Changes

[jbtyler927]

I will admit that I have not been keeping up with all of the changes NCL has implimented this year as I booked our upcoming (Thanksgiving) cruise on the Escape in Jan/Feb and have not looked back. As our cruise nears and I am getting excited to see the newest NCL masterpiece, I logged on to trusty CC to see what the first passangers had to say and to be honest I kinda wish I didn't (sometimes ignorance is bliss)! :rolleyes: All I see is threads on CHANGES, CHANGES, AND more CHANGES!!! Can someone be kind enough to list the most signifigant (cruise altering) changes they have seen this year? TIA!!! :)

 

PS... I have seen the rumor regarding Margaritaville and I am not thrilled about it as it was a much hyped "free" option!

Edited November 11, 2015 by jbtyler927

[Jane Don]

• Increasaed DSC to $13.50 pp per day
  
• Mandatory 18% gratuity to dining and drinks for packages, promos and ad hoc
  
• A la carte menus in specialty venues
  
• No more UDP, Now SDP which is 3-6 nights.
  
• Platinum dinner is one appy, one main and dessert
  
• Room service fee ($7.95 I think)
  
• Prime rib, lobster and surf and turf upcharges in the MDR
  
• Escape is having a walled in smoking section of the casino added now.
  
• No more special exchange rates for Canadians.
  

That is a start. Others can add what I missed

[jonbgd]

cruise price has gone up as well

[jbtyler927]

• Increasaed DSC to $13.50 pp per day
  
• Mandatory 18% gratuity to dining and drinks for packages, promos and ad hoc
  
• A la carte menus in specialty venues
  
• No more UDP, Now SDP which is 3-6 nights.
  
• Platinum dinner is one appy, one main and dessert
  
• Room service fee ($7.95 I think)
  
• Prime rib, lobster and surf and turf upcharges in the MDR
  
• Escape is having a walled in smoking section of the casino added now.
  
• No more special exchange rates for Canadians.
  

That is a start. Others can add what I missed

 

Thanks! Sorry for the additional question... although I have cruised with NCL 2 other times, this is our first time taking advantage of the UBP since it was included with our booking. Are you saying that every "free" drink we order will be charged an 18% gratuity on the would be cost?

[Moby0215]

Thanks! Sorry for the additional question... although I have cruised with NCL 2 other times, this is our first time taking advantage of the UBP since it was included with our booking. Are you saying that every "free" drink we order will be charged an 18% gratuity on the would be cost?

 

 

There will be no 18% added once onboard. It is already included or paid for with the total price paid by final payment.

 

 

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[NLH Arizona]

• Increasaed DSC to $13.50 pp per day
  
• Mandatory 18% gratuity to dining and drinks for packages, promos and ad hoc
  
• A la carte menus in specialty venues
  
• No more UDP, Now SDP which is 3-6 nights.
  
• Platinum dinner is one appy, one main and dessert
  
• Room service fee ($7.95 I think)
  
• Prime rib, lobster and surf and turf upcharges in the MDR
  
• Escape is having a walled in smoking section of the casino added now.
  
• No more special exchange rates for Canadians.
  

That is a start. Others can add what I missed

The SDP is 3-14 nights, not 3-6 nights:

 

Norwegian Cruise Line's Specialty Dining Package (SDP) Cost: The Specialty Dining Package (SDP) -- formerly known as the Ultimate Dining Package (UDP) -- ranges from $59 per person for three specialty meals to $189 per person for 14 meals in extra-fee restaurants on all ships.

[sixesandeights]

I will admit that I have not been keeping up with all of the changes NCL has implimented this year as I booked our upcoming (Thanksgiving) cruise on the Escape in Jan/Feb and have not looked back. As our cruise nears and I am getting excited to see the newest NCL masterpiece, I logged on to trusty CC to see what the first passangers had to say and to be honest I kinda wish I didn't (sometimes ignorance is bliss)! :rolleyes: All I see is threads on CHANGES, CHANGES, AND more CHANGES!!! Can someone be kind enough to list the most signifigant (cruise altering) changes they have seen this year? TIA!!! :)

 

PS... I have seen the rumor regarding Margaritaville and I am not thrilled about it as it was a much hyped "free" option!

 

Dont forget the new rumor that they will try and exclude The District Brewhouse from the UBP....

 

- Also No more Nickelodeon partnership

 

6&8

Edited November 11, 2015 by sixesandeights

[LrgPizza]

No, your cruise price has not gone up, as someone above replied. The rate you booked stays the same for you.

