Bloomberg News Reports: NCL's guests spend more in extra fees than most other lines.

[sparks1093]

I always comparison shop when booking a cruise and this time around (for a cruise in April) Royal came in at $1776, $500 less than Carnival and $1700 less than Norwegian. One should never assume that you are paying a lower base amount.

 

When Del Rio took over years ago this was one of his stated goals, to increase the onboard spend of passengers. Whatever he is doing seems to be working.

[graphicguy]

we fall in the middle. we have some on board expense, but very little now since always take advantage of the UBP. the 20% grat on the package value has saved us TONS.

I am probably right in the middle of that, too.

 

Although, on my latest NCL cruise on the GEM, I had no balance at the end of the week and I just got a check from NCL for $225 refundable OBC I didn't use. Then again, there is no go cart track, or laser tag on the GEM to spend money on. And, all the entertainment was free. NCL gave me a 3 specialty restaurant package and all my drinks for free (+ tips).

 

I've done the same on RCCL....bought their specialty restaurant packages. On Carnival, you pay to get on the ship earlier (FTTF) so you can spend more money at the bars even sooner.

 

So, yeah...they're all doing it. Depends on if you want to spend more once on board. Or, not spend any extra at all. You can do either.

[david_sobe]

NCL is offering more choices that people are willing to pay for. No one forces anyone to buy a spa treatment, a ticket to Wine Lovers, etc. I would rather pay a smaller base amount and have more choices. I won't use the go karts or go to the same Cirque show repeatedly so why should I pay for them in my cabin cost?

 

 

I understand what you are trying to say but your examples are very poor. Spa treatments have always cost money way back to the beginning of cruising. The Wine Musical involves at least 5 glasses of alcohol. That's always going to cost extra.

Some entertainment is worth extra while some is not. The magic show on Getaway was nice and I love magic and had magicians in my family. But the show was so basic its something you would expect on a casino boat. The meal was fine but the same quality if not less than the MDR. So IMHO the extra "fees" for the show were padding the profits. Not saying that is the case every time though.

[Oceansaway17]

When there are more areas for upcharge its a no brainer there is going to be more upcharges. NCL is pretty clever in discovering more and more ways to either raise fees or create new ones. Specialty restaurants used to be the minority on board. Now they are the majority of restaurants on board. Entertainment used to be included in the standard cruise price. NCL started charging for some entertainment years ago. Deck activities used to be included but now some deck activities are added fees.

Its threads like this that make the cheerleader's heads explode. No one is attacking NCL for just pointing out the obvious. I never could understand why some people just get so defensive for commenting or posting a thread like this. This is actually very good news for NCL. It shows their philosophy is working and they are making lots of money.

I see "choices" and "al a carte" lines coming soon. There were ALWAYS choices, its just that more and more of the "choices" come with fees ;)

 

And NCL does the BEST JOB for solo travellers. We get to have a cute room for very reasonable price in a quiet hallway high up in the ship. I have done so 3 times now.

Then it gives me money for specialty restaurants and SPA and Shore Excursions. In the end I still spend less than on Princess or Disney. NCL is a trend setter and others are trying to catch up.

Just heard RCI will stop using plastic straws now. NCL is already doing it.

[GlamorousGirl]

I find I only spend more on NCL because there is more to do that I'm actually interested in doing, and I've felt it was worth paying for or I would have passed on it. Thanks to the "Free at Sea" promotion alcohol is MUCH cheaper on NCL so in the end I actually save money, even when I book a specialty restaurant package, the thermal suite, and paid shows. I'd rather spend my money on that than an alcohol package on another line where it was not complimentary through any promotions. I have never been bored on an NCL ship either... which I cannot say for some other lines...

[Budget Queen]

Total costs are all that matters.

 

Too many are not even considering the cruise cost??? Take a look and most times, those "free" perks, cost multiple, hundreds of dollars. I always want - no perks- rock bottom rates. The bidding is ingenius and I hope that marketing person gets free cruises for life. Again, people - separate- the costs, "whooo I got an upgrade for "only", $500 for the two of us" etc. Never adding it into what you already paid, which sometimes is complained about as being high. eg. .

