Working with a rude CS at Norwegian

[jackson bernard]

What the response SHOULD have been was "you're looking at the amount pre-tax, and I'm looking at the amount including tax".

 

 

 

.

 

And you know this how?

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Forums mobile app

[PoppyandNana]

Techincally they say you can't, but most ships let you do it anyway. Just don't fully count on it.

 

One way to see is get your folio during the trip and you will see what your running balance is (the tips charge every day). If the OBC is covering the tips as the cruise goes along, you'll know it's covered. You can also go to the customer service and tell them you didn't realize the OBC didn't cover it and were counting on that, and they will usually let you use it for that.

 

What do you mean technically you can't? Covering the daily gratuity charge is precisely what OBC is for. All charges to your on board account including drinks, spa treatments, and gratuities are offset by the amount of OBC you have.

[jingle5616]

Currently, between NCL and 2 popular websites the prices I got at NCL are same. Would you still advice to go with the 3rd party website over NCL ? Do you think the prices at the website will eventually be lower than NCL ? The only reason I'm hesitating is that I got the port side cabin for a south bound cruise to Alaska and now only starboard side cabins are left. Should I just cancel with NCL and wait for a port side cabin to open up eventually ? We are a family of 4 so any savings will be helpful. Thanks.

 

Keep looking at different cruise travel selling sights for the discounts and OBC, discounts and OBC offers come and go. As far as the cabin availability, what is listed on the web sight might not be all that is available. Talk to the travel agent and specifically ask for where you want to be, you'll be surprised.

[sparks1093]

What do you mean technically you can't? Covering the daily gratuity charge is precisely what OBC is for. All charges to your on board account including drinks, spa treatments, and gratuities are offset by the amount of OBC you have.

 

If the OBC is given by NCL then it's usually not refundable and it usually specifies that it cannot be used for the service charges. It used to be that the onboard system couldn't distinguish between the types of OBC but that has changed.

[Sauer-kraut]

I had no idea you couldn't use OBC for the daily tips. That is good to know because we were planning on using it for that.

That all depends on the type of OBC it is. Do your homework, OBC from NCL through a promotion IS NOT useable towards the DSC.

 

What does DSC mean ?

 

Daily Service Charge assessed per person per day. This alleviates the need for putting cash in envelopes and tipping everyone.

[sjbdtz]

And you know this how?

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Forums mobile app

 

 

the booking of 20+ cruises with them. I know that when I call to book, they quote me different numbers than the base numbers, but the same numbers as the taxes-in numbers...oh, and I'm not obtuse.

 

That's how.

 

 

.

[rics321]

Your accounting is fuzzy. $600 OBC is not the same as cash. You can't subtract it from $8,000 and say the cabins cost $7,400.

 

How do you get 50k airmiles on an $8,000 purchase? And you are valuing the 50k airmiles at the very high rate of 4 cents/mile. You can only do that IF you would have spent cash for the business class ticket anyway and IF they have reward seat availability on the same itinerary you would have spent cash for. Personally I use 1 cent/mile as a conservative estimate of miles value. And to claim the business class seat you have to shell out cash for the other leg of the trip.

 

I spend a lot of money of cruises so OBC's have full value to me. For some ppl it have no value or limited value ... so I get your point.

 

The TA I used gives 8 miles per dollar bonus when I book a cruise with them ... and double dipping using the TA branded credit card give me an additional 2 miles a dollar. However the TA considers only 1250 dollars out of 2000 spent as commissionable fare ... so I get 10 miles a dollar for every cabin on commissionable fare ... so 12500 points per cabin. So 50,000 airmiles for 4 cabins worth $8000. Yes I fly internationally by business class .... the cheapest flight on the dates I want is appox $3900 using a airline I refuse to fly ........ So I'd rather pay $4800 and fly with my favorite airline. Yes I book my ticket using reward miles ... so I did get the 4 cents a mile value.

[rics321]

You probably weren't here during the debacle of the Florida TA who went bust, but instead of the fees being collected by the cruise line, he was asking for payments through PayPal, and not remitting them to NCL.

 

The moderator won't permit naming TAs...

 

The link regarding No Discounting was a CruiseCritic news post - researched by someone, not just an opinion.

 

These were facts. You just may not be aware of them.

 

 

Question: If you are a high-roller at the casino, and have sailed NCL frequently, why wouldn't you be taking advantage of the comp cabins through Casinos at Sea, instead of using a TA? Surely free beats a $50 - $200 discount?

