The Wanderer_112358

What is the latest status of the ship?

8 minutes ago, Starry Eyes said:

Pack the wine in your carry on bags.  Place it somewhere easily accessible, so you can pull out the bottles at the corkage fee table in the terminal.  They apply stickers to each bottle after you pay the fee.  

 

If you plan to take the bottles to a public venue such as a restaurant, you’ll want the sticker, so find the table.  If the bottles will stay in your cabin and nobody walks you from security to the corkage table, it becomes your call whether to find the corkage table and declare the bottles.

 

I have not sailed from Barcelona for a few years, so things may well have changed there.   My last Barcelona cruise was on a different line. Perhaps somebody else can update.  As I recall it was easy to carry wine aboard the other line without anybody flagging it...basically honor system (unless it was in a liquor or wine store bag that caught their eye).

Thanks!

1 hour ago, sarar said:

I have just had an itinerary change email from NCL Montenegro a Technical stop only but we all knew that anyway🤔. Don’t understand by the email if they are giving us an additional $100 per stateroom for this?

What is a "technical stop"?

11 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

You actually don’t want it to be done. At this point, a major dry dock means that your cruise would be delayed. Lots of cruises can be cancelled. A TA can only be delayed. 

Can you explain a little more?

I'm not sure that a ship this size can safely cross the Atlantic with one engine out.

With schedules as tight as they are on cruise schedules, I just don't see how they arrange large engine replacements with just cruise delays and not complete cruise cancellations.

I will be in Barcelona for 4 days before my ship the NCL Star sails.  I am a little worried about the current Star engine issues right now.

I simply LOVE Barcelona!  Yes, it is always full of tourist, but the people are easy going, friendly and the culture is amazing!  Plus, as we both know, GREAT inexpensive Spanish wines.

My hotel is walking distance from the cruise pier.  Plus, there is a handy Cruise Port Bus Shuttle if it's raining.

I can't wait!

7 minutes ago, Starry Eyes said:

Last time I sailed from Barcelona, corkage was not uniformly collected at the pier.  At that time, whenever one opened the bottles in the cabin, one could enjoy glasses there or carry the glasses anywhere.  There was even a store in the terminal past security.  Not certain of the current situation.

That brings up a good question.

What should be my procedure for carrying on my two bottles of Spanish wine at Embarkation in my small carry-on daypack?  Do I notify the security agents of my wine?  Or do I let them notify me during personal items searches?

In other words,  how is wine brought on board identified for a corkage fee at Security?

What would you suggest?

1 hour ago, Heartfelttraveler said:

Any update on the repairs and current operations on the Star?

Our cruise is not until February, but we will be cruising pretty far south and have lots of miles to cover.

Me too.  My sailing leaves Barcelona for Miami on Nov. 22.

I'm a little worried that the engine work will be done by then for a transatlantic trip.

34 minutes ago, CazV said:

But also I'd not recommend it... better to bring a couple more bottles on board and pay the corkage imo 

I agree.  I really can't stand cheap, sparkling wine.

Since I will be leaving from Barcelona, I'll buy me a couple of bottles of nice Spanish red wines and pay the uncorking fee.

Thanks.

27 minutes ago, Starry Eyes said:

If you like inexpensive sparkling wine, you could make friends with latitudes members (loyalty members) who have drink packages; they may not want the free bubbly gift in their cabins.

Ha,ha! I don't need to beg from other passengers for a bottle of cheap wine.  I was just wondering if the ship has special beverage discounts after coming on board.

As my original post stated, I do usually bring a bottle of wine on board.

I can afford a drink whenever I want thanks.

3 hours ago, aceparty said:

"Free Style Cruising"

NCL offers for everyone to "Feel Free To Cruise Your Way"

 

If someone wants to get on a cruise ship and enjoy someone cooking, cleaning, etc etc then they should not have to pay for it. Book the cheapest way to do it.

 

If someone wants to have the options to eat in the upgraded restaurants, Drink 10 + drinks a day, ride go carts etc etc  you can book with the upgrades at a cost.

 

NCL's Base cruise rates for the basic cruise is a great value. Try going to any major resort and have a place to stay, eat, entertainment, etc. for the same price.

