Nickel and Dime

[Starflyr3]

I've walked off the ships with high bills and low bills. I prepay all I can going in, and am 100% aware if I do something that will cost extra. Heck, this cruise I just got off of today, if you exclude the CruiseNext Purchase and tips for butler and concierge, I bought 2 sessions with a trainer and bought a bottle of water once in the gym. We had obc of $100, so our bill was very low (tips for specialty servers, tax on drinks in port)

[ukbecky]

Just to correct a couple of factual inaccuracies.

 

NCL is the only line to charge for room service (excepting continental breakfast).

NCL is the only line to charge US pax 18% gratuities on supposedly 'free' booking perks such as Beverage and Dining packages.

 

You might also want to compare NCL's beverage package price with other cruise lines and also what is (or is not) included. They are way worse than other cruise lines, despite your protestations to the contrary.

 

NCL charges 18% on 'free' beverage packages and, to make matters worse, claims a per day price that is 50% higher than what other lines charge for beverage packages.

 

And calls that charge a gratuity to make people feel cheap and petty for objecting to it.

 

I think that manipulation is what angers me the most - adding and/or raising fees and portraying them as gratuities for the crew.

[richstowe]

OP

Nothing wrong with NCL provided the price is low enough . If the price is right then any changes they make after you book won't seem so bad . They changed the carry-on drink policy on me but my cruise price was so low , I was just a bit upset . They also insisted the OBC my TA provided was non refundable . Not a problem but also a bit annoying . If the prices are similar , I'd look at your other options .

NCL probably nickel and dimes less than any other cruise line.

Thanks for the laugh of the day . :D

[DMH15]

Does that mean if you're sick and quarantined in your cabin that you don't have to pay room service charges? If you do, following your statement, means that you're being nickeled and dimed.

 

 

 

Nickel and diming is not only about choice. It's also about charging for things that used to be included (like airline checked luggage), or are included in what the competition provides.

 

 

Only if you are cruising solo. Which is a tiny percentage. Who would not tote food back from the buffet for free for a friend.

 

It's no different than on a land vacation when you have to pay for room service in a hotel… And it's going to be a heck of a lot more money

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[mking8288]

It's nice to have choices on land based vacations, very competitive against cruising NCL, great comfort food & casual dining. Real suite, real balcony and leather sofa in the living area, and no need for a butler to hangout in the hallway or to be "on call"

 

Alas, it's as much as about the takeaway lately ... These food are far, far superior to banquet food on NCL and in generous portion size - but, of course, folks are happy not paying extra for hot dogs, beef sliders, hot wings, and shrimps over "lobster". Still waiting for NCL to deliver its promises of an upscale experience under the current management.

 

sent from Nexus 5X on Nougat 7.0 via Tapatalk, VPN secured

Edited October 2, 2016 by mking8288

[Love.II.Cruise]

And the gratuity/service charge is also a fixed amount that has to be paid. The free perk does not eliminate this charge either. Get it?

 

Yep. Cheapo...:rolleyes:

[suesings]

Was just wondering if the upsell thing was common on all the cruise ships, that's all.

Thanks,

D

 

I wish I could answer your question. I'm not sure if all the other cruise lines are doing the "free perks" with fees attached. I remember on our Disney Cruise there was a charge for the special restaurant. I don't remember it being a big amount though? I have never cruised when there was a free drinks option before so this upcoming NCL cruise (first on NCL). We are booked in a suite so we don't have to pay any of the fees associated with the free drinks perk (I am sure we are paying it in the suite cost ;)

 

Hope you have a great first cruise!

[AdoraBelle]

It's nice to have choices on land based vacations, very competitive against cruising NCL, great comfort food & casual dining. Real suite, real balcony and leather sofa in the living area, and no need for a butler to hangout in the hallway or to be "on call"

 

 

 

 

 

Alas, it's as much as about the takeaway lately ... These food are far, far superior to banquet food on NCL and in generous portion size - but, of course, folks are happy not paying extra for hot dogs, beef sliders, hot wings, and shrimps over "lobster". Still waiting for NCL to deliver its promises of an upscale experience under the current management.

