Concerned About Port Time Changes

I suggest that all those affected take the time to email NCL and you PCC if you have one, it's the only way to possibly get action.

Three hour shortages and two hour later arrivals is just unacceptable.

Here is the email I used

mkephart@ncl.com

NCL Resolution Specialist Exe

If anyone has other email addys please post them here as the more emails sent the merrier.

And to the naysayers yes I/we know its in the contract.

also email publicrelations@ncl.com and socialmedia@ncl.com

Thanks ladies. Really, if I didn't want to get to the Baths the next day, I'd stay in St Thomas & take the ferry over in the am on our Escape. Seriously thing about canceling.

Sailing around in circles for 15 + hours is just senseless.

Just putting this out there though.. It might not be NCL changing these policies. Now, before you all flame me, let me say this. If the Government of the ports in question are saying "you must have your ship out by this time" then guess what? NCL has to move the ship. It's the same if a port is closed. If the local government says they're closed, there is literally nothing that the cruise lines can do to stay there longer.

Just sent my e-mail!!!

Good luck. NCL is building all of these destination ships. They do not want them sitting in port where they can't make any money. Sooner or later you are going to see 7 - 8 days cruises on the big new ships with at most 2 port days and sometimes only 1 port day. If the cruise line can't have people on the ship buying liquor, spending at the casino, shopping, etc, they can't make money.

Just putting this out there though.. It might not be NCL changing these policies. Now, before you all flame me, let me say this. If the Government of the ports in question are saying "you must have your ship out by this time" then guess what? NCL has to move the ship. It's the same if a port is closed. If the local government says they're closed, there is literally nothing that the cruise lines can do to stay there longer.

This is very unlikely especially for these small island nations that rely so heavily on cruise tourist dollars. More likely NCL is saving money on fuel costs and has made the decision that less port time equals more time that their capitve audience will spend money on the ship.

This is very unlikely especially for these small island nations that rely so heavily on cruise tourist dollars. More likely NCL is saving money on fuel costs and has made the decision that less port time equals more time that their capitve audience will spend money on the ship.

There is more than plenty to do on the ship that is free. If people are going to fall for the "spend your money" traps, then they deserve to be out the cash. Outside of shore excursions, I spent less than $100 on my last cruise.

There is more than plenty to do on the ship that is free. If people are going to fall for the "spend your money" traps, then they deserve to be out the cash. Outside of shore excursions, I spent less than $100 on my last cruise.

Oh, you're absolutely right, I usually spend very little on the ship as well because i partake of the included food and I don't drink and i participate in the free activities. That said we are likely not the norm and NCL knows it cna make more money (alcohol sales and casino alone) by keeping the ship away from port. But in most cases it's probably really just a fuel savings, that's why they changed the nassau itinerary. I really wish NCL would poll their customers more. I'd gladly pay an extra 20 bucks in my fare if it meant I could have more time in port (especially a port like bermuda or hawaii). I'm sure I'm not the only one.

which ships are affected?

Hi everyone,

We are looking into these itinerary changes and were wondering if you could provide the exact ships that are being affected by the changes, and what ports have been adjusted. (Time in port has been shortened as well?)

Thank you!

~Cruise Critic staff

Difficult to think of a reason why NCL is incapable of emailing passengers to inform them of itinerary changes. There's going to be some anger and annoyance no matter how/when they do it. Just seems way better to bite the bullet and let pax know asap so they can adjust their expectations and make better choices with shore excursions, etc.

To me it seems a MUCH bigger deal than tacking on another $4.00 DSC for a 7 day cruise, yet NCL seems (mostly) able to tell pax that. So why not this?

Hi everyone,

 

We are looking into these itinerary changes and were wondering if you could provide the exact ships that are being affected by the changes, and what ports have been adjusted. (Time in port has been shortened as well?)

 

Thank you!

 

~Cruise Critic staff

Pearl - October 18, 2015 sailing -

Puerto Limon, Cost Rica was 8 a.m. to 6 p.m NOW 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Escape - January 23, 2016 sailing -

St. Thomas - was 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. NOW 7 a.m. to 3 p.m

Nassau - was 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. NOW noon to 7 p.m.

Gem - April 30, 2016 sailing -

Port Canaveral - was noon to 9:30 p.m. NOW noon to 9 p.m.

So far my other cruises haven't changed.

