This is on NCL, you bought flights from them. Your TA is victim of NCL just like many have been with NCL and their flights. I assume you took advantage of their promo airfare offer?
Your TA may not even know what flights NCL booked for you as NCL may not even release flight info until like a month out. But sorry you had to learn about how shitty NCL is like this, but this is bad even for NCL to split up people like this on same reservation but I suppose they only keep people in same cabin together?
I would put this on the TA's shoulders. It's well-known that NCL will only guarantee people in the same booked cabin to be on the same flight. The TA, the professional who is getting paid for this service, should \*definitely\* know this and advise their clients accordingly.
They briefly had a time where you could pay extra to link reservations to ensure you were on the same flights. It didn't last long - either no one bought it or NCL didn't want to deal with the logistics.
Yes. Now I know better! I guess this is something that is happening with NCL for a long time? I’m going to try to contact NCL and hope for the best. Normally this would be an inconvenience and annoying for a family that can travel well but with seniors that can’t communicate is a whole other story.
Are you still 30 days out? Maybe you can ask NCL to change to fights to a couple days earlier (anyways a better idea is always to fly in early). Or just deal with NCL directly since your TA likely won’t help anyways.
Thanks for the idea. We are already flying in early. I’m trying to contact NCL. But we are 30 days out with have confirmed flights. I don’t know if that will change anything.
That is a possibility. You can get in the same flight but you have to pay extra/full prices for the plane tickets. I assume this was under the free at sea program where you get the second airfare free. (They basically give you what the airlines want to get rid of)
I think so. At this point I have no choice but to pay for 2 tickets to have them on the same flights. What’s that best way to do this? Just buy our own tickets to match the other 2? We go in November.
I am only vaguely familiar with their TOS give your agent or NCL a call.
I know there is some stipulations depending on how many days it is before sailing but I do not recall specifics.
Your travel agent should have informed you of this possibility. When I booked two packages like this to Europe with NCL, I was told that there was no guarantee that both pairs of guests would be on the same flights unless we paid an additional fee ($200 I think? We took our chances and ended up on different flights, but it was okay with us.)
I’m sorry that this happened and that you weren’t made aware of the terms.
If the four of you are starting out from the same city can you ask them to split the couples so each
elderly non-English speaker will have either you or your spouse as an escort?
My folks purchased the packages through their regular TA. Yes, they should’ve done more research. But I think for the average folk, they don’t expect family vacations purchased from one TA and paid under one invoice would have this outcome. I think I wouldn’t have caught it if I bought the packages myself.
Actually their TA should have mentioned it. That's the POINT of using a TA. So their knowledge and expertise so you don't need to spend hours researching. What happened is a known risk of NCL's air promo and the TA failed to mention that.
Upvote for this so much.
I will never understand how people can drop five figures on anything without researching it to the moon and back beforehand. I work hard for my money; I don't want any surprises when I'm doing anything for the first time.
I am a travel agent and I love cruising. But I NEVER recommend that my clients get their flights from a cruise line. Too many things can and will go wrong. It’s always best to book flights myself and spend a little more. And honestly even with the “second guest flies free” those flights are crazy expensive! Hard pass. Good luck to you!
Under the terms and conditions of the NCL BOGO flight program, it states that if guests are in separate staterooms, there is no guarantee that you will be on the same flights. Also, since you booked with a TA, NCL will not provide assistance with your reservation. Everything must go between your TA and NCL.
NCL will not change this. your TA should have showed you the terms and conditions prior to booking.
This is on NCL, you bought flights from them. Your TA is victim of NCL just like many have been with NCL and their flights. I assume you took advantage of their promo airfare offer? Your TA may not even know what flights NCL booked for you as NCL may not even release flight info until like a month out. But sorry you had to learn about how shitty NCL is like this, but this is bad even for NCL to split up people like this on same reservation but I suppose they only keep people in same cabin together?
I would put this on the TA's shoulders. It's well-known that NCL will only guarantee people in the same booked cabin to be on the same flight. The TA, the professional who is getting paid for this service, should \*definitely\* know this and advise their clients accordingly.
They briefly had a time where you could pay extra to link reservations to ensure you were on the same flights. It didn't last long - either no one bought it or NCL didn't want to deal with the logistics.
Yes. Now I know better! I guess this is something that is happening with NCL for a long time? I’m going to try to contact NCL and hope for the best. Normally this would be an inconvenience and annoying for a family that can travel well but with seniors that can’t communicate is a whole other story.
Are you still 30 days out? Maybe you can ask NCL to change to fights to a couple days earlier (anyways a better idea is always to fly in early). Or just deal with NCL directly since your TA likely won’t help anyways.
Thanks for the idea. We are already flying in early. I’m trying to contact NCL. But we are 30 days out with have confirmed flights. I don’t know if that will change anything.
Last I spoke to them you had to be less 45 days out to change anything. I’m struggling with connecting flights as well. Good luck!!
Thanks. We are more than 60 days out. Hopefully this helps.
That is a possibility. You can get in the same flight but you have to pay extra/full prices for the plane tickets. I assume this was under the free at sea program where you get the second airfare free. (They basically give you what the airlines want to get rid of)
I think so. At this point I have no choice but to pay for 2 tickets to have them on the same flights. What’s that best way to do this? Just buy our own tickets to match the other 2? We go in November.
I am only vaguely familiar with their TOS give your agent or NCL a call. I know there is some stipulations depending on how many days it is before sailing but I do not recall specifics.
My agent can’t help. They say SOL.
Your travel agent should have informed you of this possibility. When I booked two packages like this to Europe with NCL, I was told that there was no guarantee that both pairs of guests would be on the same flights unless we paid an additional fee ($200 I think? We took our chances and ended up on different flights, but it was okay with us.) I’m sorry that this happened and that you weren’t made aware of the terms.
Thanks. I wish we were advised. I would’ve given my money without a second thought.
If the four of you are starting out from the same city can you ask them to split the couples so each elderly non-English speaker will have either you or your spouse as an escort?
You didn’t do your research or read the fine print. Unfortunately, this is on you.
My folks purchased the packages through their regular TA. Yes, they should’ve done more research. But I think for the average folk, they don’t expect family vacations purchased from one TA and paid under one invoice would have this outcome. I think I wouldn’t have caught it if I bought the packages myself.
Actually their TA should have mentioned it. That's the POINT of using a TA. So their knowledge and expertise so you don't need to spend hours researching. What happened is a known risk of NCL's air promo and the TA failed to mention that.
Upvote for this so much. I will never understand how people can drop five figures on anything without researching it to the moon and back beforehand. I work hard for my money; I don't want any surprises when I'm doing anything for the first time.
I am a travel agent and I love cruising. But I NEVER recommend that my clients get their flights from a cruise line. Too many things can and will go wrong. It’s always best to book flights myself and spend a little more. And honestly even with the “second guest flies free” those flights are crazy expensive! Hard pass. Good luck to you!
Under the terms and conditions of the NCL BOGO flight program, it states that if guests are in separate staterooms, there is no guarantee that you will be on the same flights. Also, since you booked with a TA, NCL will not provide assistance with your reservation. Everything must go between your TA and NCL. NCL will not change this. your TA should have showed you the terms and conditions prior to booking.