On Board Price Increases

[time2cruise1]

I guess I am a bit confused by the outrage of prices increasing for optional services onboard without notification. I can't find anywhere in NCL's literature, website, cruise contract, or documents where they publish the prices. Other then here I have never seen them in writing for us to base our purchase decisions on.

In fact it has not been uncommon in the past for the price for the same specialty restaurants to be different from ship to ship. Over the years I have seen the Bistro priced anywhere between $5 and $25. It has gone up and gone down cruise to cruise. Some have half price specials on some weeks some ships never seem to have them at all. The surcharge for the Tex Mex was only on one or 2 ships for a long time.

None of us like price increases but not sure how anyone could expect price protection on them ???

[njhorseman]

Originally Posted by time2cruise1

I guess I am a bit confused by the outrage of prices increasing for option services onboard without notification. I can't find anywhere in NCL's literature, website, cruise contract, or documents where they publish the prices. Other then here I have never seen them in writing for us to base or purchase decision on.

In fact it has not been uncommon in the past for the price for the same specialty restaurants to be different from ship to ship. Over the years I have seen the Bistro priced anywhere between $5 and $25. It has gone up and gone down cruise to cruise. Some have half price specials on some weeks some ships never seem to have them at all. The surcharge for the Tex Mex was only on one or 2 ships for a long time.

None of us like price increases but not sure how anyone could expect price protection on them ???

Exactly.

[flashdog_1]

Originally Posted by Don Haynes

I don't understand why NCL has to post price increases in advance. Nobody else does, why should NCL? Today I got a letter from my credit card company changing the conditions of my credit card. My mortgage company has changed several times through the years. Even my 401k program has changed companies and conditions several times and I am working for the same company for the past twenty five years. Every year my health care package changes with no prior warning. A five dollars Le Bistro charge increase is an ant hill in the big scheme of things....

Hey Don, BTW wait until you retire and think you have a good deal with medicare and an advantage program. NOT The first two years were great, 0 deductible and no co-pay, even for surgery etc. Now they tell us in 2010 the cost will double!! Radical! And the benefits are meager now and not worth the premium. And this is BEFORE health care reform. hmmm We do need some reform of some kind!

xu_chen,
Maybe with these price increases we'll see some more buy one get one free first night promotions for Le Bistro and then it will just be $10 each! I'm hoping. Thanks for letting us know about the price increases on the Romance Package. I was gonna order it at $79 but will not at $135.

[lambs2]

I DO appreciate it when folks post the current costs on each ship for the specialty restaurants and for other the special meal opportunities like the Jazz Brunch and the Murder Mystery Dinner. I know that things change from sailing to sailing and ship to ship, so when I can find a very current post or review from someone just off the ship I am going on next - that is great!

[lauraleigh9mm]

I personally want to know about the price changes, I was upset that the romance package went up so much. It means I will not be getting it. And I DO want to know if prices went up. It help me budget.

[Gatorney]

Xu chen, you just keep doing what works for you. I've been planning obsessively for our cruise since June - and you can see from my countdown how far away it still is! I hate spending money, even when I have it to spend, and have decided not to do several things I thought sounded fun or that people suggested because I just can't stomach the cost. Some people spend money without worry, others are more careful, some because they need to be, some because they choose to be - but either way, that is their right.

People have given great suggestions about "substitutes" for some of the things that were in the package. You might even be able to do some stawberries yourself in the room, if you bring on strawberries and chocolate and melt the chocolate in some hot water (just stick it in a plastic bag) -kind of an instant fondue - and I like the chocolate warm better anyway! And people are right about the wine - the corkage fee is pretty steep, but if you know some less expensive wines you like and pay the fee to bring them on, at least you know you will have wine you like.
I agree it would be better if NCL was a little more polite about the price increases, but it is unfortunately what is going on all over.
Congragulations, and I'm sure you will have a wonderful time!

[Globaliser]

Originally Posted by smeyer418

I looked at your answer again and I agree with you that it is not unreasonable for them to make these changes after the notice that would allow people in the regular cancellation period to cancel without penalty.

Cancel without penalty. When can I cancel without penalty? Ah yes: any time up to the day I make the booking. As soon as I book, I can no longer cancel without losing my deposit.

