Auto Gratuity At Specialty Restaurant Implemented

[bangzoom6877]

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.......

 

The show reservation policy bothers me too. It was never a problem when we went on the Jewel to get a seat at the show, arriving a reasonable amount of time before show time (20 minutes or so). Some cruisers arrived around show time and still got seats. This was during the busy summer season too and the sailing was sold out. However, in the larger ships like the Breakaway which we are sailing this July, I think they should still have show reservations in advance of the cruise.

 

I understand that the Breakaway has a box office onboard for show reservations. I wonder if you could still reserve once onboard and it's just not allowed anymore to reserve before the sailing date.

[david_sobe]

I don't have time to read all 12 pages of this thread this morning. I was on Getaway a few weeks ago and we did not have the UDP and there was no additional gratuity added. The gratuity added was for alcohol drinks only.

I am suspicious of this story but some have posted with some credibility. Its odd this would happen the same time they increased the auto-gratuity for everyone.

 

"IF" this is true I agree it seems like double dipping and goes against everything NCL has told us in the past that the auto gratuity (that is already one of the highest in the industry) covers all restaurants (excluding alcohol of course). It also makes no sense to only charge it to the people that don't have the UBP.

 

"IF" this is true it really is more nickel and diming. Yes they will make a small fortune charging everyone who books specialty restaurants onboard 18% on top of the daily auto-gratuity that was already paid and on top of another gratuity for a coke or drink with dinner. It is exactly why some accuse NCL of too much nickel and diming. It really is sneaky, tricky, slick, and double dipping.

 

"IF" this is true. It really goes to show the extreme measures to get extra fees from their customers. What next? Charge extra for a window seat?

[warriorking]

I don't have time to read all 12 pages of this thread this morning. I was on Getaway a few weeks ago and we did not have the UDP and there was no additional gratuity added. The gratuity added was for alcohol drinks only.

I am suspicious of this story but some have posted with some credibility. Its odd this would happen the same time they increased the auto-gratuity for everyone.

 

"IF" this is true I agree it seems like double dipping and goes against everything NCL has told us in the past that the auto gratuity (that is already one of the highest in the industry) covers all restaurants (excluding alcohol of course). It also makes no sense to only charge it to the people that don't have the UBP.

 

"IF" this is true it really is more nickel and diming. Yes they will make a small fortune charging everyone who books specialty restaurants onboard 18% on top of the daily auto-gratuity that was already paid and on top of another gratuity for a coke or drink with dinner. It is exactly why some accuse NCL of too much nickel and diming. It really is sneaky, tricky, slick, and double dipping.

 

"IF" this is true. It really goes to show the extreme measures to get extra fees from their customers. What next? Charge extra for a window seat?

 

I believe they will make that announcement next week....

[Demonyte]

I don't have time to read all 12 pages of this thread this morning. I was on Getaway a few weeks ago and we did not have the UDP and there was no additional gratuity added.

 

You should have read the whole thread instead of "what iffing" - this is confirmed from many sources happening on Breakaway and having started this week (March 15 cruise), no reports of this happening on other ships so this seems to be another test they are performing on Breakaway.

[bangzoom6877]

You should have read the whole thread instead of "what iffing" - this is confirmed from many sources happening on Breakaway and having started this week (March 15 cruise), no reports of this happening on other ships so this seems to be another test they are performing on Breakaway.

 

Yes, there have been several reports here of passengers who didn't have an auto 18% gratuity in specialty restaurants when paying out of pocket but all of them sailed before March 15th or didn't sail on the Breakaway. Time will tell if they will permanently have this on all sailings, but it seems that's where it's headed.

[luvtheships]

Not trying to get flamed, but maybe it was done because SOME people felt that since they paid a fee to eat there then they feel that they do not have to tip.....I do, but there are probably others who do not. I pay to eat at a restaurant on land and then leave a tip also, so it is no biggie to me....I usually tip more than 18% anyways, but that is my personal preference. And we are fairly new to NCL, are the servers in the Specialty Restaurants included in the Service Fee that is paid?

 

But restaurants on land aren't free

 

When you take a cruise the mdr is included in cruise price essentially making them "free"

 

The up charge at the specialties should be enough if an extra but if course we all feel guilty and leave additional money at the specialities. I know I do

 

But what amuses me use when pax leave money at the mdr as well

 

I mean seriously....that is the purpose of auto tipping isn't it?

