Disgusting experience!!!!!

[acgeorge654]

It has been said before but I always go a day early because I never want an excuse to miss the ship.

[toocruisin2]

"Stuff happens" usually refers to things that are unavoidable, like a bad traffic accident blocking the highway, not things that happen annually during the same time and place. In this case, this was definitely avoidable with a little planning and foresight.

 

I think we are in agreement; I don't see a reason to use "blame" in order to feel better. The stuff that happened to the OP didn't happen to many other folks who made it to the cruise ship on time, and possibly did happen to others who missed the sailing.

 

I don't see how blaming the City of NOLA for not protecting their ports, or blaming the OP for poor planning helps.

 

Her post was out of anger and disappointment, so I feel sorry for her and her family, but I wouldn't take it out on NOLA or NCL, or anyone else for that matter.

[rvsullivan]

Thinking the same thing. City of NO should take measures to keep vital roads and passages open and detours planned out. OP missed a cruise. God forbid if someone had a medical emergency.

 

And they do!! There are planned routes for emergencies, traffic passing through and around the city. However, you have to take some action to find out. They can't offer personal escorts to everyone. You are not an NCL cheerleader for pointing out the obvious. They come from an adjoining state that also celebrates Mardi Gras. I don't know where they sat for 5 hours. There were two ships leaving that afternoon and I'm sure if there were hundreds/thousands that missed the two ships it would be big news. So far no one else has reported, nor has the NO newspaper. I'm sorry they missed their cruise, but you cannot/should not blame people for you poor planning. I live 750 miles away and even our news and local paper are talking about Mardi Gras and the cities it affects.

I'm waiting to see if the OP comes back. Still haven't heard about insurance or the actual details of what happened. I know there are signs as you approach NO warning about traffic delays and detours. Once they were within about 50 miles the warning should have become apparent on the radio and travelers at stops along the way. A couple of phone calls or stopping a local cop could have done wonders.

[luddite]

I am not a complete idiot. Insert smiley face. I know Mardi Gras lasts a few weeks. I just thought it started on Fat Tuesday. I have learned something new. That being said, I am sure I would have done my due diligence.

 

I understand. It ends on Fat Tuesday which is always the day before Ash Wednesday.......

[luddite]

Thinking the same thing. City of NO should take measures to keep vital roads and passages open and detours planned out. OP missed a cruise. God forbid if someone had a medical emergency.

 

Yesterday was extraordinary cicumstances. Add a couple of traffic accidents and yesterday's nightmare is the result.

[rvsullivan]

Gee, you all sure are mean....over and over again.

 

You assume that everyone should know everything, that their vacations should be researched to a "t" and that, if they have a short post count, their comments are invalidated.

 

Most people have never heard of CC, or find out about it on their cruise....and no one is obligated to join the roll call, shouldn't be penalized.Folks actually have lives and aren't wasting time here all day, like some of you, spewing venom.

 

And you aren't NCL cheerleaders, just NCL lemmings.

:(

'

 

If your going to spend the money a cruise involves and travel a significant distance to take one. You should probably perform some amount of due diligence. I can't imagine taking a trip of this magnitude without getting some basic information. If you don't search out CC, how about ask and answer on the NCL website. Or, maybe you should be quizzing your TA who you just paid to arrange this trip. To just take a ticket and head for NO as if you were going to the corner store is probably not the best move. The blame resides with the OP and his/her TA. Not NCL and this board.:D

[luddite]

Gee, you all sure are mean....over and over again.

 

You assume that everyone should know everything, that their vacations should be researched to a "t" and that, if they have a short post count, their comments are invalidated.

 

Most people have never heard of CC, or find out about it on their cruise....and no one is obligated to join the roll call, shouldn't be penalized.Folks actually have lives and aren't wasting time here all day, like some of you, spewing venom.

 

And you aren't NCL cheerleaders, just NCL lemmings.

:(

That's a fun screen name.

 

OP isn't new to CC.

No venom had been spewed until your post here.

OP spent a lot of money without doing research and it cost'em. We understand their frustration but it wasn't NCL's nor the city's fault that they missed the ship. It wasn't entirely OP's fault, but he's gotta take the lion's share and move on. He's not gettin' a pass blaming his problem on NCL.

