Will NCL Offer Compensation for Switched Itinerary?

[yogimax]

So NCL first dropped Freeport from the itinerary of the Spirit departing tomorrow due to mechanical problems.

 

Now, because of Hannah, they have dropped Florida and Nassau. Three individual ports of call have been changed to two days in Bermuda.

 

Will NCL compensate their passengers in any way with onboard credit for the missed ports?

[adbnva]

losing freeport is nothing. they will not compensate. the hurricane is not their fault.

[yogimax]

losing freeport is nothing. they will not compensate. the hurricane is not their fault.

 

Sorry, but losing Freeport is something!

 

We have never been there and looked forward to a new experience. in addition, it was dropped, not because of weather, but a propulsion problem with the ship.

[conandrob240]

I have no idea whagt NCL does but, IMO, if the reason a port is dropped is because of something under NCL's control (propulsion issue), they should absolutely offer compensation. The answer that they reserve the right to make port chnages which NCL seems ot give is unfair when the changes are a result of their ships. Now, hurricane is a different story- they owe passengers nothing for that one IMO.

[*Wink*]

I'm not sure what they'll do in this case, but we couldn't make Cozumel a few years ago because the water was too choppy to tender. In that case, they did compensate us.

[blackerbys17]

I have no idea whagt NCL does but, IMO, if the reason a port is dropped is because of something under NCL's control (propulsion issue), they should absolutely offer compensation. The answer that they reserve the right to make port chnages which NCL seems ot give is unfair when the changes are a result of their ships. Now, hurricane is a different story- they owe passengers nothing for that one IMO.

 

 

I couldn't agree more. In the case of Freeport they should compensate you because after all, they weren't going because of a mechanical issue and that is their fault.

 

However, in the case of the Hurricane, that is not within their control. In case you haven't noticed, cruise fares during August and September are always much cheaper. That is why. It never fails, sometime between mid-August and mid-September we get hurricanes in the tropics. It really is the WORST time to cruise. I have had 2 previous cruises interuppted bu hurricanes and now, I wouldn't sail during that time period if you paid me. Unfortuantely, the risk is much higher during that time and that is why they lower the fares the way they do. Those who choose to bite are out of luck.

 

I hope you get something for Freeport though. Maybe a 100 OBC or something like that. Good luck!

[yogimax]

Thanks for the comments. I totally agree.

 

Weather problems should not receive compensation.

 

I would think something should be offered for the intinerary changes made because of a ship's problem. A simple OBC or future booking credit of $50, just to signify good will, would be fine.

[G'ma]

If the change is due to their decision only, they will refund any difference in port taxes.

 

That's all they are required to do.

 

Their contract and terms and conditions covers their collective butts for any changes. They are under NO obligation to compensate anyone. They can change anytime for any reason, without notice.

[gregandamy]

I've done cruise to both the Bahamas and Bermuda. 2 days in Bermuda is much better than the original itinerary and normally costs more too.

 

I hope this affected enjoy Bermuda as much as we do.

[Ricanicole]

Because the GBI was taken off the itenerary due to a ship prob, there is supposed to be a $50.00 OBC per cabin. I called NCL and spoke to a rep there about that. As for the other, I have not heard anything.

 

I was looking forward to FL (hoping to see my mom for a day there since she lives in the area) and also Nassau. I will take either place (Bahamas or Bermuda). For someone who has not been on a cruise OR a tropical vacation, losing the port that was booked originally, yes seems as a loss. BUT, I will take whatever because I am on VACATION!!!

 

I am going to enjoy as much as I can.

 

Erica

[salty dingo]

A simple OBC or future booking credit of $50, just to signify good will, would be fine.

I agree - a small gesture even if not required, goes a long way.

 

I recall a Carnival cruise a few years ago, where we had to skip Costa Maya because of weather - waves too high to dock. The captain send out a letter with a $50 per cabin credit, and that was nice.

 

Sure, we were disappointed, and you can well argue that $50 is not equal to the loss of a port. But this is not about compensating you for the value of your loss, it is just a goodwill gesture.

[newmexicoNita]

We have been on many cruises where the itinerary has been changed because of weather or ports missed. The only one that did anything was NCL, they refunded our port charges and gave us a one hour open bar, as for anything else I certainly wouldn't expect it. the engine problems that is a different story. I care more that the cruise line is looking out for the safety of the passengers than whether I get any compensation.

