Why the Long Line at Guest Services the Day Before Debarkation?

[Karysa]

For hours there was a long line on the Jade on Friday. Anyone know why? Do more European cruisers settle their account with cash? Hopefully it was not because people were taking the service charges off of their account. I have seen line ups on the last day but never like this for hours at a time. It was a cool sea day so pretty much everyone spent the day indoors and the atrium was the centre of activity and every time I was there the line up at guest services had 20 people or more in it all afternoon.

[SeaShark]

For hours there was a long line on the Jade on Friday. Anyone know why? Do more European cruisers settle their account with cash? Hopefully it was not because people were taking the service charges off of their account. I have seen line ups on the last day but never like this for hours at a time. It was a cool sea day so pretty much everyone spent the day indoors and the atrium was the centre of activity and every time I was there the line up at guest services had 20 people or more in it all afternoon.

 

The answer is really quite simple. People are natural procrastinators...the line you see is result of folks waiting until the last minute.

[mizLORInj]

Questioning a charge, asking for a printout, etc. the list goes on.

 

And it is common on all cruiselines.

Edited May 18, 2014 by mizlorinj

[happy cruzin]

IMO, it's a combination!

People settling their accounts with cash, those looking to cash out the last of their OBC...AND those who have finally taken a good look at the charges and have found some sort of discrepancy that they now want fixed!! :o

[happy cruzin]

The answer is really quite simple. People are natural procrastinators...the line you see is result of folks waiting until the last minute.

 

Questioning a charge, asking for a printout, etc. the list goes on.

 

And it is common on all cruiselines.

 

Agreed! ;) :D

[Erik101]

I just got off the Getaway and it was the same thing. They had to have someone there for crowd control. And I was in that line to pay on my bill since I won money at the casino and I gotta say, the stories I heard in line was hilarious. One woman met her max limit of $300 so her card stopped working for charges. She tried to convince the staff that she'll pay her bill when she gets off the ship if they increase her limit, as if NCL operates like a bank.

 

After waiting in line, I went to the water slides and had some fun! Pretty much, long lines at guest services before debarkation is typical.

[Ilovesailing]

On a 7 day cruise we check it mid week then get a print out the day before.

We just refuse to do line ups same for excursions rarely we do ship excursions but if we decide last min. we just fill out the form and put it in the box.

Sometimes I think it's the herd mentality.

[Karysa]

IMO, it's a combination!

People settling their accounts with cash, those looking to cash out the last of their OBC...AND those who have finally taken a good look at the charges and have found some sort of discrepancy that they now want fixed!! :o

 

 

Can you explain what you mean by this. I have had OBC before and i just thought that the amount was subtracted from my Bill. Is this not correct?

[triptolemus]

Can you explain what you mean by this. I have had OBC before and i just thought that the amount was subtracted from my Bill. Is this not correct?

 

Some types of OBC are refundable... for example, TA OBC, or purchased OBC. If one does not use it all, they can have the remaining balance refunded.

[SeaShark]

Some types of OBC are refundable... for example, TA OBC, or purchased OBC. If one does not use it all, they can have the remaining balance refunded.

 

True, but in that case you wouldn't have to stand in a line as they don't give refunds at the desk. Any unused amount is refuned via the purchase method after the cruise is over.

[garycarla]

As to the line - lots of good reasons, some of which have been mentioned.

 

Some poor use of vacation time also includes some not so great reason. Like folks that are determined to only have cash accounts because they will not use their credit cards. (Yes, I know, some people can not have them - don't flame me for that)

[newmexicoNita]

For hours there was a long line on the Jade on Friday. Anyone know why? Do more European cruisers settle their account with cash? Hopefully it was not because people were taking the service charges off of their account. I have seen line ups on the last day but never like this for hours at a time. It was a cool sea day so pretty much everyone spent the day indoors and the atrium was the centre of activity and every time I was there the line up at guest services had 20 people or more in it all afternoon.

just a educated guess: there are several reasons, unfortunately I am guessing the removal of the service charge or part of it in one reason: another people wanting a copy of their account before they are almost ready to disembark, people checking lost and found, etc. So many of us, wait until the last minute to take care of business that could be done sooner.

