MrMike45 Posted August 3, 2015 #1 Share Posted August 3, 2015 I promise this post is not to start an argument or flame war or "ncl sucks cancel now" rally. Our last cruise was a few months ago on the Breakaway. That was right around when the room service charges went into effect. Wasn't a big deal to us though. Our next cruise is in October in a few months. Truthfully, I haven't been paying attention much to this board and any new changes since the room service roll out. Can someone briefly just summarize what else has changed since then? Prices change, I know, but we book thru the casino and only book when we are happy with the deal we get. I just mean the changes onboard/in the services. Appreciate it as skimming thru the boards, the posts dealing with the changes seem to have 100+ posts with alot of opinions, and right now I was just hoping for facts in what has changed before forming an opinion. Thanks, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMike45 Posted August 3, 2015 Author #2 Share Posted August 3, 2015 anyone? anything major i need to know about? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orleanscruiser Posted August 3, 2015 #3 Share Posted August 3, 2015 anyone? anything major i need to know about? http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/pressroom/pressRelease.html?storyCode=PR_080315 http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/pressroom/pressRelease.html?storyCode=PR_061115 http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/pressroom/pressRelease.html?storyCode=PR_071415 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jd1966 Posted August 3, 2015 #4 Share Posted August 3, 2015 I promise this post is not to start an argument or flame war or "ncl sucks cancel now" rally. This requirement will keep away most of the "posters":D:D I can try to summarize what had been terrorizing the board: - NCL raised the Gratuities/service charge to $13.50 - NCL has announced that some of their specialty restaurants will become a-la-carte starting January 1 - NCL has changed the port times on many itineraries by an hour or so - NCL has canceled alot of late 2016 and 2017 cruises for a realignment of ships and itinerary modifications These are the major ones that I can think of. Hope it helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russianmom Posted August 3, 2015 #5 Share Posted August 3, 2015 (edited) You can decide if these are major or not to your cruising experience Nickelodeon gone Geoffrey Zakarian gone 18% gratuity on specialty dining DSC raised twice drink prices raised 18% gratuity on drinks 18% gratuity on food/coffee purchases ( Java Cafe/Carlo's/gelato etc) Asian Noodle restaurant complimentary but reduced menu Hippo Slide on GSC complimentary Fireworks gone UDP is now SDP Room service $7.95 except for a much smaller limited "continental breakfast" Blue Man Group gone Now pay taxes on "free" UBP/SDP No more kids pricing in specialty restaurants Port times shortened on a number of itineraries "for your convenience" No more free Cirque or Illusionarium on first night with dining package That's all I can think of now... Edited August 3, 2015 by russianmom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BermudaBound2014 Posted August 3, 2015 #6 Share Posted August 3, 2015 (edited) deleted, because others responded :) Edited August 3, 2015 by BermudaBound2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMike45 Posted August 3, 2015 Author #7 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Big thanks to all of you for posting and summarizing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calmpets Posted August 3, 2015 #8 Share Posted August 3, 2015 You can decide if these are major or not to your cruising experience Nickelodeon gone Geoffrey Zakarian gone 18% gratuity on specialty dining DSC raised twice drink prices raised 18% gratuity on drinks 18% gratuity on food/coffee purchases ( Java Cafe/Carlo's/gelato etc) Asian Noodle restaurant complimentary but reduced menu Hippo Slide on GSC complimentary Fireworks gone UDP is now SDP Room service $7.95 except for a much smaller limited "continental breakfast" Blue Man Group gone Now pay taxes on "free" UBP/SDP No more kids pricing in specialty restaurants Port times shortened on a number of itineraries "for your convenience" No more free Cirque or Illusionarium on first night with dining package That's all I can think of now... Wait a sec, when did they get rid of the fireworks? My family just sailed on the Getaway in May and they had the fireworks then, so it must be a recent change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
computerworks Posted August 3, 2015 #9 Share Posted August 3, 2015 You can decide if these are major or not to your cruising experience Nickelodeon gone Geoffrey Zakarian gone 18% gratuity on specialty dining DSC raised twice drink prices raised 18% gratuity on drinks 18% gratuity on food/coffee purchases ( Java Cafe/Carlo's/gelato etc) Asian Noodle restaurant complimentary but reduced menu Hippo Slide on GSC complimentary Fireworks gone UDP is now SDP Room service $7.95 except for a much smaller limited "continental breakfast" Blue Man Group gone Now pay taxes on "free" UBP/SDP No more kids pricing in specialty restaurants Port times shortened on a number of itineraries "for your convenience" No more free Cirque or Illusionarium on first night with dining package That's all I can think of now... Hippo slide is now gone... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
