NCL-bait and switch?

[billdadm]

I am a platinum member of NCL and called to take advantage of the labor day sale. I was informed that I would get the "Cruise First" deal. Pay $250.00 and get the same in credit for a down payment. We did so on the 3rd. By the 9th our circumstances had changed. I called to cancel and get my $250.00 back. Nope," you now have a $500.00 credit to use by 2024. Not my idea of a good business practice.

  Also "Free at Sea" right. Drink package, hmn free except for a 7 day cruise it's $277.20 service charge for the drinks.

Don't know if I'll go with NCL again.

[ldubs]

Sounds like you got bit by the fine print stuff.  I predict many will comment that you should have read the details.   I guess that is true, but it would be a whole lot better if the company clearly stated details like these up front.    

 

BTW, I don't think I've ever spent $277 on drinks for a 7 day cruise.   Because of the freebies every day and what I guess is a low alcohol consumption, I'm nowhere near that.    

[rkacruiser]

2 hours ago, ldubs said:

BTW, I don't think I've ever spent $277 on drinks for a 7 day cruise.   Because of the freebies every day and what I guess is a low alcohol consumption, I'm nowhere near that.    

 

As far as I am concerned these "drink packages" that are offered by many cruise lines are little more than a sales gimmick.  I enjoy 2-3 drinks during HH; maybe another drink or two before dinner and a couple of glasses of wine with dinner.  Maybe a Bloody Mary or Mimosa during the late morning.  Maybe a nightcap before bedtime, but, I have never found these packages to be worth it for me.  

[Flatbush Flyer]

5 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

As far as I am concerned these "drink packages" that are offered by many cruise lines are little more than a sales gimmick.  I enjoy 2-3 drinks during HH; maybe another drink or two before dinner and a couple of glasses of wine with dinner.  Maybe a Bloody Mary or Mimosa during the late morning.  Maybe a nightcap before bedtime, but, I have never found these packages to be worth it for me.  

😎

Seriously, not all booze packages are created equal. On NCL’s “cousin” Oceania, mealtime beer/wine is one possible O Life included perk. For $20 pp/day, you can upgrade that to the Prestige Package which (except for a handful of top shelf cognac/single malts) gives you daily unlimited spirits of any quality/quantity (as long as there’s a bar open to pour it) and a list of wine-by-the-glass selections are included. And the 18% tip is included.

So, just a couple of double margaritas with el Tesoro Anejo and Cointreau (instead of well swill Cuervo/triple sec) and you’re definitely getting your money’s worth. And FWIW, O’s unlimited BYOB wine policy is terrific. No charge for in-cabin consumption and only $25 corkage (which includes the 18% tip) for bottles taken to meals or public spaces.

[phillygwm]

8 hours ago, ldubs said:

Sounds like you got bit by the fine print stuff.  I predict many will comment that you should have read the details.   I guess that is true, but it would be a whole lot better if the company clearly stated details like these up front.    

 

BTW, I don't think I've ever spent $277 on drinks for a 7 day cruise.   Because of the freebies every day and what I guess is a low alcohol consumption, I'm nowhere near that.    

FWIW, the beverage package gratuity is $138.60 per person, or $19.80 per day.  If you're not consuming 2 drinks per day, fine.  You could opt out of the package and just pay ala carte.

 

Personally, I drink (a lot) more on a cruise than I do at any other time of the year.  If I got an itemized bill it would be a heck of a lot more than I'm paying.

Edited September 12, 2021 by phillygwm

[DCGuy64]

6 minutes ago, phillygwm said:

FWIW, the beverage package gratuity is $138.60 per person, or $19.80 per day.  If you're not consuming 2 drinks per day, fine.  You could opt out of the package and just pay ala carte.

 

Personally, I drink (a lot) more on a cruise than I do at any other time of the year.  If I got an itemized bill it would be a heck of a lot more than I'm paying.

Exactly what I was thinking. The OP said $277, but as you said that only breaks down to $19.80 per day, and since most drinks cost more than $10, if you’re not even drinking two drinks per day, then it wouldn’t be worth it, but I would wager the average cruiser drinks more than two per day. WAY more. Now what I do think is sneaky is that they say the drinks are included “for free,”, but they don’t mention the fact that you still have to pay gratuities. Even so, we got an exceptional deal with NCL so we’re happy. Also, and of course this is just my opinion, but getting until 2024 to use the cruise next certificates doesn’t seem particularly stingy to me. 

[fin]

6 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

As far as I am concerned these "drink packages" that are offered by many cruise lines are little more than a sales gimmick.  I enjoy 2-3 drinks during HH; maybe another drink or two before dinner and a couple of glasses of wine with dinner.  Maybe a Bloody Mary or Mimosa during the late morning.  Maybe a nightcap before bedtime, but, I have never found these packages to be worth it for me.  

 

[fin]

Sounds like you are self-describing about ten drinks a day.

 

How many do you think a drinker would need to drink in order for the package to 'pay'?

