PATRLR

Well, at least ping pong tables would get used.

Yeah, I understand exactly what you are saying. The reason I don't consider it NCL nickel and diming is because all the lines are doing it. And that is what I was discussing in the previous reply. But there is no way I can disagree that it's the number one nickel and dime practice across almost all cruise lines. Well, I'm still a bit nostalgic for the days when cruising meant good food. If you want good food, you need to hit a specialty restaurant. Good quality fine dining - something that used to be included but now you have to pay for. That is why it qualifies as nickel and diming, IMO. It's just not an NCL unique practice. With the rollout of the single, static menu in the MDRs, soon you are going to need to hit the Specialty Restaurants not only for fine dining but for variety. Again - variety, something I used to get for free, but now I'll have to pay for. I believe NCL is leading the way with the static MDR menus, but, I expect all the other lines to follow suit soon.

On a different note: Do you really believe that a major selling point for cruises is the food? Back in the 80s and earlier it may have been (although I'd argue it was the overall "being pampered" experience), but by the time we got to the 2000s and nearly every ship being a mega ship, cruising because of the great food was a thing of the past. At least for me it was.

I don't think hostility is quite accurate, though I understand if that's what you infer. Perhaps annoyance is a more accurate description of my mindset. I disagree with statements that NCL doesn't nickel and dime, but, I get annoyed with statements that dismiss my examples of nickel and diming as not real or not accurate. Accusing me of selective reading as another poster did doesn't help. No, Specialty Dining is not nickel and diming, IMO. That's just an unfortunate side effect of the lowering of the food quality that has happened nearly industry wide. The crepes were a simple example. And I think I said words to that effect when I wrote it. I don't think I've said anything about "ruining" my cruise, so, I'd appreciate you not putting words in my mouth. In fact, I haven't really said anything about the impact of nickel and diming on my cruise experience. Guess what - it has no effect. I know it's what NCL does, I know it's their business model, I expect it and plan for it and enjoy my cruise. What I am not going to do is bury my head in the sand and deny that it exists.

You betcha Selective Reading is a problem. And you are just as much an offender as others. Let's start at the beginning. RumRunner2021 said "I have sailed NCL many times, and never encountered any "on board nickel and dime BS." What are you talking about?". A reasonable question to which I replied: To which you replied, dismissing my crepe's example: First, you are wrong when you write "the ones in Cocoa's are not the same as the ones from the buffet" The fact of the matter is, every crepe and add-on I could get in the buffet, I can get at Coco's. And they are the exact same size, they are the exact same crepe griddles being used. Crepe with chocolate sauce in it and whip creme on top? Used to be free at the buffet, now I need to pay at Coco's. EXACT SAME crepe. The fact that I can get fancier crepes at Coco's doesn't matter. The EXACT SAME crepes I got at the buffet, for free, if I want to get them today, I have to pay. That's a real and valid example of nickel and diming. As for your ice cream strawman, I am pretty sure it's a moot point because the soft serve machines are still up in the buffet area. But, if they weren't and the only way to get soft serve was to buy it from Coco's, then that would be nickel and diming. The fact that Coco's also has that obnoxious concoction you posted a picture of is irrelevant and not an example of nickel and diming. It also doesn't matter that you prefaced everything with "depends on what is important to you". I was answering a question with an example. Importance to me or anyone else is irrelevant. It was an example of NCL getting cash from people on board (which they have been clear is their business model) and it was a direct response to Rumrunner2021's specific question. Important to you, me, or anyone else is irrelevant to the direct answer I provided to the question. "Important" might be relevant to whether you or I or anyone let's it affect our decision making process, but, it is irrelevant to citing an example.

Did you search for previous posts on this topic? I am pretty sure this has been discussed before and someone stated that the HDMI inputs had been disabled. To others reading this, the question isn't whether there is an HDMI port of even if you can physically get to the port, the question is whether once you've plugged into the port, the device will receive/recognize your input.

thanks. I guess I stand corrected. I know I've done it in the past, just not sure how long it's been since I did it.

Wow. Out of curiosity, if you don't mind my asking, what airline?

I've never seen this in a US domestic airport where the ticket counters were open. This would be very surprising to me at LAX if it were true. Assuming you can check you luggage on arrival, I'd drag my feet in the morning, enjoy a leisurely breakfast, get off the ship when they kick you off sometime after 9, Uber/Lyft to LAX and spend the rest of your day in the lounge.

100% agree. In my opinion, the "loyalty" is one way. Unfortunately, it seems most of the cruise lines have similar attitudes.

