ncl cruises with flights

Air Reservations

If you plan to fly to your port of embarkation, you must decide whether to arrange airline tickets on your own or use the AIR/SEA program offered by Norwegian. Here are the main considerations to help you with your decision.

Advantages of Arranging Your Own Airline Tickets The main advantages of securing your own airline tickets are that you will be able to select the airline you fly and you will have some control over the timing and routing of your flights. You may wish to fly a particular airline to use frequent flier rewards, or to earn frequent flier miles, or because that carrier has nonstop service to your port city. If you arrange your own airline tickets you will have more control over these variables. If you utilize Norwegian's AIR/SEA program, you may be given an air schedule with an overnight flight, multiple connections, and in some cases, a forced overnight stay at your expense.

Advantages of Using the AIR/SEA Program The main reasons to let us book your air at the same time you reserve your cruise -- through Norwegian's AIR/SEA department -- are convenience, better access to flights that make easy connections to your ship, and added protection in the event of a flight or sailing delay or cancellation.

Norwegian meets their AIR/SEA passengers at the airport and transports them to the pier. These transfers are frequently free of charge, but even if a charge is levied it is typically less than what you would pay if you arranged your own transfers.

Norwegian monitors the status of flights carrying their AIR/SEA passengers, and will sometimes hold a ship past its scheduled departure time to wait for guests arriving on a delayed flight, but only if that flight was booked through Norwegian.

Norwegian reserves large blocks of seats on flights that make easy connections to their departing and returning cruise ships. These flights traditionally experience high load factors and you could have difficulty getting a low fare -- or a seat at any price -- as an individual, particularly for departure ports like Anchorage, Barcelona, Rome, Tahiti and Vancouver. On busy days like Saturday and Sunday, you might have to fly into your port of embarkation a day early if you book your own tickets, adding a day's meals and lodging to your cost.

And finally, sometimes unexpected things occur that affect travel plans. Flight delays or cancellations, changes in cruise ship arrival or departure times, and cancellation of sailings altogether, are some of the things that can force you to rebook at a later time or date or seek a refund for your airline tickets. If any of these things should happen before or during your vacation, you will not be eligible for assistance from the cruise line if you arranged your own airline tickets. However, if we secure your tickets through the cruise line's AIR/SEA program, some cruise lines will assist you in working with the airline to make alternate flight plans, help you catch up with your ship at the next port, or apply for a refund. Your cruise counselor will verify the details of each cruise line’s AIR/SEA program at the time of booking.

The bottom line : Ask your Vacations To Go cruise counselor to quote air from the cruise line and compare that rate to the best rate you can find calling airlines directly. If the rates are close, you're probably better off letting us book your airline tickets through the AIR/SEA program.

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Norwegian Epic Cruise Guide

There’s a lot that makes the Norwegian Epic stand out from the rest of the fleet. For example, this ship has been awarded "Best Cruise Ship Entertainment" by Frommer’s, with brand new Broadway shows like Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, as well as Cirque Dreams Epicurean. Since it’s refurbishment, there’s been an expansion of balconies, added Studios, which have been designed specifically for solo travelers, over 20 dining options, and even more courtyard villas. This is a ship that offers fun of epic proportions!

Best Norwegian Epic cruise deals

3 night Bahamas

7 night Caribbean

13 night transatlantic, discover your norwegian epic cruise, what is a norwegian epic cruise like.

Norwegian Epic cruises are among the largest cruise lines in the world. There are a variety of different ships that take you to beautiful and fascinating destinations around the world. You’ll find a variety of different experiences, including premium cabins with balconies, special dining options, and more. You can choose different lengths of stay, with the most popular being between 5 and 7 nights. Some Norwegian Epic cruises also offer exclusive perks such as exclusive shore excursions or onboard discounts. Whether you’re looking for an entertaining trip with fun for all ages, or a romantic getaway, there is a Norwegian Epic cruise vacation that’s right for you.

When is the best time to book a Norwegian Epic cruise?

While there are no strict rules for when exactly to book, the earlier you book, the more likely you are to come across great cruise deals. In general, if you’re travelling far away then 12 to 18 months is the best time to book your cruise. This will give you the most options to select your cabin, experience, and book any necessary flights. Most travelers usually book a Norwegian Epic cruise 6 to 12 months in advance. You’ll still find affordability for your destination, and you don’t leave the anticipation for your vacation too long. Norwegian Epic does offer last-minute cruises at a range of prices and availability depending on your destination and dates.

How can I find the best Norwegian Epic price?

You can find cheap cruise deals for Norwegian Epic on Expedia easily. First, think about the itineraries and additional features you want. You can filter results based on amenities, cabins, experiences, and prices to find the one that best suits your budget.

How to book your Norwegian Epic cruise?

Expedia provides a straightforward cruise booking process to make it as easy as possible to reserve your vacation. You can search by cruise ship type, itinerary, duration, and departure port. You can also filter your results by price, amenities, and area of the world. After making any necessary changes or checking availability, simply click ‘Book’ and complete your reservation.

What to look out for when booking your cruise on Norwegian Epic?

When looking at Norwegian Epic cruises, it's important to keep in mind multiple factors that go into choosing a cruise. These include the length, whether you prefer a smaller or bigger ship, and departure ports. Also consider who is travelling with you, as this will influence the type of cabin you choose and what activities you choose to do on board and ashore. You can choose from several types of cabins depending on your Norwegian Epic cruise ship including ones with sea views and balconies.

Can I cancel my Norwegian Epic booking?

Yes. Expedia does offer you the option to cancel your Norwegian Epic cruise. You can do so by going to the My Trips page and clicking on the cancellation button. There is also the option to contact customer service to cancel your cruise. Be aware that each cruise has different refund policies. Usually, if you cancel early then you’ll receive a better refund.

Why should I book a Norwegian Epic cruise with Expedia?

Booking Norwegian Epic cruise with Expedia is an excellent option for travellers who want a high-quality, enjoyable, and reliable experience to suit a range of budgets. You can book easily thanks to the convenient booking tools. Use the cruise finder and filter options to find the best cruise deals. Expedia also provides you with information about each cruise ship so that you can pick the one that fits your needs. You can also join the Rewards Membership to earn points for future trips.

