kirtihk

The actual issue here is the majority of cruisers on this modified itinerary see it as their original cruise was cancelled without compensation, because it was completely changed to something what not close to a unique cruise they booked without a notification.  Just imagine cancelling your cruise on your own (for whatever reason) when you don't have a cruise cancelation insurance.  This is just 1 person (couple) with so much frustration.  However, here we talk about thousands of people affected by this matter at once with the same feeling except they even didn't cancel a cruise (not their problem)!

7 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

In theory, I'd love it if all sticker prices were all-inclusive. Canadians have grumbled for years that price tags should reflect the cost of an item inclusive of all sales taxes. But gratuities aren't included because if the same amount was given to crew members as pay rather than tips, the majority would have to pay higher taxes on the increased salary.

 

Port fees and taxes are imposed by the countries visited, and cruise lines have no control over these charges. For example, effective March 1st, the Bahamas will end the VAT exemption for cruise line private islands and will charge 10% on all goods and services provided on these islands. Last year, the head tax increased to $23 from $18 for passengers calling at Nassau and Freeport. For cruisers calling at a private island, the passenger tax is now $25. Plus, the government in January imposed a $5 tourism environmental tax and a $2 tourism enhancement tax on each cruise passenger. When you consider the number of passengers cruising to the Bahamas annually, these new and escalating fees amount to a significant increase. Of course, the Bahamas is not alone in imposing ever-increasing taxes and port fees. Cruise lines are not about to simply absorb costs of this magnitude that they can't predict when setting prices 2 or more years before a cruise takes place.

During my 26 years of cruising, I've never experienced a tax increase on my booking regardless how far in advance I booked a cruise (sometime almost 3 years ahead!).

And this is how it should be anyway.  Tips are taxed in US when properly reported on a tax return.

15 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

The current argument is because the OP and a few others want to “teach the cruise management a lesson”  by removing tips.  The logic has been very convoluted.  I agree they should quote prices in total - fare, taxes and tips. 

That's my point - with quote of the total price (just 1 number) one wouldn't even be able to teach the cruise management such a lesson.

On 2/10/2024 at 12:45 PM, rodndonna said:

 

You keep ignoring the fact that the crew compensation is via "gratuities" rather than salary as it is beneficial from a tax perspective providing them with higher compensation at a reduced cost to us. 

 

Clearly, it seems to work well as the majority of cruise lines use  this policy and the majority of guests are OK with it.

 

As long as your definition of "topping  up" is in addition to daily grats, great, otherwise you are undercutting crew and trying to justify it because you don't like the cruise line compensation model. 

Why not to include everything (cruise fare, port charges, gratuities/tips/whatever name is, taxes) in the actual cruise price?  You buy an item (a cruise) - you pay a price for it.  So much of "a good person/bad person" discussion would be eliminated.  Otherwise, time after time rhetorical arguing madness occurs like in this thread.

1 hour ago, Miloomar said:

You're looking at it backwards. It's not an upcharge to pick your own cabin, it's a discount to let royal stick you in whatever corner no one wants. 

Exactly!  I unsuccessfully tried to explain it in a different way.

4 minutes ago, Whinenowine said:

We took the domestic air credit for our Grandeur cruise out of Miami later this year. At $800/pp I thought it was quite generous, considering it's economy class. I used Avios on AA and for a paltry 33k miles/pp was able to get biz class tickets. I'd call that a win.

Did Regent increase it to $800 recently?  We had a December 2022 Regent cruise from Miami to LA, and the (economy) credit was $300 pp.

15 minutes ago, SUgwoz said:

In the case of freedom class weekend sailings this past December, there was balcony guarantees for $788 including taxes/fees three months prior to sailing. Some may think that should be the expected price, others may even think that's expensive.  I would consider that a discount.

It is a discount if the non-guaranteed price was more than $788 at least 1 day prior to the $788 guaranteed was introduced (regardless whether $788 for a balcony is considered expensive or expected).

