It's Truly Embarrassing

[CruisinHarvey]

Please, PLEASE...don't tell her about the lifeboats.

 

They won't get rid of them. They'll just charge a service fee to use them.

Edited August 4, 2016 by CruisinHarvey

[Travel R]

The entire mass cruise industry has changed over the years. Although many of you on this thread are discussing the changes on NLC, cruising is not the same. The "cruise experience" I remember no longer exists - Cruises have become a semi-inclusive hotel on the water that brings me to the ports I would like to visit.

 

Has the cruise industry cut down on anything that has really impacted my cruise? No. However, the cumulative effect is noticeable. You remember the "little things" that used to add to your cruise experience, like chocolates on your pillow, coming back to your room after 10 minutes and it is completely cleaned up, one waiter per two tables, multi-course meals, someone showing you to your room upon embarking, getting all the food the ship has to offer in the MDR, etc., etc.

 

As for Lobster - I too am a former chef, and I do know the difference between a good piece of lobster and the stuff they serve on cruise ships; I enjoyed "lobster night," not exactly for the food, but I know that many of you will not understand this, but it was because of the feeling the meal generated - to me, it was part of the "cruise experience." To analogize, Bogart is quoted as saying "A hot dog at a ball park is better than a steak at the Ritz." Any reasonable person would rather have a good steak than a hot dog - but in certain circumstances, even that pre-processed tube of (mostly) meat can be the best thing in the world.

 

Although the OP mentions his jumping ship to Carnival for his next cruise - I am not sure if it will be much greener there as well. I took a Carnival cruise for the first time last year and the entertainment was horrible, the food was the worst of any cruise I had been on (except for the Indian on the buffet), and the service was average at best. [Note: it was not all bad - see my review below.] Regardless, I still had a great vacation because I was there enjoying it with my family and some great friends - and I did not think of it as a cruise, just the floating hotel it has become.

[sctexan]

The customer definitely does not get what it once did on NCL.

So I guess we should all still be mad that doctors don't make house calls, no one pumps my gas any longer, my clothes and shoes are not handmade, I have to dial the telephone instead of asking the operator to put me through, grocery stores don't deliver (although that is making a come back), and a thousand other things that used to be but now are not.

 

Times change and if you don't like the changes don't torture yourself by continuing to compare what was to what is now. Lord, if I did that I would drive myself crazy lamenting the fact that I don't look or feel 25 anymore. Life it too short to dwell on what a company chooses to do with their own product.

 

Sent from my SM-T550 using Tapatalk

Edited August 4, 2016 by sctexan

[ready2cruzagain]

NCL charges 18% on all beverages purchased (including any plans) - Promo or not (unless you are in the Haven and get it as a promo). ;)

I worded it wrong...thanks. I just meant that everyone complains about NCL charging 18% gratuities on their promo beverage package and if you get the Carnival beverage package it is 15% gratuities AND $50pp per day.

[skiwee]

Out of al our cruises we only ordered lobster once. It as kind of rubbery and tasteless. We never bothered again. I can get much better from our local supermarket. Lol. As far as rest of the things you listed we saw fireworks off of the getaway and DCL. Disney does it much better! We weren't that impressed with NCL fireworks.

We have been on NCL, Carnival, and DCL. NCL is our favorite. DCL was nice. You couldn't pay us to take another Carnival cruise! We were even two of the people to get thar free cruise offer a couple years ago and I took great joy in ripping them up. You will have a fantastic time on NCL. We will be heading to Bermuda Sept 11 out of NYC and can't wait!

[LrgPizza]

I worded it wrong...thanks. I just meant that everyone complains about NCL charging 18% gratuities on their promo beverage package and if you get the Carnival beverage package it is 15% gratuities AND $50pp per day.

 

 

If you purchase the plan on NCL, it's $79 per person per day, plus 18% gratuity on the package price. So Carnival's is significantly cheaper. Sure, sometimes you can get it as a promo on NCL, which makes it a better deal then. But to compare a promo with a sale price really isn't a good comparison.

 

 

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[richstowe]

Enjoy Carnival [emoji57]

 

Forums

Cracks me up that your CC avatar seems to be that of the Blue Man group .

Remind me , what happened to this NCL show ? :D

 

[stickey_mouse]

So I guess we should all still be mad that doctors don't make house calls, no one pumps my gas any longer, my clothes and shoes are not handmade, I have to dial the telephone instead of asking the operator to put me through, grocery stores don't deliver (although that is making a come back), and a thousand other things that used to be but now are not.

 

Times change and if you don't like the changes don't torture yourself by continuing to compare what was to what is now. Lord, if I did that I would drive myself crazy lamenting the fact that I don't look or feel 25 anymore. Life it too short to dwell on what a company chooses to do with their own product.

