ARE CRUISE LINES CHANGING PORTS JUST TO SAVE MONEY
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- čas přidán 13. 02. 2024
- ARE CRUISE LINES CHANGING PORTS JUST TO SAVE MONEY?
I think we can all agree cancelling a cruise stop for safety reasons like a storm or unrest in the area is ok to do. However should a cruise line be able to cut a destination after advertising it for over a year just to save money?
I hope NCL is held accountable ! I would be beyond livid.
Definitely something fishy if they won't give a reason.
NCL has demonstrated all sorts of greedy, underhanded dealings over the past few years, so this hasn't been at all surprising. They aren't even subtle about how passenger satisfaction is their lowest priority. They've made poor decision after poor decision and are treating their clientele like idiots. I strongly hope the people on this cruise do unite and take them to court because this kind of behaviour has to stop. Cruise lines can only hide behind the loopholes written into their contracts for so long but people have to show them enough is enough and that these actions made in bad faith will have consequences. Vote with your money people--I can tell you NCL will never see another penny from me because of their shady dealings. I hope others will voice the same and take their money elsewhere. It's bad enough that cruisers are already paying their workers' wages, they should at least be willing to honour itineraries whenever weather isn't the issue, especially in bucket list cruise situations like this. And I would also argue that mechanical issues should also be on them, as it's their responsibility to ensure their ships are in perfect working order for each and every cruise. If that means inserting a day here or there without fares for maintenance, then so be it. It shouldn't come out of paying cruisers' time or experience.
I know I will not take a cruise on NCL. I was so happy to know they are gonna cater to solos, but I don't want to be treated like crap.
Well expressed!
I couldn't have said it better myself!
And I 100%agree with you!!!
Thank you for taking the time to write your message. 🎉
It’s hard to trust any business in today’s world.
Over 12 cruises? we have had 3 ports missed or changed--2 due directly to weather concerns and 1 due to the port captain not being able to promise the cruise ship and its passengers could be assured of their personal safety. But, not telling passengers a direct, honest and open explanation is truly unacceptable.
From everything that's known so far, I think NCL is just doing dirty dealing. Antarctica is a bucket list destination that those folks may never be able to go to again. To cancel that destination with no explanation or compensation is just wrong. As of now, I think NCL deserves all the negative publicity they're receiving.
If there's actually a valid reason (other than pocketing the extra money not spent on fuel), then at the very least, NCL is doing a terrible job with their communication to the passengers.
You all just need to stop saying bucket list destination every time a cruise line changes itinerarys. Also if you all think cruise li es are just lying and changing destinations or are on a go slow order to steal your money and make insane profit you are wrong. They make plenty of money when you all buy internet packages, when you buy drink packages, when you buy shore excursions, etc. finally, with the amount of money the cruise lines went into debt for you need to know they have to pay that debt off and they also have a fiduciary duty to provide a financial return to their shareholders. It’s basic economics, nothing in life is free nor is it fair. Pay to play baby or don’t try to play at all.
let me guess, you own stock@@user-pp2bg1eb9f
Yes! No valid explanation is completely unacceptable
Shame on NCL!.
🤥😡
@@judybutler5129 NCL has given a reason, a slow sail order and it has come out that it was for regulatory requirement in the area through summer 2024 and it is there for the protection of migratory whales.
Just heard on another cruise blog that the cruise lines were made aware of this go slow order for this time period a couple of years ago.
sounds like a class action suit is in order
Yep
Most definitely.
Totally agree
weather or safety ONLY!!! should be the case
I think there is a term: BAIT AND SWITCH
Boy! You got THAT right! 👍
There should be a passenger bill of rights. If you select a cruise to go to certain ports there should be compensation if changed with no good reason.
Yeah! Why hasn't that happened yet?!
Hi Don - we had a similar situation on NCL Star in Jan 2017. Booked an 11 day cruise from Singapore to Hong Kong with an overnight in Thailand and a week before the cruise NCL cxl'd Thailand (which is why we booked the cruise) due to "propulsion' issues. A similar protest happened on board and after much pressure NCL provided 20% refund and spent 11 days in a few ports we didn't plan to visit. We challenged if the ship was seaworthy and what happens if the other (whatever it is) fails which fell on deaf ears. We still had a good trip but man there were a lot of angry people on board which does effect others
Every time I see this kind of change I feel terrible for the people it happens too.
NCL has been working hard to get the most money from its customers for less product in recent years. They are on the bottom of our list for sailing with because of this.
NCL needs to explain and be held accountable if it’s a poor reason. Love your channel
I just love Don AND his channel!
