July 2015 Cruise Critic article says NCL has a reputation for nickel-and-diming

[jmele999]

I think that the whole argument about nickel-and-diming comes from people who expect that everything will be included in their cruise fare.

 

However, I would also like point out that NCL has the most specialty restaurants and entertainment that it not free (Breakaway and Epic) than any other major cruise line. This can lead people to feel like they to pay for more things when they are onboard NCL ship compared to other cruise lines.

[maywell]

So...that's pretty much the textbook definition of nickel and diming.

 

No the textbook definition of nickel & diming is being forced to pay for something that has no free alternative - Til NCL (and other cruise lines) puts a gun to people's heads to pay extra for all beverages like coffee in the buffet from them, its not nickel & diming to have options. And there's plenty of options both complimentary and with an added fee on NCL - which you have a choice to go to or not. Even better - there's plenty of different cruise lines that are not NCL, maybe you should check them out like Royal.

[legion3]

We always end up spending more $ on NCL than other cruises.

 

Not sure it is nickel and diming but it does happen.

 

I'd like to have Carnival base fares and MDR with NCL pay restaurant choices.

[Zippeedee]

I don't think it is technically "nickel and dimeing" but my impression of NCL based on one Sprit cruise in 2006 was that we were constantly bombarded with "offers" to spend (but oh the savings) on a junk bazaar of t-shirts, mugs, jewelry, watches. Just a constant line of stuff taking up space around the pool, in the lobby area, etc. it was just a relaxation killer. I know there's nothing forcing anyone to buy it, but the sales push was relentless.

 

Trying NCL again in a few weeks and hope that tone has changed a bit. At least I'm aware now and more prepared to ignore it.

[david_sobe]

I hate to chime in again (but I will) :eek:. I don't see nickel and diming as such a negative connotation as some. If you buy a new car... of course you may be nickel and dimed for extras. The airlines nickel and dime you for checked bags, a bag of peanuts, and seat selection. The phrase to me is not really a negative connotation as some make it out to be. Maybe that is why it does not bother me but seems to send some people over the edge. It seems a tourist or anyone on vacation gets nickeled and dimed wherever they go. To me its just a fact of life. Still not sure why it upsets so many people. I think Cruise Critic is extremely fair and a cheerleader for every line.

Cruise Critic rehab 101: Its fair use to use that phrase :)

Edited July 26, 2015 by david_sobe

[motleyfan]

So...that's pretty much the textbook definition of nickel and diming.

 

No its not nickel and diming because they're not forcing you to go you don't have to be there you choose to

[maywell]

 

I'd like to have Carnival base fares and MDR with NCL pay restaurant choices.

 

Royal and Celebrity says 'Hello'. :rolleyes: And before you say Royal ships are too expensive - It the Oasis and Quantum that are expensive, but the other class of ships are pretty afford.

[Sizzlechest]

So...that's pretty much the textbook definition of nickel and diming.

 

Bingo.

[umpy10]

It's your Nickel and your Dime, spend it as you wish. If you decide to let NCL take them, then you have been "Nickel & Dimed", the choice is yours.

 

cheer's...the Ump...:D

[Sizzlechest]

No its not nickel and diming because they're not forcing you to go you don't have to be there you choose to

 

"Forcing" is not the right term since nobody is forcing you to go on the cruise. What they are doing is creating a negative experience for people who DON'T upgrade. I don't look at specialty dining as nickle and diming since there's plenty of space and good quality with the non-specialty options. If NCL designs their new ships with small MDRs and buffets and/or lower non-specialty dining quality, then they're essentially pushing people to upgrade just to have a good experience. Is that forcing? Not exactly. It's creating a built-in shortage to extract additional income through upgrades, thus nickle and diming.

