Av8tor

13 hours ago, LakeLife58 said:

This was Memphis to New Orleans and airfare back to departure port included.

I assume you've already purchased the airfare (not only from NOLA back to MEM but also RT to/from your home to MEM if that was required) and chances are that's non-refundable.  But be sure to check with the airline to see if they can give you a CREDIT to use for other flight if they can't refund to your original payment method.  It's worth a try, some airlines will do this...

Paul

7 hours ago, Best Cat Mom said:

Best Cat Dad is a pilot. Your username makes me think you are also? Happy to help however we can.

After 42 years in two careers, I finally retired from flying last year.  I wish blue skies and tailwinds for BCD and smooth seas for you both...

Thanks for writing - looking forward to reading more about your cruise and the Divina

On 8/23/2022 at 1:59 PM, SRAcruise said:

We had a cruise with NCL to the eastern Mediterranean scheduled for the end of June. We did the NCL-arranged BOGO airfare from Denver to Athens. We got on the Air Canada plane to travel to Toronto for a transfer to a flight to Athens. After sitting on the plane for 45 minutes, they announced that they had mechanical trouble, and we all had to deplane. After waiting for another hour in the gate area, we saw the crew deplane. They had “timed out” and could no longer legally fly. 
 

I immediately called Norwegian. After being on hold for almost an hour, they told me that I would have to work the issue with Air Canada. Our cruise was leaving from Athens the next day.  Air Canada said that the only flight they could get us on to Athens was in mid-July. We might be able to arrange another airline, but at our own expense — and we would still not make boarding time in Athens. Norwegian said that due to Covid we could not join mid-cruise. Complicating this was the fact that my wife has a medical oxygen concentrator, and arrangements have to be made with airlines two weeks in advance to bring it onboard.

 

So there was no way to get to the cruise.  
 

We had bought the platinum travel protection package, so we called Norwegian again and after waiting on hold again for almost an hour, we cancelled the cruise. 
 

NCL reimbursed the shore tours and other prepaid onboard expenses. We filed a formal claim with Aon, NCL’s insurer. After a month, NCL provided us with future cruise credit equal to 90 percent of our cruise fare. 

 

The $1500 for airfare is apparently lost (neither Air Canada nor NCL will reimburse) as well as 10 percent of the cruise fare. So we are out about $2200. 
 

We would love to rebook for November (out of Rome), but even if we schedule for an arrival 2 days before boarding (the maximum that NCL allows when they book airfare), that would not help if a similar situation were to arise — and airlines are cancelling flights all the time these days. We are thinking about booking airfare ourselves on an airline with more presence in Denver than Air Canada, with arrival in Rome at least a week early. 

 

I just have no confidence that we can ever cruise with NCL. 

Perhaps you it might have been better if you'd purchased your own trip insurance rather than the one NCL offered.  Either way, you ALWAYS need to read the policy itself to see exactly what is covered and what isn't.

13 hours ago, mnpurple said:

 

Any recommendations for Maine? DH and I are going in a few weeks, flying into Boston and will be going up the coast possibly as far as Bar Harbor.

As you drive northwards try the lobster rolls at The Beach Plum in either Portsmouth or Hampton, NH.  Many other places too numerous to mention...

Thanks, typical hype...Inflate the original price so you can "discount" it to the price you actually want to get!

On 7/1/2022 at 2:16 PM, Covepointcruiser said:

If you used a credit card for the deposits or for the full cruise fare there is no problem.

Not necessarily...  There is a max time limit from the date of the charge to file a charge dispute.  Past that date, which may vary from one CC company to the next, the company does not have to credit the amount back.  Some may and others may not, YMMV.

If you buy commercial trip insurance (NOT from the cruise line) soon after making the payment/deposit, some plans will protect you from travel supplier insolvency.  You have to check the plans to see if that coverage is included and when it must be purchased.

Looking to try Regent and don't quite understand the

• 2-FOR-1 All-Inclusive Fares
•  

listed on the website

What exactly does that mean?

If the site shows a $6400 fare, is that the total for 2 people or, like other sites, would the total be $12,800?

On 6/28/2022 at 8:42 AM, capriccio said:

 

 

If you decide on MSC, make sure you do a status match before making your reservation.  Our elite Princess status matched MSC's top level.  

 

In order to maintain your status match you must take an MSC cruise every three years so we are planning a fall cruise in the Yacht Club.

If you're sailing in YC on MSC, does MSC's top tier status reaally matter much?

Do you think that they got some sort of discount since they're sailing for SOOOOO long?

