Do you think NCL owes them anything?

[sailingnut]

Always buy the insurance, it is well worth it!:)

[dasmonkey]

Are you seriously asserting that a company that charges more for a similar product makes more money? Key word here is similar . . . the NCL and X product are not identical.

 

Summit has 1 crew for 2 pax and a 46.7 space ratio while Gem only has 1 crew to 2.8 pax and a space ratio of 32.8 . . . clearly not an identical product. Then a look at the food served in the regular dining venues is another indicator that which company spends more money per passenger.

 

Most of us expect to pay more for a roomier car, a larger house or a meal with more and (subjectively) better ingredients and courses.

 

I sailed on the Summit last year and there isn't $390 worth of difference. :rolleyes:

[macruise]

 

ETA: Didn't anyone ever wonder why cruises out of New England to Bermuda or to the Bahamas are cheaper during hurricane season?

 

There really aren't that many cruises to Bermuda outside of hurricane season.

[Mrs. H.]

Kathi...I am glad you are getting the calls..really I am....

That,though, is/was not always the norm....For our December Jewel (drydock problem) cruise...MANY MANY cruisers did not get notified of the numerous changes,delays,etc...so I am happy they are stepping up the calls...and learned from past experience..

And..to be honest...I think they should update their website every day at least once...during times like these just my opinion..for what it is worth..

 

HELLO JAJA!!!! How the hell are you?? Looks like we can sleep good tonight since Irene is coming tomorrow morning. God help us.

 

Even tho we lost a day back in Dec, it was still a blast!

 

We had the option to cancel per NCL people. 6 days was better then none.

 

We ALWAYS buy insurance. One never knows if a family member gets ill, someone breaks a limb, car accident, ect.... stuff happens.

 

I have to say that NCL did the right thing for us.

 

I find it much better to deal directly with cruise line when booking over going thru a travel agent. Had a woman in my office book with my travel agent at NCL for her next cruise this December and she has gone from a courtyard penthouse to the owners suite for less money and just the other day the prices went down and she wrote to our travel agent and is getting close to $400 back on her charge card. It pays to deal directly with the cruise line agents, that for sure!

[che5904]

And..to be honest...I think they should update their website every day at least once...during times like these just my opinion..for what it is worth..

 

True enough if there are not changes perhaps they should just change the date to the current, then copy and paste the statement.

 

But it does say "If there are any further changes, we will update this site. Thank you."

 

So if I was to guess, I would have to say there were not further changes at this time.

[bplazo]

did they really say this??!!!?!?!!

i cant believe they would use such an archaic term

do they really think that there is some sort of weather controlling god?

you wold think they would not leave themselves open to such a thing. somewhere along the line someone can challange such a silly statment

 

Oh, please, just get over it. I am so tired of people telling other people what they should say or not say. If they are allowed to pray or not etc.

 

I am so sorry for anyone who is in this situation. Hope everything goes well.

[peg013]

NCL is also posting on facebook with messages from the Captains of the Dawn, Gem and Jewel concerning where they are and how they are doing. I guess some people expect a personal phone call from NCL every hour just to check in.:rolleyes:

 

And for those that are complaining that they are paying for the folks still on the Gem's extra day......an extra sea day sounds great and to me would be great but for anyone with kids and/or pets at home with someone else in the hurricane zone, I doubt they are enjoying the extra day. Nor is anyone that is worrying about changing flights/transportation home when they finally get to NYC, especially with the airports closed on part of Sat and on Sunday.

 

I hope all are enjoying it as much as possible and I really hope those that are whining will take a minute to realize they could have it a lot worse and appreciate what they do have.

[bplazo]

My family is booked on the Gem for the coming week. No, I did not buy insurance. I discussed this with the travel agent, and considering there were no flights involved and I did not care much which ports we went to, it wasn't worth the expense. I chose this cruise because 1) it was out of NY, so I didn't need to fly anywhere, and 2) I figured Bermuda was far enough north that the hurricane risk was significantly less than if I had booked a Caribbean cruise. I picked NCL because others who were experienced cruisers recommended it. I never considered that NY would be shut down for a hurricane for the first time in history. This is a historical storm. As others have pointed out, when there are school-aged children, there is often not much flexibility in finding a week to take a vacation. We always pick the vacation time before the vacation location.

 

I understand that NCL is under no obligation to credit me. I understand that I took the risk when I booked the cruise without buying insurance. I agree with NCL's decision to postpone a day.

