NCL does it again......extremely irritated

[suzyed]

I was hoping that things would change on the Epic, but after doing some research, it seems that is not the case.

 

There are 7 Suite categories on the Epic. AC, SA, A7, A4, A6, A3, & A2. Every single one of them only accomodate 2 people until you get up to the A6 which is a Courtyard Villa. So yet again, NCL is offering no reasonably priced suites for people who are traveling with 3 people in a cabin. If you are a couple who travels with a parent, like we do, you're out of luck. Or if you are a young couple with a small child, no options unless you want to spend the cash to stay in a CV.

 

I love NCL but this really bugs the heck out of me. I know that's intentionally done that way to cut down on the amount of guests they need to offer suite perks to, but would it really be that big of a deal to put a sofa bed in a suite and allow up to 3 or 4 people in a Penthouse?

 

CG

I totally agree...we would have liked for our daughter (24) to come with us, and found the same to be true on the Star....and a very easy solution, as you said, would be to put a sofa bed in the cabins...too bad.

[CruisnGram]

LOL. That's so cute! At my age, I don't care if he's cute. If he cruises, he's all I want in a man. :) So, CG, keep me in mind if MIL and Wink don't work out.

 

Well, I was going to offer too, but now with the three of us and dad, what would be have to book to hold all 4? :)

 

Edit: Oh I see Big Green already answered this!

 

Dad will need a BIG suite for his harem. ;)

 

Okay ladies, you just wait till I tell him about this! He will want to know how soon we're going to make this cruise! LOL

 

CG

[CruisnGram]

according to the ncl booking site the follwing suites accomodate 4 people a2 and a5--- the following accomodate 6 people a3 and a6.

 

They are expensive but your would get the third and fourth person price etc.

 

For some reason, the deck plan I was looking at earlier (on a TA website) did not show the A5. However, the A5 is the same type of cabin as the A2 which is a high priced owners suite. So, only the A6 & A3 (Courtyard Villas) and A2 & A5(Owner's Suite) accomodate more then 2 people.

 

Also who said a suite should be reasonably priced????

Supply vs demand--few suites higher prices.

 

 

Big green

 

No one expects a suite to be as reasonably prices as an inside, an OV or a balcony. I completely agree that if you want a suite, you pay the price.

 

But you are missing the point here. If my husband and I want to cruise on NCL (the Epic in particular) we can get an AC Penthouse for approximately 2700 for the 2 of us. However, if my father goes with us, or our 2 year old grandson, we must bump up to a suite that would cost $5200 for the 3 of us. $2500 more for the 3rd person? 3rd person price break or not, that's ridiculous. Why should you and your wife (for example) be able to travel in a suite for $2700 yet if I bring my dad with me, I have to pay almost double that simply because I have one more person then you?

 

If someone has 4 people then yes, they could get two penthouse suites. But if you only have 3 people, then you would pay the single supplement and actually pay for 4. NCL has completely outpriced their suites for those traveling with parties of 3..

 

CG

[EileenN]

I completely agree with the complaint. We would love to book a suite, but need H/C for our DD. We also usually travel as a party of three and can never get anything other than an AB. Many of the other suites are large enough, but restricted for two only.. There is plenty room for a roll away in them. Come on, NCL, change those accomadations.....add a sofa bed...

[Don Haynes]

No one expects a suite to be as reasonably prices as an inside, an OV or a balcony. I completely agree that if you want a suite, you pay the price.

 

But you are missing the point here. If my husband and I want to cruise on NCL (the Epic in particular) we can get an AC Penthouse for approximately 2700 for the 2 of us. However, if my father goes with us, or our 2 year old grandson, we must bump up to a suite that would cost $5200 for the 3 of us. $2500 more for the 3rd person? 3rd person price break or not, that's ridiculous. Why should you and your wife (for example) be able to travel in a suite for $2700 yet if I bring my dad with me, I have to pay almost double that simply because I have one more person then you?

 

If someone has 4 people then yes, they could get two penthouse suites. But if you only have 3 people, then you would pay the single supplement and actually pay for 4. NCL has completely outpriced their suites for those traveling with parties of 3..

 

CG

 

Wouldn't it be cheaper to book either a connecting balcony or a nearby inside cabin instead of booking two penthouses? I'm sure the main reason why NCL just doesn't use a roll away bed as much is because of the lifeboat assignments. As the ships get larger, longer, and taller, one deck of lifeboats only go so far.....

[CC Help Michell]

Well, they are not building the private areas (villa pool, exercise room, private dining room) big enough for all the potential folks if they book full and all want to do the same thing at the same time, so it makes sense they are limiting the amount of bodies to rooms.

