AnitaVacation

Unless you were on the Getaway Nov 28- Dec 8 sailing 😉 I don't think anyone here is disputing the fact that ships can cancel, change, deviate any ports at any time...happens all the time... The issue here is why do most ships refund port fees (and sometimes even more) for missed ports and now suddenly, without explanation, we get 'no refund for you!'.... One of the passengers that was also on this ship, is currently on the Escape which also missed PP and went to AC..AND were given obc for the inconvenience... ??? The baffling part is... why no explanation?? If indeed it was because they undercharged port fees, why not just say so??

Listen...you don't know me and I don't know you...when it matters, I prefer to get my information/answers from the source. Not from some rando on a cruise board. We will continue to cruise, but sadly, probably not on NCL... I used to prefer NCL, but they are not coming out on top any longer... communication is bad (if at all), prices are up (and we pay casino prices)... service is down, and honestly, I never comment about the food because it is usually good or above, but this last cruise just about every meal was sub-par ... I am far from being any kind of a cruise snob, but I know how I like to be treated and more importantly, how I don't. btw...did I share the story about the Decaf coffee?? This is funny... on our first day, I asked our room steward to leave us 6 packs of coffee each day...the first day, he left us 6 packets, all decaf (the green packs)! Flavor-wise it was okay...but I did ask him later that day to leave us 6 packets of REGULAR coffee...he told us 'no problem'.... later that day, we arrive back to the cabin and there, in clear ziplock bags, are coffee pods labeled 'REGULAR COFFEE'...so, I've been around the block a time or two and I'm pretty sure the green print on the pods indicated DECAF.... why would they do that?? why would they not just come out and tell me there was no regular coffee pods?? I could have ordered brewed coffee to my room every morning if I felt it was that big of a deal....anyway, I just rolled my eyes and let them go on with their charade of giving us decaf coffee with the regular coffee label....guess they got one over on me 🤔

Got my blah blah blah letter from NCL today in response to requesting a refund of the port fees. They gave me a long explanation (of which I was already aware) of how ships can cancel or change ports at their discretion... to which my reply was...thank you, but please send me an explanation on why you feel obligated to withhold our port fees on a port that was completely canceled. I will be surprised if I hear from them again.... I'm so over NCL.....

We were on the 11/28 10 day sailing of the Getaway. We were scheduled to go to PP on day 8, we were never told anything different. On about day 5, we recieved new excursion tickets with a new meeting place for our PP excursion (now I wish I would have looked at them, I didn't and I tossed them away at the end of the cruise...but I was sure they were for Amber Cove). The night before we were to arrive at DR, the captain came on and told us that due to 'unforeseen circumstances' we would not be calling on PP or DR at all, but instead, we will go to GSC on day 9. Morning of day 9, pulled up to GSC and captain decided the water was too rough...so, yeah... 3 sea days!! But the cherry on the cake was the part where NCL did not refund any port fees!! Anyone that asked was directed to the website or given a phone number to call and according to our 350+ fb group, everyone that has submitted for the refund has been denied..... with no explanation, none.....

Yes, the FAS speciality dining service charge was pre-paid....I guess I needed to clarify that?? (doesn't change the fact that it was only $36 total, not 20% of $140 x 2)

Trust me, NCL charges that much for a specialty meal.... our receipts (albeit free) showed dinner charges for LeBristro and La Cucina were $140 each.... which, honestly makes no sense, since they only collected approx $37 in FAS speciality dining gratuities.... there have been some really strange things going on with NCL lately....

We were on the Getaway 11/28-12/8... we were scheduled for Puerta Plata.... the cruiseline never said anything different.... then we were given new excursion tickets for our Puerta Plata excursion with a new meeting place (I didn't look at them very closely and threw them away at the end of the cruise)... we didn't go to PP.... we didn't go to Amber Cove because it was already full....then they changed our schedule to include GSC instead....that didn't happen either.... then... they refused to refund our port fee!!

again....no

no, my complaint is about how crappy this is to do to your customers....and no, there was no refund of any type.... the passengers that called the number given were told flat out 'no'.

So, this was due to 'unforeseen' circumstances, however, NCL has not called on Puerta Plata in the last 2-3 months. Talk has been going on now about NCL putting two ships in the sand there and that their insurance will no longer cover them at that port.... I do not see this as 'unforeseen'... I see this as another cash grab by NCL as they continue to book itineries AND EXCURSIONS for this port. For me, it's not about the money...it's about the principal...

We are Platinum on both lines (or whatever the equivelent is now)... We used to answer this question with: Norwegian for the entertainment, Carnival for the cabins.... but in the last few years, those things have leveled out... Norwegian increased the size of their cabins and Carnival upped their game in entertainment. So then we started choosing by who gave us the bigger 'bang for the buck'.... But, we are fresh off a 10 day cruise on the Getaway and I honestly think that was our last NCL cruise. Prices up, services down... Even with the upcharge dining, you have to pay an additional $25 for a lobster tail. The food was mediocre at best (I never usually complain about the food, it's usually adequate or above) The bed was not the comfy cloud that I was so looking forward to There were a lot of little things that just added up to disappointment. The staff was fantastic and we met some really nice people... but in the end, NCL failed (ps... How to speak Croation? that was an actual 30 min activity in the atrium...lame?)

