VIP Priority Plus

[garycarla]

Something not one of us thought about......boy are we dumb myself included....this evidently has been going on for several weeks...has anyone mentioned it impacting them on any cruise on any ship? This is not just starting tomorrow its been going on for several weeks I have not heard one word about it being inconvenient in any thread for any ship. Enough said.

 

Well said.

 

People seem to like to bitch about stuff that is not an issue, but MIGHT be an issue.

 

We have had the ability to use Cagneys as a suite guest and/or a Casino VIP. We are always amazed how few people use it.

Edited September 24, 2014 by garycarla

[njhorseman]

Well said.

 

People seem to like to bitch about stuff that is not an issue, but MIGHT be an issue.

 

We have had the ability to use Cagneys as a suite guest and/or a Casino VIP. We are always amazed how few people use it.

 

I can't speak for others, but the only thing I've complained about is the effect on my wallet, and that is a very real issue, not a hypothetical.

[CPT Trips]

Just to make a point ... our suite booked on the Epic was $6,800. Not cheap. The aft-facing balcony for the same sailing was $1,700. I can definitely understand why folks are upset.

 

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:

[mpk218]

I will vote with my wallet. Either NCL will get a lot less of my money because I'll be booking a much cheaper cabin on their ships or they'll get none of my money when I start booking on more upscale cruise lines.

 

In a Nut Shell ;)

[herdingdogmom]

Isn't that funny? We were on the Star in early October for the TA and had great service in Cagney's! So much so that we never ordered in.

 

It's amazing how things seem to change from cruise to cruise.

 

I just noticed that you were in the Garden villa on the Star. We were in a lower end suite on deck 12 on the cruise before yours. The poster I was responding to is in an aft penthouse next year.

 

I'm pretty sure the service level you receive in a Garden Villa is far different than the regular suites. As others have suggested here, this $99 VIP offer will likely be a non event for suite cruisers. You are checked in at Cagneys for breakfast and lunch. They know your stateroom number and which suite you are in or if you are in a mini or balcony with the $99 package.

 

I hope the VIP package is a success and is offered on our cruise on the Sun over a year from now. There are very few suites on that ship so we booked a mini suite and the La Cucina breakfast option would certainly be worth it for us.

[SuiteCruiser]

I just noticed that you were in the Garden villa on the Star. We were in a lower end suite on deck 12 on the cruise before yours. The poster I was responding to is in an aft penthouse next year.

 

I'm pretty sure the service level you receive in a Garden Villa is far different than the regular suites. As others have suggested here, this $99 VIP offer will likely be a non event for suite cruisers. You are checked in at Cagneys for breakfast and lunch. They know your stateroom number and which suite you are in or if you are in a mini or balcony with the $99 package.

 

I hope the VIP package is a success and is offered on our cruise on the Sun over a year from now. There are very few suites on that ship so we booked a mini suite and the La Cucina breakfast option would certainly be worth it for us.

 

Something interesting, though. One day we went for lunch and we had to either share with another group or wait for a table at Cagney's! That only ever happened one time, and it was when were in the Garden Villa. We met a nice couple as we had lunch with them, but it does go to show that sometimes there are waits.

[SuiteCruiser]

That's exactly what I have been saying through the this entire thread. On the bigger ships who is it hurting by buying this VIP priority plus package? No one. I don't understand all the drama. I asked a simple question when I started this thread because it sounded like a great deal. I hate to say it but some people sound like they are being snobs not wanting to be near the steerage passengers. But the funny thing is no one will know who bought the package or who isn't suite guest. Like I said earlier it's not like s big red tag will be placed on people's foreheards.

 

Thanks for your input. I was feeling like I was nuts to not worry about it lol (and yes I have a balcony cabin on one cruise and a suite on another and am a CAS guest.

 

I don't think too many people are concerned with people getting the VIP package on the new ships. Most of the discussion is about the other ships.

[mpk218]

They should drop the term suite with the exception of OS and above , right? In recent past on NCL a fair number of the suites were defined merely by the perks. How is a mini suite any different than an aft facing "Romance suite / penthouse ,, same cabin no perks.. You know the ones i'm referring to ..

 

This entire issue is dollar based.. why pay for the suite when you can get the same deal for $99 extra ..?

 

Heck , I have several pairs of the plastic wrapped slippers you can have if anyone is feeling Nostalgic ;)

[garycarla]

I can't speak for others, but the only thing I've complained about is the effect on my wallet, and that is a very real issue, not a hypothetical.

 

This is where I am confused.

 

In the past, if you bought a suite, you get the bigger room and all the perks that went with it.

 

Today, if you buy a suite, you get the same suite, with all the perks that go with it. Just like last month. No change.

 

How does this impact your wallet?

 

+++++++++++++

 

Okay, I understand you can get many of those perks with a lesser cabin now and $99 per person.

 

BUT - nothing has changed for the suitepeople. Only for those that will take a lesser cabin and buy the perks.

[mpk218]

This is where I am confused.

 

In the past, if you bought a suite, you get the bigger room and all the perks that went with it.

