Do you expect MORE when NCL makes you PAY more to cruise????

[Asawi]

3 hours ago, expectthebest said:

how many times have you passed a cruise employee in a hallway or in a dining establishment and instead of the worker looking you in the eye and asking how are you or a simple good morning.. they are looking down and to the left.. IYKYK

I would say pretty close to, if not actually zero... Guess I'm lucky. Or nice and friendly...

[ChiefMateJRK]

14 hours ago, expectthebest said:

I am tired of hearing everyone say that the cruise lines need to ‘recoup’ for the last 2 years.. that is BS they took the write offs they need to move on..

This is my favorite post of the week.

[CaptainSailPants]

The reason people are willing to settle is , They don't know any different.

The days of cruising back in the 80's/90's with that type of service is laid to history and memories .  Too many rules now , too many whiners now .

Ships are floating shopping Malls . Hard to call it cruising , its more similar to an old fashioned Florida casino dinner cruise . LOL 

Oh well , stay well  😉

[UKstages]

i've been to florida many times.

 

i go to casinos a lot.

 

i eat dinner almost every day.

 

i have never heard of a florida casino dinner cruise. what is that?

 

 

[kirtihk]

On 9/21/2023 at 11:18 PM, expectthebest said:

Fellow Cruisers,

Here I sit perusing the ‘24 cruises for  next year and I must say the prices for balcony and above for family of 4 are becoming borderline INSANE!!
 

My wife tries to nget me to calm down by rationalizing that everything goes up and it’s just part of the overall VALUE of cruising. 
 

My question to the critic community:

During Covid.. I understand running a business especially the cruise business must have had its set of challenges.. I get it… Now most areas are out of the woods and have been for over a year and the vast majority are ready to set sail again.. but at what NEW cost of cruising?? Are these extremely high prices here to stay? 
 

Cruising 10 years ago used to be a cheap vacation that allowed you to see parts of the world for minimal cost.. Now that cruise fares have risen to unattainable levels are we settling for poor service and very low expectations that seem to be the new normal? I feel like if I am paying in my opinion a premium to cruise I should be getting premium service that should mirror the higher costs?

 

what are your thoughts? 

Your question is ironical.  This kind of question is better to address directly with a company (cruise line) that you pay to.  They will be "forced" to answer you one way or another, and it will be difficult for them to make an honest answer for such a matter.

[graphicguy]

3 hours ago, CaptainSailPants said:

The reason people are willing to settle is , They don't know any different.

The days of cruising back in the 80's/90's with that type of service is laid to history and memories .  Too many rules now , too many whiners now .

Ships are floating shopping Malls . Hard to call it cruising , its more similar to an old fashioned Florida casino dinner cruise . LOL 

Oh well , stay well  😉

Not so sure about being better in the '80s and '90s.  Back then, smoking was allowed everywhere.  

 

All drinks were a la carte.  I had some hellacious bar bills on cruises back then.

 

The cabins weren't as nice back then, and they were much smaller. Today's cabins are generally bigger and nicer.

 

Entertainment today is worlds better than the "show girls and crooners" they had back then.

 

There's more to do on today's ships than those back then.

 

Tipping everyone, all the time was more prevalent back then.  Want an extra pillow or towel?  Tip the cabin attendant.  Tipping the wine steward, the maitre'd, the busboy, the waiter, etc..seperately was expected back then.

 

 

I'm going by memory, but I do remember my (then) wife and I sailing on the SS Norway in the '80s.  Inside cabin.  I thought it was crazy expensive because the fare was $900.  Truth told, I've spent less than that on the Breakaway and the Bliss in the past 12 months.

 

 

[RD64]

11 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Not so sure about being better in the '80s and '90s.  Back then, smoking was allowed everywhere.  

 

All drinks were a la carte.  I had some hellacious bar bills on cruises back then.

 

The cabins weren't as nice back then, and they were much smaller. Today's cabins are generally bigger and nicer.

 

Entertainment today is worlds better than the "show girls and crooners" they had back then.

 

There's more to do on today's ships than those back then.

 

Tipping everyone, all the time was more prevalent back then.  Want an extra pillow or towel?  Tip the cabin attendant.  Tipping the wine steward, the maitre'd, the busboy, the waiter, etc..seperately was expected back then.

 

 

I'm going by memory, but I do remember my (then) wife and I sailing on the SS Norway in the '80s.  Inside cabin.  I thought it was crazy expensive because the fare was $900.  Truth told, I've spent less than that on the Breakaway and the Bliss in the past 12 months.

 

 

Many of your points are valid - but to this day my Norway cruises were my best. Out of all the cruises I have done - I have never remembered a cabin, but my inside , upper and lower berths, N035, not enough room for two people to manoeuvre - will always be my favourite.

[CaptainSailPants]

20 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Not so sure about being better in the '80s and '90s.  Back then, smoking was allowed everywhere.  

 

All drinks were a la carte.  I had some hellacious bar bills on cruises back then.

 

The cabins weren't as nice back then, and they were much smaller. Today's cabins are generally bigger and nicer.

 

Entertainment today is worlds better than the "show girls and crooners" they had back then.

 

There's more to do on today's ships than those back then.

 

Tipping everyone, all the time was more prevalent back then.  Want an extra pillow or towel?  Tip the cabin attendant.  Tipping the wine steward, the maitre'd, the busboy, the waiter, etc..seperately was expected back then.

