Should I stay or should I go?

[CroozFanatic]

Nice letter. I hope you'll be contacted by NCL customer relations. Blast them on Twitter too. I've found Twitter the BEST place to get attention.

 

Surprised some folks aren't seeing the difference between the Joy cancellation and the COVID19 cancellations. Sneaky of NCL to lump the Joy in their announcement.

 

I'm certain this came up at the executive meeting to cancel the Joy. Frank, these are the hardcore loyalists, shouldn't we do something above and beyond for this group? Guess not.

 

Such a brazen move, I would question NCL's financial health. Coupled with the re-introduction of the $250 for $500 Cruise First, I would be a little nervous if I were an investor. Maybe it's a short-term cash problem?

 

 

 

 

[HBCcruiser]

6 minutes ago, CroozFanatic said:

Blast them on Twitter too.

Done! Not a Blast though, more of a request. 

[Gen X Life]

36 minutes ago, HBCcruiser said:

I would be super pissed too! Have you asked NCL to extend your FCC, 10% and CruiseNext/Cruise First coupons into 2023? I emailed a request to have my FCC and 10% extended to December 2023 so I could use them on the Prima. There is NO WAY between all of the cancellations of the 3 cruise lines I had booked/cancelled/rebooked that I would be able to schedule and take those cruises before December 2022. IMO that is the LEAST NCL could do for you. That and give you a free Haven upgrade.. Just Sayin' 

 

NCL form link - if nothing else, just vent to NCL: www.ncl.com/case-submission 

Good Luck with the Haven upgrade... She would be LUCKY to get a bottle of their cheap wine or their nasty chocolate strawberries.  I would not want either. Haven please... !  They have cancelled on too many people to be giving Haven away.

 

Sorry Jamie, I wish you would get it, but NCL is not going to give.

[Sinbadssailors]

Is this your first problem with them?

 

I'm big on second chances, but I know NCL doesn't value loyalty.  I'm new to Cruise Critic but not new to cruising, and made it to platinum before NCL had burned me too many times. Really bad.

I left and never looked back.

 

25 years ago, NCL was my first cruise and I stayed loyal for years. Now, with more time and more disposable income, I'm platinum with Carnival and Princess, and on my way with a couple others. But haven't sailed NCL in over 10 years.

 

 

You don't owe them anything.  They just want to fill their cabins -preferably with new cruisers who spend more onboard than old-timers who know better.

 

I'd use what's banked with them, sell the stock and say good riddance.

 

 

[Gen X Life]

39 minutes ago, CroozFanatic said:

Nice letter. I hope you'll be contacted by NCL customer relations. Blast them on Twitter too. I've found Twitter the BEST place to get attention.

 

Surprised some folks aren't seeing the difference between the Joy cancellation and the COVID19 cancellations. Sneaky of NCL to lump the Joy in their announcement.

 

I'm certain this came up at the executive meeting to cancel the Joy. Frank, these are the hardcore loyalists, shouldn't we do something above and beyond for this group? Guess not.

 

Such a brazen move, I would question NCL's financial health. Coupled with the re-introduction of the $250 for $500 Cruise First, I would be a little nervous if I were an investor. Maybe it's a short-term cash problem?

 

 

 

 

Exactly!! I was thinking the same thing - all this consolidation is about efficiency/logistics; which in the corporate world means money-- cutting corners to save money.

Alienating your most valued/loyal customers (because let's face it - only a Cruise Lover or an idiot would be booking right now) by treating them like garbage either because you are that confident or because you have no choice and risk losing them.- you are in trouble!!  

 

NO ONE is that confident, he is not allowed to be; he answers to the stock holders- He made a really dumb move - I think he is in trouble.

 

 I think his management put NCL in trouble.

 

This could be the TAKE YOUR MONEY AND RUN TIME people  -- Maybe De Santis had inside knowledge when he did not fold to Del Rio?!?!  

 

JMHO

 

Edited May 26, 2021 by Gen X Life

[Crazy planning mom]

Unfortunately, Royal did the same thing by cancelling the Vision of the Seas out of Bermuda. So, they all are about the greed.

[CaptainWoody]

We can call it either smart business or greed.  At the end of the day, there isn't much difference.  Don't blame the execs.  Blame the shareholders.  They're (we're) the ones expecting the business to maximize profits.

