Ncl refusing to refund cash.

[edruth]

My son is also executor of my will so he will have the power to do this.  But at least I have now learned that I will not book in advance and just take what I can get a week before a sailing.Being retired I could go at any time so no need to advance book . 

[CUontheC]

On 1/20/2021 at 2:57 PM, djkolp said:

I just got off the phone with NCL and my situation is identical to what you posted. The email I received from NCL offered a 30% discount on top of the 10% if we booked another cruise by 2/11/2021. The problem is that even with the discount, booking the exact same cruise and stateroom would be $2000 higher than what we originally paid. I realize that the first rebooking was going to be a FCC, but I didn't think that the second cancellation would also be an FCC. Tough for everyone involved.

We had a cruise for last May paid in full.  We book through the casino department.  So when this cruise was cancelled I already had had another cruise booked for January 2021.   I asked the casino rep to move my money to that cruise.  She said I can put you in the Haven spa suite.  My husband and I were thrilled.  And she gave me FCC because the prior cruise was cancelled.  So now the cruise in January was cancelled.  I called to rebook for January 2022.   Now I am told they cannot put me in the Haven unless I pay $2500 additional.   So instead they give me a club spa balcony.  And FCC that I can use for shore excursions.  My issue is since they gave me the Haven, they should rebook me in the Haven.  It is not my fault it got cancelled.  If they cannot do that then give me my original form of payment back.   Is there a way to get this?  It is way past the time to dispute it with my credit card.   I just don't think it is right for them to have my money and not provide me with the type of cruise I was given when I opted to rebook with them.  It reminds me of a bait and switch.   I would just like my money back.  Is there anyone who you know that has received their money back after they rebooked?  If so how did they do it?  I wonder if small claims court is an option?   And please do not write rude comments.  I am just here asking a question.   I loved traveling on NCL but for them to keep cancelling and keep my cash just does not seem right. 

[hallux]

3 hours ago, CUontheC said:

And FCC that I can use for shore excursions.

 

3 hours ago, CUontheC said:

And she gave me FCC

Wouldn't that be OBC, On Board Credit for use during the cruise?  FCC would be credit for booking a future cruise.

 

I'm sure what cabin they can put you in is based on what that cabin would cost and what value you have in your CAS account, isn't it?

[mpk]

On 6/30/2020 at 8:23 PM, BirdTravels said:

First, that is really old news. It was a mandatory filing with  the SEC which they were legally obligated to make as a publicly held company. Secondly, within a few days of that filing, NCL finalized additional financing to sustain the company for a while. 

 

What people have to understand is that the main stream media (CNN as quoted), make advertising revenue by taking data out of context, sensationalizing it, and getting people to click on their sensationalized headlines. They make their money by getting clicks by posting fake news and getting gullible people to click on it. Once upon a time, CNN use to be the most reputable source of news. They are now a lot worse than the tabloid news you see at the grocery checkout. 

 

"NCL warns investors that they are going out of business". Please. That was never the case and not the purpose of the SEC filing. And it was widely reported as fake news 2 months ago when it first came out.   

 

Agreed.   Those quotes were from a regulatory filing, where companies think up the worse case scenarios and list them.  It's not a like an NCL spokesman said all this stuff.  Just the lawyers in a filing, using doomsday words like every other company does in their regulatory filings.

 

Here's an example for discussion.  I think most people will agree that Apple's is no danger of fumbling right now.  Yet Apple's 2020 10-K filing lists ten pages of possible risks.  Here's just three of them:

 

Global markets for the Company’s products and services are highly competitive and subject to rapid technological change, and the Company may be unable to compete effectively in these markets.

The Company is exposed to the risk of write-downs on the value of its inventory and other assets, in addition to purchase commitment cancellation risk.

The Company’s products and services may be affected from time to time by design and manufacturing defects that could materially adversely affect the Company’s business and result in harm to the Company’s reputation.

The Company’s business and reputation may be impacted by information technology system failures or network disruptions.

 

It doesn't mean that any of these are imminently going to happen.  They are describing possible scenarios.  Same with NCL.

 

I wonder what happened to journalism...  this sort of stuff didn't happen back in the day.

 

[CUontheC]

3 hours ago, hallux said:

 

Wouldn't that be OBC, On Board Credit for use during the cruise?  FCC would be credit for booking a future cruise.

 

I'm sure what cabin they can put you in is based on what that cabin would cost and what value you have in your CAS account, isn't it?

