Room service and to go food

[hpecorari]

LOL, it is hard to remember who is on which side of the river on this one:o. We are all in the same boat whether a change affects us individually or not.

 

We should all be on the same side.....

because soon enough something will affect us all.

 

Harriet

[Wendy&Grumpy]

We should all be on the same side.....

because soon enough something will affect us all.

 

Harriet

 

Agreed.

[Cancruizer]

On Norwegian's website, as of today, May 10, 2015, Room Service continues to be listed as Complimentary Dining. http://www.ncl.com/why-cruise-norwegian/cruise-dining "Enjoy the Wide Variety of COMPLIMENTARY DINING OPTIONS. Relax with 24-hour in-room dining and enjoy breakfast in bed or satisfy a late-night craving." If Norwegian can change policies and issue press releases, how come they cannot put up to date and truthful information on their website under the section about what's onboard? This just isn't right...

 

Time for a petition? What can we customers do? Any ideas?

[lauriebumps]

First the new room service charge and now a ban on bringing buffet snacks to enjoy on the deck of my cabin?!?

 

I've never been one to slip the dinner rolls and butter pats into my pocket but there have been a few choppy voyages where I was seasick and did not feel like leaving the bed for a day or two and my sweet husband brought me crackers and green apples from the buffet. Now I have to pay $7+ for crackers?

 

This is just my 2 cents but I used to feel like a valued, cared for passenger on cruise lines, regardless of my cabin size or location. These changes on NCL are starting to making me feel like like those who purchase the grandest cabins get ever more perks (complimentary 24 hour room service, for example) but anyone in 'steerage'(anything less than a full suite) gets kicked in the knees. I thought that was the airline's specialty but I guess not.

 

We were looking forward to our first NCL cruise in years but we have not made final deposit so I'm checking some other cruise line options for the NCL voyage we were planning in the fall. Or, if this kind of nickle and dime-ing becomes universal, maybe we'll go to an all-inclusive resort, instead. :(

[Philob]

Because most of the IT dept got laid off and the rest is trying catch up with the other important changes...:p;)

[triptolemus]

The room service food is still complimentary.

 

The fee is for your convenience in having it delivered to you.

[ColinIllinois]

On Norwegian's website, as of today, May 10, 2015, Room Service continues to be listed as Complimentary Dining. http://www.ncl.com/why-cruise-norwegian/cruise-dining "Enjoy the Wide Variety of COMPLIMENTARY DINING OPTIONS. Relax with 24-hour in-room dining and enjoy breakfast in bed or satisfy a late-night craving." If Norwegian can change policies and issue press releases, how come they cannot put up to date and truthful information on their website under the section about what's onboard? This just isn't right...

 

Time for a petition? What can we customers do? Any ideas?

 

 

You can either call them, write them or email using the contact information on the site. Other than that...nothing.

[maywell]

The room service food is still complimentary.

 

The fee is for your convenience in having it delivered to you.

 

Pretty much this.

[Derckert82]

I was curious about the same thing. I've seen some posts that have a picture of the new room service card. The continental breakfast items appear to still be free of charge delivered to the room, but the hot foods like eggs, sausage, and some others (at least on the breakfast one that I saw posted) have a room charge of $7.95 per order.

 

I've been all over the NCL website looking for this information about the charges and have found only one item where it says that it will be done on the Breakaway and Getaway, but from all the rumblings that I have heard, it is fleetwide. In hearing that it is fleetwide, I would have expected to read some sort of press release or financial release on the NCL site that spoke to this issue but even with the last press release posted on May 7th, I am still unable to find the source of these changes.

[Derckert82]

My wife is an early riser and goes to bed early, while I am usually the opposite and go to bed late and rise late. In many of these instances, what she will do is bring me back a plate with my omelet, bacon, roll, banana, and coffee. I get to enjoy this while I slowly get up to enjoy the day. It also helps when we have shore excursions because we have six children, two are grown now, and one of us is usually getting them ready to go in the morning so this usually results in some fruit, muffins, and cereal brought back to give us more time to get ready for a great day.

