Nickel and Diming?

[tonyfall1]

Hello,

 

I will be taking my first NCL cruise in February on the Breakaway. I have done one Princess over 20 years ago and MSC last year. I have been doing a lot of reading to familiarize myself with NCL. A common theme I read on all of the different sites or see on Youtube is how they nickel and dime you once they get you onboard. They don't necessarily provide a lot of examples, other than Starbucks or water which are non issues for me. I have the FAS package, I have booked my excursions prepaid all of my gratuities and service charges, upgraded 1 internet to unlimited.. I am not really into laser tag or things like that. It seems like I have pretty much paid for everything I would want to do or be interested in. I can't think of anything else I would really need. What kind of nickel and diming is everyone referring to? Thanks.

Edited October 16, 2023 by tonyfall1

[drew69]

29 minutes ago, tonyfall1 said:

Hello,

 

I will be taking my first NCL cruise in February on the Breakaway. I have done one Princess over 20 years ago and MSC last year. I have been doing a lot of reading to familiarize myself with NCL. A common theme I read on all of the different sites or see on Youtube is how they nickel and dime you once they get you onboard. They don't necessarily provide a lot of examples, other than Starbucks or water which are non issues for me. I have the FAS package, I have booked my excursions prepaid all of my gratuities and service charges, upgraded 1 internet to unlimited.. I am not really into laser tag or things like that. It seems like I have pretty much paid for everything I would want to do or be interested in. I can't think of anything else I would really need. What kind of nickel and diming is everyone referring to? Thanks.

You will be fine then.  All cruise lines have items, experiences, etc. for extra costs but as you note, no one has to do them.  The complaints are mostly from travelers who do not research and read and are then "surprised" by the extra costs of some items.

[laudergayle]

There are several items that have a cost or upcharge…only if you want to partake. Sounds like you could walk off the Breakaway without owing NCL anything if you choose to.

 

Some onboard expenses you might decide to do are:  games like Bingo or Deal No Deal, casino, shopping, menu items that have an extra cost (which there are very few), difference in drink cost for drinks over $15, room service. Or if you wish to take advantage of the Cruise Next offer.

 

What specialty dining restaurant/s did you choose?

 

 

[tonyfall1]

2 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

There are several items that have a cost or upcharge…only if you want to partake. Sounds like you could walk off the Breakaway without owing NCL anything if you choose to.

 

Some onboard expenses you might decide to do are:  games like Bingo or Deal No Deal, casino, shopping, menu items that have an extra cost (which there are very few), difference in drink cost for drinks over $15, room service. Or if you wish to take advantage of the Cruise Next offer.

 

What specialty dining restaurant/s did you choose?

 

 

I haven't booked yet I need to wait till next week. In order of preference just from reading things. I think:

 

1. Cagneys

2. Moderno

3. Teppanyaki

 

[laudergayle]

5 minutes ago, tonyfall1 said:

I haven't booked yet I need to wait till next week. In order of preference just from reading things. I think:

 

1. Cagneys

2. Moderno

3. Teppanyaki

 

Sounds like a good plan.  Wishing you a fabulous cruise.

[cruiseny4life]

15 minutes ago, tonyfall1 said:

I haven't booked yet I need to wait till next week. In order of preference just from reading things. I think:

 

1. Cagneys

2. Moderno

3. Teppanyaki

 

Random observation - when you do book your dining, be sure to book Moderno and Teppanyaki first. If you don't, the system may try to charge you the cover fee for the restaurant. Since Cagney's is a la carte, you can book it after (or any other NCL restaurant) and not pay. 

 

As for nickel and diming, my husband and I never feel nickel and dimed. We purchase our shore excursions, thermal suite, pay our daily service charge, and Free at Sea service charges prior to getting on the ship. We do generally book a massage, so need to pay for that. Also, we purchase some cancer sticks (cigs) for my grandma and make some souvenir purchases for ourselves. We are fully aware these purchases cost extra and are totally optional. In the past we have played some games in the arcade which also costs a little extra. Also, we may have a milkshake or mozzarella sticks from American Diner. These are a la carte purchases, not Free at Sea credits. If you're in port/territorial waters of certain localities, you may need to pay taxes on drinks (and maybe meals, but this is less likely).

