Gratuity is being increased by 50 cents and more

[Sand and Seas]

1 minute ago, dalmoradie said:

We're in a Club Balcony Suite and after reading this, went and prepaid our service charges.  They only charged us $15.50 per person per day, though.  Could it be because it's a free cruise from Casinos at Sea?  I was given a free Oceanview and I upgraded to Club Balcony.

You are still able to pay what they were when you booked. 

If you waited until you boarded for a cruise after April 1st it would be the higher price.  In the case of your Club Balcony, you are 'saving' $2.50 per day per person by pre-paying now.

[dalmoradie]

10 minutes ago, Sand and Seas said:

You are still able to pay what they were when you booked. 

If you waited until you boarded for a cruise after April 1st it would be the higher price.  In the case of your Club Balcony, you are 'saving' $2.50 per day per person by pre-paying now.

We booked in December 2021, so Club Balcony should be $18 pp/pd, right?  So maybe it being a Casinos at Sea booking, they charged me the rate of the original free Oceanview cabin?

Edited March 2, 2022 by dalmoradie

[Sand and Seas]

31 minutes ago, dalmoradie said:

We booked in December 2021, so Club Balcony should be $18 pp/pd, right?  So maybe it being a Casinos at Sea booking, they charged me the rate of the original free Oceanview cabin?

The Club Balcony cost will not increase until April 1st.   Since you are already booked, you can prepay now before your cruise at the prior rate.

 

• $20.00 per person per day - The Haven & Suite
• $18.00 per person per day - Club Balcony Suite
• $16.00 per person per day - Balcony and below

Guests who make a reservation on or before March 31, 2022, will have the option of pre-paying their service charges at the current rate, if done prior to sail date. Guests with existing cruise reservations who have already pre-paid their service charges at the current rate are not affected.

Edited March 2, 2022 by Sand and Seas

[ontheweb]

Our NCL cruise is not until August next year 2023. Can we pay the gratuities before our final payment and get the old rate? I think final payment is not until April 2023  (our TA will be sure to let us know when the final payment date is getting close.)

[ggTexasGal]

10 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Our NCL cruise is not until August next year 2023. Can we pay the gratuities before our final payment and get the old rate? I think final payment is not until April 2023  (our TA will be sure to let us know when the final payment date is getting close.)

You can pay now (before March 31, 2022) to benefit from the savings for that cruise!

[vswan]

We cruised in late January. Had pre-paid my gratuities for a regular balcony and then called to see what options I had for upgrading since prices had dropped. Sailed in a Club Balcony with large balcony and they didn't charge us the extra gratuities for the upgrade. Was surprised, expected to be charged but didn't feel the extra couple of dollars for a week would have kept me from booking the bigger balcony and room.

[Sand and Seas]

3 minutes ago, vswan said:

We cruised in late January. Had pre-paid my gratuities for a regular balcony and then called to see what options I had for upgrading since prices had dropped. Sailed in a Club Balcony with large balcony and they didn't charge us the extra gratuities for the upgrade. Was surprised, expected to be charged but didn't feel the extra couple of dollars for a week would have kept me from booking the bigger balcony and room.

Up until now (as far as I know) there was the same daily service charge amount for all non-Haven cabins.   I don't recall ever paying a higher amount for Club Balcony (formerly known as Mini-Suites).

[n4w]

3 hours ago, Brian V said:

Not to say the gratuities are out of line but you are paying a significantly higher fare for these amenities...US$150.00 pp more for an MA as opposed to our BA cabin for our September Greece cruise.

 

was just answering the question about different service between standard and suite.  the fare price for the added amenities is different from gratuities for the service.  the pp fare price will vary depending on availability.

[Sea saw 56]

1 hour ago, ontheweb said:

Our NCL cruise is not until August next year 2023. Can we pay the gratuities before our final payment and get the old rate? I think final payment is not until April 2023  (our TA will be sure to let us know when the final payment date is getting close.)

The way I read it, as long as you pay before your sail date you are good to go.

[julig22]

1 hour ago, ggTexasGal said:

You can pay now (before March 31, 2022) to benefit from the savings for that cruise!

You just have to book before 4/1/22 to get the current rate.  You have until your cruise sails to actually pay.

[Brian V]

26 minutes ago, n4w said:

was just answering the question about different service between standard and suite. 

Kind of my point, you are paying for the extras already in your fare. I don't see how the amenities should affect the gratuities...unless you have a butler / concierge 🙂

[n4w]

21 minutes ago, Brian V said:

Kind of my point, you are paying for the extras already in your fare. I don't see how the amenities should affect the gratuities...unless you have a butler / concierge 🙂

The extras are what NCL is promising you.  The gratuities are for the appreciation for the person delivering the promise.  Between standard and suite, there is a service difference.  Again, I'm not endorsing or rejecting, I'm answering questions.  As to your question about how they should affect, you'll need to ask NCL, I'm not challenging your point.

Edited March 3, 2022 by n4w

[Hºoºwie]

received this email tonight after having received the email describing the service charge increases(plus separate email with someone elses ressie number too???):

 

Dear Valued Guests and Travel Partners,

Earlier today, you may have inadvertently received an email communication regarding our increase to pre-paid service charges, effective April 1, 2022, that contained incorrect information. If so, please accept our sincere apologies and delete and disregard such email. We will send an updated communication in the near future.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at 800.327.7030.

