graphicguy

Maybe you missed it, but they said they were in contact with NCL the entire time. They weren’t simply a “no show”.

Yeah…hind sight being what it is, I want to control my flights to and from the cruise. Lots of reasons, but this thread is just one of them. I’d rather be “penny foolish and dollar rich” than vice versa. Then again, I have my own rules flying in day of cruise. Primary one is no crossing time lines West to East (East to West gives me some time advantages). Plus, I have to have back up flights that will get me to the pier on time. Plus, there has to be another airport within 2 hours of the ship’s pier other than the one I’m flying into. Plus, I only have carryons only…no trips to the luggage carousel. I get off the plane and go directly to my ride to the pier.

You’ll be fine. Probably be able to walk right on if there are no delays in boarding.

Yes. I was in the first Latitudes group. Some got there at 9:30. I got there at 11:00. We boarded at the same time.

Good luck in your pursuits with the insurance company and/or NCL. Personally, I think you’ve got a good case to claim the 90% FCC for the “Cancel for any Reason” clause.

That’s been my experience out of NYC, too. I’m an outlier. I hate hanging in the terminal waiting to board. I had a 9:30 check in in Oct. I’m Sapphire, so my checkin didn’t affect my boarding. But, the waiting area was crowded before my group was called (right after Haven). Those I spoke to who got there between 9-9:30 had been there a while before we boarded at 11:30-ish. I got there at 11:00 and only waited a little while by the time I checked in and snaked through the terminal. Grabbed lunch at O’Sheehans and booked entertainment. Checked in at my muster station. Then, my cabin was ready. Pretty smooth boarding and didn’t waste time milling about and waiting.

Should have qualified that. Have done the same in Food Republic before they were included in the SDP. BTW….Food Republic is one of my Specialty Dining faves.

👏

Here…let me walk you through this if it gets to court…. Magistrate….”when did you cancel your cruise?” Guest…”when they offered to fly me to the next port, and I would have missed 2 days of the cruise and had to get two extra nights at a hotel. I declined!” Magistrate to the insurance company….”give these nice people 90% of the cruise value as Future Cruise Credit as you promised. Case dismissed!”

Passport, booking/res number will get them into the terminal.

They’ll just have to complete the check in at the pier if none of the info is registered. Will just take longer at the check in desk.

Well…that didn’t take long. OP….Celebrity is a good cruise line, too. I’m betting you’ll like it. NCL is my “go to” most of the time no matter how much they seem to want me to leave. Not sure the purpose behind the public proclamation, but OK! Now….carry on with the tipping and drinks…..ummmm….”discussion”. But, since we’re making public proclamations, I have sailed NCL for a long while. I know of no one……NO ONE…who has EVER bought the full price drink package. NEVER! If they do/did they deserve to pay the prices NCL lists and they aren’t the brightest bulb in the light socket. Same goes for the speciality dinners. I KNOW OF NO ONE WHO’S EVER DINED IN A SPECIALTY RESTAURANT WHILE PAYING NCL’S A LA CARTE PRICING!

I'd go to battle with the insurance company on that one. OP was on the phone with NCL up until it was clear that ship was sailing without them. I would keep all those phone call times in my mobile phone for proof. Insurance companies are notorious for trying to weasel out of coverage. Push comes to shove, I'd file a small claims suit against the insurance company. That $500 paid out is only for delay incidentals, meals and hotels. It does not cover missing the cruise or cancelling it "for any reason".

Plus, the OP gets 90% of the cruise fare payable as a FCC. So, all is not lost.

Oh...I'm well aware of all that. I'm also aware that if a person can make an extra buck, particularly those who work at the airports, they'll most likely do so.

Kind of lengthy but a worthwhile read about flight delay responsibilities..... https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/flight-delayed-or-canceled-what-you-need-to-know-and-what-airlines-owe-travelers/ar-AA14OQov

Correct. MSC does not participate in the AMEX perk program. To my knowledge, none of the cruise lines allow the AMEX perks if you book directly with the cruise line. My TA provides AMEX perks. So, kind of puts the cruise lines’ own agents at a disadvantage since they can’t offer them. No matter, whatever the reason, they aren’t available on an MSC cruise, regardless of who you book with. I’m certain it’s a monetary thing. Cruise lines probably have to pay a marketing fee to get AMEX perks, and the TAs probably do, too.

Agree about Transport liability. But, I was just in a situation in OCT sailing NCL out of NYC. I had a scheduled (and paid for) shuttle that never showed up. I flagged down the NCL bus organizer at the airport. He did repeat that without a pre-bought reservation he could not help……UNTIL…I put a $10 bill in his hand. He found me a seat and let me on board the bus. Was I on his “list”? Nope! If the bus had a wreck and passengers were hurt or had to be transferred was I SOL? Absolutely! But, I liked the odds and he liked the 10 spot.

AA does have responsibility. How they handle it (I find AA worse than Frontier or Spirit, which is pretty bad), is telling. There are certain time parameters that flights have to follow. It’s XX hours late before airline penalties kick in. So, check up on those. Kicker here, is you booked a SW flight instead of making AA get you there. They don’t know that, though. Still, check out their rules regarding those delay penalties. Assuming NCL scheduled the flights for you? Then, they’re also responsible. I don’t book NCL’s insurance (AEON, as someone else pointed out) as they only cover $500 for a trip delay, which is what this essentially is. Just looked it up for Platinum….here’s what they state… ”Reimbursement for catch-up expense like meals and hotel if you are delayed getting to and from your trip up to $500.” So, that’s exactly what the policy gave you. NCL is faced with waiting for you to catch up, or inconvenient a few thousand other passengers to wait for you. Not your fault, I understand. I would contact AA, also. They will probably wash t heir hands of the whole situation, but I’d still raise a stink with them, as this wasn’t weather related, so totally their fault. Interestingly, there is also a clause in the Platinum Insurance stating you can get… “Future credit if you need to cancel your trip for any reason-90% of cruise penalty” I don’t see how you have to cancel, or who you cancel with, but might be worth a shot. Good luck!

Them’s fighting words….LOL! Actually I’m a Honda lover. I’ve had several, including 3 Acuras. But, you’re right. If you want to pick and choose your options, Honda/Acura ain’t the brand you want.

BTW….if you find a bartender who’s willing to let you use your drink package to buy a drink for someone else, be sure to drop a 10 spot on them to look the other way.

Have to agree with @DCGuy64 here. You’re going to get varying answers if you ask that sort of question here (along with how others dress, tipping, and chair hogging). So, here’s my 2¢. If I have a friend who was so tight that they want me to get them a “free drink” on my drink package, I might consider them a “mooch”. They can buy their own drinks (just like you did when you paid), right?

Yeah…they aren’t “concierges” per se. They are customer service reps. You’ll get a different one every time you call the number.

No issues, my friend. I see what you meant. Yes, A-List Bar sits between the two Specialty Restaurants. Not “in” either restaurant. Never hung out there. Matter of fact, I never saw many people at that bar…..ever! Never much thought about it, but I don’t think I’d ever just want to “hang out” before or after dinner at any of the specialty restaurants. I know after dining and having my typical after dinner drink, I usually leave. Sometimes the Specialty Restaurants are booked solid. “Hanging out” would tie up a table that someone else could use. While not a Specialty Restaurant, I have been known to “hang out” and eat at the LOCAL or O’Sheehans at a high top to eat and then drink while watching shows in the Atrium from above.

Just as an aside, on the Waterfront, Ocean Blu has an outside area where shorts are acceptable. Full menu where you can dine al fresco (and in my opinion, with much better ambiance).