6 grand for a one week cruise?

[MammaMoe48]

It's a Jewel class ship. All Jewel class ships have two main complimentary main dining rooms with waiter service including the Gem. So your statement about the ship having only buffets as free is quite misleading. Maybe you missed them some how but I can't imagine how because they take up most of the aft of deck 6 on the ship. I'm sorry you felt nickled and dimed but maybe NCL is being like DCL... not nickel and diming you but offering you "options"!

No need to get snarky. I know what I was told, when we went to the main dining room we couldn't find a table to sit at, they were all taken. There were no waiters waiting to take us to a table and when I asked about where we could sit we were told that "freestyle" meant you sit where you like, which didn't help us since there was nowhere to sit. Since I'm familiar with buffets, I was able to determine that it was a buffet because people were getting their own food and the "waiters" were at the food stations serving up the food and replenishing trays. I asked if it was a buffet and the "maitre d" said it was. When I asked where we could sit down with waiter service and available tables, we were told we had to go to one of the specialty restaurants, which cost extra. Maybe because it was a Nickelodeon cruise they had a different pricing plan. Still, even if they had a main dining room with waiter service, there was less to do onboard outside of the scheduled Nick events. Like I said, no shows, no movies, limited character meets. There were only two pools, one was a baby splash pool that was less than a foot deep (filled with babies wearing saggy diapers) and the main pool, which was more than 5 feet deep. Since my son couldn't swim, he had to hold onto the edge or us and it was so small and crowded. I'm 5'7" and I had to stand on tippy-tip toes to touch the bottom and still keep my face out of the water. There was no kiddie pool that my son could play in like the Mickey or Donald pools.

 

[kaseyC]

No need to get snarky. I know what I was told, when we went to the main dining room for dinner our first night we were told it was a buffet. When I asked where we could sit down with waiter service, we were told we had to go to one of the specialty resraurants, which cost extra. Maybe because it was a Nickelodeon cruise they had a different pricing plan. Still, even if they had a main dining room with waiter service, there was less to do onboard outside of the scheduled Nick events.

Wasn't being snarky. I'm not discounting your experience. Just stating the facts. Have a Disney Day!

 

[Ofinn]

Yes, 2 days after Thanksgiving.

Out of curiosity I checked this morning, there is a GT rate now. I booked in March and no the price isn't too bad. We have 5 nights at WDW, and may fly in late thanksgiving night and add a night, so the midship is important to me..we'll be walking enough at the parks...and I'm not trying to absolutely exhaust my child again.lol

What your seeing in a GTY rate. A GT rate is a restricted rate that comes out after the PIF date. It is nonrefundable, and you are only able to pick inside, outside, or verandah. GT rates are normally 20% - 30% off the lowest price at the time in that category. An example would be the Med cruises in Sept if you look at those you will see the first price listed will say "verandah guarantee with restrictions". Just to add those cruises never went up in price so the GT rate is well below opening day. If the cruise has gone up a lot in price then the 20%-30% off maybe higher then opening day. It really depends on how much the cruise has risen since opening day if the GT rate is going to be a good deal or not.

 

[21stamps]

What your seeing in a GTY rate. A GT rate is a restricted rate that comes out after the PIF date. It is nonrefundable, and you are only able to pick inside, outside, or verandah. GT rates are normally 20% - 30% off the lowest price at the time in that category. An example would be the Med cruises in Sept if you look at those you will see the first price listed will say "verandah guarantee with restrictions". Just to add those cruises never went up in price so the GT rate is well below opening day. If the cruise has gone up a lot in price then the 20%-30% off maybe higher then opening day. It really depends on how much the cruise has risen since opening day if the GT rate is going to be a good deal or not.

What is the point of a GTY booking? I've never even noticed it before.

 

[MammaMoe48]

Wasn't being snarky. I'm not discounting your experience. Just stating the facts. Have a Disney Day!

