NCL's current strategy: Raise prices and lower quality

[fstuff1]

their current 'sale' pricing is laughable.

Prices were cheaper before all this 30% off or 'price drop' promos that started at the beginning of Dec. (the 'sale' pricing got extended, again.)

it seemed like they raised prices 40% then dropped it 30%.

 

and the drop in food quality:

i was on the Dawn a couple of months ago.

no more theme nights at the buffet: no more prime rib night, no more BBQ night, no more seafood night, etc.

 

and lets not forget NCL's current war on seafood in the main dining room. (search for that thread.)

 

plus it seems service went downhill, on the Getaway and Dawn at least. 

 

Is Del Rio trying to take NCL down to Carnivale levels?

Is that why Andy Stewart quit?

 

Edited January 2, 2020 by fstuff1

[ColeThornton]

The solution is simple.  If you don't like a product whether it's a cruise line, airline, hotel, etc, grab your wallet, put on your walking shoes and take your money elsewhere.

[fstuff1]

3 minutes ago, ColeThornton said:

The solution is simple.  If you don't like a product whether it's a cruise line, airline, hotel, etc, grab your wallet, put on your walking shoes and take your money elsewhere.

 

not that simple for me.

my land casino gives me free ncl cruises.

i tried talking to the promotions mgr about switching to Celebrity cruises but the decision makers are waaaaaaaaaay above his head. 

Edited January 2, 2020 by fstuff1

[JimR24]

Wait - so you get free NCL cruises and you're complaining about price?  Uh huh.....

[luv2kroooz]

12 minutes ago, fstuff1 said:

their current 'sale' pricing is laughable.

Prices were cheaper before all this 30% off or 'price drop' promos that started at the beginning of Dec. (the 'sale' pricing got extended, again.)

it seemed like they raised prices 40% then dropped it 30%.

 

and the drop in food quality:

i was on the Dawn a couple of months ago.

no more theme nights at the buffet: no more prime rib night, no more BBQ night, no more seafood night, etc.

 

and lets not forget NCL's current war on seafood in the main dining room. (search for that thread.)

Yes, this is all really true as I discovered in November. Although my November cruise was super cheap, so was the onboard experience. The prices are crazy high, even for last minute sailings with capacity. It just doesn't reconcile. Given the decline in the onboard environment, I'll cruise if they offer a rate comparable to the experience. If not, I'll choose to spend my vacation dollars where the benefits received match the price paid.

[lovetrauma]

When I was on the Breakaway in Nov 2019 there was themed dinner nights at the buffet Every Night. The service was good. However the food quality did go down some. I’m going on the Encore in April 2020 so I will if it gets better or continues to decline. 

[Double Jack]

We all have to make decisions on how to spend our travel budget.  I grew tired of cruising and took a couple years off and did destination vacations.  I've returned to cruising once a year but will make other vacation plans if I do not feel I'm getting value. 

 

It's really your choice to cruise or not cruise.

[lizord]

1 hour ago, fstuff1 said:

 

 

Is Del Rio trying to take NCL down to Carnivale levels?

Is that why Andy Stewart quit?

 

What's wrong with carnival? At least they serve lobster and shrimp cocktail.

[mianmike]

1 hour ago, ColeThornton said:

The solution is simple.  If you don't like a product whether it's a cruise line, airline, hotel, etc, grab your wallet, put on your walking shoes and take your money elsewhere.

 

Exactly.  Thanks to Frank Del Rio we have starting cruising other lines.  Before Frank we were pretty much loyal to NCL.  

[BirdTravels]

2 hours ago, JimR24 said:

Wait - so you get free NCL cruises and you're complaining about price?  Uh huh.....

Oops. Someone got caught stirring the pot when they sail for free every cruise. None of this pricing or sales affect them because they get a casino comp. Complaints about free food that is really free. 
 

Disclaimer: the free cruise actually pays for port charges, port taxes, and a $200 admin fee to book through the casino. 

[Love my butler]

Yes, the current strategy is to squeeze every nickel and dime from customers.  Also to cut the food and services as thin as humanly possible.  Most cruisers are new and won't notice the difference.  Just remember this all comes from corporate and the vast majority of crew on the ship are just as unhappy about the changes as we are.

[AllAboardatSea]

Bingo. You’ve hit the nail on the head. We bought the CruiseNext certs 4 years ago and they were going to expire, so we booked a cruise for next week a few months ago and we’ll be done with NCL after this. I would rather be spending the money on RCCL or Celebrity as they understand loyalty and not looking at customers as walking ATM machines. If NCL ever get out of this phase and improve quality, we’ll look again.

Edited January 2, 2020 by AllAboardatSea

[tallnthensome]

Prices have and will continue to go up. The economy is good and all the lines want their profits and they all are doing it through cuts to the point where it isn’t affecting booking numbers. I do agree that that the majority of NCL’s so called sales are really smoke and mirrors and nothingburgers like Royals fake sales. I’ve not seen fares on NCL jump around almost daily like this as I have in the past. My 12 day Alaska cruise for August seemed to bottom out in price a couple months ago and is still $500 cheaper than this new promotion. 

