graphicguy

Cookies on Jewel and Joy, posted here recently on CC….

And…we’re right back where we started. Lobster tails may or may not have been available in the restaurants on board which may or may not have a charge! Apparently, Lobster Tails are “on” again. 😉

That would be a tough grab…highly perishable product, resisted and/or rejected by your customer base. Tough sell, even harder to make money!

No issue! One of my companies offices were there. I had couple of direct reports in that office. So, I was there quite a bit. That said m, I could leave. I would even go to Wrigley when my Reds played there. They always treated me well! Loved going to Gibson’s for steak and to Rosebud for Italian! Great museums! Taste of Chicago was quite a party!!!! I enjoyed it!

Yeah…we’ve been through this over and over. It’s a tax. It’s levied by the locality (in this case, Spain). As you say, the cruise lines have to charge it, as such. How they do or don’t account for it is up to the cruise line. Add it to the fare, or show it as a line item (as NCL does).

Correct! Some cruise lines add the VAT into the fare. NCL breaks it out. They ate the VAT on my cruise. But, I don't sail the Mediterranean that often. From my understanding, when I cruised in October, there was some sort of "law change" regarding VAT and how it was changed and collected by the Spanish ports. That change caused quite a bit of heated discussion. It's a pass through charge by NCL. They just happen to show it whereas the other cruise lines just add it into their fares and don't break it out seperately. I know MSC just adds it ti other fares instead of making it another line item. That's been my experience.

In addition to comparing fares to other cruise lines, itineraries, cruise ships, time of year, etc...I compare the fares to a land based vacation, too. For example, I'm in OH. I like Chicago. Spend lots of long weekends there. A hotel, either around the museums or Michigan Ave, where all the activities are, is going to run me at least $200-$250/nite (at least for a decent one). Add in parking ($40-$75/nite). Add in food ($150-$200/day). Gas to drive there and back ...$100 (that's low, but I drive a hybrid). Activities (like Shedd Aquarium, Natural History Museum, Art Museum, etc)...$20-$40 ea for entry. Chicago River Tour is $54/pp. So, let's say you stay 3 nites for an average cost of $225/nite=$675 Parking for 3 nites=$120 (minimum) Parking at museums is $10 each=$30 Museum entrance charges (3)=$60/ea Food=$450 Gas=$100 Total=$1,495 (and that's being WAY conservative with no drinks)...add in another $100 for the river cruise. So, using that as a base, search for a cruise in that price range to wherever it is you want to cruise. More than likely, you'll find one with Free at Sea and free 2nd person flight. And, your cruise will include meals. You can do as much or as little, spend as much (or nothing) on board and at the port(s). Is a balcony worth it to you? We don't know. Value is a personal measurement. You decide. A little leg work will yield good results. Good luck in your search.

@Sthrngary...good point. NCL seems to be reacting in real time to feedback. I don't know if it's the feedback from CC (although it kind of seems so), which mean they're monitoring these threads. Or, they are reacting to the feedback on board. Either way, it's good to see they are atune to the guests. That's a rarity these days on cruise lines.

NCL is known for breaking out the different charges incurred. Other cruise lines bake it into their fares. Some don’t want to see the different components of what they’re being charged and why. Nothing wrong with that. I want to see it broken out to see what I’m being charged. Again, the VAT is charged by European countries, not NCL! Same on my Epic Mediterranean cruise. They had a sign stating Spain charged a VAT on drinks, but then refunded us for the VAT!

I See! That being the case, that didn’t last long! Give NCL credit for listening to the customer!

If NCL's lobster provider were "short" on lobsters, yeah, I can see limiting them (which is in my opinion, probably what happened). But, as it was painted, as an NCL policy, on every ship? I found it rather questionable. Same with cookies. I suspect there was some sort of ingredient they couldn't get their hands on for a little while, and that caused cookies to not be as widely available as someone thought they'd be. But, as we've since seen, there are cookies readily available now. I do think some staff may offer up excuses that may or may not be true. It makes their job a bit easier if they can pawn off unavailability as a "corporate decision" (something I never believed to begin with) rather than try to explain their pastry chef(s) couldn't keep up demand for deserts.

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Agree...and Happy Anniversary, OP! Tough get. First, there would have to be someone who was a "no show" for their Haven Cabin. I guess it could happen....a major unfortunate sickness/accident. And, if that were indeed the case, you'd have to outbid everyone else who put in an upgrade bid. Thinking $50-$75 over minimum bid wouldn't even be close, especially given the Haven is sold out. And, no....neither NCL nor TAs hold Haven cabins back for upgrades. The Havens are the most expensive cabins on the ship and are the first to sell out. NCL wants their money up front for them. That would be a TON of money for a TA to tie up to "pre-book" Haven cabins. The JOY is a very nice ship. Enjoy your anniversary and don't worry about an upgrade.

It's a European Port thing. We saw it last October on my Epic Mediterranean cruise. Any EU port that charged VAT was passed on. Not sure any way around it as it's a tax charged by the port, not NCL. Kind of like the port charges sailing out of NYC. While in port, the city levies the same tax as they do on land based bars and restaurants.

It's amazing how a rumor gets tarted and takes on a life of its own. Lobsters being limited in the Haven (apparently not true). No more cookies (again, from recent reports, simply not true). Thanks for the update! Not a Lobster guy, but those who are will be pleased.