NCL Service Charge Adjustment

[Responder]

Nope, I don't THINK the Discretionary Service Charge is a tip, I KNOW it's a tip and has been proven over and over. The vast majority of cruisers and folks on this board also know it's a tip. Get with the times my friend. You are still in the dark ages.

 

If the DSC were a true service charge, I don't think there would be an option to change or delete it.

 

When I go to a hotel or such, they impose a "service charge" for a resort fee.

There is no option to negotiate or change those numbers.

 

This is a post appearing on our very own Cruise Critic Forun..maybe interesting to read....especially the sentence that says....

 

"And, of course, the cruise companies are all too happy to keep their cruises' advertised prices down by passing off some of the cost of employee compensation as added gratuity fees tacked on to your onboard bill.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=132

[renata102]

My question is did they tip the behind the scene crew and all the other crew they encountered? Also what was the reason for reducing the DSC?

 

Thats NCL job to pay all other workers.

[renata102]

Just for clarity on this subject, my kids even made comment about the service of our dining staff (horrible) and a day after we returned we went out on a Groupons for dinner (I was still on ga action mode) to this average cute mom and pop place. AMAZING service and attention was great (and they were understaffed that day. My youngest son who is 10 said, wow this is what we missed out on the cruise.

 

Yes I did adjust my service charge on the ship because their service was lackluster and slow with lots of mistakes.

 

Yes I did my waitress 20% on what the meal should have cost (not the groupon rate

 

NCL service is lackluster and slow in some areas and average in some areas. I WILL CONTROL were and how much my service charge will be be.

[sparks1093]

Just for clarity on this subject, my kids even made comment about the service of our dining staff (horrible) and a day after we returned we went out on a Groupons for dinner (I was still on ga action mode) to this average cute mom and pop place. AMAZING service and attention was great (and they were understaffed that day. My youngest son who is 10 said, wow this is what we missed out on the cruise.

 

Yes I did adjust my service charge on the ship because their service was lackluster and slow with lots of mistakes.

 

Yes I did my waitress 20% on what the meal should have cost (not the groupon rate

 

NCL service is lackluster and slow in some areas and average in some areas. I WILL CONTROL were and how much my service charge will be be.

 

I don't think anyone would criticize you for making an adjustment for those reasons.

[luddite]

Nope, I don't THINK the Discretionary Service Charge is a tip,

 

Well, stop thinking. It only hurts the team.

[kathybelcher2433]

My favorite restaurant in my home town charges an automatic 15 percent service fee on every ticket. That's in lieu of a tip. And if you are unhappy with your service you can remove all or part of it. Or add more to it if you like. Why did they go to this new model? The wait staff was making 3 times more than their chefs and others behind the scenes and they did not think that was fair. Now the whole team works together and when the business does well everyone benefits.

[fshagan]

My favorite restaurant in my home town charges an automatic 15 percent service fee on every ticket. That's in lieu of a tip. And if you are unhappy with your service you can remove all or part of it. Or add more to it if you like. Why did they go to this new model? The wait staff was making 3 times more than their chefs and others behind the scenes and they did not think that was fair. Now the whole team works together and when the business does well everyone benefits.

 

 

Let's put a forum up for that restaurant and we can all speculate on how they split the 15%, what each individual makes, how we can save 15% by removing the service fee, how the company uses it to enhance their "taxable revenue", how unfair it is, ask them for a complete accounting of how each member of the team gets their share, and how much the owners skim off the top. :eek:

[kathybelcher2433]

Let's put a forum up for that restaurant and we can all speculate on how they split the 15%, what each individual makes, how we can save 15% by removing the service fee, how the company uses it to enhance their "taxable revenue", how unfair it is, ask them for a complete accounting of how each member of the team gets their share, and how much the owners skim off the top. :eek:

 

 

That sounds super fun and very familiar. Now all we need to add to the mix is a smoky casino you are forced to walk through, a butler that won't babysit your children and a bunch of promos people can't seem to understand and voila- you're covered on every angle!

[swedish weave]

We all know the people that adjust their service charges are not leaving tips for those "deserving" staff that have a direct impact on your cruise. They are just removing their service charges and going on about their merry way.

 

I disagree !!!! You don't know how much anybody tips unless they tell you.

[luvtheships]

That sounds super fun and very familiar. Now all we need to add to the mix is a smoky casino you are forced to walk through, a butler that won't babysit your children and a bunch of promos people can't seem to understand and voila- you're covered on every angle!

 

 

Nope you forgot chair hogs and motorized scooters and that every parent in the cruising population should want to leave their kids home and have a willing capable grandparent to babysit. That last one is my fav

Edited May 21, 2016 by luvtheships

[kathybelcher2433]

Nope you forgot chair hogs and motorized scooters and that every parent in the cruising population should want to leave their kids home and have a willing capable grandparent to babysit. That last one is my fav

 

 

Exactly. And then of course is the concept of bringing service animals on board. That thread is usually good for a few chuckles

[luvtheships]

Exactly. And then of course is the concept of bringing service animals on board. That thread is usually good for a few chuckles

 

 

Heck the Jan 22 gem cruise tops it all

 

Unfortunately it wasn't a joking matter.

Edited May 21, 2016 by luvtheships

[triptolemus]

Adjust that DSC as you see fit and tip the staff you value the most with cash.

 

Keeping in mind that leaving the DSC alone and tipping the staff you value most with cash is also an option.

