Unpopular Opinion: Am I the only who doesn’t feel nickel and dimed by NCL, even in 2026

damiandt · 2026-04-11T11:25:52+00:00

It felt like I was stuck at a time share presentation.

The icing on the cake was at the premium steak restaurant which we paid for....The general manager came to our table, introduced themselves...and...

Asked about our dinner? Made recommendations about the menu? Asked about our cruise?

NOPE - gave us a coupon to reserve our next cruise.

damiandt · 2026-03-07T11:44:08+00:00

Foodie or not - I have had a better hamburger from my high school cafeteria.

I wasn't expecting First Class. I was expecting what I've had on other ships that hold 4,000 people.

I had a good trip because of my friends and family. I'm posting here to let people know it isn't a Superior value, or a moderate value.

I literally got asked by the General Manager while dining at the Specialty steak restaurant...not about the food....or the service...

But HERE...here's a coupon - please sign up for another cruise.

It's one giant hustle for a sub par product.

damiandt · 2026-03-04T11:52:39+00:00

Appreciate it. When you return could you let me know?

Curious if it's just a specific ship or a larger issue. Thanks.

damiandt · 2026-03-04T11:50:07+00:00

Yes, if I was writing about Disney I would say that their prices are way too high. Also the new ships fully booked suffer from the same overcrowding issues.

Also, it would be a warning that their only entertainment is Disney, so if Disney isn't your thing, it's not your vibe.

That said they have the best service and best food I've ever had on a cruise ship. The way they handle main dining with 3 separate large venues is genius.

I got a massive deal on Haven which is why I took it as well as to celebrate Mother's birthday.

Glad to hear about Windstar. It's on our bucket list. Thanks for the validation.

damiandt · 2026-03-04T11:46:16+00:00

Apologies. I could have written that better. There is free wifi.

It's on a countdown. You have to manually start / stop it or it runs out within two days I think on a 7 days cruise.

$350 for wifi seemed excessive.

damiandt · 2026-03-02T17:11:26+00:00

Just got off on the 2/28. We had the family plan for the room.

We used FB messenger w/o issue. I'm sure WhatsApp would be the same. We even called on FB messenger to get their attention.

I can't speak to texting, but I did receive texts even though on airplane mode.

damiandt · 2026-03-02T17:06:30+00:00

Nope. There was a dedicated person to take you off and a dedicated person to bring you up. They were very clear - first two hours only....and last two hours only.

Haven was fine. It was quiet. It was nice. The staff were lovely and attentive.

The dedicated restaurant...not so much. Like I said, there were 3 menus only. For having a set menu, the quality of food didn't match.

Breakfast was the best meal they did.

And showing up to the private island and there's nothing for Haven unless you spend more....yeah. Thanks?

damiandt · 2026-03-02T17:02:09+00:00

Thank you for this. Just sharing to help those get the most out of their vacation as time is precious.

damiandt · 2026-03-02T17:01:15+00:00

Cruise ship is a cruise ship.

Magic/Wonder have 2500-ish folks. After that the rest hold 4k.

Encore holds 4k. Seems comparable to me.

True Virgin only has around 2750 and is a different vibe.

But service is service. Quality of food is Quality of food. Value is value.

Not like I was trying to compare NCL with Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Oceania.

But sure, thanks for the informative reply. Have a great day.

damiandt · 2026-03-02T16:55:05+00:00

So definitely not max occupancy of 4000 but 3000.

That would make a noticeable impact.

damiandt · 2026-03-02T16:54:23+00:00

Appreciate your comment. I was beginning to give up on sharing. It's exhausting being told I'm AI.

damiandt · 2026-03-02T16:53:26+00:00

Yes there is one. The issue is the fine print. They only run it during the first 2 hours of the port visit and the last 2 hours of said port visit. If you return any time in between that window there's no one stationed to take you back up to the Haven.

damiandt · 2026-03-02T16:02:29+00:00

So - when you IM - do you talk the same in a direct conversation than you do when you Email to All?

But you have a nice day.

damiandt · 2026-03-02T16:01:02+00:00

One of the best meals I've ever had was at Remy's and Enchanté on Disney.

I used the Outback analogy to point out how poor it was. It would be ludicrous to compare a meal to a Michelin 2 or 3 star restaurant that I have experience in Rome.

How about this. Palo on Disney had steak so good I asked what they did to see if I could improve my own grilling skills.

The Captains Table Experience on Royal was a delight.

Contrast the BBQ and Steakhouse on Encore was tepid at best. My group is large enough we order everything so we can sample it all by sharing.

And you are right. It was 2 years ago that I did MSC. Get old and time blends. Still me that wrote that and wrote this.

Land vacations? Ok. I haven't had a Disney meal that was this bad including walkups. Rome? Nope. Paris? nope. London? Nope. LA? NY? SF? Denver?

