bjlaac

I agree, the breakaway has a lot more to do at night and if that's what you are looking for a much better choice. Having that said, we enjoy the Gem over the BA because its sometimes very hit and miss. Much of the activity that's out of the specialty clubs is done in the atrium on the BA and it often get overwhelmed with people as its the focal point of the ship.

We also never had the "pleasure" of sailing with 800 kids which is often the case during the summer or school breaks. My understanding is it makes for a very crowded vacation.

My wife and son left this morning and were told the 5/21/16 cruise is also skipping the private island in addition to their cruise.

Something very fishy going on?

Thanks all for your replies so far

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We are trying a guarantee for the first time and wondering if anyone had experience with room 11532. It's in the far forward corner underneath the pool area.

Have some light sleepers with us and wondering if we should try and move once onboard

Thanks

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whethwer you are a fan of the "free perks" or not is not my point here but what's missing in this whole package from NCL is something for those of us that want to book months if not years in advance but have no choice to pay a higher price whether we accept the free offers or not.

I have seen discounted fares for specific residents once in a while

Me too, that is why I picked free gratuities (DSC) when I booked last year, since it is something I would spend money on anyway. I did not take the completely free UBP or UDP (no cost for me at all when I booked almost a year ago) because I won't be spending more than the $190 the gratuities were worth on either beverages or dining.

And that's exactly why the free gratuities are no longer offered. If you notice the "free" stuff is all for things you must pay something for

are you within the final payment date or 30 days prior to sailing? I've seen low prices offered as last minute booking wiyhout any of the "free" stuff

Does anybody have an estimate as to how many people on a given cruise are receiving the "free" UBP on a weekly basis. For example, on the Jewel class ships, is it fair to estimate that between 700 and 1000 guests have the free UBP.

I don't believe there is anyway to tell or find out

But you still want them to bring back free gratuities as a perk so "we could all be winners"? What makes you believe that the crew are being paid in one case and not in the other?

I don't, I think the gratuity thing is all about profit and whether its on booze or stateroom, NCL's getting a cut. And, my guess is that since the room gratuities are not based on some arbitrary cost they eliminated it.

For someone like me, the UBP is not appealing because the gratuities are more than I would spend on drinks (not a drinker) and everything else is not a significant benefit e.g shore credit, internet or even the limited dining plan. Yet I'm forced to pay higher base rates and get nothing in return.

If you are a drinker and would purchase that plan anyway you save over $1,000 for two. I don't have that opportunity any would feel better if I at least saved a couple of hundred on free gratuities.

In the end it doesn't mater since each individual needs to make their own choice and if NCL or some other line gets the business. I sail NCL knowing full well others are saving much more than me but only because they spend much more than me. What I don't like is the constant changing of prices beyond what is reasonable.

Its really hard to say how much people are affected by these changes. We often think the whole world is reading cruise critic, I'm not so sure. While it seems most everyone on these boards are savings hundreds, if not thousands, on the UDP or UBP that they no longer have to pay for (even with the 18% added), When we are on board almost everyone we talk to Don't go to the specialties and never drink more than one or two drinks per day if at all

Either way NCL's ships are sailing full and the bottom line is occupancy which seems unaffected. For us, NCL is the last choice when choosing a line, even more so now with all of their increased charges and fees. Given the choice of the same cruise on a different line, NCL loses every time.

The truth is their baseline product is less than other lines offer unless you buy into those added services and fees. The only thing they had going for them was their freestyle dining which is a welcomed concept.

Even if NCL chose to disclose information regarding gratuity/service charge distribution, would anyone actually believe them?

No not at all, that's what makes their silence so deafening. Think about for a minute, everyone chooses the UBP, all 18% goes to the crew, NCL pays for the drinks out of pocket, NCL has zero income and everyone is happy.....

I DON'T THINK SO

I really don't care if anyone who chooses the UBP is an alcoholic, social drinker or anything in between. Its none of my business and is really about how the latest NCL smoke and mirror routine is effecting all of us.

There are always winners and loses in these offers and it seems like most of us are on the losing side. For example, the UDP and free gratuities is a choice where we could all be winners and wouldn't mind an increase in base fares, but by NCL taking the gratuities away it leaves a sour taste in everyone"s mouth.

Now the UBP base rate rises unrealistically fast where it generates around $13 a day in revenue (18% gratuities) for something supposedly free!. Its also bothersome because for years we've been told these gratuities go to the crew in one way or another. I don't believe that any more at all because NCL works too hard to drive these fees upward.

What I believe is there are certain things the gratuities go to support such as rec rooms or parties or anything special for the crew in addition to some increase in compensation based on position and merit. That process has a base cost and once its recovered by NCL the balance goes to the company.

No I don't have proof but they remain too secretive of these fees and we would all feel better if they would just disclose once and for all how the money is distributed. I'd be happy if they would just say every single dollar goes to the staff in one way or another. They coyly don't and that's bothersome to many of us.

I didn't mean to steal the thread but the more we argue with each other the more NCL gets us away from the real issue. Why is it so important to raise the UBP base price, gratuity rates and any other piece of their product so quickly when those increases effect items that supposedly go to the crew ? Anyone who would purchase the UBP would take it as a freebee since its being offered on just about every trip.

I highly recommend the Dawn. We have sailed on her three times. Yes it is a little older but in very good condition. It doesn't have all the "bells and whistles" of the big ship, but it also doesn't have the crowds of people either.

 

I love New Orleans as a port city. If you can swing it, try going a couple of days early. There is so much good food and entertainment.

 

I get my hackles up any time I see the words "nickel and diming." I have only sailed on RCCl besides NCL Let me compare:

 

NCL charges for pictures. So does everyone else.