Thank you,
Norwegian Cruise Line


Please do not reply to this email.

 

 

[MoCruiseFan]

IOW NCL is the only cruise lien whop is taking care of their crew members!

[ontheweb]

13 hours ago, ontheweb said:

Our NCL cruise is not until August next year 2023. Can we pay the gratuities before our final payment and get the old rate? I think final payment is not until April 2023  (our TA will be sure to let us know when the final payment date is getting close.)

So, I now have 2 contradictory answers. One says before March 31st this month while the other says before we sail. (BTW, the cruise is already booked for next year on the Prima, London (Southampton to Reykjavik.)

[Macadian]

18 hours ago, shof515 said:

it is very strange how NCL is the only cruise line doing yearly increases compare to other cruise lines 

They do have a reputation of being the ' nickel & dime' cruise line.....

[Earthworm Jim]

April 1st seems like an odd day to start given it's a Friday and most cruises begin on weekends. So I assume if you had a cruise the ended Saturday April 2nd you'd pay 1 day at the new higher rate and the rest of the cruise at the old rate.

[Cruiser933]

1 hour ago, Earthworm Jim said:

April 1st seems like an odd day to start given it's a Friday and most cruises begin on weekends. So I assume if you had a cruise the ended Saturday April 2nd you'd pay 1 day at the new higher rate and the rest of the cruise at the old rate.

The gratuity does not change mid-cruise. The change is based on booking date:

Edited March 3, 2022 by Cruiser933

[Earthworm Jim]

53 minutes ago, Cruiser933 said:

The gratuity does not change mid-cruise. The change is based on booking date:

 

My understanding is that you need to pre-pay before sail date to get the old rates:

 

Guests who make a reservation on or before March 31, 2022, will have the option of pre-paying their service charges at the current rate, if done prior to sail date.

 

I saw no mention of whether the rate would or would not go up mid-cruise. Not that the additional cost is significant enough to be of any concern either way.

[Two Wheels Only]

5 minutes ago, Earthworm Jim said:

I saw no mention of whether the rate would or would not go up mid-cruise. Not that the additional cost is significant enough to be of any concern either way.

 

In the past, whatever the rate was on embarkation day remained that rate for the cruise. A B2B could have the higher rate for the 2nd cruise, though.

 

 

[Lionkingrichard]

To funny. I just did my Survey for last weeks Cruise and I noted that the tips were getting a little high. 

 

Over $800 for a family of 3 on a 7 day. I guess that was not enough.  LOL

 

Suite $18.5 PPPD

Drinks

Specialty Meals

Drinks+

Butler

Concierge

I didn't include the around $50 I gave to Bartenders and drink Servers.

 

PS Still going to book NCL for next year! Love it!

 

 

[n4w]

4 hours ago, ontheweb said:

So, I now have 2 contradictory answers. One says before March 31st this month while the other says before we sail. (BTW, the cruise is already booked for next year on the Prima, London (Southampton to Reykjavik.)

Guests who make a reservation on or before March 31, 2022, will have the option of pre-paying their service charges at the current rate, if done prior to sail date. Guests with existing cruise reservations who have already pre-paid their service charges at the current rate are not affected.

 

book by March 31st

does not contradict

pay by Sail Date

 

As long as you have a reservation by 3/31/2022 AND pay before getting on the ship, you get the old rate.

[ontheweb]

21 minutes ago, n4w said:

Guests who make a reservation on or before March 31, 2022, will have the option of pre-paying their service charges at the current rate, if done prior to sail date. Guests with existing cruise reservations who have already pre-paid their service charges at the current rate are not affected.

 

book by March 31st

does not contradict

pay by Sail Date

 

As long as you have a reservation by 3/31/2022 AND pay before getting on the ship, you get the old rate.

We booked last year, well before the end of March this year. And obviously, we would have to pay by the due date which is months before the cruise. Are you saying that that entitles us to the old rate even though the cruise is not until 2023?

[Sand and Seas]

10 hours ago, Hºoºwie said:

received this email tonight after having received the email describing the service charge increases(plus separate email with someone elses ressie number too???):

 

Dear Valued Guests and Travel Partners,

Earlier today, you may have inadvertently received an email communication regarding our increase to pre-paid service charges, effective April 1, 2022, that contained incorrect information. If so, please accept our sincere apologies and delete and disregard such email. We will send an updated communication in the near future.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at 800.327.7030.

Thank you,
Norwegian Cruise Line


Please do not reply to this email.

 

 

 

We received this second email too.   

 

So, what was the 'incorrect information' contained in our first email?   If it was something minor, why didn't they correct it in the second email?

 

[n4w]

1 hour ago, ontheweb said:

We booked last year, well before the end of March this year. And obviously, we would have to pay by the due date which is months before the cruise. Are you saying that that entitles us to the old rate even though the cruise is not until 2023?

The due date months before the cruise is for the cruise fare only -- does not include Daily Service Charge (DSC, aka gratuities). Gratuities can be pre-paid anytime before the cruise or can be paid at the end of the cruise (billed to your onboard account).  If you want the old gratuity rate, prepay them before you sail.  If you pay your gratuities after boarding, you pay the new rate.

Edited March 3, 2022 by n4w