Coops2222 Posted July 23 #1 Share Posted July 23 I have very recently booked a balcony cabin on NCL Epic. I booked this through a very well-known travel agent who specialises in cruises. I paid up front for this balcony cabin and even viewed the photographs to see that it had a perspex screen which looked out to the ocean. I received an invoice and it said 'please be advised this is an enclosed balcony' Had I known that I would never have booked that cabin. The TA is not admitting responsibility for the cruise specialist having not informed me it was enclosed. They have taken so long to come back to me that all the balcony cabins(proper) have now sold out. I had to look up what an enclosed balcony is on a ship and it is a 'window' in a metal box. Not what I expected or paid for. Do I have a case for serious complaint and if so who do I write to as the TA is saying I chose a balcony cabin and that is what I have. Quite frankly I'm disgusted with their attitude towards my complaint and need some advice please 🙏 thanks for your time in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mom says Posted July 23 #2 Share Posted July 23 (edited) Did you book a guarantee balcony, or a specific cabin/category? Edited July 23 by mom says Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coops2222 Posted July 23 Author #3 Share Posted July 23 I chose this specific cabin as it was advertised as balcony cabin and the photo showed perspex screen looking out to the ocean. TA didn't say the photo was incorrect and it was enclosed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biker@sea Posted July 23 #4 Share Posted July 23 I prefer hulled balcony cabins. If you hit foul weather you will be glad you have one. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coops2222 Posted July 23 Author #5 Share Posted July 23 I chose this specific cabin as it was advertised as balcony cabin and the photo showed perspex screen looking out to the ocean. TA didn't say the photo was incorrect and it was enclosed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coops2222 Posted July 23 Author #6 Share Posted July 23 Well we're in the Med in Aug so I don't think that will happen. It is a small window in a metal enclosed space/box. You can not see the sea when you are sitting down. I really do feel I've been mis sold here. Should have been made aware then I wouldn't have paid extra for balcony if that was all they had available.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DorothyB Posted July 23 #7 Share Posted July 23 Have you done any type of google search to see pictures of YOUR exact cabin on the ship you will be sailing on?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare dhanakorn Posted July 23 #8 Share Posted July 23 4 minutes ago, Coops2222 said: Well we're in the Med in Aug so I don't think that will happen. It is a small window in a metal enclosed space/box. You can not see the sea when you are sitting down. I really do feel I've been mis sold here. Should have been made aware then I wouldn't have paid extra for balcony if that was all they had available.... Hulled or enclosed balcony is a different category and is usually cheaper than regular balcony. Your TA may have misled you but it is still a balcony room. You would have to pay more to get upgraded to a regular balcony. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coops2222 Posted July 23 Author #9 Share Posted July 23 I have got a photo of that cabin 14004 from 7 years ago. Thats how I can see its enclosed. Tried to load it here but CC took it down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9tee2Sea Posted July 23 #10 Share Posted July 23 keep your eye on pricing for a regular balcony, as long as its before final payment. I personally like the semi enclosed balcony. More shade, I can still see the ocean of I stand up. One draw back, they seem a bit musty ( like an indoor pool), IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coops2222 Posted July 23 Author #11 Share Posted July 23 I've paid in full and they are sold out of all balcony cabins. We sail on 7 Aug. Thanks for all your comments....;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vswan Posted July 23 #12 Share Posted July 23 The one good thing about a hull balcony, I went out on it after my shower totally naked and sprayed sunscreen on without worrying that others would see me. LOL. This doesn't work when in port. I actually liked the hull balcony. Had an overhang for shade, but during the days the sun still reached me. No, you can't see out when sitting down. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coops2222 Posted July 23 Author #13 Share Posted July 23 LoL...no that doesn't work on port days 😑 😆 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Wheels Only Posted July 23 #14 Share Posted July 23 It looks like yours will be similar to..... ...the ones in the front which are like.... ...when viewed from the inside. Those are labeled as "PrivaSea" on the deck plan and do have the "" symbol. The unfortunate thing is that the category doesn't differentiate between "PrivaSea" and not "PrivaSea". The travel agent failed you in this instance if the travel agent either didn't know how to decipher the deck plan or didn't communicate with you that this balcony is the way that it is. