Is this true???!!!

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Right after we cruised on that horrible NCL Breakaway, they took away the lobster on every cruise even the week long ones. They do offer the free drink package but honestly, they must be cutting back or giving less or less quality of something else, nothing is for free. They also are the only cruise line that didn't have a meat carving daily, only the first day boarding and I not going to find out what else they cut back on, it was bad enough., this girl isn't going on NCL again and glad my family feels the same way!

 

NCL isn't cutting back on anything and just because it says "free drink package" you are paying for it. The price is now embedded in the inflated price of the stateroom, plus they gratuities, or as NCL calls them (DSC) daily service charge is now the highest of the mainstream lines.

 

They also make you pay 18% gratuities on the "Free" drink package and for specialty dining restaurants. In essence you are tipping twice if you decide to eat in a specialty restaurant because you have already paid a gratuity for the regular dining room you won't be eating in.

 

Just remembered they are adding 16 oz prime rib to the regular dining room menu for $14.99, whole lobster for $19.99, and an 8oz filet mignon with a lobster tail for $24.99.

 

NCL is getting their money one way or another.

 

Bill

Edited November 10, 2015 by S.S.Oceanlover

[path145]

Hello Yubbasutter- We like to have the convenience of getting a drink anywhere we are able to get one, not to be limited only to the casino. Also, if I am sitting at a loosing slot machine, I don't want to keep playing there waiting for my drink to come.

 

I liked Cheers because I could try different drinks and wasn't limited to where I got them, but because they are including the Drinks on Us drinks with the Cheers drinks we have decided not to get Cheers again. We can get free drinks in the casino, and the amount we pay for drinks at other bars will probably be less than what we would have paid for Cheers!

 

We also LOVE getting free wine with dinner, chocolate covered strawberries and cookies and fruit & cheese baskets sent to the room, and comped Steakhouse dinners! And no we don't spend a fortune... last cruise I came home with $250 more than I started with!

[Maleeni]

On another post I read that Carnival no longer gives you turn down service twice, that you choose am or pm is this true? When did this start if its true?

 

I also read they took away the lobster on less than 7 night cruises, is this also true? Are we able to purchase lobster and or a better steak on short cruises in the MDR for an uncharge?

 

up a lot of money especially when we take a couple of carnival cruises each year.

 

It was done in a manner that raised many eyebrows.

 

Even the workers were telling passengers it was one OR the other. And if course it was rolled out without an advance notice of an advance notice. The form itself is so misleading, that they are redesigning, but apparently refuse to throw the misleading ones away.

 

And yes, they took the lobster away in the short cruises, even though per dorm, they usually cost more. Go figure. They tried removing lobster altogether in the early 90s and failed miserably. The lobster soon returned. Just like the cocktail shrimp and escargot in later years. It was funny watching John. Heald reporting it was due to flooding, then drought, then flooding. By the time the correct story caught up with him, the little buggers were back.

[ashley@cruisecritic]

Hi guys,

 

Cruise Critic's editorial staff covered both the cabin service and lobster issues:

 

Cabins: http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6605.

Lobster: http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6534.

 

We always get our info straight from those in charge of Carnival's PR department, so you can trust that it's accurate. Here's everything we've covered in the past month: http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/. (For older news, click here: http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/archive.cfm.)

[Cruisegirl6]

S.S. Oceanlover- I was booked on the Getaway for May, cancelled thank goodness, but I was paying $2376.00 for a mini suite for two people, getting the drink package and complimentary gratuities from a cruise agency, you mean to say that I would of had to pay the 18% tax on the drink package, I would of assumed it would be included when NCL gives you the so called free drink package, do you know the cost of the total for the taxes on the drink package?

 

Path145- I will be refusing the drinks on us card since we will be purchasing the Cheers program, we just don't want to be restricted getting a drink in the casino and at the same time maybe at a loosing slot waiting for our drink. The goodies they send us to our cabins are real nice and quite honestly, we love Carnival casino's the best out of any other cruise line. :p

 

Thanks for that info going to check out those links now.

[Big_G]

1)

If lack of lobster on formal night is a game changer for you then you need to start looking for another cruise line but be aware both Royal Caribbean and Princess cruise line did away with lobster on formal night a long time ago. I'm not sure whether Norwegian still offers it. Perhaps somebody here can shed light on that.

 

We sailed on 4 Princess cruises this past year and had lobster on formal night every time so they have not taken it away. I must say it was very nice lobster. They served it with prawns which made Carnivals lobster tail look like cocktail shrimp.

 

...and my last two Royal and last two Celebrity cruises lobster tails were served on formal nights. They're probably no better than Carnival's but they were served.

[emcelh]

S.S. Oceanlover- I was booked on the Getaway for May, cancelled thank goodness, but I was paying $2376.00 for a mini suite for two people, getting the drink package and complimentary gratuities from a cruise agency, you mean to say that I would of had to pay the 18% tax on the drink package, I would of assumed it would be included when NCL gives you the so called free drink package, do you know the cost of the total for the taxes on the drink package?

