Norwegian Free Stateroom Offer

My husband received a free stateroom offer from Norwegian / Casinos at Sea which includes free internet, free shore excursions ($50 per port), and the drink package. We've only sailed once before on Norwegian. Are there any catches or other concerns we should be aware of before we start to book?

Not truly "free' as you do pay fees and taxes. usually runs around $600 for the 2 of you. Still a great deal compared to regular pricing

I had never cruised before receiving a free cruise voucher from our local casino in December of 2009. Booked 1st one 10/10/2010. I'm now looking at my 8th in November, 9 th in February and 10th in dec.its a fantastic bargain and I'll continue as long as they keep sending them .the best time I've ever had.book and enjoy. You may have to pay the 18% gratuity on the drink packages.i had never had to do it before,but on the last 2 bookings I did.but was able to get in on the 3 rd and 4 th passenger for the same port fees and taxes.it makes for an absolutely wonderful family vacation.ENJOY

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

My husband received a free stateroom offer from Norwegian / Casinos at Sea which includes free internet, free shore excursions ($50 per port), and the drink package. We've only sailed once before on Norwegian. Are there any catches or other concerns we should be aware of before we start to book?

No catches other than the ones noted here. You pay port fees, taxes and gratuities.

If you want, you can contact CAS and see what an upgrade costs (ie if they comped you a ocean view, upgrade to a balcony, or balcony to suite and so on). We typically take our CAS comp cabin and then pay for an upgrade. You'll still come out ahead.

Are you sure it is all of those things free (internet, drink package and shore excursion credit)? Or is it pick one/two depending on the type of cabin you are getting?

My husband received a free stateroom offer from Norwegian / Casinos at Sea which includes free internet, free shore excursions ($50 per port), and the drink package. We've only sailed once before on Norwegian. Are there any catches or other concerns we should be aware of before we start to book?

No catches. You are still responsible for port, taxes, and admin charges with casino reservations. And you will be responsible for the gratuity on your drinks package (18% gratuity on the retail price of the package).

Overall a great deal.

On a recent cruise on the Escape, there were over 400 casino guests (between Casinos at Sea and Caesars Entertainment). Everyone taking advantage of offers like yours.

Have a great cruise!

No catches. You are still responsible for port, taxes, and admin charges with casino reservations. And you will be responsible for the gratuity on your drinks package (18% gratuity on the retail price of the package).

 

Overall a great deal.

 

On a recent cruise on the Escape, there were over 400 casino guests (between Casinos at Sea and Caesars Entertainment). Everyone taking advantage of offers like yours.

YES, its getting harder for me to make a case for Princess vouchers.

It sure seems I'm getting more bang for my buck with NCL cas vouchers.

YES, its getting harder for me to make a case for Princess vouchers.

It sure seems I'm getting more bang for my buck with NCL cas vouchers.

NCL offer for inside still cost over $1K and they want another $1K to upgrade from inside to balcony $900 plus port and taxes for 3rd in cabin. I also have a Princess offer for an inside stateroom and it is only $400 to upgrade to balcony with a 3rd person between $199-$399 depending on stateroom. NCL wants $900 for an inside cabin.. Getting a better deal on princess, but I was getting a better deal on Royal. Will have to wait to see how that program has changed.

Overall not a NCL fan. Still going on the cruise but doubt I would ever cruise with them again.

NCL offer for inside still cost over $1K and they want another $1K to upgrade from inside to balcony $900 plus port and taxes for 3rd in cabin. I also have a Princess offer for an inside stateroom and it is only $400 to upgrade to balcony with a 3rd person between $199-$399 depending on stateroom. NCL wants $900 for an inside cabin.. Getting a better deal on princess, but I was getting a better deal on Royal. Will have to wait to see how that program has changed.

 

Overall not a NCL fan. Still going on the cruise but doubt I would ever cruise with them again.[/quote

 

Never had to pay $1000 for comped cruise thru CAS. Average is $600 usually for balcony. Next one $680 for ocean view for 2 on Getaway. Just depends how much they want your money :)

NCL offer for inside still cost over $1K and they want another $1K to upgrade from inside to balcony $900 plus port and taxes for 3rd in cabin. I also have a Princess offer for an inside stateroom and it is only $400 to upgrade to balcony with a 3rd person between $199-$399 depending on stateroom. NCL wants $900 for an inside cabin.. Getting a better deal on princess, but I was getting a better deal on Royal. Will have to wait to see how that program has changed.

