I couldn't care less whether it was a mistake by NCL or a cracking good deal. I just know I got myself a bargain.

Happy cruising everyone.

Bob

Well said Bob!

Sue

The only comment I have about this, is that it is not unusual for prices to increase and almost double on NCL and all others selling cruises in the US market around the end of May, as Memorial Day(which is on 26th May this year) is the start of school and college summer holidays. You can usually find great bargains right up to that cutoff... after that it's High season- to US purchasers.
I agree with WJ on this, someone made errors and once discovered, corrected it.
If you watch NCL in particular, quite closely, this is not the first time this has happened,and they have had to eat some costly mistakes in the last year...... once these are spotted by observant cruisers, they are soon spreading the word all over the Cruise Boards, I found out a good one on Cruise Critic a few weeks ago- NCL again- once word gets out.... poof, they sort it out

I wonder if any of you bargain spotting folk can help me, I know what we are looking for, so here we go.
We are looking for the best price for a balcony cabin on Jade cruise that leaves Southampton on 13th June, at the moment Vacations to go say $1199 each and I think that is without taxes.
I am searching myself but some help would be really appreciated.

I know NCL have the spring sale starting 31/3 to the 13/4 (I think the dates are right) it might be an n board credit sale as well so that might be worth checking. You might want to check it through those dates and keep an eye on it http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/hotdeal/specialOffers.html

One tip that Windajmmer suggested was to locate the cruise with Best price.com and just keep checking it each day
I think this is the one you mean https://club.bestpricecruises.com/ssl/travel/cruise/passenger_select.rvlx?CruiseItineraryID=87569&cruise_departure_city=
GTY INS .. (more chance of a free upgrade then if you dont mind were you are on the ship) is $2,783.25 USD for 2 inc all tax's and fee's
I will keep an eye open for a price drop on it but booking through a US agent you would have a good chance at getting it reduced anyway if the price dropped once you had booked it...WJ will correct me if I am wrong on that

You are all so much help, sorry to say I can't get that first link to open, maybe my computer?

We really do want to go for a balcony cabin as it's a special holiday.

Try it now. I hadnt spaced it right

Re Price drops- most US Travel agents will honor cruise price drops but make sure you read the 'Booking Conditions' - the major ones do but a few do not.

TravelMandy wrote:

Try it now. I hadnt spaced it right

Thanks

This June cruise is in final payment so not much chance of getting price drops once paid.

This(and June 29 I am looking at) are now in the watch and wait period jump in when the price is right for you.

I also do cabin checks on cruises we are looking to book, you get to see how many are left for each grade when it is 6 or under, if the grades start to sell out you have to judge if it gong to run out or price drop.

The way I do it is on the UK site bring up the cruise pricing in a tabed browser and make sure your settings are "open links in new tab and not change to the new tab" then run down and open each cabin grade in a new tab then go through each one, takes about two minutes to check a cruise.

The US site only shows upto 5 cabins so thats why I use the UK.


NCL has also become known as playing hard against price drops outside final as well some get them some don't.

Anyone still considering the May 17 many grades are no cheaper through the UK on NCL rates, AF by over $200.

bestprice.com still seem cheaper on all grades +On board credit
anyone found out if you can still book NCL via the UK with US agent?

TravelMandy wrote:

anyone found out if you can still book NCL via the UK with US agent?

I may be wrong but the way I read it is that you can't book throught the US if you want flights as well, but cruise only is ok.

Certainly the one we booked for 30 May via the US website is cruise only. No problems whatsoever doing so!

We finally booked with our local cruise agent, worked out about £40 each more than VTG but I feel happy with what we paid. So will be asking questioms about NCL soon as we have only been previously with Thomson, O.V., Island and the good old Sun Cruises with my travel.
We were looking at the budget uk lines for this year then husband was told not to fly at the moment, we have booked a balcony cabin and think it would have cost more if we had gone with any of the UK ones and no balcony.

How much are the taxes and fuel prices to add on the V2GO web site Thanks

Taxes depends on the cruise. For the 30 May cruise (14 nights) the taxes were $111, but we avoided fuel surcharge which has been applied since we booked October. Believe most lines are charging $5pppp to a maximum of $70. Gratuities are added to your on-board account at a rate of $10pppd.

http://shipcrew.wordpress.com/

This link is to a blog being kept by a NCL crew member who is "reporting" for Cruise Critic site members, on his current trip on the Jade. He has been asked many questions and will endeavour to answer them whilst onboard. There will also be photos in due course.

Bob

I wonder if anyone can help me, we are going on the Jade on June 13th.

On the ncl uk website it says that you can pay your gratuities in advance at £5.00 per day.

Has anyone done this?

I would like to do it, as I like to pay as much upfront as we can, just don't want to do it here and then also be charged on board.
What do you think.