Terrible experience with NCL so far!!!

[zqvol]

I figured I would share my experience as I have used this forum many times to help make decisions regarding our vacations. I'll start by saying 1. this is probably going to be a long post. 2. No one is forcing you to read this, if you are going to be insulted and hurt that someone is very disappointed with there experience with you favorite cruise line, you have every right to stop reading now. However I have read many posts here and fully expect some ignorant, blaming and angry comments telling me why I am wrong for expecting some integrity when dealing with this cruise line and I look forward to hearing from you select few that just can't help yourselves.

About a month ago, my wife and I decided that we better plan our winter vacation. We usually would already have it booked but we have been crazy busy. The 5 of us ( 4yr old daughter, 9 and 10 yr old sons) have sailed with Royal and Carnival in the past many times, we were late booking this year and couldn't get on the cruise we wanted. My wife really wanted to try something new and found a 14 day on the breakaway, she was super excited, I'm not good at saying no, I got excited too and found rooms online through a TA. I was working 5am-7-8pm so asked that she contact them and book it. She agreed to do this.

The next day she called the TA to book the 2 connecting interior rooms, they told her that they had to make sure they were available and contacted NCL. She was told that the rooms were no longer available and the only options we had were getting a single ocean view or 2 connecting rooms that would be thousands more. She called me and I told her we should book so that this cruise didn't sell out on us, she booked the ocean view.

When I got home we looked online and could see that the 2 connecting interior rooms were showing as available and $600 less than the single room that we booked. It was late so I asked her to call back the next day and ask them about it. When she called back the next day, the same thing happened, the TA showed that it was available as well as NCL website but NCL told us the only connecting cabins we could get were thousands more. She told me this and I figured at least we got a room on this one.

Last week I decided to check again and noticed that numerous connecting interior rooms were shown as still available to book, we wrote down all of the info on all of these rooms and called the next morning, this was Tuesday. The TA verified that the rooms were shown as available and called NCL, this is where the trouble started.

On the first conversation, NCL told us that the rooms were available but we would have to pay a $1500 cancellation fee on the room we already booked to change. I have changed rooms on cruises in the past and never got charged a cancellation for a room change? I asked why it was considered a cancellation, the TA told us that she didn't think this was right and we spent 4 hours on the phone. At the end they told the TA that the room could be changed for a cancelation fee of $1000, this would mean that I would be paying $1000 more for the rooms I originally asked for. I let the TA know that I did not understand why a room change was a cancellation, she couldn't answer and attempted to get the NCL agent on a conference call with me. After another hour on hold we were told that a supervisor would contact us shortly. The whole day spent on the phone I was at work pouring concrete and my wife was sitting in her car beeping and calling me over when someone would come back on the line. I was very agrivated that they didn't just give us the connecting interior rooms in the first place. Later that night I missed a call from the customer service supervisor at NCL and she left me a message with her extension. The next day I left her 5 messages and did not receive a call back, on Thursday she did call and I let her know that I was very disappointed that we were not given the option of booking these rooms when we booked and they wanted to charge us a cancellation fee to book them now. She told me that we were given the option and we chose the single room instead. We were getting no where and she was not acknowledging that I had a concern or offering to help in any way.

She then mentioned that I agreed to the cancellation policy that included room changes when I booked anyway. I asked her to show me where it states this and after being put on hold for 40 minutes she told me to check my email. I recieved an email with something highlighted referring to name or date changes being considered cancellations? I spent the next hour trying to explain that I was not changing the name or date and she kept telling me that it's there policy. Then she told me that she would have the TA call me to go over the policy and I was very assertive in stating that the TA couldn't figure out where this policy was and that is why they gave me her number. We both knew that the TA couldn't help me and she was pushing me back off on them. This isn't how I am used to being dealt with, a total lack of respect and integrity. She knew the TA couldn't help me and wanted me off the phone. I asked her if there was someone higher up that I could talk to and she told me that she would research the policy with the legal department and get back to me within 24 hours. This satisfied me as I really didn't believe that a room change was a cancellation.

Around 7pm that evening I recieved another voicemail stating that she had good news and we could book an inside room and have our room moved inside for $600 more than what we had already paid? Still confused because it should be $600 less. The following day I left 3 messages throughout the day. I left her messages asking why we were being charged more and why this was a cancellation? No call backs.