[oteixeira]

13 minutes ago, CaptainWoody said:

We can call it either smart business or greed.  At the end of the day, there isn't much difference.  Don't blame the execs.  Blame the shareholders.  They're (we're) the ones expecting the business to maximize profits.

Now I am torn, I am both the guy on the ship, and I hold quite a bit of shares.....
 

🙂

 

 

[CaptainWoody]

8 minutes ago, oteixeira said:

Now I am torn, I am both the guy on the ship, and I hold quite a bit of shares.....
 

🙂

 

 

Not a problem!  Just keep booking and eventually you'll pay yourself for cruising.  That is, unless that NCL CEO runs his corporate "ship" into the rocks like some infamous drunk tanker captain...

[Sea saw 56]

I haven't really seen anyone post my view on this subject, so here goes.

 

After having two cruises cancelled, and opting to have our money refunded (two suites, Plat +), I stated in a previous post that I would prolly not book again until ships were actually sailing, and I was reading good reviews about the service, the condition of the ships, etc.

 

Well......a couple weeks ago we booked a 10 day Alaska for September of 2022, and even that took a lot of consideration.  Only reason I pulled the trigger was I felt certain COVID numbers finally reflected that the ships would begin sailing before long, and my gut said that prices would soar once the first few ships sailed.

 

Sorry, but I feel many rolled the dice a bit early by booking too soon.

Of course at this point, I could also have bad luck with my roll.  May September 2022 will end up the same?  All a gamble at this point.

[HBCcruiser]

9 minutes ago, Sea saw 56 said:

I

 

Sorry, but I feel many rolled the dice a bit early by booking too soon.

Of course at this point, I could also have bad luck with my roll.  May September 2022 will end up the same?  All a gamble at this point.

I think you will be fine. The CDC just updated the CSO and No Masks or Social Distancing required for fully vaccinated passengers! Things are looking better IMO. 

 

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/covid19-operations-manual-cso.html#

[Até]

6 minutes ago, HBCcruiser said:

I think you will be fine. The CDC just updated the CSO and No Masks or Social Distancing required for fully vaccinated passengers!

I recently posted a thread about this, it only applies to 95% vaccinated sailings, not all vaccinated passengers on other sailings.  If NCL takes advantage and follows the protocols (can't think why they wouldn't) I think it will cause a pretty big surge in their bookings, at least through November.

[HBCcruiser]

5 minutes ago, Até said:

I recently posted a thread about this, it only applies to 95% vaccinated sailings, not all vaccinated passengers on other sailings.  If NCL takes advantage and follows the protocols (can't think why they wouldn't) I think it will cause a pretty big surge in their bookings, at least through November.

Yes, and this section stood out to me:

 

Fully Vaccinated Travelers

• Cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may advise passengers and crew that—if they are fully vaccinated—they may gather or conduct activities outdoors, including engaging in extended meal service or beverage consumption, without wearing a mask.
• Cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may advise crew who are fully vaccinated that they do not have to wear a mask or maintain physical distance in areas of the ship that are inaccessible to passengers.
• Cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may designate areas as only accessible to fully vaccinated passengers and crew where masks and physical distancing are not required (e.g., casinos; bars; spas; entertainment venues; and dining areas, including self-serve buffets).
• For ships with at least 95% of crew and 95% of passengers fully vaccinated, cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may advise passengers and crew that they do not have to wear a mask or maintain physical distance in any areas.

[Até]

The rules also mention self service buffet is okay, but I don't want to take this thread too far off course.  I just wanted to mention to Jamie I expect NCL bookings to surge so make that decision fast.

[CroozFanatic]

47 minutes ago, Sea saw 56 said:

gut said that prices would soar once the first few ships sailed.

 

I think this...and I think it goes on for years.

[Shidah]

Sometimes when a price or a cruise seems to good to be true, it isn’t.  The logistics of embarking in Jamaica never made sense.  Thinking of how packed NY, Miami, Seattle port’s are, there is physically nowhere at Jamaica’s port to process and hold that many getting on a ship.  It isn’t the same as just stopping for a few hours.  Think of thousands of people sitting in the hot sun waiting to get on the ship.  While so many wanted it to be  true, realistically it didn’t make sense.  But I do feel sorry for all those who’s plans were destroyed.

