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Succinct summary of changes?

MrMike45

By MrMike45,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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MrMike45

MrMike45

Posted
Posted

I promise this post is not to start an argument or flame war or "ncl sucks cancel now" rally.

 

Our last cruise was a few months ago on the Breakaway. That was right around when the room service charges went into effect. Wasn't a big deal to us though. Our next cruise is in October in a few months. Truthfully, I haven't been paying attention much to this board and any new changes since the room service roll out.

 

Can someone briefly just summarize what else has changed since then? Prices change, I know, but we book thru the casino and only book when we are happy with the deal we get. I just mean the changes onboard/in the services.

 

Appreciate it as skimming thru the boards, the posts dealing with the changes seem to have 100+ posts with alot of opinions, and right now I was just hoping for facts in what has changed before forming an opinion.

 

Thanks, Mike

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jd1966

jd1966

Posted
Posted
I promise this post is not to start an argument or flame war or "ncl sucks cancel now" rally.

 

This requirement will keep away most of the "posters":D:D

 

I can try to summarize what had been terrorizing the board:

 

- NCL raised the Gratuities/service charge to $13.50

- NCL has announced that some of their specialty restaurants will become a-la-carte starting January 1

- NCL has changed the port times on many itineraries by an hour or so

- NCL has canceled alot of late 2016 and 2017 cruises for a realignment of ships and itinerary modifications

 

These are the major ones that I can think of. Hope it helps

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russianmom

russianmom

Posted
Posted (edited)

You can decide if these are major or not to your cruising experience

 

  • Nickelodeon gone
  • Geoffrey Zakarian gone
  • 18% gratuity on specialty dining
  • DSC raised twice
  • drink prices raised
  • 18% gratuity on drinks
  • 18% gratuity on food/coffee purchases ( Java Cafe/Carlo's/gelato etc)
  • Asian Noodle restaurant complimentary but reduced menu
  • Hippo Slide on GSC complimentary
  • Fireworks gone
  • UDP is now SDP
  • Room service $7.95 except for a much smaller limited "continental breakfast"
  • Blue Man Group gone
  • Now pay taxes on "free" UBP/SDP
  • No more kids pricing in specialty restaurants
  • Port times shortened on a number of itineraries "for your convenience"
  • No more free Cirque or Illusionarium on first night with dining package

 

That's all I can think of now...

Edited by russianmom
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calmpets

calmpets

Posted
Posted
You can decide if these are major or not to your cruising experience

 

  • Nickelodeon gone
  • Geoffrey Zakarian gone
  • 18% gratuity on specialty dining
  • DSC raised twice
  • drink prices raised
  • 18% gratuity on drinks
  • 18% gratuity on food/coffee purchases ( Java Cafe/Carlo's/gelato etc)
  • Asian Noodle restaurant complimentary but reduced menu
  • Hippo Slide on GSC complimentary
  • Fireworks gone
  • UDP is now SDP
  • Room service $7.95 except for a much smaller limited "continental breakfast"
  • Blue Man Group gone
  • Now pay taxes on "free" UBP/SDP
  • No more kids pricing in specialty restaurants
  • Port times shortened on a number of itineraries "for your convenience"
  • No more free Cirque or Illusionarium on first night with dining package

 

That's all I can think of now...

 

Wait a sec, when did they get rid of the fireworks? My family just sailed on the Getaway in May and they had the fireworks then, so it must be a recent change.

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computerworks

computerworks

Posted
Posted
You can decide if these are major or not to your cruising experience

 

  • Nickelodeon gone
  • Geoffrey Zakarian gone
  • 18% gratuity on specialty dining
  • DSC raised twice
  • drink prices raised
  • 18% gratuity on drinks
  • 18% gratuity on food/coffee purchases ( Java Cafe/Carlo's/gelato etc)
  • Asian Noodle restaurant complimentary but reduced menu
  • Hippo Slide on GSC complimentary
  • Fireworks gone
  • UDP is now SDP
  • Room service $7.95 except for a much smaller limited "continental breakfast"
  • Blue Man Group gone
  • Now pay taxes on "free" UBP/SDP
  • No more kids pricing in specialty restaurants
  • Port times shortened on a number of itineraries "for your convenience"
  • No more free Cirque or Illusionarium on first night with dining package

 

That's all I can think of now...