Yesterday I got a call from her, now we could get the inside rooms for the same price we already paid. I told her that I still didn't agree that this was right as the 2 rooms would normally be $600 less but at this point we would go ahead and book. I also asked her if she was able to have the legal department contact me. She insisted that she never said anything about a legal department! I let her know from the first conversation that I was recording and have her recorded telling us that she would do research with the legal department and her denying that 3 days later. Okay at this point I just want it booked, it's obviously only about money and ethics are not of a concern. I was unfortunately disconnected but recieved a call from my TA 30 minutes later. This was at 2pm. The TA had all the notes on our discrepancy and had to call into the supervisor to have them authorize the room change. We spent the next hour on hold with the TA coming back on every 10 minutes to tell us she was still holding for the one supervisor that we had been talking to. At 3:15 she came back on to let us know that the supervisor had left work early and we would have to try again today. A whole week of being blown off and no explanation of why we would be charged a cancellation to change rooms. I burst out laughing when we found out she left with us still on hold.

So this morning, knowing perfectly well what would happen if we hoped the supervisor would try to assist us, we decided to take a different approach. I called the TA and asked if we could change our room from one ocean view to 2 balconies. No Problemo!! No $1500 cancellation fees, no phantom policies, we just pay the difference in price from what we originally booked to what we want now! On top of that we get the promo for the first room and 2 for the second. Only $700 more than our original singal ocean view for 2 larger rooms and balconies. Why couldn't the supervisor offer us this $700 upgrade rather than a $1500 or $1000 downgrade to smaller inside cabins?? This makes absolutely no sense to me.

So we almost have it figured out but wait, TA puts one adult in each room and only one room,(me and 4 yr old) have the dining package. TA says let me make sure you 2 adults can dine together with this package. 55 minutes on hold and she comes back( she checked in on us every 10 minutes to explain that she was waiting for them to figure it out) she tells us that the NCL agent suggests we get dining package on both rooms to be sure we can dine together. We explain that we need the Internet for my wife's online classes again. Then she tells us that she knows that they can make it happen, the NCL agent just doesn't want to do the work! At this point that comment didn't surprise me. After another 45 minutes on hold they decide to make the change so that we can dine together and send us our confirmations.

The original supervisor that left us on hold yesterday has not called back yet and we still have no explanation why we couldn't change and pay the inside cabins that are available? We will have a great cruise and I will post a review. Hopefully no more issues because I do not want to trust NCL customer service to resolve anything in a fair manner, lol. We purchased 2 of the thermal spa packages today after we finally got this figured out because I like to go to the gym every morning and then sit in the sauna. This is the first ship I have been on that does not have a complimentary sauna or steam room in the locker room. I'm okay with that but couldn't bring myself to spend another $600 when they were trying to screw me out of money for nothing earlier, now that I'm paying the correct price for the room I'm staying in, no thanks to Norwegian customer service, I feel much better.

This will probably be the last time we cruise with NCL because of this experience and we probably will not recommend them to anyone solely based on what happened when we had an issue and how we were dealt with when we didn't understand or agree with them charging us cancelation for a room change.

Hopefully this cruise on the Breakaway will be so amazing that my whole mindset will change but realistically the lack of customer service is not something I would put myself in a position to deal with again.

 

OP: Paragraphs are your friend. They really male things easier to read.

 

I understand your frustration, but I really wonder if the issue lies with your TA instead of with NCL. You used an online TA, and I wonder if what they sold you was out of a block of rooms that they had reserved and thus did not have any connecting insides available.

 

I also wonder if a lot of the misunderstandings are really with the TA, instead of NCL.

 

Hopefully everything gets resolved and you have a good vacation.

[hawkeyetlse]

You ask where should they draw the line? IMHO the line should NOT be drawn when a request to postpone (Not cancel) a trip is based on a child being diagnosed with cancer. This is a rare occurrence. The parents may not have vacation time available to support the child through treatment and take a vacation. I doubt there would be thousands of exceptions of this type requested. In fact, the rarity of the situation is exactly why media picked up the story.