48 minutes ago, KsucAts said:

 

If you buy something at a store and it costs $100 if you pay cash or $103 if you pay on your credit card, is it a $3 credit card fee or a $3 cash discount?  (call it what you want, but it is the same thing)

No, my point was totally different: when a cruise first released by a cruise line, typically there is no guaranteed cabin.  Then closer to a cruise date a cruise line might establish a guaranteed cabin for a particular category (say, inside).  In this case, obviously, the guaranteed price is a discount (one may not call a price with selected cabin as a fee, because it was established first).  Of course, if a person looks in a quote for the first time for a particular cruise ONLY after the guaranteed price is revealed (as in my example), that person might think (feel or consider) a price with selected cabin as a fee (but it will be just that - a feeling).

On 2/4/2024 at 9:07 AM, 2chiefs said:

You call it a discount, I call it an extra fee. Same thing. What's your point? My point was that it costs a lot more now to pick your own room.

It's not the same.  If a price with cabin selection is a base then a guaranteed lesser price (it used to be a standard way of pricing) is an actual discount.  A lot of times, by the way, the price is actually the same (between guaranteed and with selection cabins) by many cruise lines.  However, if a base is a guaranteed cabin with a lesser price then you are correct and "allowed" to complain (ha-ha!!!) if the price with a cabin selection is much higher.

On 2/4/2024 at 3:33 PM, TrixieBel said:

I work in an office in a city. There’s the same choice of places to get my lunch from every single work day and I tend to get similar things to eat each day. How is that any different? For breakfast at home I have 3 standard breakfasts. I don’t really expect anything more when on a cruise ship. And looking at the lunch menu now shared  on this thread, it looks like it would provide enough choice for me. 
 

it’s sad to see someone cancel a whole cruise based on this. But variety (in people) is the spice of our world.

The intension (and expectation for that matter) of cruising to have something totally different (including food experience) than in a regular life for many reasons (one of them a financial aspect - spending much more than in home daily routine).  Otherwise, why to bother to travel?

On 1/30/2024 at 6:52 PM, smillerholmes said:

I thought it was just me - thinking about 6,000 people on a ship freaks me out!

Think of it just as of a mass.  One will observe up to around 500 at any given time (at the embarkation just don't look around, and it's dark in the theater, anyway).

4 minutes ago, K32682 said:

 

Which topics would those be? There have always been "hot-button" issues that are best avoided in the MDR, at family holiday dinners and anywhere else you hope to have a civil conversation. 

Since when did “hot” topics become uncivil?  I don’t remember them that way prior to around 9 years ago.  It appears, the worst in people was developed (or swam up to the surface) since then.

22 minutes ago, d9704011 said:

I had to do a bit of research to understand that one....

I replied to myself accidentally (# 149).

38 minutes ago, kirtihk said:

Well,.. In the end, “we are all fruit.”

It’s a philosophical toast statement from “My big fat Greek wedding” movie.

18 minutes ago, d9704011 said:

Well, no wonder Canadians want to talk about US politics.

Well,.. In the end, “we are all fruit.”

3 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

I recall from scary stories that a human to a wolf is dinner.  

But what does “A human to a human is a wolf” mean?

The current topic is a perfect example of meaning (I just copied for a quick reply): Homo homini lupus, or in its unabridged form Homo homini lupus est, is a Latin proverb meaning "A man is a wolf to another man," or more tersely "Man is wolf to man." It is used to refer to situations where a person has behaved comparably to a wolf. In this case, the wolf represents predatory, cruel, and generally inhuman qualities; in essence, the person is held to be uncivilized.

On 1/29/2024 at 10:18 PM, Aquahound said:

 

Thank you!  In my experience, it's been Canadians.  No offense to our northern neighbors but gosh, when we meet them on board, it's almost always certain they will bring up politics....and not their politics but US politics.  Good heavens.  

Agree

On 1/28/2024 at 12:06 PM, Elaine5715 said:

I don't even ask "What do you do" so no, I an not engaging in any political, religious or even "which way does the toilet paper roll go?" discussions with strangers at dinner.  

A human to a human is a wolf.

On 1/28/2024 at 10:33 AM, not-enough-cruising said:

The ship will sail at 100%+ occupancy for years, it does not matter what you or any of us think about the pricing. 
I have a colleague that booked the Family Townhouse suite, he paid WELL into the 6 figure range. That cabin is fully booked for nearly 2 years

I wonder if another 0 is randomly added at the end of a price ($774,000 total cabin for 2), what a reply would be?

