littlelulu01

my fare for Europe 2016 14 night had not increased and I successfully added an additional perk.

Good luck and, if it means anything, I think you are doing the right thing.

Thanks. I'm not in the mode to seek changes of an industry. Just a mom and a wife who loves to travel, get good deals and enjoy vacations. When I saw that Haven spa suite for that price I was ecstatic. The perks were incredible too!

I am a bargain hunter when it comes to travel. Have to be with two kids in college now. We are still able to fly transatlantic in first or business because I plan ahead for mileage fares.

I see no harm in my travel planning ahead for the best deals and only wanted NCL to hold their end of the bargain. I would love it for NCL to read my posts, realize I'm not just giving up and just simply offer me a price protect alternative for the date I want. I have no desire to be going through the AG BBB and department of agriculture. It was a last resort to do so. Kim

Sometimes people just want to talk, to share information and haven't asked for advice. Doesn't mean they can't discuss it, and share it. LWA strikes again.

Yes. The title of this particular thread is about raising prices. Can't think of a more appropriate thread to post my experience, concerns and predicament.

NCL has decided to raise prices. How they did it with the redeployment is of great pertinence.

NCL did nothing except determine my haven suite could be sold to someone else for a considerable amount more. They should have let me book a similar date for a replacement but they also decided that was not going to be profitable enough for them. Yes that's a problem for me and if they did it to everyone else currently booked it would be a really big problem.

How customers were treated is of great significance when discussing how a company goes about making more $.

I think many others would like to know what can happen if your cruise is cancelled. I was easily able to find out the other lines do not treat cancelled passengers as poorly as NCL does.

If I remember correctly, you were contacting the BBB with regard to your issue, what was their response and advice to you?

I did contact the BBB. They're a resolution option however has no actual authority to enforce anything. Kathryn Tannon from Ncl's resolution department is the person I've been dealing with on this issue for months. She responded and contends that offering me price protect for a similar sailing date would be like granting me a complementary upgrade and said this is not forthcoming.

Since I got nowhere with ms. Tannon I have since turned it into the Florida AG. They seem to be much more interested in investigating my allegations of bait and switch. It's currently under investigation for this with the consumer fraud department and also has been turned into the department of agriculture, I have no idea why, but also the ftc. Nothing really else yet except requests for copies of my booking emails, date of sale which was August 1st. Cancellation letter from NCL on August 3rd and my new invoice on comparative dates. Who knows if anything will come of it.

Bottom line is that yes NCL should raise prices if they want to provide a better product. If redeployment is going to benefit their bottom line that's great too. Just don't sell me something one day and take it away the next day and tell me I now need to pay more for a similar product. Their contract does not superseded Florida law. I wanted NCL to step up and do the right thing on their own. They would not. Now it's up to the Florida AG and the FTC to determine who is right.

I thought long and hard about this prior to going to the bbb and AG. I have never done that before and feel I am a reasonable person not asking for a free handout. In the end I did what I felt the reasonable consumer would do.

Obviously they didn't think it was news worth and they are the one who decides what is important enough to report, not you or not me. Sorry, it happened to you, but I'm at the looking on the bright side, there are a lot of new itineraries for those who have had an issue cruising the same itineraries over and over again, not to mention not everyone was left in your position having to pay twice the price. A cruise line has to evolve to stay in business.

A cruise line does need to evolve to stay in business and the new itineraries, refurbished ships, better food quality are all great ways to do it. I totally understand that in order to deliver a better product prices will need to be raised. I'm not against any of that. It's how it's been done that I have a problem with. I'm by no means the only one who objected to the way I was sold a cruise and then told if I wanted a similar date and similar sailing I would have to pay twice the price. Most would have a really big problem with that. People have a big problem with needing to pay a few extra $ for a meal that was previously included or a room service fee of a couple $ that was not in place when they purchased their cruise. Can you even imagine the problem they would have if collectively NCL did to many, not all, of the redeployment passengers?

Probably because the news media doesn't feel that it is an issue that they feel is news worthy, since all cruise lines change itineraries and cancel cruises. If they were going to report on anything, I think it would be that NCL has opened up some new cruise itineraries, now that is news worthy.

What they did with the redeployment was newsworthy. How they compensated displaced passengers was evidently not. And they are the only line who has on a massive scale, sold and advertised cruises up till the day before redeployment, taken customers $, and then told them the following day they can no longer have what they just bought but can have something similar for twice the price.

