All Spinnakers in jeopardy?

[RichNY]

The Dawn will get the same treatment as the Star. There are no plans to modify the Jewel as of yet.

 

PE

 

Do you happen to know what they added on the Star ???

[fin]

With every single move they have made, NCL has moved further away from providing the cruise experience I began enjoying with them eight years ago. Removing quiet, attractive and pleasant open space in favor of crowding more people into the remaining space looks to me to be a short sighted focus on profit over providing a pleasant experience.

 

Whether it 'works' or not remains to be seen, I suppose. If their profit improves in a terrible economy, they may justly feel they have made wise decisions. But if they continue to lose old and loyal customers to other lines where it is less crowded and personal service remains paramount, how long will it be before they have used up the pool of first-time cruisers?

 

Or perhaps they are content to concentrate on an entirely new demographic, who consider the ocean and shipboard experience secondary to onboard sales, entertainment and port calls. I truly am saddened by the slow death of the 'old' days --- 8 or 9 years ago.

[hotwingshot]

They better not take out the Spinnakers. I will not be happy

[jdarch]

I have been on the Dawn 3 times and the Spinnaker lounge is one of my favorite areas. During the day I take my book up there and sit in the windows in one of those overstuffed loungers...get a mudslide...and I sit there for hours. My dh always knows where I am between 1 and 4. I walk in after the first day and my mudslide is being made before I sit down.:D It is my favorite thing to do on the Dawn...I love the Spinnaker lounge and will be very sad:confused:if it's gone.

[sunshine 229]

I don't see a class system on NCL at all. I pay for the type of cabin I choose, and eat the same food as those in higher and lower priced cabins. I enjoy the perks that come with Lattitudes status and with the type of cabin booked. The open areas of the ship are shared by all guests regardless of the cabin type they book.

 

I don't see a class system on NCL at all. I pay for the type of cabin I choose, and eat the same food as those in higher and lower priced cabins. I enjoy the perks that come with Lattitudes status and with the type of cabin booked. The open areas of the ship are shared by all guests regardless of the cabin type they book.[/quote]

 

May I just add: "The open areas of the ship ( which are becoming fewer and less appealing) are shared by all guests regardless of the cabin type they book."

Does NCL reserve certain seats in the theater or around the pool for suite guests or can everyone mingle freely throughout the theater and pool area regardless of the type of cabin booked?

[insidecabin]

I don't see a class system on NCL at all. I pay for the type of cabin I choose, and eat the same food as those in higher and lower priced cabins. I enjoy the perks that come with Lattitudes status and with the type of cabin booked. The open areas of the ship are shared by all guests regardless of the cabin type they book.

 

May I just add: "The open areas of the ship ( which are becoming fewer and less appealing) are shared by all guests regardless of the cabin type they book."

Does NCL reserve certain seats in the theater or around the pool for suite guests or can everyone mingle freely throughout the theater and pool area regardless of the type of cabin booked?

 

Obviously you have not explored the EPIC.

 

Suite guests have their own food bar and deck areas which are far superior to the rest of the ship.

 

It will be interesting to see the layouts of the two new ships since these will be a clue of where NCL is thinking.

[snorklinbarb]

Does anyone know how many cabins and their category's will be added to the Dawn and the Jewel..???

 

Hi Rich,

When we were on the Dawn repo the captain was telling our table that about 60 cabins would be added (if I heard correctly) - suites with "french balconies" and some inside cabins. That encompasses not only Spinnaker but the cinema and some conference rms as well.

 

For me, Spinnaker is about the wonderful views, those funky couches and chairs to get comfy in, another major entertainment/dance venue, a great place for parties and events, etc. Also sorry to see the cinema go.:(

 

Didn't hear the plans for the rest of the fleet (when they come up for drydock) but Dawn is for sure next up for conversion.:(

[RichNY]

Hi Rich' date='

When we were on the Dawn repo the captain was telling our table that about 60 cabins would be added (if I heard correctly) - suites with "french balconies" and some inside cabins. That encompasses not only Spinnaker but the cinema and some conference rooms as well.

 

For me, Spinnaker is about the wonderful views, those funky couches and chairs to get comfy in, another major entertainment/dance venue, a great place for parties and events, etc. Also sorry to see the cinema go.:(

 

Didn't hear the plans for the rest of the fleet (when they come up for drydock) but Dawn is for sure next up for conversion.:([/quote']

 

Barb thanks for sharing your knowledge..I thought you would know the answer..

 

60 cabins is a substantial increase. I was wondering how NCL would justify the cost, now I know..

 

We'll also miss the Spinnaker, its just a great place to hang out. Maybe you can get your hands on one of those funky couches...:rolleyes:

[Planer's Edge]

Do you happen to know what they added on the Star ???

