New: pre-pay your Onboard Service Charges

[martinchem]

Haven't had this problem yet, but if I prepaid my service fee along with the other costs of the cruise, and last minute had to cancel without insurance because of an illness or death, or missed the cruise because of a travel delay, would I get that money back?? It's probably best to let them add it to the shipboard statement.

[Cardex]

Haven't had this problem yet, but if I prepaid my service fee along with the other costs of the cruise, and last minute had to cancel without insurance because of an illness or death, or missed the cruise because of a travel delay, would I get that money back?? It's probably best to let them add it to the shipboard statement.

 

From NCL's web site:

 

If I cancel my cruise are the service charges refundable?

Yes! The service charges are 100% refundable.

[time2cruise1]

I have searched the NCL site and re-checked my e-docs. Where is this option listed??:confused:

 

Also check the FAQs

 

http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/cruiser/cmsPages.html?pageId=FAQ#service

 

What's the service charge?

Why is there a service charge?

The reason there's a fixed service charge is an important one: Our Crew (as are the crew from other lines) is encouraged to work together as a team. Staff members including restaurant staff, stateroom stewards and behind-the-scenes support staff are compensated by a combination of salary and incentive programs that your service charge supports.

How much is the charge?

Onboard Service Charges are additional. A charge of $12 per person per day will automatically be added to your onboard account.

Are service charges across the board for all guests?

All guests 3 years or older.

How do I prepay my service charges?

Contact your travel professional and request that it be added to your cruise reservation. If you have not made final payment this will be included in your final payment amount or if final payment has already been made we will require full payment at the time it is added.

At what point in the booking process can the prepaid charges be added?

They can be added at anytime up to 24 hours prior to sailing.

Why would I prepay my service charges?

The convenience of pre-paying the service charges allows you to plan your budget prior to your cruise giving you additional freedom while on board.

If I cancel my cruise are the service charges refundable?

Yes! The service charges are 100% refundable.

If there is a service issue can the service charges be adjusted on board?

Guest satisfaction is the highest priority at Norwegian Cruise Line. We have structured a guest satisfaction program designed to handle any concerns about service or on-board product quickly and efficiently. However, in the event a service issue should arise during your cruise please let our on-board reception desk staff know right away, so that we can address these in a timely manner. It is our goal to reach a satisfactory solution to any issue when it happens and make sure our guests can focus on enjoying their cruise. Should your concerns not be met with satisfaction you can adjust the charges.

[mylesf]

NCL knew that this was not going to be a policy embraced by all, therefore, they are making it OPTIONAL! For those of you that take the pre-paid option, you will not have to worry about any future rate increase because you will be price protected, should that happen...

[KerCar]

Wow! I went back and read my post. I just can’t see where I said or insinuated that I resented the company making money. :confused: I was merely aggregating the piddling sums a previous poster was ambivalent about to show that little bits do add up.

 

Actually, since your comment really peeved me, I think I will continue with my illustration:

 

Let us see:

 

Brown bagging it saves me about $4 a day equaling about $1040 a year.

Moving some savings to a high-yield savings account (yes 2% is better than 1%) earns an extra $100 a year.

Using an average of $6 in coupons at the market a week = $312

Opening a savings account with a national credit card company quadruples my travel points from ~ $250 a year to $1,000 a year.

Not letting the cruise line take my $0.68 for paying early, priceless.

 

Paying attention to my money saved me $2,202.68, which will pay for my January cruise –without taking a single extra dollar from my paycheck.

 

I am a capitalist and I respect the right for companies to make money, but if I had the choice I’d keep it myself. Since you don’t mind giving yours away, send some this way and I’ll put it in the kitty for next June’s cruise. :D

 

<Off soap box>

 

Great post:D

 

Add me to the list of those who will not be pre-paying. I never pre-pay anything unless the financial incentive to do so outweighs the lost interest. Kudos to NCL for not making this mandatory!

[peg013]

NCL knew that this was not going to be a policy embraced by all, therefore, they are making it OPTIONAL! For those of you that take the pre-paid option, you will not have to worry about any future rate increase because you will be price protected, should that happen...

 

Where did you see that if you prepaid you will be price protected? Would be nice, but I don't see it as a guarantee.

