VIP Priority Plus

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Again, it's not about who was in Cagney's or who was a VIP vs. a suite guest. That is not relevant. What is relevant is offering something to one group of people at a bargain basement price, and offering it to another group at a premium price. That's bad business and just alienates passengers.

 

 

It's so not the same the vip99 doesn't compare to being a suite guest. You don't get priority embarkment you will be hearded in with the masses, younwont get your fancy luggage tags, you won't get a bigger room you won't get the beautiful bathroom you won't get a letter from the consigneor asking what types of pillows you would like you won't get a butler to bring you snacks very day or whatever it is you need, you won't get that great lavazza coffee maker, you won't get VIP seating in the theatre or escorted in. If you are ok with not having those things then by all means save yourself $3,000. There is a HUGE difference in a suite guest still and the vip99 package.

[CasinoCruzGirl]

I think the thread participants here are being fairly disingenuous about the difference between suite perks and VIP99 perks. It's a bit ridiculous to say that $99 gets "the same perks" or "almost the same perks" or "most of..."

 

Let's remind everyone of what is included in NCL's VIPP99 package. While we do that, let's highlight what the two offerings have in common.

 

The VIP Priority package includes:

• Daily Breakfast and Lunch in Cagney’s Restaurant for all Ships, except Norwegian Sun, Jewel, Breakaway, Getaway and Epic. Breakfast and Lunch will be served in La Cucina on Norwegian Sun and in Moderno’s on Norwegian Jewel.
  
• On Norwegian Breakaway, Getaway, and Epic, guests can order from an upgraded Breakfast Room Service Menu PLUS one free banquet seating admission per person to either Cirque Dreams & Dinner on Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Epic or The Illusionarium on Norwegian Getaway.
  
• Invitation to the Captain’s Party.
  
• Complimentary hors d’oeuvres delivered twice per week per stateroom
  
• One bottle of sparkling wine per stateroom (sort of not really quite exactly the same...)
  
• One 8”X10” or 6”X8” photo per person.
  
• Priority tender and disembarkation. (note this does not include priority boarding, so, it's close, but not exactly the same)
  

 

Now, let's take a peek at some suite exclusive amenities. You can say that up until this point as a suite guest that you didn't use/want any of these suite amenities, but please stop saying suite perks and VIP99 are virtually identical. They are not...

 

Special Services

• Distinctive keycard
  
• Butler & concierge service
  
• Butler to unpack your luggage
  

 

Eats, Treats and Libations

• Champagne, custom selection of liquor**, fruit, bottled water and sodas
  
• Sparkling wine, bottled water and fruit on Embarkation Day
  
• Mini-bar and espresso/cappuccino machine
  
• 24-hour Room Service
  
• Specialty dining delivered to your suite from any restaurant (cover charges apply)
  
• Treats delivered right to your door each night
  

 

Thoughtful Touches

• Bliss Collection by Norwegian™ pillow-top mattress
  
• Fine linens, feather duvet and pillow menu
  
• Plush bathrobes, slippers and towels
  

 

Arrival and Departure

• Priority embarkation and disembarkation
  
• Escort to suite
  
• Priority boarding of tenders to shore
  
• Complimentary limousine service from pier to airport***
  

 

*Square footage and stateroom configuration and capacities vary by ship. Actual amenities vary by ship and category.

 

**3-Bedroom Garden Villa, Deluxe Owner's Suite with Large Balcony and Owner's Suite with Large Balcony only.

***3-Bedroom Garden Villa Only.

 

 

Lmao you beat me to it we were totally thinking the same thing at the same time

[mydreamvacation]

PlUS one free banquet seating admission per person to either Cirque Dreams & Dinner on Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Epic or The Illusionarium on Norwegian getaway

[*]

[*]One 8”X10” or 6”X8” photo per person.

Thanks for pointing that out. In my suite I have to pay additional money for the illusionariam and a photo

[KateQ22003]

It's so not the same the vip99 doesn't compare to being a suite guest. You don't get priority embarkment you will be hearded in with the masses, younwont get your fancy luggage tags, you won't get a bigger room you won't get the beautiful bathroom you won't get a letter from the consigneor asking what types of pillows you would like you won't get a butler to bring you snacks very day or whatever it is you need, you won't get that great lavazza coffee maker, you won't get VIP seating in the theatre or escorted in. If you are ok with not having those things then by all means save yourself $3,000. There is a HUGE difference in a suite guest still and the vip99 package.

 

1. If you are platinum you get priority embarkment.

2. Fancy luggage tags? Have you seen them? They aren't fancy, just printed for you. And on this last cruise they never came.