 

I don't think you'll feel nickel and dimed. Have a fantastic time onboard 

[tonyfall1]

25 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

Random observation - when you do book your dining, be sure to book Moderno and Teppanyaki first. If you don't, the system may try to charge you the cover fee for the restaurant. Since Cagney's is a la carte, you can book it after (or any other NCL restaurant) and not pay. 

 

As for nickel and diming, my husband and I never feel nickel and dimed. We purchase our shore excursions, thermal suite, pay our daily service charge, and Free at Sea service charges prior to getting on the ship. We do generally book a massage, so need to pay for that. Also, we purchase some cancer sticks (cigs) for my grandma and make some souvenir purchases for ourselves. We are fully aware these purchases cost extra and are totally optional. In the past we have played some games in the arcade which also costs a little extra. Also, we may have a milkshake or mozzarella sticks from American Diner. These are a la carte purchases, not Free at Sea credits. If you're in port/territorial waters of certain localities, you may need to pay taxes on drinks (and maybe meals, but this is less likely).

 

I don't think you'll feel nickel and dimed. Have a fantastic time onboard 

Thanks,  yeah most of the stuff I am seeing is not stuff I would necessarily expect to be free. Doesn't seem substantially different than some other lines. Maybe a few things.

[RocketMan275]

2 hours ago, tonyfall1 said:

I haven't booked yet I need to wait till next week. In order of preference just from reading things. I think:

 

1. Cagneys

2. Moderno

3. Teppanyaki

 

I would skip Cagneys and Teppanyaki.  They're nothing special you can't get at home.

We always do Le Bistro, the lobster thermador is wonderful and Ocean Blue has great seafood.

[Two Wheels Only]

People use the term "nickel and dime" when it doesn't always apply. 

 

If you want coffee, it's included.

If you want specialty coffee (Starbucks), it cost extra.

 

If you want dining, it's included.

If you want specialty dining, it cost extra.

 

If you want an adults-only sundeck, it's (usually) included.

If you want an exclusive adults-only sundeck, it cost extra. 

 

If you have the SDP and want Cagney's, it's covered.

If you have the SDP and want Cagney's with crab cakes, it cost extra. 

 

People are given options but some expect those options to always be included. If those options aren't included, those same people will complain using "nickel and dime" comments. 

[tonyfall1]

14 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

People use the term "nickel and dime" when it doesn't always apply. 

 

If you want coffee, it's included.

If you want specialty coffee (Starbucks), it cost extra.

 

If you want dining, it's included.

If you want specialty dining, it cost extra.

 

If you want an adults-only sundeck, it's (usually) included.

If you want an exclusive adults-only sundeck, it cost extra. 

 

If you have the SDP and want Cagney's, it's covered.

If you have the SDP and want Cagney's with crab cakes, it cost extra. 

 

People are given options but some expect those options to always be included. If those options aren't included, those same people will complain using "nickel and dime" comments. 

Thanks .. to me it doesn't seem like totally unexpected costs, but I am somewhat of a novice cruiser.

[Capitan Obvious]

Two Wheels Only gives a pretty good explanation, but let me expand on it a bit.

 

The phrase "nickel & diming" refers to small mandatory charges that should be accounted for in the initial pricing. The key is mandatory. 

 

For example, a sign & sail card is something we all need...not only to make purchases, but to gain access to our staterooms. If you showed up at the pier and were told "you need to pay $5 to get your sign & sail card", that would be nickel & diming...you have no choice but to pay it. If you sail MSC, they not only have the sign & sail card, but on their newer ships they offer RFID wristbands that do the job of the sign & sail card. These bands are free for their suite and other upper-level guests, but are also available for purchase by anyone. This is not nickel & diming because you don't have to buy the wristband, you could simply opt for the free sign & sail card instead.

 

That is the traditional definition. However, we also have the Cruise Critic definition.

 

On Cruise Critic, the phrase nickel & diming is generally used when the person wants something extra that they just don't want to pay for (maybe they are cheap, maybe they just can't afford it, who knows) so instead of accepting their self-imposed limitation, they shift blame to the cruise line by calling it nickel and diming.