 

Overall not a NCL fan. Still going on the cruise but doubt I would ever cruise with them again.

The numbers you're quoting don't make sense based on my experience.

I'd really LOVE to know what ship and sailing date you're referring to with the number you state above, and what type of voucher or comp it is you're generating this booking from.

NCL offer for inside still cost over $1K and they want another $1K to upgrade from inside to balcony $900 plus port and taxes for 3rd in cabin. I also have a Princess offer for an inside stateroom and it is only $400 to upgrade to balcony with a 3rd person between $199-$399 depending on stateroom. NCL wants $900 for an inside cabin.. Getting a better deal on princess, but I was getting a better deal on Royal. Will have to wait to see how that program has changed.

 

Overall not a NCL fan. Still going on the cruise but doubt I would ever cruise with them again.[/quote

 

Never had to pay $1000 for comped cruise thru CAS. Average is $600 usually for balcony. Next one $680 for ocean view for 2 on Getaway. Just depends how much they want your money :)

 

People cruise for alot of different reasons.I thought NCL wanted to solicit my casino dollars which is why I received the offer, but the treatment being offered it will be a real cheap cruise for me. I won't play casino since I will not receive any future benefit from them.

 

Princess, Royal and Celebrity has my business.

Never had to pay $1000 for comped cruise thru CAS. Average is $600 usually for balcony. Next one $680 for ocean view for 2 on Getaway. Just depends how much they want your money :)

 

I guess that's the point. This isn't a "comp'ed" cruise. It's a discounted cruise. Either through CAS or Caesars (total rewards players can get a discounted cruise on NCL through CAS any day,,, they can also wait for a land-based certificate to get a comp'ed cruise).

 

$600ish is the going rate for a fully comp'ed cruise. The admin fee continues to creep upwards.

NCL offer for inside still cost over $1K and they want another $1K to upgrade from inside to balcony $900 plus port and taxes for 3rd in cabin. I also have a Princess offer for an inside stateroom and it is only $400 to upgrade to balcony with a 3rd person between $199-$399 depending on stateroom. NCL wants $900 for an inside cabin.. Getting a better deal on princess, but I was getting a better deal on Royal. Will have to wait to see how that program has changed.

 

Overall not a NCL fan. Still going on the cruise but doubt I would ever cruise with them again.

Yowza!, I don't know where you're getting your prices either?

WHERE are you going?

I've done 7-8 NCL casino cruise vouchers and NEVER paid exorbitant prices

like that!

I usually upgrade from Inside to OV or Balcony, and averages

$100-300 pp.

(could be more for Alaska, but balconies were a premium, so I did OV for $100)

Thank you all for your replies. We passed on this offer. For a 7 day cruise on the Getaway, it would have cost us $2000. That was for an ocean view room, adding our 12 year old daughter, taxes, fees, drink package gratuities, and daily gratuities. Yes, clearly cheaper than paying full price, but the dates weren't that good for us, so we passed. And it's good to know we can call about a discounted cruise when we're ready to cruise again.

Yowza!, I don't know where you're getting your prices either?

WHERE are you going?

 

I've done 7-8 NCL casino cruise vouchers and NEVER paid exorbitant prices

like that!

 

I usually upgrade from Inside to OV or Balcony, and averages

$100-300 pp.

(could be more for Alaska, but balconies were a premium, so I did OV for $100)

Going on the breakaway in july to bermuda.

We priced a 7 day cruise on the Getaway at the end of February. I got my prices directly from Norwegian's Casino at Sea rep.

The other new fee that I have been seeing is the almost $100 per person for the "free" UBP tips. So, our usual $600 for 2 has now been creeping up to $800 since we like that option.

NCL offer for inside still cost over $1K and they want another $1K to upgrade from inside to balcony $900 plus port and taxes for 3rd in cabin. I also have a Princess offer for an inside stateroom and it is only $400 to upgrade to balcony with a 3rd person between $199-$399 depending on stateroom. NCL wants $900 for an inside cabin.. Getting a better deal on princess, but I was getting a better deal on Royal. Will have to wait to see how that program has changed.

