What happened to the 11 day Mexican Riviera itinerary

[insidecabin]

Changing itineraries is a major gamble this late, cruise lines strugle to fill ships on some itineraries with 2 years notice, 6 months is going to be a tough one.

 

Look at the TA's and southamerican runs NCL do, rock bottom pricing on those

 

I can see some seriously bargains in the pipeline a lot of people are already committed for this year so a smaller pool to fill the new itineraries..

[firegal2539]

Since my cruise was booked through Casinos at Sea I have to talk to that department. I called the number on the letter and they wouldn't talk to me they switched me to CAS. All the reps have been very nice but I agree, why offer two cruises that aren't set in stone. According to my travel agent they have to book ports at least a year in advance so I think they might be having trouble trying to get these two cruises set up. Why send a letter when you don't have anything to offer the cancelled passengers yet. The way it was explained to me was so that passengers booked for Mexico wouldn't set up air flights but guess what I already have and have $400 hanging out there for the flight.

 

I was told by NCL that they want more exotic ports of call so Panama is it. The October 22, 2016 cruise was about 85% booked and the cruise on September 30, 2016 was almost 90% booked. The cruises that NCL cancelled in 2017 on the Jewel were about 50% booked. That doesn't make any sense to me. Do these cruises and then change for 2017.

 

They are still using the NCL Sun for those two Panama cruises so all money will just move over to the Panama cruise and no extra charges will be incurred by the passengers.

 

They have really upset a lot of passengers and I have read on CC and heard from passengers I cruise with that this will be their last NCL cruise. That is sad. It is just upsetting that NCL has done this. I could see if it was 30% booked and they were losing money, but they aren't. More exotic ports is a bunch of crap.

 

Candie

[Brits 2006]

Since my cruise was booked through Casinos at Sea I have to talk to that department. I called the number on the letter and they wouldn't talk to me they switched me to CAS. All the reps have been very nice but I agree, why offer two cruises that aren't set in stone. According to my travel agent they have to book ports at least a year in advance so I think they might be having trouble trying to get these two cruises set up. Why send a letter when you don't have anything to offer the cancelled passengers yet. The way it was explained to me was so that passengers booked for Mexico wouldn't set up air flights but guess what I already have and have $400 hanging out there for the flight.

 

I was told by NCL that they want more exotic ports of call so Panama is it. The October 22, 2016 cruise was about 85% booked and the cruise on September 30, 2016 was almost 90% booked. The cruises that NCL cancelled in 2017 on the Jewel were about 50% booked. That doesn't make any sense to me. Do these cruises and then change for 2017.

 

They are still using the NCL Sun for those two Panama cruises so all money will just move over to the Panama cruise and no extra charges will be incurred by the passengers.

 

They have really upset a lot of passengers and I have read on CC and heard from passengers I cruise with that this will be their last NCL cruise. That is sad. It is just upsetting that NCL has done this. I could see if it was 30% booked and they were losing money, but they aren't. More exotic ports is a bunch of crap.

 

Candie

 

We like you have also booked our flight, and as you can imagine as its from the Uk it isn't cheap.

 

It's awful they way they have just left us dangling not knowing what is going on.

Whenever we call the UK office they just say they are waiting for Miami to sort it out. We are no clearer as to whether this cruise is even going to happen.

[firegal2539]

Brits,

 

Believe me I feel your pain. I am sure that your air was closer to $1800 a person. Will NCL refund that to you when you change it? My change fee for my air is $200, that is a loss already and if my flight costs more than the $300 that NCL is offering I am out more money. Right now a flight from Dallas TX to San Diego CA and from Miami FL to Dallas, TX is about the same price. But as you know flight prices change daily and I can't book anything because the cruises aren't set up.

 

I am sorry for all the trouble you are having. I was talking to a rep on Monday and he told me that I was getting upset while talking to him and I needed to calm down. I asked him if he had $1500 to $2000 just floating around in the air would he be upset? No one is telling me anything except I can't book the cruises offered, would he be upset? He finally admitted he really would be more upset than I am.

 

Have a nice weekend.

