Norwegian Cruise Lines Inflates

[MotownVoice]

Seems like a weird time, considering the global economical climate, to brag about the fact that Norwegian Cruise Lines intends to explode their costs of on-board add-ons.  
 

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/28015-norwegian-cruise-line-raises-onboard-prices-and-posts-strong-onboard-revenue-numbers.html 

[phillygwm]

22 minutes ago, MotownVoice said:

Seems like a weird time, considering the global economical climate, to brag about the fact that Norwegian Cruise Lines intends to explode their costs of on-board add-ons.  
 

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/28015-norwegian-cruise-line-raises-onboard-prices-and-posts-strong-onboard-revenue-numbers.html 

What global economic climate?  Inflation?  Funny a company would raise prices then.

 

As for the recession, yes, the economy has contracted.  But unlike any other recession in my lifetime, we're at full employment.  People are flipping jobs and companies can't stay staffed.  Airports are mobbed with leisure travelers.  Demand is up, so prices will inevitably rise.  

[ColeThornton]

1 hour ago, MotownVoice said:

Seems like a weird time, considering the global economical climate, to brag about the fact that Norwegian Cruise Lines intends to explode their costs of on-board add-ons

 

 

 

Meh...just sounds like a lot of CEO speak for the benefit of stockholders and investors.

[PATRLR]

In other words, there will be a renewed focus on nickel and diming their guests.  

My prediction:  We'll need to start paying to see the very fine entertainment NCL is getting a reputation for.

 

[SeaShark]

It used to be that the biggest contributor to onboard revenue was alcoholic beverage sales.

 

Since FDR, drinks, specialty dining, internet, shore excursions, etc. are bundled and "included" with your booking. So onboard spending on alcoholic beverages should have dropped like a rock.

 

With all of the things people don't have to pay for onboard...given the freebies...what exactly are people spending so much more money on onboard to cause these increases? Guests who pre-plan spend double onboard over what other guests spend? On what? It would seem that the more you pre-pay, the less you should need to spend onboard.

[aubreyc1988]

8 minutes ago, SeaShark said:

It used to be that the biggest contributor to onboard revenue was alcoholic beverage sales.

 

Since FDR, drinks, specialty dining, internet, shore excursions, etc. are bundled and "included" with your booking. So onboard spending on alcoholic beverages should have dropped like a rock.

 

With all of the things people don't have to pay for onboard...given the freebies...what exactly are people spending so much more money on onboard to cause these increases? Guests who pre-plan spend double onboard over what other guests spend? On what? It would seem that the more you pre-pay, the less you should need to spend onboard.

 

I agree with this, bizarre to me the onboard spending comments...now Royal Caribbean, this I can see. I have a Royal cruise booked and talk about nickel and diming! While Royal's fare is less, I've spent the difference of that I would have saved in beverage packages and dining packages. Idk what people complain about getting nickel and dimed onboard NCL because most people go with the Free At Sea bundles and my bill usually is Starbucks and a small trip to the spa, which is mostly covered by OBC given to me either by NCL or a TA. 

 

(Side note: I thought the included stuff with booking started with O'Sheehan? I know it has evolved but was thinking that it was already loosely in place when FDR took over) 

Edited August 10, 2022 by aubreyc1988

[PATRLR]

17 minutes ago, SeaShark said:

It used to be that the biggest contributor to onboard revenue was alcoholic beverage sales.

 

Since FDR, drinks, specialty dining, internet, shore excursions, etc. are bundled and "included" with your booking. So onboard spending on alcoholic beverages should have dropped like a rock.

 

With all of the things people don't have to pay for onboard...given the freebies...what exactly are people spending so much more money on onboard to cause these increases? Guests who pre-plan spend double onboard over what other guests spend? On what? It would seem that the more you pre-pay, the less you should need to spend onboard.

I assume everything spent above the cruise fare is considered on board spend in the context of this article (maybe they exclude excursions).  So, yes, the onboard should have dropped like a rock.  I assume they are building it back up by upselling the drink packages, extra dining, extra internet, paying for various activities, etc. 

[SeaShark]

30 minutes ago, aubreyc1988 said:

(Side note: I thought the included stuff with booking started with O'Sheehan? I know it has evolved but was thinking that it was already loosely in place when FDR took over) 

 

Nope...(and it is Sheehan, btw...O'Sheehan is the restaurant and a play on "Ocean")...it was FDR who started this. This was how Regent did their marketing and FDR carried it over to NCL when he took over. This is all a part of his "Market To Fill" strategy that he believes in over the more common "Discount To Fill" strategy found in the cruise industry.