[Karysa]

Well I thought that many would be taking their auto service tips off so I am glad to hear that there are many more reasons as to why there would be such a long line up on the last full day of the cruise.

[Happy_Girl]

It's also a lack of insight for new cruisers who think they have to settle their on board account before they disembark

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Froggitt]

Even though Jade is in Europe, the account needs paying off in Dollars. Therefore, to avoid the additional credit card charges, yes I always pay off my bill in cash the day before debarkation. Usually other people cash extracted from them at the poker table.

[AF-1]

If I have OBC I'm going to use it onboard. I don't want any refunded.

[Barb Nahoumi]

For hours there was a long line on the Jade on Friday. Anyone know why? Do more European cruisers settle their account with cash? Hopefully it was not because people were taking the service charges off of their account. I have seen line ups on the last day but never like this for hours at a time. It was a cool sea day so pretty much everyone spent the day indoors and the atrium was the centre of activity and every time I was there the line up at guest services had 20 people or more in it all afternoon.

 

I get a print-out of my charges, and reduce the amount by paying cash before I leave the ship. I don't like large credit card bills.

[Crusin6]

I get a print-out of my charges, and reduce the amount by paying cash before I leave the ship. I don't like large credit card bills.

 

If you have the cash already on you why are you bothering to do this? Since you obviously can afford to pay the bill in cash it stands to reason you will not have a large credit card bill anyway as you can just write a check when you get home to pay it. And earn credit cards points as well

 

I don't get this large credit card bill fear everyone has especially when you say you have the cash to pay it.

[Vyhanek]

Mistakes.

 

I rarely look at my charges until the end of the week. I figure if I'm only looking at the charges once, I'll do it towards the end of the week.

 

One time my kids ordered Pina Coladas and instead of paying for the non-alcoholic I was charged for alcohol in them. My kids were like 5 and 7. It was a charging mistake.

 

Another time there were charges for things taken from the mini fridge which we didn't use.

[Tiggertastic]

Every cruise we've done is like that on the last day and we try to stay well away but unfortunately we ended up in it on the last one on disembarkation day. We'd used our platinum voucher for the free meal for 2 but they charged it in error. The mtd apologised and said they would remove it but didn't so we spent an hour waiting for the mtd to be tracked down to confirm it needed taking off

 

So we lost our breakfast with our friends we only get to see once a year

[DebbieCruises]

We also get vouchers for tips paid to the butler, concierge, and room steward. We usually wait until the last day, but either go very early or late. We have never waited in a long line.

[garycarla]

... earn credit cards points as well

 

I don't get this large credit card bill fear everyone has especially when you say you have the cash to pay it.

 

Yes. I shake my head over this every time I see it posted.

 

Along with the prepay thing so they have a smaller bill onboard.

 

I guess some people just like to fool themselves or something. That is their prerogative though. Something like Freedom of Speech - LOL!

[swedish weave]

I was called to go to the services desk on the last day because I had a credit of just over a dollar. I was going to let it go until they called and said I must close it out before I could disembark. I didn't want to stand in line !!!!

Edited May 22, 2014 by swedish weave

[Crusin6]

Yes. I shake my head over this every time I see it posted.

 

Along with the prepay thing so they have a smaller bill onboard.

 

I guess some people just like to fool themselves or something. That is their prerogative though. Something like Freedom of Speech - LOL!

 

Freedom of speech? Ahhh the good old days!!

[gardiner41]

True, but in that case you wouldn't have to stand in a line as they don't give refunds at the desk. Any unused amount is refuned via the purchase method after the cruise is over.[/QUO

 

How long should this take? We had extra purchased OBC in April and still have not received refund. Should I be contacting NCL or is this a normal amoun tof time. That was my fist and last time doing that! I thought I would just get a refund at the desk.