MrMike45

Everything after Sept 2nd is being automatically cancelled with full refund per the message from NCL.  So those with cruises the end of Sept and Oct, hopefully you can cancel or reschedule airfare and/or hotel, but I don't believe you get to make a decision as far as the cruise 

14 hours ago, Young and Restless said:

Sept 30 Cuba cruise on The Sun was the middle cruise of a Back to Back to Back so for me it isn't so simple as to cancel that leg of the trip . But Im not willing to pay inflated prices for a 5 day cruise to ports that Ive been to lots of times. But would take that cruise if the price was right so that I could keep my other two cruises in place.

Only time will tell what NCL will offer so I can rebook that leg.

 

The information I received from NCL said that I would get full refund and the itinerary for Sept 30 has been changed so it just shows 3 days at sea in place of Cuba. But the cruise isn't offered yet. 

From NCL:

On June 4, 2019, the United States government announced new and immediate travel restrictions to Cuba. As a result, we have ceased all calls to the country and are modifying previously scheduled sailings as appropriate. We share your disappointment and frustration caused by this unexpected change. Like you, we were surprised by this sudden modification to policy. We thank you for your patience and continued support as we navigate through this recent development. Guests who booked Cuba sailings with us will be contacted very shortly with a detailed communication. Please bear with us as we carefully work through each sailing.

Guests booked on cruises to Cuba through September 2, 2019 have two options:

• Sail the revised itinerary and receive a 50% refund of the cruise fare paid as well as a 50% future cruise credit valid through December 31, 2020.
• Cancel the booking and receive a full refund. If guests choose this option, we must be notified no later than June 11, 2019, midnight EST.

Sailings beyond September 2, 2019 will be automatically cancelled and refunds will be applied to the original form of payment. Guests impacted by these cancellations are offered a 20% discount off current cruise fares on any new voyages booked by August 5, 2019 for sailings no later than December 31, 2020.

We are so very sorry for this last-minute change but we do look forward to welcoming you on board again soon and providing an exceptional vacation experience. With our world-class team, our innovative fleet and over 300 destinations to visit, we know you will have the vacation of a lifetime no matter the destination.

NCL has topped them all.  

Option #1 - Cancel for full refund

Option #2 - Stay on current cruise (with new destination) and receive 50% cash refund for the price you paid PLUS 50% discount off any future cruise with NCL  

Covers both sides.  Those only wanting to go to Cuba get their money back.  Those ok with going someplace else get half their money back, go on their booked cruise, and get a massive discount to cruise again later.  

So with the cancellation and full refund option OR the massive credit/50% discount, etc. option...safe to say NCL has the best policy? 

In one of the 20 or so threads on this topic, someone posted than NCL is now offering full refunds.  Didn't see anything official confirming that, but am assuming that posted didn't pull it out of thin air.  So those who were unhappy might be made whole 

MSC is offering $400 OBC to those currently on cruises.  

And for future cruises you can cancel (waive all cancellation fees) but not for a refund.  You can take all money paid and apply it to another MSC cruise (atleast the way their press release reads).  

Sorry, NCL's offer is WAY better IMO 

2 minutes ago, Young and Restless said:

We were taking this 5 day cruise for the Cuba port. The price we paid was twice the price of a 8 day cruise on the NCL Breakaway the week before the Cuba cruise. So, if they refund 1/2 of the $2000. cuba cruise ($1000.00) that is still more than the Breakaway cruise (same cabin cat) . I would be paying $1000 for the new itinerary of a 5 day cruise to ports I have been to so many times,  But I get a 50% off next cruise …...  

Here's the bottom line , I could have taken TWO 8 day cruises for the price I paid for this ONE 5 day cruise. So give me 100% refund or  credit to my account and let me decide which cruise to take.

 

When Dillards  runs their end of season sales they have 40% off their already 70% marked down items ,

Nope they don't give you 10% to come pick up the items   LOL

Well by this logic...

Cuba cruise cost you $2000.  Breakaway cruise would have cost you $1000

You're now paying $1000 for the Cuba (not Cuba) cruise, with $1000 coming back to you

You can book the $1000 Breakaway with a 50% discount now...costing you $500

So, you get to go on the 5 day Cuba (wherever they go) cruise, the 8 day Breakaway cruise a few weeks later, and have $500 in your pocket when all said and done.  

FWIW - it seems as if MSC is living by the law of the contract, that any port can be changed.  And are offering ZERO compensation.  No refund policy.  No OBC or credit.  No future cruise credit.  

So to those who feel shafted....imagine what those booked on MSC Cuba cruises are feeling.  

Not to be a "cheerleader" for NCL here, but I just want to talk something out, hypothetically.  

Let's say I was booked on a cruise to Cuba leaving July 1st and paid $2500 total for it.  Cuba is now off limits.  But I already scheduled time off with work, as did my wife, and we planned this to be our summer vacation.  

If I was booked on Carnival or RCI...our choices would be to:

A) Cancel the cruise, get my full $2500 back plus a credit of $1250 for a future cruise with the same company, and then have less than 4 weeks to plan a new vacation someplace else, be it either another cruise or a land based vacation.  Presumably, with the late timing of it all, either settling for something, or paying much more than we would have paid had we booked months in advance, possibly even more than the $2500 I just was refunded or even not going on vacation at all depending on price and availability. OR 

B) go to Nassau or wherever we are routed to on this same cruise, and get $200 OBC back

If I was on booked on NCL...our choices would be:

A) Cancel the cruise, and eat the entire $2500...which does stink OR

B) go to Nassau, for the same vacation we had planned just a new destination, plus get $1250 back, and get a credit of $1250 back for a future cruise with the same company.  Not having to try to rebook a vacation on short notice, possibly paying more than what this cruise costs or losing out on vacation entirely.  

