willsears94

While Moderno is fun to try, on our most frequent cruises, we have decided to dine elsewhere with our SDP. Our next cruise, we had already decided on other venues. I can't see people paying much more than $36pp for a cover charge restaurant. 

Dawn was amazing after refurb. Great service. 

I disagree with others. The wine bar may be underutilized space, but a welcomed one. 

Nice work; definitely following this.

 

 

1

6 hours ago, ocdb8r said:

  I guess I'm a bit frustrated that the middle ground has been eliminated for a completely bifurcated experience and that NCL has begun to rely so heavily on these drink and dining package promotions to fill the ships, rather than innovating like they did with the whole freestyle cruising concept and other products that hooked me on them years ago.

You aren't wrong, @ocdb8r. Bundling in the service industry almost always created an inferior product over time.

NCL was really impressive from 2013-6 entering in their Breakaway class with the bundling product. Now, upcharges, services charges, and increased pricing get you reduced quality, drink selection reduction, and reduced general services in the bars and restaurants. 

I would certainly encourage the Jewel class where while drink selection remains an issue, at least you can pay for the premium plus beverage packaging, and receive a better degree of general service and quality. 

Can't wait to read the reviews on this trainwreck. BA and Escape already had some issues with sun-bathing; now this. 

I guess I shouldn't knock it 'til I try it; but that being said, I won't be sailing Encore. 

The one thing I am certain on DSC is that it has been over-discussed.

Pay it or don't pay it. The choice is yours and not to be worried about by another. The cruise industry and Collective Bargaining Agreement will adapt if you do not. 

I, for one (as stated before), only sail when my DSC is included as a perk, either by my TA (NCL), promotional offering (most often on Celebrity) or as a standard of the line (Virgin).  

4 minutes ago, pinkie60 said:

I’m booked on the July 25th Sky to Cuba. After all I’ve heard about the port and the politics at this point, I hope they take us to another country. I saw a YouTube video and the terminal is dangerous for someone like me that will be having knee replacement after the cruise. No air conditioning in the terminal, the stairs I can go down not up and they only have one small elevator. At this point they can cancel our stop in Havana and take me anywhere but the Bahamas. Don’t get me wrong about the Bahamas but I go there at least once a year.  Key West and Cozumel sounds just fine. 

Key West and Cozumel are much better than Cuba! Nassau is Nassau (enough said). 

IMO, Cuba is a one-and-done trip. The people are lovely but Cuba is a bit underwhelming. 

11 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

I definitely missed Howl at the Moon on the Bliss. Happy to be going on the Escape next week!

Take me with you!

34 minutes ago, blcruising said:

Yes, the comparison is if you have x dollars to spend on a "gourmet" dining experience, you can spend it onboard a cruise ship or you can forego the "gourmet" experience onboard and eat in the acceptable main dining room which is included in your cruise fare and use the x dollars on a fine dining experience on land.

 

If the thought is...I'm on vacation and I'm gonna spend and splurge, even if the quality might be below land based then eat up and enjoy. The specialty restaurants make a nice dining experience. They used to be a good value versus land based, but not anymore. Prices are now at or above land based which is why we don't pay. If someone said to me, Cagneys vs Morton's or Ruth's Chris, I'd take Morton's or Ruth's Chris everyday. Or Ocean Blue vs the local joint that has fresh fish flown in daily.

I agree with everything you said on preference for land over the sea. 

One thing the cruise ships could do is create a supply-chain for an in-port local fresh catch (as I know they do on Alaska cruises, others, etc). It is going to be impossible to replicate cold-water lobster without flash-freezing, as 1 in 3 cruises are in the Carribean.

Truly, the cruise industry needs to catch up to the land-based meal, but that all comes with a major cost, one it seems that some people don't understand, is not free.  