 

Today, if you buy a suite, you get the same suite, with all the perks that go with it. Just like last month. No change.

 

How does this impact your wallet?

 

+++++++++++++

 

Okay, I understand you can get many of those perks with a lesser cabin now and $99 per person.

 

BUT - nothing has changed for the suitepeople. Only for those that will take a lesser cabin and buy the perks.

 

Are you kidding ? For $99. were all suite people .. ( not including OS and above) Those suites are better cabins.. 5 times the price better ? you decide ;)

[rochelle_s]

You clearly have no understanding of what I'm saying. Yes, I might save money on future cruises, but I'm ticked off that I just hit my final payment date on my next cruise and I'm ending up paying thousands more than I would have had this program been announced a few days earlier.

 

Tell me...do you understand the difference between the amount wagered...the total you pushed through the machines or at the tables, and your net loss or win? The 75K and 175K are amounts wagered, not your "cost" of wagering...your win or loss. The actual cash you laid out to get to the 75K or 175K is nowhere near those amounts (well I guess it could be...but if that were the case you have no business setting foot in the casino). The difference in the cost of my suite and the cost of a balcony is actual cash out of my pocket.

 

I understood what you said very well. If you truly feel that way then perhaps you should contact NCL and plead your case for an exception to the rule of changes after final payment. Let them know that you would like to be downgraded to a balcony cabin and a refund for the difference. Then you can get to the port early, board with the general population and hope you are early enough to get to guest services to get the VIP Priority Package. If, as you say, it is just after final payment date then you could cancel and pay a small penalty and then re-book a regular balcony and do the same as above. Not sure how much of a savings this would be but there should be some monetary benefit so soon after final payment. Or perhaps you have cancellation insurance that lets you cancel for any reason - use that.

 

As for the casino numbers yes I understand them quite well. I did say 'played through' the machines when I wrote my post. And yes I understand net win/loss. Let's say actual cost is 20% of those figures (this is a cruise ship after all --not Vegas). That would mean the CAS player lost $15,000 for Golden or $25,000 for VIP status. Those numbers are for regular slot machines. That would be $30,000 and $50,000 if they are playing Video Poker, as points accrue at half the rate. As I understand the tables are even harder to accumulate the points. So for those Golden and VIP folks that is REAL cash out of their pockets. They worked towards rewards at those tier levels and now they will be taken away. They are the ones losing something.

 

Last week when you made you final payment and before you knew of the new program you were obviously okay with the price you paid for the cabin category you booked and the benefits that came along with it. People are going on in this thread about how much more they have spent for their suite for this 'dining in Cagney's' perk. Well I am sorry but that perk is not what cost the extra money. Primarily you have paid for the real estate on the ship. Size and location that is the key in determining price. Then you can factor in the perks. You might have placed a higher value on those meals but NCL has a very different opinion about it. In their view that perk is worth less than $99 per person. (You have to take into account the other elements). If they felt it was worth more they would sell it at a higher price. Like everything it is all about supply and demand. If there is a demand for this VIP Priority program I have no doubt the prices will increase, just like everything else. Drink packages increased, specialty restaurant prices increase (or decrease in some cases), shore excursions, transfers, and cruise fares themselves.

 

It is unfortunate that your future cruise plans and your final payment got caught up with the implementation of this new program and that you found out about it too late to take advantage of it. Not too dissimilar to price drops and last minute incentive promotions. So I do understand your frustration. But really what can you do? You can now take any or all of the steps I mentioned earlier to try and 'cash' in on this new policy or you can forget about this program for now, go on your cruise and make the most of your final suite experience. When you go to book your next cruise you can knowledgeably book yourself into that regular balcony cabin and do everything in your power to secure the VIP Priority Package once you board.

 

Happy cruising!

 

 

Rochelle

[herdingdogmom]

Something interesting, though. One day we went for lunch and we had to either share with another group or wait for a table at Cagney's! That only ever happened one time, and it was when were in the Garden Villa. We met a nice couple as we had lunch with them, but it does go to show that sometimes there are waits.

 

Wow, really? A wait or share at Cagney's for lunch? I've never seen that before and am actually shocked that it happened to you staying in the Garden Villa. Sounds like it turned out ok for you, but for those highest end suites, you deserve outstanding service. Our 2013 experience hasn't deterred us from the Star, but no villa for us so we will use the butler for room service from Cagney's if the service is sub par in the restaurant.

[Demonyte]

It really may be time to start checking out other lines as loyalty does not seem to be an advantage any longer

 

We already started looking around before this change, our next cruise will be on X. The inconsistency in NCL experience (both when having a suite or not, being a Platinum) has bothered me already quite some time and this definitely doesn't help.

 

For those fixed on the thought of "Why would somebody pay extra for a suite only to get the exclusive breakfast and lunch? Geez.", for us the exclusive venue is not the ultimate reason but often it is a deciding factor.

 

While butler and concierge are nice to have, I should have concierge access anyway (another flaw in the experience, this hasn't happened on any of the cruises after getting to the highest level) as a Platinum and we can live without the occassional hot breakfast or drinks served in our suite - most suites have tables that aren't big enough for a nice dinner anyway so we prefer to haul ourselves to the restaurants in the evenings.