OK, so we can agree there is an example of NCL nickle and diming. And that's good for you. But just because it doesn't affect you, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Just because the crepes may be bigger at Coco's doesn't change the fact that crepes used to be free and now they are not. Correct me if I am wrong, but, you can still get soft serve up at the buffet. Is soft serve now gone too? If soft serve is now gone from the buffet and the only place you can get it is Coco's where you have to pay for it, then that absolutely is another case of NCL nickel and diming. If something used to be free (crepes, ice cream) and now the only way to get it is you have to pay for it, why is it so hard for people to acknowledge that these are cases of NCL nickel and diming? Well there has already been a number of examples given right in this thread so there are at least some people who know what it means and can cite examples. Just because you don't see it, doesn't make it not true. Just because you may not like it, doesn't mean it's not happening. You know what's another weird tradition? People who feel NCL can do no wrong and seem to defend them even when it goes beyond the obvious. There's a name that was traditionally used but that is not allowed here on CC anymore. Doesn't change reality though. Why so you can dismiss them simply because they aren't something you'd buy? I'm not going to waste my time with you. Read this thread closer, already cited: Water, specialty coffees, crepes, decent wines. And that's wonderful to hear, I am happy for you. But that doesn't mean nickel and diming isn't NCL's business model.

FWIW, this is actually a true statement. I am a lifelong wearer of Levis and a few years back I noticed a change. I asked Levi Strauss about it and after pushing them a bit, they acknowledged that they changed the material they are using resulting a different jean than what they had been selling. This was a great report and I look forward to the next one. We're on the Encore in November, so, love hearing about this ship.

A good example is crepes. For all the NCL ships I've been on they are available in the buffet for free. But on the Bliss (and I assume all the newer ships), they are only available for an extra charge in some storefront with the ice cream and other goodies (CoCos maybe?). Something that used to be free but now needs to be paid for. It may seem minor and just a couple bucks but that's not the point. It used to be free, and now its not. Sure, one solution is don't buy it. An alternative solution is to go to a different cruise line that doesn't go out of its way to find new ways to extract money from us on board. Just because one solution is "don't buy it" doesn't change the fact that nickel and diming doesn't exist. C'mon - the most recent earnings call they all but said they were going to ramp up the nickel and diming.

Agreed, of course it's cost cutting. Surprising to me how many people don't see it that way. We're getting to the point where we'll be cruising more frequently and longer. This will affect our decision on longer cruises and I suspect it will be more encouragement to cruise other lines (not that I needed more encouragement) Sure they have. I'm only aware of minor tweaks to the menus in rotation the past 7+ years. But "rotation" is the key - there were built in changes.

If they step up the quality, it might be OK. But if it's the same chain restaurant quality meals we've been getting for years then I see this as something that will just force more Specialty Dining (which of course no doubt is there intent). I really hope the "Signature Taste" is a nightly special. Glad the lava cake made the menu, now if we could only get them to do it like Carnival does 😉

I agree with @tallnthensome - Check other lines, NCL has been pretty clear they aren't going to lower prices to fill cabins and then they came out and acknowledged they intend to nickle and dime every last coin out of you on board.

I second the recommendation to hit the ports of calls forums. Way more information there than you will get here. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/456-caribbean/

What is nasty about it? What exactly is it, I don't know but assumed it was a sanitizer.

I think NCL would agree here and acknowledge that is their intention. Agreed. Some people just want their pizza to be edible. 😉

Who knew one might learn something about cars on CC? I had no idea they were selling cars with no spares and apparently some don't even have a designed in option for one. I am buying a new truck as I write this and noticed on the sticker it mentioned "full size spare" which I don't recall seeing on stickers in the past. Now I know why it was there, it's an important thing to have an many no longer have em. My DW and DD both have Subarus purchased in last couple years, I need to now see if they actually have spares or not, I'm worried what I am going to find.

Seems to me that if you enjoy hanging out in spa, then there wouldn't be need for Vibe. But Vibe is different (outside vs in, it's own bar) so I can also imagine liking both.

Have you talked to the folks at tripinsurancestore.com? Call them, Steve will probably answer the phone, explain what you are hoping for and he'll point you in right direction.

These folks were rescued in international waters. I'm pretty sure US Border Patrol is not going to want them to land in Miami (maybe I am mistaken), does anyone know what the process/procedure is from here?

This is NCL we're talking about. Today of course, today is when it starts.

To this day seeing people wearing hats inside while sitting at a table eating dinner still bothers me. I guess I have to blame my parents for that being so well engrained in my psyche.