commodoredave

4 minutes ago, dog said:

Small servings and you control how much you eat.  It won’t last if under used.

They would have to be very small servings for it to make economic sense for us. But I will reconsider.

We like the extra sq footage in the signature suites (S4) and the suite restaurant, but thought it was not worth the huge added cost. So we booked a deluxe balcony, bid to upgrade at half the cost, and won. It was a risk, but one we were happy to take as we still would have been happy in our balcony cabin.

1 hour ago, asctony said:

Personally, $79 is too much considering the other SRs are $45.

Our issue is that it looks like one is paying extra for more courses, and we find it difficult to eat more than 2. Ohh…to be 20 again when I could eat 12 courses and walk away hungry!🤤 

1 hour ago, JSar said:

But it is NOT a standard amenity - it is an amenity you pay extra for. And there are alternate amenities available. A standard amenity would be the buffet or main dining rooms. If those are closed and you are forced to pay extra for the specialty dining and/or the remaining "included" dining rooms were extra crowded... then yes - that would be a significant problem. Again - the OP was given notice that this particular dining room will not be available. The OP now has the option to consider whether or not to continue with upgraded specialty dining or not... or to make a complaint. 

 

Yeah - two or three restaurants closed would be a problem. But one? And one of the smaller dining rooms? Not the end of the world. 

 

Maybe I refuse to let something like this ruin my vacation. I have had shore excursions cancelled - so I found something else fun to do. Heck - I got the port I was looking most forward to cancelled for my upcoming cruise... still not the end of the world. Still won't "significantly impact" my ability to enjoy my cruise. When I heard that port was cancelled, I made a decision to cancel the reservation I had to rent a golf cart in that city, and looked for alternative activities elsewhere - and since the port day was now a at sea day - I booked a massage. See how that works? You get informed of the change, you make a decision to either let it ruin your trip or embrace the change and make something good of the change. It is all about choice and attitude. 

 

Like I said somewhere else - personally - I would be thrilled that the private group would be confined to the closed dining room so that they are not all descending on the other dining rooms at the same time - which WOULD be much more bothersome to me. 

Where did anyone say it would ruin their vacation? Of course it would not. But my fare included 3 evenings of specialty dining x 8 people. As a matter of principle, I expected a gesture of goodwill in return for the weeklong unavailability of one of the specialty restaurants. Any customer focused company would agree, and did. End of story.

10 hours ago, Distinctive-Destinations said:

 

What if it was two restaurants? Or Three? Or how about all of them except the buffet? Certainly there has to be some point that causes an issue.

 

When booking a cruise, I think it is a reasonable assumption that you will have access to the standard amenities.

Agree. 

10 hours ago, cruise*enthusiast said:

May I ask what you were upgrading from, what type of suite you won, and if you bid low or not?

I bid from a deluxe balcony. My bid was in the higher end of the Fair category. 

11 minutes ago, JSar said:

OMG... seriously... it is ONE restaurant. Heaven forbid it is closed. Must be the end of your world to miss out on one restaurant. Serious impact? Give me a break... 

If you don’t care, that’s fine. I do, and as a result, I asked for and have received compensation. No skin off your back.

28 minutes ago, yakcruiser said:

I sort of feel sorry for the folks in this group. If they have to eat off the now very limited menu at Le Bistro, they are going to be sick of that place by day 4.

Only if they sit on their taste buds.

1 minute ago, Z0nker said:

Any chance that’s already in the passage contract? 

I'm sure it is just as the extra port charges and taxes were buried in the contract. What's the harm in moving it up so that it is more visible? 

16 hours ago, cruise*enthusiast said:

Does anyone know if winning an upgrade bid going from a Deluxe Balcony to a Sanctuary Balcony will include the Premier Package?  Sailing November 30th. I know all of the Sanctuary Collection cabins include it, but I’m not sure if it’s included with bid upgrades. Thanks!

I recently won an upgrade to a Sanctuary Suite on Sun Princess and it does not come with a Premier Package.

1 hour ago, complawyer said:

so in the end, it all worked out. good for you!!!!!

 

you'll see, once on board, the inability to dine in le bistro, although disappointing for you, hopefully will be compensated by all the other goodies offered on a cruise.

 

since you didnt take me up on dinner in cagneys, if we're ever on the same cruise, the 1st drink is on me.

 

have a great time, and most importantly "BON  VOYAGE"

I would definitely enjoy having a drink with you, no matter who pays. 

2 hours ago, complawyer said:

ok commodore dave,  dont leave us all in suspense, what was the rsolution, or are you bound by a NDA?

I was asked not to mention it prior to the cruise, so I will just say it was a very small gesture that can only be spent on the ship. No upgrade to The Haven or free cruise credit! 😀 But it’s the principle that counts, and in that regard I am satisfied.

Just now, schmoopie17 said:

Good for you. Glad it worked out.