 

I do leave e tip when we order wine and they continually serve it though in addition to the 18% on the bottle

 

 

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[hpecorari]

The strange thing is that I have asked about this 3 times during the twitter session yesterday with no reply back.

 

The strange thing is I have asked in NCL's FB page as has others about this yesterday with no reply back. However, someone from NCL has replied back to others who have posted there but not about this question.

 

The strang thing is NCL has not replied once here, on this thread.

 

Makes me believe not only is it true, they just don't know how to respond at this point.

 

However, any of us that have either purchased the UDP or have it as a promo won't have the 18% added so I'm sure many don't even realize it's there. Only those who actually PAY for the specialty restaurant on a specialty restaurant per specialty restaurant basis will see this at this time.

 

Harriet

[warriorking]

The strange thing is that I have asked about this 3 times during the twitter session yesterday with no reply back.

 

The strange thing is I have asked in NCL's FB page as has others about this yesterday with no reply back. However, someone from NCL has replied back to others who have posted there but not about this question.

 

The strang thing is NCL has not replied once here, on this thread.

 

Makes me believe not only is it true, they just don't know how to respond at this point.

 

However, any of us that have either purchased the UDP or have it as a promo won't have the 18% added so I'm sure many don't even realize it's there. Only those who actually PAY for the specialty restaurant on a specialty restaurant per specialty restaurant basis will see this at this time.

 

Harriet

 

Glad to hear that...

[CasinoCruzGirl]

But restaurants on land aren't free

 

When you take a cruise the mdr is included in cruise price essentially making them "free"

 

The up charge at the specialties should be enough if an extra but if course we all feel guilty and leave additional money at the specialities. I know I do

 

But what amuses me use when pax leave money at the mdr as well

 

I mean seriously....that is the purpose of auto tipping isn't it?

 

I do leave e tip when we order wine and they continually serve it though in addition to the 18% on the bottle

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

It amuses you? Boy your a cheap date lol

 

I always leave extra $$ in the MDR may not be as much as if I were in a land restaurant but I always leave something this is in addition to paying DSC ahead of time before I cruise. I also give my room steward and drink servers cash tips does that amuse you to?

[littlelulu01]

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

 

I tend to think that if giving the UBP and or UDP away and charging more for the cruise they will still come out ahead. They will be capturing the people who would normally bring their own soda on board and don't drink but take the UBP because its free. They'll also capture all the people who only have one person who would benefit from UBP thus would not purchase unless its a perk and those who otherwise would never benefit from the UBP. Same with the UDP. If its a free perk many wont feel the need to take advantage for more than a couple dinners.

 

the way it was initially offered seemed to be a way to make sales skyrocket with no regard to profit once onboard. That first week it was offered, NCL and TA's phones were jammed and the big travel agency website even had to shut down NCL bookings. Not sure how many bookings got under those promos but can't see them being huge money makers. I ended up saving a couple hundred on total cruise price and also got 2nd half $250 obc, UDP for the first half, and UBP for both legs.. I've never seen those kind of perks for an OV room.

 

The deal they are running now is still good but more in line with a deal to increase sales while not offering everything to anyone in OV on up like they did that first weekend.

 

I think those of us who got these perks on upcoming sailings where price was not inflated to make up the difference got incredible bargains. I sure hope NCL spells out what DSC covers and what is expected though. It would be very easy to just say, although servers in speciality restaurants are covered in DSC it is customary to offer x gratuity when dining in addition to DSC. If they have been taken out of DSC let people know this so they can then tip accordingly and not feel like the 18% on top of DSC is a NCL money grab vs going to the staff.

[NMLady]

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

 

Were you on the Breakaway? That is the ship charging the 18%, starting on 3/15.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

The strange thing is that I have asked about this 3 times during the twitter session yesterday with no reply back.

 

The strange thing is I have asked in NCL's FB page as has others about this yesterday with no reply back. However, someone from NCL has replied back to others who have posted there but not about this question.

 

The strang thing is NCL has not replied once here, on this thread.

Makes me believe not only is it true, they just don't know how to respond at this point.

 

However, any of us that have either purchased the UDP or have it as a promo won't have the 18% added so I'm sure many don't even realize it's there. Only those who actually PAY for the specialty restaurant on a specialty restaurant per specialty restaurant basis will see this at this time.

 

Harriet

 

Maybe the FDR regime isn't as friendly or transparent as Mr Sheehans regime and he has told them not to respond.

 

He wanted an extra $50pp per week. i guess he said their is no time like the present.