 

Sent from my SM-T550 using Tapatalk

Sorry, your argument is unfair and just not very relevant. The changes we are complaining about were implemented within the past year or so, since the time the OP (and I) began looking into cruising with NCL. Now, allow me to make some changes to your argument to make it more relevant to the NCL situation: you find a doctor you like and make an appointment with him, knowing he makes house calls. Whoops, he decides to no longer do so. You go to a gas station that, as of last week, pumped your gas for you. Doh, it no longer does. You are interested in signing up with a phone carrier because it makes calls for you, but now it has decided to implement a new, "dial yourself" method. Still not angry about these changes?

 

Our primary complaint is less about the fact that there are changes, but how they are implemented suddenly by NCL and without much warning. We of course understand how contracts end and how vendors come and go, but NCL seems to maintain very brief contractual periods and show the seams of its operation a little more than most. Just my $.02.

[fshagan]

Those 4 examples were the simple result of contracts expiring and not being renewed.

 

I know for a fact, due to my job and connections, that one of them was NOT NCL's choice but the other party involved opted to not renew. I'm sure several others were too.

 

Contracts have time limits and companies decide what they want to do after said date passes.

 

That's been pointed out many times. The purpose of the list is evidently not to accurately reflect the negative changes NCL has made but to exaggerate the changes, thereby making the list ineffective. It is nice and long, even if you take out the misleading "changes".

 

The fact is that all of the entertainment offerings were replaced by offerings of at least equal value, and / or a few of those things were on one or two ships only (like fireworks).

 

There are a handful of changes that affect everyone (price increases) and some that affect a small minority (carry on water / soda policy). Far more distressing in the customer service sense is the raw deal Canadians got when NCL arbitrarily returned OBC purchased in good faith when the exchange rate was unfavorable (costing the passengers money) and incidents like the "dock and stay!" routine they are doing now in Seattle with very little compensation.

 

The impression you get is that NCL (corporate) is clueless when it comes to customer service.

Edited August 4, 2016 by fshagan

[swedish weave]

I see you haven't sailed on Carnival since 2012 and if you think Carnival hasn't had cutbacks then you are in for a huge surprise.

 

We have been on 18 Carnival cruises but we will now be trying Norwegian because of the cutbacks on Carnival.

 

You mentioned lobster, Carnival no longer serves lobster on cruises 5 nights or less.

 

There are many more things that Carnival has cutback on since you last cruised them, this is just a few. It just shows that NCL isn't the only one that is cutting back.

 

Your lobster comment seems to be a deliberate attempt to mislead people.

 

Carnival served lobster to me on my 7 day cruise in the MDR (all I wanted) and NCL didn't offer lobster anywhere without additional charges on the NCL cruise immediately preceeding the Carnival cruise.

 

Let's try to be fair with the comparisons, please.

[sctexan]

Sorry, your argument is unfair and just not very relevant. The changes we are complaining about were implemented within the past year or so, since the time the OP (and I) began looking into cruising with NCL. Now, allow me to make some changes to your argument to make it more relevant to the NCL situation: you find a doctor you like and make an appointment with him, knowing he makes house calls. Whoops, he decides to no longer do so. You go to a gas station that, as of last week, pumped your gas for you. Doh, it no longer does. You are interested in signing up with a phone carrier because it makes calls for you, but now it has decided to implement a new, "dial yourself" method. Still not angry about these changes?

 

Angry? No, it would take a heck of a lot more than that to make me angry. Disappointed? Maybe. I realize that things change. My doctor whom I researched, had seen for several years and liked very much decided in the last 3 months or so that she wanted only to be part time which meant that I wouldn't be able to see her except for appointments that I scheduled far in advance. Did I like the way she told me? No. She didn't tell me at all. I had to ask when I had called yet again and couldn't get an appointment with her. Was I angry? No. Maybe I should have been angry because she is my doctor and it has to do with my health. I was sad that I would not see her any longer and I chose another doctor. Simple. Move on.

 

I understand that you and many others are not happy with the way NCL communicates and implements changes. I do agree that the bottled water and beverage policy was poorly done. But again, if you don't like what is happening vote with your dollars and go elsewhere.

[fstuff1]

There's been quite a few changes over the last few years:

 

 

• Nickelodeon gone
  
• Geoffrey Zakarian gone
  
• Cake Boss 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 at GSC gone
  
• Fireworks gone
  
• UDP is now SDP
  
• UBP used to be for everyone in room, but now it's just first two passengers
  
• 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
  
• Margaritaville on Escape is now a la carte. Used to be included.
  
• Cancellation policy got much worse.
  
• SDP price increased.
  
• Fewer days for SDP on promos.
  
• Available wines have gotten worse. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=49635954&postcount=64
  
• Certain menu items (like Seafood Extravaganza at Ocean Blue) not covered by SDP upcharge.
  
• Bayamo upcharge for SDP increased.
  
