gwsster

We sailed with a friend who had Celiac Disease and she said she made arrangements during the online check in that asks about allergies and special accommodations. She then followed up once on board with the Restaurant Manager and the Concierge/Butler. She was in a Suite. She stated the food was good and the bread she was served was tasty and she had quite a variety of food. We had many meals and excursions together and she did great with no repercussions.

Have fun and when in doubt it doesn't hurt to mention this when ordering a meal. Better safe than sorry.

Awesome, logical response. Thanks for the great perspective.

Cabin 13522 faces towards the aft of the ship, directly overlooking the pool area. Some people like that, I am one who does not. If you like the sights of the pool area, and the band ....then this is the room for you.

 

I prefer deck 12, port side.

 

Chuck

Thanks Chuck, I am booked in a suite for a year from now. Did you have any issues with noise from people using the stairway? I chose deck 12 because there were so few cabins on that deck.

Thanks for any information.

Celebrity does not have a room service fee. Their website further states that part of the suggested $12.00 gratuity applies to room service as well and no additional tipping is necessary.

The topic was gratuities not room service fees. I checked on those and this is what I could find. Sorry for any font issues, these are quotes from each of the cruise lines.

NCL= still free on 11 of their 13 ships. They are testing a $7.95 delivery fee on the Breakaway and the Getaway. This will be for all room service except for the Haven and I have a feeling this will be extended to the other ships in the near future.

Royal Caribbean= A late night service charge of US$ 3.95 will be applied for onboard room service orders placed between midnight and 5 a.m, intended to minimize onboard food waste, This action was based on an exhaustive review of demand for room service by hour of day and the corresponding amount of food wasted.

Holland America=The ships also offer 24-hour room service, so you can dine in-room (and the best part is, it's complimentary!).

Princess Cruise Lines=You may call for personal, complimentary room service at any time of the day or night. To have continental breakfast delivered to the stateroom, fill out the breakfast card included in the stateroom portfolio (one is also placed on the pillow) and hang it out at night on the stateroom door in order to receive delivery the next morning at the time of your choosing.The complimentary room service menu includes sandwiches, salads, a selection of hot dishes and delicacies from the pastry shop; plus, coffee, iced tea and milk are available 24-hours a day!

Carnival= is 24 hour room service and no delivery fee according to their website.

Celebrity Cruise lines= Either way, when you're in the mood to relax and dine in the comfort of your stateroom, Celebrity offers complimentary 24-hour in-stateroom dining.

Celebrity has the following gratuities:

 

• $12 per person per day in staterooms
  
• $12.50 per person per day in Concierge Class and AquaClass staterooms
  
• $15.50 per person per day in suites
  

The information to be found online is very limited. Thank you so much! I really appreciate the information. :)

I did a little research on gratuities on other cruise lines.

NCL is $12.95 a day for non suites and $14.95 for suites per person per day.

Royal Caribbean International is $12.00 for non suites and $14.00 for suites also per person per day.

Princess is $11.50 for non suites and $12.00 for suites, per person per day.

Carnival is a flat rate of $12.00 for gratuities, per person per day

Celebrity also is a flat rate of $12.00 per person per day.

So to sum it up, NCL is $6.55 more per week in gratuities.

I am going to check to see if the other lines have a room service fee, if I can find that information.

Shush you!! Don't bring common sense to these forums, its not allowed!!

 

(Just joking, you're right.[emoji4] )

 

Sent from my SGH-T399 using Tapatalk

Thanks for being rational.....NCL is going through changes and the customers will help develop their business model by virtue of how they spend their dollars if they choose NCL and on board. I love reading the comments, find most of them quite entertaining...Oh the drama.

Thanks for the heads up! Just checked my 4 cruises and 3 have stayed the same and 1 has increased. Suites (both Haven and non-Haven) rarely seem to drop in price but it's all good!

Remember to remove the "cookies" from your browser or use another brower, otherwise the same prices keep showing up OR your cruise date won't show if you go through the booking process to check for price change for your room category. Thought you might want to know.

Just returned from the Sun yesterday - Great trip and I will post review later this week.

 

For the heck of it I was checking my Alaska 2016 booking price on Pearl.

 

I had booked a 2br suite for 5 for $15,473.45 with UDP, UBP and $300 OBC

 

Now it is $11,494.75 with UDP, UBP, $200 OBC and Prepaid Grats (guest 1 and 2)

 

 

Hmm what should I do, NCL tried to tell me if I go with the new price that I will loose $100 OBC and that even though I prepaid gratuities, if I take the new deal that guest 3-5 will increase from $12 to $14.95 pp/pd.

