jennjess

2 minutes ago, luv2kroooz said:

Of course they are advised in advance. Most fair minded people realize all that is lined up well in advance with the port agents and local authorities....bunkering, dockage fees, port charges, berth assignments. The notion that the ship pulls up to the dock and is faced with haphazard, unannounced, surprise charges is hilarious, and just serves as a distraction from the fact that NCL continues to collect money for a service that it is not able to provide.

Exactly, it's a service they can provide but don't want to (for probably financial reasons).  Not good PR at all.

2 hours ago, KeithJenner said:

And Greece and Gibraltar.

 

Maybe NCL should get into the habit of checking these things a bit earlier.

Surely they would be advised about these restrictions/liabilites when they book their berths in the ports.  It's not as if they can just show up and dock is it?

16 hours ago, ConnieTact said:

I recommend you get the Waterford pass, as you can get around all the four museums include and get a walking tour too. 
My friends went to Waterford Crystal tour & liked it. Also their fave was Bishops palace. Mr CT loved the museum of Time and here are some pictures of that. Yes- he even took photos of the toilet! 😂

Love the toilet decor!

13 hours ago, Twolittleboys said:

This seems so strange. Surely they MUST know that this will upset customers. I am not a big drinker but if I have a drink package I expect to be able to get a drink unless it is really impossible due to regulations etc. (which it clearly isn't as other cruise lines manage).

 

I can't imagine NCL would willingly do this. Do they need to save money that badly? 

I also drink very little alcohol but I would be upset too, purely on principle.  It seems such a bad idea to annoy so many customers for the sake of a financial saving.  Raising the price of the drink package, to cover the cost, would make more sense than denying people what they feel they have paid for.

9 minutes ago, ConnieTact said:

I recommend you get the Waterford pass, as you can get around all the four museums include and get a walking tour too. 
My friends went to Waterford Crystal tour & liked it. Also their fave was Bishops palace. Mr CT loved the museum of Time and here are some pictures of that. Yes- he even took photos of the toilet! 😂

Thanks for the photos.  We will have very little time as the ship will not arrive until 1.30 and with tendering and travel into Waterford will have to pick one or two attractions before they close for the day.

34 minutes ago, ConnieTact said:

Then we stopped for delicious cake and tea outside in Bishops palace cafe. It is homemade in the premises and they cook daily and it was delicious!

This takes us up to date as I am still sitting there now as I write! 
Mr CT has gone to the museum of Time and, as a horologist, this is right up his street! I have opted for the easy option of resting, and waiting here for him. 
I can see the bus we plan to catch home from were I’m sitting. That is if Mr CT doesn’t get too engrossed at the museum and well….forget the time! 😜

Thanks for all this info, which of the museums or attractions would you recommend?  We only have a half day in Waterford next cruise so would like to make a bee line to the most worthwhile.

57 minutes ago, insidecabin said:

We were ready 8:25 short line waiting for next tender to load ashore 8:45

Walked up hill big line for bus.

 

went to next stop no line bus waiting.

 

How much was the bus? 

7 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Check your perks again. As far as I know, only club balconies get the laundry as a perk. 

It seems you are right as I can find nothing on the NCL website that includes free laundry in suites.  It was an outside site that said complimentary valet laundry.  May be out of date info I guess.

8 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

OK, well that's where you and I differ. If NCL says a local rule prevents them from serving certain beverages, I believe them and you do not. No hard feelings, but you and I disagree, which is fine. 👍🙂 I have to say, and again this is just MY view, that being disallowed alcohol for one day would absolutely not ruin or diminish my cruise.

I wasn't allowed to buy a soft drink on NCL Jade when it was docked in Rhodes in March.  I didn't have a drinks package because I don't drink alcohol so it's not worth it for me.  They wouldn't allow me to make a purchase of a fruit juice.  Very odd.

2 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

If a “family suite” is a Mx class club balcony room, you get a free bag of laundry. No other “suite” gets free laundry. 

It's an SP family suite, no balcony, on the Star.

I am hoping someone can tell me how laundry works in this situation.  We are now Latitudes Gold so half price laundry if I'm correct.  We are also sailing in a family suite so get one bag of free laundry included in the deal.  Can I send out laundry twice, once free and once for half price?  I would like to know in advance so will be able to take fewer clothes with me.

For you and those sailing tomorrow "Bon Voyage".  Hope the weather plays nicely for you.

14 hours ago, ConnieTact said:

Story time! 

The last time we were onboard the Star was in July 2016 on a trip around Northern Europe which included two days in St Petersburg. The embarkation on this particular sailing is one that I will never, ever forget! We had an hour or so wait after we arrived at the Copenhagen airport for our transfer. Then, when on the shuttle to port to meet the ship, we were told we would be dropped off in the city ‘to enjoy a look around’ before going on to the terminal. The reason we were given was that the ship had not arrived yet. It had needed maintenance and then missed the tide, so was unable to sail Stockholm’s archipelago. This had unavoidably, delayed the ship. 

 

We got off the coach in Copenhagen, and we went for an Italian meal and, little did we know, this food would need to sustain us until the next day! When we went to meet the shuttle to go to the port there was a huge queue of around 300 people. When we got near the port the driver warned us the ship had only just arrived and there was “a lot of angry people at the port”. He requested for us to “please do your best not to take it out on staff!’ 

 

Nothing prepared us to see more than 2,000 people in the queue that wrapped around the front and both sides of the terminal buildings! Even worse, as we joined the end of the queue little did we know we would not board the ship for another four hours! We were outside standing for three hours and reached the inside of the terminal for the last hour. There were no seats so we sat in the floor of the terminal building as we were so tired! Ships crew had not disembarked when we first arrived, so people ahead of us where already tired and thirsty and some were even finding it hard to stand. 

