Getaway 4/27/19 Transatlantic Shortened by Two Days

[Turtles06]

4 minutes ago, rabidstoat said:

I wonder if there are any refugees from the canceled Royal Caribbean TA where the crane hit the ship. That would suck, you would start to feel like you're cruise cursed! 

There are, and NCL knows there are. Brings to mind the maxim “you never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

[lanceholt]

2 hours ago, smplybcause said:

 

The 25% refund for missing 16% of your cruise would also help cover the food costs. I was seriously debating this cruise and with the new offerings a part of me is bummed at missing what would have turned out to be a good deal on the cruise and extra days in London. 

Sounds like you are a "glass half full" person as well....we love London and the UK in general so could have turned this one into a win for sure.  FYI, anyone on this cruise looking to spend a couple of days in London, we are staying this fall before an NCL cruise at the London Marriott Hotel Kensington at a really good rate.

 

[Lisa H. S.]

Regarding shortening the cruise by two days, I just read on a post that NCL has now expanded the $600/stateroom to be applied to hotel stays as well. Is that accurate? we have received no communication regarding that as well.  If it's accurate, can someone provide the source before I send off my email to names provided?

 

Thanks,

 

Lisa

[erdoran]

1 hour ago, NLH Arizona said:

How do you know they aren't being reimbursed and the person who said "I don't know" just didn't know, since the email about the issue just went out yesterday?   Also, what someone else said has nothing to do with what I posted, but still you alluded to the fact that I didn't think they should be reimbursed.  Have a good day.

NLH sorry it came across that way, that’s the problem with emails and posts, sometimes the writer’s intent doesn’t come across clearly enough.  I was not saying you didn’t think they should be reimbursed.  apologies if it came across otherwise.

[nwcruiselover]

29 minutes ago, Lisa H. S. said:

Regarding shortening the cruise by two days, I just read on a post that NCL has now expanded the $600/stateroom to be applied to hotel stays as well. Is that accurate? we have received no communication regarding that as well.  If it's accurate, can someone provide the source before I send off my email to names provided?

 

Thanks,

 

Lisa

The email today from NCL said it’s giving us up to $300 per person to be applied to either air or train schedule changes OR hotels.  So it’s not technically $600 per cabin.  They also gave us 25% off a future cruise, to be used within 24 months.

[Lisa H. S.]

Appreciate your response.

 

We had booked through Delta SkyMiles Cruises and the information we received was different.  "...  Norwegian will issue a 25% refund on the cruise fare paid and will cover up to $300 maximum per person in air change fees. For any guests that pre-paid the service charges, an adjustment to the new 10-day cruise length will be made and a refund for 2 days will be processed. Refunds due to the change in itinerary will be applied to the original form of payment. This process will be automatic and requires no action from you. Please submit your air change receipts to: https://www.ncl.com/case-submission."

 

We will be contacting Delta SkyMiles Cruises and NCL on this discrepancy.

 

Thanks!

[nwcruiselover]

2 minutes ago, Lisa H. S. said:

Appreciate your response.

 

We had booked through Delta SkyMiles Cruises and the information we received was different.  "...  Norwegian will issue a 25% refund on the cruise fare paid and will cover up to $300 maximum per person in air change fees. For any guests that pre-paid the service charges, an adjustment to the new 10-day cruise length will be made and a refund for 2 days will be processed. Refunds due to the change in itinerary will be applied to the original form of payment. This process will be automatic and requires no action from you. Please submit your air change receipts to: https://www.ncl.com/case-submission."

 

We will be contacting Delta SkyMiles Cruises and NCL on this discrepancy.

 

Thanks!

That’s the email I received yesterday.  There is a new one today giving the 25% off a future cruise and saying the $300 per person can be used for either airline change fees or hotels.

[Turtles06]

52 minutes ago, lanceholt said:

FYI, anyone on this cruise looking to spend a couple of days in London, we are staying this fall before an NCL cruise at the London Marriott Hotel Kensington at a really good rate.

 

In London, as in many places, booking months in advance typically gets you a rate much lower than one gets with a last-minute booking.  The folks on the Getaway who are impacted by what NCL has done don't have the luxury of an early booking.

