VIP Priority Plus

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Everyone needs to take a step back and wait until we see what really happens with this. Maybe they will only sell 10 or maybe 20/25 and how long will it last maybe it's a trial and it will only be around for a month or so. People are canceling already? Really?

[footballbabe3]

As I stated before I left Carnival because of the faster to the fun program.

Now I will probably be leaving NCL. I need the smaller groups to get on and

off the ship. I am willing to pay for that need. Now they keep adding more and more people to it. I thought part of the Haven was the smaller amount of people. I would have not booked this room.

[Old & Retired]

Finally someone with reason. I thought I was the only one who didn't see the big deal. Thank you.

 

Not sure why you insult everyone who does not agree with you by implying they don't have reason?

[rochelle_s]

I can certainly understand how suite passengers may feel that this new offer somehow diminishes the value of the 'perks' they receive booking suites. The item in the new program that appears to overwhelmingly be a cause for concern appears to be the breakfast in a specialty venue. From what has been posted here suite passengers are not only rethinking their future cruise plans with NCL but are also willing to look elsewhere. Frankly I am shocked that there is apparently so many people (as stated here) who pay thousands of more dollars than the average cruise passenger, every time they cruise with NCL, just so they can eat in Cagney's for breakfast and lunch. :eek: Here I was thinking that folks booked those upper categories and paid those prices not for the extra option of a breakfast and lunch venue but because of the overall experience that is to be had at that level.

 

From what has been posted on other threads, this 'perk' has been or will be taken away from the CAS Golden and VIP players. NCL will now sell this perk via the VIP Priority Program. So in all likelihood one just offsets the other. The venue should not be any more or any less filled than it was prior to this new program implementation.

 

Again I do understand why people are initially upset by this but I don't believe there will be a mass exodus of suite passengers booking balcony cabins because of it. And even if there were, I am sorry to say that there will be someone right behind more than happy to book that suite cabin space.

 

Most cruise passengers are not on Cruise Critic and I have no doubt the Haven and suites will continue to sell out and the majority of passengers will board the ship, indulge in the perks offered and never even be the wiser that the breakfast and lunch venue they enjoy may also be being enjoyed by someone who 'bought' their way in.

 

So as much as I can sympathize with the suite passengers I feel more for the CAS people who are the ones truly losing something. The suite guests just have to learn to share with someone different.

 

 

Rochelle

Edited September 23, 2014 by rochelle_s

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Not sure why you insult everyone who does not agree with you by implying they don't have reason?

 

 

 

I never said people don't have a reason. I said someone with reason hence being reasonable that is what I meant. I was not insulting anyone you misread what I typed I'm sorry if you didn't understand what I meant. That is one of the problems with Internet typing.

Edited September 23, 2014 by FootballParent

[rochelle_s]

As I stated before I left Carnival because of the faster to the fun program.

Now I will probably be leaving NCL. I need the smaller groups to get on and

off the ship. I am willing to pay for that need. Now they keep adding more and more people to it. I thought part of the Haven was the smaller amount of people. I would have not booked this room.

 

I don't mean to negate anything you have said but I would like to point out that NCL is excellent at helping anyone with special needs. If you need assistance to get on and off the ship they will be more than happy to work with you. All you need to do is contact the Accessibility department. (1-866-584-9756). They will help anyone who may need their services regardless of cabin category booked.

 

 

Rochelle

[njhorseman]

Everyone needs to take a step back and wait until we see what really happens with this. Maybe they will only sell 10 or maybe 20/25 and how long will it last maybe it's a trial and it will only be around for a month or so. People are canceling already? Really?

 

You don't seem to understand that there's a serious financial issue at work here. It's not that there might be an extra few people eating breakfast and lunch at Cagney's...it's that we've now paid a couple of thousand more than we have to in order to take advantage of the perk we value most.

[rhinomike]

Smart move by NCL. For all of you that say you won't cruise in a suite anymore..... Someone else will. I always want a suite but they are always taken. Those suites will be filled and every one of the VIP upgrades will be sold. It's a business decision and probably a smart one.