 

With this change, because there is a chance of getting the perk I value the most for pennies compared to the total suite price, I probably can't justify booking a full suite anymore. Yes, the extra space is really nice but we can also manage just fine in a mini-suite, especially if the price difference can more than cover our whole onboard spending (and possibly even UBP+UDP).

 

So you haters, let people have their opinions without bashing them just because you won't understand the reasoning. On pre-Epic ships this package is a huge deal for those otherwise possibly considering booking a suite, on newer ships, not so much.

Edited September 24, 2014 by Demonyte

[Old & Retired]

I have a question. This VIP99 program seems to have been active for at least a couple weeks, why is it not advertised anywhere on the NCL site? Seems like it would be important information to have when considering what room you would like to book.

[pe4all]

I have a question. This VIP99 program seems to have been active for at least a couple weeks, why is it not advertised anywhere on the NCL site? Seems like it would be important information to have when considering what room you would like to book.

Good question. Can you only "upgrade" when on a ship that has this VIP99? BTW- Carnival had a similar uproar when they started selling "Faster to the Fun" for $50 for an entire cabin to get early boarding and cabin access. The Platinum and aboves who "earned" that perk flipped out. Carnival supposedly only sells a limited # per sailing - some sailings none at all. The cruiselines are in the business to make money any way they can. No surprise that NCL is offering this service.

[janpo]

Good lawd....I feel like a leper reading some of these posts.

 

We sailed in a family oceanview cabin. I am one of those common people you are referring to. One of the lowly lowclass evidently who didn't have a cabin in the Haven or the GV.

 

Guess what...we had a blast on the Getaway last week and our family ocean view room was big and beautiful. I lived without eating at Cagneys also!!! How did that happen?

 

We had room service every morning. I guess i should have read here before to see how sailing like we did is really a low class thing to do.

 

Seriously.......ridiculous some of the things i'm reading.:rolleyes:

[callmehalia]

And hopefully they won't be. It almost seems like there will be different "levels" of sorts. For example, the concierge "James Bond" through the crew halls flavor of priority tendering probably isn't the level of service that will be offered. I'm sure that the maître d will know the difference between suite guests and VIP99 guests and will run their restaurant accordingly.... hopefully.

 

We shall see...

 

Maybe when we board the ship, the crew can write the price we paid less any OBC or perks on our foreheads in Sharpie so everyone on the ship knows how well/badly we should all be treated.

 

I surely don't want someone who's in the cheapest inside or who won their cruise in a game of bingo getting a better piece of chicken from the buffet than me!

 

:rolleyes:

Edited September 24, 2014 by callmehalia

[KateQ22003]

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.

Edited September 24, 2014 by KateQ22003

[janpo]

Maybe when we board the ship, the crew can write the price we paid less any OBC or perks on our foreheads in Sharpie so everyone on the ship knows how well/badly we should all be treated.

 

I surely don't want someone who's in the cheapest inside or who won their cruise in a game of bingo getting a better piece of chicken from the buffet than me!

 

:rolleyes:

 

Where's the like button???

 

Hey..I saw that chicken first!!!!! Get outta my way!!

 

 

People arn't missing the point here. Maybe you should reread and see exactly how it comes across.

 

PS..Love the sharpie idea.

Edited September 24, 2014 by janpo

[CasinoCruzGirl]

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.

 

You were on the cruise did the package have any impact on your cruise? Was the sign in your balcony cabin?

[KateQ22003]

You were on the cruise did the package have any impact on your cruise? Was the sign in your balcony cabin?

 

Yes, the sign was in the balcony cabin. Did it impact my cruise? It impacted my wallet by $3000, so yea, I guess it did.

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Yes, the sign was in the balcony cabin. Did it impact my cruise? It impacted my wallet by $3000, so yea, I guess it did.

 

 

My question was more in the way of was cagneys difficult to get in was it to crowded did you know who was a suite guest or a vip99 guest (when you were in Your suite in the 2nd part of your cruise. People don't know how many they are selling. And if having none of the perks is ok with you then don't get a suite and take your chances of running to buy the package. You may get it you may not.

Edited September 24, 2014 by FootballParent

[abe3]

Not a good thing for NCL to put this in place. I hope it is just something that will go away soon, since this will push loyal suite cruisers away from NCL. I have booked my last three cruises in the Haven and spent a lot of money and to give some suite benefits to non suite category cabins is a terrible decision. My next cruise on the getaway in January in the haven really won't be packed by this but my future cruises with NCL will because I won't book the smaller ships anymore if this is still in place.

[KateQ22003]

My question was more in the way of was cagneys difficult to get in was it to crowded did you know who was a suite guest or a vip99 guest (when you were in Your suite in the 2nd part of your cruise. People don't know how many they are selling. And if having none of the perks is ok with you then don't get a suite and take your chances of running to buy the package. You may get it you may not.

 

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.

[triptolemus]

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.