He, and his friend Tony, are THE best!! ❤🎉
NCL leads the way. They've been doing this for over a year.
Don, the Cruise lines will not want to go through discovery because so much will come out. I think they are changing to save money knowing nothing will happen to them. Always Follow The Money. Their responsibility is to shareholders not passengers.
Whatever the reason, NCL owes the passengers big compensation.
I don't think they would owe them "big compensation" if there was a valid weather or safety issue. There is not and everyone should get a free cruise.
Seems like a clear “Bait and switch” to me!
Dude, I'd be so upset. An antarctic cruise is one of those kind of cruises that's a bucket list item. It's not like swapping St. Thomas for PR or something. My mom and I talk about doing an antarctic cruise someday together and I couldn't imagine it just going poof for no reason with no refund or anything to try again.
I love NCL and am looking to book an Antarctica next year. Maybe i need to find someone other than NCL.
I am a big fan of NCL. We are sapphire status. We have even bought stock. However, I am now thinking of trying different cruise lines. The cancellations at the last minute after final payment are crazy. There was a cruise going to Iceland, and Greenland. After final payment, e mails went out to say they were no longer going to any of the ports in Iceland because of weather. Instead they were going to Norway. This was 6 months before the cruise. I am on a cruise in March to Japan. We have just been notified that we have major changes. Instead of embarking at Yokohama now it is Tokyo International. So we scramble to get new hotels even though there has been no change on the official port schedule. We also have ports cancelled and times in port changed losing 8.5 hours of port times. This is getting to be the norm rather than the exception. There is no honest communication and lack of honesty on many levels. Every time you call you get a different answer. On a more positive note, we watch both of your channels religiously. Thanks for taking care of us.
We are on the NCL Star next week for the cruise of our lifetime! My last continent. NCL needs to step up. I am Diamond on NCL. I have 2,000 in cruise next to use. Not anymore. This will be my last NCL cruise. 40 cruises lost
Thank you DON, I have to agree with you cause My last 9 cruises have been on NCL and on a couple of cruises we had to miss ports and the crew were very good at informing us what going on. Last month on the Prima we could not get into Costa Maya due to weather but the Capt. came on and told us he tried to get into the port but could not do it safely. The problem with this cruise and according to passengers on Tic tock they were not told anything till they were on board and then why they had a Go slow order. I still like NCL but some of their moves Lately are not cruiser friendly.
Interesting
Good afternoon Don. This is so unfair to all the passengers that paid big dollars to go on the Anaritic location and this happens. I would be livid too. They will lose clients over this one I believe. HAGD.
The problem with class action is the lawyers don't work for the victims; they work for themselves. I've been involved in a few (where I've opted out) where the victims get coupon codes, or other non-cash settlements, while the lawyers are always paid in cash.
I don't doubt it would be the same; the lawyers will pocket a big cash settlement and negotiate cruise credits or the like for the passengers that were a part of the settlement. You end up being worse off because now you are stuck with credits and do not have any other legal recourse.
I have dropped Celebrity from consideration after they started taking on surcharges for solo passengers, and now I'm going to drop NCL from consideration because I think they are engaging in deceptive business practices. I've already downgraded Royal Caribbean from preferred to one I'll consider in a pinch. Princess and Disney have moved up on my preferred line list.
Keep up the good work Don.
Your theory makes sense. A cruise line needs to be transparent, timely, and reasonably meet the passengers halfway with regards to compensation - especially if external factors such as weather are not the cause. A max speed of 19 knots is still a pretty good clip. Given the choice I bet the passengers would have gladly skipped the Falkland Islands in order to see Antarctica.
Shame on NCL. The cost difference of a plain S. American cruise should be refunded! Love your updates
Princess dropped a bucket list to Longyearbyen for me in 2022. No notice from the cruise line. Just an itinerary change a few weeks in advance. Too late to cancel without penalty.
It’s not a cost saving measure..it’s faults advertising
Don, the cruise line knows that they have all the power. Sure, advertise an EXPENSIVE cruise to a bucket list destination and then change course. Why not? What are the passengers going to do? Complain to a group of foreign workers on the cruise ship that have NOTHING to do with the changes. Are the passengers going to stomp their foot and stand in a "complaint" line. Ha! NCL knew of the go slow since 2021 in the area due to whale populations. Why don't they want to sail to Antartica? Perhaps it's fuel and skill going into the Drake Passage? Just my thoughts but this is a LOSE-LOSE for the passengers. Would you buy a flight to have an airline change destination on a whim? I think this is a SCAM and anyone impacted by the changes on that ship needs to step up!