Yes, refunding port charges for missed/skipped ports seems to have been the usual practice. Everyone was basically told, no refund, here's the number to call. Some of our group got through to a person and they were told 'no refund'.... it just doesn't seem right. I don't even care about the amount, it's the principal.... If I collect $20 from you to take you to the beach, then call you and tell you I can't make it due to unforseen circumstances (even though I know my car has been in the shop for 2 months and still broken)..... sorry, no refunds..... you'd be okay with that?? Like I said....super petty move Norwegian... This was the Getaway on 12/6 & 12/7 (Puerta Plata on 12/6 moved to GSC on 12/7, but didn't go to either)

I think you misunderstood..... they charged us a port fee AND DIDN'T TAKE US TO A PORT...

I stand corrected.... still doesn't mean they should keep our port fees...lol

Long story short.... our ship missed/skipped a port due to 'unforseen (cough cough) circumstances' .... and now they are telling everyone there will be no refund of the port fee?? So, the port was Puerta Plata.... they have not been going to Puerta Plata for like what? 2 months now?? Then there was talk that we might switch to Amber Cove....then, we couldn't go to Amber Cove because Carnival Celebration was going to be there that day....then, the night before, we were told....ooops, sorry...due to 'unforseen circumstances' we would not be calling on Puerta Plata, but instead we would make a stop at Great Stirrup Key (weird that the CD kept calling it Great Stirrup Key).... and then offered a bunch more new excursions available for GSC..anyway, we didn't go there either, water too rough (eye roll)... Now, I don't expect the cruiselines to bend over to make us happy...it is what it is....But then I heard that we were not being refunded our port fees at all??? What kind of petty nonsense is that?? I think I just got off my last NCL cruise..... prices up, services down and sorry we're keeping your money....lol (keep it, you apparantly need it more than me)

Here's a random question.... has anyone been part of a slot pull that won big?? I've participated in a few, but we never win...(whether we get the casino host involved or not)... atleast if you get the casino host involved, sometimes they will give you some swag...

I would pay to have this set up in my cabin 😉 (do ya hear that NCL??) This time around, we are in an M6....(mini suite w/large balcony)... but we have bids on the Haven (fingers crossed) 🙂 But, I digress............ We've never ordered room service coffee on NCL (the other line, all the time)... so maybe this time we will... Do you order the night before?? When we sail with 'the other line', we used to have a door hanger that we left out the night before...now, they are doing away with the door hanger and you have to call in the morning... we'll see how it works out... I like my coffee as soon as I get up in the morning...

2 questions... do they bring you a carafe of coffee? what do they charge for morning coffee?

sailing NCL in about 23 days, CAS offer, but yea, very disappointed overall and we're not even on the ship yet...lol We are using up CCC (covid cruise credit), but this may be our last NCL... We are booked for 5 sailings in 2023 on the Mardi Gras, extended balcony (and one aft balcony!) ... total cost for each week: (approx)$468 (total for 2) plus onboard credit AND freeplay in the casino (and drinks everywhere).... no admin fee, no pre-pay gratuities on the drinks... I had a choice of the MG or the new Celebration...but Orlando is easier for us (and less expensive)... We really did like NCL over CCL... but CCL has upped their game and is winning us over.. (just to add: this 10 days, mini suite, with airfare is costing us the entire $4400 credit, plus about $500 out of pocket)... and this was a CAS 'deal'

NCL/CAS has gotten pretty tight with the purse strings. We get 30% off most times, sometimes we get something in the mail offering us a comp room on specific dates/ships, but once you start to upgrade it becomes 'less free' 😉 . We have a cruise coming up in about a month, we have the free drinks at sea (that everyone gets) and I really don't think we are getting any freeplay on this cruise. Carnival on the other hand, keeps sending us free balcony offers that can be used mulitple times and also includes 'drinks everywhere' (not just in the casino) and a good amount of free-play, so we've been leaning that way...

I noticed on our last few cruises, prices are not anything like they used to be... sadly. I'm pretty sure cigarettes used to be like 2/$50 and you could get a bottle of Sapphire Gin for $18 (about 1/2 of land price)... also, on our last cruise, the liquor selection had dwindled to almost nothing...

We are cruising next month. We have bids on several different upgrade options, so occassionally I will take a peek to see how many cabins are still available. I GOT A CALL AT 9PM ONE NIGHT! (I had just gotten into bed)... I thought they were going to tell me that I was upgraded!! (hahaha)... but no, just blah blah blah.... I don't get it, if you know who I am, you can see that I AM ALREADY BOOKED ON THAT SAILING....once I told her that, she was like, oh, well have a nice evening... also, I already have a PCP/PVP that I deal with directly, so why are YOU calling me??

oh yes.... there was an option to bid on a Club balcony spa cabin... I did not bid on that category, I would rather have the larger balcony vs admission to the thermal spa

From Club Balcony/Mini Suite I think the only option is Haven... that's where we've gone.

I agree, very rude!! A long time ago, I was in a venue that had special seating for late guests...it was up in the back and to the sides and that was the only place they were allowed, they were not allowed to go 'look for friends'...the downstairs main doors were shut and latecomers were directed to go upstairs. I've also been in venues that shut the doors at showtime and don't allow anyone to enter!!