NCL Majesty 11-17 sailing delay

[electricron]

Remember the cruise line losses nothing when offering on board credits. You are spending your money on them!

 

Actually, you are spending their money on them.

[rolloman]

Things could be soooooo much worse. Be thankful that you are lucky enough to enjoy a vacation with your friends and loved ones. Many people don't have that luxury. I know you are disappointed, I would be as well. But there are far greater injustices in the world, and at this point you are looking very petty.

 

I hate posts like this. Yeah many people may not be lucky to go on vacations, but then again many are and the ones that are want what they paid for. With your line of thinking, many people do not have a chair, only a bucket to sit on, so the guy that buys and expensive chair for his house only to have it arrive with one arm missing should just accept it and be greatful he had the money to try and buy a good chair. Give me a break.

 

And this comment is in response to Catlady461- Why all the complaining? This is a message board and complaining, providing knowledge or basic interaction is what it was designed for. IF you dont like complaining then quit reading these boards. Just so you know, many people had already flown, drove, took vacation days and were sitting in Charleston when this was announced. Taking the full credit and going home with their tails between their legs is not an option as they had a greater investment already in the trip. Maybe you should quit complaining about the complainers.

[cruizinwithkids]

A good authority told us this am, that the reason they are sticking close to the US is so they will be in the US Coast Guard area for rescue in case of engine problems.

 

A good authority? Would that be Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny?

[JWestShuh]

I hate posts like this. Yeah many people may not be lucky to go on vacations, but then again many are and the ones that are want what they paid for. With your line of thinking, many people do not have a chair, only a bucket to sit on, so the guy that buys and expensive chair for his house only to have it arrive with one arm missing should just accept it and be greatful he had the money to try and buy a good chair. Give me a break.

 

So my post touched a nerve huh? What I was trying to get across to the OP was the idea of perspective, not to debate consumerism versus socialism. The point of the post was to say, don't sweat the small stuff and be thankful for what you have. She was given the opportunity to receive a full refund and if she chose to remain on vacation she would be able to receive a credit of 1/7 of the cost as well as some extra onboard credit. NCL did what any business would do. Your comparison of the one armed chair is illogical. I would expect a refund to be offered, which is what NCL offered for their cruisers. She chose to remain on vacation and whine about the circumstances instead. She is in fact getting what she paid for - which is a cruise vacation. The one day that was taken from the vacation will be reimbursed. I just can't stand people who chose to only see the bad in their situations. They are beyond draining.

[Sconcer]

Why all the complaining? NCL offered a full refund if you decided not cruise. Everyone seems to want a free cruise or they are not happy.

 

You were offered shipboard credits and if you are not happy then I guess the best thing is for you to cancel and go home and take the full refund. Other people on the cruise who want to have a good time don't need someone complaining about unhappy they are. They are there to have a good time and enjoy their vacation.

 

The whole "just take the fully refund" view is hardly realistic. We're not all retired people running around with pensions and all the vacation time we could ever want. at 6:00 on a Friday, the rest of us are pretty committed to the cruise -- I had to negotiate to get this time off work and had to save to pay for the cruise. We had to deal with pet-sitters, stopped mail, getting makeup homework, travel accommodations and so on....

 

At bare minimum, I expect that if I'm made worse off financially, the cruise line should make it up to me. That means paying for the hotel night. And it means cash refunds for portions of the cruise that are cut short. This whole "we'll give you the money, but only if you give it right back to us. And, oh, you can't use it to offset Service Charges" stuff is for the birds. At least an airline will put you up a hotel if your flight is delayed to the next day. (Not that the cruise lines should be measuring their service by what the airlines do...)

 

Which brings up an interesting question -- what happens to the people who arranged their airfare through the cruiseline?

 

The "well, you could have insured against this" line also bugs me. The cruise line could also have insured against it. And, in fact, they have more control over what happens than I do.

[JWestShuh]

 

The "well, you could have insured against this" line also bugs me. The cruise line could also have insured against it. And, in fact, they have more control over what happens than I do.

 

I am assuming from your post that you don't have insurance, because if you did your hotel and food would be covered and it wouldn't be as much of an issue for you. I guess next time you'll know better.

[Sconcer]

I am assuming from your post that you don't have insurance, because if you did your hotel and food would be covered and it wouldn't be as much of an issue for you. I guess next time you'll know better.

 

You're right, I didn't. I was willing to take the risk that I would get sick and would be unable to take the cruise, or that a close family member would die and so on. But, this isn't that sort of situation -- this delay is due to the cruise line. And, since it's in their control, they're the ones who should be insuring against it, not me.