 

My other issue is that I have a couple of favorite desserts that are rarely on a cruise and when they are, it is only for one night. The main one being creme brulee. I learned that lesson after only a couple of cruises and one night I asked for three so that I could take two back to the room. One for later and one for the next day know that this will be the only time they are offered. They had no problem bringing me three of them and covered them appropriately. I enjoyed my creme brulee over a couple of days and it was indeed only served that one day.

 

My wife had been ill or back in the cabin will an ill child while I went to dinner and then brought her back a meal either from the main dining room which is her preference, or the buffet if necessary. It also allowed me to bring specific items from the buffet that would not make the ill child feel any worse and even on their expanded room service menu, not find these items.

 

With the way these new room services charges work and the lack of affordability to bring food back to the room, even under these specific circumstances, is very displeasing.

 

I've usually traveled with eight to 15 people on a cruise, all family, and have spoken highly about NCL and their incredible flexibility with their freestyle dining options and being family friendly. They have always understood the idea that children have their own agendas and schedules and it can be difficult at times to have specific set dining times. Even adults or large groups have trouble trying to conform to strict times, especially when enjoying everything a cruise has to offer. I would tell everyone I know about how great NCL is.

 

Now, I'm starting to question my loyalty to NCL and why they are moving away from this flexible, and family friendly atmosphere and condemning people to either eat everything in the dining areas or pay for room service with no other options.

 

I do not believe food is the main issue that NCL should be looking at anyway. If they want to address concerns about health and keeping the ship clean, they need to worry more about the drunken people, not the general person who is only taking food back to their room. The drunk who is carrying drinks everywhere on the ship and spilling more than they ingest after a while should be a bigger concern, especially if they are worried about cleanliness and the such. Of course, maybe that will be next. NCL might be forcing people to consume their drinks in the bars or dining rooms before leaving. And what about the soda cards and stuff? That will make them almost useless unless you plan on standing at every bar or stay in every dining room and drink it until it's empty and then move along to the next one. We've always enjoyed the freedom of the soda cards in my family. Believe me, when you are buying a dozen every cruise, you like having the luxury of walking around and just getting another drink and keep moving.

 

Food now, beverage later? There are already places you cannot take food on a cruise and justly so. But how far going to take this?

[jaja]

I've been all over the NCL website looking for this information about the charges and have found only one item where it says that it will be done on the Breakaway and Getaway, but from all the rumblings that I have heard, it is fleetwide. In hearing that it is fleetwide, I would have expected to read some sort of press release or financial release on the NCL site that spoke to this issue but even with the last press release posted on May 7th, I am still unable to find the source of these changes.

 

NCL will get around to updating the website...someday:rolleyes: (or not:eek:)

[CavalierX]

These changes on NCL are starting to making me feel like like those who purchase the grandest cabins get ever more perks (complimentary 24 hour room service, for example) but anyone in 'steerage'(anything less than a full suite) gets kicked in the knees. I thought that was the airline's specialty but I guess not.

 

Del Rio seems to want to change Norwegian from a cruise line accessible to "regular people" to a line more exclusively devoted to really big spenders. His open disdain for us is apparent from the conference call in which the room service fee was discussed. His point was that no one important complained (just "some people on message boards") when they tested higher soft drink prices and the room service fee on a couple of ships, and as a "captive audience" (his exact words) passengers would have to pay whatever NCL wanted to charge. Of course, that was before the new rule against taking food out of the restaurants was implemented. Most passengers probably didn't bother to complain about the new room service charge because they simply went to O'Sheehan's or the buffet and brought food back to their cabins in half the time room service would have taken.

[harold369]

Just saw this on another site

 

 

"I am on the Gem right now. I asked at guest services about this and they told me the room service charge will go into effect next cruise (May 2) and it is true that restaurants will no longer let you take leftovers back to your cabin or have them sent there."

 

Geri

NCL worries about this but WHAT about those GUESTS who do not SANTIZE THEIR HANDS before eating at the BUFFETS. Sometimes certain guests pass thru and do not clean their hands. Even those on NCL at the doorways allow these guests to pass. A ship with over 3000 guests...how are NCL going to handle this problem of watching that EACH guest does not sneak food out...LOL

[Cancruizer]

You can either call them, write them or email using the contact information on the site. Other than that...nothing.