 

Most here are just venting. Nobody is really going to switch lines or change anything. I have watched this go on for years here on the forum. NCL watches and knows this too. Everyone complains and thinks the sky is falling. Just wait and see what happens.

 

For those of you that want to cancel your suites. Great. You will save money. So what is the complaint. Same perks less money. Works for me. But you all act like its a given that you will get the $99 VIP upgrade. Your not gonna be happy when you get on the ship any they are all sold out. Plus your gonna have to beat me and my family of 6 onto the ship before I buy up all the VIP upgrades. Lol.

[njhorseman]

I can certainly understand how suite passengers may feel that this new offer somehow diminishes the value of the 'perks' they receive booking suites. The item in the new program that appears to overwhelmingly be a cause for concern appears to be the breakfast in a specialty venue. From what has been posted here suite passengers are not only rethinking their future cruise plans with NCL but are also willing to look elsewhere. Frankly I am shocked that there is apparently so many people (as stated here) who pay thousands of more dollars than the average cruise passenger, every time they cruise with NCL, just so they can eat in Cagney's for breakfast and lunch. :eek: Here I was thinking that folks booked those upper categories and paid those prices not for the extra option of a breakfast and lunch venue but because of the overall experience that is to be had at that level.

 

From what has been posted on other threads, this 'perk' has been or will be taken away from the CAS Golden and VIP players. NCL will now sell this perk via the VIP Priority Program. So in all likelihood one just offsets the other. The venue should not be any more or any less filled than it was prior to this new program implementation.

 

Again I do understand why people are initially upset by this but I don't believe there will be a mass exodus of suite passengers booking balcony cabins because of it. And even if there were, I am sorry to say that there will be someone right behind more than happy to book that suite cabin space.

 

Most cruise passengers are not on Cruise Critic and I have no doubt the Haven and suites will continue to sell out and the majority of passengers will board the ship, indulge in the perks offered and never even be the wiser that the breakfast and lunch venue they enjoy may also be being enjoyed by someone who 'bought' their way in.

 

So as much as I can sympathize with the suite passengers I feel more for the CAS people who are the ones truly losing something. The suite guests just have to learn to share with someone different.

 

 

Rochelle

 

It's not that we think this diminishes the value of the suite perks...we've now paid a couple of thousand more than we have to in order to avail ourselves of our favorite suite perk. That's serious money, not a thought process...serious enough money that the savings is enough for us to take an additional cruise. The financial value is many multiples of what you may lose in CAS perks.

 

We don't use the butler's services, and although the larger cabin is nice, it's not as important to us as the private breakfast and lunch venue. For us it makes the NCL experience more akin to an upscale cruise line or resort rather than the mass market line that it is. The buffet at breakfast and lunch has all the atmosphere of a NY City subway at rush hour, and the service in the MDR at breakfast is usually glacial.

Edited September 23, 2014 by njhorseman

[njhorseman]

Smart move by NCL. For all of you that say you won't cruise in a suite anymore..... Someone else will. I always want a suite but they are always taken. Those suites will be filled and every one of the VIP upgrades will be sold. It's a business decision and probably a smart one.

 

Most here are just venting. Nobody is really going to switch lines or change anything. I have watched this go on for years here on the forum. NCL watches and knows this too. Everyone complains and thinks the sky is falling. Just wait and see what happens.

 

For those of you that want to cancel your suites. Great. You will save money. So what is the complaint. Same perks less money. Works for me. But you all act like its a given that you will get the $99 VIP upgrade. Your not gonna be happy when you get on the ship any they are all sold out. Plus your gonna have to beat me and my family of 6 onto the ship before I buy up all the VIP upgrades. Lol.

