perks and the others don't. I paid for the whole cruise and it's not like either are getting a better deal financially. That's something my mother in law would do - and I'm definitely NOT her! 🤣 Thank to all for the suggestions - I'm sure we will figure it out - likely won't even be a problem, I'm just trying to be ready in case it becomes an issue.

It might be foolish, but I'm not telling over half my own family to go eat at the buffet while I go eat at a restaurant. I'll risk being foolish over being a snob any day. We don't do ship sponsored shore excursions.....ever, but thanks for your input!

We've not cruised in many years, used to make a difference. Good to know no one cares anymore! LOL

Thank you! Excellent suggestion! We're all split up into marriages. My children are all adults with their own children. Them getting on the ship alone is perfectly fine and if there are constraints such as you describe that will be no problem. Especially since I can now warn ahead of time. I just didn't want someone to come gather us up and in a way "snub" the minisuite passengers. My granddaughter might have an issue that I leave her with her parents, but she'll get over it! (Yes, I spoil her rotten). We've stayed in a 2 bedroom family suite before (years ago) and didn't get ANY of these perks, besides a butler, so I had no idea how check in would go. Getting off the ship, I couldn't care less about. We've waited a long time for tender before, so that was my only concern, but my husband and I are thinking we might not even get off the ship, we've been to all the ports before. Thank you for your suggestions, they will help navigate this situation better!

Thanks, I'll definitely speak with the concierge/ butler. Again, I'm just trying to figure out options in case it's an issue. The ship is at capacity. I checked on upgrading to the 1 remaining Haven cabin again, but it's still cost prohibitive. Thanks for the suggestions!

I did look at that and while it would take care of some issues, doesn't help with breakfast and lunch at Cagney's. I'm not even really sure any of this is an issue, just trying to head problems off at the pass. Or have possible solutions if problems arise. I've read several posts that the priority boarding hasn't been worth it recently. Thank you for the suggestion!

I booked a family cruise for 8 with 3 of us with Gold level in a 2 bedroom family suite on the Jewel. 11518. I put 3 more of us the adjacent room 11520, a mini suite and 2 more In the next room 11522, a non- connecting mini suite. I understand that the mini suites don't get the perks that the family suite does, how do families handle this? 1. Priority boarding 2. Breakfast/ Lunch at Cagney's 3. Priority tender It's like choosing which child gets to be special for the day! I paid for all the rooms, can I pay to get perks added to these rooms? I would have booked the Haven for us all, but the price was exorbitant! Like $10k more than the 3 rooms. Ideas or suggestions how to handle this or just none of us partake in the perks? Thanks!