Beware of NCL

[KeithJenner]

27 minutes ago, Trimone said:

In reflection and doing fake bookings, it appears NCL isn’t having the take up in cruises across the Mediterranean, talking to a few established U.K. cruise customers last night, the consensus was nobody has booked anything and are waiting until 2022.

 

That would make sense to me.

 

I wonder why they never went for UK only cruises. I’d have jumped on one of them (if it wasn’t for the vaccination issue) but never even considered going to Greece.

 

I know loads of people who went abroad when things opened up last summer, but don’t know anyone planning to try travelling this year.

[ScratchTheRat]

13 minutes ago, KeithJenner said:

That would make sense to me.

 

I wonder why they never went for UK only cruises. I’d have jumped on one of them (if it wasn’t for the vaccination issue) but never even considered going to Greece.

 

I know loads of people who went abroad when things opened up last summer, but don’t know anyone planning to try travelling this year.

I'm in the UK and I'm booked up for the Norwegian Epic Sept 2021, P&O Iona in December 2021, Carnival Pride in June 2022 and Carnival Celebration in November 2022!

[KeithJenner]

6 minutes ago, ScratchTheRat said:

I'm in the UK and I'm booked up for the Norwegian Epic Sept 2021, P&O Iona in December 2021, Carnival Pride in June 2022 and Carnival Celebration in November 2022!

I’m talking about these Summer cruises which were just announced. Given the timescales for these, I think they would potentially have done better offering a UK option.

 

The only one of the cruises you quote that applies to this point is the Epic. When did you book that?

 

Once we get towards late 2021 and through 2022 then things will hopefully change. We are planning on travelling next Easter, but have no wish to get involved this Summer. That is certainly a common position amongst my friends and colleagues, including those who rushed over to Europe last year.

[Trimone]

I booked the Epic for September 5th 2021, on the 1st of October last year, I had my last cruise next vouchers expiring on the 05/09/2020 so I booked the Haven. I got an incredible deal including $600 spend, the balance due on July 7th is slightly over £3k.

Now these new cruises from Athens, the cheapest haven is over £3k each?

[KeithJenner]

I realise, by the way, that this is all circumstantial and isn’t necessarily reflective of the wider situation, but the post I responded to originally ties in with my observations.

[Stevio]

1 hour ago, KeithJenner said:

That would make sense to me.

 

I wonder why they never went for UK only cruises. I’d have jumped on one of them (if it wasn’t for the vaccination issue) but never even considered going to Greece.

 

I know loads of people who went abroad when things opened up last summer, but don’t know anyone planning to try travelling this year.

Agree… I think it was a big mistake for NCL to not do the UK only cruises this summer as most other cruise lines have.

Perhaps they were frightened off by the reputation of UK cruisers to try to drink back the cost of the cruise by the first couple of days on the free at sea.

Didn’t fancy MSC unvaccinated, so I am giving RCI a try this July, on which only the kids are unvaccinated so perhaps could have fitted your requirements.

Luckily I don’t think this RCI cruise will be chartered… Too expensive.

[KeithJenner]

9 minutes ago, Stevio said:

Agree… I think it was a big mistake for NCL to not do the UK only cruises this summer as most other cruise lines have.

Perhaps they were frightened off by the reputation of UK cruisers to try to drink back the cost of the cruise by the first couple of days on the free at sea.

Didn’t fancy MSC unvaccinated, so I am giving RCI a try this July, on which only the kids are unvaccinated so perhaps could have fitted your requirements.

Luckily I don’t think this RCI cruise will be chartered… Too expensive.

Yes, we looked at RCL and at one point got close to booking a UK trip in August but ultimately couldn’t justify the cost.

 

If NCL had offered UK options then that would probably have been expensive too but at least it would have been something for UK customers who don’t want to travel this Summer to consider.

[ScratchTheRat]

2 hours ago, KeithJenner said:

I’m talking about these Summer cruises which were just announced. Given the timescales for these, I think they would potentially have done better offering a UK option.

 

The only one of the cruises you quote that applies to this point is the Epic. When did you book that?

 

Once we get towards late 2021 and through 2022 then things will hopefully change. We are planning on travelling next Easter, but have no wish to get involved this Summer. That is certainly a common position amongst my friends and colleagues, including those who rushed over to Europe last year.

Hi Keith, I booked it about a month ago 🙂 Exciting!