 

Build a Haven exclusive pool and Vibe area on new ships? No problem if the pool area can accommodate the rest of the passengers. Whoops! It doesn't! Better get to the port extra early and pay extra for a vibe pass, get up real early and lay down some towels, or upgrade to a suite. Want to see a show in the main theater? Hope you made reservations because there are less seats than NCL ships built in 2002. See, we cut the theater into two so we can charge you for entertainment you're not allowed to see without paying extra. Of course, nobody is FORCING you to see it. You can just not see a show some nights. Somehow the older ships can have a different show each night and a theater big enough to accommodate everyone. But no, NCL didn't design the new ships like that to nickle and dime anyone. They got lots of feedback that most passengers thought there was TOO much entertainment, so they listened and scaled back. It's your own fault if don't like it.

[klingoncruiser]

ROFL.... ALL cruise line now nickel and dime you to death. Unless you buy a real upscale cruise line, you will have to watch your wallet on most cruise lines.

[maywell]

"Forcing" is not the right term since nobody is forcing you to go on the cruise. What they are doing is creating a negative experience for people who DON'T upgrade. I don't look at specialty dining as nickle and diming since there's plenty of space and good quality with the non-specialty options. If NCL designs their new ships with small MDRs and buffets and/or lower non-specialty dining quality, then they're essentially pushing people to upgrade just to have a good experience. Is that forcing? Not exactly. It's creating a built-in shortage to extract additional income through upgrades, thus nickle and diming.

 

Build a Haven exclusive pool and Vibe area on new ships? No problem if the pool area can accommodate the rest of the passengers. Whoops! It doesn't! Better get to the port extra early and pay extra for a vibe pass, get up real early and lay down some towels, or upgrade to a suite. Want to see a show in the main theater? Hope you made reservations because there are less seats than NCL ships built in 2002. See, we cut the theater into two so we can charge you for entertainment you're not allowed to see without paying extra. Of course, nobody is FORCING you to see it. You can just not see a show some nights. Somehow the older ships can have a different show each night and a theater big enough to accommodate everyone. But no, NCL didn't design the new ships like that to nickle and dime anyone. They got lots of feedback that most passengers thought there was TOO much entertainment, so they listened and scaled back. It's your own fault if don't like it.

 

 

Then you should have no problem on Carnival since it the least nickel & diming lines with not much of entertainment nightlife unless you like Punchliner and/or dancing at the nightclub. And you have to hope that comedian at Punchliner is good or else that going to be one crummy show.

 

Regarding the Breakaway-class design? That what the port stops for - beach bumming since the pools are small but then again it has a alot of nooks & crannies of quiet places to enjoy. Also you're forgetting that there's 3-4 shows going on at the same time in different parts of the ship , usually for free but of course you're so focus on the nickel and diming - Why don't you just go to another line like Royal where they will treat you better than NCL.:rolleyes:*

 

 

 

*(Yes, I know all the lines that have DSC separate from the fare are nickel & diming just as much as NCL -just go with a line that has more positives than negatives for your situation. I know, impossible for some people since they need to be downright miserable to truly enjoy their vacation decision after the fact.:rolleyes:)

[legion3]

Royal and Celebrity says 'Hello'. :rolleyes: And before you say Royal ships are too expensive - It the Oasis and Quantum that are expensive, but the other class of ships are pretty afford.

 

Royal ships ARE too expensive and Celebrity is for me and my DW not really my kids. Later perhaps but not now.

[Kingmaker_inc]

Norwegian Cruise Line

•Has a reputation for nickel-and-diming, but cruise fares are comparable to industry averages and can be lower

•Pricing includes about half of the restaurants offered onboard.

•Most entertainment included (exceptions are lunch and dinner theaters, which are only available on select ships)

•Starting January 2016, Norwegian Sky will offer all-inclusive cruise fares that include all drinks (soft and alcoholic).

 

The rest of the sentence is also important. You pay for things you want or don't buy them if you don't want them... and the fare remains comparable and can be lower...

[Sizzlechest]

Regarding the Breakaway-class design? That what the port stops for - beach bumming since the pools are small but then again it has a alot of nooks & crannies of quiet places to enjoy.

