daffodiliaz

I recently sailed on the Pearl in Cabin 8052 which was one deck directly above a smoking area on Deck 7. Probably very close to the same on the Gem.

Are your edocs ready? Within the edocs there would be a hotel voucher to be presented at check-in. If it's not in the edocs I'd probably be concerned.

Also, I don't know if you have seen the posts here and there about what happens when 1000 Chinese passengers show up on the Epic. Ask those posters if they would consider booking a cruise on a megaship with 99% Chinese passengers every single week.

 

At the Latitudes party on a recent Pearl sailing the CD was talking about new ships and said if you don't speak Chinese then the Joy is probably not the best ship for you. Interesting sales approach. :)

Family just off the 5/29 sailing called the upsell desk and was able to upsell from a mini to a 2-bedroom for $500/pp. Not sure on the timing of the upsell for the $500/pp. The original offer 19 days before sailing was $750/pp for some sort of suite.

On the April 30 Pacific Coastal sailing bowling was $7/per person/per game including shoes. There were also 2-for-1 times listed in the Freestyle Dailies.

Just a note when walking up the street to the Waterfront station, you may pass an entrance that says Waterfront station that looks like escalators going down. Dont go down this one! Its tempti g but go past it and turn left another block. Its a big brick building and the easiest way to the correct line. Walk in the main doors turn left to purchase ticket and trains are just past there That first entrace is to the train that goes east to west, you want south to north)

 

I'm glad you mentioned this. A few weeks ago I had planned to take that first entrance but there was a very nice police man/security person by that entrance who directed us around the corner to the brick building.

 

I agree with other posters. Train was super easy (but that was Thursday when there with only one ship in port so not tons of cruise passengers). There was a nice lady by the ticket vending machines too to help with ticket questions and point us to the left to the elevator down to the Sky Train.

I don't have a horse in this race but wouldn't this be more of a concierge request? And if so, could this be inquired about through a pre-cruise concierge?

We do have the car seat/stroller combo but it is really big and cumbersome even folded up and in a tiny balcony room thought it wouldn't fit so were trying to bring the umbrella stroller instead.

 

Recently on the Pearl we saw this big jogging type stroller that was always sitting against the wall next to elevators on a certain deck. I assume the passengers cabin was nearby. Trust thy fellow passengers. LOL

Guarantee staterooms could appear in categories other than IX, OX, BX, MX, so best to do a mock booking.

If my math is correct, this would mean that my Hubby and I could either book 1 cabin @ double occupancy -OR- 2 cabins @ single occupancy and pay the same total fare for either option.

 

It could actually be a better deal to book separate cabins depending on promos. For example, my DM and myself just completed a 5-day Pacific Coastal. We booked at a reduced single supplement (not zero). At the time we could pick 2 promos plus $100 OBC. We weren't interested in SDP or UBP so we chose the shore excursion credit and internet. Those three items (including the OBC) would've been split between the two of us had we shared a cabin, which we never intended on doing for this cruise. By booking separate cabins we each got the full promos.

Is Super Shuttle easy to locate at LAX (specifically Terminal 6)? I've never been to LAX. Flying in this Saturday. I've been to a couple airports where it was a pain to locate shuttles. Thanks!

Give NCL a call and ask for an "Amenity Confirmation" to be emailed to you. This will show all OBC, packages, and prepaid items. The NCL Mastercard OBC will be listed as "World Points $250 On-Board Credit".

This past September on the Star we were able to pay to upgrade within a week of departure and keep our original booking perks but on are sailing in a couple weeks I'm running into NCL being less flexible. On my most recent call to NCL earlier today I was told that I couldn't keep the perks because they're not offered within 30 days of sailing on the Pearl. I didn't press the issue because I didn't want to give up the original booking perks just to change balcony categories. I kind of got the feeling that they might have allowed the upgrade if I gave up the perks but I didn't go that far. I know they never had to allow it in the past but they did and it kept me coming back but now I'm not so sure for the future.

And what would happen if you arrived after your schedule time? Be made to wait until everyone else has boarded? Or be denied boarding? :eek:

I'd take a look at the deck plans and see if there are any cabins in the lowest category guarantee that you would want to avoid and if so book a higher guarantee category. If you want to guarantee yourself say a mid-ship cabin then book the guarantee in that category. I recently booked 2 BX guarantee cabins in the same phone call and the reservations were linked but one of us ended up with a BC cabin and the other with a BD cabin. We paid the same price so the price paid didn't impact the slightly higher category of the one cabin.

What is your disembarkation port?

You can try, but they probably won't.

I have a guarantee for 5/1 that I'm not happy with, and there was one other cabin open in the same category. They wouldn't move me, but said I could upgrade.

It also may depend on how much you paid and the current price.

But when you book guarantee its with the understanding that you could be assigned anywhere.

 

I have a guarantee for 4/30. The assigned cabin isn't terrible, but I asked nicely for a change to be closer to a travelling companion, and my PCC wasn't even willing to ask. Prices have dropped on higher categories and still no go. My old PCC seemed a little more willing to make an effort but not this current one. I also called the main 800 # and got a guy who said I could only upgrade if I paid additional, but not for a price drop. Oh well. There are so many vacant cabins left I may just ask onboard. It's not a huge deal though.

I'd go with a balcony if you can swing it, but I wouldn't pay the current balcony rate. Instead, book a cabin you could live with, and hope to upgrade later closer to sailing. We sailed the Baltic itinerary the first week in Sept 2015. We booked an oceanview we could live with at a rate could live with. 7 days before sailing we paid $120pp to upgrade to a balcony. Personally, I think it would be nice to at least have a window just to be able to look out as you're getting ready for your day. On the other hand, had the Star had studio cabins like the Getaway, that may have been another story. I may have done without the window or balcony for a cabin to myself.

We cruised that itinerary in 2013 and saw a few people taking luggage off in Victoria an ncan only assume they were disembarking. I just remember the log jam in the stairwells trying to get of the ship for that short port stop and those few people with their luggage.

Please let us know if you were able to book over the phone using OBC. I believe the excursion credit can be booked through a special #, but I wasn't able to book excursions before sailing last September using my OBC and I even spoke to someone at corporate who said excursions using OBC can only be booked on board because pre-booked excursions require a credit card.

We arrived in Copenhagen mid-afternoon after a long day of travelling from the western US. We had purchased the Copenhagen Card at the airport and Tivoli admission was included. We were too tired to think about exploring Copenhagen that day but it was too early for bed so we walked around Tivoli to get some fresh air and grabbed a bite to eat from a kiosk there. We mainly took pictures at Tivoli.

The solo cruiser discount appears on a couple Pacific Coastal cruises this spring when one passenger is entered. Tempting...

Chocolate martini! Yum! I don't think they are on the martini menus but I've never had a problem ordering one.

The points expire 5 years after they are earned. The BofA website will show an expiration schedule.

My first thought was is the Getaway necessary on a port-intensive itinerary like the the Baltic route, but now I'm thinking a ship with studio cabins would've been so nice. Two years too late for my use. :mad: