Can't bring soda on board anymore

[richstowe]

It's actually a really good cruise line. The service is outstanding, the entertainment is great, and the food is pretty good. I get the frustration, but the ships will not sail empty, and the cruise line will not go bankrupt. They have a good product, no matter how annoyed people are right now.

I have reason to doubt you . I'm sure the on board product is fine .In fact I feel a little sorry for them , the ship's staff ,

when corporate is making one after another small but annoying changes .

Edited July 6, 2016 by richstowe

[spenceblake]

It is like being in the fourth quarter of a football game down by let's say 7 points with 10 seconds remaining on the clock your team has the ball on the opposing teams 1 yard line and the commissioner (NCL) makes a call to the referees stating that a touchdown will no longer be worth 6 points instead it is worth 4 points. No real chance of tying or winning the game. Your team (passengers) are screwed! They own the game it is their rules that we play by (even though we pay to play). I for one will take my talents(money) to a different league(cruise line).

 

I do have too much time and money invested into this cruise not to have a good time but I do so knowing that there will not be a next time with NCL. And yes, it does mean that much to me!

[Annmeat]

This policy is rarely if ever enforced . Please find a direct quote of this happening latelyThey offer cheap water . End of story . They allow cans . End of story .

Just to add they allow a bottle of wine PP , no $15 fee . Their drink package is better and cheaper etc etc .

 

November 2015, Baltimore Soda and waters not allowed. June 2014. Port Canaveral. Same.

I have posted this three times now. We don't get the drink package on Royal, but the water packages are pricey.they have also reduced the # of wine bottle you can bring aboard.

What NCL did sucks, but I have first hand experience of RCL refusing beverages.

I have a cruise with RCL coming up, will go check prices of water. It's big Evians and it is not in line with Carnival and Princess.

 

I have cancelled my water package on NCL, have no future cruises booked, but I like their product, my kids like it and I won't leave because of the water issue. I also won't deny myself the casino or buying a trinket to stick it to them. I would never decrease the DSC unless I had a service issue while on the cruise.

 

I am more upset that Flamingo Grill is leaving Getaway, but I feel for those affected by this new policy. It is inexcusable not to grandfather in those who are past final. Not sure how it would work logistically, but it can't be that difficult.

 

We STILL have not received the email and final was weeks ago.

Edited July 6, 2016 by Annmeat

[biker@sea]

Product Description

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Flow rate calculated with upper chamber full to top. Flow rate decreases as water level declines

 

Everybody should bring one. :D:rolleyes:

[AquaMarineFerret]

This new policy is being implemented a week before I board the Breakaway. I don't appreciate the callousness in the way it is being implemented for those of us who have booked and are unable to cancel without substantial penalty. The high cost of water and beverages on board usually was a non factor for me when traveling with Carnival because I would bring the allowaable amounts onboard. I am only trying NCL as an alternative to Carnival but am already regretting my choice to do so and would find a Carnival alternative to my cruise with NCL if it was feasible to do so. It"s not necessarily the policy change it is not knowing that the policy would change when I booked in October of 2015. To me and my family it is not being able to opt out at this point as our cruise is too close to do so. A total buzz kill!

 

Hear! Hear! You are not alone.

[RJ2002]

I've sailed NCL twice now, and I really didn't notice many people carrying on water and soda. Clearly people here on CC are not happy, but I'm wondering how many this decision will actually affect?

[Barb Nahoumi]

I hope that NCL won't stop serving ice water at the door when we return to the ship from excursions. That might be a deal breaker for lots of people.

[baflagg]

I've sailed NCL twice now, and I really didn't notice many people carrying on water and soda. Clearly people here on CC are not happy, but I'm wondering how many this decision will actually affect?

 

I've never actually noticed it either and this doesn't affect me one bit. The first cruise we went on we brought wine with us and all we kept saying when we boarded was never again, what a pain to carry around until our room was ready. We'd never consider bringing soda or water on board

[ColinIllinois]

I've sailed NCL twice now, and I really didn't notice many people carrying on water and soda. Clearly people here on CC are not happy, but I'm wondering how many this decision will actually affect?

