what do you mean nickel and dime you

[esp13]

Funny to call a vacation with chose of restaurant and food, lots of entertainment, and excellent service as "bare bones." You also "upgrade" from an inside to a suite - but everyone is on the same ship and as far as I can tell gets treated with the same respect. As an "experience cruiser" I call nickle and dime "freestyle choice." Most people are happy to pay a lower fare and not have to pay for "upgrades" they don't intend to use. For me "nickle and dime" is a term used by mostly disgruntled customers.

 

I absolutely agree. I happily pay the charges for the things that I want to do so that I don't have to subsidize the charges for other people doing things I don't want to do. I have not, in 4 NCL cruises, had a bad experience in the MDR in regards to food quality. Service has, at times, been a little slow, but certainly no worse (and no more inconsistent) than most restaurants that I've been to and I don't feel that choosing to dine in the MDR is somehow being treated worse than the specialty restaurants.

 

As for bingo, drinks, games, etc., I'm very glad that those are an extra charge because I really don't want to pay for everybody else to play when I am not interested. And while I do have a drink here and there, I have no interest in subsidizing somebody else's bar bill.

 

As an experienced cruiser, I love the NCL Freestyle concept. Having a balcony is very, very important to me so I love that NCL offers a lower base price. In fact, I have been able to cruise in a suite for the same (or less) cost of a balcony on other cruise lines. I then get to pick the extras that are important to me. That's why NCL is my choice.

[esp13]

All cruise lines do this. Like we have a great steak house, except its a extra charge. Let me take your photo. Have to buy photos., we have an spa on board. But you have yo pay for it. Most people know this. It's just like there more and more paid activities. Cooking classes, wine tasting. Drink tasting, bar crawl

Some dance classes it's just seems to go on and on

 

You think your cruse is going to cost X $. And it's now. X$ plus all the extras.

 

Yes, they all do it. But unless you are unable/unwilling to do a little research, you should not be surprised in any way. Even on my first NCL cruise, I knew that various things would cost additional money and budgeted accordingly. I don't care about photos or the spa and am happy not to subsidized others who choose to use it. There are still plenty of free activities and, more importantly, I know what to expect when I get on board. So, the cost is not X$ plus all the extras. The cost is X $ plus whatever extras YOU choose. That's the difference between nickel and diming and choice.

[Demonyte]

For me "nickle and dime" is a term used by mostly disgruntled customers.

 

..who don't understand what the term actually means.

[sparks1093]

That is not nickel and diming, just annoying and/or intrusive marketing.

 

Exactly.

[jcool]

New Mexico Nito For me good food means something with taste. Not chili with rice in it. I love chicken. If they have a pool table that is a place for me if they do have a pool table how much is that? How much is bowling ? Do you need to pay to use the water slide? For me Johnny Rockets is a specialty restaurant I know it is not but that is the type of food I like. Witch shows do you pay for?

[che5904]

Nickel and diming is just a term experienced cruisers use to describe the NCL freestyle experience. You pay for your cruise and get the bare bones. Food, entertainment, service. You then get the option to 'upgrade' your experience for a cost, the nickel and the dime.

 

It's a very accurate description though many feel it is a derogatory term.

 

Not sure what cruises you've been on because my cruises, I didn't get "bare bones". I got exactly what I paid for, a nice place to sleep, good entertainment to choose from and many included dining venues to choose from.

 

I didn't "upgrade" my experience, I tailored my vacation to what I wanted and didn't have to pay an exorbitant fee from the start to fund everyone elses likes and dislikes in their vacation.

 

Maybe it's all the way you look at it

[dalgirl]

And as annoying as all of those Bingo announcements are, there are a lot of people who love to spend their money playing Bingo and who want to be reminded that it is starting. A poker tournament you want to play in or watch?? - give them an announcement. A sale in the shops??, let me know in case I had my eye on something. This is commerce, plain and simple. They pay for Bingo or the casino and I pay for the spa. I don't think any of us are "nickled and dimed" for what we like to do. I don't want to pay for the bingo people and they would be outraged to pay for a spa that they have no interest in using. It all works out to the good.

[swedish weave]

NCL nickels and dimes me almost every cruise.