 

We've switched lines for may reasons over the years and settled on NCL. Last cruise our suite priority boarding was so screwed up that my wife said...and quite seriously..."It's time to start cruising on Regent". Now NCL is charging me a couple of thousand more for our favorite suite perk than anyone in a balcony cabin who wants it and lines up at the guest services desk early enough. Sorry...that may be the final straw...because that's real money, not just being able to board the ship a few minutes earlier. (And we're going to get on the ship earlier than you to buy the package...you're merely silver Latitudes status :D)

[ma_t_gus]

-Daily Breakfast and Lunch in Cagney’s Restaurant for all Ships, except Norwegian Sun, Jewel, Breakaway, Getaway and Epic.

- Breakfast and Lunch will be served in La Cucina on Norwegian Sun and in Moderno’s on Norwegian Jewel.

- On Norwegian Breakaway, Getaway, and Epic, guests can order from an upgraded Breakfast Room Service Menu PLUS one free banquet seating admission per person to either Cirque Dreams & Dinner on Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Epic or The Illusionarium on Norwegian Getaway.

 

I might cancel my Breakaway and book a quick cruise on the Sky to get in on this action.

[rhinomike]

We've switched lines for may reasons over the years and settled on NCL. Last cruise our suite priority boarding was so screwed up that my wife said...and quite seriously..."It's time to start cruising on Regent". Now NCL is charging me a couple of thousand more for our favorite suite perk than anyone in a balcony cabin who wants it and lines up at the guest services desk early enough. Sorry...that may be the final straw...because that's real money, not just being able to board the ship a few minutes earlier. (And we're going to get on the ship earlier than you to buy the package...you're merely silver Latitudes status :D)

 

Lol. Yes I'm still a peon on NCL but I'm working my way up. Lol.

 

But my son is small and quick. He will be making a dash for guest services. Lol.

[david_sobe]

only 3 ships have the haven lounge which is not affected by this package. This is geared to the saller ships that have Cagney's for B&L.

Exactly. This is geared at selling suite perks to the ships where the smaller ships only have a few suites and can earn so much more money selling perks.

The Haven on the smaller ships will no longer be so exclusive. Good for NCL but not so good for suite passengers who pay lots of $$$ for all the perks.

[garycarla]

You know what seems to be happening here?

 

There are people yelling "Not Fair". It is not fair that somebody can get these perks for $99 each vs my thousands that I paid for a suite. It is just not fair.

 

Not unlike those that yell and scream if somebody got a cruise for less than money than they paid.

 

Just not fair.

 

And, in my book, just plain silly. It does not matter if somebody else got it for free. What you paid or agree to pay is all that matters. If you not like what YOU bought, then just don't buy it. It is your choice.

 

(this does not apply to everyone here, especially the person currently reading this, whoever you are)

Edited September 23, 2014 by garycarla

[njhorseman]

Exactly. This is geared at selling suite perks to the ships where the smaller ships only have a few suites and can earn so much more money selling perks.

The Haven on the smaller ships will no longer be so exclusive. Good for NCL but not so good for suite passengers who pay lots of $$$ for all the perks.

 

This package doesn't provide access to the Haven on the smaller ships any more than it does on the larger ships. Cagney's (or other suite breakfast/lunch venue depending on the ship) isn't in the Haven.

Edited September 23, 2014 by njhorseman

[triptolemus]

Next thing you know, NCL will start selling passes to my aft suite balcony to steerage pax... :rolleyes:

Edited September 23, 2014 by triptolemus

[njhorseman]

You know what seems to be happening here?

 

There are people yelling "Not Fair". It is not fair that somebody can get these perks for $99 each vs my thousands that I paid for a suite. It is just not fair.

 

Not unlike those that yell and scream if somebody got a cruise for less than money than they paid.

 

Just not fair.

 

And, in my book, just plain silly. It does not matter if somebody else got it for free. What you paid or agree to pay is all that matters. If you not like what YOU bought, then just don't buy it. It is your choice.