On top of the cabins (28 suites and 18 insides) added in the area around Spinnaker. The cinema became conference rooms and the library stayed where it was. Everything (card/game room, lifestyle room, chapel, etc.) else in that area is gone

 

Spinnaker was moved to where the shops are.

 

The shops were moved to where the photo gallery and disco were.

 

The photo gallery was moved where Blue Lagoon was.

 

Blue Lagoon was move to the one half of the Tex Mex restaurant.

 

On another note, all this "hysteria" about Spinnakers being removed fleet wide is untrue as of right now. If you look at the structures of the Jewel class ships as compared to the Dawn class these type of changes would not work. And according to my sources there are no plans to even try to make these type of changes.

 

PE

[LOWTYD]

http://www2.ncl.com/cruise-ship/star/decks/1/12#tab_detail

 

Her is a link tot he Star Deck plan so you can see the changes. If you click on deck 7, you will see where the Spinnaker went.

[snorklinbarb]

On top of the cabins (28 suites and 18 insides) added in the area around Spinnaker. The cinema became conference rooms and the library stayed where it was. Everything (card/game room' date=' lifestyle room, chapel, etc.) else in that area is gone

 

Spinnaker was moved to where the shops are.

 

The shops were moved to where the photo gallery and disco were.

 

The photo gallery was moved where Blue Lagoon was.

 

Blue Lagoon was move to the one half of the Tex Mex restaurant.

 

On another note, all this "hysteria" about Spinnakers being removed fleet wide is untrue as of right now. If you look at the structures of the Jewel class ships as compared to the Dawn class these type of changes would not work. And according to my sources there are no plans to even try to make these type of changes.

 

PE[/color']

 

Hi PE,

Given the #'s you mention for Star, Dawn is probably the same. So, if I heard "60" it was probably the effect of the wine.;):D

[Planer's Edge]

Hi PE' date='

Given the #'s you mention for Star, Dawn is probably the same. So, if I heard "60" it was probably the effect of the wine.;):D[/quote']

 

There were some other inside cabins added on various decks on the Star. So, the number could very well be closer to 60 than the number just in the Spinnaker area.

 

PE

[swedish weave]

I don't see a class system on NCL at all. I pay for the type of cabin I choose, and eat the same food as those in higher and lower priced cabins. I enjoy the perks that come with Lattitudes status and with the type of cabin booked. The open areas of the ship are shared by all guests regardless of the cabin type they book.[/quote]

 

May I just add: "The open areas of the ship ( which are becoming fewer and less appealing) are shared by all guests regardless of the cabin type they book."

 

Does NCL reserve certain seats in the theater or around the pool for suite guests or can everyone mingle freely throughout the theater and pool area regardless of the type of cabin booked?

 

Reserved areas are not considered "open areas". Those are perks that come with the higher priced cabins.

[Planer's Edge]

I have been told, by those who ought to know, that that is, indeed, NCL's plan.

 

...and my sources say that it is not true that they are going to change all of the ships in the fleet. But, as we all know everything is subject to change.

 

PE

[Redheel Girl]

On the Star in October at our Meet and Greet someone asked the Hotel Director "Dallas" if NCL planned to put in windows in the new Spinniker Lounge and he said that they definately would not. Do you remember that Mikewrit?:rolleyes:

[sunshine 229]

 

Reserved areas are not considered "open areas". Those are perks that come with the higher priced cabins.

 

True, but they used to be, all that is needed to turn a previously 'open' area in to a restricted area is a reserved sign.Given NCL's present direction it looks as if there will be fewer and fewer open areas as time goes on and your ability to enjoy all those ' open areas' will not be worth a heck of a lot.

The same applies to eating the same food as anyone else, suites already get to use restaurants for breakfast that other cabins don't who know s where this will go.

Maybe it is a smart move that will work out for NCL, time will tell. I've certainly read a lot of good things about the suite experience on

NCL. It would sure make me hesitate to book anything but a suite for an

NCL cruise though, because it is sounding as if booking an inside on one of their ships will feel like a very second class experience.

[swedish weave]

 

True, but they used to be, all that is needed to turn a previously 'open' area in to a restricted area is a reserved sign.Given NCL's present direction it looks as if there will be fewer and fewer open areas as time goes on and your ability to enjoy all those ' open areas' will not be worth a heck of a lot.

The same applies to eating the same food as anyone else, suites already get to use restaurants for breakfast that other cabins don't who know s where this will go.

Maybe it is a smart move that will work out for NCL, time will tell. I've certainly read a lot of good things about the suite experience on

NCL. It would sure make me hesitate to book anything but a suite for an

NCL cruise though, because it is sounding as if booking an inside on one of their ships will feel like a very second class experience.

