Gratuity Price Hike?

[zitsky]

And we all know where that will come from...:rolleyes:

 

Do you mean from the customers, us???

[Two Wheels Only]

Do you mean from the customers, us???

Yup.

[zitsky]

I think NCL does a good job getting money from customers. They could lower their prices and I'd be happy.

[gwsster]

Uh oh ... don't let my wife read that quip about bingo cards! They have gone up more than anything else on board. I wish you could buy one for $3.58!

 

This wife quit playing Bingo when she did a calculation of what the ship makes and what the payout is. It was fun when the cards were $10.00 a card and a good way to kill an hour on a sea day. Now it is a choice between a Bingo card or 2 drinks....Hmmmm.

[cheersforbeers]

Uh oh ... don't let my wife read that quip about bingo cards! They have gone up more than anything else on board. I wish you could buy one for $3.58!

 

 

 

This wife quit playing Bingo when she did a calculation of what the ship makes and what the payout is. It was fun when the cards were $10.00 a card and a good way to kill an hour on a sea day. Now it is a choice between a Bingo card or 2 drinks....Hmmmm.

 

 

 

I know what you mean. We remember going up to the Spinnaker Lounge getting a couple of bingo cards and have happy hour. Women would get 2 for 1 drinks and the (BIL’s) Brothers in Law would get 2 for 1 buckets of beer. Oh how the times have changed. We still go watch both bingo and deal or no deal just don’t buy cards. We have noticed crowds are getting smaller though

[GlamorousGirl]

Do you know it is not going to staff? I'm sure none of the staff wants the minimum wage and works hard for those extra dollars. I agree, if folks think something shady is going on, instead of having an issue with it on here, go to another line. For me, I've got no issues, so I'll continue to enjoy NCL.

If it does go to staff, and customers are automatically charged these charges at the cruise line (not the customer) discretion, what incentive does the staff have to "work hard" when they know they're getting the optimal 20% tip regardless of the quality of their service? Seems they have no incentive.

[fshagan]

This wife quit playing Bingo when she did a calculation of what the ship makes and what the payout is. It was fun when the cards were $10.00 a card and a good way to kill an hour on a sea day. Now it is a choice between a Bingo card or 2 drinks....Hmmmm.

 

Yeah, they have a $200 payout with 40 people paying $60 for cards - $2,400 collected. and the game last 5 to 15 minutes. Pretty good hourly haul!

[mianmike]

The crew get the contracted salary and are allowed to keep cash tips.

 

If you do the math, you can see that the recent increases in the DSC produces enough revenue to more than pay the crew salaries. We will never know what NCL does with the excess.

 

Doesn't the CEO Frank Del Rio deserve a chunk of the gratuities for his hard work of implementing new and bigger fees?

[newmexicoNita]

I guess I just don't understand, one, because NCL isn't going to change and two, it only keeps the posters who have any issue with it with negativity and some are so obsessed with it. Writing or calling NCL with their issues would seem more effective way to me, but this is only my opinion.

Very true, plus none of us really know where the gratuities are going. I don't care is someone says their friend who works for NCL knows or another says they asked God and he told them. Yes, ranting is ok, we all do it from time to time but to keep on is a waste of energy. NCL reads these boards yes, but certainly are not going to change a policy based on a handful of people continuing to voice negative and perhaps untrue comments.

[newmexicoNita]

I think NCL does a good job getting money from customers. They could lower their prices and I'd be happy.

Heck I would be happy if hotels lowed their prices and airlines as well. How about restaurants or my electric company lowering their rates. NCL is certainly in line with other mass marketed lines, if you find a better price on a cruise line that is doing a similar itinerary and at the same time, for heavens sake book that line.

 

Cheersforbeers: I have been sailing NCL for 25 years on about 25 cruises, and almost every NCL ship and don't remember much of what you are saying about cheap Bingo cards, etc. Oh maybe a special offer from time to time, but things like drinks 2 for 1 would be very rare. I do agree Bingo cards are very expensive, that is one reason we never play Bingo, but for those who do, they know what they are paying, it is their choice. I just like to throw my money away like that. It isn't NCLs fault some people choose to play.

Edited December 9, 2017 by newmexicoNita

[LMaxwell]

Is service said to be improving with the hike in gratuity rates? Usually pay more gratuity based upon receiving better service.

[zitsky]

Heck I would be happy if hotels lowed their prices and airlines as well. How about restaurants or my electric company lowering their rates. NCL is certainly in line with other mass marketed lines, if you find a better price on a cruise line that is doing a similar itinerary and at the same time, for heavens sake book that line.

 

Cheersforbeers: I have been sailing NCL for 25 years on about 25 cruises, and almost every NCL ship and don't remember much of what you are saying about cheap Bingo cards, etc. Oh maybe a special offer from time to time, but things like drinks 2 for 1 would be very rare. I do agree Bingo cards are very expensive, that is one reason we never play Bingo, but for those who do, they know what they are paying, it is their choice. I just like to throw my money away like that. It isn't NCLs fault some people choose to play.

