3/28/20

Travel Update: Cruising The Pacific Northwest


I need a happy boost this morning so I decided to jump onto the Norwegian Cruise Line website and see the countdown to our April 2021 cruise. 

 



In doing so, I spotted the current deals included $200 on board credit, as well as the additional free-at-sea options.  We ran some numbers and for just $50 more, we would be able to now get $200 on board credit during our cruise.  Heck yeah!

We had to first cancel our current cruise booking, which meant we had to lie to the representative.  Thankfully she didn’t ask too many questions as to why we were cancelling.  I was feeling super guilty for re-booking and getting this new great deal when the state of the economy and business are hurting.  But…it is $200…

We were booked on the NCL ship Encore.  It is NCL’s brand new ship as part of the high class fleet.  Kenyon started comparing the itineraries for the Pacific Northwest cruises.  There is another NCL ship, Bliss, that rolled out in 2018 and is also in the high class fleet.  When you compare the two, they are pretty close to identical.  They both have casinos, a Starbucks, and a brewery.  The difference is the price.  There was a bit of a savings if we wanted to reduce our trip by one day.  Encore is sailing for 6-day and Bliss is sailing for 5-days, which means Bliss doesn’t stop in Seattle.

I do love Seattle so that was a bit of a bummer to consider sailing for the lower cost on the 5-day cruise.  I also noticed that on Encore, the big entertainment show is Kinky Boots, which is ah-mazing.  On Bliss, it is just Jersey Boys, bleh. 

When we compared them more, not only would we save money for one less day sailing, but we would also save by not having to pay the additional day of gratuities for the included drink and dinging package offered with the free-at-sea deal.  Total savings came in at $376.

That is a pretty good savings for a day in Seattle and Kinky Boots.  So, we went for re-booking on NCL Bliss for the 5-day Pacific Northwest Cruise.  We leave out of Los Angeles, have a day at sea, port in San Francisco, a day at sea, port in Victoria, BC another day at sea, and then disembark in Vancouver, BC.  I am stoked to visit Victoria, BC again and I have never been to San Francisco or Vancouver, BC.  Yes, I do love Seattle too.  I am happy for our cost savings though.

The days at sea will be much more enjoyable with a non-smoking casino and the drink package.  We haven’t ever had an alcohol beverage package so I’m a bit excited for that.  Plus, there is still a brewery on this ship.  With the $200 on board credit, I’ll be visiting Starbucks at least once a day.  We also have a sailing date one week prior to our original date.  Let the countdown continue…

 



It has been really hard feeling stuck at home.  I am thinking that we will have to postpone our April plans for Vegas.  Of course we just have to wait and see at this point.  Until the Governor lifts the stay-at-home order, I can’t travel.  Work has put the squash on out of state travel at this time.  Sigh.  We just gotta stay as positive as we can that things will improve soon.



Have a good Saturday, whatever your travel plans may be.


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