Cruisers beware

[jawjawins]

Cruise of Jan 2016 on the Norwegian Dawn.

PROS: Easy on and off ship. Easy parking at the port. I am sure there were more but I was too sleep deprived to enjoy much that the cruise had to offer.

CONS: Our cabin was under the galley (unknown to us at time of reservation) ... had no idea that the noise level would be so bad. It was impossible to sleep. They finally moved us after 4 nights of sleeplessness. The on-board guest relations gave us one free specialty meal and a bottle of wine and 200.00 reimbursement. Note- we already had the specialty meal package, so what good was that?

After arriving at home I phoned NCL's guest relations department.... was told (after an unbelievable amount of time on hold) to send them an email. I did and received an email back stating they would be in touch after 15 business days...HA! That was Feb 10... forward to today March 31...no response, so I again held a phone line for 50 minutes...just to be told they would NOT be giving anymore reimbursement. ( I only asked for partial reimbursement for the time I was sleep deprived).

This was a Harrah's Casino at Sea cruise, so therefore I felt I was not a valued guest to NCL and they referred me to Casino At Sea customer service. Again this proved a useless effort... another long phone hold. At least I found out from the Casinos At Sea rep that NCL passes the buck because no one takes responsibility for the customer.

Found plastic in my dessert at the Brazilian Steak restaurant. Cabin was worn and some lights did not work.

And I am a Latitudes member which carries no weight either..... You have been warned... consider another cruise line.

[hawkeyetlse]

What was your cabin number?

[NLH Arizona]

You say it was a Harrah's Casino cruise. Do you mean you had a certificate for the cruise?

[jawjawins]

What was your cabin number?

 

It was 11619. Hope you don't have it! They moved us to 10153 which was better but that was after 4 terrible nights.

[jawjawins]

You say it was a Harrah's Casino cruise. Do you mean you had a certificate for the cruise?

 

Yes! But you still pay all fees, taxes, gratuities etc. So we felt unvalued as a customer.

[Lupush]

Doesn't NCL reserve the right to assign the cabin on these types of casino perk cruises? I believe they do give you the choice to upgrade if you don't like the cabin placement at the time of booking, no?

 

I had a free cruise from Casinos at Sea a few years back and I remember paying to upgrade from an inside to an oceanview cabin.

[HokiePoq]

Yes! But you still pay all fees, taxes, gratuities etc. So we felt unvalued as a customer.

 

Sorry you had a rough cruise. I'm thinking you didn't get to choose your cabin? We've been lucky so far on guarantees with several lines (haven't tried on NCL)but when we book a specific cabin I always ask the agent what is above it. It sounds like the casino (a different company that pays a royalty to NCL????) got the cheapest cabins that were left...or the ones least likely to be booked.

Glad you got to move and some compensation. I would concentrate my efforts on the CAS if I'm correct that it's a separate company. Maybe they'd give you another certificate.

[jawjawins]

Doesn't NCL reserve the right to assign the cabin on these types of casino perk cruises? I believe they do give you the choice to upgrade if you don't like the cabin placement at the time of booking, no?

 

I had a free cruise from Casinos at Sea a few years back and I remember paying to upgrade from an inside to an oceanview cabin.

 

I had the choice of which cabin I booked. Yes you can pay to upgrade but that has no bearing on an unsatisfactory night's sleep.

[SPB in da RVA]

Doesn't NCL reserve the right to assign the cabin on these types of casino perk cruises? I believe they do give you the choice to upgrade if you don't like the cabin placement at the time of booking, no?

 

I had a free cruise from Casinos at Sea a few years back and I remember paying to upgrade from an inside to an oceanview cabin.

 

We have picked a s-pecific cabin on all of our Caesars cruises.

[jawjawins]

Sorry you had a rough cruise. I'm thinking you didn't get to choose your cabin? We've been lucky so far on guarantees with several lines (haven't tried on NCL)but when we book a specific cabin I always ask the agent what is above it. It sounds like the casino (a different company that pays a royalty to NCL????) got the cheapest cabins that were left...or the ones least likely to be booked.

Glad you got to move and some compensation. I would concentrate my efforts on the CAS if I'm correct that it's a separate company. Maybe they'd give you another certificate.

 

No, we chose the cabin... unaware of what is above...lesson learned! Compensation was small, and CAS stated that NCL was the responsible party...everyone passed the buck. Thanks for your condolences :)

[SPB in da RVA]

CONS: Our cabin was under the galley (unknown to us at time of reservation)

 

Do you not know how to read a deck plan?

