I'd worry that NCL may be trying to set some new trend. If the cruise lines are at all like the airlines (and, so far, I think they are definitely NOT), then the rest will follow along like sheep
I've paid extra once to eat in the up-scale dining venue. Mostly at the urging of my table mates in the normal dining room. Indeed, the whole table ate together "upstairs," and enjoyed it. But, I'm not inclined to do so on a regular basis.
If we start being nickeled and dimed to death, which is what the airlines are now doing, then I will seriously reconsider how I cruise and with whom! I'll go along with fuel surcharges (now as high as $11 per person per day, I hear) at least for a while. I'll expect 2009 and beyond cruises to just be somewhat more expensive, without an annoying additional fee. And, of course, if fuel costs should happen to go down (unlikely), I'll expect the lines to drop their surcharge.
SWR