Harriet

The Jade has shaved an hour of port time for our December 12 cruise in both Roatan and Belize. We just booked the 35 day Transatlantic & Mediterranean cruise for April & May 2016. This will be my first trip to the Mediterranean and I sincerely hope NCL does not start cutting those port times as well. We have cruised 26 times, but only once on NCL. With all the changes it makes me very nervous. It seems like the company is floundering. We actually wanted to book a different cruise in December and cancel the Jade. Unfortunately, our soon needs a wheelchair accessible room and all the other cruise lines were booked up for accessible rooms.

Hi everyone,

 

We are looking into these itinerary changes and were wondering if you could provide the exact ships that are being affected by the changes, and what ports have been adjusted. (Time in port has been shortened as well?)

 

Thank you!

 

~Cruise Critic staff

The Breakaway is one ship that has made itinerary time changes. Specifically the 12 Day Southern Caribbean sailing 11/29/15. The ports that were adjusted were Castries, St. Lucia, Bridgetown, Barbados and Basseterre, St. Kitts. Time in port for St. Lucia and St. Kitts have been shortened by 1 hour. Wondering why - hoping you can find out.

Thanks!

Thats fine if they want people to stay on the ships longer, but don't advertise one thing and change it without notice. At least give the people a chance to change ships or cancel without penalty. Yeah, I know what the contract says, but it's ridiculous to penalize people months ahead of time when they can easily refill those rooms.

Pearl - October 18, 2015 sailing -

Puerto Limon, Cost Rica was 8 a.m. to 6 p.m NOW 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

Escape - January 23, 2016 sailing -This is also the case with the inaugural Nov 14 sailing, that we may cancel

St. Thomas - was 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. NOW 7 a.m. to 3 p.m

Nassau - was 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. NOW noon to 7 p.m.

 

Gem - April 30, 2016 sailing -

Port Canaveral - was noon to 9:30 p.m. NOW noon to 9 p.m.

 

So far my other cruises haven't changed.

 

Harriet

Cindy

Hi everyone,

 

We are looking into these itinerary changes and were wondering if you could provide the exact ships that are being affected by the changes, and what ports have been adjusted. (Time in port has been shortened as well?)

 

Thank you!

 

~Cruise Critic staff

The Dawn to Bermuda. Originally was to arrive on Sunday at 11AM; now is set to get there at 1PM.

Where do I look for itinerary changes? The ncl emails go to my aunt, but I would like to make sure she doesn't miss anything

Hi everyone,

 

We are looking into these itinerary changes and were wondering if you could provide the exact ships that are being affected by the changes, and what ports have been adjusted. (Time in port has been shortened as well?)

 

Thank you!

 

~Cruise Critic staff

No changes to my Gem 2016 B2B out of San Juan, 10 ports all 8am to 5pm.

Breakaway NY to Bermuda, Changed the departure time from Bermuda on Friday. It was 5pm, now it is 3pm. At least on the September 6th sailing.

Hi everyone,

 

We are looking into these itinerary changes and were wondering if you could provide the exact ships that are being affected by the changes, and what ports have been adjusted. (Time in port has been shortened as well?)

 

Thank you!

 

~Cruise Critic staff

Our Pride of America itinerary was changed as well. The first day in port at Kauai was to begin at 8:00 a.m.--now 10:00 a.m.

Our cruise changed gem sept 5th my online travel agency website still shows the old times

Orlando was 12-930 now 1pm arrival

GSC was 10-6 now it's 11-7

So strange. I'm mostly upset about GSC :(

Hi everyone,

 

We are looking into these itinerary changes and were wondering if you could provide the exact ships that are being affected by the changes, and what ports have been adjusted. (Time in port has been shortened as well?)

 

Thank you!

 

~Cruise Critic staff

I am on the Escape 2/20/16 sailing.

Original port times (in our confirmation from 1/24/15) were:

-- St. Thomas: 8-6

-- Tortola: 8-4

-- Nassau: 10-6

Current port times:

-- St. Thomas: 7-3

-- Tortola: 8-4

-- Nassau: 12-7

The Nassau port time changed months ago. The St.Thomas time, just within the week. While I am sailing for the ship this time, I am really displeased regarding the change in St. Thomas. Docking an hour earlier (when nothing is open) does not help. It would be different if we had a far trip to make to get to Tortola and wanted to slow down the ship in order to save fuel. This is obviously not the case.

We plan on contacting NCL to let them know that we are unhappy with this change, but any real information that can be found would be wonderful.

Where do I look for itinerary changes? The ncl emails go to my aunt, but I would like to make sure she doesn't miss anything

NCL isn't going to actually tell you they changed your itinerary.

You need to sign into your online account and choose Vacation Summary. It gives you your port times there.