Really? You are quitting cruising?

[NH Cruisers]

From 1/2 the threads on here, you can get the impression that many folks want to to give up on cruises. I guess it is a sin for cruise companies to realize a profit or their workforce to get some sort of raise. All the new builds need to be paid for.

 

Unless you are camping or staying in budget hotels cruising is still a great deal. NCL gives options, you take 'em or leave 'em. I personally like the options, like all the different specialty resturants. HAL, Carnival, RCCL, Celebrity and Princess do not offer the variety that NCL does. I have sailed all those lines and the product NCL offers I perfer over the others.

 

No I will not quit cruising my self. It is still one of the best vacation deals.

[pieshops]

Where is the like button. People really need to get a grip on reality

[shapatack0]

I'm not quitting cruising, I'm just going to switch to a cruiseline that doesn't engage in false advertising and fraudulent business practices. One that doesn't advertise that a service is included in a cruise fare, and then after they have taken my money (and refuse to give it back) decide that they are arbitrarily going to add fees to what I already paid for.

[maywell]

Hey!! Stop being rational over there, they don't want to listen or read common sense right now!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I totally agree with what you're saying; the things they're complaining doesn't even need to be brought to have a good time on NCL anyway.:D)

[cb at sea]

While cruising is a great vacation, there are other ways to get away and relax! I love cruising...and will continue...but we do other stuff, too!!!

[Cuizer2]

In this country people have a right to quit cruising for any reason that they choose. Or they can switch cruise lines for whatever reason that they choose. It does not matter if the reason makes sense to your or not. In fact, it does not matter if the reason makes no sense at all. People in this country have the freedom of choice and do not have to explain their reason to anyone. In fact, they don't even need any reason at all.

[maywell]

I'm not quitting cruising, I'm just going to switch to a cruiseline that doesn't engage in false advertising and fraudulent business practices. One that doesn't advertise that a service is included in a cruise fare, and then after they have taken my money (and refuse to give it back) decide that they are arbitrarily going to add fees to what I already paid for.

 

In this country people have a right to quit cruising for any reason that they choose. Or they can switch cruise lines for whatever reason that they choose. It does not matter if the reason makes sense to your or not. In fact, it does not matter if the reason makes no sense at all. People in this country have the freedom of choice and do not have to explain their reason to anyone. In fact, they don't even need any reason at all.

 

Oh okay, both of you enjoy your other travels then. Bye. *shrug wave*

[NH Cruisers]

I'm not quitting cruising, I'm just going to switch to a cruiseline that doesn't engage in false advertising and fraudulent business practices. One that doesn't advertise that a service is included in a cruise fare, and then after they have taken my money (and refuse to give it back) decide that they are arbitrarily going to add fees to what I already paid for.

Take a look at all the other cruisline threads on CC. Every one of them has similar gripes to the NCL thread.

[maywell]

Take a look at all the other cruisline threads on CC. Every one of them has similar gripes to the NCL thread.

 

The funny thing about the NCL online gripes - when you go on the actual NCL ship, it not the same doom and gloom portrayal as in the forums. And when you see how things run, it like, how are you going to remove the DSC because that alot its covering for a low price....

[debshomespun]

I have no plans of quitting cruising!! The major cruise lines are more similar than different. It is pretty much the same on all the boards, gripping about this and that. People are still paying the price to go on the ships. As long as this is going on, the Cruiseline will continue to charge more money for whatever they can justify.

[NH Cruisers]

The funny thing about the NCL online gripes - when you go on the actual NCL ship, it not the same doom and gloom portrayal as in the forums. And when you see how things run, it like, how are you going to remove the DSC because that alot its covering for a low price....

Some time I wonder why I even look at most of the posts here on CC. Doom and Gloom all the time. I read a review of a cruise I have been on and loved, inevitably it was horrible for the reviewer.

 

Nickel and diming? Vacations cost money, a lot of money. If it were too cheap you would have to be on a waitlist just for a booking. Most of my friends feel my cruise vacations are way too expensive for their taste. They don't go anywhere for vacation. They stay home and do day trips.

[SeaShark]

From 1/2 the threads on here, you can get the impression that many folks want to to give up on cruises. I guess it is a sin for cruise companies to realize a profit or their workforce to get some sort of raise. All the new builds need to be paid for.

 

Unless you are camping or staying in budget hotels cruising is still a great deal. NCL gives options, you take 'em or leave 'em. I personally like the options, like all the different specialty resturants. HAL, Carnival, RCCL, Celebrity and Princess do not offer the variety that NCL does. I have sailed all those lines and the product NCL offers I perfer over the others.

 

No I will not quit cruising my self. It is still one of the best vacation deals.

 

No, of course you don't quit cruising...that is just cutting off your nose to spite your face.

 

You simply have to protest by turning the tables.

 

Cruise lines make their money by what you spend onboard. The shops, casino, bars, restaurants, shore excursions, photos, etc are their real money maker. So the way to send a message is by cutting back in an amount GREATER than they are attempting to get from you via the new fees/raises.

