bostonphil

I have often wondered myself. I think PCC's get a professional base salary but i wonder if they get bonuses or commissions on each passenger they sell a cruise to.  

I am a somewhat lower income senior citizen who travels alone and can afford one cruise a year. I book the studio and eat the complimentary food and drinks. 

I was assigned my PCC about 6 years ago and have just booked my 6th cruise through him. It seemed that when he was new to NCL, he was friendlier and more eager to help me. Now that he has been there several years, he seems to be less interested in me as one of his guests. He now has many regular guests who maybe are more affluent and can afford more expensive cabins, etc.

He called me Friday out of the blue to talk about the cruise that I am taking next year.  He seemed a little short with me. I was taken aback. Perhaps there is a NCL problem.  I am going to take a wait and see attitude. I have reason to call him back this week or next week and will see how it goes.

My first PCC was so bad that I was never going to book NCL again but he left and I was assigned to my current PCC who was a great improvement.  After my first PCC sold me a cruise, he had nothing more to do with me. He never returned one phone call or email ever after selling me the cruise. He had nothing more to do with me. Since this was my first cruise, I had a lot of questions.

Keep in mind that our PCC is a salesperson. They sell us a cruise first of all and then they do some after care.

I have read some bad reviews about NCL PCC's but I have equally heard some bad information about TA's.

So what do you do? I am sticking with what I know for now. 

I have a Citi credit card that is partnered with American Airlines. American offers cruises through them and I would get travel rewards if I book a cruise through American. I think the same is true of most of the credit cards,

Well I am in Austin Texas and we have gone backwards  to Stage 5. Very discouraging.

I am fully vaccinated. I am also in a clinical trial for COVID. At the end of the month, I go back to my study site to have blood taken and see how my antibodies are doing. They give me a safety call every month as well and they pay me which goes to my next cruise.

I received a reverse phone call yesterday from the City asking persons to stay home unless it is necessary to go out, to mask and social distance, etc etc.

I live in senior housing and stay home during the daytime somewhat because of the Texas Heat. I live on Lady Bird Lake aka Town Lake and the Greenbelt.

After 7 pm I take an evening walk visiting turtles, bunnies, ducks, egrets, herons, nutras, parakeets, other birds and every so often you see a snake or a huge fish. You never know what you are going to see. The ducks and turtles know me now. The turtles come up to the bridge for snacks and the ducks come over to the boat dock for their evening snack.

There are hundreds of people out on the greenbelt and boating on the lake. Everyone seems happy. No one seems overly concerned

I am near the Rainey Street Entertainment District and it appears to be happening. The condo on the other side of me had a party for the residents with a live band. 

All sorts of activities and events are beginning to take place. Yesterday was the City of Austin's birthday and there was  a party in Republic Square. Next week is a really big celebration of the renovated Waterloo Park with the dedication of an amphitheater.  At the end of the month is the Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Contest and in October is the Austin City Limits Music Festival. 

Most hospital beds are taken because of COVID. I have not heard of deaths but maybe I am just tuning out.

I think most persons are vaccinated and feel pretty safe.  The economy is good. Businesses can not get enough help.  Everything remains open but perhaps with more restrictions.

30 minutes ago, All-ready2cruise said:

This sounds like the 1st cruise on a mega ship for my late DH and I, Feb. 16, 2013.  Unfortunately, there was a couple on board who'd planned their beach wedding at Atlanta resort Nassau.  I felt so bad for them.  

We had a fun day, plenty of time to meet up with some of our new friends.  

 

I've yet to visit Nassau on a cruise, LOL. 

My shore excursion was a half day at one of the very exclusive and famous resorts. 

What did the couple do who had planned to have a wedding on the beach. I think the captain could have married them on the ship. 

I have also not yet made it to Nassau.

My first cruise was on The Epic. I sailed The Eastern Caribbean.  This was several years ago and some of my memory is rusty.

On Friday, we were supposed to port in Nassau, The Bahamas.  About 9 a.m. the captain came on the loudspeaker and announced that Nassau had been cancelled, that we were unable to port and that we were going to have another beautiful day at sea.  I thought that the captain was joking but he was not as I would find out.

We were told that there would be free rum drinks on the top deck for the next couple of hours. I did not bother to participate in this activity. 

It was not another beautiful day at sea. it was a very boring day at sea. Many passengers were really angry about this.  One passenger, in particular, had booked this very cruse for the port that had just been cancelled.

Later we were told that Nassau had forgotten to book The Epic for space or something like that. How could Nassau forget.? The Epic had been doing this very route for about 6 months of every year for several years.

One very seasoned cruiser said that it was a disgrace  He felt someone very important had paid X amount of money to port and that we got cancelled because of this.

Our contract says that ports can get cancelled and while an alternative may be found, it is not guaranteed.  It also says that you will not get any compensation if a port is cancelled. I was aware of this but I did not expect for it to happen. 