 

 

 

.

 

The florida TA you are talking about is not a TA ... more like a scam artist and his intention to start was not to sell travel ... its like saying Bernie Madoff was a financial planner. That said Paypal, MasterCard, Visa Card and Amex protect and refund 100% all losses incurred due to fraud. So again the risk is 0% ... so don't make up stuff!

 

Well that research is NOT fact based. Do you have a letter from NCL stating that is their policy? Because if you don't its just conjecture without that. Of course mom and pop TA's and NCL reps will lie to save their commissions and get a sale. Doesn't mean its a fact! It just proves people lie to make commissions/money.

 

I have proof on the largest online TA site where fares are $50 less than NCL ... and the fares including all port taxes etc are also $50 to $200 less than NCL's website fares ... Get the mod to let me share my findings and I will gladly publish it. This is definitely in the interest of the cruising public ... so I am sure they can make an exception if members request them.

 

If you read my original post carefully before jumping to conclusions you'd see I mentioned the booking I did was for my relatives! I get casino discounts for my self and my direct family ... not the rest of the world and I pretty sure all CAS bookers know that.

 

That said I rarely ever use CAS to book directly because I get a better deal using a casino host agency which gives me a deal better that CAS ... They throw in free limo transfers, free airfare and free cash sometimes.

[rics321]

I don't even bother replying to such people. The CS rep hung up on me but Ewoodspark thinks because he told me NO I have made that up in my mind. Whatever !!! Yes I do agree that we got more info out of this thread than I had hoped for. Now to know the names of the 2 TA sites. Private Message doesn't work on this site either. RICS321 give us some clues.

 

If mods give me permission I will gladly publish the names of the TA's .... without permission I don't want to break the rules of this message board.

[IWORK2CRUISE]

TA can not give a lower price on a cruise than what NCL has, it is in the contract with those Travel Agencies......The only thing a TA can give is some additional OBC which comes out of their commission.......If a travel Agent quotes a lower price than what NCL lists, then they will lose their contract with NCL.

 

I thought that was true until I booked the Epic last year.

In the past, I have always booked right through NCL.

I "think" our prior PCC may have retired as I could no longer reach her. When I considered booking the cruise and was about to call NCL, I happened to receive an email from a travel partner (one of our airlines)that offered a pretty good rate and extra bonus points.

Next, I called NCL and gave my Latitudes # and the desired ship and date.

The price was higher and I questioned it. I was told that sometimes travel partners have booked blocks and the prices cannot be matched.

I went back to the travel partner and booked the cruise. I saw a price drop later and moved from inside to balcony, through the same travel partner, while still monitoring the rate on NCL.

I made out better.

 

Again, I always thought that dealing directly with the cruise line was the best. I now know to check multiple sources.

[rics321]

Currently, between NCL and 2 popular websites the prices I got at NCL are same. Would you still advice to go with the 3rd party website over NCL ? Do you think the prices at the website will eventually be lower than NCL ? The only reason I'm hesitating is that I got the port side cabin for a south bound cruise to Alaska and now only starboard side cabins are left. Should I just cancel with NCL and wait for a port side cabin to open up eventually ? We are a family of 4 so any savings will be helpful. Thanks.

 

I am really sorry I cant name my TA because of board rules. I think in your case you should stick with NCL because for you the selected cabin seems invaluable. That said enjoy Alaska ... its truly beautiful.

[rics321]

I thought that was true until I booked the Epic last year.

In the past, I have always booked right through NCL.

I "think" our prior PCC may have retired as I could no longer reach her. When I considered booking the cruise and was about to call NCL, I happened to receive an email from a travel partner (one of our airlines)that offered a pretty good rate and extra bonus points.

Next, I called NCL and gave my Latitudes # and the desired ship and date.

The price was higher and I questioned it. I was told that sometimes travel partners have booked blocks and the prices cannot be matched.

I went back to the travel partner and booked the cruise. I saw a price drop later and moved from inside to balcony, through the same travel partner, while still monitoring the rate on NCL.

I made out better.

 

Again, I always thought that dealing directly with the cruise line was the best. I now know to check multiple sources.

 

Thanks for backing me up! Looks like you are I used the exact same TA! The bonus air miles are so sweeeeet, specially if you have their branded cc!

 

BTW NCL reps lie about our TA booking blocks ... because our TA has discounted price on every room and every sailing. But then again salespeople lie .... and some ppl are so gullible that they will believe anything said by sales people who work on commission!