[richm20]

I live 20min. fro JFK airport. The port nor any airline has yet to call me to inform me of construction delays, road closures or any other possible delay. To lay blame on NCL is just silly. I teach my 7 year old kid to take responsibility for his own actions, obviously the OP needs some help in that area.

That said, I do feel bad. I can imagine what it must feel like.

[Homosassa]

We say they could have emailed every one of us on this cruise some new directions, given what happens on mardi gras (we didn't know about it because we don't live in n.o.).

 

Seriously? You live close enough to drive to port (and parts of Mississippi are less than hour from New Orleans without traffic) and you aren't aware of Mardi Gras and when it occurs?

 

Or if you spent the night before in a area motel, the exorbitant room prices didn't tip you off?

 

Poor planning on your part is not NCL's problem.

[newmexicoNita]

My husband, brother and i just came back on 2/19 from trying to get aboard the norwegian spirit in new orleans. The ship left without us because it was absolutely impossible, if driving, to find an access road that would take you down to the dock. Every road was blocked because of freaking mardi gras, and the norwegian cruise line knows this and didn't let anyone know of an alternate route to get to the ship. We were stuck, and i mean stuck, in traffic for over 5 hours in new orleans while we tried to get to the ship, and we simply could not get there. The ship left without a lot of passengers who had the same experience. Ncl and our travel agency, ***********, do not accept any responsibility for this mess and won't compensate us for the loss of the trip. Ncl provides driving directions to the terminal. They already accept the responsibility for telling you how to get there. Now they say they have no responsibility for these driving direction. We say they do. We say they could have emailed every one of us on this cruise some new directions, given what happens on mardi gras (we didn't know about it because we don't live in n.o.). We are going to sue them in small claims court. We hope every one of the passengers who missed this boat does the same. We will prevail in small claims court--the directions that did not work are printed on ncl letterhead, which proves that they expected us to use these directions. If they did not work, ncl should have let us know how to get to the ship.

 

We are latitudes members who have cruised on ncl many times, without incident. I cannot find the words to express my anger and frustration with this cruise line now. They are real pikers in my opinion, and i am considering not setting foot on another of their ships. I will also write to the better business bureau in my area and complain about this service issue.

wow, I feel so sorry for you; what a horrible experience and disappointment, but you certainly do not really think you have any law suit what so ever do you? I think when you settle down, you will better be able to think straight. I don't know what good you think writing to the BBB will do either. By the way, the only way the BBB will even aknowlegee your letter, if at all, is by writing to them in the city where NCL is headquartered. That is not your home town.

[youngestof9]

I think it stinks that you missed the cruise. Truly I do. But you mentioned you have a travel agent. They didn't tell you about Mardi Gras? That's not a great TA in my eyes.

 

I sailed the Gem in October. I live 45 minutes from port. It took me almost an hour and 45 minutes due to a bike race closing the west side highway.

 

I, however, researched beforehand anything happening in Manhattan on October 2nd. I didn't know the first thing about that bike race until I googled it.

 

It takes effort on your part as well to determine the best and quickest route to the port. If you had done research, say on your roll call or perhaps even googling the date and New Orleans, I'm guessing you would have seen some sort of reference to Mardi Gras.

 

Again, it stinks you missed the cruise. But I don't think NCL has one iota of responsibility because you missed the cruise.

[newmexicoNita]

The cheerleaders will make nasty comments to you ... just ignore them.

 

I'm sorry this happened. I live in FL and NJ, and would have no idea about Mardi Gras either if I was traveling at this time of the year. Someone should have warned you, especially since you don't live in the area. That really stinks. I'm sorry :(

 

I believe there is an arbitration clause in the contract. Read that first. You may have to go thru arbitration before you can file a suit. Also, it will tell you what state / county has jurisdiction. Good luck to you. I can't imagine the disappointment and frustration.

 

Hate to disappoint you, but so far (I haven't read all the responses) I haven't seen anyone make nasty comments. I have only seen sympathy for the OP. There are several who have said the cruise line isn't at fault and they are not, but that doesn't mean people do not feel sorry for anyone who misses their cruise.

