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summer 2019 British Isles or Iceland cruises?

rocklinmom

By rocklinmom,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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mypleasure

mypleasure

Posted
Posted
Age is irrelevant it is beautiful ship with the best Hotel Director if he is still on that ship . Mr Armando D Silva. I would pay just to sail with him.

 

I sailed on the Spirit with Armando back in November. He was due to go on leave in December and is due back on board anytime now. I am not sure of the exact date but he was trying to get me to sail at the end of Feb as it is my birthday then and he said he was back by then.

 

He was quite excited about the new itineraries and sailing from Southampton where he started his career with Cunard. It doesn't sound like he is planning on moving but with NCL you just never know.

 

I have paid to sail with him many times.

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KeithJenner "Live from...." Rare

KeithJenner

Posted
Posted
I sailed on the Spirit with Armando back in November. He was due to go on leave in December and is due back on board anytime now. I am not sure of the exact date but he was trying to get me to sail at the end of Feb as it is my birthday then and he said he was back by then.

 

 

 

He was quite excited about the new itineraries and sailing from Southampton where he started his career with Cunard. It doesn't sound like he is planning on moving but with NCL you just never know.

 

 

 

I have paid to sail with him many times.

 

 

 

That’s good to hear. Armando left the ship a couple of days after we boarded last Easter. We are back again this Easter, so it sounds like he will be onboard.

 

I don’t usually notice who is hotel director, but Armando is in a league of his own.

 

 

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trvlgirlmq

trvlgirlmq

Posted
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I am losing hope! We may just end up back in the Med at this point. The Royal cruise and all related travel expenses is going to exceed our budget. Princess has our dream itinerary but will also be way over budget. I am just not sure MSC will be a good fit for us. I was counting on NCL being somewhere in the middle but we really need to start paying for stuff to stay on track.

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dexddd

dexddd

Posted
Posted
I am losing hope! We may just end up back in the Med at this point. The Royal cruise and all related travel expenses is going to exceed our budget. Princess has our dream itinerary but will also be way over budget. I am just not sure MSC will be a good fit for us. I was counting on NCL being somewhere in the middle but we really need to start paying for stuff to stay on track.

 

We just did our first MSC out of Miami back in August. It was great. If we go to Europe any time in the future we likely would try MSC there too.

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trvlgirlmq

trvlgirlmq

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We just did our first MSC out of Miami back in August. It was great. If we go to Europe any time in the future we likely would try MSC there too.

 

One of my main issues with them is that in order to have Anytime Dining (our preference) we have to book one of their more expensive "experiences" that comes with alcohol and spa (don't drink and don't want anyone touching me). I'm not willing to sit with others and I don't like to be locked into a dinner time. I also think that cruising should be all-inclusive and that means at least a glass of water with dinner. I've been to Italy and paid for the bottles but on a cruise I just cant fathom having to pay for it.

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karoo

karoo

Posted
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Hmm! I would love to see lots more British Isles itineraries available particularly when the weather is warmer in Summer. The two itineraries on the Jade are not in Summer- the weather would be too cold. I’m disappointed it’s going to be the Spirit, my least favourite ship in the fleet. I prefer the Jade. I’m definitely not a fan of the Spirit. I don’t like the tacky Asian decor, the location of OSheehans and Spinnaker closes too early as ‘the Captain has to sleep???’ So I’ve been told, meaning dancing is located to a dark, dinghy room out the back of a smoky casino. Love the Jade though.

 

 

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cmh

cmh

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Here it is February and for summer 2019 Europe cruises there are still only Med, Greek, and Baltic cruises available. I am beginning to wonder if NCL will be offering British Isles or Scotland/Iceland cruises next summer? The Spirit isn't listed yet so we know it would be on her, but this is taking so long for them to figure out. I have a backup Princess cruise but would really like to see what will be available on the Spirit. Do any NCL people (there are some here on CC) have any idea of when these itineraries will be released, or if they are going to send the Spirit somewhere else entirely?

Just called NCL to see if any updates on this itinerary for 2019. I knew more than he did. He could only check what was on the website. He told me to keep checking. DUH!

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jenng1976

jenng1976

Posted
Posted

Guess we’ll all keep checking! My next best choice is the Princess Iceland TA in July, but it’s a bit pricy, especially with drinks not included (and currently sold out, though rooms come and go).

 

I would rather compare against the NCL options, but sooner or later I might just book Princess!

 

 

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bmwman

bmwman

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Posted
Ha, that sounds about right. I asked the same thing on NCL’s Facebook page and got the same response. We might hear nothing on 2019 British Isles cruises until March or beyond at this rate.

 

 

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Ok just back from London Cruise exhibition. Even Miami based reps have no clue other than to say the Spirit is replacing the Jade in 2019. They were honest and said that the longer this goes on the more likely they would pull it as they are losing bookings ot other operators and for example I could wait no longer and we are off on what will no doubt be a similar itinerary with another operator. Spirit will be heavily promoted once released.