 

Someone told me as a fact ...." my travel agent told me rates are fixed by ncl ... that is why they cant give a discount." So precious, so cute ... I simply told that person "A gullible fool and his money are soon parted".

[JuneauWhatIMean]

I heart you, rics321. BTW, it's fairly easy to put what you want to post in code. I.e., phonetic spelling, spacing, etc. "Mary had a great big lamb named dot com dot com and it's fares were low as cost co and dot com, and travel o city ee I ee I ooohhh....." Well, you get it. ;)

 

Cheers,

 

Ali

[rics321]

the booking of 20+ cruises with them. I know that when I call to book, they quote me different numbers than the base numbers, but the same numbers as the taxes-in numbers...oh, and I'm not obtuse.

 

That's how.

 

 

.

 

Just clarifying did you say you were not obtuse?

 

We now another poster here who has history on this board since 2005 ... who basically says other TAs can charge fares lower than NCL because he used the other TA to make a booking. Now you have made 20+ reservations on NCL as stated by you above ... and you couldn't figure that out ... would that be being obtuse? Pls clarify.

 

That said it took me like 20 mins of research to figure NCL agents and other TA's lie and that rates can be lower than NCL set prices. So what am I??? LOL Don't answer that question!

 

But since we are talking of butlers ... Butlers are people who listen and do what they are told kinda like ppl who believe what TA and commission earning ncl agents say .... by believing what TA's and NCL sales people tell they lose 50 to 200 a cruise.

 

Now look at people like me ... I didn't take the word of a NCL agent at face value because he/she has an inherent conflict of interest. I verified and found he lied in 20 mins on research.

 

Now lets blow up my skills on the real world level ... my skils could save a billion dollar company hundreds of millions ... so I kinda should get paid a millions for my skill. That are the true skills valued in a capitalistic society.

 

The person who takes orders and simply follows and believes what they are told and make tons of reservations with ncl just because they are told other TAs cant charge lower than ncl ... they lose ... they get fired! That is my whole point on why a butler should get paid at minimum wage level. There skills are minimum wage level skills in our world. So kinda tip $10 per hr of work a butler does ... so appox $50-$70 a cruise.

[pokerpro5]

Yeah I can't even believe this is a debate here.

 

There's a difference between what TAs are SUPPOSED to do by NCL rules and what they actually do.

 

There are a ton of TAs who discount NCL fares through various incentives. That's pretty well established by like a million posters on this board, so I don't know why we are still having the "Can a TA really get you a better deal than NCL on the same room on the same cruise?"

 

Answer: YES.

 

With that said, if you are just getting a cheap inside cabin, the hassle probably isn't worth it, because you're not saving much, the chance of mistakes goes up when you use a TA, and the difficulty to change things also rises. But if you're getting expensive rooms (or more than one room), an incentive-providing TA is definitely the way to go.

Edited July 23, 2014 by pokerpro5

[sjbdtz]

Just clarifying did you say you were not obtuse?

 

We now another poster here who has history on this board since 2005 ... who basically says other TAs can charge fares lower than NCL because he used the other TA to make a booking. Now you have made 20+ reservations on NCL as stated by you above ... and you couldn't figure that out ... would that be being obtuse? Pls clarify.

 

That said it took me like 20 mins of research to figure NCL agents and other TA's lie and that rates can be lower than NCL set prices. So what am I??? LOL Don't answer that question!

 

But since we are talking of butlers ... Butlers are people who listen and do what they are told kinda like ppl who believe what TA and commission earning ncl agents say .... by believing what TA's and NCL sales people tell they lose 50 to 200 a cruise.

 

Now look at people like me ... I didn't take the word of a NCL agent at face value because he/she has an inherent conflict of interest. I verified and found he lied in 20 mins on research.

 

Now lets blow up my skills on the real world level ... my skils could save a billion dollar company hundreds of millions ... so I kinda should get paid a millions for my skill. That are the true skills valued in a capitalistic society.

 

The person who takes orders and simply follows and believes what they are told and make tons of reservations with ncl just because they are told other TAs cant charge lower than ncl ... they lose ... they get fired! That is my whole point on why a butler should get paid at minimum wage level. There skills are minimum wage level skills in our world. So kinda tip $10 per hr of work a butler does ... so appox $50-$70 a cruise.

 

I said I was done. You argue by talking louder.