Never used it, but this news release says they started offering testing at the airport in Dec 2021.

https://webapps6.broward.org/newsrelease/View.aspx?intMessageId=12456

I'd check with the stated provider for details...

Pretty sure the ship's store has cold meds you can buy.  Probably pricy, but as a last resort could be an option.

On 5/27/2022 at 1:26 PM, defbref said:

The Bellisima and then Grandiosa, Virtuosa and the new Euriba (launch next year) are Meraviglia plus, same layout just slightly bigger.

On 5/27/2022 at 2:51 PM, JAGR said:

Hate to offer a correction, so please treat it as a qualifying statement.  Ships in the Meraviglia class include Meraviglia, then Bellissima, Grandiosa, and MSC Virtuosa.  Seaside is a different class ship, and includes her, Seaview, and then the larger Seashore and Seascape.  Just wanted to clarify the question on Meraviglia-class ships.

Thanks for filling me in and the clarification!  It's appreciated.

58 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

We also like the Yacht Club enclave secluded form the rest of the ship on the 'Meraviglis' class ships. Key card to get in. There is a sense of being in a 'castle' surrounded by a moat and drawbridge.

What other MSC ships are in the Meraviglia class?

Thanks all!

Does anybody know if MSC or any other vendor offers scuba diving while at Ocean Cay?

Thanks

OR, if you don't want to just kill time at LAX, get there from the ship and check-in and check your bags (if you have big ones) but don't go through security.  Take a free hotel shuttle to a nearby nice hotel and hang out in their lobby or pool/patio until you need to get back to the airport with enough time to clear security & get to the gate.

4 hours ago, pamwigs said:

Stories like this are why we book on our own. Too many nightmare stories. Who wants the stress and extra work? Going on a cruise should be fun.

Why are stories like this why you book your own transportation?  The airline cancelled their flight at the "last minute" and they needed to get rebooked in a hurry.  In their case EZ Air should have immediately done it for them if the airline couldn't or wouldn't.  If you were in that situation, wouldn't you have to do all the work yourself and have all the stress anyway?

I, too, make all my air arrangements, but last minute changes or cancellations by the carrier can be a HUGE problem, regardless of who booked the reservation

Thanks for the info.  I'm glad they fixed it and at least now I know how it SHOULD work.

15 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Yes,

The Armonia which was fully chartered Salsa cruise, did not make it to the USA, so they gave them the ship with us on it.

Then rather than follow the T&C they made us all miserable.and forced us to cancel.

 

I told them they can put me on any USA sailing of their choice from October thru February and just honor the category and price.

Nope!

Ouch! That hurts (I guess I don't really have to tell you that, do I?)

On 3/24/2022 at 8:25 PM, Two Wheels Only said:

 

So far, I've been able to add it to every cruise that was eligible. Even if it wasn't 5%+15% when I booked, I was able to add it later when it did become 5%+15% and it wasn't a cancel/rebook. The 15% discount was added to my already lower price. Sometimes, booking early will give a lower price but not the 15% discount. If the date is later added to the 15% discount dates, the deal might not be as good if the base fare has also gone up. 

 

If the new fare is higher, I keep what I have and add the 15% discount.

 

If the new fare is lower, I cancel/rebook and take the 15% discount. 

 

It's best to know your numbers before you call. 

If you do that with a YC booking, wouldn't the deposit be forfitted?

10 hours ago, phissy said:

This feature is not working on USA MSC site currently.

Only discount shown is 5%

. Even if it appears you are on 5+15 voyages section.

Voyagers Selections cruises not loading.

I guess calling is the only option.

Thanks for that.

In your experience, If the cruise is shown on the USA 5+15 webpage, will an agent be able to give the extra +15% or are the listings on each 5+10 or 5+15 not even accurate?

6 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

As one who has actually went after them let me enlighten you.

 

They took my YC GS and put me in a regular balcony at no reduction in fare.

 

Did they ever give a reason for the switch?

I'm just looking for now and trying to find out how to "see" the extra 15% discount if that's even possible without actually making a real booking.

As I test, I was looking at Mera - 11 nights - Dec 4, 2022

We status matched to Diamond (Black) just before covid hit.  Now, we're finally ready to actually cruise again and I'm not sure how the voyager discounts work.  On the US website, I can search for them (such as 5%+15%) and see a bunch of cruises without logging in.  Selecting one and starting a mock booking, I found an 11 night caribbean cruise Dec 2022 in Yacht Club for $3229pp.  

I think that's the full fare price before any discounts because when I log in with my Voyagers Club #, the same cruise shows $3067pp which just reflects the standard 5% discount.  

How/When does the extra 15% discount get added??

Thanks,

Paul