Any recourse or suggestions?

[Britkid]

Newbie cruiser here so have a question that hopefully someone can hep with. Have a 7 day cruise booked in April aboard the Norwegian Escape, my husband and I and another couple (who have cruised before). So booked via a TA and was advised on a fly and cruise package that seemed like a good option and price (no need to worry about flight times and transfers as they are included). We are travelling from Ontario to Ft Lauderdale then transfer to Miami.

We found out after that Norwegian has the "Free at Sea" program, and then found out we are ineligible because we booked through a third party. Spoke to our TA and they aren't able to offer us anything, so am left with a little bit of a bitter taste, as the cost to purchase UBP is way too much IMO. Any suggestions as to see if there are any "loop holes" or leverage with Norwegian, even an option for on-board credit? Thanks :)

[Sissaaaaaa]

Lesson learned, unfortunately. Sorry!

[hawkeyetlse]

Do you have any information about exactly why your booking is ineligible? Plenty of people book through third-party TAs and get all the Free At Sea perks (plus incentives from the TA). And I am not aware of anything disqualifying fly-cruise packages.

 

If you got some kind of special rate, you are probably out of luck. But if your booking has no perks because you booked IX/OX/BX, you may be able to add promotional perks by upgrading to a higher category. Of course, your TA has to be willing to work with you on this.

[punkincc]

Lesson learned, unfortunately. Sorry!

 

Someone enlighten me, please. We have booked through a TA many times and were always given the same Free at Sea or other promos we would have been entitled to if booking direct with NCL as well as anything extra the TA offered. So, not understanding why they cannot get the Free at Sea promo. Has it something to do with the type of package they booked through the TA?

 

OP, I'm assuming you are in the penalty phase now and it would be too expensive to cancel and rebook?

[Darcy03231]

We booked through a TA and are getting the "Free at Sea" perks.

[Sissaaaaaa]

Someone enlighten me, please. We have booked through a TA many times and were always given the same Free at Sea or other promos we would have been entitled to if booking direct with NCL as well as anything extra the TA offered. So, not understanding why they cannot get the Free at Sea promo. Has it something to do with the type of package they booked through the TA?

 

OP, I'm assuming you are in the penalty phase now and it would be too expensive to cancel and rebook?

 

I think it's because she booked a package. I assumed that was why ...

[KeithJenner]

It sounds to me like the TA failed by not making them aware of all the options. I assume this is the "lesson learned" - to still do some research yourself and not rely totally on the Travel Agent.

 

Due to the timing, I assume there isn't much that they can do about it now. My guess is that they are in a guarantee room or something like that, and therefore not entitled to the free at sea offers. Perhaps an upgrade may be possible, but as said this will mean the TA getting involved and it sounds to me like they may be trying to duck responsibility by saying that the offers aren't available to them.

 

Probably try to speak to someone higher up the chain and avoid that TA in future.

[Britkid]

I am in the penalty phase (looked at that and will lose 50%). My TA went to their Customer Service rep and was told drink package was not offered in their contract with NCL. Kinda sucks as had I known I would have chosen a different route in booking this :(

[Sissaaaaaa]

I am in the penalty phase (looked at that and will lose 50%). My TA went to their Customer Service rep and was told drink package was not offered in their contract with NCL. Kinda sucks as had I known I would have chosen a different route in booking this :(

 

I think it's because of the package. If it's not because of the package, then the TA really messed up. Either way, you can't do anything about it now, unfortunately.

[Britkid]

I asked about upgrading my cabin to see if that made a difference, but nope, apparently not. Ironically this is the first trip I've done where I have not researched my options....as some have said lesson learned.....Funny that Norwegian are sending me messages about the "Free at Sea" but when our fiend called they said we were not eligible :(

[Two Wheels Only]

Did the OP book a "X" (guaranteed) stateroom?

[Britkid]

Booked an "IA" midship interior if that helps

[newmexicoNita]

I could be wrong and it wouldn't be the first time, but think it has to do with the package you are on and the inside cabin. Some promos do not apply with inside cabins. Sorry in this case you are out of luck. Look at it this way: 1 you were happy with your package or you would not have taken it and you are getting air included which is great when you do not have to worry about transfers. It has nothing to do with booking through a third person. Whoever said that didn't know how it works. We always go through our TA and always get the promos we hope to get.

[mnventure]

It depends on when you booked. There has been times when inside cabins didn't qualify for any "Free at Sea" offers.

[Jetlagged787]

We booked an inside cabin through a TA in November and were offered the Free At Sea.

