missintuitive
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Posts posted by missintuitive
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Lois - Spot on. It was actually listed at 2499.00 pp for the 1st and 2nd guest and then the 3rd-8th guest were free. We still had to pay port fees and taxes for the 3-6th guests. So it ended up being ~5400.00 for all of us. We were first quoted a suite which priced out at 4200.00 but we figured we would splurge for the Haven. Don't know if we will ever get this kind of chance again.
-Sean
That was a great deal! But it is atypical (you did mention this). In general, you would need to book at least 9 plus months in advance and catch a deal with 3-6 sail free (for the most recent deals 2-4 sail free and 5-6 are @$399 pp plus port fees). Plus, it's probably not on the -away ships and during non-peak sail times (sept-early dec and then Jan).
I have a toddler so I'm usually flexible to pursue off peak dates.
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The Sky 1/8/16, 3/4/16, 8/19/16, 9/23/16, 6 more in 2016, 1/6/17, 1/20/17.
Be warned that these are 3-4 night cruises...
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I am not sure how long it has been since you have cruised, but as far as I know all lines are now having us print our own luggage tags, etc. Maybe not those in suites but the rest of us. I don't know of a line that offers cokes free, lemonade yes, but NCl has punch at lunch. I think maybe even lemonade, I am not sure. That is something new. No line offers free fresh squeezed juice anymore I don't think. It sounds to me like you haven't cruised in many years. Beach towels are in every cabin, just like robes in balc and above.
Yes cruising has changed. It is a family vacation now, for middle income cruisers and not just for the upper middle class and above. It is casual, which many people really enjoy and there are dining choices that never existed when many of us started cruising 30 or more years ago.
You mention the chamagne, we have been on one line that offers it and NCL did for a short period of time many years ago. Did you ever look around and see how much was wasted? I could care less about a 3 oz glass of $3.00 bubbly. Most feel that way.
You mention, HAL, is it a wonderful line with so many positives, It is also more expensive and much more subdued. For those who prefer the quiet life, go for it, for those who like fun, a casual atmosphere and a wonderful crew NCL fits the bill. We have cruised every mass marketed line and all more than once.
I hope you have a good experience, come back with a wonderful feeling about NCL but I am almost afraid you are looking for yesterday and are going to find tomorrow instead.
BTW: you said you called NCl and were told no robes: remember, when you call a hotel or cruise line you are talking to an agent, who, quite often has never even been on a ship or the hotel; whatever. They are trained to book reservations. I know, I retired from a major and somewhat upscale hotel chain call center. I know what the agents often tell people; this isn't all of them by anymeans, but they often dont' really even know what you are talking about when you ask them a question. I don't know how many agents I trained and how many would let everything go in one ear and out the other. This is often the case with Travel Agents as well. Though I think there is nothing as valuable as a good agent. I will drop the subject now, but be assured you will have a robe in your closet when you board.
Let me introduce you to Disney....just clarifying for the record. Disney has:
Printed luggage tags, printed booklets by the cruise, robes, you can bring two bottles wine on for free, Coke (and other sodas) is free 24/7 on the pool deck, free fresh OJ at breakfast. It's more expensive most of the year but there are deals to be had as with any line.
Each line has its pros and cons. There is something out there for everybody. They all have their bright spots and less stellar aspects.
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You make a good point. I still think they are going for Faux-High end. They are not serving high end cuts of meat. They may be serving high end sides and apps, but the meat choices scream budget chain restaurant to me, and that's all wrong.
For $60-100 per meal, for two people, I certainly expect better quality main courses than chain restaurant.
The sides are not high end...and the portions are small. The apps and salads are probably in line with a budget chain restaurant.
Ruth's Chris charges $10 for an app but the portions are HUGE and are made for sharing. They may seriously be 5x's larger than what's served on the ship. If the portions remain the same in the speciality restaurants then they are appropriate for one and not necessarily for sharing.
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I think they should go back to old promos where you might get $25pp if you were lucky and timed it right. Then all the bitching about how the current promos aren't good enough would end. The sense of entitlement is astounding.
I hear all the time that the promo isn't as good as it used to be. Well, it's better than nothing. There's no rule that says the promos always have to get better or even stay the same.