[phillygwm]

2 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

 Now what I do think is sneaky is that they say the drinks are included “for free,”, but they don’t mention the fact that you still have to pay gratuities. Even so, we got an exceptional deal with NCL so we’re happy. Also, and of course this is just my opinion, but getting until 2024 to use the cruise next certificates doesn’t seem particularly stingy to me. 

I do agree NCL should bake more of these fees into the base fare, certainly the $15 daily gratuity.  Maybe the bar gratuity as well, since I'd guess the vast majority of passengers are subscribing to that package.

[DCGuy64]

2 minutes ago, phillygwm said:

I do agree NCL should bake more of these fees into the base fare, certainly the $15 daily gratuity.  Maybe the bar gratuity as well, since I'd guess the vast majority of passengers are subscribing to that package.

I think you’re correct, but then you’d have people who say they don’t drink objecting to paying for the bar gratuity right off the bat. One thing I’ve learned as a traveler is that when you do something to please one crowd, you end up p***ing off the next one. 😂 

[ldubs]

14 minutes ago, phillygwm said:

FWIW, the beverage package gratuity is $138.60 per person, or $19.80 per day.  If you're not consuming 2 drinks per day, fine.  You could opt out of the package and just pay ala carte.

 

Personally, I drink (a lot) more on a cruise than I do at any other time of the year.  If I got an itemized bill it would be a heck of a lot more than I'm paying.

 

Thanks!  Maybe the Op was quoting the grat for two people.   We get three freebies each on our cruise lines of choice.  Mrs Ldubs rarely has an alcoholic beverage.  I'm not a teetotaler, but I guess I don't drink much because we typically don't use up the freebies.  And, I would agree I drink more on a cruise than when I"m home!  I guess it is all relative! 

[Two Wheels Only]

8 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

Now what I do think is sneaky is that they say the drinks are included “for free,”, but they don’t mention the fact that you still have to pay gratuities.

 

It's on the front page....

 

*20% Gratuities Apply on: Free Open Bar; Free Specialty Dining. Free Extra Guests on select cruises. Restrictions apply.

 

...but the text size is much smaller.

 

5 minutes ago, phillygwm said:

I do agree NCL should bake more of these fees into the base fare, certainly the $15 daily gratuity.

 

NCL would add more than $15pppd and then proudly proclaim "No daily service charges!!!".

Is that what people really want?
 

[ldubs]

1 minute ago, DCGuy64 said:

I think you’re correct, but then you’d have people who say they don’t drink objecting to paying for the bar gratuity right off the bat. One thing I’ve learned as a traveler is that when you do something to please one crowd, you end up p***ing off the next one. 😂 

 

Good point.  In my mind the only solution needed is to include the drink package gratuity in the published price of the drink package.   Then imbibers and  non-imbibers are happy!  

[DCGuy64]

Just now, Two Wheels Only said:

 

It's on the front page....

 

*20% Gratuities Apply on: Free Open Bar; Free Specialty Dining. Free Extra Guests on select cruises. Restrictions apply.

 

...but the text size is much smaller.

 

 

NCL would add more than $15pppd and then proudly proclaim "No daily service charges!!!".

Is that what people really want?
 

Yes, the small type fine print is what I meant by not mentioning it, I guess they do, but the fact that they make it smaller means they are probably hoping you don’t see that. Anyway, like everything else related to the price of cruising, they could simply add the gratuity part in and then hike the price of the total fare, it’s all a shell game in the first place. When I comparison-shop I always look at the bottom line anyway.

[Flatbush Flyer]

10 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

I think you’re correct, but then you’d have people who say they don’t drink objecting to paying for the bar gratuity right off the bat. One thing I’ve learned as a traveler is that when you do something to please one crowd, you end up p***ing off the next one. 😂 

This is why Premium cruise lines are so popular with many folks. No “nickel-diming” extra cost for relatively inexpensive items like non-alcoholic beverages, room service and internet. At the same time, unlike luxury lines, other than basic mealtime booze is not included but available in a reasonably priced package. On some of the premium lines that include airfare (e.g., NCL “cousin” Oceania) even that can be traded for an air credit.

Gratuities? After X cruises they’re complimentary. Before that, most TAs who specialize in premium lines will pay them for you.

Edited September 12, 2021 by Flatbush Flyer

[hallux]

8 hours ago, billdadm said:

Also "Free at Sea" right. Drink package, hmn free except for a 7 day cruise it's $277.20 service charge for the drinks.

Don't know if I'll go with NCL again.

You're Platinum but didn't know this?  Been a while since you cruised?  The service charge has been an added cost since at least 2019...

[phillygwm]

Just now, Two Wheels Only said:

NCL would add more than $15pppd and then proudly proclaim "No daily service charges!!!".

Is that what people really want?
 

Yes.  Because it makes for transparent billing and it's easier to compare different lines.  If they wanted to add $50/day, fine, if that's what they think the market will bear, recognizing there will be consequences of people find a similar carrier to be substantially cheaper.