 

I have done "sailaway Rate" and have had a great time. Although I prefer to do the Perks. That way if I want it I know its already in the cost. Our 2 week cruise In January we already paid for the Thermal spa.

 

FEEL FREE TO
CRUISE YOUR WAY

I agree!  Good post!  Thanks.

11 minutes ago, pcakes122 said:

I do only stay in the Haven or suites on NCL, but I'm also disabled and on a mobility scooter and my experience is that people have gone out of their way to be gracious to me even when I am outside of the Haven.  I was thinking this was my experience, perhaps it's just my attitude?  Life's too short so I choose to only see the good.

*sigh*

2 hours ago, sarar said:

The cruise at the moment has had Itinerary changes and my one starting tomorrow has had Santorini dropped and only a 2 hour stop in Montenegro at night when nothing is open, the cruise at the moment has had 4 ports dropped.  Only been offered $100 per cabin and we have to share that between 3 and a 20% FCC when I wont go with them again for another 6 years probably as their Guest Services is shocking as always.

Do you know if the engine repairs have been done or is the ship just getting by with one less engine?

Any updates from the bridge?

Thanks!

9 minutes ago, WYB! said:

Ya know, you can just buy and enjoy drinks off the ship at what ever port you visit.

You know, that is the best idea!  Perfect! Thank you!

9 minutes ago, ColeThornton said:

Um...why are you having a conversation with yourself?  🙂

Um, why do you care? 🙂

Obviously from what I read, the engine is not repairable in the ship.

The whole engine will have to be replaced.

So, where can that be done?

How long would that take?

Could the ship continue on a transatlantic voyage with one dead engine?

Are current passengers being removed and sent home?

I called NCL and asked about this and was told that everything is fine...

Well, that wasn't much help.

I thought someone on the ship right now might know.

Or anyone that might have been told anything.

Thanks.

I am booked on the NCL Star departing from Barcelona on Nov. 22 for Miami.

I heard that they were having to replace an engine, which meant cutting a huge hole in the hull to remove and replace the damaged engine.  Where will this be done?

Will they have time to do this in just two weeks before the Barcelona sailing?

What about current passengers on the ship right now?

Anyone?

7 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

There will be a drink of the day. A couple of bucks off. 

About what I expected, thanks!

I'm not a big drinker, but since I haven't cruised with NCL before, I thought that I would ask.

I booked my cabin as a Sail Away with no included package deals.  I will be bringing a bottle of wine on board and paying the $15 uncorking fee.

Does the cruise offer any beverage deals once aboard? Like a "happy hour" or special day discount?

I doubt that there will be, but just curious.

7 hours ago, SouthLyonCruiser said:

I'm with you. If the cruise line included all of these 'nickel and dime' items we could not afford to cruise. I wish we could pay our taxes like this, just pay for what you use.

Me neither!

As a Solo traveler,  during my research I have found an NCL Solo Studio Cabin to be way more expensive  than a regular Sail Away rate Inside Cabin with a Solo Cruiser Discount.  Is the Studio Cabin the really that much nicer for one person?

Plus, a regular Sail Away rate Inside Cabin with a Solo Cruiser Discount is available on a lot more cruises than a Studio Cabin is.

Just curious.

19 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

You don’t know. It will typically be configured according to the prior passengers. Your steward can change it on embarkation day. 

Thanks!

11 minutes ago, debenson0723 said:

Typically in an inside room when only one passenger is on the manifest, it will be one larger bed.  If you would like the two twins, just ask your cabin steward and they will be able to change the configuration.

Thanks!

I believe that the bed in an Inside Cabin can be pulled together as a full size bed or separated into two twin size beds.  Is that true?

Which way will it be configured?

I am a Solo traveler.

7 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

NCL presents itself as a low cost line - and it is, if the extras are avoided.  Th3 problem is that, once on board, people find themselves dissatisfied with what that low fare provides.  They want better food and service than comes in the MDR - they do want a few drinks, and they decide (logically or not) that they “need” internet.  Then they find that the bargain cruise they thought they were getting was a lot more expensive.

 

Of course they complain.

And that is who's fault?  Yep.  You guessed it.