 

There were drink packages available when Kevin Sheehan was in charge, but those were always offered as an "available for purchase" item, they weren't "included" in the cruise fare until FDR started bundling them in the Free@Sea promotions.

[coastcat]

33 minutes ago, SeaShark said:

It used to be that the biggest contributor to onboard revenue was alcoholic beverage sales.

 

Since FDR, drinks, specialty dining, internet, shore excursions, etc. are bundled and "included" with your booking. So onboard spending on alcoholic beverages should have dropped like a rock.

 

With all of the things people don't have to pay for onboard...given the freebies...what exactly are people spending so much more money on onboard to cause these increases? Guests who pre-plan spend double onboard over what other guests spend? On what? It would seem that the more you pre-pay, the less you should need to spend onboard.

Lots of upselling!

 

You have the Premium Beverage Package? Well, wouldn't you like to upgrade to Premium Plus to get higher-end selections? Oh, then what about purchasing our new unlimited Starbucks package and a case of bottled water? Our specialty restaurants are so good, it's hard to choose just two, so why not upgrade your dining package? Need more wifi time or are tired of logging in/out when switching between devices? Why not buy additional logins or unlimited time? Oh dear, you're right, Netflix is blocked. Did you know we have an unlimited streaming package as well?

 

Add in the Thermal Suite and Vibe passes, whatever cut they take from Starbucks sales and shore excursions, lap fees for the always-booked go-karts, the $10 sale for $0.50 items... 

[aubreyc1988]

21 minutes ago, PATRLR said:

I assume everything spent above the cruise fare is considered on board spend in the context of this article (maybe they exclude excursions).  So, yes, the onboard should have dropped like a rock.  I assume they are building it back up by upselling the drink packages, extra dining, extra internet, paying for various activities, etc. 

Yeah that would make sense they are considering that onboard spending. Honestly, it's a smart booking approach business wise. 

[aubreyc1988]

3 minutes ago, SeaShark said:

 

Nope...(and it is Sheehan, btw...O'Sheehan is the restaurant and a play on "Ocean")...it was FDR who started this. This was how Regent did their marketing and FDR carried it over to NCL when he took over. This is all a part of his "Market To Fill" strategy that he believes in over the more common "Discount To Fill" strategy found in the cruise industry.

 

There were drink packages available when Kevin Sheehan was in charge, but those were always offered as an "available for purchase" item, they weren't "included" in the cruise fare until FDR started bundling them in the Free@Sea promotions.

Ah ok, the first time I remember the package was on my first NCL cruise on in 2/2015 so FDR had just taken over and I remember there was a lot of fuss on cruisecritic about it at the time. 

 

The only thing I cannot forgive of FDR is taking away the mozzarella sticks in those cute lil' baskets they served in O'Sheehans. 😞 I am still sad about it. 

[SeaShark]

6 minutes ago, coastcat said:

Lots of upselling!

 

You have the Premium Beverage Package? Well, wouldn't you like to upgrade to Premium Plus to get higher-end selections? Oh, then what about purchasing our new unlimited Starbucks package and a case of bottled water? Our specialty restaurants are so good, it's hard to choose just two, so why not upgrade your dining package? Need more wifi time or are tired of logging in/out when switching between devices? Why not buy additional logins or unlimited time? Oh dear, you're right, Netflix is blocked. Did you know we have an unlimited streaming package as well?

 

Add in the Thermal Suite and Vibe passes, whatever cut they take from Starbucks sales and shore excursions, lap fees for the always-booked go-karts, the $10 sale for $0.50 items... 

 

Oh, there is definitely a lot of upselling going on. It is just that these things are pre-cruise purchases and not onboard spending....yet the reported increases are in onboard spending. As noted, given that alcohol sales have traditionally been the #1 contributor to onboard spending, you have to wonder how it has increased by so much given that most people are no longer getting a bar bill.

[LGW59]

Love how everyone uses the word "free"...there ain't nothing "free" on our cruises, we have either paid it in advance or will pay it on-board.  

[SeaShark]

4 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

Love how everyone uses the word "free"...there ain't nothing "free" on our cruises, we have either paid it in advance or will pay it on-board.  

 

??

