Dolphins

When the Dawn first started sailing year round out of New York the Tex-Mex restaurant (Salsa) and the Italian restaurant were no extra charge. Impressions was a a popular main dining room, one of three. Cagney's was $25.pp and featured Oysters Rockefeller and Prime Ribs. Le Bistro was $20. and featured delicious duck. There were no a la carte restaurants. That was the Golden Age of freestyle cruising sadly gone forever.

NCL never grandfathers in any of these changes.

 

Book the cruise you hope to get, but be prepared to get something different.

When I decided to leave NCL a year ago as a Platinum Member, I saw all these endless price increases coming. NCL now bears no resemblance to the cruise experience we enjoyed when the Norwegian Dawn first sailed out of New York. When will the other long time NCL passengers finally say enough?

The dinning packages went up with no notification at all. That is very frustrating. Every time I turn around they are raising the price on something else.

As a long time Platinum cruiser on NCL, I have sailed on their ships for the last time. They are a shadow of the cruiseline I first sailed out of New York on the Norwegian Dawn. Since then, the price increases on dining, gratuities, service charges have been endless.

A recent article in the Fort Lauderdale Sentinel said NCL profits are up due to "increased on board revenue." The new CEO is earning his salary and the stock price is also up. NCL seems to care little about their veteran cruisers, they are more concerned with the new passengers who are ignorant of what a bargain freestyle cruising was in former years. How long before they suffer the same fate?

Whatever happened to a cruise being an "all-inclusive" vacation? Gone forever. So am I!

I agree with you and remember NCL exactly the way you do. What is the alternative? I paid 18 % gratuity that a robot made on the Quantum of the Seas. ; ) My point is that I don't think NCL is the only line cutting back and charging more.

You are so right. Cruiselines seem to be competing with each other to see how they can get the most income from their passengers. There is a minor revolution going on at the Celebrity cruise critic message board over their latest revisions. I will just keep on looking for a cruise line that still resembles the good old days. When they start having trouble filling their ships, we may see a new version of "Freestyle Cruising"like the one that attracted us in the past.

I concur with your comments. We are platinum and my first cruise was the Epic. It was the best NCL cruise. Since then I've been on the Breakaway and Gem. I've also sailed Celebrity which was the number one cruise experience on the Silhouette. Cruising is clearly ala carte these days. We purchased the beverage package, and the past few cruises the dining package. In the past five or six years of my cruising, I've noticed major differences in the dining experience, especially in Cagney's and main dining. I will say Le Bistro has remained consistent. In the end, we find that we spend $$ in the ala carte and are booking other lines with more inclusive options. We're sailing the Getaway next month and it will likely be out last for a while on NCL. Typically we cruise at least twice per year. We like the casual atmosphere on NCL and they kind of lost me when they discontinued their delicious crab cakes in Cagney's It's funny that we tend to hold onto specific details on a cruise that make or break a decision, in addition to price points.

Crab cakes were not the only item discontinued from Cagney's former menu. They also eliminated their fabulous Oysters Rockefeller and their Prime Ribs.

As long time NCL Platinum cruisers, we have also departed because of the seemingly endless price increases across the board. Cruise companies will keep nickel and diming us until they cannot fill their ships anymore. A cruise vacation was once an economical, all-inclusive experience. It appears those days are gone forever.

Thanks for posting. Ten bucks for a cheesburger and fries? On a cruise ship where you've already paid to eat? :eek:

 

I love the Gem with FREE poolside burgers and fries. Let's hope NCL doesn't start charging for those!!

Speaking to many veteran cruisers, we never thought we would ever see the day that you would have to pay for a burger on a cruise ship. Never happened before on dozens of cruises on numerous cruise lines. This is "choice" we can do without.

You are right, MF. Options and choices are not nickel and diming. Nickel and diming is small unnecessary charges that are mandatory.

 

As an example, if NCL told you on the pier that there was a $5pp charge to get your room card, THAT would be nickel and diming...you can't sail without your room card.

 

The big example of NCL nickel and diming is the 3% fee they started charging for people to get money in the casino. You HAVE to accept the fee to get any money...the fee is not optional (even though gambling, like the entire cruise, is).

 

 

The one thing I always wonder about people who think NCL nickels and dimes them is how they feel when they walk through the mall or the grocery store where EVERYTHING has a price tag??

We can always count on you to defend the indefensible. Paying for a hamburger on a cruise ship is just another "welcome change" that gives us a choice?