When booking an eligible cruise as a One Key TM member, you will earn OneKeyCash TM .

This is our rewards currency which you can use to save on eligible bookings across Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo. The more you book on our three brands, the more perks you'll unlock.

* OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo .

Couples and families can indulge in first-class amenities at The Haven suites, that come with a butler and concierge service, while solo travelers can enjoy the privacy of Studio staterooms. The Family Balcony is the perfect option for those traveling with kids, as it can spaciously accommodate up to 4 guests, with separate bathroom amenities like the shower and a modern vanity sink, as well as a private balcony.

Onboard Activities

The amount of activities available on the Norwegian Epic is truly epic. The ship has not one, but two bowling alleys. One 18+ bowling alley inside the Bliss Ultra Lounge, and another at O'Sheehan's Neighbourhood Bar & Grill. There's also a jogging track, Fitness Center and a Spa where you can unwind, as well as a large Aqua Park and a Kid's Pool outside at the pool deck. The Sports Complex has two decks to play on, with a full-sized basketball court, a rock-climbing wall, and an enclosed climbing cage. For adults, the Epic Casino is Norwegian's largest and most elegant casino at sea. Kids will love Splash Academy, the complimentary organized kids programming onboard, where there's a Wii, PlayStation 3 and a dance floor.

Complimentary main dining room options include Taste, The Manhattan Room, and Shanghai's Noodle Bar, to name a few. Grab a bite to eat outside at Great Outdoors, the poolside buffet that's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Alternatively, 24-hour room service is available if you're in the mood to enjoy a meal from the comfort of your stateroom. Don't forget to check out La Cucina, the vibrant Italian restaurant at sea that serves delicious pasta dishes and more!

Bars & Lounges

There’s a lot of bars onboard the Norwegian Epic, including Shaker’s Martini Bar, Maltings Whiskey Bar, O’Sheehan’s, and even a Sake Bar at the Japanese restaurant, Wasabi. This ship also has a Skyy® Vodka Ice Bar, inspired by original Ice hotels in Scandinavia, where you can enjoy a chilling experience at 17 degrees Fahrenheit. End your night by having a laugh and a drink or two at the Headliners Comedy Club that features The Second City comedy troupe, as well as Howl at the Moon, a Rock ‘n’ roll piano show.

Entertainment

The Norwegian Epic has the largest variety of quality entertainment compared to any other ship in the fleet. Cirque-Dreams Epicurean is a jaw-dropping theatrical experience by the critically acclaimed Cirque De Soleil. Priscilla Queen of the Desert: The Musical is an outrageously fun and fabulous Tony® award-winning show with even more outrageous costumes (note: the show contains adult themes and is not recommended for young children). Lastly, Burn the Floor is a European ballroom dancing show, showcasing a variety of dances that are sure the heat up the stage.

Spa & Fitness

The Mandara Spa® and Salon offers many packages that include massage, aromatherapy, acupuncture, and thermal treatments. There's also Fire & Ice manicure and pedicures, teeth whitening treatments and ELEMIS and BOTOX age-defying treatments. The Thermal Spa Suite also offers a Thalassotherapy pool and a Vitality pool. The Pulse Fitness Center is equipped with rows of fitness and iron-pumping machines and offers a variety of Spinning, Pilates, and Yoga classes.

Kids & Teens

Norwegian Cruise Line ensures that all ships are kid-and-teen-friendly. At Splash Academy, supervised activities are divided based on age-group: Guppies (6 months to 3 years old), Turtles (ages 3 to 5), Seals (ages 6 to 9) and Dolphins (ages 10 to 12). Activities include arts and crafts, Circus School, team-building activities and sports, video games, scavenger hunts, themed nights, and more. Teens get their own lounge called Entourage which turns into a fun dance club at night (all complimentary and supervised, of course). For a nominal charge, parents can drop off their 6 month to 3 year old at the Guppies Nursery where they will be well taken care of by dedicated nursing staff. There's also a wide array of family workshops and activities that the whole family can participate in together, from Game Shows to Pizza Making.

Onboard Shopping

There’s a variety of shops on deck 7 of the ship, including the souvenir and spirits shop, Sandbar, where you can take home memories of your cruise. The Tides has all the best in jewelry, watches and designer brands including Chico’s, Guess, Nautica, Kipling, and Tommy Hilfiger. The Pointe sells jewelry from brands like Alex & Ani, Swarovski, Uno de 50 and more. Jetties is a great spot to pick up duty-free fragrances including Chanel, Clinique, and Dior, while Sandbox features backpacks, wallets, and handbags made of fine leather material from brands like Furla and Ted Baker.

Norwegian Ships

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• Pride of America
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• Norwegian Sun
• Norwegian Encore
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• Norwegian Escape
• Norwegian Joy
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• Norwegian Jade

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9 Nights athens and ultimate greek islands

Jul-Aug 2025

Fly UK to Athens and enjoy a 2 night stay in this historic city before boarding the highly-rated Norwegian Viva for this fantastic 7 night itinerary that takes in the best of the beautiful Greek Islands!

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Your cruise is on a full board basis. You can upgrade for just £199 and Include premium drinks package, speciality dining package and WIFI package and excursions discounts for a limited time! 

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Fly UK to Miami and enjoy a 2 night stay in this buzzing city before boarding the new ship Norwegian Viva for this fantastic 11 night itinerary that takes in some of the best of the Caribbean as you cruise on to New York! Here you will disembark for a further two nights stay, in probably the most famous city in the world, the Big Apple before flying home. This holiday is a bucket-lister for sure! Cruise is on a full board basis, but upgrade for just £249 and Include premium drinks package, speciality dining package and WIFI package and excursions discounts for a limited time! 

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Should I book my flight through my cruise line?

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

Choose a cruise deal with airfare included, or book an air-cruise package, and your cruise purchase can really be one-stop shopping. You always get transportation, food and lodging all in one price with a cruise, but book your airfare through your cruise line, and you'll take care of the majority of your travel plans in one transaction.

