Proof of 18% gratuity on specialty restaurants

[Niquein99]

We're going on our first NCL cruise in May on the Getaway. We chose the UBP as our promotion. But I've already pre-paid for 3 specialty restaurants - Cagney's, Moderno and Teppanyaki. I've also pre-paid the DSC for the two of us.

 

Does this mean that even though I've already pre-paid for these 3 specialty restaurants, when I get on-board in May, are they going to hand me a check for this 18% gratuity at the end of our meal?? :confused: When I booked the specialty restaurants over the phone with NCL, the rep told me the gratuity was included in the surcharge. Now this is not the case??

[Demonyte]

Does this mean that even though I've already pre-paid for these 3 specialty restaurants, when I get on-board in May, are they going to hand me a check for this 18% gratuity at the end of our meal?? :confused: When I booked the specialty restaurants over the phone with NCL, the rep told me the gratuity was included in the surcharge. Now this is not the case??

 

Rep told you wrong, gratuities have never been included in the cover charge - gratuities for all restaurant staff are included in DSC but that is a different story.

 

But no, according to first hand report in the other thread, if the cover charge has been already paid for (comped in their case), you don't need to pay gratuities of "nothing".

Edited March 20, 2015 by Demonyte

[KateQ22003]

So, bottom line - are the specialty restaurant servers in the DSC or no? If yes, and we eat in a specialty restaurant every night, is it appropriate to adjust the DSC? I never thought I would even be asking the question, but I always thought the DSC already went to the specialty staff.

[Demonyte]

So, bottom line - are the specialty restaurant servers in the DSC or no? If yes, and we eat in a specialty restaurant every night, is it appropriate to adjust the DSC? I never thought I would even be asking the question, but I always thought the DSC already went to the specialty staff.

 

Yes, they are. That is why so many people are upset about this added "gratuity".

 

"Why is there a service charge?

The reason there's a fixed service charge is an important one: Our Crew (as are the crew from other lines) is encouraged to work together as a team. Staff members including restaurant staff, stateroom stewards and behind-the-scenes support staff are compensated by a combination of salary and incentive programs that your service charge supports."

http://www.ncl.com/faq#service-charge

[trfccruiser]

I do think this is a big mistake by NCL,as has been said it is blatant double dipping,if speciality restaurant staff are included in the DSC (and they are),there is no need for this.There were examples are few years back where restaurant chains were creaming off tips given by credit/debit cards and staff were not getting the full amount of tips.For all we know,this could be the case here.It's unfair anyway to have to compulsorily tip twice (many people did voluntarily) but I would want to know that all of this extra money is going on tips.

In addition to this NCL might well find that bookings for speciality restaurants decline significantly once word gets around.NCL's concept relies on these restaurants to generate extra revenue so it may prove to be a short sighted move.

I have always eaten in the MDR in the past but my next cruise was seriously contemplating speciality on a couple of nights,but now I'm not so sure.

[hpecorari]

We're going on our first NCL cruise in May on the Getaway. We chose the UBP as our promotion. But I've already pre-paid for 3 specialty restaurants - Cagney's, Moderno and Teppanyaki. I've also pre-paid the DSC for the two of us.

 

Does this mean that even though I've already pre-paid for these 3 specialty restaurants, when I get on-board in May, are they going to hand me a check for this 18% gratuity at the end of our meal?? :confused: When I booked the specialty restaurants over the phone with NCL, the rep told me the gratuity was included in the surcharge. Now this is not the case??

 

My understanding is those that have already pre-paid for specialty restaurants or pre-paid for the UDP or those that got the UDP as a promo won't be charged the auto 18% gratuity.

 

Harriet

[Buford T Justiice]

It's simply to reward the specialty restaurant servers for the extra work they have to do with all the folks getting the UDP; in a sense the cash paying customers are supporting UDP customers...