• Dining packages no longer have fixed $10 price for second entree at Cagney's and Le Bistro. Now charged full a la carte price for entree.
  
• Uptown/Flamingo Grill being replace with Margaritaville. Free dining place replace for fee-based one with similar food.
  
• AARP discount gone.
  
• Haven breakfast and lunch menu items scaled back. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2356561
  
• Water, soda and juices can not be brought on board either as carry-on or checked luggage https://www.ncl.com/faq/liquor-beverage-policy
  
• No more lobster on Haven dining menu http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2385832
  

+1

 

great post!

[ready2cruzagain]

Your lobster comment seems to be a deliberate attempt to mislead people.

 

Carnival served lobster to me on my 7 day cruise in the MDR (all I wanted) and NCL didn't offer lobster anywhere without additional charges on the NCL cruise immediately preceeding the Carnival cruise.

 

Let's try to be fair with the comparisons, please.

How is it misleading or unfair:confused:...I just stated that Carnival no longer serves Lobster on 5 night or less cruises so that is a cutback that Carnival had implemented lately.

Edited August 4, 2016 by ready2cruzagain

[NLH Arizona]

How is it misleading or unfair:confused:...I just stated that Carnival no longer serves Lobster on 5 night or less cruises so that is a cutback that Carnival had implemented lately.

I believe in one post, it was said that the OP's cruise is a 4 day cruise and he had an issue that lobster was not being served, thus your comparison is 100% correct and not misleading or unfair at all, because if he was on a similar cruise on Carnival, he would indeed not be served lobster in the MDR. Edited August 4, 2016 by NLH Arizona

[stickey_mouse]

Angry? No, it would take a heck of a lot more than that to make me angry. Disappointed? Maybe. I realize that things change. My doctor whom I researched, had seen for several years and liked very much decided in the last 3 months or so that she wanted only to be part time which meant that I wouldn't be able to see her except for appointments that I scheduled far in advance. Did I like the way she told me? No. She didn't tell me at all. I had to ask when I had called yet again and couldn't get an appointment with her. Was I angry? No. Maybe I should have been angry because she is my doctor and it has to do with my health. I was sad that I would not see her any longer and I chose another doctor. Simple. Move on.

 

I understand that you and many others are not happy with the way NCL communicates and implements changes. I do agree that the bottled water and beverage policy was poorly done. But again, if you don't like what is happening vote with your dollars and go elsewhere.

That's just the point. These changes are being implemented soon after they are announced... already within the penalty phase of the reservation. I won't argue that any of these are disastrous changes, just annoying. And no, I'm not angry either, just a little frustrated with how NCL conducts business.

 

My frustrations stem from my planning a group grouse on the Getaway. Correct me if I am wrong, but the Getaway began sailing in early 2014, thus making it approximately 2.5 years old. Still young enough to be considered a "new" ship. In its short lifespan, it has undergone numerous changes, all of which have been mentioned in this thread already. It's not that I'm mad about such changes, just turned off by them. To me, it sends up a red flag if such a new ship has this many moving parts, so to speak.

[swedish weave]

How is it misleading or unfair:confused:....

 

I think you know !!!

[stickey_mouse]

A change announced by NCL that I was actually excited about was their plans to construct physical dividers between the 'smoking' and 'non-smoking' sections in the casino in the three newest ships, with the intended result of preventing smoke from permeating into the atrium and other non-smoking areas. I wish they would address a timeframe for this.

[Sizzlechest]

The fact is that all of the entertainment offerings were replaced by offerings of at least equal value, and / or a few of those things were on one or two ships only (like fireworks).

 

Oh goody. Please list the "of at least equal value" replacements.

[Jana60]

Your lobster comment seems to be a deliberate attempt to mislead people.

 

Carnival served lobster to me on my 7 day cruise in the MDR (all I wanted) and NCL didn't offer lobster anywhere without additional charges on the NCL cruise immediately preceeding the Carnival cruise.

 

Let's try to be fair with the comparisons, please.

 

Since the dining package can be chosen along with the drink package if you get an ocean view or higher category of room I didn't have any trouble with additional charges on our cruise in March and ate Lobster twice on that trip. And as I previously said I had whole Maine Lobster 3x on my last Cruise 3 weeks ago. Someone posted a link to another thread where someone claimed they did not receive Lobster at the Haven restaurant but I'm not sure why that would be since it is still on their menu. I will be going on my 7th cruise during a 12 month time period in October but I no longer have loyalty to any one cruise line. Carnival broke me of that. I've had good experiences and bad experiences on many cruise lines. The nice thing about a site like this is that we get to find out about the changes before we actually book the cruise. That way at least you can choose what's really important to you. Something I did not know by looking at the Norwegian site was that they have a comedy club with multiple shows each evening. I also was pleased to find bands playing at several locations during the evenings. They also had extensive hours of karaoke which is one of my favorite activities. So for me, at least right now, Norwegian is the best cruise line. Could that change? Quite easily! Is NCL the best cruise line for everyone? No. If I seem to enjoy the cruises with NCL, I will go elsewhere.