But should you book your flights through your cruise line? While doing so can offer various benefits, you will want to consider whether the pros outweigh any cons. The answer will depend on your particular travel situation, and whether you're contemplating a cruise with flights included in the deal or simply paying for flights through your cruise line.

Learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of cruise and flight packages to determine whether it's a smart move to book your flights via your cruise line.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

5 reasons why you should book your flight through your cruise line

The airfare can be a good deal.

Some high-end cruise lines include flights as a booking perk. Oceania Cruises offers economy airfare with the most inclusive (and expensive) of its three OLife Choice promotion tiers, while Regent Seven Seas Cruises lures travelers with free business-class flights to Europe. It's hard to find a better deal than free, even if you might not have as much control over your booking as you'd like.

Even cruise lines selling you flights claim to have low rates. Royal Caribbean claims that its airfares are so competitive that it will refund you 110% of the difference in onboard credit if you can find a cheaper flight. It makes sense that cruise lines' in-house travel agencies can get access to the lowest rates or bulk fares not available to the general public.

You'll still earn points and miles

Buying a cruise line air package is similar to purchasing flights through a travel agent. You can add your frequent flyer number to the reservation to earn miles and access your elite perks — but watch out for extremely discounted fares that might not qualify. Plus, if you pay with a rewards-earning credit card, you'll also get points or miles for your purchase.

TPG pro tip: Look for credit cards that earn extra points on travel purchases , so your cruise-and-flight purchase can earn you free travel faster. Among our top-rated credit cards for travel are the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which gives you 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel purchases, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which offers 3 points per dollar on travel.

Related: These are the credit cards to use to maximize your next cruise vacation

The cruise line will assist you with travel disruptions

The cruise line's travel department has the back of all cruisers who purchased flights through them. If your flight is delayed due to weather or a mechanical problem, agents will assist you with rebooking. Should the flight issues lead to you missing your ship, the line will make arrangements to get you to the next port of call.

The same is true if your cruise ends unexpectedly early due to weather, mechanical issues or an illness outbreak. The cruise line's air department will rebook cruise passengers who booked their flights through the cruise line, but independent travelers will be left to fend for themselves.

You can book now and pay later

Are you a planner and book your cruise a year in advance? With airline change fees, you might not want to pay for airfare months in advance, in case your plans change. Some cruise lines' air-cruise packages, such as Carnival Cruise Line 's Fly2Fun Air Program and Holland America 's Flight Ease, allow you to pay for your flights when your final cruise payment is due (typically about 90 days prior to sailing) rather than at the time of booking.

Related: 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise

Cruise lines don't charge booking fees

Cruise lines will not charge you service or convenience fees to book your flights through their air departments. You only have to pay the airfare and the applicable airline taxes and fees.

5 reasons not to book your flight through your cruise line

You can't pay with miles.

If you'd love to book your flights with credit card points or airline miles, you'll need to do that through the airline, not the cruise line.

You might also want to watch out if you hope to pay for coach airfare through your cruise line and then upgrade with miles. As cruise lines often negotiate special low rates with the airlines, these fare classes are often ineligible for mileage or elite upgrades.

Cruise lines charge deviation fees for custom itineraries

Some cruise line air bookings come with restrictions around when you can fly. Should you wish to arrive several days early or spend a week in the area after your cruise, perhaps even flying home from a nearby city, you might need to pay the cruise line a deviation fee of a few hundred dollars.

Related: 11 extra charges on cruise ships that will drive you nuts — and what you can do about them

You can't always pick your airline, schedule or flight routing

Many cruise lines now offer choice and flexibility with airline arrangements, letting you pick your airline, travel time and routing. However, some of the cheaper, more restrictive options leave the booking exclusively to the cruise line's air department, allowing you no say in your flight route — unless you pay the aforementioned deviation fee or pay more for a flexible booking option. For example, with Viking , you'd need to upgrade from their base Inclusive Air option to the pricier Viking Air Plus fares in order to choose your specific flights.

Free airfare isn't free

Remember that free airfare perk? It's not actually free. The cruise lines increase the base cruise fare to cover the extra perks. Decline the airfare, and they will reimburse you with an air credit or charge you a cruise-only rate. If you can find fares cheaper than the credit, you'll save money by not booking your flights through your cruise line.

This advice especially applies to travelers flying from smaller airports that aren't among the major ones covered by the free airfare deal. Most cruise line airfare fine print states that passengers flying out of other airports will pay an additional fee. If you can book flights that are cheaper than the fee plus the air credit, you should do that and skip the not-actually-free airfare.

The cruise lines can charge service fees for changes

Cruise lines can add their own fees and surcharges on top of the typical airline charges. Some lines, such as Carnival, charge a flat fee for flight changes, in addition to the fees and fines imposed by airlines. If saving money is the most important consideration, you might want to book independently to avoid any extra surcharges.

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Do Not Book with Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) - Cruises Forum

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We raised the issue for reimbursement of the taxi ride on the ship and we were assured that this issue would be dealt with post- cruise . We were concerned about handling this post- cruise as once off the ship, we felt that this would be a battle with NCL but I did not want to be “that guy” so we took NCL at their word that this issue would be amicably resolved post- cruise which of course it has not been.

Post- cruise we were asked to complete an NCL form as this was the only way that NCL would consider the reimbursement. When we indicated that we had difficulty completing the form the NCL representative said that “no other guests ever had difficulty completing the form”. After essentially being told, in a not so subtle way, that I was an idiot, I asked if I could handle it the old fashioned way and simply be allowed to tell the NCL representative what the issue was however the NCL representative refused and shortly thereafter the call was mysteriously disconnected. Thereafter we contacted another NCL representative who through a direct quote out of his email to me referencing the NCL form he stated, “Unfortunately I am encountering a similar problem and I was unable to submit the case for you.” After having contact with 7 different representatives with NCL I finally was able to submit the form.

Within one week I received a response back from NCL, which frankly was the only aspect of this experience where NCL exceeded my expectations. However, the response was a form letter with minimal changes to reflect my specific concerns and rejecting our reimbursement claim. It stated in part and again directly out NCL’s letter:

“No other portion of our scheduled itineraries were impacted by this change.”

This is akin to stating that every other meal was fine except the meal that caused food poisoning.