 

They sell me 20 dollars worth of slot play for 10 dollars !!

 

Not exactly nickels and dimes, but the same idea, and I LIKE IT !!!!!!!!

[$hip$hape]

Not sure what cruises you've been on because my cruises, I didn't get "bare bones". I got exactly what I paid for, a nice place to sleep, good entertainment to choose from and many included dining venues to choose from.

 

I didn't "upgrade" my experience, I tailored my vacation to what I wanted and didn't have to pay an exorbitant fee from the start to fund everyone elses likes and dislikes in their vacation.

 

Maybe it's all the way you look at it

che5904,

Your explanation is "bare bones".

I'm liking you more and more.:)

Michael

[dgparent]

Here is a example for you although it is not NCL or any cruise line, I booked a room in Vegas for March Madness, got a good deal, but when you look at the total charges they add a extra 20.99 a night for "Resort Charges". Apparently this is now the norm in Vegas and covers the gym etc, etc basically a bunch of stuff I will never use but have to pay for.

 

That to me is nickel and diming something that is mandatory, eating at Cagney's is not mandatory so it is not nickel and diming.

[che5904]

che5904,

Your explanation is "bare bones".

I'm liking you more and more.:)

Michael

 

I didn't get one bare bone, mine always had meat on them :p

[jcool]

Thanks everyone for your help

[Love my butler]

Not sure what cruises you've been on because my cruises, I didn't get "bare bones". I got exactly what I paid for, a nice place to sleep, good entertainment to choose from and many included dining venues to choose from.

 

 

Exactly, and unless you were in a full suite, you got a bare bones cruise. You paid for bare bones and that is what you got. Maybe you paid extra for 'upgrades', maybe you didn't. Makes no difference. You got the basics with your initial price.

[Love my butler]

Here is a example for you although it is not NCL or any cruise line, I booked a room in Vegas for March Madness, got a good deal, but when you look at the total charges they add a extra 20.99 a night for "Resort Charges". Apparently this is now the norm in Vegas and covers the gym etc, etc basically a bunch of stuff I will never use but have to pay for.

 

NCL started a trick similar to this about 10 years ago called the DSC. $12/person per day. Thankfully it isn't mandatory, though many think it is.

[Love my butler]

You also "upgrade" from an inside to a suite - but everyone is on the same ship and as far as I can tell gets treated with the same respect.

 

You certainly can, but if you pay for a full suite, you are not getting a bare bones cruise anymore, and you paid for the 'upgrade'. Try booking a full suite sometime and you will realize everyone is not treated the same. Suite VIPS are treated like gold.

[coold8]

Nickel and Dining is an issue people refer to in order to describe a la carte pricing. For example, on Crystal cruises you can pay one price and get all you can eat Nobu. It's really good, and included with your $7k-23k per person fare. You also get all you can drink Grey Goose. It's great, especially at the discount rate of $14k for two (on a one-week cruise to the Caribbean). $20k if you were lucky like us (12 days to the Baltics). Oh wait? You can't afford that? Ever consider just going to a not-so-nobu equivalent once for $500 per person per week, and a $20 add-on charge + $6 for the house vodka cran? It's nice they have something similar for 1/10th the cost at a minimum. You also have the option to make a crystal cruise out of it, with all you can drinks boos (UBP), made to order butler delivered dining (Haven), and a piano in your stateroom (3-Bedroom Garden Villa). Oh your complaining about the cost? Let me give you a tip, get rid of and pay off your discover card and go on a vacation every 2 years. Go visit your relatives, hopefully they have boos you can mooch off of.

Edited January 23, 2014 by coold8

[swedish weave]

I agree with CHE that you get a lot for your money when you book. Call it bare bones if you want, but I am very happy with the service, food, entertainment and accomodations I receive for the price I pay. The 12 dollars per day can be called what you want to call it, but it is also a bargain for the service I receive.

 

My ego does not drive me to need more expensive stuff when I cruise. Maybe others have the need to disparage the low price accomodations, but that is not me. So you may call it bare bones, but I call it a very good deal !!!!

