First Class vs Second cruising on NCL

[Zimomiller]

NCL has recreated First class vs Second class and applied it to cruising and no one seems to be focusing on that point in all the teeth nashing over additional fees.

 

NCL had already paved the first class vs steerage class trail with the neutering of food quality and service in the main dining rooms. Excellent service and terrific food used to be the norm. Now, you have to pay extra for it by going to an up charge restaurant. This is not a matter of perception, it is a fact. I have been cruising for 26 year and things have changed radically. Other cruise lines are following.

 

Most of the newer NCL ships have first class courtyards and the Epic does as well, but with a much larger space devoted to First Class.(ie the courtyard area and suites with courtyard access)

 

Now NCL is taking it a step further on Epic by having a whole area of the ship that is Posh class? Ice Bar class? It appears everyone pays to get in to these venues, thus, up charging those already up charged into First class.

 

Where will it all stop? Until people make their voices heard by voting with their spending habits, you can expect NCL and other cruise lines to continue to behave like the airlines and unbundle everything and add a price tag to it. They are already doing it with “special” events on board, jazz brunches, special ethnic dinners etc. They are constantly pushing the envelope. (and expecting you to fill it)

 

I personally find this to be a disturbing trend and it will cause me to rethink how and where I spend my cruise $$.

[JohnIreland]

Shocking news.

 

People who pay more get bigger cabin and better service.

 

In other news an inside cabin costs the same today as it did 20 years ago for the same cruise.

[ukbecky]

There are lines that provide a way-it-used-to-be experience and then there are the mass markets.

 

NCL has found a niche providing both kinds of experience on the same ship.

 

It will "stop" when it stops making money. Right now it seems to be working for them and I applaud them.

 

I am free to choose another line if it bothers me.

[mbisson]

I personally find this to be a disturbing trend and it will cause me to rethink how and where I spend my cruise $$.

 

Always a good idea to think about how someone spends their $

 

But to me, it's more important what I get for my $ than what someone else gets for theirs.

 

As my momma always said "don't cut off your own nose to spite your face"

 

I've been in the CourtYard, and I've been in an inside on deck 4...and didn't feel 2nd class

[OKCThunder]

You pay for the Pinto you get the Pinto, you pay for the Beamer you get the Beamer, I dont know where the problem is.

[Toyz711]

i don't get it, either. got to fly 1st class a couple of times, loved it. but it was free upgrades and i wouldn't pay for it (even thought it really is great) heck, on flights they won't let the "regular" people even peek into the 1st class section...got to keep that curtain closed. at least on NCL the 2 classes can mingle.

 

you want to see the class system in action, come to my casino and compare 3 class systems...regular guest, VIPs and extra-special VIPs.

[LOWTYD]

The specialty dining venues are open to everyone so an inside foward bunk on deck 4 can make reservations as well as the GV folks. They aren't keeping anyone out. It's a choice, not a class.

They don't have dining rooms sorted by class anymore. Those who pay the extra for upscale staterooms are paying extra for the perks. I can't afford a GV and I'm not complaing. I'm on a cruise. I'm going to to the same place they are. They may get to shore faster with priorty tendering but I'm not far behind. Plus , I have a picky eater for DH so I don't get to cook a lot of variety at home so I might as well enjoy it. I think the food in the MDR is just fine. (It's keeps me alive! :rolleyes: ) But that is just my own opinion and I know that varies between cruisers.

As said earlier, as long as people will pay, then the adds on will keep on coming.

[Sooners]

Always a good idea to think about how someone spends their $

 

But to me, it's more important what I get for my $ than what someone else gets for theirs.

 

As my momma always said "don't cut off your own nose to spite your face"

 

I've been in the CourtYard, and I've been in an inside on deck 4...and didn't feel 2nd class

 

Your momma was a smart lady.:D

[iheartbda]

Yawn.......sigh.

[cruiseman111111]

When Aloha AL went BK, we had to rebook on Hawaiian AL and only 1st was available.

 

1st was amazing, truely amazing, I felt like a millionare, well I guess I am, but I didn't get there by spending too much, and living fairly frugally.

[Why Knot Me]

I too do not see where the problem is.

 

My suggestion would be for you to cancel your Epic cruise and make room for someone who doesn't share your concern. Maybe an all inclusive resort better fits your idea of a no class system, but then there's first class air to get there, and the baggage charge, and if you want a sandwich, you'll have to pay for it too.

[cynbar]

Personally, I don't mind the a la carte price structure at all ---- it allows me the choice to only pay for what I want and use. I don't drink any soda, for example, so I would not like my cruise fare to go up with soda included. I don't see all this as a class issue, I see it as an option for everyone. Use the specialty restaurants as you choose, but give the option of the regular DR for those who think that's fine --- in other words, the way NCL is doing it now.

[Azure Moon]

I hadn't felt like a second class passenger until they took the coffee makers out of the inside and ocean view cabins. :(

 

I don't know why I feel like this as I've never used the in-room coffee maker in hotels or on cruises, but my mother does and so do lots of other people. I guess because they were removed rather than simply not being replaced as they stopped working over time. Maybe because, as others mentioned when it happened, even cheap hotels provide coffee makers in the room. :confused:

 

On our cruises we've always been treated well, and on NCL even the officers have approached us and been very kind :cool:. So I'm hoping the sting I feel about the removal of coffee makers will be minimized or disappear if the interactions with the crew, staff, and officers continues to be good.

 

As to having to go to the pay restaurants to get decent food, that has not been our experience on NCL. The food in the pay restaurants, at least to me, is the same quality as in the main dining rooms. I go to the pay restaurants on NCL for better service (not to say we haven't had good service in the main dining rooms, because we have) but the service is more consistant and more attentive. Also, I like seeing the different rooms and the additional variety of food choices. But we don't feel we have to go to these restaurants, we want to go.