 

 

 

sent from Nexus 5X on Nougat 7.0 via Tapatalk, VPN secured

 

 

 

I've read your post three times and I'm not sure where the food pics are supposed to be from, sorry.

 

Yes, nickel and diming isn't always about "options", more often it is about taking something that used to be free (the delicious Cuban food at Flamingo Grill) and replacing it with something not free (Jimmy Buffet-ville).

 

Or, pet peeve: cost of Internet on away ships climbing steadily while actual quality of service plummets.

[Cuizer2]

Just to correct a couple of factual inaccuracies.

 

NCL is the only line to charge for room service (excepting continental breakfast).

NCL is the only line to charge US pax 18% gratuities on supposedly 'free' booking perks such as Beverage and Dining packages.

 

You might also want to compare NCL's beverage package price with other cruise lines and also what is (or is not) included. They are way worse than other cruise lines, despite your protestations to the contrary.

 

Actually, Carnival charges for certain items on their room service menu. A whole page of items that you pay per item for. A steak and cheese was $5.

 

Sent from my SM-G900V using Forums mobile app

 

During certain times of the day, Royal Caribbean also charges for room service.

[suesings]

We've done two NCL cruises and one RCI cruise (one more RCI cruise booked)

 

What I like about the NCL cruises is that they didn't cost as much as the RCI cruise. There were lots of things you could pay extra for but my balance at the end of each NCL cruise was zero dollars.

 

The RCI cruise was in February in the Caribbean. It was 599.00 a piece for a guaranty inside. By the time we figured out the pricing for 6 of us to be in one room (family oceanview), add the port fees and gratuities the total was 5400.00. This included 0$ of OBC and no special offer of any kind. No restaurants or liquor... etc. We had a bill of about 70$ in drinks when we got off the ship.

 

Our family NCL cruise was in a 2 bedroom family suite in the Haven in February to the Mexican Riviera. After we priced the room with port charges and taxes it was 5400.00. We had to pay gratuities in addition to this which was about another 850$ so total was ~6250.00

But with this we got Wifi, 400$ OBC and all 4 kids were free which made this deal possible. Our bill at the end of this cruise was 0$.

 

On our cruise to the Fjords on NCL with just my wife and I it was a similar experience with the cost of the trip being about 1000$ less than any other line at the time. I can't remember exactly what the price was but we also got 375$ obc and free specialty restaurants. We used our OBC for drinks and the spa. 0$ bill at the end of the cruise.

 

My sister recently went on the Escape and said that things she was used to getting for free on Carnival were charged for on NCL (like the sauna and steam room, lobster upcharge on the menu, room service) But she said the food was amazing.

 

So while NCL may have things you can pay extra for you can get many of those things included (paying extra grats) with the price of the cruise. And most times when we are shopping for cruises NCL is considerably less and the price difference gives us more spend and options to spend.

 

One thing I don't like about NCL now is that you can't bring water on board with you. That was a bad move. It won't bother us much because we bring reusable water bottles everywhere we go and will just refill but it was nice to have bottled water in the room.

 

Have a great trip!

 

-Sean

 

So nice to see a very thorough, fair, informative AND polite post. I really learned a lot from your post and appreciate the civility!

 

Taking our first NCL cruise soon. It is hard to ask questions on this board as so many people seem to take personal offense? So strange to me. I have never seen this on other boards for previous cruises. Maybe just a sign of the times? :( I am trying to read threads that other "brave souls" post to learn more about NCL for our cruise.

[Aquahound]

NCL is the only line to charge for room service (excepting continental breakfast).

 

To be fair, other lines do charge for room service but most are in the $4-$5 range and are during the late night hours. RCI's is 12am-5am.......not like NCL's 24/7 $8 charge.

