Nickle and dime

[newmexicoNita]

I too think that is quite steep. Initially the concept on the specialty restaurants was for a "nominal additional fee". This is much more than "nominal".

 

Now I know there are lots of people who will say you don't have to eat there, and that is true and I do not have a problem with that. Where I do have a problem is, if one chooses to only eat in the MDR's and the food or service has been diminished over the years, in favor of the specialty restaurants, then that is not right.

 

The 2 other times I cruised, in the late 90's, I found the MDR's to be outstanding, (Premier and Carnival). Always very good and tasty, outstanding service, etc. Yet many here on CC have told me that it's no longer like that on most of the cruise lines and ships. So one of the big draws about cruising, that almost all is paid for, has really been diminished if this is what they are doing.

 

FYI, on my upcoming cruise, we plan to only eat in the MDR's and make the best of it. I hope to be pleasantly surprised and find it better than what many have said it to be like.

if you found the food, in the late 90s on Carnival and Premier outstanding I am sure you will not be disappointed in NCLs food. At the time you are referring to: Premier was almost under water and Carnival did not have decent food at that time.

[LizG12]

.... Where I do have a problem is, if one chooses to only eat in the MDR's and the food or service has been diminished over the years, in favor of the specialty restaurants, then that is not right.

 

The 2 other times I cruised, in the late 90's, I found the MDR's to be outstanding, (Premier and Carnival). Always very good and tasty, outstanding service, etc. Yet many here on CC have told me that it's no longer like that on most of the cruise lines and ships. So one of the big draws about cruising, that almost all is paid for, has really been diminished if this is what they are doing.

 

FYI, on my upcoming cruise, we plan to only eat in the MDR's and make the best of it. I hope to be pleasantly surprised and find it better than what many have said it to be like.

 

I was on Breakaway a few weeks ago, and Dawn about 2 yrs ago. I didn't eat at any of the speciality restaurants and I had perfectly good meals in all the restaurants I was at.

 

I wasn't over-the-top thrilled with Breakaway (in general, not just the MDR) but I certainly wasn't sacrificing anything by staying out of the speciality restaurants. I thought Breakaway was a little more obvious than Dawn with the "we have cafe/drinks/restaurants for an extra charge" attitude.

 

I cruised Carnival (and a few others) back in the 90's too, and I don't remember the food quality that clearly, but I do feel that there's a less formal (? not sure that's the right word) attitude overall now on the ships than back then. Not just the dining rooms.

[bonniboo1]

I always respect what Nita says and I totally agree with her.

[staceyeileen]

I am a pretty experienced cruiser, but I have never sailed NCL. I am booked for an upcoming Getaway sailing, so have just recently started doing my NCL research. To be honest, I have been a bit surprised at the number of things that cost extra on NCL. It's not the specialty restaurants that bother me so much because I am used that on the other lines. I've never regretted paying for a specialty restaurants because the experience is usually extra special!

 

It's the other food/activities that seem to be upcharged for inconsistently that have surprised me. What I mean is, if I order pizza from room service I get charged $5 but a burger is free? If I want to bowl I get charged, but mini golf or rock climbing is free? There just doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the upcharges.

[LizG12]

What I mean is, if I order pizza from room service I get charged $5 but a burger is free?

 

I heard that the pizza charge came up because they were getting prank orders (people would order pizza to be delivered to a cabin and when the pizza got there, nobody in the cabin had ordered the pizza.) Same kind of reasoning for the after-midnight room service charge

[SeaShark]

I heard that the pizza charge came up because they were getting prank orders (people would order pizza to be delivered to a cabin and when the pizza got there, nobody in the cabin had ordered the pizza.) Same kind of reasoning for the after-midnight room service charge

 

It's kind of "odd" that you "heard" this...especially considering that NCL only introduced whole pizza delivery in the last couple of years and it has ALWAYS had a $5 delivery charge.

 

I can't imagine how somebody could have prank ordered anything considering a) the service wasn't available, and b) they have caller ID on the phone system so they would know where you were calling from anyway.

[Will Sail For Food]

The pictures I've seen of the pizza look fantastic! Order before midnight or it's $8.95. It's my understanding that this isn't just "room service", but that you can have the pizza delivered anywhere - like lounging by the pool, etc. Is this true?

Edited January 14, 2014 by Will Sail For Food

[Walt724]

I agree. If you have a token fee, much less chance for waste.

