Concierge ??

[Jawwdoc]

We have booked a family penthouse suite with concierge "services".  When I called to have the concierge book a private airport transfer from the port in Venice to Marco Polo, I  was advised that the concierge could assist with choice of pillows (feather, memory foam etc) and beverages (water, juice etc) but they were unable to assist with airport transfers or shore excursions.  This is very disappointing and not what I expected when we booked a suite.  Any advice on booking a private airport transfer would be much appreciated. 

[milolii]

I would check/ask  on the Europe/ Mediterranean boards.   Most likely pLenty of recent experience there.  

[ColinIllinois]

7 minutes ago, milolii said:

I would check/ask  on the Europe/ Mediterranean boards.   Most likely pLenty of recent experience there.  

Exactly.   Here is a link to the forum:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/8-europe/

[graphicguy]

Concierges can book dinners on board, entertainment on board, excursions sponsored by and through NCL, escort you off/on the ship.  But, they have no control of private excursions, transport, off shore tours unaffiliated with NCL.  They’re employed by NCL.  

 

The Butler assists with cabin choices like pillows, drinks, setting up in room dining, etc.

 

Maybe you asked the question of the wrong person?

Edited January 29, 2019 by graphicguy

[NLH Arizona]

I've never heard of the pre-Concierge arranging any transportation, but on my last cruise when I called, they didn't offer to make NCL shore excursion reservations for me.

[BirdTravels]

3 hours ago, Jawwdoc said:

We have booked a family penthouse suite with concierge "services".  When I called to have the concierge book a private airport transfer from the port in Venice to Marco Polo, I  was advised that the concierge could assist with choice of pillows (feather, memory foam etc) and beverages (water, juice etc) but they were unable to assist with airport transfers or shore excursions.  This is very disappointing and not what I expected when we booked a suite.  Any advice on booking a private airport transfer would be much appreciated. 

Don't be disappointed. The concierge can help you with things ON the ship. Not OFF the ship.

 

NCL transfers are booked through the transfer office. These are group transfers. 

 

Transfers Between Airport & Cruise Pier

Call 800.327.7030 to BOOK TODAY

Norwegian Cruise Line offers ground transfers between the airport and the pier and vice versa. If you’ve made your own flight arrangements give us a call and let us arrange your hassle free transfer to the pier. To arrange for transfers, have your airline documentation ready and call our Reservation Department 800.327.7030 at least 4 days prior to sailing.

 

The transfer to Marco Polo is $20 pp. 

 

If you want a private car, you can contact NCL's preferred ground provider GroundLink https://www.groundlink.com/?ref=ncl

 

[Hampton99]

We have booked thru suntransfers.com.  I would highly recommend advance transportation reservations for Venice, unless you want to take the water shuttle to the airport there are not many options available when you walk off the ship.  

[Son of a son of a ...]

We took the NCL transfer bus to Marco Polo from the Star.  It was a nice coach.  The concierge walked us off early and ahead of the lines.  Only waited 10 minutes for the bus to fill.  The only knock was the drag to the bus and even longer drag from the bus to the airport.  But, that’s why suitcases have wheels.

[graphicguy]

3 hours ago, NLH Arizona said:

I've never heard of the pre-Concierge arranging any transportation, but on my last cruise when I called, they didn't offer to make NCL shore excursion reservations for me.

NLH......the pre-concierge won’t make excursion reservations, but my on board concierges booked them for me.  None of them had access to reservations for ANY private transportation, to or from the ship.

[NLH Arizona]

1 minute ago, graphicguy said:

NLH......the pre-concierge won’t make excursion reservations, but my on board concierges booked them for me.  None of them had access to reservations for ANY private transportation, to or from the ship.

Well, she offered to make any if I wanted.

[Jawwdoc]

Thanks to everyone who replied.  Here is the precise language regarding the concierge service directly from the NCL website. 

