Why all the extra charges??????

Item: Norwegian Escape
Rating: 3.8
Author: fisher47

Norwegian Escape Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

fisher47

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 41

Overall rating:

3.8 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Western Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: November 04, 2017

Ship: Norwegian Escape

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 10876

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

I have been on 8 or 9 NCL cruises and many more on other lines. I have always considered NCL the best. However this cruise has changed my mind. Until they change their policies on extra charges I most likely will not choose NCL as my favorite line. Recent cruises on Viking has shown they understand the idea of a cruise being all inclusive. They are the line I would choose as the best. Also the itinerary was changed due to hurricane damage but I was not given a chance to cancel it. I am a Latitudes member. Perhaps most other problems were a result of the ship being too big to operate in a cost effective manner hence the extra charges

Embarkation

4 out of 5

No problems at embarkation

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

2 out of 5

Food was only fair and the dinner at Cagneys included okay food but an hour and forty minute wait to get our food. Unacceptable!!! Buffet was good. Why are guests not given at least one or two meals in a specialty restaurant without a charge? I had the drink package but was still charged a fee for some drinks Not a good policy

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5

Pool activities were good. Games and contests were also good . The shows were good especially the dueling pianos.. Why after I paid for my cruise were some shows and activities not included without an extra charge?

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Shows were mostly good but again why would I be asked to pay extra fees to see some of the shows?

Service and Staff

4 out of 5

Most of the ship personnel were great knowledgeable and friendly

Ship Quality

4 out of 5

Ship was nice well designed ad easily navigated.

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Cabin was fine well appointed and very liveable.

Ship tip

Bring lots of money because there are tons of extra charges. $250 for wifi Are you kidding me?? Blocking my international calling plan on my phone. Not Good

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Miami, Florida

3 out of 5

Its a loading dock!! I didn't do any tours

Thumbs Up 0

Falmouth, Jamaica

4 out of 5

A least I could get wifi at margaritaville!!!!

Thumbs Up 0

George Town, Grand Cayman

4 out of 5

Beach was nice but expensive, but at least not charged by NCL.

Thumbs Up 1

Cozumel, Mexico

5 out of 5

Went scuba diving and it was wonderful as was the onshore dive operator.

Thumbs Up 1

Great Stirrup Cay (Cruise Line Private Island), Bahamas

3 out of 5

Okay people this island is owned by Ncl. I have been there several times on earlier cruises. I never had to pay for a beach chair, an umbrella,or a tax/service charge for my drinks. I paid to go on your cruise this is your island why in the world would you charge me to use it???

Thumbs Up 3

Disembarkation

4 out of 5

15 Comments

Charlou 6 years ago

I have been to GSC in January 2017 and although I didn’t pay for a beach chair, I did pay a tax on drinks. (Same taxe as when you are docked in the US port.) I think for a cocktail of the day it was about 20 cents. Max. But with the lack of shades, I would pay for an umbrella. I read that under the clam shells it can get really hot and uncomfortable.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

USMale 6 years ago

I have been to GSC 4 times now with the latest being April of 16. I have never paid for a beach chair as the OP stated and have never been charged a local tax when getting drinks on the island (With and without the UBP). I do recall a charge for those that wanted clamshell covers. Can someone who has visited recently verify the OP's comments?

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

kellyjudkins 7 years ago

The hurricane was not so predictable it could not make up its mind where it was going. I would have stayed on the ship and refused to get off just like the rest especially being in a port with no airfare no Hotel ect. I really don't think anyone affected by Irma was prepared.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

rgbenning 7 years ago

You pay more for the cruise on a more upscale cruise line and you get more! What a surprise ! Who would have known that!

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

LobsterPot 7 years ago

PhillyBrownGirl, that transfer offer came apparently after a bunch of passengers refused to get off the Sky until NCL had sorted out onward transport / accommodation for them. This was long after we and many others had disembarked. I specifically asked onboard to be allowed to stay aboard to ride out the storm, we were told that wasn’t possible but a team in Miami would sort things out. There was no such team when the Sky docked. Every man, woman & child was dumped to sort themselves out.... I am still in communications with NCL trying to get a meaningful apology & outcome.... Don’t get me wrong our problems over Irma were trivial when compared with what happened to the real victims, but it our case it was all predictable and avoidable if NCL had done their job properly...

