julig22

4 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

So true.  For our next cruise, we're driving two hours to Nashville for a flight.  Not to save money, but because we can book non-stop flights.

Yup. For me, an additional 4hr drive to/from Seattle actually saved me time (and money) when I took a Seward to Vancouver cruise. When I factor in the flight time to Seattle plus the waiting time between flights, I come out way ahead. Plus the doggie camp where my dog vacations is on the way to Seattle, it's the opposite direction when I fly out of my home airport. So that's a couple hours saved when I can drop off/pick her up on the way.

2 hours ago, schmoopie17 said:

This is going to be our plan from LAX to the port, since we arrive a day early, staying at an airport hotel. My question is, how do you know the time and the location for the transfer if we decide to do this? I'm sure we'll end up scheduling the transfer ahead of time, just wondering about the logistics. If it's too much of a hassle, we might look into alternate arrangements.

The NCL reps will be hanging out near baggage claim. They tend to not bring busses around until around 9 because they don't want to take you to the port any earlier. But the reps will be there earlier and take passengers to a waiting area. They should be around at least until early afternoon.

I've sometimes asked in the Roll Call what airline & time others are arriving to try to get an idea. So far, it's always worked out.

I have gotten the SH OBC as a solo many times in the past. In all of those times, they only applied a partial credit once, on a many years ago on cruise where there was a partial solo discount. I've gotten the full credit for everything else, even on cruises where I paid no solo supplement.

There is no published schedule. Sometimes TA's/PCC's have advance notice of what the next promo would be. 

Only NCL knows. I've been told that even the production crew doesn't always know the schedule until the start of the cruise, it depends on what else is happening. And that's on cruises with the same itinerary.

3 hours ago, Laszlo said:

Unfortunately sometimes you just need to bang on the right doors.

 

While standing around with a drink in our hands who comes over to us and ask how our cruise is going? The Captain and maybe even better yet the hotel director. I give the hotel director the cliff notes version of the story, the Captain doesn't look too pleased. He asked for our names and cabin number. I kid you not, by the time we got back to our cabin 20 minutes later not only was the fridge fixed.... it was brand new Lol

Yup, getting the message to the right person tends to work wonders. Years ago I was having issues with my NCL transfer back to JFK - they cancelled the excursion I'd booked and said there wasn't a shuttle. Apparently everyone on the ship was local LOL!

I was not pleased. Got into an elevator with the hotel director, who asked how it was going. I started to just say great (the cruise had been good) but saw those stripes and told him about the transfer fiasco. They called within an hour to tell me there would be a shuttle waiting when we disembarked.

One excellent reason to attend the Meet & Greet. They usually give you a card with the contact info for all the officers - and emphasize to use it.  I've also had success with more general issues by putting comments in the box by Guest Services, got a follow-up call the following day.

2 hours ago, njhorseman said:

My objection was to your statement "So nothing stopping me from filling a labelled container with anything I choose, especially if it happens to look like what's supposed to be in there" .

 

The fact that medications are coded is precisely what prevents you from getting away with violating a country's prescription medication laws simply by filling the container with anything you choose.

 

Your saying that you know about medication codes contradicts your contention that you can get away with filling a container, whether labeled or not, with whatever you want.

You realize my comment was as a follow-up to my issue of referrals to "original container" - how that is a laughable term. Talk about taking something out of context and running with it.

Note I NEVER said you could get away with filling a container with something else.

Assuming you have already booked the excursion(s) for the 2nd passenger, NCL should issue a refund - when my latitudes status changed and I was eligible for a better discount, I automatically got a refund. But if you call the Excursion desk they should verify or take care of it, if it isn't already in the works.

1 hour ago, david_sobe said:

I was just watching a youtube video of a family first time cruising with NCL.  They were raving at the price they got for the cruise and their airfare booking directly with NCL.  They were sailing Joy out of Miami and traveling from Canada.  They were a bit confused that because they were booked in different cabins their flights and airlines were all different even though they booked the cruise together.  The guy was flying into Ft Lauderdale on one airline and his mother was flying into Miami on a different airline.  They were not complaining and everything worked out.  They seemed happy that they saved money.  But this is something I would never do no matter how inexpensive it was. I would not want to fly on different airlines and arrive in different cities with my family.  Would you do it if you saved lots of money?

While I don't usually travel with family, I'd go with the savings if significant. You're going to be with your family the entire cruise, what's a few hours apart. Book the NCL shuttle from the airport, meet again at the terminal. But that is assuming that each party has someone capable of navigating airports, etc. - and probably not if there are small children involved.

14 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

 

There's actually a lot preventing you from filling the container with something other than what belongs in it.  If the authorities are suspicious about your medications they can identify them in an instant.