These days, yes, the key to forcing a company into giving you special consideration is to go to the media or try to get your YouTube video to go viral etc. In these cases I suspect that NCL does end up responding, but they may choose to do it discreetly and make the person agree not to blab about the special arrangement they are getting. Because there is a trade-off between the good publicity that they could get by making a big deal out of their generosity, and the risk that this will encourage lots of others to ask for the same (whether sincerely or otherwise). Yes, a child getting cancer is thankfully a rare occurrence, but I am sure that on every cruise there are people who have to cancel at the last minute because of some unforeseen calamity that is also deserving of compassion. But compassion in the true meaning of "heartfelt sympathy", not what everyone actually wants it to mean in such situations (i.e. "free money"). Edited November 26, 2015 by hawkeyetlse

[bernardshakey]

My experience with last minute booking 8 people on holiday Canal cruise: Found 4 connecting balconies online showing available...called NCL direct on a Sunday night...rep was very helpful and surprised that these cabins were available...booked parents, 5 kids, and grandpa in under 30 minutes. Got the available promotions for everyone. Easiest cruise we have ever booked.

Edited November 26, 2015 by bernardshakey

[TruckerDave]

When you find a good one, you will know the answer to that question.

 

I guess I'll never now the answer either. It's 2015 I have the internet connection and the ability to research and book my own trips directly without any "professional" help.

Edited November 26, 2015 by TruckerDave

[SeaShark]

I guess I'll never now the answer either. It's 2015 I have the internet connection and the ability to research and book my own trips directly without any "professional" help.

 

Not to burst your bubble, but that isn't quite true.

 

Sure, you can research and book yourself. HOWEVER, when booking yourself, you can only enter ONE promo code for your booking.

 

OTOH, both TAs and PCCs have the ability to enter more than one promo code in cases where promos can be combined.

 

By booking yourself, you will always miss out on any opportunity to combine available promos....which means you will not be getting the best deal.

 

Since the services of TAs and PCCs come at no additional cost, not using them is simply financially foolish.

[Proud Grandparents]

"You got to be kidding". I wouldn't have gone round and round but just cancelled and found something else to do with my money. I agree your TA did a poor job at best. That being said NCL doesn't seem to understand the meaning of "customer service" when in fact they are in the customer service business. I use a TA that does nothing but cruises and responds to my e-mails the same day. She has always gotten us what we want/need and I've never had to speak to the cruise line. I've done numerous cruises on Princess, and have always been happy. I am booked on NCL for a Med. cruise in March and depending on our experience I might be "one and done".

[hawkeyetlse]

I wouldn't have gone round and round but just cancelled and found something else to do with my money.

It sounds like when all this happened last week, they were in the 50% cancellation penalty phase. (I believe their cruise is in early January?) For most people, things would have to get really really bad before they considered walking away and leaving half their money on the table as a gift to NCL.

[MsTabbyKats]

"You got to be kidding". I wouldn't have gone round and round but just cancelled and found something else to do with my money. I agree your TA did a poor job at best. That being said NCL doesn't seem to understand the meaning of "customer service" when in fact they are in the customer service business. I use a TA that does nothing but cruises and responds to my e-mails the same day. She has always gotten us what we want/need and I've never had to speak to the cruise line. I've done numerous cruises on Princess, and have always been happy. I am booked on NCL for a Med. cruise in March and depending on our experience I might be "one and done".

 

I hate to tell you this...but it's the TA's responsibility to service the customer. That's what their commission from the cruise line is all about.

 

NCL did not book the cruise and has nothing to do with "giving them what they want" if they don't book directly.

[beerman2]

Not to burst your bubble, but that isn't quite true.

 

Sure, you can research and book yourself. HOWEVER, when booking yourself, you can only enter ONE promo code for your booking.

 

OTOH, both TAs and PCCs have the ability to enter more than one promo code in cases where promos can be combined.

 

By booking yourself, you will always miss out on any opportunity to combine available promos....which means you will not be getting the best deal.

 

Since the services of TAs and PCCs come at no additional cost, not using them is simply financially foolish.

 

Agree NCL phone rep was able to see that I was eligible for a $100.00 OBC in addition to the choose 2 promo they were running at the time we booked!

[TruckerDave]

Not to burst your bubble, but that isn't quite true.

 

Sure, you can research and book yourself. HOWEVER, when booking yourself, you can only enter ONE promo code for your booking.

 

OTOH, both TAs and PCCs have the ability to enter more than one promo code in cases where promos can be combined.

 

By booking yourself, you will always miss out on any opportunity to combine available promos....which means you will not be getting the best deal.

