Look like specialty restaurants will be changed to cover charge next year

[dhanakorn]

When I’m checking the app, in 2025 it shows cover charge instead of ala carte. 

 

 

[UKstages]

what does it say for "2024 sailings?" (the image is cut off.)

 

it's possible they could be going to a nominal fee, but until we know more, this could just mean sloppy NCL app design. did you actually try to click on it or book something? how did the app behave?

 

but, by all means, let the twelve pages of speculation begin, with passionate views pro and con.

Edited Wednesday at 05:49 PM by UKstages

[Barb Nahoumi]

Did they do this previously?

[dhanakorn]

3 minutes ago, UKstages said:

what does it say for "2024 sailings?" (the image is cut off.)

 

it's possible they could be going to a nominal fee, but until we know more, this could just mean sloppy NCL app design. did you actually try to click on it or book something? how did the app behave?

 

but, by all means, let the twelve pages of speculation begin, with passionate views pro and con.

2024 Sailings : Ala carte

[UKstages]

6 minutes ago, dhanakorn said:

2024 Sailings : Ala carte

 

interesting. 

 

it's either nothing... or something.

 

either a meaningless placeholder or a serious gaffe by a web designer that let the cat out of the bag prior to NCL's official press release announcing this new, um, product enhancement.

[grouchomarx]

To me it makes no difference as long as the dining package prices stay the same.  

[davencl]

My view is this will have little or no effect on me.  I only use the included dining package at specialty resaurants. Note that Moderno currently has a cover charge, not ala carte.  I see the same wording for the other specialties on my Star cruise next July. I'm sure Norwegian is doing this to save us cruisers money. 🙂 🙂 

Edited Wednesday at 06:17 PM by davencl

[Travelling2Some]

My understanding is that they have the a la carte prices (which almost nobody pays) jacked up sky high to justify the gratuities (which almost everyone does pay).  I only use the FAS/Platinum  meals. I would never pay for more of something I already have too much of (food on a cruise ship).

[yankprintster]

47 minutes ago, UKstages said:

either a meaningless placeholder or a serious gaffe by a web designer that let the cat out of the bag prior to NCL's official press release announcing this new, um, product enhancement.

 

On another social media site, a travel agent was hinting that there was a big NCL announcement coming out on October 1st that we would all like, but that they were sworn to secrecy. I'm betting the NCL IT people have accidentally let the cat out of the bag a few days early.

[mking8288]

Could this spell the end of a $20 light "meal" a/k/a cover charge-minimum equivalent at Cagney's and other similar specialty venue onboard NCL in 2025 ?   Arrrrrh, yes, plus 20% for our convenience with the kickoff of the cover charge, with a minimum number, billed immediately upon reservation.

 

Wait, better not give them more items to milk our wallets.    

[ChiefMateJRK]

Mods please delete my duplicate thread. 

[tsahall01]

This is what I don't understand:

A 20% gratuity and specialty service charge will be charged at time of payment.

Are we now going to be charged 20% on the cover charge price PLUS a specialty service charge?  I have a feeling they will increase the cost of the specialty meal packages--I have a cruise in February, I just bought the 2 meal upgrade at the old price.  It will be interesting to see what this big announcement on October 1st will be--especially if it's "something we'll like"--for our convience, of course!

[UKstages]

hmmm.

 

I have interpreted this differently than most everybody else has. 

 

many of you are are equating a "cover charge" with a "fixed price" restaurant. there is no cover charge at teppanyaki or moderno. those are "fixed price" or "set price" restaurants. a "cover charge" typically is a fee you pay for admittance to an establishment on top of whatever you purchase while there. when there is a "cover charge" at a nightclub, for instance, you pay however much it is to get in, plus you pay for food and beverage consumed, often with a two drink minimum or a dollar value minimum.

 

so, when I saw there might be a "cover charge," i assumed - rightly or wrongly - that it would be a pay-for-play fee on top of free at sea or platinum dinners. you know, like a mandatory "bread and butter" charge in many european restaurants. just my interpretation.

 

none of us knows.

 

but, as I said, let the wild speculation continue!

 

28 minutes ago, yankprintster said:

On another social media site, a travel agent was hinting that there was a big NCL announcement coming out on October 1st that we would all like, but that they were sworn to secrecy.

 

if the TA was sworn to secrecy, he or she has already violated that vow by teasing a big announcement! my best guess is that the announcement will be about cookie or hash brown availability... and they are very late to the party on that, quite frankly, 

[Anoynmous Phoenix]

Let's all wait for the actual NCL announcement.   Too much uninformed speculation.