:D

Am I on the Disney vs Ncl thread. I thought that the was the Nickle and Dimed. Lol

 

Same thing evidently...Nickel = NCL Dimed = Disney :D

[DMH15]

I'm a foodie and do NOT consider Cagney's anything close to Outback.

As a matter of fact.....I refuse to go to Outback.

 

You are really saying that the food, service, etc. is the same at Outback as it is at Cagney's?

 

Harriet

I am right there with ya, Harriet!

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

[tiffygirl]

I am a pretty experienced cruiser, but I have never sailed NCL. I am booked for an upcoming Getaway sailing, so have just recently started doing my NCL research. To be honest, I have been a bit surprised at the number of things that cost extra on NCL. It's not the specialty restaurants that bother me so much because I am used that on the other lines. I've never regretted paying for a specialty restaurants because the experience is usually extra special!

 

It's the other food/activities that seem to be upcharged for inconsistently that have surprised me. What I mean is, if I order pizza from room service I get charged $5 but a burger is free? If I want to bowl I get charged, but mini golf or rock climbing is free? There just doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the upcharges.

 

name me one cruise line that will deliver a large pie pizza to you anywhere on the ship 24 hours a day....we are talking a large pizza. in fact tell me what land base resturant will deliver a large pizza anyway you want it for $5. we are not talking by the slice here. on, carnival you got to go and get it and there is most always a line...royal Caribbean the same thing, both are by the slice and neither are 24 hours....it's $5 on NCL...why would they charge you for 1 hamburger, that does not make business sense.

 

room service 'after hours 'is $3.95 if you don't want to pay it...get up and go to the 24 hour restaurant and bring the food back to your room. the wait staff will wrap your plate up for and give you silverware...easy breezy.

 

bowling..in its very nature is going to be a charge. its only 2 lanes...if it is free imagine the 'bowlers' will play all day. and the complaints will be crazy because of 'lane hoggers'. $5 a game allows for some capacity control. ...putt- putt the game is designed you have to finish the course and it moves so other can always play...same thing with rock climbing..no one climbs that all day plus they have attendants for safety also limited hours on both. so if you think about it,it does make some logical sense from a business standpoint.

 

it seems that its 'extra' cost on NCL because the other lines don't offer it the extra amenities that NCL is offering you. its a choice....take it or leave it...

 

some cruises I left all the extras alone...and others I took it all they offered...

 

NCL is not forcing any to pay for more than the actual cruise fare. when you board everything else is your personal decision.

 

now what,I wont spend money on again is iconcierge....order the pizza instead:D

[swedish weave]

When I hear or see the "Nickel and Dime" comment, I feel like I am in a parrot cage. Some hear it and repeat it until they believe it !!!

[antsnanny]

I'm a foodie and do NOT consider Cagney's anything close to Outback.

As a matter of fact.....I refuse to go to Outback.

 

You are really saying that the food, service, etc. is the same at Outback as it is at Cagney's?

 

Harriet

Ditto, Harriet. What I don't get here is every cruise line has at least 1 specialty restaurants and they all charge about the same amount. Why because Norwegian has more choices is it considered nickel and dining?

[artist47]

I really tend to agree with the OP. I don't like using such a broad brush in most cases, but in general, I agree what he/she is saying.

 

I have cruised since the early 90's, about 20 years. It has been a few years since I took my last one (on Princess in 2006.) But in all, I have about 20 cruises under my belt, mostly with NCL, RCI, Princess and Celebrity. (A couple with Carnival also). I just don't understand all the complaining.

 

In general, I feel privileged to be able to take cruise vacations and I am grateful for the (mostly) outstanding service I (almost) always receive and for the choices I am given. I remember when "alternative dining" was first offered ---if I remember right, it was first introduced on Princess. (I could be wrong). In any case, what is the big deal? If you don't want it, don't buy it.

 

Even in todays rotten economy, cruising is still, and always has been, the most cost effective way to vacation, even if you are going solo (like I am now). In the past, I was married and benefitted from dbl occ rates, and/or my child was going, but in the main...even as a solo now, I still find the pricing and value far better than what I would be able to acheive on a land-based vacation, when all incidentals are calculated.

 

Cruising is not just about us having a good time - if the lines don't make a profit, they cannot stay in business. It's that simple. If I cannot afford something aboard, I don't buy it. But I'm thankful that OTHERS can afford it...because that means more on the bottom line for the company and that means, that in the future, I will still get to cruise.