[hpecorari]

So, bottom line - are the specialty restaurant servers in the DSC or no? If yes, and we eat in a specialty restaurant every night, is it appropriate to adjust the DSC? I never thought I would even be asking the question, but I always thought the DSC already went to the specialty staff.

 

That's a good question. The DSC has always gone to the wait staff, no matter what restaurant they are in. However, how does one decide how to adjust the DSC when it also goes to room stewards, back end people, etc. etc. etc.

 

Harriet

[Froggitt]

Adjust the DSC down by $4 or so for each night $4 or so is paid in gratuity tax in a speciality restaurant, on the grounds that no service was received from the restaurant staff included in the DSC on those evenings?

[Froggitt]

I agree this doesn't make sense.....by eating in the specialty restaurants you are not eating somewhere else, so it really is double dipping. I was a server for years and tip generously, that's not the point, but in essence it would be like me working at a restaurant and expecting to get tipped between 30-40% (double tipped).

I honestly see this more as a way to get people to sign up for the UDP if it does not charge the 18% as just a couple of nights in a specialty could easily add up to an extra $20 or more, especially if you are doing the dining shows.

Oh yes it does

https://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/gifts-and-more#diningpackage

UDP3Price per person during cruises of 3 days$59.00UDP4Price per person during cruises of 4 days$74.00UDP5Price per person during cruises of 5 days$89.00UDP6Price per person during cruises of 6 days$104.00UDP7Price per person during cruises of 7 days$119.00UDP8Price per person during cruises of 8 days$134.00UDP9Price per person during cruises of 9 days$149.00UDP10Price per person during cruises of 10 days$164.00UDP11Price per person during cruises of 11 days$179.00UDP12Price per person during cruises of 12 days$194.00UDP13Price per person during cruises of 13 days$209.00UDP14Price per person during cruises of 14 days$224.00Please call to find out pricing for sailings longer than 15 days. An 18% gratuity will be applied at checkout.

Edited March 20, 2015 by Froggitt

[aquarianne11]

I'm starting another thread as the other one had no proof even though whenisthemidnightbuffet? posted about it from the Breakaway.

 

Here is proof:

 

[ATTACH]343710[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]343711[/ATTACH]

 

Thanks go to Kyleclark and Pixiedustdawn who both sent photos from the Gem, one photos was from March 18th and another was from March 19.

 

So, it's true. NCL is charging 18% gratuity for the specialty restaurants now.

 

Harriet

 

 

Thanks for the info and the pictures. So surprise NCL is doing this...

 

I tried doing a mock purchase of the UDP and the price for the 7 day UDP

is $140.42. The 18% gratuity was already applied at checkout.

 

We got our UDP for free so I don't think this will affect our upcoming cruise on the Escape, but I'm very turned off by this sneaky move from NCL. :(

[GEORGET]

In February we had the UDP and the bill showed zero so we gave a cash tip.

 

Are you saying that this has changed and they are adding 18% to the UDP bill ie Le Bistro $20 x 2 would show a $7.20 auto grat charge to my account?

this actually will make it easier for me as i will no longer leave a cash tip.

 

this will affect the staff in the specialist venues as i cannot see NCL giving them more if they also recieve from the DSC.

 

Which to us Brits has increase from £7 a day to £ 9.50 per person since February.

 

looks as though the cruise industry, thinks we will not notice and continue using them.

 

Drinks up, Grats up, Cruise prices up, next cruise $5800 before any of these charges for 2.

can go anywhere 5* for that and is making even the all inclusive ships attractive.

Still want all the grats included in the upfront price like our Australian cousins

j

Edited March 20, 2015 by GEORGET

[Demonyte]

It's simply to reward the specialty restaurant servers for the extra work they have to do with all the folks getting the UDP; in a sense the cash paying customers are supporting UDP customers...

 

 

What extra work are you talking about? If there are more pax using speciality restaurants and not MDRs, of course they will take extra hands from now emptier MDRs to speciality testaurants to serve them.

