ak1004

We get all the information from our TA. I believe most TAs provide a copy of the reservation - if they don't, find a TA who does. What do I care about their financial relationship with the cruise line? My TA not only protects my interests, but also provides me generous rebates, many times in the 10-12% range. There is zero reason for me not to use a TA, but everyone is different. I don't see any conflict of interest, but again, it's your money.

Pretty sure it’s 150 days. Unless OP will post a screenshot from their invoice.

Same here. 150 days, 12 nights, booked Oct.4

Unfortunately many people don’t take responsibility and blame others for their mistakes.

You didn’t see this on your invoice when you booked?

This is a big IF. Who decides if the merchant failed to deliver? The credit card company? Many of those complaints are absurd, and credit card companies in 90% protect their customers, no matter if the reason for the chargeback is justified or not. In the link given, the family requested a full refund because their cabins were not connected. NCL offered them a future credit, but they refused and initiated a chargeback for a full refund. Does it fall under category "fails to deliver goods and services as described"? They got a full service from the company, including accommodations, food etc. If I were NCL, I would definitely ban them. Nobody wants troublemakers as their customers.

Let me say this: we don't know the whole story. Maybe as part of the settlement and the $20k refund was that they agreed not to sail on the line ever again. That said, as a business owner myself, I automatically ban customers who initiate a chargeback or PayPal dispute. If someone uses the product or the service and then requests the money back, why would I allow them to use it again? Who guarantees they won't do it again? Without knowing the full picture and judging anyone, it's hard to know what exactly happened. But as a business owner myself, I can understand why in certain cases a business would ban someone from using their services or products ever again.

Yes. Personally I find it very hard to believe that someone can be banned from a cruise line based on a media interview.

No reason was given? And all they did was an interview to USA today?

Usually the tour companies provide refunds if the ship doesn't dock in the port. Was it different in your case? Personally I would never book with a company that doesn't provide a refund if the port is cancelled.

This is why you always buy a house with a realtor and a lawyer. And this is why you should always use a TA to book a cruise. And if you don't, then don't complain that they are trying to screw you..

The penalties also used to start 120 days before sailing, now it's 180 days. Depends when you booked.

Agree 100%. But people don’t take responsibility those days and blame others for their mistakes.

I’m not sure about booking online, but when you book with a TA, they always put in on hod and you have around a week to pay the deposit. Also I believe all the cancellation policy terms are on the website as well.

It’s $150 pp up to 180 days. It’s all in your invoice.

So you never bothered to check the cancellation policy or simply look at your invoice, but now you are complaining that Oceania simply followed their policy, and will never sail on Oceania again? Makes perfect sense. btw this was not a fine print. It was right in your invoice, with specific dates.

How they were banned by NCL? Did they get a specific letter? Was any reason given?

I agree with you. That said, many lines have a huge disconnect between their customer service and on board experience. We had a very bad experience with Silversea air department - but it doesn't mean we will stop sailing on SS. Also, we don't have full information about what is happening. Many guests report only partial information. Some guests don't even bother to read their invoices and don't know what the cancellation policy is (some are not aware about the recent change of $150 cancellation penalty). So I would not trust 100% everything that you read.

Which cruise did you book if you don't mind?

Exactly our sentiment. The only issue is that for the price of PH on Azamara, I can book SB and get an all inclusive experience and larger cabin. PH prices on the R ships (both Azamara and Oceania) don't make sense to me.

I don't care about the line business model. I care about the value that I GET. After sailing on 12 different lines, we won't go back to Celebrity or other big ship. Sailing on small ships provides a completely different experience, and I won't compromise it just to punish a cruise line.

Same for us - but Azamara cabins and showers are below our comfort zone, and they cost about the same as cabins on Riviera/Marin/Vista.

In any case, if your actual booking was before Sep.1, you should get 100% of the deposit back for Nov.2024 cruise. If it was after Sep.1, it's $150 penalty, not the whole deposit. Check your reservation, it should be clearly mentioned there.

The new cancellation policy implies only $150 per person penalty, not the whole deposit non refundable. Something doesn't add up here.

They still should refund the difference because the deposit is $250 per person or $500 total. Happened to us a while ago, they refunded the deposit less OBC that we used.