Official Change to Platinum Dinner choices

[Harratine]

On 9/19/2022 at 10:03 AM, UKstages said:

regarding solo travelers... there is a big difference between solo travelers and solo diners.

 

i don't believe anybody has mentioned this!

 

up to now, when a solo platinum (or above) traveler received a platinum dinner coupon, that solo traveler could invite a new onboard friend to dinner and the coupon would absolutely cover two meals consumed by two people dining together, regardless of whether they were sharing the same cabin. i can't imagine that has changed or that NCL's intent is to deny a two meal per coupon benefit to a solo traveler who invites someone to dinner.

 

so, does the rule really apply to solo travelers or to solo diners?

 

in my view, it applies to solo diners and NCL is just using sloppy language in the disclaimer, as it so often does. in any event, this is not new... the "one meal for platinum members dining alone" policy has always been in place with these dinner coupons.

 

regarding the rationale behind this... several people have said that many (not all) solo cruisers pay nearly double for their cabin on a per person basis and that is why this is unfair. while that may be true, that logic shouldn't really apply to the redemption of an earned benefit.

 

as a platinum (or above) latitudes member, you've earned two dinners, each consisting of two entrees. and two entrees (along with apps and dessert), regardless of whether consumed at the same time or consumed separately, cost NCL essentially the same amount of money to fulfill.

 

that's the problem. that's the rationale for why this is unfair. you've earned the equivalent of four entrees, but solo diners are only be given the opportunity to enjoy two and don't receive full value. it's about the value of the promised benefit, not how much you paid to sail.

 

NCL has made an arbitrary decision to limit redemption to two coupons, probably because it would be too confusing for their staff to distribute four solo dining coupons OR two coupons for two meals for those traveling together. so, they give all platinum (and above) members two dining coupons and insist that they each be used for two meals consumed at the same time by two people.

 

they have every right to do so (their ships, their loyalty program, their rules), but it's not very customer-friendly for solo "travelers." 

My daughter is the third platinum in our room.  She takes either me or my wife when she uses her meals, so it’s solo diners.