 

As a mom, I find it frustrating too......Disney had family cruising right and I thought everyone else was going to learn from them!

 

Disney charged 2-3 x as much for a family as lines like RCL (not even mentioning NCL in this one). Disney does many things right, but their cruises aren't one of them if budget is an issue.

[schneidwife]

My husband and I just returned from the Dawn to Bermuda. Had an AB Penthouse Suite. My 83 year old Aunt was with us and the separate bedroom with bath was perfect for her. Everyone had their privacy. We found out too late that the couch in the living area is pull out so we could have brough along another person for $99. Last year on the Gem the same suite had a regular couch. We had the cabin attendant add an egg crate and mattress pad to my aunt's bed so she would be comfortable. It's really a couch that is flattened out for sleeping. There is also a bunk in that room so you could have 3 children sleep there. Loved the suite. Got a great price from Casinos at Sea so it was definitely worth it.

 

We just returned from a 14 day Med cruise on the Jade where my husband, mother-in-law and I were in an AB penthouse. It was plenty of room for the three of us and the inside bedroom that my m-i-l slept in would hold up to three kids, depending on size and attitude. It worked really well for the three of us and we were able to get the 3rd person rate of $499 which made it even sweeter!

[mississauga]

I was hoping that things would change on the Epic, but after doing some research, it seems that is not the case.

 

There are 7 Suite categories on the Epic. AC, SA, A7, A4, A6, A3, & A2. Every single one of them only accomodate 2 people until you get up to the A6 which is a Courtyard Villa. So yet again, NCL is offering no reasonably priced suites for people who are traveling with 3 people in a cabin. If you are a couple who travels with a parent, like we do, you're out of luck. Or if you are a young couple with a small child, no options unless you want to spend the cash to stay in a CV.

 

I love NCL but this really bugs the heck out of me. I know that's intentionally done that way to cut down on the amount of guests they need to offer suite perks to, but would it really be that big of a deal to put a sofa bed in a suite and allow up to 3 or 4 people in a Penthouse?

 

CG

 

Are there no AB's on the Epic? I know the Pearl has AB's and that sleeps 4-5 people. It has a second bedroom ( like an inside ) with queen or twins plus an upper. It is a suite and is exactly like the one in the Courtyard but without in there. Not sure if it's the same as an A2 or A3.

[CruisnGram]

Wouldn't it be cheaper to book either a connecting balcony or a nearby inside cabin instead of booking two penthouses? I'm sure the main reason why NCL just doesn't use a roll away bed as much is because of the lifeboat assignments. As the ships get larger, longer, and taller, one deck of lifeboats only go so far.....

Absolutely it would be cheaper. But then the balcony and inside don't get the suite perks.

 

CG

[Don Haynes]

Absolutely it would be cheaper. But then the balcony and inside don't get the suite perks.

 

CG

True, but the suites can have visitors who can share the perks.....

[CruisnGram]

True, but the suites can have visitors who can share the perks.....

 

Well that can be a gray area. There's been lots of discussion on the boards lately about those not entitled to suite perks getting them. And, as everyone here says, it's not a guarantee. And, the persons in the suite have to ask for the perks for the others in their party. It's just awkward and I just wish that NCL had a suite available that would sleep 3/4 people and was reasonably priced as the ones that sleep 2 are.

 

Oh well, I can keep wishing. :)

 

CG

[geneology]

Here is a solution for your 2 small boys. JUST KIDDING LOL

 

LOL That is the funniest picture!! Great sense of humor!!:D

[Mooder]

Okay ladies, you just wait till I tell him about this! He will want to know how soon we're going to make this cruise! LOL

 

CG

 

As soon as he springs for the GV, we'll make it happen!! :D I hope he enjoys knowing there are so many women ready to help him out.

[Parrot57]

I know you are not going to like this but here goes. I was on the Pearl and had a suite with access to the courtyard. What could have been a quiet refuge was ruined by small children running around and playing in the (extremely tiny) pool and hot tub. I wish all the courtyard villas only allowed two.

[keishashadow]

Many of the other suites are large enough, but restricted for two only.. There is plenty room for a roll away in them. Come on, NCL, change those accomadations.....add a sofa bed...

 

i was surpised to find no cabins available directly aft on the Star to sleep 3, only the romance suites, which look large enough to handle a sofa bed, berth or roll away imo

 

speaking of roll aways, was pricing out Dec cruises for 3 peeps, both on princess & carnival. Carnival PVP didn't mention fact that the cabin they suggested we book had a roll-away, not even the rock of a sofa bed they usually have:eek:. Princess even worse, after getting quote i casually asked their agent what the bed configuration was, 2 twins that didn't push together due to ladder needed to climb into berth:rolleyes:. would've been a heck of a surprise either way, glad i pulled up deck plans myself before committing to either.