On 1/26/2024 at 4:14 PM, UKstages said:

i'm not happy unless my haven butler cuts my steak for me. small pieces. and then i very much enjoy when he or she feeds me, preferably while making airplane noises, while bringing each bite to my mouth in a circular motion. 

 

and i do love it so when peter max draws my bath.

 

literally.

 

i must have six or seven of his bath paintings. it's nice because my haven butler brings them to me and i don't have to deal with park west.

He or she must chew each piece first prior to inserting a mass to your mouth.

46 minutes ago, Travelling2Some said:

I actually did expect it.  I remember telling our kids a few years ago that if you want any big ticket items go buy them now because inflation is about to rise substantially.  You can't just keep spending and printing money to cover it.  The handwriting was all over that wall.  I also booked our travel as far out as I could (with refundable deposits) to lock in the prices.

Exactly!  And yet, so many people wonder why it’s happening now?  We also already booked a few cruise including 3 segments of the 2026 Silversea World cruise.  Yesterday I even poked to some Fall 2026 cruises (not much is available yet to select from).

On 1/13/2024 at 12:51 PM, TrumpyNor said:

It has definitely been a significant change (raise) in prices for cruising after the covid-19 pandemic. We used to book balcony cabins, or at least OW cabins, and now only can afford inside cabins - and even they have a hefty price tag. 

 

Btw; it is not only NCL  but all cruise lines. At least 4 that has been my impression. 

it's not only all cruise lines but all other business.  A rhetorical question: who might guess (imagine) that in March 2020?  I, actually, predicted it (among dozens of other nowadays "new world" items) during our the Ponant Le Soleal March 8-25 cruise.

On 1/9/2024 at 4:05 PM, Rustyman said:

That’s 2 people who say that they’ve witnessed this. In the UK this is an offence under Food Safety legislation as it is a offence “to sell food(includes drink) which is  not of the nature, substance or quality demanded by the purchaser”.

I would hope that anyone witnessing this on board would call it out and report it to the Hotel Manager. What is the point in buying anything on board if it has been subject to adulteration or switching.

I really hope that the allegations of pouring cheaper spirits into more expensive bottles are mistaken.

and it would scream for a potential product contamination, too.

On 1/11/2024 at 11:25 AM, Pinboy said:

Over the " years " we never had a bad cruise with Celebrity ( 2 cruises booked this winter )--

( Gotta get out of this cold )!!!!

Some thoughts from our prospective, respecting that everyone has their own opinions:

1- These three things are extremely important to us as well---

So, in the overall cruise " experience "-- Why take a chance in changing Cruise Lines because a ship is not as " refreshed " as the new ships ? 

We were on the Edge -- agree completely about the IV --- not a balcony at all.

2- If the Gratuities were included in the package , it's pretty certain they are built into the price.

We are not suite passengers ( non-drinkers, don't need much wifi, and wouldn't need the services of a Butler).

From the above, it appears that several suite passengers are not as satisfied with the Butler/Suite Host service as in the past. I can see some folks switching to Aqua/Concierge/Verandah cabins, but, not necessarily to another Line.

 

 

 

 

Logically, i should be true.  However, when gratuities were recently removed from a package, the package price was not reduced by a price of gratuities (actually, it was not reduced at all).  Also, a cruise price (varsus a price right before gratuities removal) was not reduced either.

4 hours ago, Bongomauka said:

Our primary insurance, which is our healthcare provider, has a third party company who handles these types of claims and has indicated that they will pay. The problem is that the cruise line, Oceania/Norwegian Cruise Lines Holdings, has claimed that they already paid. My primary insurance will reimburse them but need documentation of payment. Oceania/Norwegian Cruise Lines Holdings has not provided this necessary documentation after almost 3 months of misdirection, misinformation, and stalling. As all of our insurance policies that would cover this expense expire after one year after the incident, we have little time left to resolve this claim. If the deadline is past, we will then have to reimburse Oceania/Norwegian Cruise Lines Holdings ourselves, in spite of having primary, secondary, and even tertiary insurance coverage. The villain here is Oceania/Norwegian Cruise Lines Holdings. I don’t know of anyone who cruises or has plans to cruise with them who would not have second thoughts about stepping aboard their ships after learning of our nightmarish experience. 

If they refuse to supply a payment documentation, why would you have to reimburse them to begin with.  To me, they need to reimburse you for all your time spent to expedite this matter.