Further directly quoting from NCL’s letter it stated:

“Under the terms and conditions of our Passenger Ticket Contract, Norwegian Cruise Line in its sole discretion may cancel, postpone or delay any port of call without prior notification.”

Frankly this would make sense and would be understandable if you were scheduled to dock in a port and inclement weather prevented the docking for safety reasons. This situation is not analogous, as NCL had ample warning of the situation (my understanding over 2 months) with the change in the departure port and informed some of its guests but not other guests as became readily apparent in discussing our circumstances with other guests. What makes it even more egregious on the part of NCL is that we received several emails after we booked our cruise from NCL offering upgrades and other options but no mention that a fundamental term of the cruise itinerary changed.

I can’t imagine booking a flight with any airline in the world whereby if I were scheduled to fly out of one city that the airline would not contact me to indicate that the departure city had changed to one 163 kilometers away. Heck, airlines will inform you if a departure time is changed by 10 minutes. Any rational, reasonable individual would anticipate that if the departure port was changed that they would be forewarned. It would be interesting to see the reaction of an NCL representative who arrived at an airport in New York for a flight only be told that the flight had been rescheduled to fly out of Boston without notification to you and if you want to make that flight you have two hours to get to Boston.

NCL references their Passage Ticket Contract for me to review its terms and conditions. When attempting to access it online it states:

“Looks like this page took a permanent vacation.”

It is only recently that they have now fixed this error.

Further I find it ironic that NCL referred me to their website for their terms and conditions (which at the time were unavailable) but the same website does not even list Trieste as a departure port and still has Venice as a departure port even though NCL is no longer able to sail out of Venice. Even after alerting NCL of this, the website page has changed but the error remains. I suspect that NCL will now revise that portion of their website.

Lastly, NCL states in its letter:

“Regrettably, we are unable to honor your request for compensation or refund, as it would be inconsistent for us to make an exception when other guests were not offered compensation.”

I find it absurd that NCL would argue that since they have treated other guests unreasonably that they would handle my situation in the same unreasonable manner under the guise to remain consistent. If consistency is NCL’s guiding principle, this is easily solvable, reimburse all guests their out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a result of not notifying some guests of the change to the departure port.

I have reiterated my request of NCL for reimbursement in a similar fashion to this post. Regrettably, but unfortunately not unexpectedly, I have yet to hear back from NCL.

If this in itself is not enough to reconsider and “Not book with Norwegian Cruise Lines” then I also offer the following:

I find it remarkable that after two years of dealing with COVID which has had a debilitating effect on the cruise industry that NCL would handle this matter in this way. It was apparent to us very early on that NCL’s handling of COVID is not in line with the COVID policies that they purport to uphold and are required to abide with under the EU Healthy Gateways Policy.

On April 7, 2022, six days prior to departure of our cruise we were informed that the EU Healthy Gateway policy had changed as of April 1, 2022. The policy now stated that:

“In addition to above, EU Healthy Gateways currently defines individuals as 'Fully Vaccinated' against COVID-19 if they carry proof of vaccination with at least 14 days and no more than 270 days passed since the last dose of the primary vaccination series or if they have received a third or booster dose. To clarify, guests that have received a booster dose can travel regardless of the amount of time that has passed since their booster dose.

Guests who cannot meet the EU Healthy Gateways definition of 'Fully Vaccinated' should not travel to the ship as they will be unable to board.”

This was no difficulty for my wife and I as we were triple vaccinated but my 15-year-old son last vaccination had been approximately 285 days earlier and prior to departure for Europe he was not yet eligible to receive a booster shot. After some discussion with NCL they made an exception for my son to travel if he received a booster shot prior to departure on April 13, 2022. This of course was also outside of the minimum 14 days that he needed to have his booster shot as he ended up only being boosted 3 days prior to departure, which NCL was well aware of.

Again directly out of an email sent to me by an NCL representative on April 8, 2022 he states:

“Further to our discussion, I would like to confirm to you that as long as a guest have received a booster dose, they can travel on NCL vessels regardless of the amount of time that has passed since their booster dose.

And in other words in your son’s case, as long as he can get his booster shot before embarking on 13th April, 2022, he is fulfilling our vaccination requirements for sailing in Europe.”

As a result, it became readily apparent that NCL was willing to breach the EU Healthy Gateways policy that they were required to adhere to. This is an illustration that NCL’s commitment to protect their guests from a COVID outbreak is moreso about optics and does not reflect what happens in practice.

Please consider this real-life story when assessing whether to book with Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL).

If you are concerned with customer service, I would suggest that you should not book with Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL).

If you are concerned with adherence to government mandated COVID policies, I would suggest that you should not book with Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL).

I would be interested to hear of any other customer service issues that guests have encountered with Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL).

19 replies to this topic

Kevin you have just wasted your time. I would be suprised if anyone gets through even half of what you have written its far to long and noone is certainely not going to book NCL on your say so.

Go and vent somewhere else.

I think I got bored after second paragraph

Kevin, if you are using that as the basis of further complaints you need to abbreviate it dramatically, otherwise you risk diluting the message or, at the very least, getting it put on the bottom of the pile.

For example, the gist of your first paragraph is

“Arriving in Venice we were told the ship was departing from Trieste. We had not been notified of that and had to take a taxi. I wish to be reimbursed and I enclose the receipt.”

Sorry Kevin.

Way too long.

I lost the will after the second paragraph.

I concur with the other previous respondees.

The other problem is that Kevin has posted the same rant on about 12 different threads in this forum, most of which have absolutely no relationship to what the other thread was about, like NCL's drink packages. I responded the first time I saw this post (in another thread) and won't waste my time doing so again.

And as everyone said, less is more when soliciting for any refunds.

Yes, I made it through the entire post because I am a very fast reader, and I did want to see all the concerns raised.

First, NCL is a semi-budget cruise line so they are always on a tight margin for finances. I am guessing you booked directly rather than with an agent, who might have informed you of the port change, and you yourself have not been keeping up with the news that the country of Italy no longer wants cruise lines docking in Venice, and finally put this decision into action.

Why should NCL refund your taxi when the port change was not their decision, even though they CAN change a port at any time. In any case, the Venice discussion has been everywhere, and all cruisers this year have been affected.

