"Free" cruise but i pay the port fees? Worth going?

[fstuff1]

one of the benefits of being a higher tier rewards card member at my casino is a 'free' 7 day cruise on NCL.

but they're not paying the port taxes, which is $300 per person.

 

I priced it on NCL's website. from nyc to Bahamas+florida on the Breakaway, it's $600.

 

so the 'free' cruise is basically 50% off.

 

if it was free, i would jump all over this. but at 50% off, I'm on the fence.

(I'm going alone.)

 

Help me decide?

Edited June 15, 2014 by fstuff1

[Conshydot]

No the quoted NCL price usually does NOT include port fees/taxes.

 

So your price is 1/3 of the price,

[Agr8RN]

Breakway is a great ship. And - most likely they won't put you in an inside - which is what the low price was for I'm sure. I had friends who got a free gambling cruise and they were put in a balcony.

I sailed on the may 11 sailing to Bermuda and really liked the ship.

 

 

 

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[Keith1010]

Sounds like a good deal to me.

 

Keith

[paul929207]

Before committing, be sure the $300 is all you will have to pay. sometimes there are things like "booking charges", etc. Also, airfare is not included.

[fstuff1]

No the quoted NCL price usually does NOT include port fees/taxes.

So your price is 1/3 of the price,

oh! :eek:

deals looks a little better now

 

Breakway is a great ship. And - most likely they won't put you in an inside - which is what the low price was for I'm sure. I had friends who got a free gambling cruise and they were put in a balcony.

I sailed on the may 11 sailing to Bermuda and really liked the ship.

the info I received the from the casino is inside cabin. upgrade to balcony is $300.

[Carolin]

Please make sure there are no strings attached. You don't have to listen to a sails pitch etc.. And just a heads up, if you choose to accept this, you will have to pay taxes on it as well. :)

[fstuff1]

Before committing, be sure the $300 is all you will have to pay. sometimes there are things like "booking charges", etc. Also, airfare is not included.

 

no mention of booking charges. I know airfare isnt included.

and the daily tip charge isn't included

[fstuff1]

Please make sure there are no strings attached. You don't have to listen to a sails pitch etc.. And just a heads up, if you choose to accept this, you will have to pay taxes on it as well. :)

tax on what? the $600 price tag quoted on NCL's website?

Edited June 15, 2014 by fstuff1

[spookwife]

one of the benefits of being a higher tier rewards card member at my casino is a 'free' 7 day cruise on NCL.

but they're not paying the port taxes, which is $300 per person.

 

I priced it on NCL's website. from nyc to Bahamas+florida on the Breakaway, it's $600.

 

so the 'free' cruise is basically 50% off.

 

if it was free, i would jump all over this. but at 50% off, I'm on the fence.

(I'm going alone.)

 

Help me decide?

 

the $600 is BEFORE all taxes and fees are added.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

And don't forget about the gratuities.

[Conshydot]

tax on what? the $600 price tag quoted on NCL's website?

 

If you are a US citizen, Income taxes.

[fstuff1]

If you are a US citizen, Income taxes.

 

huh? whats that have to do w/what im talking about?

[CantSwim63]

OP, go to NCL board and search for Total Rewards free cruise threads. Or just search for that on a browser and you should find the threads.

 

A couple of quick points. It is not your tier level but your average daily rating/play that usually determines what is included in your voucher/offer (e.g. only 3/4 days Bahamas and must travel within 60/90 days or choices of "many" cruises including Mediterranean with travel up to one year). And probably not clear in your offer email/voucher/coupon is that you will get a card for free drinks at the casino bar as well as a cocktail party if a certain number of "free" TR and hosted cruise gamblers are onboard.

 

Cheers!

[garycarla]

If you are a US citizen, Income taxes.

 

There are no income taxes on this.

[Sauer-kraut]

Please make sure there are no strings attached. You don't have to listen to a sails pitch etc.. And just a heads up, if you choose to accept this, you will have to pay taxes on it as well. :)

 

Hello....its a comped cruise through the casino based on the OP's gaming levels. Not a sales/time share cruise thing.

[Donray]

There are no income taxes on this.

 

Unless you want to be dishonest, any prize you need to declare the value and pay federal and state taxes it is considered income.

