Jan115

My husband and I did three cruises in 2024. I wrote a review of each. This is the first of three. You can check it out here at my blog: “This was the 25th cruise for me and the 22nd for my husband Dave. As our previous few cruises have involved exciting but busy itineraries, we chose this for a relaxing tropical escape. Unlike most of our previous cruises, we did little pre-planning for this one - no pre-reservations for dining or excursions, deciding to throw caution to the wind and just “wing” it. We also did not opt into the plus or premium amenity packages, as we had quite a bit of onboard credit and found a package unnecessary … “ Continue reading: https://wp.me/paASY1-8k

I should have explained “group” booking better. I don’t know how it works in the UK, but here in the US, as a travel agent, I can book a group of cabins under one group name/number. Each cabin has its own reservation number, but the advantage for the group is that the one agent can organize dining for the entire group of cabins, as well as excursions, onboard shows, activities and more. For dining, I’m wondering if anyone in your family tried to pre-book a table for 10 through the NCL mobile app? This is how dining reservations are made in advance on NCL. One person makes the reservation and chooses the size of the table and the time. Chances are there may not be availability for 10. In cases like this, you can have 2 people reserve tables - one table of 6 and a table for 4, and then go to the dining room when you get on board and ask if they can accommodate all of you at one table. Just something to think about if you find yourself booking NCL in the future.

I am sorry you had such a bad experience. Was there ANYTHING you liked about your cruise? If you didn’t use a travel agent, I recommend using an agent who is fluent in NCL. Many of your issues could have either been avoided or have been made aware of with some advance planning. If you did use a travel agent, look for another next time. Here are my thoughts on a few of your issues: Viva is a new ship; therefore, it is priced higher than the older ones. For 5 cabins/10 guests, a travel agent would set you up as a group, and could have pre-assigned all of you together at dinner if done well in advance. Tables for 10 are hard to come by, but tables close together could have been arranged. It is well known that dress codes are not enforced on most cruise ships. Not saying it’s right, but it’s a fact. If you knew your cabin was so expensive, I wonder why you booked it at all. Did you know that prices can be adjusted if rates fall or new promos are offered after booking? Something to think about for next time. $50,000 for 5 cabins including some in the Haven sounds about right. The Haven is like a ship within a ship, with added amenities and a luxury experience. It comes at a cost, as you saw when the cruise was booked. For transfers, consider a taxi or hire a company like Rome Cabs to give you a private transfer for the same amount or less than the cruise ship. And you’ll get to where you want to go a lot faster with less stress. Unfortunately, you were given the wrong info about non-Haven guests. They are not allowed to participate in Haven amenities, family members or not. There are two kinds of service charges on NCL: There is the daily service charge (gratuity) that everyone pays ($20 per person/per day; the other is the service charges you pay upfront with the cruise fare for beverage package and specialty dining package. I am a little surprised you were not aware of this as you have cruised before. The Terms and Conditions which many people don’t read do state all of these. A travel agent would also set these charges out in writing. I totally agree with you about the pools on the NCL newer ships - they are all far too small for the number of passengers. I hope your next cruise is a better one.😎🛳️

Thanks for sharing your cruise experience in Bermuda. May I ask what ship this was? We have been to Bemuda from Boston on Norwegian several times and have enjoyed every one.

Can’t wait to see you, too! I need somebody to dance with!🙂

Yes! So happy you’re coming - wouldn’t be the same without you!🙂

Join us aboard the beautiful Celebrity Equinox as we cruise the Mediterranean Sea, round-trip from Barcelona. We'll visit the port of Seville, Spain, spend a full two days in Lisbon, Portugal, enjoy a day in Porto, Portugal and experience the unique culture and history of Tangier, Morocco. Spend three days at sea relaxing onboard this beautiful ship. Lounge by the pool, be spoiled at the spa, taste the delicacies or explore the venues on-board, until we arrive at the next amazing destination. For more information, go to: https://7seajourneys.com/mbg/17608-2/

So sorry to hear things weren’t up to par on Carnival. Short staffing, poor service, dining problems and other issues seem to be prevalent across all lines, not just Carnival. Some patience is needed while the cruise lines work on getting back to the level of service we’re all used to. I have found that it’s always best to address issues that come up while you’re on board while it’s happening, and not after the cruise. Customer relations gets tons of mail and phone calls and handles in the order they are received, sometimes weeks or months. A travel agent has the inside track for resolving issues after a cruise and can get to the root of a problem quicker. I know it doesn’t help for your Carnival cruise, but by booking with a travel agent in the future, you’ll have help from a professional if an issue arises.😃 Hopefully, your next cruise will be smooth sailing!

Welcome to our community @melindaf. We all love to talk about cruising and more, and hope you’ll come and chat with us in our Community Dock. Got a cruise booked? Why not post it up on our Roll Call board!

Welcome to CruiseCrazies, Karina, and welcome back to cruising. My husband and I were overjoyed to embark on our first cruise since August 2019, pre-pandemic, from Boston to Bermuda. Like you, we missed being at sea so much. We have another cruise coming up in November to the Mexican Riviera out of San Francisco, and another next May from New York to Iceland. Plus, we’re looking at the possibility of Alaska in August. Keep those cruises coming, I always say!

Well said, Karina, and Happy Cruise Month! My husband and I went on our first cruise in 2002 and wondered why we waited so long. Each of our ocean journeys has been an amazing adventure, whether we’re exploring glaciers of Alaska, fjords of Norway, ancient ruins or an island oasis. I agree. There’s no better way to escape routine and explore new places than a cruise! Wishing you calm oceans and sunny skies! 🛳😎

Welcome to our community @MandyD. We all love to talk about cruising and more, and hope you’ll come and chat with us in our Community Dock. Got a cruise booked? Why not post it up on our Roll Call board!

Welcome to our community @KentL. We all love to talk about cruising and more, and hope you’ll come and chat with us in our Community Dock. Got a cruise booked? Why not post it up on our Roll Call board!

Welcome to our community, @Melinda. We all love to talk about cruising and more, and hope you’ll come and chat with us in our Community Dock. Got a cruise booked? Why not post it up on our Roll Call board!

Welcome to our community. We all love to talk about cruising and more, and hope you’ll come and chat with us in our Community Dock. Got a cruise booked? Why not post it up on our Roll Call board!