 

Nita

[ohioNCLcruiser]

Even if NCL still said you were going to Freeport without ship issues you would not be going because of the storm. Plus Freeport is so boring you will have much more fun in Bermuda.

[MM40]

So NCL first dropped Freeport from the itinerary of the Spirit departing tomorrow due to mechanical problems.

 

Now, because of Hannah, they have dropped Florida and Nassau. Three individual ports of call have been changed to two days in Bermuda.

 

Will NCL compensate their passengers in any way with onboard credit for the missed ports?

 

I was actually wondering this too... not expecting it but just wondering. I am booked on this cruise and we were originally offered a $50 OBC because the Grand Bahama Island stop was cancelled. Now that the entire itinerary has become moot due to Hanna, will they still give us the original $50 OBC? I really don't think they should have to. Again, not complaining about anything, just curious.

[andychris]

Consider yourself lucky. Bermuda is beautiful. We were just on the dawn on the 8/17-24. We had a great time in bermuda. We would of liked to be on a different ship but that is another story.

Enjoy bermuda!!!

[NowVoyager908]

A little harsh, don't you think?

 

How is going from a cruise with three ports to a cruise with one port "getting more."?

 

Amazing logic!

 

I believe that for the cruiseline, Bermuda is a far more expensive port in which to dock than any other. And as for the pax, having three days to actually explore the island as opposed to a couple of hours can be a definite plus.

 

Traveling during hurricane season is a crap shoot. I remember just a few years ago, an RCI cruise scheduled for Bermuda sailed to Canada instead because of a storm. Nothing against Canada mind you, but it isn't Bermuda. :cool:

 

Last summer on the Dawn, we got into Nassau quite late due to problems with the ship's propulsion (IIRC). We received an OBC even though we made it to the island, so I would guess NCL might do something for missing Freeport only. The rest is weather related and is beyond their control.

[raudacruise]

It doesn't seem that refunds for port taxes are handled equitably by cruise lines (this isn't just NCL). The port taxes are per passenger. I see two situations:

 

1. Port is closed because of weather. I would think the cruise line doesn't pay the port taxes and should refund them on a per passenger basis.

 

2. Port is missed because of mechanical problems. I still think the equitable thing we be to refund on a per passenger basis even if the cruise line had to pay anyway.

 

The per-stateroom OBC lumps everyone from single passenger to a quad in one cabin in the same category. Given the difference in what taxes were paid that certainly doesn't seem fair.

 

The only time we got an OBC for missing a port (mechanical) was on NCL quite some time ago. They did something really weird. $50 inside, $100 outside, $150 for suites. That really didn't sound equitable to me.

[MM40]

I guess the real question is... Will NCL take back the $50 OBC they originally offered due to the first itinerary change (i.e. skip Grand Bahama Island and overnight in Nassau due to mechanical reasons) now that the entire itinerary has to change because of Hanna (weather related, beyond their control)?

 

Just curious if anyone knows the answer... no complaints, just wondering. I guess if no one knows the answer, I'll find out tomorrow, LOL.

[mbisson]

Sorry, but losing Freeport is something!

 

We have never been there and looked forward to a new experience. in addition, it was dropped, not because of weather, but a propulsion problem with the ship.

 

 

Interesting thing is though, if it hadn't be dropped previously (for the mechanical problem) it would have been dropped with the most recent change due to Hanna. As it now stands, you wouldn't be going there with or without the mechanical problem

[bklynangel]

It doesn't seem that refunds for port taxes are handled equitably by cruise lines (this isn't just NCL). The port taxes are per passenger. I see two situations:

 

1. Port is closed because of weather. I would think the cruise line doesn't pay the port taxes and should refund them on a per passenger basis.

 

2. Port is missed because of mechanical problems. I still think the equitable thing we be to refund on a per passenger basis even if the cruise line had to pay anyway.

 

The per-stateroom OBC lumps everyone from single passenger to a quad in one cabin in the same category. Given the difference in what taxes were paid that certainly doesn't seem fair.

 

The only time we got an OBC for missing a port (mechanical) was on NCL quite some time ago. They did something really weird. $50 inside, $100 outside, $150 for suites. That really didn't sound equitable to me.

i don't think 50 dollars is enough for missing a port. If NCL is not stopping at a port, then they are not paying the port taxes for that stop but the passengers are. Bermudas port taxes are much more than the bahamas, but i wouldn't be happy missing a port that i planned on going to. It has never happened to me yet, but there is always a first time.