 

They want an extra $50 from you? Just spend $100 less on your vacation. You can find ways to have fun without putting money in their pocket. When they raise the prices and the revenue falls, THEN they will pay attention.

 

There are enough complimentary restaurants onboard for me to feed myself. If I want a special meal, I'll go to a restaurant in one of the ports and give them my money instead. NCL will lose the meal money and the money from the shore excursion I have to miss to eat at the restaurant.

 

18% my Butler Lover.

[Cruiser Bruiser]

From 1/2 the threads on here, you can get the impression that many folks want to to give up on cruises. I guess it is a sin for cruise companies to realize a profit or their workforce to get some sort of raise. All the new builds need to be paid for.

 

Unless you are camping or staying in budget hotels cruising is still a great deal. NCL gives options, you take 'em or leave 'em. I personally like the options, like all the different specialty resturants. HAL, Carnival, RCCL, Celebrity and Princess do not offer the variety that NCL does. I have sailed all those lines and the product NCL offers I perfer over the others.

 

No I will not quit cruising my self. It is still one of the best vacation deals.

 

I agree fully.

[maywell]

Some time I wonder why I even look at most of the posts here on CC. Doom and Gloom all the time. I read a review of a cruise I have been on and loved, inevitably it was horrible for the reviewer.

 

Nickel and diming? Vacations cost money, a lot of money. If it were too cheap you would have to be on a waitlist just for a booking. Most of my friends feel my cruise vacations are way too expensive for their taste. They don't go anywhere for vacation. They stay home and do day trips.

 

You know what funny thing about nickel and diming on NCL - Other than the DSC and the fare, its all avoidable. Unless you're a big drink of soda / alcohol 6 times a day every day on vacation and like $20-25 specialty dining or Cagney's every single night; the UBP & UDP are not really need to have a good time.

 

The other thing, NCL will work with you if your fare drop considerable - I went from a studio to mini-suite on my last cruise with them because the price drop from $879 when I booked it in April to about $450 in November and all I originally intended was to get more OBC for it. :) I can't complain.

 

You should tell your friends that if they book it a year or 9 months in advance, they can pay it off like layaway slowly before the payment deadline. That's what I do for cruise trips around the week of my birthday now - booked them a year in advance so I'm not going broke paying it last minute. ;)

[maywell]

No, of course you don't quit cruising...that is just cutting off your nose to spite your face.

 

You simply have to protest by turning the tables.

 

Cruise lines make their money by what you spend onboard. The shops, casino, bars, restaurants, shore excursions, photos, etc are their real money maker. So the way to send a message is by cutting back in an amount GREATER than they are attempting to get from you via the new fees/raises.

 

They want an extra $50 from you? Just spend $100 less on your vacation. You can find ways to have fun without putting money in their pocket. When they raise the prices and the revenue falls, THEN they will pay attention.

 

There are enough complimentary restaurants onboard for me to feed myself. If I want a special meal, I'll go to a restaurant in one of the ports and give them my money instead. NCL will lose the meal money and the money from the shore excursion I have to miss to eat at the restaurant.

 

18% my Butler Lover.

 

 

Just bring your own refillable water bottle and coffee mug, that will save you more money not paying for soda or bottles of water. Just suggestion, its even more better not booking a trip with NCL since they already took you into account regarding complimentary eating and they have your cruise fare of whatever amount too. No offense, have you seen the other passengers that don't read Cruise Critic - they're not exactly frugal when it comes to a quick drink and/or shopping sale to say the least....

[hawkeyetlse]

Take a look at all the other cruisline threads on CC. Every one of them has similar gripes to the NCL thread.

It's true that all the cruise lines raise their prices and introduce new charges and people gripe about it. I don't know if any other cruise line has introduced this many price hikes at the same time, though.

 

The only thing I can compare it to in recent memory is Regal Princess's inaugural cruise last year. Princess tried to introduce a $3 room service delivery charge and make the pizza place a $10 upcharge dining venue. The charges were quite modest, but there was an immediate outcry on board and on the Internet about the lack of communication from Princess. At the time I thought the reaction on CC was quite violent, but it was pretty tame compared to what we have seen here on the NCL board for the past couple of weeks. And yet Princess backed down within days and abandoned the charges:

we apologize for the confusion this weekend regarding charges onboard Regal Princess. We've listened to our valued guests and Facebook fans, and based on the feedback, for the time being both room service and Alfredo’s pizzeria charges being trialed on Regal Princess will be halted. We acknowledge we need to provide our guests prior notification of any such changes to our onboard experience, and we promise to do this in the future.

[NYteacher]

Prices are going to get raised. The anger is not about that. I can not trust a company that takes money for a product that includes a free service and then fails to provide that specific service.

 

Free room service between five am and midnight was an enumerated service when I paid for my voyage. I leave on Breakaway in five days and will enjoy my vacation. I will not buy a future cruise credit because NCL will no longer guarantee they will deliver the product for which the Breakaway and Getaway passenger have already paid.

 

I do not plan on giving up cruising at all.