[Lost Sailor]

Sorry about missing your ship! I hope you made it meet the Spirit @ your first port.

 

I just googled NYC events for the date of my cruise to Bermuda leaving on July 8, 2012.

 

For everyone who may need to know there is a Triathlon in the city that day, looks like I will be leaving NJ much earlier than I planned.

[fergusonvt]

We say they could have emailed every one of us on this cruise some new directions, given what happens on mardi gras (we didn't know about it because we don't live in n.o.).

 

Seriously? You live close enough to drive to port (and parts of Mississippi are less than hour from New Orleans without traffic) and you aren't aware of Mardi Gras and when it occurs?

 

Or if you spent the night before in a area motel, the exorbitant room prices didn't tip you off?

 

Poor planning on your part is not NCL's problem.

 

 

Yeah! Goooollllly, even us hicks up here in Vermont know when Mardi Gras is!

[HCTiger9704]

It sounds like you are trying to blame NCL for YOUR mistake!!!

 

You should have known that Mardi Gras Season was going on in New Orleans and YOU should have done more research on how to get to your ship. Poor planning can lead to problems.

 

It is not like Mardi Gras season is a big secret that nobody knows about. It is not like the parade routes are a big secret that nobody knows about. If you know how to read, you can find out the information with a little research. Next time, do a little more research.

 

Also, it is not like NCL wants you to miss the ship...if you are on the ship, they can make more money off of you.

[cruizecrazygramma]

Just wondering if the OP ever made any attempt to contact NCL to let them know their situation. We are cruising NCL next month and we were provided with a number to call if we experience and difficulty getting to the ship.

[luddite]

It sounds like you are trying to blame NCL for YOUR mistake!!!

 

You should have known that Mardi Gras Season was going on in New Orleans and YOU should have done more research on how to get to your ship. Poor planning can lead to problems.

 

It is not like Mardi Gras season is a big secret that nobody knows about. It is not like the parade routes are a big secret that nobody knows about. If you know how to read, you can find out the information with a little research.

 

Oh great! Now you have revealed the secret! New Orleans and Mardis Gras! Now EVERYONE will know. I'm gonna bet that there will be LOTS of people invading NOLA next year on our cruise!

Thanks for exposing NOLA's dirty secret!!:)

[newmexicoNita]

i think it is important to realize the OP lives in Mississippi which has been mentioned. They certainly are very much aware of the activities the weekend before Ash Wed. It really sounds to me like: 1-they did not arrive a day early like many have suggested to do (we always do) and they simply didn't allow enough time. Yes, 5 hours siuck in traffic was not to be expected but most of us attempt to get to the port late morning. If the Op had done that, they would not have missed the ship, 5 hours of traffic or not. Let's hope she/he comes back to explain what really happened. Let's also hope they had insurance and made an effort to pick up the ship at the next port. For some reason I don't think this is the case.

[cruiserssandr]

 

 

Yeah! Goooollllly, even us hicks up here in Vermont know when Mardi Gras is!

One of the first things I do when I get my calender for the new year is check when Easter is. Just curious. Thought most people knew Madri Gras ended on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. But I guess if you don't celebrate Easter this would not even enter your mind. We actually were in New Orleans to start a cruise in 2008. We flew in day of the cruise and used NCL transportation to get to the termianl and we had no problems at all. Maybe they just knew how to move around the traffic. I also wonder is OP had insurance and if this incident is something that would be covered.

[HCTiger9704]

Thinking the same thing. City of NO should take measures to keep vital roads and passages open and detours planned out. OP missed a cruise. God forbid if someone had a medical emergency.

 

If there is a medical emergency, there are enough police on the parade route to deal with it. One of my friends got hurt one year during a parade, and the police was able to get an ambulance to him in less than 90 seconds. The ambulance was also able to get him to a hospital in less than five minutes.