 

In all, over the 20 years I've been taking cruises, I've noticed a few things:

a) the ppl that complain about pricing the most are those most able to afford it.

b) the ppl that complain about food quality the most are those that freely admit they would NEVER pay for 5 star quality on land. (Wierd.)

c) the ppl that complain about the pricing of drinks are usually the heaviest drinkers...hmmmmmm......

 

I'm not trying to cast aspersions on anyone...I'm simply offering my own anecdotal experiences with people onboard.

 

Also, I have noticed that the happiest people on board, are those who don't complain about anything. Seems a wise attitude to me.

Peace to all.

[hollybericus]

All that except soda is included on NCL, and the soda card is about $6 per day (I don't drink soda, so I don't know for sure). Plus iced tea and a few flavored waters.

 

6.50 for Adults 4.50 for Kids, not much but it does add up to about $150 for a family of 4! This is my one pet peeve I have about ncl! Lol. Disney has soda machines set up too, so you can help yourself. NCL charges you the $150 but it always seems to be a pain to get a soda, and you end up paying for it in the shops, mini bar, etc. all the time!

[emcelh]

6.50 for Adults 4.50 for Kids, not much but it does add up to about $150 for a family of 4! This is my one pet peeve I have about ncl! Lol. Disney has soda machines set up too, so you can help yourself. NCL charges you the $150 but it always seems to be a pain to get a soda, and you end up paying for it in the shops, mini bar, etc. all the time!

 

True, but every time I've compared prices I could buy a lot of soda for the difference in fare.

[Demonyte]

6.50 for Adults 4.50 for Kids, not much but it does add up to about $150 for a family of 4! This is my one pet peeve I have about ncl! Lol. Disney has soda machines set up too, so you can help yourself. NCL charges you the $150 but it always seems to be a pain to get a soda, and you end up paying for it in the shops, mini bar, etc. all the time!

 

True, but every time I've compared prices I could buy a lot of soda for the difference in fare.

 

Yep, one needs to compare the total - no way can you get a family of 4 to Disney Cruise for the same period and similar cabin for measly $150 more than you could to NCL. Of course there are more differences like the ability to bring your own alcohol onboard etc, but still Disney costs a lot, lot more than NCL.

 

And what comes to getting soda, I never have had any problems waiting for service and therefore not needed to buy them from shops or take them from the mini bar (in fact, we always ask the mini bar to be emptied on embarkation day so there is nothing else than our own drinks there).

 

Of course if you drink sodas constantly, then having to wait for a bit at a bar for each fill-up might be annoying - but then again, drinking that much soda is definitely not good for you either - diet version or not. ;)

[newmexicoNita]

name me one cruise line that will deliver a large pie pizza to you anywhere on the ship 24 hours a day....we are talking a large pizza. in fact tell me what land base resturant will deliver a large pizza anyway you want it for $5. we are not talking by the slice here. on, carnival you got to go and get it and there is most always a line...royal Caribbean the same thing, both are by the slice and neither are 24 hours....it's $5 on NCL...why would they charge you for 1 hamburger, that does not make business sense.

 

room service 'after hours 'is $3.95 if you don't want to pay it...get up and go to the 24 hour restaurant and bring the food back to your room. the wait staff will wrap your plate up for and give you silverware...easy breezy.

 

bowling..in its very nature is going to be a charge. its only 2 lanes...if it is free imagine the 'bowlers' will play all day. and the complaints will be crazy because of 'lane hoggers'. $5 a game allows for some capacity control. ...putt- putt the game is designed you have to finish the course and it moves so other can always play...same thing with rock climbing..no one climbs that all day plus they have attendants for safety also limited hours on both. so if you think about it,it does make some logical sense from a business standpoint.

 

it seems that its 'extra' cost on NCL because the other lines don't offer it the extra amenities that NCL is offering you. its a choice....take it or leave it...

 

some cruises I left all the extras alone...and others I took it all they offered...

 

NCL is not forcing any to pay for more than the actual cruise fare. when you board everything else is your personal decision.

 

now what,I wont spend money on again is iconcierge....order the pizza instead:D

 

I had not intended on answering this thread again, but I have to agree with you completely. I really do not get this nickel and diming stuff. Of course they charge for bowling, how many lines have ships with bowling alleys and if they do, pray tell are they free? The same with the spa, most lines are now charging to spa usage. The only thing I will say is over the top but you don't have to take part is: Bingo. NCL does charge a lot to play. Other than that, I really would have to see someone do a comparison and post it here before I would agree NCL is over the top with extra charges.