 

I see one use of "freebies" in the thread, and a couple times that free was mentioned as part of "Free at Sea" which is the title of the ongoing promotion, but other than that, I'm not seeing anyone (much less everyone) using the word "free"...

[cameronp12]

Just looked in my cruise planner online for my upcoming September sailing and it looks like Moderno and Teppanyaki are now listed at $58.80, up from $49.00.

[aubreyc1988]

32 minutes ago, SeaShark said:

 

??

 

I see one use of "freebies" in the thread, and a couple times that free was mentioned as part of "Free at Sea" which is the title of the ongoing promotion, but other than that, I'm not seeing anyone (much less everyone) using the word "free"...

Really it's a slight discount at sea lol. 

 

I mean, the beverage package promo is still a deal, even when you have to get an upgraded category to get it and pay for gratuities. I am paying over 1,000 for me and my husband to have the beverage package on Royal Caribbean and people were telling me that was a deal!! I am also paying 100pp for the 3 meal dining package on Royal, which I suppose isn't terrible but I am quite used to getting it at a discount with NCL. 

 

But I am definitely NCL's target audience, as I like to prepay everything and have as much of an all inclusive feel as possible, regardless if it costs less paying as you go. Maybe Royal Caribbean depends more on people paying as they go for things like drinks and dining, but I dislike that model lol. 

Edited August 10, 2022 by aubreyc1988

[roboref]

38 minutes ago, aubreyc1988 said:

Really it's a slight discount at sea lol. 

 

I mean, the beverage package promo is still a deal, even when you have to get an upgraded category to get it and pay for gratuities. I am paying over 1,000 for me and my husband to have the beverage package on Royal Caribbean and people were telling me that was a deal!! I am also paying 100pp for the 3 meal dining package on Royal, which I suppose isn't terrible but I am quite used to getting it at a discount with NCL. 

 

But I am definitely NCL's target audience, as I like to prepay everything and have as much of an all inclusive feel as possible, regardless if it costs less paying as you go. Maybe Royal Caribbean depends more on people paying as they go for things like drinks and dining, but I dislike that model lol. 

I for one don't want a drink package added to my fare, it may be "free" but add the gratuities for this package and it far exceeds my cruise bill on RCCL, even with a few drinks. Plus on RCL I get a free happy hour each evening. So when I see NCL charging $699 for a 7 day cruise and RCL $368 as well as my current preference of RCL. I guess I just am not in NCL preferred guest category.

[graphicguy]

2 hours ago, aubreyc1988 said:

 

I agree with this, bizarre to me the onboard spending comments...now Royal Caribbean, this I can see. I have a Royal cruise booked and talk about nickel and diming! While Royal's fare is less, I've spent the difference of that I would have saved in beverage packages and dining packages. Idk what people complain about getting nickel and dimed onboard NCL because most people go with the Free At Sea bundles and my bill usually is Starbucks and a small trip to the spa, which is mostly covered by OBC given to me either by NCL or a TA. 

 

(Side note: I thought the included stuff with booking started with O'Sheehan? I know it has evolved but was thinking that it was already loosely in place when FDR took over) 

Found the same.  Sailed Ovation early this year and NCL a month ago.  Diamond status with Ovation.  And, even with the 4 "free" drinks I got with my Diamond status, I still spent less on my NCL cruise with Free at Sea's service charge.

[aubreyc1988]

1 hour ago, graphicguy said:

Found the same.  Sailed Ovation early this year and NCL a month ago.  Diamond status with Ovation.  And, even with the 4 "free" drinks I got with my Diamond status, I still spent less on my NCL cruise with Free at Sea's service charge.

How would you compare bar experiences? I basically am shelling out the money for the RCI package because I want to comparer alcoholic drinks, bartenders, general experience etc. In the past, I found RCI lacking and always have a blast bar hopping on NCL. 

[aubreyc1988]

1 hour ago, roboref said:

I for one don't want a drink package added to my fare, it may be "free" but add the gratuities for this package and it far exceeds my cruise bill on RCCL, even with a few drinks. Plus on RCL I get a free happy hour each evening. So when I see NCL charging $699 for a 7 day cruise and RCL $368 as well as my current preference of RCL. I guess I just am not in NCL preferred guest category.

I am talking about general public here. Most people have opted for the free at sea on NCL. I have rarely met anyone or seen keycards that don't have that printed on it. And as for RCI, only diamond get that happy hour, not everyone is diamond. But yeah,  different strokes and all, but I mean, when you compare the two brands and prices, normally it shakes out close. 