 

Hippo slide is now gone...

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Got Tequila?

Got Tequila?

Posted
Posted (edited)
You can decide if these are major or not to your cruising experience

 

  • Nickelodeon gone
  • Geoffrey Zakarian gone
  • 18% gratuity on specialty dining
  • DSC raised twice
  • drink prices raised
  • 18% gratuity on drinks
  • 18% gratuity on food/coffee purchases ( Java Cafe/Carlo's/gelato etc)
  • Asian Noodle restaurant complimentary but reduced menu
  • Hippo Slide on GSC complimentary
  • Fireworks gone
  • UDP is now SDP
  • Room service $7.95 except for a much smaller limited "continental breakfast"
  • Blue Man Group gone
  • Now pay taxes on "free" UBP/SDP
  • No more kids pricing in specialty restaurants
  • Port times shortened on a number of itineraries "for your convenience"
  • No more free Cirque or Illusionarium on first night with dining package

 

That's all I can think of now...

 

oooppss, Ron beat me to it.

Edited by Got Tequila?
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BermudaBound2014 Great Review Rare

BermudaBound2014

Posted
Posted
Sorry, these are some nasty changes. Are there any changes in favor of passengers?

 

I think that the ability to book only 3 nights in specialty dining is a positive change for those that want just 3 nights. Also, you can pre-book the spa and save $20.00 :). Minor maybe, but positive.

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LrgPizza

LrgPizza

Posted
Posted (edited)

Clarifications:

 

Blue Man group leaving was announced in 2014. That wasn't an FDR thing. (I'm not sure if this list is supposed to just be FDR though).

 

Drink gratuity was raised from 15% (where it had been for many years) to 18%.

 

All Asian restaurants were made complimentary.

 

That's all I can think of. [emoji3]

 

Great compilation though! Nice work.

Edited by LrgPizza
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knitlady037

knitlady037

Posted
Posted (edited)
You can decide if these are major or not to your cruising experience

 

  • Nickelodeon gone
  • Geoffrey Zakarian gone
  • 18% gratuity on specialty dining
  • DSC raised twice
  • drink prices raised
  • 18% gratuity on drinks
  • 18% gratuity on food/coffee purchases ( Java Cafe/Carlo's/gelato etc)
  • Asian Noodle restaurant complimentary but reduced menu
  • Hippo Slide on GSC complimentary
  • Fireworks gone
  • UDP is now SDP
  • Room service $7.95 except for a much smaller limited "continental breakfast"
  • Blue Man Group gone
  • Now pay taxes on "free" UBP/SDP
  • No more kids pricing in specialty restaurants
  • Port times shortened on a number of itineraries "for your convenience"
  • No more free Cirque or Illusionarium on first night with dining package

 

That's all I can think of now...

 

Hippo slide has been discontinued at Great Stirrup Cay

Edited by knitlady037
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nadeki

nadeki

Posted
Posted

Our shore excursions have gone up $25. This was done in two turns the second being the day after final payment.

 

We have been 100% loyal to the line.....referred more than 50 people to NCL and am now so disappointed.

 

It is crazy the lack of communication. It would be easy for NCL PR or even CEO to come on this site and do a little clarification.

 

As they host a shareholder meeting I wonder it they brag about all these booked cruises, increased restaurant reservations etc..... will they then say they also cancelled all these trips? Or will they once again claim bookings are up as every one has to rebook?

 

Really it was not hard to stop selling these cruises weeks/months ago when they knew they were going to be cancelled. However they lured people in with perks they will never be able to use.

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fshagan

fshagan

Posted
Posted

On the positive side, the cruise rewards program was sweetened a bit, especially if you buy more than one while on board. And you can book a future cruise on board now and get additional promos for doing so.

 

The line just announced about a dozen new itineraries, which is a good thing, with more South America, Asian and Persian Gulf cruises available (even a Suez Canal transit).

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