 

But to clarify, my last post was to Jackson Bernard, in reference to knowing that they frequently quote the all-in price.

 

That's all.

 

And most of my cruises are comped.

 

 

 

.

[dwjoe]

The TA I used gives 8 miles per dollar bonus when I book a cruise with them ... and double dipping using the TA branded credit card give me an additional 2 miles a dollar.

That is amazingly good.

 

Can you email me at [my screen name] + [23] + @verizon.net?

[uvasag]

That is amazingly good.

 

Can you email me at [my screen name] + [23] + @verizon.net?

 

Can you email me at rdoshi13 with yahoo email ?

[punkincc]

Hanging up on customers seems to be a trend they seem to be following. This incident has upset me too. One more time the rep acts like a jerk and I'm canceling my booking. If I don't get the cabin I want at that point, then I'll just postpone my trip and boycott NCL for life.

 

OP, I don't think anyone has offered this solution, which is simply to transfer your NCL reservation to the TA of your choice. You have 60 days from booking to complete the transaction, as long as you are not past the final payment date, OR paid in full. A transfer ensures that you do not give up the cabin you already have booked. You retain the OBC and perks NCL offered at the time you booked, AND get anything extra the TA offers in perks like OBC and even a lower base price for the cruise if offered.

 

You would just inform the TA of choice and they will initiate the paperwork. We have transferred cruises a couple times, and it is usually completed within a day or two. We always retained the cabin we already had booked. Of course, once transferred you will deal directly with the TA for any problems or changes to the reservation. You can still make dinner reservations, etc through NCL direct however.

 

By the way, I have always found NCL to be open and above board when discussing pricing as compared to that offered in some cases by TAs. My PCC readily encouraged me to transfer my cruise should I find a better deal with what he called their "travel partners". He also explained step by step what I needed to do to get a transfer accomplished. Some TAs cannot offer a lower base fare. If they cannot, they are certainly not going to recommend you go over to Agency B where they sometimes do. They will simply state that they cannot offer a lower fare. It does not mean they are lying any more than a sales clerk at Sears who has no obligation to tell me I could buy this TV for less down the street. In all our bookings with TAs, I have only had two or three occasions where they could offer a lower base fare than NCL.

Edited July 23, 2014 by punkincc

[uvasag]

OP, I don't think anyone has offered this solution, which is simply to transfer your NCL reservation to the TA of your choice. You have 60 days from booking to complete the transaction, as long as you are not past the final payment date, OR paid in full. A transfer ensures that you do not give up the cabin you already have booked. You retain the OBC and perks NCL offered at the time you booked, AND get anything extra the TA offers in perks like OBC and even a lower base price for the cruise if offered.

 

You would just inform the TA of choice and they will initiate the paperwork. We have transferred cruises a couple times, and it is usually completed within a day or two. We always retained the cabin we already had booked. Of course, once transferred you will deal directly with the TA for any problems or changes to the reservation. You can still make dinner reservations, etc through NCL direct however.

 

By the way, I have always found NCL to be open and above board when discussing pricing as compared to that offered in some cases by TAs. My PCC readily encouraged me to transfer my cruise should I find a better deal with what he called their "travel partners". He also explained step by step what I needed to do to get a transfer accomplished. Some TAs cannot offer a lower base fare. If they cannot, they are certainly not going to recommend you go over to Agency B where they sometimes do. They will simply state that they cannot offer a lower fare. It does not mean they are lying any more than a sales clerk at Sears who has no obligation to tell me I could buy this TV for less down the street. In all our bookings with TAs, I have only had two or three occasions where they could offer a lower base fare than NCL.

 

Thank you. That's a great solution if it works out. I'll try calling the 800# of the website where I saw the bonus OBC and see if they can do the transfer. At this point, most of the balcony cabins are shown as booked and since July is peak season for Alaska cruise I highly doubt the prices will come down. They have gone up since I booked last week.

[uvasag]

OP, I don't think anyone has offered this solution, which is simply to transfer your NCL reservation to the TA of your choice. You have 60 days from booking to complete the transaction, as long as you are not past the final payment date, OR paid in full. A transfer ensures that you do not give up the cabin you already have booked. You retain the OBC and perks NCL offered at the time you booked, AND get anything extra the TA offers in perks like OBC and even a lower base price for the cruise if offered.

