Bait and switch

[SuiteCruiser]

Yes, the opposite of bait and switch, it's a switch and bait.

 

LOL Exactly :)

 

Bizarro World

[GoAndHaveFun]

I don't remember that being the case either. I always thought it was UDP for all and UBP for the first two.

 

The crazy thing is that if you buy the UBP, everyone in the cabin 18 or older has to buy it, yet if they give it out for the service fee, it's not the case. I guess only those who pay hundreds for it are more likely to scam drinks for their cabin mates?

 

I remember I kept thinking UBP was also for everyone (like UDP at the time) so I asked Concierge to double check but turns out UBP was only for 2 while soda for 2 was like the consolation prize lol.

 

And yea, I have also heard that if one wants to buy UBP, then everyone in the room has to buy it! I don't drink all that much so for my cruise coming up, I will just ask my bro (who will have UBP) to get me drinks :D

[fshagan]

I agree, but on the other hand, NCL hasn't "refreshed" a lot of the entertainment. The GEM still has the same stale shows as before. I loved Rock of Ages on the Breakaway 2 years ago, and on the next Breakaway sailing I'm taking, it will still be on there. I don't mind since it will only be the second time seeing it, but NCL apparently doesn't mind people seeing the same show 3 or 4 times.

 

I think BMG was on the Epic for four years. But, in any case, I don't think a replacement of one big show with another big show is the same type of change as the other items on your list.

 

 

What's the new kids' program? I haven't heard anything about it.

 

I searched, but couldn't find it. I don't recall the group's name and that may be why it didn't come up. IIRC, it is a well respected children's educational foundation based, I believe, in Britain. In the thread I recall, the people who were familiar with them said they were top notch.

 

Other cruise lines like Disney still do fireworks, so it's not a legal issue.

 

Disney does do fireworks still, but my environmental concerns remain. It is a change that belongs on your list, but I would ask people to reconsider how much damage we do to the environment to see pretty lights in the air. And I suspect there are some regulations - I hope there are anyway - that argue against that kind of unnecessary pollution. But, as I said, it was on some or one of the ships, and it has been taken away.

 

Thank you. That's what I mean by "Death by a thousand cuts." Individually, they're not noticeable, but together they represent a drop in service and quality. NCL might find itself in the same boat (pardon the pun) as GM and Ford. For years, they made tiny little cuts to quality while the Japanese companies continued to make a quality product. Eventually many of the die hards switched to the alternatives and never looked back. I'm sure if you asked people what's the one thing GM or Ford could have changed to win them back, they probably couldn't be very specific. It was a general dissatisfaction from a bunch of annoyances that lead up to a "straw that broke the camel's back" situation and boom. Customer gone. I booked over a year out for my July cruise on the Breakaway. I got a good price at the time, but I'm not sure I'd do it next year at the current prices. I'm also taking a break from cruising in 2017. I'm not tired of it. I wouldn't mind doing a GEM cruise from NY to Nassau again, but I'm fed up with the way things are changing and I have little hope it's going to get better in 2017. If anything, there will be more cuts, not less. NCL is slowly turning into Carnival and I'm not going to cruise like that.

 

I would absolutely encourage you not to book with NCL again. That is the only thing that matters to corporation.

 

I think your position is that the value to you, as a consumer, has been eroded by the number and pace of changes, and you don't trust NCL with your vacation dollars. You may in the future, and if a great deal comes along NCL might be able to create a sense of value for their product again.

[MrMan]

Part of the problem with NCL's overall strategy is that it's a "death by a thousand cuts" rather than a couple major changes. There have been lots of changes over the last year, so adding them all up means that people who booked very far in advance are getting a significantly different experience than what they thought they were getting.

