Why this was probably our last NCL cruise

[Georgia_Peaches]

2 minutes ago, tomk3212 said:

@Georgia_Peaches if you noticed the OP has been a member since 2009...yet in all that time they've only done 14 posts and, in their own words,  "have sailed on 30+ cruises..."  That just struck me as rather strange...

Very good observation!  Agree, a little strange.

[4774Papa]

23 hours ago, cvil88 said:

Just got off the NCL Getaway on a 9 day cruise. My wife and I have done 30+ cruises on multiple cruise lines but more NCL cruises recently. Here are a few beefs regarding NCL:

-very disappointed with food quality in main dining room

-the $99 (plus gratuity) Beverage Package doesn't include water or cappuccino

-no longer allowed to bring water on board or wine (corkage fee)

-they chose to tender to their private island in Harvest Caye that offers no food or do not allow you to use your beverage package (if they docked, most people would go back to ship for lunch and drinks, so your stuck paying on their property)

-they tell you it's a 5 minute tender to the island then load you on a tender that holds 500 people, so by the time you board and disembark, you've wasted half hour or more (and once on the tender the first thing you hear is a request for a tip)

-the specialty restaurants were excellent but the up charges were excessive (it was emphasized by our waitress at Le Bistro that you only get one appetizer, one entree and one desert. So when I asked about ordering the soup and a salad, she told me their would be an up charge)

We enjoyed the entertainment on the cruise and the ports but we will probably be looking at Royal Caribbean or Celebrity in the future. 

Would like to hear if others feel like we do or are we being too critical. Thanks!

Your criticisms are valid.  We don't take cruises that go to private islands, since we live on an island in South Georgia.

We never take the beverage package since we are moderate drinkers and do better with the wine package.  Also, we hate paying the ridiculous gratuity of 20% of an inflated value of $99 per day.

We enjoy the specialty restaurants, but NCL has really jacked up the prices.

 

Still, we like NCL's entertainment and still consider NCL when picking a cruise line.  However, since we usually book early, NCL is never the best deal, since they don't offer the NO PERKS choice, so NCL's price is always higher (sometimes way higher) than either Royal C. or Celebrity.

[chromatographer]

I've given up on NCL as well. After a recent 5 day on the Joy with UBP and three specialty restaurant meals I'm done. Life is too short for mediocre food and drink. The MDR food has sharply declined since I started sailing NCL in 2011. I send multiple entrees at both lunch and dinner back for a second or third try and they couldn't deliver. Mahi Mahi cooked to the texture of cardboard, beef skewers ordered medium rare but delivered gray and dry, canned (!) diced tomatoes served as a side on the plate. It's lousy food meant to drive people to the upcharge restaurants. Le Bistro lamb was on point and delicious, but cheese plate for dessert was served with cream cheese and saltines on the plate, cost cutting gone too far. If you were hoping to try new cocktails on the UBP, I hope you like sweet. All of the cocktails save a few are saccharine premixes, with bartenders requiring an upcharge to make from scratch. Bars are severely understaffed for the number of passengers ordering drinks, typically 15-20 minutes wait to get a neat pour of whiskey at the bar between Taste and Savor. If one likes food and drink for flavor and experience, NCL is not the line to cruise, unfortunately. 

[GA Dave]

Not meant to offend anyone, but I am thrilled to see so many people saying they are done with NCL.  If this is true, the prices on NCL should drop drastically as supply will outstrip demand big time, especially once the Project Leonardo ships hit the fleet.  😁

[NLH Arizona]

1 hour ago, tomk3212 said:

Food is definitely subjective.  Have also heard good reports re: Celebrity's MDR so DW & I may also give them a try at some point again.  It's been almost 20 years since we were last on Celebrity... Water, corkage fees, etc. as other posters have previously stated are "old news"... am also surprised since your recent cruises have been on NCL that you weren't aware of them...

 

If you haven't sailed Celebrity in a long time, just keep in mind that many feel that their food and service has declined.  I cruise both lines and just as I haven't seen it on NCL, I haven't see that on Celebrity; maybe I just easily pleased.

[tomk3212]

@NLH Arizona My boss and her family were on a Celebrity cruise out of Rome (Civitivecchia, or however it's spelled...) & they were raving about how good the food was; specialty & MDR.  Granted, it was their only their third cruise on ANY cruise line but they were very satisfied with the food aboard their Celebrity ship.

[NLH Arizona]

9 minutes ago, tomk3212 said:

@NLH Arizona My boss and her family were on a Celebrity cruise out of Rome (Civitivecchia, or however it's spelled...) & they were raving about how good the food was; specialty & MDR.  Granted, it was their only their third cruise on ANY cruise line but they were very satisfied with the food aboard their Celebrity ship.

