NYcruzzer

If you are departing from NY then try MSC or Carnival. Both are doing similar Florida/Bahamas itineraries. Most likely why NCL is scaling back their 7 day Bahama runs. NCL can't like the fact that there are now two more options for year round NYC cruising ! I like having choices !!

MSC gave us a loyalty match of Gold to my NCL Saphire . Getting the 5% discount on my May cruise was worth the 5 minutes effort to apply for their loyalty program.

NCL can raise the bar on pricing all they want. I'm Saphire with 32 cruises. All out of NYC. Just booked a May cruise on MSC out of Brooklyn O/V room with drink package and unlimited WIFI for the two of us. No additional service fee on drink package. Total fare $1695.00 "all in" for the two of us. Then in October "free casino" cruise on Carnival Venezia out of NYC. Their Costa by Carnival ship. Both now cruising year round out of NY. Going to take a year off NCL and see what happens in 2025...

We got a great Casino offer for our 10/14/23 9 night Venezia cruise. $100.00 PP for an inside. Getting $100.00 PP OBC, and Drinks on us (while in Casino) for the two of us.

I doubt this change was done for "heath reasons" Most likely bean counters at NCL figured how much they could save annually by not needing cooking oil for wings and Mozzerella stix

Are you using an I-Pad or computer ? I find MSC website works much better on my laptop with Chrome.

Compensate who MSC employees or NCL ? My point was that even though NCL collects $84.00 more per couple in DSC then MSC for a 7 night cruise, I doubt that NCL pays their employees a higher wage that reflects their higher fee. Let's be real DSC is just another for of revenue for all cruiselines. I accept this as part of my cost of doing buisness.

I agree with you on the raise. However, I very much doubt NCL pays there crew any more then MSC.

I like getting the paper version as well. I'm sure Carnival is doing this to increase sales by stuffing the printed dailies with a few pages of maketing items selling shore excursions, spa treatments and items from the ships stores etc.

I'm new to MSC. Our promotion is Free Easy Plus Beverage package for two and ONE device internet package. Would it be possible to "upgrade" to a 2 device plan once onboard ? Or would it be better for me to add another single device package online prior to sailing ?

I'm new to MSC. If I have the Easy Plus Beverage package can I use to get Ice cream at Smiling Fish at Ocean Cay ?

Great. Thank you

Thanks for the quick response. One last question. Is Breakfast and Lunch "open seating" in the MDR ?

We are going on our first MSC cruise this May. Meraviglia out of NY. We are used to Any time dining on NCL . How does it work on MSC ? We have requested early seating. Are we going to be assigned a specific dining room, time and table for the entire cruise ? Or do we just arrive at one of the Dining Rooms at it's designated time and are seated ?

Whomever was the genius at NCL that thought short Winter cruises to Bermuda was a good idea should be fired ! Winter cruises out of NYC always went to Florida/Bahamas or Carribean in the past. I see they are doing same itinerary next Winter as well. 2024 will be interested. MSC and Carnival will both be homeporting year round . I like choices !

Thank you Capt. Obvious. Was merely saying that there are other lines poster can choose if Son being able to drink is important.

NCL allows those 18-20 purchase and consume Beer and Wine while in international waters..conditions in attached link https://www.ncl.com/faq#!#what-minimum-age-purchase-andor-consumption-alcoholic-beverages

With inflation as high as it is we can all substitute $1.00 bill for $2.00 bills for same purchases

Just read an interesting article. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-administration-boating-proposal-would-greatest-regulatory-overreach-kind-critics-warn I wonder if this would impact NCL cruises from the Northeast ? Or are they just talking about fishing vessals ?

Can one of us upgrade to unlimited and the other keep their 150 minutes ? Or do we both have to upgrade ?

Robber #1..Gee Ralph this is such a nice area, with what looks like some great neighbors... Robber #2 You're right Elmo, let's go to a not as nice area and rob a house there !

I'm thinking that NCL doesn't want to directly compete with MSC on the Florida/Bahama run out of NYC. Also Royal's Oasis of the Seas packs in over 6k passengers weekly (Spring-Fall) out of Cape Liberty on their Florida/Bahama itinerary.

Pre-entry testing is not required Pre-entry tests are not required for fully vaccinated travellers entering Canada by land, air or water. You must still use ArriveCAN within 72 hours before your arrival to Canada. Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children under the age of 12 are not required to provide a valid pre-entry test result, if they are accompanying a fully vaccinated adult. Children who are less than 5 years old are not required to test, regardless of their vaccination status.

I don't think you need to be tested if fully vaccinated.. https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada#determine-fully

Usually when you purchase Cheers for cruises departing from NY or TX Cheers starts on day 2. Does same resriction apply on NY or TX cruises if you get the Cheers included as a perk ?