Entitlement? Huh? It's my money and NCL is only entitled to it IF the price is right for me. My money is EARNED and a company has to EARN it from me. It's called a free market. If the promos start to no longer be an incentive, I will not buy. It's not as if other cruise lines don't offer free drink packages, OBCc or wifi as incentives. NCL knows that there has to be an INCENTIVE to drive business or they wouldn't advertise things that they charge for as free*.
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I'm pretty sure you all agree about the math, which is indeed mind-numbingly simple. But this statement from above shows a somewhat weaker grasp of basic marketing:
The fact that they continued to advertise the UBP as "free" on the front page of the promotion, while changing the fine print, does make this a stealth fee, and they do try to hide it. They're not shouting it from the rooftops, in any case. Which is also basic marketing, after all.
The thing is, many of us found out about this stealth fee back in June when the promo was modified, but new people find out about it every day (hence the constant new threads). And reactions vary, but I don't think anyone jumps for joy or even thinks "well, obviously" when they see it for the first time. It's something you only find out in the small print, or when you click through to the end of a mock booking, and it is not a nice surprise. But you can either get over it and try to move on, or let that weird vein in your neck throb harder and harder and :mad::mad::mad:. And this forum is driven by the throbbing :mad:'s, and by those who see a weird vein and can't resist poking it. :D
I'm generally turned off by hidden fees. period. But on the other hand, at this point, for this cruise, I'm just poking the vein on the board[emoji23][emoji23]. It's really not that serious. All my gratuities and service charges are covered. But, I don't think I would pay the $80 if I had to bc traveling with a non-drinker would make it $160 for me (which isn't free by a long stretch). I have never consumed $160 worth of alcohol on a boat. That's just MY personal experience.
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Yes, but the total amount you will be paying ($0 for the drinks + $11.50 service) will be less than if you purchased the drinks separately. As long as the menu price of all the drinks you order is more than about $10 per day.
So yes, if you plan to drink less than $10 worth every day, do not take this perk and complain loudly to everyone that NCL has the worst promos with the most dishonest advertising.
If you are drinking between $10 and $64 of drinks, yes, you are overtipping! :eek: But your drinks are free and you are saving money, so don't be so petty!
If you drink over $64 worth of drinks every day, you already know everything there is to know.
Speaking of being petty[emoji23][emoji23] We made the same point but you didn't even realize it.[emoji23][emoji23]
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It can also be used at Carlos Bakery and the Atrium Bakery (which also charge the 18% gratuity).
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Well we'll have to disagree amongst mathematicians. For NCL it was a business decision to stop including the gratuities (remember 0*0=0) There is no distinction between how NCL advertised when the package was truly free vs free* free. They did not call the gratuities on the UBP Or UDP a separate perk. If I go to a restaurant with a coupon, I would not expect an auto tip/service charge. Many people would be turned off by a free meal with a service charge. I would tip freely and it wouldn't be mandatory. This works perfectly for me as I am a good tipper anyway.
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And I can't help you if you disagree with simple math and business. It was a business decision for NCL to start charging gratuity on the package. They have the option of including it or not. It was truly free when they first started offering the promos and then they phased the free out. Oh well...
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It's based on the cost of the package per day and not the amount of drinks. That raises a good point. Unless you're drinking $64 a day worth, you're paying more gratuities/service than you would if you purchased drinks separately.
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Service Charge/Gratuity/Tip...Whatever you want to call it...Needs to be paid whether or not the actual package is free or not. Do you just expect the bartender to work for free??? Whether or not you believe that the money actually goes to the bartenders is irrelevant to the fact that you still need to pay the tip. I don't get how you people cannot see that the package and the gratuities are 2 separate items and the package can be free but the gratuities are not. It boils down to if you don't think it is a good deal to only have to pay the 18% for all you can drink then you would be better suited to pick a different promo.
Huh? I purchased a cruise earlier this year and the gratuities on the UBP were included. Not only that, the DSC was included for the first two ppl in the room. I don't assume that the bartenders or stewards are not getting paid. It's just that NCL is remitting the fee directly to staff as a part of doing business. Marketing items for free leads to more profit which means that a certain portion of the increased profit can be used for service fees for crew. Simple business. I didn't "pick" a perk for my next sailing. I am sailing in a suite and received all perks...which included all gratuities and fees. As another poster described, it's a good deal but definitely not free.
