Is Kevin Sheehan Listening? Maybe...Finally!

[NoPiratesPlease]

As high-end cruisers (villa-level) we have long wondered if NCL saw us as nothing more than long-haired sheep to be sheered of excessive wool. Prices on the Jewel-class ships have gone steadily up, while services have gone down, and more and more nickel-and-dime'ing have increased. I think people here know my list of grievances of these costs without my re-listing them.

 

We were literally on the brink of abandoning NCL completely, and even spoke that we were doing it.

 

So imagine out delight to be able to book the GV on the Star for far, FAR less than on the Jade! That was a joy as the Star is probably our favorite ship--though the Dawn, almost the same, has been based out of New York (meaning no flying).

 

But, even better, NCL is giving, now, rebates in the form of on-board credit, usable anywhere on-board, even in the Casino. For suites and Villas this is $500/cabin. So, our doing a B2B on the Star that's $1000 for 2 weeks. That EASILY covers all our dinners at specialty restaurants and all our drinks as well! I've long said that in the Villas and Suites that should be covered--and now, at least indirectly, it is! "Indirectly" is just fine for me--it's the same $$$ in a slightly different bucket, but works the same.

 

These rebates are available for all cabins (eg, mini-suites get $300) but aren't as much--but they are documented on the NCL web site.

 

BTW, if you have American Express Platinum, book with it as it gets you another $100 on-board credit as well.

 

One of our two ultimate favorite Concierges is on the Star, Simone.

(the other, of course, is Ruth, who trained Simone)

 

I know I've been bashing NCL a lot lately, considering our recent experience on the Jade (despite Ruth's heroic efforts--she busted her tail to try to fix problems), and, as I said, have been looking elsewhere, with little satisfaction. So it's really nice to be able to post good things again. I'm not an NCL "cheerleader" but the line has been our favorite for 6 years now. The reasons "for" are still there, but the reasons "against" have been increasing, so this is an excellent roll-back of the "againsts".

[mylesf]

Glad you like the current promotion. The offer is not a "rebate", which is hard dollars to any company but an onboard credit, this type of promotion is soft dollars on the accounting sheet and easier to give.

[NoPiratesPlease]

Glad you like the current promotion. The offer is not a "rebate", which is hard dollars to any company but an onboard credit, this type of promotion is soft dollars on the accounting sheet and easier to give.

 

I stand corrected--of course you are right. But it's still in an even better "bucket" than I had requested (that GV guests have dinners and drinks included), and it spends very nicely on-board! If NCL has found a way to give it with less cost to themselves, all power to them!

 

It's "Pareto Optimal" as economists would say--it benefits everyone at no cost to anyone.

[BarbCT605]

So imagine out delight to be able to book the GV on the Star for far, FAR less than on the Jade! That was a joy as the Star is probably our favorite ship--though the Dawn, almost the same, has been based out of New York (meaning no flying).

I'm always looking at the prices of the NCL suites on ships sailing out of NY.

 

The suite pricing on the newer ships are fairly high compared to the older ships (Dawn and probably the Star, too).

 

The price of the GV on the Dawn has been much more reasonable ever since the Gem came on the scene. Keep in mind that the Dawn pricing has changed very little. IMO, the Gem is so expensive that it makes the Dawn look "reasonable.":)

 

BTW, if you have American Express Platinum, book with it as it gets you another $100 on-board credit as well.

BTW, it doesn't have to be a Platinum card. It can be a plain ol' green Amex card.:D

[BikerAl]

We also have taken advantage to book a GV with both the AMEX and PGWAVE which is the $500 OBC, and were delighted that we were still allowed to use the veterans advantage also. Those (PGMIL) are hard dollars, and made the difference in going to a GV. And, some other hard dollars came our way from the latitudes discount.

 

Al

[NoPiratesPlease]

I'm always looking at the prices of the NCL suites on ships sailing out of NY.

 

The suite pricing on the newer ships are fairly high compared to the older ships (Dawn and probably the Star, too).

 

The price of the GV on the Dawn has been much more reasonable ever since the Gem came on the scene. Keep in mind that the Dawn pricing has changed very little. IMO, the Gem is so expensive that it makes the Dawn look "reasonable.":)

 

 

BTW, it doesn't have to be a Platinum card. It can be a plain ol' green Amex card.:D

 

 

Great! I thought it was just Platinum, if not, better still!

 

The Villas on the Dawn/Star are a little different than the Jewel-class--they are bigger and, we think, in general, nicer. So being cheaper is a delightful bonus.

[BarbCT605]

Great! I thought it was just Platinum, if not, better still!

