Handicap Villa is only one room

[sjbdtz]

Hey Everyone... If you are reading this... it appears we can continue to post here.

 

:-)

 

 

Yay.

[GigCrusier]

Hey INDIGO STAR..... How about an update? I look forward to hearing how your booking turns out for you. :)

[Indigo_Star]

Hey GigCruiser!

 

No updates to report of yet... my TA called on friday to say that He had spoken to the regional manager from the UK and He is waiting to here back from his Boss in Miami, so fingers crossed we're getting somewhere with it...

 

every time the phone goes im hoping its my TA to say they'll give us it for half price, lol... a girl can always dream! :)

 

I'll keep you all updated! :)

[GigCrusier]

Hopefully I will be able to complete my story today regarding my relocation from this room as I am still discussing with NCL. One thing I can't believe has not come up regarding these photos is the bathroom door? Some are saying that this suite appears to be fine but voice their opinion on other forums regarding the poor design of the Epic bathrooms with Frosted glass doors? This room has a CLEAR glass door and a hospital curtain to cover Half the view of the facilities to the room? I am Very glad they moved me from this room granted at a considerable amount of phone calls and compromise. More on this later.....

 

Dave K

 

Hey Yelobird aka Dave K.

 

How about an update? I for one am very curious if NCL made you a Happy Customer?.

 

?????????????????

[Indigo_Star]

Hi Guys!

 

Just to let you know we have resolved our cruise catastrophy!

 

We had gone to NCL asking if they could a) give us a reduced price for this room, b) upgrade us at a reduced price to deluxe owners suite or c) cancel the cruise and refund our money... (i know, we were chancing it... but if you dont ask you dont get!)

 

They came back today after a long wait to say that they would not reduce the price for 16029... they have availability for the OS, but they would not reduce the price although they could give us an extra $50 onboard spent on top of our already $200... or we could take our refund.

 

needless to say we took the refund... the way it came across was that they know they have done wrong, but they wont compensate us in any way for it.

 

we will still cruise with NCL, but i dont think i will ever step foot on the EPIC as the lower grade rooms appear small, including the HC ones, and the CV is not suitable.

 

We are going to look at booking a fortnight in the States, cruise and stay on RCI or Princess possibly instead of this trip!!

 

Hope you all get your bookings sorted and enjoy your Trips!! :)

[sredheada]

Hey, I know how this will never happen again to anyone.

 

Don't book a handicapped cabin when you don't need one even if NCL offers it to you.

 

See how simple that was. :cool:

Edited September 16, 2010 by sredheada

[GigCrusier]

Hey, I know how this will never happen again to anyone.

 

Don't book a handicapped cabin when you don't need one even if NCL offers it to you.

 

See how simple that was. :cool:

Sreheada, I don't disagree with you, but it you read the entire thread, it is important to point out that the issue of this thread was that NCL advertised and confrirmed this suite to be three seperate rooms and two bath rooms. The reality of the room is far from how NCL advertised the Suite and conifmed it with me and other folks here. Be sure to look at the pictures posted here and then compare them to what NCL has advertised.

 

I think you should continue to voice you opinion regrarding able bodied folks booking handicap rooms. Your point is well taken and I will not EVER book a handicap room again.

Edited September 16, 2010 by GigCrusier

[ascatsob]

Hey, I know how this will never happen again to anyone.

 

Don't book a handicapped cabin when you don't need one even if NCL offers it to you.

 

See how simple that was. :cool:

 

I think you missed something.....Indigo_Star did need the handicapped cabin for a handicapped parent.....but also needed the 2nd bedroom that was advertised for this room. NCL said the cabin had a 2nd bedroom and was handicapped. So I suppose you should read all the info before you make a blanket statement!

[GigCrusier]

Hello Ascatsob - It looks like sreheada was a one-time poster here. Once again... your thread here has saved another family from arriving on the Epic to be have thier dream vacation spoiled due to poor adverstising and inaccurated infromation from NCL.

[ascatsob]

Hello Ascatsob - It looks like sreheada was a one-time poster here. Once again... your thread here has saved another family from arriving on the Epic to be have thier dream vacation spoiled due to poor adverstising and inaccurated infromation from NCL.

