our flights suck

[dpepper64]

We have used NCL air 3 other times and have had no issues with our flights   How ever we just received our flights for our cruise in late April out New york on the Prima.   We asked to come in 2 days before and where booked only one day inadvance.  We get in at 7:00A.M.  Going to be tough getting into a hotel at that time.  We leave after our cruise at 830 p.m.  Now have to find something to do for 10 hours.    Anyone have suggestions on what we can do for our flights?

[mjkacmom]

9 minutes ago, dpepper64 said:

We have used NCL air 3 other times and have had no issues with our flights   How ever we just received our flights for our cruise in late April out New york on the Prima.   We asked to come in 2 days before and where booked only one day inadvance.  We get in at 7:00A.M.  Going to be tough getting into a hotel at that time.  We leave after our cruise at 830 p.m.  Now have to find something to do for 10 hours.    Anyone have suggestions on what we can do for our flights?

You can check into your hotel and leave your luggage, and get into your room later.

[sailorusvi]

I've taken many red-eyes into NYC.   Every hotel has had a secure spot to store our luggage.  A lot of times we have even been able to check in early.  Just depends on how full the hotel is the night before. 

 

The late departure would bother me more.

[victory2020]

The ship usually has tours that end up at the airport that are for late day flights.

[RocketMan275]

59 minutes ago, dpepper64 said:

We have used NCL air 3 other times and have had no issues with our flights   How ever we just received our flights for our cruise in late April out New york on the Prima.   We asked to come in 2 days before and where booked only one day inadvance.  We get in at 7:00A.M.  Going to be tough getting into a hotel at that time.  We leave after our cruise at 830 p.m.  Now have to find something to do for 10 hours.    Anyone have suggestions on what we can do for our flights?

Cancel if you can and book your own flights as you prefer.

[julig22]

3 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Cancel if you can and book your own flights as you prefer.

Not how it works. Probably a 100% penalty to cancel air.

To the OP - you could call NCL, you do have a case if your docs say a 2 day deviation.  You might get them to change, although don't count on it.

[julig22]

3 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Cancel if you can and book your own flights as you prefer.

Not how it works. Probably a 100% penalty to cancel air.

To the OP - you could call NCL, you do have a case if your docs say a 2 day deviation.  You might get them to change, although don't count on it.

[RocketMan275]

1 minute ago, julig22 said:

Not how it works. Probably a 100% penalty to cancel air.

To the OP - you could call NCL, you do have a case if your docs say a 2 day deviation.  You might get them to change, although don't count on it.

 

1 minute ago, julig22 said:

Not how it works. Probably a 100% penalty to cancel air.

Just another reason to avoid NCL air.

I had one NCL agent tell me not to book NCL air if I was 'picky' about my flights.

I am 'picky' and I will not book NCL air.

[JGmf]

Sorry you didn't get your envisioned flights.

 

For that early arrival day, yes, check your bags with the hotel and check-in to your room later.  Consider it an early start to explore the 10 million things to do in the CIty. 

 

For the day to kill in the City, the challenge is finding a place to store your bags.  There's a lot of places listed on online. 

 

If neither options appeal to you, why not drive?  You are rather close to NYC, plus you can dictate your own schedule....but I assume you already thought of that...

 

(I'm on the April 23 Prima trip.  If you are on the same one, I'll commiserate with you over a drink on the Waterfront).

[debenson0723]

There many places to drop off your luggage in NYC after the cruise...we did that and went to a Broadway matinee, then took a private transfer to the airport. Or if you are flying out of JFK, book a day room at the TWA  hotel and hang out there. Last resort, if you can find a better flight on your own, book that and just forget about the NCL flight home.

[fredflint]

I had something similar on my last cruise ship docked in the AM so we were off  by 10AM and flight was at 11 PM I had applied for a credit card with bonus points for Hilton a while ago  and I used points to book 2 nights the night before and that day so I could check in anytime I wanted as well as out.

 

We checked in and the concierge was a little surprised by my planning but as we were going out to explore Rio a little later there was a huge line of people trying to check in and drop off their bags.  We had a great relaxing day and it was worth every point I paid!