[hpecorari]

Adjust the DSC down by $4 or so for each night $4 or so is paid in gratuity tax in a speciality restaurant, on the grounds that no service was received from the restaurant staff included in the DSC on those evenings?

 

Yes, one could do that however, whatever is left of my DSC NCL will still share with the waitstaff, room steward, back end people, etc.

 

My thinking is to:

1. Just leave it alone and not tip cash like I always do at specialty restaurants

or

2. Remove the 18% auto gratuity at specialty restaurants and keep tipping cash like I always do.

or

3. Only use the specialty restaurants for my comped CAS meals and my Platinum meals and tip like I always do with cash.

 

Harriet

[kcwingwalker]

I would not say we are done with NCL, but it's time to do some serious looking around for next year.

[punkincc]

I thought the charge for the specialty restaurants was the gratuity, was that really not true?

 

We had the UDP on the Dawn and ate in a specialty restaurant every night, we had good service but it certainly wasn't anything I would call above and beyond. We did not tip because we thought the service charge was the tip. We got tired of the same menus and wished we had given the main dining rooms a try.

 

 

I always considered the cover charge to be an additional up charge to cover an upgraded experience, menu and service as compared to the MDRs and buffet. I never considered it a gratuity and as far as I know, it goes to NCL's bottom line.

 

Nor did I ever leave an additional gratuity for a server in any restaurant, MDR or Specialty and I am surprised to see that so many routinely do. If those who did tip additional were already doing this, not sure why they are so upset that NCL is now just making it easy for them, especially since they claim to have tipped more in any case. Apparently they did not consider it double dipping when the waiter got both the DSC and their voluntary tip? If anyone has room to complain, it is those of us who took NCL at their word that tips were unnecessary.

 

NCL's website stated that the DSC covered the need for this. They went so far as to say that no additional gratuities were necessary or expected but that someone could do this for service above and beyond. Like you, I guess I never saw anything which I would consider above and beyond, and since I was not required to pay anything beyond the DSC, it was easy to overlook service that was slow or a little off for whatever reason. Not so now, believe me!

 

If NCL wants what amounts to an 18% fee increase, then they need to come out with a clear explaination of who's in the DSC pool ( and while they're at it, are butlers now IN the DSC in light of the increased Suite DSC?). Otherwise, next time we are in a suite there will be no cash tip for the butler.

Edited March 20, 2015 by punkincc

[SJ]

I think people should stop paying at the specialty restaurants for awhile until they remove this new gratuity/sales tax. Other cruiselines are watching how this plays out and if we as consumers don't push back, this will be true on every cruiselines.

 

Just want to remind everyone this is how we got rid of the fuel supplement because passengers voiced their complaints otherwise we would still be paying it today despite lower fuel costs. Fewer ports and slower speed is how cruiselines have hedged against high fuel cost but does anyone think they will be going faster to reach more port or give more port time as a result of lower fuel costs? Probably not because the market is already bearing fewer ports or shorter port time. Not to mention, more time on ship means more spending by the passengers. I imagine fewer shows in a theater that can't accommodate all passengers even with 4 showings leads to more spending. Ncl is trending the wrong way. Good luck NCL!

[Niquein99]

I just called NCL because I was concerned that since I already pre-paid for 3 specialty restaurants, that they'll now charge me the 18% gratuity at the end of our meal when we board the Getaway in May. Note I've already pre-paid the DSC too. The rep at NCL said that since I pre-paid for the restaurant, that I won't be affected by the additional 18%, but that anyone that pre-books and pays going forward will see the 18% charged reflected when they purchase.

 

I questioned the principle of double-tipping, as the wait staff is supposed to be included in the daily service charge (DSC). The rep at NCL said effective today, that specialty restaurant staff are NOT included in the DSC. :eek: She also became very defensive and snippy with me when I asked that question. :rolleyes:

 

I'm not sure what's going on at NCL, but with this being my first cruise on NCL coming up, and having already booked another NCL cruise for next year, this leaves a very bad first impression.