[jusstice]

It's unfortunate that you had such a bad experience. My trips on NCL have all been through CAS, except one. I think the fact that they gave you $200 OBC in this case is not a bad reimbursement. Taxes and fees on a CAS cruise are not that costly, so you were reimbursed for a good portion of the fare you actually paid.

[SPB in da RVA]

No, we chose the cabin... unaware of what is above...lesson learned! Compensation was small, and CAS stated that NCL was the responsible party...everyone passed the buck. Thanks for your condolences :)

 

Why should there be any compensation at all for a choice YOU made?

[NLH Arizona]

Yes! But you still pay all fees, taxes, gratuities etc. So we felt unvalued as a customer.

Sorry you felt that way. I think $200 is fair compensation. Unless you were on a long cruise, that probably covered most of your port charges, government taxes and fees. I can't seem them returning your gratuities, because you still got service from the crew.

 

If you feel that they still owe you more compensation, especially if they forced you into a cabin you didn't get to choose, I would write a letter to them explaining all your issues and who knows, they might change their mind.

 

Edit: Sorry just saw that you choose the cabin and in that case, they were very, very generous.

Edited April 5, 2016 by NLH Arizona

[rvsullivan]

I had the choice of which cabin I booked. Yes you can pay to upgrade but that has no bearing on an unsatisfactory night's sleep.

 

Wait!! You actually picked your own cabin without doing any research and are now upset that NCL moved you and gave you freebies because of your mistake?? I don't understand? If you had taken a guarantee it would be a little different, but not much. Since you picked your own cabin how is it NCL's issue. You're pretty lucky they were able to move you.

[KevInPitt]

I had the choice of which cabin I booked. Yes you can pay to upgrade but that has no bearing on an unsatisfactory night's sleep.

 

So you chose that inside cabin clearly under the galley with a simple look at the deck plans? 'Nuff said. I think they did more than right by you - likely because of your status.

[SPB in da RVA]

Compensation was small.

 

"The on-board guest relations gave us one free specialty meal and a bottle of wine and 200.00 reimbursement"

 

 

That is FAR from small! That is a BIG compensation especially for a choice you made yourself! You barely paid $200 for the cruise.

[jawjawins]

Info provided for those who care and for those who wish to think otherwise.... so be it... I am not responding to any more comments. Happy Sailing!

[SPB in da RVA]

Info provided for those who care and for those who wish to think otherwise.... so be it... I am not responding to any more comments. Happy Sailing!

 

 

IOW, I just realized how silly my original post was and do not want to be embarrassed any more so I am taking my toys and going home! :D

[luddite]

You booked a cabin under a busy venue? And you want sympathy for a noise issue?

 

Or....you didn't do any research and .... you want sympathy?

 

Or ..... you gamble a lot and got a cruise comped ...... and..... you want sympathy?

 

Huh.

[ColinIllinois]

I find this amusing, but then again I find a lot of threads on here amusing. ;)

Edited April 5, 2016 by ColinIllinois

[hpecorari]

At least you learned something. Buyer beware. Research what cabin you are taking. NCL website has photos that shows what's above you what's below you and what's on both sides of you . You have to take 100% responsibility for this. The price that you paid for the comped cruise and your refunds they gave you is more then enough, too much actually. NCL did nothing wrong here whatsoever

And in my opinion should have given you nothing but possibly changing your room is another one available. Say thank you and be happy with what they gave you, it's more than you actually deserve.

 

Harriet

[FranknBeans]

First rule when booking a cruise is to make sure your booking in between two floors of cabins.

[Dorhead1230]

I don't believe that I have ever responded to a thread like this in this way because I try to always be happy, enthusiastic, and friendly on these boards but...I have finally reached a tipping point in my ability to tolerate the complete and total lack of personal responsibility that people on here take for their own ill-informed/irresponsible/unwise/etc. decisions. Three NCL cruises through Total Rewards under my belt, another coming up through CAS, and we have certainly never felt like undervalued guests...quite to the contrary, actually. We pay to upgrade to balconies, but there are still balcony cabins in lousy locations and guess what? We ALWAYS consult the deck plans before and during booking to confirm our cabin location. I can't believe that NCL was willing to offer one iota of compensation beyond a cabin change in this situation. People need to research before they book and travel. A lot of complaining could be avoided.

 

Rant over. Returning to a rose-colored, zen-like state of calm now.

[bplazo]

OMG, I cannot believe they offered you ANY compensation. I have not been so amused all day. :).