Alatraveler1

Would be easier for us as well as the free airfare departs 11 hours after debarkation.  NCL could have helped us and their crew with the turnaround out by getting us an earlier flight so we would be encouraged to leave earlier.  Of course those flights would have cost them more. We will leave early anyway since we would want others to do so for us so we can embark without being delayed.  But I won't book a pricey excursion through them, I'll do something on my own and find a place to store luggage before heading to airport.

esm54687, too bad you couldn't just stop without berating me with your post.  Amazing how some people can take the time to be snarky themselves and not help in any way.  What i was trying to get across, and no not in a snarky fashion but just asking for a specific answer,  is that if you do a google search for this or on these boards you get the kind of answer that was given.  So, based on the information given is it just 4% state tax, or is an "up to 4.75%" local tax also added.  You see, the question still hasn't  been answered.  Is it 4% or somewhere up to 8.75%.  With 2.569 posts you've most likely inquired about a topic that a search of these boards would have answered.  Or, do you just wait and use your posts to jump on other posters with personal attacks?

And that would be....??????? 

Jet Blue is also used

Please search other threads for pros/cons of this offer.  Control of airlines/flights/times/airports even if all of you will be on the same flight may vary.  Caveat emptor.

Don't believe the placeholder argument from NCL indefinitely.  I checked twice daily for our flights and within the 12 hours since i last checked, NCL both selected and ticketed our flights so no changes of any kind.   They also have us on Jet Blue which i did not think was one of the carriers they selected.  Not that I mind, but if your'e trying to guess which flight/time based on airline departures from a certain city, beware it may not be on the airline you would expect. 

SURPRISE!

1 hour ago, M4RK said:

It appears we will have the same experience which may make this my last NCL cruise. I called the service line and they tell me not to worry about the flight times until they are booked. And then of course once they are booked, you are stuck. Not a very good system. For people with limited vacation, how can they justify getting you back home a day after you disembark? (From flight schedules it looks like I am getting home at about 9:30 am the next day - LAX returning to the midwest).

 

 

1 hour ago, smplybcause said:

You're choosing the cheap option by selecting this airfare (as I've yet to see someone say I could get airfare cheaper but choose to go through NCL), I'm not sure why it's surprising that NCL is likely choosing the cheapest flights they can get vs more convenient ones 

 Because you don't expect the best, but also don't expect they'll give their customers the worst. And M4RK s right, they tell you not to worry about flight times but to contact them after they are booked if there's an issue (and yes, getting home the day after debarkation IS an ISSUE).  Then when you call them they say too bad it's too late and refuse to do anything. 

It's as if the free beverage package is promised as a perk and that it promises beer, wine and liquor but they tell you not to worry about the brands and they can't say for sure what will be on board.  Then once you've set sail they say they can't do anything about the fact that what's available to you is Boone's Farm wine, PBR and 1000 pipers scotch.

2 hours ago, hallux said:

This is actually a concern I have for my trip, not so much the late flight (I think we're all taking Monday off also) but the slack time.  We have the transfers to the airport but the flights I'm seeing with the connecting airport that's listed are relatively late.  I'm not spending the day at LAX, we might have to either rent a car for the day or take one of the post-cruise tours to kill some of that time.

We unfortunately have to work and the kid has to go to school that day.  It's doing those things on a few hours sleep after a vacation that is  disappointing.  Getting back and being exhausted rather than rested.  I refuse to give the cruiseline that booked me this flight more money for a debarkation excursion.  And although we could just do something away from the airport while we wait, what do we do with luggage?  Renting a car wipes out the "savings" from the "free or reduced air"  that we have to wait so many hours to take.

Hopefully it will work out for you.   

15 minutes ago, snow1 said:

ThanksAlatraveler1

It was my understanding from the Premium Air department, and alot of posts, that once you get you air info, you can call the airlines and try to change seats, or upgrade to Economy Plus, dealing now directly with the airline.   Once NCL sends you the info, then it (I think) means that the tickets were paid for and ticketed, and finalized. 

How many days out did you get your info?

It was around 50 days.  And, you're spot on.  I was able to get seats assigned (after calling both airlines and finding out which one had the actual confirmation number that would allow seat assignments) and could have upgraded at our own expense.  Our issue was just that the flight doesn't even depart until MANY hours after debarkation and will actually get us home past midnight.  NCL nor the airlines would budge on ANY earlier flight.

Snow1,

It isn't just how many days in advance you get the airfare, it's that you may not have time to change anything before ticketing is finalized.  As in our case and checking for edoc air listing several times a day, they were updated and our flights ticketed within 7 hours from when i last checked.  And they were ticketed immediately and NCL said we could change anything..

Paid in full three months ago, couldn't get NCL to give me any air info.  After calling and emailing for over a month now and either being placed on hold for up to and over an hour or no response at all from three separate NCL departments, finally got record locator last night.  Did not receive an email or other notice that this had happened.  