 

The lowest rate at that hotel right now for the nights of May 7 and 8, when the Getaway folks would be arriving, is a member's rate of £250 per night, which is approximately $325 US. 

[Casino Comp Chick]

3 hours ago, erdoran said:

How can they justify NOT refunding port fees for missed ports and DSC/UBP grats for the two missed days?  That is $ they haven’t earned, and since it is per diem, there is no justification for not refunding, wouldn’t you agree?

 

People will have those 2 days of service charges removed onboard if it is not done automatically. 

Regarding the beverage and dining packages you can always call, change the promo to shore and internet and then call later and change it back at the 10 day price.

Edited April 20, 2019 by Casino Comp Chick

[lanceholt]

20 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

 

In London, as in many places, booking months in advance typically gets you a rate much lower than one gets with a last-minute booking.  The folks on the Getaway who are impacted by what NCL has done don't have the luxury of an early booking.

 

The lowest rate at that hotel right now for the nights of May 7 and 8, when the Getaway folks would be arriving, is a member's rate of £250 per night, which is approximately $325 US. 

Yes and Senior or AAA rate bring it down a little.  The 25% cruise refund would help as well but agree late booking gives you higher rates for sure.  

[tomk3212]

I posted this on our Roll Call & I'd like to share the same sentiments with the rest of CC posters.

 

The most unprofessional thing about this whole mess (and yes, I've now received the 2nd email upping the compensation) is NCL Senior Management's attitude & how callously they treat their customers AND their front-line employees.  A ship going into dry dock for an extended refit is NOT a casual decision; it involves months and months of planning and decision-making.  So seriously, NCL, with just ONE week's notice you decide to cut short a planned cruise by two days, eliminating the best ports?  Oh, and you drop an email to your affected customers informing them of this change late on a Friday afternoon before a major holiday week-end?  And, the icing on the cake; all the senior execs "get out of Dodge" and leave the fall-out for this brilliant decision to their $10-15/hour front line customer service folks?  And the middle managers supervisors who are stuck this week-end who are probably given a script & told DO NOT depart from it!?

 

ALL this for NCL's "Norwegian Edge Program" ?  Great job, geniuses!  You've probably done more in 3 days time to "Edge" folks AWAY fro NCL then towards it.

[mainelycruising]

4 hours ago, erdoran said:

How can they justify NOT refunding port fees for missed ports and DSC/UBP grats for the two missed days?  That is $ they haven’t earned, and since it is per diem, there is no justification for not refunding, wouldn’t you agree?

I asked them that question today. The question was bumped to a higher authority - the answer was vague. It seems to imply that some adjustment would be made (or could be made, if a passenger requested it).  No mention at all whether TA's commission will be protected at 100% of the cruise fair. A very poor way of dealing with a problem.  Seems as though they are making it up as they go along.

[Granny DI]

2 minutes ago, mainelycruising said:

I asked them that question today. The question was bumped to a higher authority - the answer was vague. It seems to imply that some adjustment would be made (or could be made, if a passenger requested it).  No mention at all whether TA's commission will be protected at 100% of the cruise fair. A very poor way of dealing with a problem.  Seems as though they are making it up as they go along.

It is my understanding that the TA receives the commission once you make final payment.

We received added compensation once we boarded the POA after our delayed departure due to dry dock. There should  be a letter in your cabin explaining what you will receive.

 

[shof515]

NCL been canceling a lot of regular cruises to create non-revenue sailings for the media/press/travel agents. I wonder if the true reason for shorten the cruises to enter dry dock 2 days early is so they can do 2 day travel agent cruise to show off the ship at the end of drydock

[pantherpaw]

4 hours ago, erdoran said:

How can they justify NOT refunding port fees for missed ports and DSC/UBP grats for the two missed days?  That is $ they haven’t earned, and since it is per diem, there is no justification for not refunding, wouldn’t you agree?

 

18 minutes ago, mainelycruising said:

I asked them that question today. The question was bumped to a higher authority - the answer was vague. It seems to imply that some adjustment would be made (or could be made, if a passenger requested it). 

