NCL now charging me for my gratuities ahead?

[PammyMouse]

Hi,

 

I didn't click the pre-paid service charges, but just now I just got a retroactive (due 24-Aug) cruise confirmation showing  them today?  Anyone else?  I haven't paid them.

 

The website seemed to be having some issues today.  I just added an extra booking for Le Bistro at the moment this occurred.

 

Thanks,

PM

Edited September 3 by PammyMouse
wording

[Anoynmous Phoenix]

@PammyMouse

 

In Australia (and New Zealand) NCL charges all "Bev Srv Charge",  "Din Srv Charge" and the DSC in the Cruise Fare.

Could be that that is going to migrate to all NCL offices.

[PammyMouse]

I'm going to see what happens...I haven't paid anything.  

PM

[julig22]

This was happening a couple of years ago. It was a software glitch, although I think I just paid in advance so I wouldn't have to worry about it.

[hallux]

2 hours ago, Anoynmous Phoenix said:

Could be that that is going to migrate to all NCL offices.

Doubtful, it's more likely just an IT glitch as has been known to happen from time to time.

[mistertomatoe]

Weird stuff is happening to my upcoming Encore sailing in a few days. All the sudden, I had payment due when I already paid everything weeks ago. It looks like it was the daily service charge. I panicked and paid it in case there was any issues with missing payment and cancellation. It's also showing I bought two refundable $100 OBCs and one $50 OBC. Lastly, I can't retrieve my eDocs when I was able to earlier.

 

I don't know if it's related but I downloaded the new app the other day and started to use it to book some dining reservations. The reservations are showing the wrong number of people. I have a feeling I'll be visiting Guest Services a lot.

[julig22]

8 minutes ago, mistertomatoe said:

Weird stuff is happening to my upcoming Encore sailing in a few days. All the sudden, I had payment due when I already paid everything weeks ago. It looks like it was the daily service charge. I panicked and paid it in case there was any issues with missing payment and cancellation. It's also showing I bought two refundable $100 OBCs and one $50 OBC. Lastly, I can't retrieve my eDocs when I was able to earlier.

 

I don't know if it's related but I downloaded the new app the other day and started to use it to book some dining reservations. The reservations are showing the wrong number of people. I have a feeling I'll be visiting Guest Services a lot.

Edocs aren't available just prior to your cruise - 3 days I think. So that part is probably normal.

[PammyMouse]

7 hours ago, mistertomatoe said:

I don't know if it's related but I downloaded the new app the other day and started to use it to book some dining reservations. The reservations are showing the wrong number of people. I have a feeling I'll be visiting Guest Services a lot.

I also used the new app to add a booking to Le Bistro for one.  I now show a booking for 4 for that night instead!  That was about the same time I got the new cruise confirmation e-mail showing I owed the DSC.  I have to call anyways, I have to cancel my first night Le Bistro.  Thanks @mistertomatoe!

[Travelling2Some]

The few times I have called to change something (an excursion or a dinner reservation) it seems to mean taking a chance that the agent will also change something else unrelated while they are in my account.  Last time I called to change a dinner reservation mysterious "purchased items" having nothing to do with dining appeared on my summary.  Once when I cancelled an excursion for a Royal cruise the agent cancelled my entire cruise rather than just the one excursion!!!  Fortunately I caught it right away before they re-sold my cabin.  Maybe I've just had bad luck but I now shy away from making any reservation that I think I may want to change later.

[Panhandle Couple]

21 hours ago, Anoynmous Phoenix said:

@PammyMouse

 

In Australia (and New Zealand) NCL charges all "Bev Srv Charge",  "Din Srv Charge" and the DSC in the Cruise Fare.

Could be that that is going to migrate to all NCL offices.

Princess technically doesn't charge you up front, BUT...

If you upgrade to their Princess Plus (almost the same as Free at Sea) or Premium, then the DSC is included in the price for final payment.  

 

The majority of people will upgrade to Princess Plus, so they pay in advance.

[mistertomatoe]

On 9/3/2024 at 10:14 PM, julig22 said:

Edocs aren't available just prior to your cruise - 3 days I think. So that part is probably normal.

I'm 3 days out and can retrieve my edocs again.

 

...but now I owe $4k suddenly with a payment due date of about a month ago. This casino cruise is only $511. I just saw it on the website. I haven't gotten any emails about payment due. I'll call them tomorrow.

[mistertomatoe]

44 minutes ago, mistertomatoe said:

I'm 3 days out and can retrieve my edocs again.

 

...but now I owe $4k suddenly with a payment due date of about a month ago. This casino cruise is only $511. I just saw it on the website. I haven't gotten any emails about payment due. I'll call them tomorrow.

 

As of now less than an hour later, it's back to no payment due and the cruise is back to $511 without me doing anything on my end. Very strange.

[PammyMouse]

7 hours ago, mistertomatoe said:

 

As of now less than an hour later, it's back to no payment due and the cruise is back to $511 without me doing anything on my end. Very strange.

I agree!  So I just checked mine, still the same, gratuities due of $180 for 9 days.  I will call this afternoon after work since I need to straighten out the dinner reservations.  PM

[schmoopie17]

22 minutes ago, PammyMouse said:

I agree!  So I just checked mine, still the same, gratuities due of $180 for 9 days.  I will call this afternoon after work since I need to straighten out the dinner reservations.  PM

I'm confused. Are they saying you HAVE TO pay the gratuities upfront, or do they only offer you the OPTION of paying the gratuities upfront.