I have been a frequent NCL Platinum cruiser since NCL started cruising year round out of New York. I have always applauded the innovations of NCL like Freestyle Dining and having the courage to sail year round out of New York. My introduction to NCL was on the Norwegian Dawn and I have wonderful memories of that ship. I enjoyed dining at Cagney's and Le Bistro at reasonable rates without mandatory gratuities added. I dined at La Cucina and the Tex-Mex specialty restaurants at no extra charge. I looked forward to lobster and prime ribs in the main dining room at no extra charge. A la carte dining was something uncomprehendable. I received room service 24 hours a day at no extra charge. I enjoyed an aft-facing balcony cabin at no extra charge. I enjoyed all the entertainment venues at no extra charge. I received VIP treatment from Hotel Directors like Klaus and Hugo. I felt the Dawn class ships were the ideal size especially embarking and debarking.

NCL today is almost unrecognizable from my early NCL experiences. Cruising was once touted as a bargain vacation with everything included at no extra charge. Sadly, those days appear to be gone forever and so am I. I will always treasure fond memories of many days on NCL but the current situation on NCL holds no attraction for me at all. Bon voyage.

You can now add the new surprise Margaritaville a la carte charge to my list of what some people still consider "welcome change?"

Ditto steelmagnolia9

 

Is it possible there is no desirable alternative? It appears that all the cruise lines are in a competition to increase ship size and profits. How long before the bubble bursts? After almost 100 cruises on six different cruise lines, the cost has become prohibitive. Been there, done that, at much lower prices. I can get much better meals at far better prices without leaving home. I don't need the overcrowded ship's pools because I can bike to swim a half mile every morning in an Olympic size pool at my local "Y". The beaches on Long Island rival those in the Caribbean. The cost of a single cruise can buy a lot of prime ribs and lobster for a year without leaving home.

CORRECTION: i misspoke - there is no way I could have taken 100 cruises. I have spent over 100 days on cruise ships, and I enjoyed every one of them. Sorry about that.

The "I have cruised 100 times" is reason for giving it up I would think. The rest of his comments, are a little out of whack, but if he really feels he can get a good meal at a lower price at home, let him eat at home. If he thinks biking to the Y pool for a swim is the same as enjoying the fresh ocean breezes and having lunch or a drink out by the pool is the same thing, he really has an unusual outlook on things.

I can enjoy a good meal with the ocean breezes within 15 minutes of my home and I don't need an overpriced drink to help me digest my food. I also burn a lot more calories swimming 32 laps in my local pool than trying to avoid people in a crowded ship's pool. If I lived in New Mexico, I would have to go on a cruise to seek these simple pleasures?

Dolphins still has not told us about the alternative being chosen, or is this another one of those complain and ignore?

Ditto steelmagnolia9

Is it possible there is no desirable alternative? It appears that all the cruise lines are in a competition to increase ship size and profits. How long before the bubble bursts? After almost 100 cruises on six different cruise lines, the cost has become prohibitive. Been there, done that, at much lower prices. I can get much better meals at far better prices without leaving home. I don't need the overcrowded ship's pools because I can bike to swim a half mile every morning in an Olympic size pool at my local "Y". The beaches on Long Island rival those in the Caribbean. The cost of a single cruise can buy a lot of prime ribs and lobster for a year without leaving home.

I never get the point of these threads. (not just on cruise critic either. I have seen them on flyertalk about various airlines and hotels and even photography message boards). Why one feels the need to announce to the world they are taking their {insert cruise line, hotel, airline etc etc etc} business elsewhere is beyond me. Maybe it is the Facebook effect, where people feel the need to tell everyone about everything in their life.

The point of my original post was to enlighten cruisers on how much increased costs the cruise lines have dumped on us in recent years. They will continue to nickel and dime us until we finally say enough! I am especially amused by those who consider paying for something they once received at no extra charge "welcome change?"

I have been a frequent NCL Platinum cruiser since NCL started cruising year round out of New York. I have always applauded the innovations of NCL like Freestyle Dining and having the courage to sail year round out of New York. My introduction to NCL was on the Norwegian Dawn and I have wonderful memories of that ship. I enjoyed dining at Cagney's and Le Bistro at reasonable rates without mandatory gratuities added. I dined at La Cucina and the Tex-Mex specialty restaurants at no extra charge. I looked forward to lobster and prime ribs in the main dining room at no extra charge. A la carte dining was something uncomprehendable. I received room service 24 hours a day at no extra charge. I enjoyed an aft-facing balcony cabin at no extra charge. I enjoyed all the entertainment venues at no extra charge. I received VIP treatment from Hotel Directors like Klaus and Hugo. I felt the Dawn class ships were the ideal size especially embarking and debarking.