computerworks Posted August 3, 2015 #10 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Wait a sec, when did they get rid of the fireworks? My family just sailed on the Getaway in May and they had the fireworks then, so it must be a recent change. Effective 8/01/2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got Tequila? Posted August 3, 2015 #11 Share Posted August 3, 2015 (edited) You can decide if these are major or not to your cruising experience Nickelodeon gone Geoffrey Zakarian gone 18% gratuity on specialty dining DSC raised twice drink prices raised 18% gratuity on drinks 18% gratuity on food/coffee purchases ( Java Cafe/Carlo's/gelato etc) Asian Noodle restaurant complimentary but reduced menu Hippo Slide on GSC complimentary Fireworks gone UDP is now SDP Room service $7.95 except for a much smaller limited "continental breakfast" Blue Man Group gone Now pay taxes on "free" UBP/SDP No more kids pricing in specialty restaurants Port times shortened on a number of itineraries "for your convenience" No more free Cirque or Illusionarium on first night with dining package That's all I can think of now... oooppss, Ron beat me to it. Edited August 3, 2015 by Got Tequila? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sizzlechest Posted August 3, 2015 #12 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Hippo slide is now gone... Are you serious? They just made it free. It's gone?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmak8 Posted August 3, 2015 #13 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Sorry, these are some nasty changes. Are there any changes in favor of passengers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda the Book Lover Posted August 3, 2015 #14 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Thanks for the summary russianmom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BermudaBound2014 Posted August 3, 2015 #15 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Sorry, these are some nasty changes. Are there any changes in favor of passengers? I think that the ability to book only 3 nights in specialty dining is a positive change for those that want just 3 nights. Also, you can pre-book the spa and save $20.00 :). Minor maybe, but positive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LrgPizza Posted August 3, 2015 #16 Share Posted August 3, 2015 (edited) Clarifications: Blue Man group leaving was announced in 2014. That wasn't an FDR thing. (I'm not sure if this list is supposed to just be FDR though). Drink gratuity was raised from 15% (where it had been for many years) to 18%. All Asian restaurants were made complimentary. That's all I can think of. [emoji3] Great compilation though! Nice work. Edited August 3, 2015 by LrgPizza Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cantthinkofanythingfun Posted August 3, 2015 #17 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Clarifications: All Asian restaurants were made complimentary. Does that include the sushi bar? That would be really awesome. Is the Hippo slide really gone or are they just repairing it? My kid loved the Hippo slide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthlessBoss Posted August 3, 2015 #18 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Sorry, these are some nasty changes. Are there any changes in favor of passengers? I'm thinking ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LrgPizza Posted August 3, 2015 #19 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Does that include the sushi bar? That would be really awesome. Is the Hippo slide really gone or are they just repairing it? My kid loved the Hippo slide. Nope. They left out the sushi. [emoji19] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knitlady037 Posted August 3, 2015 #20 Share Posted August 3, 2015 (edited) You can decide if these are major or not to your cruising experience Nickelodeon gone Geoffrey Zakarian gone 18% gratuity on specialty dining DSC raised twice drink prices raised 18% gratuity on drinks 18% gratuity on food/coffee purchases ( Java Cafe/Carlo's/gelato etc) Asian Noodle restaurant complimentary but reduced menu Hippo Slide on GSC complimentary Fireworks gone UDP is now SDP Room service $7.95 except for a much smaller limited "continental breakfast" Blue Man Group gone Now pay taxes on "free" UBP/SDP No more kids pricing in specialty restaurants Port times shortened on a number of itineraries "for your convenience" No more free Cirque or Illusionarium on first night with dining package That's all I can think of now... Hippo slide has been discontinued at Great Stirrup Cay Edited August 3, 2015 by knitlady037 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nadeki Posted August 3, 2015 #21 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Our shore excursions have gone up $25. This was done in two turns the second being the day after final payment. We have been 100% loyal to the line.....referred more than 50 people to NCL and am now so disappointed. It is crazy the lack of communication. It would be easy for NCL PR or even CEO to come on this site and do a little clarification. As they host a shareholder meeting I wonder it they brag about all these booked cruises, increased restaurant reservations etc..... will they then say they also cancelled all these trips? Or will they once again claim bookings are up as every one has to rebook? Really it was not hard to stop selling these cruises weeks/months ago when they knew they were going to be cancelled. However they lured people in with perks they will never be able to use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russianmom Posted August 3, 2015 #22 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Hippo slide is now gone... I'm not the least bit surprised!!!! :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fshagan Posted August 4, 2015 #23 Share Posted August 4, 2015 On the positive side, the cruise rewards program was sweetened a bit, especially if you buy more than one while on board. And you can book a future cruise on board now and get additional promos for doing so. The line just announced about a dozen new itineraries, which is a good thing, with more South America, Asian and Persian Gulf cruises available (even a Suez Canal transit). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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