New fee on NCL

[NLH Arizona]

I may be seeing this differently, because I don't have small children, but if a child eats off the regular menu, are they not getting the same portions as an adult? Then why wouldn't they be charged the $30 for Cagney's as an example. If they eat off the restaurant's children's menu then I can see it either being free or at 1/2 price. Land based restaurants don't give children a discount for eating off their regular menu, only on the children's menu.

 

I don't see this as going against wanting children on a cruse ship, I think it has to do with what is being served and portion size and rightfully so.

[Wendy&Grumpy]

Very wrong indeed to do this mid cruise. Make one wonder what else they can change at anytime.

 

Anything they want.

 

Anytime they want.

[Wendy&Grumpy]

.....and children don't drink, shop and spend any money....

 

You haven't met my kids.

 

Of course they're 25, 23, 20 & 15.

 

But man can that 15yo SHOP! :rolleyes:

[MSH from Norway]

 

But man can that 15yo SHOP! :rolleyes:

 

..........and that's why my daughter is not allowed to sign on here own onboard any cruiseship before she is 18 and can pay for here own shopping.......:D

[Leavethekidswithmom]

I may be seeing this differently, because I don't have small children, but if a child eats off the regular menu, are they not getting the same portions as an adult? Then why wouldn't they be charged the $30 for Cagney's as an example. If they eat off the restaurant's children's menu then I can see it either being free or at 1/2 price. Land based restaurants don't give children a discount for eating off their regular menu, only on the children's menu.

 

 

 

I don't see this as going against wanting children on a cruse ship, I think it has to do with what is being served and portion size and rightfully so.

 

 

I completely agree. So moms and dads you have your options, take the kids to the kids club and have a romantic dinner for two, let the kids order off the COMPLIMENTARY children's menu or purchase the UDP where everyone will get half off at Cagneys.

[MSH from Norway]

I completely agree. So moms and dads you have your options, take the kids to the kids club and have a romantic dinner for two, let the kids order off the COMPLIMENTARY children's menu or purchase the UDP where everyone will get half off at Cagneys.

 

 

.........and what will happen when everybody are listning to you, and order one dinner for two in Cagneys and one dinner for four in mdr every day.....??

 

How long do you think the waitlists are going to be everywhere??

[Leavethekidswithmom]

.........and what will happen when everybody are listning to you, and order one dinner for two in Cagneys and one dinner for four in mdr every day.....??

 

How long do you think the waitlists are going to be everywhere??

 

 

Seriously, you completely lost me I have no clue what you mean or how it relates to the options I posted above!

[cadien]

.........and what will happen when everybody are listning to you, and order one dinner for two in Cagneys and one dinner for four in mdr every day.....??

 

How long do you think the waitlists are going to be everywhere??

 

That's not how it usually works out. We took DS to the buffet, fed him without eating anything ourselves besides maybe a pretzel roll, dropped him at the kids club, went to a speciality. No MDR or doubling up on meals.

[MSH from Norway]

That's not how it usually works out. We took DS to the buffet, fed him without eating anything ourselves besides maybe a pretzel roll, dropped him at the kids club, went to a speciality. No MDR or doubling up on meals.

 

Yes you were doubling of.

You had one table for dinner in buffet, and one table for dinner in a speciality.

Thats two table for dinner.

 

If everybody is going to the same there will not be enough tables for everybody to have something to eat.

 

And when everybody who used to order room service is now instead going to buffet/mdr/speciality because of the new fees, along with all the families taking to tables for dinner because of the new fees, there will be chaos in the end.....:mad:

 

And I saw some of that chaos already onboard Jade for christmas.

[mking8288]

... Another change that has no direct impact on me but seems to be taking NCL in a direction that I don't like. My wait and see attitude is changing by the day.

Anything they want. Anytime they want.

+ 1 again here ... hear, hear.

It's another change that some of us are not going to like.

The selfish part in all of us as humans, not robots, is that, oh, that ain't so bad & it doesn't affect us directly or even indirectly - and, if we got our deal as AI - and keep "my" packages great & low in net costs - then, I'm not going to oppose it. Too bad for them ... that's part of the mentality here on this forum lately.

