Just off Epic - NCL losing its luster

[cruiseclues]

Thank You for your forthright review. :):):):)

[luvtheships]

I will say it yet again .... And these comments above just prove my point..... Ncl is doing their best to drive long time Ncl cruisers away!!!

 

The return cruisers just know and expect too much from Ncl

 

While that should be a good thing... IMHO.... Ncl sees this as more effort on their part and has now focused on cutting back what we have come to expect..... And is now focusing on the first time cruiser crowd

 

Cases in point....

 

The new fees

 

The Cas changes

 

And my all time fave....giving 50% of the brochure rate for pax 3/4!!!!!!

 

Now we all know that nobody ever paid the brochure rate in the history of modern cruising...lol....

 

But the newbies are none the wiser!!!!

 

Score for Ncl 😔🙀😱😳

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[dexddd]

I will say it yet again .... And these comments above just prove my point..... Ncl is doing their best to drive long time Ncl cruisers away!!!

 

The return cruisers just know and expect too much from Ncl

 

While that should be a good thing... IMHO.... Ncl sees this as more effort on their part and has now focused on cutting back what we have come to expect..... And is now focusing on the first time cruiser crowd

 

Cases in point....

 

The new fees

 

The Cas changes

 

And my all time fave....giving 50% of the brochure rate for pax 3/4!!!!!!

 

Now we all know that nobody ever paid the brochure rate in the history of modern cruising...lol....

 

But the newbies are none the wiser!!!!

 

Score for Ncl 😔🙀😱😳

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

As I've been reading the countless threads and posts about the recent changes that is one that doesn't seem to come up too much when people defend the changes - the half off 3+ which is a "new way" for NCL. It is really just a bunch of BS way of doing business. I've read that is what RCCL has been doing for some time but to really advertise it as 1/2 it really isn't 1/2 off what the "normal" rate range would be.

[luvtheships]

As I've been reading the countless threads and posts about the recent changes that is one that doesn't seem to come up too much when people defend the changes - the half off 3+ which is a "new way" for NCL. It is really just a bunch of BS way of doing business. I've read that is what RCCL has been doing for some time but to really advertise it as 1/2 it really isn't 1/2 off what the "normal" rate range would be.

 

But only repeat/frequent cruisers know this

 

Newbies don't know it and that makes Ncl happy

 

Ncl has won

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[SuiteCruiser]

But only repeat/frequent cruisers know this

 

Newbies don't know it and that makes Ncl happy

 

Ncl has won

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

I agree. I feel like I've been "had". I've been accused more than once of being a cheerleader here on CC. Reality is my past cruises have been really great. This one threw me for a loop.

 

With the extra 18% they're charging on specialty restaurant meals, they should be able to properly staff them so that half the restaurant isn't empty.

[mking8288]

But only repeat/frequent cruisers know this

Newbies don't know it and that makes Ncl happy

Ncl has won

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

+1 here and on what dexddd said, might as well get my 2 cents and we've been sailing enough to know what it was like before - un-clouded wit "upscale" AI experience options that costs hundreds, if not thousands more.

DW, SIL & I dine out at a local upscale Thai restaurant in NY, there was no auto-gratutity (except for parties of 6 or more) and on the itemized receipts, it merely recommended 3 tipping percentage: @15%, @18% and @20% and no fineprints to read.

Perhaps going off-topic sightly, another long-time cruise friends of ours mentioned that RCI drinks are now up to $12 + gratuity and all sorts of buzzing on their board - paying $14 for a drink at sea, what absurdity - IMO - as a non-drinker (maybe, my maternal grandfather, if alive today, would say it's okay but he died at a young age of liver disease some 60 years ago ...) Wait, drinks are free for UBP up to $11 now, NCL isn't far behind & just a matter of time before catching up on the big league.

As for the Epic, given its reputation and wonderful :rolleyes: experience, won't find us on her anytime soon ...

[dpnyc]

I agree. I feel like I've been "had". I've been accused more than once of being a cheerleader here on CC. Reality is my past cruises have been really great. This one threw me for a loop.

 

With the extra 18% they're charging on specialty restaurant meals, they should be able to properly staff them so that half the restaurant isn't empty.

 

 

Looks like we are complaining amongst ourselves when we should be communicating our reactions directly--and often, and visibly--to the new CEO. Even if he doesn't care, he'll hear our voices directly!

[DumbleDork]

Looks like we are complaining amongst ourselves when we should be communicating our reactions directly--and often, and visibly--to the new CEO. Even if he doesn't care, he'll hear our voices directly!

