Norwegian Cruise Lines Inflates

[MotownVoice]

2 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

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.

I did not see a single tick box during the booking process.  I could think of some things I might have tried to add then, to compare it to the usual retail price.

[Two Wheels Only]

12 minutes ago, MotownVoice said:

I did not see a single tick box during the booking process.  I could think of some things I might have tried to add then, to compare it to the usual retail price.

 

It looks like this....

 

 

...and you can de-select the blue boxes (since they have added cost) when taking the FAS promo. 

 

 

 

[NYMama]

49 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

It looks like this....

 

 

...and you can de-select the blue boxes (since they have added cost) when taking the FAS promo. 

 

 

 

This is what I did when I booked.  I was able to de-select the "free" drink package and specialty dining.  I am the only adult traveling with two children.  I do not need unlimited alcoholic drinks, nor will my youngest appreciate specialty dining.  De-selecting those two options reduced my cruise cost by $500.

[AtlantaCruiser72]

7 hours ago, cameronp12 said:

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.

That the is price with gratuity. $49 x 1.2 (20% gratuity) = $58.80. 

[FlGoodShips]

To keep the cost down, we always decline the beverage package. 

[Two Wheels Only]

2 hours ago, NYMama said:

This is what I did when I booked.  I was able to de-select the "free" drink package and specialty dining.  I am the only adult traveling with two children.  I do not need unlimited alcoholic drinks, nor will my youngest appreciate specialty dining.  De-selecting those two options reduced my cruise cost by $500.

 

For 3 people, the system will assume that it is 3 adults and will add the $138.60 (20% of PBP) for each of the 3. Once the ages are entered, guest #1 (adult) would get the PBP service charge, guest #2 (child) would get the soda package and would be charged a much smaller service charge (20% of $9.95 per day) and guest #3 (child) would get nothing. 

 

The SDP is only for guests 1&2 so the amount of the service charge is only dependent on the number of meals. People should select based on what is best for them but as noted earlier, even when declining the extra cost FAS promos, some of the total is going towards paying for those unused things. 

[Uff da]

9 hours ago, aubreyc1988 said:

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 ...

 

I agree with you. Just speaking to the big 3, I've done the math too. It can be much cheaper to sail with NCL if you actually want drink and dining packages. What really sends them over the top for us is airfare. We live in KS (not KC area) and can't touch their 2 for 1 fares. It's not really 2 for 1 sometimes, but it's still hundreds cheaper than I can book it for myself. Sure, I give up control, but I save so much it pays for the free at sea gratuities and then some. We can, and have, driven to Galveston, but the itinerary's are limited. I want to go more places.  
You really have to know what kind of cruiser you are to compare. If you like all inclusive and paying for everything upfront, NCL is the way to go. If you can drive to a port, don't drink or drink very little, don't necessarily care about specialty dining, the others can be much cheaper. That doesn't mean cheaper is better for you. If you don't drink, Carnival's party hearty atmosphere is probably not for you. If you don't like Cirque, RCL's entertainment may not be for you. If you don't like Broadway shows, NCL's entertainment may not be for you. There is a line out there for everybody, and some people enjoy them all, but you have to know what you like/need to pick one. That's the key.  And that's only the basics. I won't even try to get into the whole upgraded experiences like Haven. It's a lot to process if you haven't cruised before. 

[fshagan]

14 hours 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'm with you; for us, the more we prepay the less we spend on board. But according to the article's quote of Frank Del Rio, many cruisers that have prepaid for things get on board with a "fresher wallet" and are willing to spend even more. I guess it makes sense for some people, and it looks like a significant number of them do this to help NCLs bottom line. The more that's "included" when they step aboard the more willing they are to spend even more money. It doesn't make financial sense, but more power to NCL if people enjoy the pre-paid things like a drink package and then spring for a dinner show or top shelf drinks.

[vacation44]

9 hours ago, fshagan said:

 

I'm with you; for us, the more we prepay the less we spend on board. But according to the article's quote of Frank Del Rio, many cruisers that have prepaid for things get on board with a "fresher wallet" and are willing to spend even more. I guess it makes sense for some people, and it looks like a significant number of them do this to help NCLs bottom line. The more that's "included" when they step aboard the more willing they are to spend even more money. It doesn't make financial sense, but more power to NCL if people enjoy the pre-paid things like a drink package and then spring for a dinner show or top shelf drinks.

Us too.  We struggle to use our OBC.  

[graphicguy]

20 hours ago, aubreyc1988 said:

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. 

You’ll get no argument from me.  The mere fact that I remember the bartenders’ names on my NCL cruises and don’t on RCL cruises (sailed both so far this year) is telling.

 

My fave bar on the Getaway is the outside Bar at Syd Norman’s.  “Dang” (yes, that’s his name) had a Buffalo Trace on the rocks waiting for me as soon as he saw me come through the door from inside.  He always addressed me by my name (Hi Mr. GG).  He did so from the 2nd cruise day onward.

 

I kind expected that from the Haven Bartenders as there are fewer guests to remember.  Plus, they had time to put on a show while serving drinks.  But, to get personal service from a bar that had hundreds of people order from every day is impressive.

 

Drinks were always generous, too.  That said, I shy away from those pre-mixed “Drink of the Day” type drinks, too.

