Next Price Gouge??? Predicting Only

[navybankerteacher]

my thoughts as well: I wonder if all the "I hate NCL" cruisers really understand, not just NCL is adding and taking away. It is like the airlines, they will get every penny they can.

 

can't imagine why anyone can complain about not being allowed to bring soda or water on board. Have many of us walk into a restaurant with our own soda?

 

For all those who have nothing better to do but gripe, I don't think NCL will miss you one bit.

 

No, NCL has enough uncritical loyalists to be able to continue offering less (for more money) until even the fans wise up. It does take a degree of sophistication to differentiate between a restaurant --where you would be unlikely to bring your own soda. -- and an establishment where you might be spending seven or more nights in your own room --- where you certainly should be able to bring your own soda.

[fstuff1]

As I have been reading the threads about the new water/soda policy I have read people asking-what will be next?

 

Well since my last cruise in May I now get all NCL emails in German- (Despite me replying to inform them I don't understand German). I decided to actually translate one of them. As part of their free perks they have been offered, free onboard child activities, free admission to the fitness centre and free food from the 24 hour restaurants. Are these going to be the new charges once the water/soda policy has settled in? I have no facts-I'm just predicting that these might be the next charges as why would the German's be offered these perks for free, if they are already free.

 

Any other ideas as to what is next?

 

yeah, i see the nickel and diming to continue. (see my sig)

reduce the free stuff and keep adding surcharges.

 

i can see only the garden buffet as free. Main dining rooms will have a small surcharge.

specialty restaurants will be like regular restaurants with upscale pricing.

and the free 3day sdp promo will only be for the main dining room. you can upgrade to specialty restaurants for a big fee.

 

the pool is free but those tube slides will have a small fee.

and the ropes course/mini golf will have a fee as well.

 

carry on your luggage will still be free but checking in any luggage will carry a fee for EACH PIECE.

Edited August 2, 2016 by fstuff1

[fstuff1]

Apparently the idea of a FEE only cruise with nothing inclusive failed:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2385681

[Marine Mom]

Fortunately there are plenty of other lines happy to take my $$$$ if they do go down that path.

 

Me too! The benefit of cruising to me was that the price included food, entertainment and hotel but if the food choices continue to disappear, I will find another cruiseline to sail with!

[deliver42]

Unless you are in a suite, you'll find cutbacks and food choices lessen on just about all cruise lines. I'm not counting the luxury lines. Just go on their forums, and you can interchange what's being said with all the forums.

[jennmaybe]

We are not smokers, so this would not impact us, but I do see NCL eventually banning cigarettes being brought on-board and forcing you to buy what they sell. For your convenience, of course.

[Into Cruising]

no longer mattered to me, once I realized the glass was refillable!

[mking8288]

Prices .... today is a miserable day on Wall Street & especially for NCLH stockholders, it tanked & closed down more than 6%. We loved (used to) the NCL products and especially the crew (almost all of them) - it is, however, our current views on senior management or leadership (lack thereof) are far different. There are degrees of difference between disliking and hating, a matter of dissatisfaction - on its own merits ... not a comparative analysis of how similar or different compared to another vendor.

 

People who dislike a company's product are fully entitled to their opinions and views, and it's sad to read about others who cannot seem to accept the fact that one is not allowed to disagree - to be critical, in other words ... on a forum like this.

 

One isn't obligated to click open and read this thread, unsubscribe & move on. Not nice to tell others to sail another line or watch the swinging door being slammed behind you.

 

Not going to post more ideas for NCLH to read here, as I'm sure they got plenty & I see a few ideas here, borrowing from the airlines. Express self walk-off on disembarkation ... now, that's a good one with hundreds on every ship returning to port, ready to join the race for ground transportation.