Can you believe they would say that?????

 

Let's see I lose $100 OBC and pay $63 in DSC for $163

But pay $3,979 less

 

That was the toughest decision I have ever made.

Call again, I just did the same thing with 2 booked cruises and WE kept the amenities package of UDP, Gratuities paid for for the first 2 guests and free 3rd and 4th persons in our suite. I saved $2,500 by checking the prices. This price drop happened within 10 days of my booking, with the promotion still being offered. The case may be if you go for the lower booking price, and promotion has ended you may lose the perk. My NCL person told me that I could "lose" the choice suite I booked in the seconds that it took to cancel the booking and re book. She said she was obligated to tell me this, she said she hadn't seen in happen, but in theory it could happen. I took my chances and in seconds saves many $$$ and kept the same suite. Looking forward to this cruise with my sisters.

Well, feel fortunate you got through!

 

I can't get through to CAS. I was told by a non-CAS that they are seriously short staffed. He said it was doubtful I will get a call back I should keep calling because the promos will be ending. Note: I have left messages with (3) different CASlings.

 

I have waited over 2 weeks to get a call back with pricing info on a 2nd suite. I already booked the first one. I have decided to wait for a call back from anyone. If it doesn't happen, I am canceling the first one; not worth the aggravation any longer.

 

The above experience, coupled with the recent unannounced increases, have me researching alternative lines.

What is CAS? or Caslings? I have called NCL 3 times over the past 2 weeks for price reductions on booked cruises. I got through each time and saved $2500.00 on one cruise alone, yes, the price dropped that much (suite). We were able to keep all of the PERKS that went with the promotion. The NCL cruise consultant was pleasant, made the change and emailed me the confirmation showing the reduced rate within seconds. My DH was able to reduce the fare for another NCL cruise by $400.00. It does pay to book early and check the fares regularly. Fare reductions CANNOT be done the last 90 days before sailing unless you save more than the cancellation penalty. We find it is best to book early and check back on the prices....Do remember to remove the cookies in your browser or use another browser, otherwise the same NCL prices will some up again.

49 days at sea with Norwegian and we have never order room service. There is always a buffet open, blue lagoon/ O'sheenan's plenty of food options and normally not a long walk.

 

Even while staying in a suite, we would run to grab something rather than call the butler and have it delivered.

I agree, we have had suites and I still find it easier to get up and go eat when I want. That being said, for those that thought room service was part of their cruise only to find a bill at the end of the cruise this would be a surprise. I always check our bill 2 or 3 times during the cruise to make sure that the charges are accurate.

We typically order room service about 6 or 8 times during a 7 day... but in a suite.

 

The 64,000 dollar question is what sort of convenience charge will be associated with this activity...

Is Norwegian Cruise Line now charging for room service?

*

This is from the NCL website under frequently asked questions I copied the response listed below. Suites and the Haven will still have complimentary room service. This is only on the Breakaway and the Getaway ships .....for right now.

Norwegian Cruise Line has introduced an enhanced room service menu that is debuting on board Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Breakaway. The new menu offers an expanded selection for breakfast, in addition to a wider variety of options available 24 hours. Individual items on the menu remain available on a complimentary basis and a convenience charge of up to $7.95 will be added to each order placed (Room Service orders placed by guests sailing in Suites and The Haven will not attract a charge)*. Room service is one of up to 29 dining options offered across the fleet, and guests continue to be able to enjoy a wide array of complimentary choices onboard 24 hours a day.

*Prices subject to change.

have felt the same way as all of you when Norwegian banned smoking on the balcony but everybody cheered. go back and look I said myself that nobody cared because it did not affect them so this doesn't bother me because it does not affect me. it was only me and a handful of other people that were defending the right to smoke on the balcony you paid for. now that Norwegian is doing something that y'all don't like the new rules are all of the sudden unfair.

Was on the Epic a year ago and some ding dong flicked their cigarette over the side of the ship, it blew back onto another balcony and caught a towel on fire. It caused quite a stir on board. People don't think even though they tell you over and over, don't toss anything over the side of the ship.

I called NCL and they clarified the new room service menu. I hope this is not a repeat post. So here it goes

 

Part of the menu with be complimentary as always.

Part of the menu with have items for $4.95.

Part of the menu with have items for $7.95.

 

They are only testing this menu on the Breakaway and Getaway at this time.

 

 

I hope that this experiment doesn't go fleet wide.

I am on Breakaway today. Starting this sailing, all room service charges regardless of time receive a $7.95 charge!:mad: Will upload a picture of the new menu when I get back.

