Auto Gratuity At Specialty Restaurant Implemented

[hpecorari]

I am telling you it is not true. We just sailed March 8-15. Ate in Cagney's, Lebistro, Tepanyaki, Cirque and Moderno. No added gratuties.

I think someone must be confused. It stated 18% gratuity on the menu but in smaller print it said it applied to DRINKS

 

And, SnootieTootie, I'm telling you it started on the cruise that left March 15th.

You returned March 15th.

 

Harriet

[hpecorari]

Did just one passenger say this? Or is it being reported by several people? Experienced cruisers or newbies? So they reported from the ship while at sea they were charged a 18% gratuity at a specialty restaurant?

 

SnootieTootie,

 

The OP who reported this is my friend who's on the Breakaway at this moment. She read it with her own eyes in the Freestyle Daily that there was an 18% gratuity being added to Specialty Restaurants. I don't believe, however, that it's being added to those who've purchased the UDP. Then, after reading it she went to dinner, a free dinner from the Casino. She ordered a side lobster tail which she was charged for. The Casino also paid for her bottle of wine or 2 drinks that she had. She received a bill for the lobster tail only and there was an added 18% gratuity added to the lobster tail.

 

Not only is this person my friend but she's an experienced cruiser.

 

Any other questions?

 

Harriet

[SnootieTootie]

I get what you are saying Harriet. But if it were true wouldn't those who have an upcoming cruise booked have received an email from NCL informing them of the change? We received an email just weeks before our cruise informing us of the increase in gratuities.

[SissasMomE]

I get what you are saying Harriet. But if it were true wouldn't those who have an upcoming cruise booked have received an email from NCL informing them of the change? We received an email just weeks before our cruise informing us of the increase in gratuities.

 

THIS is the entire point. NCL did NOT inform anyone of this. Geez.

[hpecorari]

I get what you are saying Harriet. But if it were true wouldn't those who have an upcoming cruise booked have received an email from NCL informing them of the change? We received an email just weeks before our cruise informing us of the increase in gratuities.

 

.......and herein lies the problem. This was just 'sprung' on my friend.

 

Harriet

[njhorseman]

Is it your position that the wait staff in the specialty restaurants are not, and/or never were, part of the DSC??

 

No, I didn't say that. I'm certain they have been, and in fact that was verified some years ago (2011) in a Cruise Critic article on specialty restaurant dining.

 

Here's the article:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/blog/index.php/2011/07/25/tipping-points-ive-already-paid-30-do-i-have-to-tip-at-the-for-fee-alternative-restaurant/

 

Welcome to Tipping Week at Cruise Critic. After reaching out to our readers, we received dozens of questions in the past few days regarding gratuities, and we’ll be answering a number of them in this space through Friday. Not surprisingly, one of the most common queries regarded alternative restaurants. Lileesa asked the question first on the Lido Deck blog: “How much is appropriate to tip at the pay specialty restaurant?” We’re glad you asked. So if you’re spending $30 for a porterhouse and some buttery asparagus at the alternative steakhouse, should you tip the customary 15 to 20 percent on top?

The answer is almost always no … unless you really want to.

According to spokespeople from Holland America and Norwegian Cruise Line, tips for the alternative restaurant wait staff are drawn from the auto-gratuity pool (HAL charges $11 per person, per day; Norwegian charges $12.)

Edited March 19, 2015 by njhorseman

[14cruisegirl]

Hi. Just got off the phone with NCL and I know they can get their facts wrong. the rep said it's 18 gratuity on specialty restuarants unless you have the dinning package. I know I would not want to be surprised with that. I do like to tip the staff when I want and who deserves it. That is now an expensive dinner with teens.

[SnootieTootie]

I would be very angry if it was sprung on me. I am a planner and don't appreciate added charges. Wow. NCL really dropped the ball if they failed to inform cruisers of the change.

[swedish weave]

I don't have any friends that work on the ships, that is why I thought you could find out the real deal from your friends that work on the ships.

 

You have posted a lot of your thoughts, so You can include this one in the "not gonna happen" category !!! I don't like to argue !!!