 

Also the prescription bottle's label itself identifies the color, shape and identifying code of the medication so there's a way to check the medication in the bottle against the label to see if they match without even going on line.

I am fully aware that medications are coded - which is why I have everything labeled. I wasn't suggesting that anyone could pass scrutiny if they put something else into a labeled bottle, just the fact that having a label on something does not mean that's what is in the bottle. And what you get from your pharmacy is not often an original container - just original to you.

As you said, the LABEL identifies the contents, whether the label is on a bottle or on a plastic bag.

I have to chuckle at the concept of "original container".  Most of my prescription meds come repackaged (by the pharmacy). So nothing stopping me from filling a labelled container with anything I choose, especially if it happens to look like what's supposed to be in there. Nothing magical about having something in a labeled bottle, unless it's also sealed. So unless advised otherwise by someone in an official capacity, I consider anything with a label to be an original container. 

For travel to places with the possibility of having my medications checked, I had my pharmacy print out labels that are perfect size for the little pill pouches you can get. And print out a copy of the actual prescription. For OTC stuff, I either peel off labels if I can or copy the info from the web, use that to label bags.

5 minutes ago, JGmf said:

I hope you can somehow recoup the money spent on your last minute flight.  I hope you can take a deep breath and enjoy the remaining days of your cruise.

A few things I've learned along the way, regardless of who books your flights. 

If you have the time, do NOT cancel your flight, especially if you have booked through NCL (or possibly any 3rd party) - the refund will most likely go back to NCL and you will have to pay for your new flight. The airline is obligated to find you another flight, at no additional cost. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean a flight that gets you to your destination in time - but if you can find a flight that works - ask for it! Google is your friend. I've gotten on alternative flights more than once when I gave them the flight information and didn't rely on their search. So I usually print out a list of alternative flights before I ever leave for the airport, just in case.

If you know your flight is has been delayed, go to the desk and see if they can move you to a different flight/different route. The early bird gets the empty seat on the next available plane. And some of the reps will actually listen when you tell them you won't make the connection. You do risk your luggage taking a different route, so proceed with caution.

After the fact, you might also get some compensation from the airline. SW automatically sent me a $100 voucher for a 1-hr delay that didn't even affect my plans.

Canadian airlines have strict rules, I got $700+ when they messed up my flights (I did have to ask for that one). 

I don't know about other airlines, but it never hurts to ask.

6 minutes ago, 9tee2Sea said:

i thought i read in the original post, they used NCL air, if that's the case , then its relevant ( they are blaming NCL AND the airline). Im just saying, I understand the anger, but having travel insurance should refund any monies they spent in order to get to the cruise on time.

Yes, they took the NCL BOGO offer. NCL bought tickets on an airline. The airline delayed the flights, not NCL. So the fact that they booked airfare through NCL is not relevant to the outcome. Their tickets were no different from what they could have booked themselves.

6 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

All it takes is one crappy experience like the OP unfortunately went through to make this crystal clear.  Hopefully others can learn this without going through it themselves.

My worst airline cancellation/reschedule, trying to get to Quebec City for a tour (not a cruise) was with flights I booked myself... Flight was on time...on time...all the way to the airport. 15 minutes from the airport - flight cancelled.

4 minutes ago, 9tee2Sea said:

 I do agree that after a fiasco like that, I would not use NCL BOGO again.  I used it once and had a great experience, maybe I was lucky, who knows.

How is the fact that they used BOGO relevant to what happened? Everyone else on the same plane had the same issues. Now, if it had been an issue of a short layover (which NCL unfortunately does do at times), I might lay some blame on NCL. But not the case here.

And for what it's worth, I've used BOGO a number of times and have had issues with flights, but fortunately on the return. And, by using the number that NCL provides with the flight information, I have ALWAYS been able to make contact with NCL - and yes, in the middle of the night. In those instances I've managed to get things resolved through the airline but NCL was aware of the issue.

1 hour ago, DCGuy64 said:

The person who authored this thread is still on the cruise, so it's a bit premature to slam the cruise line before the cruise itself is even finished.

Yea, as to that...OP made no mention of using a NCL hotel post-cruise yet said they had a 3-day deviation on the back end. NCL doesn't do 3-day deviations without the hotel, hope that works out for them.

6 minutes ago, DorothyB said:

I keep looking and can't find the letter posted on CC ??

Try post #16 or #80 on this thread. 

29 minutes ago, julig22 said:

No, as of now, when the person that was denied boarding has not been disclosed. Which is a red flag. I don't recall any mention of him having to wait around just to find out he wasn't boarding (which I certainly would have included with my list of "wrongs" had this happened to me). Just a mention of NCL not offering to pay for his taxi back to the airport.