 

Candie

[Brits 2006]

Brits,

 

Believe me I feel your pain. I am sure that your air was closer to $1800 a person. Will NCL refund that to you when you change it? My change fee for my air is $200, that is a loss already and if my flight costs more than the $300 that NCL is offering I am out more money. Right now a flight from Dallas TX to San Diego CA and from Miami FL to Dallas, TX is about the same price. But as you know flight prices change daily and I can't book anything because the cruises aren't set up.

 

I am sorry for all the trouble you are having. I was talking to a rep on Monday and he told me that I was getting upset while talking to him and I needed to calm down. I asked him if he had $1500 to $2000 just floating around in the air would he be upset? No one is telling me anything except I can't book the cruises offered, would he be upset? He finally admitted he really would be more upset than I am.

 

Have a nice weekend.

 

Candie

 

Candie

 

The flights were about $1000 each, there are four of us travelling, so a lot of money. We are negotaiting with NCL about increasing their pathetic offer of £300 each for flight amendments.

 

My biggest fear is we have to cancel the flights as the cruise doesn't materialise because then we will really be out if pocket.

 

I have spoken to our insurance company who say we are not covered as NCL have just pulled the cruise not gone bust or anything.

 

I'm trying to stay positive but as you say the flight pricing change daily, and unfortunately they are not going in our favour.

 

You also have a nice weekend and hopefully we will get some news next week.

[june123]

Candie

 

The flights were about $1000 each, there are four of us travelling, so a lot of money. We are negotaiting with NCL about increasing their pathetic offer of £300 each for flight amendments.

 

My biggest fear is we have to cancel the flights as the cruise doesn't materialise because then we will really be out if pocket.

 

I have spoken to our insurance company who say we are not covered as NCL have just pulled the cruise not gone bust or anything.

 

I'm trying to stay positive but as you say the flight pricing change daily, and unfortunately they are not going in our favour.

 

You also have a nice weekend and hopefully we will get some news next week.

 

Have you looked to see if anyone else has a cruise around the dates your flights are booked ? Or could you make up a land based holiday ? Just thinking it would be better to "make a new holiday" rather than loose lots of money .

 

P.S. i had a similar result ( or rather lack of ) from my insurance company on a previous ncl cancelled cruise - they love taking your money but try getting them to pay out .

 

Good luck , hope everything turns out well for you xx

Edited March 4, 2016 by june123

[SeahawkSiren]

I was told by NCL that they want more exotic ports of call so Panama is it. The October 22, 2016 cruise was about 85% booked and the cruise on September 30, 2016 was almost 90% booked. The cruises that NCL cancelled in 2017 on the Jewel were about 50% booked. That doesn't make any sense to me. Do these cruises and then change for 2017.

 

That is very interesting. I did not realize the cancelled Mexican Riviera cruises had that high of a percentage already booked. This whole thing makes even less sense now. I agree with you that NCL should have just kept all the now cancelled cruises this year and make the itinerary changes next year.

 

Each day that goes by I am getting more and more concerned that these Panama Canal cruises will not materialize. I'm sure it is difficult for NCL to try and get all these ports set up with basically only 6 months notice. To leave everyone hanging like this for weeks is really bad form. NCL should have never sent those letters out until they had CONFIRMED replacement cruises ready to offer us. I'm really tired of this waiting game.

[firegal2539]

June123,

 

The first thing I did after I got mad about the cruise being cancelled was start looking for any cruise out of San Diego that was 10 days long. No such luck. If it had been 7 days I could have done a Carnival, which I hate, but I would have to not lose the airfare. My travel agent has a condo on Catalina Island and was willing to rent it to me for $1500 for 10 days but I couldn't see sitting in a condo on an island. I could take the ferry to San Diego but it just didn't interest me. So I am stuck right now.

 

SirenSeahawk,

 

I am so tired of calling NCL (and I am sure they are tired of us calling them), waiting to see if it is set up yet. None of this makes any sense and my poor travel agent tried to explain that in the passenger contract you give the cruise line, airlines, etc., the right to do what they want, when they went and you have no say so over the cruise lines decision. But she agreed that sending the letter with nothing set up was foolish. I understand they were trying to stop passengers from booking their air, but have more information for us.

