Proof of 18% gratuity on specialty restaurants

I'm starting another thread as the other one had no proof even though whenisthemidnightbuffet? posted about it from the Breakaway.

Here is proof:

Thanks go to Kyleclark and Pixiedustdawn who both sent photos from the Gem, one photos was from March 18th and another was from March 19.

So, it's true. NCL is charging 18% gratuity for the specialty restaurants now.

Harriet

imo ridiculous. so the dsc now doesn't include the specialty restaurants.I always left extra and now won't

I wonder if this will be applied to the cirque jungle fantasy and illusionarium too.

So, essentially, a surcharge for people who already pay more to sail in suites and now a surcharge for people who pay more to dine.

Logic fail. I just can't grasp this.

Remember, this is the principle of the matter, not a few extra bucks that some "can afford" (so sick of hearing that).

I am patiently awaiting the forthcoming "convenience fees"...

It's the shady, sneaky way NCL went about instituting this that gets me.... :mad:

I wonder if this will be applied to the cirque jungle fantasy and illusionarium too.

I read in another social group it will.

So, essentially, a surcharge for people who already pay more to sail in suites and now a surcharge for people who pay more to dine.

 

Logic fail. I just can't grasp this.

 

Remember, this is the principle of the matter,..."...

I have to agree. Long time cruisers here and we are already looking at other options.

Charge $20 plus another $3.60. Just charge $25 and get it over with.

As VIP casino guests, they also took away Cagneys for lunch and we have had it. They saved a few bucks on us, but at what cost?

I apologize in advance. Our lack of casino donations have to be made up somewhere - and y'all will have to make it up somewhere. Good luck.

Sorry NCL.

I agree this doesn't make sense.....by eating in the specialty restaurants you are not eating somewhere else, so it really is double dipping. I was a server for years and tip generously, that's not the point, but in essence it would be like me working at a restaurant and expecting to get tipped between 30-40% (double tipped).

I honestly see this more as a way to get people to sign up for the UDP if it does not charge the 18% as just a couple of nights in a specialty could easily add up to an extra $20 or more, especially if you are doing the dining shows.

To play the devil's advocate though, at least NCL for the most part has not skyrocketed their prices with this great promotion. To me, I would rather have a lower base price and have the option to "upgrade" my experience if I can afford it. Whereas RCCL where we used to sale had a great promo back in May and within 12 hours their prices had gone through the roof...if you didn't book that first morning it became crazy the price difference. And it has stayed that way.

So, essentially, a surcharge for people who already pay more to sail in suites and now a surcharge for people who pay more to dine.

 

Logic fail. I just can't grasp this.

 

Remember, this is the principle of the matter, not a few extra bucks that some "can afford" (so sick of hearing that).

 

I am patiently awaiting the forthcoming "convenience fees"...

Forthcoming? Hardly. They've BEEN charging a "convenience fee" in the casino for a couple of years now....3%.

Now they're just getting ridiculous with these charges.

I thought the charge for the specialty restaurants was the gratuity, was that really not true?

We had the UDP on the Dawn and ate in a specialty restaurant every night, we had good service but it certainly wasn't anything I would call above and beyond. We did not tip because we thought the service charge was the tip. We got tired of the same menus and wished we had given the main dining rooms a try.

So, essentially, a surcharge for people who already pay more to sail in suites and now a surcharge for people who pay more to dine.

 

Logic fail. I just can't grasp this.

 

Remember, this is the principle of the matter, not a few extra bucks that some "can afford" (so sick of hearing that).

 

I am patiently awaiting the forthcoming "convenience fees"...

100% correct. This is such a turn off for me. I seriously think these may be our last NCL cruises, and that makes me sad. I refuse, though, to accept the shady, sneaky way NCL has handled this.

It is more like a sales tax than a gratuity. Ncl is really counting on their customer base to be stupid enough to just accept it. I hope this will not stick even though I don't personally eat at the specialty restaurants but got the UDP from the promo for our next cruise.

Even though I personally will not pay this 18% most likely, I don't believe we as consumers should just bend over when big corporations want to take more of our money without giving any value back. For those who think this is acceptable, you can bend over for NCL and don't berate others for not wanting to.

Is this how Del Rio makes his extra pound of flesh? Well, I never thought the day would come, but I shall no longer be paying the DSC. If they can milk us here, then what will come next? Charging for the use of a beach towel? Perhaps "discretionary soap charges"? Toilet paper rentals???:eek: I'm sorry, but gratuities are supposed to be provided for excellent service. It should not be an excuse for employers to UNDERPAY their employees on the backs of their customers. This is going to bite NCL right in its wallet, just wait and see!:mad:

Is this how Del Rio makes his extra pound of flesh? Well, I never thought the day would come, but I shall no longer be paying the DSC. If they can milk us here, then what will come next? Charging for the use of a beach towel? Perhaps "discretionary soap charges"? Toilet paper rentals???:eek: I'm sorry, but gratuities are supposed to be provided for excellent service. It should not be an excuse for employers to UNDERPAY their employees on the backs of their customers. This is going to bite NCL right in its wallet, just wait and see!:mad:

Agreed.

My wife and I are going on our very first cruise ever in May to Alaska, and we picked NCL because we loved the Freestyle concept and we got a really great deal to boot. We hadn't even left on our first yet and were starting to look to our next cruise in the fall, because we were so sure we'd love it.