It is FCC.  I had a cruise that was cancelled.  I asked to move the money to the other cruise I had booked.   The rep at CAS said she could do that and put me in the Haven.  At that time I was also given FCC and I was able to use that for shore excursions.  So now I had my cruise booked and my shore excursions booked and what happened....well the cruise was again cancelled.  Now I am not blaming NCL for the cruise getting cancelled.  What I am upset about is that all of a sudden I am not able to get the same thing I booked.  It is the same cruise ship, same itinerary and I booked it the same month in Jan 2022.   Now they say they cannot put me in the Haven like I had.  So if they cannot honor what I had then allow me to have my money back.  I know this covid has caused so many problems and it is very frustrating.  But what happens if we don't cruise again next January?  Will the cruise like downgrade me again?   Will I be made to wait til 2023?  I just want to know if anyone has been refunded in cash after the second cruise was cancelled and they got downgraded. 

[Shidah]

No, if you took the FCC the option to get cash back is long gone.  And whether you get a Haven suite is 100% based on cost.  CAS adds a whole other layer of rules, but even without that, just because you were in one category does not mean that you automatically get that same booking going forward.  

[CUontheC]

14 minutes ago, Shidah said:

No, if you took the FCC the option to get cash back is long gone.  And whether you get a Haven suite is 100% based on cost.  CAS adds a whole other layer of rules, but even without that, just because you were in one category does not mean that you automatically get that same booking going forward.  

I agree with you on some points. however, all I did was move my CASH that I paid to the second cruise I had booked.  I have no idea how it is now FCC.  I have the emails and the only reason I decided to continue with the second cruise I had booked was due to the fact that she put me in the Haven.   So in my humble opinion if the exact cruise is out there for almost the exact price the following year why then do you think I would not be able to get the same offer?  That would be like saying hey I will give you this really great Lexus if you give us your Cadillac.  You say ok.   You trade in your car for that car.  But when you do all of a sudden the Lexus is not available.  So the dealer says well now we will give you this Buick and it is a nice car.  You say well wait I had the Cadillac why now do I have to take the Buick.  Too bad you are stuck with it.   Anyway that is my feeling.  At the point you can no longer offer me what you gave me then please give me a refund of my money.   I am going to contact our small claims court to see what I can do since it is over a year that I put the 2020 cruise on my charge card.  I may find out I have a claim or I may find out I have to drive the Buick.  We shall see.  

[mscdivina2016]

16 hours ago, CUontheC said:

 however, all I did was move my CASH that I paid to the second cruise I had booked.  I have no idea how it is now FCC.  

Are you sure??  I did that and in order to do that, they had to refund the booking to my CC and recharge it. If it was an internal thing, than they screwed you sort of.  So let me ask, was your CASH moved over in the same amount or was there an extra 25% somewhere applied?

FCC came with a 25% bonus. That might be how your in a Haven.

If no 25% bonus, then you have them. But I suspect that with CAS you might not see the figures.

Steve

[djkolp]

On 1/31/2021 at 2:19 PM, CUontheC said:

We had a cruise for last May paid in full.  We book through the casino department.  So when this cruise was cancelled I already had had another cruise booked for January 2021.   I asked the casino rep to move my money to that cruise.  She said I can put you in the Haven spa suite.  My husband and I were thrilled.  And she gave me FCC because the prior cruise was cancelled.  So now the cruise in January was cancelled.  I called to rebook for January 2022.   Now I am told they cannot put me in the Haven unless I pay $2500 additional.   So instead they give me a club spa balcony.  And FCC that I can use for shore excursions.  My issue is since they gave me the Haven, they should rebook me in the Haven.  It is not my fault it got cancelled.  If they cannot do that then give me my original form of payment back.   Is there a way to get this?  It is way past the time to dispute it with my credit card.   I just don't think it is right for them to have my money and not provide me with the type of cruise I was given when I opted to rebook with them.  It reminds me of a bait and switch.   I would just like my money back.  Is there anyone who you know that has received their money back after they rebooked?  If so how did they do it?  I wonder if small claims court is an option?   And please do not write rude comments.  I am just here asking a question.   I loved traveling on NCL but for them to keep cancelling and keep my cash just does not seem right. 

