I'm not sure that it's a good idea for NCL to be instating a mandatory service charge. I would rather they just make a "no-tipping" policy like Holland used to have and add the service charge to the basic cruise rate. Ultra-luxe six-star cruise lines include tips with the cruise fare and service on them is by most accounts impeccable. So I'm kind of unsure. NCL and NCL America have "Freestyle" cruising where you don't have the same waiter every night, and there are some who say that NCL's service suffers as a result of that. There are some who say it doesn't make any difference.
A mandatory service charge has nothing to do with the Pride of Aloha's problems. The Aloha has a unique set of issues that don't extend to the ships in the regular NCL fleet. The Aloha's all-American crew is inexperienced in regards to the tough life working on a cruise ship and has been leaving the ship in large numbers, causing staffing shortages that result in very poor service for passengers. The American crew of the American-flagged Aloha must be paid in accordance with US rules; they are already paid a higher salary than foreign crewmembers on a Disney ship.
I was just on an NCL cruise to Alaska in June and had a great time. Reviews for the Norwegian Spirit (the ship I cruised on) have been mostly very positive, as are the reviews for the majority of NCL ships. The exception is definitely the Pride of Aloha. But to say that it's because of the service charge? I don't think so. I'd say it's a spoiled American crew leaving the ship in droves.