 

They do not want to hear complaints. We also sailed on the Epic, Guest Services on-board was pugnacious and did nothing to address our grievances (discussed more in-depth here http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=46187377&postcount=57).

 

After we got back home, we called NCL's reservation hotline and explained what we'd endured on-board. The phone representative directed us to contact a special "Customer Relations Hotline". We were able to reach someone at the "Customer Relations Hotline" and explained our concerns, though we were told the only way to get any response would be to write a letter. Why have a dedicated hotline to direct people with concerns/comments/complaints to write a letter? It seems, because NCL is more concerned with acquiring new cruisers, rather than keeping current guests happy.

 

Ridiculous. We loved the experience of cruising and will continue to cruise in the future. However, we will think long and hard about our past experience before committing to another NCL cruise.

[theraggedmommy]

We got off Epic last Sunday and my, we were glad to be home. I posted my review of it somewhere on Cruise Critic but I can't find the link. Here's my original blog posting of it http://theraggedmommy.com/2015/04/20/norwegian-nick-jr-cruise-a-review/

 

Honestly, I'd never go back to the Epic again. We are considering the Star next year, but I'm hesitant after last week's experience.

[theraggedmommy]

Found the CC link: http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=501904&et_cid=2091656&et_rid=159126469&et_referrer=Boards_WAR_CC

[FLSteve11]

We were on the same sailing. We were the second people in line at Guest Services to get Posh passes and they told us the Haven was completely sold out and extremely crowded this sailing so they were not selling any passes. There were a lot of very upset people in line as most of us had gotten to the port by 8 or 9am to be the first in line. Maybe they need to realize that not everyone will be using Posh at the same time other than the sail away party.

 

We did find the quiet deck that had the same loungers as Posh but it was so far forward on the ship we felt like we were missing out on all the action.

 

The only specialty restaurant we booked was Cagneys and I can say we'll never do that again. Dinner took 2 hours and we didn't even stay for dessert. A lot of people were complaining.

 

This was our 2nd time on Epic and this time there was a noticeable decline in service. Bar servers seemed very rushed and rarely had time to chat with guests.

 

We still had a great trip but it was clear some things had changed since the last time we sailed on that ship.

 

Funny we were on the same sailing as well (3/22) on Epic, had the UDP and ate in a specialty every night (tried them all basically) and had no problems with the specialty restaurants.

[SuiteCruiser]

Funny we were on the same sailing as well (3/22) on Epic, had the UDP and ate in a specialty every night (tried them all basically) and had no problems with the specialty restaurants.

 

Did you book them all before you got on board?

[FLSteve11]

Did you book them all before you got on board?

 

Yes, probably about a month before we boarded. We basically ate at around 6-6:30 every night (having an 11yo we generally eat earlier), not counting the cirque style dinner at 9 you have to take if you want it free with the UDP

[CruisinHarvey]

Just joined this thread so please excuse me. From what I've read:

 

Casino's @ sea changes. I hate them. But, they were always considered the best, by a lot reviewers. I think it's relative. They may still be the best, just not as good as good as they used to be. Or, maybe not the best anymore. If not, who's better? I'd be more than happy consider that line.

 

Service and charges - This may come back to bite them, if no one else follows suit. Remember baggage fees?

 

Bottom line. Do other lines have more/better of what you want? If so, surely go there. I think we should all look periodically at what we're buying, and see if some one else has something better for us, for the same price. Maybe we'll find something better. I wonder if NCL realizes they waking the consumer in us loyal customers.

[m8140]

I feel your pain. Losing CAS rewards is simply unexcuseable and I do believe thet there has been a concerted effort to attract new customers as the age demo has been creeping up on NCL. Thats what happens when you do well and keep loyal customers but it will eventually play itsself out in the long run. Many of the new changes have lead me to have taken more NCL cruises recently, although this will be just our third with them. All these extra fees have made the cruise cheaper for my family and really been a deal maker for us. We will not spend on the ship however. Not a single gellato, specialty coffee, jewelry, specialty rest (except fot the Illusionarium) etc.

So, it doesnt take a genius to figure out that any of the people that posted to this thread before me should be considered a MUCH MUCH more valueable and valued customer than me. There has obviously been some horrible decision making along the way and much money is being lost getting people like me on board. There has to be a better balance of perks and upcharges that will keep the loyals happy enough and still get some new business.

Edited May 6, 2015 by m8140