Edited May 21, 2016 by triptolemus

[swedish weave]

Keeping in mind that leaving the DSC alone and tipping the staff you value most with cash is also an option.

 

If you eliminate the DSC and tip in cash, you know who is getting rewarded for the service you received.

[NLH Arizona]

Keeping in mind that leaving the DSC alone and tipping the staff you value most with cash is also an option.

Another option is to increase the DSC and that way you are rewarding everyone who helped make your cruise an awesome experience.

[Love my butler]

Another option is to increase the DSC and that way you are rewarding everyone who helped make your cruise an awesome experience.

 

Another option is to get a second mortgage on your house and bring all that cash and just pass it out to the poor, poor crew. I am sure they would be very grateful. You could then assuage all the guilt that has built up over the years.

Edited May 22, 2016 by Love my butler

[BirdTravels]

The email they sent me when I first imitated the adjustment said it would take 2 weeks. Once it went over two weeks, it was no longer a minor issue for me it was fraudulent. It is at my discretion to adjust it (as it is stated in my contract with NCL). Their slowness to act is not an excuse. And my CC comoany did bro contact law enforcement

 

Think about it. A dispute is a claim of a criminal act. Do you think that any reasonable credit card company, law enforcement (FBI) would consider "2 weeks is no longer a minor issue" a criminal act? Under the T&Cs of your credit card agreement, the company could send you a bill for the cost of their investigation of your frivolous claim and law enforcement could come after you for making a false criminal report (which is a criminal act). You got your money back, twice, since the cruise line processed your refund request. So, now who is committing fraud.

[NMLady]

If you eliminate the DSC and tip in cash, you know who is getting rewarded for the service you received.

 

If you eliminate the DSC are you sure the people you tip in cash can keep it, or do they have to turn it in (as those on HAL have to) to pool it to share with those who would have shared in the DSC?

[renata102]

I don't think anyone would criticize you for making an adjustment for those reasons.

 

The crazy thing is some people do criticize any reason to adjust.

 

But I stand on my reason with MY money

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Think about it. A dispute is a claim of a criminal act. Do you think that any reasonable credit card company, law enforcement (FBI) would consider "2 weeks is no longer a minor issue" a criminal act? Under the T&Cs of your credit card agreement, the company could send you a bill for the cost of their investigation of your frivolous claim and law enforcement could come after you for making a false criminal report (which is a criminal act). You got your money back, twice, since the cruise line processed your refund request. So, now who is committing fraud.

 

A credit card dispute is not a claim of a criminal act.

[renata102]

Think about it. A dispute is a claim of a criminal act. Do you think that any reasonable credit card company, law enforcement (FBI) would consider "2 weeks is no longer a minor issue" a criminal act? Under the T&Cs of your credit card agreement, the company could send you a bill for the cost of their investigation of your frivolous claim and law enforcement could come after you for making a false criminal report (which is a criminal act). You got your money back, twice, since the cruise line processed your refund request. So, now who is committing fraud.

 

Wow the FBI??? you watch to much tv

 

So what just happened is that the cruise line wasn't even responding to American Express inquiry for a few weeks So amex refunded me based on NCL NOT RESPONDING TO THEM, Well several weeks after my adjusted refund, NCL FINALLY also refunded me THE ADJUSTED AMOUNT. 6 weeks AFTER the promised time.

 

At that time AMEX immediatly fixed the double adjusted refund amount.

[swedish weave]

If you eliminate the DSC are you sure the people you tip in cash can keep it, or do they have to turn it in (as those on HAL have to) to pool it to share with those who would have shared in the DSC?

 

Yes !!! I am sure they can keep the tips. No cruise line that I use can police the cash tips that are given to the crew.

 

Some may try to make you believe they do this, but they don't (or can't)

[k9x8]

The email they sent me when I first imitated the adjustment said it would take 2 weeks. Once it went over two weeks, it was no longer a minor issue for me it was fraudulent. It is at my discretion to adjust it (as it is stated in my contract with NCL). Their slowness to act is not an excuse. And my CC comoany did bro contact law enforcement

 

Telling you two weeks wasn't fraud, it was sloppy customer service.

It took four months to get a dining package refunded, and I'm still working on having gov fees/taxes refunded. It takes a month, like clockwork, to receive a response to my emails.

 

I can't prove it, but I've suspected the wait times on the phone, online submissions, and emails are caused, in part, by NCL's new policy of DNC adjustments. I'd really like to know what percentage of passengers request (demand) adjustments.

 

IMO, that was a stupid policy change. If they hired additional customer representatives, it would cost them a lot of money to refund the DSC. Somehow I'm skeptical, and it's taking me months to get back money that doesn't belong to the cruise line.

 

Never mind the months it took trying to get the information, not money, I needed to submit my $2000 medical bill to my insurance company.

 

I find it impossible to sympathize with the DSC crowd.

[StolidCruiser]

Yes !!! I am sure they can keep the tips. No cruise line that I use can police the cash tips that are given to the crew.

 

Some may try to make you believe they do this, but they don't (or can't)

 

Yes, they can. It's a part of their contract when the standard DSC is removed without a declared service issue. The fact you choose to disregard information contrary to your belief doesn't invalidate its existance.

[triptolemus]

Yes, they can. It's a part of their contract

 

Citation needed.

 

You have a copy of a contract to share?

 

Or are you just repeating what you've "heard"?