 

Sure, the cruise line decided to stop to help somebody in trouble. But, that takes, what, a couple of hours? Why a full day delay? The weather's hardly an excuse -- bad weather in the Atlantic Ocean in November is commonplace and is something that NCL should be taking into account. We drove down the night before because we didn't want to risk that some last minute traffic or car trouble would mean missing the departure time. Similarly, the ship's schedule shouldn't be so tight that a bit of bad weather would delay its return.

[greywillow]

Either way...I firmly believe it is mechanical issues, and NCL is not willing to admit it.

I'm sure you've done a thorough inspection of Majesty's engines to reach this [utterly uninformed] conclusion. Hilarious.

[SueF]

I'm sure you've done a thorough inspection of Majesty's engines to reach this [utterly uninformed] conclusion. Hilarious.

 

Interesting as well that NCL has already changed their press release to include comments regarding the mechanical issues...they are probably hiding something.

[JWestShuh]

Like I said, in regards to trip insurance I guess next time you'll know better.;)

[heathercruisin]

I am scheduled on this cruise, and I'm not happy with the compensation so far. Not only are we losing a day, but we are getting crappy ports. We could have sailed to the Bahamas for much less then what we paid for Cozemel and Grand Caymans. They should compensate us for that as well. I'm seriously considering canceling now... with the ship being so old and hearing so many complaints about the ship and the freestyle meals taking so long... and now with crappy ports, I don't know. I am really disappointed in how NCL is handling it also. Also, why didn't they call my emergency back-up or my cell phone to tell me about this? I found out this morning after I checked out of my hotel and was on the way to the port (I happened to check my email from my phone).

 

SueF, how did you find out?

 

Heather

[greywillow]

You're right, I didn't [buy insurance]. I was willing to take the risk...

Apparently NOT. You took the risk, lost, and now you're whining all over this thread.

[Luv4dacruise]

We are a group of 35 traveling on the Majesty with just the same reaction as you all. This ship is due to be withdrawn from crusing very soon. We had a cruise booked on it New Years Eve this past year and was called at 5:00am to tell us it had engine problems and the cruise was cancelled. We should have known this was going to happen as it happened to a friend of ours that took it to Bermuda. A good authority told us this am, that the reason they are sticking close to the US is so they will be in the US Coast Guard area for rescue in case of engine problems. This ship should not be floating and we all should have never been offered passage on it. Remember the cruise line losses nothing when offering on board credits. You are spending your money on them!

Too late to cancel now, just hope for the best, a safe voyage.

While i do believe the passengers booked on the delayed sailing do deserve something more than what being offered, and i stick by that firmly. I mean c'mon, if they have to book another room for another night, plus counting all the extra meals out of pocket, what they are being offered aint diddly. This reply i have quoted is probably the best thing i have read in a long while. Lets all at least have our facts straight when we reply to a thread. Yes, in North American standards the Majesty is an old vessel, however, that is just to us. We should consider ourselves very lucky that we get all the new-builds to cruise on in our part of the world. The Majesty will end up being transferred out of the NCL fleet probably to Star cruises where it will end up sailing for many, many more years to come. I hope i did not sound too harsh, but i just really get irked when i read something that has no backbone to it. Happy Cruising!

[JWestShuh]

Ah, greywillow. Perfect post. :)

[chrisbd1]

Interesting as well that NCL has already changed their press release to include comments regarding the mechanical issues...they are probably hiding something.

 

Changed the press release? The mechanical part was in the press release I read YESTERDAY. How the heck is that hiding something?

 

There was an unfortunate confluence of issues that came togathet to delay your cruise for a day and I'm sorry that you've had this experience. I know it chaps a bit to have so many people point out the importance of trip insurance but maybe this experience will help convince a few people of how important it is. Unfortunatly life gets in the way of most of our plans and we want to find someone to blame. I hope you will find a way to enjoy your vacation.

[iheartbda]

No insurance, huh? Now we're getting somewhere. The Op is probably kicking themself for not buying it and rather than taking responsibility for the "oversight" now wants someone else (NCL) to take on that responsibility for the consequences now being encountered.

[Sconcer]

No insurance, huh? Now we're getting somewhere. The Op is probably kicking themself for not buying it and rather than taking responsibility for the "oversight" now wants someone else (NCL) to take on that responsibility for the consequences now being encountered.

 

So, there are two parties here -- NCL and me. If somebody needs to buy insurance against an event, it should be the party who has the most information and control over that event and the likelihood of its happening.

 

I know my health and the health of my family, and thus had a good idea of the chances that we'd have to miss the cruise. Given that particular risk, I decided not to insure against it. But, risks associated with NCL should be borne by NCL, not me.

