"I will NEVER Cruise NCL AGAIN!!"

[insidecabin]

In the UK serious competition from MSC with year round cruises from Southampton  into the second full year with competitive prices, service included, free kids, good solo rates they are after everyone then add good premium drinks package at sensible pricing.

 

The return to UK by NCL is seeing good discounts on the lower end to fill ships.

Some decent itinerary.

 

We have fixed price free at sea no hidden charge.

 

Where NCL is out of step is gratuities/service most of the other either include in base fare or as  part of the add on package.

 

[Sthrngary]

9 hours ago, kylenyc said:

 

They have.

 

Executive Compensation increased due to the liquidation of NCL's inventory of Veuve, Grey Goose, Bailey's and a variety of aged tequilas and whiskeys.

 

For comparison

"Royal Caribbean Group's CEO Jason Liberty made over $10 million in 2022...Liberty was paid a base salary of $1.2 million and a bonus of $2.3 million, along with about $7 million worth of long-term incentive equity awards. Combined with his shares in the company, his 2022 compensation is estimated to equal around $10.76 million.

 

 

@kylenyc You are commenting on Three words of a four paragraph post.  My post was focus was IF a cruise line, and cruise line, raise prices, PLEASE DON'T reduce quality.  You are obviously up set at the compensation of the Executives.  Not my point, not my focus.  

 

I can't control how much any company pays anyone.  I can control if the product and services cost more and I get less.  I simply book some where else or don't cruise at all.  

 

Thank you for your comment.  You would be better suited sending your feelings directly to NCL and the Executives in question.  Let them know directly how you feel.  High percentage chance you will have a reply.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[cruiseny4life]

On 5/6/2023 at 12:25 AM, kylenyc said:

 

They have.

 

Executive Compensation increased due to the liquidation of NCL's inventory of Veuve, Grey Goose, Bailey's and a variety of aged tequilas and whiskeys.

 

For comparison

"Royal Caribbean Group's CEO Jason Liberty made over $10 million in 2022...Liberty was paid a base salary of $1.2 million and a bonus of $2.3 million, along with about $7 million worth of long-term incentive equity awards. Combined with his shares in the company, his 2022 compensation is estimated to equal around $10.76 million.

 

 

What a great differentiator between NCL and the other cruise lines. All you have to do is go back to the pandemic. Guess who didn't take a pay cut? Frankie boy Del Rio. The other cruise CEO's took a cut to their pay...because, well it was just plain the right thing to do. Don't expect Frankie boy to do the right thing. I'll wait to see how Harry (still need a nickname) does as the CEO of NCLH. 

 

It's certainly one reason cruisers should take into account when deciding which cruise line to sail. If it sways you, check out what Royal Caribbean's CEO did (*hint, he wasn't the highest paid cruise CEO in 2020/2021): https://www.businessinsider.com/royal-caribbean-cruises-ceo-foregoes-salary-executive-pay-cuts-coronavirus-2020-4

 

Again, thanks for bringing up! It's definitely one of the major reasons I consider not sailing again. But, I probably will, hence I won't say "never cruise NCL again" yet. 🙂 

[vacation44]

17 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

 Don't expect Frankie boy to do the right thing. I'll wait to see how Harry (still need a nickname) does as the CEO of NCLH. 

 

Waiting patiently for your Harry nickname..................

[Sthrngary]

52 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

he major reasons I consider not sailing again.

My approach is simply to wait until I can snag a Haven Suite at $2,100 to $2,500 per guest again.  My older sister wants to do her first cruise.  I was honest with her, it might take a while for those prices to get to some level of normality.  If you are only going to cruise once in live, I want her to cruise in the Haven.  She was a good older sister. 

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[ChiefMateJRK]

1 hour ago, cruiseny4life said:

The other cruise CEO's took a cut to their pay...because, well it was just plain the right thing to do.

Did they just take a cut to their salary or to their total compensation.

[RB9643]

On 5/8/2023 at 1:11 PM, Sthrngary said:

My approach is simply to wait until I can snag a Haven Suite at $2,100 to $2,500 per guest again. 

 

Not sure it's worth it on a 5-7 day cruise, but if I could grab that on a 21-day transitional, I'm all in.

[Sthrngary]

1 hour ago, RB9643 said:

 

Not sure it's worth it on a 5-7 day cruise, but if I could grab that on a 21-day transitional, I'm all in.

@RB9643 My amount was for a 7 day cruise. Could never happen on a 21 day cruise unless it was a very lucky upgrade bid. The average price for a Haven Suite, on a larger NCL ship, for a 7 day cruise is $3,100 per guest.  The Haven is usually sold out.  
 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

[cruiseny4life]

On 5/8/2023 at 2:11 PM, Sthrngary said:

My approach is simply to wait until I can snag a Haven Suite at $2,100 to $2,500 per guest again.  My older sister wants to do her first cruise.  I was honest with her, it might take a while for those prices to get to some level of normality.  If you are only going to cruise once in live, I want her to cruise in the Haven.  She was a good older sister. 

