My article on Wednesday "And The Cruise Industry Wonders Why It Has An Image Problem . . ." contained the "usual suspects" – Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Carnival subsidiary Princess Cruises – whose shenanigans have been featured in Cruise Law News over the past year.
But right after publishing the article, I read a story in the Miami Herald’s "Action Line" – "Funeral Disrupts Cruise Plans" – which involved another Miami cruise line, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL).
The story is straight forward. A couple from Key Largo, Ms. Boland and Mr. Samuel, purchased a NCL cruise on the Sky leaving from Miami with three other couples. But Mr. Samuel’s brother died, and his funeral was in Georgia on the day the ship sailed. So the couple notified NCL, asking for a credit on a future cruise. NCL said no. They then asked for their cruise to be donated to charity (Make-A-Wish). NCL said no.
Then comes the sick part. NCL then re-sold the cabin to another couple. Yep. NCL got a double profit due to the death of Mr. Samuel’s brother. Really sick.
NCL is active on Twitter @NCLFreestyle, so I tweeted a reference to the Miami Herald article.
No response.
NCL’s "Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Passenger Services," Andy Stuart, is also active on Twitter @nclandy . So I tweeted him "Double cruise profit for death? Say it aint so Andy!"
No response.
NCL should have permitted a child with cancer and his or her parent go on a once-in-a-lifetime cruise. Or make a small donation in memory of Mr. Samuel’s brother. But to double sell the cabin under these circumstances?
And cruise lines wonder why they have an image problem . . .
Credits:
Photographs Twitter