VideoTech

Does the Bliss actually do the inside passage? I know that the round trip I took out of Seattle was billed as inside passage but it really wasn't. I have always been under the impression that the inside passage sails on the east side of Vancouver Island, am I wrong on that? Yes I know there are two portion's of the route, but for true inside I'd think the British Columbia section is necessary.

You are correct: There are two portions of the "Inside Passage" separated by a portion of passage through open ocean. The whole of it, including the open ocean section in the middle, is referred to as the Inside Passage because it's mostly sailing in sheltered waters.

So yes, the RT Seattle-Alaska itinerary is correctly referred to as "Inside Passage" because it uses the Inside Passage in SE Alaska. So are the Vancouver cruises which also include the east side passage of Vancouver Island. As are the one way north and southbound cruises. It's all the Inside Passage.

Don't gamble, but everyone seems to win that plays...I've asked. NCL must be getting killed.

LOL! Good One!:D:D

There's no real reason for preferring one side over the other. Scenery is fantastic on both sides.

From the NCL website:

Pride of America - Hurricane Lane Update - August 23, 2018 at 9:30 PM ET (1:30 AM UTC)

Due to Hurricane Lane in the Pacific, we have modified the itinerary for Pride of America. The ship is currently out at sea, away from the storm. Pride of America is expected to return to Honolulu on Sunday, August 26th. The previously scheduled August 25th sailing will be delayed until Monday, August 27th. Embarkation will be available on both Sunday, August 26th and Monday, August 27th. Guests are encouraged to monitor NCL.com for further updates.

I am trying to decide which package to purchase. Is the speed of both pretty good? We have 4 port days so will be able to use our phones in port. Does Facebook messenger work with the Social Media package? If so can use that to communicate instead of text while on the ship. Thanks

Facebook Messenger works just fine on any of the packages. We typically get the unlimited package (not the social media package) and that's how we communicate on the ship and also back to shore. We don't need VPN connectivity or do a lot of streaming and stuff, so no need for the social media package.

Speed depends on the ship. NCL is slowly upgrading the internet systems through the fleet. It will never be as fast as high speed land service, but it's fine for messaging, email, and moderate web browsing.

Can you book online in advance the cruise and still get the value of the 250 minute promotional free atsea package deducted from the price?

 

 

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What would likely happen is that you would pay in advance online for the unlimited package, and then they would deduct the value of your promotional package from your final on board bill.

I’ve never flown southwest (im in nyc so I just haven’t had an opportunity) so could someone explain if there are rules for saving seats? I know it’s first come, first serve but will the flight attendants allow you to save any extra seats?

I don't think there are any formal rules about it. It's quite common to see people saving a seat for one other person traveling with them, and that's generally accepted, as long as the seats are side by side.

Someone trying to save a whole row or more would likely get an argument about it. It's rather rude in that it's an attempt to overrule the Southwest boarding system.

Interesting that they’re going 250 miles out. We were on the July 28 cruise and the crew was telling us all about the difference between POA and non-US flagged cruise ships, the main point being that the POA never hits international waters and mostly stays around 6 miles off shore.

They'll go out however far they need to, to avoid the worst effects of the storm. It has absolutely nothing to do with how the ship is flagged. A U.S. flagged ship is just as able to sail into international waters as a ship registered anywhere else.

POA stays in U.S. waters on its normal itinerary because there's no reason for it to leave U.S. waters for the itinerary. It is U.S. flagged so that it does not have to stop at a foreign (non U.S.) port during the itinerary. The U.S. registration is the only reason it can stay in the Hawaiian islands the whole time. If it were not U.S. registered, it would have to sail to a foreign port such as one in Canada, Mexico, or other South Pacific countries during the cruise, just as you'll see other cruise lines doing on their Hawaiian offerings with foreign registered ships.

At some point the POA will likely have to head out to sea to move away from the current possible storm tracks. The current models put all the Hawaiian islands on the dangerous side of the storm. Don't envy the current passengers, who may get unloaded in Honolulu right before the storm hits...but it's all a matter of timing.

Same effect - you get a $50 credit.

 

Only if the refund is Refundable.

Not sure what you mean about refundable refunds, but you're still paying $50 less for the total cost of your cruise....$50 less out of your pocket in the end.

We are in 9 ports on a 10 day cruise. Does that mean that we need to do a shore excursion in each port or loose the credit? We were not planing to do an excursion in Malta and Mykonos but will in other ports. This must be a way for NCL to get people to take their excursions as many people go the DIY route.

The credit is just for taking an NCL excursion in a port. So - if you don't take an NCL credit in a port, you don't get the credit. And yes, obviously it's a way to get people to take NCL shore excursions, since NCL will still make more on an excursion you purchase through them (even with the credit) than on an excursion you book on your own.

