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cruising777

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Posts posted by cruising777

    Barbados around the island tour

    in Barbados

    Posted

    Hello,

    Looking for a tour that will take my husband and I around the entire island of Barbados.  We are not interested in the boatyard, we take cruises to explore the island!  We are in port from 10am-7pm therefore I think we need to take a private tour as I contacted several of the group tour companies through trip advisor and they all depart prior to 10am.  Any recommendations for tour guides?  Looking for inexpensive but reliable, and good.  Thank you!

    Tortola Island Tour

    in Tortola

    Posted

    Hello,

    we are looking for a tour that goes around the island and stops at all the scenic places.  I heard somewhere that there are tours right at the port, does anyone know how long those tours are and how much they cost?
    Thank you

    Shore Excursion Credit from NCL and using it

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    If you booked and paid for an excursion it does not qualify for the Shore Excursion credit from the promotion. If you want the credit, call back, cancel and rebook so that you pay onboard.

     

    You can call the main NCL number, select the Shore Excursion option and book with an agent, you don't have to use the special number to make reservations.

     

    The credit is per excursion, so if you only book one excursion you only get one $50 credit. You can apply the promotion to up to 4 ports for a max of $200 for a cruise/cabin. For locations like Bermuda it works out to a per day credit since the port is the same for the duration of the cruise. The credit is applied after the NCL excursion is completed.

     

    If a port is missed or you don't book an excursion through NCL you don't get the credit.

     

    I used the perk on our family cruise in August and just booked 3/4 excursions for my solo holiday cruise. I like the perk as I typically book through the cruise ship if I book an excursion. At the time of booking I was given pricing and that was what we were charged in August. For my cruise in December I recorded the prices so we'll see if that holds true onboard.

     

    We just returned from our cruise and I have to disagree with your comment "If you booked and paid for an excursion it does not qualify for the Shore Excursion credit from the promotion. If you want the credit, call back, cancel and rebook so that you pay onboard"

     

    For Canadians, it's best to book and pay prior to the cruise as we receive a better exchange rate and also we did qualify for the shore excursion credits by booking prior to the cruise. The onboard credit appears after you have done your excursion at the port. If you pay onboard, you will be charged in USD$ at the exchange rate for the day. We saved 25% exchange by booking prior to the cruise!

    Shore Excursion Credit from NCL and using it

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted · Edited by cruising777

    Thank-you!! - will you please let me know if you had any trouble once you get back from your cruise?

     

    Cruising777 have you gone on your cruise yet, and if so, how was your experience with the shore credits? I'm also in Canada and am curious how the exchange rate is handled - ie is it also "frozen", like the cost of the excursion, at whatever it was the day you booked, or did you end up paying more when you actually took the excursions because it had gone up since you booked?

     

    We have returned from our cruise and everything went perfectly with the credits. We paid CAD$ when I booked the excursions before at the rate that I booked the cruise at. The credits do NOT show up anywhere prior to the cruise, you will receive the credit the day you arrive at port and attend the excursion. These credits are considered refundable credits which means if you don't use all of them, they will be refunded to you. **Also any purchases made onboard if you don't have any onboard credits will be charged to you in USD $. The best thing to do is book everything at least 3 days before the cruise departs to ensure you receive the CAD exchange rate from your cruise. **Also you have to book and pay prior to the cruise to receive the exchange rate at booking, don't book things online as you will not receive the CAD $ quoted online.

     

    I also purchased onboard credits prior to my cruise to add to my account. I did this prior because it was also the same exchange rate from my cruise booking. We did not use all the credits I purchased so I am being refunded the balance by cheque in the mail. The cheque will be in USD $ which is awesome because I basically purchased the cash @ 11% exchange as opposed to 36% exchange! I really recommend doing this as well, if you don't mind waiting for the money to be returned to you.

    Florence & Pisa On Your Own Excursion question??

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted · Edited by cruising777

    We don't do a lot of travelling. This trip is a trip of a lifetime for us. Don't know if we'll ever make it back to Italy or Europe, that's why we are trying to get in as much as possible. I know that cruising only gives you a taste of the city but c'est la vie!

    Also, the ship's excursion gives us the most time (10hrs) compared to others like tuscanybus.com (8hrs).

    Thanks for your input!

    Shore Excursion Credit from NCL and using it

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Imalismom;

     

    I have booked 3 shore excursions for our upcoming cruise in October. I also chose the shore excursion credit. ($50 each port up to 4 ports). I have paid for all 3 excursions upfront on my credit card. The shore excursion credit will be added to my onboard spending account on the first day of the cruise. When I log in to my NCL account, I don't see any credits, but I did confirm with the rep as to when they will appear.

    I specifically wanted to pay up front because I'm Canadian and anything I prepay prior to my cruise I pay in Canadian dollars at the booking exchange rate of when I booked my cruise which is a huge difference right now with the exchange rate. :)

    Norwegian's Free at Sea

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Had the UBP twice now before gratuities became extra. That was a good deal, but like you we don't drink enough to cover the gratuities now that they are not included in the deal. So, that is out for us now.