To me, this does not seem like a bad compensation.  For someone who was only cruising to go to Cuba, and not cruising to go on VACATION to Cuba, I can understand how this might seem like a slap in the face.  Yes, changing ports is disappointing, but having to rebook a vacation on 4 weeks notice, and/or possibly not going on vacation at all would be more disappointing to me.  

12 minutes ago, cruisingator2 said:

 

Actually RCI posted last evening about the changes. They have updated their website today but it seems RCI and Carnival is reacting much quicker. 

I thought I checked this morning, and their post said they were aware and making changes, but nothing with the actual refund policy/cancellation, etc.  That was posted at 2:30 pm EST today.  If I am wrong with that apologies.  

Either way, as others have mentioned.  Given RCI and Carnival's decision to allow full refunds for cancellations, I can't see NCL going with the "tough *****, you're going to Nassau" response.  I would assume they follow suit if what the offer.  

Carnival jumped on this and posted an update right away with alternatives including refunds and OBC.  Kudos to them.

Royal just posted their update about an hour and half ago on their website.  I am pretty sure both NCL and MSC will do the same shortly.  

It's only been about 36 hours since the travel ban went into place.  A lot of moving parts for these companies.  Patience.  

1 minute ago, robertsdurkin said:

 

Really reaching here Mr Mike.  I constantly down played the amount the hand was worth, objecting on principle alone and thankful not to be playing a bigger hand.  I never accused anyone of cheating/conspiracy, just improperly handled at every level of management.  

 

I thought I'd share with others that have never gambled with Norwegian Cruise line.  Not surprised by the amount of posters with too much time (cruise birds etc), but I am alarmed by the amount of trolls that are trying to assure me no eyebrows should be raised.

The first words of your post are: Stay away from the Casino, Shotty operation.  Why?  Because they manually dealt 1 hand, in the exact same regard that it would have been dealt if the machine didn't break?  And a pit boss and manager told you sorry, no misdeal? Therefore, the entire casino is shotty and we should all stay away?  

Yes, in some casinos, this would be considered a misdeal.  In others...they would deal out the hand and then fix the machine.  Nothing shotty, shoddy, or shady went down.  The dealer got black jack.  It happens.  It would have happened regardless if the machine broke or not.  You lost.  No need to take it to management, pit boss, supervisor, or post here on CC "warning" everyone to stay away from the casino.  You lost a hand at blackjack.  It happens.  

So the cards were already shuffled and every player got their 1st card.  Rather than the machine spitting out the 2nd card for each player, the turned a dial and manually gave the card to each player.  Everyone got the exact same cards they would have gotten had the machine not broken.  The dealer caught black jack.  Same black jack he would have caught if the machine dealt the cards or the manually dealt them.  Yet there is some giant conspiracy here?  All to get your $10?  

Thank you Dolly 

anyone?  or just doesn't exist?

In doing a search, I was able to find a phone number for them, but not an email address.  Does anyone have one?  

Thanks 

Well he would know better than me.  Not much of a blackjack player.  I know the other 3 games were always $10 min. as I spent alot of time at all of them 

Last night of the cruise on Escape (5/12-5/19) around 1 AM, when the casino was nearly empty and everyone was packed and asleep, hit for $4000 on a $1 ($10 total bet) Cash Grab machine.  Not a jackpot per say, just won like 30 free spins and they added up.  

Cruised a few weeks ago, thought I saw atleast one $5 BJ table.  But Let it Ride, 3 card poker, Ultimate Texas were all $10.  Then again, they only had 2 tables of each, and they were atleast half full every day.  

37 minutes ago, worktocruise610 said:

Didn't know about the wedding but had heard about the Irish group. It seems they were most of the private functions in Spice as far as I saw. I get it, but it's just tough when you want to be outside & there aren't many options. I know, plenty of places on the ship to go, but you know what I mean. Still a great time though

Yeah agree it was a bit annoying.  But it's usually not that bad/not that many.  Think the double header of events is what caused it 

I believe there was an Irish musical group/band, etc on this cruise.  Very large group.  Couldn't help but notice someone wearing the green lanyard around their neck in every single elevator trip we took.  There was also a wedding on the ship on the Friday we left Bermuda.  I am assuming those 2 were the cause of all the private functions.  

Was on this cruise as well, first time on the Escape.  Really enjoyed both the cruise and the ship itself.  Agree, the cruise entertainment staff was like non-existent.  And the weather was absolutely perfect in Bermuda all 3 days, which is always a plus.  

There was a bank of 4 of the Lock it Link games.  And the same 4, very loud, drunk and obnoxious women seemed to sit there all day and night, betting 50 cents a spin, taking turns spinning, and hollering anytime they would get 2 hearts.  I think my wife considered throwing them over board a dozen times or so.  She did get on a few times, and did ok, but nothing big.  

Overall though the casino treated us well.  I play more tables than slots and overall was up about $500-600 from the tables.  My wife played slots all week and was up a few hundred as well.  

And then the last night, around 1 am, after she was sound asleep, and the casino was nearly empty, I sat down at a cash money grab machine (or whatever the actual name is) and hit this.  Best part, by time they paid me, was so late I didn't give any of it back.  So I think overall, we walked off the Escape + $4500-5000

(sorry for the off center pic...was late and I was pretty intoxicated.  But this was on the $1 machines behind the black jack tables near the casino cage) 

We’re leaving to embark in about an hour. Will let you know how the machines (and tables) treated us 

1 hour ago, tumblew467 said:

Thank  you

Now I know what to look for this weekend.

In my limited times playing these games...they are ALOT of fun if you're getting the bonuses.  But can have really long stretches of just nothing that can be costly.