Edited March 19, 2015 by swedish weave

[jaja]

I get what you are saying Harriet. But if it were true wouldn't those who have an upcoming cruise booked have received an email from NCL informing them of the change? We received an email just weeks before our cruise informing us of the increase in gratuities.

 

NCL did not email me about increase in gratuities (or any other changes they have made over the years)..and I surely doubt they will email any PAX about this change..(though as I stated earlier..they should!!!)

 

I really doubt they want people to know ...and as of now...only those of us on CC know....(and we are in a small minority of PAX)...

Edited March 19, 2015 by jaja

[SnootieTootie]

Looked back at the email received 2-13 notifying us of the increase and gave us the opportunity to prepay.

[hpecorari]

Hi. Just got off the phone with NCL and I know they can get their facts wrong. the rep said it's 18 gratuity on specialty restuarants unless you have the dinning package. I know I would not want to be surprised with that. I do like to tip the staff when I want and who deserves it. That is now an expensive dinner with teens.

 

Someone else called and was told no there is not. Then called back again and was also told no there was not. Her call was transferred over to the Supervisor who actually contacted the Breakaway and came back and told her that YES, it's true.

 

Thank you for posting this.

 

Harriet

[rochelle_s]

@nclandy

@cruisechat

@CruiseNorwegian

#AskAndy

#cruisechat

 

Thank you very much!

 

 

Rochelle

[SissasMomE]

No, I didn't say that. I'm certain they have been, and in fact that was verified some years ago (2011) in a Cruise Critic article on specialty restaurant dining.

 

Here's the article:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/blog/index.php/2011/07/25/tipping-points-ive-already-paid-30-do-i-have-to-tip-at-the-for-fee-alternative-restaurant/

 

Welcome to Tipping Week at Cruise Critic. After reaching out to our readers, we received dozens of questions in the past few days regarding gratuities, and we’ll be answering a number of them in this space through Friday. Not surprisingly, one of the most common queries regarded alternative restaurants. Lileesa asked the question first on the Lido Deck blog: “How much is appropriate to tip at the pay specialty restaurant?” We’re glad you asked. So if you’re spending $30 for a porterhouse and some buttery asparagus at the alternative steakhouse, should you tip the customary 15 to 20 percent on top?

The answer is almost always no … unless you really want to.

According to spokespeople from Holland America and Norwegian Cruise Line, tips for the alternative restaurant wait staff are drawn from the auto-gratuity pool (HAL charges $11 per person, per day; Norwegian charges $12.)

 

Ok ... that's my only issue. It's not the money. It just seems .... underhanded and sneaky to me. If they are removing them from the DSC pool, then I can understand the added gratuity ... but to go about it the way that they did, without even making an announcement, is just wrong.

[Cheddarhead Cruiser]

I just got off the phone with a rep from NCL and they confirmed that as long as you have the UDP and have prepaid your DSC that nothing extra for tips are required but if you receive great service you can tip more if you like.

[herdingdogmom]

I just got off the phone with a rep from NCL and they confirmed that as long as you have the UDP and have prepaid your DSC that nothing extra for tips are required but if you receive great service you can tip more if you like.

 

For those that have called NCL and been told there is now a 18% auto tip at the specialty restaurants without the UDP, have they said this is applied on all ships or just the Breakaway?

[Da-Painter]

Agreed. I do not foresee us purchasing FCC on our upcoming trips, and that is a shame. I do not like sneaky, underhanded behavior ... and this takes the cake.

 

I do not mean to sidetrack the original posting, but we purchased 2 FCC on our cruise in December 2014, and with the sneaky promotions have not booked anything. This circumstance is another nail in NCL's coffin.

JC Penny's had a new CEO take over years ago, changing sales and promotions, and came close to bankrupting the company in a few short years. The stock went from the 80's to about 10 in less then 2 years. I wonder if this is part of the CEO's ideas. Sometimes they think they are infallible, and they are quite detrimental to business.

No more FCC's for me.:eek:

[Imasima752]

But if it were true wouldn't those who have an upcoming cruise booked have received an email from NCL informing them of the change? We received an email just weeks before our cruise informing us of the increase in gratuities.