 

(this does not apply to everyone here, especially the person currently reading this, whoever you are)

 

A $100 or $200 decrease in cabin price after final payment date isn't on the order of magnitude of the couple of thousand dollars we could have saved and still gotten our favorite perk. Not even remotely comparable. They changed the rules, not just adjusted a price to sell empty cabins.

Edited September 23, 2014 by njhorseman

[triptolemus]

A $100 or $200 decrease in cabin price after final payment date isn't on the order of magnitude of the couple of thousand dollars we could have saved and still gotten our favorite perk. Not even remotely comparable. They changed the rules, not just adjusted a price to sell empty cabins.

 

And sometimes life isn't fair.

 

Vote with your wallet.

[rochelle_s]

It's not that we think this diminishes the value of the suite perks...we've now paid a couple of thousand more than we have to in order to avail ourselves of our favorite suite perk. That's serious money, not a thought process...serious enough money that the savings is enough for us to take an additional cruise. The financial value is many multiples of what you may lose in CAS perks.

 

We don't use the butler's services, and although the larger cabin is nice, it's not as important to us as the private breakfast and lunch venue. For us it makes the NCL experience more akin to an upscale cruise line or resort rather than the mass market line that it is. The buffet at breakfast and lunch has all the atmosphere of a NY City subway at rush hour, and the service in the MDR at breakfast is usually glacial.

 

If what you say is true I do not understand why you are not praising NCL for making this change. Instead of costing you money they have just saved you thousands of dollars on all future cruises you many book with them as you now have another option. (If nothing else NCL is all about having options!!)

 

If you choose to continue to sail and book suites you will still be able to have your intimate breakfast and lunch experience in Cagney's. Book on one of the newer ships and those in the lower class cabins will be no where near you as you dine in the Haven for your meals. If you remain in suites and find the morning and noon dining venue too crowded for your liking you can always have your butler serve you in the ultimate comfort and privacy of your suite.

 

As far as the financial value of your suite outweighing the loss of the perk to the CAS players who had it -- I beg to differ. The Cagney's breakfast and lunch perk was only offered to Golden and VIP tier level players. That would mean they must have played through a minimum of $75,001 or $175,001 dollars respectively in the casino during the past one year evaluation period. Now that is some serious money! As I said before they are losing the perk outright. In the past you were sharing the perk with CAS players now you will have to share it with someone different - someone who paid $99 extra for a 7 night cruise. In the past were you upset that you might be sitting next to a CAS player at breakfast who had not paid a high enough price outright in their initial cruise fare to do so?

 

I'm sorry but I can't understand how those extra thousands and thousands of dollars that you have paid primarily for the privilege of an intimate breakfast and lunch venue has suddenly lost all its value. It was important enough to pay the money for in the past, how that value diminishes for you because of what is available to someone else is beyond me.

 

That being said I do understand people being upset. I just don't believe that all these claims of people no longer booking suites will come to fruition, but as I said before if they do move down to booking plain old balcony's it won't be long before someone takes their place in the Suite Life.

 

 

Rochelle

[herdingdogmom]

I am not happy that this all comes out nine days after my final payment. Granted the Getaway is a different situation as we have the Haven but our Star cruise is $8400 for just the two of us. There is no Haven. Going to see how this plays out but very well may decide to treat my son and his gf to a trip to Europe in connecting balconies and come out ahead even after paying for their air.

 

One more thing to take into consideration on the Star - the service in Cagney's for breakfast and lunch was terrible last year. We ended up having the butler deliver breakfast from the Cagney's menu each morning. That would be a real treat on an aft balcony in the Baltics. Hopefully the service will have improved in 2015, but ask about it before making any drastic changes.

[SuiteCruiser]

One more thing to take into consideration on the Star - the service in Cagney's for breakfast and lunch was terrible last year. We ended up having the butler deliver breakfast from the Cagney's menu each morning. That would be a real treat on an aft balcony in the Baltics. Hopefully the service will have improved in 2015, but ask about it before making any drastic changes.

 

Isn't that funny? We were on the Star in early October for the TA and had great service in Cagney's! So much so that we never ordered in.