 

Gratuities on beverages increased from 15% to 18%. If you received a beverage or dining package as a promo, you will not have to pay service fees on the package since you booked before that change. Same goes for the increase in DSC.

 

Lobster is once again available in the dining room, where it hasn't been offered in quite some time, although there is a fee.

Edited November 11, 2015 by LrgPizza

[BirdTravels]

I will admit that I have not been keeping up with all of the changes NCL has implemented this year as I booked our upcoming (Thanksgiving) cruise on the Escape in Jan/Feb and have not looked back. As our cruise nears and I am getting excited to see the newest NCL masterpiece, I logged on to trusty CC to see what the first passengers had to say and to be honest I kinda wish I didn't (sometimes ignorance is bliss)! :rolleyes: All I see is threads on CHANGES, CHANGES, AND more CHANGES!!! Can someone be kind enough to list the most significant (cruise altering) changes they have seen this year? TIA!!! :)

 

What you are reading is a lot of complainers. There is even a post above about "rumors" vs facts. The fact is that you booked in January and you are locked into to the promotions at that time. Other than the increased DSC (if you did not lock in your rate when you were given the option to), other "changes" do not affect your booking. Don't "trust" everything you are reading.

[spidybabe]

That is a start. Others can add what I missed

 

No more fireworks

Safe sailing.

Edited November 11, 2015 by spidybabe

[SuiteCruiser]

What you are reading is a lot of complainers. There is even a post above about "rumors" vs facts. The fact is that you booked in January and you are locked into to the promotions at that time. Other than the increased DSC (if you did not lock in your rate when you were given the option to), other "changes" do not affect your booking. Don't "trust" everything you are reading.

 

Except that you now have to pay 18% "gratuity" on specialty restaurants, extra DSC unless you prepay, if you want prime rib, filet or lobster, you can have it in the main dining room for a fee, but nowhere else for no charge. If you want room service, it's $7.95. If you wanted the Nickelodeon experience for your kids, it's gone. If you wanted chicken fingers or mozzerella sticks for your kids, you can get them at Applebees when you get home. If you smoke and gamble, you can't presently do that on the Escape, and there is plenty more others can share.

 

Upside is that it's a beautiful ship, and has some great food, especially Food Republic if you're up to paying for it.

[LrgPizza]

That is a start. Others can add what I missed

 

No more fireworks

Safe sailing.

 

 

There never were fireworks on the Escape.

[tartan cruiser]

You might want to check your port times for Tortola. When I booked it was 8:00 am - 4:00pm. It's now 7:00am - 3:00pm. Just another change you might not be aware of, especially if planning a private excursion.

[Jane Don]

There will be no 18% added once onboard. It is already included or paid for with the total price paid by final payment.

 

 

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But there will be 18% service charge on any dining or spa service you purchase either individually or in package form.

[clivep]

The SDP is 3-14 nights, not 3-6 nights:

 

Norwegian Cruise Line's Specialty Dining Package (SDP) Cost: The Specialty Dining Package (SDP) -- formerly known as the Ultimate Dining Package (UDP) -- ranges from $59 per person for three specialty meals to $189 per person for 14 meals in extra-fee restaurants on all ships.

 

The SDP available in the promotion is limited to 6 nights.

[Casino Comp Chick]

What you are reading is a lot of complainers. There is even a post above about "rumors" vs facts. The fact is that you booked in January and you are locked into to the promotions at that time. Other than the increased DSC (if you did not lock in your rate when you were given the option to), other "changes" do not affect your booking. Don't "trust" everything you are reading.

 

You neglect to mention that every one of these changes were "rumors" until they were implemented.

[NLH Arizona]

But there will be 18% service charge on any dining or spa service you purchase either individually or in package form.

There always was always an 18% gratuity on spa services, so that is not a new change.

[NLH Arizona]

The SDP available in the promotion is limited to 6 nights.

The OP was asking for changes and neither the OP or the poster who posted the changes specified promotional or not promotional, just that there was no more UDP and replaced by the SDP 3-6 days.

[Moby0215]

But there will be 18% service charge on any dining or spa service you purchase either individually or in package form.

 

 

This was an answer to a question where someone has the UBP and was confused about all this talk of 18%. They thought they might be required to pay an extra 18% on the drinks they order. And this is not the case. Yes, the beverage and dining packages have an 18% gratuity but that is paid along with the package not separate once you are onboard.