 

Path145- I will be refusing the drinks on us card since we will be purchasing the Cheers program, we just don't want to be restricted getting a drink in the casino and at the same time maybe at a loosing slot waiting for our drink. The goodies they send us to our cabins are real nice and quite honestly, we love Carnival casino's the best out of any other cruise line. :p

 

Thanks for that info going to check out those links now.

It isn't a tax. It's the gratuity and when it was offered earlier in the year it was included. The change happened a few months ago.

 

It still is a good deal if you have more that a few drinks each day. We sailed on the Gem last month. I had booked long before they offered the drink package as a promotion. I rebooked in April to get it and, even though the fare had increased, it still saved us over $600. BTW, there were meat carvings every day in the buffet.

[texast518]

NCL isn't cutting back on anything and just because it says "free drink package" you are paying for it. The price is now embedded in the inflated price of the stateroom, plus they gratuities, or as NCL calls them (DSC) daily service charge is now the highest of the mainstream lines.

 

They also make you pay 18% gratuities on the "Free" drink package and for specialty dining restaurants. In essence you are tipping twice if you decide to eat in a specialty restaurant because you have already paid a gratuity for the regular dining room you won't be eating in.

 

Just remembered they are adding 16 oz prime rib to the regular dining room menu for $14.99, whole lobster for $19.99, and an 8oz filet mignon with a lobster tail for $24.99.

 

NCL is getting their money one way or another.

 

Bill

Including charging for any room service.

[dallas52]

RCCL didn't do turn down service at night and no lobster on formal night for the 3 night cruise we just returned from.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Including charging for any room service.

 

continental breakfast is free from 6am until 10:30 am

 

Bill

[mousey]

And from reading the NCL boards, you don't get lobster on NCL cruises of any length unless you pay for it.

 

This must be a new thing because we always got lobster without having to pay for it in the MDR on "dress up or not nights". But then again, we haven't cruised NCL in several years.

[mousey]

amen!!! I wish there was a "like" button for this!

 

like! ;)

[Jana60]

John has addressed these things over and over on FB, but folks continue to present rumors here and stir things up. And Cruise Critic folks continue to harass him on FB about Carnival not doing enough for Cruise Critic meet and greets. Seriously, folks, I enjoy coming here and reading everyone's reviews, good or bad. I get valuable information on ports, activities, etc. I've made friends and connected with them on cruises. But I don't think that just because some folks "meet" on the internet and then sail on the same cruise that Carnival or any other cruise line owes them freebies, whether it's food or gifts or that the captain has to take time out to meet up at these cruisers' convenience. I don't consider myself to be any more important/deserving than anyone else sailing on the same cruise I'm on. I'm sick to death of folks flaunting their platinum and diamond status as if that means they are owed having their every whim met by the cruise staff.

 

I'm a little confused! In this entire thread I have not seen anyone else mention the word cruise critic meetings or platinum/ Diamond status until your post so I'm not quite sure how you connected the gripes of people at John Heald's site or loyalty status to this subject? I think people have a tendency to say check with John because he works for Carnival and they figure he will know the true story but otherwise the two subjects are completely unrelated!

Edited November 12, 2015 by Jana60

[Maleeni]

John has addressed these things over and over on FB, but folks continue to present rumors here and stir things up. And Cruise Critic folks continue to harass him on FB about Carnival not doing enough for Cruise Critic meet and greets. Seriously, folks, I enjoy coming here and reading everyone's reviews, good or bad. I get valuable information on ports, activities, etc. I've made friends and connected with them on cruises. But I don't think that just because some folks "meet" on the internet and then sail on the same cruise that Carnival or any other cruise line owes them freebies, whether it's food or gifts or that the captain has to take time out to meet up at these cruisers' convenience. I don't consider myself to be any more important/deserving than anyone else sailing on the same cruise I'm on. I'm sick to death of folks flaunting their platinum and diamond status as if that means they are owed having their every whim met by the cruise staff.

 

When doing investigative reporting, one rarely expects the whole truth from the company or any representative. Once again they got caught with their bloomers down. And allegedly are now making corrections.

[ashley@cruisecritic]

I'm a little confused! In this entire thread I have not seen anyone else mention the word cruise critic meetings or platinum/ Diamond status until your post so I'm not quite sure how you connected the gripes of people at John Heald's site or loyalty status to this subject? I think people have a tendency to say check with John because he works for Carnival and they figure he will know the true story but otherwise the two subjects are completely unrelated!

 

Unfortunately, they are related. The comment you're referring to was in response to someone who said he/she wished John Heald would come here to comment. That doesn't happen because, sadly, a small handful of people send him rude emails and then say they're affiliated with Cruise Critic. In those emails, they often claim they deserve special treatment because of their affiliation with Cruise Critic or because of their status within the line's loyalty program. In other words, it's because of the entitled attitude of a few squeaky wheels that he refrains from dealing with our message boards.