 

Hey GigCrusier...I am just so surprised that NCL has not stepped up to the plate and at the very least offered some sort of discount or something! It surprises me considering it is their fault, they admit it is their fault, and yet they don't try and at least make it up to their customer. As far as sredheada I think I made my point.

[Indigo_Star]

Hey Guys... just to let you know, it looks like NCL are looking to change the grade of this room.

 

My booking on NCL.com is still there and they have changed 16029 from S4 - courtyard villa to S5 - courtyard penthouse.

i dont know if this is intentional or not, but by the looks of things they are going to make the room a HC courtyard penthouse so that its bigger than a standard CP to look like its been extended for HC use... although it also would mean it is now a 2 person capacity room in line with the other CP ?!

 

only speculation, but my TA also said he had caught a brief word about this when speaking to the NCL managers, but they quickly went off topic.

[time2cruise1]

Hey Guys... just to let you know, it looks like NCL are looking to change the grade of this room.

 

My booking on NCL.com is still there and they have changed 16029 from S4 - courtyard villa to S5 - courtyard penthouse.

i dont know if this is intentional or not, but by the looks of things they are going to make the room a HC courtyard penthouse so that its bigger than a standard CP to look like its been extended for HC use... although it also would mean it is now a 2 person capacity room in line with the other CP ?!

 

only speculation, but my TA also said he had caught a brief word about this when speaking to the NCL managers, but they quickly went off topic.

 

They have blocked it as a S4 for the last couple weeks. Makes sense to make it what it should be a HC S5. The capacity should not change it has never been 5 or 6 like the other villas.

[GigCrusier]

Hey Guys... just to let you know, it looks like NCL are looking to change the grade of this room.

 

My booking on NCL.com is still there and they have changed 16029 from S4 - courtyard villa to S5 - courtyard penthouse.

i dont know if this is intentional or not, but by the looks of things they are going to make the room a HC courtyard penthouse so that its bigger than a standard CP to look like its been extended for HC use... although it also would mean it is now a 2 person capacity room in line with the other CP ?!

 

only speculation, but my TA also said he had caught a brief word about this when speaking to the NCL managers, but they quickly went off topic.

I can't seem to locate the description as you noted. Are you able to post a link. I thought I could navigate the NCL web site, but I was not able to find the specific cabin description. Thanks for any assistance you can provide.

[Indigo_Star]

the description doesnt appear to have changed on the main website, but when i log in to "My NCL" my booked cruises still list the epic cruise in 16029, but instead of S4 and the CV description it now says S5 and gives the description for the 2 person courtyard penthouse.

 

i dont know if this is a mistake or if it is what they intend to change it to in the near future.

[GigCrusier]

Indigo Star, thanks for the update. I thought I was loosing my mind. You are much more forgiving of NCL than I am. Unless I get an apology in writing and a great discount, NLC will not see the color of my money.

 

We had a really great PCC at NCL who I will miss supporting... but now

we are looking at Princess, HAL and Celebrety for our next cruise.

 

Check back here often. We need to keep this thread alive so others don't make the mistake we ALMOST made with NCL.

[GigCrusier]

Hey Yelobird aka Dave K.

 

How about an update? I for one am very curious if NCL made you a Happy Customer?.

 

?????????????????

[Indigo_Star]

Indigo Star, thanks for the update. I thought I was loosing my mind. You are much more forgiving of NCL than I am. Unless I get an apology in writing and a great discount, NLC will not see the color of my money.

 

We had a really great PCC at NCL who I will miss supporting... but now

we are looking at Princess, HAL and Celebrety for our next cruise.

 

Check back here often. We need to keep this thread alive so others don't make the mistake we ALMOST made with NCL.

 

Hey GigCruiser... i have a further update incase you are curious...

 

i had to give my TA a letter confirming that we intend to cancel, so he called NCL today to say that we woudnt be paying for an upgrade and we would cut ties with regard to this holiday... the advisor on the phone got a bit shifty and said "oh no! dont cancel just now, we can offer you something else as an alternative..."

