Key Aspects:
- Norwegian Cruise Line is implementing a $10 per person no-show fee for specialty dining reservations.
- The fee will not apply if guests cancel or update their reservation at least two hours before the booked time.
- Reservations will only be held for 15 minutes, after which they will be released and the fee will apply.
With specialty dining growing more and more popular on all cruise lines and restaurant reservations filling up earlier and earlier, another cruise line is implementing a penalty for guests who don’t show up.
Norwegian Cruise Line is now charging a $10 per person fee if guests do not cancel or update a dining reservation before their meal.
“In order to allow more guests the opportunity to dine in specialty restaurants, a $10 per person fee will be charged if a scheduled reservation is not canceled or updated at least two hours prior to the scheduled time,” the policy reads.
Most of the cruise line’s specialty restaurants do have wait lists. By requiring booked guests to cancel at least two hours before their reserved time, there is enough time to contact guests on that evening’s wait list to offer them the space. Walk-in guests, however, are not typically accommodated.
While this may not fill in all tables throughout the evening, it can at least help ensure as many guests as possible can enjoy the unique and elevated dining in different onboard restaurants.
NCL’s specialty dining includes the classic Cagney’s Steakhouse, the elegant French Le Bistro, Mexican fare at Los Lobos, and much more.
There has been no official announcement of the new policy from Norwegian Cruise Line. Guests onboard various ships have noticed the change, however, and it is being printed in the ships’ newsletters, the Freestyle Daily.
The fee is also explained as part of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Restaurant Cancellation policy.
Dining reservations can be cancelled through the Norwegian Cruise Line app, by calling the cruise line (prior to embarkation), or while onboard, either at the dining reservations desk or the Guest Services desk.
As recently as mid-July, the fee was not yet in place. This change, however, follows a similar move by Royal Caribbean, which announced a restaurant no-show fee just a week ago.
The reservation holding time of 15 minutes is not impacted by the new fee.
“We can only hold dinner reservations for 15 minutes,” the policy states. “After 15 minutes, the unclaimed reservation will be released.”
Positive Reaction to the New Fee
While most new dining-related fees on cruise ships are met with harsh criticism (remember Celebrity Cruises’ cookiegate?), this no-show fee is being welcomed by many guests.
“So many groups have reservations scattered across their party and the evening. This is a great improvement, hopefully cutting down on the Chair Hogs of reservations,” one guest commented.
Being a “chair hog” is considered a cardinal sin among frequent cruisers, and it doesn’t just apply to poolside loungers. Seats at shows and entertainment venues and now, specialty restaurants are just as egregious to cruise etiquette.
This does not mean that guests can’t change their cruise dining plans, however. Because many travelers book their vacations months or even years in advance, they may also plan out specialty dining reservations far ahead of their sailing date.
Dining plans and preferences can change, however. A storm might dramatically change an itinerary, and that specialty restaurant reservation might now conflict with a full-day shore tour.
Guests might also develop different food preferences or sensitivities between when they booked and when they set sail, necessitating a change in dining plans.
The new fee will simply provide an incentive for guests to let the restaurant know they will not be attending at their scheduled reservation time so other travelers can enjoy the opportunity.
