luv2kroooz

Bingo. And these layoffs in the face of Del Rio recent bloviating about record setting bookings, record setting passengers fares, record setting onboard revenue, record growth, 2023 profits well in excess of pre pandemic. Yada, yada, yada. Talk is cheap. The SEC filings tell a different narrative.

https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/finance/norwegian-cruise-line-holdings-cuts-shoreside-workforce-9 I didn't this coming. Every time I listen to Mr. del Rio on an earnings call or in CNBC, he is talking about how NCLH is experiencing record growth and is on pace to surprise 2019 bookings. Yet, it is reportedly laying off 9% of it's shoreside workforce.

For anyone that has sailed Prima, do they have entertainment in the atrium? It looks so "chopped up" to me. Maybe this is NCL's way of disbursing crowds because the Atrium used to get pretty busy. In the past, there have been Caribbean bands or house cover bands as well as numerous cooking demonstrations, game shows, Q&A with officers, movies, kids club activities, latitudes rewards seminars, etc. It was like the hub of the ship. I understand they have Price is Right in the main lounge, but how about all of the other random entertainment? Thank you!

I have not personally experienced Prima, but from what I have read and seen on social media, complaints seem to be centered around the specific design flaws, not the fact that the ship is different. For example, there is lots of space dedicated to indoor specialty restaurants and shopping, yet it is reported that 2 of the main nighttime entertainment venues can hold 50 guests - comedy club and Syd's. So the demand for these venues greatly exceeds capacity. Additionally, many public outdoor areas are either taken up by "for-fee" activities and experiences. For example, the main pool deck is very small in exchange for multi level go- carts, darts, ping pong, mini golf. I believe the upper open decks at the aft of the ship are all reserved for Haven and/or Vibe, and off limits to the majority of passengers. While these changes are definitely different compare to the previous ships, I think a case can be made that these changes have greatly decreased the passenger experience for non Haven guests. Many cruisers come on onboard with an expectation of having a fair chance of experiencing the entertainment. Yet it has been reported that the entertainment venues require advance reservations and all reservations are often taken by the time the ship leaves it's homeport on day 1 of the cruise. Based upon what I have read and seen, I would probably prefer Jewel class or Breakaway class over Prima, even though the ships are older. At least, I have a chance to see the entertainment or enjoy a cup of coffee out on the upper aft open decks. I guess to anyone sailing Prima, go with an open mind and then decide for yourself. Have a good cruise.

There is a recent thread on here titled.... Life from Bliss LA to Mia Dec2 .... Which indicates wine sharing was allowed but Moet was limited to plus passengers only.

Ditto what everyone else has said....non benefit. Enjoy your cruise, nonetheless.

Depends where you are sailing....we would never got to Bahamas or Caribbean during the summer months.....too hot, too many kiddos. But we would certainly sail to Bermuda, Alaska or Canada during that time. We love the Caribbean in November or January.

Overall, food is subjective. For many years, where I have thought NCL lagged competitors is with quick service food options. Carnival has gone to branded venues like Guys Burgers, Blue iguana Cantina Mex, Pig and Anchor BBQ or Shaq's Big Chicken. Royal has El Loco Fresh Mex and Park Cafe Deli. NCL has none of this. I think NCL is starting to mirror this on Prima with Indulge Food Hall. I am expecting the food hall to become an upcharge venue within the next couple of years, though. At Dinner, we've always been satisfied with the included MDR food options on NCL.

In my opinion, you crossed the line with the personal questions about why I am here, if I have cruise next certificates, and then asking a question which I had already answered. But I wish you smooth sailing and am concluding my comments so as to allow for relevant discussion. As you quite rightly note, the people that couldn't care less is likely well in excess of 50%. I'm out.

Really? I feel like I am being cross examined in court. Again, it really should be no concern of yours when I last sailed on NCL or if I intend to again. Half the people on here probably couldn't care less about me, but, since you asked, I will explain for your benefit. I said I haven't cruised NCL post Corona and I stand by that. The one cruise I took in 2022 was a 14 day on Carnival Cruise Lines. I bot the 4 cruisenext on a 2020 NCL cruise pre Corona. NCL graciously extended the original 2024 expiration date to 2026 due to Corona. If you find NCL acceptable, then by all means, cruise away. It is ok, even healthy, for people to have different opinions and debate what works and doesn't work for them. If NCL offered a price point where I found value, I would sail NCL again.

Yep.

Candidly, what I do or don't do should be no concern of yours. But, since you asked, I will answer your personal question. I have had many enjoyable cruises and continue to actively look for good value. I also am interested in the industry as a whole from a financial (stockholder) perspective and a leisure travel perspective. I also have 4 cruise next certificates with NCL that I have to burn before 2026 and I find it helpful to be informed as much as I can about what is happening on NCL and the ships of competing cruise lines.

