NCL does horrible in 2019 Cruise Critic awards

[AdoraBelle]

On 3/9/2019 at 12:00 AM, nimiq said:

I was also surprise to see no awards for  NCL in any category. NCL might not be my favorite line but in no way RCCL wins over them in food and entertainment. 

 

I thought my last 2 cruises on NCL Getaway and Epic was superior to our last cruise on RCCL Allure Of the seas.

 

All cruise line nickel and dime so it will be nice to see if Virgin make the industry adjust themselves.

 

Thanks

Sea ya

Eric

 

I’m so ready for Virgin Voyages to take my money.

[sparks1093]

On 3/6/2019 at 8:17 PM, tomservo said:

 

What I don’t get is how they justify the gratuities on the “free” drink package. Isn’t it based on an average of like, 16 drinks a day or something ridiculous? Who drinks 16 drinks a day? How about charging gratuity on the actual drinks that we get on the package? I wonder how they’ll justify it when it becomes based on 30 drinks a day or some number that isn’t humanly possible. 

I haven't read the whole thread yet and this may be a repeat but what needs to be kept in mind that shortly after NCL started giving away the beverage package they doubled the price of the package and started charging 20% gratuity on that inflated cost. This allows them to market how great of a deal it is to receive it "free". 

[Suna]

I really like NCL, but with the prices going up and up, I will definitely be pricing others next time.

[Buford T Justiice]

On ‎3‎/‎9‎/‎2019 at 12:00 AM, nimiq said:

I was also surprise to see no awards for  NCL in any category. NCL might not be my favorite line but in no way RCCL wins over them in food and entertainment. 

 

I thought my last 2 cruises on NCL Getaway and Epic was superior to our last cruise on RCCL Allure Of the seas.

 

All cruise line nickel and dime so it will be nice to see if Virgin make the industry adjust themselves.

 

Thanks

Sea ya

Eric

 

Does RCCL still endorse / pay their "Champions" posting here on CC to crush any dissent?

 

I know it was a issue a couple of years ago, many didn't know there were paid cheerleaders...

 

[davy jones]

1 hour ago, Buford T Justiice said:

 

Does RCCL still endorse / pay their "Champions" posting here on CC to crush any dissent?

 

I know it was a issue a couple of years ago, many didn't know there were paid cheerleaders...

 

I don't know if they are still paid, but RCCL cheerleaders seem to be louder than other lines and the "rankings" still seem skewed toward Royal owned lines.  

 

I found the fact that Royal ships appeared on the list for food where there has been a lot of discussion over the decline of food on Royal here on CC.  I sailed on Royal last summer and the food was the worst that we have ever had on a cruise over 35 years.  We always found something to eat, but there were a lot of unappetizing dishes and a number of MDR disappointments.

[deliver42]

We're going on the Celebrity Equinox in December with the premium drink pkg, grats, and Insurance in Concierge Class for about $500.00 less than the Bliss for the same thing, but without the premium pkg, just the UDP.

[farkell]

7 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

I haven't read the whole thread yet and this may be a repeat but what needs to be kept in mind that shortly after NCL started giving away the beverage package they doubled the price of the package and started charging 20% gratuity on that inflated cost. This allows them to market how great of a deal it is to receive it "free". 

My husband is an occasional drinker and I rarely drink, but we choose then drink package because out of all the free at sea promotions its seems like the best value for us.  I downloaded the UDP list (http://www.grantmkt.net/escape/NCL_UBP_FAV_DRINKS.pdf)  We'll order drinks and take a sip, if we don't like it we move on to the next without a thought. 

[cinsans]

I am very happy with NCL cruise price for my upcoming South America cruise. I shopped and found I would pay $1000 more for an inside cabin on Celebrity versus the outside cabin I booked on NCL. Plus I have OBC, specialty dining and Wifi included on NCL. There was no additional promotions offered on the Celebrity  sailing.  

So I guess it depends on where you want to cruise, whether NCL still offers a good value.

[RedwingHockeyFan]

9 minutes ago, cinsans said:

I am very happy with NCL cruise price for my upcoming South America cruise. I shopped and found I would pay $1000 more for an inside cabin on Celebrity versus the outside cabin I booked on NCL. Plus I have OBC, specialty dining and Wifi included on NCL. There was no additional promotions offered on the Celebrity  sailing.  

So I guess it depends on where you want to cruise, whether NCL still offers a good value.

