phillygwm

I was on the Joy in November and it was closed, at least whenever I passed by. On previous cruises, I'd stop in if I had OBC to burn. I enjoyed their milkshakes; everything else was just OK. Hopefully, they'll be open for breakfast and lunch.

Technically you play chips at the games. In fact, if you put cash on the table (for a double or split, for instance) they'll convert to chips. How do you BUY chips? Usually cash, as stated. But you could have a casino marker OR CREDIT. When you have a casino line of credit, they'll only pay out in cash up to a certain amount per day. Above that and it goes on your account. When you approach a table, you'd ask the floor person to give you $ from your account. It takes a few minutes for those formalities; there's a slip to sign etc. I've never tried to wire funds in advance of my play but don't see why it shouldn't be possible. Recommend you call or email CAS to confirm that.

It's a coupon for a 10% discount on a late September Alaska cruise. That is, generously, shoulder season. I'm not sure how many excursions are still offered (I know anything on a helicopter is not.) I love Alaska but I booked the month prior. It cost more but I think it will be a better overall experience.

Please give us an update. I know they flag the NCL reservations merchant ID, which is how you receive the $200 credit in the first place. I only wonder whether they'll give you cash rather than a credit back to the card used for the purchase. I wouldn't think that NCL would do that (what if Aunt Sadie put an OBC gift into your account? Would she get the funds returned?) but you'll find out soon enough, I suppose.

Silly question but where? Guest Services?

Funny, I'm flying into PHL as well, also on a redeye (AA.) Thankfully, we land on Labor Day so we'll have that day to recover. There was an afternoon flight but it was way more costly. Plus, given the time difference, we'd get in late evening so it would essentially be a wasted day in the air. Until I found this service, my plan was to rent a car (there's an Avis office not far from the pier) so I could ditch luggage there but then parking becomes an issue. This eliminates a lot of expense/complexity.

I have similar issues. I usually just upgrade my cabin accordingly 🙂 Amex just ran the $200 refund on $1000 spend promo for some of us. Same challenge: I found myself booking my FAS+, prepaying DSC, and booking an excursion, despite it being 9 months before sailing, just to hit the threshold.

CruiseNext may only be purchased onboard, though they're transferrable so you can get them in the secondary market. You may purchase up to 4 of them in $250 increments for $125 each. You can usually use two toward your cruise deposit, though I believe that varies based on cabin type and cruise length. I usually book balcony 7 day cruises and they allow me to double up. Your total savings would be $250 under that scenario. CruiseFirst may be purchased online. Usually, it's $150 for a $300 certificate. Occasionally, NCL runs a promo so you can buy $500 for $250. You cannot double these up. If you can catch one of the $250/500 CruiseFirst promos, there's no financial difference. If you got the standard $150/300, your net savings is $100 less than you'd have with CruiseNext.

Nice. I found a website where I can register in advance so I did it. What a great service. Appreciate the information!

I saw a link for a free luggage service sponsored by the Port of Seattle. It listed a number of cruise lines, including NCL, which are part of the program. The website states you put your bag out the night before and you pick it up at your home airport. Seems too simple 🙂 I would have thought you'd need to bring your bag through Customs then perhaps drop it on the other side. Perhaps I missed it but saw no mention of it here. Has anyone used it? I'm curious as to how it would work. Thanks!

I'm 1 for 3. OK, my biggest piece of advice, having been there firsthand (and as a solo) : You're on either the 3 or 4 day to GSC and Nassau, i.e. the "Booze Cruise." That's perfectly fine for what it is; I've done it a couple times including my very first cruise (RCCL.) I didn't HATE it but it took me 10 years to get around to going on another one because I can get perfectly drunk on land. Plus, I'd been to Nassau previously, having blown off my college commencement for an all-inclusive (long story.) 🙂 This cruise will simply not be indicative of what a 7+ day (arguably to more desirable ports) would be, so enjoy yourself but don't judge all cruises -- for better or worse -- by this one. The best part of having the drink package is experimenting. Unless you go for high end stuff, in which case I'd recommend upgrading to Free at Sea Plus, pretty much everything is covered. You'll pay taxes on drinks you have in Miami and maybe a few bucks here or there but it shouldn't be a big amount. So find a favorite bar or two, get acquainted with the bartenders there (maybe throw them a few bucks) and ask them for recommendations. Have fun!

