Ms BumbleBee

On 5/7/2020 at 9:28 AM, AK Dreaming said:

I got seven (7) emails telling me they got my refund request?

I got 28 LOL

I requested my refund today.  NCL was so excited that they sent me 28 emails confirming my request LOL.  I appreciate the enthusiasm.

I received two emails for my cancelled 5/14 cruise.  The first was an attached pdf and had one had one sentence about requesting a refund.  The second one had absolutely no mention whatsoever about the option for a refund and explaining how my awesome FCC Could be used.  I feel that is something that is not just borderline it crosses the line on sales practices - I get the fact they want to highlight the option they want but it is wrong.  I have no doubt it is actually more than likely illegal but I also get that at this point the rule book is out the window.

I am more concerned at the audacious manner this tragedy is being manipulated to their benefit and how many people who will not realize there is an option for a refund (the option of one week also cannot be legal either but that is another matter)

On 4/26/2020 at 7:55 AM, deliver42 said:

I doubt the FCC's old be worthless. They would be alienating too many people depending on them. NCL would lose ALL credibility.

I think the FCCs have a better shot then the refunds in Chapter 11.  Refunds are people walking away.  FCC are for people who want to stay cruising.  I think the best case is to sweeten the pot to convert as many people to FCC.

28 minutes ago, Islandhop9 said:

"A lesser value refund". By this they mean if you want the full amount you paid for the cruise. You will not lose any real money!

Deceptive, it will be interesting how many lawsuits result from NCL practices.

Restricting the window to ask for a refund essentially means a refund will be ~104 days...

I agree.  Deceptive practices for sure.  If they were a bank they would be in hot water telling people that a full refund is lesser value.  

5 minutes ago, Jobeth66 said:

 

I'm definitely not done cruising, but for the near future (once it's safer) I'll only be doing last-minute cruises from NY or  Cape Liberty where I can do a same-day drive and not have to worry about flights or hotels, and where money is only 'tied up' for 30-45 days, tops.  I can be parked at Cape Liberty in less than an hour.  Our family can generally take time off work on fairly short notice, so that's going to be the way to go for us for now.  

I think those are the people who will stay cruising - and it makes total sense.  I cannot with my animals.  I have to coordinate months in advance ( have show dogs so I cannot board them as they are intact for showing and kennels do not allow intact) so I just cannot take the chance again.  

Last year Cuba and this year Alaska - it is not a good fit for me unless they want to allow 3 big hairy Aussies dogs to travel with me LOL

1 hour ago, Phoenix cruiser said:

The other thing of interest to me is why NCL took so long to cancel our Alaska cruise. Canada announced ages ago they were closed to cruise ships until July 1 and all the other major cruise lines immediately canceled their Alaska cruises since they cannot sail without a stop in a foreign port. I can only assume NCL was waiting for folks to pull out first so there was no obligation to refund our money.

It is simple.  They have no money.  They are dripping the funds out as long as possible.  As more waves are added it is less and less probable we will ever see our funds.  They also hope to get people to convert to FCC.  Personally at this point they would have to give me 200% before I would even blink and even then they would have “special” pricing for us that would have been jacked up 300%.

Totally done with cruising for years

Yep My 5/16 cruise says I need to make a payment.  I bet tomorrow we get cancelled

6 hours ago, MoCruiseFan said:

 

Interest, seriously?  Rates are > ½% right now.  more like 1/10%.

 

You realize the rate from the Fed is not available to the masses and I can guarantee you that cruise ships LOC are not going to get the best rates. In fact I am positive that they will be doing whatever they can not to need a new one.  I am sure the LOC they currently have is being used but the rates that would be offered to them currently would make Cousin Guido’s coal black heart fill with joy.

I wonder if NCL would agree it is acceptable for me at final payment date to tell them I am processing the payment and it could take up to 90 days.  Think they would agree???  LOL

12 hours ago, david_sobe said:

Has NCL lost its mind?
They are not sailing and have no idea when sailing will begin.

They are behind in refunds to the point people are freaking out

Customers are worried they wont get to use their FCC.

 

Yet, the are focusing on changing names of rooms and increasing the costs on mini suites and the concierge class cabins on Joy. Really?  It just shows how out of touch they are and where their priorities are.

Oh yeah…..they removed one specialty restaurant from the "free" at sea offers too.

GOOD JOB FDR AND NCL
You really know how to run a company!

 

Wait till the Haven on the Joy is over run with concierge class cabins LOL
Maybe this is a good time to re-offer the option to buy dinners in the Haven again 🙂

Their next advertising should be Marie Antoinette saying “Let them eat cake”. They won’t be known to nickel and dime anymore its going to beg dollars and more dollars. Assuming they survive

3 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

It's not even a remotely similar process. There's no choice involved. You just get your stimulus rebate ...it's not as if the IRS has to be told whether you want the money or a future credit and then manually input that decision into their system. Everyone gets the money . Writing a program to do it should have been relatively simply.

HMMM  again not everyone is getting money.  Most people are, not everyone.  Companies have had to create processes with incredible speed to get money out to people but it was not simple - not even for the IRS.

I do not expect for the cruise lines to move as fast but the truth is this has nothing to do with process and all to do with holding on to funds (or replenish funds) 

1 minute ago, njhorseman said:

After a careful rereading of your post, one sentence somewhat rescues you, the last...

"This has nothing to do with complexity - for ANY of the cruise lines, it’s cash flow and I bet they are weighing bankruptcy especially as this continues.  "

 

And I say "somewhat" because the "they are weighing bankruptcy" part isn't true. If you were paying attention to what the industry has done you'd know that the three major cruise lines have raised enough additional cash through borrowing and in Carnival's case also selling an equity interest to the Saudi Arabian royal family's investment company to have sufficient cash to carry them for a substantial time...probably at least to year's end. So there's no immediate need for bankruptcy.