 

Yeah, I've done my homework every time.  I have not been able to find a cruise at the timeframe I am looking for that beats NCL when you factor in the 3rd person sails for free perk. 

[NightOne]

4 hours ago, Buford T Justiice said:

 

Does RCCL still endorse / pay their "Champions" posting here on CC to crush any dissent?

 

I know it was a issue a couple of years ago, many didn't know there were paid cheerleaders...

 

 

I've always suspected that RCCL has employees or pays people to post on Cruise Critic. Just way to much cheerleading for Royal and bashing of others to be legit in my opinion.

 

I mean most people who love product A don't feel compelled to continually bash product B. They're indifferent to it.

[NightOne]

On 3/8/2019 at 6:18 PM, DaCruiseBug said:

All the NCL fees and surcharges have a very negative influence on cruisers and this is reflected in the CruiseCritic awards. It has nothing to do with RCL or Celebrity being in CruiseCritics pocket or anything. I've been on NCL a few times and enjoyed my experience but based on all their fees and price increases I tell people to stay away from NCL. That's one of the negative effects of trying to nickel and dime your customers.

 

I don't know of any other cruise line that offer perks such as a beverage package in their cruise fare and then turn around and charges you "service charges" on that perk. MSC doesn't do it. Celebrity doesn't do it. Princess doesn't do it etc.

 

 

What fees and surcharges are you talking about? Which ones does NCL have that other cruise lines do not.

 

[DaCruiseBug]

29 minutes ago, NightOne said:

 

What fees and surcharges are you talking about? Which ones does NCL have that other cruise lines do not.

 

Charging for bottled water even with a beverage package, charging for room service, charging “tax” for drinks while in port (MSC & Celebrity don’t), charging an “admin fee” on CAS bookings, charging “service charges” on perks etc...I can keep going if you’d like...

[DaCruiseBug]

34 minutes ago, NightOne said:

 

I've always suspected that RCCL has employees or pays people to post on Cruise Critic. Just way to much cheerleading for Royal and bashing of others to be legit in my opinion.

 

I mean most people who love product A don't feel compelled to continually bash product B. They're indifferent to it.

That’s ridiculous! The reality is that Royal/Celebrity have a really good product. You get sucked in by the NCL “free” promos and when someone actually tries other cruise lines they see how much more upfront and honest they are compared to NCL.

[NightOne]

15 minutes ago, DaCruiseBug said:

Charging for bottled water even with a beverage package, charging for room service, charging “tax” for drinks while in port (MSC & Celebrity don’t), charging an “admin fee” on CAS bookings, charging “service charges” on perks etc...I can keep going if you’d like...

 

Yes, please keep going because

 

1. Drink packages don't included bottled water on some other cruise lines either - that is neither a fee or surcharge btw

2. It depends on the port - In Galveston for example they are going to charge you taxes on drink no matter what cruise line you are on - a tax is also not a fee or surcharge

3. What specific fee are your referring to on Casino at Sea bookings?

4. Yes, they charge a service charge / gratuity on the "free" drink package but you pay a service charge / gratuity on the non-free drink packages on the other lines so paying a service charge on a drink package is not different on NCL than other cruise lines.

 

[NightOne]

22 minutes ago, DaCruiseBug said:

That’s ridiculous! The reality is that Royal/Celebrity have a really good product. You get sucked in by the NCL “free” promos and when someone actually tries other cruise lines they see how much more upfront and honest they are compared to NCL.

 

Royal Caribbean ... the cruise line with the never-ending BOGO sale that ends in 2 days??? That Royal Caribbean.

 

So tell me specifically what NCL doesn't tell you up front??? and how are they not "honest"???

 

Finally, if you love Celebrity so much and hate NCL why don't you just sail with Celebrity and dump NCL?

[DaCruiseBug]

6 minutes ago, NightOne said:

 

Yes, please keep going because

 

1. Drink packages don't included bottled water on some other cruise lines either - that is neither a fee or surcharge btw

2. It depends on the port - In Galveston for example they are going to charge you taxes on drink no matter what cruise line you are on - a tax is also not a fee or surcharge

3. What specific fee are your referring to on Casino at Sea bookings?

4. Yes, they charge a service charge / gratuity on the "free" drink package but you pay a service charge / gratuity on the non-free drink packages on the other lines so paying a service charge on a drink package is not different on NCL than other cruise lines.