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coops2222 Posted July 23 Author #15 Share Posted July 23 Thank you so much for sending that ..so do you think I have a case to escalate the complaint higher up with T A because they are not claiming responsibility at all for the misinformation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_sobe Posted July 23 #16 Share Posted July 23 44 minutes ago, biker@sea said: I prefer hulled balcony cabins. If you hit foul weather you will be glad you have one. I love the ship feel of them. Even if you dont like them its best to look at the glass half full. You can still see the ocean. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coops2222 Posted July 23 Author #17 Share Posted July 23 I shall try to look at glass half full...paid a lot of money for this cabin as solo traveller so that's why it's disappointing 😞 hopefully woll be too busy on excursions to bother about it ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kjquilts Posted July 23 #18 Share Posted July 23 Here is link to post with a wealth of information on NCL Epic Hull / enclosed balconies posted by sdMike in 2011 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_sobe Posted July 23 #19 Share Posted July 23 Just now, kjquilts said: Here is link to post with a wealth of information on NCL Epic Hull / enclosed balconies posted by sdMike in 2011 Wow, thats a blast from the past. I remember sdMike. We all tracked the Epic together back then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Traveling Man Posted July 23 #20 Share Posted July 23 1 hour ago, Coops2222 said: I have very recently booked a balcony cabin on NCL Epic. I booked this through a very well-known travel agent who specialises in cruises. I paid up front for this balcony cabin and even viewed the photographs to see that it had a perspex screen which looked out to the ocean. I received an invoice and it said 'please be advised this is an enclosed balcony' Had I known that I would never have booked that cabin. The TA is not admitting responsibility for the cruise specialist having not informed me it was enclosed. They have taken so long to come back to me that all the balcony cabins(proper) have now sold out. I had to look up what an enclosed balcony is on a ship and it is a 'window' in a metal box. Not what I expected or paid for. Do I have a case for serious complaint and if so who do I write to as the TA is saying I chose a balcony cabin and that is what I have. Quite frankly I'm disgusted with their attitude towards my complaint and need some advice please 🙏 thanks for your time in advance. First off, welcome to Cruise Critic. It's unfortunate that your TA failed to communicate clearly and accurately to you. Since you are past the final payment date and you say that all the regular balcony staterooms are fully booked, there may not be much hope of improving your situation. One possibility might be if a different stateroom becomes available because of a cancellation or an upgrade and your TA is able to act quickly enough to re-book your room, you may be able to move. There likely would be an additional cost for the full balcony room. NCL also may offer you an opportunity to bid for an upgrade to a Haven stateroom, thereby getting you an actual balcony. That would definitely cost more. Since you booked through a TA, though, your cause for complaint would need to be addressed to your TA, not NCL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kjquilts Posted July 23 #21 Share Posted July 23 3 minutes ago, david_sobe said: Wow, thats a blast from the past. I remember sdMike. We all tracked the Epic together back then Here is sdMike's companion piece Uncovered and Extended balconies on the Epic, also from 2011 Tracking the Epic and gathering information was so much fun. I know a lot of CC members dislike the Epic but we sailed on her twice and enjoyed both cruises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coops2222 Posted July 23 Author #22 Share Posted July 23 Yes I appreciate that this is being communicated to the TA not NCL. I can not afford an upgrade and certainly not to Haven but thanks for your time and comments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_sobe Posted July 23 #23 Share Posted July 23 I had a partial hull balcony and it had no impact on my cruise. If it would have been 100% hull it still would not have made a difference. There are even perks with weather and direct sun as you can sit on your balcony. I would take a larger hull balcony over a smaller standard one any day. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coops2222 Posted July 23 Author #24 Share Posted July 23 That's true..it is going to be extremely hot in the Med in August ! 😊 Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BirdTravels Posted July 23 #25 Share Posted July 23 1 hour ago, Coops2222 said: I chose this specific cabin as it was advertised as balcony cabin and the photo showed perspex screen looking out to the ocean. TA didn't say the photo was incorrect and it was enclosed. You chose the cabin, so you, and you alone, are responsible for the configuration of the cabin and balcony. Looking at a deck plan and then a photo of the ship (as others have) would show you your cabin. No one "missold" a cabin. You picked it. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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