 

By the way, as a retired actuary and former head of strategic planning for a huge insurance company, I'm shocked when some who's a senior VP for a Fortune 100 financial institution says things like "they spent it" and "there's no money to refund". Since when does any company keep enough cash on hand pay all their short term liabilities? 

Again focusing on port fees taxes and excursions, all money they are required to have on hand to pay out and NOT THEIR MONEY TO SPEND - I would assume most companies would have that not co-mingled with other funds but again that’s just me.  Like if a company decides not to pay the payroll taxes or Social Security for their employees - that is not “short term liabilities” that’s called something like a FELONY.

And of course they are weighing bankruptcy - if they were not then they would not be doing their job.  Weighing bankruptcy does not mean pulling the trigger.  It is the responsible thing for a business to do - you need to keep all options available including bankruptcy.  And I do not blame them for trying to keep cash as long as possible - but some of that money is not part of their money - it is held for other parties - that was my focus.

I guess things have changed a lot since you retired.  

15 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

 

 

Sorry, but the post shows a lack of knowledge about normal business practices. When a company takes in cash they don't hold on to it just in case they have to make a refund. It's used to pay their ongoing current expenses with some retained as cash on the books. The advance payments are booked as liabilities. 

 

We have an unprecedented emergency . None of the major cruise lines...in fact businesses of all types don't have the cash on hand to cover what's suddenly having to be paid out all at once. Airlines have the same problem as the cruise lines, for example.

Hmmm well I am a Senior VP of a Fortune 100 financial institution - I will make sure to let my company know I am incompetent and lack knowledge of normal business practices.  Good to know.  I am sure if we ran our company as NCL we would be shutdown in a millisecond but carry on

Here is the deal.  Excursions and taxes and port fees have an existing workflow.  All of those could be refunded at a click of the button.  The reason those are not (and are really what annoys me as that is not their money other than their cut of excursions) is because THEY SPENT IT.  The whole excuse of no process does not ring true - the fact is there is no money to refund so the hope is that 90 days gives them time to hopeful hook more reservations - I mean my 5/16 cruise is still open for booking and they know it won’t go (Alaska via Seattle) but if they can get a deposit then they will take it.

While the other cruise lines may be doing it - I have yet to see anyone with these tight timelines and ridiculous refund process.  I cancelled an excursion 30 days ago - still no refund.  That money should never have been spent by them but times are tight.  They spent our gov’t taxes and port fees - that money was not ever theirs to spend but yet its gone.  

This has nothing to do with complexity - for ANY of the cruise lines, it’s cash flow and I bet they are weighing bankruptcy especially as this continues.  

It looks to me that NCL not only wants the cake and eat it, they want you to bake it, serve it to them and pay for the kitchen to build it.  It sounds like they do not consider the FCC to be real money and want you to give them more hard cold cash for your deposit and the Monopoly money for everything else.

If this is the case then I feel even better that I made the decision to NEVER cruise with them again.  I am hoping next week they will cancel my 5/16 cruise so I never have to think about NCL again

2 minutes ago, seaman11 said:

wow, that sucks.  your cursed ., i drove all the way to harrahs Atlantic city from VA and they told me when i got there that the governor is closing all casinos , with only a few hours notice.  smfh. i was pissed. no room and i ended up driving 9 hours in one day plus gas and tolls. 

 

 

but i dont think alaska would go, maybe from florida to bahamas and such. 

That sucks too.  I mean in the scheme of things we are in good shape and I am praying my trip to London in September is still going to be a go but at least with that one I have plenty of time to hope things will get better for the world.

Just now, seaman11 said:

i see, was cuba a bad cruise? 

HA - they closed Cuba 10 days before our cruise.  I am cursed!  

Just now, seaman11 said:

did you keep your air travel ? 

I already cancelled my air and excursions.  I just want the refund not the FCC since I have no plans on cruising in the near future after Cuba last year and then this.  I will stick to land based ford a while.

2 hours ago, mugtech said:

Perhaps next week they will extend suspensions to 5/18/20.

I hope so since I am scheduled for 5/16 LOL

It’s death by 1000 paper cuts - my sailing is 5/16.  I wish they would just cancel so I can get my money back.

I just wish they would go ahead and cancel everything in Alaska up to July 1.  We are scheduled for 5/16 out of Seattle and that is just not going to happen.  I do hope those of you after July 1st can cruise we are just ready to get our money back at this point.

I have been stalking my 5/16 Joy inventory and it has stayed basically the same for a month plus and today every category is available (at really inflated prices).  Up to a few weeks ago the Haven was sold out except for a small handful of rooms and now every category is open.  So either they were hiding inventory or there was a mass exodus into FCC in the last few days.

I doubt we will know the truth but I am hanging on to get a refund vs FCC

I am on the Joy 5/16 and cancelled excursions  yesterday and was told 90 days - I sure hope it is 10 like you!

21 hours ago, mugtech said:

Cancelled my excursions on a Royal cruise I intend to cancel in the future, 5/17 /20 sailing, and just yesterday, 10 days after cancelling, the full credit hit my credit card.  Got my refund directly from Shorex. 

We used to cruise RCCL a lot years ago then as our son got older we tried NCL mostly for the activities - if we cruise again anytime soon it will be RCCL.  They seem to be the best of the bunch on this stuff.

We were scheduled with them last year to Cuba - we cancelled and they were absolutely so easy to deal with!  I can understand NCL holding the cruise fare hostage but PREPAID excursions and Service charges and port fees seem to not make any sense other than to keep afloat in hopes that cruising starts back up and the money comes flowing in.