breakin all the rules ;)

[NLH Arizona]

The thing is, staff is already paid very little and work very long hours. A TA once told me they make like $50 a month for the lowest positions and work 15-18 hours a day - ever notice the same servers for ever meal? These jobs are door openers to leave their countries so they are happy to do it... but the tips are important to them.. it's not the server that is denying you the pizza takeaway.. don't punish them. I don't have an answer other than to write letters, lots of letters - it works for some situations. FYI, Pride of America staff get paid much more ... and there was no UBP, no casino, and higher prices.

Just for the record, I would never not tip. I not only pay my DSC, I tip my Butler and Concierge and I tip over and above for great service and have no issue with the 18 percent gratuity at the specialty restaurants, because I tip more than that. But if someone wants to protest (which has been on all the threads...don't pay the DSC, reduce the DSC, don't pay the 18 percent gratuity, etc.), then that is their prerogative. I don't really think it will have any impact, because (1) I don't think many would really do it (and if they did, I doubt they would tell them why) and (2) I don't think enough folks actually take food from the specialty restaurants and some of us have said over and over, that it really won't do much good and will only punish the staff, but some still want to do it. But if someone wants to do it, let them do it, if it makes them feel better. I think the best way to protest that you disagree with a company's policy, is to not do business with them.

 

BTW, what many are continually overlooking, is that you can still take food/cookies away from the buffet, as has been reported by passengers who just returned from cruises.

Edited May 5, 2015 by NLH Arizona

[mbisson]

The thing is, staff is already paid very little and work very long hours. A TA once told me they make like $50 a month for the lowest positions and work 15-18 hours a day - ever notice the same servers for ever meal? These jobs are door openers to leave their countries so they are happy to do it... but the tips are important to them.. it's not the server that is denying you the pizza takeaway.. don't punish them. I don't have an answer other than to write letters, lots of letters - it works for some situations. FYI, Pride of America staff get paid much more ... and there was no UBP, no casino, and higher prices.

 

I couldn't agree more! No matter how angry some may be at the 'system', punishing the people who rely on tips is not the answer

[coldflame]

I couldn't agree more! No matter how angry some may be at the 'system', punishing the people who rely on tips is not the answer

 

Much less break actual local laws that could get you fined thousands of dollars. Leave ship food in the ship. I understand and support being silly and smuggle food out of MDRs and buffets to your cabin in an act of bourgeois defiance, but let's cap it there.

[Kenlorz]

To those posters who have questioned the leftovers situation from the restaurants, there is a whole thread going on about it. To summarize for you:

 

* People are being stopped on multiple ships from taking their food from restaurants

* One poster was actually stopped at O's by the manager when they picked up their plate and tried to carry it out of the restaurant. Told NO food leaves restaurants.

* Multiple people have been refused leftovers leaving La Cucina (whether they tried to take it or whether they asked to have it boxed)

* Seems the excuse coming from the wait staff regarding this new policy is that it is a Health & Safety Risk to remove the food (supposedly someone got sick from improperly refrigerated leftovers).

* So far, no one has reported being stopped from taking food from the buffet

Edited May 5, 2015 by Kenlorz

[gooch47]

This might not be relevant, but in the past we have been told we could not take food away from the MDR on Princess ships. They, too, cited the health aspects and they had no room service fees to protect.

Edited May 5, 2015 by gooch47

[davesgirl51]

For us the best Platinum perks have been-complimentary dinner for two in LeBistro (incl a btl of house wine) and a free 'bag of laundry'

 

These have been 'per platinum member'. Some reports have been that at least some of the perks are being reduced to one per cabin. We shall see

 

Here's a link to Latitudes reward benefits on the ncl page

http://www.ncl.com/latitudes-rewards-program/benefits-details

 

True, Monte. Sailed just under 4 weeks ago, both Platinum. One bag of laundry, one half box of Godiva chocolates but 2 dinners at LeBistro.

[NLH Arizona]

To those posters who have questioned the leftovers situation from the restaurants, there is a whole thread going on about it. To summarize for you:

 

* People are being stopped on multiple ships from taking their food from restaurants

* One poster was actually stopped at O's by the manager when they picked up their plate and tried to carry it out of the restaurant. Told NO food leaves restaurants.

* Multiple people have been refused leftovers leaving La Cucina (whether they tried to take it or whether they asked to have it boxed)

* Seems the excuse coming from the wait staff regarding this new policy is that it is a Health & Safety Risk to remove the food (supposedly someone got sick from improperly refrigerated leftovers).

