LEtue

Sounds like a great change to me since Tracy Arm is questionable for May.

Hubbard Glacier is a much better option. Enjoy!

More importantly, you do not make a port stop in Ketchikan which I would not want to miss on any Alaska cruise.

For this reason you should look carefully at all of your options - especially if this is likely to be your only trip.

Although we didn’t have problems getting seated in the dining rooms, some nights we had really bad service from our waiters, and most didn’t introduce themselves or ask us what we wanted to drink, or offer any advice, chat, etc. We also weren’t thrilled with our room steward – he seemed offended whenever we asked for something

This was my experience on the Dawn as well. So disappointing and it has kept me from booking another NCL cruise - even though I try to never base anything on a sample of one.

I'm still wondering why all cruise don't just remove this port from their itineraries for a few years and evaluate going back - at some later date.

Does anyone really want to go there right now? I must be missing something.....because I think people would be relieved to see it disappear for a while. :confused:

If you feel you're not getting what you deserve following the cancellation of your cruise as a result of NCL's decision to redeploy 5 of their ships, don't give up.

 

Contrary to all the nay sayers who slated me, ridiculed me, lambasted me and what was even more hurtful, insulted me recently on my determination to get our money back on flights I had to cancel as a result of NCL cancelling our cruise, guess what?

 

Contrary to all your 'expert' comments on what NCL was doing was right and that I deserved nothing, that I was hiding something, and as a travel professional I should know better and claim off my travel insurance, etc etc etc, due to the evidence I provided, NCL have agreed to pay up and honour their first offer of refunding me.

 

Therefore, my advice to anyone with issues over this situation, keep trying and maybe NCL will step up and do the decent thing for you too.

 

To those of you who supported me and provided great advice, I sincerely thank you.

 

And to those of you who thought it was a drama, I hope you never have to experience the situation where you may lose your hard earnt money through no fault of your own.

Way to go Pete! I have been following your story and I'm glad you didn't give in :D

I have discussed it all with my family, and the bottom line is that we still want to go to Europe in March in 2017. A land tour would be even more expensive and it is the only time of year that we can travel. If Norwegian wasnt the only viable game in town, we would cancel in a minute. I am hoping as I watch the promotions that come out, that we will be able to get as good a rate and possibly even better. My husband definitely thinks I should just tell them to stick it and walk away.

I understand and giving up the on the wonderful vacation plans you made isn't easy :( In this case I would agree with your husband but that is just me.

I admit that I do not know what your original itinerary or how many are in the family group but maybe a rental property with a car/van to make day trips or utilizing the wonderful train service isn't any more expensive? Certainly more work to coordinate though.....

Good luck!

Thanks, I knew about the casino and that is fine. Just wanted to make sure it wasn't everywhere....especially in the cabin.

I can remember when smoking was allowed in the cabins and the smell never really goes away :(

On a repositioning cruise from Miami to Rome this year the smoking areas increased greatly as we hit the Azores. The YC was a totally non-smoking area, there was a little area outside the sun deck where you could puff away if you wanted to.

The casino was a no smoking area until we hit Europe, then the ash-trays appeared. Everyone was happy and smelled nicer before The Azores. Will not sail MSC again in Europe, I am European, until the staff enforce the rules. Saw some people turn over the No-Smoking sign to use as a shelf for an ash tray, staff said nothing.:(.

I am considering MSC for a future Med cruise and have a question?

Was this happen often and did anyone approach the staff for enforcement?

The supervisor from the accomodation department never did call me back as I was told. So I called again and it turns out that she was not even a supervisor. An agent gave me the extension for another agent who could do nothing for me. I did finally talk to a supervisor and FYI they did not do the right thing. They will not honour the friends and family promo we had before, nor will they give me any sort of discount from having to change from a studio to a double occupancy cabin. But gee they did give us $50 to spend.

Are you still sailing? Why not cancel given the fact that nothing from your original sailing is being honored?

3 hours later....bottom line NO PRICE PROTECTION!

 

I couldn't be more upset with NCL right now. I was on the Jade out of Galveston Western Carrib. 11/2016 with UBP and KSF for 3, for balcony, $1900. The Dawn and the Getaway had like itinerary's and dates but they wanted $2800 for the same. No price protection or package protection. When I asked to book a lower category and see if they would give me a free upgrade, they said no. I tried to be flexible on dates, ships and itinerary's but no luck. My agent said she noticed that all balconies on everything she checked was coming in at $2800 for the 3 of us, which even she thought was weird.

 

NO LUCK FOR ME! its looking like its going to be CARNIVAL for us. Here is the kicker, our final payment for our Escape cruise is due this week...if I didn't already have airfare, and hotels, I would be canceling this too.

GGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! :mad:

Great prices on the Celebrity Reflection leaving on the 14th from MIA and the Westerdam, Oasis and the Emerald Princess leave out of FLL ;)

Slightly off topic but perhaps of interest to some...I noticed that Princess has added the FCC form to the Personalizer so you can print it out and have it ready to drop off at the future cruise desk when you sail.

 

 

Just FYI for folks who are planners and like to fill out papers in advance. :D

Thanks for posting this because I didn't know! I will definitely be prepared now :)

What a wonderful story and so glad it had a happy ending!

I am so glad I was able to snag in inside studio cabin on the Harmony of the Seas - or else I would have been cruising on the Epic next year

I realize that I would not have been effected by the cancellations but no way do I want to give money to a cruise line that takes deposits and cancels cruises without being ready to rebook passengers within a day or two under the same terms as the original booking. Unbelievable really :(

I don't see this ending well for a lot of people.....

I don't care about cost so much as the possibility of actually meeting other singles on board.

Okay. You can find others sailing solo and what ships have some nice gatherings for singles/solos - right?

So what are the other 2 ships sailing in Europe? There release only mentions the Spirit and Star.....

Europe

Norwegian will continue to offer a four-ship deployment in Europe during the summer of 2016. Norwegian Spirit will replace Norwegian Epic as the brand's year-round European ship, while Norwegian Star will sail the Mediterranean and Western Europe in the fall of 2016 en-route to the Far East.

All of the above is good advise and definitely check all surrounding airports!

You will also want to check who is operating the Alitalia and Delta flight. It is probably the same flight since they are affiliated.

I booked my recent air on American but the flight was operated by US Air.

I did the Epic in July with reduced port times for three of the ports. I was informed by email about 5 weeks beforehand, that the new times were for all sailings until October, but none of the changes were displayed on the website. I think they wait until you book and are past cancellation with no penalties before they inform you of the changes.

I do see a lot of posts about this. Has it become common on NCL? I am booked on the Harmony (solo cabin) that was only $114 more than a studio on the EPIC. I planned to monitor the prices because the EPIC also leaves from Barcelona on the same day and it wouldn't require a change to airfare once I book my FF seats. However, I would be very unhappy if the port times were shortened after final payment! :mad:

That alone will send me far, far away from NCL. Port times in the Med are short enough!

Have sailed on the Dawn (western from Tampa) and a lot of the Princess ships - including the Emerald and Caribbean.

I would disagree that 7 days is always better than 5 days -especially since you are considering switching from a western to an eastern itinerary. I would take the Emerald and enjoy the 5 days :D

But, bottom line. Where do you want to cruise to and which cruise line fits your vacation expectations.

I had my eye on an 11 night Epic cruise in the Med for February 2017 so that won't be available now :(

I guess all of the low winter fares in the Med didn't make business sense anymore but I didn't think she would be back in the Caribbean based on the bathroom layout that a lot of people have issues with.....

Check out the solo cruisers board. There are recent posts about great deals without single suppliment.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=851324&page=193

Also, there are a few ships that have studio cabins - for solo cruisers that keeps the pricing lower. Once you book - join the roll call so you meet others on your sailing. Once on board you should have a great time!

This is so disappointing. I love Palma. Marseilles not so much. If we were in port longer I would look for a wine tour to Chateauneuf du Pape -- but it takes 1.5 hours to get there, so.... Or if I was going later I would go to Luberon to see the lavender fields, but Im going in early May and they will not be blooming yet. No happy about this.

 

Terry

Maybe this will help? It looks like you can do the trip in 1/2 day and maybe others on your sailing will want to join you?

http://www.provenceandwine.com/en/5/chateauneuf-du-pape-provence-and-wine

Just checked the NCL site and there are no changes posted.

I guess it isn't too surprising that the itinerary hasn't been updated yet....

This is great news to me. I have been to Marseilles twice before but still haven't covered all the hill towns in the area and I have wanted to go to Cassis on the next trip too.

I have been re-thinking my Harmony trip because I really don't want to be a on a 226K ton ship for the Med ports and the extra features are wasted on me for a port intensive trip. I really think it sets up better for a TA or the caribbean IMHO.

Hmmm, maybe a studio cabin on the Epic is better for me after all :)

Thanks for posting this!

I agree! I don't want to look at prices on a cruise-hate the idea of a la carte :mad:

Yes, it would spoil the whole experience for me too :(

vacation isn't about mimicing what you do in your normal life. You want to operate differently in a vacation environment.

Very well said and oh so true!!!!