3. Bigger room and bathroom, yes. $3000 bigger and better? No.

4. pillows? really? The pillows on the bed are just fine. I did ask for a wedge pillow from the menu so I could read in bed; they didn't have any. I guarantee if you are in a balcony room and don't like your pillow, they will bring you different ones; you don't need to be in a suite.

5. So for 5 days I won't get stale sandwiches and chips. Big deal. For 2 days we got peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. No lie. And no, we have no kids.

6. Who needs a Lavassa coffee maker? Room service brings a great pot of coffee, and you can get french press if you want it. We never used the Lavassa; too rugged for me.

7. Never once have I been escorted into the theater, and we have sailed twice in an owner's suite. Reserved seating, yes, but it is lousy seating. We like sitting on the floor and being nearer the action.

 

So, you think these items are worth $3000? I guess value is subjective, because none of these impress me. We like the Cagney's benefit the most; it is a very peaceful meal experience.

[CasinoCruzGirl]

1. If you are platinum you get priority embarkment.

2. Fancy luggage tags? Have you seen them? They aren't fancy, just printed for you. And on this last cruise they never came.

3. Bigger room and bathroom, yes. $3000 bigger and better? No.

4. pillows? really? The pillows on the bed are just fine. I did ask for a wedge pillow from the menu so I could read in bed; they didn't have any. I guarantee if you are in a balcony room and don't like your pillow, they will bring you different ones; you don't need to be in a suite.

5. So for 5 days I won't get stale sandwiches and chips. Big deal. For 2 days we got peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. No lie. And no, we have no kids.

6. Who needs a Lavassa coffee maker? Room service brings a great pot of coffee, and you can get french press if you want it. We never used the Lavassa; too rugged for me.

7. Never once have I been escorted into the theater, and we have sailed twice in an owner's suite. Reserved seating, yes, but it is lousy seating. We like sitting on the floor and being nearer the action.

 

So, you think these items are worth $3000? I guess value is subjective, because none of these impress me. We like the Cagney's benefit the most; it is a very peaceful meal experience.

 

 

Sound to me you would be much happier in a non suite. If all the perks that come with a suite do not impress you then why do you get one? Just for the cagneys benefit? That can't possibly be the only reason.

[janpo]

I'm thinking the view of the world while looking down your nose may distort things.

[KateQ22003]

Sound to me you would be much happier in a non suite. If all the perks that come with a suite do not impress you then why do you get one? Just for the cagneys benefit? That can't possibly be the only reason.

 

We actually love the Cagney's benefit; it is our main reason for booking a suite (as crazy as that sounds). We also loved the priority embarkation and disembarkation, but we get these now as we have just hit platinum. We also enjoy having a butler, but we don't use his/her services enough to spend the extra money. If I can get Cagney's, the Captain's party and the other items for $99 a person, that's a no-brainer.

[KateQ22003]

I'm thinking the view of the world while looking down your nose may distort things.

 

What does this thread have to do with looking down your nose? It's about money, period.

[janpo]

What does this thread have to do with looking down your nose? It's about money, period.

 

Doesn't come across that way.

 

Last week while in O'sheehans for breakfast there was an older lady and gentleman sitting next to us.

 

She ordered her juice and then questioned the waiter if the juice was fresh squeezed. It took him off guard. He again told her what kinds of juices they had. She got upset, asked him again if it was fresh squeezed and then proceeded to shake her head like he was dumb.

 

Who came across looking bad? She did. The world is not all about one person.

Edited September 24, 2014 by janpo

[KateQ22003]

Doesn't come across that way.

 

Last week while in O'sheehans for breakfast there was an older lady and gentleman sitting next to us.

 

She ordered her juice and then questioned the waiter if the juice was fresh squeezed. It took him off guard. He again told her what kinds of juices they had. She got upset, asked him again if it was fresh squeezed and then proceeded to shake her head like he was dumb.

 

Who came across looking bad? She did. The world is not all about one person.

 

That is a horrible person. What does that have to do with this thread?

[janpo]

That is a horrible person. What does that have to do with this thread?

 

 

Seriously?????

[mydreamvacation]

Doesn't come across that way.

 

Last week while in O'sheehans for breakfast there was an older lady and gentleman sitting next to us.

 

She ordered her juice and then questioned the waiter if the juice was fresh squeezed. It took him off guard. He again told her what kinds of juices they had. She got upset, asked him again if it was fresh squeezed and then proceeded to shake her head like he was dumb.

 

Who came across looking bad? She did. The world is not all about one person.

 

What's wrong with asking if juice is fresh squeezed? A waiter should know if it is or not. My guess is not fresh squeezed. I personally don't drink juice so I could care less but apparently juice is a priority for that lady. I don't see anything wrong about the question. It's not like she was demanding he squeese it for her

[janpo]

What's wrong with asking if juice is fresh squeezed? A waiter should know if it is or not. My guess is not fresh squeezed. I personally don't drink juice so I could care less but apparently juice is a priority for that lady. I don't see anything wrong about the question. It's not like she was demanding he squeese it for her

 

 

And again I'll say seriously???

