Shame on You Casinos at Sea NCL Pearl

[galesie]

I am currently on the NCL Pearl which left NY yesterday. I am a Sapphire card holder. I sat at a table after slot play and ordered a drink and gave my key card as I usually do. When the waiter came back with my drink he handed me a 12.00 bill. When I told him I was a Sapphire player, he took my player card and a few minutes later returned with a casino host (Ana?). I was told after 4/1 they have stopped comp drinks in the casino. I was shocked, because most casinos always give free drinks to their players. I told her that I never received notice of this and if I had known I might have taken the free drink package and pay the tax and gratuities, but now it was too late to do this. She said many have told her they never received notice and she would send someone an email to tell them this. THEN, she proceeded to hand me the $12 bill! Really? I just explained I was never told. I told her I was shocked and unhappy that she would still charge me and not pick up this 1 drink since no email was sent out about this amenity being stopped. She went on to mention my OBC which was no more than in was in March with free drinks. They have now lost my business and I will not be spending any money in the casino on this cruise. For $12 they have lost thousands my friend and I gamble each cruise. What kind of customer service and business sense is this. It’s not the $12 because certainly I spend way more than that playing, it’s the lack of  common 
sense and disregard for customers that this Casino Host had. She couldn’t care less… 
I will spend my next and last 3 cruises with not spending a dime in a casino who apparently cares nothing about my business. 

[memoak]

The only time I get free drinks in the casino on Princess cruises is during VIP cruises otherwise it is either pay or have a package. NCL is not alone in this 

[dbrown84]

On 4/26/2024 at 1:15 PM, memoak said:

The only time I get free drinks in the casino on Princess cruises is during VIP cruises otherwise it is either pay or have a package. NCL is not alone in this 

NCL may not be alone, but it's still a recent change and they could have done a much better job of letting people know. They are about the only line that I've heard that charges the admin fee for their bookings.   And I agree she could have picked up the tab for the one drink as a courtesy.  I've only ever sailed NCL (for 12 years) and the free drinks were a big draw.  I now have a MSC cruise booked in June and I'm doing a Carnival in November.  They both offer free drinks in the casino.  MSC is really inviting because they're not charging port fees and taxes.  Now, I'm not saying that I've given up on NCL just yet, but their decisions has at least open the door for the competition 

[BirdTravels]

On 4/26/2024 at 10:42 AM, galesie said:

I am currently on the NCL Pearl which left NY yesterday. I am a Sapphire card holder. I sat at a table after slot play and ordered a drink and gave my key card as I usually do. When the waiter came back with my drink he handed me a 12.00 bill. When I told him I was a Sapphire player, he took my player card and a few minutes later returned with a casino host (Ana?). I was told after 4/1 they have stopped comp drinks in the casino. I was shocked, because most casinos always give free drinks to their players. I told her that I never received notice of this and if I had known I might have taken the free drink package and pay the tax and gratuities, but now it was too late to do this. She said many have told her they never received notice and she would send someone an email to tell them this. THEN, she proceeded to hand me the $12 bill! Really? I just explained I was never told. I told her I was shocked and unhappy that she would still charge me and not pick up this 1 drink since no email was sent out about this amenity being stopped. She went on to mention my OBC which was no more than in was in March with free drinks. They have now lost my business and I will not be spending any money in the casino on this cruise. For $12 they have lost thousands my friend and I gamble each cruise. What kind of customer service and business sense is this. It’s not the $12 because certainly I spend way more than that playing, it’s the lack of  common 
sense and disregard for customers that this Casino Host had. She couldn’t care less… 
I will spend my next and last 3 cruises with not spending a dime in a casino who apparently cares nothing about my business. 

Ruby players now get a free premium beverage package. 
 

Elites get a premium plus package. 
 

The discontinuation of free dri ks for sapphire and below was widely discussed when the program changed on 4/1. 
 

 

Edited April 27 by BirdTravels

[deefer]

On 4/27/2024 at 10:45 AM, dbrown84 said:

Now, I'm not saying that I've given up on NCL just yet, but their decisions has at least open the door for the competition 

 

This is exactly how we feel .... our next cruise is on celebrity.  Our last 14 (or so) were on NCL.

[earlbird]

Our last ten cruises with NCL may also be coming to an end.

We cruise once or twice a year, so we do not acquire "Ruby" status. I have two or three drinks a day in the casino, and now NCL wants to take that away from us.

On our recent February cruise my wife had one drink all week, so, obviously, it is not worth our purchasing the "Drink Package".

No more evening "Turn Down Service", and now no more drinks in the casino, as well as other cutbacks.

I can only take so much "nickel and diming".

It is definitely time to make a change!!!

Good bye NCL!!!!!!!!

 

[itsnotjustme]

CAS disappointed me today.  I have been watching a 12-day cruise in Asia. They told me twice I could get 20% off twice this cruise, one of them just 4 days ago.  I called to book today and was told only 10% off.  I questioned it - and yup, 10%.

 

My travel agent gives free pre-paid gratuities intermittently (available today) and airline miles - today at 10 miles per dollar of fare.  These two perks together are worth more than the 10% CAS discount, so I booked with my TA.  I am Pearl status.   

[dbrown84]

On 4/30/2024 at 10:09 PM, itsnotjustme said:

CAS disappointed me today.  I have been watching a 12-day cruise in Asia. They told me twice I could get 20% off twice this cruise, one of them just 4 days ago.  I called to book today and was told only 10% off.  I questioned it - and yup, 10%.

 

My travel agent gives free pre-paid gratuities intermittently (available today) and airline miles - today at 10 miles per dollar of fare.  These two perks together are worth more than the 10% CAS discount, so I booked with my TA.  I am Pearl status.   

are you traveling solo?  I ask because I've seen where they quote you 20%, but it really means 10% per passenger, assuming two passengers.  So when you book solo, you only get 10%.  Also, if you happen to be diamond with Caesars rewards, you get 20% (30% if 7 Stars)

[itsnotjustme]

Not solo.  In my prior call I had gone as far as specific fares and cabin classes.