jonthomas

I think I said above that it bothers me. You are asking me to repeat it...yes again it bothers me that there are so many levels of tipping...it feels like it is never enough....it may be a system of breeding a culture of constant dissatisfaction....since there is no limit to it.... there are those who pre tip, have included grat, and tip again after...and some that buy clothes....or other gifts....and of course that is their right but I dont have to like it....it ruins the "fairness" field...as someone else may be working harder and not receiving that kind of recognition....someone here asked about fairness...there can be a huge response just on that issue.... my only hesitation here is that if the included grats are pooled, then all are treated the same and that is not the true meaning of gratuities...in that case I would be better off pulling them and rewarding all those involved individually.....in any way I see fit....but that is work...and who needs work on a holiday.... yes once our gratuities are included, I may feel I am not really tipping anyone , since it is not coming out of my pocket...but loyalty has to be earned and we are on our way.....

keeping it real...cant wait to reach that level and not think about it anymore... who worries about the "increase for others"?...let them work up their loyalty as we are...why would I worry? cant think of too many that dont think about their pocket ahead of fairness to O...come on....unless they have unlimited funds....

wow...that is very generous, knowing the prices of items in the shops... then there are other days, not just christmas....for other faiths....where do you draw the line...but it is a personal choice, so no need to draw line...I guess, except that it really changes expectations...

would use it on ship but not on shore....

yup...just like so many others that have it included....

not pretending anything....all topics eventually veer off into something else...this one is no exception....but perhaps your gratuities are included due to loyalty...that makes this issue very different for you and others that have the same perk.... it will also be different for us once we reach that level....I will also then search for those who made it special for me, not just those who are doing their job....as Tom explained his strategy....love it.... when your gratuities are included, you are no longer giving out of pocket...thats a world of difference.....

Nicely said Tom. I like how you look for those who made your trip special. Its those that I see in the hallways second last day with their envelopes, asking where the stateroom attendants are and if I have seen them. That bothers me. Somehow I think there is a better way. You have surely found it.

This is also an interesting read, although not current. https://crew-center.com/ncl-rise-daily-services-charges-will-reflect-distribution-crew-salaries

logic tells me that if you increase salaries, you wouldnt have to increase gratuities twice in a short period of time.... no have not researched if salaries have been increased...but judging from the fact that they cant find staff, perhaps salaries have been increased.... as for have I noticed that everything has gone up? of course I have, including Os rates...very much UP...so NCL has already made that gain...now they want to do it again with substantial increase in gratuities....are more people pulling out their gratuities so there is a need for an increase for the rest of us? something we will never know...but keep raising them and more will pull them out...unless you include it....and then those who love pushing the envelopes can get all that satisfaction and gratify over the top.... many here have included gratuities with their loyalty status....when I reach that, I will also have little comment to make...or will say, raise the gratuities twice every year...who cares..

and I am sure this topic comes up every time a cruise line increases the gratuities...and the same comments are made.... for Brits, correct me if I am wrong...the gratuities are included in the price...to allow for a culture that sees it this way.... I really prefer that. It also eliminates those that will pull the gratuities out and more will do so now that they are being increased at this rate. Some lines have gone to this all inclusive method. Wish O would consider it. Of course then there will be even more envelopes by those who will see the inclusion as NO gratuity at all. I remember the days when it was not automatically deducted from your account. I remember, wondering if it was enough, never enough of course, timing when to see the staff, when to catch them at the end or beginning, to include a nice card or not...all that...so relieved not to do any of that anymore.... but still saw a couple of people trying to catch staff on the second last morning with their envelopes.......while they are busy doing the rooms...so awkward.... very happy to avoid all that.... ok...this will bring all kinds that may disagree with me...its ok...we all have our own way of dealing with things....