 

 

I'm going by memory, but I do remember my (then) wife and I sailing on the SS Norway in the '80s.  Inside cabin.  I thought it was crazy expensive because the fare was $900.  Truth told, I've spent less than that on the Breakaway and the Bliss in the past 12 months.

 

 

Ya , wasnt it great .  Loved all those things !

 

[CaptainSailPants]

On 9/25/2023 at 12:07 PM, UKstages said:

i've been to florida many times.

 

i go to casinos a lot.

 

i eat dinner almost every day.

 

i have never heard of a florida casino dinner cruise. what is that?

 

 

They Were everywhere . Now I suppose they've cut it back to burgers and bingo . But heres something similar that still exists , more by Johns Pass .

https://victorycasinocruises.com/dining/

[Smitheroo]

On 9/21/2023 at 11:18 PM, expectthebest said:

Fellow Cruisers,

Here I sit perusing the ‘24 cruises for  next year and I must say the prices for balcony and above for family of 4 are becoming borderline INSANE!!
 

My wife tries to get me to calm down by rationalizing that everything goes up and it’s just part of the overall VALUE of cruising. 
 

My question to the critic community:

During Covid.. I understand running a business especially the cruise business must have had its set of challenges.. I get it… Now most areas are out of the woods and have been for over a year and the vast majority are ready to set sail again.. but at what NEW cost of cruising?? Are these extremely high prices here to stay? 
 

Cruising 10 years ago used to be a cheap vacation that allowed you to see parts of the world for minimal cost.. Now that cruise fares have risen to unattainable levels are we settling for poor service and very low expectations that seem to be the new normal? I feel like if I am paying in my opinion a premium to cruise I should be getting premium service that should mirror the higher costs?

 

what are your thoughts? 

I understand what you are saying and have noticed there are a lot of people on this forum who have way more money than I do.  Multiple cruises per year, often with at least 1 other person or even a group Never mind the Haven with a butler.   Not everyone is in that category and ships have more than luxury accommodations for a reason.  They are also a business and have a knack for figuring out what people are willing to pay.  So, I expect that a cruiseline will provide a wide range of accommodations to fit all budgets or else advertise as a luxury cruiseline.  I expect when the price goes up that doesnt mean service goes down. or entertainment eliminated.  I expect ease in booking which means a website that works.  I dont know if this is an adequate answer or not but if its just a case you are questioning why prices increase then I'm with your wife in saying they increase everywhere. If you are able to afford the increases and still travel, be grateful.  

Edited October 15, 2023 by Smitheroo

[Smitheroo]

On 9/22/2023 at 4:07 PM, graphicguy said:

I keep hearing this tired old (pick a cruise line) is gouging us.

 

Any given ship, any given itinerary, any given cruise line, any given date...all goes into the fare charged.  For every "high" fare I've seen quoted, I've found others that are great deals.

 

Case in point, last year at this time I was in a "Mini-Suite" Cabin on a 7 day New England/Canada cruise on the Breakaway.  Cruise Fare?  Less than $800, all in.

 

This year sailed Alaska on the Bliss in April, 7 days, again in a "mini-Suite". Fare?  $900, all in.

 

I'm leaving in about 10 days in  2BR Haven Suite for a France/Spain/Italy 11 day cruise.  Fare?  $4,800, all in.

 

I can't even stay in a nice hotel for 11 days in a resort for that money.  Let alone pay for meals, drinks, entertainment in a room with 2 BRs and 2 Baths, that overlook the water.  

 

Like anything else.  Shop around.  Deals are out there.  IF you're going to limit yourself to a given ship or any given cruise line, you're limiting what fares are available.

 

Are the fares better or worse than they were right after the startup?  Probably not better  But, they aren't far off.  

I'm betting you are a solo traveler.  $800 for a mini suite 7 day cruise for more than 1 person, I doubt it. If I'm wrong then maybe the solo travelers should start to complain.  At least NCL does recognize them.   

[Smitheroo]

thinking back , I first sailed at the age of 16 in 1966. I dont have any receipts to fall back on (What 16 yr would) I wish I did though, they would be interesting.  Keeping in mind what salaries were in those days ($10,000 a year was considered a very good salary for an average worker) I dont think the fares were a lot cheaper. And what did you get for that fare?  Well, on the original Queen Mary in 1966 tourist class you got a cabin for 4 people with bunk beds (and if you of the same gender you were often bunked with others you didnt know of the same gender). I think the single supplement may have replaced this practice.   We were on Deck C. Could hardly turn in the cabin without bumping into the other people. i have no idea where we stored our suitcases as i only remember 1 small closet. A tiny sink between the bunk beds (and I actually think I remember a chamber pot beneath it) with the bathroom down the hall.  Dining rooms and food were probably the best part of the deal, not much difference there that I can see but especially with NCL's freestyle cruising, much fewer choices.  Main dining room for tourist class, assigned to a table with other passengers. You did get to choose the seating.  Many of us today would consider it an honor to sail on the original Queen Mary but in 1966 it was just an old ship ready to retire.   For me it is a memory of a wonderful experience which I didnt recognize as a teenager. (I especially loved the crew, also much different than crews today. Mostly young British males. Not necessarily better, but different)  Fortunately my mother did as she knew routine transatlantic travel by ship was on its way out.   Partly due to cost, partly due to lifestyle changes.