TrumpyNor

It has definitely been a significant change (raise) in prices for cruising after the covid-19 pandemic. We used to book balcony cabins, or at least OW cabins, and now only can afford inside cabins - and even they have a hefty price tag. Btw; it is not only NCL but all cruise lines. At least 4 that has been my impression.

According to photos I have of us enjoying the food at the Asian restaurants on board both the Spirit and the Jade in 2017 and 2018, it was more choices offered on the menu at that time than it is now.

The club balcony cabins on the Escape are nice, here are photos from our club balcony cabin on the Escape from summer 2022:

We have always enjoyed the Asian complimentary restaurants on NCL ships - BUT unfortunately the menu they offer now is much smaller than it used to be just a few years ago....

NCL seems to have both my husbands middle names (3!) and my middle name "on file" - as the booking confirmations always have only our first and last name, no middle names but on board they have "it all" (included on the ship cards, causing some strange names since there is not enough space on the card for all our names. Some times the name printed on the ship card just cuts the middle name when there is no more room, and sometimes (especially in my husbands case with a total of 5 names), The first name is listed on the card, then the middle names until there is no more room, and then NO last name....

Sorry, I just read the last few posts in this thread, and realized that the OP probably wrote the wrong month initially, and maybe meant MAY and August (instead of MARCH and August). If that is the case, then I still suggest August over May, simply because the weather in the northern parts of Europe is definitely more stable in August than in May. After all, we call August a summer month, but May for us is spring time....

If OP chooses to go in March - just remember that in all ports on the itinerary then the days are much shorter. So yes, larger chance of seeing the northern lights, BUT less chance of seeing much else in the darkness that sets in rather early in March.... As a native Norwegian, who actually live above the Arctic Circle, I have two different advices: If the main purpose of the cruise is the hope to see the Northen Lights (Aurora Borealis), then I would choose March. If the main purpose is to see lots of different scenery along the way, then I would choose the cruise in August.

This has been my experience as well - no canned soda included unless they were out of that particular fountain soda. Always possible to pay for a can with soda though, but price is about $3 + 20% gratuity, so rather expensive....

We have also done the "Antigua on your own", and found it to be very convenient.

Thank you all for your replies, I appreciate it! 😊

I have received FCC from my 2023 cruise, and then I have booked a cruise for 2024 where I plan on using the FCC that I have already have received as part of payment (just haven't had it applied yet as I am uncertain if I will cancel my 2024 cruise and rebook closer to the sailing date). And yes - I was wondering if a cruise that is partly (or even mainly) paid with FCC also would qualify for pricedrop FCC on the second cruise IF there is a pricedrop after I have paid it in full - that I then could use on a third cruise (eg. in 2025). Sorry about causing confusion.....

Nope, not a chance, as we currently have a price of $5700 for 2 persons in an inside cabin for a 10 days cruise (that includes FAS gratuities and the daily service charge). We will be going with a group of friends, so changing sailing dates is not an option.... That is why I am hoping for some kind of price reduction after final payment (and if it doesn't happen, then it is what it is, the cruise will be great any way - it is just my wallet that will be deeply unhappy). But I am at this point sincerely considering cancelling the cruise at this point (with no penalties), and then rebook maybe 2-3 months before sailing date instead (it is unlikely that the cruise will be sold out by then).

That is what I was thinking myself when I "didn't want to wait".

I received about $1700 FCC (2 persons) on a cruise we did had booked for the summer of 2023. When I applied for the pricedrop FCC (about 2 months before sailing date), my PCC actually asked me if I wanted to wait with the FCC application until I was closer to the sailing date, as I could apply for it as late as 16 days before sailing date. And stupid me replied to just go ahead and apply at that time instead of waiting. Turns out the cruise price dropped with another $1000 during the next month... So next time I will definitely wait until closer to the sailing date to apply for it.

Has anyone received pricedrop FCC in cases where the cruise was originally booked after the final payment date? Since it is about 4 months between final payment date and sailing date, it is not unlikely that a cruise booked about 2-3 months before sailing date drops even more in price closer to the sailing date.

I found it for you. 🙂 (I just had to scroll through "all" Viva roll calls not just the few listed for January. Found it down on page 3 of the Viva roll calls, as there has not been any new posts since September.

You can pre-order a baby crib for your cabin. Only other "baby stuff" you can pre-order (and pay for) on NCL are nappies and wet wipes.

I am actually not following the thread, but MY reply was quoted, and the person who quoted me gave the impression that he/she gave additional information but pretty much said exactly what I said. So I just didn't understand why my post was quoted in the first place (AND seemingly giving an inpression that my response was inaccurate...).🤔🙂🙃

That is exactly what I said, just with a different wording........

We were also two persons, and the price drop FCC was divided between the two of us. An alternative to asking for a price drop future cruise credit, is that there may have been significant pricedrops also in other cabin categories, so that you can purchase a regular upgrade and just pay a few dollars for the upgrade (just paying the difference between what you have already paid and the current price). This is possible to do also after final payment, as long as the new cabin cost more than the original cabin (even if the difference is only $1 in plus).

Instead of using the people mover, it is actually possible to walk from the pier and up to Piazzale Roma in just 15-20 minutes. Or just take a regular taxi - I believe the fixed price is €20 for up to 4 persons. Yes, the taxi is expensive, but still may be worth it if it gives you one extra hour to explore Venice.... 😉

I have used both, and the main difference to me was that CruiseFirst could be purchased online 8and CruiseNext can only be purcased on board), so my PCC suggested to purchase a CruiseFirst as deposit at a time where I had already used my original CruiseNext vouchers as deposits on other cruises. (At that time I believe that I paid $250 and got $500 paid off on the cruise I booked. At a later time I purchased one CruiseFirst for $150 and got $300 paid off on the cruise. So both time I used it as I did not have any CruiseNext vouchers left.). So based on what I have written above, it is actually a better deal to get the extra credit added to the future cruise (as you do with CruiseFirst) instead of as OBC (as you do with CruiseNext).

Yes you can. 😊

I received an Diamond upgrade last year that I was not happy with (from inside on deck 9 to oceanview on deck 5), so I asked to change to an ocean view cabin on a higher deck. I was then told "no, not possible". So I just said "no thank you", and kept the "one time upgrade" for a cruise I had booked for this year instead. And the cruise where I declined their "free upgrade offer" had a significant pricedrop on club balcony cabins after final payment date, and I ended up just paying $100 per person for an upgrade from a regular inside cabin to a club balcony cabin on a 10 days cruise. Just to avoid any misunderstandings: I just purchased a regular upgrade and just paid the difference between what I had already paid and the current club balcony price. It was not through the "upgrade advantage program".

We have been in connecting rooms on several occasions in the past - except for a door being "visible" on one of the walls, we have not noticed any difference to a non-connectiong room. Never heard more from neighbouring cabins if the room was of the "connecting type".