 

The Villas on the Dawn/Star are a little different than the Jewel-class--they are bigger and, we think, in general, nicer. So being cheaper is a delightful bonus.

Have a great B2B cruise in the beautiful Garden Villa!

 

(and with that much OBC, you'll have to buy dinners for strangers...or just drink heavily :D)

[NoPiratesPlease]

Have a great B2B cruise in the beautiful Garden Villa!

 

(and with that much OBC, you'll have to buy dinners for strangers...or just drink heavily :D)

 

Or just lose it in the Casino.....:D

 

We've been on the Star 3x, and on the Dawn 5x in the GV, so we are very familiar--and happy with them. For colder itineraries like Alaska, the Dawn-class garden is far more comfortable because it is protected. On the Jewel class, the open rail is nice but make it very, VERY windy at sea and difficult to use the hot tub, unlike the Dawn-class. On our recent Jade cruise in the Med in winter, we couldn't use the tub even once because it was so, SO cold and windy--but the Courtyard has a nice protected hot tub as well.

[suzyed]

Great! I thought it was just Platinum, if not, better still!

 

The Villas on the Dawn/Star are a little different than the Jewel-class--they are bigger and, we think, in general, nicer. So being cheaper is a delightful bonus.

 

We booked with our Am Ex (gold), but I am not sure if we got the additional $100 onboard credit. Does it have to be booked with NCL, or should we have gotten this booking with anyone. (we booked with an online agency). Is there a way to check this? :confused:

[msescada]

We booked with our Am Ex (gold), but I am not sure if we got the additional $100 onboard credit. Does it have to be booked with NCL, or should we have gotten this booking with anyone. (we booked with an online agency). Is there a way to check this? :confused:

 

i THINK you have to book directly with NCL and use ANY AMEX card (i made the reservation for no piratesplease, as i am his other half). I think it is part of the AMEX version of a cruise rewards program. BUT CALL NCL and ask if that promotion is good using an online agency. If yes, then call the agency.

[*Wink*]

I'm happy for you. I agree that suite passengers should really be given some great benefits with the amount you people pay. Some day I hope to be one too. Now where'd I put that lotto ticket?? ;)

[AFT_LOVER]

We are BLUE and BA balcony rated $200 BC that can be used or tips, bar, dinners, casino, or our next deposit. We got an email from AMEX Travel on this and took it. Air is BOGO from HH signature VISA so we got a nice bargain. Sailing Dawn again, we just love her.

[suzyed]

Well we did get the $500 obc, but not sure of the additional $100. Before I booked the cruise, I called NCL for a quote as well as AmEx travel. Their quotes were almost $600 more than the previous quote I got(for two), so I ended up booking with the previous agency. So...even if I didn't get the xtra $100, I still come out ahead in the end. ;)

[NoPiratesPlease]

Well we did get the $500 obc, but not sure of the additional $100. Before I booked the cruise, I called NCL for a quote as well as AmEx travel. Their quotes were almost $600 more than the previous quote I got(for two), so I ended up booking with the previous agency. So...even if I didn't get the xtra $100, I still come out ahead in the end. ;)

 

Whichever "bucket" you throw the extra money into is fine!

[suzyed]

Whichever "bucket" you throw the extra money into is fine!

I hear ya! Can't wait to spend my bucket of money! ;)

[garycarla]

I doubt anyone at NCL said to give folks $500 so they would have free drinks and speciality restaurants.

 

But, it has me thinking.

 

If a cruise in a penthouse cost $5000 for a week (made up number) and they changed it to $5,800 or some number, but then said, you get

xx Free Dinners

xx in onboard credit for drinks, tours, etc

daily $12 service fee covered

etc.

 

I think they would book more of those suites and be doing less upsells that they do now, and have some very happy customers. And, NCL would actually get MORE money in the end.

[NoPiratesPlease]

I doubt anyone at NCL said to give folks $500 so they would have free drinks and speciality restaurants.

 

But, it has me thinking.

 

If a cruise in a penthouse cost $5000 for a week (made up number) and they changed it to $5,800 or some number, but then said, you get

xx Free Dinners

xx in onboard credit for drinks, tours, etc

daily $12 service fee covered

etc.

 

I think they would book more of those suites and be doing less upsells that they do now, and have some very happy customers. And, NCL would actually get MORE money in the end.

 

SHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Actually I think they thought of it, then said "Why not just charge more and STILL charge for the drinks and dinners?"

[suzyed]

Whichever "bucket" you throw the extra money into is fine!

So..I contacted my TA and asked about the "extra" $100 obc for using my AmEx card and they did give me the $100 ($50/pp)!!!! So now we have a total of $600 obc...that should pay for half our drinks anyway! ;)

Kidding, kidding!