[cruiseny4life]

On Getaway prix fixe for Cagney's, La Cucina, Le Bistro, and Wasabi is the answer. The Raw Bar, Moderno, and Ocean Blue do not have this prix fixe language, though Ocean Blue does have the bolded "2025 Sailings: Cover Charge statement. 

 

When you click through to the restaurant from the Explore & Plan>Dining page inside your reservation this is what shows up for each of the restaurants. 

 

I suppose the controversy is, what does NCL mean by "prix fixe." 

 

 

We shall see when NCL announces! 

 

11 minutes ago, Anoynmous Phoenix said:

Let's all wait for the actual NCL announcement.   Too much uninformed speculation.

Casi/Mike/AP - you've been around Cruise Critic long enough to know better!!!

[Anoynmous Phoenix]

@cruiseny4life

 

Had the OP done what you have done I wouldn't have had to post what I did.

 

Now let us know what the "Prix Fixe" will be for each restaurant and also what effect this will have for people who have "Free at Sea" with Specialty Dining for 2025.

 

Prix Fixe PLUS gratuity PLUS service charge!!!!!!!!!!

Edited Wednesday at 08:16 PM by Anoynmous Phoenix

[cruiseny4life]

Just now, Anoynmous Phoenix said:

@cruiseny4life

 

Had the OP done what you have done I wouldn't have had to post what I did.

 

Now let us know what the "Prix Fixe" will be for each restaurant and also what effect this will have for people who have "Free at Sea" with Specialty Dining for 2025.

As soon as I see the new menus, I sure will!!!! Currently, when I click on "View Menu" it shows the current a la carte menu.

 

I'm so interested to see what it's going to look like. 

[Anoynmous Phoenix]

@cruiseny4life

 

Tomorrow I am able to book Specialty Dining under "Free at Sea" rules as Ambassador at 130 days for a cruise in February.

 

I will try online and if it is "funny" will phone Reservations.   I can do that free from NZ on SKYPE.

[shof515]

I am also seeing the same thing for my cruise in 2025

[laudergayle]

1 minute ago, Anoynmous Phoenix said:

Now let us know what the "Prix Fixe" will be for each restaurant and also what effect this will have for people who have "Free at Sea" with Specialty Dining for 2025.

My guess is they are likely going to mimic what MSC does to a certain extent.  For a fixed price you can choose 1 app/soup/salad, 1 entree and 1 dessert.  The most recent version of the NCL specialty dining menus are arranged to support this approach.

 

It would not surprise me if NCL big announcement is one that dismantles FAS and allows guests to select their elements for additional cost.  By doing this NCL can significantly reduce the Sticker Price per person to draw in more prospects.  Certainly sounds reasonable to me.

 

 

[laudergayle]

14 minutes ago, shof515 said:

I am also seeing the same thing for my cruise in 2025

Interesting…the app says Pre Fixe and the Website says Cover Charge.  My guess they’re supposed to be the same but two different developers wrote two different things.  

[9tee2Sea]

I don"t care if Ncl does away with Specialty dining FAS. There are only 2 specialties that i enjoy anyway.  Im Platinum, so I already get two meals.  Just don"t take away the drink package.

[Cruising Lynne]

2 hours ago, Barb Nahoumi said:

Did they do this previously?

I think they did this way back when specialty dining first came out. It does simplify things. Curious what the prices will be. Way back I think La Cucina was 15 dollars. We shall see what the adjusted for inflation price is!

[UKstages]

2 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

the app says Pre Fixe and the Website says Cover Charge.  My guess they’re supposed to be the same but two different developers wrote two different things.  

 

it's like mistaking a "lectern" for a "podium" or when people don't understand that "historic" and "historical" have different meanings. or when folks don't understand the difference between "fewer" and "less" or "imply" and "infer" or when people say they "could care less," when they mean they "couldn't care less."

 

web programming is not the strong suit of NCL's developers. it never has been. to add a command of the english language on top of that may be too much to ask. but words have meaning. if they mean these to be "fixed price" restaurants, they shouldn't refer to a "cover charge." as my friend inigo montoya, was fond of saying when he booked his first NCL cruise, "you keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

[Cruising Lynne]

I wonder when you have to pay it? If you pay when you make your reservations, how will it work with the platinum vouchers?