 

• Nickelodeon gone
  
• Geoffrey Zakarian gone
  
• 18% gratuity on specialty dining
  
• DSC raised twice
  
• drink prices raised
  
• 18% gratuity on drinks
  
• 18% gratuity on food/coffee purchases ( Java Cafe/Carlo's/gelato etc)
  
• Asian Noodle restaurant complimentary but reduced menu
  
• Hippo Slide on GSC gone
  
• Fireworks gone
  
• UDP is now SDP
  
• UBP used to be for everyone in room, but now it's just first two passengers
  
• Room service $7.95 except for a much smaller limited "continental breakfast"
  
• Blue Man Group gone
  
• Now pay taxes on "free" UBP/SDP
  
• No more kids pricing in specialty restaurants
  
• Port times shortened on a number of itineraries "for your convenience"
  
• No more free Cirque or Illusionarium on first night with dining package
  
• Margaritaville on Escape is now a la carte. Used to be included.
  
• Cancellation policy got much worse.
  

 

And none of this crossed my mind or cared about in my value proposition when I booked my next cruise

[abe3]

And none of this crossed my mind or cared about in my value proposition when I booked my next cruise

 

Śame with me.

[LMaxwell]

And none of this crossed my mind or cared about in my value proposition when I booked my next cruise

 

Śame with me.

You didn't bother to figure out the total cost of your vacation? That's not something I'd brag about

[StolidCruiser]

That's not what they said but nice try at slinging some mud.

[LMaxwell]

That's not what they said but nice try at slinging some mud.

 

I'm not slinging mud. I take all variables into factor when considering total vacation value. I certainly wouldn't run around bragging that I purposely ignored changes.

 

I guess some people just have more money to burn than I do. Good for them.

[Golfin55]

What about all of the reports from those "in the know" who say he picks out the artwork, cutlery, etc. He's known as the guy with his hands on everything by the people that call him their friend. He's the guy calling the shots, to me it's obvious because all of the changes have been handled exactly the same way since he started. There doesn't appear to be any planning, it's thrown out there and not communicated.

 

 

 

A well planned out raise to DSC does not bring about 2 increases within months of each other.

 

 

 

A well planned out Feature Restaurant that's complimentary does not go a la carte a month later

 

 

 

Dishes in the hallways should not mean an immediate ban on people bringing back food, if properly planned out, that mess wouldn't have happened.

 

 

 

I won't keep going on, but the changes all were handled poorly and the same way, and we know FDR made the call on the dishes in the hall, and we know he has his hands in everything, so I think it's a reasonable assumption.

 

 

Again, ASSUMPTION , NOT FACT...

[abe3]

You didn't bother to figure out the total cost of your vacation? That's not something I'd brag about

 

 

I know my financial situation and know what value to me for my money not you.

[LMaxwell]

I know my financial situation and know what value to me for my money not you.

 

I think that's great!

[abe3]

Again, ASSUMPTION , NOT FACT...

 

 

Agreed.

[MrMan]

You didn't bother to figure out the total cost of your vacation? That's not something I'd brag about

 

 

Firstly, you don't know that I didn't figure out cost, in fact I do and I told you I did in my value proposition comment. My comment was none of this is important to me when I purchased. I look at ship and destination and am cruise line agnostic at first pass and next find value as second pass. I find no dancing Dora's a blessing and IMHO the tips can not be high enough with the crap they have to put up with. (Yes,I am looking at those CC rants complaining about the mundane). I find tremendous value in Ultimate packages.

 

You may not find value with NCL. That's fine there are plenty of options out there and the rational consumer would look at alternatives and if they don't find one then NCL continues to suite the consumers value proposition.

 

Finally it's ok to disagree, this is a discussion and first world issues, but IMHO snark is not flattering.

[LMaxwell]

Firstly, you don't know that I didn't figure out cost, in fact I do and I told you I did in my value proposition comment. My comment was none of this is important to me when I purchased. I look at ship and destination and am cruise line agnostic at first pass and next find value as second pass. I find no dancing Dora's a blessing and IMHO the tips can not be high enough with the crap they have to put up with. (Yes,I am looking at those CC rants complaining about the mundane). I find tremendous value in Ultimate packages.

 

You may not find value with NCL. That's fine there are plenty of options out there and the rational consumer would look at alternatives and if they don't find one then NCL continues to suite the consumers value proposition.

