Great Ship, poor business

Item: Norwegian Epic
Rating: 4.5
Author: parisong

Norwegian Epic Cruise Review to Europe - Western Mediterranean

parisong

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 7

Overall rating:

4.5 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Western Mediterranean (Rome Roundtrip)

Sail date: May 02, 2018

Ship: Norwegian Epic

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 11031

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 6 years ago

Review summary

Loved the cruise & the ports, just absolutely disappointing with the way NCL does business. Everyhing has a charge, they nickle and dime you. They try to enforce the gratuities daily charges and when you fill out the opt out form, which should only be once, you get daily notes left to your cabin how you still owe them. I thought their staff was wonderful, and i tipped generously to those whom i received service from. I don't appreciate anyone telling me how much or what is to be expected.

Embarkation

4 out of 5

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

4 out of 5

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

4 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5

Ship tip

NCL has a great itinerary, lots of time to spend at the ports. I was disappointed on how they ran their business. They do not allow you to bring water on board under the guise of sanitary reasons, but yet want to charge you $14.95 for 6 one liter bottles? which they claimed was a drop in price.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Livorno (Florence & Pisa), Italy

5 out of 5

loved these cities, but be weary of the over zealous street vendors.

Thumbs Up 2

Cannes, France

5 out of 5

beautiful city, lovely to walk to sights

Thumbs Up 2

Palma De Mallorca, Balearic Islands

5 out of 5

Barcelona, Spain

5 out of 5

Naples, Italy

5 out of 5

Disembarkation

5 out of 5

9 Comments

parisong 6 years ago

Allow me to please pose a question to you. When you stay at a hotel, do you make it a point to tip the maintenance team or the chef and his team or even the front desk people? I should guess not. Besides, if you feel that you staffs are under-appreciated, then why don't you just pay them more money?

Thumbs Up 2

Flag

markandde 6 years ago

We've always appreciated the opportunity to be able to make sure the behind-the-scenes folks that we meet, and those we may not ever see but have helped make our cruises wonderful experiences, get appreciated. Room stewards get a little extra based on how well they keep the cabin (usually very well) and bartenders get a little extra for good service. There's no easy way, like in most "land" restaurants, to make sure your meal servers get appreciated. Same for the folks who keep the common areas looking great, the "washy-washy" people, and many others that make our days on ship a little better. NCL makes it easy to opt out of the "auto-gratuities" option, but we choose to see it as another convenience to make our cruise more relaxing and worry-free by simplifying what amounts to a shipboard social obligation rather than as a "money grab" on behalf of someone who might not deserve it.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

leah13 6 years ago

I got the point and am making a counter point, as did other commenters, that people are missed when we chose not to auto grat. All the behind the scenes people. I really hope you have a wonderful day. 😊

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

parisong 6 years ago

Dear Leah 13. I'm very sorry, but you have entirely missed my point. I did not opt out out offering generous gratuity to our staff, I merely objected to NCL wanting to put their hand in my pocket to do so. Please read your reviews more carefully. Thank you

Thumbs Up 2

Flag

leah13 6 years ago

Please consider all the people working so hard behind the scenes. When we opt out we are affecting them greatly. They all work so hard.

Thumbs Up 2

Flag

Charlou 6 years ago

The daily gratuity is there to make sure all the staff gets a little something extra. That way, even the behind the scene staff gets something. They work hard and long hours. They live is extremely small spaces and they are away from their families for months at a time. They deserve the added gratuity.

Thumbs Up 5

Flag

Laziedayz 6 years ago

Thanks for the the advance warning we have just booked and taken the all inclusive package

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

Gpeerman1 6 years ago

If you only new what those people earn you might understand. Plus so did you tip the kitchen staff maintenance or maybe the cleaning staff.

Thumbs Up 3

Flag

14Cruzdude 6 years ago

Thanks for info

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

Other reviews of this sailing

The location was great. Planning on the ship, not so good.

The trip of a lifetime with friends!!!