So What Are All the Changes Anyway....?

[maywell]

True, so in fairness he kind of did give us a warning.

 

For that I give Del Rio some credit - He wanted $4-5 more out of people in various ways and he did get it in the end. And people are still sailing on NCL, even some of the complainers from CC are still still with them - which says alot about them than of NCL.....

[maywell]

LOL NO, but I don't have an unlimited budget. so I book where I save and this year it is NCL. I would book with another line if I could save more money.. the more I save, the more I can travel. It could also be my perspective as a solo traveler... getting a studio for $422 (pre tax) or outside for $1014 (incl. drinks and tax) seems like quite a bargain to me. Although truthfully, Carnival is more affordable than NCL and perhaps one day I'll give them a 2nd chance.

 

I'm a solo traveler too - NCL studio room rates and upgrade policies just looks better than other cruise lines, even if its under $100-500 difference between a that and a regular interior room. And those fringe benefits with the studio lounge and solo meets are a pretty good deal - something some people on this forum are just not going to understand at all, even the pricing issues.

[SteveH2508]

For that I give Del Rio some credit - He wanted $4-5 more out of people in various ways and he did get it in the end. And people are still sailing on NCL, even some of the complainers from CC are still still with them - which says alot about them than of NCL.....

 

How many high-spenders has he lost though? (No-one knows - not even NCL)

 

We tend to spend about $200 pppd on board on average (no UBP packages etc. in that). He has basically lost that - how many $4-$5 does that represent?

 

We have no cruise booked at present but I can say that Princess, P&O and HAL are higher on our radar than NCL now (even though we have Platinum status with NCL and basically none with any other line).

 

FDR & NCL have seriously screwed up in our case (and I suspect in many others as well).

[motleyfan]

How many high-spenders has he lost though? (No-one knows - not even NCL)

 

We tend to spend about $200 pppd on board on average (no UBP packages etc. in that). He has basically lost that - how many $4-$5 does that represent?

 

We have no cruise booked at present but I can say that Princess, P&O and HAL are higher on our radar than NCL now (even though we have Platinum status with NCL and basically none with any other line).

 

FDR & NCL have seriously screwed up in our case (and I suspect in many others as well).

 

Princess and HAL cruises cost more upfront then ncl

[motleyfan]

How many high-spenders has he lost though? (No-one knows - not even NCL)

 

We tend to spend about $200 pppd on board on average (no UBP packages etc. in that). He has basically lost that - how many $4-$5 does that represent?

 

We have no cruise booked at present but I can say that Princess, P&O and HAL are higher on our radar than NCL now (even though we have Platinum status with NCL and basically none with any other line).

 

FDR & NCL have seriously screwed up in our case (and I suspect in many others as well).

 

My final bill at the end of my last group was a little over a thousand

[SJ]

Frankly it's way too early to claim the current regime is successful. The success or failure of current regime will not be known for at least a year or longer. It took the Carnival Ceo who is also a CPA like FDR several years before he was replaced by his predecessor after the Triumph disaster.

 

Many including myself still have a fcc that need to be used, many can no longer cancel without penalty, many who are not at final payment don't need to make any decision today. Most would need to experience at least one cruise with current changes to determine how much if any has impacted their cruise experience. All the reasons i stated explains why so many are still on the ncl board. It does not necessarily mean we can't or won't leave ncl for an alternative cruise or vacation. How well NCL can sell their product in two years will be more indicative of the current regime's performance.

 

Speaking for myself, I am less excited about my cruise in December on the Gem than the date I booked which was before all the rapid fire and secret implementation of new fees and takeaways. I simply don't know what kind of product I will actually be getting by the time December rolls around. I hope things will have settled down by the time I have to make my final payment.

 

Standing up for your consumer rights is not whining. We are not at the complete mercy of companies we do business with. Not concidence many successful businesses have the best customer service. I rather be whiner than be a sheep or for lack of a better word, a sucker for businesses. Being blindly loyal to any business will not be appreciated by the businesses, they will only laugh at you all the way to the bank.

[SteveH2508]

Princess and HAL cruises cost more upfront then ncl

 

Princess has £999 pp for a balcony for 12 days round Britain in July - NCL does not even do that itinerary - but they are coming out at well over £100 pppd for a balcony in July in the Med and the Baltics. Med cruises are the same or cheaper on Princess (granted HAL is a lot more expensive here though).

 

Princess's tips and drinks are cheaper than NCL as well.

[hpecorari]

here's the difference, Ncl cruises are cheaper to get on but they nickel and dime you once you're on board, the other cruise lines with the exception of Carnival are more expensive to get on and about the same price as Ncl once you are on board

 

With that said.....

 

I'm curious what brought your bill up to a little over $1,000.

 

Thanks!

 

Harriet

Edited May 3, 2015 by hpecorari

[SteveH2508]

here's the difference, Ncl cruises are cheaper to get on but they nickel and dime you once you're on board, the other cruise lines with the exception of Carnival are more expensive to get on and about the same price as Ncl once you are on board

 

Having sailed on both Princess and RCI I can figure out what I did spend/would spend on those cruises. Finding out their prices for drinks etc. is easy.

 

We have spreadsheets with all our itemised expenditure on (mainly to check our bill), so they are easily analysed to see what our costs would be on other lines (pivot tables are powerful things).

 

I am much more qualified than you to figure out which cruise is the best value for us.