[SeaShark]

6 hours ago, Love my butler said:

Yes, the current strategy is to squeeze every nickel and dime from customers.  Also to cut the food and services as thin as humanly possible.  Most cruisers are new and won't notice the difference.  Just remember this all comes from corporate and the vast majority of crew on the ship are just as unhappy about the changes as we are.

 

Current? I think that is always the strategy of any business...it isn't new.

 

Spend some time reading these boards. People are looking to not pay the DSC, looking for the best price, the most OBC, how to save money on excursions, how can I get my friends in the Haven when they haven't paid, how many drinks can I get, what are the limits on my dining plan, on and on and on and on... We are looking to pay the least and get the most.

 

So...you have to ask....how are we really any different than the cruise line?

[JimR24]

5 hours ago, AllAboardatSea said:

Bingo. You’ve hit the nail on the head. We bought the CruiseNext certs 4 years ago and they were going to expire, so we booked a cruise for next week a few months ago and we’ll be done with NCL after this. I would rather be spending the money on RCCL or Celebrity as they understand loyalty and not looking at customers as walking ATM machines. If NCL ever get out of this phase and improve quality, we’ll look again.

And I'm sure you'll be back sooner rather than later once you realize that all big businesses are the same.  None value loyalty and know you are being replaced with someone who is mad at RCCL and Celebrity this week.  You know, the 2 brands who walk on water and value their customers.  I'm sure if you pop over to their boards, you will only see positive reviews.

[fshagan]

8 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Oops. Someone got caught stirring the pot when they sail for free every cruise. None of this pricing or sales affect them because they get a casino comp. Complaints about free food that is really free. 
 

Disclaimer: the free cruise actually pays for port charges, port taxes, and a $200 admin fee to book through the casino. 

 

Does the free cruise promo from the casinos change based on the value of the cruise? Just trying to be fair, but it's pretty irritating to see people getting something for "free" and then complaining about it. They should tell us that up front. Then, we can evaluate their stellar financial advice through the prism of their gambling hobby.

[ColeThornton]

".... and lets not forget NCL's current war on seafood in the main dining room. "

 

I didn't even realize we were at war.  Hope I don't get recalled to active duty!

[NLH Arizona]

9 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Oops. Someone got caught stirring the pot when they sail for free every cruise. None of this pricing or sales affect them because they get a casino comp. Complaints about free food that is really free. 
 

Disclaimer: the free cruise actually pays for port charges, port taxes, and a $200 admin fee to book through the casino. 

Some posters just don't like NCL and given any opportunity will trash them.  That is okay, because it is their right and it is their opinion.

 

What I find funny is that the OP called his Caesar's Promotion Manager and asked them to book him on Celebrity, when NCL has nothing to do with Celebrity.  If he wants free cruises on Celebrity, he needs to gamble at MGM casinos who is affliated with Celebrity.

 

If one really dislikes a company, I always wonder why they continue to do business with them, whether it is free or they pay for it;  if the experience is bad, then the experience is bad.

 

 

Edited January 2, 2020 by NLH Arizona

[All-ready2cruise]

What I find sad is that the OP can find nothing good to say about NCL, yet continues to cruise with them and pay nothing.  Unfortunate that they always seem to find only negative topics to share on the threads posted.  

I'd definitely be looking for a different vacation option if it were me. 

 

[bob brown]

“Free cruise”?

I am pretty confident that those gambling enough to get comped for a cruise, more than pay back for it.😉

 

To which I, as a non-gambler, am truly appreciative, as the profit made in the casino may subsidize my cruise fare...🙂

[josephmz]

 

All of my recent cruises have been with NCL, and I guess I have been a cheerleader. I sailed a few times on RCCIL early on. I have booked RCCL out of Tampa next month. The price with insurance, but with no extras was better. I'll let you know how that goes later.

But, the interesting thing is people complain about the same things over there that they do on here.

 

[Arzeena]

13 hours ago, fstuff1 said:

 

not that simple for me.

my land casino gives me free ncl cruises.

i tried talking to the promotions mgr about switching to Celebrity cruises but the decision makers are waaaaaaaaaay above his head. 

Why complain about a FREE cruise?

[DinaS]

9 hours ago, AllAboardatSea said:

Bingo. You’ve hit the nail on the head. We bought the CruiseNext certs 4 years ago and they were going to expire, so we booked a cruise for next week a few months ago and we’ll be done with NCL after this. I would rather be spending the money on RCCL or Celebrity as they understand loyalty and not looking at customers as walking ATM machines. If NCL ever get out of this phase and improve quality, we’ll look again.

 

You do realize you could have just sold your cruise next certificates since they are completely transferable, right?  You didn't have to endure the apparent misery of an NCL cruise.

 

You could have been done with NCL already...….

[IrieBajan54]

17 hours ago, fstuff1 said:

 

not that simple for me.

my land casino gives me free ncl cruises.

i tried talking to the promotions mgr about switching to Celebrity cruises but the decision makers are waaaaaaaaaay above his head. 

 

Fstuff, It is not FREE. All your losses help to drive NCL's revenue. I'm glad not to be a gambler cause those cruises are actually very expensive.

[SpainAlien]

Surely the OP wasn't so dissatisfied  after all he bought Cruise Next Certificates while on an NCL cruise