[julig22]

2 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

 

Just another reason to avoid NCL air.

I had one NCL agent tell me not to book NCL air if I was 'picky' about my flights.

I am 'picky' and I will not book NCL air.

Just the opposite for me - not picky and I'm flexible.  Well worth the savings, at least for overseas trips.  Domestic is a toss up.

But I also have a distinct advantage, especially when it comes to international flights.  Small regional airport, so leg 1, and sometimes leg 2, is always to a hub. So guess who gets direct flights overseas....

[RocketMan275]

7 minutes ago, julig22 said:

Just the opposite for me - not picky and I'm flexible.  Well worth the savings, at least for overseas trips.  Domestic is a toss up.

But I also have a distinct advantage, especially when it comes to international flights.  Small regional airport, so leg 1, and sometimes leg 2, is always to a hub. So guess who gets direct flights overseas....

OP's flights are domestic.

At my stage in life, I don't have time to waste sitting in airports.

I did a bunch of that before I retired or when I was in the military.

The military seemed to think it was neccessry to have all passengers at the airport at least 12 hours prior to the flight.

I remember my first military charter. Had to be at the airport priot to 8PM for a 10AM flight.  We all set in one waiting room with a bunch of MP's walking around making sure no one went to sleep since that would be 'unmilitary'.

Then there was the flight from korea. When well until the volcano erupted.  We were on the a/c about 36 hours. 

Yes, I'm picky.

Edited February 12, 2023 by RocketMan275

[julig22]

16 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

OP's flights are domestic.

At my stage in life, I don't have time to waste sitting in airports.

I did a bunch of that before I retired or when I was in the military.

The military seemed to think it was neccessry to have all passengers at the airport at least 12 hours prior to the flight.

I remember my first military charter. Had to be at the airport priot to 8PM for a 10AM flight.  We all set in one waiting room with a bunch of MP's walking around making sure no one went to sleep since that would be 'unmilitary'.

Then there was the flight from korea. When well until the volcano erupted.  We were on the a/c about 36 hours. 

Yes, I'm picky.

Just flew to Argentina, courtesy of NCL. 75 min layover in Seattle.   1hr55min in DFW scheduled, but had a 1hr delay in SEA. So no waiting at all in DFW - but no running to get there either.  Bout as good as it gets IMHO! But if that plane in Seattle had been delayed much longer there would have been an issue, regardless of who booked the flights.

[lfdemt]

8 hours ago, julig22 said:

Not how it works. Probably a 100% penalty to cancel air.

To the OP - you could call NCL, you do have a case if your docs say a 2 day deviation.  You might get them to change, although don't count on it.

That is not true. According to their fee cancelation schedule. 30-61 days is 75% penalty. 61-75 days is 50% penalty.  Of course you will have to fight for them to follow this policy but there is nothing in either the terms and conditions or the fee schedule that would take the 100% until you are within 30 days. 
 

 

As for what OP can do about the flight. We have had luck in changing our flights directly with the airline but you potentially lose any assistance you could get from NCL if there is any trouble. 

In our case we changed canceled our flight down and got the 50% refund and changed one rooms flights home. This was on southwest. Even earned a $20 flight credit. 

[BirdTravels]

8 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

 

Just another reason to avoid NCL air.

I had one NCL agent tell me not to book NCL air if I was 'picky' about my flights.

I am 'picky' and I will not book NCL air.

 No reason to avoid NCL air. 
 

We are not picky. We like saving money. 

 

If you want to custom pick your flights, you can and should pay retail. And not get the second seat free. 

[julig22]

46 minutes ago, lfdemt said:

That is not true. According to their fee cancelation schedule. 30-61 days is 75% penalty. 61-75 days is 50% penalty. 

You are correct. I didn't take the time to calculate out the actual penalty in this instance. As of late, getting flight info more than 60 days out seems to be an exception, not the rule.  And some haven't gotten theirs even 30 days out. My last 2 have come in around day 50.