 

I accepted an FCC for an April 2019 cruise that was cancelled. It was the only option at the time. Less than a week later NCL agreed to cash refunds. But because I had agreed to an FCC for the cancelled cruise it will remain an FCC for any future bookings. No cash refund. Any perks or onboard credit that I had are were not carried over to the new booking. The April 2020 cruise was also cancelled with the same conditions as the first. They offered a 30% discount on top of the 10% credit if I booked another cruise before February 11, 2021. I was able to book the exact same cruise and stateroom for a May/June 2022 cruise for about $500 more than the value of the FCC. 

 

I'm not familiar with booking a cruise through a casino department, but you are now finding out that requesting a cash refund would have been the way to go. The casino department should have told you that your funds transfer would be an FCC, and that the rest of your issues are listed in the rarely read Terms & Conditions. Good luck though. 

[CUontheC]

23 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

Are you sure??  I did that and in order to do that, they had to refund the booking to my CC and recharge it. If it was an internal thing, than they screwed you sort of.  So let me ask, was your CASH moved over in the same amount or was there an extra 25% somewhere applied?

FCC came with a 25% bonus. That might be how your in a Haven.

If no 25% bonus, then you have them. But I suspect that with CAS you might not see the figures.

Steve

I did have to rebook my cruise and I lost my airfare.  That is when she put me in the Haven.   I thought at least that I was using my cash....that was my understanding.  It was the weirdest thing because she put me in the Haven and then I had about $900 in FCC.  I thought wow that is weird.  So I used that money to book all my shore excursions.   I had no idea I would not be able to get cash back until I found out this cruise was going to be cancelled.   Then it was worse when they would no longer put me in the Haven and downgraded me.  Then money was moved to 2 different FCC's and the second FCC which says 25% bonus I can't use for anything because it is for an upgrade.  Can't use it if I am downgraded.  That is why at this point I just want the money I paid.  What if the next cruise gets cancelled?  Can my money sit with them for over 2 to 3 years?  

[kaprin02]

5 hours ago, CUontheC said:

I did have to rebook my cruise and I lost my airfare.  That is when she put me in the Haven.   I thought at least that I was using my cash....that was my understanding.  It was the weirdest thing because she put me in the Haven and then I had about $900 in FCC.  I thought wow that is weird.  So I used that money to book all my shore excursions.   I had no idea I would not be able to get cash back until I found out this cruise was going to be cancelled.   Then it was worse when they would no longer put me in the Haven and downgraded me.  Then money was moved to 2 different FCC's and the second FCC which says 25% bonus I can't use for anything because it is for an upgrade.  Can't use it if I am downgraded.  That is why at this point I just want the money I paid.  What if the next cruise gets cancelled?  Can my money sit with them for over 2 to 3 years?  

 

FYI - you might be misunderstanding the 25% bonus.  To the best of my knowledge, you can use that against the "base fare" of any cabin - even an inside.  However, if your "base fare" is less that your 25% bonus FCC (or if your base fare is $0), you may not be able to use it on that cruise, but you could use it on a different cruise.

[pentiumvi]

13 hours ago, CUontheC said:

 What if the next cruise gets cancelled?  Can my money sit with them for over 2 to 3 years?  

No, your money won't sit with them for that long. Your FCCs will have expired by then, and you'll have unfortunately end up with nothing.

[All-ready2cruise]

4 hours ago, pentiumvi said:

Your FCCs will have expired by then

Correct.  As of right now, FCCs must be used to book a cruise by June 30/21 and take the cruise before Dec. 31/22. 

Is it possible these time frame will change? Yes, however, I doubt it will. IMO, if NCL hasn't started cruising by end of this year or very latest, beginning of next year, any FCCs we have will be useless. 

[mscdivina2016]

6 hours ago, pentiumvi said:

No, your money won't sit with them for that long. Your FCCs will have expired by then, and you'll have unfortunately end up with nothing.

That actually cannot happen.  The state of Florida has a law to prevent that. SInce the companies office is in FL, it applies. Chapter 501 section 95.