However, not sure why you can’t stack coupons.  I have a cruise booked in Dec and have three stacked, along with a casino comp, FCC, CN, after all was said and done our room came out super cheap.  Have you specifically asked to stack them, since they did for us, and I didn’t even ask, the rep just looked at everything we had and performed magic.

[JamieLogical]

42 minutes ago, Shidah said:

Sometimes when a price or a cruise seems to good to be true, it isn’t.  The logistics of embarking in Jamaica never made sense.  Thinking of how packed NY, Miami, Seattle port’s are, there is physically nowhere at Jamaica’s port to process and hold that many getting on a ship.  It isn’t the same as just stopping for a few hours.  Think of thousands of people sitting in the hot sun waiting to get on the ship.  While so many wanted it to be  true, realistically it didn’t make sense.  But I do feel sorry for all those who’s plans were destroyed.

However, not sure why you can’t stack coupons.  I have a cruise booked in Dec and have three stacked, along with a casino comp, FCC, CN, after all was said and done our room came out super cheap.  Have you specifically asked to stack them, since they did for us, and I didn’t even ask, the rep just looked at everything we had and performed magic.

 

Yes, the language in the cancelation email makes it clear that you can't have more than one 10% off coupon on your account at a time and that if you used a 10% off coupon to book the Joy, that coupon will just be re-applied to your account, you will not receive a new one. I then asked my PCC about it and she asked the same question on the chain and was told the same thing.

 

10% OFF* discount on your next cruise with us, combinable with all available promotions at the time of booking. The 10% OFF discount will be added (or returned**) to your Latitudes account and will be available as of May 27, 2021. This discount can be used to make a booking from today through May 27, 2022 and can be applied towards any sailings through December 31, 2022.

 

*Should you already have a 10% off discount FCC from a previous suspension and have not yet applied that discount FCC to a new reservation, an additional FCC discount will not be issued.

 

**If this suspended reservation used a previously issued 10% off discount FCC, the 10% off FCC will be returned to your client profile. An additional FCC discount will not be issued.

[BirdTravels]

2 hours ago, Crazy planning mom said:

Unfortunately, Royal did the same thing by cancelling the Vision of the Seas out of Bermuda. So, they all are about the greed.

Greed? Seriously? Sailing out of Jamaica was always a stop-gap trying to get the cruise industry restarted while the current administration placed absurd requirements in their "conditional sail order". With low bookings and the astronomical cost of operating out of Jamaica having to provision food, booze, consumables (toilet paper) and items like gift shop merchandise in either Jamaica or Mexico, it was a smart business move to shift to a US port with established infrastructure for a Breakaway Plus ship. Even the initial Bliss cruises with limited capacity are money losers... but at least they have the proof to bring the rest of the fleet online. 

[JamieLogical]

1 minute ago, BirdTravels said:

Greed? Seriously? Sailing out of Jamaica was always a stop-gap trying to get the cruise industry restarted while the current administration placed absurd requirements in their "conditional sail order". With low bookings and the astronomical cost of operating out of Jamaica having to provision food, booze, consumables (toilet paper) and items like gift shop merchandise in either Jamaica or Mexico, it was a smart business move to shift to a US port with established infrastructure for a Breakaway Plus ship. Even the initial Bliss cruises with limited capacity are money losers... but at least they have the proof to bring the rest of the fleet online. 

 

I have conceded several times in this thread that it was the right call, from a business perspective, for them to pull the crew from the Joy to operate the Bliss to Alaska. That doesn't mean there was any legitimate business reason not to try to do SOMETHING.... ANYTHING to compensate the passengers who were adversely affected after they had assured us that this cruise would not be canceled.

[BirdTravels]

Just now, JamieLogical said:

Yes, the language in the cancelation email makes it clear that you can't have more than one 10% off coupon on your account at a time and that if you used a 10% off coupon to book the Joy, that coupon will just be re-applied to your account, you will not receive a new one. I then asked my PCC about it and she asked the same question on the chain and was told the same thing.

@JamieLogical Deep sympathy on cancellation of your B2B. We know how much you were looking forward to it. 

