buckeyefrank

We have two different shipboard credits. One is from NCL and the other is from our TA. The TA has stated that they have sent the shipboard credit to NCL weeks ago. NCL's credit is showing online. The TA credit is not showing. The TA shipboard credit is $250. We would like to use this credit for shore excursions or extra tips. Is it normal to not be able to see the TA credit in advance? Will we only see this credit onboard?

We just got off the Escape and had NCL OBC and TA OBC. The NCL OBC showed on our docs before we sailed and the TA did not. We got onboard and neither of them were applied to our account until the morning after we sailed. I'm assuming the onboard accountants need to manually post those credits to accounts.

sailing on the escape in July and was wondering if anyone had any infor about the free ncl Bermuda ferry from the pier to Hamilton....

😊

There is no free ferry from Royal Navy Dockyard to Hamilton. The free ferry is to St George. With that said, you can find the schedule listed in a thread on the Bermuda board. We just got back and it was running; however we did not take it. We took the gov't ferry for $4pp because we didn't want to wait an additional 45 minutes.

why do the onboard stores close when the ship is on port? because of taxes?

It's pretty much standard procedure. I"m sure part of it is tax related but it's mostly that the port of call wants the tourist revenue spent on the island instead of on the ship.

When we have traveled with friends, I have offered to give him $100 cash for $100 in promotional casino chips since I'm going to gamble anyway. It's possible that you might be able to find someone who would offer you the same deal. $150 of the OBC should be refundable (check it on your bill), so you have $300 to spend. After your specialty restaurant, you'll probably have a little over $200 to spend before you leave ship. Since it's "free" money....you could buy a couple of bottles of liquor on the ship and take it home (even if it's cheaper at home). How about a ship tour (around $95 a person)..check with guest services. Wine tastings/liquor tastings? internet package? I know money would be better, but sometimes you just have to spend it rather than leave it on the table when you leave.

 

good luck....

Thanks. We're not much of gamblers, don't do the spa and the shore excursions aren't that important where we're going. We'll end up having around $300 in NR OBC and $60 in R OBC from the travel agent. We will use about $120 of that on tips leaving us $240 or so. I will probably upgrade my drink package for $40 (it's a 4 day cruise), leaving me $200. Looks like a nice bottle of whisky for me and purfume or purse for the wife might be in order.

Thank you all for your responses. You have been most helpful.

My wife and I just booked a cruise and we are normally NCL and Carnvial cruisers so we are unfamiliar with the perks and rules that may apply. We selected the beverage package and $300 obc. My question is about the obc specifically. Is there any restrictions on what the OBC can be used for? I.E. can we use the obc to pay for our tips / services charges once on the ship? Just want to make sure there are no restrictions. It seems to make little sense to select the prepaid tips since the obc is more (at least in most cases).

Thansk

Did ya miss the guy with multiple weapons in the Vidio. :rolleyes:

The link was to an article, not a video (at least it didn't popup for me).

Todays new's Miami = https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/woman-says-armed-guard-banned-disney-cruise-25-weeks-pregnant-144913615.html

 

Armed guards with machine guns at Disney stop a pregnant lady.

OK, seriously. Nowhere in the article does it say that Armed Guards with "machine guns" stopped her. It said cruise line staff. Disney did not let her on because she didn't read the contract.

On a different note, everyone is assuming that a rifle is a "machine gun". I can almost guarantee you that any police you see in the US carrying a rifle is NOT a machine gun. The lamestream media wants everyone to think that every AR-15 (or other rifle for that matter) is a fully-automatic machine gun. They are not. An AR-15 has the same fire rate as a standard handgun.... one trigger pull, one bullet. I don't believe police officers are legally allowed to carry automatic weapons in the US. In other countries and ports, they very well may have automatic weapons. Either way, I feel much safer with them around.

We are booked on the Escape in a couple of weeks and we have another family traveling with us. Neither family has the dining package but we would like to book a couple of specialty restaurants. If we book through the NCL website, we are being prompted to pay for each reservation. The last time we were on the Escape, we had a free dining package and were not charged ahead of time. The problem is that we have all prepaid our tips and we have some OBC that we plan to use for the dinners. If I purchase a 2 dinner meal plan, would I be able to complete my reservations without paying upfront (other than the plan)?

Thanks

The ship is built to handle 5,074 passengers. Any business is going to try to fill as many of those spots as it can with paying customers. If they book 5,075 the Coast Guard would stop them from leaving - lack of emergency space.

Actually the 5,074 passengers is based on double occupancy for each room. There are 2,537 rooms available. The actual number of passengers can be significantly more, especially during spring break and the summer. At no point though, can there be more people onboard than the lifeboats can safely handle.

Spring break is a pack mentality which NCL fosters by letting these kids and I say kids drink themselves into a coma.

I'm sorry you had a bad time on the cruise but these are not "kids". They are over 21 unless they had parents along who signed allowing them to drink beer and wine, in which case they are over 18. I think the definition of "kid" has changed 6 times in the last 2 months. Teenagers are "kids" and don't know that they shouldn't eat laundry detergent..... the next week, teens are not "kids" and are old enough to legislate gun control...... now adults over 21 are "kids" because they consume alcohol....... I'm confused.