Tone is hard to determine in a written post but it sounded like you were being sarcastic when you said you don't know how I could miss the main dining room since it's so big. it seemed like you were implying I was stupid. I know what I was told.

Anyhow, there was never any available seating in the main dining room when we would try to eat there. I like the rotational dining of Disney, I know I will always have a place to sit and I will have the same wait staff who gets to know me and my family. On our first cruise, my son got sick and we were confined to our cabin for 2 days. When our waiters found out about it, they brought our dinner to our room because we couldn't get the Pirates menu through room service. They even remembered to bring us our cocktails (we would always try the different drinks each night). One of them called our room every 30-40 minutes to see if we needed anything and if we wanted more drinks or dessert or coffee he brought them personally. You can imagine how that made us feel. We ran into those waiters again on our second cruise and they remembered us. We then got to know our waiter and waitress on our second cruise and by our third cruise we were familiar with much of the staff. It really was like going home. I don't think we would have gotten that kind of attention on a freestyle cruise because we wouldn't have gotten to know our waitstaff as well.

If DH and I were to go on a cruise without our son, we might think about doing a different cruise line for the lower price but when we go with our son, Disney is how we like to go.

 

[Ofinn]

What is the point of a GTY booking? I've never even noticed it before.

It means you can book that Category, but can't pick your room. Most likely because there are not enough rooms left in that category. You have a good chance of getting an upgrade if you book a GTY rate. All cruise lines do this. I think it's a way for them to control inventory. If the cat 9a aren't selling. They may offer 9b gty at a lower price, and then upgrade a lot of the rooms to 9a. You will see 7a GTY offered a lot on the Dream and Fantasy when I booked a 7a gty on the Dream I got upgraded to a cat 5C. Hope that makes sense.

 

[MammaMoe48]

It means you can book that Category, but can't pick your room. Most likely because there are not enough rooms left in that category. You have a good chance of getting an upgrade if you book a GTY rate. All cruise lines do this. I think it's a way for them to control inventory. If the cat 9a aren't selling. They may offer 9b gty at a lower price, and then upgrade a lot of the rooms to 9a. You will see 7a GTY offered a lot on the Dream and Fantasy when I booked a 7a gty on the Dream I got upgraded to a cat 5C. Hope that makes sense.

I got an upgrade too. I booked the regular oceanview room and was upgraded to the deluxe family oceanview with window seating.

 

[kaseyC]

Tone is hard to determine in a written post but it sounded like you were being sarcastic when you said you don't know how I could miss the main dining room since it's so big. it seemed like you were implying I was stupid. I know what I was told.

I didn't say or imply you were stupid. But do you see how your original statement could be misleading? You originally stated the following:

The only restaurants included in the price were the two buffet style restaurants, if you wanted to have a sit down dinner with waiters it cost extra

Then you come back and state:

Anyhow, there was never any available seating in the main dining room when we would try to eat there.

Once again, I was just stating facts. Wasn't being snarky or implying anything.

 

[MammaMoe48]

There was never any tables available in the main dining room the fwhich were buffet only

I didn't say or imply you were stupid. But do you see how your original statement could be misleading? You originally stated the following:



Then you come back and state:






Once again, I was just stating facts. Wasn't being snarky or implying anything.

How is this confusing? The two dining rooms/restaurants that were included in the price of the fare were offering buffets only. All the other restaurants - the Brazilian, the steakhouse, the Italian, etc. were extra and were the only places you could go to, be escorted to a table, given a menu and served by a waiter at your table.

As far as not implying I was stupid, you said "Maybe you missed them some how but I can't imagine how because they take up most of the aft of deck 6 on the ship" as if I was not bright enough to notice two great big restaurants. I did notice two great big restaurants taking up most of the aft of deck 6, it was just that they didn't offer wait service - they were buffet only.

And ultimately, the cheaper price didn't make up for the lack of a good pool, so-so character meets and entertainment. My mother was with us so she watched DS each night so DH and I got to go out but there wasn't a disco or club or pub to hang out in. We still had fun but it wasn't like the adults only section of the Fantasy.