 

Every cruise we've ever taken on NCL offers the OPTION of paying them upfront...including our 10 day cruise next week...we have the OPTION of paying $400 upfront for two.

 

If you're saying they've already charged you for the gratuities and it's showing as a balance due, then that's a different story.

[PammyMouse]

2 hours ago, schmoopie17 said:

I'm confused. Are they saying you HAVE TO pay the gratuities upfront, or do they only offer you the OPTION of paying the gratuities upfront.

 

Every cruise we've ever taken on NCL offers the OPTION of paying them upfront...including our 10 day cruise next week...we have the OPTION of paying $400 upfront for two.

 

If you're saying they've already charged you for the gratuities and it's showing as a balance due, then that's a different story.

The last - it is showing as a balance due.  When I made the reservation (8/24), all was fine and then the exact day I made a reservation using the new app, I got a new cruise confirmation and it appeared on that.  I do think it is a glitch.  PM

[Barb Nahoumi]

We prepay our DSC, so that we are not bothered with it at the end, and our specialties are included as latitude or booking perks.  

[DorothyB]

This is all scary!  I did prepay my DSC on my Oct cruise and Jan cruise, but . . . 

[PammyMouse]

Just a follow up, I chatted with a rep on NCL's chat and they took it off.  I may try that with the extra restaurant reservation next.  Everything is back to normal, but you can bet I am not doing anything with the new NCL app until I am on the ship!  

PM

[ChiefMateJRK]

On 9/5/2024 at 10:57 AM, Barb Nahoumi said:

We prepay our DSC, so that we are not bothered with it at the end

How would you be bothered by DSC's being charged to you onboard account?

[JSar]

3 hours ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

How would you be bothered by DSC's being charged to you onboard account?

For one - I would prefer to have my trip completely paid off before I depart and not have to pay my credit card afterwards. So - it would be bothersome to me to have to pay another bill afterwards. But - otherwise - it doesn't really matter if you have your credit card on file. But - if you don't want it to be billed to your credit card at all - then you are forced to go to customer service to pay another way (debit or whatever)... so that would be bothersome too. The lines at guess service are always too long. 

[zqvol]

3 hours ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

How would you be bothered by DSC's being charged to you onboard account?

I pay mine ahead just to spread the CC payments around. I could easily wait and pay on board but the smaller credit card bills are nice. In the end though the total is the same. 

[ontheweb]

11 hours ago, zqvol said:

I pay mine ahead just to spread the CC payments around. I could easily wait and pay on board but the smaller credit card bills are nice. In the end though the total is the same. 

Actually, the total may not ALWAYS be the same. We booked a 2023 cruise on the Prima in 2021. During the interim, NCL raised the DSC. We (and all others affected by this) were given the option of paying in advance at the rate in effect when we booked if we paid in advance as opposed to paying the higher rate on board.

[julig22]

6 hours ago, ontheweb said:

Actually, the total may not ALWAYS be the same. We booked a 2023 cruise on the Prima in 2021. During the interim, NCL raised the DSC. We (and all others affected by this) were given the option of paying in advance at the rate in effect when we booked if we paid in advance as opposed to paying the higher rate on board.

True. I booked my April 2024 cruise in late 2021. There was at least 1 increase, possibly 2. Plus that cruise crossed the international date line, so date-wise it was a 12-day cruise but in reality it was 13 days. Never was able to find out if those onboard were charged for 12 or 13 days, I was only charged for 12. Paid it in advance when BofA had their "More Rewards Day" - every little bit helps!

[MrsTocko]

I’m 77 days out.  Waiting for NCL BOGO airfare…I learned to not do ANYTHING, at this point until my confirmed tickets.  I’m not even calling them to ask question.  I have paid for everything except for the photo package I want.  I will do that after I get my ticket confirmation.

 

On my summer 2022 cruise, with it being my first BOGO airfare experience, I called to confirm that they had my requested deviation on file.  They said I was just requesting it, and it resulted in $2k after final payment amount due. When I protested this they wanted to talk to the agent that booked my cruise (she was gone), then my current pcc (she was on a cruise).  I finally spoke to someone and got it straight, but she said I was lucky, that someone was cancelled that morning for a balance due after final payment.  Took about 3 hours, but it was corrected and straightened out.  I had also booked dining and shore excursions in that time frame, and someone did something wrong.  Now I’m not touching it until I have ticketed air, and can download and save the payment complete part every step of the way.

 

i don’t need that stress.

[The Traveling Man]

On 9/5/2024 at 12:01 PM, PammyMouse said:

The last - it is showing as a balance due.  When I made the reservation (8/24), all was fine and then the exact day I made a reservation using the new app, I got a new cruise confirmation and it appeared on that.  I do think it is a glitch.  PM

If it shows on your account as a balance due, you should contact NCL at once to resolve the issue.  If you simply ignore it, NCL might cancel your reservation and not allow you to board the vessel for your cruise.  Do not hesitate.  Do not assume.  Do not rely on assurances from Cruise Critic members.  Take care of it NOW.