maywell

But he had those other price points/choices/services included before? That is what was bargained for when he put down his deposit and possibly his final payment. Why do you think it is ok to switch what he bargained/pay for?

 

I think I may want to start a business that attracts CC posters.

Lobster has been out of the MDR for at least year or 2, and was in specialty restaurants before Del Rio took over this year. Plus it was tails, not whole lobster too. So putting it back in the MDR as 1lb whole lobster is kind of achievement, unto itself in hindsight.... (for NCL anyway)

The menu for the original room service before the all day charge was crappy and not much on it. Literally, the only hot food on it was coffee, tea, chicken soup that didn't have much taste, hamburger and a hot dog. So getting steak, pasta, chicken and fish plus hot breakfast like eggs and sausage is major upgrade for NCL.

The only charge entertainment is the lunch wine show and evening dinner show. Both can be avoid by not even making reservations or stepping into the place....And this too was before Del Rio took over.

If you're going to use the bait & switch outcry - at least know the timeline of when things was actually removed or put back. Because alot of stuff was removed during Sheehan's time and was put back under Del Rio / Stuart as either an upcharge like surf&turf or snuck in without announcement as complimentary, like free escargot and salmon in the MDR. (I did a double-take when I saw those 2 particular items in the MDR menu from Escape)

We can always count on you to defend the indefensible. Paying for a hamburger on a cruise ship is just another "welcome change" that gives us a choice?

You mean paying for a hamburger in one location on the ship, while in 2 different locations its still free/complimentary -That's really is called options, not nickle & diming....

Personally? If one's whole highlight or reason for going on Escape is to just go to Margaretville - You're going to need more better reasons than that because that's not the only restaurant on the ship (specialty or complimentary), nor is it the only activity onboard either....

But I bet we can all agree that the "Freestyle Cruising" slogan should change to "Pay-style Cruising". :D

When you want everything that ship /line has to offered - better have the money for it and/or go to line that has it more inclusive as part of its fare. *shrug* NCL is not that inclusive line, it was exclusive even before Del Rio/ Stuart took it over - its just the natural evolution of things that was in place while ago under Sheehan.

Personally to me, NCL has better basics than Carnival but its not as inclusive as that line. I'm not lobster / steak / prime rib eater, so I can do with out it nor do I use room service like that - I actually like dining setup on the Breakaway, where its al fresco even in the complimentary places like the buffet and grill. I also like it has more dining variety than Carnival and I don't mind paying extra for it since I'm not a big eater and don't spend much on myself anyway. With the a la carte in some of the restaurants, it just comes out more cheaper for me since I only eat 1 or 2 courses. Most of the entertainment is included anyway in the fare; it only the shows that have a meal attached to it that one has to pay - have a choice of going or not at all.

I'm not turning on anybody I simply stated that a small charge will keep the "hogs from gathering at the trough". People acting like "hogs at a trough" is not uncommon and it most frequently occurs at a buffet or "free" meal. A small charge will eliminate such a problem.

Sadly or Happily, depending on how one see it - its true. All it takes to keep some people who want to abuse the privilege, in this case, free food from known franchise that charges alot on land; is charge a la carte prices at $2.99-7.99. Then, only people that have the money and/or willing to pay at those prices, will be only ones to eat there - and that's true about any specialty restaurant on a ship, not just NCL.

Tomorrow for 12 day trip [emoji16] [emoji126]

364 days til 3 week B2B [emoji3] [emoji4]

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Tomorrow for 12 Breakaway trip [emoji126] [emoji16]

364 days til 3 week B2B Escape & Getaway trip [emoji3] [emoji4]

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Personally, NCL is one of the those lines where you better:

1) buy a package or get the promo for dining and/or drinking if you know you're going do both or either one heavily

2) bring a budget of at least $200-500 per person for dining / drinking if not buying the package/promo if you're not heavy eater / drinker but still want to go to the bar / specialty restaurant at least few times during the trip

~and/or ~

3) have some extremely good self-control / curb your cravings because NCL even limits amount of how much you can eat/drink even at the buffet. (For example - Better come in with your own travel mug / tumblers because the cups on the ships are teeny tiny, that you have to get up or ordered more a couple of times to quench your thirst - and this was before Del Rio / Stuart took over)

All lines you have to budget for but on NCL you can't be greedy glutton at all times and expect all the food, even specialty and lunch to be included in the fare - it's not happening. Either cough up the money for the specialty dining if you're planning to eat there more than 3 times during the trip ~OR~ learn to make due with complimentary dining by learning the layout / time schedule of the places especially the buffet. Because, let's be honest - still have 3-4 complimentary places to dine at that's still included in the fare and if you're not liking those choices, then pay up. And if you don't want to pay up - then reconsider ever sailing on NCL again, because those really are the only 2 options on that cruise line (complimentary or pay extra). Same exact thing with the non-alcoholic drinks and wine - either bring your own, drink the ship's limited free options, or buy/pay extra from the ship.