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

Agree. That's the range of what we have paid for each of our Haven cruises. And, even with our upcoming FCC, is still the range we're trying to book. I'm thinking our best bet will be to jump on a cruise that isn't selling well, close to the sail away day.

[complawyer]

please dont hold your breathe. we're booked on the 2 bedroom in march from capetown to barcelona,all the suites are now booked out, but we snagged one a few months ago. total price for 3 people was $25,000 went up to $28,000 and this was for the dawn. dont even think about the prima. we were trying to book the dawn again for a back to back oct 2024, but even the aft or forward suite was 16,000 t0 18,000. since i really wanted this itinerary, we were able to book the club balcony suite (not a bad cabin, but certainly not a suite) for a reasonable price. $11,000 total for the 20 days

[Sthrngary]

55 minutes ago, complawyer said:

please dont hold your breathe. we're booked on the 2 bedroom in march from capetown to barcelona,all the suites are now booked out, but we snagged one a few months ago. total price for 3 people was $25,000 went up to $28,000 and this was for the dawn. dont even think about the prima. we were trying to book the dawn again for a back to back oct 2024, but even the aft or forward suite was 16,000 t0 18,000. since i really wanted this itinerary, we were able to book the club balcony suite (not a bad cabin, but certainly not a suite) for a reasonable price. $11,000 total for the 20 days

@complawyer Hello my old friend.  Yep, agreed.  First enjoy your trip.  Second, my comment was for a 7 day Miami or New Orleans round trip to the usual Caribbean places.  I hope you saw the poster who said that they would only consider it at $2,100 to $2,800 for a 21 day cruise.  

 

In either case, those days I am afraid are gone.  It was fun while it lasted thought.  Glad to read your post. 

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[lgdesign]

On 5/8/2023 at 2:11 PM, Sthrngary said:

My approach is simply to wait until I can snag a Haven Suite at $2,100 to $2,500 per guest again.  My older sister wants to do her first cruise.  I was honest with her, it might take a while for those prices to get to some level of normality.  If you are only going to cruise once in live, I want her to cruise in the Haven.  She was a good older sister. 

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

 

Those are very good prices for a Haven suite for a 7 night cruise.   Is that "all in" or just the advertised fare per person?  Also, what type of Haven suite are you talking about for that price range? 

 

And it would be wonderful for your older sister to get to experience the Haven someday... hopefully soon.

 

 

[Dgoddess61]

I have LOVED cruising with NCL! 

 

FOOD - Excellent;   

 

BARS -

SID NORMANS was our favorite for music and hanging in the evening, to small to accommodate everyone wanting in; We Miss not having a BAR indoors on many ships now to sit in and view our journey (loved the GALAXY LOUNGE in front of the ship on the Spirit)

WHISKEY Bar - would love to partake at this bar, but the smoking area is adjacent and sucks for us non-smokers, if NCL is viewing this please consider putting the smoking area near the casino as it always smells smokey when entering.

MARTINI Bar - Excellent Martinis and love the piano entertainer.

ICE Bar - such a waste in my humble opinion (and yes i tried it)

POOL Bars -  Have always had great service, (we do however tip bar staff well throught our trip)

BARTENDERS -  Exceptional in providing a great drink 

 

CABIN - Balcony cabins, aft cabins & Haven forward facing penthouse - Good, not excellent due to our Haven on Breakaway as Haven Penthouse was 1 deck above crew bar during New Years week  (Loud most nights until 2 am) and no view over front of ship both not disclosed at time of booking;  Beds have always been comfortable, and cabin has had plenty of storage.

 

CREW:  EXCELLENT!!!!  Hardest working people I have ever met.  I wish everyone realized how little off-time they have while on the ship, and the sacrifices they endure while being separated from their loved ones for months at a time, and yet they project upbeat positivity with the guests.  I believe many of these employees suffered great hardships financially thru the Covid Crisis and no sailings, many sought other more reliable work to sustain them.  Perhaps this is why NCL is having to cut back some services while trying to rebuild their crews.

 

ITINERARIES -  If NCL is reading this...please lengthen times in ports, and more overnights to allow passengers to experience these ports both day and evening hours.  (or all aboards at 10 pm)  I would also like NCL to provide a policy that if they must miss a port for ANY reason that they will guarantee a future cruise credit for each port.  On my Baltic cruise in 2018 we missed 4 of our 7 ports and had additional sea days, and our port ST Petersburg ended up arriving after noon cutting short our 2 days in that port.  

 

Finally.... I agree with OP in that I want to feel like I am on vacation, and overall that has been my experience on NCL.

 

 

 

 

[Sthrngary]

26 minutes ago, lgdesign said:

 

Those are very good prices for a Haven suite for a 7 night cruise.   Is that "all in" or just the advertised fare per person?  Also, what type of Haven suite are you talking about for that price range? 

 

And it would be wonderful for your older sister to get to experience the Haven someday... hopefully soon.

 

 

@lgdesign I agree on my older sister enjoying the Haven.  Please be clear, the price I outlined were advertised sale prices "In the Past".  The Haven prices now are higher.  Yet, I just found one for the Joy in 2024 for Under $3,000.  The key is look often and be flexibly.

 

I hope that makes sense. 

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.