 

Since the services of TAs and PCCs come at no additional cost, not using them is simply financially foolish.

 

 

:rolleyes: There are many things I worry about on a day to day basis. Getting more than one promo code is NOT one of them. I pick the best flight, cruise, hotel,rental car etc etc etc that works best for me and if it isn't the lowest rock bottom price so be it. (and it usually isn't as I won't pick crappy flight times or bad hotels just to save a buck).

[SeaShark]

:rolleyes: There are many things I worry about on a day to day basis. Getting more than one promo code is NOT one of them. I pick the best flight, cruise, hotel,rental car etc etc etc that works best for me and if it isn't the lowest rock bottom price so be it. (and it usually isn't as I won't pick crappy flight times or bad hotels just to save a buck).

No problem...it certainly won't have a negative affect on my booking. [emoji57]

[bnorris10]

And if it were your company, where do you draw the line. Is it someone with cancer or is it someone with a broken leg or is it someone who just had a heart attack or is it someone whose husband was just deployed or is it someone whose mother passed away or is it someone who can't make it because of a blizzard? Where would the line be for you?

 

Once you make an exception for one, you have to make it for all otherwise there were be lawsuits galore.

 

It is easy to say a company should be compassionate and make exceptions, but it is not as easy as one would think. Cruise lines sell insurance for emergencies, illnesses, etc. and not to purchase it is not the cruise line's fault, it is the customer's fault.

 

Since you said NCL dealt with it by sailing the cabin to another family, do you know for fact that the cabin was resold?

 

I couldn't agree more in regards to this ... If you allow exceptions for one you need to allow them for all

 

Do I feel sorry for the kids with cancer or the spouse who's husband had a heart attack yes I do HOWEVER

 

They sell insurance for a reason - The family knowingly declined said insurance because they thought hey everything is fine - Sadly circumstances change thus the reason why insurance is provided to begin with - They chose not to get insurance risking their investment

 

Plain in simple either get insurance or risk the loss if your plans change

[beerman2]

I couldn't agree more in regards to this ... If you allow exceptions for one you need to allow them for all

 

Do I feel sorry for the kids with cancer or the spouse who's husband had a heart attack yes I do HOWEVER

 

They sell insurance for a reason - The family knowingly declined said insurance because they thought hey everything is fine - Sadly circumstances change thus the reason why insurance is provided to begin with - They chose not to get insurance risking their investment

 

Plain in simple either get insurance or risk the loss if your plans change

 

I was 1 who never purchased ins., however this year I did. MIL is 90, FIL 88 and you can see the changes daily in him. So the days of gambling that nothing could happen are over for us.

[graphicguy]

I already agreed that I should have spent more time before booking, but that does not excuse the customer service rep from putting me on hold for hours, not following through on what she told me she would do, ignoring messages and phone calls, etc.

As far as investigating the amenities, I am still unable to find information on the fitness room, hours, locker room, etc on the NCL website, but when I found out I didn't get mad, just paid another $600 and will take this into consideration when comparing prices for our next cruise.

I am not peffect at booking cruises obviously, and already mentioned that I will use this as a learning experience for future cruises. I still think that I should have been dealt with more professionally by the supervisor and have not had a similar experience on any other cruise line.

 

Yeah...didn't read everything (SKIMMED MOSTLY), but that's the reason you find a good TA or book directly with the cruise lines. There are good TAs (I have a wonderful one which I use all the time which offers me better rates and more OBC than going direct)., and there are bad TAs. Sounds like you got a bad one.

 

Good ones take care of everything for you with the cruise lines. They quote you accurately and won't leave you on hold for eons.

 

Anyway, sounds like lesson learned. Have a great cruise. NCL puts out a good product!

[newmexicoNita]

Is there a Readers Digest version?

 

My smile for the morning; thanks

[missintuitive]

These days, yes, the key to forcing a company into giving you special consideration is to go to the media or try to get your YouTube video to go viral etc. In these cases I suspect that NCL does end up responding, but they may choose to do it discreetly and make the person agree not to blab about the special arrangement they are getting. Because there is a trade-off between the good publicity that they could get by making a big deal out of their generosity, and the risk that this will encourage lots of others to ask for the same (whether sincerely or otherwise). Yes, a child getting cancer is thankfully a rare occurrence, but I am sure that on every cruise there are people who have to cancel at the last minute because of some unforeseen calamity that is also deserving of compassion. But compassion in the true meaning of "heartfelt sympathy", not what everyone actually wants it to mean in such situations (i.e. "free money").

