Room Service No Longer Free - NCL Starts $7.95 Charge Per Order

[motleyfan]

Could had been phrase differently or not at all. But then, I shouldn't talk, I purposely cruise when majority of kids are in school and parents have to be pretty desperate to pull them out to get low-price fares. *shrug*

 

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As do i lol

[newmexicoNita]

Not true! A lot of us self-proclaimed Cheerleaders are in fact saying we would consider it.

 

You are right, many have said they are going to look at other lines. Whether they go through with it or not remains to be seen and let's see if they find other lines overall less expensive for a simlar product. For us, no, we are not happy with the changes or the way they have been thrown at us, but because of our age and being platinum we will stay with NCL, plus, from experiences on other lines, even with the added costs NCL is sitll a good line for the money we spend.

[hpecorari]

I don''t understand the difference either - they are sister ships.

 

 

I do. The Getaway leaves out of Florida. Lots of Floridians on that ship. Lots of Floridians are retired and are more so on a budget.

 

New York has lots of New Yorkers on that ship. People think New Yorkers have more money than Floridians.

 

Those are my thoughts on why the difference.

 

Not saying it's true....just saying I think that's why they did it the way they did.

 

Harriet

[SissasMomE]

I am on here daily and don't remember ever seeing a reference to the 18% being a trial test only. Guessed I missed that one..Or maybe you say it somewhere else!!!

 

Search. A know-it-all TA came on the board with her "inside" information about how the 18% was a trial for "this cruise only". Wasn't long thereafter it was made fleetwide.

[punkincc]

The "test" is to see how much they can get away with charging before it goes fleet wide.

 

Right. Unless there is a mutiny on one of those test ships and they burn FDR in effigy on the pool deck:), I think we can safely assume this will soon be a fleet wide change.

[SissasMomE]

I do. The Getaway leaves out of Florida. Lots of Floridians on that ship. Lots of Floridians are retired and are more so on a budget.

 

New York has lots of New Yorkers on that ship. People think New Yorkers have more money than Floridians.

 

Those are my thoughts on why the difference.

 

Not saying it's true....just saying I think that's why they did it the way they did.

 

Harriet

 

Except a lot of Floridians are not Floridians, but transplants with extra money to burn on cruises LOL

[SissasMomE]

I have always traveled with my kids. Definitely prefer kids to snotty, stuck up, stick in the arse adults!

[SteveH2508]

Let's get real they're never going to charge extra for the stewards to clean your cabin lol. some people over exaggerate away too much. I've been reading the posts that say things like we like to order coffee with our room service, really people why would you want to sit in your room during a cruise? That just sounds idiotic to me, not calling anyone names just saying that's how it sounds. I've never cruised the other lines but I've heard of some of their entertainment options and trust me Norwegians is way better. I'm probably fatter than anyone else on this board yet still am NOT lazy enough to sit in my room and order room service. You are on a cruise to get out and have fun so do so. I promise the restaurant going experience is much more fun than sitting in your room and ordering room service.

 

Just maybe some of us want to have a coffee and a croissant with our partner in our own space before we end up facing the world and the buffet scrum. Believe me, if our paths crossed before I've had my morning coffee and a smoke you would not enjoy it!

[emcelh]

Is it possible that this fee is to discourage people from having room service, which it probably will, then they'll discontinue it altogether because so few people are using it?

[newmexicoNita]

Search. A know-it-all TA came on the board with her "inside" information about how the 18% was a trial for "this cruise only". Wasn't long thereafter it was made fleetwide.

 

Remember all TAs don't know all, in fact many know very little and I can guarentee you oru TA is as good as they come: she never siad anything about this being a test only. This is why I hesitate to believe much of what I read or I take things with a grain of salt.

 

Just look at this thread for starters. The OP came on, indicated the new fee went into effect yesterday, but seems he didn't have his facts straight; never did he mention "test" probably he didn't know it was a trial.

[maywell]

I do. The Getaway leaves out of Florida. Lots of Floridians on that ship. Lots of Floridians are retired and are more so on a budget.

 

New York has lots of New Yorkers on that ship. People think New Yorkers have more money than Floridians.

 

Those are my thoughts on why the difference.

 

Not saying it's true....just saying I think that's why they did it the way they did.

 

Harriet

I think it because of spring break (kids are out) and which group of same class of ship is going to use it more. Remember most familes with kids pick the ship with most bells and whistles that keeps the children entertain - those 2 ships currently are the ones with the most out the entire fleet.

 

 

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Edited March 30, 2015 by maywell

[hpecorari]

Except a lot of Floridians are not Floridians, but transplants with extra money to burn on cruises LOL

 

LOL - very true!

 

Harriet

[BeachMartini]

This thread has gotten a little cray cray! Some of these comments couldn't help but make think of one of my favorite parts of Billy Madison:

 

[ColinIllinois]

I really wonder if the NCL marketing group was on spring break when were supposed to be studying the chapter on Focus Groups.

Edited March 30, 2015 by ColinIllinois

[mpk218]

You are right, many have said they are going to look at other lines. Whether they go through with it or not remains to be seen and let's see if they find other lines overall less expensive for a simlar product. For us, no, we are not happy with the changes or the way they have been thrown at us, but because of our age and being platinum we will stay with NCL, plus, from experiences on other lines, even with the added costs NCL is sitll a good line for the money we spend.