 

So, you are wrong you should declare the value of the cruise for example $300 and pay the federal and state income taxes.

 

Most people also don't know that you are suppose to pay any state sales taxes on anything bought from another state and you did not pay sale tax in that state. For example all internet purchase where you don't pay the sale tax you should declare in the state you live in and pay the sales tax. This again means most pole are dishonest and don't declare and pay.

[FLACRUISER99]

Unless you want to be dishonest, any prize you need to declare the value and pay federal and state taxes it is considered income.

 

So, you are wrong you should declare the value of the cruise for example $300 and pay the federal and state income taxes.

 

Most people also don't know that you are suppose to pay any state sales taxes on anything bought from another state and you did not pay sale tax in that state. For example all internet purchase where you don't pay the sale tax you should declare in the state you live in and pay the sales tax. This again means most pole are dishonest and don't declare and pay.

It's not a prize it's a reward like FF miles.

[Agr8RN]

oh! :eek:

 

deals looks a little better now

 

 

 

 

 

the info I received the from the casino is inside cabin. upgrade to balcony is $300.

 

 

Gotcha. Well - it is a great ship if you've not been on that class of ship.

I'm close to the pier so for me it would be a no brainer - but if you have to fly, etc. I can see the hesitation.

300 seems a little hi for port charges to Florida / Bahamas - does the price include gratuities?

Good luck.

 

 

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[czbrat]

if it was free, i would jump all over this. but at 50% off, I'm on the fence.

(I'm going alone.)

 

Help me decide?

 

I just got back from a 7 day solo cruise to Alaska. It was a lot of fun but still I'm not completely sold on traveling by myself. However, and a big however, if you spend a lot of time in the casino I'm sure you would be hooking up with some people in no time. If I were you, I'd go for it. Because if I can't find anyone to travel with, I'll be cruising alone again ... it's that much fun. You go on the shore excursions and you're with a group, you can generally find someone to eat meals with, you join up with your cruise critic roll call so you'll know a few people before you sail ... so you're really not alone that much.

Edited June 15, 2014 by czbrat

[czlahaina]

one of the benefits of being a higher tier rewards card member at my casino is a 'free' 7 day cruise on NCL.

but they're not paying the port taxes, which is $300 per person.

 

I priced it on NCL's website. from nyc to Bahamas+florida on the Breakaway, it's $600.

 

so the 'free' cruise is basically 50% off.

 

if it was free, i would jump all over this. but at 50% off, I'm on the fence.

(I'm going alone.)

 

Help me decide?

 

You should check with your casino host to see if you can use your comp dollars towards the taxes, gratuities, insurance etc. We are going on a free cruise to Bermuda in August and because my husband and I both got a free cruise certificate, we were upgraded to a veranda room. From there, I was able to use my comp dollars to upgrade to a Sky Suite. So - the total cost of the extras was $892 and I had it taken from our comp dollars. Also, since we are going through our casino, our drinks in the casino are comped. When we check in to board the ship, our credentials will show that we are entitled to free drinks in the casino. I am more than excited!

[Silver Sweethearts]

According to NCL's website and based on an inside cabin at $599., government taxes, fees and port charges are only $134.67 per person on the itinerary you mention.

[Donray]

It's not a prize it's a reward like FF miles.

 

You still need to pay taxes. You should be paying on rewards. For example if you get a $10K reward for best salesmen you have to declare as income and pay taxes.

 

There is a loophole on FF miles in the tax code and they are trying to figure how to change it so you pay taxes when you use FF points.

 

Here is a brief overview of the essential tax implications for “pure” travel incentive i.e. a trip taken primarily as a reward or acknowledgment, rather than business meeting, as put forth by Chicago-based Jonathan T. Howe, General Counsel for S.I.T.E. The sponsoring company can deduct the cost of the award. The recipient must report the fair market value of the award as income for tax purposes. The above 2 facts are not affected by the venue of the trip, land or sea. The tax rules vary somewhat depending on whether the recipients of the cruise award are customers, employees or independent contractors / service providers:

[fstuff1]

Donray,

 

please leave my thread.

 

thank you

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Go for it have fun ..