The Star crossed the Drake Passage earlier this week.
NCL OFTEN does this. On first hand experience, we too were on the receiving end of an itinerary change by NCL of the Istanbul port that we booked that cruise for the eastern Mediterranean, especially Istanbul. Norwegian started advertising that cruise Itinerary in November 2021, then AFTER we boarded they said that due to a recent change, Turkey would not let them come into their ports. Many of us from our cruise looked up the reason that Turkey had in place and it turned out that the rule was in place 3 months prior to Norwegian advertising that itinerary. Furthermore, other Norwegian cruises ahead of us were told *after* they boarded the ship that due to a recent rule by Turkey, they couldn't dock at any port in Turkey, yet at the same time Norwegian was still advertising Istanbul, Turkey as being a port stop and new upcoming people were still buying their tickets BECAUSE they wanted to go to Istanbul.
The Celebrity ship departed from Buenos Aires the day after the Norwegian Star departed Buenos Aires. The Celebrity ship went to Paradise Bay and there is NOT an unreasonable speed limit in the Antarctic. So Norwegian's story about speed limits is a bald faced lie.
As a tourist, you can fly to Ushuaia, the Falklands and so on, but it is very very very difficult to fly to the Antarctic and there isn't any hotels to stay at. If the Norwegian Star had to miss a port, then miss a port that is easy such as close to Buenos Aires, NOT Paradise Bay. A few years ago we went on the Celebrity cruise line to the Antarctic and spent the afternoon in Paradise Bay and it was DEFINATELY worth every penny to be in Paradise Bay, and to get there and the route out.
Watch this CZcams Video and fast forward to 2:18: czcams.com/video/0Y_8uNpWyUk/video.html
What if a person is mobility challenged and cannot do Tenders? They booked a cruise believing that they would be able to disembark the ship at ports, to find out that they cannot see the ports because they cannot use Tenders. Are you going to believe that the said country or ports didn't properly state that their port was a port or a tender port? OF COURSE Norwegian knows such important points when the develop their cruises a year or two in advance.
The other cruise, sold as a cruise of the British Isles, didn't stop at one British Isles port stop! Absolutely a bald faced lie to sell tickets.
Also, please watch this video: czcams.com/video/In2jYcMh1DQ/video.html
In short, a Class Action Law Suit needs to be launched about this Norwegian Antarctic Cruise as well as other cruises where they outright lie and don't inform the public until AFTER the final payment day or AFTER the board the ship.
Question: What can be done to have an "International Passenger Bill of Rights" rule enacted to be made legal?
Thank you Don for posting this video and raising these questions.
Totally agree with you on this cruise. If I were on board I would be collecting names on board.
Interesting observations, I think they say weather to get out of docking in certain ports.
I agree, safey, weather, ship broken down; OK. If I was told on embarkation I would be outraged, plus they even changed the cruise title on their website! Something is not right and they need to be accountable.
Thanks Don, I TOTALLY agree with your point.
Hiding the truth from customers from the beginning is false representation. Debating in court would make them think twice...
Can't imagine getting on your cruise & being told port being skipped without the reasons you mentioned , especially if that was on your bucket list(weather, war, etc.) & no explanation! Great videos Don.
We were on a Princess cruise to Alaska in Sept of 2021, and we had 2 of our 3 Alaska port stops canceled. There was a big storm...I think they were calling it a cyclone...and the Captain explained that we had to get out of the area asap. We were told soon afterwards that since we didn't really get to see Alaska, as we had planned and paid for, we were going to get 2/3 of the price we paid for the cruise back as FCC, plus a very generous OBC. I forget the exact amount, but I think it was between $200-400 per passenger. Anyhow, everyone we spoke with onboard was super happy with the way Princess handled it, knowing they didn't have to be so generous. It could have been just a disappointing cruise, but they made a lot of loyal customers on that sailing for sure!
I think that would be a good idea to start a class action suit!
I used to surf the NCL and Celebrity websites pretty much daily. I would like to recommend that everyone stay off cruise company web sites for at least two weeks just to see if anything shakes out. I know they monitor traffic on the sites and if there is a drop off, it will be noticed.
A cruise company can advertise a Caribbean cruise out of Puerto Rico, then remain in port for the duration and claim the contract permits them to do so. But if a jury gets the sense that the cruise company is being dishonest, they will void the contract and find for the plaintiffs. I remember a great lakes case where a barge towing company had elected to sink a laden barge that had broken loose rather than go to the expense of recovering it and then filing an insurance claim. The insurer sued arguing that the client had not taken reasonable action to save the barge and cargo, and the court found for the plaintiff. If a jury gets a good whiff that NCL willfully misled customers even slightly a jury will (probably) find against them.
