Is it true? NCL gives no service?

[grandmaR]

You can always request a change.

 

Strange about the tips since we did not deal with envelopes on RCCL last year.

We did exactly that, tips were automatic and we gave extra cash to those we felt deserved it.

 

I tried VERY hard to find out how the RCCL tips worked, I was told that if I put the tips on automatic, the people would get them whether I gave them the envelopes or not, but that I would get the envelopes with the vouchers ANYWAY. And also that I could not change the amount of the vouchers - had to be the standard amount. I couldn't give less to the waiters and more to the stateroom attendant.

 

And I realized that if I did NOT give the envelopes out, the service people would think I had stiffed them. So I gave out the envelopes. But I hated doing it. I can give extra cash to those that I want to give it to without any fricking envelopes Thank You Very Much.

[*Luv2Cruz*]

We've cruised on serveral cruise lines and they've all been fabulous!:D We're heading down to Bermuda for the fourth time on NCL with a CC Group and can't wait!:cool:

[katiel53]

We were on NCL Pearl for an Alaskan cruise May 24, 2008. As far as service and food, it was probably one of our worst cruises. To be fair to NCL, a lot of the problem was that was the transitioning week to 2.0.

 

We dined in the pay dining rooms every night except for lobster night. That night we had to wait almost 2 hours to get in, but we spent the time in the casino, so it wasn't a problem.

 

The problems we had with service were mostly in the Blue Lagoon. We went there once, waited at a table, not including time waiting in line, for over an hour for our breakfast. The next time service was wonderful. The third time it was back to our first time there.

 

I could go on and on about the steak house, (awful the first night) terrible sauce on the steak in LeBistro, too many hamburger dishes for lunch (cheap food in the dining room) etc.

 

We saw our cabin steward by accident the first evening and never again so we didn't get to have him open the dividers between the 3 mini-suites as we had asked initially.

 

The best part of the cruise, other than the ports of course, was that drinks were free in the casino. I have never been on a cruise that did that. We went to the steak house the last night and our service/food was excellent. I think it was because they were ready for the next cruise which was totally 2.0.

 

I would go on NCL again as even with all the problems we had, it was a wonderful cruise. I think NCL has a lot to offer and I am sure they probably have their act straightened out by now. I love the not having to dress up and my husband would go on any cruise I wanted to as long as he doesn't have to get dressed in a suit/tie.

 

My fall/winter cruise next year just might be on NCL.

[grandmaR]

We were on the Pearl out of Miami in Dec 2007, and had no problem with service in the Blue Lagoon, but nobody was eating there so it was half empty. Later (March 2008) I heard complaints about the service in the Blue Lagoon on the Jade at the time they were also transitioning to 2.0 and it was the first cruise after the refit, so I didn't try to eat there. We ate at the Tex Mex restaurant and service was somewhat disorganized which was the complaint I heard about the Blue Lagoon too. They didn't really know who was doing what.

 

I did not eat in any of the pay restaurants so can't speak to that. On the Pearl we tried both the Italian and the Tex Mex and the service was fine, but I didn't like the food in the Italian restaurant. The Italian restaurant was changed to a pay restaurant on the Jade.

 

Both on the Pearl and the Jade we saw the cabin stewards and got very good service. But I wanted something done in the cabin and did not see him/them, I would have called housekeeping to get it done.

[kryos]

We've only been on one NCL cruise (as u can see below) and it'll be the last cause I don't want to take a chance again.

 

We had an AFT penthouse/suite and the service and cabin were fine,no complaints, but the food was stink-o. It kept you alive is the best I can say for it. This includes the main dinning room and three of the specialty restaurants.

 

Good Luck e CIAO, :mad:

Just curious, though, was the NCL cruise a lot less costly than the others?

 

The story I've been told ... and this is all second-hand, because I've never sailed NCL ... is that the price of the cruise itself is much cheaper on that line. But naturally, they have to make up that revenue somewhere. So their amenities are less than what you would get on a more higher priced line. These amenities include primarily food ... which in the main dining rooms would be of a rather low grade. Then, what the cruise line hopes you will do is just throw your hands up in disgust and book speciality (extra tariff) restaurants for the rest of the week ... hence, earning the cruise line more onboard revenue.

 

I hear too that the drink prices run a bit higher on NCL, and there is an extra charge for certain activities, such as the bowling on the Norwegian Jade. RCI, on the other hand, charges nothing for their amenities, such as the FlowRider, ice skating, rock climbing wall, etc. ... but the base cost of a cruise on that line is much higher.

 

Just wondering if your experience proved this out or not?

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[grandmaR]

Right

 

When I look at cruises to Bermuda,

 

NCL Majesty $499 from Philadelphia for 7 days

NCL Dream $529 to 699 from Boston for 7 days

NCL Dawn $729 from NYC for 7 days

 

That is between $71 and $105/day

 

RCI from Baltimore is $599 to $1179 for a 5 day cruise.

 

The only competitive RCI price is for two days less. That's $119.8 per day

 

Both Grandeur of the Seas (the RCI ship out of Baltimore) and NCL Majesty are older ships.

 

I can eat in a lot of extra price restaurants (if I wanted to) for $50/day.

 

GOTS doesn't HAVE any other restaurants except the buffet. Majesty has one extra price restaurant and two casual places that are not extra price.

 

They both are supposed to have an ice skating rink and a rock climbing wall. I didn't see the ice rink when I was on GOTSs and I wouldn't any more interested in doing the rock climbing wall than I would be in bowling.

[billeelou]

the worst cruise we ever wereon was the Princess, but that was because the coffee is bad....but if you don't drinkl coffee....

 

NCL is our favorite so far...I don't want to go to the same table every time, at the same hour,with the same people...meet new folks. freestyle it

1

[*Luv2Cruz*]

Our last cruise to Bermuda was on NCL and our next, a CC Group cruise is also on NCL.:D Our first was great, and our second on NCL, fourth to Bermuda, is going to be even better!! Come join us!;) Details below.

[meaclasact2]

We've always had wonderful service, from beginning to end, on our NCL cruises. The longest we waited for a table in the main restaurant was about 10 minutes. Never EVER did we wait to be seated in a specialty restaurant. Now...we tend to eat earlier - around 6 so that might have something to do with the wait time.

 

The service in the restaurants has been professional, every single time. We love the ability to meet new people - meeting new folks is one of the most enjoyable things about cruising. We enjoy NCL but I also understand that the freestyle concept is not for everyone. I have found our fellow cruisers to be well traveled, sophisticated folks who enjoy trying something different.

 

Quality of food is subjective - on our recent 13 night Jade cruise I had one dinner that I didn't care for - I could have returned it if I wanted. We ate in the buffet a few times and it was what I expected for buffet - it was satisfactory. No..it wasn't at the same quality as Le Bistro, but it was satisfactory - what I would expect from a buffet.