EllieinNJ

In October 2013 NCL's price for an inside guarantee on POA was $1500 for our May 2014 date. I shopped around on several online TA sites and many had special rates of $1199 so I chose the one that gave me the most OBC. About a month before our cruise, the price dropped to $999 and then two weeks before to $899. I got an free upgrade to an obstructed oceanview.

Congratulations. We also had a free upgrade from an Inside Guarantee to an obstructed oceanview on our Hawaii trip. The cabin was between lifeboats so we had a good view anyway.

Wow! So enjoying your review/blog. We are doing this trip next September but they eliminated Boston and gave us an extra sea day. I was okay with this because I've been to Boston a few times, but after reading your report, I feel a little cheated because we are more port people than cruise people. At least we still have Bar Harbor and Newport. The two cruises after us are going to Portland instead of Newport. Looking forward to more. Ellie.

By both me and my husband taking out the NCL credit card, we were able to get $200 ($100 ea.) deducted from our final payment.

We are booked on the Gem for next September to Canada and New England but are considering the November cruise on the Gem to the Bahamas. Will the entertainment be exactly the same-same comedy shows-same jokes-same musical reviews or will anything be different? We love going to the shows but don't want to see the exact same thing as before.

Just a simply wonderful cruise.:D

we also booked through the TA you mentioned and was very happy with them. Just know if you plan on using any OBC for the excursions, you have to book them once you are on board the ship and the price is higher than the website price. If you book through the website, they will bill your credit card.

I just found another online TA who doesn't give much OBC ($25) but gives free standard trip insurance. Would you switch with that?

Since my original post, I googled reviews of this TA and out of 24 reviews on Yelp, 23 were bad so I will not book with them. I don't understand why we cannot mention any specific TA's on CC. I almost made a huge mistake. I know it's the rules but it would help us so much, especially if they had a block of rooms for a discounted price or a decent amount of OBC.

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Almost two months ago I booked my next cruise on a whim directly with NCL because they were offering some OBC which was expiring that day. Since then I have been checking almost daily with them and online TA's to see if any better offers were out there. Now the 60 days are almost up and the best I could do from an online TA was an additional $50 in OBC or a $75 rebate after the cruise. Has anyone ever received this rebate? Also, if I switch to a TA and NCL starts offering more money in OBC, can the TA get it for me? I thought I read in another post that NCL was having another sale at the end of this month.

American Greed is on CNBC on Saturday nights at 10pm, just after Suse Orman.

Looking at some mediterranean cruises for next year and saw some in Jan. and Feb. for some very good rates. How is the weather there at that time of year? Is it worth getting a balcony if it is too cold? Do you need to wear jackets on the outer decks and for excursions? Thanks in advance for any answers. Ellie

We wanted to do southern Italy and Greece in May 2015. Thought we'd do a drive from Naples to Sorrento to Amalfi coast. Then catch a cruise to Greece. After extensive research I found this MSC Musica cruise leaving from Bari, Italy only on June 29th. But it seems it also leaves from Venice the day before, on the 28th. Would this be two embarkations on the same cruise? Would we get the full 7 days back to Bari or would we have to disembark in Venice? Also, when I did a mock booking, the website said there were only two inside and one outside cabin. Does this itinerary get so booked up this early? Thanks for any responses. Ellie

We were in an obstructed oceanview room and it was fine for two people. It had a small couch which made the room appear larger. There was plenty of drawer and shelf space. Bathroom was tiny but serviceable. We were between two lifeboats so had some light and view.

Ate breakfast mostly at buffet which was very good. Ate dinner mostly in MDR. Wasn't happy with the steaks and prime rib but the other specialties were fine. Just don't order the onion soup-it was a joke.

Saw the shows every night. As previously said there was a Four Seasons tribute group that was amazing. Also a Tribute to the Beatles by another act on another night. A magician one night and various musical and dancing shows other nights. We did not have a comedian but on the last night all the acts appeared again and it was great.

We were doing something off the ship every day but came back early twice but not early enough for the buffet lunch which ended around 3pm. So grabbed burgers and fries at the Key West Bar at the pool and then stayed and listened to the live band for awhile. They played oldies rock and all the new songs. Very loud but enjoyable.

I booked an inside guarantee on my POA cruise in May. When I got my assignment two weeks before the cruise I was a little disappointed. It was deck 10 but the most aft inside cabin. Also, cruise prices had dropped by then so I called my TA and she was able to upgrade us to an oceanview on deck 4 at no charge. I still wasn't that happy about the deck so I called her again a few days later and she got me an obstructed oceanview on deck 7 which I was more happy with and it turned out to be great.:o

We booked the Sept. 19, 2015 Norweigan Gem. After reading some posts, I'm having second thoughts because it may be too early to see fall colors. Then I noticed the September sailings go to Bar Harbor and the October sailings go to Portland. Can anyone tell me which is a better port to stop at?

We were on the POA in May and simply loved everything about it. Just read the trip reports on the main NCL page and the Hawaii page and you will see everyone who posted had a great time. Only those who posted on the review page complained. Ellie.

In Hawaii Wings Over Kauaii-the very best!

We did the POA last month and just loved it. Didn't just think of it as a floating hotel but an entire experience of traveling to different ports and staying at an inclusive resort, not having to worry about where to dine or any evening entertainment. May wait a few years but would do it again in a heartbeat. Ellie

We did Germaine's Luau the night before our cruise on POA. It is about 45 minutes from the Waikiki hotels. They picked us up around 4:45pm and we didn't get back until around 10:30pm. I'm not sure if the pu/return to the pier but even if you take a taxi, I think it will be cutting it a little close. BTW we loved it.

First of all, if you are going to stay in a "city view" room, there are many more less expensive hotels to stay at. Also, we did NCL's Circle Oahu bus tour on the Saturday after deimbarkation and if your tours are anything like we had, I think you might be a little disappointed. So many stops were for shopping and the only thing at the ranch stop was a buffet lunch and again shopping.

Just FYI we had the Norweigian credit cards before final payment so in addition to using the $100 each for OBC they allowed us to use it for final payment, reducing our price by $200. While we were on board, they had a special where if you applied for the credit cards then you would get an additional $25 in OBC plus the $100 OBC. Ellie

I was on the 5/10/14 sailing and there was no traditional stand-up comedian. The magician was Charles Bach and he was only on the first and last nights. Toby Beau did some tributes which were very good. Jimmy Buffet, the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkle and the Eagles. Oops! just was looking at the dailies and the magician was also on the 2nd night at 10pm. There was an Abba tribute at one of the bars. But nothing compared to the Four Seasons "Oh what a night" on Wednesday and in a variety show on Friday.

My $75 OBC from the TA never showed up in MYNCL, nor was there a note in my cabin. The only way I found out it was credited was by going to the desk once onboard. I did have an amenities sheet in case there was a problem.

Thank you all for your kind words. I researched all the excursions I would have liked and came up with those mentioned which fit our lifestyle and pocketbook. That is why I gave prices that we paid vs. similar tours at a much higher price.

My only regret is that I took a non-stop from Newark to Honolulu. In retrospect I would have done an open-jaw flight and stopped in California on the way back. Going wasn't too bad because they had about 100 free movies you can choose from (saw 4) but coming back seemed so long and tedious, even though it was an hour shorter.

In Kauai, the last shuttle back from Thrifty was 7pm on Thursday. I think we made the 6pm shuttle.

In Maui we must have taken the back way because we traveled alot on dirt roads. I still don't recommend it.

I forgot to mention that Wings Over Kauai will drive you back to the pier.