[Sailing12Away]

Similar thing happened to my Pearl Greek Isles sailing for October. They swapped it out with the Jade and made everyone rebook for the same dates - except my cabin jumped in price by over 40% and they weren't offering me the 10% discount since I already had received two for my other previously cancelled trips.

 

I tried writing to guest relations and that went no where. I just wanted to be able to use my 2 CN certificates that I had used on the originally booking and to get a 10% off and they said no. So I switched to RCC for a similar Greek Isles trip leaving a day earlier. It was easy enough to change my flights by just a day and that actually resulted in our flight prices dropping by a few hundred dollars. So win-win for us in the end, but it left a salty taste in my mouth with NCL.

 

That is until I saw the Prima last night.... Yeah, they got my 2 CN certificates right back and a free $1K loan for the next 2 years. I'm still bitter, but I'm a sucker for a nice new ship design.

[ericfromri]

11 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Yet, you are over on the Royal board defending NCL?

w hat are you talking about.. ive taken 6 cruises with ncl and i would not go back for free

[ColeThornton]

1 hour ago, ericfromri said:

w hat are you talking about.. ive taken 6 cruises with ncl and i would not go back for free

 

 

Why would you hang out on the NCL forum then.  Seems like a waste of time.  

[dadroy]

Perhaps loyalty is the reason that they replace your cruise with the charter cruise. During the pandemic you know there were dozens of fall charters canceled with many of those being 4000 person ships. By canceling your cruise they may upset, 2,000 people that are already booked, but make those 4000 on the charter very happy. If the charter is charging an average of $2000 per person, they taken $8 million on the one charter and that charter company may well use and see how many times in the future.

 

it is unfortunate that it happened to you, but these charters have to be put somewhere that you know NCR is holding their $8 million hostage until they can get them rebooked.

[DanCait]

I do feel bad the OP's week was the one selected, I'd be upset too. Having a cruise with such high margins for NCL will be great for everyone else booked on Jade (myself included) to make sure NCL has an even greater reason to make sure that Jade is back up and running.  

 

Charter cruises sell out, don't have "take all 5 perks" - no free drinks, no free specialty dining, no airfare deals, but yet the liquor flows, so it's a big (and well needed) money maker for NCL.. that's several hundred, maybe even $1,000 more profit per stateroom... NCL will do anything to make sure the Jade is ready for that cruise, so those in the weeks before and weeks after will have a better chance at Jade not being cancelled (which those itineraries may be break-even cruises or even at a loss).  Why I think the other weeks are loss-leaders is because this is by far the cheapest cruise I've ever booked when considering the airfare.  My Jade sailing for this itinerary, after taking out the cost of airfare, taxes and perk gratuities, I only paid $323pp for 7 days - I'm not even in the cheapest cabins - and I get free drinks, 2 specialty dinners, and some wifi.  That low rate combined with reduced capacity, they are losing money unless I buy shore excursions (at a $25pp discount) or go to the casino, which I don't.  NCL needs that charter sailing!!!

 

And in any rate, with all the uncertainty with COVID, why did OP's travel agent not suggest that her flights be booked with the cruise line, first because you get free cancellation when booked with the cruise line and second is especially with the BOGO airfare that has been going on since the announcement of this itinerary.  They offered us flights 2 people for $900, and the cheapest flight I could find was $2,052!

 

[PTC DAWG]

3 hours ago, ericfromri said:

w hat are you talking about.. ive taken 6 cruises with ncl and i would not go back for free

LOL, sure.  

[qdog123]

Back on topic I’d be very happy they actually sold the whole ship to the charter. I’ve seen plenty of times where a charter company doesn’t buy the whole ship and now you’re stuck on a group cruise you didn’t know about with folks you might not have common interests with, and potentially not know until you get on board…

 

[graphicguy]

OP....two points, call your cruise insurance provider.  I'm betting they'll cover any out of pocket expenses for the flight changes.

 

2nd, call the airline.  I know my airline (Delta) has been really understanding regarding my flights as my cruise has changed 3 times already, and even the port I am sailing out of has changed.  They let me make the changes at no charge.

[Host Jazzbeau]

8 hours ago, graphicguy said:

OP....two points, call your cruise insurance provider.  I'm betting they'll cover any out of pocket expenses for the flight changes.

 

2nd, call the airline.  I know my airline (Delta) has been really understanding regarding my flights as my cruise has changed 3 times already, and even the port I am sailing out of has changed.  They let me make the changes at no charge.

Don't claim against your travel insurance unless the claim amount is really high – otherwise ask the insurance company to roll the coverage over to a future cruise.  No need to burn your insurance premium over small claims.