 

It's amazing how things seem to change from cruise to cruise.

[david_sobe]

This package doesn't provide access to the Haven on the smaller ships any more than it does on the larger ships. Cagney's (or other suite breakfast/lunch venue depending on the ship) isn't in the Haven.

I think if you read the NCL specifics it clearly states ships Epic, Breakaway,and Getaway do not allow VIP guests to eat breakfast or lunch at the Haven restaurant. The guests must get room service breakfast. The smaller ships do allow the VIP guests to eat at Cagneys, etc. So it clearly does impact the smaller ships more. Cagneys IS the Haven restaurant for breakfast and lunch on the smaller ships.

Edited September 24, 2014 by david_sobe

[david_sobe]

You know what seems to be happening here?

 

There are people yelling "Not Fair". It is not fair that somebody can get these perks for $99 each vs my thousands that I paid for a suite. It is just not fair.

 

Not unlike those that yell and scream if somebody got a cruise for less than money than they paid.

 

Just not fair.

 

And, in my book, just plain silly. It does not matter if somebody else got it for free. What you paid or agree to pay is all that matters. If you not like what YOU bought, then just don't buy it. It is your choice.

 

(this does not apply to everyone here, especially the person currently reading this, whoever you are)

Gary

You are the most interesting poster on these boards. Just last week you cried boo hoo hoo when NCL announced they were restricting the gambling VIP status to eat at Cagneys for breakfast and lunch. You mentioned how much you have spent in the program for NCL to ignore that and take away breakfast at Cagneys for you.

Now you have been your consistent self by being completely inconsistent. People are simply mentioning what you were complaining about last week. Just pointing out the obvious how those who pay the most for simple perks are lost to those who pay less to get the same perks. It is NOT about being fair. Being "fair" is subjective. It is simply stating the facts that cant be disputed.

I just find your posts and logic fascinating. I would love to interview you for 10 minutes :)

Edited September 24, 2014 by david_sobe

[herdingdogmom]

Isn't that funny? We were on the Star in early October for the TA and had great service in Cagney's! So much so that we never ordered in.

 

It's amazing how things seem to change from cruise to cruise.

 

You were on the cruise right after us. The waiters in Cagney's for breakfast and lunch were always in a hurry to get out of there. I think they just had too much to do - always moving on to the next job.

 

Our cruise was fairly port intensive so perhaps the TA's give them a bit more breathing room. We were on the Jade in March and the difference in service in Cagney's for breakfast was unbelievable. So much so I had to tell the Jade's HD how pleased we were.

[maywell]

I just finally read what the $99 package contains and all I have to say is - those people who think that package is going to destroy their trip, need to get a grip and while at it, get a life.... If the enjoyment of your trip hinges on what others don't have and you don't want them to have which they paid for (that package is a paid extra service) then maybe you need to reconsider using NCL (or RCL & Carnival, while you're at). The $99 package is just another nickel & dime ploy for other guests not staying in the Haven - if the price is right, people will buy and use it. If not, then don't buy it, its that simple - what's its worth to others how they want to use breakfast room service. Not Cagney breakfast which you have to travel to deck for but room service which is brought to person who wants and order it. You still get to keep your 'special' Cagney breakfast - what the heck happen to reading comprehension...

 

Honestly, all 3 mass market lines are going to nickel and dime to make up for cheap fares they offer one way or the other, NCL is just trying to make more money off of extra things they think people want. You want to feel like a super special snowflake with all the bells and whistles - that what luxury lines like Seaborn,Azamara, Oceania & Regent are there for. But look what happen to those lines, the people who wanted to be "special" and "unique" but on the super cheap when they can actually afford it, those lines got brought out by Big 3; what does that say about the consumers they were trying to attract? Could had gone on the luxury lines and get way better service than NCL ever give in the Haven suites and some of you are complaining about an extra fee that doesn't even pertain to you? Seriously, get a grip or go to another cruise line......