* So far, no one has reported being stopped from taking food from the buffet

* On poster reported that their friends did get a take out order from O'Sheehan's.

[time2cruise1]

That's so ridiculous. What is wrong NCL? You need to feed your crew the left overs? Sheesh

 

 

Geri

 

I hate to be cynical but I fear it is all about the $. The only way most will pay the $7.95 room service charge is if that is the only way to get food to your cabin. :mad::mad:

[DebJ14]

Now, you see, while I agree that "smuggling" food to your cabin is kind of funny and a black eye to NCL, bringing open foods, fruits, dairy products to ports is actually not cool. Not only is it illegal and fineable by local authorities, but you can actually bring in germs, fungi, seeds, etc. that could threaten the local flora and fauna. So, please, let's leave the smuggling just for within the ship, because, well, that policy is pretty idiotic.

 

The agricultural sniffing dogs at some of the ports will have a field day and their coffers will swell with the fines people are hit with for bringing food ashore.

[mbisson]

I hate to be cynical but I fear it is all about the $. The only way most will pay the $7.95 room service charge is if that is the only way to get food to your cabin. :mad::mad:

 

ditto (except I don't hate to be cynical)

 

I still didn't do it ;) LOL

[DebJ14]

This might not be relevant, but in the past we have been told we could not take food away from the MDR on Princess ships. They, too, cited the health aspects and they had no room service fees to protect.

 

Same on MSC. A lady was feeling ill and her DH took her back to the cabin. Their tablemates asked if they could bring him his dinner, but were told it was not permitted unless prior arrangements were made for an ill passenger. Otherwise, no food was to leave the dining room.

[swedish weave]

I guess I will have to start carrying a big purse !!!! At least big enough to get a plate in !

 

Correction ----- Make that a big BAG ! The other guys laugh at me if I carry a purse !! lol

Edited May 5, 2015 by swedish weave

[crystalaziza]

O.K., Well I guess I must have missed something along the way. In reading this thread, I've summized that there is no longer food allowed to be taken to the cabins. While I have read about auto grat. increases, DSC increases, Room service (charge) increases, and what ever else I may have forgotten, they now are not allowing snacks in the room? I've always been an early riser, quick get me to the coffee person, and brought back my son (now 15 years old ) milk & cream cheese frosted cinnamon buns.........yummmmmmmmmmm, for when he wakes up. Boy have I got to re-adjust how I cruise. As much as I have been loyal to NCL....... It's the little things that have always put a smile on our faces, so if you pass me & I'm not smiling, it's not cause I'm in a bad mood!!!!! LOL....... What's next? Isn't it been a little much absorbing these constant changes, will there be an end any time soon to these changes? Wonder what Kevin is thinking about all of this???

[Kingofwylietx]

We like to order a dessert and save it for a midnight snack.

SO I don't normally carry a big purse with me to dinner when we cruise BUT NOW.... I will be the crazy lady with the giant purse stashing our dessert. :p

 

I got off the Sky yesterday morning.

 

I was too full to eat my dessert at Cagney's, so they had it sent to my cabin. I originally asked if I could take it with me. They didn't tell me 'no'...the waiter simply said that he would have delivered to our room.

 

I can certainly tell you from my very recent experience that they sent my dessert to the cabin.

[mbisson]

Same on MSC. A lady was feeling ill and her DH took her back to the cabin. Their tablemates asked if they could bring him his dinner, but were told it was not permitted unless prior arrangements were made for an ill passenger. Otherwise, no food was to leave the dining room.

 

Same thing happened to us on a Norwegian cruise a few years back (wife was a bit under the weather one evening). My solution was to hit the buffet for her

 

I guess I will have to start carrying a big purse !!!! At least big enough to get a plate in !

 

Correction ----- Make that a big BAG ! The other guys laugh at me if I carry a purse !! lol

 

We only made fun because your murse didn't match your shoes Bill

[NLH Arizona]

O.K., Well I guess I must have missed something along the way. In reading this thread, I've summized that there is no longer food allowed to be taken to the cabins. While I have read about auto grat. increases, DSC increases, Room service (charge) increases, and what ever else I may have forgotten, they now are not allowing snacks in the room? I've always been an early riser, quick get me to the coffee person, and brought back my son (now 15 years old ) milk & cream cheese frosted cinnamon buns.........yummmmmmmmmmm, for when he wakes up. Boy have I got to re-adjust how I cruise. As much as I have been loyal to NCL....... It's the little things that have always put a smile on our faces, so if you pass me & I'm not smiling, it's not cause I'm in a bad mood!!!!! LOL....... What's next? Isn't it been a little much absorbing these constant changes, will there be an end any time soon to these changes? Wonder what Kevin is thinking about all of this???