[hawkeyetlse]

My TA went to their Customer Service rep and was told drink package was not offered in their contract with NCL.

Maybe one of the TAs on here can say if this makes any sense. Do they mean a contract for a group booking? Shouldn't a group booking come with more perks/advantages than the everyday offer that anyone can get? Is it possible that the TA is withholding incentives that they negotiated for the group?

[BostonGal35]

if its April, youre inside 90 days. you'd have to cancel and rebook to get the promo, thus incurring penalties for cancellation. this would be the case even if you booked direct with NCL.

[Mac4YYZ]

All is not lost. You still have some options. You can bring bottles of wine onboard and pay a corkage fee. Look at NCL FAQs about this. Norwegian probably still offers a wine package where you can buy several bottles of wine and save some money. You get to pick from a fairly large list. You can buy buckets off beer on deck and there is always a drink special. You can get around the bev package with a little creative thinking. And you'd be surprised what you can bring with you in a nalgene bottle. ;)

[PatandStu]

My parents booked their recent cruise (with travel package to, and hotel, in New York) with a TA. My sister and I booked many months later directly through NCL, and we got lots of perks my parents didn't get: UBP, Dining, photos, phone calls home, internet, casino chips etc. My parents also didn't get latitude rewards. My mom is furious-I'm sure I'll never hear the end of it! My dad has said that next time they'll get me to do the booking for them!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[Budget Queen]

It's a balance. Probably some of these "no perks" deals is because they are in a discounted package. "Group" bookings don't have to have any perks. The lower price is the perk. A lot of "ifs" with these posts and far from the entire story. Certainly not noticeable where to claim the blame.

 

 

How did the rates compare- at the time of booking?

[newmexicoNita]

My parents booked their recent cruise (with travel package to, and hotel, in New York) with a TA. My sister and I booked many months later directly through NCL, and we got lots of perks my parents didn't get: UBP, Dining, photos, phone calls home, internet, casino chips etc. My parents also didn't get latitude rewards. My mom is furious-I'm sure I'll never hear the end of it! My dad has said that next time they'll get me to do the booking for them!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

There is something really wrong with what happened with your parent. Going through a TA has nothing to do with perks the cruise line is offering. In fact going through an agent often gets you a little more in the way of perks, but not always. This depends on the agency. The only explanation could be the timing or if your parents were booked with an agency holding space but that is extremely unlikely. As for latitude credit it does not make any difference what so ever who books the reservation. After sailing the passenger always get latitude points, but the cruise has to be completed. All your parents have to do is call latitude, they will tell them how to get their points. In fact we have gotten points from cruises 10 or more years ago. I would love to know how you got casino chips and free calls home. I have never heard of anything like that. I have never heard of a cruise line giving any perks a TA can not. I might add, your parents could have booked at one of the times when the free promos were not being offered. We had this happen to friends of ours just a few years ago. 3 couples were cruising together, all used the same agent, but the one couple just happened to book in the 2 week period when NCL didn't offer the drink package.

[KeithJenner]

Certainly not noticeable where to claim the blame.

 

 

 

 

 

How did the rates compare- at the time of booking?

 

 

The UBP is such a valuable perk to many that the only excuse I can think of for a TA not mentioning it would be if the price difference is more than the retail price of the package.

 

We can't say for sure, but as they are in an inside I doubt whether that's the case.

 

If the OP would pay more overall after having bought their drinks then in my opinion their travel agent didn't serve them well.

[knitlady037]

I notice you are from Canada. Did you book with Canada at par promo? That would not give you any promo choices. Look at your confirmation and see what codes were used.

[All-ready2cruise]

It could be due to the choice of currency. If the TA booked the cruise using Canadian at Par currency, that disqualifies you from getting any other perks.

 

CANADA AT PAR

SELECT 2017 CRUISES

 

Now Canadians can book the select cruises below with Canadian dollars at par with the U.S. dollar prices. That's close to a 30% cruise discount.

 

To view the discounted at par price, begin booking the applicable cruise online now. Initially, you will not see the at par price display until you reach the Step 3: Your Rate section. Once there, you will be able to see and select the at par reduced rate.

 

This at-par promotion is not combinable with our Free at Sea promotion. Check back regularly as applicable cruises are subject to change.

[Britkid]

I didn't try and research the different options, as I just followed the lead from my TA. Once I read up on the "Free at Sea" offers I went back to my TA. I guess had I been given the choice, at time of booking, I know which way I would have chosen.