So that idea will work really well.

I'm with time2cruise1 and njhorseman on this. When you book, you know that the onboard prices you pay will be the onboard prices when you sail, whatever they are. NCL gives you absolutely no promise that the onboard prices will be at any particular level when you sail, or even that they will be the same from week to week, or from ship to ship across the fleet. But at least you know that you do not have to pay a single penny extra once you step on board for any of these things. The one thing you do (in reality) have to pay is the daily service charge - and that is the only charge firmly notified to you in advance.

[xu_chen]

Originally Posted by Globaliser

Cancel without penalty. When can I cancel without penalty? Ah yes: any time up to the day I make the booking. As soon as I book, I can no longer cancel without losing my deposit.

Actually you can get a full refund if you cancel up until 75 days before sailing for a 7 night cruise. 60 days for 3, 4, and 5 night cruises.

[smeyer418]

Originally Posted by Globaliser

Cancel without penalty. When can I cancel without penalty? Ah yes: any time up to the day I make the booking. As soon as I book, I can no longer cancel without losing my deposit.

So that idea will work really well.

I'm with time2cruise1 and njhorseman on this. When you book, you know that the onboard prices you pay will be the onboard prices when you sail, whatever they are. NCL gives you absolutely no promise that the onboard prices will be at any particular level when you sail, or even that they will be the same from week to week, or from ship to ship across the fleet. But at least you know that you do not have to pay a single penny extra once you step on board for any of these things. The one thing you do (in reality) have to pay is the daily service charge - and that is the only charge firmly notified to you in advance.

Its different in the colonies....we can get everything back except for about 60-75 days before thesailing for most cruisers. Other things are different too you can get price increases of up to 9.99% and not be able to cancel....

[lyndyb]

Originally Posted by xu_chen

I actually remember reading a magazine article a couple months ago in which someone from NCL claims the cover charges for the specialty restaurants are meant for "crowd control, not profit". I've never been on an NCL ship but is Le Bistro generally overflowed? Maybe the increase will alleviate the waiting times.

I've been on only one NCL cruise on the Majesty a few weeks ago, but I never noticed an overflow at Le Bistro. We had a great meal there one night and it was full, but I'm not sure if all the tables were occupied. We were approached numerous times when eating in the MDR or sitting in a public area by a young make soliciting reservations, so it would seem they had plenty of capacity. Maybe others who have more NCL experience can say whether that's normal or atypical.

[xu_chen]

Just as a comparison for some of the more stubborn folks here, Celebrity Cruises announced that they WILL increase the pricing of their specialty restaurants by $5 pp starting 1/1/2010. This is discussed here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1078390

The original pricing will be honored for guests who make reservations before this date.

See, that's not so hard is it? Am I REALLY REALLY angry at NCL and will let this ruin my honeymoon? No. Will I be more inclined to choose a cruise line like Celebrity in the future? Yes.

[CRUISIN' TOGETHER]

Originally Posted by Cary T

On my last cruise I spoke to a couple of C.C.'ers that wondered if I'd noticed an increase of negativity on the boards here.
I welcome information that would not be readily available if not for first hand reports from people here. I fear that information is going to be in short supply if every poster gets criticized (what is this website?Cruise CRITIC?) by choosing a word that someone considers inflammatory. Take the information that interests you and run with it. Everyone has an opinion and may use an adjective that suits their personal view,it doesn't have to agree with mine.
Xu Chen, thank you for the information. It will help me in planning future cruises.

I totally agree!!

[njhorseman]

Originally Posted by xu_chen

Just as a comparison for some of the more stubborn folks here, Celebrity Cruises announced that they WILL increase the pricing of their specialty restaurants by $5 pp starting 1/1/2010. This is discussed here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1078390

The original pricing will be honored for guests who make reservations before this date.

See, that's not so hard is it? Am I REALLY REALLY angry at NCL and will let this ruin my honeymoon? No. Will I be more inclined to choose a cruise line like Celebrity in the future? Yes.

