Is it legal? - NCL changes to port departure times

[NLH Arizona]

There are changes to POA, Dawn, Breakaway, Escape. There is more than one. While it may be legal according to the contract, it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I've got one cruise booked on the Dawn and so far no changes. Every cruise line makes changes at one time or another. One cruise line just cancelled a port on some Caribbean cruises and made one of the other stops and overnight.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I can understand a delay due to weather or ship problems. However, why are these changes happening? It appears to be almost fleet-wide.

 

what ports are being shortened? I would like to know so i can check my cruise itinerary.

 

How did you find out if NCL isn't telling anyone?

 

Bill

[vacation44]

Changing the departure time for St. Thomas on the Escape from 6:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. to me is a big deal. This new time change changes our plans for the day. Three hours is a lot of time.

[Travelling2Some]

I've got one cruise booked on the Dawn and so far no changes. Every cruise line makes changes at one time or another. One cruise line just cancelled a port on some Caribbean cruises and made one of the other stops and overnight.

 

Good point. Hope this is just a hiccup. I doubt my cruise (Jade in October) will change based on the logistics (sea days right after and before embarkation/debarkation). I really, really LOVE the itineraries that port overnight and was hoping that was becoming more of a trend in cruising. If things start trending in the opposite direction (less port time) I will likely choose more land trips than cruises.

[Travelling2Some]

Changing the departure time for St. Thomas on the Escape from 6:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. to me is a big deal. This new time change changes our plans for the day. Three hours is a lot of time.

 

Yes, it is a big deal AND yet another way for the cruise line to make more money. A shorter port day not only alters plans, it also makes people more concerned about getting back to the ship on time. The one and only ship sponsored excursion I have ever taken was because I wanted to make the most of being in port for just a few hours in the morning after an overnight in Kawaii. Of course I would have had a better experience on my own but I felt so time pressured that I opted for the ship's overpriced excursion.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

This is the same thing that I am thinking regarding the fuel. It is interesting that they have not made a formal announcement regarding all the changes. Is NCL trying to see what the reaction is going to be about this?

 

since when does NCL announce anything. They "usually" just change things and you find out when someone from CC gets on the ship and reports back.

 

Have the tips been raised again since last week yet?:rolleyes:

 

Bill

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Changing the departure time for St. Thomas on the Escape from 6:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. to me is a big deal. This new time change changes our plans for the day. Three hours is a lot of time.

 

Look at all the extra time you'll have to buy drinks and gamble in the casino that day.

 

Bill

[harbede]

Isn't supprise fun!

[conandrob240]

Changes in in arrival or departure times may NOT have NOTHING to do with Norwegian but with the local port officials. They are the ones who determines who docks, in what order and the arrival and departure time.

 

While possible, it is likely NOT the reason we are seeing multiple changes all at one time across multiple ports. It's a slow down to save on fuel.

 

NCL has been doing very well in recent years and making shareholders lots of $. I don't understand what seems to be such desperate cost-cutting measures.

[pizzalady1]

what ports are being shortened? I would like to know so i can check my cruise itinerary.

 

How did you find out if NCL isn't telling anyone?

 

Bill

 

The itinerary showing on MyNCL shows the port times.

[Cauzneffct]

Maybe it's just super coincidental that it's happening in various ports for different ships. Assuming, arguendo, that the change is NCL driven, and not port driven, this strikes me as a desperate move by a company who's financials are masked by smoke and mirrors. Why not tweak the new itineraries? RCCL shortened their Bermuda runs from Baltimore from 7 to 5 days (which is why we booked NCL), but it was for the newly released itineraries. To sell someone X hours in port and then say "jk, we make more $ if it's X-2 hours" is bovine excitement.

[HarpHarp]

The port itself likely initiated this change and not NCL.

 

This doesn't seem likely to me, especially with moving the docking time to 7 AM. Celebrity docks at 8 leaves at 5. The Carnival ship docks at 11 & leaves at 5. We are still on the schedule to BUT not on the Norwegian site:confused:

 

Who the heck wants to get up at 5:30 to be off the ship at 7 when you are on vacation. The taxi drivers & store owners sure don't like the shortened time.

[hpecorari]

Changing the departure time for St. Thomas on the Escape from 6:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. to me is a big deal. This new time change changes our plans for the day. Three hours is a lot of time.

 

I just checked my reservation and compared it to the online itinerary.

Seems St. Thomas isn't the only change. Yes, used to be 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Now, St. Thomas is 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. A 2 hour difference.

 

However, that's not the only change. My reservation shows Nassau to be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. however, the online itinerary now shows Nassau to be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A 2 hour difference as well.

 

Harriet

[RumpunchGirl]

Dawn and breakaway to Bermuda has been changed. POA and Escape have also been chanced. Are you on Western Caribbean Cruises on the Dawn? Please note that NCL has not changed their search engine so if you look NCL.com, the times are the same.

 

Where did you see a time change? On myNCL? I am on the Dawn Western Caribbean. I booked 13 months ago. There have only been 2 changes. When I first booked my time in port at Costa Maya said 4 pm to 8 am. A few months later it said 8 am to 4 pm. The 2nd change was from proting in Harvest Caye to porting in Belize City. Everything I have or can check shows NO rescent chages.

[HarpHarp]

While possible, it is likely NOT the reason we are seeing multiple changes all at one time across multiple ports. It's a slow down to save on fuel.

 

NCL has been doing very well in recent years and making shareholders lots of $. I don't understand what seems to be such desperate cost-cutting measures.