 

I have called... I mean on a grander scale.

 

I don't think most cruisers are aware of the changes. Yes, those on these message boards, but overall not much awareness outside of this forum. That is why it is so upsetting to see that the website is misleading.

[xatter777]

Ncl is not allowing food to be taken out of the buffet to your cabin. My husband is disabled. I go every day to the buffet to get my husband breakfast, and bring it back to our cabin, its easier on him. Who is this new CEO of NCL? Since they booted Mr. Sheehand out, All we here is new charges & new policies. Do You think people will keep booking with NCL when you kept changing policies after they book. I don't think so.

[roxette]

Just cancelled my November Epic cruise and booked a Royal Caribbean cruise out of Dubai instead. Was on Epic in jan this year. Really enjoyed it. But, I want to know what I get and what I pay for. So, no more NCL, at least for a while. I have been platinum fir quite a whike and was also planning a panama canal trip. Now, back to Royal and X.

 

Thank you NCL, you are the reason i started to love cruising. Lots of great memories.

[SteveH2508]

I was curious about the same thing. I've seen some posts that have a picture of the new room service card. The continental breakfast items appear to still be free of charge delivered to the room, but the hot foods like eggs, sausage, and some others (at least on the breakfast one that I saw posted) have a room charge of $7.95 per order.

 

I've been all over the NCL website looking for this information about the charges and have found only one item where it says that it will be done on the Breakaway and Getaway, but from all the rumblings that I have heard, it is fleetwide. In hearing that it is fleetwide, I would have expected to read some sort of press release or financial release on the NCL site that spoke to this issue but even with the last press release posted on May 7th, I am still unable to find the source of these changes.

 

Haven't you heard? They are rebranding to the No Communications Line.:rolleyes:

[sparks1093]

The room service food is still complimentary.

 

The fee is for your convenience in having it delivered to you.

 

Then it ain't free no matter what paint brush you use to gloss it over.

[Wendy&Grumpy]

In hearing that it is fleetwide, I would have expected to read some sort of press release or financial release on the NCL site that spoke to this issue but even with the last press release posted on May 7th, I am still unable to find the source of these changes.

 

I don't believe there will ever be any press releases about the increased and/or added charges.

 

Del Rio sees passengers as a "captive audience" - once they've been lured onboard with good fares & promos, they will pay whatever price he sets for onboard experiences/food/refreshments... because they have no other options.

 

Press releases would give folks a heads up, and the chance to avoid being Del Rio's "captive audience" by booking with another line.

 

From Norwegian Cruise Line First Quarter 2015 Earnings Conference Call

(http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/i356nos5)

 

Caller Question: "I know you're very focused on customer satisfaction, I think that goes without saying, and you've talked earlier about raising your beverage pricing and your room service fees. I'm just wondering if those efforts have affected consumer satisfaction at all and what kind of feedback has Norwegian gotten from that, if any.

FDR: "On the beverage, we've seen nothing at all. We've not seen a decrease in consumption. It's pretty much what we thought. If you're sitting around the pool and you want a Pepsi, you're in the middle of the ocean, you're going to buy that Pepsi whether it's $2.10, which is the old price, or $2.25, which is the new price. So, nothing at all.

On the more recent introduction of a fleetwide $7.95 service charge on room service, if you read some of the online blogs there's been comments, there always is, no one likes to pay more. But we tested it on two ships on two different price points and we didn't hear complaints. We improved the menu, so there was a give and a take. So, yes you have to pay a delivery charge, so that we can deliver faster, because it eliminates some of the folks that order a piece of toast and a cup of coffee in the morning. But overall, all of these initiatives that we have put into place...that recognize the power of the captive audience that you have, without going too far...they've all gone as we have expected."

Edited May 11, 2015 by Wendy&Grumpy

[ColinIllinois]

That is an excerpt from an EARNINGS CALL. His comments are directed towards stockholders and those future stockholders he is trying to get to invest in NCLH. The economic power of a "captive audience" is not lost on any cruise line executive. Guaranteed.