Correction - He has stated

"I was notified when I got to the check in desk at the port"

and in response to a ?? regarding others

"It happened to a couple who traveled all the way from Europe. They decided to wait until final boarding, so I don't know if they made it onboard. I was so upset that I needed to get away from the port or I would have probably been arrested for disorderly conduct if I had stayed"

6 minutes ago, SomewhereGirl said:

Any withdrawn posts could be because the person's name (which I suppose could be fake) was on the letter that is now posted here on CC even if it was withdrawn elsewhere.  Do we know what time the person was denied boarding (was it after everyone else checked in)?  I don't have any reason to believe someone would take the time to come up with that story and draft a letter like that if it wasn't legit, just for "drama".  NCL can do wrong.  Mistakes happen.

 

The person named on the letter posted under the same F_B name as on the letter. And continued to post, even after the original posts and letter were deleted - presumably by the OP.

No, as of now, when the person that was denied boarding has not been disclosed. Which is a red flag. I don't recall any mention of him having to wait around just to find out he wasn't boarding (which I certainly would have included with my list of "wrongs" had this happened to me). Just a mention of NCL not offering to pay for his taxi back to the airport.

Yes, mistakes do happen. Sure NCL, just like anyone, can make mistakes. And they can usually be rectified without drama. And yes, people do make up stories for attention. Their 15 minutes of fame.

2 minutes ago, erisajd said:

I have zero reason to believe this not true.  Most ships have been going out over capacity.  Plus - given the VAST publicity on this one - if it was not true we would have heard from NCL.

 

Also - the total cruise fare was $521. there is no free cruise here - they got a credit for what they paid and then a bump for the same amount - do you think you can buy an inside single cabin for under $1000 with port fees and other charges these days except last minute?  

Still waiting for you to post links to the "VAST" publicity on this one. A withdrawn post on Reddit, reiteration of the withdrawn Reddit post, a withdrawn F_B post, and a discussion on CC, based on the withdrawn Reddit post isn't exactly vast.  My search on the subject came up with exactly 1 which is based solely on the Reddit post.

And no, if it wasn't true, NCL wouldn't add to any publicity by making a statement, especially since the original posts are gone. They might however insist that the posts be taken down...

You should be OK but here are a couple of options for you.

Peel off the label (or print a copy of the label from the website) and attach it to the pouch. That's what I've done with all my meds, prescription or otherwise, when I've traveled places that have restrictions. Never had them look, but I'm pretty sure it would pass inspection.  After all, most prescription meds aren't in sealed containers so there could be anything in there anyway.

You could also get a small container of a similar product and just put your Costco ones in there. They're not gonna know the difference.

2 hours ago, roddy good boy said:

But, do you think the original passenger just quietly slunk away, after he was denied boarding? He more than likely made quite a scene. I’m pretty sure that everyone in the boarding area was talking about it. Which is curious that more people didn’t report on it. 

Logistically, I would guess all the other passengers had already boarded LOL.

Why on earth would NCL tell this passenger that there was no room until they knew that everyone booked had arrived? I'm guessing that there are no-shows on nearly every cruise. So NCL has no idea of whether or not there will be a cabin until after the final check-in time.

As to asking for volunteers - again, they don't know for certain that they have an issue until everyone has boarded. At the airport, they know in advance how many people to expect because people have checked-in/gone through TSA prior to arriving at the gate, they know you are somewhere in the airport at least.

4 hours ago, SomewhereGirl said:

I don't understand why people are questioning whether the letter was real.  It looks like a picture of a piece of paper taken with a camera, not an email.  Probably a quick letter generated on scene.  Not a form letter for an uncommon situation. For what purpose would someone create that letter if it didn't come from NCL? 

Could be a picture of a printed email LOL.

A letter created on the scene should still have margins aligned and probably wouldn't come from "Guest Experience"

He gave no details about when he was notified (I read his original post on another site). No mention of the fact that he would have had to sit in the terminal and wait until everyone had boarded - in the event that there was a no-show. Why would they send him away any earlier?

6 minutes ago, erisajd said:

its been rported in several other travel locations - its $1040 - I imagine NCL will have to cover some of those indirect expenses . . . 

You mean other travel locations that are just repeating what he posted on Reddit and other sites before they were removed?  If you find an additional original source please post a link for all us.

On 5/27/2024 at 4:22 PM, julig22 said:

 

Just for those of you (like me) that think this is a cut and paste job, here is what the correspondence I've always gotten from NCL looks like.

Note the placement of the logo, the inclusion of an address, the consistent left margin (it's hard to not line up margins when typing a letter LOL). And my letter from Guest Experience was from a comment I sent after my cruise - not the department that I'd expect to be handling an issue such as this.