 

That said, our first cruise will most likely be our last. I was extremely frustrated at the lack of communication on the cruise status until late yesterday afternoon. I understand from reading the boards that the lost day will be a day at sea; however NCL has never officially communicated that information to me. I am frustrated that I am essentially paying for someone else's extra day on board. As others have pointed out, NCL will make plenty of money because the casinos are still open, people will still be buying drinks, etc. They are not losing a dime. I was nervous enough about going on a cruise before the storm hit; my anxiety continues--will I be able to get to the ship on Monday? I feel gypped by losing a day on board (as I said, I was more interested in the cruise experience than Bermuda). All in all, I'd rather drive somewhere.

 

Will I still enjoy the cruise? I have no idea. I am bitter by the entire way it has played out--acknowledging that some is out of NCL's control, but some is. On board credit would certainly alleviate some of the bitterness.

 

My husband says that if there was a way to get out of this and get our money back (and the travel agent talked us out of insurance which would have allowed this), he would take it in a minute.

 

And oh yeah, I still have to get through a hurricane tonight and tomorrow.

 

We had this situation a few years ago where are flight was cancelled and we had to fly into a different city and rent a car, then are hotel was evacuated and had to stay in some nasty hotel, our ship was delayed a day and we also missed two of our ports but we still had a great cruise but I sure did need a drink when we finally boarded the ship.

[crusinmama06]

I was extremely frustrated at the lack of communication on the cruise status until late yesterday afternoon.

 

Actually, the communication started going out yesterday morning -- 11am. Emails, facebook, phone calls, NCL web site. I am due to go on Gem a month from now and even I noticed all of the hoopla surrounding YOUR cruise.

 

Take a little bit of the responsibilty. You didn't buy travel insurance. Don't expect NCL to save your butt now.

[RVDogwhisperer]

As a passenger of the GEM that was affected by hurricane Irene, we are to depart on Monday instead of Sunday as planned. I totally understand the safety aspect of this decision, but we are now PAYING for those who are now on that cruise for their extra day of cruising, while we are ripped off by 1 day. NCL, is whole in this arrangement.

 

That equates to $1,200 of my very hard earned money. It took us over 2 years of sacrifice to save for this trip and we haven't been on vacation for almost 6 years. By the way, trip insurance does not cover weather.

 

Please read the below quotes on the same subject comparing the stance of Celebrity cruise line vs. Norweigian-I suppose we should have taken Celebrity, as they care about repeat business more than NCL does.

 

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Summit, currently sailing a Bermuda cruise, will depart the island on Friday, August 26, in late afternoon. It's expected to arrive in its homeport of Bayonne, New Jersey, early on Monday, August 29 -- one day later than scheduled. As a result, Summit's next Bermuda sailing will depart Monday afternoon instead of Sunday. The line says passengers on the shortened voyage "will receive a letter at check in with the amount of onboard credit each stateroom will receive."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norwegian Cruise Lines

Norwegian Gem, due to return to New York Sunday from a week-long Bermuda cruise, will instead return to Manhattan on Monday morning, August 29. In addition, the ship will now depart Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. on its next voyage, instead of Sunday. Passengers are asked to arrive at the pier at noon on Monday. A Norwegian spokeswoman tells Cruise Critic that because this is a weather-related change, no compensation will be offered to guests on the storm-shortened cruise.

[Mrs. H.]

As far as I know, trip insurance cover trip delays.

 

The insurance covers so much that it is so worth it.

Imagine getting very ill and having to be helivac'd off the ship. :eek:

Thank God for the insurance for that.

 

I can't see spending $1,000+ for a cruise and getting cheap for $69 for the insurance. Boggle my mind when people don't get the insurance but then,

to each his own.

 

I read a complaint from a guy last year who's dad passed away before the cruise and he thought the cruise line should reimburse him since he didn't have trip insurance. If that was the case then nobody would have to purchase the insurance and the cruise lines will pay for everything.

[crusinmama06]

Welcome to the newbies here. ;)

 

You might not be aware, but I would be willing to bet that Celebrity is offering compensation because RCI LEFT 145 Passengers in SAN JUAN at the beginning of this hurricane and took a royal PR spanking.

 

So NOW, Celebrity, owned by RCCL is OFFERING compensation and calling people IN ADVANCED like their lives depended on it. ;) They can't afford another PR distaster in ONE hurricane. :eek:

 

If you were sailing with a Celebrity/RCI company, you could have been left at the dock. :eek:

[eastcoast101]

Actually, the communication started going out yesterday morning -- 11am. Emails, facebook, phone calls, NCL web site. I am due to go on Gem a month from now and even I noticed all of the hoopla surrounding YOUR cruise.

 

Take a little bit of the responsibilty. You didn't buy travel insurance. Don't expect NCL to save your butt now.

