In reference to the two comments above...
Trip insurance (I'm certain) has risen in popularity due to the fact of the cruise line(s) lack of help in situations that is beyond the traveler's control.
About 9 months ago I had made a reservation at a nice hotel for a few days. On the day I was to arrive at this resort hotel, I called up and cancelled. My only reason was that I changed my mind. With the resort hotel, no problems as long as it was cancelled by 6pm on day of arrival.
Apparently this does not hold true if you book your hotel through the cruise line.
What I actually learned is this: Next time I want to stay a night or two in a hotel before a cruise, book the hotel on my own, not through the cruise line!
It would have gone a long way if NCL would of at least "compramised" in refunding a portion of the money lost due to not making the hotel on the first night.
Three points that I learned is:
- NCL (and perhaps other lines) are unwilling to compramise
- Book the hotel on my own (not through the cruise line)
- NCL is not interested in "good PR". They rather save their few
bucks than to "go that extra mile" to show that they actually care
I urge other to "buycot" NCL.
As long as the major cruise lines keep selling out their cruises, non of them will have any desire (or reason) to change their "lack of caring business practice".