 

I book inside cabins most of the time, and once outside the cabin, I look just like those who book the "high rent" cabins. I don't have a sign on me that says "second class" and get the same smiles and service from the crew as everyone else. The breakfast and lunch at Cagneys is one of the perks for those paying the high rate and is well received, but has never been open to all passengers except for dinner.

 

Attitude is everything !!!!

[Don Haynes]

Apollo now owns half of NCL, Star Cruises don't own all of NCL anymore. Apollo also owns Oceania Cruise Lines as well, an upscaled cruise line with a significant number of family suites. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure with the Star and Dawn they would move to add family suites to NCL ships without them. Cruising is evolving...

 

The most logical place to add such suites to the Star and Dawn is the underused forward observatory lounge, a lounge which does not exist on the new Epic. A lounge which houses a ballroom styled lounge, an item of the past whose patrons are or have died off. Other public spaces can be squeezed for libraries, game rooms, and conference facilities. Todays younger families want larger cabins and are willing to pay for them. Todays younger families want other amenities such as pool slides, climbing walls, and Wifi video gaming screens.

 

Fortunately the Jewel class of ships, the Jewel, Jade, Pearl, and Gem have courtyard family styled suites atop amidships. I doubt whether they will be affected, but the Star and Dawn are or will be...

 

Outside of the Epic, Star, and Dawn in the future, if you wish to cruise on a ship with a forward observatory, I suggest you cruise on their other ships... The days of ballroom styled lounges have passed...

 

Since the Star is being relocated to Tampa, NCL's remaining Alaskan cruise ship the Pearl will retain her forward observatory lounge. Alaska is probably the best itinerary for forward observatories anyway because of the view. Other itineraries don't have a similar view IMO...

 

Many are carrying on as if the forward observatory lounge was the only lounge aboard the ship. There are many more...

[insidecabin]

Many are carrying on as if the forward observatory lounge was the only lounge aboard the ship. There are many more...

 

My observation from Jewel class is that spinnakars is underutilised during the day, very few events held there so it is empty a lot of the time.

I guess it was the same for the Dawn and Star

 

Those few that do use it have a sanctury so you can understand why they would feel they are loosing something.

 

The space on the Jewel class is not so suitable for conversion being a deck higher and rather than meeting rooms there is open deck and services.

The SPa occupies the same space as is being converted on the Dawn and Star

[Don Haynes]

I am sure if NCL were to build new ships to replace the Star and Dawn they would be built with more family suites. NCL is losing business to other cruise lines because these two ships in their markets don't have as many family suites as other ships. The bottom line is that NCL needs these family suites on these two ships far more than they need a forward observatory...

 

Its that simple and logical... NCL is only attempting to rectify that problem. Unfortunately to do so they have to lose the forward observatory lounge...

[sunshine 229]

 

I book inside cabins most of the time, and once outside the cabin, I look just like those who book the "high rent" cabins. I don't have a sign on me that says "second class" and get the same smiles and service from the crew as everyone else. The breakfast and lunch at Cagneys is one of the perks for those paying the high rate and is well received, but has never been open to all passengers except for dinner.

 

Attitude is everything !!!!

 

Since inside cabin pax look the same as high rent pax, how does NCL enforce the 'special reserved areas' in the theater and on the pool deck?

Is it just on the honour system? Has anyone every been denied entrance or asked to leave these areas?

[fightpiter]

Don, I believe that the Star will continue in Alaska, it is only the Mexican Riviera part that has been changed.

[swedish weave]

[quote name=sunshine 229;26993193

Since inside cabin pax look the same as high rent pax' date=' how does NCL enforce the 'special reserved areas' in the theater and on the pool deck?

Is it just on the honour system? Has anyone every been denied entrance or asked to leave these areas?[/quote]

 

The reserved areas are monitored by the Concierge who makes a point to get to know all the guests who are entitled to those perks.

[sunshine 229]

Apollo now owns half of NCL, Star Cruises don't own all of NCL anymore. Apollo also owns Oceania Cruise Lines as well, an upscaled cruise line with a significant number of family suites. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure with the Star and Dawn they would move to add family suites to NCL ships without them. Cruising is evolving...

 

 

It sure is, and I find it fascinating to watch all the different changes they try and the response to those changes that we see here on CC. People will go along happily accepting a lot of changes until you hit an area that they have used in the past and suddenly they are up in arms...there was a thread not too long ago about a new 3% fee for taking cah out in the casino and the cry of 'voting with their wallet's was raised over that by some posters, who are casino frequenters, while the majority of the posters here didn't appear to care less. So with the forward lounges those who used them and liked them are upset abpout this while others aren't.

[sunshine 229]

The reserved areas are monitored by the Concierge who makes a point to get to know all the guests who are entitled to those perks.

So presumably, to that conceirge you, as an inside passenger, do look different from one of the high rent pax who he or she would allow into the special areas. I am sure however that the concierge would deny you enterance with a smile. :D