I agree with everyone that is saying these folks can likely win a court case...however, the sheer logistics of getting everyone together to actually DO IT, seems daunting. i mean, i have been in situations like this, but i cant afford a lawyer to get even STARTED on something like that! how are these random people all supposed to just get a lawyer and file a huge case together?!
@@sarapugh6700 It would be a big international challenge. Maybe we should all just ghost NCL for a while.
I don't think that I'd ever book an NCL cruise because of shady practices like this in addition to shady refund issues that you and others reported on last year.
Thanks Don
Don, you hit the nail on the head with NCL trying to save money at the passengers expense. We did our first and last NCL cruise to Panama last year and they pulled that bait and switch on us 2 weeks after final payment. They cancelled Nicaragua and Costa Rica (both on our bucket list) with no explanations and subbed with Acapulco and Ocho Rios. Didn't want to go to either of those ports. Panama City was changed to a different date with late afternoon/evening time on Sunday. That was suspicious because no excursions were ever offered. Two days before we were supposed to arrive there the captain made an announcement that the port was cancelled due to the tides. We were never refunded the port fees. We knew these were all money saving tactics. All this was enough to sour us to say NCL was one and done for us!
It’s upsetting that you pay so much money for these cruises, and then you have no say in what changes they make
I think the problem is right at the start of the video, when you say that people dont complain about not getting into a port. You can understand the reason for not risking peoples lives if the weather isnt good while accepting that you paid for a service which wasnt provided. If any company, for any reason, doesnt give you the service you paid for you should get your money back. Its irrelevant if its their fault or not, if you pay for something and dont get that thing you should always get your money back. The problem is people attacking those correctly demanding their money back when a ship cannot get to a port for weather or something, acting as though the people complaining are the problem.
Yes, take this crooked cruise lines to court. That's what needs to be done
Actually, they could do a class action lawsuit through Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. The cost would be cheaper because it would be a learning experience for the students. The people would have to meet the criteria, but if accepted it would be much cheaper. I honestly think that the cruise line hasn't got a leg to stand on if they are only skipping advertised ports just to save money. Legally, they advertised these ports, people paid their money to go to those ports in particular and then after the passengers are already there the ports are changed without any compensation or way to pull out. That could be seen as fraud.
i DOUBT IT WOULD HAPPEN
I agree with the false advertising
They are just asking for the government to step in and make them behave properly.
You are right on the tip of an iceberg, Don. Pun intended because this is probably only a little bit of what we're seeing of the top tip of the iceberg, and there's a whole lot more lying underneath this.
I imagine the cruise line would come up with a good enough reason why they changed the itinerary if someone took them to court.
They do, the Captain needs to get permission, from HQ
We expect companies, especially cruise lines, to operate with integrity!
I sail in April with NCL on a Trans Atlantic and as a long time customer with 5 previous cruises with them I am quite concerned about this incident.
Hopefully they will come out soon with an explanation otherwise this may be my last cruise with this company...
They have always treated me fair in the past and offered very reasonable compensations for any changes or cancelations that have come up.
However if this incident becomes the status quo with NCL I'm done ...
Nice video. Helpful
Have a great Day Don 😊
NCL is notorious for this
Don love your channel been a subscriber since 3 years ❤
This is terrible with NCL. Thank you Don for your opinion ❤
They need to be held accountable
Seems to be to save money since NCL doesn't want to give the reasons
I understand cruise lines upping prices / up-charges due to all the nonsense primarily due to covid; however, it seems like things are getting out of hand and cruise lines need to be forthcoming and upfront about changes. We prefer NCL, in general, but changes need to be prompt! Personally, I don't care about missed ports, I just like being a cruise person and love just being able to cruise, my wife on the other hand likes excursions. I am very thankful that I can be on a ship and all it entails, my wife likes to see stuff, so she may not be as amenable to itinerary changes as I. But regardless those changes should be noted A.S.A.P.!
I agree with your opinion Don. If it was fuel related that makes no sense when they can charge a fuel surcharge, if the price of fuel is above a certain price.
I think the title to this video sums it up nicely. That contract was not intended to be used like this. They even changed the name of that cruise.
That would be interesting to see someone take the cruise lines to court over missing the ports.
I keep thinking they didn’t get one of the speciality pilots require for the area! Poor planning? Maybe.
You just made a Good point very possible.
@@jameswade7550 So how much bad PR would say that pilot being sick, retired, on vacation cause vs what they have now?