I had booked a shore excursion through NCL and my money was instantly refunded. Other cruisers had booked shore excursions through private companies and I do not know what happened with refunds.

I have read Northern Europe reviews about 2 or 3 ports out of  5  being cancelled because of weather. I remember reading about one terrible disaster of a cruise because of weather.   Passengers were extremely unhappy to say the least and it was posted all over the internet.

The Hermitage Museum was very important to me. I originally booked the evening shore excursion lasting about three hours but then decided I wanted more time and booked the shore excursion lasting about five hours during normal business hours.

For me, this turned out to be a big mistake. It was chaos inside the museum. It was mass insanity. It was so intense that I fell down on stairs trying to keep up with my group.

I was also visiting during the shoulder season, the end of September 2019.  I can not imagine what it would be like in season.

I later read reviews of guests who took the evening tour and there was almost no one in the museum but for the cruise guests.

If The Hermitage Museum is at the top of your list and most important to you, I suggest that you book the evening shore excursion.

Want to add that a few years back, a Caribbean Cruise for me in studio was about $899, about.

Now the same or similar cruise is about $1300. 

The Mediterranean Cruise that leaves Barcelona was also less than $1000 for one person in studio. It has gone up some, I also notice.

7 hours ago, RumRunner2021 said:

The bolded part is not true in my experience.  On the rare occasions that I need to talk to an actual person, I just call the reservations main number, skip the option to be connected to PCC, and talk to an actual reservations agent.  Those folks are more helpful than any PCC I've ever had.  Nobody has ever told me that I need to talk to my PCC.  Why do you even answer the phone when your PCC calls?

Sometimes in order to get an amenity or upgrade, you have to speak to a. PCC  or at least I am under that impression.

I am or was glad to hear from my PCC. That is why I answered the phone.  Maybe I was just tired and misunderstood the way that he was speaking to me.  Sometimes we take things wrong.

So you make a reservation the reservation agent and do you get amenities, etc? What happens if you have to call back about something.

I have been with NCL for many years. I like to read about the different cruises and do research. The prices are definitely very high right now. Then ironically, the promotion says 30 percent off cruises but it is still very high.. 

I know what the cost of many cruises were a couple of years back. Some of these cruises are $400 more for one person in the studio. 

You can take your chances and book a last minute cruise.

4 hours ago, complawyer said:

no, you need to contact an atty. my wife slipped on a wet floor on the epic. while i dont recall the name of the counsel, they are a major maritime litigation firm out of miami. they are the ones who represented the grandfather against royal carribbean when his granddaughter fellfrom an open window.

 

i  know his name was mark weiner,

Thank you for the information. 

I do not believe that I was injured badly enough to require an attorney.

The situation with the grandfather and Royal Caribbean was horribly sad. 

NCL is going to try to assign you a PCC.  NCL will then want you to call the PCC directly. They do not want you to call the general number. NCL will contact the PCC if guests call the general number rather than the PCC and have the PCC call the guest and let them know that they should call him or her.

My first PCC was terrible and i had no interest in sailing NCL again somewhat because of the PCC.  I did not want to deal with him again.  But that PCC left and I was assigned to a new PCC. He was better. He was friendly and helpful. I have booked 5 more cruises over a period of 5 or 6 years through him.

But he now has dedicated guests and he does not seem to need me as much. There have been times when he did not call me back or respond to an email. There have been times when he was short with me.

However, I remain satisfied and I booked a cruise for August 2022 through him.  I booked the cruise about two or three months ago and have not spoken with him since. I have had no need to.

On Friday he called m to check and see if I needed anything. He does that now and then.

That is how the call began but he seemed to be angry and he almost seemed to be yelling at me. He kept reminding me that if I needed anything, I needed to call him.

Well that is not always accurate. There are dedicated numbers for all  kinds of reasons. I take the $50 shore excursion amenity and there is a number for me to call to book my shore excursion. There are Guest Relations numbers for before and after the cruise and it goes on and on and on.

I was not prepared for this phone call. I am a non confrontive person and I just said ok and ok. This was 4:30 pm yesterday.

I was left very uncomfortable and remain so.

Next week I am going to call him back to add my gratuities and insurance but I am going to want further information about this phone call.

It could be that NCL came down on him because his guests were calling the general number too often instead of him. Maybe he was calling his guests to remind them that they had to call him and not the general number but he was angry and did not realize how he was coming across.

----------------------------------------------------------

However, My last cruise was September 2019 to the Baltic. I took a terrible fall coming back onto the ship from a shore excursion which was the fault of NCL. There were many witnesses and I assume there were cameras. However not much damage was done and I was able to go on my next day's shore excursion. . When I returned from the cruise, I contacted Guest Services After Cruise and wrote about what had happened. I expected them to offer me something when and if I booked another cruise. Instead I got an email that they sent my claim onto their claim department and I should hear from the claim departments soon.