 

When NCL adds a fee to a previously free service you have paid for and care about, you may feel differently.

[Kingofwylietx]

 

You should tell your friends that if they book it a year or 9 months in advance, they can pay it off like layaway slowly before the payment deadline.

 

 

That's good info, I didn't know you could do that. I was assuming they only take a single final payment, I didn't know you could pay bits and pieces here and there. That means I can use my bonuses to pay for ours and we won't even notice the payments.

[NLH Arizona]

From 1/2 the threads on here, you can get the impression that many folks want to to give up on cruises. I guess it is a sin for cruise companies to realize a profit or their workforce to get some sort of raise. All the new builds need to be paid for.

 

Unless you are camping or staying in budget hotels cruising is still a great deal. NCL gives options, you take 'em or leave 'em. I personally like the options, like all the different specialty resturants. HAL, Carnival, RCCL, Celebrity and Princess do not offer the variety that NCL does. I have sailed all those lines and the product NCL offers I perfer over the others.

 

No I will not quit cruising my self. It is still one of the best vacation deals.

I'm definitely not quitting and I would guess that most who say they are quitting NCL really are not either.

[maywell]

Prices are going to get raised. The anger is not about that. I can not trust a company that takes money for a product that includes a free service and then fails to provide that specific service.

 

Free room service between five am and midnight was an enumerated service when I paid for my voyage. I leave on Breakaway in five days and will enjoy my vacation. I will not buy a future cruise credit because NCL will no longer guarantee they will deliver the product for which the Breakaway and Getaway passenger have already paid.

 

I do not plan on giving up cruising at all.

 

When NCL adds a fee to a previously free service you have paid for and care about, you may feel differently.

 

 

Considering they drop the fee to restaurant I like and don't mind paying (Noodle Bar) - Yes, I do feel differently, gleeful to the point of almost gloating.....

[NLH Arizona]

You know what funny thing about nickel and diming on NCL - Other than the DSC and the fare, its all avoidable. Unless you're a big drink of soda / alcohol 6 times a day every day on vacation and like $20-25 specialty dining or Cagney's every single night; the UBP & UDP are not really need to have a good time.

 

The other thing, NCL will work with you if your fare drop considerable - I went from a studio to mini-suite on my last cruise with them because the price drop from $879 when I booked it in April to about $450 in November and all I originally intended was to get more OBC for it. :) I can't complain.

 

You should tell your friends that if they book it a year or 9 months in advance, they can pay it off like layaway slowly before the payment deadline. That's what I do for cruise trips around the week of my birthday now - booked them a year in advance so I'm not going broke paying it last minute. ;)

what I tell folks is that no one but yourself can nickel and dime you. If you don't want to pay for something, you are in control of your money no one else.

[NYteacher]

what I tell folks is that no one but yourself can nickel and dime you. If you don't want to pay for something, you are in control of your money no one else.

 

What about when you buy one advertised product but are delivered another?

[rochelle_s]

I have no plans of quitting cruising. But as Sea Shark said I will reduce the amount of my on board spend. They increase by $50 I will reduce by $100 or more.

 

 

Rochelle

[maywell]

That's good info, I didn't know you could do that. I was assuming they only take a single final payment, I didn't know you could pay bits and pieces here and there. That means I can use my bonuses to pay for ours and we won't even notice the payments.

 

If its last minute trip within 90 days of the sail date - you have to pay in full. But it a trip that's 9 months and more,you can pay it off slowly provide you put down the deposit depending on the number of people going, which for one or 2 people its $250 in total. (That's for booking directly to NCL, for travel agents / website its different)

[maywell]

What about when you buy one advertised product but are delivered another?

 

If you're talking about the room service service, trust me, the changes they making to it is improvement. The menu before for the complimentary food is extremely limited compare to Carnival's menu.

 

Here's Carnival's:

http://www.carnival.com/~/media/CCLUS/Images/pdf/room-service-final-pdf.ashx

 

Here's Norwegian's:

http://cruisewithgambee.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DSC07412.jpg

http://cruisewithgambee.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DSC07413.jpg

http://cruisewithgambee.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DSC07414.jpg

http://cruisewithgambee.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DSC07415.jpg

http://cruisewithgambee.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DSC07416.jpg

http://cruisewithgambee.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DSC07417.jpg

http://cruisewithgambee.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DSC07418.jpg

 

The room service menu for Norwegian is a little pamphlet whose pictures had to be blown up because it that freaking small. All the free food is spaced out across 3 1/2 little pages and rest is extra charge items like caviar and wine. While Carnival has actually hot sandwiches with choice of bread, you don't get that option with the NCL room service. And the actual food for some of the free food is meager at times to the point you might as well gone to the buffet anyway. I'm going to need all you who think they lost alot with the room service change to drink a big tall glass of " Calm the heck down over there' and realize you actually gained more with the new NCL menus than you ever imagine.

 

Want me rub more salt in that wound regarding 'change is good' ? Here's Royal Caribibean's latest:

http://www.shipcruise.org/royal-caribbean-menu-room-service/#Royal_Caribbean_room_service_menu