I just purposely book just for the ship and most of the basic amenities along the week(s) I want to take off and hopefully the cruise ship will do the itinerary I like. Sometimes the weather or whatever just wrecks the even the most simplest of plans. [emoji18] Doesn't matter which line - it just happens, plus their contacts covers them too. [emoji10]

 

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I think all mainstream lines have a reputation of nickel and diming to an extent. That is not new and won't be going away anytime soon. Some more than others. NCL does stand out this past year in the top of the heap with all the confusing changes and add ons.

What really gets me though and I've not seen much press about it, is their long standing practice of canceling cruises and what they typically offer cancelled guests when they do it. All lines cancel and redeploy ships. All lines have problems with port times, itinerary changes... And I'm not taking about those things.

All lines have very one sided contracts that offer the consumer zero protection when they want to cancel your cruise. Where NCL stands out is in how they typically handle these changes. The biggest redeployment in mainstream cruise line history occurred with NCL in August. They took deposits, advertised and sold their products up till the day prior to canceling 1/3 of the fleet's itineraries. Many of those booked were not given a viable replacement option. They simply told me and thousands of other passengers that the cruise I just paid for was canceled. If I still wanted to purchase a similar cruise on those dates I now needed to pay more than double for a cruise on a similar date. The compensation? $50 obc for non suite and $100 obc for a suite on replacement booking. Yes some passengers were given price protect for a similar sailing and similar date but many more were not.

No other line has given such a paltry alternative and all other lines have been willing to work with customers, I'm sure in fear of bait and switch investigations. NCL however simply stands behind their contract and followed through with their new prices while discarding the passengers who they had previously sold the rooms to for a fraction of the cost.

There's really nothing out there about this practice and the fact that NCL just got away with a massive dumping of passengers who had recently purchased their dream vacations. There's a few 20 plus pages on these boards about it when it happened and that's it.

The customer should know that when NCL cancels a cruise of theirs that they will do far less for them than any other line. That's a big deal when looking into booking a big Europe trip or a vacation that requires advance planning. If that cruise cancellation is on any other mainstream line the company will step up and rebook on a valid alternative sailing along with offering a meaningful obc. If it's NCL there's a very good chance they'll give you $50 obc and the chance to pay twice the price for the new sailing on similar dates.

That's exactly the one that has annoyed me. It is the exact opposite of conversations I have had with him.

 

It's absolutely true that FDR is trying to raise revenue and profit. That's his job; he's appointed by a Board of Directors that represent the shareholders. Like a football coach who's job hinges on winning, any CEO may be replaced if shareholders suffer.

 

The method he's using to increase revenue is to slowly but steadily increase what he perceives as value. Food will be better, the ship decor will be more modern, even art will be more tasteful. Some folks here haves disparaged linens and such, but I for one appreciate softer towels and more comfortable beds. I'm also willing to pay a little more to dine on fine china and crystal glassware, but enough people are not that I don't expect much in those areas.

 

The procedures so far have been a little clumsy. It's not a good thing to change things for folks beyond final payment, and there should have been more notice and explanation of some changes. In my personal experience, these are not moves FDR would not personally promote. I suspect they are, like the knee jerk incident to ban taking food to one's stateroom, to be attempts to please the new "boss" without knowing him well. I detect his hand in correcting those bloopers.

 

But, things will even out as his message is better understood by NCL staff. Will all guests be happy? Of course not; there is always an element that resists change of any sort. For example, those who sailed long ago when there was actually lobster being served resent it being gone, and perversely resent even more that it's now available with a charge that justifies the return. But, there will be even more who do appreciate the "new" NCL.

 

Right now, there is an entire universe of folks who won't sail NCL. Why go down a notch from HAL, Celebrity, Princess, Disney, etc.? Bring NCL up to their level, and start stealing their guests. Read their forums; there are significant numbers who want to dump them, too! Opens up a whole new world!

 

The whole world runs on the basis of those who pay more, get more. If one wants lobster for "free", pay more to sail on Oceania and have a lobster tail and filet sandwich every day for lunch at the pool grill, and have freshly grilled lobster tails every night at the grill-to-order station in the buffet, along with whole lobsters in several of the no-fee specialty restaurants for no additional charge.

You might be right but there's also a whole level of customers untapped who simply won't sail on an NCL ship because of perceived nickel and diming.

The difference now is that NCL is now the same price as the HAL cruises I look at. Hal gives us a better included dining experience a covered pool with padded loungers, and is going in the direction of less stuffy. They include little things like conditioner in all staterooms not just suites and are upping the suite experience and entertainment options.