Edited August 2, 2016 by mking8288

[ColinIllinois]

Prices .... today is a miserable day on Wall Street & especially for NCLH stockholders, it tanked & closed down more than 6%. We loved (used to) the NCL products and especially the crew (almost all of them) - it is, however, our current views on senior management or leadership (lack thereof) are far different. There are degrees of difference between disliking and hating, a matter of dissatisfaction - on its own merits ... not a comparative analysis of how similar or different compared to another vendor.

 

People who dislike a company's product are fully entitled to their opinions and views, and it's sad to read about others who cannot seem to accept the fact that one is not allowed to disagree - to be critical, in other words ... on a forum like this.

 

One isn't obligated to click open and read this thread, unsubscribe & move on. Not nice to tell others to sail another line or watch the swinging door being slammed behind you.

 

Not going to post more ideas for NCLH to read here, as I'm sure they got plenty & I see a few ideas here, borrowing from the airlines. Express self walk-off on disembarkation ... now, that's a good one with hundreds on every ship returning to port, ready to join the race for ground transportation.

 

 

It's a discussion forum. People are absolutely free to disagree with policies and changes however, people are just as free to give their opinion as a counterpoint.

 

Where is the line between constructive criticism and beating the dead horse on a daily basis by certain posters?

 

By the way RCL was down 6.28% today and CCL was down 3.1%

Edited August 2, 2016 by ColinIllinois

[swedish weave]

Abe wanted facts, and got them --- but no comments since the facts were posted.

 

Google shows NCLH down 6.36 % and market cap dropped to 9.0 b I haven't checked to see what that did to the debt equity ratio.

 

Another thing that is noticable is the trading volume is more than double the average.

 

Volume: 4,858,213

Avg Vol: 2,205,179

Mkt Cap: 9.00B

Edited August 2, 2016 by swedish weave

[NLH Arizona]

Prices .... today is a miserable day on Wall Street & especially for NCLH stockholders, it tanked & closed down more than 6%. We loved (used to) the NCL products and especially the crew (almost all of them) - it is, however, our current views on senior management or leadership (lack thereof) are far different. There are degrees of difference between disliking and hating, a matter of dissatisfaction - on its own merits ... not a comparative analysis of how similar or different compared to another vendor.

 

People who dislike a company's product are fully entitled to their opinions and views, and it's sad to read about others who cannot seem to accept the fact that one is not allowed to disagree - to be critical, in other words ... on a forum like this.

 

One isn't obligated to click open and read this thread, unsubscribe & move on. Not nice to tell others to sail another line or watch the swinging door being slammed behind you.

 

Not going to post more ideas for NCLH to read here, as I'm sure they got plenty & I see a few ideas here, borrowing from the airlines. Express self walk-off on disembarkation ... now, that's a good one with hundreds on every ship returning to port, ready to join the race for ground transportation.

Yep, bad day on Wall Street. It is bad for RCCL as well (down 6.28%), but we all know things turn around.

 

I think everyone should be allowed an opinion, whether positive or negative, and should be able to voice it without being called names or rudeness. Just because something is an issue for one person, doesn't mean it is an issue for another, as we are all different and have different likes, dislikes and anticipated experiences while cruising. And as much as some would only like negative posts to some issues, many think that NCL (if they are reading) should see that not everyone feels the same about the changes.

 

As far as changes. I could see NCL charging for the children's club and some of the experiences onboard the ships (ropes course, zip lines, etc.).

Edited August 2, 2016 by NLH Arizona

[SeaShark]

Best way to make more money is to charge for things that are most in demand...drive the price to what the market will bear.

 

Considering how many people want to show up early and then run like mad to get in line, you gotta think that the cost of a Vibe pass could easily be higher. $149 for the week? $199? $249? How much could they ask and still sell out?

 

If a cabana on GSC can reel in $449/$499 for part of 1 day, a week's pass for the Vibe can certainly command more.

[KeithJenner]

No, NCL has enough uncritical loyalists to be able to continue offering less (for more money) until even the fans wise up.