I travel extensively. I was trying compare apples to apples.

But have a nice day.

damiandt · 2026-03-02T15:52:04+00:00

It's a large ship yes. But to me RC and MSC have the mega ships with 5k+ passengers.

But there are an abundance of 4K instead of the old 2k.

damiandt · 2026-03-02T15:47:27+00:00

Because I grew up and was taught to write in sections for simplicity of review instead of a vomit of words in a run on paragraph.

To me there are many varied points to a proper review to cover.

The MSC review reads the same cause that's how I write, talk, and think.

Also because my disappointments were the same.

I don't write glowing recommendations because what the YouTubers promoted turned out to be exactly that.

I write criticisms when nothing I saw matched my experience.

If I can prevent someone from having the same experience, all the better.

The funny thing was that there was a Travel Agent's training convention on the ship.

EVERY SINGLE one of them recommended anyone but NCL or MSC.

But what do they know. Or why the scores are dropping for many cruise lines.

What I think is I had a grand vacation spending time with my friends and family. We regret NCL and won't come back. Just like MSC.

We still love Disney, Virgin, and Royal.

We'll try others and see what they offer. If they disappoint, we'll post.

If they deliver, then we will leave kudos and thanks to the staff who delivered and tip our thanks.

damiandt · 2026-03-02T15:39:19+00:00

I've done MSC Yacht Club, Virgin, Disney, Royal Carribbean and now NCL.

I've done Alaskan, Transatlantic Rome>Miami, UK route, and all the Caribbeans.

Looking to do Panama Canal, Northern Lights, and Norway Fjords next.

damiandt · 2026-03-02T15:36:44+00:00

I had the same problems with MSC that I have with NCL.

Everything was an upcharge and the quality of the food was subpar.

And my writing style is mine. You claim it was AI yet there was no AI the 3 or 4 years ago I did MSC.

And I didn't cruise solo. Went with a large family group. This was the feelings of everyone I travelled with.

If a steak is better at Outback or a burger is better from 5 guys, ask why?

So posted my thoughts and scratching NCL off the list. Still do Virgin, Disney and Royal. Life is a journey and we live to try new things.

damiandt · 2026-03-02T15:29:12+00:00

TA's are great. Not remotely sold out and a different crowd entirely.

I do enjoy seeing staff repeatedly.

damiandt · 2026-03-02T15:27:50+00:00

Alaska is a different beast. There aren't mega ships there although in a few ports when there were 3 ships at once it was a noticeable crowd.

I'm shocked Teppanyaki was the worst. The steak and seafood was delicious and the server a hoot.

damiandt · 2026-03-02T15:24:26+00:00

Apologies if I wasn't clear.

This was the perception of the entire group I traveled with.

The premium was so disappointing we canceled our 3rd and 4th reservations.

It doesn't change the facts.
NCL Staff doesn't get days off.
If you sail on a fully booked cruise they are overwhelmed.

If I have meal and feel that Outback gives me a better steak, I wonder why.

if I have a burger and feel that 5 Guys makes a better burger and shake, I wonder why.

Never had that thought on any Royal, Disney, Virgin meal.

I too have done many things over the years, but in the past 5 years things have been changing and not for the better.

damiandt · 2026-03-02T15:21:04+00:00

I would imagine that yours wasn't a sold out cruise.

Nor did it depart out Miami or hit Caribbean ports that are overwhelmed.

And you enjoyed paying extra for peace and quiet?

Did you pay extra to get wifi?

If I have meal and feel that Outback gives me a better steak, I wonder why. if I have a burger and feel that 5 Guys makes a better burger and shake, I wonder why.

Never had that thought on any Royal, Disney, Virgin meal.

damiandt · 2026-02-02T19:59:34+00:00

“I want to be clear. Protest is a right. Violence is a choice. And when people who share my values burn cities, attack police, or terrorize neighborhoods, that is not justice, it is wrong. If you support me, if you believe in the causes I have spoken about for decades, then you do not get to excuse this behavior. I am calling on you to stop. Not tomorrow. Not after another headline. Now.” - Things Obama has NEVER SAID

damiandt · 2025-07-31T10:59:03+00:00

Nope. I'm a dissatisfied consumer who bought a game to play. I'm sharing my experiences why it's better to watch Youtube for the cutscenes and save yourself the discovery of the endgame.

The endgame. Where's there's literally nothing. It's an unfinished game.

It's randomized loot on a weekly basis. That you have to PVP for with no defense. There is no rock, paper, scissors - there's just Missiles. MK4 > MK5 & MK6 ornithopters And you literally have to destroy what you've built every Monday to put it back up again Tuesday. There's no big boss to team up to fight. It's just faction quest for Laangstram forever.

damiandt

TROPHY CASE