[palmyrafan]

My husband, brother and i just came back on 2/19 from trying to get aboard the norwegian spirit in new orleans. The ship left without us because it was absolutely impossible, if driving, to find an access road that would take you down to the dock. Every road was blocked because of freaking mardi gras, and the norwegian cruise line knows this and didn't let anyone know of an alternate route to get to the ship. We were stuck, and i mean stuck, in traffic for over 5 hours in new orleans while we tried to get to the ship, and we simply could not get there. The ship left without a lot of passengers who had the same experience. Ncl and our travel agency, ***********, do not accept any responsibility for this mess and won't compensate us for the loss of the trip. Ncl provides driving directions to the terminal. They already accept the responsibility for telling you how to get there. Now they say they have no responsibility for these driving direction. We say they do. We say they could have emailed every one of us on this cruise some new directions, given what happens on mardi gras (we didn't know about it because we don't live in n.o.). We are going to sue them in small claims court. We hope every one of the passengers who missed this boat does the same. We will prevail in small claims court--the directions that did not work are printed on ncl letterhead, which proves that they expected us to use these directions. If they did not work, ncl should have let us know how to get to the ship.

 

We are latitudes members who have cruised on ncl many times, without incident. I cannot find the words to express my anger and frustration with this cruise line now. They are real pikers in my opinion, and i am considering not setting foot on another of their ships. I will also write to the better business bureau in my area and complain about this service issue.

 

Oh golly-gee-whiz.....you broke a fingernail. So sorry. Are you kidding me? I mean really?:eek: Another person expecting someone else to take all the blame for something that was clearly their own fault. Yes. Your fault. Because you did not do the research ahead of time to make sure there were no major events in the area at the time that could have prevented a quick easy access to the ship. Everyone else knows to do that, why don't you? So you don't know about Mardi Gras? THAT'S your excuse? I don't know about all the festivals, parades, etc that arise out of Philadelphia near their port and I live here!

 

Do your homework. It is unreasonable to expect anyone else other than yourself to take the blame for this. To expect NCL to compensate you by refunding you the price fo the ticket is what is unreasonable. Why aren't you instead trying to get to the next port where you can meet the ship?

 

As for small claims court? You will be lucky if you aren't laughed out of court. And how do you know that many others weren't able to get to the ship? Y'all chatting on the phone comparing notes?

 

I would not be surprised if you have a habit of making everyone else accountable for your foibles in life.

 

:confused:

[cruizecrazygramma]

I rarely defend people who are total failures at planning as this person is and ultimately the OP is totally at fault and deserves nothing. However, it would not have been difficult for NCL to note on their WEB site and also send e-mails to people who booked the cruise reminding them that it was Mardi Gras. It also would not have cost them anything.

 

DON

 

should they only advise passengers about mardi gras? what about the many other events or weather conditions that could cause traffic disruptions in NCL's port cities?

[fergusonvt]

One of the first things I do when I get my calender for the new year is check when Easter is. Just curious. Thought most people knew Madri Gras ended on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. But I guess if you don't celebrate Easter this would not even enter your mind. We actually were in New Orleans to start a cruise in 2008. We flew in day of the cruise and used NCL transportation to get to the termianl and we had no problems at all. Maybe they just knew how to move around the traffic. I also wonder is OP had insurance and if this incident is something that would be covered.

 

 

I do the same thing for any area I plan on visiting and even my own home town. For instance, I don't plan on going out to eat in a restaurant the same weekend that is graduation or parents weekend at our local University. As for directions, we always have a plan B and most times a plan C because of road work etc. I've seen DH put 4 different routes in the GPS just in case AND have printed directions too. LOL.

[HCTiger9704]

In defense of the OP (JUST A LITTLE BIT), I live in Southern California. While I have heard of Mardi Gras (I thought it was 1 day) and closer to Easter.

 

Mardi Gras Day is only one day. Mardi Gras Season starts on January 6 and ends on Mardi Gras Day. And Mardi Gras Day is 41 days before Easter every year (Lent is 40 days and Lent starts on Ash Wednesday: Ash Wednesday is the day after Mardi Gras Day).

[graphicguy]

So, let me understand this. The OP wants to sue NCL for a traffic jam in NOLA that caused them to miss the ship? Are you kidding me?

 

No wonder the OP won't come back. I'd be embarrassed to show myself around here, too.