 

Actually, the update for the Gem didn't get posted until about 2:30/3:00 yesterday afternoon. Updates for the Jewel were posted at 11. Emails and phone calls did not start until even later--the email I received is time-stamped 4:18 PM, and the first phone call was well after that.

 

I am not asking NCL to "save my butt." I do take responsibility for not buying travel insurance. I recognize that they owe me nothing. I am simply asking NCL to acknowledge my loss. The storm is out of their control, but it is out of my control too. They are not taking a financial hit. I am. It would be nice of them to recognize that. Other cruise lines are.

[DinaS]

As a passenger of the GEM that was affected by hurricane Irene, we are to depart on Monday instead of Sunday as planned. I totally understand the safety aspect of this decision, but we are now PAYING for those who are now on that cruise for their extra day of cruising, while we are ripped off by 1 day. NCL, is whole in this arrangement.

 

That equates to $1,200 of my very hard earned money. It took us over 2 years of sacrifice to save for this trip and we haven't been on vacation for almost 6 years. By the way, trip insurance does not cover weather.

 

Please read the below quotes on the same subject comparing the stance of Celebrity cruise line vs. Norweigian-I suppose we should have taken Celebrity, as they care about repeat business more than NCL does.

 

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Summit, currently sailing a Bermuda cruise, will depart the island on Friday, August 26, in late afternoon. It's expected to arrive in its homeport of Bayonne, New Jersey, early on Monday, August 29 -- one day later than scheduled. As a result, Summit's next Bermuda sailing will depart Monday afternoon instead of Sunday. The line says passengers on the shortened voyage "will receive a letter at check in with the amount of onboard credit each stateroom will receive."

 

Norwegian Cruise Lines

Norwegian Gem, due to return to New York Sunday from a week-long Bermuda cruise, will instead return to Manhattan on Monday morning, August 29. In addition, the ship will now depart Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. on its next voyage, instead of Sunday. Passengers are asked to arrive at the pier at noon on Monday. A Norwegian spokeswoman tells Cruise Critic that because this is a weather-related change, no compensation will be offered to guests on the storm-shortened cruise.

 

It appears that NCL is the ONLY cruiseline that is NOT offering compensation for a lost day. That says something very negative about the company.

 

Even Carnival is offering a refund of one day to everyone on a storm-shortened cruise:

 

Carnival Pride, which left Baltimore on Sunday for a week-long Bahamas and Florida cruise, sailed a revised route and will now return to Baltimore a day early, on Saturday. According to the line, "All guests will be required to disembark early . . . and the ship will then be moved to an alternate location as directed by the U.S. Coast Guard." The next voyage will begin on Monday instead of Sunday. All passengers on the storm-shortened cruises will receive a one-day refund.

[peg013]

Amazing how many people now are posting their very first post to complain....before they even find out what will happen once they board. I hope they were at least lurking and know something about cruising. Quoting reporters is almost as bad as quoting politicians. We all know they always check their information and never finish sentences for anybody.:rolleyes:

 

I really think NCL will be giving you something for your troubles but I'm beginning to think they are crazy to even bother.:(

[DinaS]

Amazing how many people now are posting their very first post to complain....before they even find out what will happen once they board. I hope they were at least lurking and know something about cruising. Quoting reporters is almost as bad as quoting politicians. We all know they always check their information and never finish sentences for anybody.:rolleyes:

 

I really think NCL will be giving you something for your troubles but I'm beginning to think they are crazy to even bother.:(

 

Actually, dear, these aren't quotes from reporters - they are from the cruiselines. Just because they were repeated by reporters, doesn't make them invalid.

 

To read that NCL is NOT going to be providing any compensation, and then to expect something different to happen once you board is very silly.

 

If they are going to compensate anyone, they would certainly have made it clear earlier in order to show that they value their customers, similar to

what Celebrity and Carnival have done.

 

And as for folks who come here and their first post is a complaint - perhaps it is simply because they haven't felt strongly enough about an issue to post before now.

 

Don't just someone based on what YOU think.

 

I'm done here - folks will continue to debate semantics versus what would have been the right thing to do.

 

Good luck to you all.

[bplazo]

Our travel insurance has covered us for weather delays and if I am remembering correctly (however I coud be wrong) we did get compensated for our missed day of the cruise.

 

As far as the poster who made the comment about losing out of money, I belive the cruiseline is probably going to be out some money also.