 

so they confirmed that the rooms have been regraded and they can give me and my mum room 16029 and would give us an inside cabin for my dad free of charge... we declined because we would no doubt have problems getting my dad into the courtyard complex and the whole point of the cruise was for his 60th....

 

anyway, on thinking about this what NCL have done is regraded 16029 to a courtyard penthouse, which would cost less than the £6000 we were paying to start with, and have used the difference in cost to pay for an inside cabin... meaning we are getting nothing for the inconveniance!!

 

so on reconsidering the entire situation, we wont be cruising with NCL again after April next year... i think we wil try HAL and Princess and see how we go from there.

[GigCrusier]

Hey GigCruiser... i have a further update incase you are curious...

 

i had to give my TA a letter confirming that we intend to cancel, so he called NCL today to say that we woudnt be paying for an upgrade and we would cut ties with regard to this holiday... the advisor on the phone got a bit shifty and said "oh no! dont cancel just now, we can offer you something else as an alternative..."

 

so they confirmed that the rooms have been regraded and they can give me and my mum room 16029 and would give us an inside cabin for my dad free of charge... we declined because we would no doubt have problems getting my dad into the courtyard complex and the whole point of the cruise was for his 60th....

 

anyway, on thinking about this what NCL have done is regraded 16029 to a courtyard penthouse, which would cost less than the £6000 we were paying to start with, and have used the difference in cost to pay for an inside cabin... meaning we are getting nothing for the inconveniance!!

 

so on reconsidering the entire situation, we wont be cruising with NCL again after April next year... i think we wil try HAL and Princess and see how we go from there.

Good Morning Indigo Star -

 

Your situation continues to amaze me. NCL has now lost at least our two familes as past and future customers. I would have been more that happy to continue to be a happy NCL Cheerleader and customer with a simple apology and an offer that demonstrated a true discount for thier mistake.

 

I can't believe the silly offer they presented you!... LOL.

 

The good thing that has come from this is at least they have re-classified the room to a more realistic description and also priced it to reflect the actual room.

 

One of my personal goals has been to keep this thread alive till they accurately descirbe the room.

[sjbdtz]

Good Morning Indigo Star -

 

Your situation continues to amaze me. NCL has now lost at least our two familes as past and future customers. I would have been more that happy to continue to be a happy NCL Cheerleader and customer with a simple apology and an offer that demonstrated a true discount for thier mistake.

 

I can't believe the silly offer they presented you!... LOL.

 

The good thing that has come from this is at least they have re-classified the room to a more realistic description and also priced it to reflect the actual room.

 

One of my personal goals has been to keep this thread alive till they accurately descirbe the room.

 

C'mon, your personal goal is compensation....

[GigCrusier]

C'mon, your personal goal is compensation....

SJTBZ,

 

Compensation??? What an intersting idea. Since you brought it up, do you think any of us that were mislead by NCL are entitiled to compensation? If so, how much and how would you base the compensation.

 

Keep in mind that NCL has changed the room description and lowered the Fare since Indigo and I seperately booked the suite and cancelled independently of each other.

 

I look forward to your thoughtfull and well thought out reply.

 

Thanks!!!!

[GigCrusier]

C'mon, your personal goal is compensation....

SJTBZ,

 

Compensation??? What an intersting idea. Since you brought it up, do you think any of us that were mislead by NCL are entitiled to compensation? If so, how much and how would you base the compensation.

 

Keep in mind that NCL has changed the room description and lowered the Fare since Indigo and I seperately booked the suite and cancelled independently of each other.

 

I look forward to your thoughtfull and well thought out reply.

 

Thanks!!!!

[sjbdtz]

SJTBZ,

 

Compensation??? What an intersting idea. Since you brought it up, do you think any of us that were mislead by NCL are entitiled to compensation? If so, how much and how would you base the compensation.

 

Keep in mind that NCL has changed the room description and lowered the Fare since Indigo and I seperately booked the suite and cancelled independently of each other.

 

I look forward to your thoughtfull and well thought out reply.

 

Thanks!!!!

 

 

Ok. Here's my thoughtful AND well thought-out reply:

 

 

- They could have made the price $7,682 less than you paid....but wait....you didn't pay anything. You cancelled.

