jusiag

27 minutes ago, dexddd said:

Check the site by "V".

Do we know which port locations in Amsterdam and Reykjavik we can use for pickups?

On 4/27/2024 at 9:21 PM, Freezing cold said:

 

I've been to Amsterdam and it is really crowded. That's why we decided to just do a canal tour. Just have to figure out where to get the bus!!

Want to do the same thin, was going to do the Amsterdam on your own but its booked up, anyone know what the best arrangements are to get to Amsterdam and back for a canal tour and some wandering?

Also looking for better options in Reykjavik, anyone have some good third party suggestions for there? Wanted to do something in depth like the golden circle on the first day, and second day looking for a private (or group if others are interested) car that can take us through the city for lunch and then to the airport (with luggage). Any suggestions for either of these would be appreciated.

And it gets worst. Just got a letter saying all cruises on the Gem July 24-October 16 2022 will be skipping Argostoli. Not sure what the reasoning is, maybe more of Europe is deciding not to allow cruise ships, maybe Norwegian is just not willing to negotiate port fees. I am getting more annoyed by the day, hopefully this is temporary and they will either add it or another port back, otherwise that's a huge reduction in service that we've already paid for.

First off, to reply to the Italianrail question, I booked a train ride between Naples and Cinque Terre 5 years ago as part of a non-cruise trip, we booked premium for the first leg (to Rome) and then 2nd class for the rest (I believe that was the only options) The premium did not allow changes and the 2nd class allowed one change/upgrade. Since we were not at the mercy of other transport it wasn't an issue. Looking at the website now it only lists through May, but the only options I saw was 2nd class non-refundable, $32 US for 2 people from Venezia Mestre  to Trieste Centrale (just under 2 hours) and $35 for San Lucia if you are spending time in Venice (2 hr 5 min, if you take a direct train).

That said, I am really ticked off that this is how things went down with Venice. Sure, this had been a long time coming, but between the city, port and the cruise lines, we are really getting the shaft. I booked my trip for this fall back when my 2020 trip got cancelled (took advantage of there "keep us from bankruptcy" discount so I can't complain about that). At the time here had been rumblings about shutting down Venice, but that had been going on for years. But here's the rub, when you make a change like this, you are SUPPOSED to do it over time, locking in vested bookings and only impacting new bookings. A typical treatment of 18 months is to be expected. I guess the pandemic changed all that, (and the fact that the cruise lines, like us, were not taking Venice seriously). So, instead of honoring bookings now they are changing them without notice. I'm not sure what contract the cruise lines had with the ports or ports with the city, but considering force majeure does not apply, either the cruise lines or port did not have contracts to cover these future bookings or someone broke contract. I would hope lawsuits are involved (although that doesn't impact us).

Now what pisses me off the most is I've not been to Venice, although I have very low expectations of it, I'd still like to cross it off my list. I have my cruise booked between two other trips, since flying to Europe is a pain I try and stretch it out both before and after the cruise. Now, all those plans involving Venice are shot, I may have to rebook flights and hotels (and who covers flights that are non-refundable? Mine are, paid extra because, well, 2020). And to top it off, I lose 4 hours of vacation time to traveling both ways between Marco Polo and Trieste. Sure, an ungodly amount of cruise and travel time is wasted, but more is never acceptible.

Now the icing on the cake was when I called NCL yesterday to see what they were planning on doing about it, what transport options we would have. The rep actually was making jokes about it (should have hung up there). Well, if you stay in Venice you are either on your own, or you have to get back to the airport to pay $25/person for what I anticipate to be a much more tedious trip to Trieste that possibly a train. Also issue is return trip, I have a flight around noon, which for a Venice port was not an issue, but is a whole different thing with Trieste. Then there was a Venice tour and transport that they are still selling on their website, 5 hours in Venice and transport to the airport after the cruise. I'd go for that but now it would be 7 hours plus if they offer it.

The nonchalance with which they are approaching this should not stand. I plan to complain early and often so that they at least start awarding us some credits, and think everyone else that booked early should do the same. They should have planned for this 2 years ago and did not, they should have made arrangements before the announcement to accommodate us and did not, and they should have at least coordinated with airlines to offer more options into Trieste, which again, they have not. Half assed is not how you run a business, and this is more like quarter assed. 

Rant suspended but not done.