[bahamaman]

One word = convenience

No secret here. I even prepaid the $168 for the entire cruise on the Epic for summer 2010. One less thing to deal with. I am certain that this appeals to alot of cruisers and also people who lean toward all-inclusive resorts as well. (Yeah, I like them too.) Its not like you have to prepay, just another option, especially if you are on a budget.

[mylesf]

Where did you see that if you prepaid you will be price proteed? Would be nice, but I don't see it as a guarantee.

 

 

Anything that you are pre-paying for is price protected.

[Chipster2]

Go back and open your edocs again online. I printed mine a couple weeks ago and it just said something about the $12 service charge. Friday it became the following on the Guest ticket Contract To be presented for Passage page 2.

 

Cut and paste from 2 minutes ago.

 

 

FARES AS AGREED

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE The guests' attention is specifically directed to the Terms and Conditions of this contract, located at the end of this document. These terms and Conditions affect important legal rights and the guest is advised to read them carefully.

 

If you should experience a flight interruption while en-route to your cruise, you may call us toll free from the US and Canada at 1-800-456-7179. Outside the US and Canada you may reach us at 1-305-468-2029. Please note we accept collect calls.

 

NCL now offers you the ability to pre-pay your Onboard Service Charges of $12 per person per day for guests over the age of 3. Please contact your travel professional to add to your reservation. See our brochure or www.ncl.com for details.

 

 

 

Ship Registry: BAHAMAS

 

Found it , thanks. I guess I was looking for a link in the e-docs to a location on the NCL site where they were accepting payments.

[travelntreats]

If you have the money now, instead of forking it over to the cruise line in advance, set it aside in a separate interest-bearing account. All it requires is a bit of discipline to not spend it before your cruise.

Although I do not want to prepay anything unless there is a monetary advantage to it, the minimal interest you are going to gain by holding onto it is really a trivial amount for say 2 passengers.

[sjbdtz]

Although I do not want to prepay anything unless there is a monetary advantage to it, the minimal interest you are going to gain by holding onto it is really a trivial amount for say 2 passengers.

 

So I can either prepay it, leaving that extra little bit of ceiling on my credit card in case the casino is mean, or I can instead leave the DSC until post-cruise, and given NCL money in advance buying OBC to use in the casino (paying off the CC before leaving). Either way, they're getting money in advance.

 

Why would I do that? A) my vacation cC is a USD one, not my primary...so i don't keep a high ceiling on it. Since I use it only a couple of times / year, I had them lower the limit. B) Right now the Cdn $ is trading at .92 (or about 1.08 CDN for $1 US). That's about a 25% improvement during the past 3-4 months.

 

So stuffing money into a USD acct makes sense. The USD acct however doesn't pay interest.

 

So.... by prepaying, I'm not costing myself any lost income, and I'm potentially helping a supplier whose services I enjoy and hope to ensure that they are around to continue providing those services at the time when I may require them.

[mypleasure]

It is all about choices folks. If NCL stands for anything at all it stands for offering it's patrons choices. Just like you don't have to do speciality dining, or play bingo or buy drinks you do not have to pay the daily service charge up front unless you choose to do so.

 

Pre paying may help NCL get some cash in the bank early and improve their cashflow but it also may help some cruisers with their budgeting so I don't see what is wrong with that.

 

Personal choice, no-one is right or wrong here.

[RoosCruise]

One of the main issues I would have with prepaying is the leverage you may have if you feel service is lacking. By prepaying I am imagining that it would be more difficult to get the onboard staff to care about your complaints and adjust the service fee accordingly.

It does not matter if you call it a service fee or a tip I do not pay them before service is given.

[sjbdtz]

One of the main issues I would have with prepaying is the leverage you may have if you feel service is lacking. By prepaying I am imagining that it would be more difficult to get the onboard staff to care about your complaints and adjust the service fee accordingly.

It does not matter if you call it a service fee or a tip I do not pay them before service is given.

 

 

What leverage? If the service is "lacking", speak to the hotel director of the F & B director. Or housekeeping supervisor. Get it fixed so that a) it isn't lacking anymore, and b) you can enjoy the rest of your vacation, and c) the staff can feed their families.

 

 

I'm also curious as to why you would assume you'd have complaints which would warrant taking money away from hard-working people?

 

I'm also wondering why you think that someone who KNOWS you're tipping...would work less than someone who HOPES you'll tip?