 

Sorry, but no. There are these things called "sea days" where the ship isn't at a port. And believe it or not, sometimes people don't/can't go to a beach when in port. I have no idea what you're referring to about nooks and crannies.

 

Also you're forgetting that there's 3-4 shows going on at the same time in different parts of the ship , usually for free but of course you're so focus on the nickel and diming - Why don't you just go to another line like Royal where they will treat you better than NCL.

 

Thank you for admitting there is a problem on the Breakaway with the main theater shows and passengers should suck it up and go elsewhere for that night's entertainment. I'd love it if there were more cruiselines sailing from NY. Unfortunately there's just Carnival and NCL, and NCL is definitely the lesser of those two evils.

[motleyfan]

"Forcing" is not the right term since nobody is forcing you to go on the cruise. What they are doing is creating a negative experience for people who DON'T upgrade. I don't look at specialty dining as nickle and diming since there's plenty of space and good quality with the non-specialty options. If NCL designs their new ships with small MDRs and buffets and/or lower non-specialty dining quality, then they're essentially pushing people to upgrade just to have a good experience. Is that forcing? Not exactly. It's creating a built-in shortage to extract additional income through upgrades, thus nickle and diming.

 

Build a Haven exclusive pool and Vibe area on new ships? No problem if the pool area can accommodate the rest of the passengers. Whoops! It doesn't! Better get to the port extra early and pay extra for a vibe pass, get up real early and lay down some towels, or upgrade to a suite. Want to see a show in the main theater? Hope you made reservations because there are less seats than NCL ships built in 2002. See, we cut the theater into two so we can charge you for entertainment you're not allowed to see without paying extra. Of course, nobody is FORCING you to see it. You can just not see a show some nights. Somehow the older ships can have a different show each night and a theater big enough to accommodate everyone. But no, NCL didn't design the new ships like that to nickle and dime anyone. They got lots of feedback that most passengers thought there was TOO much entertainment, so they listened and scaled back. It's your own fault if don't like it.

 

When I say they are not forcing you to go I don't mean on the cruise in general. I mean on board the ship there's many free things to do, you literally do not have to pay extra for anything if you choose not to and you can still have a great time.

[Briitini]

I usually cruise CCL and for my next cruise I picked NCL. My September cruise for the specific date I could go was CCL 8 day Breeze vs NCL 7 day Getaway. I picked the Getaway because for the same price NCL included the beverage package. The problem I have with CCL is the fact that they take FOREVER for new ships. I have been on the Breeze and it's beautiful, but I am ready for a brand new ship!

 

I don't ever consider RCCL because I refuse to pay their prices. I have no problem spending money and can afford their cruises, but I refuse when I can get something similar for MUCH less. I went on one of the old ships for a 3 day cruise last October and it was the worst cruise I've ever been on.

Edited July 26, 2015 by Briitini

[Sizzlechest]

When I say they are not forcing you to go I don't mean on the cruise in general. I mean on board the ship there's many free things to do, you literally do not have to pay extra for anything if you choose not to and you can still have a great time.

 

Yes, that's true providing you can actually do those free things and have a great time. When there are shortages built-in by design, that's not always an option.

[motleyfan]

Yes, that's true providing you can actually do those free things and have a great time. When there are shortages built-in by design, that's not always an option.

 

Then why do you Cruise Norwegian?

[legion3]

I usually cruise CCL and for my next cruise I picked NCL. My September cruise for the specific date I could go was CCL 8 day Breeze vs NCL 7 day Getaway. I picked the Getaway because for the same price NCL included the beverage package. The problem I have with CCL is the fact that they take FOREVER for new ships. I have been on the Breeze and it's beautiful, but I am ready for a brand new ship!

 

I don't ever consider RCCL because I refuse to pay their prices. I have no problem spending money and can afford their cruises, but I refuse when I can get something similar for MUCH less. I went on one of the old ships for a 3 day cruise last October and it was the worst cruise I've ever been on.