 

A gift certificate purchased or credit memo issued in this state may not have an expiration date, expiration period, or any type of post sale charge or fee imposed on the gift certificate or credit memo, including, but not limited to, service charges, dormancy fees, account maintenance fees, or cash-out fees. However, a gift certificate may have an expiration date of not less than 3 years if it is provided as a charitable contribution, or not less than 1 year if it is provided as a benefit pursuant to an employee-incentive program, and the expiration date is prominently disclosed in writing to the consumer at the time it is provided. In addition, a gift certificate may have an expiration date if it is provided to the recipient, or to a purchaser for transfer to the recipient, as part of a loyalty or promotional program when the recipient does not pay a separate identifiable charge for the certificate, or if it is provided in conjunction with a convention, conference, vacation, or sporting or fine arts event having a limited duration so long as the majority of the value paid by the recipient is attributable to the convention, conference, vacation, or event. An issuer may honor a gift certificate that has expired on or before the effective date of this act.

[pentiumvi]

4 hours ago, mscdivina2016 said:

That actually cannot happen.  The state of Florida has a law to prevent that. SInce the companies office is in FL, it applies. Chapter 501 section 95.

 

A gift certificate purchased or credit memo issued in this state may not have an expiration date, expiration period, or any type of post sale charge or fee imposed on the gift certificate or credit memo, including, but not limited to, service charges, dormancy fees, account maintenance fees, or cash-out fees. However, a gift certificate may have an expiration date of not less than 3 years if it is provided as a charitable contribution, or not less than 1 year if it is provided as a benefit pursuant to an employee-incentive program, and the expiration date is prominently disclosed in writing to the consumer at the time it is provided. In addition, a gift certificate may have an expiration date if it is provided to the recipient, or to a purchaser for transfer to the recipient, as part of a loyalty or promotional program when the recipient does not pay a separate identifiable charge for the certificate, or if it is provided in conjunction with a convention, conference, vacation, or sporting or fine arts event having a limited duration so long as the majority of the value paid by the recipient is attributable to the convention, conference, vacation, or event. An issuer may honor a gift certificate that has expired on or before the effective date of this act.

Well that's interesting. Whether this applies or not to the FCC is something I don't know.

 

But... being the devil's advocate... I feel even if it does apply, NCL will conveniently ignore this, and FCCs will expire, and it'll be up to the consumer to fight for getting them reinstated per this Florida statue.

Edited February 3, 2021 by pentiumvi

[mscdivina2016]

15 minutes ago, pentiumvi said:

Well that's interesting. Whether this applies or not to the FCC is something I don't know.

 

But... being the devil's advocate... I feel even if it does apply, NCL will conveniently ignore this, and FCCs will expire, and it'll be up to the consumer to fight for getting them reinstated per this Florida statue.

 I doubt they will ignore it if pushed. Actually recently went thru a similar issue with NCL. An NCL gift card my daughter had for 3 years. It stated after 12 months $3 a month service charge. After a few minute call they put the money back.

 So lets assume they ignore it and we need to take them on. Do they want them being forced to pay out in cash, the value of an FCC with that extra 25%?   This is under the law considered a credit memo.

steve

[Sailing12Away]

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. Booked an April 2021 sailing on the Bliss to Alaska once I knew my January plans were going to fall through. They cancelled the sailing for April, refunded me my CN certificates with a 10% off a future booking coupon code, and about 2 weeks later the additional $1250 deposit we had placed was refunded back to my credit card.

 

Now I just need to sort out my MSC cancelled cruise from January and decide if it's worth it to take a FCC with them or just get my money back. I'm sick of juggling all these credits across multiple airlines and cruise lines.

[CUontheC]

15 hours ago, Sailing12Away said:

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. Booked an April 2021 sailing on the Bliss to Alaska once I knew my January plans were going to fall through. They cancelled the sailing for April, refunded me my CN certificates with a 10% off a future booking coupon code, and about 2 weeks later the additional $1250 deposit we had placed was refunded back to my credit card.

 

Now I just need to sort out my MSC cancelled cruise from January and decide if it's worth it to take a FCC with them or just get my money back. I'm sick of juggling all these credits across multiple airlines and cruise lines.

 

I would not take FCC,  I have learned my lesson with NCL.  Better to have cash in hand.  I had a cruise with Princess and with MSC cancel.   I received cash for both of those cruises.   I do hope we are able to cruise again soon.  

[Waquoit]

On 6/29/2020 at 8:22 AM, penlanspice said:

When we re-booked we asked and confirmed twice that the cash would be refunded if the next one was cancelled, she told us yes. 

It's NCL, Jake. They will tell you anything you want to hear.

[Waquoit]

On 6/29/2020 at 10:05 AM, Budget Queen said:

A significantly problem is the assumption people have thinking it’s one long transaction.     It isn’t.    The terms of a single cruise are separate.    And ENDED when payment was made with the acceptance of cash or FCC.     