Unfortunately in these days, nobody will hold your hand for travel and you need to be your own best agent and advocate! Did you have travel insurance? You should have submitted a claim ASAP. You should always reconfirm EVERYTHING a few weeks and days before any departure.

As to the Covid discussion, the rules have been wavering back and forth the past two years around the world, so it is hard to really see what your point is. As long as the child was able to sail, you have no real complaints.

I am sorry you were disappointed and had some issues, but that can happen in the best of times. At least you enjoyed a memorable family cruise ! (And hopefully saw a little of lovely Venice!)

Thank you all for your responses. I do realize that my initial post was long. Some may read it, others may not. This was a point by point factual recitation of what occurred with NCL. Aside from the title, I would suggest that there was nothing dramatic in my post. This incident occurred over two months ago and I feel that I have been very patient with NCL. They sent me a form letter denying my reimbursement request, I have followed up three times requesting someone from NCL call me and they have never responded. I have never raised my voice or voice displeasure in a disrespectful manner. Some may even say that I was boring in my approach as I simply don't get too excited about these things.

Deep down I knew at the time that once I left the ship, I would never see the 300 Euros. This amount of money will not change my life one bit. If I ever received it from NCL, I would be happy to donate it to charity. My post was not intended to elicit a refund from NCL. If they do not respond to me directly, it is unlikely that they would respond to me as a result of a post on a travel site. The purpose of the post was to outline factually what occurred and then other travellers like myself who use this website to filter through various decisions they have to make may find it beneficial. Some obviously won't (and it has been pointed out above that I have bored them) and that is fine. As fo length, some read the book and some read the Cole's notes.

To answer a couple of questions from those above.

bestconrnishcat: Love the name. My intial request to NCL was effectively your comment and they did not respond. My post above was to provide my first hand experience with NCL to other travellers. If they choose to read it great, if they choose not to read, I will never know.

Sunny Unlimited: If the impression you received was that I was soliciting for a refund through TripAdvisor then I apologize that I have left you with the incorrect impression. The refund will never happen. As noted above, post was meant to provide my experience with NCL to other travellers.

Mary R: Your are correct in that we did not book with a travel agent and did so directly and that we made our own way to Venice in the middle of a wonderful 34 day trip to Europe. We were not aware of the Venice port situation. This is not a heavily covered topic in Canada. Apparently however NCL was aware of this change in departure ports well before our booking which was two months prior to departure. NCL provided us with an itinerary stipulating that Venice was the departure port, their website indicated that Venice was a departure port and at the time of sailing did not even list Trieste as a departure port. We checked the day of sailing directions to the departure port and were directed to Venice.

As you have noted and I agree this port change was not the result of something NCL did. Where I would suggest to you that NCL failed was not communicated the port change to all of its guests. This was not a last second change in ports as the change was made even prior to our booking so notwithstanding that NCL was aware of the change, everything from NCL, either itinerary or website, reflected a Venice departure. I am hard pressed to understand what else we should have done? Is there not some onus on NCL to notify us in some fashion that the departure port has changed? NCL has admitted that it did not communicate this to us and has apologized to us for the oversight but then states there will be no reimbursement because it can change ports without notice at anytime. To only discover upon arrival at the port that we would sail out of another port 163 kilometers led to quite the scramble that could have easily been avoided with just one email or text or notice on its website. That is why we were seeking a reimbursement for our 300 Euro panicked cab ride.

I do appreciate your outlook and positive response Mary R. We have been very happy that the world has opened up and since October 2021, I have had the opportunity to travel a week to San Francisco, three weeks to Mexico over Christmas, three weeks in California and Arizona and then 5 weeks in Europe. Virtually all aspects of these trips have been wonderful and if my issue above is the worst thing that has happened to me during these trips I consider myself lucky. For others who may not be travel as often, I would hate for something like this to occur and I hope that with proper communication (which is often the cause of issues) these type of situations could be avoided.

To be fair to NCL, they have informed us today that they have reimbursed us the cost of the taxi ride which we have confirmed they have. We appreciate NCL rectifying this issue.

Great news Kevin. Happy you prevailed.

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Here's When Summer Flight Prices Will Peak, According to Hopper

Prices may be equal to or even surpass 2023 levels, they are still lower than pre-pandemic in 2019.

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Summer travel is about to heat up, and flight prices may be downright scorching this season.

Flight prices for this summer will peak around $315 roundtrip for domestic getaways with fares starting to rise in May, according to predictions from booking site Hopper that was shared with Travel + Leisure . Peak prices will come at the end of May and early June.

While these prices may be equal to or even surpass 2023 levels, they are still lower than pre-pandemic in 2019, Hayley Berg, Hopper’s lead economist, told T+L. 

“Slightly lower domestic airfares come as seat capacity has fully surpassed pre-pandemic levels and demand for summer travel remains strong among American consumers,” Berg said. “Airlines have achieved higher capacities by adding larger planes on routes rather than adding more flights as they remain constrained on physical supply of new aircrafts."

When it comes to international trips, airfare prices remain higher than pre-pandemic levels to most regions of the world, but not nearly as high as last summer when airfare to Europe and Asia soared to a five-year high . An exception to that is Canada, which is seeing a 7 percent increase in prices compared to last summer and continues to see a 32 percent increase in prices compared to 2019.

Travelers heading to Europe, however, can score flights at $882 — much less than the average $1,167 last summer. 

Beyond high prices, Berg said travelers should prepare for increased travel disruption rates, especially in June, July and August. As a result, Berg said Hopper is increasingly seeing travelers add rebooking services to their trips in case of cancellations or delays.

When it comes to hotels, prices are currently averaging $206 per night, which Hopper said is in line with costs this time last year. 

But while major U.S. cities will always remain popular, Hopper said domestic travelers are searching for “smaller, more off the beaten track cities and towns” this summer, like Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Cody, Wyoming, and Bar Harbor, Maine.

Internationally, Osaka, Japan, is the top trending summer destination , followed by trips to Seoul, South Korea, and Nice, France.