 

Finally it's ok to disagree, this is a discussion and first world issues, but IMHO snark is not flattering.

 

 

If you find value, great.

[Golfin55]

Here is a completely irrelevant, obscure but in some was fits into the theme of this garbage.

 

1) Disney has tasked theme park admin prices about a dozen times in eight years.

2 Carnival has taken away there advertised "lobster on every cruise" while still advertising it for over a year after removed it from there menu.

3) NCL was paying a small fortune for there crap fireworks display, while Disney owns and produces All There pyrotechnics in Lakeland FL. (Cost effective)

4) Kevin Sheehan was a dope. The fireworks were a last minute idea that never should had been implemented.

5) increases on other main stream lines averaged higher then NCL over a 24mo. Period.

6) Blue man group, Nick, Cake Boss & Geoffrey Zakarian were all ill conceived franchises that were costing NCL more then they were profiting from those names.

(Zakarian) wanted too high a percentage. Average occupancy well below target projection..

(NICK) Viacom would NOT renew, Viacom has plans going into 2016 and does not include exclusivity right to the Brand outside Universal Studios.

(Blue man Group) AKA, Blue man productions LLC. had a limited contract with NCL. CONTRACT ENDED. FULFILLED. END OF STORY....

(Carlos bake shop) - BA & GA will be phased out. According to customer reviews. Most were negative. On the ESCAPE, ITS JUST CALLED THE BAKE SHOP. The gelato & bakery on the Waterfront on GA,BA & ES will most likely be removed by end of 2016.

(Too bad most of you have never heard Arnold Donald, Richard Fain, Karl Holz and others speak first hand at Cruise3sixty or other industry conferences. You would clearly see how closely they all will be changing very soon. And your NOT GOING TO LIKE IT...

[abe3]

Here is a completely irrelevant, obscure but in some was fits into the theme of this garbage.

 

1) Disney has tasked theme park admin prices about a dozen times in eight years.

2 Carnival has taken away there advertised "lobster on every cruise" while still advertising it for over a year after removed it from there menu.

3) NCL was paying a small fortune for there crap fireworks display, while Disney owns and produces All There pyrotechnics in Lakeland FL. (Cost effective)

4) Kevin Sheehan was a dope. The fireworks were a last minute idea that never should had been implemented.

5) increases on other main stream lines averaged higher then NCL over a 24mo. Period.

6) Blue man group, Nick, Cake Boss & Geoffrey Zakarian were all ill conceived franchises that were costing NCL more then they were profiting from those names.

(Zakarian) wanted too high a percentage. Average occupancy well below target projection..

(NICK) Viacom would NOT renew, Viacom has plans going into 2016 and does not include exclusivity right to the Brand outside Universal Studios.

(Blue man Group) AKA, Blue man productions LLC. had a limited contract with NCL. CONTRACT ENDED. FULFILLED. END OF STORY....

(Carlos bake shop) - BA & GA will be phased out. According to customer reviews. Most were negative. On the ESCAPE, ITS JUST CALLED THE BAKE SHOP. The gelato & bakery on the Waterfront on GA,BA & ES will most likely be removed by end of 2016.

(Too bad most of you have never heard Arnold Donald, Richard Fain, Karl Holz and others speak first hand at Cruise3sixty or other industry conferences. You would clearly see how closely they all will be changing very soon. And your NOT GOING TO LIKE IT...

 

 

Fantastic post!

[sparks1093]

Here is a completely irrelevant, obscure but in some was fits into the theme of this garbage.

 

1) Disney has tasked theme park admin prices about a dozen times in eight years.

2 Carnival has taken away there advertised "lobster on every cruise" while still advertising it for over a year after removed it from there menu.

3) NCL was paying a small fortune for there crap fireworks display, while Disney owns and produces All There pyrotechnics in Lakeland FL. (Cost effective)

4) Kevin Sheehan was a dope. The fireworks were a last minute idea that never should had been implemented.