 

 

Again, you're talking general calamities and I'm talking specific rare occurrences... Like a child with cancer. We're not talking about calamities that happen on every cruise for certain passengers. We're talking a specific case when a child was diagnosed with a treatment intensive and potentially deadly illness. In the recent case, the parents wanted to postpone, and not cancel, the trip. Was the child to stop treatment to go? Ncl did not make the concession. Another cruiseline's CEO (cough...starts with a R) decided to offer the family a vacation on one of its ships. That's not only compassion but good business.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[motleyfan]

I figured I would share my experience as I have used this forum many times to help make decisions regarding our vacations. I'll start by saying 1. this is probably going to be a long post. 2. No one is forcing you to read this, if you are going to be insulted and hurt that someone is very disappointed with there experience with you favorite cruise line, you have every right to stop reading now. However I have read many posts here and fully expect some ignorant, blaming and angry comments telling me why I am wrong for expecting some integrity when dealing with this cruise line and I look forward to hearing from you select few that just can't help yourselves.

About a month ago, my wife and I decided that we better plan our winter vacation. We usually would already have it booked but we have been crazy busy. The 5 of us ( 4yr old daughter, 9 and 10 yr old sons) have sailed with Royal and Carnival in the past many times, we were late booking this year and couldn't get on the cruise we wanted. My wife really wanted to try something new and found a 14 day on the breakaway, she was super excited, I'm not good at saying no, I got excited too and found rooms online through a TA. I was working 5am-7-8pm so asked that she contact them and book it. She agreed to do this.

The next day she called the TA to book the 2 connecting interior rooms, they told her that they had to make sure they were available and contacted NCL. She was told that the rooms were no longer available and the only options we had were getting a single ocean view or 2 connecting rooms that would be thousands more. She called me and I told her we should book so that this cruise didn't sell out on us, she booked the ocean view.

When I got home we looked online and could see that the 2 connecting interior rooms were showing as available and $600 less than the single room that we booked. It was late so I asked her to call back the next day and ask them about it. When she called back the next day, the same thing happened, the TA showed that it was available as well as NCL website but NCL told us the only connecting cabins we could get were thousands more. She told me this and I figured at least we got a room on this one.

Last week I decided to check again and noticed that numerous connecting interior rooms were shown as still available to book, we wrote down all of the info on all of these rooms and called the next morning, this was Tuesday. The TA verified that the rooms were shown as available and called NCL, this is where the trouble started.

On the first conversation, NCL told us that the rooms were available but we would have to pay a $1500 cancellation fee on the room we already booked to change. I have changed rooms on cruises in the past and never got charged a cancellation for a room change? I asked why it was considered a cancellation, the TA told us that she didn't think this was right and we spent 4 hours on the phone. At the end they told the TA that the room could be changed for a cancelation fee of $1000, this would mean that I would be paying $1000 more for the rooms I originally asked for. I let the TA know that I did not understand why a room change was a cancellation, she couldn't answer and attempted to get the NCL agent on a conference call with me. After another hour on hold we were told that a supervisor would contact us shortly. The whole day spent on the phone I was at work pouring concrete and my wife was sitting in her car beeping and calling me over when someone would come back on the line. I was very agrivated that they didn't just give us the connecting interior rooms in the first place. Later that night I missed a call from the customer service supervisor at NCL and she left me a message with her extension. The next day I left her 5 messages and did not receive a call back, on Thursday she did call and I let her know that I was very disappointed that we were not given the option of booking these rooms when we booked and they wanted to charge us a cancellation fee to book them now. She told me that we were given the option and we chose the single room instead. We were getting no where and she was not acknowledging that I had a concern or offering to help in any way.

She then mentioned that I agreed to the cancellation policy that included room changes when I booked anyway. I asked her to show me where it states this and after being put on hold for 40 minutes she told me to check my email. I recieved an email with something highlighted referring to name or date changes being considered cancellations? I spent the next hour trying to explain that I was not changing the name or date and she kept telling me that it's there policy. Then she told me that she would have the TA call me to go over the policy and I was very assertive in stating that the TA couldn't figure out where this policy was and that is why they gave me her number. We both knew that the TA couldn't help me and she was pushing me back off on them. This isn't how I am used to being dealt with, a total lack of respect and integrity. She knew the TA couldn't help me and wanted me off the phone. I asked her if there was someone higher up that I could talk to and she told me that she would research the policy with the legal department and get back to me within 24 hours. This satisfied me as I really didn't believe that a room change was a cancellation.

