JuneauMe

Just saw a post in one of the Escape threads showing prices for Ala Carte items in the main dinning room. Tacky NCL, very tachy :(

"No money" only for those that booked before the end of April.

 

Those that booked since the beginning of June still pay bar service charges for promo UBP with their final payment.

I meant no money due before 10/1 to maintain current prior T&C. Sorry for the confusion

I spoke to my PCC after seeing tat post & I was told that everyone who has already booked is good. No money, no worries, no problems :)

I had to pre-pay my 18% grat on the perk when I purchased my fare.

How? Mine show on my invoice, but there is no option for pre paying them.

I know you can pay your DSC

 

What I am waiting for clarification about is how they will handle people who have booked further out, like for 2016/2017. If you already have the promotional UBP on your booking, any applicable service charges are already listed in your cruise invoice to be paid by your final payment date. Is that all they mean by "paying" the gratuities? In which case, the UBP price increase does not affect any existing UBP bookings. Or do they actually require people to pay those service charges with a credit card by October 1st, otherwise NCL will issue them a new invoice with higher charges?

I called my PCC about this because I was also confused. He told me that anyone who has already booked has there price protected. As you said, there is no way to pre pay the UBP grats, so somebody is just posting a prank with that "0fficial NCL statement" :rolleyes:

Hello. My wife and I are sailing the Breakaway 9/20 to Bermuda. Can't wait! ...

Hi cruisincorgi,

Please visit the roll call for this sailing. It is a fun & active group

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2044913

Hi, this may be a stupid question but when I go to do my online check in in MyNCL I fill everything out and then it says to download my edocs. I click on that and it lets me print them. Then, after printing my docs and luggage tags, when I go back I am still only 80% checked in. "Contract" is still not checked off on my check in list. Am I missing something? Is this something that is done at the pier?

There is a section at the end of the check in where you click to accept the ticket agreement (or something like that) Did you do that?

Se the other thread I linked, I have already answered to another poster there.

Can't find it

Anyone have an idea of how this platinum perk will work when A la Carte rolls out?

This will affect my plans for the day of departure since I booked a taxi tour for the day. I'm sure others have booked private excursions that will be affected. Some of the NCL excursions that were leaving at 1:00 for four hours will be affected too. I would understand if they change with future cruises with enough time to adjust plans but not after final payment. We are cruising Aug. 2 and wouldn't have thought to check itinerary if I wasn't following on cruise critic. Thanks for all of the information on these forums!

People were told @ the port today about the time change...

NCL could at least start notifying people with up coming cruises, and

NCL could have been nice about this and made the change for cruises that were still outside of final payment, but to just slam it on people...well that just sucks now, doesn't it!?

Well at least I have the UBP to help drown my sorrow

The muster information is listed on the back of each cabin door.

LOL, Thank you. I should have been more clear. I know how find my muster station when I'm on the ship. I am just curious now as to where it would be. My guess is the Manhattan room.

Any one know where the Aft cabins go for muster?

I don't believe that's what it means.....but I believe that's how lots of people are taking it. NCL worded it wrong, imho.

 

Harriet

I agree, I don't think it means that either, but I really wish that NCL would let some people on the streets read their communications before they send them out and then NCL could ask them what it meant. I'm sure that most times, they will find that the are not saying what most are understanding.

I'm curios then why the difference in price for each category other than the addition of butler & concierge services. You're right that NCL should make things clear. Could it be they are wording this to justify the extra cost, because I can't see any reason for it?

My dinky room & the OS are being cleaned each day by the room steward, the "behind the scene" staff is the same, etc. I don't understand why that DSC should be higher for those pax.

Yeah, we're not exactly gluttons, but we might get 2 apps each or 3 between the two of us. I think the whole "people are getting 9 entrees and 40 desserts" thing is mythical.

Here's the thing, the apps are usually very small anyway, so it's not that big of a deal (eg the shrimp cocktail with 3 shrimp, I could easily eat 2) Now desert...well I have a sweet tooth :o

On our last NCL cruise, we decided to do some research and spend those discretionary dining dollars on excellent meals at our port cities. Those were AWESOME experiences and AMAZING food! A much better way to have a great culinary experience on a cruise trip than forking over extra cash for a not-really-that-great upcharge restaurant on board.

That's such a good idea!!!! :)

The thing for me about the a la carte vs the cover charge is that with the cover charge model, I usually get 2 apps & sometimes 2 deserts (don't judge, LOL ) for one fixed price. & it was a great deal.

I know that I'm probably in the minority, but I'm a foodie. The cost to do that on land based restaurants is cost prohibited for me. Having this option while cruising is fun & a great value. Now, not so much, so I'll just stick to the MDR's, (and yes sometimes I get 2 entree's :))

I cruise like a Norwegian and eat like a Hobbit

Question, if the DSC is higher for suite px, & the wording of the email says that suite guests also have the services of the butler & concierge, does that mean that you no longer have to tip them separately?

any ideas which is best bargain?

You are the only one that can decide if something is a bargain or not. If you don't drink very much, than the UBP will not do you any good. If staying connect on your vacation is important to you, than the WiFi could help you out. Same with the other promo's, it's all about what you use,

Having said that, if you want to know which one would cost the most if you were to purchase on your own, I think the UBP is the most money to buy

Sorry, I didn't read the posts from a few weeks back. I booked in April and got the package for free (sailing August 2nd). Now I have to pay $80?

And it is still free for you:) The people who booked with the June promo will pay the 18% gratuity.

Jewel out of Seattle. I'm staying in a room with my aunt and uncle. They want to board early and I want to explore Seattle that morning. If I print my own eDocs can I board after them or will it cause confusion? I don't want them to be stuck in the terminal waiting for me

You can board separately. No problem, just print your own docs

However, look for the Cruise Critic special and you will save money, plus get free shuttle service. Great hotel, walking distance to eateries.

Where or how do you look for the Cruise Critic special?

Hi-

This is my first NCL cruise

On RCCL cruises- we usually get a pot of coffee delivered every morning to start our day off.

If I do the same on NCL will there be a $7.95 charge for that???

And is that charge a tip for the person who brings it up???

Coffee & a few other little things are still free

Unfortunately, no.

Oh well, worth a shot. Thanks for the info

No, not when the UBP is promo'd to pax 1 and 2. When the UBP is purchased, the regular rules apply... all pax in the same stateroom over 21 must purchase.

 

I don't see what the big deal is. If the terms do not suit the buyer, then the buyer passes on the UBP and orders their drinks in a traditional manner. As Demonyte said, the UBP is not a right... although it should be.

We are all getting the UBP, 1st 2 with the promo & #3 as a separate purchase.

I have friends going in other cabins, & some of them won't be as well hydrated as others, so this makes things easier on everyone for cabin mates.

One other question, if pax. 3 buys the UBP, do they get any sort of credit from upgrading from the soda package? Just wondering cause there will be many of us "Hydrating" LOL

Thanks

Will they allow your third passenger to buy the soda card instead?

 

I know with the promos they had the first two people in the cabin had the beverage plan, but the second two had soda plan instead. So you might check directly with NCL and see if that's possible.

So even if the 3rd person is an adult, they are not "required" to get the UBP?