 

You brought up the Jazz Brunch. My husband and I went to it once. I loved it and would do it again. My husband thought it was okay, but not worth the $15, so isn't eager to do it again. I may have to go by myself :p.

 

[swedish weave]

Something is missing !!! Where are all the rabble rousers who like to jump in and accuse us of "flaming" the poor OP. Deafening silence, and I like it !!

 

I will continue to take my $$ to NCL.

[mpk218]

Well , Let them eat cake ...;)

[sjbdtz]

NCL has recreated First class vs Second class and applied it to cruising and no one seems to be focusing on that point in all the teeth nashing over additional fees.

 

NCL had already paved the first class vs steerage class trail with the neutering of food quality and service in the main dining rooms. Excellent service and terrific food used to be the norm. Now, you have to pay extra for it by going to an up charge restaurant. This is not a matter of perception, it is a fact. I have been cruising for 26 year and things have changed radically. Other cruise lines are following.

 

Most of the newer NCL ships have first class courtyards and the Epic does as well, but with a much larger space devoted to First Class.(ie the courtyard area and suites with courtyard access)

 

Now NCL is taking it a step further on Epic by having a whole area of the ship that is Posh class? Ice Bar class? It appears everyone pays to get in to these venues, thus, up charging those already up charged into First class.

 

Where will it all stop? Until people make their voices heard by voting with their spending habits, you can expect NCL and other cruise lines to continue to behave like the airlines and unbundle everything and add a price tag to it. They are already doing it with “special” events on board, jazz brunches, special ethnic dinners etc. They are constantly pushing the envelope. (and expecting you to fill it)

 

I personally find this to be a disturbing trend and it will cause me to rethink how and where I spend my cruise $$.

 

I'm glad that I can enjoy an upscale experience without having to go with a cruiseline which doesn't have the amenities, service, attitude, and responsiveness that I've come to enjoy with NCL.

 

I can have an upscale experience on itineraries where I want one (like 6 days at sea), or an inside cabin when every day is a port day.

 

As for the 'cover charges', I believe I read/heard that the cover charges include drinks....so it's really a '2 drink minimum' although it's a fixed rate no matter what you drink.

 

Sounds fine by me. I doubt I'll stop by at Posh.....but the ice bar may be fun.

 

I'm considered Super Elite at my airline, and let me ASSURE you there are multiple classes in the way they treat us. I'm also Diamond at Hilton (both because I'm brand-loyal, and travel a lot for work) and they also have tiered benefits.

 

As for the main dining rooms, the food quality changes are not 'fact', they're opinion.

[mpk218]

Did anyone one ever mention the little red lite in the suites . If theres an emergency on the ship this red lite blinks to alert suite passengers to go to their life boat station immediately . Then the general alarm sounds 5 minutes latter. I always thought is was so cute :p

[MRDIAL]

I've never cruised with NCL so I wondered about the first class/steerage concept. I did a comparison with a similar cruise on Holland America (same lower deck outside cabin and length of cruise) and found that the NCL was about $70.00 a night less expensive. To my mind, then, I can spend that on the extras that I want such as the specialty dining or a spa feature or a special gym class rather than have those things charged to me whether I use them or not. I have never had a coffee maker in my cabin on HAL, RCCL or Princess and I have never had free bubbly or cappucino, so let's compare apples to apples before we criticize. And, I do reserve the right to change this opinion once I've actually experienced the NCL "steerage". :D

[Sooners]

Did anyone one ever mention the little red lite in the suites . If theres an emergency on the ship this red lite blinks to alert suite passengers to go to their life boat station immediately . Then the general alarm sounds 5 minutes latter. I always thought is was so cute :p

 

ROTFLMA. Priority evacuation, NICE!:D

[swedish weave]

Did anyone one ever mention the little red lite in the suites . If theres an emergency on the ship this red lite blinks to alert suite passengers to go to their life boat station immediately . Then the general alarm sounds 5 minutes latter. I always thought is was so cute :p

 

They also get the life vests with batteries in the strobe light !!

[johnql]

I hadn't felt like a second class passenger until they took the coffee makers out of the inside and ocean view cabins. :(

I could be wrong but I was under the impression that they did this in order to minimize the chance of spreading the noro virus. I have read that the coffee makers are still available upon request. Just ask your steward if you want one.

[swedish weave]

I've never cruised with NCL so I wondered about the first class/steerage concept. I did a comparison with a similar cruise on Holland America (same lower deck outside cabin and length of cruise) and found that the NCL was about $70.00 a night less expensive. To my mind, then, I can spend that on the extras that I want such as the specialty dining or a spa feature or a special gym class rather than have those things charged to me whether I use them or not. I have never had a coffee maker in my cabin on HAL, RCCL or Princess and I have never had free bubbly or cappucino, so let's compare apples to apples before we criticize. And, I do reserve the right to change this opinion once I've actually experienced the NCL "steerage". :D

 

It is the required four hours daily rowing that accounts for the price difference, plus you have to wash your own dishes and towels:p:p Also, you don't get goodies from the yum-yum man.

[cruizinrican]

BHaahhhaaa! Now that's funny!

[mbisson]

I could be wrong but I was under the impression that they did this in order to minimize the chance of spreading the noro virus.

 

I still don't know for certain why they removed them, but if that's the reason, it appears that they don't care if the folks in balcony cabins & up get noro ;)

[swedish weave]

I still don't know for certain why they removed them, but if that's the reason, it appears that they don't care if the folks in balcony cabins & up get noro ;)

 

I am beginning to like this class system!:D