 

We were one of the last to board and were in our cabin by 10pm. By then, of course, the main and specialty restaurants were closed and we missed the birthday meal we had planned-it was Mr CT’s birthday that day! 

 

I have no worries that history will repeat itself, as the very new Horizon terminal and our ship isn’t coming from Copenhagen this time! This was by far the worst embarkation we have experienced in all our cruises and hopefully will remain that way! 
 

As I write, the Star is on her way to Southampton so no delay this time! 😅

That was truly the boarding from hell!

I'm on the following cruise so will watching this thread with interest. 

11 hours ago, julig22 said:

I'm of the opinion that there ain't no such thing as a bad balcony...

Since both options are GTY, take the upgrade if you can (not sure you could that in the US), since there is no guarantee your bid would be accepted.

Whilst there are no bad balconies there are bad locations, under or over a noisy public area.  I don't like to take that risk so would prefer to be able to see what I am buying.  That option is not available to me right now.

I would really like to upgrade my current ocean view to a balcony but they are only offering guarantees at a price lower than I have paid for an ocean view.

Using the advantage program there is also a chance of getting a bad upgrade so not sure what to do?

1 hour ago, KeithJenner said:

The MDR menu has had a fixed selection and a daily changing section for as long as I can remember.

 

There are usually more than 4 changing items though, so maybe that was limited. It doesn’t sound like what is on the Prima though.

I can't compare to the Prima menu as I haven't sailed on her but there was a difference between the current menu and the menus from 2021.  There were definitely more fixed items than changing options than 2 years ago.

On 4/10/2023 at 9:33 PM, KeithJenner said:

The new, non changing, menus are on the Prima but haven’t yet moved to the other ships. The OP is on the Getaway and should have different menus each night.

On the Jade last month the menus had a lot of the same dishes every night plus a few that were different. Maybe 4 different selections per evening.  I didn't like that change tbf.

11 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

 

I am thinking of booking a cruise on Norwegian - this would be my first time on this line. I am still a bit uncertain about whether I should get the Free at Sea promo.

You can pick and chose which Free at Sea perks you want. It is not "all or nothing"

 

Some Free at Sea come complimentary with all rooms except sailaway. Those would be the wifi, 3rd and 4th guest free, and the $50 Shore Ex credit. For the Specialty Dining and Beverage package, the cost of the package is covered, but you pay the gratuity on the retail price of that package. 

 

In the end it comes down to the internet portion. I don't think 150 minutes will help that much but I believe you save when you upgrade to an unlimited package, right?

Totally depends on your usage. If you can live with 20 minutes a day to download emails, etc., then it is a great, totally free perk. If you need more, then you can upgrade the free minutes to an unlimited plan. We always upgarde. 

 

Also, how much would a specialty restaurant be if I did not have the Free at Sea?

Post #4 on the link below has example menus. You get either 1 or 2 specialty dinners included by paying the grats. Paying the grats on the Free at Sea is a really really good deal compared to paying "retail prices off the menu". On our upcoming cruise, we paid $17.80 each for the 2 dinner Free at sea versus or normal dinner bill of $80 per person per meal. So, $17.80/2=$8.90 in grats pays for a $80 meal. 

 

NCL Terms and Conditions: An SDP meal in a la carte restaurants includes 1 appetizer, 1 soup or salad, 1 main course and 1 dessert (does not apply to cover charge restaurants or Food Republic, Pincho Tapas Bar and Sushi, where a meal includes any 4 menu items). SDP does not include beverages and additional and/or premium menu items will incur charges.

 

 

And, finally, are tips included for drinks or do you pay them separately?

If you opt-in for the Specialty Dining dinners and/or Beverage Package, the grats are added to your cruise cost and due at time of final payment. You can always tip your bartender or waiter a buck for a drink if you want. 

 

Finally, (not to do with Free at Sea) could someone remind me how dining works on Norwegian ships? Do you make a reservation or just show up? And are there set times or just whenever?

NCL embraces freestyle dining. You show up when you are hungry or when it fits your schedule. Depending on ship, there are two or three main dining rooms, a buffet, and a 24/7 grill. 

 

The "Free at sea" works differently in Europe.  The person asking is in Germany. You pay extra for it and it comes as a package I believe, you cannot take parts of it away, also I think there are no gratuties to pay on top.  99 euros p.p.for 7 day cruise, 199 for 8 days and over, more for longer cruises.

It won't accept my log-in details.  Hopefully sorted out soon.

I did manage to move my deposit to a different cruise recently.  I am in the EU.  No questions were asked about why but the replacement cruise was slightly more expensive.

Still the extra charge on my fully paid cruise, have to wait for the financial department to get back to me as to why it's there.

I have just paid in full and now there is an additional sum added on, just a small amount but no idea what it's for.

11 minutes ago, JandC_Cruising said:

Thank you very much for that insight! 

The only consideration will be that you will have to take your own luggage off the ship, there will be no facilities set up to do that for you.

12 hours ago, JandC_Cruising said:

 Yes. Certainly a consideration. Although the cruise originates in Portugal, so perhaps that will help.  We will always be in EU countries if we can do what we hope to do.   

 

I don't think it will be a problem since you will have already entered the EU by arriving in Portugal. You will already be in the Shengen zone and noted as such.  I have jumped ship a few times in the past but as a EU citizen I didn't have to consider any possible entry complications.  I have done just as you plan to do and left the ship in Le Havre rather than travel back to the UK.