I don't know much about gambling. That seems like a lot. At (I'm guessing here) $1 per pull, about how many cumulative hours of play does that represent?

The amount quoted is not the actual amount a gambler puts in, it's the amount put at risk. You have to realize that most people are also re-investing their wins as they go along, and most people will wager more than $1 a spin.

Basically, you reach tier levels by gaining a certain number of points. The point calculation is 1 point = $5 put at risk ($10 for Video Poker). You start off with a Jade card when you first get one. Pearl (the next level) is 5,000 points earned, and so on.

Your tier level is good for one year, but the CAS year is not a calendar year, it's April 1 to March 31. Any gambling you do on any cruise during that period is counted towards your status for that year.

I've been trying to figure out if the NOLA port allows you to clear customs more quickly if you have a Global Entry card, but I'm not coming up with much. I assume this means that it's not available there, but am hoping I'm wrong. Does anyone know if this is available there? Thanks!

In my experience, Global Entry hasn't really been widely implemented at cruise ports. I suspect it's a matter of passenger loads. Even though cruise ships are unloading a lot of people at once, it's still nothing when compared to a busy international arrivals airport.

Perhaps in time they'll get around to putting Global Entry terminals at cruise ports.

Interesting! Don't see it up on the promotions page anymore, perhaps because August is almost over. Wish they'd extend it to December when we're cruising!

I don't know any reson why this offer would have any effect on your NLC on board comps. It simply allows you to earn some TR points for your play on NCL, which is great.

The fact that you have to call them is so stupid.

You do not have to call. NCL does a terrible job of explaining this. You can book online, call the shore ex desk, or book on board. the ONLY difference is that if you book online, you will be charged the full price of the excursion at the time you book. But then, after you take the excursion, on the cruise, you will receive the credit on your final on board bill. Same effect - you get a $50 credit.

Make sure you have TSA pre checks the lines at SEATAC can be very long.

The only way to be absolutely certain you have TSA Pre-Check is to have paid for and enrolled for the service, or for one of the other pre-screening services such as Global Entry which automatically gives you Pre-Check.

That being said, a larger portion of regular passengers are getting Pre-Check on their boarding passes as part of the TSA's new emphasis on more selective screening procedures. So chances are good that you will get Pre-Check, but the point here is that you cannot count on it or make sure you have it unless you've enrolled.

Another pay-for service that will cut your regular airport security line wait is Clear. You can find it online.

What time do you recommend we should choose for our arrival to Pier 66 in Seattle ?

Do you mean when to get to the pier, or what boarding time to choose?

I personally wouldn't arrive at the pier any earlier than about 10am. The ships don't usually finish disembarkation much before 9:30 am, and the port buildings may not be open for new passengers until the ship is empty and the facilities turned around for embarkation. Even if you are able to enter and check in, you will face a lengthy wait in the port building until embarkation starts.

If you're asking about picking an embarkation time, I have to tell you it may not matter very much. NCL introduced this practice as a way to try and spread out the passengers arriving at the dock, the bulk of whom arrive in the 11am to 1pm time period. But they won't refuse you entry if you're there outside of your "embarkation time." Just choose a time that makes sense based on when you want to arrive at the pier.

Congratulations on choosing Amtrak for your cruise travel. You're fortunate to live along one of the few corridors of passenger train travel left in the U.S.

I'd love it if there were more passenger train travel options in this country. We lost so much when we let our rail system slip into decay and obscurity in the 60's, 70's and on. Rail travel is a wonderful option for those who don't need the fastest journey from point A to B. It's a comfortable way to travel (could be so much better if the rails were kept up to passenger standard, though), and a great way to actually see the country.

I log thousands of miles of air travel for business every year, but more than a few of my trips could easily be made by rail if the connections were available. Even better, by high-speed rail!

Husband and I are taking Amtrak from Boston to Fort Lauderdale for our cruise this fall. Hubbys first time on the train I have been a bunch of times. We are making this adventure part of our vacation.

 

There are two trains going to Florida both follow each other (for the most part) down the east coast and split up at roughly the Florida/Georgia border and both end in Miami.

 

1st #91 Silver Star heads west down to Tampa and the rest of the west coast. This train takes about 30 hours to get to Miami. (It also has no dining car but does have a snack bar.)

 

2nd # Silver Meteor this train it takes the East Coast Route to Miami. It does have a dining car. It takes about 26 hours to get to Miami.

 

Unlike planes, there are only two seats together, no middle seat drama. I have never purchased sleeping accommodations. They are really expensive and at that point, I might as well fly.