 

 

Very few. While people have valid gripes and complaints in regards to cost of water packages, this is hardly the End of Times.

[Annmeat]

I've sailed NCL twice now, and I really didn't notice many people carrying on water and soda. Clearly people here on CC are not happy, but I'm wondering how many this decision will actually affect?

 

We brought some on once in Miami .,they were the kind with the little nozzle you pull up. This was in 2014 and the porter gave us a hard time. I had 12of those bottles and several Fijis left over from the first leg of our trip. he wouldn't take them with just a luggage tag although they were on a cardboard base. I pulled a spare tote out of my luggage, put them in, duct taped around the handles and sent it through.

My teens have since gone green and carry their own refillables.

 

My biggest objection is the sleazy way NCL has gone about this.i have not received a notice yet.

 

I think there may be some fireworks when this is enforced in 9 days.

[Annmeat]

I've never actually noticed it either and this doesn't affect me one bit. The first cruise we went on we brought wine with us and all we kept saying when we boarded was never again, what a pain to carry around until our room was ready. We'd never consider bringing soda or water on board

 

It may be convenient for those who drive to port. When flying in, even the night before, I can't imagine traipsing to a grocery and then schlepping bottles and cans to the pier. We did bring our own Cliquot once.

[FM]

Carnival was the first to do this and IMHO did it much better job of implementing it. No one likes change, but if you give ample notice and provide some viable options, people will accept it.

 

I never carry on water or soda and have always just drank whatever was available on board. However on my last Carnival cruise I pre ordered a 12 pk of water since it was such a reasonable price. I wonder how much more water NCL could sell to people like me by lowering the cost? I can't imagine that they are selling too much of it now at those super inflated prices.

 

I am like many of the other posters here and am looking at other lines for future cruises. The price increases, the changes, and the callous way those changes are implemented are putting me off of NCL. I have loved my cruises on NCL but until management gets its act together, I think it's time to go elsewhere.

 

Yes, this would have likely been much less of an issue if the H20 package wasn't so blatantly "overpriced" ... there are other means, both financially and in a public-relations sense, to have passed this policy change onto their passenger clientele for sure.

 

Excited about placing a deposit last weekend with NCL ... not because we were tired of Celebrity or Disney or regretted booking our first RCL cruise (a B2B) aboard the Anthem of the Seas for next year ... it was about experiencing NCL's Haven Class accommodations for the first time (!) and the "Free at Sea" promotion being offered.

 

• Not happy about the H20 issue but resolved it by getting a great deal on a Slim Brita Water Filter Pitcher & will pick up a few lovely Tervis tumblers.
• Not happy about their policy allowing smoking in the casino (and the smoke smell) - but will resolve it by not partaking in any gambling.
• Not happy about the 18% gratuity added to the UBP being offered as part of their "Free at Sea" promotion - but will resolve it by trying more of their alcoholic specialty drinks even though we do not do alcohol.

 

It's been 19 years since we last cruised NCL ... hoping there are no more "Not happy about ..." or it'll turn into a 20+ year streak ... ;)

[sparks1093]

I've sailed NCL twice now, and I really didn't notice many people carrying on water and soda. Clearly people here on CC are not happy, but I'm wondering how many this decision will actually affect?

 

They've checked it with the porters or they have it in their carryon bag where you'll likely not see it in the first place (plus if you are looking for something you're less likely to take note of it).

[NLH Arizona]

It's actually a really good cruise line. The service is outstanding, the entertainment is great, and the food is pretty good. I get the frustration, but the ships will not sail empty, and the cruise line will not go bankrupt. They have a good product, no matter how annoyed people are right now.

You are right. They are not going to sail empty, because a lot of folks don't care about bringing soda and water on board the ships and are fine either purchasing it or drinking ships water, just as they have always done. Also, I haven't noticed anyone posting about getting a refund from their cruise next certificates, has anyone else, so I'm guessing they aren't leaving over this, just as they didn't leave over the other changes that they said they were leaving over.

[Annmeat]

Yes, this would have likely been much less of an issue if the H20 package wasn't so blatantly "overpriced" ... there are other means, both financially and in a public-relations sense, to have passed this policy change onto their passenger clientele for sure.