     

    Tried the UDP before it became the Specialty dining plan, all five of us agreed that we are just as happy eating at the MDR. So, that option is out for us.

     

    We would go with the shore excursion credit & wifi also.

    murcor; I'm considering changing my 2 picks as I sail in October. I currently have the speciality dining and the shore excursion credit. Thinking of exchanging one of them for the wifi.

    We've sailed only twice before but never on NCL. We've never tried speciality dining on Celebrity or Carnival. Celebrity the food was amazing, Carnival was good but nothing to brag about.

    Wondering if the complimentary restaurants are sufficient for our liking and worth getting?

    We are not big drinkers to pay the 18% gratuity so that's definitely out.

    Yes of course it's nice to disconnect from the world on vacation but some of us need to keep in touch with my children and family at home.

    What do you think?

    FREE at SEA offers - which ones?

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    I'm sailing on the Epic in October and I am re-evaluating my choices for which 2 FREE at SEA offers are right for us. Trying to decide which 2?

     

    Unlimited Beverages - We are not heavy drinkers at all, I'm ok with drinking water all week. Even though it's free the cost of gratuities is 18% and we only have one day at sea. So thinking this is not for us even though it's a great deal!

     

    Free Wifi - I know we will be on vacation and it's nice to be away from everything including internet but it would be nice to check my email to see if any of my shore excursions booked are trying to contact me or to check in on weather etc.

     

    Shore Excursion Credit - I have booked 2 shore excursions through NCL; If I choose the shore excursion credit that would give me $50 x 2 ports = $100

     

    Speciality Dining - Trying to decide if it's worth getting this. Is the regular dining ok?

     

    Currently I've chosen the Speciality Dining and the Shore Excursion Credit. Thinking of getting the free wifi in exchange for either the dining or the shore excursion credit? If I do decide to keep the speciaity dining, I would like to make my reservations soon as I'm within the 90 day period.

     

    Thoughts and advice would be appreciated.

    Thank you!

    NCL EPIC Disembarkation time?

    in Ask a Cruise Question

    Posted

    cruiserking, Yes the cruise ends in Civitavecchia.

    My first question was for the port of Naples which we arrive at 7am and we need to meet the tour operator at 8:30am

    My second question was for the end of the cruise in Civitavecchia which arrives at 6am and we need to take the train to Venice.

    I have now also posted the question on the NCL forum as you suggested.

    Thank you :)

    Disembarkation time?

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Hello fellow cruisers;

     

    I've only cruised twice and both times they were smaller ships. I will be sailing on the NCL Epic (which is quite larger than I have experienced) in October and I have a few questions.

    1) If we arrive at the Naples Port at 7am, what time can I expect to be off the ship? I've booked an excursion (not through the cruiseline) and they said pick up at port is 8:30am. Is this enough time for us to get off the ship and meet our guide?

    2) Our cruise ends in Civitavecchia and docks at 6am then we will be boarding the train to Venice. I am trying to figure out what time to book our train for? What time can I expect to be off the ship?

     

    Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

    Thank you

    NCL EPIC Disembarkation time?

    in Ask a Cruise Question

    Posted

    Hello fellow cruisers;

     

    I've only cruised twice and both times they were smaller ships. I will be sailing on the NCL Epic (which is quite larger than I have experienced) in October and I have a few questions.

    1) If we arrive in Port at 7am, what time can I expect to be off the ship? I've booked an excursion (not through the cruiseline) and they said pick up at port is 8:30am. Is this enough time for us to get off the ship and meet our guide?

    2) Our cruise ends in Civitavecchia and docks at 6am then we will be boarding the train to Venice. I am trying to figure out what time to book our train for? What time can I expect to be off the ship?

     

    Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

    Thank you

    Time it takes to get off ship?

    in Ask a Cruise Question

    Posted

    Hello fellow cruisers;

     

    I've only cruised twice and both times they were smaller ships. I will be sailing on the NCL Epic (which is quite larger than I have experienced) in October and I have a few questions.

    1) If we arrive in Port at 7am, what time can I expect to be off the ship? I've booked an excursion (not through the cruiseline) and they said pick up at port is 8:30am. Is this enough time for us to get off the ship and meet our guide?

    2) Our cruise ends in Civitavecchia and docks at 6am then we will be boarding the train to Venice. I am trying to figure out what time to book our train for? What time can I expect to be off the ship?

     

    Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

    Thank you

    Marseille to Cassis (and back)

    in France Ports

    Posted

    Any idea of how much it would cost for a taxi from the Marseille port to Cassis?

    I am also cruising on the EPIC in October and NCL doesn't offer any excursions to Cassis. I've searched shore excursions and I can't find any that just take you to Cassis. I would rather spend the day there than waste time going to other places in Marseille.

    Thank you LoopyLou66!

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