NCL today is almost unrecognizable from my early NCL experiences. Cruising was once touted as a bargain vacation with everything included at no extra charge. Sadly, those days appear to be gone forever and so am I. I will always treasure fond memories of many days on NCL but the current situation on NCL holds no attraction for me at all. Bon voyage.

We sailed the Norwegian Jade on a Norway cruise. Similar to NCL's other Jewel class ships, the perfect size for us. Had a great cruise but then we have enjoyed all our NCL cruises.

Since NCL was the first cruise line to sail year round out of New York, those cruises have been very popular. What they need are ships with year round swimming pools like the 24 hour indoor pools on Princess, the solarium pools on Royal Caribbean or the retractable roof swimming pools on HAL. Such ships are needed for their winter Caribbean cruises and their fall Canada cruises out of New York.

Those of us planning to sail on NCL should be especially generous to the staff we encounter from the Philippines. They have always provided us with friendly, efficient and caring service. They have earned out support during these difficult times. I will be looking closer for the Philippines flag on the employee badges on my coming NCL cruise.

I think life guards are most useful on beaches where natural dangers are harder to predict, rip currents, waves, tides, sudden drops in the sand, what not.

 

On a well controlled environment such as a tiny pool on a crowded ship, the benefit is marginal ... IF not offset by making passengers, especially parents less vigilant.

I totally agree with your opinion. The best lifeguard for a child is a responsible parent who doesn't have to worry about all the other children.

They took away all the foods I always order and raised the price $5 bucks

Oysters Rockerfeller, chopped salad, crab cakes , lobster bisque and Prime Rib no longer eating there for dinner

 

Suzanne

My Sentiments Exactly.

After many Caribbean cruises, I often enjoy staying on board during port stays. No long walks on the concrete pier in the hot sun, no traffic to crowded beaches, no jellyfish, sea urchins or sharks to worry about in the empty pool. As you get older, the ship becomes more attractive on port days when you can relax in a nice lounge chair instead of laying on your towel in the sand. Lots more to do and eat on a ship than at a weeks stay in a Caribbean hotel. Plus the money you save on excursions can be spent in one of the specialty restaurants.

Ariel Jacobe is performing in Gatsby's most nights, and he is fantastic. He can recall just about any song, and he's an engaging performer.

I totally agree, Ariel is very talented. I have always been impressed by the various pianists who have performed in the lounges of NCL ships. Consider yourself fortunate if one of the following is onboard your cruise- Vladimir Krevian, Fabrizio Caligaris, Pamala Stanley, Bernie Martini and of course Ariel.

Our favorite soup is also served at LeBistro. Have you every tried their superb Bouillabaise soup? To die for.

After many cruises on NCL, we have always felt that their lounge pianists were always first rate. That elite group must include Pamala Stanley, Vladimir Krevian, Fabrizio Caligaris, Ariel Jacobe and Bernie Martini. Very talented keyboard artists and vocalists.

In the atrium, we have always enjoyed Patti and Jose. Finally, we especially miss a family quartet from the Philippines Anna Y Los Vientos. They performed on the Dawn when it began sailing out of New York and introduced us to NCL. Anna was the vocalist and her husband and his two brothers played guitar. Does anybody know where they are now?

There isn't a good dessert on Norwegian. Although the bread pudding at the buffet is really tasty.

The banana-cream pie with macadamia nut ice cream in Cagney's is outstanding.

When we first sailed on the Dawn out of New York, Anna Y Los Vientos were performing nightly in the atrium. Anna was the vocalist and her husband and his two brothers were on guitars. They were outstanding but no longer on NCL. I really miss them.

Another standout performer in Gatsby's lounge on the Dawn was vocal and keyboard artist Pamala Stanley. Hope to see her back on NCL before too long.

Finally, NCL has always had the best pianists performing on their ships. I consider it a real bonus for any NCL cruise if at least one of the following musicians is on board: Ariel Jacobbe, Vladimir Krevian, Fabrizio Caligaris and Bernie Martini. On a recent NCL cruise, I enjoyed a feast of riches as Ariel, Vladimir and Fabrizio were all on board at the same time. How lucky can I get?