emcelh

I would also like to know, what is the rental price?

You rent them at the shore excursion desk.

I think you get priority tender tickets with the clam shell rental. but I'm not sure. We had a suite so we had them anyway.

I think there were signs directing where to go when you got off the tender. I remember, it was a bit confusing because we didn't see the signs right away but if you go in the direction of the Hippo Slide there will be crew members who will take your ticket and help you find a clamshell.

If, for some reason, they skip the stop at GSC due to rough seas or bad weather you'd get a refund.

I think the cost was about $30 but that was a couple of years ago.

I got this card too.

Is NCL selling its customers information?

I doubt it but, if they are, they're not alone in the practice. I've received "offers" like this from companies offering other cruise lines as well as major airlines and resorts. How difficult is it to get someone's address?

This is incorrect.

 

I was offered a CET certificate for 7 day cruise, when I was platinum, and my partner was offered a 4 day cruise....as a Gold.

 

We didn't use either due to the black-out dates & CAS already comping us...but we have Seven Stars friends who didn't get an offer, either.

 

So that's not the logic behind it.

 

 

 

Stephen

 

.

You're right Stephen. I had a Diamond card for several years prior to 2012 when I dropped to Platinum. I've never received an offer for a comp, but I have used the tier discount. There seems to be no logic to who gets the offers.

I have a question also: I will be cruising in November on the Sky for the 1st time. On NCL's website, they gave me a Latitudes number.

Would I be allowed to attend a cocktail party even though it's the first time on NCL?

If you're included there will be an invitation in your cabin.

I swore that when it happened I would never venture across the big frog pond again. I am about over that, and I might in a couple of years. We have been on an Alaskan cruise, and we are going New England-Canada on a few weeks. I am better for the experience.

I was not a fan of Spain, but I loved the Italians.

Now to answer some of the questions:

Insurance- I had purchased travel insurance, because of the European destination, same day flight and cruise, and unforeseeable potential health issues. I believe that the policy had a 4-hour flight delay and trip cancelation insurance. It also had dollar limits for each and as I remember a $1500 max. I remember this because we maxed the limit. Something everyone should be aware of: I believe that insurance companies try their best to deny the claims for whatever reason. 1/7 of the cruise is pretty easy to prove. I had a pocket in my carry-on and we put all receipts in that pocket. They wanted proof of boarding passes, taxi receipts, McDonalds airport meals, everything ect. I remember most of this cause I sent in claim, and they paid 1,472 and denied the rest. Some would say close enough, but one thing they denied was extra baggage fee from Madrid to Milan= $50.

On international flights, you are allowed (or were then) to have two (2) checked bags. On domestic flights only one. If no delay, I would have been on boat and extra bags would not have been issue, so I argued and they paid. I am a big believer in flight insurance, and will probably always but on all trips. I also believe that you get more for less, when you purchase independently.

The insurance paid for the first part trip costs of delays. I felt that we shoulthe dd have also been compensated for delay in Madrid and London. he European Union has requirements that a delay over a certain time should be compensated. Our delay did not come under these rules as i was purchased in USA.

Hope you enjoy your Canada cruise on the Gem as much as we enjoyed ours a couple of weeks ago. You deserve it.

It's interesting how some threads become a debate. The original question was concerning prices for children eating in specialty restaurants. Now it's a debate on whether or not children should be allowed in them to begin with. It reminds me of that game where you get a group of people together, someone tells the person next to them, whispering, a short story. They repeat it to the next person and so on. By the time you get to the last person in the group it's an entirely different story.

I've reserved a car with Budget in Sydney for Sunday September 16.

 

According to the itinerary, NCL Gem will be in port from 7am to 3pm. I believe that passengers have to be back on board 2 hours before departure, i.e. 1pm.

 

Our intention is to visit the Fortress of Louisbourg, which opens at 9.30am.

 

I'm wondering if we have enough time to do the Fortress justice?

The requirement for being on board 2 hours prior only applies when you board in NYC on the first day. At ports it's usually 30 minutes prior to sailing. You should have enough time.

Looks like we're on the same sailing.

I would agree with you. Atlantis is very much overpriced, whether you go there on a ship's excursion or on your own.

Did this post somehow make you feel better? As Barbra sang "Don't rain on my parade", how was your post constructive or helpful to the OP? Just a big dud.

I had the same thought. I wonder if F and JD are always so negative.

Hi, I'm a US citizen but my parents are citizens of India currently in the US on a tourist visa.

We are planning to take the Bahamas cruise on July 13th on NCL Sky. The travel agent says that my parents don't need a Bahamas visa since they are going to Bahamas on a cruise, but I've not been able to get that confirmed.

 

Has anyone had any similar issues? Did anyone travel without the Bahamas visa when on cruise?