 

In any case, my original post was just to find out if anybody had any suggestions for negotiating for more than was offered. Nobody has offered ANY suggestions for that, but plenty of people have attacked me for not being satisfied with NCL's remedies. And, of course I've been defending myself.

[heelfan94]

In your shoes I would probably take the full refund and try to cruise again in the future. If you'll be miserable over this, I don't believe it's worth going.

 

Question to anyone who might know - Does NCL (or any ship) have any say when they receive a distress call? I always thought the closest vessel pretty much had to answer the call. I'd be curious to know. Someone said that NCL chose to stop.

[d man]

So, there are two parties here -- NCL and me. If somebody needs to buy insurance against an event, it should be the party who has the most information and control over that event and the likelihood of its happening.

 

I know my health and the health of my family, and thus had a good idea of the chances that we'd have to miss the cruise. Given that particular risk, I decided not to insure against it. But, risks associated with NCL should be borne by NCL, not me.

 

In any case, my original post was just to find out if anybody had any suggestions for negotiating for more than was offered. Nobody has offered ANY suggestions for that, but plenty of people have attacked me for not being satisfied with NCL's remedies. And, of course I've been defending myself.

 

Sconcer,

Just be happy with what NCL is offering and enjoy your cruise. Beside the health of your family, there are quite a few other factors to consider when deciding on travel insurance. I hate to spend the extra money on insurance, but I do it anyway because to many thinks can go wrong.

 

Enjoy

 

d man

[sassy~one]

Enjoy Your cruise everyone !!! I sure can think of much worse things to happen in life then a 7 day cruise turning into a 6 day cruise. Life goes on! Enjoy! sassy

[cruizinwithkids]

In your shoes I would probably take the full refund and try to cruise again in the future. If you'll be miserable over this, I don't believe it's worth going.

 

Question to anyone who might know - Does NCL (or any ship) have any say when they receive a distress call? I always thought the closest vessel pretty much had to answer the call. I'd be curious to know. Someone said that NCL chose to stop.

 

I agree that starting with a negative attitude is only going to get compounded.

 

I had to take a boating safety class for our small powerboat. I've only been on it twice, but the whole family took the class and roped me in as well. To answer your question, yes, if requested, it is an order. NCL must stop.

[MrLee]

In your shoes I would probably take the full refund and try to cruise again in the future. If you'll be miserable over this, I don't believe it's worth going.

 

Question to anyone who might know - Does NCL (or any ship) have any say when they receive a distress call? I always thought the closest vessel pretty much had to answer the call. I'd be curious to know. Someone said that NCL chose to stop.

 

 

I'm pretty sure it's required. Whether it is or not, there should be no question if you're considering saving someone's life vs an inconvenience to the passengers.

[musicgirl63]

Face it, stuff happens whether it is a cruise, or land vacation or flight.

 

If an airline has a problem and I can't fly in to catch my cruise, it is not the airlines fault. We ALL know that there is a chance that flights can get canceled, it happens all the time. That is why you buy flight insurance or whatever insurance you would need to cover the loss of the cruise.

 

If a cruise has to change its itinerary due to weather or mechanical problem or whatever you have to deal with it because I believe most state that the cruiseline has the right to change an itinerary. Now I haven't read them all....... but I've read enough on boards about this over the past 7 years.

 

At least they didn't just cancel the cruise like they do for the virus or hurricanes. I can't even imagine how disappointing it would be to cancel the entire trip. Those on this cruise at least have a choice. Choose what is best for you and get on with it!!! Life is too short!!!

 

You got a few lemons with this news, either make lemonade or start making a sour face. But if you choose to make the sour face...STAY HOME!!! You'll only make those around you unhappy and it wasn't their fault either.

[musicgirl63]

I'm pretty sure it's required. Whether it is or not, there should be no question if you're considering saving someone's life vs an inconvenience to the passengers.

 

I'm pretty sure you are right as well.

 

This past June on our way back to port, we heard the announcement that our ship was the closest and going to rescue someone. It was an older man way out on a sailboat who at lost all wind and back up power.

 

The sailboat was small and he had 2 visitors!! Sharks!!!!!

 

http://dhsbandman.smugmug.com/photos/167709467-M.jpg

 

 

http://dhsbandman.smugmug.com/photos/167708775-M.jpg

[heelfan94]

I agree with the other posters that it is not a request, but rather an order to help if you're the closest vessel. But to me it's not even a question of what the law says. You help someone in need and deal with the fallout later. In this case part of the fallout is unhappy passengers leaving today from Charleston. I can't claim that I would be elated at having a day taken off of my cruise but let's keep things in perspective. I hope the ones who chose to go ahead and take their vacation have a great time. :)