Poll: Do you bring food to your cabin

[MICHLEV1974]

I never really thought about taking food back to my cabin until reading all the reasons on CC that folks post. It does make sense to allow this behaviour .. especially with the folks who don't want to waste their meals or for those who are sick or for those with medical conditions.

 

Adding a $7.95 fee is not alot of our cruise budget but considering other reasons, I see why folks are unnerved.

 

For me, the $7.95 fee and the no take-out policy will not affect my cruise picking...but it does open doors for others to try other cruise brands...i wonder who is saying, 'wow, let me try NCL'

 

This will be my 9th cruise, but my first NCL so I guess I will let the comparisons begin when I board the Gem. I am already wondering why they charge to use the hot tub, the steam, and the sauna? Must be something wonderful compared to the free use of the Royal and Carnival spas....I shall write a review when i return to see if it was worth paying the fee.

 

For now, i will keep an open mind and have my $7.95 ready when i want to eat back in my cabin.

[SJ]

Poll is missing an option for 'No and I could not care less about the policy'

 

You might once it's difficult to find a place to sit as these ships are not meant to house everyone or most everyone in one venue. A ship's ability to disperse the passengers is key to anyone's enjoyment.

 

It's naive to think there will be no ripple affect of this policy. You don't have to have mobility issues or kids to be affected. Ncl has clearly not have thought of the logistics of how a ship needs to function with thousands of passengers as a captive audience per FDR.

[AlanFromFL]

I believe that other than breakfast, we've ordered room service a grand total of one time across 14 different cruises over the past 11 years. So that doesn't necessarily bother me, it's the PRINCIPLE of the thing! :D And yes, I'll bring a desert or some fruit back to the cabin as a snack for later.

 

We depart on the Getaway tomorrow, and all of this talk about bringing food back to our cabin, room service charges, etc. has me a bit discouraged. This will be only our second cruise on NCL, we had been a little hesitant about the whole 'freestyle' concept since our experience with 'anytime dining' aboard other lines has been mixed. I'm beginning to think that 'freestyle' really means 'a la carte' in that everything will have a charge or fee, nothing will be included in the fare except the cabin, and perhaps steward service - if at that. I'm trying to keep an open mind, this will probably be NCL's one and only time to impress us and win us over.

[egh170]

Yes, we enjoyed taking breakfast and lunch back to our balcony room. Now Norwegian's policy has taken away one of the large benefits of having a balcony room. Looks like the major benefit of a balcony is to sit out there and watch the ocean go by unless you want to pay their ridiculous $7.95 fee to have food on your balcony Whoopee!!. I am current booked on a cruise in September and unless this stupid policy is reversed, it will be my last on Norwegian.

[cwistyred]

Yes, this is upsetting for us. I always bring snacks and coffee back to the cabin to enjoy on the balcony. That is what the balcony is for.

[Cloudyrain]

Going on our first and last NCL cruise this July with 28 friends...I organized the trip. I have diabetes and need something small to eat before retiring with my meds, usually a finger sandwich or piece of fruit. Now I have to call room service..is that before or after I go hypoglycemic.

 

The buffet will be open, and there is usually a small buffet of some sort in the casino. Alternatively order breakfast room service off the standard menu (therefore, no charge) and put it in your fridge and tell your room steward that you need to save if for later due to your diabetes.

[albertamom]

Our little family of four has always cruised in suites, mostly because we hate crowds, and love having the peaceful sanctuary of our suite and balcony to retreat to.

 

At least a couple of times on every cruise, we thoroughly enjoy loading up our plates in the buffet and leaving the crowds behind to enjoy our meal in our beautiful room. We don't have our butler deliver our meal, because the best part of a buffet is taking little bits from here and there and creating a personalized, custom meal.

 

I am very, very disappointed in this new rule. It absolutely takes away from the Freestyle concept, and more than any of the new fees that have been added, negates our freedom of choice. :(

[LoveyHowell]

Sure hope they add some tables and chairs to deal with the mess they are creating.

[jpcdds6]

Maybe Del Rio will order them to make the food so bad, no one will want to take it back to their cabin.

[albertamom]

Sure hope they add some tables and chairs to deal with the mess they are creating.

 

That's exactly what I'm thinking. We have rarely ever been able to find a table for 4, which is why we started taking food back to our cabin in the first place.

[srlafleur]

We won't take a full meal back, normally, but we also don't restrict ourselves to just fruit or pastries. If I'm hungry at an odd hour, I might grab a small amount of whatever looks good, or some sushi (when it's available) or other appetizer-type food to eat on the balcony. Definitely, we bring juice, iced tea, coffee and adult beverages back. Hubby may grab a burger or sandwich. Anything less than a full meal is usually enjoyed on our veranda.

If this policy persists, we will cancel our 2016 NCL Alaska cruise , and change it to another cruise line.