 

 

1. What packages similar to the UBP on other cruise lines don't include bottled water? My experience is with Carnival, MSC, and Celebrity and they all did. Even with the basic package. Show me...

 

2. No it doesn't. Out of Miami NCL charges you "tax" meanwhile MSC and Celebrity did not. Same port of departure. Maybe other cruise lines absorb the cost but...NCL still makes the customer pay it and others do not.

 

3. There's a $20 per person per day admin fee on all "free" CAS bookings. Nobody else in the industry charges this.

 

4. Yes, it's a "free" drink package. So if it's included in your cruise fare you shouldn't be charged extra for it. Your comparison to packages purchased are IRRELEVANT. When you get a drink package on MSC they don't charge you a service charge. When you get a drink package on Princess they don't charge you a service charge. When you get a drink package on Celebrity they don't charge you a service charge.

 

You wanted to know what charges NCL has that others don't...and I listed them for you. Swallow your NCL pride and admit NCL charges customers for things most other cruise lines don't charge for.

[DaCruiseBug]

4 minutes ago, NightOne said:

 

Royal Caribbean ... the cruise line with the never-ending BOGO sale that ends in 2 days??? That Royal Caribbean.

 

So tell me specifically what NCL doesn't tell you up front??? and how are they not "honest"???

 

Finally, if you love Celebrity so much and hate NCL why don't you just sail with Celebrity and dump NCL?

 

Hmmm...they don't have a BOGO sale right now. They're not like NCL that just renews the same horrible "sale". Right now Royal has 30% off each guest plus additional OBC.

[RedwingHockeyFan]

Why does everyone keep complaining about bottled water and coffee not being included in the UDP?  Both are free in the buffet and every dining room.  Needing to have your water in a bottle is just a matter of preference.  Last time I sailed on Royal, specialty coffee was not part of their drink package either but they had regular coffee in dining rooms and the atrium for free.

[DaCruiseBug]

2 hours ago, RedwingHockeyFan said:

 

Yeah, I've done my homework every time.  I have not been able to find a cruise at the timeframe I am looking for that beats NCL when you factor in the 3rd person sails for free perk. 

 

Just FYI: Celebrity has a sale going on where kids sail free. Not sure if your 3rd is a child or not. It's worth checking it out on their website.

[NightOne]

16 minutes ago, DaCruiseBug said:

 

Hmmm...they don't have a BOGO sale right now. They're not like NCL that just renews the same horrible "sale". Right now Royal has 30% off each guest plus additional OBC.

 

 

Yup that 30% off each sale is a thousand times different than the buy one get one 60% off sale they just had.

[RedwingHockeyFan]

3 minutes ago, DaCruiseBug said:

 

Just FYI: Celebrity has a sale going on where kids sail free. Not sure if your 3rd is a child or not. It's worth checking it out on their website.

 

I had looked not that long ago.  I'm not sure if there was something wrong with their online system or not but the cost for the 3rd person (a child) was twice as high as the first two passengers and that was a 50% off rate.  I'll check again but I already booked my next cruise. 

 

I saved over $300 booking on the ship and buying cruisenext certs.

[NightOne]

5 minutes ago, DaCruiseBug said:

 

Just FYI: Celebrity has a sale going on where kids sail free. Not sure if your 3rd is a child or not. It's worth checking it out on their website.

 

Well what are you waiting for? Go book it and hop on board. Why are you hanging out here? Royal paying you to do it or something? LOL

[DaCruiseBug]

Just now, NightOne said:

 

 

Yup that 30% off each sale is a thousand times different than the buy one get one 60% off sale they just had.

 

Considering they add up to $200 OBC...i'd say it's different. Anything different about any sale NCL has had since last November?

[NightOne]

12 minutes ago, RedwingHockeyFan said:

Why does everyone keep complaining about bottled water and coffee not being included in the UDP?  Both are free in the buffet and every dining room.  Needing to have your water in a bottle is just a matter of preference.  Last time I sailed on Royal, specialty coffee was not part of their drink package either but they had regular coffee in dining rooms and the atrium for free.

 

And try to get the bottled water for free by the gangway exit at port stops. Won't happen.

[DaCruiseBug]

2 minutes ago, NightOne said:

 

Well what are you waiting for? Go book it and hop on board. Why are you hanging out here? Royal paying you to do it or something? LOL

Our next cruise is already booked...on Celebrity.