[tanjohn]

We are missing Victoria on our Sept 14 Alaska cruise. The reason is mechanical. The cruisers during the last week of August got $50, we are getting nothing. Our TA offered to make up the $50, but it is not her fault and we declined. Instead, NCL is off our list for future cruises. This will be two NCL cruises at once, first and last.

 

Celebrity (5)

Princess (2)

RCCL (1)

NCL (Never again)

[newmexicoNita]

i don't think 50 dollars is enough for missing a port. If NCL is not stopping at a port, then they are not paying the port taxes for that stop but the passengers are. Bermudas port taxes are much more than the bahamas, but i wouldn't be happy missing a port that i planned on going to. It has never happened to me yet, but there is always a first time.

I don't know how many times you have cruised, but if you have never missed a port you are very lucky. Do they owe you somothing (other than maybe port charges which may be very little) why do you think they owe you anything, especially when the problems are weather related? I personally do not book a cruise because of one port, and I am not sure many do. When we did our Northern Atlantic crossing everyone was so hyped about NewFoundland: it was the one we missed. Were we sad, of course, did most of us take advantage of the 1 hr open bar? YOu bet, but it didn't affect our cruise one bit.

 

Nita

[newmexicoNita]

We are missing Victoria on our Sept 14 Alaska cruise. The reason is mechanical. The cruisers during the last week of August got $50, we are getting nothing. Our TA offered to make up the $50, but it is not her fault and we declined. Instead, NCL is off our list for future cruises. This will be two NCL cruises at once, first and last.

 

Celebrity (5)

Princess (2)

RCCL (1)

NCL (Never again)

And why did those cruising last week get offered an OBC but not you? MY feeling, you may have been given an opportunity to cancel and they were not or it was too close to sailing time.

 

NIta

 

good for your TA for at least offering to give you the OBC< some agents would have done it without mentioning it.

[AFAMILY]

I don't know how many times you have cruised, but if you have never missed a port you are very lucky. Do they owe you somothing (other than maybe port charges which may be very little) why do you think they owe you anything, especially when the problems are weather related? I personally do not book a cruise because of one port, and I am not sure many do. When we did our Northern Atlantic crossing everyone was so hyped about NewFoundland: it was the one we missed. Were we sad, of course, did most of us take advantage of the 1 hr open bar? YOu bet, but it didn't affect our cruise one bit.

 

Nita

 

On our VERY FIRST cruise we missed the VERY FIRST port, Martha's Vineyard, due to rough seas. We weren't able to safely tender. As it happened, Martha's Vineyard was the port we were most looking forward to. We weren't given an OBC or an open bar and we didn't expect any compensation. Although there may have been people complaining about the missed port, we didn't hear anyone ourselves. Alot of the experienced cruisers we spoke to explained how this sometimes happens.

 

We just went with the flow and enjoyed the extra day at sea. There were new Freestyle Dailies printed and available very early in the day, with a variety of added things to do onboard. We had a GREAT time visiting the remaining ports and are now booked for our 3rd cruise!

 

We always try to make the best of any situation. We were on vacation, things could be alot worse then missing a port.

 

Happy Cruising! :)

[newmexicoNita]

On our VERY FIRST cruise we missed the VERY FIRST port, Martha's Vineyard, due to rough seas. We weren't able to safely tender. As it happened, Martha's Vineyard was the port we were most looking forward to. We weren't given an OBC or an open bar and we didn't expect any compensation. Although there may have been people complaining about the missed port, we didn't hear anyone ourselves. Alot of the experienced cruisers we spoke to explained how this sometimes happens.

 

We just went with the flow and enjoyed the extra day at sea. There were new Freestyle Dailies printed and available very early in the day, with a variety of added things to do onboard. We had a GREAT time visiting the remaining ports and are now booked for our 3rd cruise!

 

We always try to make the best of any situation. We were on vacation, things could be alot worse then missing a port.

 

Happy Cruising! :)

Exactly what happened to us but as I said we did get the port charges which were like $10 a person removed: I think that was because of so many griping (we were not among them) the cocktail hour was great. On other cruises we have missed ports because of wether and never gotten anything. Once on RCI we got bloody Mary's and rum punch for an hour or so for missing a port, but the only bar you could use was the casino bar..LOL