So cute. I don't come on here to argue, by the way. Just sharing opinion and observation from someone who has 200+ days sailed with NCL pre-Corona and zero days sailed post-Corona. As I said in a prior post, we've done 7 land based vacations and 1 cruise on a competitor and have found better value there. Your mileage may, and apparently does, vary.

Hey, so happy you enjoy the present day NCL. Enjoy your cruises, too!! I wish you would have had an opportunity to experience NCL pre pandemic. It was an even more wonderful experience at a fraction of the cost. True value.

Yes, the "market to fill" strategy must not be working out so well, so they are looking to more ways to "soak" the unsuspecting customer with fees, up charges, and other possibly unplanned, unbudgeted costs.

NCL can't fill their ships at current pricing, so a further fare increase would reduce demand further. I think their last reported number was somewhere in the 80% range. NCL is collecting zero service charges from the missing 20%. Therefore, the DSC burden needs to be shared by fewer passengers, which results in a higher per passenger charge. It is excessive and unwarranted in my opinion as the service level is not changing. And I will say it here, there is no way I would pay $20 per day for services onboard any cruise line. I would adjust them back to $16 which is a fair price for the services received.

Very true. We have actually abandoned cruising in exchange for land based vacations. We've done 7 land based vacations since Corona and only 1 cruise, which was not on NCL. We find very little value in cruising right now, and it seems to be getting worse with each passing day.

I am sorry to read this, but, if true, I understand this. I think many complied with the emuster, but there were probably always more than a few that didn't check in, didn't watch the video, etc thereby forcing the crew to invest time trying to herd everyone in. I know on a recent cruise (not NCL) the cruise director had to make at least 10 announcements begging people to check in so we could depart. I think when they have the mass muster drill at a designated time, it is easier to force people to comply. The bars close, the buffet closes, the stewards can check staterooms, deck staff can tell anyone loitering around to go to their muster station etc.

Of course they don't pay base price. As I said yesterday, the base price is the highest in the industry at $99 - soon to be $109. The "service charges" at 20% are industry leading, and they offer the most limited selection in the industry. This is why I stated yesterday that it was the worst in the industry on a value basis, in my opinion. The base pricing is so bad, they offer it for $21 per person per day plus the additional base fare cost to allow you to make a free at sea choice. I regularly see MSC offers for their all in package at about $100 for a seven day cruise, inclusive of gratuities. Ditto with Carnival - we regularly get the VIFP RU2 offer code with a fare difference of about $150 per person for a seven day cruise, also inclusive of gratuities. Both packages offer a far greater variety of beer, wine, spirits, mixed shots, cocktails, bottled water, premium coffees, milkshakes, etc. Full disclosure - Carnival limits you to 15 alcohol drinks per day and it is 1 drink per card, not 2 like NCL. All that said, we have enjoyed the NCL package in the past, but that doesn't change our opinion that dollar for dollar, it is the worst value in the industry. You just have to know what you are and are not getting.....and with NCL ( aka - No Communication Lines), they keep moving the target over and again while regularly failing to communicate with impacted guests. They are entitled to change the rules, but at least have the professional courtesy to let impacted guests know. There really is no excuse for not doing so. Thank goodness for the good people here on cruisecritic or we'd never know what we were walking into when we step aboard an NCL cruise.

To CCL shareholders.....two B2B 7 day cruises are considered a 14 day cruise. Shareholder benefit is $250 for a 14 day cruise, not $200 for two 7 day cruises.

Priscilla is the drag show. Go with an open mind. I had convinced myself that I would not like it. Wrong. I loved it. Lively, colorful and a great show, in my opinion. You can always sit towards back of theater near an aisle. If it isn't your thing, leave quietly. I am not a fan of burn the floor. Great, talented dancers, but after ten minutes, I am ready to leave.

Fees are governed by the type of fare you book and the general terms and conditions of the booking. Whether or not you use a CN certificate doesn't matter. In your example, you are before final payment, so there would be no cancellation penalties imposed by NCL. The CN gets returned to your latitudes account as long as the expiration date has not passed. It can be used on a future sailing.

Oh, ok. In our experience, no one at NCL checks the tickets. Typically, you'll gather at a designated meeting point ...theater, on the pier, etc.....you'll surrender your excursion ticket directly to the tour operator without the need to show photo ID, ship card etc. I assume the tour operator eventually submits the excursion tickets back to NCL to get paid.

Then the second person goes on the excursion and the first stays onboard.

Hello. The base price of NCL's package is listed at $99, $109 effective 1-1-2023. Apparently RCL is $59 by your reporting. RCL includes, souvenir cup, premium coffees and teas, fresh squeezed juices plus still and sparkling waters, none of which is included with NCL. This forms my opinion that NCL' s package is subpar. I hope that helps.