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

PhillyBrownGirl 7 years ago

LobsterPot. I️ do agree. While on board, they could have handled things differently. We had some passengers from the Sky board our cruise. Did NCL give you the option to board the Escape or did that come after you left for the airport?

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

LobsterPot 7 years ago

PhillyBrownGirl, I take it you were on the Escape... We were on the Sky, it was a complete bloody shambles on the Sky and NCL totally ‘cocked it up’.... We got dumped on the pier in Miami and had to fend for ourselves to get away from the incoming hurricane. Our refunds and future cruise benefits were pathetic (a fraction of yours) given 75% of our trip was totally destroyed by the change of plans... BTW I hold stock in NCL and have no reason to knock the firm without justification... We also have umpteen more cruises booked with them and a stack of future cruise deposits on my account.... NCL is a good cruise line but they sometimes get things badly wrong...

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

PhillyBrownGirl 7 years ago

My cruise was changed due to Hurricane Irma - hell our cruise was canceled and we spent 5 extra days as sea nomads. It’s okay. NCL will always get my repeat business. We were reimbursed for lost days; reimbursed up to $300 each for changed airfare; and received $250 pp towards future NCL cruises. It’s a great cruise line!

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

Charlou 7 years ago

So true. 😉

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

terriesanchez 7 years ago

Yep. Ours was completely changed because of the hurricane, but that didn't keep our party of 8 from having an absolutely wonderful experience! A cruise is what you make of it. You can choose to gripe and whine or you can choose to get a grip and have some wine😄

Thumbs Up 6

Flag

LobsterPot 7 years ago

We sail NCL often and we’re on the Escape & other NCL ships this year. Meals in Cagney’s invariably takeaway about 2hrs. That is perfectly normal in any decent restaurant in our experience. It’s paced that way to allow diners to fully enjoy their experience. If you want a quick bite that’s what the buffet is there to provide. As for additional costs, the addition fees relate to a very small number of high end drinks, 99% of drinks are included, and to attend the wine lovers show (where the wine is provided as part of the experience) and the cirque soleil thing (if there is one on the Escape)... Free speciality meals? How does that help anyone? It’s often difficult enough to get a reservation time without opening those restaurants to guests who haven’t paid the fees for the speciality dining option... The gist of the complaint seems to be that Hurricane Irma changed the ports of call, well as Charlou points out the contract terms permit NCL to do that, it impacted several of our cruises too..

Thumbs Up 2

Flag

Charlou 7 years ago

You’re complaining about waiting one hour and 40 minutes to eat? You’re on vacation. What’s he rush? Why not take the time to enjoy the surroundings, the company of the person you’re with. I’d rather take time at dinner and really appreciate it then being rushed and having to eat my entire dinner in two bites. But maybe that’s only me. 😉

Thumbs Up 3

Flag

Charlou 7 years ago

Cruise line can change ports without notice and/or compensation. You agreed to these terms when you booked the cruise. With the number of cruises ou took, you should know. The extra costs per drink is a port law. It’s a couple of cents more on each drink until you reach international waters. Same thing on all cruise line. And you should not compare NCL with Vikings cruises. Not in the same category and certainly not in the same price range. They each offer something different. Theres is enough things to do in a cruise that if you don’t wanna pay extra, then don’t. But the choice is available if you wanna splurge a little. Maybe stick with Vikings cruises from now on.

Thumbs Up 3

Flag

rchrono 7 years ago

Agree. Should never have to pay extra to see shows. Total rip off.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

terriesanchez 7 years ago

The extra charges on the drink package were likely on embarkation day. We had the same and was told they were the taxes collected from Miami before entering international waters.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

Other reviews of this sailing

Wonderful, very good.

First cruise and loved it!

Awesome cruise.