That also being said, even NCL knows, they will need to continually adapt their pricing structure for SDP and UBP, or change completely. They have no plans for the base rate to subsidize SDP and UBP, as long as there is a paying party. Still, I see they still like to squeeze the base-rate buyer with a higher SAIL AWAY rate than most lines. 

In the meantime, as long as people continue to bundle SDP and UBP with Stateroom, over SAIL AWAY, NCL will continue to push the boundaries (and essentially, quality) of SDP and UBP. 

The Dawn is amazing. I loved the ship, and had a great refurb. It lacks the Great outdoors but makes up for it in the Robert Mondavi wine bar and other great bars on the ship. There is also better drink service on the pool deck near the top grill, than any ship I have been on.  On the other hand, I was tipping my bar server quite a bit.

 

 

 

2 hours ago, TheDougOut said:

 

In my twisted opinion, I think NCL peaked with the initial Escape offering.  Howl is a lot of fun, the included ropes course is amazing to experience high atop a ship, and the night parties at Spice are fantastic.

 

We currently only have one NCL cruise booked - and it’s for the Encore inaugural transatlantic.  Don’t get me started on the wasted aft top-deck.

You are definitely correct. We loved Escape and missed the energy on Bliss. Removing prime real estate in aft deck-space, I think we will skip Encore entirely, pending final renditions. 

Thank you for your picture updates. We don't intend to cruise Joy, but she actually looks aesthetically better than the Bliss. 

It's great if you have kids. I don't and am 32 with my partner in her 20s. It's cute on your 1st and 2nd cruise, but then you realize it is a waste to the environment and there are only so many types the crew can make anyways. 

I rather crew focus their time on cleanliness and customer service in food and drink service. 

It is mostly a nightclub in the evenings with a bar. I love it as I am a night owl. 

 

 

1

On 4/20/2019 at 1:52 PM, Nola26 said:

Hopefully they still provide live entertainment in the Manhattan room this is a highlight for us and we missed it on the Bliss.

 

The Manhatten Room with Live Music makes it for me. I regret only dining there once on the Escape due to a Specialty Dining Package I had. I will never forget dancing with my partner that night though. 

Bliss and onward missed the mark on this. 

The Asian is a nice feature for those with less than 5 nights of specialty dining. We enjoyed it on the Dawn after the refurb. 

We are booked Breakaway on Spa Angled Balcony. We would book aft if it weren't for the spa, due to the walk (I know super lazy, but it's vacation!).

I am excited for the shows and Syd's, along with the Ocean Blue Waterfront. I  loved DBH but won't die without it.

This is our last booked cruise with NCL. We will be back, but that should tell you how we are feeling about NCL a little at this time with better service at Celebrity and a new competitor in Virgin.

And I agree, MSC is horrendous outside of Yacht Club, which I failed to book. I know, my fault.

1 hour ago, slugg said:

Is it possible to get just a PARTIAL refund of mandatory gratuities, or do you only have the option for a full refund?

Yes; feel free to remove the DSC, but I would not as it could potentially (although not likely) affect crew pay. 

I, personally, now only sail cruises with included gratuities included as a promo or in the fare as to clear my conscience.

Providing gratuity that is not already included is quite old-fashioned... it's 2019, no need for corporations to not include this (Virgin and Celebrity are leading the way in changing this). 

If service charges and taxes bother you, vote with your money. 

Personally, I have only 1 of 3 future cruises booked with NCL. 

46 minutes ago, Greenpea2 said:

It is what it is, people. If it upsets you, either take it up with the CEO or don't buy the product. For heaven's sakes, enough already with the complaints! Jeez.

 

You are definitely right.

Here is another alternative that I have started practicing: Only go on cruises where the Gratuity is covered, either by a promo or TA. My 3 upcoming cruises are this way, sadly only one with NCL.

2 minutes ago, rpb718 said:

You don't add the 20% gratuity charge?  According to another thread, even if the charge is $1 Cagneys would add the gratuity.

Not a bad idea! I'll do that also, along with charging sales tax within US port!

