Reservation change-Help!

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Sestra

Guest
I posted here about having to change my cabinmate, and now people said it wouldn't be that hard, maybe a penalty would be exacted. Now in talking to my travel agent, I am finding out how inflexible NCL is being. My mother is having surgery and cannot go so my brother volunteered to take her place. Because that cruise is in "finalization", ticketing I guess, the TA may not be able to get them to allow the change. Has anyone had to go directly to NCL? Would talking to them help at all? Or do I have to take this cruise alone? Anyone had this problem arise?

Thanks!
 
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newmexicoNita

Guest
Wow, what a bummer! It is really hard to change cabinmates at the last minute, not just with NCL but any lines. Are there air tickets involved, if so that really adds insult to injury. I am sure you can work it out, but it might be a bit hair raising to say the least. Good luck........happy cruisin

Nita
 
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kimmy

Guest
With RCI, the policy is a $35 fee for changes made to tickets up to 24 hours in advance of sailing. I sail them most and this has been my only experience and it was a simple phone call. I don't ujnderstand why NCL woud be so much different.
 
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Sestra

Guest
I guess I won't be taking NCL in future. If other lines are more amenable to changes that cost them no money, I wonder at NCL's customer service. Pity they wouldn't be of more help.
 
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newmexicoNita

Guest
Sestra, when are you sailing and have you talked to your TA today or in the last day or so? As a recently retired TA I know your agent could get a possitive or negative response with just a simple phone call or two. She/he may have to call customer service but should have had an answer immediately. Is air part of the package? know that even a mispelling of a name on already printed (well not really printed anymore) tickets can be a huge problem for the airlines which of course can add to the concerns. I think for any of us to give you an answer more has to be known. Don't be to quick to blame anyone until you know the whole story and why the policy is what it is.

Nita
 
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Sestra

Guest
Story is this: I won an auction on ebay. Apparently this TA booked a few rooms and then sold them, myself getting one of them. My mother became infirm since I paid for the cabin. I asked the TA if she could change the reservation to me and my brother instead. She said she tried but the cruise line was in the middle of "finalization" (her word) and that no replacement passenger would be accepted, even if it meant I would have to go alone. My brother who never takes no for an answer, called NCL direct but the nice booking agent said the TA would have to handle. Do you think she did or just said she did and washed her hands of it. I saw no reason to doubt her answer about NCL not wanting to make changes.

The air was purchased separately through Alaska Air, and they said they would credit if my mother doesn't go but won't refund her share. That's ok IF I get the credit since I paid for it with my credit card, not her. And most like, I would use in future, mom wouldn't. You're right about the name thing though. The TA said she would try the oh-I-made-a-mistake-with-the-name thing. Guess not. I don't blame anyone, just wish the travel industry would quit punishing people when emergencies crop up.
 
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newmexicoNita

Guest
Sestra, I agree about the travel industry to some extent. I don't know if you agent did or didn't take the time to do a good job and wouldn't want to put the blame on anyone as we only know part of the story. I hope you can get it straightened out. As for needing to go through the agency you booked with that is the way it works, don't know if it's the privacy thing or what, but when I was still an agent the same policies were in place. As for not changing the names at all, unless the docs had been sent there is something not quite right about this. The names should be able to be changed with a charge up to the time docs are mailed. After that it is a problem as I have said before. I sure hope you get some answers.

Nita
 
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Sestra

Guest
Final note on this trip:

In trying to change the name from my mother's to my brother's, they lost both. So...not it appears I will be going alone. Not so bad I guess. I used to travel alone alot before getting married so I will use this cruise to celebrate my singlehood-dom again. And have a wonderful time. :)
 
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JIMC_USA

Guest
I was browsing thru and read your post!

Do not give up!!!

The airline will change name for $100 change fee or refund because of sickness and rebook, even if a different airline and meet.
Adding and deleting "secondary" names is usually done without any penalty up until final payment (and maybe until documents go out)... once the docs are done, there is a document fee involved...and no changes can be made at all once you get within about a week of sailing (for security reasons)...

Even after final payment it's do-able -- I just had to do this (as long as one original passenger stays on, the other can be changed) about a week after I made final payment. I was charged a $35 fee, but it was an easy change.
 
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bostongal

Guest
Sestra - Call your TA and ask her to call NCL while you are on the line. Ask her to speak to a supervisor and work her way up the chain until this is resolved. Unless you are physically holding the tickets in your hand then this should be able to be rectified. You may need a doctor's letter certifying that your mother is unable to travel and have it faxed to them but otherwise a fee should be able to complete this. Do not just accept it! Doesn't it seem ridiculous that in all this they "lost" your mother's name from the reservation? If they can take the name off then they can change it.

Meg
 
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Sestra

Guest
The fact is NCL was willing to accept the change IF the TA would submit it. The TA said it was her bosses who refused to make the change. NCL said if we had made reservations through them directly, they could have helped us. So here we were, stuck in between 2 walls, neither that would give.

I would prpbably be more upset if they lost a name for no reason. The TA was trying to make it seem she had gooffed up the last name and substitute my brother's. She warned me Mom's name might be lost. We accepted the risk. I haven't lost any money, I just paid extra to have a single cabin. Just a clue to what can happen between the cruise lines and TA's, maybe better to book direct.
 
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