It is also customary for the cruise line to adjust these charges off your bill if you prefer to tip in cash or have experienced some kind of service failure during your cruise vacation that you feel warrants a reduction in gratuities.
NCL Changes to Gratuities Policy
So after twice increasing the amount of gratuities in the last six months it appears it will now be more difficult to remove them once on board. The current amount is $12.95 per person each day for each guest staying in an Inside, Outside, Balcony or Mini Suite Stateroom or $14.95 per person each day in a Suite or Haven Suite for any person aged 3 or above. So a two week cruise for a family of four would cost in the region of $725 for the pre paid service charge as its more affectionately known. Previously customers could go along to Guest Relations and remove to then pay at their own discretion.
It appears that now this will not be the case as NCL state the new policy is to complete an online form stating the reason you wish not to prepay the set amount within 30 days of returning from your cruise. I wonder how do NCL regular customers feel about this policy ? I know I cruise on a regular basis, I do tend to remove the service charge more out of habit than anything else, however I always tip generously but to who I feel deserves it and I must admit I do not like the thought of that option being taken away from me.
If other cruise lines do not enforce this policy I think it is very bold of NCL to do this. Thomson have always included gratuities in the price of the cruise and this is very popular with customers . What are you thoughts on this matter and would it deter you from booking with NCL ?
About Me
My real name is Julie work name Juliette . I have just joined cruise.co.uk in June 2015 from Thomson holidays were I was a Retail Manager for over 20 years . Prior to that I worked in a couple of smaller agencies, my first job was as a cruise consultant at…
Read more
Thank you for subscribing!