This major cruise line operator just announced its biggest ship order ever

One of the world’s leading cruise operators unveiled its biggest ship order ever on Monday.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. will take delivery of eight ships between 2026 and 2036 across its three brands. 

Norwegian Cruise Line will welcome four ships in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036, each with a capacity of close to 5,000 guests. The additions are subject to financing.

The vessels will follow the line’s previously announced Prima-Plus class vessels.

The upscale Oceania Cruises will take delivery of two 1,450-guest ships in 2027 and 2029, and luxury line Regent Seven Seas Cruises will add two ships in 2026 and 2029, each accommodating 850 passengers.

"This strategic new-ship order across all three of our award-winning brands provides for the steady introduction of cutting-edge vessels into our fleet and solidifies our long-term growth,” Harry Sommer, the company’s president and CEO, said in a news release . “It also allows us to significantly leverage our operating scale, strengthen our commitment to innovation and enhance our ability to offer our guests new products and experiences, all while providing opportunities to enhance the efficiency of our fleet.”

Specifics about the ships’ accommodations and amenities will be announced “in the coming months,” according to the release.

The company will also add a new multi-ship pier at its private Bahamas island, Great Stirrup Cay, scheduled for completion by late 2025. The pier will be able to accommodate two large ships at once.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

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Subscriber only, travel | 8 new ships coming to norwegian cruise line, sister brands plus dock at great stirrup cay.

The parent company to Norwegian Cruise Line announced Monday a major order for eight new ships among its three brands as well as the construction of a pier to allow its cruise ships to dock instead of tender to its private Bahamas island for the first time.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings said it was planning to bring on four new ships for NCL, two new ships for upper premium brand Oceania Cruises and two ships for luxury brand Regent Seven Seas, all to be built at Fincantieri shipyard in Italy and debut during a 10-year run from 2026-2036.

The NCL ships would be the largest ever built for the line at around 200,000 gross tons and capacity of about 5,000 guests. They won’t arrive until after the final delivery of its Prima-Plus class ships expected between 2025-2028, the larger sister ships to the Norwegian Prima and Viva that debuted in the last couple of years. The four ships from the unnamed class of vessel would arrive in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036.

The new class for Oceania Cruises, which in 2023 debuted its first new ship in more than a decade — the Oceania Allura — will also be the largest ever built for the line at 86,000 gross tons and a capacity of 1,450 guests. They’re expected in 2027 and 2029.

And the Regent Seven Seas fleet’s new vessels will also be larger coming in at 77,000 gross tons with a capacity of 850 guests. They’re expected in 2026 and 2029. Regent just debuted the third of its Explorer class ships in December 2023.

“This strategic new-ship order across all three of our award-winning brands provides for the steady introduction of cutting-edge vessels into our fleet and solidifies our long-term growth,” said NCLH president and CEO Harry Sommer in a press release. “It also allows us to significantly leverage our operating scale, strengthen our commitment to innovation and enhance our ability to offer our guests new products and experiences, all while providing opportunities to enhance the efficiency of our fleet.”

No other details about the ships were released. Financing is already in place to fund 80% of the cost for the four ships among the Oceania and Regent orders, but financing for the four NCL ships is not finalized.

The eight ships expects to add 25,000 more to the three cruise lines’ passenger capacity.

In addition, the line is set to construct a multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay, the popular Bahamas private destination visited by all three brands. The move follows the introduction of a dock that can support two Oasis-class vessels at neighboring Perfect Day at Coco Cay for Royal Caribbean while other private Bahamas destinations including Disney’s Castaway Cay and its new Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point feature tenderless docks for easy access.

“We are likewise excited with the addition of a new pier at Great Stirrup Cay to support our increased capacity in the Caribbean and multiple ships to call on the island, enhancing our guest experience and bringing seamless and reliable access to our private island year-round,” Sommer said.

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Already planning to see the next solar eclipse in 2026? What travelers need to know.

Umbraphiles feeling the post-eclipse blues should start checking the expiration date on their passports.

The next total solar eclipse is set to happen on Aug. 12, 2026, over Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia and a small part of Portugal, according to NASA . 

In North America, only a partial eclipse will be visible, so if April’s event made you an eclipse chaser and you want to see totality, you’ll need to head overseas.

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

Here’s what you’ll need to know before packing your bags:

Do you need a passport or visa for the best destination?

The path of totality for the 2026 eclipse mostly goes through places Americans can travel visa-free with their passport, so long as they’re planning to stay for less than 90 days.

Spain, Portugal, Iceland and Greenland all allow visa-free tourist travel for U.S. passport holders.

Spain, Portugal and Iceland are also members of the Schengen Area, which allows for visa-free travel in much of Europe, meaning if you decide to make a multi-country trip out of your eclipse adventure, you won’t need to clear customs if you’re coming from much of the rest of Europe, either.

One major change for travelers to Europe from the U.S., however, is that electronic preauthorization will become a requirement beginning in mid-2025. The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) requirement will apply to all four open countries in the path of totality. 

Depending on the state of the Ukraine war, travel to Russia may or may not be an option for most Americans by 2026, so it’s unclear what the paperwork requirements will be by then.

Is it better to see it from the beach?

Beaches can be a great place to see the eclipse because there are few natural obstacles blocking observers’ views of the sky. The 2026 path of totality passes over beaches on Spain’s northern and southeastern coasts, as well as over islands in the Mediterranean Sea including Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza. The eclipse will also pass over coastal areas in Greenland and Iceland, according to the National Solar Observatory . 

Cruising Altitude: What it was like to see the eclipse from a plane

Will there be eclipse cruises or flights?

Almost certainly, although most operators have not announced specific plans yet. 

Cruise lines will also offer more viewing opportunities. Princess Cruises “has created a bespoke itinerary aboard Sky Princess to position the ship near Spain on that date,” according to a spokesperson for the line. The cruise will open for bookings on Princess’s website on May 23.

Cunard Line has sailings on its Queen Mary 2 , Queen Victoria and Queen Anne vessels that will put passengers in prime spots to watch .