 

[kaseyC]

There was never any tables available in the main dining room the fwhich were buffet only

How is this confusing? The two dining rooms/restaurants that were included in the price of the fare were offering buffets only. All the other restaurants - the Brazilian, the steakhouse, the Italian, etc. were extra and were the only places you could go to, be escorted to a table, given a menu and served by a waiter at your table.

As far as not implying I was stupid, you said "Maybe you missed them some how but I can't imagine how because they take up most of the aft of deck 6 on the ship" as if I was not bright enough to notice two great big restaurants. I did notice two great big restaurants taking up most of the aft of deck 6, it was just that they didn't offer wait service - they were buffet only.

And ultimately, the cheaper price didn't make up for the lack of a good pool, so-so character meets and entertainment. My mother was with us so she watched DS each night so DH and I got to go out but there wasn't a disco or club or pub to hang out in. We still had fun but it wasn't like the adults only section of the Fantasy.

Look, I have no control over how YOU interpret my posts. I know darn well that I didn't say you were stupid or implied it. If that's the way YOU want to take, have at it. But I do know from my experience (Platinum on NCL) that I've never experienced the two main dining rooms on the ship being buffet only. If that was how it was on your sailing so be it but that is different than how the main dining rooms usually are.

 

[Dakota Red]

If you're comparing cruise line to cruise line, I guess it's all relative depending on the individual. We love Disney cruises and prefer to go on those. We took a Nickelodeon Cruise on NCL and while it was about $2,000 less, I thought we didn't get as much for the cost. The only restaurants included in the price were the two buffet style restaurants, if you wanted to have a sit down dinner with waiters it cost extra and if you wanted unlimited refills on beverages you had to buy the special cup, otherwise you had to pay for the beverages that didn't come with a meal (on Disney all our food and non-alcoholic beverages were included). I also felt the character meet and greets weren't as fun as Disney. Each day there were certain times when the characters were scheduled and everyone waited on line to get a picture and then on to the next kid. There was not a lot of interaction with them and you never saw the characters walking around the ship outside of M&G hours like they do on Disney. There was one opening day show and one closing night show but nothing else on other days and there were no movies being shown, either in a theater or on a Jumbo-tron by the pool. They had a big "Pajama Dance Party Breakfast" where the characters all came out and danced with the kids but that was extra too. There also was no "Formal Night" where you could meet the crew and have unlimited cocktails.

As far as service and quality, I'd say both cruises were pretty equal in that the crew were all nice and eager to help in any way, the rooms were clean and very pretty, the food was very good and the spa was first rate but it just didn't have that extra "something" that the DCL has. (in my opinion, others may disagree with me and I am not questioning or judging).

The wonderful thing is that there are so many options and we aren't limited. I would love it if Disney lowered their prices but that's not likely so we will wait and save for a couple of years to go again.

For $2000 savings you can buy the cup and get unlimited refills on beverages and still save a TON of money. And the MDR is sit down they give you a menu and they serve you, it is NOT a buffet.

How is this confusing? The two dining rooms/restaurants that were included in the price of the fare were offering buffets only. All the other restaurants - the Brazilian, the steakhouse, the Italian, etc. were extra and were the only places you could go to, be escorted to a table, given a menu and served by a waiter at your table.

As far as not implying I was stupid, you said "Maybe you missed them some how but I can't imagine how because they take up most of the aft of deck 6 on the ship" as if I was not bright enough to notice two great big restaurants. I did notice two great big restaurants taking up most of the aft of deck 6, it was just that they didn't offer wait service - they were buffet only.

And ultimately, the cheaper price didn't make up for the lack of a good pool, so-so character meets and entertainment. My mother was with us so she watched DS each night so DH and I got to go out but there wasn't a disco or club or pub to hang out in. We still had fun but it wasn't like the adults only section of the Fantasy.