 

 

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[Jane Don]

This was an answer to a question where someone has the UBP and was confused about all this talk of 18%. They thought they might be required to pay an extra 18% on the drinks they order. And this is not the case. Yes, the beverage and dining packages have an 18% gratuity but that is paid along with the package not separate once you are onboard.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What are you talking about? If you buy a package before your cruise, you pay an extra 18%. If you buy a package once on board you pay an extra 18%. If you go to an a la carte dining venue you pay an extra 18% on whatever you buy. If you purchase a massage, yep, extra 18%. The only time you don't pay is when you have already paid it on the price of a package OR your package was added before the charge was levied.

[happyscmom]

Someone posted that their TA said that the mojito bar was no longer included in UBP. Now that post has disappeared. If that is true, I am really bothered. Can anyone confirm or deny?

[NoahtheRed]

Honestly, at this point, there's no real way of knowing until you get on board, walk up to the bar, and try to get a drink. NCL has historically been pretty bad about communicating policy changes, especially when one considers the price that people pay for some of these services. I can't say I'd be surprised if the mojito bar was excluded given the current trend, but I can't say I'd say it's "okay".

 

As it stands, I think most of the frustration with changes isn't the changes themselves. Most rational people understand that NCL is a business and businesses need to make money. The frustration is with how NCL handles and communicates these changes. If NCL has to adjust prices or reduce the number of offerings, fine. We understand. But the fact that we can't get a straight or concise answer from anyone at NCL, from top to bottom, is what's causing the issues.

 

NCL is thinking of excluding several specialty venues on their newest ship? Okay, it happens. But NCL is thinking of making this decision and having it affect passengers who are after their final payment dates and hasn't told anyone about it? Pretty lame. Yeah, they may have the right to make changes if and when they want, but it doesn't mean they're immune to criticism.

[Moby0215]

What are you talking about? If you buy a package before your cruise, you pay an extra 18%. If you buy a package once on board you pay an extra 18%. If you go to an a la carte dining venue you pay an extra 18% on whatever you buy. If you purchase a massage, yep, extra 18%. The only time you don't pay is when you have already paid it on the price of a package OR your package was added before the charge was levied.

 

 

Did you even read my post? We are talking about someone who already had the UBP hence has already paid the 18%. There would be no extra onboard charges.

 

To put it more simply:

 

Cost of UBP is $64/day/person. For a 7 day cruise for 2 people that equals $896 plus tip to total $1057.

 

Or if UBP was chosen as a promo the $896 part is free and you only pay the 18% which equals $161.

 

There are no "extra" 18% charges. Just what is listed above. I can't make it any simpler than that.

 

 

 

 

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[SuiteCruiser]

Honestly, at this point, there's no real way of knowing until you get on board, walk up to the bar, and try to get a drink. NCL has historically been pretty bad about communicating policy changes, especially when one considers the price that people pay for some of these services. I can't say I'd be surprised if the mojito bar was excluded given the current trend, but I can't say I'd say it's "okay".

 

As it stands, I think most of the frustration with changes isn't the changes themselves. Most rational people understand that NCL is a business and businesses need to make money. The frustration is with how NCL handles and communicates these changes. If NCL has to adjust prices or reduce the number of offerings, fine. We understand. But the fact that we can't get a straight or concise answer from anyone at NCL, from top to bottom, is what's causing the issues.

 

NCL is thinking of excluding several specialty venues on their newest ship? Okay, it happens. But NCL is thinking of making this decision and having it affect passengers who are after their final payment dates and hasn't told anyone about it? Pretty lame. Yeah, they may have the right to make changes if and when they want, but it doesn't mean they're immune to criticism.

 

Great post :)

[backsbanny]

• Increasaed DSC to $13.50 pp per day
  
• Mandatory 18% gratuity to dining and drinks for packages, promos and ad hoc
  
• A la carte menus in specialty venues
  
• No more UDP, Now SDP which is 3-6 nights.
  
• Platinum dinner is one appy, one main and dessert
  
• Room service fee ($7.95 I think)
  
• Prime rib, lobster and surf and turf upcharges in the MDR
  
• Escape is having a walled in smoking section of the casino added now.
  
• No more special exchange rates for Canadians.
  

That is a start. Others can add what I missed

 

 

You forgot about a lot of things!!!

1 no more free cirque dreams or illusionarium on first night with udp

2 no more 50% discount for kids dining on specialty restaurants using specialty menu

3 no more fireworks

4 no more discount for latitudes members for photo packages

5 no more behind the scenes tour for platinum it has been discontinued since last month until further advice

6 no more nickelodeon and no ninga turtle golf on escape as advertised

7 cutback on port times on almost all destinations

8 no more chocoholic buffet on any ship

I am sure there are others that i forgot about