Really, I will never understand people that claim they are nickel & dimed on extras like specialty dining / soda/ wine, that's not included in the fare but is completely separate cost anyway. I know what nickel & dime ploys with no free/complimentary/low-cost options looks like and some of these people; honestly just want extra costs options/services of a luxury line without paying a single cent of it on a budget / mass market line, which is what NCL is. Pretty much wanting an all-inclusive experience on a cruise line that pretty much exclusive .....

people make me laugh every day, WOW

I needed a good laugh before my trip on Sunday anyway. :D Margaritaville's a la carte pricing is the same as regular corporate fast food restaurant in NYC, and way less than other franchises on land, so I'm not seeing the big deal here....

I have never had bad service on the ship.

I have never actually met anyone who had bad service on the ship.

Ever.

I have met some particularly disagreeable people on the ship who have mentioned the excellent service that they got despite their generally disagreeable nature.

 

And you claim that you got negligent service on the ship.

This leaves some us wondering.

Wondering, wondering.....,wondering........

Hmmmmmmmm.......

What could be going on...........

When someone stay claiming they get negligent service every time they cruise and then they reduced / remove the DSC just as well - Makes me wonder if the problem is just them being PITA and not the staff? Really, the room steward(s) didn't leave any spare toilet paper rolls in the bottom sink cabinets for days? I find that one hard to believe; guess she and her family had to go the public restroom to wipe their tush and/or take rolls from there.....:rolleyes:

Thanks!!

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That's really funny because I'm sure you meant to use "demand" or "require" in place of "request". A company can choose to accept or reject...they don't "have to", based on the word request.

Exactly - and it takes supposedly 2 weeks to process the form but the actual refund (from what it sounds from those that tried to get the DSC amount) takes 3-4 weeks. Can't get any more discretionary (or is jerky, the more appropriate term) to those customers that want remove than that.[emoji57]

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It is also discretionary.....I guess that is where the good service comes into play!

Its also discretionary on NCL's part when to refund it back too. :rolleyes:;)

I guess the only reason someone who doesn't pay the DSC now (and gives tips, wink wink), would not want the DSC to become mandatory is because then they would have to pay it. Pretty telling if you ask me!!!

Yes, yes it is - Because they can make the claim that they did without giving the name of the employees they said they give tips to and in actuality, they didn't tip at all. At least with the new DSC refund policy, they're on the hook for at least 2 weeks after trip - Whether or not NCL is going to verify the removers actually tipped in cash, who knows?

I'm surprised that someone's vacation options would be cruise or nothing.

There's always doing stay-vacation, especially if you live in area that has alot going on, like NYC.[emoji3] [emoji16]

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Hi Maywell

 

Actualy that charge is not just for you cabin being cleaned...so they could make that an upcharge. They can do anything they want ,If we pay for it.

 

Happy sails & Thanksgiving day

Reader

The charge includes the room steward that cleans the room and turns down the bed. NCL can always raise the service fees like they twice this year. *shrug*

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Hi NLH Arizona

 

Maybe a bit too far with the ANY food ....but do you really need to use the pool or have your room cleaned daily without an upcharge ?

 

Reader

That's what the $13.50 per day service charge is for.

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The point of my original post was to enlighten cruisers on how much increased costs the cruise lines have dumped on us in recent years. They will continue to nickel and dime us until we finally say enough! I am especially amused by those who consider paying for something they once received at no extra charge "welcome change?"

Here's the thing, if a person doesn't eat or like lobster, steak and/or prime rib; doesn't use room service and/or doesn't eat specialty restaurants not once o maybe once per trip, doesn't drink - how does nickel&diming affect them? Not much because a cruise company still needs to convince them on the cost of fare and/or service charges; and those people can take their business anywhere to their personal preference(s). That's the beauty of the current cruise market - each line has a niche that fills a particular consumer. In NCL's case (and paraphrasing Miami Herald comment about them and Escape) it's a mass/budget market line with water slides & rock walls that has aspirations to be premium line with its dining & bars.

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Might not a better question be: why are so many who don't tip or pay the DSC, so concerned in letting others know?

 

^This. I firmly believe NCL would never had pulled off that refund policy change if it was not for the posters that keep talking about how and why they remove DSC. Posting on the internet goes both ways too - did it not occurred to some that maybe one day, a cruise line would read the posts to see how they can close a loophole in their own contracts/policies? Heck, we don't even know if they are reading this thread now, to gleam off more information how the policy is working well or badly.

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We applaud change.