 

 

 

I absolutely agree with people who say that everyone is entitled to express their opinion, whether it be critical, supportive or somewhere in the middle (which is where most people are).

 

However comments of this sort, which basically criticise anyone who doesn't agree with the poster really don't help.

 

I am far from an uncritical loyalist. However, the changes that NCL have made lately make very little difference to us. In fact, some have improved my cruise experience and the prices haven't changed much, so we will still cruise with them.

 

If this changes then we will look elsewhere. It won't be because we have "wised up" though.

[FreestyleNovice]

Not going to post more ideas for NCLH to read here, as I'm sure they got plenty & I see a few ideas here, borrowing from the airlines. Express self walk-off on disembarkation ... now, that's a good one with hundreds on every ship returning to port, ready to join the race for ground transportation.

 

The thing is cruising has been getting more and more affordable, but now the capacity has to be filled and profit has to be made. It's the downside of this golden age of cruising I guess.

 

Btw I've read somewhere a newbuild megaship hits break even after three years. Seems plausible.

Some quick math: 750 million (although costs are more near 900ish) divided by three years, 250 million divided by 365 days divided by 4000 pax is some 171 USD a day of nett revenue needed per pax just to pay off the ship.

 

And let's assume that the average cruise fare covers basic fixed expenses or some small revenue return or perhaps some more on higher priced staterooms.

 

Would it be safe to say on average NCL needs a 100 or 150 bucks per day per pax to pay off a ship?

 

Maybe real values are more towards a few tens for the older ships?

[sparks1093]

Yep, bad day on Wall Street. It is bad for RCCL as well (down 6.28%), but we all know things turn around.

 

I think everyone should be allowed an opinion, whether positive or negative, and should be able to voice it without being called names or rudeness. Just because something is an issue for one person, doesn't mean it is an issue for another, as we are all different and have different likes, dislikes and anticipated experiences while cruising. And as much as some would only like negative posts to some issues, many think that NCL (if they are reading) should see that not everyone feels the same about the changes.

 

As far as changes. I could see NCL charging for the children's club and some of the experiences onboard the ships (ropes course, zip lines, etc.).

 

There are a lot of things they could charge for but I'm not really sure that's the way to make NCL a more premium line (if that is Del Rio's goal). I don't think people want to cruise on a "premium" line and have to keep reaching for their wallet- they'd rather pay a higher fare and have those things included. I personally think charging all of those extras make NCL look less like a premium line. They still have a long way to go.

[deliver42]

NCL is not a premium line. It's mainstream like CCL and RCCL.A step above would probably be Celebrity, Princess, and HAL. None of these are really premium, but perception might make it so. If you want premium, them you are talking about Oceana, Azamora, Crystal, and Seabourne. There may be others, but they are well beyond my scope of affordability.

[NLH Arizona]

Best way to make more money is to charge for things that are most in demand...drive the price to what the market will bear.

 

Considering how many people want to show up early and then run like mad to get in line, you gotta think that the cost of a Vibe pass could easily be higher. $149 for the week? $199? $249? How much could they ask and still sell out?

 

If a cabana on GSC can reel in $449/$499 for part of 1 day, a week's pass for the Vibe can certainly command more.

I think this (raising the price of the vibe pass) every time I read someone asking how early they have to get there or someone who says they had to run/fast walk to make sure they get one. To me, this would be a no-brainer move to make some additional revenue.

[sparks1093]

NCL is not a premium line. It's mainstream like CCL and RCCL.A step above would probably be Celebrity, Princess, and HAL. None of these are really premium, but perception might make it so. If you want premium, them you are talking about Oceana, Azamora, Crystal, and Seabourne. There may be others, but they are well beyond my scope of affordability.

 

I never said that NCL was a premium line, I was talking about Del Rio's vision of moving NCL up into that area on the cruise line pecking order. Only time will tell if he will succeed.

[Shawnino]

Abe wanted facts, and got them --- but no comments since the facts were posted.