NCL expects you to pay gratuities. So does everyone else

NCL charges for alcohol and soft drinks. So does everyone else.

Specialty restaurants are extra just like everyone else

NCL charges for ice cream sundaes, sodas and milkshakes. So does RCCL.

 

The point is you have options. You don't have to spend a penny over your fare plus gratuities. So how is that nickel or diming?

I'm not looking to pick a fight but when I hear this type of response it get mine up too.

What you fail to mention is NCL charges for things other lines don't. Take for example RCCL. Just about every ship has a solarium reserved for adults. You want something like that on NCL pay extra for the haven or spa. Want lobster, even if you have the "free" dining plans on NCL there's an upcharge for that.

There just seems to be more charges for things on NCL for things that are not on other lines. So yes they all charge for drinks and photos and shore excursions but all trips are not created equal.

My only point is give the OP a complete picture. If they don't care about lobster or the spa or anything NCL charges for then you are right the experience will be the same

Thanks for the heads up. I was expecting peace and tranquility with three or four live bands on a packed cruise ship with 5000 other people, especially no noise. [emoji57]

Have you ever been on the BA? The volume is over the top especially in the theatre and pool area. Louder is not always better and no one is talking about peace and tranquility.

I am hoping that is not the case. We're booked on the Jewel for the Panama Canal Feb 5th and we want the observation lounge.

We have stayed in family suites both with and without balconies on the Star and if you are in one of them they are very nice. If not, bring back the observation lounge.

It was meant as a joke but these days I put nothing past NCL

They are probably getting rid of that annoying Spinnaker lounge to add much more desirable Haven suites.....All for our convenience of course

No OP, you are not the only one to notice. The BA is by far the loudest ship we were ever on. We sailed both the BA and Gem this year and it was night and day in the theater as well as the outdoor stage. It seems the music producer on the BA thinks louder makes it better.

Its so loud in the theater the voices of the singers are actually distorted. I'm not sure why, but is annoying and one reason we choose not the sail the BA again. We even brought it to the attention of the cruise director and other staff members and the canned answer of "no one else ever complains" is telling.

What gets me riled up is for me to get the "free" drink package I have to pay (for a 10day cruise) $250 up front! Where in the world is that considered free?

:eek:

But it goes to the crew, right? :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjlaac

Check your math $10 less $5.75 equals $4.25. To determine increase % divide the increase from the original price so its $4,25 divided by $5.75 which is a 74% increase

You cannot compare $10 (the new price with tip) to $5.75 (the old price without tip). Here is the math so everyone can follow along:

• old price (prior to March 2015) = $5.75 + 15% tip = $6.61
  
• new price (reported by Demonyte) = $8.50 + 18% tip = $10.03
  
• difference = $10.03 – $6.61 = $3.42
  
• $3.42/$6.61 = 52% of the old price
  

Good catch I stand corrected, but since the 15% and 18% goes to the crew?, isn't it really only a 25%-26% increase? Either way, what's gone up 25% to 50% in the past two years especially in today's economy. All kidding aside there's way too many increases and its too complicated. Would'nt it really just be easy to just raise the fares?

So that's more like a 50% increase. Which is bad, but not "nearly doubled".

 

When we were on the Epic at Christmas, they were still using prices from six months earlier (the menu I have says "Fleet Whiskey 6/15"). That is call $7.50 ($89 bottle) / premium $8.75 ($99 bottle) / super premium $9.95 ($129 bottle). Does anyone have all of the new prices?

Check your math $10 less $5.75 equals $4.25. To determine increase % divide the increase from the original price so its $4,25 divided by $5.75 which is a 74% increase

That's crazy. You should reject the package and just pay as you go for drinks. :-)

But look on the bright side, it ALL GOES TO THE CREW! :rolleyes:

By the letter of the law (or contract in this case) yeah, I agree with NCL on this one but only if they are consistent. If and when I start seeing exceptions being made then I start to wonder even more about this company.

The OP's issue is not about customer service, its about getting more than they are entitled to and that's not right. For many years I had to book way in advance because of scheduling and work commitments. Rarely was I able to book last minute to get low prices or added perks and I was OK with that.

I have no love lost for NCL as I hate their current business model, but if they hold true on their word of no repricing, upgrades or benefits after final payment then there is nothing to complain about.

Oh there are definitely many who will pay $$$$ for a cramped inside ...not me of course lol....

 

 

It must be me but I'm still scratching my head over the idea that it is even possible to fill a 4000 pax ship with pax willing to pay inflated prices for a ship that was built and intended as a mass market mid priced ship

Here's what bothers me the most. For the longest time NCL has been marketed as "freestyle" in every way possible. Dine when, where and with who you want. Want a special dinner, pick a specialty dinning location or pay for a unique show. It came across as nickle and diming to the traditionalists who were use to getting everything included. The cheerleaders loved to point out why should I pay for something I don't use. If you want something you should pay for it.

With the changes today and all the free UDP and UBP kinda flies in the very face of what NCL was built on and it seems everyone is unhappy. It seems everyone is now subsidizing these packages and it creates a lot of unhappy people as well as happy ones. I'm not sure if that's better or worse from NCL's perspective, but from mine, all its done is raise the fares because most of the free stuff does not appeal to me at all.

This is one of the reasons why you don't take ratings/reviews into account.

For every one of those bad reviews there are are equal amounts of great reviews by customers who could have spent the entire week in the brig and still give it a 100% rating.

The review average is all you need to look at. There's something that's bothering people overall that's lowering the rating. Who knows what it is, but NCL, in fact any line that drops like they have, should be concerned.

My personal opinion is the ships are getting too big. They make for great advertising and drawing the first time cruiser but leave something to be desired for the repeaters.