Have you ever not made it to the ship on time with NCL booked flights?

[Raleigh Traveler]

There have been a number of posts about issues with NCL booked flights and statements about what NCL will do if you miss the sailing. Has anyone actually missed the sailing because of NCL booked flights and what did NCL do?

[gmbhardy]

Missed embarkation in Miami last November due to mechanical problems on our flight from Toronto. NCL booked us on a flight to San Juan the next day. We stayed over one night in Toronto and one night in San Juan at our expense. We picked up the cruise the next day so day 3 of the cruise. No compensation from NCL. We did not have insurance.

[SeaShark]

NCL is only paying for your flights. They aren't responsible for your travels. If you don't get there in time, that would be an issue between you and the airline.

 

If using NCL flights you should always have a contingency plan and travel insurance to allow you to handle curveballs thrown your way by the airline and/or weather. If you can't assume the risk(s), you would be better off to pass on the offer and book your own flights (although I would still recommend the contingency plan and travel insurance).

 

Best thing you can do is take advantage of the up to two day deviation and FLY IN EARLY...the earlier you are set to arrive, the less likely you are to miss the ship.

[victory2020]

I know Carnival products guarantee to get to the ship (later if not sooner) if you use their air. NCL doesn't have same policy?

[SeaShark]

57 minutes ago, victory2020 said:

I know Carnival products guarantee to get to the ship (later if not sooner) if you use their air. NCL doesn't have same policy?

 

Actually, Carnival offers no such guarantee. What they say is that they will TRY to get you to the ship, but if you miss the ship you get an FCC for a future cruise (likely this is just travel insurance built into the cost you pay to Carnival). And they only "try" to get you to the departure from the homeport...they do not try to arrange for you to fly and meet the ship at a subsequent port.

 

From their website:

 

FLY2FUN PROTECTION

All Fly2Fun bookings come with flight protection — free! That means you’re covered in case weather conditions or flight changes delay your arrival to the ship. We’ll make alternate flight, hotel and/or ground transportation arrangements and do everything we can to get you to the cruise port in time to board the ship, at no expense to you. If no viable options are available to get you to the ship before departure at the homeport, you will be given a Future Cruise Credit to use toward an alternate Carnival cruise.

[victory2020]

6 minutes ago, SeaShark said:

 

Actually, Carnival offers no such guarantee. What they say is that they will TRY to get you to the ship, but if you miss the ship you get an FCC for a future cruise (likely this is just travel insurance built into the cost you pay to Carnival). And they only "try" to get you to the departure from the homeport...they do not try to arrange for you to fly and meet the ship at a subsequent port.

 

From their website:

 

FLY2FUN PROTECTION

All Fly2Fun bookings come with flight protection — free! That means you’re covered in case weather conditions or flight changes delay your arrival to the ship. We’ll make alternate flight, hotel and/or ground transportation arrangements and do everything we can to get you to the cruise port in time to board the ship, at no expense to you. If no viable options are available to get you to the ship before departure at the homeport, you will be given a Future Cruise Credit to use toward an alternate Carnival cruise.

Ok, never used Carnival. When I referred to Carnival products I meant Holland & Princess. I have been told by travel agents that they will get you yo the ship at some point. Don't know if that is still the case

[BirdTravels]

In April, over 700 passengers missed the departure of the Encore. Several hundred  met the ship on Day 3 in the Dominican Republic and on Day 4 in San Juan. Not all we’re NCL air. 

Edited June 23, 2022 by BirdTravels

[Raleigh Traveler]

15 minutes ago, victory2020 said:

So sorry, just an innocent question about NCL air program

As the original poster, you are welcome with your questions and dialogue. If we are going to limit this to NCL, then by the OP, we are also limiting the thread to those who have actually experienced this and this would be looking like a very short thread.

[victory2020]

2 hours ago, Raleigh Traveler said:

As the original poster, you are welcome with your questions and dialogue. If we are going to limit this to NCL, then by the OP, we are also limiting the thread to those who have actually experienced this and this would be looking like a very short thread.

Thank you

[Sailing12Away]

Haven't missed the ship yet thankfully, but we came close. Had NCL booked air to fly from JFK to Miami, a simple short nonstop flight that should have been no problem. 

 

Original flight was supposed to get us in around 11am-12pm ish for a 4pm departure. Flight was delayed. Then we boarded, only to be kicked off because they wanted to use our plane to go to Colorado instead because it could handle the higher altitude that some other plane scheduled to go there couldn't. So everyone was off and back in the JFK terminal. 

 

I'm guessing at least 60% of the flight were cruise passengers for various ships, as everyone was on the phone trying to reach their cruise to find out what would happen if we didn't get there in time. Phone agents were horrible and giving wrong info creating a bigger panic.

 

We eventually landed in Miami shortly before 3pm. Mad dash of everyone fighting each other for space on the monorail to be the first to baggage claim and the first to the cab lines. At baggage claim, there were at least 4 NCL agents there waiting for us (not sure about the folks on non-NCL cruises), and they assured us that if they were still there, we were fine and the ship was waiting for us but we did need to hurry.

 

They piled us all into a van/bus thingy, stopped at the Breakaway first for those folks, and then onto the Jade for us. Only 2 people in the terminal, and we walked onto the ship at 3:55 and were pulling away from the dock before I even made it to our room.

 

If we had missed the ship I would of just asked for a refund since it was a short 5 day cruise and the first day was a sea day. So no point sitting in a Miami hotel for 2 nights to catch the ship in Belize and be back in Miami 2 days later.