You may also want to get a notarized statement from their parents authorizing you to make any and all decisions related to medical care while on vacation.

I'm thinking of taking The Sun flying from DFW. Do I fly into Port Canaveral or Orlando?

Port Canaveral does not have a commercial airport. Most people fly into Orlando, but Melbourne and Daytona Beach are both options as well.

The answer to the Bermuda question is: NO. No tax charged while docked in Bermuda.

That's what I thought. Thank you very much for your response.

We were charged on the Escape a couple years ago out of Miami and fully expect to be charged in NY next year on the same ship going to Bermuda.

Does anyone know if when the ship is docked in Bermuda if sales tax is charged?

Thanks

I have seen several posts in this thread and many others saying they use the hand sanitizers on the ship and bring antibacterial wipes, spray, etc. Remember those will not protect you in any way from the Norovirus (or any other virus). They are all anti-bacterial, not anti-viral. I personally believe the cruise ship pushing the use of the hand sanitizers has a tendency to lull people into a false sense of security.

The best way to reduce your risk is to use common sense hygiene primarily by washing your hands frequently, not touching your mouth or eyes with your hands, etc. As a matter of fact, when we go to the buffet, I get my food, place it on our table, then I go wash my hands. I don't want to pick up a hamburger or hot dog with my hands after touching those gross tongs.

I would check out the Jacksonville Plaza Hotel. It's a smallish room but we have had great luck staying there twice. The rate is approximately $80 a night. Right down the road is a shopping center with a Walmart and lots of restaurants. I don't know if they still do, but they used to allow you to park your vehicle there for the entire cruise at no charge. They offer a shuttle service and the port is only about 10 minutes away.

I have an International pkg with ATT. I found out the hard way, international does not apply to "Cellular at Sea" coverage. Ie, International is not international. $900 bill waiting for me when I got home. Turn off all connections and put your phone in "Airplane Mode". And just use at Starbucks joints in the ports. That's enough.

 

 

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International calling actually gives you international calling using AT&T cell towers. The same holds true for Verizon, Sprint, etc. The cell tower on the ship is not AT&T, VZW or any other 'standard' carrier. The company that owns the cell site is Cellular At Sea. Without an agreement between your cell phone carrier and CAS (such as the VZW / CAS agreement), you unfortunately were stuck paying the charges for using CAS.

We were also on this sailing and had a fantastic time. I was thinking of doing a full review but you beat me to the punch (and probably much better also).

I will still post a review but I won't include pictures since you've done a wonderful job so far. I can't wait for the rest of your review.

Since 5/7 is the first sailing at 7pm, nobody really knows. It would be hard for me to believe that parking would completely fill up. While I've not been to Miami yet, I've never seen a cruise parking lot filled up.

FYI, the Heat are playing at 5pm and will likely cause some traffic headaches going to the port.

and Carnival's party reputation' date=' although we would on a 7 night cruise which is supposed to be less wild. We will be 53, no kids on this trip, and we don't gamble, and don't drink much, although we aren't going to be going to bed at 10 or anything.

What is also turning me away from NCL is all the talk on the boards about "nickel and diming" and things that cost money now that didn't before (i.e. room service).?[/quote']

 

I have been on four carnival cruises ranging from 5 to 8 days. While I have not been on NCL recently, my daughter was on one last year. Don't let the Carnival party reputation steer you away from them. In my experience it is no different than any other cruise line. The reputation is WAY overblown.

 

I really think the differences between cruise lines are minor compared to what they have in common. I personally would go with the Carnival cruise, simply because I do not like the Western ports of call. I like the Eastern much better.

 

At the end of the day, it comes down to your preference. Either will give you a nice vacation at a reasonable price.

Good morning,

We will be sailing on the Escape in a couple weeks. We have only been on one NCL ship and that was the Majesty quite a few years ago. If there is a house drink from one of the specialty restaurants that I enjoy (example the signature cocktail from Cagneys), can I get it from the bar at any time or is that only available to current customers of Cagneys?

Just wondering if anyone has sailed at this time. What time is the muster drill? Are dinner venues open before sailng or open later than usual?

I can just envision thousands of people trying to get dinner after sailing and every venue packed. I have cruised over 30 times and never set sail this late so any experience with this would be appreciated.

The 7pm departure starts with the May 7 sailing, which I will be on. NCL CS said muster time was really up to the ship. I would have to assume a 4-4:30 muster and another in the morning for those arriving later.

Hey all! We are heading to Freeport in April and I'm curious as to which beach you all feel like is the best. I've done some research and it seems like Taino Beach and Junkanoo Beach are the two I've read most about. We are just looking to have a lazy/relaxing day. We don't necessarily need access to facilities as we can come ready to swim' date=' but restaurants and a restroom would be nice.

 

If you have pictures that would be even better! Thanks for any help you can offer![/quote']

 

My vote would be for Gold Rock Beach. Especially if you are there at low tide. A few of the Corona beer commercials were filmed there.

We did the BCH a few years ago. While the hotel, resort and beach area were nice, we didn't like that it was actually in the harbor instead of on the oceanside.