NCL Cruise - 'Optional' Gratuities?

paulusthemighty

Hello,
My family is booked with NCL cruise for May. They've added the usual 'optional@ gratuities charge. (Norwegian Cruise Lines)

We have previously been with P&O and have always removed this charge without issue and then tipped individual members of staff as appropriate. We feel we make the choice then, and this is far more within the spirit of tipping etc. I do not like the standard charge, do not like being told how much and do not like having no control or knowledge over how and where it is distributed. I do not feel anyone has a right to the tipped extra for doing their job, most people aren't..!

I've been reading that NCL have changed their policy to make people jump through hoops to claim it back after the event. I've also read reports of NCL needing to see evidence of an issue that staff failed to address in order to refund.

Does anyone have any experience of this?

I'm not entirely sure it's lawful under UK commercial law to have a compulsory gratuity, the term it's self is even an oxymoron. Surely if its compulsory charge for the service you have solicited, then it should be part of the price, and not added afterwards.


Thanks
Paul

blindman

paulusthemighty wrote: »

Hello,

I've been reading that NCL have changed their policy to make people jump through hoops to claim it back after the event. I've also read reports of NCL needing to see evidence of an issue that staff failed to address in order to refund.

Does anyone have any experience of this?

I'm not entirely sure it's lawful under UK commercial law to have a compulsory gratuity, the term it's self is even an oxymoron. Surely if its compulsory charge for the service you have solicited, then it should be part of the price, and not added afterwards.

Seems like it was brought in in 2015

Have you read the T&C's re this?

Looks like its added at the time of booking

The applicable service charge will be added to your booking at the time of confirmation
This charge will be shown separately on your confirmation invoice and will be payable at the same time as the balance of the holiday cost.

However you do not have to pay this then

If you do not wish to pay your service charge in this way, you may ask for it to be removed from your confirmation at the time of booking or at any time up to 2 weeks prior to departure. If you do so, the service charge will be added to your shipboard account.

If it's pre paid you can only get it back by contacting Guest services after the cruise.

Where your service charge has been pre-paid before departure, refunds are not available onboard and you must apply for a refund, if applicable, after your return home by writing to our Guest Relations department.

Seems that if you do NOT pre pay then you do as usual go to Guest services the night you get your bill and get them to "adjust " the "discretionary service charge"

So in your case-you seem to have more than 2 weeks before the cruise.

ask for it to be removed from your confirmation at the time of booking or at any time up to 2 weeks prior to departure

I agree with you that I tip for good service not for someone doing their job.

travellerboy

NCL are the only mainstream cruise line that has adopted to replace its Gratuity with a Service Charge. Discretion disappears being replaced by mandatory.
Choosing a difference cruise line is a discretion you still have, exercise it.

stoneman

travellerboy wrote: »

NCL are the only mainstream cruise line that has adopted to replace its Gratuity with a Service Charge. Discretion disappears being replaced by mandatory.
Choosing a difference cruise line is a discretion you still have, exercise it.

It is not mandatory, you can have it adjusted down when you get home by filling out the appropriate form and emailing it in.

stoneman

OP my advice is then not to sail with them. It is clear in the T&C's that the charge is there, so if you don't like it go elsewhere.
Oh and you ain't going to like this, the charge is going up in a couple of months

Spare a thought for us, we have a suite and because of that NCL charge us more than if we had a cabin, a lot more.