 

What I said was meant to be funny. To be fair, my only experience is Viking. NCL is much cheaper for a longer cruise.

[cheersforbeers]

Heck I would be happy if hotels lowed their prices and airlines as well. How about restaurants or my electric company lowering their rates. NCL is certainly in line with other mass marketed lines, if you find a better price on a cruise line that is doing a similar itinerary and at the same time, for heavens sake book that line.

 

 

 

Cheersforbeers: I have been sailing NCL for 25 years on about 25 cruises, and almost every NCL ship and don't remember much of what you are saying about cheap Bingo cards, etc. Oh maybe a special offer from time to time, but things like drinks 2 for 1 would be very rare. I do agree Bingo cards are very expensive, that is one reason we never play Bingo, but for those who do, they know what they are paying, it is their choice. I just like to throw my money away like that. It isn't NCLs fault some people choose to play.

 

 

 

newmexicoNita,

I come to a forum like this to learn, not be called a liar.

Just because you’ve had 25 years and 25 cruises does not mean it did not happen, because you were not there does not make it so.

Pearl July 2008 and Pearl June 2009 in the Spinnaker Lounge, only during Bingo and only for 1 hour, it did happen.

[Driberif1]

Flight to Miami $500.00 ok

Hotel room $300.00 ok

Ride to port $40.00 ok

Cruise $3,000.00 ok

extra fees/add ons $200.00 Oh HELL NO! This is ridiculous! Ruins the vacation! Gotta pick a different cruiseline!

 

Seriously people, Unless you're cruising every week why complain so much if it is a few more bucks here and there, you're probably only going on vacations like this once or twice a year so splurge a little and just enjoy it! It is amazing how people can literally spend thousands of dollars and get so worked up about a couple hundred. If you break down the cost of everything it will frustrate you, just figure out how much the total cost of everything together will be and if you do not feel it is worth it then go stay at a Motel 6 or go camping for a week. If you add it all up and consider you're in the Caribbean with unlimited meals and drinks and entertainment and out of the office it is definitely worth it. You could not get a hotel room for 7 days by itself anywhere in the Caribbean for the price of a cruise let alone get all the perks included. And that's all I got to say about that! ;)

[cheersforbeers]

Flight to Miami $500.00 ok

Hotel room $300.00 ok

Ride to port $40.00 ok

Cruise $3,000.00 ok

extra fees/add ons $200.00 Oh HELL NO! This is ridiculous! Ruins the vacation! Gotta pick a different cruiseline!

 

Seriously people, Unless you're cruising every week why complain so much if it is a few more bucks here and there, you're probably only going on vacations like this once or twice a year so splurge a little and just enjoy it! It is amazing how people can literally spend thousands of dollars and get so worked up about a couple hundred. If you break down the cost of everything it will frustrate you, just figure out how much the total cost of everything together will be and if you do not feel it is worth it then go stay at a Motel 6 or go camping for a week. If you add it all up and consider you're in the Caribbean with unlimited meals and drinks and entertainment and out of the office it is definitely worth it. You could not get a hotel room for 7 days by itself anywhere in the Caribbean for the price of a cruise let alone get all the perks included. And that's all I got to say about that! ;)

 

 

 

D,

Priceless.

[LMaxwell]

Did NCL claim service is going to improve?

[mking8288]

Did NCL claim service is going to improve?

Nevermind their claims, what matter is how we, the consumer that they aim to please, serve and extract our money, see or perceive on the "products" delivered.

 

Well, this is obviously highly subjective, non-scientific, biased and distorted, and open to tons of spirited debate and disagreement ... But, from our "limited" sailings over the years, since we don't cruise every month, doing B2B and all that ... - services from most of our Room Stewards have been good to excellent, even though they've gone without an assistant. Our last one was as friendly as the others but simply overlooked some of the details & didn't take care of our simple requests by Day 2 ... he get A minus, no Hero's card.

 

MDR server team - well, I'll take the "Fifth" on this category ... suffice to say, very inconsistent. Our most recent Breakaway run, they get a B+ at best, stretching it.

 

These are the 2 key mission-critical areas on every sailings, regardless of who's the CD, the HD or Asst HD don't make our beds or fix sagging mattress springs (although, they are responsible up the chains of command) or F&B Director/Executive Chef, since they're unlikely to personally oversee that slab of marinated cuts of beef or lamb ... and they don't smoke the chilled salmon, etc.

 

Raising prices to maintain margins (profit) to keep pace with inflation and to "make" budget targets for stockholders, surely we all understood & don't disagree unless we are socialists - the issues has more to do with inconsistent and often poor communications & timing, IMO. Let's not call them cutbacks, just changes over the last 10 years - toss that into the pricing Calculus formulary ... then, it's understandable whether NCL is still a preferred option over other mass lines.

 

Forums like this aren't closed & off-limits to "critics" ... the "gratuity" adjustments or whatever one choose to call it or consider them, still don't hit everyone across the ship ... unless you opt for the UBP and SDP.

 

Popcorns ready for more flaming debate :o