dporter

I understand there is an extra tax for drinks consumed while the ship is in a US port, but what about food? We'll be having dinner at Cagney's at 6pm on the Escape on the first night and wondering if we'll incur an extra tax for that.

 

Thanks!

There is no additional tax on food.

The additional tax is an alcohol tax while in port and prior to hitting international waters, it typically amounts to less than $1.00 per drink.

Enjoy your cruise.

Hi,

The taxes on alcohol in US ports amounts typically to less than $1 per drink.

When we were on the Jade in January they had martini glasses and used them for martinis. The bartenders on the Jade were wonderful to make anything you asked for and would even create something not on the menu if you asked.

Enjoy your trip.

We have a cruise booked with NCL for the end of 2017, and we want to pay for it over time.

 

On another cruise line, they had an unpublicized policy that you could mail in checks to pay for the cruise but nothing else. I noticed the NCL has an address for travel agents to mail in checks. I wonder what would happen if a passenger used that address to mail in checks?

 

That way, we could set up an automatic payment with the bank, and we wouldn't have to think about it.

 

Has anyone else had experiences with this? Both good and bad.

 

Thanks!

I book our cruises directly with the cruise line and I always pay over time by setting up an automatic payment through my bank. I did this for our January 2016 and again for our next cruise in January 2017. I never had a problem because I could track it through my bank website. NCL is a little slow to show the payment applied, sometimes up to 10 days but I make sure that final payment is made ahead of time.

Enjoy!

Hi we are on epic for 1 week from 23rd Dec. On Xmas day we will be sailing does anyone know if we will have a phone signal to call family back home?

 

Also will we have wifi in our rooms? Will we have to pay for this?

 

My boys rely a lot on there I pads (2 are autistic)

 

Thanks

Depending on what your boys access on their iPads you may be able to download things prior to boarding that can be used without an internet connection that would save some money.

Cruisin Counselor,

Please don't let unkind people make you feel bad, you work for a living and should feel free to spend your money as you choose. Enjoy your family trip in a gorgeous suite and all the amenities the Haven offers.

If you have already made your final payment that may be the real issue.

For my January 2017 cruise a lower price was listed a few months later, before I made final payment. I called the NCL customer service and they adjusted the price immediately and sent a new email confirmation.

People on CC have often indicated getting different answers from different representatives, you could always try calling again or even asking to be escalated to a supervisor.

I love Wyland art. This will be beautiful once it is done!

We are on the Jade in January and our first port is Key West.

This would be wonderful to have an NCL ship out of Galveston.

Of course since I am in Texas that means driving and no airfare which means I can spend more on the cruise. I just hope that if this comes to fruition that they will be offering 9-10 day sailings so that you can truly enjoy the ship and not just the ports.

Thanks for your review.

I have sailed RCCL the most, NCL a couple of times and I agree the NCL pools could be improved, almost feel like an after thought. We haven't done Escape yet, I wish they would offer a 9 or 10 day cruise so you could enjoy all the onboard stuff that they have.

Alaska is gorgeous!

MUSTS -

have a balcony.

stay up until the sunsets (sometimes it is only dark for a few hours)

bring clothes you can layer (it was a rare 90 in Juneau the year we went)

I actually cruised to Alaksa on RCCL. The advantage I see is they had a solarium pool and I could still enjoy pool time. Currently NCL only offers that in the Haven and the Haven pool on Jewel class ships do not offer a view of the ocean. Although NCL did announce that they are having a dedicated ship (NCL Bliss) out of Seattle beginning with the 2018 Alaska season, maybe they will have a solarium pool.

Don't miss a chance to see Alaska it is definitely beautiful.

I am interested in trying the Escape so I am eagerly awaiting your review. I just wish they would make a longer cruise on the Escape so I can enjoy the ship and the ports.

Hi, I found this on the NCL website saying not eligible on Pride of America:

Free at Sea

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Booking Window: October 03, 2016 - October 31, 2016 11:59 pm EST

Applicable Sailings: 3 nights or longer sailings

Studios & Insides: Pick 1 Offer

Oceanviews, Balconies & Mini-Suites: Pick 2 Offers

Suites & Haven: Automatically gets Specialty Dining Package, Ultimate Beverage Package, Free Stateroom Service Charge, 250 Minutes of Free Internet and *Extra Guests Sail Free (on select sailings).

Offer is not applicable to categories IX, OX, BX & MX.

Norwegian Sky and Pride of America sailings are not eligible for this offer. Pride of America in Hawaii offer details listed on Hawaii Free at Sea Terms & Conditions

Here is what is Free at Sea on Pride of America, notice that only good for sailing through 2017.

Hawaii Free at Sea

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Booking Window: October 03, 2016 - October 31, 2016 11:59 pm EST

Applicable Sailings: Pride of America Sailings through 2017

Studios, Insides, Oceanviews, Balconies: Pick 1 Offer

Suites Automatically gets all five below.

I know I'm asking about DOS in this thread. But out of curiosity, do you get the 3 bottles of liquor in the Two Bedroom Family Suite?

No you do not get the bottle of liquor in the 2 bedroom suites

Our last cruise was January 2016 on the Jade. About 2 weeks prior I was offered an upsell to the Haven and decided to take it, went from balcony to 2 bedroom for 2 people. This was the best room we have ever had and a surprise to my boyfriend.

We throughly enjoyed the Haven pool area, it was covered and we were able to enjoy even when it rained one day. There is also a Haven sun deck which was wonderful for us, not crowded at all. We found the main pool area to be quite crowded and I don't know if I would sail NCL not in a Haven.

The only thing Jade did not have that I would have liked was a Haven restaurant, they use Cagneys for breakfast and lunch. The food and service were fantastic. We would book one of the Away ships or Escape if we found a 9-12 day itinerary we liked. I don't know why the larger ships don't offer longer cruises so you can enjoy all of the amenities.

We are booked the Haven for January 2017 for 10 days and can't wait!

Of course, whether it is worth it is a personal choice.

Please note that an upsell does not get you all perks as if you booked the Haven directly. You do get to keep the perks you originally booked with.

We were on the Jade in January and there is an extension to the Star bar that I only saw used once for the Suite/Haven welcome reception, they could use the main part of the bar for that and turn that other part into a full fledged restaurant for Haven.

gorgeous pictures and a wonderful review, thank you for taking the time to share!

IMO I think a total of $4500 for 2 people is a great price for the Haven.

following

Hi -

The butler and concierge are NOT included in the service charge. The amount you tip is personal, I have heard a lot of people starting at about $5 or $10 per day and then adjusting from there.

Congratulations o your son's graduation!

Congratulations

When we upgraded they did NOT charge us more for the DSC.

I always let them know when I check in that I am not interested any any extras and I am not interested in any products. They always respect that and never try to upsell.

happy anniversary

thank you for sharing your wonderful adventure.

On the Jade your breakfast and lunch are at Cagney's as there is not a Haven restaurant.