 

Bill

[Da-Painter]

The strange thing is that I have asked about this 3 times during the twitter session yesterday with no reply back.

 

The strange thing is I have asked in NCL's FB page as has others about this yesterday with no reply back. However, someone from NCL has replied back to others who have posted there but not about this question.

 

The strang thing is NCL has not replied once here, on this thread.

 

Makes me believe not only is it true, they just don't know how to respond at this point.

 

However, any of us that have either purchased the UDP or have it as a promo won't have the 18% added so I'm sure many don't even realize it's there. Only those who actually PAY for the specialty restaurant on a specialty restaurant per specialty restaurant basis will see this at this time.

 

Harriet

 

Maybe Del Rio did away with the Public Media folks also, calling it unnecessary, to save money.

I did not see the NCL hidden CC members here, blasting away at every negative comment anyone made here; telling folks they are wrong, evil, stupid, and misinterpreting NCL's actions.

Yeah!

[Demonyte]

Were you on the Breakaway? That is the ship charging the 18%, starting on 3/15.

 

No they weren't and they have been answered (called out) by several other people already.

[SnootieTootie]

Were you on the Breakaway? That is the ship charging the 18%, starting on 3/15.

 

No, The Epic March 8-15.

 

I get what Harriet is saying. Breakaway, change initiated March 15.

Would it really make sense for it to only be one ship? Hope we will hear soon from other's sailing on other ships this week.

 

Alll of these changes and promotions make it complicated to figure out what type of cabin will work best for my family.

 

We typically go twice a year, one with just my hubby and I and one with the entire family. Have to weigh it all out and see which is the best value. We purchased to cruise rewards on last week's cruise so we will be using them. :-)

[sundercruiser]

Maybe the FDR regime isn't as friendly or transparent as Mr Sheehans regime and he has told them not to respond.

 

He wanted an extra $50pp per week. i guess he said their is no time like the present.

 

Bill

 

$50 extra PER CABIN per week will not even begin to help fill in the post-wave fiscal pothole approaching for NCL. They've written an awful lot of "checks" in the past three months, checks I think they will have difficulty covering. How many UBPs did they sell in the corresponding period last year -- at $800 per cabin per week! And how many this year? ZERO. The opportunity cost is staggering. I don't know what percentage NCL's yearly cabins were sold since December, but it is the "wave" period after all, so a goodly chunk. There will be very little liquor sold to these passengers when they finally cruise.

 

I frankly think NCL, in order to have good-looking booking metrics, gave away too much. I don't know how you make $50 more per cabin by GIVING AWAY the most profitable discretionary purchase on the ship. That's pulling a lever, for sure, just the wrong way!

 

Thank you Mr. Del Rio! I'll raise my glass to you come April and do my best to drink you guys into bankruptcy!

[Demonyte]

Would it really make sense for it to only be one ship?

 

Yes, testing something new only on one ship is completely normal and has happened before. For example - as mentioned before in this thread - NCL has been testing the new internet pricing (megabytes instead of minutes) only on Breakaway for quite a while now. Also current menus were developed during an extensive test period on only the two newest ships, etc, etc.

Edited March 19, 2015 by Demonyte

[PokerDave]

do my best to drink you guys into bankruptcy!

 

I wonder if drunk people (especially ones trying to drink them into bankruptcy) might:

 

- Lose more in the casino

- Buy more at Art auctions

- Spend more on gifts/shopping on the boat

- Splurge more on excursions

 

I can attest to the first one for sure. My comped room and free drinks don't net me ahead in any respect other than having to pay for my room on a different line and still gambling...

Edited March 19, 2015 by PokerDave

[hawkeyetlse]

I don't know what percentage NCL's yearly cabins were sold since December, but it is the "wave" period after all, so a goodly chunk.

That is the crucial question, and we can only guess at the answer. Also how many people are actually choosing each perk (I think you would be surprised at how many Americans are simply uninterested in the UBP, and they would really rather have $50 OBC), and how much they will use the perks on board. Lost opportunity cost, real losses from giving food and drinks away: some of this can only be roughly estimated, but NCL has better data than any of us do. Of course giant companies sometimes make multi-million dollar blunders, but if they were so obviously headed towards bankruptcy, they would not keep renewing the promotion every month.