 

With one quick phone call or email, you can arrange for a variety of special requests which will be handled before you even arrive on board the ship!  Would you like a special pillow, or perhaps you’re a fan of chamomile tea?  No problem.  Maybe you only drink milk with your coffee?  If so, they’ll have a pitcher of milk waiting in your mini-fridge.  Perhaps you’d like to start off your first sea day with a massage and facial at the cruise spa… they’ll arrange that, or specialty dining reservations, shore excursions, and more!  

 

When I read the paragraph above it certainly seemed to me that the concierge would be able to arrange shore excursions (they can't or won't).  Along those lines, it didn't seem unreasonable to expect that "and more" to possibly include arranging a private airport transfer, again the concierge can't or won't help with that either. A certain type of pillow or a cup of tea can be arranged very close to a cruise departure, however, waiting until we are on board to book a shore excursion during the peak summer season seems like a bad plan.  Alas, it seems that we are on our own with regard to advance planning.

 

Cheers

[graphicguy]

@Jawwdoc

 

I think what’s confusing is the fact that NCL can not book private (or 3rd party) excisions or transportation.  They have no “agreement” with those private entities.  If it’s something that NCL sponsors directly, then yes, the concierge can help.

 

The Butlers arrange anything that has to do in Suite, like drinks, dining, choice of pillows and amenity choices.

 

For transport by private vehicle around ports, or from the private transport from the ship to port and vice versa, that is up to you to arrange and pay for directly with the provider.

 

 

Edited January 30, 2019 by graphicguy

[ColinIllinois]

13 hours ago, Jawwdoc said:

.........  Alas, it seems that we are on our own with regard to advance planning.

 

Cheers

 

I gave you the link earlier to the port of call forum.     Go over there and you'll find the info you need to get a transfer from the ship to the airport.  There's nothing hard about it.  

[BirdTravels]

15 hours ago, Jawwdoc said:

Thanks to everyone who replied.  Here is the precise language regarding the concierge service directly from the NCL website. 

 

With one quick phone call or email, you can arrange for a variety of special requests which will be handled before you even arrive on board the ship!  Would you like a special pillow, or perhaps you’re a fan of chamomile tea?  No problem.  Maybe you only drink milk with your coffee?  If so, they’ll have a pitcher of milk waiting in your mini-fridge.  Perhaps you’d like to start off your first sea day with a massage and facial at the cruise spa… they’ll arrange that, or specialty dining reservations, shore excursions, and more!  

 

When I read the paragraph above it certainly seemed to me that the concierge would be able to arrange shore excursions (they can't or won't).  Along those lines, it didn't seem unreasonable to expect that "and more" to possibly include arranging a private airport transfer, again the concierge can't or won't help with that either. A certain type of pillow or a cup of tea can be arranged very close to a cruise departure, however, waiting until we are on board to book a shore excursion during the peak summer season seems like a bad plan.  Alas, it seems that we are on our own with regard to advance planning.

 

Cheers

An airport transfer is not a shore excursion (either NCL or private). And evidentially not “and more”. 

[milolii]

Here is a link to a thread on the Mediterranean  boards from 2017.  The reason you  are not getting an answer  here may be because members reading this thread do not have any expierence  with this, or as in our case the experience is several years old and may not be accurate.

 

onthe Mediterranean boards  you will find both  locals and those with more recent experiences. Also maybe check to see if there is a roll call for your cruise. 

 

We cruise in the NCL suites. I do not think the other cruise lines come close to what NCL offers.  We did a cruise on the Spirt out of Venice in 2013.  One of the best benefits was being able to exit the ship before anyone else allowing us to make private tours  and get to the sites before the crowds. The Concierge should do that for you. 

may be because 

[Tricialy]

I've always used the pre-concierge e-mail address to book NCL excursions in the past.  When I tried for our cruise last December they told me they didn't have access to book shore excursions.  I found it interesting that the letter that came with the luggage tags said to contact them to book excursions.  Not sure if it's something they don't do any more or the guy who answered the e-mail just didn't want to be bothered.

 

Edited February 2, 2019 by Tricialy