 

Did they agree to send live snails to your cabin with a bunch of garlic and butter so you can throw it all in the shower, turn the hot water up all the way, and steam everything for instant escargot?

 

Sounds yummy.

Damn! I wish I had thought of that before negotiating a resolution!

I am pleased to report that after a call with an NCL agent, my issue has been resolved to my satisfaction. 

1 minute ago, cruiseny4life said:

Oh my @commodoredave, I actually feel ya. I'd be upset if my selected restaurant were closed during my sailing. At least you have plenty of advance notice, though certainly that does not make up for the disappointment of not being able to gorge oneself on snails, filet, and fish the French way. 

 

Are you flying in a day or two early? Then, thankfully Miami has a few wonderful French classics, though if I were you, I'd be tempted to wander myself over to Quebec City or Montreal. Closer yet, certainly Ottawa has a French restaurant. 

 

I did a quick search in Miami. Prices are fair, especially when one considers the ridiculous a la carte prices of Le Bistro. Here is a selection:

 

Thomas Keller's Bouchon in Coral Gables. 

Miami Beach's A la Folie Cafe in...well, it's in Miami Beach.

It's but a one star in Michelin's Rubber Guide, but Le Jardinier, in Miami may be just what you're looking for as you seek out the most delectable French cuisine. 

 

If none of those are what you want, then just simply go to Kavkaz Restaurant in North Miami Beach (it's Georgian yumminess, not French). 

 

Enjoy your cruise, our Canadian friend. 

 

We are arriving 2 days early and will definitely try one or more of your recommendations. Thank you for your helpful suggestion.

1 minute ago, RocketMan275 said:

Please show where the terms of the cruise contract apply to the subject under discussion.  

 

It is the same legal premise used to force cruise lines to disclose upfront in the sales and booking process that extra fees applied. If a company highly promotes something as an incentive to book, they must disclose that it may not be available. 

1 minute ago, rohim said:

We have an Amex platinum card, which gets us one dinner at Le Bistro.  How would that work in this case? Would NCL honor that at another specialty restaurant, or do we just lose the perk? 

I would hope that they would honor it at another restaurant. 

Just now, JSar said:

But they DID disclose the closure... that is why this thread was started... they notified cruisers on this particular ship/journey that le Bistro WILL be closed. 

 

Again - it is their obligation to ensure that if they sell Specialty Dining packages - that they offer Specialty Dining options... but they can still close a specific restaurant as needed. 

 

And once they notify the cruiser of the change - then the cruiser can decide if they want to keep/alter a specific plan. 

They disclosed belatedly and without regard to the impact on customers. This time it was just one speciality dining restaurant, but next time it can be anything they want. This possibility must be disclosed upfront in the booking process not to put customers at a disadvanage. If things don't change, they will only get worse and cruise lines will eventually be forced to be more upfront. 

Just now, JSar said:

Very interesting. You do realize - all sorts of businesses advertise all sorts of services and sometimes they do need to cancel those services from time to time. It happens. Even on cruise ships. And the previous commenter is correct in that your cruise fees paid do NOT pay for access to a specific specialty dining room. If you do pay extra for specialty dining - you can always go to another dining room if one is closed. So - they are still providing specialty dining service - just not necessarily access to every restaurant they advertised. For the OP who received this message, he now has the option of either keeping his specialty dining package or adjusting it/removing it if he is unhappy that le Bistro will no longer be available. 

 

Yes - if you paid for specialty dining - they NCL does have an obligation to offer specialty dining. But when you paid for specialty dining - it doesn't mean that NCL can't close ONE specialty dining room for one reason or another. There are alternate options for the customer to choose from instead. Services are still rendered as promised. 

Just as cruise lines once had no obligation to disclose extra fees and taxes were applicable in a clear and upfront manner, the refusal to disclose that certain facilities and services may not be available that were  highly promoted to incent bookings will also become a legal issue in time. You may not believe it, but if cruise lines continue in this fashion, just sit back and wait to see what happens.. 

1 minute ago, complawyer said:

dear commodore dave. your sarcasm is underwhelming. is it really that much of a problem if you cant dine at le bistro for this cruise.  if it really bothers you that much, why dont you see if guest services or  the concierge can get you comped into cagney's or modern's for your trouble? 

 

hopefully, if  you explain how much you love le bistro, always eat there at least once on every ncl cruise you take, and how disappointed you are, you might find a sympathetic ear.

 

i mean  that in a good way. by  the way, your example is wholly incorrect and based on an incorrect assumption.

 

again sir, unless you have pre booked, any specialty restaurant is not paid for nor included in any costs associated with your final payment.

 

it's an extra cost you may or may not wish to incur

Thank you for your suggestion which I will gladly try.