NCL is not increasing the salaries of staff but passing the increase onto the consumer.... so with the increased gratuities, you will add another level with gratuities with your own envelopes....I dont see doubling down on the gratuities as a good thing...where do you draw the line? I am not in favour of additional envelopes....it really sets up staff for hopes of additional moneys that may not be forthcoming and therefore a disappointment....there should be NO disappointment with an already increased gratuity....and NO expectations of more.... there have been many topics on gratuities.... not sure I want to start another one....this was intended to get opinions of NCLs second increase in a short time, but NOT wages....really dont like the constant passing on to the consumer....but maybe signals that their financial situation is such that raising cruise rates is not enough, they need us to subsidize staff wages as well.... will see what O does, but sure they will follow....as other cruise lines are doing besides NCL.... of course it does not concern those that have loyalty pay their gratuities..maybe they are the ones that support the additional envelopes....

you are right it does NOT look bad, the ship that is....but the balcony cabins, especially the bathrooms?.... dont know about the penthouses and suites...can only comment on the regular balconies.....maybe the penthouses have had the bathrooms updated.....

https://cruiseradio.net/norwegian-cruise-line-gratuities-increase-2023/#:~:text=Starting January 1%2C 2023%2C the,regular suites and The Haven.

the ship itself is not bad... but the staterooms definitely need to be updated.... very dated, some areas worn...we were in a mid ship balcony.... the bathrooms, need redoing...the tub is worthless with a tap that faces the opposite way...the shower in the bath tub very hard to use.... as for the other shower, I thought it was the water pressure but it was just an old shower head that needs replacing... unfortunately we have another cruise in Nov 2023 on Marina and now will not be updated....

Pizza on O looks good but tastes lousy. Thats probably a good thing since it is so calorie laden. But still. Cant figure out why, so couldnt recommend an improvement. Crust seemed ok, sauce ok, ingredients very good, maybe it is the cheese, seems to have some kind of weird taste to it. Anyone else think that? yeah I know I am being too picky....but really want to improve it for all the pizza lovers.....

Many dishes were like that, some concoctions of the chefs creativity. Not a good idea to become creative with a reputation that O has to uphold. Too bad we are at the mercy of whoever the chef is. There needs to be consistency. This is not about a one time Reuben sandwich. I could not recognize many of the salads in the Terrace or many of the other hot dishes. Yes I noted it on the questionnaire but next time will ask to meet with the chef. O is our line of choice mainly because of the food. We want to keep it that way. This is not an issue of supply. Perhaps training of staff.

well there you go...one mans/womans veal picata marsala is another mans/womans piece of heaven.... we have 6 more O cruises planned...O is our line of choice now....there are many things we love about it.... we are not dependent on the internet and can suffer through its unavailability.... sure, I hope the marina goes into a refit by the time we sail again on Nov 13, 2023... by that time, it will be our 7th cruise ... I have said this many times, our best cruise experience with O was on the little Insignia....the food amazing....oh the weight gain....but that was pre covid....and pre so much else...

ah...now why didnt I think of that...guess I am still not used to asking for something that is not standard fare....

Perhaps not the water pressure, just old shower heads. But several people did say, they went to the spa to shower. Anyway, we are on the refitted Riviera next month. In Nov of 2023, we wiil again be on the Marina. Hopefully it will also be refitted by then, but no one knows. As for food, mainly ate in Terrace, where if I didnt recognize the concoction, I could have something made in the grill. Also, everything that was BBQd, had the same smoky, bgq sauce, which I dont like. How about honey garlic, or something else. Why every rib and chicken etc, the same smoky sauce? Yeah I know I am being picky. But that is why we pay for and sail O, so I can be picky.

well they should have beefed it up much sooner....

thank you for your suggestion....will look into the Freedom class....

Royal has the latest technology. O has a long way to catch up.

we will be doing our 5th O cruise on Jan 4 , 2023, a month from now. When can we see the loyalty Obcs show up in our acct? or do we have to call? or does it happen when ON the ship?

Does anyone know the latest on when Marina will be refit? I dont want to sail on it before then. Water pressure in showers was poor, cabins look worn out. The rest of the ship was ok.

oh yes, thank you... we are elite plus on Celeb, so probably diamond plus on RCL.... found that the cost of a suite on Celeb is more than a reg balcony on Oceania, so we bailed on Celeb with their class system.... but this is for the little ones, not for us...so we dont care ..as long as they enjoy...