'The ship can move': Why you should watch next solar eclipses from a cruise ship

Holland America Line is also planning multiple sailings around the event, though details are still to be announced. “Guests have reacted positively to our 2024 eclipse cruises and with the next full eclipse in 2026 we plan to have three sailings in Europe that will align with the path of the eclipse,” Paul Grigsby, the line's vice president of Deployment & Itinerary Planning, previously told USA TODAY in an email.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Already planning to see the next solar eclipse in 2026? What travelers need to know.

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Any Experience with NCL booked flights delayed and you missed your cruise?

By mtrancher , June 1, 2022 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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I'm wondering if anyone has ever used the NCL airfare program, had NCL book their flights and then flight delays caused you to miss the cruise? Coming from Montana its almost impossible to fly to Miami same day and get there in time for embarkation. There might be one flight that makes it. I'm curious if that is the case, and one of the flights is delayed, what does NCL do, if anything, to help you make the ship?

Also, if they fly you in the day before due to no possible flights, do they help you with hotel or are you on your own?

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AtlantaCruiser72

They do nothing to help

in my experience. They also will not reimburse you in any way for any expenses incurred nor will they refund any portion of the cruise fare should you miss your cruise entirely.   

While travel insurance may cover certain delays read the policy carefully many things are excluded (depending on the policy).   

Best bet - arrange to fly in at least 1 if not 2 days early. Especially since we are still seeing many flight cancellations due to crewing issues and it can sometimes  take up to 2-3 days to be reaccomodated on another flight. 

SimplyAlbert

From what I've seen from other posts I believe you can request a deviation up to two days before the cruise.  As a general rule we fly in at least one day before, if not two.  With the way things are with the airlines right now I'd try to get in two days before to have some wiggle room.

We're booked on a cruise this fall and while I booked my own airfare, we're flying in two days ahead.

This past November our flight from Toronto to Miami was delayed for more than eight hours and subsequently we missed embarkation on the Encore. NCL booked us a flight to San Juan where we picked up the cruise on day three. There was no compensation from NCL. We incurred the cost of accommodations and other expenses in Toronto and San Juan.  Our insurance didn’t cover anything because we had booked the cruise during a government no cruise advisory. We did not have any insurance through NCL. We made the best of the situation and really enjoyed our 5 day cruise in the Encore Haven. The most frustrating part of the experience was trying to reach NCL’s flight department when we realized we were not going to make the cruise. I called a series of numbers listed on the website and each time I was forwarded to reservations. Finally got through to the right department but it was extremely unnerving.

No, NCL will not pay for a hotel if they can't get you a flight day-of.  They will find a flight if they are offering airfare from your chosen airport.

As to cancelled flights and missing your cruise, it sounds like NCL will pass the responsibility to your insurance.

KarlChilders

I can tell you that our 2019 cruise on Getaway out of New Orleans was over 2 hours late sailing away, because they were holding the ship for those with NCL booked air that were delayed in arriving.  I am certain they would not hold it for those flying in on their own.  That said, I would still rather come in a day ahead.

9 minutes ago, KarlChilders said: I can tell you that our 2019 cruise on Getaway out of New Orleans was over 2 hours late sailing away, because they were holding the ship for those with NCL booked air that were delayed in arriving.  I am certain they would not hold it for those flying in on their own.  That said, I would still rather come in a day ahead.

Same thing happened when I was on the Breakaway out of New Orleans - for all the naysayers who insist they won't hold the ship.  They just rushed everyone onto the bus at the airport, then directly onto the ship, registered everyone onboard, had them do a makeup muster drill the next day.  Of course this was during pre-covid days.

But there are no guarantees - it all depends on the itinerary, so not something you can count on.  With so many flight changes, I'm opting to fly in early nowdays.  Book a hotel by the airport and take the NCL shuttle to the ship the next day.

Thank you to those who shared your experience with planes being delayed and NCL's response.

I couldn't agree more on flying in a day early. Coming from Montana we lots to consider when flying during the winter. Deicing can be delayed and consequently cost us a late departure, weather might as a whole cost time for departure or cancellations, and we have to fly into hubs which often have their own weather issues, and now add with the pilot shortage flight cancellations can be more frequent. Hence I'm a firm believer to fly in no less than one day early and for this upcoming cruise we will fly in two days early. There's plenty to do in Miami for one day and I'll have far less stress while "on vacation" not worrying about making embarkation.

That said I asked the original question because a couple traveling with us opted to use the NCL 2nd guest flies free. I originally  thought they opted for a 2 day early deviation to fly in but learned last night they are coming in whenever NCL books them... up to the day of. Currently the earliest flight from Montana on the day of embarkation gets to Miami @ 3:39pm which is nine minutes past the latest boarding time for embarkation.  Obviously the time to get luggage and travel to the port might make it as much as an hour or more past the deadline.

So those of you who have had experience in the same scenario, again thank you for passing on how it was handled. I'm going to use your input to encourage them to at least request a 1 day early deviation so the risk will be less they miss embarkation.

35 minutes ago, mtrancher said: Currently the earliest flight from Montana on the day of embarkation gets to Miami @ 3:39pm which is nine minutes past the latest boarding time for embarkation.  Obviously the time to get luggage and travel to the port might make it as much as an hour or more past the deadline.

They don't fly you out the day of embarkation.  They arrange a flight to get you to the ship on time, so often leave the day before if that's what it takes.

I have a cruise with flights booked in NOV for the South Pacific: Bora Bora, Moorea & Raiatea cruise. Unfortunately, flight deviations are not available for this location and its a 17 hour flight on a good day. I'm sure I'll run into some type of complication

CrusinCousins

We love to cruise with NCL!  However, after our own person experiences, we will never ever use NCL Air for a cruise again.  The department rarely if ever will answer their emergency number required to contact on the day of your travel.  Follow-up for assistance post cruise is very hit and miss and truly not what one would expect from a reputable cruise company.

The low fares can certainly be very tempting, but as there are many things that can go wrong with air travel these days… NCL Air does not stand behind the product or service at all!   Most likely you will regret the decision to try to save a little on airfare.  Avoidance is certainly the best option for such a weak product.  We LOVE NCL…. we HATE NCL air.  A very inferior product!!!

Forewarned and be aware!!!