-

I don't have a problem with changing how a cruiseline, including NCL, in charging full price for a full meal in specialty dining, or in any restaurant for that matter, for a children eating there & taking up a seat - especially for Teppanyaki - but, it's all about communication and giving fair & reasonable notices, NOT. No advanced notices given, not even at the time of boarding and of course, even emails were sent, most passengers had little to no access to, with exceptions of course ...

 

When the grand-niece & nephew sailed with us last on NCL, they went to kids club & ate there. Chances are they rather run around & eat in the buffet (in the children's section) and won't have the patience to sit for 90 minutes watching the cooking demo and dancing knife & spatula, etc. But, for the adults who booked & planning to pay - believing that it's covered, whether it is 50% off, 25% off, or even 10% off the regular price - and prepared to cough it up - it's just NOT right to pull another on the spot surprise.

-

The trending is what we are concerned with, not troubled - being totally selfish for a moment, none of the changes are going to affect us one bit next. We got choices to make and the most important voice is going to be heard when the wallet with the credit card number is frozen.

 

MSH from Norway, thank you again for sharing those views with us on the American side - DW & I really appreciated this for another dose of reality. What's next: fees-based kid club, by the hour or by the day specials and special meals with a convenience fees? All highly speculative, but given the recent track records - I won't even hold my breath - just inhale & exhale. Besides, cruising is still a bargain in 2015 ... let me run some numbers again - and, without the casino discounts & shareholder perks, etc. Families with children, Carnival is waving & there is a new ship coming to NYC in 2016 - everyone is watching - and (disclosure) our stocks (especially CCL) are doing very nicely.

[LMaxwell]

Bringing 4 kids on Escape next year that would have qualified for the old discount. Will just skip specialty dining. NCL has added fees just about every week since we booked the ship.

[ohiogymrat]

I may be seeing this differently, because I don't have small children, but if a child eats off the regular menu, are they not getting the same portions as an adult? Then why wouldn't they be charged the $30 for Cagney's as an example. If they eat off the restaurant's children's menu then I can see it either being free or at 1/2 price. Land based restaurants don't give children a discount for eating off their regular menu, only on the children's menu.

 

I don't see this as going against wanting children on a cruse ship, I think it has to do with what is being served and portion size and rightfully so.

 

If they adopt that thinking across the board, one could expect the elimination of children prices on shore excursions, since they are getting the same experience.

Guess time will tell

[CasinoCruzGirl]

If it was me and had small kids and this happened DURING the cruise I would not be a happy camper. What was the rush? Why couldn't they wait to do this for the next sailing.

 

I really really wish NCL would put a list together at one time and say here are the changes for the year tske it or leave it. This once a week changes are very unfair to those that they effect. It would be much more acceptable to know what's what before u book a cruise or at least stop the weekly up charges.

 

Granted a lot of them don't affect me but I can see where it does cause concern for some. I hope we are almost at the end of these changes.

 

Geri

[emcelh]

Before April 10, this was the Free Style Dining Guide:

 

 

CHILDREN EAT FOR LESS

Children 3-years old and younger always eat for free. In our specialty restaurants, children 4- to 12-years old can choose

from a complimentary Kids’ Menu or from the restaurant’s Specialty Kids’ Menu for half price. Excludes dinner and a show dining events.

 

http://www.ncl.com/sites/default/files/Dining-Guide-10032014.pdf

 

Now it reads:

 

SPECIALTY DINING FOR KIDS

In our Specialty Restaurants*, children 3 years old and younger always eat for free and kids 4-12 can choose from a complimentary Kids’ Menu.

 

http://www.ncl.com/sites/default/files/DiningGuide_041015.pdf

 

Another example of NCL's thoroughness in communicating with its customers NOT.

 

Just curious, but what was the Specialty Kids Menu that they were charging half price for? Was it the same menu and just smaller portions?

[Cauzneffct]

Anything they want.

 

Anytime they want.

 

Yep, and it troubles me. The changes thus far are things I can deal with or avoid, but my confidence that the amenities I am being told are included today will actually be included once I step on the ship (or, it seems, halfway through the trip) is dwindling.

[cadien]

Yes you were doubling of.

You had one table for dinner in buffet, and one table for dinner in a speciality.

Thats two table for dinner.