 

Works fantastic for me- it opens up all the cheap inside cabin- that go on the price dump rack. :) :)

[newmexicoNita]

These articles like most are way to simplified. We take them at face value without really doing comparison. The total cost of a cruise is all I care about, whether it is up front or on board. What the article wasn't considering was we all have choices to make: don't spend a penny on board or spend thousands, it is up to each of us to decide. The article isn't right or wrong, but can be misleading if taken totally at face value.

[david_sobe]

These articles like most are way to simplified. We take them at face value without really doing comparison. The total cost of a cruise is all I care about, whether it is up front or on board. What the article wasn't considering was we all have choices to make: don't spend a penny on board or spend thousands, it is up to each of us to decide. The article isn't right or wrong, but can be misleading if taken totally at face value.

 

 

That's correct. The article is neither right or wrong. Its just publishing some data. Its not about who is more expensive in cruising nor about trying to avoid fees while sailing (as many tried to make it be). The article demonstrates what NCL has told everyone they were going to do.....increase revenue, on board spending, and fees from all their customers. This should not surprise anyone and was probably received very well at NCL headquarters. It shows their plan is working to increase revenue. It wont be long until the other lines follow their lead.

Edited June 9, 2018 by david_sobe

[PTC DAWG]

Wgas?

[Oppalopa]

that is me.whatever i do spend onboard is covered by onboard credits, so i not spending a dime.

Me too I also think the rates are the lowest on Norwegian. I never see a low or no single supplement on Carnival.

[drsel]

Me too I also think the rates are the lowest on Norwegian. I never see a low or no single supplement on Carnival.

How much is the single supplement in Norwegian?

Which cruise ships?

[NancyW12]

Last January, I got a fire sale inside cabin as a solo for $50 a day on a smaller ship. Today, I have a studio booked on a different boat, different region for more than I hoped to pay but still a steal. My all in on this European cruise for one with room, beverage package, all tips, and thermal suite is $1500. Same cruise, I watch the upgrade bid thread and see people paying more than my entire cruise pp ON THE SAME BOAT to upgrade to a Haven- so those people are spending 3x pp more than I am and they think they are getting a bargain as well. They lay out $7500+ for 2 people in the Haven and think they are getting a steal there. I like that NCL gives the options of what to spend on or not. I do my own shore excursions, so a fare with those included would simply be an inflated fare and I wouldn't' sail. Now? I choose what I want to buy. And the folks in the fancier cabins are happily spending what I'm not and everybody is happy with what they chose. Winner!

[Budget Queen]

How much is the single supplement in Norwegian?

Which cruise ships?

 

Typically the supplement is 100%, but NCL drops it, for some cruises at the last minute- meaning, within a week of sailing (some refer to "last minute" as any time after final payment).

 

I sail just about every month, and haven't paid a supplement yet. :)

[zqvol]

How much is the single supplement in Norwegian?

Which cruise ships?

 

On the newer ships that have studio cabins NCL always offers rates lower than double the single fare. The studio cabins are almost as big as an inside and very comfortable.

[Steff79]

http://www.fr.de/leben/reise/nachrichten/teilweise-50-prozent-teuerer-warum-die-preise-bei-norwegian-cruise-line-gestiegen-sind-a-1517905

 

it is in german, but i want write a link to the source.

 

Kevin Bubolz ( Vice president for europe ) says the price went up in the last two years about 50% for NCL bookings in europe ( with the all in ). Because of the all inclusive and the world wide strong demand for cruises.

[KateQ22003]

Typically the supplement is 100%, but NCL drops it, for some cruises at the last minute- meaning, within a week of sailing (some refer to "last minute" as any time after final payment).

 

I sail just about every month, and haven't paid a supplement yet. :)

 

Clearly you live near a port. Some of us aren't lucky enough to be able to book at the last minute. In any event, I have NEVER been able to have the single supplement waived, and believe me, I have tried. I pay a fortune to sail as a solo on NCL, and many ships have no single cabins.

[drsel]

Clearly you live near a port. Some of us aren't lucky enough to be able to book at the last minute. In any event, I have NEVER been able to have the single supplement waived, and believe me, I have tried. I pay a fortune to sail as a solo on NCL, and many ships have no single cabins.

