hpecorari Posted July 17, 2015 #301 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Not sure how you came up with the dollar number. We are in a balcony...increase is 55 cents/person/day. I come up with $13.20 for the two of us on a twelve day cruise. OP said it was $1.10 for the two of them - per day. Harriet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dna529 Posted July 17, 2015 #302 Share Posted July 17, 2015 But....that's already been done....and not by just a few bucks! Harriet Very true! Our November cruise is now $2k more. How much longer can they raise base fares, dsc, and dining charges? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gail-s Posted July 17, 2015 #303 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Anyone having trouble adding the pre-paid gratuities to your current booking? I just went into myncl for next year's trip and it won't let me add them without making another payment right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tempus137 Posted July 17, 2015 #304 Share Posted July 17, 2015 I got the email yesterday for a December 2015 cruise. The prepay option still showed $12.00, and the email said this could be paid at any time before final payment due. At a total of $1.50 per night per passenger, this works out to an additional $21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAILPRO Posted July 17, 2015 #305 Share Posted July 17, 2015 I'm all for paying the hard working crew but I'm not at all convinced the crew is on the receiving end of these gratuity increases. It seem like a money grab by NCL. They're constantly looking at how to exploit the customers lately and this seems like a method of doing so but using crew as an excuse. :mad: But most think the DSC goes to the hard working crew. LOL :D 100% agreed that it's just an excuse! :mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demonyte Posted July 17, 2015 #306 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Anyone having trouble adding the pre-paid gratuities to your current booking? I just went into myncl for next year's trip and it won't let me add them without making another payment right now. That is how it is done (paid immediately) when you do it online. In order to add them to your final payment you need to call NCL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tampadee Posted July 17, 2015 #307 Share Posted July 17, 2015 I just went to my reservation on Norwegian's website and paid $12 per day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rthereanynamesleft Posted July 17, 2015 #308 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Where is this info posted? We are booked on the TA Escape Oct 29' 2015. I received the email yesterday from NCL advising me of this change and that I can prepay my gratuities prior to my final payment due in Aug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rthereanynamesleft Posted July 17, 2015 #309 Share Posted July 17, 2015 This is the 2nd increase in 5 months. According to NCL their last increase was in 2009 so why 2 in less than 6 months. I think this is highly unprofessional and after I use my last reward in Dec I think I will cut ties with NCL and I am Platinum. O'Sheehan was great but Del Rio is doing too many things way too fast and it will backfire on him and NCL. Do not forget when you get those comment cards on the ship that you let them know how you feel. We can also send a direct letter to NCL. The increased gratuities and the ala cart pricing are just after more of the passengers money. Looking at the pricing for Cagneys I think it will be hard to stay under the old $30.00 pp service charge if you order an appetizer, main course and dessert and that is their plan. I do understand extra prices for extras like two entrees or two dessert but not this. I do not see Del Rio lasting long and when we sail on the Escape TA I am sure Del Rio will be on the ship and attend the CC get together and people are going to rip him apart! I hear Celebrity calling my name! :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my_crib_too Posted July 17, 2015 #310 Share Posted July 17, 2015 When I called NCL about the suites being charged more today they said butler, concierge, and haven staff are now included in DSC. No more tipping then? This is going to same me a lot of cash on my next NCL suite cruise. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boopsahoy Posted July 17, 2015 #311 Share Posted July 17, 2015 No more tipping then? This is going to same me a lot of cash on my next NCL suite cruise. :D If this is true it will save us money as well. I am going to call and find out for sure and maybe they can say how much per day. I hope this doesn't DECREASE the quality of service.......:eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aibanez Posted July 17, 2015 #312 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Where are you quoting this from? NCL's website? If you have a booked a trip after August 1 .... NCL sent an email to you advising of the change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cubechick Posted July 17, 2015 #313 Share Posted July 17, 2015 If this is true it will save us money as well. I am going to call and find out for sure and maybe they can say how much per day. I hope this doesn't DECREASE the quality of service.......:eek: Bet it will...:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare electro Posted July 17, 2015 #314 Share Posted July 17, 2015 The same goes in a hotel when was the last time you left a tip for the room cleaning staff? Every time! $5 per night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perditax Posted July 17, 2015 #315 Share Posted July 17, 2015 (edited) Edit: sorry, wrong "NiCkelL and dime" thread. Edited July 17, 2015 by perditax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LMaxwell Posted July 17, 2015 #316 Share Posted July 17, 2015 I just don't understand raising them twice in such a short period of time. NCL collect the money. They certainly count it as revenue. Maybe they did this to get a bunch of prepayments now and do a revenue pullahead? Is it possible that the quarterlies out soon aren't going to look great and they want to put a bit of a surge into Q3 rev? The $12.95 certainly did not lag the industry for standard class cabins. I'm just trying to think what is the most simple explanation for two increases in such a short period of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanDreaming2 Posted July 17, 2015 #317 Share Posted July 17, 2015 We have two cruises booked and have heard nothing about the increase in the daily service charge. This thread was the only notice I saw. Even though we have prepaid our DSC, we should've received the robo email from NCL, no? Norwegian Cruise Line, why haven't you responded to this thread? