Captain-John

I definitely won't be getting on one >5 or one that hasn't had a full refurb < 5 years ago now. It's amazing how much it impacts the experience when it's in your face all the time. I assume during Covid they let things go to save money rather than used the down time to spruce things up...

Glad I'm not being unreasonable. Will take more pictures as I go of the TLC required I think prospective cruisers need to know it's not as it appears in the brochure anynore. I've got to say when I opened the door to our Spa Balcony I was incredibly disappointed. I could have upgraded to Haven (not through bidding, just outright) but didn't pull the trigger - regretfully - as those are the only cabins to be refurbed I gather (and are beautiful). This wasn't a 'cheap' cruise to start with either. I remember Spirit pre-refurb in Europe used to be pretty cheap as it was badly needing done. Epic is in the same category now sadly.

https://postimg.cc/gallery/LXtZN5d Can't upload to CC but some in link above.

Currently onboard. Surprised it hasn't been widely mentioned on these boards. I think Epic is looking very tired and in need of a dry dock and renovation. I was on her third sailing out of Miami in 2010 and it's sad to see how she is now. Lots of rust, varnish peeling off wood, staterooms tired and worn - looks much older than her actual age. Yet I've been on Jade (pre refurb) and she had held up much better despite being older. Public areas generally OK but there is a coating of yellow on the upper decks (presumable relates to the closure of Spice H20/snoke stack issues). Also the 'flooring' on the upper decks is dirty and tired. Patchy paint repair works with shades that don't match abound. The spa too needs some TLC/regrouting on tiled areas. The top step into the hydrotherapy pool is loose and broken. I hope for the sake of future cruisers a dry dock and renovations are planned, too late for me. Can't upload pictures just now but will as soon as I get the chance. Curious if others have noticed the same or is this just a standard we need to accept now?

I have relatives travelling on the same sailing who arrived in Seattle last night. They have also bid (not high, not low) and outcome not known - we are assuming it's a decline but seems odd some people have been informed and some have not. I'm in the same position for the Epic on Sunday, but we have a very quiet roll call so not sure if others have heard by now. All part of the fun?! 🙂

Yes, but it's not by my choice - so any 'penalty' to me caused by NCL changing the sailing is unjust. If they extended the sailing, I absoutely would expect an extension of the perks without a charge - (unless weather delayed docking etc. obviously). But a planned in advance change, to benefit/profit NCL, should be looked at differently to an unexpected one. You're right, it's semantics but ultimately I am not happy with the resolution/'compensation' they have proposed and I feel it's unfair. It won't change anything, but my outlook on it remains the same. In my industry we look after customers differently. 🤷‍♂️

Agreed. Yes, our speciality meals have been reduced from 3 to 2, and internet minutes from 300 to 150 - because the sailing is now 11 nights and that's what you would get if you booked an 11 night sailing (we didn't!). I got the details of the UK Managing Director and e-mailed him, and I was passed on to 'EU Resolutions' (euhelpdesk@ncl.com) - if you're in the USA you might have different channels. My TA has been useless and just parroted out 'Terms and Conditions.' If you get the name of an individual, the e-mail format seems to be first initial plus surname @ncl.com (e.g. bsmith@ncl.com) I can't work out the discount either - 1/12 = 8.33% BUT we are losing the internet, plus speciality meals, plus Grand Cayman as a port, plus the hassle and inconvenience of having to amend plans etc. It's an insult.

I have bids in for a sailing on 10/23. Up until a few days ago, there was lots of availablity in Haven (around 30 cabins across all categories). Now there is no availabiltiy - but I've not had any notification if bids have been successful or rejected, nor an invitation to a live 'auction' nor a change in status from 'pending' to 'processing' etc. So a bit odd - I'd have thought they'd want to keep 'full price' Haven suites available for sale as long as possible - but is taking the suites down just before sailing part of processing the bids?

Regarding the reduction in speciality dining and internet minutes because of the reduced cruise length (but no reduction in Vibe pass cost despite the reduced cruise length),I've had this response from their complaints team. Remember, we didn't book an 11 night cruise. We booked a 12, with associated 'Free at Sea' package. If you were ever in any doubt, NCL are just a cold, hard corporate and have no interest in customer service or 'care.' Some people have been told they will retain the 12 night FAS perks - they will be in for a shock I think.

I'm on that sailing and had notification it will still be closed and $50 OBC. I got the e-mail 09/16.

My NCL has updated, but I can't book it as a 'new' cruise for either the original April date or the new May date. I don't believe the sailing is full - unless the charter group are also going to to be on the 11 night sailing, in which case I'm cancelling.

Well, a bit of a change:

Yes, had thought about that thanks. The base fare is bit more and there would be a couple of flight change fees but nothing drastic so if there are further changes to the 05/01 sailing I will revisit. When they shortened the cruise, I thought they'd offer cancellation or moving date as an option - sadly not.

Booked on the same cruise, it will basically become an entirely different cruise if they drop Costa Rica too. I wouldn't mind if they substitute with Bonaire to complete the ABCs but if it's another sea day, I'll probably cancel.

Yeah, I have hotel options to work out as well - the refundable options are hideously more expensive than pre-pay, but I don't want to do that incase things change again... it's a moving target. And as I've previously said - these changes aren't down to war, hurricane, rules and regulations or even Covid - it's a commercial decision taken by NCL, by choice, which makes their lack of appropriate compensation and options harder to swallow.

Good to know, thanks. I don't agree that it's fair, but good to know!

Agreed, it's outrageous (what isn't with NCL these days?). But, we are hedging against not being able to buy (or bid) for an upgrade to Haven. The passes are refundable, so if we bid or buy into Haven, we can cancel the passes and what we've paid we get back and can offset some of our bid. If we lose or prices are too high, we still get to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet with our 'ordinary' cabin. I thought not. NCL have taken the choice to shorten our cruise so I was suspicious of their logic that the price for Vibe is the same regardless of cruise length - as no other package/add-on etc. seems to work that way.

Thanks. 🙂Also, I can't edit my post, but I do know how to spell beverage - honest 🙂

Odd, irritating. Wonder if spa passes work the same. The beveridge package doesn't obviously.

Here's a cracker. Pre-booked Vibe passes for 12 night Joy sailing. Sailing has been amended to 11 nights. Pro-rata refund for the unused day in Vibe? Not a chance.... the price for Vibe is the same regardless if it is 9,10,11 or 12 night cruise, apparently. Just so you know.

Wish they would explain why they dropped San Diego. But have a great time and look forward to reading about it.

Not for the 10/23 sailing. $50 per cabin offered. Not sure about after that.

That's an absolute disgrace. Seems to be where the business is though. My Joy sailing next April has been amended because of a charter - thankfully we're not sharing the ship with them, to my knowledge!

Hmmmm... interesting. I wonder if it is a 4 day charter then? NCL could only offer 3 but the organisers, whoever they may be, pushed for 4?