Now we're watching little changes here and there, with no warning or explanation, and our excitement is starting to wane. The transitions in leadership, the changes to the UBP that seem geared to increase alcohol profits at the expense of quality, and now the subtle appearance of a new charge that doesn't make sense (in light of the DSC)...all of these to me smack of desperation and a shift to "nickel-and-diming" approaches that devalue the customer's experience while mining the customer's wallet. I've seen this in other hospitality industries I've been associated with through the years, and it never turns out well for the business or the consumer.

I'm still hoping our cruise in May is great. But you can be sure I'm not going to jump back in the water with NCL so quick. I feel inclined to shop around.

Is this how Del Rio makes his extra pound of flesh? Well, I never thought the day would come, but I shall no longer be paying the DSC. If they can milk us here, then what will come next? Charging for the use of a beach towel? Perhaps "discretionary soap charges"? Toilet paper rentals???:eek: I'm sorry, but gratuities are supposed to be provided for excellent service. It should not be an excuse for employers to UNDERPAY their employees on the backs of their customers. This is going to bite NCL right in its wallet, just wait and see!:mad:

Exactly. We currently have two cruises booked with NCL, but are far enough out to cancel without penalty. We will definitely be looking to try another line again. Sorry NCL.:mad:

My wife and I are going on our very first cruise ever in May to Alaska, and we picked NCL because we loved the Freestyle concept and we got a really great deal to boot. We hadn't even left on our first yet and were starting to look to our next cruise in the fall, because we were so sure we'd love it.

 

Now we're watching little changes here and there, with no warning or explanation, and our excitement is starting to wane.

 

I'm still hoping our cruise in May is great. But you can be sure I'm not going to jump back in the water with NCL so quick. I feel inclined to shop around.

Alaska is beautiful and I hope you will love cruising. I too plan to shop around for my next 3 cruises.

If one doesn't like it, they have the power of the money. They can cancel all cruises they have booked and not book any more or they can continue to cruise with NCL and not go to the specialty restaurants or they can, as some have said they will do, reduce that amount from their DSC. No one has to pay this extra charge.

Just wait till CNN get a hold of this on a slow news day and if they run with it, oh boy - the social media team is going to suddenly snap out of its "dreams."

It feels like double dipping - IMO, 18% gratuity on top of the DSC with a modest increase ... with the waivers, exceptions & exemptions noted ;) And, it's none of my business how NCL distribute the money in the pool except ... nevermind, that's my money that NCL wanted a bigger cut and I am going to have a say in how much to of letting it go.

Meanwhile, a shareholder's (ours) freeze on buying any more FCR for now, boycott the specialty dinner (or, in more gentle terms, not paying for special meals out of pocket) and continued to - as always - cash tip the porter directly on the pier to "transport" our own soda & luggage onto the ship - so no UBP or UDP add-ons.

If the total package price is fair & good, we will continue to sail NCL - and maybe look for private "fire" sales on about-to-expire transfer of FCR among ourselves - switching to a different line & dumping the residual certificates. If these crazy pricing schemes don't adjust and reflect the overall market pricing trends & best practices - we can and do have choices, including NOT taking a cruise vacation ... with lower gasoline prices, there are possibilities for us in the Northeast U.S. - even with a rare Spring time snow storm heading our way later this morning.

No wonder a CC'er on the Breakaway this week said in his post to our Roll Call that there was a long line at Guest Services on Day 1 and Day 2 - that rarely happened except on the last Sea Day. Meanwhile, enjoy those suite life in Haven ... it's already all included, isn't it :D

So, essentially, a surcharge for people who already pay more to sail in suites and now a surcharge for people who pay more to dine.

 

Logic fail. I just can't grasp this.

 

Remember, this is the principle of the matter, not a few extra bucks that some "can afford" (so sick of hearing that).

 

I am patiently awaiting the forthcoming "convenience fees"...

Yet another reason to do the real @bottom line" math and switch to a premium line like Oceania where you don't get "nickel dimed" to death.

Which seems like what Del Rio is trying to do.

I hope that del rio wont destroy the company through which i started cruising and loved it so much.i am a very loyal ncl fan but after all those changes i already started looking elsewhere as well for my cruise.in a month i am going on my first rcl cruise.please mr del rio dont make me try other lines as well

I hope that del rio wont destroy the company through which i started cruising and loved it so much.i am a very loyal ncl fan but after all those changes i already started looking elsewhere as well for my cruise.in a month i am going on my first rcl cruise.please mr del rio dont make me try other lines as well

You picked a great ship for your first RCI cruise! It's absolutely beautiful!:D

This charge is easy enough to avoid (I don't do specialty restaurants) and I wouldn't adjust or remove the DSC as a result of this charge, but it is not a good sign of things to come. Looking at our cruise for 2016 and it likely won't be with NCL, primarily because I can cruise for hundreds less with the competition (although Del Rio doesn't consider CCL to be a competitors).

That being said, it must be kept in mind that with this move and with the increase in the service charges that NCL should be able to attract and retain more competent staff, so one has to ask what value that adds to their cruise (if of course it works).

I was current on the other thread through yesterday a.m. right after RochelleS and a few others made some good points. One that had been in my mind if they are giving away free gratuities and grats on the packages, are they still giving the crew the normal grats they would normally have gotten? If so, they would have a lot to dig into their own pocket for.

The other thought is Del Rio is the new guy and he has to hit some home runs his first year on the job so he will do whatever it takes to show he is the guy.

We had already been looking at other lines before this largely due to the uninspiring routes coupled with prices that have gone through the roof (at least on all the sailings we have looked at mostly during peak times). Most of the sailings we've looked at have been increased just prior to each promo since last summer.

NCL then raised rates on 3/4th rates and then say they are half off but they are more than they were before.