There has been a lot of talk lately about cruise lines nickel and diming the customer to death. Remember when NCL charged $2 for room service quite a few years back? Well, I think this tops even that!

As per the review, people are starting to call NCL's FreeStyle Cruising "Fee-Style Cruising". In this case, I think it's appropriate. Imagine
charging for the evening show!

The excerpt is as follows:

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"My biggest complain was a show at 10:30 one night featuring Mary Allen. They charged $10.00 for it. I did not go, just on principle! The comment on ship was it will soon be called FeeStyle Cruising."
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When I was onboard the NORWEGIAN STAR during an inaugural last year, I thought the authentic looking marques-style ticket booths outside the main showlounge were quite cute. I guess now I understand their purpose. This certainly takes "extra fee" amenities to a new low!

Charging extra for a show is simply inexcusable... NCL has always been the nickel-and-dime cruise line but this really goes too far.

quote:

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Originally posted by eroller:

The excerpt is as follows:

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"My biggest complain was a show at 10:30 one night featuring Mary Allen. They charged $10.00 for it. I did not go, just on principle! The comment on ship was it will soon be called FeeStyle Cruising."
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NCL's website states "Your cruise fare entitles you to accommodations, meals and entertainment aboard ship. Certain specialty restaurants are available with either nominal cover charges or fixed price menus and à la carte pricing in addition to the standard dining program. Items of a personal nature are not included, such as alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, spa treatments, certain specialty exercise classes, laundry, photographs, casino, ship-to-shore phone, e-mail, Internet, fax and Shore Excursions (including all Dive In™ programs). Government taxes and fees are also not included."

So I am not sure how they can charge for the show? Has anyone else besides this reviewer mentioned it? Maybe it was for something one got as you went in rather than for just the show?
I ahve no idea who Mary Allen is anyway. I wouldn't pay to see her.

Norwegian Star doesn't have a casino. The loss of earnings from that must be a big hole, judging by the rate at which I saw people throw money away on N. Sun. Perhaps they are trying to test ways to bring in other income? But charging for the shows isn't going to be one of them.

quote:

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Originally posted by PamM:
I ahve no idea who Mary Allen is anyway. I wouldn't pay to see her.

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Neither do I... I imagine she must be some sort of celebrity for them to have the nerve to charge to see her...

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Originally posted by sympatico:
Don't think it is "Mary" Allen, probably a typo and should have read "Marty" Allen. If it is Marty Allen, then I have cruised a couple of times on HAL with Marty and his wife (where they were the entertainers) and they are both delightful - they mix well with the passengers and think nothing of sitting down and chatting with everyone, unlike some celebrities. Marty's partner is Steve Rossi - can't say the same for him. Would I pay $10.00 to see him - probably!

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I don't care if it's Mary Allen or Marty Allen, I would not pay! Cruise lines have had celebrity entertainers for years and never charged, this is nothing new. Princess, Cunard, RCI, and even NCL in it's NORWAY heyday had many "name" entertainers..... but there was never a charge.

I can easily see this is the influence of parent company Star Cruises which does charge for certain shows on SUPERSTAR LEO and VIRGO. Just because it works in Asia, does not mean it's suitable for the N. American cruise market.

NCL was probably testing this concept, and if enough passengers were stupid enough to pay for a cruise ship lounge show, you can be sure to see more of this added "entertainment fee" alongside all the other fees. As far as I'm concerned, this has taken NCL to a new low.

Ernie Roller,
Atlanta

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Originally posted by Eric Cruises:
If you don't like to enjoy this charge show time. you can enjoy another facilities onboard! I think it is not a big problem for cruisers.

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I think a good deal of this is a different perception of cruising in Asia and in the West. Star basically invented the Asian (except Japanese) perception of cruising, we have a very long-standing tradition and entertainment has never been extra (well, some consider the casino entertainment, and of course the cruise line doesn't supply free money to gamble with ). It goes against the grain of what we think cruising should be like, what it's always been like, and we like cruising the way it was...

To us this is nickel-and-diming.

What I mean is, if the general trend is toward nickle and diming- maybe that will open the door for new cruise lines to emerge that are truly "all inclusive". [The same way the Protestent Reformation in the middle ages was a backlash against the perceived corruption and excesses of the Roman Church- (I say "perceived" so as not to offend any of my Catholic friends on the board)].

"Mary" Allen,/ "Marty" Allen - chances are we've also met up with them on a HAL ship but can't recall ever thinking "I'd have paid extra to see that show".

Seems to me that the Line hired the act at an agreed to rate and my fare included entertainment - so that's what I expect.

Only once can I recall an onboard show that really exceeded expectations - our first trip to Hawaii - it was exceptional. The shows were almost totally authentic and the lectures truly informative......we've done that trip three more times but none has come anywhere close to that first time.