Which cabins represent good value?

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Originally posted by Malcolm:
Which cabins on the Norway are NOT original? (I assume those on the top two decks?)

Which cabins represent good value?

Any comments would be helpfull.

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The Fjord Deck houses some cabins that could be configured into multi-roomed suites on the France. On this same deck, more to the aft, Norway has cabins where France had open decks. (From the exterior, on Olympic Deck promenade, you can see the welding lines where the new area was attached.)

A less likely answer can be found down on the Viking deck. VO55, 57, 59 are E-class cabins now, but are not marked as cabins on my deck plans from the France.

IO57 and IO59, on International Deck. are cabins now but used to be part of the children's area and nursery.

N163 and N164, presently Superior Deluxe Suites on Norway deck, were France's Tourist Class Info desk, hotel manager office, purser office, etc.

A FLIP SIDE to this question would be which cabins on France are NOT cabins on Norway?

I draw attention again to the International Deck, to the area near the forward stairwell #1. France had some extremely tiny cabins on the main corridors that do not appear on Norway's deck plans. My France deck plans make it look like these cabins had sinks and toilets, but no showers! Does anyone know whether a liner launched in '62 would not have bathing facilities in all cabins?

I'm sure there are more examples...

"Does anyone know whether a liner launched in '62would not have bathing facilities in all cabins?"

That sounds very likely to me - a left over from the old steerage days? Europe's levels of sanitation (and expectations of sanitation) were probably behind those of America, even in the early sixties?

I can remember as a child, (early 70's) unisex toilets in France. The women had to walk past the urinals! France also has urinals in the middle of streets for men, that were more like phone boxes - offering little more privacy than a phone box!

quote:

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Originally posted by Malcolm:

Which cabins represent good value?

Any comments would be helpfull.

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I'll be brief. My family and I just got off the Norway in July. We had the smallest of the small. I034 and I040. These were, I believe, about 90 SF each. Little room for anything other than the bunk beds, a chair, a TV and the bathroom.

Despite their size, they were perfect for us. My wife and I had one and the kids had the room across the hall. This worked out to be cheaper than the larger room that would sleep all four of us and definitely more private. The crew were great with the kids being in their own room and went out or their way to make sure they were taken care of.

Only problem was that the bunk beds were a bit tight for two people in one bed. We made out OK (pun intended), but I wouldn't recommend it for anyone real large, older, or interested in stretching out when they sleep.

One additional point about location. Being on the International Deck was quite nice since you have immediate access to virtually the entire ship.

My parents had the larger outside cabin next to ours. It was very big, with a bathtub, but only had two portholes instead of a window.

Strat

In the brochure I have, (its old) the cabin we had was an S2 cat. and no, not all the cabins are the same on this deck.

Just looked at Joe's link. The cabin I had is AF (first picture).

Wish I were going! Reading this stuff and looking at the pictures kind of make me homesick for this ship.

As you'd only need a o/w air ticket to Miami or NYC and probably one night in a hotel before embarking, does anything prevent you from buying this trip from an American TA?

I'm not unmindful of the fluctuating relative values of our respective currencies but other than that, are non-Americans unable to purchase such a trip for legal reasons? Or do the lines deliberately raise or the lower the prices in hopes of attracting passengers of a particular nationality?

One thought that prompts the question was the arrival in today's mail of Cunard's 2001 catalog. The US $ prices, particularly for Cunard's "line voyages" to and from South Africa next Fall, seem incredibly cheap: about the same for a 15 day trip as a 6 day crossing. Could this be an attempt to attract more Americans to a cruise not likely at the top of most American's wish list because of the distances involved?

Similarly, P&O make it somewhat difficult for Americans to purchase their cruises although their prices here appear much lower than those in the UK catalog, even allowing for air (inclusive from London, added on here.) I'm guessing they wish to retain the "British" theme and have Princess to keep the Yanks happy or so say other posters.

Is it possible NCL is doing the same thing?

Best, Tom

You're entirely right: it is off topic. I posed it here in response to the last line of Malcolm's posting. While the Norway has a lot of cabins, they appear to be going quickly for this trip and it might mean someone from another country was unable to book or would have to choose from a limited number of available cabins.

I've bought airline tickets in other countries without problem, albeit at rates higher, I suspect, than those available in the US (VAT?) and it's my understanding (correct me if I'm wrong) that in the UK most travellers buy a different form of travel insurance than is available to us in North America - a policy that covers all one's trips during a certain time period, much as my Canadian friends who spend the winter in Florida do to cover them medically when they're away from the Canadian National Health scheme.

I'm concerned as I want to arrange for Australian friends to join us on board the Norway for this trip. I will pay their fares at a greatly reduced 3rd/4th passenger rate which I can add to the total bill anytime up until the final payment date. My TA is trying, so far without success, to find out what the rules are for non-Americans in this situation: something they couldn't arrange themselves even if AUS $ rates were available
as NCL couldn't book 'em into our rooms w/o our OK.

Here in the UK we tend to pay more for everything! Travel companies probably exploit this. In previous years I've seen NCL offer '2 for 1' deals on all there ships, if booked early. Europeans and Brits were not extended this offer.