Solararc Posted February 27, 2015 #1 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Outside of saving a few dollars, is it right to prepay these? Will it not short those who will now benefit from the small increase such as butlers and concierge? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triptolemus Posted February 27, 2015 #2 Share Posted February 27, 2015 469 thoughts on the subject here: http://forums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2166243 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobstheboy Posted February 27, 2015 #3 Share Posted February 27, 2015 I have two cruises booked and have pre paid. I am sorry that I cannot feel sorry for butlers etc !!!! All I know it saves me about £50. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare KeithJenner Posted February 27, 2015 #4 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Has it been confirmed that butlers and concierges are going to be included? Last I heard we weren't sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliffd64 Posted February 27, 2015 #5 Share Posted February 27, 2015 We are booked in a suite... it's not trivial in our case, it comes to 84 dollars which is about the same as one week of the current charges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solararc Posted February 27, 2015 Author #6 Share Posted February 27, 2015 469 thoughts on the subject here: http://forums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2166243 Thank you a search did not yield that thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare KeithJenner Posted February 27, 2015 #7 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Thank you a search did not yield that thread Have fun with it. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikaia Posted February 27, 2015 #8 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Will it not short those who will now benefit from the small increase such as butlers and concierge? Several CC members have talked to NCL and been informed that butlers and concierges will NOT be a part of the pool, despite the misleading wording in the annoucement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solararc Posted February 27, 2015 Author #9 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Well that is a game changer, looks like I will pre pay today if it won't be going to the additional staff in the suites, I will just tip as per usual and save $63 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
time2cruise1 Posted February 27, 2015 #10 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Several CC members have talked to NCL and been informed that butlers and concierges will NOT be a part of the pool, despite the misleading wording in the annoucement. That is what I have been told as well. $2.75 a day for the butler and concierge to devide makes no sense. They will all quit. That said I prepaid the service charges for all the cruises I have booked. I will put the savings toward part of the cash tips I always spread around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlaskaAtLast Posted February 27, 2015 #11 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Just upgraded to a suite and prepaid the DSC. Saved me over $80 for the 4 of us. I will obviously be tipping the butler and concierge, but I'll save money where and when I can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nola26 Posted February 27, 2015 #12 Share Posted February 27, 2015 A ready prepaid ours, $20 is $20. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinIllinois Posted February 27, 2015 #13 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Do whatever feels right for you to do. I'm pretty sure none of the NCL workers are wondering about any of our finances. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikaia Posted February 27, 2015 #14 Share Posted February 27, 2015 (edited) We have prepaid, but may be re-booking next week when the March promotion with complimentary service charges for passengers 1 & 2 as one of the choices goes into effect. If our cruise fare and 3rd/4th passenger rate don't also go up, re-booking our 14-day cruise (in a suite) will save us $250. Anyone who thinks that prepaying the service charge is unethical should also take issue with NCL comping the service charge for passengers 1 & 2 in March. After all, we have no way of knowing whether or not NCL will actually pay the service charge for us. Edited February 27, 2015 by Pikaia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedish weave Posted February 27, 2015 #15 Share Posted February 27, 2015 We have prepaid, but may be re-booking next week when the March promotion with complimentary service charges for passengers 1 & 2 as one of the choices goes into effect. If our cruise fare and 3rd/4th passenger rate don't also go up, re-booking our 14-day cruise (in a suite) will save us $250. Anyone who thinks that prepaying the service charge is unethical should also take issue with NCL comping the service charge for passengers 1 & 2 in March. After all, we have no way of knowing whether or not NCL will actually pay the service charge for us. Isn't comping the service charge the same as including it in the fare ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikaia Posted February 27, 2015 #16 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Isn't comping the service charge the same as including it in the fare ???? It might be, but we don't know, because there's no transparency. It is possible that NCL will take some of the money collected as fares and contribute it to the pool of service charge money. It's also possible that they won't. If the past is any guide, we won't be informed either way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KCBailey Posted February 28, 2015 #17 Share Posted February 28, 2015 I choose not to prepay the DSC. Not because I can't afford to part with the $168 for 2 months, but because I can afford the $13 that hopefully is going to very hard working, deserving people. Everyone should do what is right for them. No right or wrong answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted February 28, 2015 #18 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Do it...if service is good...tip them extra! Problem solved! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MNFreeze Posted February 28, 2015 #19 Share Posted February 28, 2015 as long as you booked before March 1st all you have to do is prepay before you get on the ship to pay the "old" price. I have confirmed three times with NCL that. Example. If you booked before March 1st a cruise for October and prepay the DSC on September 30th then you pay the $12 pp per day and not the new price. But if you do not prepay before boarding on the ship you will be charged the new rates. As I said I personally have confirmed this with NCL and so has my sister in law. If you book after March 1st then no matter what you pay the new rate. So people are making a big deal out of nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solararc Posted February 28, 2015 Author #20 Share Posted February 28, 2015 as long as you booked before March 1st all you have to do is prepay before you get on the ship to pay the "old" price. I have confirmed three times with NCL that. Example. If you booked before March 1st a cruise for October and prepay the DSC on September 30th then you pay the $12 pp per day and not the new price. But if you do not prepay before boarding on the ship you will be charged the new rates. As I said I personally have confirmed this with NCL and so has my sister in law. If you book after March 1st then no matter what you pay the new rate. So people are making a big deal out of nothing. Are you sure, just booked another sailing today and the the confirmation letter has the new DSC rates so it has begun early Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobstheboy Posted February 28, 2015 #21 Share Posted February 28, 2015 I booked one five days ago and my confirmation email has the new rates but I prepaid yesterday at the old rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LrgPizza Posted February 28, 2015 #22 Share Posted February 28, 2015 The total increase for the 2 of us on our upcoming 10n cruise is $19. I'm not messing with it. I can swing that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out to sea! Posted February 28, 2015 #23 Share Posted February 28, 2015 It might be, but we don't know, because there's no transparency. It is possible that NCL will take some of the money collected as fares and contribute it to the pool of service charge money. It's also possible that they won't. If the past is any guide, we won't be informed either way. What is the point of informing the guest over such a matter when the guest has no need to know? :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newmexicoNita Posted February 28, 2015 #24 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Outside of saving a few dollars, is it right to prepay these? Will it not short those who will now benefit from the small increase such as butlers and concierge? I do not think the butler and concierge are part of the poll in the first place, but even if they were I doubt they look at it that way. We just paid up front, not only to save a very few bucks, but it was convenient and is nice to know we will not have that to worry about at the end of the cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maywell Posted February 28, 2015 #25 Share Posted February 28, 2015 as long as you booked before March 1st all you have to do is prepay before you get on the ship to pay the "old" price. I have confirmed three times with NCL that. Example. If you booked before March 1st a cruise for October and prepay the DSC on September 30th then you pay the $12 pp per day and not the new price. But if you do not prepay before boarding on the ship you will be charged the new rates. As I said I personally have confirmed this with NCL and so has my sister in law. If you book after March 1st then no matter what you pay the new rate. So people are making a big deal out of nothing. Actually, its as long as paid the old DSC rates before March 1st, not if you booked before. I have a trip in Dec that I put a deposit down last year and won't be able to pay the DSC til March / April; and $12 is blocked out. Also the news announcement made it pretty clear if you prepaid it and trip is after the date, you're locked in at the old rate: http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6188 http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2015/02/20/norwegian-cruise-service-charge/23729781/ There's plenty of other news sites that saying pretty much the same thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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