NCL does seem willing to discard the passengers they displace with their increased fees, prices, cancelled cruises, redeployed 1/3 of the fleet in order to sell the rooms for more. At the moment it's working because travel in general is way up.

The decision to redeploy 1/3 of the fleet is a huge gamble. They may be able to fill those ships during this travel boom but it could just as easily really bite them knowing they kicked thousands of booked and paid passengers to the curb in order to potentially sell to the two birds in the bush for more $. They did successfully get to discard the huge perk packages given on those sailings when they canceled but they now have a ton of rooms to fill at the higher priced new model and they lost a pretty large customer base with that unprecedented move. I guess we shall know in the next two years if it paid off. If that gamble pays off for NCL I would say Del Rio is genius. If he has to dump the prices on those redeployed ships he will have lost the company a lot of $ and also lost all the thousands of customers he canceled on in order to sell their rooms for more $. He has done an industry first but it's yet to be seen if it will pay off. It sure didn't with me.

I still have one NCL cruise booked and am really looking forward to it but sadly the cruise line that brought our family back to the love of cruise vacations is also the one I'm least likely to book in the future.

I agree with your analysis. I also believe if the myriad of changes were actually properly communicated, grandfathered in where possible and put on the website as the changes were made, there would be a lot less dissention.

Couldn't agree more. There was certainly a big shift in negative chatter over the last year. It creates a level of distrust even in something as simple as a DSC. I never questioned it and loved the premise of a DSC that took care of everything except a bar tip, spa service tip or kids club, conceriege or butler tip. Then with the increase in DSC along with the 18% add on for speciality dining, and then a couple more DSC increases I was left thinking wait a minute. That's either a heck of a raise or my DSC isn't really solely for staff benefit. Then retroactive they take speciality servers out of the DSC explanation, which if truly done would just be yet another raise for the DSC employees. Someone like me who was formerly happy to pay the DSC and give a server or my steward a little extra for exemplary service is now left wondering what happens to the DSC vs gladly paying it. It is not enough for most to stop paying the DSC but it was certainly enough of an issue that they had to institute the new method of DSC removal. People didn't all of a sudden become unwilling to provide a gratuity, they simply started not believing all those increases were for the sole benefit of increasing staff pay. But all of these little increases in of themselves don't do really anything to stop the engine of increased consumer travel on NCL. They seem to be quite strange ways of increasing profit but its working for them and other lines. Just does not sit well with customers trust level in the company. If they push too far there will be a backlash and people will switch to land based vacations or other lines.

NCL is really just mirroring the industry wide travel both land based and cruises. People are willing to pay more for vacations today so the industry is raising prices. If demand comes down you bet the prices of the stateroom will do the same. Not really rocket science nor does it make Del Rio some CEO genius. I think NCL borders on the fringes of ethical and legal sales tactics but in the end that's the cruise industry take it or leave it with NCL offering passengers a quality vacation for most onboard. They are simply the worst industry wide for what they do for passengers when they cancel cruises, charter ships, redeply their fleet. Many people would never dream of a cruise simply because of what they hear about the industry in general. Some won't because of of extreme nickel and dime fears. But obviously enough are currently happily paying the fares and having a good vacation with NCL and Disney and carnival... And all the lines are doing well. The lines that will survive long term will be the lines who make the best name for themselves right now when it's gravy days for all no matter who their CEO is and what their business practices are.

Those of us who could travel well post 911, during the recession .... Are not happy about today's prices and some not willing to pay them. I can not justify spending over 1k per night for a Haven Suite. It's too tough a pill for me to swallow after years of luxury travel at a fraction of the cost. Gone also for me are the days of the beachfront villa at the Fairmont Kea Lani. I've been replaced by the traveler who is willing to pay those prices. I've been sent down to the cheep seats but I'm learning to be ok with that.

I do wish NCL would correctly describe their changes on their website though. Seems like sometimes they try to and other times changes are a mess which leads to negative Internet chatter and misinformation.

If you google search there is a couple of videos of these aft ph's. Will give you a good idea of the room. I think they have been redecorated since then. We had this stateroom booked for a Europe cruise but had to cancel. It looks very similar to the Haven suite we had on the Pearl. I was so looking forward to this room and read everything I could on it. That stairway up to the aft pool area looks like an easy way to run up for a hot tub but you'll also have that great balcony and a jacuzzi tub in your room overlooking the sea. Sounds like bliss to me. Enjoy your cruise.