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Better comparison can be found directly from cruise industry: when 3rd and up sail "free", they still have to pay service charges, port fees&taxes, etc. Price of the cruise is still zero, just like price of an included drink is zero with this free UBP (unless one has to pay some taxes).
I get the point but adding a service charge means that it really isn't free. Taxes are different. There are no taxes charged on the open sea so that goes out the window (unless you're still in port). Technically, service fees and gratuities for house keeping are discretionary...the UBP service fees and gratuities are mandatory. At a restaurant, I have an option to adjust up or down based on the level of service...not so with UBP. I would put really good money on it that the bar tenders are not receiving all the money from the gratuities. Which still means its not free.
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OP: I'm glad that it all worked out in the end for you:)
Is paying the gratuity on the drink package a better deal than paying for the drink package + the gratuity? YES!!! Is it "free" as advertised? NO!!! It's discounted but it definitely isn't free. The free* is just a marketing tool to get folks interested and clicking the banners. After that, you'll have to read the fine print. Loving math the way I do, its an insult to my mathematical mind. Free = $0 any number times 0 is 0!! 64*.18*7 (days) is a number that is more than 0 but much less than "full price." It's about 85% less. I think that saying that customers receive 85% off of the price of the regular drink package is just as effective as claiming that it's free*. That way it doesn't come off a "slick" marketing.
Full disclaimer: Personally, would never pay NCL the full price they are asking for the drink package since its limited without coffee and smoothies like the other lines. Plus all in the room would have to sign up and I don't always travel with drinkers. However, I will enjoy my UBP this time because I managed to book the deal when it was truly free...and made sure it was documented on my paperwork.
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Some fun facts about the Haven include that there is no longer DVD checkouts at the Concierge Desk. Haven guests however, can watch Movies their cabin for no charge. There are about 100 full length feature films that can be viewed. That is very nice. [html]
Wow, nice. Definately make it easier for everyone.
Yay! To the free movies in suites!!! Hopefully this will not change before I sail;)
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I don't want grown up time away during this vacation. On our cruises (and land vacations), he lives and has fun in the moment and I take plenty of pictures for memories. He has been out of the country 4 times between the two. He goes to daycare when I'm at work everyday so I prefer to be with him during vacation. Plus, he's old enough now to go to the kids club. I take it that you don't have kids because ppl who do usually have boundaries in terms of making suggestions for other ppl to leave THEIR children with other people for a week. A babysitter? I really would have to be extra comfortable with that person. For me that's his grandma and we paid for her to be on the ship with us. She loves cruising and this really works out in case we really need adult time. They are both usually asleep by 9 or 10 pm. In addition, The cruise ships would go broke if everyone took your advice. Especially since there are no discounts (outside of specials) for toddlers over 2. They have pay full price fare.
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I'll reconsider for my next cruise as I've already paid for this one on NCL. Thanks for stating the obvious. But hopefully the dvr will help. Personally, I was plenty busy on my Disney cruise outside of TV but I like having the choice of a great selection for my down time. When traveling with a toddler one has to understand that priorities shift and you may spend more time than usual in your cabin. All lines have there pluses and minuses and I'll just put this on my list.
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Okay, next time pick Disney over NCL because if you don't like Rear Window, Some like it hot, Bourne Identity Trilogy, Divergent, 42, Grumpy Old Men 1 & 2, The Mentalist, Mike & Molly, Parks & Recreation, 30 Rock, Criminal Minds - Might want to download some shows / movies to your Ipad, Iphone, laptop,& cell phone. All those movies & shows I listed - That what I winded up watching on the TV for free on the Breakaway the week I was there (I forgot the names of 2 Del Toro movies,2 Will Ferrell movies a western movie, a Hitchcock movie and a cop show - hard for me to fall sleep at night in a bed that not my "home":o:p)
edit - Now I remember the 2 Del Toro movies and one of the Will Ferrell one - Devil's backbone, Chronos and Legos Movie. Still can't remember the Hitchcock movie, it had the guy from Rear Window in it too...