5) increases on other main stream lines averaged higher then NCL over a 24mo. Period.

6) Blue man group, Nick, Cake Boss & Geoffrey Zakarian were all ill conceived franchises that were costing NCL more then they were profiting from those names.

(Zakarian) wanted too high a percentage. Average occupancy well below target projection..

(NICK) Viacom would NOT renew, Viacom has plans going into 2016 and does not include exclusivity right to the Brand outside Universal Studios.

(Blue man Group) AKA, Blue man productions LLC. had a limited contract with NCL. CONTRACT ENDED. FULFILLED. END OF STORY....

(Carlos bake shop) - BA & GA will be phased out. According to customer reviews. Most were negative. On the ESCAPE, ITS JUST CALLED THE BAKE SHOP. The gelato & bakery on the Waterfront on GA,BA & ES will most likely be removed by end of 2016.

(Too bad most of you have never heard Arnold Donald, Richard Fain, Karl Holz and others speak first hand at Cruise3sixty or other industry conferences. You would clearly see how closely they all will be changing very soon. And your NOT GOING TO LIKE IT...

 

$3300 vs $1700

[SuiteCruiser]

Sometimes changes don't benefit customers. Most businesses raise prices, change policies, etc.

 

Right, and most businesses do it by planning ahead, and doing research, implementing changes with as little detriment to their customers as possible.

[electro]

Also they are filling ships so obviously your facts are differing from thousands that get on their ships each week.

 

Are they?

I'm sailing on the BA in 38 days and it looks like half the ship is not sold yet.

There are still 48 out of 80 suites available.

[swedish weave]

Also they are filling ships so obviously your facts are differing from thousands that get on their ships each week.

 

They are filling the ships by slashing rates ---AND --- if they continue and get low enough, I too will book with them again.

 

Also, they entice bookings by offering free things, then making you pay if you use them.

Edited December 24, 2015 by swedish weave

[abe3]

They are filling the ships by slashing rates ---AND --- if they continue and get low enough, I too will book with them again.

 

 

 

Also, they entice bookings by offering free things, then making you pay if you use them.

 

 

Well according to some on here they have increased their prices dramatically.b but I haven't seen it with the bookings I have.

Edited December 24, 2015 by abe3

[abe3]

They are filling the ships by slashing rates ---AND --- if they continue and get low enough, I too will book with them again.

 

 

 

Also, they entice bookings by offering free things, then making you pay if you use them.

 

 

Also what free things they give you and you have to pay for them?

[LMaxwell]

Also what free things they give you and you have to pay for them?

 

UBP, SDP, and Shore Excursion packages.

 

UBP and SDP come with compulsory gratuity. Shore Excursion credit is not enough to cover doing an excursion, compelling you to spend more.

 

One can elect not to accept any of those "free" packages though and just cruise at the base rate.

 

NCL no longer allows combining of AARP discount with any promotions either, which is a shame, that was good for 5% off my cruise fare.

[sparks1093]

UBP, SDP, and Shore Excursion packages.

 

UBP and SDP come with compulsory gratuity. Shore Excursion credit is not enough to cover doing an excursion, compelling you to spend more.

 

One can elect not to accept any of those "free" packages though and just cruise at the base rate.

 

NCL no longer allows combining of AARP discount with any promotions either, which is a shame, that was good for 5% off my cruise fare.

 

Except the base rate has been raised to cover the cost of the "free" things.

[abe3]

UBP, SDP, and Shore Excursion packages.

 

 

 

UBP and SDP come with compulsory gratuity. Shore Excursion credit is not enough to cover doing an excursion, compelling you to spend more.

 

 

 

One can elect not to accept any of those "free" packages though and just cruise at the base rate.

 

 

 

NCL no longer allows combining of AARP discount with any promotions either, which is a shame, that was good for 5% off my cruise fare.

 

 

They state when you book you have to pay for gratuities. So they are not hiding anything.

 

I do agree they should allow the AARP but that has nothing to do with the quote that they give free things and you have to pay for it.