You got a very good perk package. They offered that I think in August and although they offered some very good perk packages earlier in the year too, the August offer rivaled the best perks for two persons in a suite. Congrats on a great package and have fun.

First...Considering the amount of bashing that goes on in this forum because of misinformed phone reps, I'd hardly think that they would be any sort of an accurate source, no?

 

Second...There is a HUGE difference between "NCL said...." and "some poster on another thread claimed that a phone rep said...", right?

 

Lastly, and again...the post I quoted back at post 84 stated that NCL said that the Specialty Restaurant Staff was not included. All I've asked for is a link to where NCL made that statement. All I've gotten so far is innuendo, he said-she said, supposition, and guessing. I'm guessing that NCL never really made that statement, yet for some reason nobody wants to simply say "Nope, NCL never did actually say that".

least we forget that regardless what NCL, "says" or "doesn't say," they can and do, according to their contract, change what the customer purchased to what they get at any time. So whatever they, "said" today or any day on their website doesn't mean they will not change terms and conditions prior to sail. That is a fact. It all boils down to acceptance of this fact or choosing a different cruise line. Trying to defend them for not, "saying" speciality dining staff is not included in DSC is really quite pointless and just gets the thread off track, which it seems you have a motive to accomplish.

First, they are not providing an inclusive list of who benefits from the DSC.

 

Some people could be upset the certain servers benefit from both the DSC and a mandatory 18% gratuity. Removing the words "specialty restaurant staff" from the FAQ heads off the argument. What it does not do is state that they are excluded from the DSC...something NCL has never stated.

 

If they have, I'd love to have the link.

Is it more palatable to think of a DSC service charge on top of a 18% service charge? If so more power to you. Sounds like a brilliant plan. Order a decent cut of meat that was free last week in MDR and feel oh so good that this week it's a $15 up charge with a likely 18% gratuity tacked on.

My personal fear is the cafeteria will become a madhouse. A fight for hot dogs with nowhere to eat unless standing.

The link you provide lists some crew members that the service charge INCLUDES. It does not indicate that these are the ONLY crew members covered, nor does it state that specialty restaurant staff are not covered (excluded).

 

If I say "a group of people including people that I work with are going on a cruise together", am I saying that everyone in the group is someone I work with?

 

My question, was when/where was it ever stated that they were not covered, still stands.

Prior to adding 18% for speciality the DSC explanation on ncl website read all restaurant servers. They added 18% on speciality dining and specifically changed the wording to read complementary dining venues. If they are still included in DSC why did they specifically remove them from DSC explanation?

There was a lady that cruised 6 or 8 months out of the year on Crystal Cruises in a suite. She did say that she didn't pay the going rate, since she was there for months straight, but I doubt what she paid was less than what a care home would cost.

For sailing that long you'd miss dental cleaning and probably a health check. Perhaps she had no teeth. Someone asks you what you did in port and you say got my teeth cleaned instead of the Vatican tour.

Our last HAL cruise had many passengers onboard for the long haul. I loved listening to their travel tales. You could spot them at meals because they ordered things like oatmeal and fruit vs steak and eggs. Would need some sort of restraint sailing that long unless I wanted to be rolled off the ship. Those long haulers also seemed to be working out more faithfully. They knew all the great deck and public spaces like sheltered areas with the comfy teak padded loungers with no wind. The servers knew them too and would just bring them their preferred drinks and snacks without even asking. Not a bad gig.

I sailed the Jade two weeks and didn't want to leave. Would sail a Much longer journey if I was retired. Would be great to plan last minute inside stateroom on a ship with nice public areas such as covered dome pool... I check prices on those sailings and they do come down. Key would be flexible schedule, book separate segments and inside stateroom.

I think I would have to not only be retired but also downsized living wise. We were in Europe for a month in 2012 (land based)and came home to a flooded basement. We had contractors working on the house and landscapers busted a pipe. No one knew for a few days so it was a huge mess. I guess that sort of thing could happen even in a condo but less likely.

Wondering how that works with the DSC. If 18% is added to up charge MDR items and you order up charge MDR items then it would be essentially the same as speciality dining where your DSC is not covered for the speciality servers. So then DSC coverage is for room steward, cafeteria and not mdr? Will be interesting to see if they add up charge items available in the buffet, etc. with an 18% charge. The DSC issue will take on a whole new light. I really can see it coming down to DSC just being a mandatory fee with mandatory gratuities added for everything from room stewards to the bag delivery. At that point the description of what DSC is used for will be for god only knows what.