[BirdTravels]

7 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

I have conceded several times in this thread that it was the right call, from a business perspective, for them to pull the crew from the Joy to operate the Bliss to Alaska. That doesn't mean there was any legitimate business reason not to try to do SOMETHING.... ANYTHING to compensate the passengers who were adversely affected after they had assured us that this cruise would not be canceled.

I totally agree. I got a cold call from my NCL tonight saying "now that you're cancelled.... wanna book another cruise". REALLY annoying. Jamaica was their big "back to sea" and there should have been more compensation (I don't know if I have any cancellation fees on my international flights yet). And this was not a COVID cancellation, this was a business decision.... which as a stockholder, I agree with. 

 

Again, I feel really bad for you. I hope you can forgive NCL and rebook once more US-based cruises open. We rebooked already on the Bliss. Couldn't afford a Haven on the Bliss, so we're in a mini-suite (as we get older and less flexible and mobile, we really appreciate the full size showers in the minis vs. the tubes in the standard balconies). We're waiting for all of the refunds to hit and use it against final payment on the Bliss. 

Edited May 27, 2021 by BirdTravels

[JustAPilot]

That’s sh1tty Jamie, I can’t imagine the ship was worth their time to sail especially in the middle of hurricane season and people having to book flights to Jamaica while competing with resorts for the same tourism. 

[JamieLogical]

3 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

I totally agree. I got a cold call from my NCL tonight saying "now that you're cancelled.... wanna book another cruise". REALLY annoying. Jamaica was their big "back to sea" and there should have been more compensation (I don't know if I have any cancellation fees on my international flights yet). And this was not a COVID cancellation, this was a business decision.... which as a stockholder, I agree with. 

 

Again, I feel really bad for you. I hope you can forgive NCL and rebook once more US-based cruises open. We rebooked already on the Bliss. Couldn't afford a Haven on the Bliss, so we're in a mini-suite (as we get older and less flexible and mobile, we really appreciate the full size showers in the minis vs. the tubes in the standard balconies). We're waiting for all of the refunds to hit and use it against final payment on the Bliss. 

 

We talked to our PCC and we booked B2B on the Sky out of Miami for the same weeks. The ship will be very different from any of the ships we've been on so far, with the possible exception of the Gem, and we had to roll the dice with GTY balconies (not sailaway) for both sailings, because balconies were nearly sold out. We'll see what happens with the NCL vaccine requirement for sailings out of FL... hopefully they can work something out by September. The main selling points for us were:

• Out-of-pocket costs will be super low once all our credits are applied.
• The ship fully refurbished in 2019, so even though it is small and older, it is really nicely updated.
• Miami is an easy port for us to travel to/from. Looks like the NCL air promo with a 1-day deviation to arrive the day prior has us on a non-stop from Rochester to MIA and then we have a one-stop flight from FLL to Boston to ROC that gets us home at 5:00pm, which isn't too bad for having to go to work the next day (these are Sunday to Sunday sailings).
• The MAIN selling feature, though, was the itineraries. It's actually two complete different itineraries for the two weeks we are booked. We will get to check out both of NCL's private islands as well as a few new to us ports.

I am definitely NOT getting my hopes up AT ALL for this one though. Between the CDC and FL's weird vaccine rules, a lot can go wrong between now and September.

 

If this does sail, it will use up all but $500 of CruiseNext. We can either sell or gift that and then we can be free and clear of NCL if we are still holding a grudge by then.

[HBCcruiser]

2 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

f this does sail, it will use up all but $500 of CruiseNext. We can either sell or gift that and then we can be free and clear of NCL if we are still holding a grudge by then.

I still say they should upgrade you to a suite, at least.  Are you reading this NCL??  😉

[skywonder]

4 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

I have empathy for you and would likely also feel wronged (because you were). I think you know by now that I do not stick up for the cruise lines, so I am suggesting this on your behalf only.

 

My recommendation is to wait a week and see how you feel. It's raw right now. If, after a week, you still feel passionately I always vote with my dollar. 

@Jamielogical I think BermudaBound2014 is giving you great advice here. I also think you have been wronged but it might be a good idea to give it a week or so to think about it and see how you feel then. The time might help with how you feel and give you time to weigh things out, if by then you are still angry about how you were treated  then I say run. Good luck with your choice.