 

Disney charged 2-3 x as much for a family as lines like RCL (not even mentioning NCL in this one). Disney does many things right, but their cruises aren't one of them if budget is an issue.

 

yep, DCL is expensive, yet they r dealing right now, lots of both targeted & general discounts/large OBCs out there, saw one for $900 for verandah cabin last week. Additionally, on DCL u can assure an auto upgrade (min inside #11) for family of 4 if u book a GTY #12 (as they only sleep 3);) & if u book onboard there is typically a 10% discount on next cruise...which u can easily book a dummy date, then extend the discount until u r ready to sail again. Many 1st timers have been known to book a 3 day in order to get a good rate for longer one in the future.

[coka]

On a side note, my handicapped sister and I toured the Garden Villa on the Pearl. Wheelchair fit no problem in master bedroom and master bathroom. Handicapped person would need to get into tub/shower. I was also told the Pearl has a ramp on board they put in GV to enable the passenger to get out onto deck. So although they were not designed handicapped, the ships do what they can. She is definitely interested in the Epic...will be interesting to find out about the handicapped cabins/ship access.

 

coka

[theshireshihtzu]

Well that can be a gray area. There's been lots of discussion on the boards lately about those not entitled to suite perks getting them. And, as everyone here says, it's not a guarantee. And, the persons in the suite have to ask for the perks for the others in their party. It's just awkward and I just wish that NCL had a suite available that would sleep 3/4 people and was reasonably priced as the ones that sleep 2 are.

 

Oh well, I can keep wishing. :)

 

CG

 

We booked a suite and had my 2 son's in an inside cabin.

Our CC told us since we were traveling together and our ressies were "linked" the whole 4 of us got suite perks.

No one even batted an eye when we dined at cagneys for breckfast with all 4 of us.

[sc425]

I'd like to weigh in here. If NCL charged a bit more for their inside cabins, which can accomadate 4 people, then maybe they wouldn't feel the need to restrict suites the way they have on the Epic. I know the suites come with perks, but the price difference for those perks vs. inside is enormous. Instead of looking at suite passengers to carry the weight and subsidize the rest of the ship, maybe the pricing should be a bit more equalized.

 

I mean no disrespect to those who are inside cabin passengers, I'm with you:)

[dtracker]

That certainly wouldn't appeal to me, since I usually book an I/C or OV/C, but I do understand your reasoning. I hope that never happens, however. :rolleyes:

 

DT

[sc425]

Hello Dtracker,

 

I understand your feelings and respect your very respectful reply. Too often people trash each other on these posts and it's a shame. We all want the same thing...a great cruise vacation:)

[deepnite10]

we ve already said to ourselves that this will be our last yr. of

cruising..instead we re going to wait on the grandchildren to

be old enough to do a P. Canal cruise with grandpa and grandma..

 

and if this is true..it s going to be a great disappointment for

all of us..:(

[InTheCruisingYearsOfLife]

You'd think with the ship being so massive, they'd build ALL their suites to hold AT LEAST three!! That soooo blows, CG.. sorry you're disappointed.

 

You'd think with a ship so massive, they'd build some suites to hold two and others to hold seven, in accordance with the maritime hospitality guidelines specified in Genesis, Chapter 7, verses 1 through 4.

[2inTul]

You'd think with a ship so massive, they'd build some suites to hold two and others to hold seven, in accordance with the maritime hospitality guidelines specified in Genesis, Chapter 7, verses 1 through 4.

 

*****! You had to resurrect this OLD thread for that? Gee...thanks! :rolleyes:

[InTheCruisingYearsOfLife]

*****! You had to resurrect this OLD thread for that? Gee...thanks! :rolleyes:

 

Oops. I'd done a search on a particular subject, and forgot to notice the date of the original thread. Usually I am just reading at the "tip"; here I had departed from that norm and just forgot I'd done so. Sorry.

[fin]

Sorry, CG! That would be irritating if you wanted to sail on the Epic. Personally, I've never found anything remotely attractive about that ship. Not the design, not the decor. Now that they are talking about blue men and ice room and circus tents, I like it even less. I think it is geared towards someone younger than me. Heck, I'm not even young at heart anymore.

.:)

 

Quite concur with your feelings on this. If you look carefully at the demographics shown in their renderings of the ship, it is kind of interesting to see who is NOT included.