 

Those who pay me get much more attention than those who MIGHT pay me.

[Mooder]

One of the main issues I would have with prepaying is the leverage you may have if you feel service is lacking. By prepaying I am imagining that it would be more difficult to get the onboard staff to care about your complaints and adjust the service fee accordingly.

It does not matter if you call it a service fee or a tip I do not pay them before service is given.

 

What leverage? If the service is "lacking", speak to the hotel director of the F & B director. Or housekeeping supervisor. Get it fixed so that a) it isn't lacking anymore, and b) you can enjoy the rest of your vacation, and c) the staff can feed their families.

 

 

I'm also curious as to why you would assume you'd have complaints which would warrant taking money away from hard-working people?

 

I'm also wondering why you think that someone who KNOWS you're tipping...would work less than someone who HOPES you'll tip?

 

Those who pay me get much more attention than those who MIGHT pay me.

 

I totally agree, sjbdtz! And would add that the option to have it removed if a problem is not resolved remains the same.

[alwayssingin]

Unless I've overlooked it, I haven't seen anyone mention pre-paying before final payment is due, and then being able to use Compass Points certificates. It wouldn't help us any as our balance is $1480, so we're using 3 certs and losing $20. On the other hand, it might be beneficial for someone who had a balance of, say, $1300 prior to adding the "tips.,"

[jimd909]

Am I missing something with prepaying the gratuities? Don't the other cruise lines allow you to prepay?

 

You can add the gratuities to your total and pay it off as you see fit. You only need to pay 60-90 days before you sail. So I don't get what all the fuss is.

 

I've prepaid on Carnival, Princess, and RCCL.

 

So, again, what am I missing?

[Simon_B]

Can you pre-remove the service charges? Some of us like to tip in cash.

[CanadianTwosome]

Can you pre-remove the service charges? Some of us like to tip in cash.

 

Tipping in cash person by person is discouraged. They've adopted this system (like many other lines), and with NCL's Freestyle concept, it is even more appropriate than on more traditional lines, since you are likely to be served by a much more diverse group over the course of your cruise. If you choose to have your DSC removed, anyone you tip is apparently required to report it and add it to the tip pool anyway. You still have the option of tipping 'extra' in cash if you so choose (which the recipient is then free to keep to themselves), but otherwise, it's all taken care of for you. If you have any issues with service, bring them to the attention of the front desk and they will do their best to address them to your satisfaction.

[lambs2]

Can you pre-remove the service charges? Some of us like to tip in cash.

 

 

I'm getting my popcorn ready! :D

 

 

 

[hamrag]

Can you pre-remove the service charges? Some of us like to tip in cash.

 

You are a naughty boy....some folks here will not recognise you are on the wind-up. Love it!! Got the popcorn ready too.

[Simon_B]

Tipping in cash person by person is discouraged. They've adopted this system (like many other lines), and with NCL's Freestyle concept, it is even more appropriate than on more traditional lines, since you are likely to be served by a much more diverse group over the course of your cruise. If you choose to have your DSC removed, anyone you tip is apparently required to report it and add it to the tip pool anyway. You still have the option of tipping 'extra' in cash if you so choose (which the recipient is then free to keep to themselves), but otherwise, it's all taken care of for you. If you have any issues with service, bring them to the attention of the front desk and they will do their best to address them to your satisfaction.

 

Thanks, but I'm sure cash is not 'discouraged' - I like tipping in cash, it makes it more real.

 

Any ideas on my question?

[ohioNCLcruiser]

Thanks, but I'm sure cash is not 'discouraged' - I like tipping in cash, it makes it more real.

 

Any ideas on my question?

 

Removing the service charge and tipping with cash is discouraged by almost everyone on the ship. With Freestyle the auto grats also help some people helping you that you don't see.

[RichNY]

James could you let us know who are those people that we don't see.

Thanks

[sjbdtz]

James could you let us know who are those people that we don't see.

Thanks

 

 

To quote Haley Joel Osment..... " :eek: "

:rolleyes:

 

 

think dishwashers, busboys, bar-backs, etc. the people who are "tipped-out" a % of what the waiters, bartenders, etc. make. If front-of-house makes less, then so does back-of-house.

 

Also, buffet stewards, the Good Morning guy at the buffet, etc.