[Eileen2]

Well after reading this thread we will definitely be adjusting our DSC . Each time we eat in a speciality restaurant we will deduct that portion of the gratuity. In fact if they keep this up I will remove the DSC and pay cash as I want to whomever. Fed up with this .:mad:

[hawkeyetlse]

Oh yes it does

https://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/gifts-and-more#diningpackage

The best one is the current FAQ page for the UDP. At the top it says "An 18% gratuity will be added to the package purchase." But further down, they have not bothered to update the FAQ: "Q. ARE GRATUITIES INCLUDED IN THE ULTIMATE DINING PACKAGE PURCHASE PRICE? A. No." :mad:

[hpecorari]

I just called NCL because I was concerned that since I already pre-paid for 3 specialty restaurants, that they'll now charge me the 18% gratuity at the end of our meal when we board the Getaway in May. Note I've already pre-paid the DSC too. The rep at NCL said that since I pre-paid for the restaurant, that I won't be affected by the additional 18%, but that anyone that pre-books and pays going forward will see the 18% charged reflected when they purchase.

 

That's what I've been saying all along. Same holds true for those that already paid for or got the promo for the UDP.

 

I questioned the principle of double-tipping, as the wait staff is supposed to be included in the daily service charge (DSC). The rep at NCL said effective today, that specialty restaurant staff are NOT included in the DSC. :eek: She also became very defensive and snippy with me when I asked that question. :rolleyes:

 

I don't understand this as the waitstaff in the specialty restaurants rotate and might be in the specialty restaurant one week but not the next or are in the MDR or elsewhere for breakfast and lunch. The don't only work in the specialty restaurants.

 

I'm not sure what's going on at NCL, but with this being my first cruise on NCL coming up, and having already booked another NCL cruise for next year, this leaves a very bad first impression.

 

I won't be on board until June but believe you me I intend to ask about the DSC and the 18% gratuity charges at both.....the M&G and at the officers Q&A. Hopefully, someone on board prior to that will and can report back before I board in June. Oh, and I also intend to ask about the confusion of Butlers now being included in the DSC for suites since that DSC was increased.

 

It's just confusing.

 

Harriet

[bossrat]

So basically, rather than giving a bigger bump to the DSC in order to generate more distributable tips, NCL is claiming to eliminate the specialty wait staff from sharing in the DSC (thus supposedly giving other employees bigger shares of the DSC) and imposing the 18% grat to increase what the specialty wait staff receives.

 

I guess they think we are stupid. Glad I don't need to worry about that on my upcoming cruise but I will seriously think about sticking with just the MDR going forward. After all, I've always been fine with that on my previous cruises.

[mbisson]

.....by eating in the specialty restaurants you are not eating somewhere else, .

 

;) speak for yourself ;)

[jennifer22780]

i will be cruising in may and have the dining package. We do not plan on dining in the regular restaurants and i have every intention of adjusting my dsc to reflect that. Am i correct in the fact that the dsc includes covering the service providers in the dining rooms, etc? If so why would i still pay that plus 18%?

[detroitlions]

My point of view is this.

I am not loyal to any one cruise line I go where I get the best bang for my buck but in saying that I have to like the ship and the stops.

I also think the new NCL beard is doing what alot of insurance agencies, backs and loans and other finacial partys have moved to in the past few years. They all offer a auto pay NCL is offering a Pay before you cruise on UDP UBP and more. They say you are saving by doing this online ahead of time but your not its a trick but its one you cant get out of that is the beauty of it they raise the price of paying the old way and maintain the price online which saves them money and manpower big time. It removes a lot of overhead when its all paid before you leave. Think about it I prob will not spend much on the ship I have UDP and UBP already paid for. If I paid for my excursions prehand (I useally do not do many from the ship) and my DSC my bill would be 0. (Except the money I spend at the casino and my sons arcade money all of which I pay as I go if I can)