Around 7pm that evening I recieved another voicemail stating that she had good news and we could book an inside room and have our room moved inside for $600 more than what we had already paid? Still confused because it should be $600 less. The following day I left 3 messages throughout the day. I left her messages asking why we were being charged more and why this was a cancellation? No call backs.

Yesterday I got a call from her, now we could get the inside rooms for the same price we already paid. I told her that I still didn't agree that this was right as the 2 rooms would normally be $600 less but at this point we would go ahead and book. I also asked her if she was able to have the legal department contact me. She insisted that she never said anything about a legal department! I let her know from the first conversation that I was recording and have her recorded telling us that she would do research with the legal department and her denying that 3 days later. Okay at this point I just want it booked, it's obviously only about money and ethics are not of a concern. I was unfortunately disconnected but recieved a call from my TA 30 minutes later. This was at 2pm. The TA had all the notes on our discrepancy and had to call into the supervisor to have them authorize the room change. We spent the next hour on hold with the TA coming back on every 10 minutes to tell us she was still holding for the one supervisor that we had been talking to. At 3:15 she came back on to let us know that the supervisor had left work early and we would have to try again today. A whole week of being blown off and no explanation of why we would be charged a cancellation to change rooms. I burst out laughing when we found out she left with us still on hold.

So this morning, knowing perfectly well what would happen if we hoped the supervisor would try to assist us, we decided to take a different approach. I called the TA and asked if we could change our room from one ocean view to 2 balconies. No Problemo!! No $1500 cancellation fees, no phantom policies, we just pay the difference in price from what we originally booked to what we want now! On top of that we get the promo for the first room and 2 for the second. Only $700 more than our original singal ocean view for 2 larger rooms and balconies. Why couldn't the supervisor offer us this $700 upgrade rather than a $1500 or $1000 downgrade to smaller inside cabins?? This makes absolutely no sense to me.

So we almost have it figured out but wait, TA puts one adult in each room and only one room,(me and 4 yr old) have the dining package. TA says let me make sure you 2 adults can dine together with this package. 55 minutes on hold and she comes back( she checked in on us every 10 minutes to explain that she was waiting for them to figure it out) she tells us that the NCL agent suggests we get dining package on both rooms to be sure we can dine together. We explain that we need the Internet for my wife's online classes again. Then she tells us that she knows that they can make it happen, the NCL agent just doesn't want to do the work! At this point that comment didn't surprise me. After another 45 minutes on hold they decide to make the change so that we can dine together and send us our confirmations.

The original supervisor that left us on hold yesterday has not called back yet and we still have no explanation why we couldn't change and pay the inside cabins that are available? We will have a great cruise and I will post a review. Hopefully no more issues because I do not want to trust NCL customer service to resolve anything in a fair manner, lol. We purchased 2 of the thermal spa packages today after we finally got this figured out because I like to go to the gym every morning and then sit in the sauna. This is the first ship I have been on that does not have a complimentary sauna or steam room in the locker room. I'm okay with that but couldn't bring myself to spend another $600 when they were trying to screw me out of money for nothing earlier, now that I'm paying the correct price for the room I'm staying in, no thanks to Norwegian customer service, I feel much better.

This will probably be the last time we cruise with NCL because of this experience and we probably will not recommend them to anyone solely based on what happened when we had an issue and how we were dealt with when we didn't understand or agree with them charging us cancelation for a room change.

Hopefully this cruise on the Breakaway will be so amazing that my whole mindset will change but realistically the lack of customer service is not something I would put myself in a position to deal with again.

 

This is why i never book through TA'S.

[Kingofwylietx]

...... We're talking a specific case when a child was diagnosed with a treatment intensive and potentially deadly illness. In the recent case, the parents wanted to postpone, and not cancel, the trip. Was the child to stop treatment to go? Ncl did not make the concession. Another cruiseline's CEO (cough...starts with a R) decided to offer the family a vacation on one of its ships. That's not only compassion but good business.