 

So you still paid less than the new price.

 

So the difference between the old price & the new price is irrelevant.

 

 

- They could have found some solution for you, but you panicked, completely freaked-out (as seen in this thread, and others), and cancelled before giving them a chance to offer alternatives.

 

- right around the time when this cabin was re-classified to a Penthouse from a Villa, they were reclassifying rooms all over the ship. There were several threads about people whose 4 person cabin was reclassified as 3-person, etc.

 

While I have no idea why there were so many differences between 'plan', and 'as-built', nonetheless they did reclassify the cabin whether as a result of your campaign, or because that's the type of verification work they were in the process of doing.....OR because it was just mis-classified at the outset.

 

In any of these last events, it's unlikely that customer service in Miami would have known that this one cabin had been mis-classified, it's not as though they've memorized, or even seen each of the 2100 cabins.

 

 

 

So concisely what compensation do I believe you would be entitled to? If it were MY cruiseline, I might be inclined to offer you a $100 future cruise credit as a goodwill gesture, but I would never expect to have to honor it...you're unlikely to return because you've blown this thing out of all proportion, in your mind.

 

 

So with that in mind, maybe I'd give you $5,000 instead...... :rolleyes:

[time2cruise1]

I guess I missed my chance to look for compensation and cry on the boards for months. I really don't understand the passion behind this thread. Expecting a handicapped cabin or suite to be anything like a regular cabin especially when you don't need the accessibility it provides is foolish.

I took the first Jewel transatlantic and got an upsell to an accessible AE penthouse 3 days before the cruise. I was told the only difference was no tub and twin beds instead of a true queen.

As it turned out no sofa, no dining table, no espresso machine, no wireless phone, no pass through closet, ramps that made 1/2 of the balcony unusable.

I guess I missed my chance to rant and never cruise NCL again. I am happy about that.

[GigCrusier]

Ok. Here's my thoughtful AND well thought-out reply:

 

 

- They could have made the price $7,682 less than you paid....but wait....you didn't pay anything. You cancelled.

 

So you still paid less than the new price.

I paid MORE than the new price - see caculations below

 

So the difference between the old price & the new price is irrelevant.

 

 

- They could have found some solution for you, but you panicked, completely freaked-out (as seen in this thread, and others), and cancelled before giving them a chance to offer alternatives.The solutions were: A) 11% discount and keep the room B) take outside standard balcony room and be denied access to Courtyard C) full refund.

 

- right around the time when this cabin was re-classified to a Penthouse from a Villa, they were reclassifying rooms all over the ship. There were several threads about people whose 4 person cabin was reclassified as 3-person, etc.

You might have missed the point again... The capacity is not the issue. The configuration of the room is not as advertised.

While I have no idea why there were so many differences between 'plan', and 'as-built', nonetheless they did reclassify the cabin whether as a result of your campaign, or because that's the type of verification work they were in the process of doing.....OR because it was just mis-classified at the outset.

 

In any of these last events, it's unlikely that customer service in Miami would have known that this one cabin had been mis-classified, it's not as though they've memorized, or even seen each of the 2100 cabins.

 

 

 

So concisely what compensation do I believe you would be entitled to? If it were MY cruiseline, I might be inclined to offer you a $100 future cruise credit as a goodwill gesture, but I would never expect to have to honor it...you're unlikely to return because you've blown this thing out of all proportion, in your mind.

 

 

So with that in mind, maybe I'd give you $5,000 instead...... :rolleyes:

Good Morning all,

 

I wish you (SJBDTZ) worked for NCL in a positon of autority. Your offer of $5,000 is better than anything NCL offered.

 

I paid $16,533.62 for my 2-week 2-room and seperate sleping room villa. I did cancel and NCL refunded my entire payment.

 

Don't miss this very important point... The room was cancelled because it really is a single large room! Not the room sold to me and described to me by more than one person at NCL including their written information. I cancelled two weeks prior to sailing and booked the Captians Suite (two room suite) on the Canrival Liberty.

 

NCL offered me a refund of $1,959.10 if I choose to keep the room. Do the math... just about a 11% discount.