[lfdemt]

We had already received ours when we cancelled and got back 50%. They tried to tell us since they were already issued we forfeited the whole amount but the policies don’t back that up.  Called and asked where it says that and they couldn’t tell me so they refunded it, as they should have. 

[lfdemt]

1 hour ago, BirdTravels said:

 No reason to avoid NCL air. 
 

We are not picky. We like saving money. 

 

If you want to custom pick your flights, you can and should pay retail. And not get the second seat free. 

In our case we wanted to have mother. Father. And three minor children on the same flights. Ncl air can’t do that for us. We would love to save money but not at the added stress and expense of my own household being separated and trying to work out transportation to/from the airport with flights leaving/arriving several hours apart. 
 

Im not picky about the flights as long as we can be together. 

[Pirate114]

We booked a flight and hotel with NCL for a 1 day early arrival.  At about 60 days out we received our flight and hotel information. The flight was for the day of the cruise and the hotel was for the day before the cruise.  We called and they said they would fix it.  3 weeks later we get another email with flight information.  It contained the same flight details.  We called again and they said they were working on it.  We called every week and every week we were told it was their fault and they were working on it.  While my wife was getting stressed about not having the correct flight, it gave me time to look for other options. I was able to find out about the NCL stock program and the NCL military program.  My wife was still stressed over the flight and after some praying that it was fixed, 12 days before the cruise our prayers were answered.  Now because of the flight screw up we were able to figure out how to received a cabin upgrade, plus $500 OBC and a cheaper way to fly other than using the BOGO NCL air service.

[crusinot]

I wish that I had read this thread before I booked the NCL air.  I told the NCL travel specialist that we were going on this cruise with our adult children as a Christmas gathering in March.  Kids are in NY, Mass, and Colorado. Told her that my son is a chef and that we wanted to cruise from New Orleans , fly in the day before and see the city and make reservations for a nice dinner.  Booked the free at sea promotion.  Realized that free excursion was only $50 off the first person on the booking.  This credit cannot be transferred to anyone else in the cabin.  Free internet is 150 minutes, free specialty dining in 2 people in the cabin only. Free air means that you may not fly together, 2 cabins are 2 separate bookings. We called after we booked to make sure that we were flying in the day before.  We were not. NCL did change that on our reservation because seats were not booked yet. We were assured that flights would most likely be in the morning, we would probably be together. We are not on the same flights.  3 of us are driving to the airport together.  Our flights are leaving within 45 minutes of each other but we land over an hour apart.  Coming back our flights are 3 hours apart and land 2 1/2 hours apart. 9:30 pm and 12 midnight.  Too bad so sad you should have read the terms and conditions of the sale.  I should have.  I was excited. I wish that our travel specialist had warned me to book flights myself based on the plans that I had told her about.  The sale is very misleading. 

[hallux]

2 hours ago, crusinot said:

I wish that I had read this thread before I booked the NCL air.

This one or one of the 20 others created about this promo over the last 6 months or so.

2 hours ago, crusinot said:

The sale is very misleading. 

I can see where you might think that if you don't read the terms of the promo.  It's all laid out there...

[Aquarius_traveler129]

I have NCL Air booked with myself and my boyfriend for our next 3 cruises- for our one on the Encore we booked our own as I had 1600 in credits with United expiring this year. 
 

 

Those saying you get a credit for going in a few days early- what is the credit? Trying to figure out if I should book the hotels with them or on our own. We’re flying from Hartford to NZ, Taiwan and Stockholm. 

[hallux]

9 hours ago, Aquarius_traveler129 said:

Those saying you get a credit for going in a few days early- what is the credit?

Right from the T&C's - https://www.ncl.com/about/terms-and-conditions/promotions

 

• Deviation requests up to 2 days pre/post cruise will be credited $25 USD per person per deviation for guests 1 and 3-8 on the reservation. No other deviation requests will be permitted.

[designergirl]

In addition to the information that hallux provided... if you request a deviation and use an NCL hotel package, you will not receive the $25 per person deduction. It's only for deviations where you arrange your own hotel. That has been my experience FYI.