You may be able to use in the main dining room. It's a free dining room but they just added up charges for prime rib and some other items. The up charge is $14.95 per person for prime rib. It's a 16 oz cut. Not sure if its a better grade than what they previously served for free but the previous free mdr prime rib was very good and I would say 16 oz portion.

If you dine in speciality restaurant you will be charged 18% gratuity because the servers there don't partake in the DSC but the MDR servers do partake in DSC so in theory you don't need to pay 18% on orders there. Typically though as they add on charges and fees they make up new rules around them so don't bank on ability to use in this manner, have 18% omitted for a MDR up charge item.

If the $50 dining credit can be used in MDR you could order prime rib 3 nights and have partner order a free MDR item/ share. Another option is surf and turf in MDR for $24.95 so worth two orders.

Idk if the dining credit can be used this way either but wonder if you can use for room service $7.95 charge?

On the Jade this summer in the MDR they served beautiful huge cuts of prime rib. No charge. A couple years ago on the Pearl they served good sized lobster tails in MDR no charge. We know for a fact the lobster tails are no longer free. I assume the better meat cuts will go the same route as the lobster in MDR. Only this time with a twist, you can still get if you pay.

Wonder if someone had the $50 dining credit for inside stateroom if that can be used. You could stretch out over two or three meals with one person getting an up charge item and other get free meal and sharing.

You are one flight down from garden cafe/great outdoors. The back of garden cafe on the jade has coffee set up early am which is convenient. It's easy to reach from your location because you are entering from the back of the cafe. The forward entrance to garden cafe is roped off when closed. You can also go straight down stairs to deck seven and get outside for a walk on promenade deck. I've been inside stateroom on deck 10 aft on the pearl/sister ship and its not bad. Felt a little vibration pulling into port which was not bothersome. Kind of a wake up call/notification that you've arrived somewhere. You can also use the elevators but pretty quick jaunt up or down stairs to get somewhere outside. I don't think those spaces you see are any secret access. Probably storage but I could be wrong.

so with the two promos (is this on any sailing?) can you add two dining packages if you have 4 in a room???

Probably good on your breakaway but not your getaway sailing. Promo applied to first two in stateroom so probably can't get two spd promos but you can ask. You might be able to get on escape too if outside final payment

I've read accounts on here of it happening but since you are not allowed to mention ta it's anyone's guess who those ta's are.

Seems like most accounts I've read though are with people booked direct with NCL who get a lucky call or initiate a call asking for an up sell. If booked with a ta they own your booking so they need to call for you regarding any changes.

I mainly used a big box ta in the past but am now booked directly with NCL. Big box c used to give a better price, generous obc and special pricing on travel guard ins. I don't see the huge obc anymore and prices are same as NCL. They also don't have the deal with travel guard so not worth it to have a middle man for me.

It was quite frustrating dealing with the massive cruise cancellation/redeployment of over 1/3 of the fleet this summer. I felt like the ta did nothing to help me, notified me days after cruise cancelled... I guess after that I decided to be my own advocate and deal with NCL directly for potential upgrades, upsell or some really big mess like this summer.

So i literally just booked and paid for my cruise yesterday, but it leaves Nov. 29. I'm assuming this wouldn't be eligible for the second promotion because it's so close to the cruise time?

 

Thanks everyone!

I would call them right away. They have a best price guarantee but it doesn't apply to Guarantee rates. NCL rep just gave me a perk that was added the day after I purchased a cruise a few years ago. I did have a Guarantee Rate but they gave it to me anyways. If you get a no call back. If you end up having to fill out the form and have a Guarantee Rate your request will be reviewed and denied. Mine was but the rep had given me the new perk in the meantime. Good luck. The sooner you call the better your odds.

Hi everyone

 

Sorry if I sound silly but I'm a newbie.

 

I booked last week for a 7 night cruise on the Jade in June 2016. I got a free soda package for DH and I with the booking.

 

I would love to get the drinks package that includes alcohol. With these new offers is there any way I get get this?

 

Thanks in advance x

Not unless you sail before May 1st. I am on a similar sailing. The website has been amended to reflect it was never an option. So you didn't miss out on anything. Keep an eye out though. You are a ways away and something may come up. It never hurts to call them and check when you see a sale you might benefit from.