 

It wasn't compassion, it was taking advantage of getting free positive exposure for the R line. If the media wasn't involved, they would have gotten nada. I'm glad it worked out, but let's be realistic.

 

Getting back on topic, it now sounds like the OP has a terrible TA.

Edited November 27, 2015 by Kingofwylietx

[NLH Arizona]

I couldn't agree more in regards to this ... If you allow exceptions for one you need to allow them for all

 

Do I feel sorry for the kids with cancer or the spouse who's husband had a heart attack yes I do HOWEVER

 

They sell insurance for a reason - The family knowingly declined said insurance because they thought hey everything is fine - Sadly circumstances change thus the reason why insurance is provided to begin with - They chose not to get insurance risking their investment

 

Plain in simple either get insurance or risk the loss if your plans change

14 million people learn they have cancer each year, there are probably going to be a number of families in the position the family was in and it is tragic. Wouldn't it be just as tragic for those whose family members had a stroke or diagnosed with any other disease which would prevent them from cruising.

[Josher61]

Again, you're talking general calamities and I'm talking specific rare occurrences... Like a child with cancer. We're not talking about calamities that happen on every cruise for certain passengers. We're talking a specific case when a child was diagnosed with a treatment intensive and potentially deadly illness. In the recent case, the parents wanted to postpone, and not cancel, the trip. Was the child to stop treatment to go? Ncl did not make the concession. Another cruiseline's CEO (cough...starts with a R) decided to offer the family a vacation on one of its ships. That's not only compassion but good business.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I would remove the part about R being compassionate. It was simply an opportunity to avail themselves of the good publicity that would surround their move. So that's good business. I would presume R has also refused other persons claims in the past and will do so in the future. It just doesn't always make the media.

 

Regardless, I fail to see how this story relates at all to someone booking a cruise/cabin that they knew they didn't want on the advice (talked into) by a TA and wanting to change it.....how that becomes NCL's fault?

[mjkacmom]

Again, you're talking general calamities and I'm talking specific rare occurrences... Like a child with cancer. We're not talking about calamities that happen on every cruise for certain passengers. We're talking a specific case when a child was diagnosed with a treatment intensive and potentially deadly illness. In the recent case, the parents wanted to postpone, and not cancel, the trip. Was the child to stop treatment to go? Ncl did not make the concession. Another cruiseline's CEO (cough...starts with a R) decided to offer the family a vacation on one of its ships. That's not only compassion but good business.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

So a child with cancer gets an exception. How about death of a spouse? Home fire that destroyed everything? Passenger is deployed? Loss of limbs cased by a hit and run? Death of a child? Heck, after Sandy, there were many folks in the NYC area with homes destroyed, unable to sail.

 

As a parent, if I lost my cruise payment because my child needed cancer treatment, because I turned down travel insurance, that mo eye would be the least of my concerns.

[motleyfan]

It wasn't compassion, it was taking advantage of getting free positive exposure for the R line. If the media wasn't involved, they would have gotten nada. I'm glad it worked out, but let's be realistic.

 

Getting back on topic, it now sounds like the OP has a terrible TA.

 

How to do jump from one person's terrible experience to a story about a kid with cancer? From now on I'm going to point out to every time that there is a case of threat hijacking.

[Beaver1975]

How to do jump from one person's terrible experience to a story about a kid with cancer? From now on I'm going to point out to every time that there is a case of threat hijacking.

 

 

Pot meet kettle!

[StolidCruiser]

How to do jump from one person's terrible experience to a story about a kid with cancer? From now on I'm going to point out to every time that there is a case of threat hijacking.

 

Let me thank you on behalf of all this forum for nominating yourself guardian of the rule book.

 

I suggest you read that rule book before starting your job. A foreign concept, I'm sure but give it a try anyway. Many of us remain hopeful!

[motleyfan]

Let me thank you on behalf of all this forum for nominating yourself guardian of the rule book.

 

I suggest you read that rule book before starting your job. A foreign concept, I'm sure but give it a try anyway. Many of us remain hopeful!

 

I was suspended for a week due to supposedly thread hijacking which they still have not been able to show me proof that I had done. So now I like to point out when everyone else does it. I even emailed them and said if you suspended everybody who thread hijacked then the Cruise Critic boards would be empty because everyone does it.