SJ

How do you get this information?

Ncl site only shows a maximum of 15 cabins per category. If you noticed that there are less than 15 displayed, chances are that's all that's left in that category. If 15 is displayed, chances are good there are more available. Hope that makes sense.

I booked last year on KSF promo to Bermuda. The price went down after final payment, I called to see if I could upgrade my cabin from inside to balcony and pay the difference. I was told they could do it but I would lose the KSF promo. If they are ot offering the KSF promo at the time of uprgade you will lose it. However, they did offer me whatever promo they were running at the time, which was not as good as KSF. I spoke to many reps including a supervisor and was told the same thing each time.

I know many were in the same situation as you described. My TA sometimes had to make many calls to get the right rep, other times within half hour and it was done. I have no other advice other than be persistent. Don't spend time trying to convince a rep if their original response is cancel and rebook. Just move on to the next one. Their system definitely allows it. Perhaps it behooves the rep to cancel and get credit for the "new" booking.

I enjoy the game as well. Unfortunately this is another con for the breakaway class ships. These ships don't have a lounge like the spinnaker lounge on the jewel class ships to hold these type of events. The atrium is inadequate for all the events it holds. Not nearly enough seating and in an open space with lots of traffic because guest services is right next to it.

I suspect the lack of past guest parties on the Breakaway class ships is also due to the lack of lounges that can hold it.

Right now we are booked on the Getaway (10/17/15) system a balcony guarantee for $799 with the UBP that we got with the current offer.

I am interested in upgrading from a balcony gty to an aft extended balcony, but it depends on our finances. I would love to upgrade closer to sailing if possible but I would not want to loose our UBP. Is that possible? To pay the difference form our current $799 to what ever the cost of the aft balcony is at that time and still keep our UBP?

I was told you don't lose your current promo when you upgrade. I know ncl system allows it as I have upgraded after final payment without losing ksf in the past. However, not all agents at ncl knows how to do this, so make sure before you let them make any changes to your booking. And at first you don't succeed, keep trying until you find a rep who knows how to do it. Some reps only know how to cancel and rebook, that's not the only option.

I think the family oceanview on the BA has sofa that sleeps two and a pull down for the fifth passenger if there is one. The balconies' sofa sleeps one and is like a twin bed. Family oceanview can be more expensive because there are fewer cabins in this category than balconies but not necessarily the case. Family oceanview also has a larger bathroom than balconies. I compare it to the mini suite on the BA where the space for the balcony is inside the cabin at approx. 200sq ft total. Hth

Its not wise to discuss this openly even though it's not against ncl policy. You never want to alert a company of a loophole customers are taking advantage of. If they can block the dsc from being charged against obc, cash advances at the casino wouldn't be that difficult. Broadcasting a deal or loophole on the internet is a sure way to get a deal killed.

I'd disengage. This person is looking for ways to continue the conversation not for the sake of a healthy discussion but for opportunities to make insults, much like Out to Sea does

Thank you. I will. I am done on this matter. This is the most I have ever posted on a topic. This is exactly why my post total is so low and I have visited these boards plenty in the last 13 years I have been a member.

No. You don't have a clue what you are writing about.

Just because you believe that doesn't make it so.

So..... no real clue.

No, I don't have a real clue what you're talking about and you don't understand the points I am making. Regardless, we should be able to disagree without insults and sarcasm.

So we're clear----you were blindsided by the DSC on your first cruise?

And you have an idea for making things better?

Huh.

I don't recall saying I was surprised by any dsc or tips. My first cruise was 20 years ago and I was fully aware of the suggested tips for my steward and waitstaff. Never tipped the sommelier which still existed back then and I never tipped the maitre'd since he usually only comes by my table on the last evening. I gave more than the suggested amount when I received exceptional service and reduce when I receive below standard service(once in 18 cruises). I am sure most would agree that's acceptable.

