Room attendant

[yowcruiser]

In its latest earnings report NCL announced an "efficiency and cost reduction effort of nearly 15%" - ex fuel costs... Although COVID and post recovery impacted all cruise lines, NCL is the one cruise line that seems to have more difficulty finding their grove back, and they have been slashing and charging. The one benefit of DCL is that the business results are somewhat buried in the parks and recreation unit... Don't get me wrong, Disney would take steps to reduce costs if the business was not meeting expectations, but they can also afford to be more patient than others... or there are a few other things they can look at. For example, a very subtle change that I have seen on my last sailing on the Fantasy was in the main dining rooms. No issues with food quality, but the quantity of "sides and garnishes" served with the main courses had been optimized... just enough to be noticeable but not too much that you are like... what is going on here....

 

[mjkacmom]

Ahh got it. We don't buy the drink packages etc., but if they're raising fees and cutting basic services, that's a whole other story. Would be interested to hear how you felt about it when you get back.

Just a fyi, but on NCL most are eligible for free at sea, where you only pay the gratuities on the beverage package, which is $20 a day, and all drinks under $15 are included. Since drinks average $14 with gratuity, if you drink more than one a day, it’s worth it. You can also bring on unlimited wine if you have the package, otherwise there is a $15 corkage fee for each bottle.

 

[Kwami]

Just a fyi, but on NCL most are eligible for free at sea, where you only pay the gratuities on the beverage package, which is $20 a day, and all drinks under $15 are included. Since drinks average $14 with gratuity, if you drink more than one a day, it’s worth it. You can also bring on unlimited wine if you have the package, otherwise there is a $15 corkage fee for each bottle.

If you don't drink alcohol, though, then the "free" at sea package that isn't free isn't remotely worth it. You'd have to drink a lot of soda or something to come even close to $20/day.

I guess reduced service is just one more reason to not be happy about my NCL cruise next year.

 

[mjkacmom]

If you don't drink alcohol, though, then the "free" at sea package that isn't free isn't remotely worth it. You'd have to drink a lot of soda or something to come even close to $20/day.

I guess reduced service is just one more reason to not be happy about my NCL cruise next year.

I was just trying to be helpful, we really get our monies worth. If you think you will have a bad time, you most likely will. Our second NCL cruise was after a DCL cruise and it suited us better, hated fixed dining (we have a big family so getting everyone ready by a certain time was difficult), kids liked the clubs better.

 

[Kwami]

I was just trying to be helpful, we really get our monies worth. If you think you will have a bad time, you most likely will. Our second NCL cruise was after a DCL cruise and it suited us better, hated fixed dining (we have a big family so getting everyone ready by a certain time was difficult), kids liked the clubs better.

I'm trying to be optimistic. But so far, NCL just seems like an inferior product compared to DCL and I'm not really saving any money going with NCL. We'll see, though!