Some sailings to Bermuda and the Caribbean on Norwegian Getaway and Dawn have single discounts Edited June 10, 2018 by drsel

[KateQ22003]

Some sailings to Bermuda and the Caribbean on Norwegian Getaway and Dawn have single discounts

 

I just sailed the Dawn last month, and booked at the last minute. I even had my TA call NCL and ask if I could get a single supplement. The answer was no.

[fshagan]

So doesn't one just have to wonder . . . If people are just spending the OBC or if people are spending very little because of drink packages, dining packages, internet packages, shore excursion discounts, etc that come with the CONSTANT Free @ Sea promotions, then just how is the onboard spending INCREASING?

 

IOW, how do you give away all those drink packages, all those specialty meals, etc and yet somehow people have increased their onboard spending???

 

The dining and drink packages do have the service fees. Maybe that's included in the "on board spend" number. We just don't know how it's calculated. That would make up, what, like $20 a day of the spending (if it's included)?

 

One thing is certain: NCL must have more that people want to buy than the other lines.

[SeaShark]

The dining and drink packages do have the service fees. Maybe that's included in the "on board spend" number. We just don't know how it's calculated. That would make up, what, like $20 a day of the spending (if it's included)?

 

One thing is certain: NCL must have more that people want to buy than the other lines.

 

No...service fees, by their nature, are not counted as they are not considered as income to the cruise line. Besides, pre-paid items like this aren't counted as onboard spending either. That would fall under pre-cruise.

 

I agree...NCL does offer more choices of things that people want to buy. However, they do so PLUS they include all of the things that are included on other lines as well.

[Budget Queen]

I just sailed the Dawn last month, and booked at the last minute. I even had my TA call NCL and ask if I could get a single supplement. The answer was no.

 

You mean NO single supplement????

 

And what do you consider last minute? Last month there were a few sailings on the Dawn- with NO supplement, even a $399 rate- which is again, this week.

 

Last minute- is within a week of sailing, sometimes only days ahead. 95% of the time, not prior.

[Shawnino]

Next on Bloomberg:

"Poisonous Snakes can be Dangerous!"

"Kim Jong Un is Korean!"

"Water is Wet!"

 

Film at 11.

[Budget Queen]

Clearly you live near a port. Some of us aren't lucky enough to be able to book at the last minute. In any event, I have NEVER been able to have the single supplement waived, and believe me, I have tried. I pay a fortune to sail as a solo on NCL, and many ships have no single cabins.

 

 

No I do not live near a port, and I have never been in a single studio cabin. I have always gotten the regular insides with the supplement dropped.

[Nola26]

Our biggest onboard spend is excursions. I do think NCL charges more for the same excursion as some other lines do. If I'm solo I use the Shorex perk (no alcohol or specialty dining for me) that reduces the bill quite a bit, but doesn't cover it all. When I travel with my mother we'll spend $100 or so at the sales, maybe more if we also do the T-shirt event at the end. She may order 1-3 drinks on a week cruise and she's been know to grab a sweet treat as well. I almost bought a John Hardy ring on our last cruise, but hadn't done any research to know whether it was a good deal so I left it onboard. Since I would have avoided taxes it was actually a pretty good deal. It also was a ring I didn't really need, so my pass was the best decision for me at the time.

 

We are booked on the Bliss for February, I'm disappointed on the price of the Go Carts, early reports were for pricing more like $5 or $8, not $10. I'm trying to figure out our budget for that activity. Since the basketball is gone there will be less free stuff for my teen nephew to do. We'll just have to spend more time in the game room playing board games or actually in the pool or water slides.

 

As for onboard entertainment expenses here is the list I can think of:

1. Go Karts
   
2. Laser tag
   
3. Wine/Beer tasting - there have been some lunchtime shows
   
4. Dinner shows - there was one on the Escape
   
5. Bowling
   
6. Not sure if Vibe counts
   
7. Bingo
   
8. Ice Bar had a cover charge
   
9. In room movies if pay per view is an option, cannot recall
   
10. Casino, lol, maybe we lose more on NCL?
    

[KateQ22003]

You mean NO single supplement????

 

And what do you consider last minute? Last month there were a few sailings on the Dawn- with NO supplement, even a $399 rate- which is again, this week.

 

Last minute- is within a week of sailing, sometimes only days ahead. 95% of the time, not prior.

 

Yes, I meant no single supplement, which I assume you knew. And, I booked 4 days in advance.