How much will a free cruise cost me?

[Cowdengelly]

I have just been offered a free 7-night Caribbean cruise from Casinos at Sea on NCL Sun, Dawn or Jewel. Can anyone give me an idea regarding the cost of extras like port fees etc?

[ladybugz07]

Me and my hubby are taking the 7 day Western Med cruise aboard Epic (also "free" from Casinos at Sea). Port fees/NCfees totaled $335 apiece.

[pisenor]

I have just been offered a free 7-night Caribbean cruise from Casinos at Sea on NCL Sun, Dawn or Jewel. Can anyone give me an idea regarding the cost of extras like port fees etc?

 

My family of 3 are departing NOLA on the Dawn in 39 days (but who's counting) and our port fees for the trip are $102.01/person so a total for three of $306.06. This is for a 7 night, 4 ports of call which IMO is pretty reasonable.

 

You also need to remember to add the following to your expense tally as well:

1. pre-cruise hotel required if arriving a day before embarkation.

2. transportation to the pier...whether it a plane, train or auto they all have an associated cost. If you drive don't forget to allow for parking for the week.

3. DSC. Don't forget to allow for the $12/day/pp as well. I am unfamiliar if a CAS offer covers the DSC or not but I am sure someone will chime in to let you know.

4. extras like excursions and incidentals while off the ship like food and/or souvenirs.

 

All of the above mentioned items do add up but no where near the benefit of receiving a free cruise. It is still a pretty cost effective way to cruise. I am sure I have left something off my list but that is a start. Hope this helps...

[Demonyte]

My family of 3 are departing NOLA on the Dawn in 39 days (but who's counting) and our port fees for the trip are $102.01/person so a total for three of $306.06.

....

Hope this helps...

 

Unfortunately knowing just the taxes and fees of a regularly priced cruise doesn't help OP - and they could check those also on the website.

 

On "free" cruises the non-commissionable fee (NCF) that is normally part of the regular cruise price is added on top of the regular taxes and fees.

 

More info f.ex. here: http://www.outdestinations.com/what-are-non-comm-or-non-commissionable-fees/

Edited December 10, 2014 by Demonyte

[rascaldog]

On all the CAS cruises I have taken it averages out to around $300/ person, unless you upgrade to a better stateroom and that will vary by cruise.

[dam64]

This always makes me laugh when I see people getting free cruises or so they think when they spend thousands in the casino! LOL For all the money you gamble and throw away you've paid for many cabins over and over again and its the least they can do! lol Nothing in life is free just the air we breath ;-)

[Casino Comp Chick]

This always makes me laugh when I see people getting free cruises or so they think when they spend thousands in the casino! LOL For all the money you gamble and throw away you've paid for many cabins over and over again and its the least they can do! lol Nothing in life is free just the air we breath ;-)

 

Ok you pay 3-4 grand on a room, I will pay 300 and use my extra money that I am not paying for the same room to gamble, why is that so hard for a non gambler to understand?

Do you get free drinks?

Do you get spa passes?

Do you get dinners & wine?

Do you have money removed from your onboard charges?

I do.

A gambler always does better on a cruise then a non gambler, just do the math.

[luvtheships]

This always makes me laugh when I see people getting free cruises or so they think when they spend thousands in the casino! LOL For all the money you gamble and throw away you've paid for many cabins over and over again and its the least they can do! lol Nothing in life is free just the air we breath ;-)

 

Oh so true!! Lol

 

I am a big culprit of twisting things too...

 

I tell everyone that my 12 day BA for 3 in an inside is costing me only $2150!!! That includes tax and port btw

 

Reality.... Dsc... Excursions.... Onboard Internet....a picture or 2...maybe a specialty.... Closer to $4000!

 

Sailing with 2 under 21 college kids so only a drink or 2 for me so that cost us negligible..... But we have coffee bar and cake boss costs!!!

 

Oh and all the money dh will be spending at home taking the 14 yo out to eat for 12 days!!! Lol

 

Transport to port is pennies for us though

 

 

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[hpecorari]

This always makes me laugh when I see people getting free cruises or so they think when they spend thousands in the casino! LOL For all the money you gamble and throw away you've paid for many cabins over and over again and its the least they can do! lol Nothing in life is free just the air we breath ;-)

 

That may very well be true. However look at it this way:

 

1. One pays full price for their cruise and spends money in the casino anyway since they enjoy the casino.

 

2. One gets a 'free' cruise from CAS and spends money in the casino anyway since they enjoy the casino.

 

IF one is going to spend money in the casino regardless......the free cruise IS a savings. Not to mention the additional CAS perks.

 

OTOH, one should never play in the casino FOR a free cruise.

 

Harriet

Edited December 10, 2014 by hpecorari

[hpecorari]

Ok you pay 3-4 grand on a room, I will pay 300 and use my extra money that I am not paying for the same room to gamble, why is that so hard for a non gambler to understand?

Do you get free drinks?

Do you get spa passes?

Do you get dinners & wine?

Do you have money removed from your onboard charges?

I do.

A gambler always does better on a cruise then a non gambler, just do the math.

 

Yep, Yep, and Yep!

 

(unless one has a gambling problem and spends their life savings in the Casino.....but even if one paid full price for the cruise and has a gambling problem they'd still spend the same!)

 

Harriet

[CP Tech]

I got it too and I've probably spent a total of $500 in their casinos over the years and won $750 one poker tourney.

 

So it's not just people who are spending a ton of cash in the casinos.