 

Just for conversation sakes, here is the breakdown of what my upcoming RCI cruise on Liberty out of Galveston is costing me vs what I WOULD have paid if I had sailing on NCL Breakaway that same week

 

RCI Liberty

 

FARE: 811.00 total for 2 people in an inside gty 

DRINK PACKAGE: 1,040.00 for 2 people including gratuities

SPECIALTY DINING: 240.00 including gratuities for 3 night package for 2 people

GRATUITIES: 203.00 for 2 people

*didn't buy WIFI, but it was 140.00 for the basic package for 1 person 

 

TOTAL COST if I had bought the Wifi: 2194.00

 

If I hadn't bought the beverage package, it would have been way cheaper than NCL but I am not Diamond nor am I Prime in the Casino (Yet), so I wanted to have it for a more inclusive feel. 

 

NCL Breakaway

 

FARE: $1,258.40

DRINK PACKAGE: 277.20 Gratuities for 2 people

SPECIALTY DINING: $20 gratuities for 1 night package for 2 people

GRATUITIES: 200 ish for 2 people

WIFI: 250 minutes

 

TOTAL COST was around 1800.00

 

Sailaway was around 1,500 so a bit more than RCI in that regards but the itineraries were quite different too so could have been a factor 

 

I chose the Liberty for a variety of reasons but the main one was that I live in Dallas and can drive to Galveston and saved around 600.00 on flights...normally flight cost wouldn't factor in, but I really didn't want to deal with flight chaos over a holiday weekend. But now that I have paid for almost everything for my Liberty sailing (parking, gas, etc), I am certainly wishing I would have just toughed it out and done NCL ...

 

Edited August 10, 2022 by aubreyc1988

[MotownVoice]

3 hours ago, LGW59 said:

Love how everyone uses the word "free"...there ain't nothing "free" on our cruises, we have either paid it in advance or will pay it on-board.  

Wanna hear something funny?

Part of the promo package I got with my next cruise, it just happened to include the premium drink package.  I called NCL and said, "not for nothin' but both of us are recovering alcoholics.  So we kinda don't need a way to sneak off all hours of the day and night and get hammered.  Could you kinda nix that one for us?"

She said sure.

4 Days later they refunded $500 to my checking account.


Heyyyyyyy......what the.......I thought I was gettin' that for FREE!

[vacation44]

3 minutes ago, MotownVoice said:

Wanna hear something funny?

Part of the promo package I got with my next cruise, it just happened to include the premium drink package.  I called NCL and said, "not for nothin' but both of us are recovering alcoholics.  So we kinda don't need a way to sneak off all hours of the day and night and get hammered.  Could you kinda nix that one for us?"

She said sure.

4 Days later they refunded $500 to my checking account.


Heyyyyyyy......what the.......I thought I was gettin' that for FREE!

Wow........good for you.  

[SeaShark]

4 minutes ago, MotownVoice said:

Wanna hear something funny?

Part of the promo package I got with my next cruise, it just happened to include the premium drink package.  I called NCL and said, "not for nothin' but both of us are recovering alcoholics.  So we kinda don't need a way to sneak off all hours of the day and night and get hammered.  Could you kinda nix that one for us?"

She said sure.

4 Days later they refunded $500 to my checking account.


Heyyyyyyy......what the.......I thought I was gettin' that for FREE!

 

Sad part of it is that you are only refunded the cost of the service charge on the package.

 

However, even though you aren't taking the package, the cost of it being "included" is still part of your fare, so now you end up paying for something that you won't be receiving.

[MotownVoice]

16 minutes ago, SeaShark said:

 

...even though you aren't taking the package, the cost of it being "included" is still part of your fare, so now you end up paying for something that you won't be receiving...

No they refunded the service on it too.  That was a separate refund, a hundred something something.

[Two Wheels Only]

14 minutes ago, MotownVoice said:

Part of the promo package I got with my next cruise, it just happened to include the premium drink package.  I called NCL and said, "not for nothin' but both of us are recovering alcoholics.  So we kinda don't need a way to sneak off all hours of the day and night and get hammered.  Could you kinda nix that one for us?"

She said sure.

4 Days later they refunded $500 to my checking account.

 

Did you have to option to de-select the PBP when you booked? if you uncheck the drink package when booking, the "Open Bar Gratuities" disappears.