[emcelh]

Amazing how many people now are posting their very first post to complain....before they even find out what will happen once they board. I hope they were at least lurking and know something about cruising. Quoting reporters is almost as bad as quoting politicians. We all know they always check their information and never finish sentences for anybody.:rolleyes:

 

I really think NCL will be giving you something for your troubles but I'm beginning to think they are crazy to even bother.:(

 

At this point it doesn't matter what they do. They can't win. If they do offer some form of reimbursement people will say they only did it because so many people complained. Most of the people posting on this thread are not even booked on the cruise in question but, to those that are...it's too bad this happened and, in spite of everything, I hope you enjoy yourselves.

[Mrs. H.]

Welcome to the newbies here. ;)

 

You might not be aware, but I would be willing to bet that Celebrity is offering compensation because RCI LEFT 145 Passengers in SAN JUAN at the beginning of this hurricane and took a royal PR spanking.

 

 

 

I hadn't heard about people being left behind in San Juan.

Can you please tell me more about this? We people just landing to catch the ship and it already left or were they out touring and came back and the ship was gone?

Thanks.

[missdenise]

NCL is also posting on facebook with messages from the Captains of the Dawn, Gem and Jewel concerning where they are and how they are doing. I guess some people expect a personal phone call from NCL every hour just to check in.:rolleyes:

 

And for those that are complaining that they are paying for the folks still on the Gem's extra day......an extra sea day sounds great and to me would be great but for anyone with kids and/or pets at home with someone else in the hurricane zone, I doubt they are enjoying the extra day. Nor is anyone that is worrying about changing flights/transportation home when they finally get to NYC, especially with the airports closed on part of Sat and on Sunday.

 

I hope all are enjoying it as much as possible and I really hope those that are whining will take a minute to realize they could have it a lot worse and appreciate what they do have.

 

Agree!!! I personally, would have a royal mess on my hands if I was on the Gem and stayed at sea an extra day but I would much rather do that then deal with sailing through a Hurricane. NYC is pretty much going to be at a stand still tomorrow, so you couldn't get around - no buses, planes, etc.

 

OMG - the complaining on here is bad --- but I just read some of the posts on FB.... people sh*% happens!!

[missdenise]

Welcome to the newbies here. ;)

 

You might not be aware, but I would be willing to bet that Celebrity is offering compensation because RCI LEFT 145 Passengers in SAN JUAN at the beginning of this hurricane and took a royal PR spanking.

 

 

 

I hadn't heard about people being left behind in San Juan.

Can you please tell me more about this? We people just landing to catch the ship and it already left or were they out touring and came back and the ship was gone?

Thanks.

 

http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2011/08/carnival-cruise-lines-royal-caribbean-san-juan-hurricane-irene/416604/1

[traveltechpro]

Wow...I didn't realize there were so many insurance representatives disguised as CC members on here. One says insurance won't cover weather delays, another says it will. If you want to know what the travel insurance covers, I would suggest you call the toll-free number that comes with your policy. Then again...did anybody even read your policy?

[dongordon]

Welcome to the newbies here. ;)

 

You might not be aware, but I would be willing to bet that Celebrity is offering compensation because RCI LEFT 145 Passengers in SAN JUAN at the beginning of this hurricane and took a royal PR spanking.

 

 

 

I hadn't heard about people being left behind in San Juan.

Can you please tell me more about this? We people just landing to catch the ship and it already left or were they out touring and came back and the ship was gone?

Thanks.

 

The people were starting out on their cruise with Puerto Rico being the home port. The two ships were ordered to leave an hour and a half earlier due to the hurricane by the Puerto Rico authorities. In other words, their cruise started and ended in Puerto Rico for these unfortunate cruisers!

To me that is a real bummer and a lot worse than having your cruise shortened by a day.

[CPT Trips]

I sailed on the Summit last year and there isn't $390 worth of difference. :rolleyes:

 

That's a matter of opinion . . . both ships sail full on that route.

 

We took pp at his word, maybe we should not have. I just checked, a balcony on NCL is only $10 less than a balcony on "X" for this time next year. So it's really a wash unless you plan on waiting for a sale.

[billet]

Wow...I didn't realize there were so many insurance representatives disguised as CC members on here. One says insurance won't cover weather delays, another says it will. If you want to know what the travel insurance covers, I would suggest you call the toll-free number that comes with your policy. Then again...did anybody even read your policy?

 

Good advice, provided they have travel insurance. :)

For those that took the risk during the hurricane season of not taking out travel insurance then they lost on this occasion. I woud bet the same people would be crowing proudly about how much they save in insurance premiums if the weather had been perfect. The cruise lines consistently tell you to take out insurance, if you choose not to then do not complain or expect compensation for something that is beyond the control of the cruiseline. It is a shame you lost a day of your holida y and I hope you have a wonderful time for the rest of it.

 

I have not seen any posts praising the cruise lines for the extra day that passengers are getting onboard, must have missed those threads.