I have no problem paying the staff who serve me. I only questioned to what extent will we have to supplement crew wages if we continue to pay increases to the dsc to include other personnel without at least questioning it.

It's your prerogative to tip guest services or the entertainment onboard, maybe someday the officers, but I don't have to agree. I don't judge those who tip excessively or those who under tip in your opinion. It is a personal choice.

On the 2nd page of your cruise confirmation it talks about the Onboard Service Charges, as they call it. If one reads their confirmation after receiving it they are aware. At that time they can always cancel their cruise and get a refund.

 

It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.....as everyone should always read their confirmation/contract with NCL.

 

Harriet

I agree everyone should be informed but thats not reality. What is very obvious to those who read these boards may not be to others. I find booking a cruise is very simple but for some of my friends, not so simple. The passengers i encountered were seniors who didnt speak english and it was obvious they didn't get the message about the dsc.

If your sailing is kids sail free, one room can mean a lot of savings vs two rooms. The advantage of the mini suite is the larger bathroom.

I called back my PCC today and told him I did not want NCL's insurance and I wanted clean invoice with it removed. He said, 'sure, no problem'! I'm not sure why he couldn't do that when I originally booked the cruises. (actually, I think he just forgot to check the box that we declined the insurance). Initially, I was thinking he was pretty good, but now I'm not so sure. At least, now I have the correct invoices.

 

I always use squaremouth's site for our insurance. provides multiple quotes and has a nice comparison feature. It's always a good bit less expensive than NCL insurance for better coverage.

I was told by my pcc that they get a commission if it was added at booking and they would keep that commission even if you choose not to buy at final payment. He asked me to do him a favor by letting him add it because I never buy insurance direct if I buy at all and remove it later.

No.

The DSC isn't a secret. Worst case scenario for people who genuinely stupid and unaware of their surroundings----it can surprise them ONCE. And that actually isn't an acceptable excuse.

 

It is an unadvertised part of the fare.

It is because it's UNadvertised, it can surprise many first timers. I experienced this first hand on the BreakawAy last December as many non English speaking passengers asked me to translate and explain the charges to them.

Do you think businesses prefer stupid, as you put it, consumers or educated consumers? Do you think consumer protection agency exists to only protect educated consumers or does it include protecting non educated or uninformed consumers regardless of whose fault it is?

Actually, yes they can make it mandatory without including it in the base fare. As I have suggested before, make it a mandatory add-on just like port charges and taxes. This way, if a person goes on a cruise it is paid without the ability to modify or remove it. If they have to cancel or miss the cruise, they may lose their base rate but just like port charges and taxes, that portion would be refunded. Also, just like port charges and taxes, it would not have to be paid until final payment date.

 

As for disgust towards how a company runs their business......this is a free market society. If one doesn't like how a company operates, one does not have to do business with said company. If NCL's practice disgusts you or anyone else, show your disgust by doing business with someone else. If you freely elect to do business with NCL then you are expected to follow their protocol. And the reason your example holds no water is because if ALL supermarkets instituted such a policy, they would and you would be left paying it or not shopping there.

 

 

 

What is truly funny to watch are all of these armchair quarterbacks who think they know what it takes to run a successful business.

You're playing semantics here. When I said base fare, I meant the charges would appear before you board, not after so no one is surprised.

I don't feel disgust for cruiselines. I just meant the same people who show disgust for their fellow passengers is hypocritical for blindly accepting corporate policies.

So as long as every business do it, it makes it right?

It's difficult for any organization even the IRS to track cash tips so I very much doubt anyone who relies on tips for a living is reporting it all. I would be amazed if cruiselines know exactly how much cash tips someone received from passengers. Are there hidden cameras in every cabin or something? If a crew tells the passengers they have to turn it in, wouldn't that discourage you from removing the dsc? Isn't that what all the crew want, for you not to remove dsc so they get even more? Therefore, its in the interest of the crew to say they must turn it in whether it's true or not. The crew is very hard working and no fool.

