NCL Pre-Cruise hotel package

[bradleyk]

I usually book my own hotel and figure out my own way of getting to the port. In Miami this is not a problem, but in April when I sailed out of Port Canaveral it was kind of a pain. I am thinking about the NCL pre-cruise hotel package when I sail the Epic out of Canaveral again. Has anyone used this before? If so what has your experience been?

[MikeBTN]

I believe NCL charges per person, so it honestly may be way cheaper to book direct.

 

We usually rent a car at the airport, stay near the port, and return the car to a location near the port. They all have free shuttles to take you to the port or its a $10 Uber ride if you don't want to wait. This is almost always cheaper than a shuttle and definitely cheaper than a taxi/Uber from MCO to PC.

 

Budget, Enterprise, Alamo, National, and Avis all have free shuttles to PC from their Cape Canaveral locations.

[bradleyk]

I believe NCL charges per person, so it honestly may be way cheaper to book direct.

 

We usually rent a car at the airport, stay near the port, and return the car to a location near the port. They all have free shuttles to take you to the port or its a $10 Uber ride if you don't want to wait. This is almost always cheaper than a shuttle and definitely cheaper than a taxi/Uber from MCO to PC.

 

Budget, Enterprise, Alamo, National, and Avis all have free shuttles to PC from their Cape Canaveral locations.

I'm trying to avoid the hassle of renting a car

 

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[Bootman4U]

I do not quite understand the issue here. Do you KNOW of any hotels which are close to the port? Have you searched for any? If you do/have I would book them directly and take a TAXI or a hotel shuttle to the port.

[Shawnino]

I do not quite understand the issue here. Do you KNOW of any hotels which are close to the port? Have you searched for any? If you do/have I would book them directly and take a TAXI or a hotel shuttle to the port.

 

This.

If you need help finding a good deal on a hotel near the port, there are a million hotel booking sites.

Pick your favourite. They are all over TV.

Cruise Critic has a sister site which is one: Trip Advisor.

[NOLEcruiser08]

We used this on our Alaska cruise in Vancouver. It was kind of pricey since it’s per person (there were two of us) but it was super convenient not having to worry about transportation to port.

[bradleyk]

I do not quite understand the issue here. Do you KNOW of any hotels which are close to the port? Have you searched for any? If you do/have I would book them directly and take a TAXI or a hotel shuttle to the port.

Yes. I did that this April. My specific question was about the precruise hotel package offered by ncl. Nothing else. I know how to search and book hotels. I asked specifically if anyone has had experience with the NCL option!!!

 

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[GirlWriter]

We haven't done Norwegian's pre-cruise hotel out of Port Canaveral but did do it out of Copenhagen and are planning to do it again for the Hawaiian cruise. It worked just fine. As someone mentioned earlier, it's crazy expensive, but we have gotten it as freebies with different promotions -- that is the only time we use it, i.e, when it's free. :)

[AlexandNessa]

I would book at the Hyatt MCO and take private transportation the day of the cruise. I do this all the time for cruises out of Port Canaveral.

 

I have a driver I always use and he gives us a quick grocery stop on the way for anything we might've forgotten or didn't feel like packing (e.g., my husband doesn't travel without a family-sized bottle of mouthwash ... Ridiculous).

 

My driver has a 10-pax van and charges just over a hundred bucks for the van.

 

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[bradleyk]

I would book at the Hyatt MCO and take private transportation the day of the cruise. I do this all the time for cruises out of Port Canaveral.

 

I have a driver I always use and he gives us a quick grocery stop on the way for anything we might've forgotten or didn't feel like packing (e.g., my husband doesn't travel without a family-sized bottle of mouthwash ... Ridiculous).

 

My driver has a 10-pax van and charges just over a hundred bucks for the van.

 

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Great idea. Just a little pricey for the ride for ine person. I'm sailing solo thia cruise.

 

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[garycarla]

I was going to type a slightly different answer, but notice the OP is sailing SOLO. Hmmm...

 

 

Generally, there are at least two ways to do this. They BOTH have hassles.

 

1 - Book with NCL. Deal with their transfer schedule. Sit and wait for bus to fill, etc. Take whatever hotel they give you. Deal with THEIR transfer times. Hotels and transfers are per person. Transfer might be cheaper for solo. Hotel will probably book you as a double.

 

2 - Rent car and deal with that hassle. Have total freedom to go where you want. Book your own hotel. Better rate.

[bradleyk]

Yes I am sailing solo this cruise. I get a lot more vacation time than my wife and I love to cruise, so I booked a short 4 day on the Epic.

I have a reservation at the Radisson where I stayed last time and I booked my own shared shuttle. So that is why I was wondering if others have had experience with the NCL option.

I

 

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[bradleyk]

I was going to type a slightly different answer, but notice the OP is sailing SOLO. Hmmm...

 

 

Generally, there are at least two ways to do this. They BOTH have hassles.

 

1 - Book with NCL. Deal with their transfer schedule. Sit and wait for bus to fill, etc. Take whatever hotel they give you. Deal with THEIR transfer times. Hotels and transfers are per person. Transfer might be cheaper for solo. Hotel will probably book you as a double.

 

2 - Rent car and deal with that hassle. Have total freedom to go where you want. Book your own hotel. Better rate.

I don't know which of you it is. But Gary, or Carla, you are rude and unneeded in this thread. Please go away

 

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[amc155]

I have used NCL pre-cruise previously and found it works really well. It may not be for everyone, but it was convenient and easiest for us. The rates were also pretty comparable for the hotel vs booking the same one on your own. I called and checked for my next cruise in March and their rates were ridiculously expensive ($169 per person NCL vs. $190 total hotel direct).

 

If the cost is in your price range I say go for it. Sometimes it is a longer drive to port (ours to PoM was probably 4 times as long as direct) since we picked up people from other hotels, but we got to see some areas we hadn't seen before. I would absolutely do it again if the pricing was comparable.

[NMLady]

Yes I am sailing solo this cruise. I get a lot more vacation time than my wife and I love to cruise, so I booked a short 4 day on the Epic.

I have a reservation at the Radisson where I stayed last time and I booked my own shared shuttle. So that is why I was wondering if others have had experience with the NCL option.

I

 

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We did the NCL option in Copenhagen since it was easier including transfer to the pier, and the hotel also had free shuttle from airport.

NCL uses very expensive hotels and charges per person. Since you're solo the per person charge isn't a problem but you can find much more reasonably priced hotel and taxi to the port.

[NMLady]

I don't know which of you it is. But Gary, or Carla, you are rude and unneeded in this thread. Please go away

 

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I don't see that answer as rude. Simply gives the two options.

[NMLady]

Great idea. Just a little pricey for the ride for ine person. I'm sailing solo thia cruise.

 

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You might want to check Cortrans shuttle. On Florida departures board it gets good reviews.

 

http://www.cortrans-shuttle.com/

[delaware32]

We used the NCL pre-cruise hotel package when we did our first Mediterranean trip . It was more expensive but it was hassle free . I would say price it a couple of ways (self booking vs. NCL) and if NCL fits your budget ,give it a try .

[bradleyk]

Thanks for all the positive suggestions. I will definitely price it and see what runs. But I do like hastle free

 

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[Jnsplace1]

I'm departing out of Miami next year. I felt that NCL's precruise hotel was too expensive and booked one through Expedia cheaper.

Will be taking the shuttle from FLL to Miami after the flight. Cost was reasonable.