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First Time Cruiser - Comped NCL CAS Cruise


MalloryRB
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Hello All! I am a first time cruiser. I've never been on a cruise before but recently received a comped cruise from my local casino (also just got another one from a different casino). My certificate is for a 7 day cruise in an inside stateroom. Nothing spectacular from what I gather. My question is this: WHAT DO I DO NEXT!?! LoL.

My husband and I have been looking at the different cruises and cruise options online. We haven't called to book the cruise yet but have to do so within the next two weeks. What do I need to know before I book it? We've been talking about upgrading to a balcony room. Is it worth it? We've looked at adding the beverage package but from what I can tell it would add $1,400 to the cost of the "free" cruise. I'd like to cruise for under $1,000. Is this realistic? Do we need the beverage package? I've read that you can get free drinks in the casino? Do you have to qualify based on play for that? What things are worth upgrading and adding on and what things do they just get you on? Are there things that I can get them to offer a better price on, or is the price they quote me just the price I have to pay if I want it? I'd love any tips, tricks and advice you can provide! I have to book by October 19 and sail by August 18, 2018. We are looking at an April sail date but if we can get better upgrades or offers by sailing during a different time we'd gladly do that as well. We don't have any children so we have a flexible schedule.

 

THANKS! :D

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Many questions but the easy and fast answer is that the free cruise will work out to a buy one get one free cost. An inside stateroom is allowed one free at sea promotion, such as the drink package. Upgrading to a balcony will not give you more promotion offers. With port charges, gratuities on the drink package, etc. expect to pay about $1200 for two in a balcony room on most cruise destinations.

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You will have to pay an administrative fee of $20 per day per person, and port fees and taxes. Also, DSC (gratuity). I know that some times they have deals for free gratuity, or free port fees and taxes, although I think those freebies are few and far between.

 

We chose the specialty dining package because you get a free drink card to use in the casino (when it's open) and we really don't drink much. The gratuity on the dining package was pretty minimal - maybe $14 per person?

 

When we were planning, I looked at the brochures and online, and then called and talked with the CAS rep to get as much info as I could before I booked. Then I called a couple days later after we made our decisions.

 

Good luck! We loved our two week cruise (we had two land based certificates so we did back to back cruises). We had planned to go anyway. We did opt to stay in an inside cabin, even though we've had balcony cabins before. And we loved it! We had an inside sideways cabin. Try to find one of those if you stick with an inside cabin. It was HUGE.

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As already suggested, do a little research at NCL.com and get an idea of when and where you want to go. Then simply call the CAS number you were given. They will ask what ship and date you want to check on. Most of the agents are super friendly and will be very willing to check on cruises and give you a price. You certainly aren't obligated to book on your first phone-call but it will give you an idea.

Your basic cost will be the $20 per person per day admin fee, so $280 for two people on a one week cruise plus port fees. Port fees can be something like $130 or $140 or so per person depending on where you choose to go. Another cost to plan for is the daily service charge that you can pre-pay or pay on board. The CAS agent will explain it all to you so you can choose. (If you get an agent on the phone that doesn't seem helpful, just say 'thank you for the info' then call back later for a new agent. Most are VERY friendly and great about explaining.)

 

Hope you enjoy cruising as much as we do!

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Also wanted to add- current 'cost' to choose the UBP (beverage package) is $112.14 per person for the week to cover the 18% gratuities. You can get free 'well drinks' while in the casino, but it is fun to order a Margarita or Mudslide or whatever when you aren't in the casino. We choose the UBP even though we aren't heavy drinkers. We would never purchase that package at full price, but $16 per day (gratuities) isn't much to try a bunch of new fun drinks or get a soda with our meal. In the casino you can get bottled water with your CAS card which is nice to carry to a beach the next day. (The UBP doesn't cover bottled water.)

 

Another current promo you can choose is the SDP. This give you three meals in a specialty restaurant and the current 18% gratuity to get this package is $12.42 per person.

 

We just booked another CAS trip last week. Total cost for us was $541 before we added on our UBP and SDP gratuities. Other promos like Internet minutes do not have an added gratuity fee. The $541 (admin fee and port fees) would be the same whether you are in an Inside cabin or any other type of cabin.

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With the CAS certificates, you will still get the Free At Sea offers that come with booking a cabin. So with the inside stateroom you can still choose the Ultimate Beverage Package as your Free At Sea offer and pay only the 18% gratuity ($16.02 per day per person). If you upgrade to a balcony, you will get two FAS offers.

 

Also, once you're within 90 days of sailing and have paid in full, you will receive an offer to upgrade your room up to two categories (i.e., if you book an inside cabin, you will be able to bid on oceanview and balcony rooms.) You would not earn any additional perks besides the ones you booked, but it might be a cheaper way to get into a better cabin if space is available. You can also call CAS at anytime to see about purchasing an upgrade, particularly if you notice a price drop.

 

My advice is to find a cruise you like at a time that works for you, call the number, get a couple of quotes for rooms (the cheapest and the most expensive that you consider at the "regular" rates) and book it. You only have to make a deposit at the time of booking and it (along with any other subsequent payments) are fully refundable up to 90 days before the cruise.

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