 

Excited about placing a deposit last weekend with NCL ... not because we were tired of Celebrity or Disney or regretted booking our first RCL cruise (a B2B) aboard the Anthem of the Seas for next year ... it was about experiencing NCL's Haven Class accommodations for the first time (!) and the "Free at Sea" promotion being offered.

 

• Not happy about the H20 issue but resolved it by getting a great deal on a Slim Brita Water Filter Pitcher & will pick up a few lovely Tervis tumblers.
• Not happy about their policy allowing smoking in the casino (and the smoke smell) - but will resolve it by not partaking in any gambling.
• Not happy about the 18% gratuity added to the UBP being offered as part of their "Free at Sea" promotion - but will resolve it by trying more of their alcoholic specialty drinks even though we do not do alcohol.

 

It's been 19 years since we last cruised NCL ... hoping there are no more "Not happy about ..." or it'll turn into a 20+ year streak ... ;)

 

 

 

You do not pay the 18% on UDP and UBP when in the Haven. Your butler will also leave you pitchers of iced water if you like.

[Debala715]

This is crazy. You would honestly leave a cruise line over a case of water? Sorry to say but many of the other cruise lines already have this policy in place. I think you are going to be disappointed where ever you go.

 

We booked our very first cruise last March, which happened to be on NCL last Thanksgiving. While the cruise was very enjoyable, from the time we booked till we sailed we were astonished by the number of changes they instituted. But that didn't stop us from purchasing a CruiseNext while on our cruise. When I told my husband about this latest change, he told me to sell that CruiseNext, that he wouldn't sail again on NCL. Since he tends to shoot from the hip and think later, I'm not selling yet, and though I keep looking, their cruises are not working with out budget because I can get the same product on a different line for less money.

[sparks1093]

You are right. They are not going to sail empty, because a lot of folks don't care about bringing soda and water on board the ships and are fine either purchasing it or drinking ships water, just as they have always done. Also, I haven't noticed anyone posting about getting a refund from their cruise next certificates, has anyone else, so I'm guessing they aren't leaving over this, just as they didn't leave over the other changes that they said they were leaving over.

 

Still way too early for any of those requests to be processed. If I had one I wouldn't hassle with it, I'd just sell the thing on eBay.

[NLH Arizona]

Still way too early for any of those requests to be processed. If I had one I wouldn't hassle with it, I'd just sell the thing on eBay.

But not one person, who said they were calling, has even said they made the call and what happened on the call. Don't you find that interesting, I do because of how irate these folks were and how much they want to share. It will be just like when Celebrity change a policy, a lot of posturing, but no follow through, because even with the changes (and all cruise lines make changes), NCL is still a good product.

[jakesnana]

Yes, this would have likely been much less of an issue if the H20 package wasn't so blatantly "overpriced" ... there are other means, both financially and in a public-relations sense, to have passed this policy change onto their passenger clientele for sure.

 

Excited about placing a deposit last weekend with NCL ... not because we were tired of Celebrity or Disney or regretted booking our first RCL cruise (a B2B) aboard the Anthem of the Seas for next year ... it was about experiencing NCL's Haven Class accommodations for the first time (!) and the "Free at Sea" promotion being offered.

 

• Not happy about the H20 issue but resolved it by getting a great deal on a Slim Brita Water Filter Pitcher & will pick up a few lovely Tervis tumblers.
• Not happy about their policy allowing smoking in the casino (and the smoke smell) - but will resolve it by not partaking in any gambling.
• Not happy about the 18% gratuity added to the UBP being offered as part of their "Free at Sea" promotion - but will resolve it by trying more of their alcoholic specialty drinks even though we do not do alcohol.

