Norwegian Ultimate dining or Specialty Dining Pkg. Has it become complicated ? Worth it ? Or does it suit you better ?

Over a year and a half ago, Norwegian Cruise Line came out with a new dining package, for its passengers to purchase and enjoy their “pay for” dining rooms … The Ultimate Dining Package.  The opportunity to dine as much as they want, during the entire cruise, at most of their specialty restaurants onboard.   The cost is based on the number of days of your cruise (not including gratuities):

3- to 6-day Cruises: $59 per person
7-day Cruises: $119 per person
8- to 10-day Cruises: $149 per person
10- to 15-day Cruises: $199 per person
16- to 25-day Cruises: $259 per person
26- to 35-day Cruises: $299 per person
36- to 45-day Cruises: $349 per person

Not all the dining venues would be included.  If it was an ala cart restaurant or entertainment venue too, you would instead, receive 20% off.  However a bonus … If you opted for the Speidel Tent/ Illusionarium, the first night of your cruise, there would be no charge, but instead, complimentary.

 

Personally I thought this was a GREAT OPPORTUNITY. And suggested to my clients.  I’m not a 100% fan of Norwegian’s food in the main complimentary dining, and in cruises past, not been willing to pay the extra cost to dine in these specialty dining rooms, unless they offered a special while onboard.  Now, for only $119 for a 7 night cruise, it’s like the cost of an excursion for me, and now I could opt in having more “fine dining” for the week !

Then came change.  Several months back, Norwegian decided to add 18% gratuities to the Ultimate Dining Pkg.  Unfortunately for folks booked on the new NCL Escape, we were not even allowed to sign up for this package, till after this change !  

 

I too, have to admit, I wasn’t overly excited about this.  Why 18%, when drinks are only charged 15%.  Though I would still make use of the cafeteria, for breakfast and maybe lunch, why wouldn’t Norwegian offer a credit on their “set gratuities charges” for those buying this package ?  

Would love to know the number of folks, who are now turned off by the cost of the package ?? Matter of fact, a special customer and friend, debated a few days, when learning this addition, before they finally agreed they want.  So now a 7 night has jumped from $119pp to estimate $141pp, to include the 18% gratuities. 

Why not at least wait and charge the 18% “when” the person used the package in one of the specialty dining rooms ?  Probably because the ship didn’t want to deal with folks onboard, who upset over misfortune in service and would then want this gratuity deleted from their bill?

 

All-in-all .... If I add up the cost for 5 venues, it's $141 with the 18% gratuities.  So as long as we opt in one of these specialty dining rooms, our other two nights onboard a 7 night cruise, then it will be like 2 nights free.  So that's the added advantage to a pre-purchasing versus buying one night at a time, while onboard. And as long as we can get the Supper Club (NCL Escape) included, by signing up for the 1st night, a true bonus (scroll down to discover, this option is taken away).

 

 

But Now … More change !  Not only is seemingly complicated, it’s not actually a 100% set cost, depending on the specialty dining venues a passenger chooses. 

Here’s information I received after talking to a few NCL agents yesterday.  And yes, I received conflicting information, but here goes:

To start with, the venues themselves, have gone up in price, for folks buying a “one time” visit.  Example, years back, the Le Bistro started out as $10pp.  One time when I was onboard, it had moved to $15pp, but was offered $7.50pp if opted to eat after 9pm.  With no added gratuities.  Now, it has inches up to $24pp + 18% gratuity.  The cost of entertainment venues, such as the Supper Club onboard the new NCL Escape is $30pp, including 18% gratuity for regular seating or $ 39pp, if you want more front row seats.

There’s more insight.  Future purchases will no longer be called, Ultimate Dining Pkg.  It has changed to “Specialty Dining Pkg”. 

And there’s more.  (1) Several of the specialty dining venues will now turn to ala cart too !  For the future, ala cart will not be 20-25% (depending on when you bought the Ultimate Dining Pkg), there will be an “upcharge” to have those venues.  (2) You will now be able to buy, for example, as few as 3 nights for a 7 night cruise. (3) The “dinner & show option”, such as the Supper Club on the NCL Escape, will no longer be “free” if you choose this venue the first night.

Including 18% gratuities (rounded off):

3 nights - $ 70pp
4 nights - $ 88pp
5 nights – $106pp
6 nights - $ 123pp
7 nights - $ 141pp …The cost as the 7 night Ultimate Dining Pkg.

Then you have to tag on the “upcharge” for select dining venues:

Bayoma (NCL Escape – It’s a seafood restaurant with a Latin twist) - + $15pp
Italian - $7pp
Le Bistro - $ 7pp
Cagney Steak house - $7pp
Supper Club (NCL Escape – includes “Brat Pack” entertainment) - $ 10pp regular seats & $15 for seats closer to the stage.

Currently, the Teppanyaki Japanese Restaurant nor the Brazillian Restaurant will have an “upcharge”.  And a 2nd entre in Cagney's Steak House and Le Bistro will have an extra charge for a 2nd entrée (this has been going on for awhile).

 

How does this affect the “Past Ultimate Dining Pkg” buyers ?  I’ve been told, (1) There will be “no upcharges” for the new ala cart venues.  (2) However, we can not just upgrade to the prior ala cart venues, we instead still with the original concept, only 20-25% off. (3) Supper Club (NCL Escape) will NOT offer this complimentary, even if signing up the 1^st night.   AND … I was told by NCL, there’s not sure of all this information, till passengers sign up for “our sailing”, which becomes available this Sunday (90 days from sailing).

 

How will it change for folks receiving the Ultimate Dining Pkg complimentary (didn't pay for), which was included with their promo (yes, they did have to pay the 18% gratuities) ???

 

My first thought … Why the change ?  Let’s get more greedy because the concept has caught on and loved by passengers ?  Make it less appealing because EVERYONE was now choosing the program and the venues too full or not enough staff ?  Or folks asked for short number of days in commitment ?

Will I now buy in the future ?  If I do, it won’t be for the entire time of my 7 night cruise.  And I would choose the venues with “no upcharge”.  A better question might be … Why didn’t they start with shorter package in the first place ?

FYI … As of Aug 2015, current pricing per venue, to buy one at a time, including 18% gratuities:

Bayoma (NCL Escape) $ 36pp
Italian  $ 24pp
Brazilian $24pp
Le Bistro $ 24pp
Cagney’s Steak House $ 36pp
Teppanyaki $36
Supper Club & show (NCL Escape) $ 30-39pp

 

My roommate and even another couple sailing on Cruises Inc’s Convention Cruise onboard the NCL Escape in November, we’ve decided to just stay with our 7 night package, “for now”.  Yet, as time gets closer, and more events are scheduled for our convention, we may soon learn, we don’t have time but for more than 4 or 5 nights in these specialty restaurant choices.  As mentioned above, we’re getting no added value in keeping the 7 night Ultimate Dining Pkg, with not including the “bonus I had been told at time of purchase” … NO complimentary Supper Club if sign up for this venue the 1^st night.