 

If it wasn't for change, we would all be sitting at 10-tops in the main dining room, at fixed times, waiting for every person on the table to finish there appetizer before moving on to an entree. And if your shore excursion runs long, or you stop in the Spa, you don't get to eat in the main dining room because you missed your seating time.

 

If it wasn't for change, most of us would be in 3rd class steerage just using the ship for transportation and not a fun filled, relaxing vacation.

 

You can still get your free food, free non-alcoholic drinks, free entertainment, free deck chair. BUT,,, change provides options. You don't have to pay for those options if you don't want.

 

Upcharge services have been around for a long time. And we appreciate that more and more services are being offered. Don't force those of us who love the options and those of us who are willing to pay for additional services and not live in the past.

^This. If wasn't for changes, cruising wouldn't have the many different options and varieties that it does now. Not just NCL, but all cruise lines evolved and changed due to the times & technology, let alone customers tastes and preferences.

It is what it is - at least there are still cruise lines that have ships that carry under 2000 passengers and have upcharges still included in the fare in the MDR. NCL doesn't have what the OP is looking for now, but what it does have seems to attract others who like their options / choices.

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So as others have said, it's a double dipping money grab.... Get part/some/all of the DSC for their "day jobs" and get the 18% for their service in specialties at night.

Not a double dip to the passengers that are not eating at the specialty restaurants any time during the trip. [emoji4]

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It is a money grab, same as the room service fee that they added!

No, more like people who are dining in complimentary places only, should not be tipping / paying service charges for workers in specialty restaurants; especially if they are not going to dine there ever. Specialty restaurants are not part of fare on NCL and are extra cost anyway; while complimentary dining is part of the fare and the DSC only covers service for what's included in the fare.

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Wow, you got a crummy TA - NCL shouldn't have to explain the concept of downgrading rooms from a Oceanview to 2 interior rooms is rebooking / cancellation especially under the 90 day final payment window, because your TA was supposed to say that to you. Did your TA explain other stuff to you as well - like the service charges, what documents to bring and recommend money amount to bring for the onboard account, too?

So predictable.....by the way there is no complimentary dinning on any cruise.... it is pay for up front.

 

I agree with the OP that paying full up DSC for a 3 year old is a joke. Half price would seem more realistic.

 

When a person rents a hotel room and tip the cleaning staff, I'm sure most do not tip more because they have their 3 year old with them.

 

As for not being able to afford a cruise you sure make a lot of assumptions....

I guess you don't bother to read the FAQ for NCL - Everyone that is 3 years and up gets charge for the service charges. Don't like that's their policy - than you and others that don't want to pay for children, should reconsider sailing on NCL. Not my issue that you don't like the policy nor do I care that you're not liking their new refund policy either.

Personally, I like their new refund policy, it means one better have a very good excuse and it has to be documented onboard for you to even get it back in less than 2 weeks. Using the excuse is not wanting to pay for a three year old - Yeah you can wait 2 weeks, heck maybe a month or 2. Going to have the credit card refund it back to you before the NCL does - I want one of you cheapies to prove my hypotheses of NCL sending it to a collection agency is true. :D

Ok... This will be the last post about this whole sitch.. The last word... If everyone knows that there are a certain percent of passengers who remove the auto tip.. Why is there never a post on how the majority can "make up the difference" by actually increasing the tip that they leave? I mean..if the people who strongly object the removal practice then they should be the first ones " leading the charge" to the passenger service desk demanding they increase their own auto tip from 13.50 to say 16.00 per to compensate if I fact it's not that big of a deal to them.

 

I will look for that door behind the omlette station and try to sneak on back. I can't believe their was actually a " people behind the scenes" jar

 

Christmas is the time for giving....more then just advice.

 

Let's all make eye contact and greet one another with a genuine " I'm lucky enough to be on vacation" smile... Pass it on

 

Best,

Mark

Because other passengers who abide by the rules of paying the service charges for themselves, shouldn't have to increase their own to make up for the others cheapskate ways. At least NCL sorta rectify the situation by making the refund after the trip is over and not before - If one truly had a genuine service issue that was recorded and made a note of by staff that need a refund; they'll get in back in less than 2 weeks. If it just to not want to pay for non-important reason, like say, paid in cash tips and/or not wanting to pay for a child - then yeah, those people can wait the full 2 weeks and then some.

Fair is fair, and NCL is playing by the rules too - its just that people who want to take advantage of the contract language of "discretionary", are not liking that NCL are using the open-end wording of their own contract too. C'est la vie..

Funny that isn't it people play by the rules and yet get told they can't afford to cruise.:confused::confused:

Well have to pay the DSC 1st to even get it back via refund anyway, which means one has to be able to afford to cruise - fair play and just to me.

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