As for the bellhop, his job is not worth $50k plus in salary so tips are the incentive for anyone to want that job. But it is a position that is in direct contact with the consumers so most would not object to tipping him just like most passengers are not opposed to tipping the waiters and stewards in addition to their fare. The objection comes from those we do not see or should be salaried employees like guest services or the entertainment staff or their incentive programs from Ncl.

Your privilege? Just another reason to make the DSC a true service charge and mandatory. So cheap skates can't adjust or remove it on the premise of tipping in person.

It's actually not a privilege, but a right. Both ncl and passengers have to the right to increase and decrease as they wish. The cruiselines just can't make it mandatory without including it in the base fare.

There is much disgust over people who does not pay the dsc or reduce it without cash tipping.The same disgust should be directed at multi billion corporations who doesn't want to pay their crew a proper wage and rely on passengers to pay it. Corporations are the biggest cheapskates with their constant cuts and paying lower wages because they can. Imagine if your supermarket want to add a fee to your order for cashier wages. Same concept. Wages should be built into the cost of the product you're buying not as an after fact.

The fuel surcharge didn't end as a direct result of consumer push back. It ended because at the time it was imposed the cruise lines' contracts didn't contain the wording required to impose it after booking and Florida's AG put a gun to the cruise lines's heads forcing them to remove it. By the time the contractual wording was added the cruise lines had figured out how to protect against unexpected sharp oil price increases by hedging, and anything that wasn't covered by that was just quietly added to the base fare. Once again, you're paying for the price of fuel regardless, whether through the base fare or a surcharge.

I am fine with paying whatever the base fare is and what it includes. It's the add ons after I paid that's the problem.

The AG got involved because consumers massively complained and there was a legal ground for the AG to force cruiselines to remove the charges for those already booked. If the AG got involved on its own accord which I doubt, then I applaud the Florida AG for protecting consumers.

Since the disclaimer of fuel supplement was added, fuel has been above the stated price until recently. Why haven't the cruiselines attempted to implement the supplement? Because the market won't bear it and they know that. So they have chosen to hedge their bets on price of fuel and go slower to save fuel. I can accept that because it's clear what I will be purchasing when I book my cruise.

Do you see the difference? We all are very aware of additional cost of cruising but there are many more who are not aware whether it's through their own fault or not. If the dsc was not adjustable, cruiselines would be forced to include it in the base fare at time of booking just like the port charges were after the same AG office made it a requirement.

In an ideal world everyone's salary would be paid from the base fare, but there are reasons (primarily marketing) why this is unlikely to happen anytime soon on the mass market cruise lines.

 

Frankly, I don't care whose salary is paid from which of my pockets, because it's coming out of my pocket either way. Why does anyone care if something that you're going to be paying for regardless is called salary, fare, service charge or peanut brittle? If I'm going to be charged a dollar, why does it matter what that dollar is called?

 

If you care that much about how you end up paying for salaries, you can always take a luxury cruise line like Regent Seven Seas that includes everything in the fare.

I accept this is the current marketing strategy of cruise lines. However, marketing strategies only work if consumers accept them. In my original post I questioned just how far do we as consumers must accept supplementing the crew's salary in addition to the fares we already pay. How much will be too much or is there no end for those like yourselves in accepting the amount of the DSC? Believe me, Ncl and any other cruiselines will continue to increase until the consumers push back the way we did on the fuel supplement.

I am dismayed at how quickly some on this board berate others for how they want to spend their money but yet so accepting of a multi billion dollar corporation passing the buck sort of speak to their consumers.

True it matters little when we pay the expenses of a cruiseline like the salary of the crew whether at final payment or thru the DSC onboard. This marketing strategy is a little deceptive especially for those who doesn't know it can be adjusted or that gratuities is mentioned in NCL literature as a separate item from the DSC leading some to believe you need to tip in addition.

