NCL Cancelled Epic Cruise Jan 6/18

[mindy2]

If you booked the Epic Jan 6/18 from Port Canaveral, it's been cancelled. Apparently NCL decided to charter the cruise to some large company. Can always book another cruise, but cancelling or changing flights will cost me fees which I am not happy about at all. That was the first and likely the last chance for NCL for me.

[zqvol]

I understand your disappointment, but this can happen on any line. It has happened to us twice on one of the luxury lines. Wait and see what if anything NCL does to make you whole before giving up.

 

Assuming that you are flying into MCO you can easily cruise out of Tampa the same weekend without any flight changes, plus it is only about 45 minutes further.

[mindy2]

Thank you for that info Zqvol in regards to Tampa. I'll check that. NCL is not offering anything. Even a $50 obc would be appreciated.

[josumello]

If you booked the Epic Jan 6/18 from Port Canaveral, it's been cancelled. Apparently NCL decided to charter the cruise to some large company. Can always book another cruise, but cancelling or changing flights will cost me fees which I am not happy about at all. That was the first and likely the last chance for NCL for me.

 

 

Just curious how you were able to book airfare over a year out.

 

 

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[tartan cruiser]

NCL just cancelled this cruise May 3, 2017. They denied this was a charter for about 2 weeks even after they pulled the sailing from bookings. Made up all sorts of stories. This is only 8 months out. I didn't read when the OP booked their air but my son is cruising end of March 2018 and just booked his air the 1st day it was available (11 months out) for $400 pp next day it was $200pp more so some like to book early especially if the price is good. I was on the 1/6/2018 cancelled cruise too. I now have to drive 3 hours to Miami instead of Port Canaveral, pay $20 per day to park (we had free parking in Cocoa beach) and pay higher hotel too. For my trouble NCL will give me $12.50pp. Whoopee!

 

Holy Ship is the group that chartered this ship. They also chartered Epic for 2017 too. Just a heads up for all the 1/5/2019 Epic cruisers. Your date could be next.

[garycarla]

....but cancelling or changing flights will cost me fees which I am not happy about at all. That was the first and likely the last chance for NCL for me.

 

You already booked your flights? I would never advise anyone to book flights that far in advance. What airline even offers that?

[tartan cruiser]

zqvol, I take issue with your statement that you can "easily" cruise out of Tampa. Epic was Sat-Sat so a Sunday sailing would most likely involve a flight change. We changed to Getaway 1/7/2018 which sails Sun-Sun out of Miami. Not very "easy" for us but it was the only option that would somewhat work especially with how much the cruise prices have increased. We booked May/2016. Most other cruise lines that charter their ships give a lot more notice than 8 months. As I said, $12.50 pp for our inconvenience. How generous. Also had to take a cabin downgrade from IB to IE since no mid-ship IE's were available. Take it or leave it per NCL.

Edited May 18, 2017 by tartan cruiser

[tartan cruiser]

garycarla, in my son's case Delta. Thanks for the advice, though.

[NLH Arizona]

You already booked your flights? I would never advise anyone to book flights that far in advance. What airline even offers that?

The OP's cruise is for January 6, 2018, flights for that time have been available for some time. I'm cruising on January 20, 2018 and I booked my airfare on March 2nd. Edited May 18, 2017 by NLH Arizona

[Sotermarler]

That is a bummer! I'm sure there are other cruises available that will fit the flights, but that doesn't mean they are ports or cost that OP wants. She has a right to be disappointed.

 

 

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[beblessed413]

That stinks. But you could check Miami and Tampa for other cruises that week.

[NLH Arizona]

If you booked the Epic Jan 6/18 from Port Canaveral, it's been cancelled. Apparently NCL decided to charter the cruise to some large company. Can always book another cruise, but cancelling or changing flights will cost me fees which I am not happy about at all. That was the first and likely the last chance for NCL for me.

There is a Royal Caribbean 7 day cruise out of Port Caanaveral on Janury 7, 2018

[Still Dreaming]

It's not just NCL. We were booked on celebrity and they cancelled for a charter. Sounds like all lines are doing this more and more!

[LSKC]

You have a right to be disappointed especially if you've booked your flights. We are booked same date on a different ship and have been looking at buying our flights soon. It's less than 7 1/2 months out - not 1 year so I imagine some others have unfortunately booked flights too. Would trip insurance get you a refund on your flights and you can start fresh planning a cruise you want?

[BirdTravels]

NCL just cancelled this cruise May 3, 2017. They denied this was a charter for about 2 weeks even after they pulled the sailing from bookings. Made up all sorts of stories. This is only 8 months out. I didn't read when the OP booked their air but my son is cruising end of March 2018 and just booked his air the 1st day it was available (11 months out) for $400 pp next day it was $200pp more so some like to book early especially if the price is good. I was on the 1/6/2018 cancelled cruise too. I now have to drive 3 hours to Miami instead of Port Canaveral, pay $20 per day to park (we had free parking in Cocoa beach) and pay higher hotel too. For my trouble NCL will give me $12.50pp. Whoopee!