[davencl]

Yes and those that complain of nickel and diming can always book with Regent and pay 10's of thousands of dollars more.  No nickel and diming there.  🙂 🙂 

[Cruising Lynne]

Though I have not sailed with Princess, I have sailed with NCL, Celebrity, and Royal Caribbean. Plus, I often research cruises, and have upcoming cruises with HAL and MSC cruise booked. I also watch several cruising related Youtube channels. I do not feel that NCL nickel and dimes any more than the others. It bothers me that some of the vloggers out there like to say that NCL does this. The only charge that I can think of that would be a surprise is the tax on drinks while in certain ports, and this is a minimal charge. 

 

A lot of cruises I have researched seem less expensive on first glance, but by the time the booking is done it costs more than NCL to get what is included in the FAS. I paid almost a thousand dollars extra to upgrade my husband and I to get the Have it All package on Holland America Line.

[luv2kroooz]

Yep, you should be fine.

 

The general complaints are very limited beverage package with exclusions for water, Starbucks, certain wines and spirits that are commonly available shoreside at reasonable prices.

 

Then you have limited specialty dining, whereby if you want a certain dish such as lobster or a certain appetizer, you have to pay more for it.

 

Then, if you want to use a certain area of the sundeck, called Vibe, that is an upcharge. If you want to ride a go cart, or play an arcade game, or have fresh squeezed juice, etc., you have to pay extra.

 

That is the type of stuff I have seen. The experience is more akin to..." If you want it, you have to pay extra for it" instead of " welcome to our ship, it is your home for the next x days. Please enjoy it to the fullest." 

[AndyCapn]

NCL kind of brings it on themselves by proclaiming "Free At Sea" and then your free drinks cost $30/day in gratuities, your free specialty dinner doesn't cover the 20% tip, you free shore excursion is only $50 off and only for one person in the cabin.

 

Got a free cruise from your land casino? It doesn't cover the port fees, plus there's a $20 per person per night administrative fee. (Not the daily service charge, that's something else.)

 

Agree with others that most of the charges not unique to NCL, but they're the ones plastering "Free" all over their marketing.

[tonyfall1]

Not being loyal to any cruise line. I based my decision strictly on which line was giving me the biggest bang for the buck. Comparing all of the main stream lines it ended up being NCL when I factored all in costs and it wasn't really even close. MSC was the closest and I cruised with them last year, they were ok, but NCL certainly gives you more than MSC did and it was cheaper.

[rj59]

I'm Elite with Princess and go on NCL, but as a price-conscious solo I simply don't play along for all the money-making temptations, like casino, photos, bingo, packages, or other nonsense, particularly Princess now charging for room service or the previously-free Alfredo's pizza. I think people get upset about having to pay for go karts or other things on NCL, but I realize that's how they make money. They can be a little sneaky with FAS, giving only a limited amount of free internet, counting on most people to burn through it and pay for more, and they hide the $20 or so daily gratuities for the 'free' drinks package. They're also sneaky about selling $250 future cruise deposits, so I was fooled into buying more than I wanted by their sneaky phrasing. As with every other cruise line, realize they have a mountain of debt and have to pay for their fancy new ships, so they're going to try to extract as much from passengers as possible, but it's your choice whether or not to play along. Every other line has been cutting back and increasing prices, but people still are filling (and often overfilling) ships, so with NCL it's best to focus on the positives. For me it's the outside walk around most of the ship with incredible views, especially since all the other lines are cutting out wraparound promenades entirely. Then the Broadway and other shows are better than anything on Princess, and they have a comedy club (book as soon as you get on the ship) and Beatles band on many ships. So to me it's a nice middle-road between the insanity of the megaships of Royal and the dull old people ships of HAL and Princess. Even with food, I look at the positive--NCL has the most extensive Indian menu of any line in their buffets, as well as scoop ice cream, which Princess doesn't offer. And for pricing, NCL has incredible last-minute deals for a solo like myself. 