[hpecorari]

A few examples:

 

My CAS cruise in June is going for $4,070.68 for 2 people in an Aft Mini Suite. CAS price for 2 is $340.00 NSF and $352.68 for the two of us for tax/port fees for a total price for 2 people of $692.68. We are going to 3 ports, Canada and New England. In addition I have $273.26 OBC not to mention the CAS perks. (Free drinks in the Casino, free spa days, 2 or 3 specialty restaurant with wine, goodies delivered to my room 3 times during the cruise, of which I always choose a dozen shrimp cocktail, all charges removed from my onboard account except for casino charges and DCS, as well as the 3% fees waived, VIP tender tickets and VIP seating for shows and VIP disembarkation and embarkation on certain ships.)

 

The difference of my CAS price and the full NCL price I will spend in the Casino.

 

My CAS cruise this February is going for $3,987.40 for 2 people in an Aft Mini Suite. CAS price for 2 is $370.00 NSF and $225.96 for the two of us for tax/port fees for a total price for 2 people of $595.96. We are going to 4 ports, Western Caribbean. In addition I have $286.76 OBC not to mention the CAS perks. ((Free drinks in the Casino, free spa days, 2 or 3 specialty restaurant with wine, goodies delivered to my room 3 times during the cruise, of which I always choose a dozen shrimp cocktail, all charges removed from my onboard account except for casino charges and DCS, as well as the 3% fees waived, VIP tender tickets and VIP seating for shows and VIP disembarkation and embarkation on certain ships)

 

 

The difference of my CAS price and the full NCL price I will spend in the Casino.

 

So....as I stated in another post.....IF one is going to gamble it does pay to go through CAS.

 

Harriet

[khaide612]

This always makes me laugh when I see people getting free cruises or so they think when they spend thousands in the casino! LOL For all the money you gamble and throw away you've paid for many cabins over and over again and its the least they can do! lol Nothing in life is free just the air we breath ;-)

 

I have benefitted from the "free" CAS cruises and do not spend tons in the casino.

[rascaldog]

You are right nothing is free, I like to cruise, I like to gamble. I am going to do both so I might as well use some of the perks associated with it. Ncl. takes good care of their players. I enjoy being put up in a mini suite, and the free dinners in the specialty restaurants. I don't drink and I have seen people on cruises who spend way more on drinks than I do in the Casino, and they don't receive any perks for that.

[khaide612]

I have just been offered a free 7-night Caribbean cruise from Casinos at Sea on NCL Sun, Dawn or Jewel. Can anyone give me an idea regarding the cost of extras like port fees etc?

 

It depends on the cruise, date, itinerary, etc. Call CAS.

[maywell]

This always makes me laugh when I see people getting free cruises or so they think when they spend thousands in the casino! LOL For all the money you gamble and throw away you've paid for many cabins over and over again and its the least they can do! lol Nothing in life is free just the air we breath ;-)

Its the age old - How you choose to spend your money is your personal business. How someone esle chooses to spend their cash is their business; who am I or you to judge? Especially when its cruise trip and most of the passengers are on vacation anyway.*shrug*

 

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[garycarla]

...A gambler always does better on a cruise then a non gambler, just do the math.

 

Gotta chuckle at this one.

 

After my last "free" CAS cruise, I think each beer cost me $29 a piece. My free dinner with wine cost me a few hundred.

 

LOL!

 

I would agree that if you are gonna gamble and blow money, at least you get something for it.

[Casino Comp Chick]

Gotta chuckle at this one.

 

After my last "free" CAS cruise, I think each beer cost me $29 a piece. My free dinner with wine cost me a few hundred.

 

LOL!

 

I would agree that if you are gonna gamble and blow money, at least you get something for it.

 

Since Nov 2013 I did (6) 1 nighters, (1) 12 nighter, (1) 7 nighter, (1) 2 nighter and I only lost money on 2 cruises. I also have (3) 2 nighters, & (2) 7 nighters booked at the moment. People can make fun of us gamblers all they want,

but I will laugh all the way to the port....

:D

[long Island]

I know nothing about CAS ...how does it work ?what is the minimum you have to gamble in order to be entitled to perks and free cruises.... how do I sign up?

Thanks,mike

[rollo89]

I received a 'free' 7 day cruise thru Harrah's/CAS. We are going on the Dawn in 31 days and it was ~$200 for NCF (port/taxes). We elected to upgrade to a balcony (they gave me a BA category) and it cost and additional $300 pp.

 

So ~$500 pp to get a BA room. The price on their website for this is ~$950 right now. So not a bad deal in my mind.

 

Ron

[NormanW]

Ever hear the saying that the Lottery is a tax for those that are bad at math?

 

The House, in general, does not lose.

 

If you enjoy yourself, by all means. It helps my retirement fund! :)

 

While I love saying the best four letter word in the English language starts with the letter 'F' (free), rarely does a true free ride exist.

 

"Full fare compensation" is more accurate. Other fees will always be there. As always, never forget gratuities.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Norman

[Casino Comp Chick]

I know nothing about CAS ...how does it work ?what is the minimum you have to gamble in order to be entitled to perks and free cruises.... how do I sign up?

Thanks,mike

 

You have to either get the comp from a land casino or book a normal cruise and get rated by NCL CAS onboard, around 2000-2500 points onboard should get the freebies started

[long Island]

How do they track your points when you're playing blackjack or roulette?

[hpecorari]

How do they track your points when you're playing blackjack or roulette?

 

The same as any casino. The Pit Boss! Just make sure you give them your CAS card each time.

 

Harriet

[What'sUpCooley]

I have just been offered a free 7-night Caribbean cruise from Casinos at Sea on NCL Sun, Dawn or Jewel. Can anyone give me an idea regarding the cost of extras like port fees etc?

 

I just did the Epic last month and my fees for a 7 night cruise were $303. I also went solo and you don't pay any supplement for that.

 

DSC are not included and they run $12 per day so another $84 per person. You can prepay those if you wish.