 

The guy we spoke to said it must get to the UK from BCN so why not announce it now - people want it and will pay.

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KeithJenner "Live from...." Rare

KeithJenner

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The guy we spoke to said it must get to the UK from BCN so why not announce it now - people want it and will pay.

 

 

This is the really annoying one for us.

 

I’m not too fussed about the Summer. I’m sure we will end up on the Spirit, whether out of Southampton or Hamburg. However, we like to do something at Easter. We fancy a big ship (not done one since the Escape launched), and are pretty well ready to book the Breakaway for Easter 2019. However, I don’t want to do that and then find that the Spirit does a great itinerary just then to Southampton.

 

We are just going to have to go ahead and book the Breakaway soon, but it’s frustrating that we are still uncertain.

 

I’ve also had a look at other lines. In the past NCL have managed to keep our business because the itineraries work for us, but if they don’t release them then we are forced to look elsewhere.

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bmwman

bmwman

Posted
Posted
This is the really annoying one for us.

 

I’m not too fussed about the Summer. I’m sure we will end up on the Spirit, whether out of Southampton or Hamburg. However, we like to do something at Easter. We fancy a big ship (not done one since the Escape launched), and are pretty well ready to book the Breakaway for Easter 2019. However, I don’t want to do that and then find that the Spirit does a great itinerary just then to Southampton.

 

We are just going to have to go ahead and book the Breakaway soon, but it’s frustrating that we are still uncertain.

 

I’ve also had a look at other lines. In the past NCL have managed to keep our business because the itineraries work for us, but if they don’t release them then we are forced to look elsewhere.

 

Absolutely 100% agree - there is some interesting stuff with other lines. We really want the BCN to Southampton but need the dates as we have other commitments next year. There must be some problems that none of us know about. Maybe the Spirit is being sold - it is a pure guess but I can understand why you would delay the release dates to this extent. They know each passing day people are booking with other lines.

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trvlgirlmq

trvlgirlmq

Posted
Posted (edited)

This is super disappointing.

 

I can't bring myself to book MSC. The website is horrible and how can I trust that my cruise will go well (notwithstanding all of the negatives I have read about the ship Orchestra) when they screw up accounts. I tried to log on to the account I created and got an error. Went to change my password (which was correct) and the email was in my mom's name! I created a new password and the logged in and it is my mom's account complete with all of her correct information including her personal email. What?? I now can't access my own account because my email is now tied to her.

 

Don't mean to be off topic but it is absurd.

Edited by trvlgirlmq
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dexddd

dexddd

Posted
Posted
The more time that goes by is definitely a bad sign. I just wish NCL would say if they aren’t going to offer British Isles/Scotland/Iceland next year. Then I would go ahead and book my second choice.

 

 

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Have you looked at MSC? They have some trips up there.

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rocklinmom

rocklinmom

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Yes, thank you, I have looked over MSC but I don't like their website format (same with Royal Caribbean) and would really prefer to stick with my loyalty perks on NCL or Princess. It's taken me years to work my way up and not have to pay for a lot of things onboard, and with five of us it helps a lot.

I am still hoping that Spirit will sail these itineraries next summer. But either way I'd like to know by March!

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jenf22

jenf22

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I'm watching and waiting along with you guys. We've got the Spirit booked for the 11-night Canary Islands in March 2019. We like that itinerary, but our son will be in 6th grade then and he'll have to miss a week of school. I would LOVE a British Isles cruise in the summer. We did the Med on the Spirit last year and had a great time. We did find the ship a little boring but we were so busy in all the ports, we were fine just reading or relaxing in our room. Anyway, the Spirit has to be going somewhere after March of next year. I too wonder what is taking so long!

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bmwman

bmwman

Posted
Posted
Yes, thank you, I have looked over MSC but I don't like their website format (same with Royal Caribbean) and would really prefer to stick with my loyalty perks on NCL or Princess. It's taken me years to work my way up and not have to pay for a lot of things onboard, and with five of us it helps a lot.

I am still hoping that Spirit will sail these itineraries next summer. But either way I'd like to know by March!

 

MSC will honour NCL perks :) Some say they are better - not sure but worth a look.

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trvlgirlmq

trvlgirlmq

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Posted
Yes I have given up waiting on any NCL British Isles/Scotland cruises for summer 2019. The Spirit is still not released. Booked with Princess today.

 

 

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Nice, which itinerary did you book? I think we are just going to stick with RCCL even though it's not quite what we wanted (no Edinburgh and doesn't start in Southampton so no London). My DS said he actually wanted to visit Amsterdam more than London so that is a plus.

 

I noticed that for 2019 it seems there are less BI cruise options with less than stellar itineraries. When we first started researching (2017 season) and then for 2018 there were much better choices.

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