[dna529]

$50 extra PER CABIN per week will not even begin to help fill in the post-wave fiscal pothole approaching for NCL. They've written an awful lot of "checks" in the past three months, checks I think they will have difficulty covering. How many UBPs did they sell in the corresponding period last year -- at $800 per cabin per week! And how many this year? ZERO. The opportunity cost is staggering. I don't know what percentage NCL's yearly cabins were sold since December, but it is the "wave" period after all, so a goodly chunk. There will be very little liquor sold to these passengers when they finally cruise.

 

I frankly think NCL, in order to have good-looking booking metrics, gave away too much. I don't know how you make $50 more per cabin by GIVING AWAY the most profitable discretionary purchase on the ship. That's pulling a lever, for sure, just the wrong way!

 

Thank you Mr. Del Rio! I'll raise my glass to you come April and do my best to drink you guys into bankruptcy!

 

I would agree with you except for the fact that Celebrity has been giving away their drink package and now Royal is throwing it in the mix. Must be profitable somehow.

 

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[njhorseman]

(1) Triple or Quadruple NCL's "brochure fares"

 

(2) Actual selling prices will be advertised as "50% off, plus early booking discount, plus free airfare", but in light of step (1) selling prices are really higher than ever.

 

Voila, NCL new marketing strategy mimics that of Oceania and Regent Seven Seas, and once again Del Rio demonstrates his belief in the old adage "There's a sucker born every minute".

[Demonyte]

I would agree with you except for the fact that Celebrity has been giving away their drink package and now Royal is throwing it in the mix. Must be profitable somehow.

 

Exactly this. If it hadn't been for the UBP, we probably wouldn't have booked Getaway for 2016 after experiencing Celebrity's 1-2-3-Go! promo's beverage package first time earlier this year (it's much better and with the $10pppd upgrade nearly unlimited and also includes waters and coffees).

 

OTOH, if the package wasn't free, we wouldn't have purchased it anyway - we rarely drink enough for it to be profitable for us but when there is a possibility to get it for free, why not. :)

[njhorseman]

Yes, testing something new only on one ship is completely normal and has happened before. For example - as mentioned before in this thread - NCL has been testing the new internet pricing (megabytes instead of minutes) only on Breakaway for quite a while now. Also current menus were developed during an extensive test period on only the two newest ships, etc, etc.

 

There have been some notable test failures too. These went down in flames very quickly:

 

Allowing the purchase of Cagney's breakfast and lunch privileges at $99 per week by non-suite passengers

 

Allowing all suite passengers access to the Courtyard

[DMH15]

There have been some notable test failures too. These went down in flames very quickly:

 

 

 

Allowing the purchase of Cagney's breakfast and lunch privileges at $99 per week by non-suite passengers

 

 

 

Allowing all suite passengers access to the Courtyard

 

I remember. Wasn't 2nd on Jade?

[sundercruiser]

That is the crucial question, and we can only guess at the answer. Also how many people are actually choosing each perk (I think you would be surprised at how many Americans are simply uninterested in the UBP, and they would really rather have $50 OBC), and how much they will use the perks on board. Lost opportunity cost, real losses from giving food and drinks away: some of this can only be roughly estimated, but NCL has better data than any of us do. Of course giant companies sometimes make multi-million dollar blunders, but if they were so obviously headed towards bankruptcy, they would not keep renewing the promotion every month.

 

Well, assuming perfect information and decision-making, we can certainly assume that (almost all) those who pick $50 OBC over UBP won't be buying $50 worth of liquor. Only very small potatoes will be left. I think it's pretty clear that there will be significantly less onboard liquor revenue from "wave" promo customers -- "significantly" meaning well under half of what they might have expected. NCL MIGHT have gotten a few "alcoholic" Insiders to move up to OV or better, but that, and a reduction in cancel-and-rebooks due to price drops as customers wish to retain the perks they originally booked with, seem to be the only benefits (to NCL) that I can see from all this. And on that last point, consider the many on these threads who have crowed about cancelling-and-rebooking DURING the wave promo -- catching closer-to-cruising price drops AND the promo perks -- and it could be a wash.

 

The ONLY way I can see NCL getting the extra $50 Del Rio wants from each cabin is by pocketing the various increases in DSC and auto-gratuities. The only increase that directly (TO OUR KNOWLEDGE) goes to NCL's bottom line is the meager 7 percent increase in beverage prices. Given that they've simultaneously slashed the expected total number of paid drinks by handing out free UBP, well, that's not even a wash. Every increase in auto-gratuities or DSC is greater, on a percentage basis, than the increase in beverage prices.