Problems with Norwegian Aqua Inaugural Voyage

Not sure what a TA cruise has to do with England other than it's departure point. I fail to see any disaster; just a very unfortuhate series of events. You might get more discussion on the Cruise Critic Norwegian forum. In fact a quick glance there shows multiple active threads on Aqua's crossing.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/64-norwegian-cruise-line/

As for the helicopter medevac- always dramatic, bit unfortunately far from a rare occurrence.

I'm not surprised by NCL's lack of customer service, I was at an NCL/Expedia sponsored event last week that featured a discussion about the new ship and I described my experiences with NCL to a couple of travel agents that NCL can be really good, but also really, really bad. We had a 9 hour delay boarding or ship in Venice in 2017 with no explanation of problems. Just that the ship wouldn't make it to the dock until later afternoon. We didn't know about it until we arrived at Port. No texts, no calls, no emails and no updates once we were there. A year before in Quebec City, NCL had passengers prebook a boarding time. We had 10am, but boarding didn't even start until about 11:30. After the cruise I was sent a survey with an option to add my comments. I mentioned the delay and I received an email back not only without an apology but also a statement that they would look into it to see "if what you said is true," and then they'd get back to me. They never did.

I am curious though when a ship has to change the final destination, what responsibility it has to get people to where it was supposed to end up. That's a part of your contract that should be read carefully, as well as your travel insurance to see what would be covered in that event.

Hello Allan

I have sailed Norwegian nine times and working on my tenth. It has been both good and bad.

I first began sailing Norwegian many years ago because I travel alone and they were so friendly to the solo passenger. Now I have perks and I believe they still are the friendliest to the solo cruiser even though other cruise lines have warmed up to solo guests.

But like I said, while I have had many good experiences sailing with Norwegian, there have been many bad experiences as well. And I have posted about this in the past.

I have often written guest services post cruise about the problem that I experienced when on the cruise and have gotten some insensitive and rude responses. The problems were always a Norwegian issue but I was sometimes chastised as though I did something wrong.

I do not know if you had time to watch the video that I posted but the real problem was not the weather but how Norwegian handled and responded to the situation.

A lot of the guests experienced a lot of difficulty because of the weather issues. Some of them are going to be out of some money plus others had to be back at work or connect with another cruise. Some do the B2B cruise. Guests are having to notify hotels and planes, etc.

I hope that Norwegian will come through for them and if they have travel insurance, maybe they will have some coverage. Maybe the airline industry will work with them and same with hotels.

Originally the voyage was scheduled to be Southampton to Boston direct, seven days on the ocean now it will be nine, Southampton to New York.

I would not want to spend even seven straight days on the ocean but I think travelers like brand new ships. They like sailing on the inaugural trip.

Hello CJean

You have mentioned Cruise Critic to me.a few times. It seems like you like the site. I find it too big and clumsy. After booking. a cruise, I join the roll call and do post on the roll call. if someone organizes a meet and greet, I go to that but otherwise I do not do a. lot on Cruise Critic.

I posted on R S because I like the site and there are many cruisers on forum.

Everyone is different. If I had been on this cruise, it would be a disaster but maybe not for someone else. Someone else might enjoy another two days on the ship.

Maybe Norwegian is going to be very generous to those who are inconvenienced.

Update

I have been watching youtube videos of those on the Aqua. Seems like many are both paying guests as well as in the travel industry.

Norwegian did give guests the option of canceling and receiving a full refund and an additional $300.00.

But then the guests have to decide, what to do next?

In the most recent video that I was watching, the couple was both in the travel industry as well as paying guests. They chose to stay on the ship but it will require the cancelling of the next cruise that they would have been taking.

I am curious though when a ship has to change the final destination,
what responsibility it has to get people to where it was supposed to
end up.

I found the answer to my own question for this instance. If passengers booked air fare through NCL then they be automatically rebooked, but you're on your own if you didn't. NCL will give you $300 compensation to help cover the cost of airline rebooking and to help with costs that insurance doesn't cover.

Hello Allan

I continue to watch YouTube videos of content creators who are on the Aqua.

Most guests knew nothing about the itinerary change until they arrived at the port. At the port, they received.a letter. Most are in some kind of state of disbelief and shock to begin with.

That is the case with my most recent viewing of a couple who cruises constantly around the world making YouTube videos. That is how they earn their living.

They decided to continue with the Aqua even though it meant cancelling two other cruises that they were planning to take afterwards. But after the shock wore off, they developed a good attitude about their adventure on the seas. Of course they are creating YouTube videos and will be earning from the Aqua experience.

The male said something about Norwegian giving all guests free internet and phone services so that they could make changes while they sailed because of the circumstances but he did not elaborate. He said he had several hours of work ahead of him making changes and cancellations.

So Norwegian is giving guests who dd not book airfare through Norwegian $300 to cover the costs of changing or canceling flights. Hopefully those guests also had bought insurance through the airline. Do you think the $300 is generous? I guess it depends on where the guest was flying to or needing to get to.

Weather happens whether you stay home or travel and if you travel, you know that you have to be prepared for weather.

Norwegian is sailing around the storm and that is why the journey will be taking nine or ten days ending in NYC.