I was speaking about how many have said their food and service has declined.  I've got no issues with their food, but as I said, others aren't and felt there is a decline from the olden days.  I've cruised Celebrity for more than thirty years and things have changed, or as some have said declined.  Things like, not being escorted to your cabin, fine china in the dining room, chef inspired food in MDR, etc.  Glad your friends loved the food, but the point was that it is not like it was years ago, just as folks don't feel NCL's food is not as good as it was. Just as your friends raved about Celebrity's food, I've read reviews where folks loved NCL's food, it is all subjective. 

Edited February 20, 2020 by NLH Arizona

[RaftingJeremy]

All these “complaints” are pretty minor in my Opinion.  My issue with NCL lately has been the pricing structure.  They are asking top dollar while providing less than top dollar service.  I need to see a little more from them in April..... 

[tomk3212]

@NLH Arizona Sorry, I misinterpreted what you were saying.

 

I was last on a Celebrity cruise back in '01 and we were less than impressed with the entire experience.  Granted, that was almost 20 years ago but we didn't cruise again because of this until my best friend cruised aboard the Dawn in '04 & raved about what a good time they had and the whole "Freestyle" experience.  We decided to give it a try & we've been loyal NCLers since (see expanded signature).

Edited February 20, 2020 by tomk3212

[jskinsd]

1 hour ago, GA Dave said:

Not meant to offend anyone, but I am thrilled to see so many people saying they are done with NCL.  If this is true, the prices on NCL should drop drastically as supply will outstrip demand big time, especially once the Project Leonardo ships hit the fleet.  😁

I agree.  With the cruise next program and the possibility of the solo supplement being waived on very late bookings I think my next NCL cruise will be free.✌️

 

[insidecabin]

I don't care how they structure the price as long as the total is about right for the product.

 

We like the Dining options on NCL so lets look at that as an example.

 

The menu prices are relatively steep but you never have to pay those if you plan.

The dining package its (menu price) $33 for the first 3 then the next 2 cost $15 then it $10 a meal 6+

the actual cover/item prices are not that important.

On a short cruise if needed the 3 dinners adds $120 to the total.  

Last cruise my extra 6 dinner package worked out at around $22per meal-menu prices 

 

We have to adjust the extra package for the free at sea/platinum dining and length of cruise and sharing options.

In the UK on  7n-9n cruise, 2 perks cost $130, that comes with 3diners(4 on the 9n)  and pick another perk, drinks works for us.

 

As the UK has a fixed price for free at sea 2 perks can also be added to sailaway we have to balance the UK-v-US pricing to see which works out best for each grade of cabin on any particular cruise.

 

Reality is that to upgrade a base cruise to speciality dining(inc grats) every night and the odd lunch will be  ~$30pppd going down the longer the cruise to below $20pppd

 

As we can also get value from the drinks, on a 2 week trip, Drinks + dinners adds <$35pppd to the base fare on a UK booking.

 

As long as the base fare is good I can compare similar trips on different lines on a pppd basis with all the bits we want added in.

 

 

[Farts]

21 hours ago, GA Dave said:

Not meant to offend anyone, but I am thrilled to see so many people saying they are done with NCL.  If this is true, the prices on NCL should drop drastically as supply will outstrip demand big time, especially once the Project Leonardo ships hit the fleet.  😁

If only. lol.

 

But I will say that the food does need to improve. 

[cvil88]

On 2/20/2020 at 8:38 AM, tomk3212 said:

@Georgia_Peaches if you noticed the OP has been a member since 2009...yet in all that time they've only done 14 posts and, in their own words,  "have sailed on 30+ cruises..."  That just struck me as rather strange...

I'm not one to complain or comment on CC. I use this site to get information and feedback from other cruisers. I use Trip Advisor also for the same reason but I rarely post anything. Usually a question if I do.

[tomk3212]

@cvil88 Fair enough.  I didn't mean to cast any doubt or negative ulterior motives regarding your original post.

[RedwingHockeyFan]

I'm not so much upset about the quality of the food as I am about the decline in choices.

[ctkathchick]

On 2/19/2020 at 12:11 PM, PortFees45 said:

"-the specialty restaurants were excellent but the up charges were excessive (it was emphasized by our waitress at Le Bistro that you only get one appetizer, one entree and one desert. So when I asked about ordering the soup and a salad, she told me their would be an up charge)"

 

Were you using Platinum vouchers? If so that restriction, while tacky, does comply with their T&C's. 

 

If you used the Dining Package, that absolutely is wrong. The only restriction is on one entree. Otherwise you can order as many apps/soups as you want, and if a waiter disagrees with you ask to speak to the manager immediately. NCL has got to get this straightened out once and for all. I have a feeling they know guests are being given incorrect info, but would rather take the savings from pax either too timid or ignorant to push back. 

Nice to learn that you may order more than 1-2 apps I was under the impression that you may just order say a soup and salad or shrimp cocktail and one other side.Thanks for the info.