 

I will tell you that I had to have surgery in December 2015 and I had cruises booked in December, January, February and March and all paid for with air that I had to cancel. My TA recommends TravelGuard insurance, which is owned by AIG. She said they are the best travel insurance in the business. I didn't lose one dime of my money on my four cruises. If you book through a TA it might be worth it to ask about TravelGuard. I went on their website and I can buy my own insurance if I want. I had about $9000 in air and cruises and every penny back was unbelievable. Holland America had a non refundable $150 they kept but TravelGuard gave that back to me. Just a suggestion.

 

Candie

[Brits 2006]

Have you looked to see if anyone else has a cruise around the dates your flights are booked ? Or could you make up a land based holiday ? Just thinking it would be better to "make a new holiday" rather than loose lots of money .

 

P.S. i had a similar result ( or rather lack of ) from my insurance company on a previous ncl cancelled cruise - they love taking your money but try getting them to pay out .

 

Good luck , hope everything turns out well for you xx

 

Hi

 

Yes we have been looking for an alternative around our flights, so hopefully if the cruise didn't materialise we can find something.

 

Insurance is such a scam they will do anything to mug you off.

 

Have you sorted out your cancelled cruise yet.

[june123]

Hi

 

Yes we have been looking for an alternative around our flights, so hopefully if the cruise didn't materialise we can find something.

 

Insurance is such a scam they will do anything to mug you off.

 

Have you sorted out your cancelled cruise yet.

 

Not yet , i`m waiting to see what happens with the Jewel . if we like the new " offering" we may go with that . If not we`ll fly down to cabo for a week . Still on going with ncl london :mad: . The trouble is they no nothing about what`s happening either .Ncl has they have left us stranded week 2 of a 4 week holiday but no matter where we end up i`m gonna enjoy it . x

[Brits 2006]

Not yet , i`m waiting to see what happens with the Jewel . if we like the new " offering" we may go with that . If not we`ll fly down to cabo for a week . Still on going with ncl london :mad: . The trouble is they no nothing about what`s happening either .Ncl has they have left us stranded week 2 of a 4 week holiday but no matter where we end up i`m gonna enjoy it . x

 

Don't blame you hope it all works out fingers crossed x

[CruisinMaterial]

I was surprised when NCL announced the shifts in the bookings to Panama Canal. I thought transits were planned many months out so getting a slot to even transit the canal would be tricky. I'm not sure what other ports they're trying to get lined up. Cartagena, Colombia is not overly popular so they could port there on the Atlantic side. Not sure about the other ports along the Mexican Riviera though. I really feel for you folks!

 

I really thought the charter was going to be on the Jewel, that's why I was surprised on Wednesday when it was announced on the Sun. I was looking to the Sun for the South American repo after that charter cruise since I'd be on the West Coast already. :cool: While this works for me now if the pricing can, it doesn't help you all out. I really hope NCL didn't do all this for a charter because that's a month worth of cruises for a 5 day charter. That doesn't seem right. :(

 

Sending positive vibes and energy to you guys... stick to your guns and I hope NCL comes through.

[Brits 2006]

I was surprised when NCL announced the shifts in the bookings to Panama Canal. I thought transits were planned many months out so getting a slot to even transit the canal would be tricky. I'm not sure what other ports they're trying to get lined up. Cartagena, Colombia is not overly popular so they could port there on the Atlantic side. Not sure about the other ports along the Mexican Riviera though. I really feel for you folks!

 

I really thought the charter was going to be on the Jewel, that's why I was surprised on Wednesday when it was announced on the Sun. I was looking to the Sun for the South American repo after that charter cruise since I'd be on the West Coast already. :cool: While this works for me now if the pricing can, it doesn't help you all out. I really hope NCL didn't do all this for a charter because that's a month worth of cruises for a 5 day charter. That doesn't seem right. :(

 

Sending positive vibes and energy to you guys... stick to your guns and I hope NCL comes through.

 

Thank you.

 

Hope I'm not bring thick but what is the charter.

[BabsinTX]

I just got a call from NCL saying that the Panama Canal cruises have been set and I received our email confirmation for the 9/30/16 sailing. We even got the cabin we wanted. We also got the OBC amenity confirmation, but won't get the UBP confirmation (without gratuities, since we booked so long ago) early next week.

[firegal2539]

Everyone read BabsinTexas post, she was called by NCL and has her confirmation for the Panama Canal cruise on September 30. Of course, NCL would do this on a weekend when their offices are closed and no one answering the calls. Monday will be terrible to try and get them on the phone.