 

MSC is most similar to NCL if you book their most basic rate. There is a 24/7 charge for room service. I'm not sure how much. However, they offer an option...usually for around $50 more...that comes with free room service and 12 free cocktails for the duration of the cruise. Grats are included in the free drinks offer.

[Rob0519]

Once you've paid your cruise fare, taxes and gratuities as others have said, you don't have to spend any more money. I wish my family would have followed that advice. On the Escape we paid for:

* Bottled Water - not included in the Soft Drink Package

* Specialty Coffee

* Specialty Dining

* Gelato and 10 cupcakes instead of a birthday cake

* Multiple days of Bingo

* Shore Excursions

* Liquor and clothing on board

* Photo package and even a portrait at the portrait studio which is separate from the photo package.

*Gambling in the casino

 

Unfortunately, this was only our second cruise, the first was on Disney so I really didn't know about ALL the possible ways to spend money. While the bill at the end was rather pricey, I have to admit we had a great time and no one twisted our arms or nickel and dimed us without our consent.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Once you've paid your cruise fare, taxes and gratuities as others have said, you don't have to spend any more money. I wish my family would have followed that advice. On the Escape we paid for:

* Bottled Water - not included in the Soft Drink Package

* Specialty Coffee

* Specialty Dining

* Gelato and 10 cupcakes instead of a birthday cake

* Multiple days of Bingo

* Shore Excursions

* Liquor and clothing on board

* Photo package and even a portrait at the portrait studio which is separate from the photo package.

*Gambling in the casino

 

Unfortunately, this was only our second cruise, the first was on Disney so I really didn't know about ALL the possible ways to spend money. While the bill at the end was rather pricey, I have to admit we had a great time and no one twisted our arms or nickel and dimed us without our consent.

If you are going to cruise and not spend another dime you might as well go camping.

 

It seems like 2/3 of the ship are pay venues so you are being limited to about 1/3 of the ship.

 

It just seems like you are missing out to me which is what NCL is hoping you'll feel and fork over for the pay venues .

 

YMMV

 

Bill

 

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[NLH Arizona]

It just seems like you are missing out to me which is what NCL is hoping you'll feel and fork over for the pay venues .

 

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Sounds like every other business in the known world to me; make the customer want to purchase your product.

[Warm Breezes]

If you are going to cruise and not spend another dime you might as well go camping.

 

It seems like 2/3 of the ship are pay venues so you are being limited to about 1/3 of the ship.

 

It just seems like you are missing out to me which is what NCL is hoping you'll feel and fork over for the pay venues .

 

YMMV

 

Bill

 

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

I have to disagree. I find the more we cruise the less we spend on board. I cruise to relax on the ocean, have someone cook and clean for me, be entertained, and be transported to exotic places. All of which can be done with no extra spending. Yes we do occasionally eat at a specialty restaurant or purchase a drink or two, and play a little at the casino. But we don't spend nearly as much as we used to, if we spend anything at all, on pictures, souvenirs, and excursions. We were never even interested in spending money on bottled water, coffee, and charged sweets. If I were on a tighter budget I could easily see us passing on the few extra's we do purchase and while I love camping, I would rather give up the extra's than give up my cruise for a camping trip :D.

[wilmingtech]

So nice to see a very thorough, fair, informative AND polite post. I really learned a lot from your post and appreciate the civility!

 

Taking our first NCL cruise soon. It is hard to ask questions on this board as so many people seem to take personal offense? So strange to me. I have never seen this on other boards for previous cruises. Maybe just a sign of the times? :( I am trying to read threads that other "brave souls" post to learn more about NCL for our cruise.

 

Thanks Sue. Its just an informational board. Ignore the junk and carry on. Your gonna have a great trip in an NCL suite. I've read so many posts from experienced cruisers who post that no one does suites quite like NCL.

 

Have a great trip and let us know how it goes! You know what they say - if you don't post a review it never happened! Hahaha.

 

-Sean