 

Overall not a NCL fan. Still going on the cruise but doubt I would ever cruise with them again.

Going on the breakaway in july to bermuda.

I'm trying to help make sense of your fares, fees, etc. I selected a random date in July for BA to Bermuda, for a Category BB Balcony cabin. If you were paying full-fare, this is what your Fares & Govt fees breakdown would look like for 3 guests:

Item Guest 1 Guest 2 Guest 3

Cruise Fare $1,809.00 $1,809.00 $999.00

Gov't Taxes,

Fees & Port

Expenses $198.65 $198.65 $184.65

Choice Promotion Service Charge: $111.96 $111.96 $0.00

Total per Guest $2,119.61 $2,119.61 $1,183.65

With, or without that third guest, if you've chosen the Beverage and Dining package, you will have this Promo Service Charge to cover the gratuities for both of those packages:

CHOICE PROMO SRVC CHRG $223.92

So I'm guessing your exact breakdown for your offer looks pretty much like this:

Admin Fee $250.00 per guest x 2 = $500.00

GF&PE $198.65 per guest x 2 = $397.30

Promo Service Charge total of = $223.92

Upgrade Inside to Balcony total = $1,000.00

Total for Guests one and two = $2,111.22

Then addition of third guest total of $ $1,183.65

Grand total of all fares, fees & costs of $ 3,294.87

Total cost if booked without a comp or discount would have been $5,422.87

You're sailing on one of the busiest months of the year, to a destination that has reduced casino time (due to being docked, and casino opened shorter hours than when at sea between ports) which diminishes the company's ability to earn revenue from you during this itinerary. You've received a value of approximately $2,200.00, plus you have unlimited beverages free and specialty dining free.

This is a rip-off how???

Would really LOVE to know exactly which ship and date your Princess offer is for, and exactly what additional promos you're receiving with that booking.

Sorry, but if we don't know the whole picture, and you're not comparing apples to apples...

I'm trying to help make sense of your fares, fees, etc. I selected a random date in July for BA to Bermuda, for a Category BB Balcony cabin. If you were paying full-fare, this is what your Fares & Govt fees breakdown would look like for 3 guests:

 

Item Guest 1 Guest 2 Guest 3

Cruise Fare $1,809.00 $1,809.00 $999.00

Gov't Taxes,

Fees & Port

Expenses $198.65 $198.65 $184.65

Choice Promotion Service Charge: $111.96 $111.96 $0.00

Total per Guest $2,119.61 $2,119.61 $1,183.65

 

With, or without that third guest, if you've chosen the Beverage and Dining package, you will have this Promo Service Charge to cover the gratuities for both of those packages:

 

CHOICE PROMO SRVC CHRG $223.92

 

So I'm guessing your exact breakdown for your offer looks pretty much like this:

 

Admin Fee $250.00 per guest x 2 = $500.00

GF&PE $198.65 per guest x 2 = $397.30

Promo Service Charge total of = $223.92

Upgrade Inside to Balcony total = $1,000.00

 

Total for Guests one and two = $2,111.22

 

Then addition of third guest total of $ $1,183.65

 

Grand total of all fares, fees & costs of $ 3,294.87

 

Total cost if booked without a comp or discount would have been $5,422.87

 

You're sailing on one of the busiest months of the year, to a destination that has reduced casino time (due to being docked, and casino opened shorter hours than when at sea between ports) which diminishes the company's ability to earn revenue from you during this itinerary. You've received a value of approximately $2,200.00, plus you have unlimited beverages free and specialty dining free.

 

This is a rip-off how???

 

Would really LOVE to know exactly which ship and date your Princess offer is for, and exactly what additional promos you're receiving with that booking.

 

Sorry, but if we don't know the whole picture, and you're not comparing apples to apples...

I have an inside stateoom which is still pretty much the same as when I booked 1209 yet the balcony guaranty price last friday was $1299. A difference of $90, I called CAS and ask for a paid upgrade. I was informed my upgrade would be $320 per person. Of course I did not take it. I frequently cruise other casino programs from land based casino and my membership as blue chip and casino royale and know from experience that the 3rd person was never charged $899 plus port and taxes. In fact I have a cruise booked on the Anthem in October and the 3rd person cost $289 plus port charges,taxes and gratuities.