 

If everybody is going to the same there will not be enough tables for everybody to have something to eat.

 

And when everybody who used to order room service is now instead going to buffet/mdr/speciality because of the new fees, along with all the families taking to tables for dinner because of the new fees, there will be chaos in the end.....:mad:

 

And I saw some of that chaos already onboard Jade for christmas.

 

If it makes you feel any better, our buffet meals averaged 15 minutes and the place was never more than 25% occupied at the time. It would have been even faster if they had ever opened the children's buffet. The station was still there but always empty. That was disappointing. The section with kid-sized tables and chairs I've seen in photos of prior cruises was gone completely.

 

There was a group of 7-10 adults that broke out the cards every night in the buffet after eating. Policing tables will go well beyond children.

 

We did get him room service a few times but it was very stressful hoping the food would come in time. (The kids club was so over capacity that if you didn't get in line 15 minutes before they opened, you didn't get in. Three times a day.)

[emcelh]

........and that is what is happening when the new boss for ncl comes from Oceania who hates children....:rolleyes:

 

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/faq/

Oceania Cruises does not provide for the care, entertainment or supervision of children.

 

My guess is that the next fee will be pay pr hour in the children club for all hours, and new ships whitout childrens clubs at all....

 

No chilren club is more shops and more bars and more money in.....:p

.....and children don't drink, shop and spend any money....

How would you know he hates children? Could it be just that the Oceania product is a bit more upscale and designed more for adults and not so much family oriented? Besides, the man has children of his own.

[cadien]

Just curious, but what was the Specialty Kids Menu that they were charging half price for? Was it the same menu and just smaller portions?

 

I looked into this before I cruised. The impression I got was that it's been a few years since there were actual special kids meals. They've been using the standard MDR kids menu in the specialities for a while and apparently just didn't update the wording.

[NLH Arizona]

If they adopt that thinking across the board, one could expect the elimination of children prices on shore excursions, since they are getting the same experience.

Guess time will tell

I think you might have just given them a suggestion. I never understood why children were a lower price, as they took up a seat, just like adults.

[janpo]

I wonder who lies awake at night thinking up all thse new fees.

 

That is ridiculous to raise the kids prices to the adults. If they are serving full size dinners to the kids, then they should scale them back and not raise prices.

 

My kids are grown ,but we take the grandkids out for lunch every week and there's no way I'd pay adult prices for them. They hardly eat.

 

NCL, too many fees too soon= unhappy people.

[mjkacmom]

I looked into this before I cruised. The impression I got was that it's been a few years since there were actual special kids meals. They've been using the standard MDR kids menu in the specialities for a while and apparently just didn't update the wording.

 

The half priced specialty meals were exactly the same as the adult meals - full portions. The kids could also order as many appetizers and desserts as the wanted.

[ColinIllinois]

Janpo, there are a ton of kids who eat like adults. (pun intended).

[cadien]

I think you might have just given them a suggestion. I never understood why children were a lower price, as they took up a seat, just like adults.

 

I always figured it was because the reduced rate was the only way a family could justify the combined cost. So in the end, they actually make more money.

 

If the excursions are consistently fully booked, as with the specialities, then they have an incentive to change that.

[abbyar]

I really dont get the up in arms thing on prices going up. Prices go up. When I go to disney, the prices go up every year, sometimes more than once a year. They don't notify me ahead of time. Likewise, if one stays during peak times restaurant prices are higher. That changes from day to day. No one notifies you before arrival - and it's just as much a captive audience as a cruise.

 

Yeah, it sucks they changed the policy mid-week, but it sounds like they reversed it anyway.

[abbyar]

I wonder who lies awake at night thinking up all thse new fees.

 

That is ridiculous to raise the kids prices to the adults. If they are serving full size dinners to the kids, then they should scale them back and not raise prices.

 

My kids are grown ,but we take the grandkids out for lunch every week and there's no way I'd pay adult prices for them. They hardly eat.

 

NCL, too many fees too soon= unhappy people.

 

They get the free kids meal, if they hardly eat. And I can only imagine the chaos in the kitchen - oh, this one's a kid portion, that one's an adult portion. How to you change the size of a steak? Even ihop can't get that right when we're there - and that's on the number of pancakes on a plate.