Jocecruise

I can't see how the port would be open in SJ. The whole island is down ...they are in dire need of help for basic needs.

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It breaks oir heart to see the devastation in Dominica. Some of our fondest cruising memories are in Dominica.

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Did you plot your route on google maps? :x Just wondering how you navigated around! Do you remember the bakeries?

No sorry I don't remember the bakeries...it was in a commercial center. As for the route, yes we mapped it on Google maps. But everything was close to each other. You can find some nice info on TripAdvisor too!

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You were able to just get off the ship and walk to the attractions then? Thanks for the info!

Yes you can walk to St-louis cathedral, the fort, the library and the spice market from there !! I didn't find Fort-de-France run down ! !! Not as poor as all the other ports we visit !!

Thanks Joecruise! Would love to see the Cathedral and eat pastries!! Do you remember what bakery you visited and do they take US dollars?

I don't know the name of the bakery. ..I saw so many ! It was in a commercial center downtown where we went to buy my son a French book !

They probably take US dollars...we had bought Euros before going. I know around the port they take US dollars at par with Euros which is a great exchange rate for you...at least 20% ..

We are back and we loved Fort-de-France! Lots of people to help in English at Port ! We strolled thru the streets, stopped at the library, visited the Cathedral and went to the Grand Marche. HAd some pastries. .. just loved it !

Yep - and don't bother w/Euro. Just pay w/a CC.

Even at the Grand Marché ?

We enjoyed savory crêpes and cidre while ashore in Fort-de-France.

OMG !! Cider just like in Brittany? 😆 We went to visit Brittany for our honeymoon. ..the crêpes bretonnes are to die for ! !!

We are going in 2 weeks. We plan to go visit Saint Louis Cathedral, the library and The Grand Marche. All are close to one another and seems quite close to the pier.

The Cathedral was designed by Effel and is supposed to be quite beautiful.

We are not planning a beach day here as we have one the previous and following ports. If we pass by a pharmacy I will definitely go in to buy French beauty products... at less than what it sells for in the US and Canada

Wow ! ! I can't wait to get there !!!

I agree with Rochelle ,

but correct me if i'm wong

Ncl sells OBC (on board credit) for use on the ship while you cruise

:Quote from josecruise " the cashier asked him if it was to play in the casino and DH told the truth (second mistake) that it was to use in port and that No he wouldn't be playing in the casino "

Does that not constitute fraud maybe I'm wrong

Fraud ???? Fraud ? No. NCL offers OBC at a premium rate, cruisers decide to buy some to use onboard or not !!! That doesn't constitute fraud in any way... nobody does anything criminal here !

NCL probably has funds in bank accounts in many denominations and might be sitting on CDN fund earned while the dollar was at par with the US Dollar not even 2-3 years ago or so. You know that's an exchange gain of 19% if they sell it to me for OBC now??? Who's profiting now ?

Moreover does anyone has ever heard of future rate options??? If they got into such a contract to guarantee they can buy the money at 10-15% and they are selling it to me for 19%, they have gain and I profite from a reduced rate. ...

Anyway I won't comment anymore on this, not worth it to get insulted !!!

I honestly don't understand the complaining... NCL is not a bank.. If the exchange rate sucks, well... Too bad so sad - you can't expect to use OBC brought via the cruiseline as a way to fund the rest of your trip cheaply... Seriously, how much cash do you think they keep on board anyway? Not to mention, that what folks are trying to do could be perceived as the equivalent of money laundering and technically violates international laws about knowingly moving money across borders. C'mon people... You will complain even more if the money NCL loses through this blatant leveraging of the exchange rate loophole causes your cruise prices to rise.

Woh there !! No need for this kind of comments !!

OK gang we kind of figured it out ! My husband went to the cashier in the casino while it was closed (first mistake ) and asked to withdraw money. ..the cashier asked him if it was to play in the casino and DH told the truth (second mistake) that it was to use in port and that No he wouldn't be playing in the casino ! !!

So I guess you guys are OK !!! DH is way too honest and abhorres any kind of gambling ! !!

Could you please share with us the reason they told you "No!" in the casino and at guest services. They must have explained to you why they refused to do this. Others have indicated no problem with doing this transaction.

 

Since most of us have purchased OBC and were counting on cashing it out in the casino, this new development is of much interest to us.

 

I will cancel our $1000.00 before our cruise in May if we have to use it strictly for onboard expenses.

No answer apart than "we are not cashing out money from OBC acct". When I continued to argue with the manager he told me "Madam, there is no way you are getting money "!!!

I suggest you call there client service line again ! !

I can well imagine you were upset, at any point did they give you any reason?

 

 

Rochelle

Guest service manager said they were not cashing out money from OBC, that it was a misunderstanding. When I told him I had confirmed this with guest service 1-800 from NCL prior to purchasing the OBC he said it was an error from Miami and he would clear it out with them...

Did they say they would refund any unused OBC to your credit card or by check?

 

Maybe they are just trying to make sure that OBC is used onboard the ship and if that is the case, they really have to figure out something, so that dollars can be used in the casino. I understand not giving cash, because some won't use it in the casino, but possibly promotional chips and slot play would solve that.

At first the guest service manager said they would issue a check after the cruise. .. I refused and asked that they cancel the credit card transaction which they did ! I was not impressed overall, so we're the 4 other couples with us who had purchased some OBC as well

Were you trying to withdraw your money at the front desk and were denied?

 

This is the only explanation I can see for there being different reports from two people on the exact same cruise.

 

The only place you can get cash from your on board account is in the casino.

 

There must be a reasonable explanation of why you were denied access to your funds?

 

 

Rochelle

Went to casino -answer was No. Then went to guest services. Same answer. Made a bit of a scene to no avail !!

This is weird, I was on the same cruise with you, had no problem at all to withdraw my 1000$ on day 2, same thing for my friend on day 3....

 

When did you go???

I went first to casino and then to the guest services counter.. even talked to the guest services manager. ...

At a charge of 3%

 

Mike

Well certainly not on Norwegian Star !! I was refused to withdraw any money from my onboard credit

OK this is just a big oax !!! I purchased $1000 of on board credit and when on the ship (Star) I was refused to do a withdrawal. .. I even had it confirmed with the guest 1-800 number before purchasing it!!

mini bar in the room is not included

I usually ask to have it emptied ! 😊

Full, always up to date list can be found from NCL's site:

 

https://www.ncl.com/terms/ultimate-beverage-package

Thanks !!

At a charge of 3%

 

Mike

Perfect ! Thanks !

Has anyone just bought obc and pay the 3% to cash in at casino then take the cash home. At those rates of 1.16 I'm thinking about it. It costs me around 1.4 at the bank to exchange

Well, not to bring hone but to pay my private excursions in Port !!!

Do I understand correctly that you can retrieve cash money in USD from your onboard act at the casino ?