Don't be in a bad mood and keep that smile. You can still either order a continental breakfast from room service at no charge or you can still take food out of the buffet, as has been reported by passengers just returning from cruises.

 

I'm sure Mr. Sheehan is still a shareholder, so he probably has a big grin on is face.

Edited May 5, 2015 by NLH Arizona

[NLH Arizona]

I got off the Sky yesterday morning.

 

I was too full to eat my dessert at Cagney's, so they had it sent to my cabin. I originally asked if I could take it with me. They didn't tell me 'no'...the waiter simply said that he would have delivered to our room.

 

I can certainly tell you from my very recent experience that they sent my dessert to the cabin.

Thanks for the update.

[Kingofwylietx]

Thanks for the update.

 

You are welcome.

 

Actually, due to us stopping for a couple of drinks on the way back...it beat us to the cabin. :p

[swedish weave]

[

 

We only made fun because your murse didn't match your shoes Bill

 

Monte --- See what you started !!! I thought a pink purse looked good with purple shoes !!!

 

I have one question ?? Doesn't smuggling booze fit under this same set of parameters ? It is all about money, too, isn't it ???

Edited May 5, 2015 by swedish weave

[geegee1]

... I did hear (rumor until confirmed) the carryout rule is for the Blue Lagoon, O'Sheehans, etc.

 

I know as of March 2010 they wouldn't let you bring food from the Blue Lagoon back to your room on the Gem. Didn't mean I didn't do it, but they said I couldn't bring my wings back with me at 10p.

[swedish weave]

Monte ---- my memory cells just woke up ! This is going to get brutal if they restrict hot dogs, isn't it???????????????

[mbisson]

Monte ---- my memory cells just woke up ! This is going to get brutal if they restrict hot dogs, isn't it???????????????

 

I should be good there...not many consider them 'food' ;)

[BayouDoc]

It really could be a safety issue. Have you noticed how the stateroom mini-refrigerators only chill your drinks, not really refrigerate them? It would be interesting to take a thermometer along to see how cold these chillers keep contents.

[TheManitoban]

I sort of see their point. On the other hand, there is some common sense issues too.

 

Their reasoning that it's a health issue. If I order room service, dont eat it all and eat it later and for whatever reason, it makes me sick...isnt that the same situation? And why would it make me sick anyway? The food is already cooked. It's not like you're taking a Raw steak back to your room.

 

If I paid a cover charge and was not allowed to take left-overs back, I might be more angry.

 

I understood their reasoning to charge for pizza to cut down on waste but this would seemingly create more waste.

 

As an aside, is the pizza to your room still $5 or is it subject to a room service fee as well?

[Kingofwylietx]

....

Their reasoning that it's a health issue. If I order room service, dont eat it all and eat it later and for whatever reason, it makes me sick...isnt that the same situation? And why would it make me sick anyway? The food is already cooked. It's not like you're taking a Raw steak back to your room....

 

Why would it make you sick? Do you have a fridge in your room? Not all rooms have refrigerators. By total numbers, more rooms are without them. Whether you agree or not, here is some info. First, your food arrives at the table for you to eat. If it arrives fresh and hot, you can start your stopwatch there. If you are like us, we take our time eating while on vacation, an hour is typical for us. Then, another 5-10 minutes to get it to the room. If you don't have a fridge, will you eat it then? Probably not, otherwise you would have eaten it at the table, not taken it back for consumption 5-10 minutes later. According to the USDA, you would now only have 45 minutes to safely eat it.

 

 

 

From the USDA.gov website:

 

Leftovers

•Discard any food left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours—1 hour if the temperature was above 90 °F (32.2 ºC).

•Place food into shallow containers and immediately put in the refrigerator or freezer for rapid cooling.

•Use cooked leftovers within 4 days.

•Reheat leftovers to 165 °F (73.9 °C).

 

Source:

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/safe-food-handling/basics-for-handling-food-safely/ct_index