 

To this day I have yet to receive an email or any other type of communication from NCL informing me of the DSC increase and I have had 3 cruises booked since January.

[Nola26]

To this day I have yet to receive an email or any other type of communication from NCL informing me of the DSC increase and I have had 3 cruises booked since January.

 

Perhaps check spam folder? I received one in February with the DSC increase and letting me know I could avoid paying it for my August cruise if I prepaid them prior to March 1st. I've paid out DSC and saved about $20.

 

I don't have the UDP and not really planning on eating dinner in any specialty restaurants, so this 18% auto gratuity discussion is interesting so I'm reading the thread, but not likely to impact our trip.

[Medtech2]

I just got off the phone with a rep from NCL and they confirmed that as long as you have the UDP and have prepaid your DSC that nothing extra for tips are required but if you receive great service you can tip more if you like.

This makes me wonder if they are not trying to push more people to buy the UDP...because it is just weird to me that they would add the 18% to a dinner you buy individually but not in a package deal. When you buy a meal with a promo in a land based restaurant, say with a restaurant.com deal or a coupon, the fine print usually urges you to tip on the pre-discounted price.

 

Since I highly doubt they would offer the UDP for purchase unless it was profitable, I also wonder if they are looking at the psychology of NOT adding the 18% charge, figuring most people would still leave a tip, while being more inclined to buy the package.

[rochelle_s]

This makes me wonder if they are not trying to push more people to buy the UDP...because it is just weird to me that they would add the 18% to a dinner you buy individually but not in a package deal. When you buy a meal with a promo in a land based restaurant, say with a restaurant.com deal or a coupon, the fine print usually urges you to tip on the pre-discounted price.

 

Since I highly doubt they would offer the UDP for purchase unless it was profitable, I also wonder if they are looking at the psychology of NOT adding the 18% charge, figuring most people would still leave a tip, while being more inclined to buy the package.

 

I am not so sure about this.

 

So far we have heard that it will be charged when paying to dine in a specialty restaurant. We have had a first hand account of someone having to pay the 18% on an up-charge in the specialty restaurant (their main meal was compliments of the casino.)

 

Someone else has also reported that the UK NCL site already indicates that there is an 18% gratuity that will be charged. It indicates on that site that this is charged on the package price as well. Doubt it will be long before the wording on the US reflects the same.

 

I think that it will be like the UBP. If the package is part of a promotion then no additional gratuity will be charged. If a guest were to purchase the package then they would pay the gratuity on top. I don't think this automatic 18% is going to be luring more passengers to purchase the UDP.

 

Personally I would agree with many of the previous posters in that this sounds very much like double-dipping. It's not the amount of money but the principle of the matter.

 

I worked many years in the hospitality and gaming industry and understand how the system works. I consider myself a pretty good tipper and have never been a fan of automatic gratuities. I understand the need and implementation in the cruise industry. People need to make a living wage. But frankly this tipping culture is getting out of hand and everyone wants in on the action.

 

I don't believe that this added 18% will go directly to the servers who work in the specialty restaurants. It would be an administration/accounting nightmare to keep track of who worked where and when. Joe worked room service for breakfast (as many say not included-so he will be tipped in cash). He worked the Garden Cafe at lunch so will get a share of the DSC. At dinner he works in La Cucina so he will get $2.70 per person he served there except for Tuesday night when it was extra busy at Cagney's and he filled in so he will get double the amount per person. :eek:

 

If all is how it is portrayed we should be seeing some very happy crew. Not only did the bartenders receive a 3% 'raise' but they received a 7% increase in base pricing which is nothing when you factor in the significant increase in number of drinks served with all these promo UBP's. Then there is everyone who benefits from the new DSC rates. They all receive a minimum of an 8% increase from regular passengers and that is before factoring in the big 25% increase being contributed by the suite passengers. Happiest of all are the servers in the specialty restaurants. Not only do they benefit from their share of the new DSC but will also be getting an additional 18% on their dinner service.