 

 

 

Holy Ship is the group that chartered this ship. They also chartered Epic for 2017 too. Just a heads up for all the 1/5/2019 Epic cruisers. Your date could be next.

 

 

 

So this is somewhat silly. If you're talking to somebody from NCL, you're talking to a minimum wage call center agent. They can only tell you what's on their computer system. Call center person would not know whether the sales office is trying to close a multimillion dollar deal to charter a ship. Of course they don't know. And if you expect him to know then you don't know.

 

 

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[uksaint]

This happens all the time. Carnival and RCCL do this as well. Stop being so childish with this I'm not going to cruise on NCL. Airlines cancel flights with very short notice- are you not going fly again.

 

 

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As far as I know, airlines don't cancel flights because 'XYZ Corp' decide they want the plane to themselves. If cruiselines make a commercial decision to cancel a cruise, there should be compensation due to those passengers already booked.

[mindy2]

Not childish at all, just really disappointed. Thanks to all the suggestions, I have been checking other ports and cruise lines. Travelling for my sister's birthday so we had the pre-cruise days planned, and the after cruise plans. So it's just a major hassle to cancel and change hotels, flights, car rentals, etc.

 

As for flights, I fly out of western Canada. If you don't book early, you risk the chance of lousy flights. We don't have the seat sales and airline selections that are more readily available in major US cities. Also, only one previous cruise, but lots of travelling and perhaps I'm lucky but no, I haven't had a flight cancelled, or a hotel or resort cancel my booking.

 

 

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[tartan cruiser]

BirdTravels, I don't think this is somewhat silly at all, especially at the time. The day it was pulled from bookings I called to find out what was going on. Talked to a few different people and each one had a different story. (Sold out, inventory control etc.) I was pretty sure it was a charter so a few days later I talked to another agent and he put me on hold and said he talked to someone in another department and assured me it was not a charter. Others on our roll call were told the same thing. Just because they might be a "minimum wage employee" did not give me a reason to not believe what they were telling me. I know better now. Thanks for the heads up.

[karoo]

You already booked your flights? I would never advise anyone to book flights that far in advance. What airline even offers that?

 

 

Most of our airlines! You get very good rice airfares 12 months out!

 

 

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[Crusingdiva62]

Holy Ship also is cruising on the Epic the next weekend also per the website for them.

[KeithJenner]

I'll check that. NCL is not offering anything. Even a $50 obc would be appreciated.

 

That doesn't sound right to me. Every time I have had a significant change (and cancelling the cruise is certainly that) I have been offered OBC if I chose to transfer to an alternative.

[rtownsend]

uksaint. I'm fortunate to know many event planners and I can tell you with certainty that airlines do it as well.

 

 

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[BirdTravels]

BirdTravels, I don't think this is somewhat silly at all, especially at the time. The day it was pulled from bookings I called to find out what was going on. Talked to a few different people and each one had a different story. (Sold out, inventory control etc.) I was pretty sure it was a charter so a few days later I talked to another agent and he put me on hold and said he talked to someone in another department and assured me it was not a charter. Others on our roll call were told the same thing. Just because they might be a "minimum wage employee" did not give me a reason to not believe what they were telling me. I know better now. Thanks for the heads up.

 

Sure. You talked to a bunch of people who knew nothing. Have you ever spouted off a "fact" without any basis for the assertion. Read any thread on this board.

 

You are talking to minimum wage call center people. Some may want to sound important and knowledgeable, but none of them are in the sales department negotiating a full ship charter. And many charters fall through during negotiations. The people you say are experts, can see what you see,,, no inventory.

 

 

Believe what you want. The guy stocking the shelves doesn't know what brand deals corporate is making. And if you believe the guy stocking the shelves, Be happy that you're getting the best information available, whether it is accurate or not.

[mindy2]

Just wanted to add that I sent NCL an email early today and they actually called me this afternoon. I was slightly impressed by that. They did send me a letter outlining 3 options. I could get a refund for what I paid, I could switch to the Jan 27/18 sailing or we could switch to a sailing out of Miami. In addition we would receive a $50 OBC. I can also submit a claim to be refunded to any airfare change fees up to $300.

 

So, I will say I was glad they gave me some options. Unfortunately none of the alternate sailings will work for us and I've decided to book with another cruise line that leaves the same day from our original port. Not exactly the same itinerary but I think I'm more excited for the new Avatar Pandora in Disney World and the Kennedy Space Centre.

 

 

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[NCLfamily]

Our Epic cruise for October 2017 was changed from Rome departure to Barcelona. We received $50 OBC, 2 soda packages for the kids and our air fairs refunded.

 

 

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