[maywell]

here's the difference, Ncl cruises are cheaper to get on but they nickel and dime you once you're on board, the other cruise lines with the exception of Carnival are more expensive to get on and about the same price as Ncl once you are on board

 

Even with the nickel and diming, on NCL its mostly on alcoholic drinks, soda, casino, bingo, Deal/No Deal and specialty dining - so if you're not buying any of those (separately or in a package), you pretty much have the trip cheap. And that's true of any cruise line.

[kessdarln]

 

I feel sorry for the excellent staff on board NCL ships who have to cope with the fall-out from Head Office's continuing foul-ups.

 

It sucks the life out of staff to have customers complain about everything - it ruins ones love of customer service to never get a positive comment.

[RuthlessBoss]

Even with the nickel and diming, on NCL its mostly on alcoholic drinks, soda, casino, bingo, Deal/No Deal and specialty dining - so if you're not buying any of those (separately or in a package), you pretty much have the trip cheap. And that's true of any cruise line.

 

My bottom line spending includes DSC, perhaps a drink or two. I have absolutely no need to eat at a specialty anything, nor feel the need for room service.. So there is no nickel and diming. Everything else is in the cruise price.

[johnlatte]

The butthurt here is amazing. If you use it, pay for it. Don't like it, don't do it. NCL, like many others are in business to make bank. They didn't send out a personal, heartfelt, letter to every customer telling them that they are going to up some prices and charge for toting your dinner down to your cabin...tough. Put on some big adult size pants and go do something else. I'm pretty sure cruising and cruise boats will still be sailing what ever you do. Prices go up, things change, business strategies evolve. If cruising is still a favorite way to vacation, then figure out what fits you budget and plan accordingly. Feel nickled and dimed by NCL, go sail DCL, you pay upfront for everything under the sun, whether or not you use it. Go to CCL where it seems that safety might not always be the core tenant. If you plan it right, use common sense, cruising is an excellent vacation value.

[motleyfan]

With that said.....

 

I'm curious what brought your bill up to a little over $1,000.

 

Thanks!

 

Harriet

 

I was an idiot and did not get the unlimited beverage package , spent a lot on souvenirs and a lot of internet service lol

[motleyfan]

With that said.....

 

I'm curious what brought your bill up to a little over $1,000.

 

Thanks!

 

Harriet

 

+ gambled in the casino quite a bit and specialty restaurants

[hpecorari]

+ gambled in the casino quite a bit and specialty restaurants

 

So tell me....IF you were on Royal, or Carnival, or....another ship - you'd still have those charges, correct? Wouldn't really make a difference what ship you were on the way I see it. Can't blame that on nicke and diming.

 

Harriet

[cruisebie]

Frankly it's way too early to claim the current regime is successful. The success or failure of current regime will not be known for at least a year or longer. It took the Carnival Ceo who is also a CPA like FDR several years before he was replaced by his predecessor after the Triumph disaster.

 

 

 

Many including myself still have a fcc that need to be used, many can no longer cancel without penalty, many who are not at final payment don't need to make any decision today. Most would need to experience at least one cruise with current changes to determine how much if any has impacted their cruise experience. All the reasons i stated explains why so many are still on the ncl board. It does not necessarily mean we can't or won't leave ncl for an alternative cruise or vacation. How well NCL can sell their product in two years will be more indicative of the current regime's performance.

 

 

 

Speaking for myself, I am less excited about my cruise in December on the Gem than the date I booked which was before all the rapid fire and secret implementation of new fees and takeaways. I simply don't know what kind of product I will actually be getting by the time December rolls around. I hope things will have settled down by the time I have to make my final payment.

 

 

 

Standing up for your consumer rights is not whining. We are not at the complete mercy of companies we do business with. Not concidence many successful businesses have the best customer service. I rather be whiner than be a sheep or for lack of a better word, a sucker for businesses. Being blindly loyal to any business will not be appreciated by the businesses, they will only laugh at you all the way to the bank.

 

 

Great post! I couldn't agree more.

[SissasMomE]

I was an idiot and did not get the unlimited beverage package , spent a lot on souvenirs and a lot of internet service lol

 

I remember having bills that high in the early days of cruising. Between the drinks, photos, excursions, spa ... it does add up. The more you cruise, the less you will be tempted to go crazy like that.

[Demonyte]

(Bonus point goes to NCL for having a MDR open at all meal times even at port compare to other cruise lines when the MDR is open for brunch at sea and dinner at all times)

 

 

One MDR on all NCL ships is open for lunch only on sea days - not "even at port". Your bonus point is actually a moot point.

[maywell]

One MDR on all NCL ships is open for lunch only on sea days - not "even at port". Your bonus point is actually a moot point.

 

I stand corrected - The Breakaway-class ships has a MDR(s) open on port and sea day. :rolleyes:

[Demonyte]

I stand corrected - The Breakaway-class ships has a MDR(s) open on port and sea day. :rolleyes:

 

No they do not, embarkation day is a special case (applies to all ships) but even on Breakaway there is no MDR open on other port days.

 

For example dailies from last Nov here show that no MDRs are open for lunch on port days after day 1: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2122298

Edited May 4, 2015 by Demonyte

[hpecorari]

delete

Edited May 4, 2015 by hpecorari

[SteveH2508]

delete

 

Just to let NCL know (not that they care really:rolleyes:), that we have just booked our next cruise on Princess with a seriously good deal and some decent OBC to boot.

[kessdarln]

Just to let NCL know (not that they care really:rolleyes:), that we have just booked our next cruise on Princess with a seriously good deal and some decent OBC to boot.

 

 

Princess has some good deals for their anniversary this year. Glad you got some good perks too.