[ancientlady]

Exactly.

I totally agree!

[swedish weave]

Since the dining package can be chosen along with the drink package if you get an ocean view or higher category of room I didn't have any trouble with additional charges on our cruise in March and ate Lobster twice on that trip. And as I previously said I had whole Maine Lobster 3x on my last Cruise 3 weeks ago. Someone posted a link to another thread where someone claimed they did not receive Lobster at the Haven restaurant but I'm not sure why that would be since it is still on their menu. I will be going on my 7th cruise during a 12 month time period in October but I no longer have loyalty to any one cruise line. Carnival broke me of that. I've had good experiences and bad experiences on many cruise lines. The nice thing about a site like this is that we get to find out about the changes before we actually book the cruise. That way at least you can choose what's really important to you. Something I did not know by looking at the Norwegian site was that they have a comedy club with multiple shows each evening. I also was pleased to find bands playing at several locations during the evenings. They also had extensive hours of karaoke which is one of my favorite activities. So for me, at least right now, Norwegian is the best cruise line. Could that change? Quite easily! Is NCL the best cruise line for everyone? No. If I seem to enjoy the cruises with NCL, I will go elsewhere.

 

I did not book the higher category cabins.

 

Also, NCL charges 18% on the "so called" free perks, so the extra expense is built into the rates and service charges for the higher category cabins.

 

My comparisons were for the lower category cabins ---apples to apples.

Edited August 4, 2016 by swedish weave

[Jana60]

I did not book the higher category cabins.

 

Also, NCL charges 18% on the "so called" free perks, so the extra expense is built into the rates and service charges for the higher category cabins.

 

My comparisons were for the lower category cabins ---apples to apples.

The price of an inner cabin on Carnival right now is running $800 to $978 per person on their oldest ships. NCL is charging $949 per person for a balcony with the included ultimate drink package and 3 Day dining package on the Escape which is one of their newest ships so why would you choose an inner Room on NCL if you can afford the $900 per person Inner Room on Carnival?

[NLH Arizona]

I will be going on my 7th cruise during a 12 month time period in October but I no longer have loyalty to any one cruise line. Carnival broke me of that. I've had good experiences and bad experiences on many cruise lines.

I've cruise on a number of lines over the years and I've settle on three that I only cruise on now. There are some I wouldn't return to because of bad experiences. I won't cruise Royal Caribbean or Princess, because I had bad experiences years ago. I would never go on Carnival, just too many bad things seem to happen to them and I don't want to take a chance of being on one of their ships when it stops, not to mention I still have pictures in mind my of what they use to be years ago. I cruise on Crystal and Celebrity and even though, like NCL, they have had many changes over the years, they are still, in my mind, great cruise lines. NCL also offers me great value and until it doesn't, I'll continue to cruise with them.

 

I think we all have to choose using our wallets and if we feel that a cruise line is a good value for the experience it offers, then we stay with it and if we don't we move on to another line. And what people have to remember is that what is important to them, might not be important to someone else, so every one is going to have a different opinion as to if the value exceeds the experience or not. For example, someone might consider the fireworks and lobster very important to them and a deal breaker, but for me I don't see the value in either one of them or someone might not want to pay the 18% added gratuity for the specialty dining, but for me it just makes it easier for me, because I have always tipped anyway.

Edited August 4, 2016 by NLH Arizona

[spidybabe]

Not pertinent to all, but....

diluted platinum benefits. Now dinners only good for one app, one main, one dessert, and only at 2 restaurants.

Reduced CAS perks--no more private welcome cocktail party (rum punch now), no bottle of wine with dinner, harder to get comped cabins.

And the new menus--with less choices and items...

AND NO MORE CHOCOLATE BUFFET(wasn't hat good, but was pretty and fun)

Sorry if any of these were mentioned already

Safe sailing

[NLH Arizona]

Not pertinent to all, but....

diluted platinum benefits. Now dinners only good for one app, one main, one dessert, and only at 2 restaurants.

Reduced CAS perks--no more private welcome cocktail party (rum punch now), no bottle of wine with dinner, harder to get comped cabins.

And the new menus--with less choices and items...

AND NO MORE CHOCOLATE BUFFET(wasn't hat good, but was pretty and fun)

Sorry if any of these were mentioned already

Safe sailing

I haven't had any issues getting comped cabins from CAS, just booked another a few weeks back without issues, which will make 3 I have booked. Guess everyone's experience differs.

 

Also, the chocolate buffet has been gone for a long, long time. I think Mr. Sheehan was still in charge when that was dropped.

Edited August 4, 2016 by NLH Arizona