The terms are ENDED when the cruise ends, if you are being honest.

[Sealover1203]

@mpk NCL shoreside has continued to pare down their staff. The latest move was to eliminate a line of management for their reservation agents. It was already a mess can’t imagine it now. Those supervisors who had their positions eliminated were told it was for financial reasons. I’ve said it from day one, NCL will be the first one gone 

[CalLuvsCrusingToo]

I really believe anyone who has a cruise cancelled, should request a Refund.

Get the CASH.  Then book another when you want.

I would Not be tempted by 125%....

125% of nothing, is nothing.  And things aren't looking great. 

 

Cuonthesea,  can you contact your credit card co., and let them go to bat for you?

I went this route for a few cancelled cruises, and was refunded much quicker

than waiting around for them to refund me.

I'm sure NCL will Try to make it tough, under your circumstances with rebooking.

But like you, I understand how you feel its like a bait & switch. 

You did not receive a service, no matter how they word it. 

I would file with cc co even if its long past date.  Just sayin, it worked for me.

 

 

[CUontheC]

On 2/6/2021 at 2:34 PM, CalLuvsCrusingToo said:

I really believe anyone who has a cruise cancelled, should request a Refund.

Get the CASH.  Then book another when you want.

I would Not be tempted by 125%....

125% of nothing, is nothing.  And things aren't looking great. 

 

Cuonthesea,  can you contact your credit card co., and let them go to bat for you?

I went this route for a few cancelled cruises, and was refunded much quicker

than waiting around for them to refund me.

I'm sure NCL will Try to make it tough, under your circumstances with rebooking.

But like you, I understand how you feel its like a bait & switch. 

You did not receive a service, no matter how they word it. 

I would file with cc co even if its long past date.  Just sayin, it worked for me.

 

 

It's to late for the credit card.   And my credit card is Norwegian so that would probably be a no anyway.   I just wonder what happens if the next cruise in January is cancelled.  How long does this go on for?   I wish I had know what the NCL person did when my May cruise was cancelled and she was supposed to move the money paid to my other, already booked cruise.  I wish I could talk to her but she is no longer there as she was laid off due to reduction in staff.  And for me the lousy part is that I cannot get what they offered me.  So let's say for instance she said Mary if you move your money over I can give you 25 percent more in FCC and I can book you in the Haven with the drink package and dinner package.  Then she goes on to say you will have around $1000 in FCC.  Which I did.   I had used that to book all my excursions.  So if I accept that unknowingly or even if I knew this and accepted the FCC based on what she offered me.   Then the cruise gets cancelled and all of a sudden they can no longer give me this and they totally downgrade me.  Whether it is FCC or not it is not fair to promise something you are not able to deliver.  That is also like a contract.  Hey take this and I will give you this.  So you do and all of a sudden you don't get what you are promised.  That does not seem fair at all.  I do have my emails back and forth to her and I can certainly show what she promised me when I wanted to move my money.  I should have been told that I would not get my money back if indeed this was cancelled.   Here is her email to me and why I decided to book. She calls it additional discounts not FCC.  But it could be my misunderstanding but never once did she say that if I take this and it gets cancelled I would not get my money back.   She used my cash to upgrade me to the Haven.  She says it right here.  Then she said she is going to add additional discounts.  It has just been frustrating to say the least. 

 I can comp you with today’s prices a Mini if you like and the upgrade to the Haven Spa Suite would be $650 per person. This is before adding the additional discounts that you have from the suspended sailing. Please advise what you would like to do. Your current reservation I only removed the air and just added the beverage. I haven’t changed anything else in the reservation.

[jbcallender]

They will not refund FCC.  I have written letters to every C-Level executive and was refused, and that after two cancellations.  I was told to call reservations if I had any questions.  I told them in the letter that if forced, we would book a cruise and they would get my money once, but they will not get a dime after that.  Since they have had my cash for 18 months now and long ago refunded it to someone else, I hope they are still in business so I can get my cruise.

 

[BirdTravels]

On 2/6/2021 at 2:34 PM, CalLuvsCrusingToo said:

I really believe anyone who has a cruise cancelled, should request a Refund.

Get the CASH.  Then book another when you want.

Everyone who had a cruise cancelled had the option of receiving a CASH refund. Those who unilaterally cancelled themselves accepted the terms of those cancellations.