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Originally posted by BMWM5:
They were told that the CEO of NCL had passed on recently and the company was sold. The new owners have never been in the cruise industry and know nothing about it. Their only interest is profit. Any truth to this???

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What???? LOL.

NCL is owned in part by Genting of Hong Kong and the rest by a US investment company. Genting owns what was formerly called Star Cruises and knows industry including they basically invented the "Freestyle Cruising" concept. Apollo the US investment company has been in NCL for years now and knows the business.

The CEO of NCL is Kevin Sheehan and he has been in that post to 2007.

[ 03-24-2012: Message edited by: rem-dk ]

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Originally posted by BMWM5:
My sister's departed from a cruise on the Norwegian Jewel today. Extremely disappointed and NEVER AGAIN. They told me they were nickeled to death.
$50.00 for a bridge tour, galley tour and even charged for post cards. The food was limited and substandard. The company goal was to get you into the speciality restaurants. Pools dirty and the list goes on. They were told that the CEO of NCL had passed on recently and the company was sold. The new owners have never been in the cruise industry and know nothing about it. Their only interest is profit. Any truth to this???
I only sailed NCL twice on the Norway. I enjoyed every cruise.

BMWM5

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Sorry to hear she is upset. I have cruised extensively and have found that NCL seems to lead the pack in onboard extra spending but make NO mistake this happens on all mainstream mass market cruise lines. Your cruise fare includes the basics - all meals (in the main dining rooms and buffet), most entertainment, some non-alcholic beverages, transport, and taxes. Everything else is extra onboard from some entertainment, some food in specialty restaurants and most other beverages. All mass market cruise lines do this to keep the cruise rate fairly low in comparision to other vacations. Basically, the trip is a la carte where you pay for things you want. No one is requiring your sister or anyone to eat at the special restuarants, to buy certain beverages or pay for a bridge tour. But I understand the fustration of the "nickel and diming" feel one gets on many cruise ships. You feel like you paid enough but honestly having worked in travel cruise lines like NCL don't charge crazy prices in respect to what is out there on the market. My suggestion to her is to save up if she can and take a cruise on a deluxe or luxury line. While the prices for the cruises are much more they include more. Maybe she would feel better in that environment or at an all inclusive resort.

I have not heard that the CEO has passed on. As "traveler" stated Kevin Sheehan is still at the helm. Possibly the CEO of Genting Group passed but I have not heard this. I respectfuly disagree with your sister about the food. I have cruised NCL frequently and food is plentiful. On the Jewel she has two main resturants, a buffet, a snack resturant called "Blue Lagoon", room service and thhe occasional BBQ buffet lunch by the pool included in her cruise fare. In addition she can stop by the pub and get some included snacks like wings and popcorn if she is hungry. She maybe upset and turned off at this point but food is there.

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$50.00 for a bridge tour,

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I must admit that NCL to feel like the market leaders in 'nickel and dimming' once you are on-board.

No one of courses forces you to pay their many surcharges but the free food and standard of service (evenings) can be very mediocre compared to the surcharge options. (They can be inconsistent too, at times).

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Originally posted by DAMBROSI2:
That's really bad, I'm glad I sailed when I did...$50.00 for a bridge tour is ridiculous. ?

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It's actually a 'Behind the Scenes' tour and includes the Kitchen, cold stores, laundry and other crew areas. The Bridge is actually not guaranteed, but you do normally get to go on it.

they were offering it on-board Epic. I recall they assembled a group of maybe ten passengers and it took maybe an 1.5 hours. Then ran it on a number of slots during a sea day - there were plenty of takers. I heard some say that it was "well worth it".

I managed to get on for free.