Edited May 8, 2015 by srlafleur

[marazad16]

Yes, we have brought snack type foods to enjoy on the balcony mid-day. Also, my husband is an early riser and often brings me coffee and a quick breakfast to persuade me to wake up and get ready! :)

 

Ultimately I want the option available to me.

[BayouDoc]

Norwegian Cruise Line reserves the right to charge a taco supplement without prior notice should the closing price of West Texas IntermediateTacos increase above $0.65 per taco on the NewMEX (New Mexico Taco Exchange Index). In the event a taco supplement is charged, Norwegian Cruise Line will have sole discretion to apply the supplementary charge to both existing and new bookings, regardless of whether such bookings have been paid in full. Such supplementary charges are not included in the cruise fare. The taco supplement charge will not exceed $7.50 per passenger per day.

 

 

You must always read the fine print on the contract!!!!

[gooch47]

We often take food to our cabin when the buffet is really crowded. This is a big deal for us.

[deladela]

We always bring food back to cabin not from Main dining rooms, but from the buffet, especially at breakfast for those who need prodding out of bed on Port days. LOL. (the grown kids)

 

I am not going to let this stuff upset me as I do have awhile before I cruise.

 

But.........I have to laugh to see how they are going to stop you. I don't think they would if everyone just ignores them and you make a fuss.;)

 

Agree that FDR is ridiculous and we should just keep the message boards going with our displeasure.

The best way to get them to take our displeasure seriously is to send a quick email@ publicrelations@ncl.com

[glittergal1]

Ive just sent my email to them . My complaint email to the London office of NCL fell on deaf ears

[Barb Nahoumi]

I bring fruit or crackers to the cabin to eat before taking meds.

[janpo]

Just sent an e-mail.

[butterflys]

Sending an email shortly to NCL. Excellent suggestion!

[coolbluegreenseas]

This policy will only encourage people who are sick to come out of their cabin when otherwise they would be self quarantined. During our cruise in Europe, I came down with a miserable cold (not noro). Hubby went to the buffet to bring me pasta with garlic. So, if you are sick, you need to go to the buffet and share the joy? At this point, NCL will never have to worry about getting my money.

[NJfoodie]

We have young kids and end up in the room a lot while they nap and go to bed early. We regularly would have one parent get the kids down for naptime since they tend to do so around noon, so we take turns going up to fix ourselves a plate from the buffet, and then have lunch on our balcony while LOs sleep.

 

It technically won't affect us on our next cruise because we're in a suite so sure, we could get room service from our butler but it's so much faster to just grab a plate since naptime doesn't last long enough to wait for room service and I don't really want someone else coming into our room possibly waking the sleeping kids. Same thing in the evening. Kids go to bed, we often will bring back dessert, or have dessert wrapped up from whatever restaurant we had dinner in order to have it in our room.

[Siora7777]

Well, I've been reading these post for a few days now. I can't believe how many husbands wake up early to get their wives breakfast. It makes us women look lazy. I love choosing my own food and eating with my travel buddies... I get up earlier and go while the day is still young. I'm usually one of the first groups off the ship during port days. My sister's worst then I am, she loves to get up early and watch the sunrise. Looks like some of these women are gonna have to get ready faster or get up earlier. That or switch lines... So no I don't bring anything but fruit to my cabin but do not like the new rules. This decision effects everyone in some way or another whether it's longer lines, longer waiting, crying children in the dining room, over crowding, stressed out staff, or a more expensive bill.

Edited May 9, 2015 by Siora7777

[mking8288]

Voted ourselves - thus far, this non-scientific poll results are fairly indicative, almost 3 out of 4 (74%) saying "Yes" - Bring Food to the Cabin.

On a Sea Day - especially when weather isn't good or stormy with huge waves, this new policy (that some still don't believe it's true, pending written confirmation by NCL ... good luck & keep waiting, patiently) is going to catch a few more unhappy camper ... who would either call Room Service or send the spouse/partner to get food from one of the dining venue.

[cruiserninja1]

I'm just bothered that it takes away the freestyle aspect of it .

I slept almost an entire sea day on my first NCL cruise . The ship was moving a lot that day so my boyfriend brought me some food back to my cabin after having lunch with his mom. I nibbled on it throughout the day.

We also had milk and cookies delivered through room service every night while we read the daily and then went to bed . We won't be able to do either of these on our upcoming cruise unless we pay the room service fee or try to smuggle food into the cabin which we don't intend on doing .

I wish they would have announced the changes and charges way ahead of time so people could cancel if they wanted to but even that right felt like it was taken away .

I'm sure we will still have fun but I don't like that I feel cheated . We booked expecting something and some of those things have changed :(

Edited May 9, 2015 by cruiserninja1

[AceDoc]

What is the poll option for those who do not take food back to their room, but are also not happy with the new policy?

 

Cheers