Want room service on NCL.

jacketwatch · March 30, 2015

I just saw that NCL is charging $7.95 for room service. Wow! This is the first I have heard of any cruise line charging for room service and its a lot I think. Will other cruise lines follow? I hope not!

Jan115 · March 31, 2015

You're right, and it's outrageous! NCL sprung this new "convenience fee" with no warning. Even some of their reps are unaware of it. From what I understand the line is testing a new expanded room service menu and tacking on a fee of $4.95 for the Breakaway and $7.95 for the Getaway. Room service is still comp on the other ships, at least for the present. There has been a delivery fee of $3.99 on room service from midnight to 3 a.m. for some time, but these new fees are ridiculous, I agree, especially since NCL recently raised their auto gratuity. One of the things I've always loved about cruising is the ability to have the convenience of room service delivered at no charge. I sure hope their experiment fails and that other cruise lines won't follow suit.

HeatherMcNally · March 31, 2015

I definitely found the novelty of free room service a lovely treat!

On our cruise last September, I was recovering from a very nasty infection that had me rather wiped out. Which meant I often needed to turn in for a nap or evening rest before the rest of us were ready. I loved that i didn't miss the "fun" cause i could order up a sandwhich, some cookies and lemonade and sit on my balcony watching the time float by and having a rejuvinating snooze....

While I dont anticipate a NEED for that sort of thing this year, I know I wouldn't have been happy to PAY for my snack time... I wouldn't have used it at all!

DebbieandJerry · March 31, 2015

I'm sorry if there is going to be a universal charge for room service, but I get it. There is so much waste in the food industry and especially on the ships. It amazes me how much I see being tossed out.

We don't partake in room service as much now as we use to, but I think that having it free is a nice touch.

JohnG · April 3, 2015

I listened to a webinar for agents this week led by the Norwegian President and he said it is a one month test program and then they will evaluate results. As part of it they expanded the menu for breakfast from continental only to a full menu, including eggs to order.

By the way, many high end all inclusive resorts don't even offer room service until you are at least in a concierge level room category. And Royal Caribbean has been charging for after midnight room service for some time.

jacketwatch · April 4, 2015

Do other mass market lines charge for a full breakfast room service delivery? I know they have menus you can leave for the cabin attendant for breakfast the next day but honestly I never looked at them to see what is included. I once had noro on the Connie and did order RS breakfast, toast and hard boiled eggs and there was no charge.

ametrinel · April 7, 2015

I don't have an issue with late night fees for room service. But just having breakfast in our room before going into port has been a convenience and a treat for us. Now, even that seems to be going away. Why pay for room service when I can go to the buffet for free? But it definitely will lower my "experience" that I'm used to. Cruise ships are starting to charge for every little thing anymore, that it's staring to not make sense to cruise. It used to be a way of doing a cost effective vacation. Now you get huge surprises on your bill because they charge for everything, a lot of which they never used to charge for. Makes cruising not nearly as attractive as it used to be. (My thoughts, don't attack me for them!)

Jan115 · April 7, 2015

I don't have an issue with late night fees for room service. But just having breakfast in our room before going into port has been a convenience and a treat for us. Now, even that seems to be going away. Why pay for room service when I can go to the buffet for free? But it definitely will lower my "experience" that I'm used to. Cruise ships are starting to charge for every little thing anymore, that it's staring to not make sense to cruise. It used to be a way of doing a cost effective vacation. Now you get huge surprises on your bill because they charge for everything, a lot of which they never used to charge for. Makes cruising not nearly as attractive as it used to be. (My thoughts, don't attack me for them!)

Good points ... especially the part about breakfast. I love coffee and pastry in the morning, even before getting dressed and going for real breakfast, and I love even better that it's free. By the way, Carnival is experimenting with additional extra-charge items on their room service items, as well. However, unlike the service that NCL is testing, the majority of the items are still free. Read more: Carnival Testing Extra-Cost Room Service Items

ametrinel · April 7, 2015

If they feel the need to charge, why not charge for some items and not others, like an a-la-carte menu. Leave the "continental" breakfast (pastries, cereals, juices, coffee, tea, etc.) at no charge and charge for other items (pancakes, omelets, etc.). That would give everybody a choice to still have room service, but have options available.

DebbieandJerry · April 7, 2015

You have a valid observation that cruising is not as economical as it use to be. I'm not sure what the answer is. I know that there is a lot of waste - especially in the food area and I'm not sure how to solve that either. I'm guessing that the avg. consumer will pay for room service and think nothing of it. Just like he/she pays for the opportunity to eat in a specialty restaurant on the ship.