Edited January 23, 2014 by swedish weave

[4774Papa]

We have learned to just say NO to the many NCL sales pitches that we encounter on a cruise.

The one that bugs me the most is when the photographer and guy in the costume block the exit when you are leaving the ship for an excursion. Sometimes, you have to step over the rope to get moving again.

[newmexicoNita]

We have learned to just say NO to the many NCL sales pitches that we encounter on a cruise.

The one that bugs me the most is when the photographer and guy in the costume block the exit when you are leaving the ship for an excursion. Sometimes, you have to step over the rope to get moving again.

 

sometimes we ignore them, sometimes we let them take our picture: taking the pic takes 15 seconds and doesn't mean you have to purchase. I have never had to step over a rope and we have cruised about 30 times, all lines.

[blueteam]

sometimes we ignore them, sometimes we let them take our picture: taking the pic takes 15 seconds and doesn't mean you have to purchase. I have never had to step over a rope and we have cruised about 30 times, all lines.

 

 

I always wait on the gangway until the party ahead of me passes the photographers. Then I sprint past before they can photograph me!

 

 

 

 

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[cruiseclues]

I always wait on the gangway until the party ahead of me passes the photographers. Then I sprint past before they can photograph me!

 

I hope that not wanting to have your photograph taken doesn't indicate you are wanted by the police. ;););) We also avoid the photographer most of the time. :):):)

[Sizzlechest]

Most of the "nickle and dime" claims are based on the specialty restaurants. I don't think most people expect alcoholic drinks, the casino, or spa services to be part of the all-inclusive cruise experience. As long as the MDR food is good quality and waiting isn't too bad, the upcharge for the specialty restaurants is fine by me. I like to go to two or three specialty restaurants and they probably wouldn't be the same ones another person would want to try. Why should someone else subsidize my food choices?

 

Now, if the MDR food was garbage or if they purposely made it difficult to eat at the MDRs to push you to the specialty locations, then I might have a beef with NCL. (I thought the food was great last time I sailed.)

 

I'm booked for the Breakaway and I do feel Norwegian is getting a little "nickle and dimey" with the entertainment. Charging for Cirque and one of the Second City shows seems a little excessive. Cagney's is now $30 pp, and there's an even more expensive place that's $49 pp. The Cake Boss bakery is extra. I can see how someone could get that impression if they've never cruised before.

 

BTW, please someone tell me the hot dogs from the sabret cart are free. Right?

Edited January 24, 2014 by Sizzlechest

[spidybabe]

Free and great!

Safe sailing

 

 

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[DMH15]

I agree with CHE that you get a lot for your money when you book. Call it bare bones if you want, but I am very happy with the service, food, entertainment and accomodations I receive for the price I pay. The 12 dollars per day can be called what you want to call it, but it is also a bargain for the service I receive.

 

My ego does not drive me to need more expensive stuff when I cruise. Maybe others have the need to disparage the low price accomodations, but that is not me. So you may call it bare bones, but I call it a very good deal !!!!

 

We all cruise in various ways. And if I choose a suite or spa pass or specialty dining it is not because of my ego. And I would never look down on anyone who economizes, because everyone has their own wants and needs. I have always championed those savvy cruisers that get a great deal. That is what I love about NCL, they offer a wide array of choices.

 

 

 

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[Demonyte]

I'm booked for the Breakaway and I do feel Norwegian is getting a little "nickle and dimey" with the entertainment. Charging for Cirque and one of the Second City shows seems a little excessive. Cagney's is now $30 pp, and there's an even more expensive place that's $49 pp. The Cake Boss bakery is extra. I can see how someone could get that impression if they've never cruised before.

 

Only non-free entertainment includes food being served making it kind of speciality dining, be it the Cirque show in the evening or the Second City luncheon during the day. There is still no charge for regular, non-food including entertainment in any of the venues.

 

Unfortunately what comes to those never cruised before, if they think that they have bought AI vacation onboard when booking with NCL and not doing any research, they are going to have a bad time anyway. While there are upcharge options like Carlo's Bake Shop, one can manage just fine with free baked goods and other dessert type of things from O'Sheehan's, buffet, room service etc.

Edited January 25, 2014 by Demonyte