Ya..... no. 

I will just bring a 100 pack of plastic straws from the dollar store. Then I will sell each straw for a $1 to the first-timers 😂🤣

2 minutes ago, DaCruiseBug said:

 

So you're saying that those with a negative opinion about a specific cruise line shouldn't post about it so others can read about it? That kind of defeats the purpose of a forum if that's the case. You're going to have people give positive feedback on a thread and negative feedback.

That is what a review is for. Going into a random thread and discussing why you don't sale a line anymore doesn't really bring much conversation to the table since you are no longer engaging with that company's business. It sounds like you are no longer interested in NCL, so why not just wipe your feet on the doorstep and leave. You telling everybody how much better celebrity is doesn't really tell us anything. I, for one, sale both lines so I guess I would have a bit of a say still on NCL.

3 minutes ago, NightOne said:

 

You're easily entertained then. You should try Celebrity then LOL

I sale both actually. But I don't go to NCL thread and start talking about celebrity and vice versa. If a person has a problem with sailing one or the other then they should just stick to that thread and not troll another.

For example, I don't especially enjoy Carnival, but you don't see me and their threads speaking why Carnival is no good.

6 minutes ago, DaCruiseBug said:

Why? It's so entertaining to show how ridiculous you are. Maybe I should throw some popcorn in the microwave.

I found a spot on the couch with some popcorn as this stupidity is quite entertaining!

18 hours ago, Bluewake said:

I am approaching Platinum + on NCL and believe that in the decade since my first NCL cruise, the line has made great strides in terms of its ships, service, and food.  It had become my preferred line and the Breakaway may be my favorite ship.  With that said, however, it's also my opinion that in the past 2-3 years, those improvements have begun to level off and are no longer increasing in proportion to the rising prices.  Perhaps it is attributable to the fact that the leadership has gone through a turbulent period with Sheehan being removed, Veitch suing Sheehan and the cruiseline, and Del Rio assuming the leadership.   https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article189239544.html    Were I interested in a "high end" cruise experience with all of the bells and whistles, I'd look at Regent or another luxury line.  But that is not what I want.  What I want is a moderately priced cruise with a corresponding value in terms of the ship and services.  I have one more NCL cruise booked but am in the process of planning future cruises.  As I do so, I am looking at other lines on which I now feel I can get a cruise experience that is equivalent to, if not better than, what NCL offers for less money.  I am not saying that NCL has declined, only that it may be out-pricing itself for what it offers.   

I would try Celebrity as I recently selected a similar experience through them for $500 less than NCL. Others might suggest MSC but I don't feel they offer a similar experience/ feeling to NCL outside of the Yacht Club.

1 hour ago, CruisingNole said:

 

My profession is in marketing and my company has won all kinds of “awards.” But of course, “awards” aren’t just handed out. You have to PAY to enter to win. And then when you do win (which you typically do, since you paid) you then have to pay to have the rights to tell the world you won XYZ “award.” 

 

Lst year, we won an “award” from Forbes, and we didn’t even enter. Awesome, right? Not quite...Forbes wanted $15,000 to give us the rights to use their logo in order to tell our customers that we were winners.

 

As I said, business “awards” are nothing more than advertising revenue for the company who issues them.

 

I’m glad someone else understands how it works.

 

 

These guys get it. 

As a 30-year-old millennial, the reason I sail/ed NCL is/was a competitive pricing structure and lower children count on board, with a touch of innovation and elevated food design. Recently, I have ventured into booking with Celebrity and soon-to-be Virgin.

After several cruises on RCL in my teens and adulthood, I most likely won't go back due to the large number of children, mediocre food, and glitz-and-glammered circus- affaire. What some describe as bells-and-whistles (FlowRider, Abyss, etc.), is just a painted-over spectacle for the masses.  Unfortunately, this seems to be the direction NCL is going given their Encore design. I am happy to hold my breath for the Leonardo class.