I never heard from the claim department and then we went into all the problems with COVID.

Last month, I contacted the Claims Department and gave them my claim reference number. I told them I had booked another cruise and gave them my reservation number. I asked if they could give me something toward this next cruise because of the laxity of NCL resulting in my fall.

I got an email back offering their support, glad that I was doing well , good wishes towards my next cruise and nothing more. I was very surprised when I got nothing towards my next cruise.

So maybe my PCC was contacted by the claims department and told that I need to call him about my claim and not them. I do not know what happened. But the phone call at 4:30 pm yesterday has put a bad taste in my mouth.

I tried to respond to this discussion but I must have done something wrong. it did not take and now my post has disappeared.  My response was really long as well.

I am going to see if this response gets submitted before I try again.

The greatly reduced price might be what is known as a Sailaway Price. You get no amenities on the Sailaway cabins.

Your cabin probably included some amenities like a dinner package or drink package, etc.

What cruise are you going on? What amenities did you get? 

I booked a Western Caribbean cruise with NCL a few years back and I kept watch on the price.  I had a studio cabin. The price dropped below what I had paid for my studio and my cruise consultant did get me into a balcony.

I would take the $100 if it is still available and see if they can upgrade you into a better cabin or get you an additional amenity.

.

Thank you for the review.  It was very helpful and interesting. I am taking this cruise the third week of September so I assume that the weather will be colder and the crowds smaller.

The Hermitage is very important to me and I booked the five hours with the Gold Room. I had originally booked the evening at the Hermitage because I hate crowds but I think the crowds will be much smaller the end of September.  

I was born and raised in Boston but have lived in Austin Texas many years. I love Boston.

Re some of the guests having their passports stolen. What a horrible thing to happen. I have purchased a travel purse that you wrap around your body and can carry all the papers you need.

Were the guests who had their passports stolen on your excursion or was it another excursion?

Thank you for you very interesting and in depth reviews. I am taking this journey in September.

After seeing all the pics of the food, I have to go eat.

I am taking this cruise in September. Thanks for posting.

I hope that you might also review the ports and excursions as well as post pictures.  😀

I sailed the Bliss last September. I found it too big and too crowded but obviously other cruisers feel differently. I never sailed the Gem but wish I could sail a smaller ship. I am a senior citizen who travels alone and needs a studio cabin. Only the largest ships have the studios.

The Bliss did have great food and the observation deck / floor was wonderful.

3 hours ago, bostonphil said:

Great. 

 

I am taking this cruise in September and am looking forward to June passengers who sailed the Baltic on The Getaway.

 

I have been watching for you.

I tried to edit my earlier post but could not.  Just to clarify, when I said that I was watching for you, I meant that I have been watching and hoping that passengers from the June Baltic Getaway would begin to post their experiences as well as their pictures.

You are the first one and I am looking forward to your reviews.

Great. 

I am taking this cruise in September and am looking forward to June passengers who sailed the Baltic on The Getaway.

I have been watching for you.

I sailed the Bliss to Alaska last September and the ship was booked almost completely. In fact, it was unpleasantly crowded.  Maybe they all got special deals or were last minute but the ship was most definitely NOT empty.

I do not know what to tell you but if you feel that you have a good deal at this time, grab it.

The food was great and I loved the observation deck. However, my complaint was the crowding. The elevators were a nightmare except very early or late.  However, someone told me that there were other elevators in a less convenient area. The atrium and other public places were also overcrowded. 

Alaska is beautiful. I loved all the ports especially Skagway. 

Even if NCL crew was in the wrong, the couple should have been polite. First, they should have asked to speak to the manager or the supervisor. If that failed, they should have taken it up with guest services on the ship and if that failed, just accept the inconvenience and call their TA or PCC when they got home as well as calling or writing customer service when they got home.

They might have missed the show but saved the cruise and got some compensation.

When the Interior Cabin is less than the Studio Cabin, that is because the rate you are seeing for the Interior is the Sail Away rate which means no amenities.

There is some controversy around Park West. There are lawsuits regarding the art that the cruise passengers have received. There are investigations going on and some cruise lines will no longer allow Park West on their ships.

You can google this informations.

Thank you!

9 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

 

If your card is not set up for a PIN, you can't just "get one". Most US issued credit cards are only set up with PINs for cash advances, a business that you don't want to get into.

 

As discussed here frequently, you don't need a PIN and chip credit card in Europe for 98% of your needs. Yes, you will need one at unstaffed train station ticket machines, and unstaffed gas station pumps. Otherwise, no.

A big thank you!

I have credit cards with a chip but no pin.  How do you get a pin and is it necessary to have one?