Stay on them Don!
We have noticed that there are less cruises leaving NYC to the southern Caribbean in the next two years and we were wondering if they were doing this to save money. So maybe we are thinking in the right "ballpark"🤔
Keep up the good work.
I disagree with the comment "if they changed it because the ship broke down OK we have to live with it" The company is responsible for the repair and maintenance of the ship if I bought an airline ticket from city A to city B and they say well the plane broke so we are going to fly you to city C (which happens to be no where near city B) no they cannot do that. We do accept delays and rerouting that may take longer but they still are responsible to get you from city A to city B.
Very interesting !!❤️❤️
This is just ridiculous. Cancelled my 2025 NCL cruise.
Hopefully there is a valid reason for the change. They need to tell the passengers what the reason is. Saving money in the short term is going to cost them loyal passengers in the long term
On the NCL Sun did same thing it was "advertised" we would go to Nicaragua as for myself that one reason I picked that cruise. As late the night before around 9:00 p.m. or so. The Captain did make announcement we will have a sea day instead going there. Didn't say why it wasn't weather or unsafe though.
Great points
I hope there are a few lawyers on board who will stand up for the passengers and make a statement to lines in the future
That's a good point you made. Only if cruise lines thought like you. There would be more considered lines
Interesting point about if that is okay for cruise lines possibly changing ports for just possible cost saving measures
I would hate to miss a bucket list destination.
Hi Don my wife and I love your show. We watch it daily! One quick point we wanted to mention that your new intro shows many images that go by way too fast. We realize the images switch on each beat of the music but it’s too quick to enjoy. We really like the intro just prior to this new one.
They need to be transparent and explain such radical changes .
The old "Bait and Switch" is illegal in so many instances, I can't see where this would be any different. Also, these cruise lines need to be upholding to their contracts or what would keep them from just cancelling voyages willy-nilly and if it cost the passengers money, "oh well".
Yeah, I see what you’re saying about the changes to the itinerary to save money. I had no idea they do things like that. Hmmmm.
This really does need to be taken up in court, contracts can't be changed willy nilly in the shops etc, so why are cruise companies allowed to write unfair clauses in their terms and conditions?
Whatever governments law they are filing their contracts under needs to be challenged in court, end of.
I am so thankful I went on cruises years ago. Cruising has really changed, everything has gone up from groceries to gas. It seems it is all about money now and the big cruises lines are nickel and diming the passenger for every single thing. I would have to really think twice about getting on a cruise ship now. I have only had a change of port one time and it was because of a medical emergency, that is something that happens and you have to live with it. I would be very upset if I had paid my money to go on a certain cruise and then they tell me when I get on the ship. Yes, that is what you paid for and that is false advertising. They should tell the passengers before they get to the port and give them a choice of another cruise or refund.
Hi Don
The bottom line is that cruisers have very few options when it comes to itineraries
Ncl has been so shady for the last couple years.
Good Morning Don from Burnaby BC
We plan our vacations expecting to go to certain ports. This would bother me.
This is scary. Corporate world has forgotten than there is no profit without some customer satisfaction. Take care of the customer and they will take care of you.
Thanks for all your info
Seems like the cruise line could at least ask passengers if they would prefer to skip a different port or reduce the duration of visit to another port so as to allow not skipping Antarctica altogether.
One of the cruise lines is publicizing a 'mystery cruise' with undisclosed ports. I guess that's so they can't be accused of changing the itinerary :) Unfortunately the major cruise lines can afford to drag out any class action suit passengers decide to bring against them.
How long before people get fed up with the nickel and diming, and the double dealing before they stop cruising. Ask Disney if they ever thought it was possible to loose customers.
Sounds like a good class action suit.
NCL Pride of America used to go up the coast of Kauai and changed the cruise to have an overnight in Kauai
I am glad I was on the Star on the 7/1 to Antarctica. Great trip, still thinking of the sights. No fair to the others.
I took Norweign to Alaska. What a nightmare. Never again. Now I have to go back to see Alaska.
Allison, at Let’s Go Travel was saying something similar. I agree with both of you. It sure seems they are trying to save on fuel. People are Loyal to a point. I wouldn’t book NCL for a bucket list destination.
I expect NCL are trying to think of a good reason which is why they haven't provided one yet. I hope there will be a law suit to settle the matter.
Being fairly new to the world of cruising, I am wondering if these situations are more frequent now than they were before? And also I am wondering if anything can be done to force a cruise line to fully disclose the true reason behind these itinerary changes when the valid reason is not obvious ?
Definitely they need to be held responsible