Thank you for granting me permission on how to spend my money, lol. I like some of the shows you mentioned so hopefully NCL TV won't be a total bust. Unfortunately my I only purchased 32 gb for my iPad...when I didn't know better so movies on that is a no go. My iPhone is 64 gb but I have apps and movies for the toddler. I rather just have reasonable access on TV.. Thanks...
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It's called comparison shopping. I'm actually paying MORE for my NCL cruise than my Disney trip last year. Many factors go into cruise pricing including time of year, itinerary, etc. I use and enjoy the TV. I also enjoy knowing all my costs BEFORE the trip. Everything that NCL nickels and dimes on are things that I enjoy while cruising so my costs are not disclosed until I'm on the ship. So who knows how much this trip will ultimately cost. NCL made many of the changes AFTER my final payment. But now I know better. Pay per view movies? Never pay on Disney. And when I cruised before I could bring liquor on board (this was changed). I also have a toddler who loves Disney (and Dora which was actually part of the reason I chose NCL...thankfully Nick is not fading out until after my NCL cruise). I do like the casino but really didn't miss it on the Disney cruise.
I'm willing to pay a little more for great consistent service and knowing my final costs ahead of time... But that's just me.
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It's called comparison shopping. I'm actually paying MORE for my NCL cruise than my Disney trip last year. Many factors go into cruise pricing including time of year, itinerary, etc. I use and enjoy the TV. I also enjoy knowing all my costs BEFORE the trip. Everything that NCL nickels and dimes on are things that I enjoy while cruising so my costs are not disclosed until I'm on the ship. So who knows how much this trip will ultimately cost. Many of these changes AFTER my final payment. But now I know better. Pay per view movies? Never pay on Disney. And when I cruised before I could bring liquor on board (this was changed). I also have a toddler who loves Disney (and Dora which was actually part of the reason I chose NCL...thankfully Nick is not fading out until after my NCL cruise). I do like the casino but really didn't miss it on the Disney cruise.
I'm willing to pay a little more for great consistent service and knowing my final costs ahead of time... But that's just me.
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LOL - That's really nice to know. How it helps those who travel Norwegian.....I haven't figured out yet!
Harriet
I responded to a post, in this very thread, that said ALL tv at sea is terrible bc the cruiselines want you to spend money on activities outside of the cabin. That's simply not true. It helps those who travel NCL know there are other options if TV on travel is your thing (and it is mine for down times). I'm not looking forward to the bad TV on the getaway. Thankfully, my cabin will have a dvr...which is one of the reasons I chose it.
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It's rather easy for Disney to offer their movie library because they own the movies. It doesn't cost them a dime to do it.
Lol! As if I didn't know that. The outcome is still the same for the customer. Free access to disney's catalogue. They don't charge a dime. For this and other reasons, they are never accused of nickel and diming. They could easily offer the service for a fee but they choose not to. Bravo to Disney!
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Contact group sales directly and see what they can do for you. Also, if you belong to the big box store contact Costco as they can be helpful.
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None of the cruise lines want you in your room since you aren't spending money in there watching tv. It is one of my favorite things to do on a cruise though....relax and watch a movie or tv. I have learned to load a few movies up on my tablet. Beats nothing!
I have watched some really really bad cruiseline tv on ships! ha
By the 10th time I have watched the bellyflop contest or some obscure soccer game I am ready to scream. But it still beats being here at work.
For the record, Disney has the best tv at sea. Included in every room is on demand that features most of Disney's movie library. It includes all the classic and the newer movies that are not in theaters. Plus, it also includes all of the Disney and Disney Jr hit shows. My toddler loved the Mickey Mouse house! I loved the newer movies that I hadn't seen before. I still participated in PLENTY ship activities but it was good to have the option before or after nap time.
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Is this a good deal?
in Norwegian Cruise Line
Posted
That's not a bad deal for a suite. The only downside is that there is no Haven like the Jewel or -Away class ships. Plus, I believe STAR is the oldest ship in the fleet. Some people love that and some people prefer the variety of the newer ships.