 

You would just inform the TA of choice and they will initiate the paperwork. We have transferred cruises a couple times, and it is usually completed within a day or two. We always retained the cabin we already had booked. Of course, once transferred you will deal directly with the TA for any problems or changes to the reservation. You can still make dinner reservations, etc through NCL direct however.

 

By the way, I have always found NCL to be open and above board when discussing pricing as compared to that offered in some cases by TAs. My PCC readily encouraged me to transfer my cruise should I find a better deal with what he called their "travel partners". He also explained step by step what I needed to do to get a transfer accomplished. Some TAs cannot offer a lower base fare. If they cannot, they are certainly not going to recommend you go over to Agency B where they sometimes do. They will simply state that they cannot offer a lower fare. It does not mean they are lying any more than a sales clerk at Sears who has no obligation to tell me I could buy this TV for less down the street. In all our bookings with TAs, I have only had two or three occasions where they could offer a lower base fare than NCL.

 

I cannot edit my existing reply so here's the update. Called up NCL to transfer my reservations and they asked me to send an email to dispatch@ncl.com . I called up the TA website and got the required info from her to send to NCL for the xfer. It will take 48-72 hours for the xfer as per their canned automated email reply. Thank you once again for the excellent suggestion.

[Kortehgehn]

I have found that some NCL customer service reps are not the best. I sometimes get the feeling they just want to get me off the phone and they don't really want to deal with me. They have outright lied to my wife in the past to get her off the phone, and I have talked to different reps who have told me different things as fact depending on who I talk to.

 

Customer service aside though NCL has an awesome product, we always book through a TA and we get about 8-10% of NCL's online price off the total cruise fare. Not in OBC but an actual reduction in price; we book through a larger and well established Florida TA for our cruises and have never had an issue, very easy to deal with.

 

Originally Posted by rcis321

The florida TA you are talking about is not a TA ... more like a scam artist and his intention to start was not to sell travel ... its like saying Bernie Madoff was a financial planner. That said Paypal, MasterCard, Visa Card and Amex protect and refund 100% all losses incurred due to fraud. So again the risk is 0% ... so don't make up stuff!

Is this by any chance the same individual who wants to sell his revolutionary "pet fences" which are basically plexiglass sheets with magnets, and who is also an accused accomplice to murder in the state of Florida? He did always have crazy if not shady deals on NCL cruises but it is too bad for all those who lost their cruises when his "business" went under. :(

Edited July 23, 2014 by Kortehgehn

[rics321]

OP, I don't think anyone has offered this solution, which is simply to transfer your NCL reservation to the TA of your choice. You have 60 days from booking to complete the transaction, as long as you are not past the final payment date, OR paid in full. A transfer ensures that you do not give up the cabin you already have booked. You retain the OBC and perks NCL offered at the time you booked, AND get anything extra the TA offers in perks like OBC and even a lower base price for the cruise if offered.

 

You would just inform the TA of choice and they will initiate the paperwork. We have transferred cruises a couple times, and it is usually completed within a day or two. We always retained the cabin we already had booked. Of course, once transferred you will deal directly with the TA for any problems or changes to the reservation. You can still make dinner reservations, etc through NCL direct however.

 

By the way, I have always found NCL to be open and above board when discussing pricing as compared to that offered in some cases by TAs. My PCC readily encouraged me to transfer my cruise should I find a better deal with what he called their "travel partners". He also explained step by step what I needed to do to get a transfer accomplished. Some TAs cannot offer a lower base fare. If they cannot, they are certainly not going to recommend you go over to Agency B where they sometimes do. They will simply state that they cannot offer a lower fare. It does not mean they are lying any more than a sales clerk at Sears who has no obligation to tell me I could buy this TV for less down the street. In all our bookings with TAs, I have only had two or three occasions where they could offer a lower base fare than NCL.

 

Awesome suggestion!

[Shawnino]

That is amazingly good.

 

Can you email me at [my screen name] + [23] + @verizon.net?

 

Would also appreciate a quick note at my screen name on gmail...

 

Many thanks.

[punkincc]

I cannot edit my existing reply so here's the update. Called up NCL to transfer my reservations and they asked me to send an email to dispatch@ncl.com . I called up the TA website and got the required info from her to send to NCL for the xfer. It will take 48-72 hours for the xfer as per their canned automated email reply. Thank you once again for the excellent suggestion.

 

Yes, in the past that was all you needed to do. The last time, after I emailed dispatch, they emailed me back a form which I had to fill out with the same info I had already given them and then sign it and fax or email it back. Maybe things have changed again?