 

Hey Nita , this is how I felt .. I was happy with NCL , We are Platinum for quite some time now and we enjoyed NCL Freestyle. Well , now all the lines have a form of freestyle , Platinum hardly means anything anymore and the new ships they are building are just to darn big for me..

Us old cruiser's who remember the old ways of cruising are witnessing the dawn of a new sailing industry.. Pack'em in , fill'em up and call it a Sale...

The new cruisers cant begin to understand what the heck we are complaining about. They haven't witnessed the classic style of cruising and most likely never will . What a shame , it was spectacular ;)

Edited March 30, 2015 by mpk218

[princess di44]

NCL = No Customers Left.

 

 

Also, Ncl equals no cash left

[newmexicoNita]

I've read and liked your posts for years but I have to say I disagree with you on this one. I am part of this experiment as I sail on the Breakaway next week. My family uses room service at least once daily. I purchased a cruise that had free room service between the hours of five am and midnight. I will not be receiving that service as part of the price I already paid.

 

I get it, prices change. This is not a price change, this is moving a service from complimentary to a fee. I feel like I can't trust NCL anymore to deliver what they agreed I should pay for. If they want to implement new charges it is completely up to them, but to pull this switch after we have already agreed upon terms is bad faith.

 

Thanks for the compliment: I do see what you are saying, if I were on a "test ship" and had to pay I might have a little different attitude as well. We all have the right to disagree, this is something that makes America so great. I will say, I do understand them testing the policy even if I think it is stupid, but I am not crazy about the way they have been announcing or should we say, not announcing these changes.

[maywell]

I really wonder if the NCL marketing group were on spring break when they did the chapter on Focus Groups.

Considering the PR and Marketing departments had layoffs, I bet the coworker left after pink slip frenzy is probably looking for those notes......

 

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[jaja]

Why not just cruise by yourself and not bring your small child? I promise you cruisers without kids will thank you.

 

I find this post and others you have made out of line..

[punkincc]

I do. The Getaway leaves out of Florida. Lots of Floridians on that ship. Lots of Floridians are retired and are more so on a budget.

 

New York has lots of New Yorkers on that ship. People think New Yorkers have more money than Floridians.

 

Those are my thoughts on why the difference.

 

Not saying it's true....just saying I think that's why they did it the way they did.

 

Harriet

 

Well if what you are saying is true, then NCL is not just looking to add a fee to recover what it costs them to provide room service delivery ( staff pay ). I don't think for one minute they pay their Breakaway staff more than they do the Getaway staff in Florida. So they are trying to figure how what the market will bear based on what they think a particular ship's income demographic is? They surely would not leave it $4.95 on the Getaway and charge $7.95 on the Breakaway because those rich New Yorkers can afford it? That would be cold!

[MrMike45]

Sorry Motleyfan, but you are just arguing for the sake of arguing. There is no justification for a $8 charge to bring food to your room, free food at that. Let alone to do it without any forewarning to your guests. This is not being cheap, it is being nickle and dimed.

 

We are those people who leave $5-10 tips when we eat dinner for the waiters. and give a $1 or 2 for every drink we order. Even when we are drinking for free in the casino or comped dinner. Tipping your waiter/waitress/busboy/delivery person, etc is just something we feel is right to do. Not everyone does it, but we do chose to do so.

 

This $7.95, if it went directly into the delivery person's pocket, I (and I bet others) would have no issue with it. Problem is, the person delivering the food to us probably sees 79.5 cents of that $7.95. So in essence, NCL is making room service a "speciality dining" charged fee, for crappy coffee, stale muffins and over/under ripe fruit.

Edited March 30, 2015 by MrMike45

[Mirrasi]

Just since booking in Feb for my April cruise they changed the tipping which I will now have to add for my kid since he couldn't get the UDP and doesn't eat kid food. Now I will have to account for or do without room service (do any other lines charge for that?).

 

This is my first NCL cruise and I am wishing I had taken the RCCL that I was back and forth about but wanted to give NCL a try. It better be one hell of a ship.

 

And IMO, it's not complimentary if there is a convenience fee. Hopefully it will be better clarified.

Edited March 30, 2015 by Mirrasi

[motleyfan]

You just like the attention. Good or bad...A fat guy (per your own words) that eats at the buffet and wants to peep at women. Upstanding person.

 

Nope and please do not misrepresent me like you I just enjoy giving my honest opinion

[CruisinMaterial]

Considering the PR and Marketing departments had layoffs, I bet the coworker left after pink slip frenzy is probably looking for those notes......

 

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I'm not so sure much of the PR department remains! I'm astonished at the number of established names who made NCL what it was - are now gone! This doesn't bode well for NCL brand or for customers. Del Rio seems like he knew what he was doing with the other two companies but those are catered to folks with discretionary income. NCL is a mass market line and I think he's missing that point. :cool:

 

Hope the backlack here and on the NCL FB page are enough to get him to pull of this test and just leave things as is.

[SissasMomE]

Remember all TAs don't know all, in fact many know very little and I can guarentee you oru TA is as good as they come: she never siad anything about this being a test only. This is why I hesitate to believe much of what I read or I take things with a grain of salt.

 

Just look at this thread for starters. The OP came on, indicated the new fee went into effect yesterday, but seems he didn't have his facts straight; never did he mention "test" probably he didn't know it was a trial.

 

The TA who posted on the other thread DID say it was a test. I called BS on it right away, and she never came back. I call BS on this "test" "trial" "2-ship wonder" as well. This will be implemented fleet-wide.