[bonniboo1]

Well said everyone

[tiffygirl]

I had not intended on answering this thread again, but I have to agree with you completely. I really do not get this nickel and diming stuff. Of course they charge for bowling, how many lines have ships with bowling alleys and if they do, pray tell are they free? The same with the spa, most lines are now charging to spa usage. The only thing I will say is over the top but you don't have to take part is: Bingo. NCL does charge a lot to play. Other than that, I really would have to see someone do a comparison and post it here before I would agree NCL is over the top with extra charges.

 

you are right about BINGO....it is expensive. I remember back in the day you could get 5 cards for $10. that was when they had the old fashion bingo cards...now they have this punch out recycleable paper that probably cost less then .25 give you a 'package deal' for $40 or more....I do NOT play. that is like gambling to me...i need something in my hand (shoes,handbag) for that money.

 

With that being said someone (for that i despise him :D) turned me on to those little machines in the casino where are you have to do is swipe your card $1 and you move the knob key in the hole and you can win money, ipads, dr. dre beats...ect...i had dayum near 30 $1 charges on my account....LOL...they got me on that one.....! i was sooo close each time!!:D:D:rolleyes: then i got my whole family trying to win...that's how they getcha!!

Edited January 15, 2014 by tiffygirl

[Bocadude85]

Hardly a fair comparison: if you are able to pick you seats without paying extra on AA you are a very frequent flyer, not just an occasional vacation traveler. We also fly AA almost exclusively but we also have to pay extra because we do not have enough miles to be gold or anything near.

 

I do not fly enough to be Gold by any means. I go to AA.com and I log into my AA advantage account and book my flights. Once the flight is paid for I go back to my advantage account and click my trips and then select the flight I booked. Then there is a link you can click that says change seats, a seating map comes up and you pick the seats you want. The only thing I could think of that would be any different from anyone else is that I have the Citi AA credit card but I seriously doubt that has anything to do with it.

Edited January 15, 2014 by Bocadude85

[Oh away I go!]

I love choices so much I booked "The Ultimate Dining Package" for my spring cruise in April and my Thanksgiving cruise :p

 

It's nice to have choices...and I sooooo love the specialty restaurants!

[mpk218]

I love choices so much I booked "The Ultimate Dining Package" for my spring cruise in April and my Thanksgiving cruise :p

 

It's nice to have choices...and I sooooo love the specialty restaurants!

 

Thats great that you chose to have choices ,, Its the only way ;)

[antsnanny]

you are right about BINGO....it is expensive. I remember back in the day you could get 5 cards for $10. that was when they had the old fashion bingo cards...now they have this punch out recycleable paper that probably cost less then .25 give you a 'package deal' for $40 or more....I do NOT play. that is like gambling to me...i need something in my hand (shoes,handbag) for that money.

 

With that being said someone (for that i despise him :D) turned me on to those little machines in the casino where are you have to do is swipe your card $1 and you move the knob key in the hole and you can win money, ipads, dr. dre beats...ect...i had dayum near 30 $1 charges on my account....LOL...they got me on that one.....! i was sooo close each time!!:D:D:rolleyes: then i got my whole family trying to win...that's how they getcha!!

 

LOL.. I know exactly what your talking about, I tried it a few times myself. I seem to think the younger generation,having so much experience on video games would kick butt on those machines. I loose interest and go back to the slots! Good luck next time.

[tiffygirl]

LOL.. I know exactly what your talking about, I tried it a few times myself. I seem to think the younger generation,having so much experience on video games would kick butt on those machines. I loose interest and go back to the slots! Good luck next time.

 

LOL...No next time.....I discovered that machine on the last day of the cruise imagine if i had discovered it in the beginning. I would be on cruise critic blaming NCL for Nickle and diming me and making me spend all my money!

 

....NO NEXT time...haha!

[hpecorari]

LOL...No next time.....I discovered that machine on the last day of the cruise imagine if i had discovered it in the beginning. I would be on cruise critic blaming NCL for Nickle and diming me and making me spend all my money!

 

....NO NEXT time...haha!

 

My 40 years old niece decided to try this the last night of our

Breakaway cruise.....for 'laughs and giggles'. Just $3.00 in she

won $500.00! If I didn't see it with my own eyes I wouldn't have

believed it!

 

Harriet