coaster

NCL taking free lobster night out of the MDR is a not a downgrade? Seems like it to me...

Royal is the replacement for us for what NCL used to be. They accommodate those who like traditional dining plus others that like more flexible dining. HAL and others still keep traditional dining alive also is why I have cruised them after NCL freestyle also.

You misunderstood. Older ships were great for us. SS Norway was the best cruise service wise before freestyle. Better service than any Royal cruise we have been on. Newer ships with extra venues that charge extra do not empress me. Give Royal credit not charging extra for lobster in the MDR also on longer cruises.

NCL was great in the 90's when I first starting cruising. I agree. Getting rid of traditional dining for poor freestyle service after 2000 or so made us leave.

I was actually asking about the ones you buy after using up your free ones.

Do you have to sign a receipt after your included drinks for the day or they just charge them to your seacard with the 18 percent already added? Sorry, first time not getting the drink package on Allure end of this month.

Only deal I recall on beer was a card for $50 for 10 beers. Was only sold when sales onboard needed a boost. No reports of it's return after Covid.

Hit or miss. Sometimes they take my beer and sometimes not. I buy local ones for my sons for gifts. Newer ships they always take from me. Older and smaller ships to be more carefree. Pretty sure soda would be even easier to get on.

I was not clear as I knew Virgin was not bought out by PE. My bad! Just a flashback to my previous companies where PE is involved. PE is known not to have any long term involvement with the companies that they invest in. Apollo and NCL is a great example. I know it is a JV, but what percentage does Sir Richard have compared to Bain?

I was looking forward to Armonia coming late 2020 and we know how that worked out. Surprised of no news of future sailngs from Tampa. Always wanted to try MSC and a ship nearby would make the decision easy. Armonia is a smaller ship which we prefer also. Anyone have the inside scoop why Tampa is not getting any love from MSC?

I have unfortunately worked for 2 other companies that were bought out by Private Equity companies. Virgin being heavily invested in with one of these PE companies. These companies are sharks to put it mildly. They are bottom feeders looking for profits without regard to anything else. I wish Virgin Cruises luck, but the PE companies are not so nice.

deleted...wrong forum

Virgin is sailing close to 50 percent capacity now while other lines are 100 percent and above. They bet big on being different and the gamble is not playing out. l look for some of their ships being sold at fire sale prices soon to other lines. Private equity has the most stake in Virgin. Ever heard of Bain Capital? Sir Richard Branson just gets a royalty for the Virgin branding. His money is safe if it fails. He is probably one of the best business people on earth due his likability to the general public, but he is smart. He is not tying up his own money in Virgin which seems to be failing short profit wise.

NCL offered alot of ships with subdued interiors in the 90's. Those of us that did not appreciate the Joe Farcus interiors of Carnival. Never went on Royal in the 90's as they were so much more expensive than NCL. Now, NCL seems to be more expensive than Carnival and Royal. MSC could be a another takeover target, but they are privately owned. Not sure if that makes it more complicated or not. NCL struggled financially in the early to mid 90's, but was profitable later in the 90's when Carnival tried to buy them.

Carnival got into a bidding war around 2000 to buy NCL. They lost to Star Cruises. I look for a big player to buy NCL to avoid anti-trust issues.

Royal is saying now if you booked after the end of March, no price reductions before final payment or beyond. I understood after final, but before final is new to me. Just called again to clarify and they are standing firm no reduction before final payment.

I book hotels and price goes up sometimes. I can cancel and rebook when prices go down though 48 to 24 hrs before arrival. No loss of any deposit as hotels dont require a deposit normally. They just charge you for a no show if you didn't cancel 48 to 24 hrs ahead. Loved Royal's policies last year and into May of this year. Not so much now.

Made 4 calls where I was on hold and nobody answered where it rang until the fourth call. No reduction in price at all unless 48 hrs after you booked even before final payment is what I was told. Will only book last minute in the future. No advantage booking before final payment and paying higher rates. Should of taken original reps offer to reduce cruise by $2. Not so loyal in the future... Royal is being greedy now. Again, hope Royal appreciates my extra $2.

Will call once more before I reply

No obc showing for this cruise. I wish that was the case. It would seem fair as those booking later than us are paying less in port and taxes.

Cancel and rebook and lose $100 pp? Don't think so. It is over $40 total also. Not in the camp where Royal can do no wrong either.

Nope... I thought so also. These taxes and fees seem to be an exception.

Hope my $2 donation goes far. All I can say now.

Taxes and fees lowered for our Nov 4th cruise on Granduer. $ 173.67 pp compared to $151.82 pp now. Royal says we still pay the higher amount even before final payment. Without all of this, represenative I talked to said we could save $2 without factoring in the reduced port charges. I paid the extra $2 as Royal seems desperate to get every dime they can get. Sad they are in this situation now.

Guess those who booked later will get the better port and taxes. Why book early anymore?