5 hours ago, mtrancher said: Thank you to those who shared your experience with planes being delayed and NCL's response. I couldn't agree more on flying in a day early. Coming from Montana we lots to consider when flying during the winter. Deicing can be delayed and consequently cost us a late departure, weather might as a whole cost time for departure or cancellations, and we have to fly into hubs which often have their own weather issues, and now add with the pilot shortage flight cancellations can be more frequent. Hence I'm a firm believer to fly in no less than one day early and for this upcoming cruise we will fly in two days early. There's plenty to do in Miami for one day and I'll have far less stress while "on vacation" not worrying about making embarkation. That said I asked the original question because a couple traveling with us opted to use the NCL 2nd guest flies free. I originally  thought they opted for a 2 day early deviation to fly in but learned last night they are coming in whenever NCL books them... up to the day of. Currently the earliest flight from Montana on the day of embarkation gets to Miami @ 3:39pm which is nine minutes past the latest boarding time for embarkation.  Obviously the time to get luggage and travel to the port might make it as much as an hour or more past the deadline. So those of you who have had experience in the same scenario, again thank you for passing on how it was handled. I'm going to use your input to encourage them to at least request a 1 day early deviation so the risk will be less they miss embarkation.

My assumption is they'd be on a red-eye flight to arrive in the morning.  Not flying the same day.  

23 hours ago, davencl said: My assumption is they'd be on a red-eye flight to arrive in the morning.  Not flying the same day.  

That would be the likely, yet there aren't any great read eyes.... and still I think a very good chance for delays that cost a timely arrival.

There's time for them to reconsider and at the least request a day or two earlier arrival.

screenname2004

Somewhat related question. When can I request to fly a day early? At time of booking?

42 minutes ago, screenname2004 said: Somewhat related question. When can I request to fly a day early? At time of booking?

You have to call NCL or your pcc.  You can make your request anytime but has to be at least 75 days out.

7 hours ago, julig22 said: You have to call NCL or your pcc.  You can make your request anytime but has to be at least 75 days out.

Or you can have your TA make the call.

TNCruiser72

18 hours ago, screenname2004 said: Somewhat related question. When can I request to fly a day early? At time of booking?

We did ours at booking. We also added a hotel and and ground transport from Airport to hotel and hotel to terminal. I’m sure we paid more than we would have had we booked all those separately, but it was sure nice getting it all done with one phone call. 

cmecruise1962

I just got notification from AirCanada that my flight to Greece has been changed (by 4 minutes).  I'm not cruising for another 72 days and have heard nothing from NCL.  The flights are good, leaving Orlando at 11:30AM to Montreal, a four hour layover and then a flight to Athens landing at 10:30AM (I'm flying in the day before and staying at the Grand Hyatt, also booked through NCL).  HOWEVER, when I looked on AIrCanada, I saved a whopping $60 by booking through NCL...and I spent more on the hotel, so I just about broke even.  So keep that in mind when considering this offer!!  On the other hand, NCL better make it right, if anything goes wrong!

22 hours ago, cmecruise1962 said: I just got notification from AirCanada that my flight to Greece has been changed (by 4 minutes).  I'm not cruising for another 72 days and have heard nothing from NCL.  The flights are good, leaving Orlando at 11:30AM to Montreal, a four hour layover and then a flight to Athens landing at 10:30AM (I'm flying in the day before and staying at the Grand Hyatt, also booked through NCL).  HOWEVER, when I looked on AIrCanada, I saved a whopping $60 by booking through NCL...and I spent more on the hotel, so I just about broke even.  So keep that in mind when considering this offer!!  On the other hand, NCL better make it right, if anything goes wrong!  

I had multiple notifications for an Air Canada flight for upcoming cruise out of Barcelona.  Was not very excited of going from Washington Dulles to Toronto, then 7 hour layover and then jumping across the pond.    

We pulled an inside straight on Friday, was assigned a United flight from Dulles straight into Barcelona.  Point being, a lot can change until you get the final ticket.   NCL will be very quiet until it is done.

1 hour ago, Harratine said: I had multiple notifications for an Air Canada flight for upcoming cruise out of Barcelona.  Was not very excited of going from Washington Dulles to Toronto, then 7 hour layover and then jumping across the pond.     We pulled an inside straight on Friday, was assigned a United flight from Dulles straight into Barcelona.  Point being, a lot can change until you get the final ticket.   NCL will be very quiet until it is done.

Good to know!  I would love a direct flight!!

cruiserchris613

On 6/3/2022 at 12:43 AM, julig22 said: You have to call NCL or your pcc.  You can make your request anytime but has to be at least 75 days out.

I called the number found in the vacation summary under the Air, Hotel, Transfers tab - "For customized air arrangements, call 1-866-625-1163" and was able to secure a +2 day deviation when I was 110 days out.

Air is a crap shoot these days. I’m planning a Panama Canal cruise for Feb or March. Booking air to Miami the day before, if my flight gets cancelled and can’t get on a flight that day, it’s to the car I go. I live in Savannah  a 7 hour drive to Miami.  Air problems are really screwing things ip these days

BirdTravels

Last month, flying in day of cruise to Miami was fine. Flying in a day early was a problem due to weather on Miami. When trying to rebook day of cruise, everything was sold out (due to the cancellations the day before). 700 missed the cruise and many flew in to join the cruise Day 3 or Day 4. That also caused a mess on disembarkation when US Customs and Immigrations insisted on doing full processing on those guests and would not allow any of the close loop people off until all who joined mid-cruise were accounted for. 

14 hours ago, cruiserchris613 said: I called the number found in the vacation summary under the Air, Hotel, Transfers tab - "For customized air arrangements, call 1-866-625-1163" and was able to secure a +2 day deviation when I was 110 days out.      

is there a limit on how early you can request a deviation.  I just booked for May 2023 and would like to fly out a day early.  Thanks for any info this is my first cruise with NCL.

7 hours ago, CruzCra-Z said: is there a limit on how early you can request a deviation.  I just booked for May 2023 and would like to fly out a day early.  Thanks for any info this is my first cruise with NCL.

The rep I spoke to gave me an option for a 1 or 2 day deviation. 

I'm pretty sure 2 days deviation is the max (also from reading what others posted). 

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