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjbdtz Posted July 17, 2015 #318 Share Posted July 17, 2015 We have two cruises booked and have heard nothing about the increase in the daily service charge. This thread was the only notice I saw. Even though we have prepaid our DSC, we should've received the robo email from NCL, no? Norwegian Cruise Line, why haven't you responded to this thread? I also have 2 booked, and prepaid DSC and haven't heard from NCL. I'm guessing it's for that reason. You've already prepaid, no sense in confusing you about a change which doesn't affect you (or me... I'm using 'you' broadly). . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hpecorari Posted July 17, 2015 #319 Share Posted July 17, 2015 I also have 2 booked, and prepaid DSC and haven't heard from NCL. I'm guessing it's for that reason. You've already prepaid, no sense in confusing you about a change which doesn't affect you (or me... I'm using 'you' broadly). . Agreed, I have four booked, all with DSC as the promo and haven't heard from NCL. Harriet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regguy Posted July 17, 2015 #320 Share Posted July 17, 2015 (edited) Norwegian Cruise Line is adjusting its daily service charges, effective for all sailings that depart on or after August 1, 2015. The new rates are: $13.50 per person per day for any category up to a mini-suite stateroom $15.50 per person per day for any suite category Any guest that has made a booking by July 31, 2015 will have the option of prepaying their service charges at the current rate if done prior to the final payment due date. Guests with existing cruise reservations who have already pre-paid their service charges at the current rate will not be affected. Norwegian's daily service charges make it easy for guests to provide gratuities to key onboard staff who provide superior guest service during the cruise, including their room steward, restaurant servers and behind-the-scenes support staff. Guests who are sailing in Suite categories also receive the services of a concierge, butler and dedicated wait staff. Sincerely, Norwegian Cruise Line® If this isn't intended to cover Butlers and Concierges, they have to be pretty peeved about this language, because it sure makes it sound like it. In justifying the extra couple of bucks for suites, NCL is practically throwing them under the bus here. I can't imagine that their tips aren't going to go down because of this. With four in a penthouse for an upcoming cruise, we're now around $440 for a 7-day cruise on DSC. That's a really big number for one cabin for seven days. And while I get that suites are bigger, and Butlers and Concierges work hard, adding on another few hundred is really significant. And if you're making use of the Butler and Concierge, you're sort of making less use of other services. I know that it really doesn't work that way in NCL's view, but it really does start to add up. I'm not trying to justify being cheap. I'm sure we'll still end up tipping the Butler and Concierge, but, jeez, this is getting prohibitive. It is what it is, I guess. Edited July 17, 2015 by Regguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoneman56 Posted July 17, 2015 #321 Share Posted July 17, 2015 If this is true it will save us money as well. I am going to call and find out for sure and maybe they can say how much per day. I hope this doesn't DECREASE the quality of service.......:eek: I will show the memo from NCL to our cabin staff on the next cruise, because you can bet that they dont know a thing about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterFidgetpants Posted July 17, 2015 #322 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Isn't twice in 4 months a bit much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanDreaming2 Posted July 18, 2015 #323 Share Posted July 18, 2015 Isn't twice in 4 months a bit much? I don't remember ever getting two raises in four months. Not that the stewards, etc. don't work their behinds off for our benefit, but it seems NCL will have the highest DSC of most major cruiselines. HAL = $11.50/$12.00 suite Cunard = $11.50/$13.50 suite CCL = $12.00 Royal = $12.95/$15.95 suite Celebrity = $12.95/$13.45 Aqua/$16.45 suites NCL = $13.50/$15.50 suites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare electro Posted July 18, 2015 #324 Share Posted July 18, 2015 I don't remember ever getting two raises in four months. Not that the stewards, etc. don't work their behinds off for our benefit, but it seems NCL will have the highest DSC of most major cruiselines. HAL = $11.50/$12.00 suite Cunard = $11.50/$13.50 suite CCL = $12.00 Royal = $12.95/$15.95 suite Celebrity = $12.95/$13.45 Aqua/$16.45 suites NCL = $13.50/$15.50 suites They are definitely the highest in the non suite categories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NATOuk Posted July 20, 2015 #325 Share Posted July 20, 2015 I always liked pre-paid gratuities because as a UK resident I find the whole tipping thing in North America a bit confusing and awkward - pre-paying made it seem like I just paid it and all was taken care of. I'm starting to get the feeling that the cruise lines are starting to just treat this as extra revenue. I would prefer if they actually showed the breakdown of where your money actually goes. For my next cruise (Royal Caribbean) I'm tempted to ask Guest Services to remove the automatic daily charge and I'll just tip in cash the old fashioned way (eg, money in envelopes given to stateroom attendant, head waiter, waiter & assistant waiter) That way I know where the money goes and something makes me think the staff would likely appreciate it more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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