Called this morning to inquire about a change to return flight as one listed wouldn't get us home until after 1 a.m..  NCL said they had already ticketed and they would not make any changes and that it was under the control of the two airlines. 

Called the airline for which I wanted to inquire about a change who said since departure was on the other airline and they had the return that the other airline controlled the booking and would have to make any changes.

Called that airline who said no,  they had no direct relation with cruise line and although departure was on their plane, was booked through airline I originally called.  Asked if I could make seat assignments with them at least and they said sure.  I hung up and logged on to make seat assignments.  Oops, not enough contact and personal information transferred into the system to make a seat assignment.

Now on hold with second call to second airline to try and get those seat assignments.

Then I'll call the original airline with whom I want to inquire about a change and ask to speak to supervisor about it.

Most likely we'll be stuck with the return flight for which NCL paid $66 each for and that departs 11 hours after debarkation and gets us home around 1 a.m.

So to summarize, one cruise line, two airlines, three customer service departments and an exhausting next day at school and work for us after debarking.

NCL, love your cruises but using free or reduced air as a cost comparison to other options, never again.

(Your mileage may vary, objects in mirror are closer than they appear, not available in all states, offer may be changed or revoked at any time, disputes to be handled solely through arbitration, consult your physician, non-refundable, non-transferable, only available for a limited time, offer may be extended)

Just now, 27 minute hold with Air Department.

Read the terms and conditions of the offer and decide for yourself what it covers.  Just be prepared to question if told there are limits to anything other than entrees.  Mileage seems to vary ship to ship, cruise to cruise, even venue to venue or host to host.  I'm of the opinion only entrees are limited, but i'll have a copy of T&C's just in case I need to/want to argue.  But there's always someplace to get more food (as if I needed more!).  And, If limited, it just means I'll never pay for the package.

Charges for different ports can vary but I believe are also based on hours docked.  So, would a shorter port call be a savings to the cruiseline?  Can substituting a closer port for a more distant one result in cost savings from fuel usage?  How hard is it to do excursions on your own at one port versus another, resulting in increased excursion bookings through the ship?  If not for safety or weather reasons which don't seem to be the case in many of these changes, I wonder how many schedule changes cost the cruiselines more and how many result in increased profits?  Regardless, I would want a legitimate reason to be given to me and not just informed the decision had been made especially if after final payment.  I've had fees go up after final payment and it does not make me hum "I've finally found my hallelujah".   

To make the cabin cost with all the "freebies" seem like a great deal.  Also to make the prepaid dining plans seem like a great deal.  Smoke and mirrors.

2 days 8 hours and 8 minutes remaining!!!   Hurry, hurry, hurry!!!  What really is had is when someone books to beat the artificial deadline and the second that sale ends, it's replaced with something even better.  Happened to me on another line and of course was for new bookings only.

I can always "find something to enjoy" in the main dining rooms, buffet, etc. for free.   However, If I'm paying extra or using a "perk" (for which i'm also paying extra since the sailaway cabin without perks is less $$$) I expect an improvement over the free offerings.  On a cruise ship we are all part of a captive audience and FDR knows it.     It is the same as happened with Disney when they began using the Free Dining Plan as a "perk" to drive full price hotel bookings.   Hotel AND restaurant prices increased (just like Specialty Restaurants and cabin prices) and the quality and quantity declined to further improve profits.  

I read the same review and that's all there is to go off of as to news of an incident.  But if the NCL boat is out of order it means reduced capacity and perhaps different scheduling.  This is something NCL should be reporting to booked passengers that might be affected since they know about it.  We were planning on using it soon and if it's unavailable I and am sure other passengers would appreciate a heads up before stepping off the NCL ship and it just not being there.

Then apparently I DSC'd the room steward more than was deserved if the bed was never made up.  😁

On Bliss-Alaska in June it never was made back up into a couch after first day.  However, we didn't ask steward either.

Girr,  lol!   How convenient!  

So do they still offer the decorations if ordered through NCL?

46 minutes ago, VPMJ said:

Our cruise with the airfare promotion is coming up in a few weeks. We are happy with our flights. We were given direct flights in both directions on American...Newark/Miami. Flying two days early and getting in at 2pm. The flight after we disembark is not until 7:45 pm, but since it's direct we are happy and have booked a day rate at a hotel ($89) for an extra day of swimming. Originally, our return seats were not together, but a call to American quickly fixed that (they put in we were a family and they opened up upgraded seats for us to be together). 

This is one of my fears.  We disembark beginning at 7 a.m. but the flight home might not be until 10-12 hours later, putting us home after midnight.  Glad you were at least able to be on the same flight and sitting near each other.  I'd settle for a decent return flight time early afternoon and each of us in a middle seat in different rows.