The stock is way above where it was earlier this year but even if you buy 100 shares at $20, if you cruise frequently, it's a good deal. The process is simple: Fill out a form, send a redacted brokerage statement showing the holding, and it's in your account within a few days.

I think you meant @PhillyTravelBug I did do a similar excursion in September 2016 but just to the White Pass summit, not all the way up to Yukon. Not sure if they offered it back then; I think I would have preferred the longer trip if it had been. I'm a banker and tend to be, shall we say, frugal. But I'm going again in August, full YOLO this time 🙂 Chose my sailing so I could helicopter up to the Mendenhall Glacier and go dogsledding. Last time, I went too late in the season so that excursion wasn't available. We did the one where the dogs pulled you around on a gravel track, which was not quite the same.

Nice, if it's indeed true. I'll load up on my next cruise!

I went on the shorter version in 2016. At the time, it may have been the only option offered by NCL. It was very picturesque. I'm considering going on the longer version on my Alaska cruise next year.

Anyone else want to helicopter up to Mendenhall Glacier and go dog sledding? 🤣

Nice. I'm doing this itinerary August 25-Sept 1. I chose that date because I have a "bucket list" excursion that isn't offered late in the season (Helicopter to Mendenhall Glacier and Dogsledding.) If you haven't already, check out the NCL board for others' comments on cruising this late in the season. It's a full month later than the other cruise lines. Certainly don't want to dissuade you but go in with your eyes open 🙂

Agreed but turns out this wasn't a website issue. Whoever added my comp in Shareholder Services nuked my existing reservation 😞

Mystery solved: When they added my shareholder OBC they somehow lost my original stateroom. My CAS rep is handling it. 🙂

About two weeks ago, I booked a cruise through my CAS rep (category MA.) In order to use my Amex offer, I paid the balance in full shortly thereafter. Last night, I was playing around with excursions and noticed 1) I'm now in a totally different stateroom (BF); and 2) I now have a $1800+ balance, which was more than the entire cost of my cruise. The confirmation number is the same as it was originally. The stateroom number looks like one I was mock booking for my sister (but I did NOT pay for it and she booked separately.) I logged out, cleared cookies, and waited overnight. Still showing the same. I have an email in to CAS to see what's going on. I know the website can be notoriously glitchy but could this be for real?

I don't mind (and actually prefer) auto-shuffle but hate continuous. You're right; it's always been a shoe in the past and I was rather surprised they pulled that. I was cursed at the tables on my last cruise so spent most of my money on slots anyway.

A couple years ago my charger died and they didn't sell them on the ship at the time. It was a weekend Nassau booze cruise (I needed a couple Latitudes points and had an expiring American Airlines credit.) I was wandering around the streets of Nassau, where I wouldn't have otherwise disembarked, looking for a phone store.

I'm usually at the $50 table and, at least on the Joy, that was continuous shuffle as of 2 weeks ago.

I get $200+ non-refundable, between being a shareholder and Pearl level in the casino plus whatever I've "earned" in the casino, if I don't use it as play. I usually find it tough to spend since I buy FAS+ and you can't use it for DSC. I usually do a couple wine tastings, maybe an extra premium meal, then some bottles in the gift shop. I suppose you could use it to purchase excursions but I prefer doing that in advance since many are capacity controlled. Maybe airport transfers? Last cruise I went with my niece and her bf and they amazed me at how much they spent (those his and her massages are expensive!) I suppose I'm just not that imaginative!

Depends on the time. Generally $10-15. ALL tables, except in the high limit room ($100+) were continuous shuffle tables on the Joy. Not sure about elsewhere.