 

I did not find the need to upgrade my Free at Sea drink package either.  Which made NCL drinks a whole lot cheaper than on Royal. 

 

 

 

 

[aubreyc1988]

1 hour ago, graphicguy said:

You’ll get no argument from me.  The mere fact that I remember the bartenders’ names on my NCL cruises and don’t on RCL cruises (sailed both so far this year) is telling.

 

My fave bar on the Getaway is the outside Bar at Syd Norman’s.  “Dang” (yes, that’s his name) had a Buffalo Trace on the rocks waiting for me as soon as he saw me come through the door from inside.  He always addressed me by my name (Hi Mr. GG).  He did so from the 2nd cruise day onward.

 

I kind expected that from the Haven Bartenders as there are fewer guests to remember.  Plus, they had time to put on a show while serving drinks.  But, to get personal service from a bar that had hundreds of people order from every day is impressive.

 

Drinks were always generous, too.  That said, I shy away from those pre-mixed “Drink of the Day” type drinks, too.

 

I did not find the need to upgrade my Free at Sea drink package either.  Which made NCL drinks a whole lot cheaper than on Royal. 

 

 

 

 

What was your experience like on Royal?

 

I have the same experience on NCL in regards to the busy bars and how the bartenders always make a huge effort to get to know everyone

[graphicguy]

15 minutes ago, aubreyc1988 said:

What was your experience like on Royal?

 

I have the same experience on NCL in regards to the busy bars and how the bartenders always make a huge effort to get to know everyone

Was on Ovation to Alaska.  Weird cruise.  Enjoyed it.  But it was my first cruise since the shutdown that was at full capacity.  And, Royal clearly wasn't ready.

 

Lots of the entertainment was canceled (shows in Cafe 270 in particular).  Dining areas were limited or closed.  Lines to get into the MDRs were crazy long.  Never saw a cruise buffet, Windjammer Cafe,  as "sold out" before.  Happened on this cruise.

 

Jaimie's Kitchen was "meh".

 

But, loved dining in Wonderland.

 

Seeing long lines at the MDRs and the Windjammer, I opted to usually grab a bagel at the Diamond Lounge for breakfast, and either pizza at Sorrento's or a hot dog at the Dog House for lunch.  Sometimes I'd have to go the pizza or hot dog route for dinner, too.

 

MDRs were a cluster, regardless if you had a set dining time, or chose anytime dining (which really isn't, at least not in the freedom NCL's "Freestyle" concept).

 

Weather was great in all the stops and excursions in Alaska.  So, that was a great part of the trip.

 

It just seemed like they were not ready for a cruise...especially not one that was sailing at capacity.

 

This was back in April.  Might be different now.

[PTC DAWG]

16 hours ago, FlGoodShips said:

To keep the cost down, we always decline the beverage package. 

That would make my cruise cost go up substantially.  🙂

[aubreyc1988]

4 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Was on Ovation to Alaska.  Weird cruise.  Enjoyed it.  But it was my first cruise since the shutdown that was at full capacity.  And, Royal clearly wasn't ready.

 

Lots of the entertainment was canceled (shows in Cafe 270 in particular).  Dining areas were limited or closed.  Lines to get into the MDRs were crazy long.  Never saw a cruise buffet, Windjammer Cafe,  as "sold out" before.  Happened on this cruise.

 

Jaimie's Kitchen was "meh".

 

But, loved dining in Wonderland.

 

Seeing long lines at the MDRs and the Windjammer, I opted to usually grab a bagel at the Diamond Lounge for breakfast, and either pizza at Sorrento's or a hot dog at the Dog House for lunch.  Sometimes I'd have to go the pizza or hot dog route for dinner, too.

 

MDRs were a cluster, regardless if you had a set dining time, or chose anytime dining (which really isn't, at least not in the freedom NCL's "Freestyle" concept).

 

Weather was great in all the stops and excursions in Alaska.  So, that was a great part of the trip.

 

It just seemed like they were not ready for a cruise...especially not one that was sailing at capacity.

 

This was back in April.  Might be different now.

did you get the beverage package on Ovation? How were the bars/bartenders?

 

I'll definitely be writing a comparison review, the only thing I haven't bought is the wifi because it's just priced ridiculous. 

[graphicguy]

4 minutes ago, aubreyc1988 said:

did you get the beverage package on Ovation? How were the bars/bartenders?

 

I'll definitely be writing a comparison review, the only thing I haven't bought is the wifi because it's just priced ridiculous. 

I didn't get the drinks package.  Through my Elite status on Celebrity, I qualified for Diamond Status on Royal.  As such, I got 4 free drinks/day.  So, I usually got a coffee, a couple of beers, and a nightcap.

 

But, I also had maybe a pre-dinner cocktail (or two) and usually took a drink with me while I was perusing different parts of the ship.  So, figure $10/ea.  I was paying $30/day + tip in addition to my free drinks.

 

Bartenders were fine.  Don't particularly remember any of them, though.  That's not a bad thing.  Just that none of them were memorable.  I usually find my favorite bar/bartender and stick with them on a cruise.  Didn't have that on Ovation.

 

Not trying to be negative.  Again, had a good time.  Just.........a weird cruise.

[graphicguy]

Don't know if this will prove helpful, but here's the live report I did on the Ovation....