 

It's been 19 years since we last cruised NCL ... hoping there are no more "Not happy about ..." or it'll turn into a 20+ year streak ... ;)

 

If you wanted to try the "Haven" experience on NCL, you should try the Yacht Club onboard the MSC Divina. MSC does not permit smoking in the casino, the Yacht Club is inclusive of alcohol and everything else is pretty much the same - exclusive restaurant, exclusive pool area, butler service, etc. I just did an inspection on the Divina on Sunday and it is a BEAUTIFUL ship :)

[Annmeat]

You are right. They are not going to sail empty, because a lot of folks don't care about bringing soda and water on board the ships and are fine either purchasing it or drinking ships water, just as they have always done. Also, I haven't noticed anyone posting about getting a refund from their cruise next certificates, has anyone else, so I'm guessing they aren't leaving over this, just as they didn't leave over the other changes that they said they were leaving over.

 

Just checked my Royal reservation.

First of all, all of their drink packages do NOT include water.

Second-12 bottles Evian is 47.20 when purchased before cruise. This includes the 18% gratuity. That is the same that I would pay on NCL for the same sized bottles.

 

Unless you are considering Princess or Carnival you will pay a lot for bottled water. Those who keep including RCL with the"reasonable " priced beverage lines need to look at their prices first. Incidentally, a 5 night to Bahamas in an OS on RCL is the same price as the 7 nights in an H5 on Breakaway. Royal doesn't include the drinks or specialty meals , except for concierge lounge and its 3 hour cocktail time. And the Diamond lounge.

Edited July 6, 2016 by Annmeat

[Annmeat]

If you wanted to try the "Haven" experience on NCL, you should try the Yacht Club onboard the MSC Divina. MSC does not permit smoking in the casino, the Yacht Club is inclusive of alcohol and everything else is pretty much the same - exclusive restaurant, exclusive pool area, butler service, etc. I just did an inspection on the Divina on Sunday and it is a BEAUTIFUL ship :)

 

The ship looks amazing. But my teens would be bored. Husband and I are looking forward to during Yacht Club in the future. Royal has priced us out of suites for the family, and NCL right now has the amenities our teens enjoy. The no smoking in casino would be nice!

Edited July 6, 2016 by Annmeat

[NLH Arizona]

Just checked my Royal reservation.

First of all, all of their drink packages do NOT include water.

Second-12 bottles Evian is 47.20 when purchased before cruise. This includes the 18% gratuity. That is the same that I would pay on NCL for the same sized bottles.

 

Unless you are considering Princess or Carnival you will pay a lot for bottled water. Those who keep including RCL with the"reasonable " priced beverage lines need to look at their prices first. Incidentally, a 5 night to Bahamas in an OS on RCL is the same price as the 7 nights in an H5 on Breakaway. Royal doesn't include the drinks or meals except for concierge lounge and its 3 hour cocktail time.

Not planning on cruising on Royal or Princess, done that not excited about the product and would never sail on Carnival, but I'm glad you enjoy those cruise lines. I'm happy with NCL, Celebrity and Crystal and have never brought on water or soda on any of my over 40 cruises, but thanks so much for the information. BTW, I'm very well versed on the beverage packages on the lines I cruise on and don't have an issue with any of them, but again thank you for your information.

[sparks1093]

But not one person, who said they were calling, has even said they made the call and what happened on the call. Don't you find that interesting, I do because of how irate these folks were and how much they want to share. It will be just like when Celebrity change a policy, a lot of posturing, but no follow through, because even with the changes (and all cruise lines make changes), NCL is still a good product.

 

Maybe, maybe not and I hardly care if they do or do not follow through. NCL is still a good product but it's not the product it used to be for many of us. I'll say it again- NCL used to make me feel like a valued guest, now I feel more like a sheep being sent to be shorn.

[NLH Arizona]

Maybe, maybe not and I hardly care if they do or do not follow through. NCL is still a good product but it's not the product it used to be for many of us. I'll say it again- NCL used to make me feel like a valued guest, now I feel more like a sheep being sent to be shorn.

I've cruised before and after the majority of the changes and I really don't see a difference in the product. I like that NCL gives me choices as to how to spend my dollars.

[janpo]

But not one person, who said they were calling, has even said they made the call and what happened on the call. Don't you find that interesting, I do because of how irate these folks were and how much they want to share. It will be just like when Celebrity change a policy, a lot of posturing, but no follow through, because even with the changes (and all cruise lines make changes), NCL is still a good product.

 

 

You must know everyone personally to know what they are or aren't going to do.