I'm sorry if this offends you but my experience has not been a positive one.

I have an inside stateoom which is still pretty much the same as when I booked 1209 yet the balcony guaranty price last friday was $1299. A difference of $90, I called CAS and ask for a paid upgrade. I was informed my upgrade would be $320 per person. Of course I did not take it. I frequently cruise other casino programs from land based casino and my membership as blue chip and casino royale and know from experience that the 3rd person was never charged $899 plus port and taxes. In fact I have a cruise booked on the Anthem in October and the 3rd person cost $289 plus port charges,taxes and gratuities.

 

I'm sorry if this offends you but my experience has not been a positive one.

It does not offend me in the slightest. I'm merely trying to make sense of the numbers you've given in your previous posts. I must say I'm still curious as to whether you received a "comp" or just a discount, and whether you booked this based on previous play on Norwegian, or via a certificate from a land-based casino, etc.

I'm happy for you that you receive excellent comps elsewhere, similar to the excellent comps I receive from CAS.

If you go into this with a sour taste, you'll have a rotten time. However, I suspect if you are the kind of player who receives great comps elsewhere, and you play the same on Norwegian, you'll discover you'll find all that and more with CAS.

The summer months for 3/4 passenger has always been about 1K. NCL never runs KSF in the summer for obvious reasons so the pricing makes sense.

Passenger 1/2 fare (admin fee) $200-$225 per person....port charges $197 each (3rd passenger about 186) $99 18% gratuity (2) on UBP and fare for passenger 3 $1000.

If you choose to book with KSF in September your price would come down $1200.00 because the KSF would become your "perk" so you would lose the UBP so that brings down your fare by another $200 for the 18% gratuity and then it would be about $340 per person. Please note the fares for passenger 3/4 drop to $349 pp in September so you should price it with KSF and then also with paying a low fare for passenger 3 and keeping the UBP and then take what's cheaper. As an FYI depending on how much you will be in the casino the casino drink card may suffice.

I have an inside stateoom which is still pretty much the same as when I booked 1209 yet the balcony guaranty price last friday was $1299. A difference of $90, I called CAS and ask for a paid upgrade. I was informed my upgrade would be $320 per person. Of course I did not take it. I frequently cruise other casino programs from land based casino and my membership as blue chip and casino royale and know from experience that the 3rd person was never charged $899 plus port and taxes. In fact I have a cruise booked on the Anthem in October and the 3rd person cost $289 plus port charges,taxes and gratuities.

 

I'm sorry if this offends you but my experience has not been a positive one.

CAS upgrade prices are set amounts but you can still upsell to suites about a month out or wait until 3 days before sailing and upgrade to a balcony for $150 pp or to a minisuite for $250 pp which is cheaper then the CAS rates.

It does not offend me in the slightest. I'm merely trying to make sense of the numbers you've given in your previous posts. I must say I'm still curious as to whether you received a "comp" or just a discount, and whether you booked this based on previous play on Norwegian, or via a certificate from a land-based casino, etc.

 

I'm happy for you that you receive excellent comps elsewhere, similar to the excellent comps I receive from CAS.

 

If you go into this with a sour taste, you'll have a rotten time. However, I suspect if you are the kind of player who receives great comps elsewhere, and you play the same on Norwegian, you'll discover you'll find all that and more with CAS.

I have never cruised NCL, but when the offer came I grabbed it. However I have received these offers for Celebrity and Royal Caribbean cruises from a Connecticut casino which I only paid port charges, taxes and gratuities with no admin fee. I am a blue chip member and casino royale member and have received fantastic offers from them directly also. If I wanted to upgrade my cabin it was not out of line. I find it odd with only a $90 difference in cabin price that they want me to pay $320 per person.

There is no way I will have a rotten time, however I am concerned about the cabin size and will try an upsell as we get closer. NCL so far has not given me a warm fuzzy feeling so definitely not so excited about this new experience.

CAS upgrade prices are set amounts but you can still upsell to suites about a month out or wait until 3 days before sailing and upgrade to a balcony for $150 pp or to a minisuite for $250 pp which is cheaper then the CAS rates.

You are correct that they are set amounts and I will try an upsell as we get closer.