[tonyfall1]

2 minutes ago, rj59 said:

I'm Elite with Princess and go on NCL, but as a price-conscious solo I simply don't play along for all the money-making temptations, like casino, photos, bingo, packages, or other nonsense, particularly Princess now charging for room service or the previously-free Alfredo's pizza. I think people get upset about having to pay for go karts or other things on NCL, but I realize that's how they make money. They can be a little sneaky with FAS, giving only a limited amount of free internet, counting on most people to burn through it and pay for more, and they hide the $20 or so daily gratuities for the 'free' drinks package. They're also sneaky about selling $250 future cruise deposits, so I was fooled into buying more than I wanted by their sneaky phrasing. As with every other cruise line, realize they have a mountain of debt and have to pay for their fancy new ships, so they're going to try to extract as much from passengers as possible, but it's your choice whether or not to play along. Every other line has been cutting back and increasing prices, but people still are filling (and often overfilling) ships, so with NCL it's best to focus on the positives. For me it's the outside walk around most of the ship with incredible views, especially since all the other lines are cutting out wraparound promenades entirely. Then the Broadway and other shows are better than anything on Princess, and they have a comedy club (book as soon as you get on the ship) and Beatles band on many ships. So to me it's a nice middle-road between the insanity of the megaships of Royal and the dull old people ships of HAL and Princess. Even with food, I look at the positive--NCL has the most extensive Indian menu of any line in their buffets, as well as scoop ice cream, which Princess doesn't offer. And for pricing, NCL has incredible last-minute deals for a solo like myself. 

Yum, I love Indian food so that is a bonus.

[lf4UA]

When using HAL’s Have It All package on our last cruise, we didn’t spend one extra dime except for playing bingo/gambling (the daily gratuities were included at the time we booked.). When researching NCL’s Free At Sea, I find that water, Starbucks, tips on the drink package and tips on specialty dining are not included. That adds up quickly which kind of negates the “all-inclusive” concept. One of the main reasons I always choose the Have It All package is so that I don’t experience any surprises when receiving my final statement.

 

[cruiser2015]

4 hours ago, tonyfall1 said:

Thanks,  yeah most of the stuff I am seeing is not stuff I would necessarily expect to be free. Doesn't seem substantially different than some other lines. Maybe a few things.

I think you'll find that the pattern is the same for all of the cruise lines in the first couple of tiers ( such as Carnival, NCL, MSC, RCCL, Celebrity, Princess).

II f you go more upscale, then you will start to see more freebies (water, alcohol, shore excursions, specialty dining, free air fare). Of course your initial fare is going to be LOTS higher.

Edited October 16, 2023 by cruiser2015

[G-DawgMN]

4 hours ago, Two Wheels Only said:

People use the term "nickel and dime" when it doesn't always apply. 

 

If you want coffee, it's included.

If you want specialty coffee (Starbucks), it cost extra.

 

If you want dining, it's included.

If you want specialty dining, it cost extra.

 

If you want an adults-only sundeck, it's (usually) included.

If you want an exclusive adults-only sundeck, it cost extra. 

 

If you have the SDP and want Cagney's, it's covered.

If you have the SDP and want Cagney's with crab cakes, it cost extra. 

 

People are given options but some expect those options to always be included. If those options aren't included, those same people will complain using "nickel and dime" comments. 

 

Edited October 16, 2023 by KSSS2013
!

[RocketMan275]

Those complaining about the 'nickle and diming' would be complaining about having to pay for things they didn't want if NCL were fully all inclusive.

[julig22]

11 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Those complaining about the 'nickle and diming' would be complaining about having to pay for things they didn't want if NCL were fully all inclusive.

Yup.  And somehow the phrase "Free at Sea" is often interpreted as meaning all inclusive, not here's some stuff we include in your regular fare.

[ChiefMateJRK]

Are nickels and dimes even worth anything anymore?🤣

[MoCruiseFan]

9 hours ago, tonyfall1 said:

Hello,

 

I will be taking my first NCL cruise in February on the Breakaway. I have done one Princess over 20 years ago and MSC last year. I have been doing a lot of reading to familiarize myself with NCL. A common theme I read on all of the different sites or see on Youtube is how they nickel and dime you once they get you onboard. They don't necessarily provide a lot of examples, other than Starbucks or water which are non issues for me. I have the FAS package, I have booked my excursions prepaid all of my gratuities and service charges, upgraded 1 internet to unlimited.. I am not really into laser tag or things like that. It seems like I have pretty much paid for everything I would want to do or be interested in. I can't think of anything else I would really need. What kind of nickel and diming is everyone referring to? Thanks.

I have never been 'nickeled of dimed:  I simply pay for what I use such as the casino, the soda package, and perhaps a session of BINGO, or one of the otehr ganes where you cn win cash,  Those talking about nickel and diem are jsut cheapskates looking for anoterh reason to complain.  You can go on an NCL crusie and never pay a cent nce on board.