 

Google shows NCLH down 6.36 % and market cap dropped to 9.0 b I haven't checked to see what that did to the debt equity ratio.

 

Another thing that is noticable is the trading volume is more than double the average.

 

Volume: 4,858,213

Avg Vol: 2,205,179

Mkt Cap: 9.00B

 

Be kind.

Maybe he's been laid off.

[swedish weave]

The thing is cruising has been getting more and more affordable, but now the capacity has to be filled and profit has to be made. It's the downside of this golden age of cruising I guess.

 

Btw I've read somewhere a newbuild megaship hits break even after three years. Seems plausible.

Some quick math: 750 million (although costs are more near 900ish) divided by three years, 250 million divided by 365 days divided by 4000 pax is some 171 USD a day of nett revenue needed per pax just to pay off the ship.

 

And let's assume that the average cruise fare covers basic fixed expenses or some small revenue return or perhaps some more on higher priced staterooms.

 

Would it be safe to say on average NCL needs a 100 or 150 bucks per day per pax to pay off a ship?

 

Maybe real values are more towards a few tens for the older ships?

 

You are pretty close with your figures. The new NCL ships cost about 900 million each and the payoff is six years. That means for each of the new builds, they pay 75 million every six months for six years.

 

I haven't broken the figures down to calculate how much they must make from each passenger per day to meet the payments, and that figure doesn't include any of the operating expenses.

[karoo]

Just another thought - a booking fee on the loungers by the pool. Front row could be charged premium[emoji6]That way the chair hogs wouldn't need to get out of bed so early.

[abe3]

Not fascinated with stock prices and trading volume. Doesn't affect my vacation. I spend how I see fit and don't care how much a CEO of Disney, Hotels, or cruise lines make.

 

Facts about cruising would be nice instead of bashing a CEO how much money they make or stock prices.

Edited August 3, 2016 by abe3

[got4boys]

Disney tried price gouging this past year and the theme parks are NOT as full now. It is over the news....maybe the price gouging will have less people on the NCL ships?

 

Our NCL Escape cruise in December will be our first with NCL on the biggest ship. For what I paid for last year before it was finished was a good deal, but not as good as the one we got on Celebrity for the 5 of us and got a Family Verandah Stateroom - oh my gosh am I going to miss that one. Those are the true hidden gems. 271 square foot room with a 242 sq foot balcony.

 

One of the only reasons that we wanted to try NCL was the activities on the ship for my boys. They thought Celebrity did not have enough to do for them, but they did love the food.

[tmilak]

i choose NCL because it allows my family a complete cruise experience of luxury for the adults and fun for my children unlike the luxury lines. I am lucky enough to cruise exclusively in the Haven but that continues to be liquidated with items being cut since its introduction. As a frequent cruiser that pays for something and to find out that has been cut by NCL or becomes an extra charge is becoming frustrating to the point where we are now considering switching to another line. Soon my kids will out grow the waterslides, ropes courses and other kid stuff and we will look elsewhere should NCL continue its charges for the simple things that should be inclusive. The price for the Haven has become so high the we can now cruise the luxury lines for only a small amount more where everything really is all inclusive.

[Shawnino]

i choose NCL because it allows my family a complete cruise experience of luxury for the adults and fun for my children unlike the luxury lines. [....] The price for the Haven has become so high the we can now cruise the luxury lines for only a small amount more where everything really is all inclusive.

 

(Hope you don't feel I've lost your context.)

 

This reality is what NCL will bump up against. For those who graduate to Regent, it's no loss to NCLH. But those who choose other lines will be a loss--and more importantly it's a loss of the most lucrative customers.

 

I do my budget cruising on NCL, and if NCL loses me it's no big deal to NCLH. I do private shore-ex, zero drop in the Casino, zero Spa Services etc. Someone else will take my BC-cabin and spend the same or more. But losing a Haven customer, that hurts.