NCL Sun ...Balcony???! Panama Canal

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gussin

Guest
we are going on the panama canal cruise in april of 2005 but cannot get a balcony...NCL says none are available so we had to settle for gty in D category. i don't understand how they could all be sold out this early. i do know that Princess and RCI do have availability for the same time period...is it the free style dining that is creating the interest? how early must one book to get a balcony? how can i get upgraded to a balcony? NCL says they do not keep wait lists. need help from some experienced cruisers. this is only our second cruise. we did Cape Horn last Nov. on the Crown and now we are sold on cruising. we didn't care about a balcony then but for this cruise we do.




Hurtigruten M/S Richard With, Norwegian Coastal Voyage June 1998; NCL Crown, Cape Horn November 2003; NCL Sun, Panama Canal April 2005;



Post Edited (06-25-04 09:09)
 
T

Trekker

Guest
Are you booking directly with NCL or with a travel agent - if with NCL it could mean that all the balconies have be given to the TA's which will open up later in the year if the TA haven't sold them - I did this cruise this year and we booked a year in advance through a TA and those wanting a balcony were able to get them.

I notice also that you feel that you need a balcony for this cruise - only one balcony among our group of 19 and they were hardly in it during the transit of the canal - for viewing the entrance to the locks most people were up on deck and to view it lower down you get a great view from deck 6 - Promenade level

Here's a link to one of my photo sites with pictures of the transit of the canal:

http://members2.clubphoto.com/dennis79130/2346462/guest.phtml

Hope this helps

Dennis
 
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gussin

Guest
thanks trekker...your slide show was great...what a preview for our cruise!!! can't wait to see the rest. we booked our cruise thru an agent (we called several including cruise specialists and no one had balconies)we are happy to have a gty D ocean view cabin and will hope for an upgrade later. did you think of renting a jeep on aruba?did you do all ship arranged shore excursions or book your own? i'd appreciate any good leads on shore excursions. its good to hear from someone who has done the same cruise on the same ship..
 
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BigAl

Guest
We'll be with you on the Sun next year. We have a balcony, but booked our trip while on the Dawn in October 2003! :). I was surprised to see how full the ship became so early. April seems soooooooooo far away :)
 
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ILoveCruising

Guest
That was a great slide show!!!! I think I know what cruise I want to go on after Dawn in October!!!
 
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gussin

Guest
great !!! look forward to meeting you on the cruise. category D just sold out. things are getting tight.. found out ncl is pulling some unsold balconies from TA's. wait list here i come. trekker you were right!!! planning the cruise is getting more exciting as we go.
 
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BigAl

Guest
trekker, great slide show! i shared it with our traveling companions - it really whetted our appetites :). gussin, wait until it begins to get closer and you really start planning - until then the boards are great places. There is a roll call for our cruise on the cruise critic board also
 
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Trekker

Guest
Thanks - glad that you liked the photos - Any excursions were booked on board - did the town and country tour of Aruba, the tequila factory and old town in Pv and Land's end and beach tour in cabo and Poas Volcano tour in Costa Rica - other ports just walked around or used the local buses to sightsee.

I have many more pictures of the various ports on ofoto.com but you have to register and then have me send you an email for each album - too time consuming so i will probably add some more to club photo

Any other questions i will be happy to try and answer them

Dennis
 
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lizst

Guest
Have been to Panama Canal with balcony room but on Princess. Haven't been on that NCL ship. Princess balcony was microscopic. My husband liked it better than I did. An outside cabin with large window is another thought. It is great to just sit all day in either front or back of ship outside decks and view the sights. I'm very surprised all bal onies were taken so early. We booked about 4 months before departure in 1999. We often do late booking on cruises with no trouble. Maybe you hit a premium time. Lizst
 
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gussin

Guest
gussin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> great !!! look forward to meeting you on the
> cruise. category D just sold out. things are
> getting tight.. found out ncl is pulling some
> unsold balconies from TA's. wait list here i come.
> trekker you were right!!! planning the cruise is
> getting more exciting as we go.
> just got a balcony cabin through Grand Circle Travel...cancelled previous booking
>
 
N

newmexicoNita

Guest
Gussin, glad you got your balcony. I hate to cruise without them anymore; too day DH doesn't care one way or the other. He says it's no big deal. I say, crazy old man!!!!

NMNita
 
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