You seriously can't think you're not already paying paying everyone's salary. , regardless ofpassengers should dother they're the captain, the CEO of the corporation, or the lowest paid deckhand. The money that the company uses to pay their salaries, and everyone's salary, already comes from you, whether from the fare or a service charge.

I think you misunderstood. I meant I shouldn't have to pay on top of my fare for non service personnel like ncl thinks passengers should do. All salaries should be included already in the fare we are all paying.

Are you saying you would be willing to tip the enginner or the captain someday in the dsc for making sure we get home safely? Just as an example...

I don't think anyone is really arguing that staff doesn't deserve an increase. They work harder than many Americans. What concerns me is to what end will the passengers have to pay in wages to the staff? Will we eventually be contributing to officer's salaries? I remembered being asked or it was suggested to tip the head of housekeeping before there was a dsc when I never met the person. Some will argue he is in charge of the stewards who clean our cabins and therefore deserves the tip. I will argue that he was merely doing his job.

When carnival increased the dsc, it was explained that it was going to the entertainers and guest services. I did remove the increase and gave it to my waitstaff because they were excellent and Carnival was on the decline in offering professional entertainers.

On the Breakaway last December, I did overhear guest services telling passengers they can adjust dsc on the last day when they tried to do it before then, so not really clear if anyone is allowed to adjust before then.

I don't mind tipping or paying the dsc for those who served me and my family but I really think corporations like Ncl should pay a proper wage to those behind the scenes like laundry that everyone keeps mentioning. My fare includes clean sheets and towels, i don't think I should have to tip or pay extra for this. This reasoning extends to guest services and entertainment staff.

For those who says .95 cents is such small amount, why can't Ncl pay it then? Obviously it's about the bottom line for any corporation so if you need to pay your employees, build it into the cost like any other business. If we as passengers have accepted the fuel surcharge when they tried to implemented back in 2008, we still be paying it right now when prices have dropped 50%. That's what corporations rely on, consumers who will accept any increase.

I think Breakaway is fine first time but that's about all it's good for especially if you're traveling with kids. I have no reason to go back as there's very little for families to do together in the evening after dinner.

This is just my opinion because I value the nightly shows at the theater and breakaway class ships just can't offer that. Theatre seats 700 for a ship that carries over 4000 passengers. The math does not work. What it has abundance of are bars and very little space where you can go to get away from the crowd. Having to show up at least 30 minutes to every event to maybe get a seat makes for a stressful experience. Atrium is not ideal for holding all those game shows and other events.

I do like the cabins better than jewel class ships. And I will use it as transportation to Bermuda if the price is right. Otherwise, the Breakaway class holds no interest for me especially since ncl is offering burn the floor on all breakaway class ships. How about some variety ncl?

 

Yes that was me who helped you. Keep checking, sometimes they do come back the next day. You have until Feb 28th to rebook with all the perks.

 

Which sailing are you on? If you are flexible with sailing date, I would check other weeks for availability. We are sailing on the Gem in December which we prefer after two cruises on Breakaway.

86;45597578]My wife booked a breakaway cruise for four of us. We're booked in an inside cabin and the kids are sailing free. Just paying tax and port fees actually. Anyways my question is what do we have too upgrade to in order to receive free drink package ? Or am I not able to combine offers ? Thanks for any replies

Hey Mrmet, don't know if you remember me but we met on the Carnival Miracle back in 2012. Anyway, I highly recommend the ov cabins on the Breakaway for a family of four. Even booking the ov guarantee would ALMOST guarantee you the family ov category which is 207 sq ft with an enhanced bathroom; double sink and tub. Depending on the price difference, well worth it especially since it will also give you the ubp.

I am booked on gem in a balcony for July. My ncl pcc said it was ony ksf or udp/udp could not get more than one on prime sailing dates. He told me herequire a promoetting a lot of questions about it. Said the ad is misleading

I believe your pcc is mistaken. Peak sailings like yours in July gets ks50% not ksf and is combinable with one of the three choices if not all three in suite. Ksf or ks50% does not require a promo code, it is automatic.