Yes there is 3 or 4 specialty restaurants on NCL Gem but the 2 MDRs will also sit you down. I agree that freestyle dining is not how I enjoy my cruising experience but to say that you have to pay for a sit down meal on NCL is either a flat out lie or some how you misunderstood how to go to the MDR.

 

[jahber]

There was never any tables available in the main dining room the fwhich were buffet only

How is this confusing? The two dining rooms/restaurants that were included in the price of the fare were offering buffets only. All the other restaurants - the Brazilian, the steakhouse, the Italian, etc. were extra and were the only places you could go to, be escorted to a table, given a menu and served by a waiter at your table.

As far as not implying I was stupid, you said "Maybe you missed them some how but I can't imagine how because they take up most of the aft of deck 6 on the ship" as if I was not bright enough to notice two great big restaurants. I did notice two great big restaurants taking up most of the aft of deck 6, it was just that they didn't offer wait service - they were buffet only.

And ultimately, the cheaper price didn't make up for the lack of a good pool, so-so character meets and entertainment. My mother was with us so she watched DS each night so DH and I got to go out but there wasn't a disco or club or pub to hang out in. We still had fun but it wasn't like the adults only section of the Fantasy.

Something must be getting lost in the translation regarding the Gem. She has always had the main dining rooms that offer full service. There is (and always has been) a buffet too, of course. And other free options, just like most mass-market ships, including a 24-hour eatery. She has a few more now, since her refurb, of course, but when you sailed she had both a night club and a "lounge." I just want to clarify for anyone who was considering the Gem. She also has a pub now, if that matters
I'm not sure what was happening on your cruise, but you must have gotten really wrong info, which is unacceptable. If there weren't tables available right then, they should have put your name down and offered to let you wait. It shouldn't have taken long--after all, there are two huge dining rooms AND a large buffet operating at dinner time. I'm so sorry you had such a terrible experience, but you should know it certainly wasn't typical.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I am taking it personally because some of the posts used wording and phrases that only I have used since this thread started. Therefore, yes I feel that some of this is directed to me. Its my stupidity for posting my opinion on a thread intended to express outrage at DCL and I don't feel that way. I will post any further in this thread.

Its fine to post an opinion, but this is a discussion board so you have to be prepared for people to disagree with you. I dont know what outrage to dcl your referring to. I found this to be a pretty civil discussion comparing dcl prices to their competitors. Yes I used some of your phrases, but honestly I feel like anything I post on here is fair game for people to quote or disagree with me.[/QUOTE]

...I found nothing to be offensive or targeting it seemed like a discussion

 

[MammaMoe48]

Look, I have no control over how YOU interpret my posts. I know darn well that I didn't say you were stupid or implied it. If that's the way YOU want to take, have at it. But I do know from my experience (Platinum on NCL) that I've never experienced the two main dining rooms on the ship being buffet only. If that was how it was on your sailing so be it but that is different than how the main dining rooms usually are.

Maybe it was because it was a Nickelodeon cruise.

Something must be getting lost in the translation regarding the Gem. She has always had the main dining rooms that offer full service. There is (and always has been) a buffet too, of course. And other free options, just like most mass-market ships, including a 24-hour eatery. She has a few more now, since her refurb, of course, but when you sailed she had both a night club and a "lounge." I just want to clarify for anyone who was considering the Gem. She also has a pub now, if that matters
I'm not sure what was happening on your cruise, but you must have gotten really wrong info, which is unacceptable. If there weren't tables available right then, they should have put your name down and offered to let you wait. It shouldn't have taken long--after all, there are two huge dining rooms AND a large buffet operating at dinner time. I'm so sorry you had such a terrible experience, but you should know it certainly wasn't typical.

I did note that they might have changed what was included because it was a Nickelodeon themed cruise. I did not expect to be called a liar by another poster. I don't even know how to respond to that so I'm ignoring that post. Maybe a regular cruise is different but this is how it was when we went.