 

I have requested it on the 3 phone calls I made, where I talked to 5 different people. Everyone gave the same answer: "that is not in the information I was given about this cruise so I can't answer that question. You can talk to guest services about it when you are on board"

[EDLOS]

57 minutes ago, pantherpaw said:

 

 

I have requested it on the 3 phone calls I made, where I talked to 5 different people. Everyone gave the same answer: "that is not in the information I was given about this cruise so I can't answer that question. You can talk to guest services about it when you are on board"

Can you imagine how surly passengers will be boarding this cruise !  The poor crew will need bullet proof vests for the slings and arrows from passengers while the NCL exec's sit snugly in their Ivory Towers. You say why beat up on the crew, they did not make this decision, but, who else ? I would submit that it is unlikely that the President of NCL will be on this cruise and the Captain and Senior Officers will confine themselves to their respective cabins. The crew probably will suffer as well as any additional tips will be minimal.   By the way, ***** Travel agency shows this cruise as "SOLD OUT"

[erdoran]

1 hour ago, pantherpaw said:

 

 

I have requested it on the 3 phone calls I made, where I talked to 5 different people. Everyone gave the same answer: "that is not in the information I was given about this cruise so I can't answer that question. You can talk to guest services about it when you are on board"

I wonder how long the line will be to “talk to guest services about it”...and what guest services will think about being stuck dealing with every single passenger asking the SAME question, that easily could have been managed pre-cruise....

[Granny DI]

1 minute ago, EDLOS said:

Can you imagine how surly passengers will be boarding this cruise !  The poor crew will need bullet proof vests for the slings and arrows from passengers while the NCL exec's sit snugly in their Ivory Towers. You say why beat up on the crew, they did not make this decision, but, who else ? I would submit that it is unlikely that the President of NCL will be on this cruise and the Captain and Senior Officers will confine themselves to their respective cabins. The crew probably will suffer as well as any additional tips will be minimal.   By the way, ***** Travel agency shows this cruise as "SOLD OUT"

The CEO of NCL actually showed up to the POA when it had its dry dock problems which resulted in a shortened and delayed cruise. As I recall he went ballistic when he toured the ship and saw the mess. I guess the ship was going to sail until he took a look at things. It was a few years ago so some of the stuff is foggy. None of us really know what’s going on behind the scene.

[Nametag]

So is it true that we can use that up to 300 per passenger for hotels.  And 25% off for a future cruise.  If so is there something we need to do ahead of time. Even though there isn't much time.

[milolii]

Oh my!  I hope things work out for all of you.  As reported on this board,  It does seem NCL has cancelled/changed a few cruises lately.  We sail NCL. I am going to think more about booking with them in the future. All good advice here about insurance and dry dock schedules. Thanks for all information.  

[EDLOS]

15 minutes ago, Granny DI said:

The CEO of NCL actually showed up to the POA when it had its dry dock problems which resulted in a shortened and delayed cruise. As I recall he went ballistic when he toured the ship and saw the mess. I guess the ship was going to sail until he took a look at things. It was a few years ago so some of the stuff is foggy. None of us really know what’s going on behind the scene.

I am sure the CEO of NCL will be at the pier apologizing for this fiasco when people board. !

[Nametag]

Another way to send them a message is to not spend money on there ship.  I normally hit the cadino, but I am not going to this time.  I'm not going to go to the specialty dinner and I'm not going buy anything in the gift shops nor drinks.

[Granny DI]

3 minutes ago, EDLOS said:

I am sure the CEO of NCL will be at the pier apologizing for this fiasco when people board. !

 

3 minutes ago, EDLOS said:

I am sure the CEO of NCL will be at the pier apologizing for this fiasco when people board. !

Don’t think you will see anyone other than worker bees. You should receive a letter though......but I was wrong in SF .......so who knows.

Where does the crew sail from? 

[MaisonRose]

Brittany Ferries has myriad choices: the Portsmouth-Caen runs 3 x day, taking 5h45mn. Caen is the closest ferry port to the D-Day beaches. Be sure to visit the American Cemetary, an impressive and solemn site.

[sverigecruiser]

 

I looked at hotels.com and found lots of hotels for a little more than $200 for two nights, May 7-May 9. I only looked at 3 or more stars and many of them are located in the central parts of London.

 

We often stay at Copthorne Tara Hotel Kensington when we are in London. A 4 star hotel with a location we like. That's available for less than $300 for two nights. 

Edited April 21, 2019 by sverigecruiser