 

In my opinion, and it's just a theory, the crew will be seeing very little if any increase in pay. These gratuity increases, all being implemented in a period of two weeks or so, are likely meant to offset the tips that will not be coming in due to the booking promotions.

 

My next cruise is a B2B on the Jade. Under the promo we booked, NCL are giving my mother and I each $200 OBC. Plus not only will all our drinks be included but every time during that two week cruise, either one of us drinks a $10 glass of wine, they are going to dip into petty cash and throw $1.80 into the bartenders tip jar. Fast forward to 2016 and they will be doing the same for 20 days on the Epic..... I don't believe that will really happen.

 

If I am correct in my theory at least the crew will not be losing out. Except for those in the specialty restaurants when guests stop leaving cash tips. :(

 

It is also my opinion that this promo has been extended and enhanced again and again because it makes Del Rio look good. He comes on the scene and bookings go through the roof. I booked my Jade cruises the first day the Freestyle Choice promo started. In fact the promotion was so good that a couple of weeks later I booked B2B on the Epic for March 2016 and I never book that far ahead. I know for a fact I am not alone in this. You could hardly get through on the phone with the number of people booking and then they extended and added KSF. Del Rio must have been looking like a god. And they extended again.

 

But honestly how long can this promotional giveaway sustain itself? He said he wanted to get an extra $50 per person but with this promo eventually the numbers have to show that people are spending less. One of the largest sources of on board revenue is liquor sales but those that contributed the most to this revenue stream are choosing the UBP. Those that don't drink are choosing something else and spending less that way. How much on board spending is a couple in the Haven doing when so much is included for them? Sort of makes me think of a pyramid scheme...eventually it comes crashing down.

 

Final thought is in response to comments made about not receiving any notice of the increases. Yes most people received notification about the increase to the DSC, most likely because this is a discretionary charge. If this had been sprung on people only after they boarded, perhaps as late as the night before debarkation I think the line at guest services for adjustments would have been very very long. When it comes to the increase in drink prices, the higher gratuity added to drinks and the new addition of 18% to specialty dining no notification was given. Why? Plain and simple...because they can. These are not discretionary and there is no established form of recourse. If you want a drink you pay the new price and tip the new percentage. You want to eat in a specialty restaurant pay the service charge. We on CC should consider ourselves lucky because we know about the changes. Pity the poor campers who don't have any clue and are in for a couple of surprises once they next board an NCL ship.

 

 

 

Rochelle

[Demonyte]

Perhaps check spam folder? I received one in February with the DSC increase and letting me know I could avoid paying it for my August cruise if I prepaid them prior to March 1st.

 

NCL's email sent to passengers directly did not mention anything about the need to prepay prior to March 1st, just that you will get the old pricing if you prepay and DSC charged onboard after March 1st will be done with new pricing.

 

I can go to MyNCL right now for our Jan 2016 cruise and prepay DSC @ $12pppd:

 

The convenience of pre-paying service charges allows you to plan your budget prior to your cruise giving you additional freedom while on board. A discretionary charge of

$12.00 per person per cruise day

for all guests 3 years or older will automatically be added to your onboard account.

Your service charges will total $168.00 for all guests, for your entire cruise.

[SnootieTootie]

I wonder if the changes in gratuities and the outgoing of OSheehan and others are related?

Makes me fearful for what's to come.

[Demonyte]

I wonder if the changes in gratuities and the outgoing of OSheehan and others are related?

Makes me fearful for what's to come.

 

Of course they are. Mr Del Rio has publicly stated that he wants to get more money from the passengers ($50 more per week per couple to start). There is a whole thread about these plans, more speculation etc there:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2173532

Edited March 19, 2015 by Demonyte

[Harleytaz]

I have been reading all the posts about the changes in gratuity charges and entertainment reservations and all I can say is WOW. That is no way to run a cruise line. This is our first cruise with Norwegian and possibly our last. Hopefully, other cruise lines will not follow suit. We have totally pre-paid everything so I am curious to see what happens. Can't do much about the reservations for the shows that I already booked however, if I find additional charges on my account for tips, everyone will see a crazy lady at the customer service desk. :D Just sayin.......