 

 

Not fuel savings in the case of the Escape. The next stop is Tortola- less than an hour by ferry. to save fuel, they would have stayed docked 'til at least 10 pm & saved 7 hours of sailing around in circles.

[jmele999]

Where did you see a time change? On myNCL? I am on the Dawn Western Caribbean. I booked 13 months ago. There have only been 2 changes. When I first booked my time in port at Costa Maya said 4 pm to 8 am. A few months later it said 8 am to 4 pm. The 2nd change was from proting in Harvest Caye to porting in Belize City. Everything I have or can check shows NO rescent chages.

 

It appears to me that Western Caribbean cruises have not been affected by this change.

[jmele999]

Not fuel savings in the case of the Escape. The next stop is Tortola- less than an hour by ferry. to save fuel, they would have stayed docked 'til at least 10 pm & saved 7 hours of sailing around in circles.

 

Maybe not to save fuel, but maybe to save in port fees. I think that the longer you stay in port, the more you have to pay. If this is the case, we should expect a small refund in our port fees.

[Travelling2Some]

Just discovered another one! Add this to the list of "port shortages": Just checked my Jade itinerary out of Venice in October and, sure enough, we are now leaving Mykonos at 5 PM rather than the 6 PM departure that I booked it at. Just an hour but I do feel cheated. I'll likely only be on Mykonos once in my life so that hour really matters to me.

[Planefixer]

OP,

 

You have made up your mind already. And are probably annoyed the no one so far agrees with you.

 

So tomorrow morning hire a maritime lawyer and SUE THOSE BASTARDS... GOD BLESS THE USA[emoji631][emoji631][emoji631]

[jessicas mom]

I just checked my reservation and compared it to the online itinerary.

Seems St. Thomas isn't the only change. Yes, used to be 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Now, St. Thomas is 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. A 2 hour difference.

 

However, that's not the only change. My reservation shows Nassau to be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. however, the online itinerary now shows Nassau to be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A 2 hour difference as well.

 

Harriet

The St. Thomas change is huge to us, since we haven't been in that port since we got married there 35 yrs. ago. I had planned a tour which would have included a full day's activities; now, I really have to think about this one. The extra hour in the morning means nothing...what the heck can we do at 7am??? As for Nassau, the port time has been 10-6 since we booked in Jan., so no change for us there.

[hpecorari]

The St. Thomas change is huge to us, since we haven't been in that port since we got married there 35 yrs. ago. I had planned a tour which would have included a full day's activities; now, I really have to think about this one. The extra hour in the morning means nothing...what the heck can we do at 7am??? As for Nassau, the port time has been 10-6 since we booked in Jan., so no change for us there.

 

 

Sorry folks....typo on my end. Nassau is now noon to 7 p.m.

 

Harriet

[Granny DI]

Just discovered another one! Add this to the list of "port shortages": Just checked my Jade itinerary out of Venice in October and, sure enough, we are now leaving Mykonos at 5 PM rather than the 6 PM departure that I booked it at. Just an hour but I do feel cheated. I'll likely only be on Mykonos once in my life so that hour really matters to me.

 

 

 

We missed Mykonos because of the winds. We've also missed Stockholm and Dublin because of weather conditions.

[mking8288]

The St. Thomas change is huge to us, since we haven't been in that port since we got married there 35 yrs. ago. I had planned a tour which would have included a full day's activities; now, I really have to think about this one. The extra hour in the morning means nothing...what the heck can we do at 7am??? As for Nassau, the port time has been 10-6 since we booked in Jan., so no change for us there.

 

Perhaps, just maybe, it's another way of "channeling" more ship pax to book excursion trips with the ship's desk vs. going independent or on their own - if they plan to hit the piers with the shortened hours. Experienced & seasoned ones, perhaps, don't want to worry but for those unfamiliar with their options & choices, etc. - and, some of us knew how exciting those "3" hour xxxx overview of some of the ports can be, leaving you at the local market & sponsored-shops, etc. Just my guess, of course. :D

 

sent from my Google Nexus 7 MD via Tapatalk - "M" is coming

Edited July 20, 2015 by mking8288

[Cj_wants_to _sail]

There was one small change for our November Star cruise with regard to port times -- originally Rotan was 10am until 6pm. It is now 11am until 7pm, so no actual time lost, but we do lose an hour of morning daylight, which will shorten our stay as we want to be back before it gets dark.

 

Since this is just an adjustment and does not fall into the "will save fuel" argument, I guess there was a logistical reason for the change.

 

My only real complaint is that the only reason I know is because I have a copy of the original itinerary and this thread made me curious to compare.

[jessicas mom]

Sorry folks....typo on my end. Nassau is now noon to 7 p.m.

 

Harriet

Yep. Just changed on MyNCL in the past half hour. Now 12pm-7pm.

 

Perhaps, just maybe, it's another way of "channeling" more ship pax to book excursion trips with the ship's desk vs. going independent or on their own - if they plan to hit the piers with the shortened hours. Experienced & seasoned ones, perhaps, don't want to worry but for those unfamiliar with their options & choices, etc. - and, some of us knew how exciting those "3" hour xxxx overview of some of the ports can be, leaving you at the local market & sponsored-shops, etc. Just my guess, of course. :D

 

sent from my Google Nexus 7 MD via Tapatalk - "M" is coming

I thought that, too, but we don't ever do ship excursions, so no earning money off us :D! Of course, with the newer excursion credits, a lot of people may be doing them anyway. I'm not sure I understand NCL's thinking when it came to that perk :confused:. Maybe they're jacking up the prices :rolleyes:?