[graphicguy]

17 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Don't claim against your travel insurance unless the claim amount is really high – otherwise ask the insurance company to roll the coverage over to a future cruise.  No need to burn your insurance premium over small claims.

Thanks!  Good point!

[At Sea At Peace]

On 5/13/2021 at 6:43 AM, ericfromri said:

w hat are you talking about.. ive taken 6 cruises with ncl and i would not go back for free

 

Huh?

 

So, cruises 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were good enough to "book 6?"

 

And 6 went terribly awry compared to the previous 5, enough so for that statement?

 

Hard to figure.

 

[StolidCruiser]

3 hours ago, At Sea At Peace said:

 

Huh?

 

So, cruises 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were good enough to "book 6?"

 

And 6 went terribly awry compared to the previous 5, enough so for that statement?

 

Hard to figure.

 

These kind of posters are so easy to trip up on their own weak attempts at “ding dong dash”.  After the first trip, I’m surprised they came back only to fall flat on their face.

 

It does make for humorous reading within a lament thread about a company maximizing its profits in a time when every penny counts.   

 

One should never forget that while every customer is important, those that can afford premium prices are more important.

 

[jonbgd]

On 5/13/2021 at 3:43 AM, ericfromri said:

w hat are you talking about.. ive taken 6 cruises with ncl and i would not go back for free

looking at your signature, have you done any of the newer class of ships Breakaway  or BPlus?

They have improved on their ships. I also think buffet is best at sea. Besides the great brewery on plus ships

Or is it your just spoiled on RCCL, being a Pinnacle, having rose petals tossed at your feet 

 

Edited May 16, 2021 by jonbgd

[ericfromri]

19 hours ago, At Sea At Peace said:

 

Huh?

 

So, cruises 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were good enough to "book 6?"

 

And 6 went terribly awry compared to the previous 5, enough so for that statement?

 

Hard to figure.

 

i live near boston so i used to  tolerate the 7 day to bermuda out of convenience.. the north africa canary island cruise was so bad, ive been on car ferries that i enjoyed more.

[ericfromri]

11 hours ago, jonbgd said:

looking at your signature, have you done any of the newer class of ships Breakaway  or BPlus?

They have improved on their ships. I also think buffet is best at sea. Besides the great brewery on plus ships

Or is it your just spoiled on RCCL, being a Pinnacle, having rose petals tossed at your feet 

 

one thing i tell everyone is i love their sea day lunch.  those popcorn shrimp with that spicy coctail sauce.  incredible.   their chicken pho and steak sandwich launch day "A".  incredible. and don't forget the peanut butter cheesecake.  i have'nt been on any of their  newer ships.  which one is the best ?  

Edited May 16, 2021 by ericfromri

[At Sea At Peace]

56 minutes ago, ericfromri said:

i live near boston so i used to  tolerate the 7 day to bermuda out of convenience.. the north africa canary island cruise was so bad, ive been on car ferries that i enjoyed more.

 

Reading other replies it appears you haven't been on any of their new class of ships?  We've only been on all of their new class of Breakaway and + ships through Bliss.  We've heard good things about the Epic class from others on cruises.  So, can't really estimate your experience.

 

If correct, you should give a try to a newer ship.  We really loved the Bliss.  Good luck.

[jonbgd]

4 hours ago, ericfromri said:

one thing i tell everyone is i love their sea day lunch.  those popcorn shrimp with that spicy coctail sauce.  incredible.   their chicken pho and steak sandwich launch day "A".  incredible. and don't forget the peanut butter cheesecake.  i have'nt been on any of their  newer ships.  which one is the best ?  

Agreed great lunches and  Osheehans 
Any of  the breakaway class or Bplus class. We like the Escape

 Love the Aft adult area and the  district brewhouse besides all the outside dining areas

3 hours ago, At Sea At Peace said:

 

Reading other replies it appears you haven't been on any of their new class of ships?  We've only been on all of their new class of Breakaway and + ships through Bliss.  We've heard good things about the Epic class from others on cruises.  So, can't really estimate your experience.

 

If correct, you should give a try to a newer ship.  We really loved the Bliss.  Good luck.

We were supposed to do Joy and Bliss last year from the west coast. Will probably do Bliss next year

For us, best thing about Epic was at lunch, up in buffet we would walk forward and down the ladder to La Cucina and have an almost a private lunch. Spice H20 was great as well.

The newer ships definitely improved on the one off Epic