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!

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!

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!

Enjoy, and come back and tell us all about your cruise and Cape Cod! 😎

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!🛳😎

Definitely, and it, of course, depends on the destination, i.e Bermuda and Canada. So always be sure to read all the rules and regs so you’re not in for an unpleasant surprise.🙂

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, christened its newest ship Norwegian Prima, on Aug. 27, 2022, which made history as the first major cruise ship christened in Reykjavík, Iceland. The first of six ships in the groundbreaking Prima Class, Norwegian Prima, debuted to more than 2,500 guests who enjoyed an immersive experience in the beautiful Icelandic capital and a christening celebration like no other. "With her stunning design and unique offerings, Norwegian Prima is in a league of her own," said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. "As the industry's most spacious new cruise ship featuring 'only-available-on-Prima-experiences,' she is continuing NCL's legacy of industry firsts. We wanted to launch Norwegian Prima in a location just as special and unique as she is, and Reykjavik's striking landscape is the perfect setting for such a milestone occasion. We thank the Reykjavik community for welcoming us with open arms." At 965 feet (294 meters long) and more than 143,535 tons with capacity for 3,100 guests at double occupancy, Norwegian Prima offers the highest staffing levels and space ratio of any contemporary or premium cruise ship. She also boasts the largest variety of suite categories available at sea as well as a redefined The Haven by Norwegian, NCL's ultra-premium keycard only access ship-within-a-ship concept. Her variety of recreational activities including the fastest slides at sea - The Rush and The Drop - and the Prima Speedway, the first three-level racetrack at sea, provide guests with adrenaline-pumping moments. Spaces like Ocean Boulevard, the 44,000 square foot outdoor walk way which wraps around the entire ship; The Concourse, which boasts a multi-million dollar outdoor sculpture garden; and expansive pool decks and infinity style pools at Infinity Beach, offer guests a chance to slow down and relax. To learn more about all Norwegian Prima offers, please click here. "We have been eagerly anticipating and preparing for this special event for several years, so we are delighted to embark on NCL's next chapter with Norwegian Prima," said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. "It's been a joy to see our vision come to life with this landmark christening ceremony, which sets the tone for the unparalleled holidays guests will enjoy for years to come. We are so thankful to our team members and partners worldwide who have made Norwegian Prima a stunning reality." Guests at the christening ceremony were treated to a show-stopping performance by popular Icelandic group and 2021 "Eurovision Song Contest" fan favorites, Daði og Gagnamagnið (pronounced "Dah-they Oh Gack-no-Mak-ne"), before Norwegian Prima's very own godmother, Katy Perry took to the main stage to officially name and christen the vessel with the ceremonial champagne bottle break across the ship's hull. The three-level Prima Theater & Club stage was then transformed into a whimsical backdrop where guests enjoyed a powerhouse performance of some of Perry's chart-topping hits including "California Gurls," "Teenage Dream," "Roar," and "Firework." "It was so much fun to sprinkle some fairy godmother dust on Norwegian Prima and send her on her way to sail the high seas," said Katy Perry. "I always appreciate a family vacation and a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so I was happy to wish all the vacationing guests a happy bon voyage!" Prior to the Christening ceremony, guests were surprised with an authentic Icelandic experience at the HARPA cultural center. Attendees were treated to a captivating LED light show by Artist Olafur Eliasson as well as performances by Icelandic singer-songwriter Bríet who joined the Iceland Symphony Orchestra in an awe-inspiring show. Norwegian Prima will depart on inaugural voyages to Northern Europe from the Netherlands, Denmark and England beginning Sept. 3, 2022, before making her way to the U.S. She will then sail voyages to the Caribbean from New York City, Galveston, Texas, and Miami in October and November before settling into her homeport of Port Canaveral, Fla., and Galveston, Texas for the 2023 and 2024 cruise season. _____________________ SOURCE: Travel Industry Wire (Press Release, Aug. 30, 2022) Photo Credit: Cruise Hive Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to CruiseCrazies.com View full article

Aug. 14, 2022 -- Four major cruise lines are dropping their COVID-19 vaccination requirements for some sailings next month, according to USA Today. Carnival Cruise Line won’t require unvaccinated guests to apply for an exemption to sail after Sept. 6. The changes are subject to local restrictions, such as those in Bermuda, Canada and Greece, and don’t include voyages in Australia or trips that are 16 or more nights. Princess Cruises will remove vaccination requirements on Sept. 6 for most voyages that are less than 16 days. The cruise line currently requires unvaccinated guests to have a vaccine exemption before they sail. Royal Caribbean Group, which includes Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, will welcome all travelers regardless of vaccination status beginning Sept. 5 “as long as testing requirements are met,” a spokesperson told USA Today. For Royal Caribbean, the changes include sailings from Los Angeles, New Orleans, Galveston and Europe. For Celebrity, that means cruises leaving from Los Angeles, the U.K. and Europe — but not Ireland. Bahamas and Caribbean cruises that leave from Florida ports still have vaccine rules in place. The announcements came on Friday after Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises said Monday that unvaccinated passengers would be allowed on many cruises starting Sept. 3, according to The Washington Post. The cruise lines, which are part of the same parent company, also dropped all pre-cruise requirements for vaccinated passengers. Those who are unvaccinated still need to test within 72 hours before boarding. Testing rules have been rolled back on many cruise lines as well. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity require testing for unvaccinated passengers but only require vaccinated people to test on sailings that are six nights or longer. Carnival, MSC Cruises and Silversea Cruises have made similar changes since the CDC ended its COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships. At the time the program ended last month, nearly every ship that reported data to the CDC was under observation for COVID-19 cases, The Post reported. Starting Sept. 6, Princess Cruises will require passengers on sailings of 16 nights or longer to take a test within three days of leaving, as well as those on full Panama Canal transits. Unvaccinated passengers will be required to show a negative test for all trips. Cruise companies said they expect to further reduce some of their restrictions in coming days, which came in response to the CDC loosening its coronavirus recommendations for screening and testing in most settings on Thursday, the newspaper reported. “We will continue to work closely with our partners around the world to develop updated protocols that provide for the continued safety of our guests and the communities we visit, better align with the travel and hospitality sector, and meet destination regulations,” Royal Caribbean said. “This means we’re transitioning to the point where everyone will be able to vacation with us.” _________________ SOURCE: Web M.D..com (Press Release, August 14, 2022) Photo Credit: Cruise Hive Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to CruiseCrazies.com View full article