 

They do offer senior and disabled discounts.

 

Yes, you can bring all the food and drinks you want. Try and be discreet with any alcohol. The snack bar will give small amounts of ice (please tip the attendant).

 

I do bring a small pillow and some kind of throw with me. I really sleep well on the train. It is similar to the rocking motion of a cruise ship.

 

The on-time performance has improved on Amtrak I believe. I remember when we would be 3 to 4 hours late back in the '90's.

I see you a bit confused about how video poker machines work. To be a legal machine in Nevada, you cannot change the odds of any hand. The machine basically has to emulate exactly how a deck of cards behaves. Now, the RNG basically gives perfect shuffles, but they cannot do anything to alter the odds of getting any particular hand. Instead, they simply change the pay out for the hand. And they must display the payout for each hand.

 

I mention Nevada, because many jurisdictions look to them as an example. Also, if you are building and programming a machine, you want to be able to sell it anywhere.

Thank you, Bruadhin. Saved me the trouble of a reply.

I’ve always heard that the machines get tighter by the day. Wanted other’s opinions. Myth or fact?

Myth, myth, myth. Biggest urban myth in gambling.

Has anyone had their upgrade offer to the Haven on the NCL Bliss accepted on any of the upcoming Seattle to Alaska cruises in June or July? If so how far out from your cruise date did you receive the acceptance? We would love to get upgraded for our 25th wedding anniversary

Bliss is a brand new ship on a very popular itinerary. Given the interest in the new ship, I doubt if there will be many Haven cabins available for upgrades. Haven upgrades in general are rarer than other upgrades, simply due to the smaller number of Haven cabins vs balcony and other cabins.

Incorrect. CAS is not like Casino Royale or land-based casino. It has nothing to do with the number of points you accrue. It has to do with your theoreticals. CAS is looking for people who gamble consistently (several hours a day). Doesn't have to be high value, just consistent play.

 

This is how it used to be. Now the bigger comps will not come from theo's, unfortunateley actual losses are the only thing that really matter. I had 2 cruises within 6 months last year where I had a combined theo loss of around 18000(I had played through almost 2 million dollars in the pit) but I had actually won a low 5 figure amount. I was offered balconies on my next 2 cruises. Then this year I had a theo loss of about 4000 with an actual loss of around 6000. I was offered suites on my next 2 cruises. I play bigger and 20-30 hours when I am winning and used to get the best suites win, lose or draw. Now the suites only come on actual losses. NCL must think that they can get more from the smaller players and slot players so they give them better comps now, who knows.

This has been reported by many recent CAS cruisers. It's a shame if that's the case. We have been loyal CAS cruisers for many years, and while in the past we have noticed that winning trips have result in less on board credit to our final bill, that was the only situation in which win/loss was taken into consideration.

Since we haven't cruised in a year, we can speak directly to any new application of win/loss to future comps. If they are going to go by that instead of ADT, it may well be time to find a new cruise casino home.

I used to get balcony offers from CAS, and didn't do much gambling. Last 4 or 5 cruises I have spent $2000 on each cruise in casino and are still only receiving insider cabin offers. GEEZ, how much do you have to gamble to receive free balcony offer. Is it based on ship gambling or land based gambling? or a combination of both and how much money?

First of all, NCL CAS offers have nothing to do with the amount of gambling you do at any land based casinos. The only gambling that "counts" is the gambling you do on the ship.

Second, CAS comp offers have nothing to do with the points you accumulate towards various CAS levels. The points are only considered for your level status.

CAS comp offers have EVERYTHING to do with your Average Daily Theoretical. This is a complex calculation that involves the amount of money you put at risk and the time you spend gambling. The ADT calculation is handled in different ways by every casino, with some variations in how the factors are weighed.

CAS comp offers also have to do with the ship and cruise itinerary. You will not get the same quality comps on popular cruises and ships for the simple reason that NCL can sell out those ships at full price without relying on CAS comp cabins.

Finally, CAS seems to be getting much "tighter" with their comp offers recently. Many frequent CAS customers report that they are no longer getting the same level of offers for the same level of gambling (or ADT).

The OP is specifically asking about the Shore Excursion credit. This can ONLY be applied against the cost of a shore excursion purchased through NCL. It cannot be applied to any other purpose.

It is applied as a credit against your final bill. For the OP, there won't be any issue having it applied for an excursion on day 10 of your 11 day cruise. They make up the final bills on the last night of the cruise and apply all credits at that time.

I got the texting only package for about $30-$35 when I was on the Getaway in December; then you can text people at home, too.

The package you bought was a package of internet access minutes. The OP is asking about ways to text without buying the internet access.