[DCGuy64]

1 minute ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

This is why Premium cruise lines are so popular with many folks. No “nickel-diming” extra cost for relatively inexpensive items like non-alcoholic beverages, room service and internet. At the same time, unlike luxury lines, other than basic mealtime booze is not included but available in a reasonably priced package. On some of the premium lines that include airfare (e.g., NCL “cousin” Oceania) even that can be traded for an air credit.

I think you mean “many folks with fat wallets.“

We’ve looked at doing Oceania Cruises and it’s easily 2 to 3 times more expensive than NCL for even the cheapest cabins, and they’re always sold out before we could get them. One day, when I’m rich and famous, LOL. Right now, it’s just out of our league. 

[Two Wheels Only]

1 minute ago, DCGuy64 said:

When I comparison-shop I always look at the bottom line anyway.

 

I agree 100%

 

$1,000 plus $250 in service charges or $1,250 and no service charges. 

Which will attract more customers?

 

11 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

Is that what people really want?

 

8 minutes ago, phillygwm said:

Yes

 

But it will end up costing more. 

 

4 minutes ago, phillygwm said:

Because it makes for transparent billing and it's easier to compare different lines.

 

Maybe they don't want you to compare different lines and instead want people to blindly jump and book the one with the "free" things....

[phillygwm]

Just now, Two Wheels Only said:

Maybe they don't want you to compare different lines and instead want people to blindly jump and book the one with the "free" things....

Perhaps that works, once.  But then people feel they were nickled and dimed and they're more inclined to ignore that teaser deal the next time because they realize it's BS.  

 

I book through CAS and always get a good deal.  And I've sailed NCL enough to know where most of the add-ons are.  But when someone feels they've been treated unfairly they're less inclined to come back.

[Flatbush Flyer]

24 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

I think you mean “many folks with fat wallets.“

We’ve looked at doing Oceania Cruises and it’s easily 2 to 3 times more expensive than NCL for even the cheapest cabins, and they’re always sold out before we could get them. One day, when I’m rich and famous, LOL. Right now, it’s just out of our league. 

Don’t make the rookie mistake of comparing only cabin costs. Instead, use “net daily rate,” which is the total cost of your trip door-to-door divided by the number of days away.

For example: If you’re going to do an intercontinental cruise embarkation, the air fare (even coach) can easily be $1500+\- per person (but it’s included or you can get an air credit). Add to that all of the options you might be charged for or optionally purchase on NCL (e.g., gratuities, internet, beverages, booze, excursions, specialty restaurants, etc) and you’ll find that most -if not all- are included on O (or covered by the right O preferred partner TA). And though you’d have to get a few O cruises under your belt, do know that upper level O Club perks include $ hundreds in SBC and gratuities on every cruise and, for every 20 cruise credits, you get a comp 14 day cruise anywhere O goes.

There have been many “aha” posts by folks here on CC who finally have done the true “bottom line” math on comparison shopping (including an entire recent thread on CC about the true expensive cost of Celebrity.

In fact, I’d bet that, if you compared any NCL Haven cabin cost to a comparable O cabin with all included/optionals accounted for, you’d find out what a terrific value Oceania truly is. And we haven’t even looked at the significant difference in quality of food and service as well as crew and space to passenger ratios.

In any case, “drive to” (MIA-MIA) one week Caribbean mass market cruises may be cheap. But, once you start going further (as in airfare) and longer (3-4 weeks +\-), you’re in for a big surprise on which cruise lines have more quality/value.

 

OOPS. Forgot that most O preferred TAs will share commissions with you at 5-10% of the commissionable fare. 

Edited September 12, 2021 by Flatbush Flyer

[brad0576]

29 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

Good point.  In my mind the only solution needed is to include the drink package gratuity in the published price of the drink package.   Then imbibers and  non-imbibers are happy!  

You don't have to accept the Free at Sea benefit even though it is offered.....

[keep on cruisin]

I understand the op being annoyed about the deposit issue, but when I bought that for my October cruise it was well explained that the deposit portion would only ever be refunded as fcc if canceled.  The blame should be on his ta or pcc if used, or himself if purchased through the site.  As for the daily service charge we always tipped anyway so this is just easier.  The drink package gratuity I think should be included, but it is well marked and when booking you have the option to remove the promo.

Any time I book or price check I add the the gratuity and see the total price so I know exactly what my number is.  The only money to spend beyond is casino and any excursions or gift shops.

 

I can compare to the likes of Celebrity for example who do not add the gratuity to the promo drink package but the end number includes everything I need it too.

[ldubs]

2 minutes ago, brad0576 said:

You don't have to accept the Free at Sea benefit even though it is offered.....

 

Thanks.  I don't think I know what  a Free at Sea benefit is.  I was assuming folks were opting in to pay for a drink package.  

[milolii]

Right,  if you remove it, the service changes do not appear in the total.