NCL - extra onboard charges?

[italy2009]

We are considering booking our first NCL cruise (have sailed Carnival and Celebrity) but have read reviews that cruisers were unhappy with added onboard fees. Is this just for specialty dining (which we never do) or is it for entertainment also? Other than drinks, gratuities and possibly shore excursions we have never paid for anything else. Also, is it all "Anytime Dining" on NCL? Is there no main dining room with specific dining times? Thanks for your help.

[mjkacmom]

Just freestyle dining, no set times, works just like restaurants on land. The only entertainment that costs $ are the dinner shows, everything else is free. There are a couple of things that have an upcharge on some ships, like bowling or go carts, but it seems like it’s as much to control capacity in addition to making money (the go carts get completely booked up even with a fee).

[cruisegal40]

Some diners will ask for a certain area at a certain time. Mostly anytime dining through. Some dinner shows are extra also on some ships.

[Philob]

NCL essentially invented Freestyle or "anytime" dining. Their ships generally have two main dining rooms. Same food, different decor, maybe one smaller. No set time, just like walk-up on land. Usually busy when they first open and you might have to wait. Go about an hour after opening and your wait will be minimal.

 

There's a couple of other dining places like O'Sheenan's (or whatever they call it now) that are like diner or a cafe and are complementary. Some extra pay restaurants like the Teppanyaki are generally full due to very limited seating and a reservation is highly suggested.

 

I don't think they have anymore additional pay stuff than any other mass market line. Maybe less subtle in the promotion, but you don't have to buy anything if you don't want.

[sanger727]

As far as extra fees, NCL is very similar to carnival and celebrity. Can eat in the buffet and main dining room daily for free (and most ships have 1-2 other complimentary restaurants). There are also specialty dining options for a fee. As far as entertainment, it really depends on which ship you are talking about. The older ships like the jade have a main theater with a different show played every night with two show times. The newer ships, like the epic, have smaller theaters that play a few shows at sporadic times during the cruise. For those shows they suggest booking tickets, the tickets are free, just capacity control. NCL does however, disguise a few shows as specialty dining restaurants (like the cirque show) and charges a fee like the other specialty dining restaurants.

 

 

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[Nebr.cruiser]

I don't really think there are more fees than other cruise lines and certainly nothing that you will be charged without your full knowledge; they are not just adding on extra fees.

 

Like any cruise line there are many free dining venues and entertainment venues and some that have an upcharge. Extra fee options are the usual; specialty restaurants, dinner shows, pictures, bingo or other games of chance, casino, drinks, spa, shops, art auction and more.

 

We really don't spend much on board. Sometimes a picture or two, we have done the dinner shows on NCL, and have done specialty restaurants a few times, but usually only if we have OBC to use up.

 

We don't drink, but many who do either get a drink package included with their fare or buy one. The main thing is to just be aware and discerning in what you are buying and what you really need and want, to avoid having a nasty surprise at the end of the cruise with purchases.

[zqvol]

We are considering booking our first NCL cruise (have sailed Carnival and Celebrity) but have read reviews that cruisers were unhappy with added onboard fees. Is this just for specialty dining (which we never do) or is it for entertainment also? Other than drinks, gratuities and possibly shore excursions we have never paid for anything else. Also, is it all "Anytime Dining" on NCL? Is there no main dining room with specific dining times? Thanks for your help.

 

On board charges are just like Carnival and Celebrity. All dining is free style, and while there are main dining rooms, there are no fixed dining times. The only entertainment that you pay for includes a dinner, so it is part of a specialty dining event. On NCL, if you take the UBP perk that is normally available, you pay about $100 per week per person and that covers all beverages except specialty coffee and bottled water.

[John Bull]

On NCL, if you take the UBP perk that is normally available, you pay about $100 per week per person and that covers all beverages except specialty coffee and bottled water.

 

Can you just clarify this, please.

I'm aware that some NCL cruises include a drinks package, but other than that the price I'm seeing is $89 + 20% gratuity per day per person. :confused:

https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/news.cfm?ID=8259

 

JB :)

[tortoisegirl]

At least as of the last time I was on NCL (a few years ago), if you chose the free beverage package promotion, you had to pay the gratuity on it. But it was a line item on the booking, so it would be paid prior to sailing. I'm guessing that poster's reference to about $100/person/week is the gratuity on the list price of the free beverage package.

 

It is only freestyle dining in the main dining room, although you can make a reservation for a certain time and/or request a certain waiter and/or location. If you look at the entire list of dinner restaurant options, more are paid than not, plus a higher number of options overall than many other cruiselines, although there are more seats in the included restaurants.

 

I am not aware of any onboard fees on NCL besides the expected things like gratuities, specialty dining, upcharge coffee, shops, photos, etc. Any item which has an extra cost should be indicated as such and they would request your card.

[Mike_DeA]

NCL charges a flat fee for room service, $7.95 service charge. Except for continental breakfast/coffee, which is complimentary. A lot of folks dislike that you can't bring any beverages onboard, and that they charge for bottled water which is not part of their beverage package.

[italy2009]

Thanks folks. Appreciate all the responses. We have gone ahead and booked a cruise on the Norwegian Getaway and are really looking forward to experiencing the “free styling” atmosphere!