 

I am very upset about this. We love breakfast on the balcony some days before tours and late night snacks. I can't wait for the NCL apologists to defend this one. We received no notice of this increase prior to the cruise and I believe (although may be mistaken) that room service was always listed in the complimnetary dining section on the website.

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I asked this question on Facebook NCL page and a nice person (cruiser) stated that this is only on the Breakaway and Getaway. I think they are testing the waters on the newest ships to see if this will fly for the rest of the fleet. Needless to say This is great way to steer customers to another cruise line. Cruise lines don't need to be like the airlines and charge piece meal for services. All cruise lines should be transparent with costs so that a passenger can make an informed decision before booking a cruise.

We are also looking at 2 Jan 2016 - but never thought about the light - what time does it go dark at that time of year - and what sort of temperatures could we expect.

 

We were thinking of coming over 28th Dec and having NYE in Honolulu - is it celebrated there? is it worth coming in so early?

 

We have not sailed with NCL for over 10 years now - do they still charge a 'daily service charge' to your onboard account? Can you knock it off???

 

I see they do an all inclusive option now too for drinks - although it may not be worth it as there is so much 'land time'

 

Thanks in advance

 

H

The daily gratuities charge still apply the daily fee is mandatory 12.95 x 7 =$91.00 for pp for a 7 day cruise for mini suites and lower and for suites the amount is now $14.95 x 7 =$104.65 pp. Gratuities are owed for all persons sailing, even children. I did ask our cabin steward if he actually got the gratuity we paid and he assured us he did. I checked with the wait staff and they told me that they got the gratuity. This made me feel a lot better knowing that the $$$ did go to the crew. This is typical among most cruise lines unless you are on an all inclusive cruise line. NCL is promoting free gratuities until the end of March for some cruises depending on what cabin category you book.

Pride of America does NOT offer the Alcohol beverage package according to my Cruise Consultant. I don't know why.

I've been keeping track of POA's pricing for the last few weeks. It looks like the price per person takes a nosedive starting about 60 days prior to the cruise. You can save 50% or even more. So I'm thinking of waiting until 60 days out before I book. Does this make sense?

I booked for April of 2016 on POA in a suite. With the NCL specials and all the perks for a suite it was less expensive for my sisters (4 of us) to book a suite over 2 balcony rooms. I booked March 17th 2015 and I checked the rates on March 27th 10 days later and they dropped $2500.00 for our room category. We have found that the earlier you book the better. IF the price drops, call NCL and they will make a price correction. This can only be done up until 90 days before sailing. Then the last minute fares go on sale and the choice of cabins is limited. We have three NCL cruises booked and have had price reductions on 2 of the cruises and our personal cruise consultant made the changes and sent the revised confirmations within minutes to our email addresses. Remember to use a different browser or eliminate the cookies or the same price will come up and you won't save anything.

Thank you for the great review. I booked this cabin for April of 2016 for myself and my 3 sisters. I do hope that the floor plan is correct and that there is 1 and 1/2 bath. This is a necessity for 4 women (sisters) traveling together.

I am so glad that you liked the room as I am the one that chose this room and don't want my sisters disappointed.

I'm in 12006 on a mid-November cruise. That's supposed to be the largest suite on the ship. The NCL website says its after September 7, the suite is supposed to have 2 bedrooms (it originally had 1 bedroom), but the floor plan still shows only one bedroom. When I booked, no one at NCL could tell me which was correct. If anyone has any intel on that suite, I'd appreciate it!

Ahhh, you are in the Grand Suite, I am booked in the room next door for an April 2016 sailing. I told my sisters they were NOT allowed to look into that room. Have fun and post pictures.

Anyone booked in one of the brand new Suites on Deck 13, except for us in May ?

 

we're in 13502

 

Hoping to get a peek of it before we sail. Wishful thinking, I know :D

I had booked the owners suite on Deck 13 for my April 2016 cruise with my sisters. I later caught the disclaimer that there is NO guest 1/2 bathroom in these suites. With 4 women sharing a cabin we needed at least another 1/2 bath. I was able to change the reservation to deck 12 (a smaller sized owners suite, BUT this room has 1 and 1/2 baths and a hot tub on the balcony. Deck 13 Owners suite is over 900 SF, on the other decks the owners suite is just under 600 sf but has a 230 sf balcony. Bathrooms trumped extra cabin space for our group, but if I were a couple, I would book the deck 13 suite. If there is a cabin crawl coordinated with a Cruise Critic meet and greet, it is a great way to see many different cabin styles. Join the roll call for your sailing.