 

Wendy, If you highlight an additional four words in that quote it makes that highlighted sentence more understandable in my opinion..."without going too far". I believe many here are waiting to see with bated breath where the line that designates "too far" is.

[garycarla]

That is an excerpt from an EARNINGS CALL. His comments are directed towards stockholders and those future stockholders he is trying to get to invest in NCLH. The economic power of a "captive audience" is not lost on any cruise line executive. Guaranteed.

 

Wendy, If you highlight an additional four words in that quote it makes that highlighted sentence more understandable in my opinion..."without going too far". I believe many here are waiting to see with bated breath where the line that designates "too far" is.

 

Well said. EVERY CRUISELINE EXECUTIVE would agree to the same thing. You just have not heard them say it.

 

It is amazing how many of the "sheep" here think he is any different in that sort of business discussion. That is part of how they stay in business.

 

By the way, I think the new food policy totally sucks and will keep us from sailing on NCL again. Yes, it is a deal breaker.

[CavalierX]

I believe many here are waiting to see with bated breath where the line that designates "too far" is.

 

WE, the customers, are supposed to decide where that line is, not wait for the boardroom executives to decide where they want to stop. And the sooner people start taking action -- that is, calling or emailing NCL to complain, or (better still) telling them we are canceling (or not booking) future cruises and giving this as the specific reason why, the sooner it will stop. Otherwise, it won't -- and the trend will spread to other cruise lines when they see that no one seems too upset, and NCL's bottom line is unaffected.

Edited May 11, 2015 by CavalierX

[NLH Arizona]

That is an excerpt from an EARNINGS CALL. His comments are directed towards stockholders and those future stockholders he is trying to get to invest in NCLH. The economic power of a "captive audience" is not lost on any cruise line executive. Guaranteed.

 

Wendy, If you highlight an additional four words in that quote it makes that highlighted sentence more understandable in my opinion..."without going too far". I believe many here are waiting to see with bated breath where the line that designates "too far" is.

What people don't understand is that when the ship is sailing, we are a captive audience and every cruise line knows it and takes advantage of it and that is why they can charge the prices they charge, just like every airport knows it and can charge the prices they charge, just like a sports stadium knows it and that is why they can charge the prices they charge, etc. Not sure why some are so upset by him using those words. Maybe it would have been better if he would have said: "that recognized the power we have over our customers who are unable to get off the ship while we are sailing, without going to far". Would that have made people feel a little better, but it says the exact same thing.

[ColinIllinois]

WE, the customers, are supposed to decide where that line is, not wait for the boardroom executives to decide where they want to stop. And the sooner people start taking action -- that is, calling or emailing NCL to complain, or (better still) telling them we are canceling (or not booking) future cruises and giving this as the specific reason why, the sooner it will stop. Otherwise, it won't -- and the trend will spread to other cruise lines when they see that no one seems too upset, and NCL's bottom line is unaffected.

 

 

You're right and the executives know that. That is where they test the waters (no pun intended) to see where they can/should stop. It's a symbiotic relationship.

 

I think a lot of the fine folks here are just venting and a lot of them will still continue to sail with NCL. There is a solid comfort zone there for most people. Will some jump ship? Sure, you betcha.

 

We'll see how it all pans out but in the end I think it's going to be much ado about nothing when it comes down to the bottom line.

 

As Michael Corleone said in The Godfather: "It's not personal, it's strictly business". ;)

[sparks1093]

What people don't understand is that when the ship is sailing, we are a captive audience and every cruise line knows it and takes advantage of it and that is why they can charge the prices they charge, just like every airport knows it and can charge the prices they charge, just like a sports stadium knows it and that is why they can charge the prices they charge, etc. Not sure why some are so upset by him using those words. Maybe it would have been better if he would have said: "that recognized the power we have over our customers who are unable to get off the ship while we are sailing, without going to far". Would that have made people feel a little better, but it says the exact same thing.

 

The key in the hospitality industry is to make the customer feel like a valued guest. Nothing the Del Rio has said or done gives me that feeling. If you feel different that's perfectly okay, what works for some won't work for others.