 

This moring I called NCL and spoke with a rep in Mesa Arizona. If you were to book the same room today on the March 5, 2011 sailing here is what is offered.

#16029 is now a Catagory A4, no longer a Catagory A3

Catagory A3 Villa is $3,519.00

Catagory A4 rm 16029 is now $3,069.00

 

Let's do the math together.... $3,519 X 11% = $387.00

$3,519 - $3,069 = $450.00 (more than 11%)

 

The Handicap Villa #16029 is now priced better than the offer I was offer to remain on board.

 

NCL responded to: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1284820 which demonstrates they do read these boards. With this mind... Here is the letter I just recieved from NCL post marked September 29, 2010

 

Thank you for your e-mail to Public Relations, which has been forwarded to Customer Relations for response.

 

We sincerely regret to learn of the circumstances that resulted in the cancellation of your intended voyage aboard the Norwegian Epic. Our recoreds show that our Executive Desk made every effort to assist you. A refund of $16,533.62 was requested on your behalf and processed to the form of payment used for the reservation. We are sorry to learn that this matter remains a point of concern for you and hope that over the course of time, you will consider Norwegian Crusie Line for your next vacation at sea.

 

Thank you for this opportunity to respond. We value your patronage and look forward to welcoming you back aboard in the near future.

 

Sincerly,

 

XXXXXXX

Coordinator

Customer Relations

____________________________________________________________

 

I want to reach out to all the disable cruisers...

 

Please keep in mind that the point of this thread is that NCL advertised a 2-room Villa and spererate sleeping room and in reality it was a one room suite.

 

When I called NCL this morning it took the rep over 20-minutes to find the room and qoute me a price. He had to call someone else for assistance. Once he located the room as a Cat A4, the March sailing date was open and he wanted to process my reservation right away. He did not even point out that the room was intended for Handicap people and even said "these rooms book quickly, are you sure you don't want to put down a deposit now?.

 

I now think that for some reasonable period of time prior to sailing that when a handicap room is sold, the folks buying the room need to document that they are truly handicaped. Then, perhaps when 90 - 120 from sailing, the handicap rooms could be opened up for anyone.

 

______________________________________________________________

 

Will I ever sail NCL again???? Maybe... Never say Never!

 

:cool:

Edited October 2, 2010 by GigCrusier
typo

[sjbdtz]

NCL responded to: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1284820 which demonstrates they do read these boards. With this mind... Here is the letter I just recieved from NCL post marked September 29, 2010

 

Thank you for your e-mail to Public Relations, which has been forwarded to Customer Relations for response.

 

We sincerely regret to learn of the circumstances that resulted in the cancellation of your intended voyage aboard the Norwegian Epic. Our recoreds show that our Executive Desk made every effort to assist you. A refund of $16,533.62 was requested on your behalf and processed to the form of payment used for the reservation. We are sorry to learn that this matter remains a point of concern for you and hope that over the course of time, you will consider Norwegian Crusie Line for your next vacation at sea.

 

Thank you for this opertunity to respond. We value your patronage and look forward to welcoming you back aboard in the near future.

 

Sincerly,

 

XXXXXXX

Coordinator

Customer Relations

____________________________________________________________

 

I want to reach out to all the disable cruisers...

 

Please keep in mind that the point of this thread is that NCL advertised a 2-room Villa and spererate sleeping room and in reality it was a one room suite.

 

When I called NCL this morning it took the rep over 20-minutes to find the room and qoute me a price. He had to call someone else for assistance. Once he located the room as a Cat A4....

 

Follow along with this math:

 

Amount you paid to NCL: $0.00 (you received a full refund).

 

Amount for the suite today: > $0.00 so you paid less.

 

 

 

Is the suite currently marketed as 2 bdrm? No. It's now a category A4.

 

 

Remaining issues? Bruised ego.

 

 

Pick up your bootstraps, and move along...your argument is not holding water.

 

 

 

Stephen

 

 

P.S. I'm really surprised that NCL's Customer Relations misspelled 'opportunity'.... that's really quite odd.

Edited October 2, 2010 by sjbdtz