However, you basic premise is grossly incorrect in law. NCL promotes and advertises access to all its public venues and dining options, and is therefore obligated to provide access to them as that is what people were incented to pay for. I realize that I have to pay more for that access, but it must be made available under the terms that the cruise was sold to me. While you may not agree, this issue will likely become more prominent in future and result in legislation to prevent this type of misrespresentation. 

28 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

What exactly should the cruise lines say beyond the cruise line contract: "2. The Contract: The Guest agrees that this Contract governs the relationship between the Guest and the Carrier, regardless of the Guest's age, whether the Guest purchased the ticket on his or her own behalf, and/or whether the ticket has been held and/or presented by another person on behalf of the Guest. The Guest agrees that, except as expressly provided herein, this Contract constitutes the entire agreement between the Guest and Carrier, and shall supersede and exclude any prior representations that may have been made in relation to the cruise to the Guest or anyone representing him/her by anyone, including but not limited to anything stated in the Carrier's brochures, advertisements, and other promotional materials, by Norwegian Cruise Line or NCL America employees or by third persons such as travel agents. ..."

 

And...

"  3. Terms of Fare: (a) Items Included in Fare: The fare paid by the Guest for this ticket includes transportation on the vessel named herein, full board, and ordinary vessel food, but does not include beer, wine, spirits, sodas or mineral waters, nor expenses incurred for other incidental or personal services/purchases.  ... "

 

Now, there are Norwegian cruises scheduled through Dec 2026 which means every cruise for every date would have to have some kind of disclaimer.  How would you word this disclaimer to cover any eventualities?

 

While I posted what NCL should tell customers above, I am reposting it for your benefit:

Dear NCLcustomer:

You have probably noticed the incessant emails, promotions and pages on our website promoting the many public venues and dining choices available to you on NCL cruise ships. However, we are now being forced by law to disclose that one or more of these may not be available to you on your cruise despite you paying for them.

The reason is that someone has come along with a group that is prepared to bribe us in to letting them have exclusive use of these venues and dining options, instead of you. We know that some of you don’t mind, and we promise to upgrade you to the Haven in return. On the other hand, if the charter group wants your cabin, we might also downgrade you to an inside cabin, or possibly even the engine room.

For those of you who object to being denied access to public and dining venues despite paying for them, we have to admit you are one smart customer. We just hope there are not too many of you.

48 minutes ago, yakcruiser said:

I am sure there are lawyers already drafting another five pages of fine print just to cover situations like this.

Yes, and I have offered this humble text to assist them in their mission:

Dear NCL customer:

You have probably noticed the incessant emails, promotions and pages on our website promoting the many public venues and dining choices available to you on NCL cruise ships. However, we are now being forced by law to disclose that one or more of these may not be available to you on your cruise despite you paying for them.

The reason is that someone may come along with a group that is prepared to bribe us in to letting them have exclusive use of these venues and dining options, instead of you. We know that some of you don’t mind, and we promise to upgrade you to the Haven in return. On the other hand, if the charter group wants your cabin, we might also downgrade you to an inside cabin, or possibly even the engine room.

For those of you who object to being denied access to public and dining venues despite paying for them, we have to admit you are one smart customer. We just hope there are not too many of you.

1 minute ago, RocketMan275 said:

So when would this be announced to the passengers?  

 It should be described up front as part of the booking process. Cruise lines have been forced by law to now disclose all additional costs of a cruise upfront. I suspect in time that they will be forced to disclose up front that what people are paying for may not be actually available on the cruise. It’s just common sense and basic consumer protection.

3 hours ago, complawyer said:

ok commodore, one last time. since at this  time you claim "you have no choice" and i can appreciate that. will you enjoy this cruise any less now that  you cannot eat at le bistro, and im still asking, if you had the choice, more  than 120 days before sailing, and knew that le bistro was not available, would  you cancel ,the entire cruise,  assuming that you had not as yet bought the airfare and trip insurance. as yes, it's your money, but again, unless you prebooked the dinner reservation, your money, emphatically, did not pay  for a specific dinner at a specialty restaurant!

 

 

I would at least be able to look at what other cruise options were available for a similar time period. Of course, a lot would go into that decision including the new cruise fare. But if I could switch to another sailing with not too much hassle, I would definitely consider it. However, I don’t have that choice this time, so my experience this time can only be reflected in future decisions.

3 hours ago, tfred said:

Desperate?  Doubt it. They just want to offer an upgrade path to RCL group pax who didn’t know that Silversea existed. 
 

what exactly are silversea pax actually losing on ?  The only thing that I get is free laundry now and that doesn’t affect anyone. 
 

Silversea may want to correlate a pax spend and nights. Nights only doesn’t allow for big spenders. 

Silversea should definitely reconsider the value of their points versus Celebrity. Ironically, we now get free laundry on Silversea not because of the 80 days sailed with them, but because of the 32 days sailed with Celebrity. And our 80 days with Silversea gets us nothing with Celebrity.