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6 hours ago, SwimmingDragon said:

People have been turned away from the cruise for providing a "Home" test. You must use a company that provides a PCR test. It must go to a lab. The Home tests are not PCR tests. 

 

That is incorrect information. The policy says PCR or Antigen tests. Antigen tests do not go to a lab. They are done with a swab, sometimes by the person taking the test but monitored by the testing staff. The staff will ID the test taker read the results and document the results. These are rapid result tests. These Antigen tests are what NCL is using at the pier. Not all antigen tests are home tests.

2 hours ago, Seany527 said:

Be happy that they didn’t cancel your entire cruise, like they did to me. 

What cruise did they cancel?

3 minutes ago, BigGuru said:

My concern is not with NCL following applicable law or that they have a disclaimer somewhere on their website, its that they provide information which people rely on, which was not correct at the time that NCL provided it.  For example, as of today, NCL is still selling "On Your Own" tours for Rome, Florence, and Capri for cruises this fall.  Yet, these are not consistent with the current regulations.  So, either: (1) NCL is hoping the regulations will change before the excursion is set, in which case  the consumer is none the wiser; (2) NCL knows that the excursions will likely not go forward, but is willing to take in payment, hold the cash, and then try to make amends with the customer later; or (3) NCL has no idea what it is doing.  Any of those circumstances are not reassuring and do not speak well of NCL's customer service. 

 

Yes, those on Cruise Critic are generally the type of person that can work around that by reading every post, getting state department updates, jumping on Westlaw to research binding maritime law precedents and spending their time going through Italian regulations.   However, that does not excuse bad communications from NCL

Big Guru you are so right and the majority of posters on this thread agree with you. NCL is being DECEPTIVE with all their communications and the way they delay their updates and use asterick's and small print at the last minute to advise paying customers they will not get what they paid for. Certain people have different opinions and want to defend NCL to the end. 

5 minutes ago, Gen X Life said:

The  HOP ON HOP OFF Bus Excursion has been deleted from some cruises/Italy ports. 

On my account all the Italy excursions have disappeared except the ones I booked. I think if you book excursions at a port the other options available will disappear as you cannot book two at the same time. 

7 minutes ago, LyonTerry said:

And here's the latest (from the Message Center for our Sep 19 Epic cruise)... "Effective August 20, 2021 , guests from the UK departing from Barcelona aboard Norwegian Epic will not be allowed to disembark the vessel at Italian ports due to the currently required 5 day self-isolation period for Italy. We apologize for the inconvenience but we are working to ensure compliance with evolving regulations."

WOW Now they are going to not let people from the UK off the ship period in Italy. I dont think Rules and Regs have changed in Italy for months but NCL is telling UK people effective today they cannot get off the ship in Italy. Pure deception on NCL's part. 

1 minute ago, DCGuy64 said:

Doesn’t matter, NCL has to obey local rules. 

Do you work for NCL?  You still do not get the point that NCL used deception with its paying customers. But you are right, every one gets to have their own opinion so you can defend them all you want. And you are right the complaining will not help but it may make some people feel better. 

Trimone and DCguy You are not getting the point. Just let people complain if they want to. NCL is out right lying on the website.  Its not the fact that they are doing this it is how they did it in such a deceitful way. You keep saying the other cruise lines are doing it as well, however, they are not advertising 100% percent vaccinated cruises which allows private shore excursions and then adding small print 3 weeks prior to sailing that they were wrong. NCL is still hiding the fact they are doing this as they have not advised any passengers except with fine print and an asterisk buried in the website.  NCL knows when the majority of passengers find out, they may cancel. 

I myself will not cancel but let people vent if they want

Could be a gov restriction except for the fact this restriction for US travelers is clear, you need to show a vaccination card to move freely in Italy. Our ship is mandatory 100 % fully vaccinated so all passengers will have vaccination cards to move freely in Italy. NCL has decided to now tell everyone you cannot get off the ship once on it Italian ports unless it is NCL sponsored excursion. This was not ever told to the passengers and it was not posted on the website until yesterday in fine print for Italy. 

NCL adverstised becuase the ship is 100% vaccinated you can do what ever you want on shore.  So my question is what changed yesterday with the ministry to cause NCL to put this mandate in place now?

Soccermom it appears it does not matter what company you use for tours. At this point NCL will not let you off the ship in Italy ports unless you have an NCL excursion booked. However, prior to the cruise and after NCL cannot stop you from going anywhere you want per the Italian Health Ministry guidelines(with proof of vaccination).  This is my understanding after reading the Italian guidelines for US vistors. 

I also spoke to NCL today as I am on the 9/13/21 sailing of the Getaway. I spoke to a resolution manager. I was told NCL emailed passengers today and advised of the new excursion rule which was based on the Italian Authorities requirements. I asked When the Italian authorities gave NCL this new requirement and she said she would not/could not answer that. 

I explained I did not recieve the email and she said it was my responsibility to check the website daily for new information, not theirs  to send emails. NCL is trying to avoid cancellations and that is the bottom line.