PATRLR

LOL. Well, yeah I do. Hence the question I asked:

Don't you find it odd that a supposed (based on OP's chosen title) Free at Sea is being charged for those drinks? That was my point.

The first two I agree with, however it's just an accounting exercise to say that the revenue from DSC goes to those two points. In other words, if they wanted to make that claim, they could. The third point I believe, based on @chengkp75s word and some other reading I've done, to be true. As it was explained, the variable component of the crew's salary is based on passenger load and collected DSC. If enough people withhold the DSC, the variable component of a certain crew's salary will go down for that sailing per their contract. How far down it can go is limited by a minimum salary the crew is guaranteed. that's how it's been explained and I choose to believe it to be correct. Fistfuls of cash, no. They get paid what their contracts say, and I believe their contracts include a variable component based on collected DSC. They can do what they want with the money at their sole discretion, I 100% agree, but, they are also obligated to pay their crew certain amounts. If they want to take the DSC and put it in their left pocket, and then pull money out of the right pocket to pay the crew, they can certainly do that.

@RocketMan275 Take a closer look at the picture OP posted. That receipt includes a charge fo the drinks themselves.

@PollyMurg The title says "When ‘Free at Sea’ is not Free at At Sea" Why are you being charged for drinks if you have Free at Sea? Seems like I'd be much more concerned about the $26.40 than the $4.84.

@chengkp75, a name many of us have to trust for his knowledge of the inner workings of the ships and NCL, has explained that there is in fact a direct correlation between the collected DSC and monetary benefit to the staff, per their contracts. I believe him. But the bottom line is, he's just another anonymous name on the internet so I certainly understand if others choose not to believe him.

I do remember that and I was quite surprised. So glad we did that excursion and I strongly encourage anyone on similar itineraries to do that excursion if offered.

Bird, I am curious why you wrote this. My only trip to Alaska was the 2018 Bliss trip that you were also on. I was also on the smaller ship excursion "TRACY ARM FJORD & GLACIER EXPLORER" which you were also on - I think we went up Endicott Arm to Dawes but now I honestly don't remember for sure. Regardless, I thought that was fantastic glacier viewing. So please tell me what makes Glacier Bay better or a "must do" compared to Dawes or Hubbard? I'm not being argumentative, I suppose I'm trying to build the case for going back 😉 Thank you.

OMG, am I glad I read this. I am currently struggling through planning a northern European cruise next summer and Prima is in the lead. I'd completely forgotten about its significant outdoor spaces and reports of not being a good cold-weather ship. That changes everything.

Thanks for the response. Can I ask what you did in each port? Was the scenery hile cruising an important part of it (ala Alaska)? I agree with your sentiment that most people don't go more than once, it's exactly why I am struggling with this decision.

I'm planning a Northern Europe cruise for the summer of 2024. Probably 10-12 days. Important stops are the Norwegian fjords, preferably at least 2 of Geiranger, Flåm, Olden or Skjolden. I want to hit Ålesund or Bergen (prefer Ålesund). Anything else is gravy. So, should we include an artic circle component? As I look at various itineraries with Artic Circle, it's basically 4 days: 2 sea days there and back and 2 days up there at Tromsø and Honningsvåg. Other than the midnight sun and different-looking coast (vs the deep fjords), what are the highlights? Is anything going to wow me? Researching those two ports, it doesn't seem like there is much there. I don't mean to disrespect these towns, I am sure they are gorgeous, but is it really worth the 4 days? I'm concluding it's not, but before I rule out those itineraries I want to be sure I'm not missing something. Thanks in advance.

@JamieLogical Always enjoyed your commentary over on the NCL boards. We're contemplating doing 11 or 12 nights on the Preziosa northern Europe next summer (Norway including Artic Circle). We've never been on MSC but it's much more reasonable price than some of the alternatives. So doing some reconnaissance here in this forum and looking forward to what you have to say about MSC. Enjoy your trip!

Keep in mind these stewards choose to work on the ships of their own free will and many of them re-up for multiple contracts year after year. It doesn't change the fact that perhaps they are wiped out exhausted at the end of turnover day, but, it's not like they were forced into some sort of slave labor ring.

Well, I suggest the tax is levied on all cruise passengers, regardless of the cruise line, who meet a certain criteria (e.g. while in a Spanish port). The tax is collected from NCL passengers while other cruise lines choose to pay the tax and not collect from the passengers. And that I believe is consistent with NCL's SOP.

Just curious, when are you going? We've got a med cruise booked in July 2024, round-trip Barcelona. We've not received any such communication

Ah - got it. And that makes sense. Shame they don't have a rib eye available without the extra charge.

Interesting. So just because it begins and ends in Barcelona, they have to collect VAT the entire cruise? But if it ended somewhere else, they wouldn't? I hope I'm not the only one who doesn't see how that makes sense. (I'm not saying it's wrong. I'm just saying it doesn't make sense to me.)

Interesting comments. I actually expected Haven to have fine dining similar to the way cruising used to have fine dining (I'm talking about back in the 80s and earlier). Disappointing if that's not the case. I thought you could ask for Specialty Dining meals, i.e. Cagneys rib-eye. Is that not correct? @BirdTravels - Great post, well done. Thank you.

One reason for at least some of these reports is click bait. Obviously I have no idea if that is the reason for whatever it is that you are referring to. I didn't realize your point was that you didn't like the way RCCL was conducting business. Nothing more to say about that. I don't have access to their contracts. You, me, @Vibe, and everyone else here are just anonymous people on the internet with zero credibility. But those who hang out over in the NCL forum have come to know one poster (chengkp) who was a former mechanical officer on NCL and other lines. He has explained the new form of crew contracts pretty well and according to him, what @Vibe wrote is correct - there is a fixed component of their compensation and a variable component based on collection of the daily charge. Why do I believe chengkp? After all, he's just one more anonymous poster on the internet. Over time, I've found that some people are just more credible, they build that credibility with what they write. I believe what chengkp writes.

Please enlighten us on who exactly gets a share of the collected gratuities and how you know that there are FAR FAR from 1800. And just how many are there if you know it's FAR FAR from 1800? My understanding is the collected gratuities are shared with most of the staff. I stand by the 1800 number until I see something more definitive.

I too have seen some of what the OP describes. It's not new, been going on for years. Not RCCL specific either, I've seen it on NCL and CCL. The effort to fill all these berths has essentially become a race to the bottom. The days of cruising being something special are long gone from the mainline brands (CCL, NCL, RCCL, etc). If you want that "special" experience you need to pay for it by stepping up to the upscale brands.

I was shocked on Oasis a couple of weeks ago to receive an envelope in my stateroom for tipping. Had blank space to indicate who it was for. Really? We already paid our tips and now you give me an envelope to send the clear message that more is expected? I call BS! FWIW, we asked our steward if he got the money if we filled out the envelope with his name on it. He said no. Obviously, I have no way to know if that is true. We handed cash directly to anyone we felt went above and beyond. 2300 crew, let's say 500 are officers and entertainers (I'm sure that is too high). 750K/1800 staff is about $420/week or $60 day. That doesn't seem like too much to me.

In addition the the earlier suggestions, you could also call the hotel. If I understand you correctly, NCL has booked these rooms on your behalf and you are paying NCL for the rooms, right? In that case, don't be surprised if you don't earn any points or nights credit for the room. You should get points for any expenditures you make while there (dining, etc).

Agreed, we will miss you. What a shame. I'm sure my opinion will be in the minority, but, that one item was probably the highlight of our experience at Ocean Blue last November.

They should be able to use the OBC once they are onboard to buy the thermal pass right? So your point/question is to use it before they get on board?