The price increase is effective for all specialty restaurant reservations made after 1/1/10. It has nothing to do with when you made your cruise reservation. You would be in the same position on Celebrity as you are on NCL. It's advance notice...but you don't get to wiggle out the price increase just because the price was lower when you made your cruise reservation:

Effective for all specialty restaurant reservations made as of January 1, 2010, we will be implementing a $5 increase to our current reservation charges

[xu_chen]

Originally Posted by njhorseman

The price increase is effective for all specialty restaurant reservations made after 1/1/10. It has nothing to do with when you made your cruise reservation. You would be in the same position on Celebrity as you are on NCL. It's advance notice...but you don't get to wiggle out the price increase just because the price was lower when you made your cruise reservation:

Effective for all specialty restaurant reservations made as of January 1, 2010, we will be implementing a $5 increase to our current reservation charges

May I kindly point out that January 1, 2010 is in the future.

Edit: Actually njhorseman, I understand your confusion. Allow me to explain: with Celebrity, you can make reservations for specialty restaurants before you board the ship. For example, if I have a Celebrity sailing 2 years from now, and I see this announcement, I have the choice of making a restaurant reservation TODAY for the cruise, at the current lower price. But you did make me realize that NCL doesn't seem to have this capability. It seems that all specialty restaurant reservations on NCL have to be made once I board the ship.

[njhorseman]

Originally Posted by xu_chen

May I kindly point out that January 1, 2010 is in the future.

Edit: Actually njhorseman, I understand your confusion. Allow me to explain: with Celebrity, you can make reservations for specialty restaurants before you board the ship. For example, if I have a Celebrity sailing 2 years from now, and I see this announcement, I have the choice of making a restaurant reservation TODAY for the cruise, at the current lower price. But you did make me realize that NCL doesn't seem to have this capability. It seems that all specialty restaurant reservations on NCL have to be made once I board the ship.

Yes, I did over look the fact that Celebrity allows some passengers to make advance reservations. I happen to be a Celebrity Captain's Club Elite member, so I'd like to inform you that not every passenger has the right to make advance specialty restaurant reservations, only Captain's Club members do. First time cruisers on Celebrity, as well as past cruisers who have not enrolled in the Captain's Club (membership is not automatic, unlike NCL Latitudes) would not be able get the lower price just because they have a cruise reservation.

You are correct that NCL currently only takes specialty restaurant reservation on board.

[xu_chen]

Originally Posted by njhorseman

Yes, I did over look the fact that Celebrity allows some passengers to make advance reservations. I happen to be a Celebrity Captain's Club Elite member, so I'd like to inform you that not every passenger has the right to make advance specialty restaurant reservations, only Captain's Club members do. First time cruisers on Celebrity would not be able get the lower price just because they have a cruise reservation.

You are correct that NCL currently only takes specialty restaurant reservation on board.

Thank you njhorseman. May I call it a truce between us? I have a much better understanding of where you are coming from. And I hope you understand where I'm coming from also.
You are a very traveled and well experienced member of this forum and I'd love to share stories with you.

[njhorseman]

Originally Posted by xu_chen

Thank you njhorseman. May I call it a truce between us? I have a much better understanding of where you are coming from. And I hope you understand where I'm coming from also.
You are a very traveled and well experienced member of this forum and I'd love to share stories with you.

A truce it is! Congratulations on your upcoming marriage and enjoy your cruise.

[xu_chen]

Originally Posted by njhorseman

A truce it is! Congratulations on your upcoming marriage and enjoy your cruise.

Thank you! Sailing out of NYC on Gem 12/19/09. Aft rear-facing AF cabin. It will be a great time I'm sure!

[njhorseman]

Originally Posted by xu_chen

Thank you! Sailing out of NYC on Gem 12/19/09. Aft rear-facing AF cabin. It will be a great time I'm sure!

We've enjoyed our Gem cruises...both times in AFs by the way.

[dfishner]

ok new math.
Go to Le bistro for both of you cost $40

Skip the romanace package which was $79 and is now $135

You now saved either $35 dollars or $95 depends on how you look at it.

With the savings you could do another speciality restaurant or two

I missed out of the romanace package as well but am not losing sleep over it.

No matter when or how a price hike happens someone is not going to be happy with it. If you do not like it then write a letter to the CEO of the company. I understand where you coming from but the cruise industry is not immune to the economy either. I do think the price increase for the romanace is to high so I will skip it. It is NCL loss not mine.