 

Tone is everything. Talking down to her waiter must have made her feel good. Pretty sure it didn't make the waiter feel good.

[mydreamvacation]

And again I'll say seriously???

 

Tone is everything. Talking down to her waiter must have made her feel good. Pretty sure it didn't make the waiter feel good.

 

Sorry I don't get what is wrong with asking a waiter a question about the food or beverage he or she serves. But at any rate it really has nothing to do with the thread.

[KateQ22003]

Seriously?????

 

Seriously. The thread is about the $99 VIP package. What does this woman's rudeness have to do with that?

[Seanote]

1. If you are platinum you get priority embarkment.

 

 

Is this new?

 

I have been Platinum for several years and I just get handed a group boarding card like everyone else when I arrive at the port, based upon when I arrived.

[jackson bernard]

We were in a suite last week on the getaway. The only thing we liked was the priority embarkation and the escort to illusionarium. We did not care for the dinner choices in the haven restaurant, and only went to breakfast there once as we don't need to be fussed over so much for breakfast. The buffet was great for breakfast.

 

As for the other perks, we could have done without the snacks the butler brought as most times went uneaten. We also did not have any use for the concierge as we prebooked all our reservations. For us, back to a regular cabin if we cruise with them again.

[rochelle_s]

What does this thread have to do with looking down your nose? It's about money, period.

 

So now you are an even happier NCL customer? This program will enable you the cruise experience you want at a price thousands less than you have been frequently paying in the past! Why is it that you do not sound happy about it? If I found a way I could regularly save a few thousand dollars and doing so had no impact on my enjoyment I would be all over that opportunity and doing a Happy Dance!

 

 

Rochelle

[jaja]

some posters are really missing the point here. It's not about "elite" vs. "steerage", it's not about "some getting what they shouldn't", it's about dollars and cents. I just came off two cruises on the norwegian dawn back-to-back; i was in a balcony the first week and a suite the second. The difference in fare for the two rooms was just shy of $3000. Now i'm learning that i could have paid the balcony rate plus $99 per person for the same perks that i got in the suite; only difference being a butler and the extra space. How many of you would pay $3000 to have a butler for a week and a bigger cabin? I sure won't. That is real money to all of us, whether you consider yourself "steerage" or "elite".

 

 

This is an interesting topic and i hope it continues to be productive; it will certainly affect my booking choices going forward. Please let's not turn this into a class battle; it's not. It is about what some people are paying a lot for being offered for next to nothing to others.

 

like;)

[SissasMomE]

Seriously, people book a suite just for one perq? $5,100 for breakfast and lunch in Cagney's? If that's the only reason one books a suite . . . :rolleyes: :eek:

 

Uh no. I booked the suite because I wanted the suite :rolleyes:

[SissasMomE]

Again, it's not about who was in Cagney's or who was a VIP vs. a suite guest. That is not relevant. What is relevant is offering something to one group of people at a bargain basement price, and offering it to another group at a premium price. That's bad business and just alienates passengers.

 

Exactly the point.

[KateQ22003]

So now you are an even happier NCL customer? This program will enable you the cruise experience you want at a price thousands less than you have been frequently paying in the past! Why is it that you do not sound happy about it? If I found a way I could regularly save a few thousand dollars and doing so had no impact on my enjoyment I would be all over that opportunity and doing a Happy Dance!

 

 

Rochelle

 

Actually, I will probably be a happy customer on another cruise line!

[rochelle_s]

Actually, I will probably be a happy customer on another cruise line!

 

That's really unfortunate. Is it because of something on your recent back to back?

 

 

Rochelle

[SissasMomE]

Actually, I will probably be a happy customer on another cruise line!

 

Yeah, like RCL ;) Bigger suites and bigger balconies :D Some of the responses you are receiving are .... well, nevermind ;)

[SissasMomE]

We were in a suite last week on the getaway. The only thing we liked was the priority embarkation and the escort to illusionarium. We did not care for the dinner choices in the haven restaurant, and only went to breakfast there once as we don't need to be fussed over so much for breakfast. The buffet was great for breakfast.

 

As for the other perks, we could have done without the snacks the butler brought as most times went uneaten. We also did not have any use for the concierge as we prebooked all our reservations. For us, back to a regular cabin if we cruise with them again.

 

We normally eat out by the pool. On occassion, towards the end of the cruise usually, we will go to the MDR for lunch. It is always quiet, and a nice change. I have no use for a butler, as we aren't a cabin-dwelling family. For the premium price, however, you definitely should be receiving more .... maybe they will make changes to the suite perks. Who knows.