 

Odds are that by the time you sail CCL will have price reductions, NCL might have price reductions.

 

3 day cruises will never be a measuring stick.

[newmexicoNita]

Awesome quote. This board does seem to have more than its share of angry cheerleaders.

 

Ncl deserves the reputation. On our last Epic cruise, we really enjoyed the specialty restaurants but found the food in the 'free' restaurants inedible and the service slow and grumpy.

 

We booked another cruise and fully expected to eat only in pay restaurants and they effectively raised the price 18% after we booked.

 

They are just so sneaky about price increases. Just raise the price if you need to; don't tack on 18% and claim it's a gratuity.

 

Or list room service as complementary but charge a 'convenience fee'or whatever they're calling it.

 

and what makes you think the 18% isn't a gratuity? Remember the bar servers, for instance were not including in the tipping pool until the 18% or before that 15% was added. How much do you tip at your local bar or do you?

 

Every cruise line will find a way of making a few extra bucks. You can pay more for the drinks, pay more for the specialty dining rooms or the spa, whatever. The room service fee is the only place where I have seen a big diffeence recently. As for nickel and diming, I don't know why some think NCL does more than other lines. Our granddaughter and her hubby did an RCI cruise late last year, followed by an NCL one this past Feb. She thinks RCI is much more into nickel and diming. According to her, people on the cruise with her felt the same.

[Cauzneffct]

nickle and diming theory is just for the complainers that are cheap and don't know how to spend their money and or do their research before their vacation.

 

Generally I agree. However, my issue with NCL has been their lack of notice of the changes (including informing passengers for the first time upon boarding); its hard to do one's research if they aren't provided accurate information.

 

Also, it may not be "nickel & diming," but the two DSC increases, other increased/new grats, room service charge, a la carte specialities, and now reduced port times are, to me, attempts to claw additional nickels and dimes out of my wallet (or, at least, cut costs).

Edited July 27, 2015 by Cauzneffct

[Sizzlechest]

Then why do you Cruise Norwegian?

 

Because the alternative for me is Carnival and that's the greater of the two evils. Also, the older ships like the Jewel and Dawn class ships don't suffer from this built-in shortage problem. (Well, except for Teppanyaki. NCL underestimated its popularity when it allocated space for it on the older ships.) Go and look at the last couple Breakaway reviews posted. They're POSITIVE about NCL and the Breakaway and they still ding the pool size and lack of chairs. The representative from NCL at the CruiseNext presentation acknowledged the issue (and promenade issue on the Epic) herself during her review of the various NCL ships.

 

Besides, how will NCL know they're going in the wrong direction without feedback? Constant cheerleading does NCL no good in the long term.

[Cauzneffct]

When I say they are not forcing you to go I don't mean on the cruise in general. I mean on board the ship there's many free things to do, you literally do not have to pay extra for anything if you choose not to and you can still have a great time.

 

I'm not convinced by the "just don't spend any money on board" argument as it presumes that there's no added enjoyment for the additional cost. I enjoy a drink or two, which is an extra expense. But my knowledge that it is an extra expense doesn't somehow mean that I should be happy with any tinkering with or increase in that expense. If I board the ship and, for the first time am informed that drink prices have increased by 50% (for my convenience, no doubt), I would be displeased. Is that "nickel & diming"? Maybe not, but its shady.

[tawaik]

No matter what cruise line you choose to spend your money on, it is still up to you how you wish to spend your money on board the ships. One does not have to order room service, eat in up priced restaurants and purchase the unlimited drink or dining package.

 

NCL and all cruise lines nickle and dime us in some type of way. I just think it is up to the individual to decide to make their choices on what is more important to them and what they really want to spend their money on to have a great vacation.

 

 

I always plan to spend no more than $xxx.xx amount on board outside of excursions, my casino gambling and small gifts for friends and family.