 

The casino marketing supervisor I was working with promised me she would call me the minute NCL set up the cruise and of course, that didn't happen. Now I have to wait three more days to find out if everything will move to the Panama Canal. The funny thing is she never asked me which one of the two choices I wanted, so she doesn't even know what to book me on. I have had this reservation for over a year and I am expecting a call tonight or this weekend about this.

 

Candie

[CruisinMaterial]

Thank you.

 

Hope I'm not bring thick but what is the charter.

 

What is the charter?

 

It's Groove Cruise Cabo 2016!! First time Groove Cruise is leaving the West Coast from a port other than LA and it's also the first time it's 5 days going to Cabo! Usually it's a 3 day run with Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico. They've added two more days which will be crazy for sure.

[CRUZBUDS]

June123,

If it had been 7 days I could have done a Carnival, which I hate, but I would have to not lose the airfare. My travel agent has a condo on Catalina Island and was willing to rent it to me for $1500 for 10 days but I couldn't see sitting in a condo on an island. I could take the ferry to San Diego but it just didn't interest me. So I am stuck right now.

 

Candie

 

Hi Candie - I hope you find a solution, we booked a 10 day on Princess from LA a few days earlier.

 

I don't think Carnival has cruised from San Diego for three or four years -- if that was an option we may booked it. We are fine with Carnival, though it isn't our favorite line.

 

I think 10 days on Catalina would drive me insane -- it is a lovely place to visit for a weekend, but that's it.

 

There is no ferry from S.D. to Catalina -- Catalina is much closer to L.A. and Long Beach :)

Edited March 5, 2016 by CRUZBUDS

[Brits 2006]

What is the charter?

 

It's Groove Cruise Cabo 2016!! First time Groove Cruise is leaving the West Coast from a port other than LA and it's also the first time it's 5 days going to Cabo! Usually it's a 3 day run with Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico. They've added two more days which will be crazy for sure.

 

Thanks.

 

Sounds really cool are you planning to do this.

[insidecabin]

We like you have also booked our flight, and as you can imagine as its from the Uk it isn't cheap.

 

It's awful they way they have just left us dangling not knowing what is going on.

Whenever we call the UK office they just say they are waiting for Miami to sort it out. We are no clearer as to whether this cruise is even going to happen.

 

 

What are they saying about full compensation as required by package holiday regulations?

[BabsinTX]

Everyone read BabsinTexas post, she was called by NCL and has her confirmation for the Panama Canal cruise on September 30. Of course, NCL would do this on a weekend when their offices are closed and no one answering the calls. Monday will be terrible to try and get them on the phone.

 

The casino marketing supervisor I was working with promised me she would call me the minute NCL set up the cruise and of course, that didn't happen. Now I have to wait three more days to find out if everything will move to the Panama Canal. The funny thing is she never asked me which one of the two choices I wanted, so she doesn't even know what to book me on. I have had this reservation for over a year and I am expecting a call tonight or this weekend about this.

 

Candie

 

Candie: I just posted a response to you about this on the 9/30/16 Mexican Riviera roll call thread. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

BabsinTX

[Brits 2006]

What are they saying about full compensation as required by package holiday regulations?

 

Hi we are still negotiating with them.

[insidecabin]

Hi we are still negotiating with them.

 

 

Full compensation should be on the table as an option if you can't come to an agreement about an alternative.

 

Remember they are not supposed to try to charge you more for any offer they make as a substitute.

[Brits 2006]

Full compensation should be on the table as an option if you can't come to an agreement about an alternative.

 

Remember they are not supposed to try to charge you more for any offer they make as a substitute.

 

Thanks for that, you have been really helpful with all the info you have given me, I really appreciate your help.

[insidecabin]

It's really tough when what you want is to go on a trip and you get messed about especially if you have to fit things in between other commitments.

 

Even worse when they don't even have the alternatives on the table to consider.

 

Hope you get something that satisfies your needs.

[Brits 2006]

It's really tough when what you want is to go on a trip and you get messed about especially if you have to fit things in between other commitments.

 

Even worse when they don't even have the alternatives on the table to consider.

 

Hope you get something that satisfies your needs.

 

Thanks I hope so to.