TrumpyNor

We have always used the National Express coach from Heathrow to Southampton (or the other way). Very easy and convenient, plus it is possible to pay a little extra for having the front seats in the bus.

Not anymore.... 😉 As Ziggyuk said, you need to ask for it now.

Definitely the 10-day cruise on the Viva, in my opinion. Especially if you have not cruised in Europe before. I have been to all ports on both itineraries and simpy find the ports on that cruise to be more interesting as they offer more variation.

I have done a Transatlantic cruise from Miami to Southampton (UK) in April, and the weather was nice and sunny most of the cruise (only some rain and stormy weather in the beginning of the cruise when close to Bermuda). I believe the weather can be more unstable when going the other way (westwards from Europe) in October or November, as those months often can be both windy and rainy. April/May is a time that is more likely to bring a "hint of spring and summer" during the cruise. Personally I found all those seadays to be boring, as one of my favorite parts of cruising is to arrive at a new port every morning... ☺️

I am not the one asking, I was just trying to help OP finding his roll call.... 😊

I think you may have more luck if you post this on the roll call for your particular cruise: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/66-norwegian-cruise-line-roll-calls/

If you paid your original shore excursions with only $50 shore excursion credit instead the $100 shore excursion credit that you now have, then you simply have to call NCL to have the original shore excursions cancelled and rebooked to get the correct discount that you now are entitled to.

It should be listed in your cruise confirmation papers if all guests have to be on board 1 hour or 2 hours prior to departure on embarkation day. We had a cruise out of Trieste on the Gem last year, and our papers had this listed on page two of the confirmation: Final Boarding Time Policy: Please be advised that on embarkation day, all guests must be onboard the ship no later than one (1) hour prior to the departure time noted on their cruise documents or they will not be permitted to sail. The all aboard "deadline" being one or two hours prior to the scheduled sailing time on embarkation day may vary by port and country, it could also vary by ship. So you should check what is listed on YOUR confirmation and go by that.

Tip: To bring with you a few fridge magnets is a good idea, as the walls in your cabin have metal in them and can be used as a huge magnetic board for hanging up various papers. 😊

I believe that the 30 days final payment date is an "EU regulated thing", with particual rules and regulations for socalled "package tours/package holidays". The 120 days payment date is for the American market.

For my husband and myself it is actually the opposite. On our MyNCL accounts as well as on booking confirmations booked directly with NCL, only first and last name shows. But when we get our ship cards at the pier on embarkation day, full names are printed incl middle names. And my husband has so many middle names that his last name doesn't does NOT show on the ship card....!

Canned soda has never been part of the Free at Sea beverage package. Usually NCL offers canned soda free of charge only if they ran out of the fountain soda or have problems with the soda machine. But you could always purchase a can of soda at any of the bars (often not kept cold though) for about $3,00 plus gratuities.

An important note regarding WHERE in Trieste the Gem might dock: Last year we did a cruise from Trieste with the Gem, where the embarkation was at the pier in the city centre, so veeeeery convenient. For the desembarkation a week later, we had booked a private transfer to the airport - with the same port/pier information given to the transfer company. BUT when the ship returned to Trieste after the cruise, we did NOT dock at the cruise port but in the middle of the commercial port (located 5-10 minutes drive from the city centre). It was very caotic to say the least - we were not the only ones waiting for private transfers that didn't arrive on time. And the taxi line at the pier was very long and new taxis where not arriving very often. So lots of worried people waiting in line, as they had flights to catch. We were among the very few who had our flight from Trieste airport instead of Venice airport, and that is the only reason we actually made it for our 11.00 AM flight.

An NCL Internet Manager once told me that IF at any time I had problems with internet connections on board while out at sea, then the closer I was to the location of the internet cafe on board, the better connections....

After you have purchased your regular upgrade, it is also possible to check for "bidding upgrade possibilities" directly, even if you have not received any e-mail "invitation" to bid on upgrades. https://upgrade.plusgrade.com/offer/NCL/

It is my understanding that when you have been given a Latitude number, then an NCL account is automatically created in your name? At least that was the case for my husband - we have always booked all our NCL cruises with me as "first passenger", and allthough he has never "used it" to book anything (and also not "created it himself") - it is available online. Only time it was ever actually used for anything was in 2020, when we received some FCC because of a couple of cruises that NCL cancelled because of covid, then 50% of the FCC was put in my husbands NCL account.

Fo regular cabins and Latitude status bronze-silver-gold it is 120 days before the cruise, for Latitudes platinum-sapphire-diamond it is 125 days out, and for Haven suites and Latitude ambassador I believe it is 130 days before the cruise.

That is not entirely true... I have had the same US based PCC at NCL since 2008, she is great and a "senior PCC" so she is definitely not part of the group of consultants who answer the general phone line when calling NCL....

As you are talking about two different ports (not over-night-stay in the same port), it may be difficult to get permission to do this as a private tour. Simply because Israeli authorities would have you registered as arriving AND departing with the cruise ship the first day, and then arriving and departing with the cruise ship in Haifa the next day. Except that you would not actually be doing that, so I am suspecting that NCL would have to get an OK from the Israeli authorities on your behalf....... And that may be more complicated than you wuold think, simply because it is a foreign country...

Thank you.

I am sorry, but I have absolutely no idea what you mean by "the princess incident".

As others have pointed out, the answer to your question would be NO. That only leaves you with two choices since you don't want your laundry tumble dried: You simply do the laundry by hand in the tiny sink in your bathroom (unless you have a club balcony cabin that comes with a tub), and then leave the wash to dry either on the clothing line in the shower or (if you have a balcony) you can also have them to dry on the balcony chairs. You just order your clothing to be drycleaned instead - of course more expensive than regular laundry service, but still an option.....

If positive of covid while on a cruise, I would certainly not feel the need to contact the medical center on board if all I have are regular flu symptoms (as I would not feel the need to contact my regular doctor at home if getting flu symptoms). I would remain in my cabin for a few days to relax and get better, and when "out and about" if needed, be wearing a facemask (I always bring a few with me just to be on the safe side) and try to keep distance to people the best I can. After all, in 2023 covid is a flu - and most people have had their multiple vaccinations to avoid serious complications because of it (my self included). And if they haven't, well - that is simply not my responsability.

I live in the Arctic (above the Arctic Circle) where we do see the northern lights rather often (mainly between September and April because the nights are darker at that period) and I have never ever heard that you must look to the north to see the northern lights. You simply just look UP.... My living room windows faces towards the west (not north at all), and I have countless photos of the northern lights that I have taken from them.

Initials, last name, cellphone and/or email address meets the requirements from most airlines.