NCL Breakaway May 12-26, 2024 Cruises Cut Short

[Disappointed]

Just got an update from NCL.  Cancelling and shortening ports of call.  They have cancelled the stop at Tortola, BVI and instead will be at sea.  Next they shortened the visit to Puerto Plata DR by an hour and the stop at St. Thomas by 1.5 hours. Given you are supposed to be back onboard an hour before departure, this significantly impacts plans for activities on the DR and St. Thomas. For taking away an island and cutting short time on the other two islands they have offered $100 per stateroom.  They also increased the time on their private island in the Bahamas by 4 hours. Not sure how self serving this is as we will be captive to a beach where NCL can generate more revenue.  One of the reasons cited for the change is to provide a "better" experience for their guests.  I have no idea how taking away excursions to BVI and shortening visits to other island cultures, but adding more time to a captive beach is better for the guests.  This is my first cruise on NCL, it is obviously not starting well. 

[3Sisters]

@Disappointed This doesn't come as a surprise. It's so unfortunate that NCL does this all the time to guests, changing around its itineraries left and right. At least NCL offered a little something for missing that time at the ports. NCL doesn't always even do that! It does sound very strategic that the ship chose to spend more time at its private island than at the other ports, but I'm sure there is more backstory as to why it all unfolded this way. The removal of excursions in the BVI is bizarre. If you continue to cruise with NCL, I would imagine these issues will continue. Unfortunately it's been this way for the past couple of years. I'm hopeful enough guests will speak up and it will spark change. Aside from theses itinerary issues, how are you enjoying the rest of your cruise? What other cruise lines have you tried in the past and enjoyed?

[baratz]

NCL cancelled Turks and Caicos from our May 26-June 2nd schedule with no replacement but back to back days at sea then the captain came on the speaker about 6pm on the day before we were to arrive at Great Stirrup Cay and said a BS excuse of the winds and a system off the Carolinas and the tenders from the island would not be safe in the tender process and we were going to Nassau. Only like a 20 dollar refund of port charges for missing Great Stirrup Cay and another small refund of 5o dollars each for missing Turks and Caicos to our onboard account each. The ship sailed slow the entire cruise. I heard the ship has engine issues and cannot go at full power. WE lost about 10 hours overall of port time on this cruise. It ended up being Miami ,at sea, Puerto Plata Dominican Republic, St . Thomas USVI, at sea , at sea, Nassau Bahamas, and Miami. Avoid this ship and maybe NCL as the schedule changes game garbage. The ship in my opinion is a overpriced screw job. Use another cruise line. Then we dock in Miami on Sunday morning and guess what shows up. 2 trucks with trailers attached that do underwater repairs(Hmmm , props?) Maybe a Nassau stop to pick up engine parts that arrived to repair this ship until drydock??. NCL should have either cancelled this cruise and refunded peoples hard earned money and drydock the ship and fix it proper or replace the Breakaway with another NCL ship of the same size and amenities. Bad look NCL. Never again a dime from me as a Gold Latitudes member!! Too bad NCL, I had a first time ever in his 30's cruiser and 2 first time NCL cruiser with us and you lost 8 potential future NCL cruisers with your tactics.

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@DisappointedThat's such a shame. I really think NCL could do better than that with giving guests incentives for this mishaps. I would also be disheartened by this. Which other cruise lines had you enjoyed? Overall, do you think you would cruise with NCL again? Based on many other guest experiences, I wouldn't be inclined to try cruising with NCL. As lovely as the ships are, the customer service/guests satisfaction seems to be lacking in comparison to other cruise competitors. 

@baratz I find the $20 incentive to almost be insulting. I understand it's part of the port taxes and fees but the figure is so minimal. Based on this clear mechanical error, I would say you should have been incentivized with more than that!