 

Thanks

It might be a good idea to contact the consulate for the Bahamas to be sure you're getting correct information. The fact that it's a cruise may not make a difference. I remember seeing a post where someone who was not a US citizen had been denied boarding due to not having a visa for one of the ports. Since your parents are here on a tourist visa, that may make a difference as well. I believe the requirements are different than for people who are residents. I'd check with the consulate to make sure....get your information from the experts.

I believe all suites (not mini-suites) have the metallic colored key card, not just the Haven. That said, you usually don't present your card to pay for something until after you've been served, so the service should be the same either way. I've travelled in suites and I've travelled in a balcony room on NCL, and I wasn't treated any differently in general. Of course, we had the butler and concierge while in a suite, but we were paying more for that perk. When staying in a suite on the Jade, we did get a bit better treatment at dinner at Cagney's, but this was because we had the same waitress at breakfast at Cagney's and had built a relationship, not because we were in a suite, per se. We also got the same great service last year staying in a balcony on Epic because the waitress from Cagney's had transferred and worked the breakfast shift in the MDR.

We were in a suite on the Jewel in September (not Haven or Owners suite) and our key cards were purple. AS the concierge was handing them out at check in, it looked like only those who had access to the Haven got the silver key cards. I agree though, no difference in service elsewhere on the ship from when we stayed in other cabin types.

Not sure if that is correct, We usually book a balcony with an interior room for the kids across the hole way from us and we got the same color keys one cruise and different colors for the same cabin last year.

I think the key cards for the Haven suites are the only ones that are unique to the category. We've sailed in everything from inside cabins to an aft penthouse suite on our last NCL cruise and, with the exception of having services of the butler and concierge available, there was no difference in the service we experienced anywhere on the ship.

There were people taking reservations during lunch on the day we boarded the ship and that's when we made ours. I think the lunch was held the next day. You could probably do it the same day but, if you really want to go, I'd make the reservation ahead of time. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

 

 

As soon as you pay it pops up for you to print. No need to wait. Mine was instant. :D

Thanks. I do it this weekend.

Wow, I never thought of that. They will do this? Wonderful idea! But, now that I'm thinking about it...we bought the slot plays coupon ($50 for $25) and also the NCL slot coupon ($20 for $10) and we each bought 1 (because it is one per person). So, I'm thinking they might not let us put it all on 1 persons account?? :confused:

I have a question on the slot plays coupons. Their web site says they email the coupon to you....so I assume you print it when you get the email. Is that correct? How long does it take after you order it. I leave in a week and wasn't sure if I had enough time. Thanks

Usually they give you a copy of the Freestyle Daily at the pier before you board. The hours for the MDR room will be listed. They may tell you when you get on board that only the buffet is open and that may be true depending on the time. On our last Jewel cruise we had to wait about 20 minutes for Tsars Palace to open. It's worth it though, no fun fighting the crowds at the buffet.

Please remember this for both the concierge and the butler: Even if you never ask them to do anything, there are many things they both do that are done automatically.

 

Did you get priority embarkation? how about Priority tender tickets (even if you never used them)? priority disembarkation? were you given a letter inviting you to the Captain's party for suite guests (even if you didn't go)? Did you get an invitation for early entry to the chocoholic buffet (even if you didn't go)? Were you offered special seating in the theater (even if you didn't use it)? if you have done any of these things, then you have used the concierge..

 

did you get your afternoon snacks delivered automatically (the ones that come with the suite)? Did you make coffee with the coffee maker in your suite? Do you have fruit and flowers in your cabin? Is you mini bar kept stocked, or did you have it emptied? Do you have ice in your suite at least twice a day? Do you have clean stocked glassware in your suite? Did he give you a tour of your suite? Did you attend the suite party with the hand passed cocktails and canapés? Were you escorted to your suite? if you have done any of these things, then you have used the butler..

 

Tipping is personal and subjective, but is expected (and proper) for a job well done - even if you have not made any special requests. Of course, the more you request and the better the service for those requests, the higher your tip should be. other crew members are included in the DSC, the butlers and concierge are not (nor should they be, since not everyone benefits from their services) and yet they work just as hard (or harder) than any other crew member on the ship, and they are always smiling and asking what else they can do for you. the extra expense of tipping them both is an inherent part of booking a suite, if one cannot afford to tip them, then one has no business booking a suite.. That would be like going out to dinner and not tipping because you couldn't afford it after the meal..

 

Off my soapbox now :D.

 

Robin

We're sailing in a suite for the first time in September. I had so many questions about what was customary and appropriate regarding tips and about the suite experience in general. Your posts have been so helpful, Robin. Thanks

I'm a fan Sailor Jack. If you ever write a book about your travels I'll be first in line.

Anyone know about this discount program and how much the discount is?

THANKS

Not positive, but I think this a discount given to families of NCL employees. I don't know how much it is.

Sailor Jack,

If you ever decide to write a book about your adventures I'd buy it in a heartbeat.