New Pricing Policy for CAS?

[Sand and Seas]

Our recent "free" Inside offer wasn't so free through land based certificate. We were charged a non commissionable rate of $184pp plus port fees and taxes. That was to stay in the inside room.If upgrade to balcony its $320pp more and mini suite would be $500pp. We are a group of 8 with 4 separate rooms and we all were quoted the same prices booking over a 2 week span. Anyone else charged non commissionable rate with land based certificate?

 

We usually use 4 land-based certificates per year for balcony cabins and haven't upgraded. Just booked our first CAS offer of inside cabin. We were quoted $90 PP to upgrade to Ocean-view, and $320 PP to upgrade to balcony. We chose to go with Ocean-view and were very pleased to be able to book the best OV with picture window for that flat 90 instead of an obstructed or porthole.

 

Our son has cruised for years on land-based comped inside or ocean-view certificates. In our experience, the non-com fees and taxes are same for a particular cruise whether you are inside, ocean-view or balcony.

[Champster]

Congrats on the offer! Are you being charged for the UBP? If so call back and ask if the current promotion applies that would allow you to have it as your Free option (unless you've selected another option).

 

We're sailing with a free inside offer and were able to add the then current promotion of $25 OBC and 3rd person free to our CAS booking. I paid to upgrade to a balcony, but only the inside promotion applies because that was my original offer. When the promotion changed I tried to add UBP, but would have lost 3rd person free so we're happy with the $25 OBC as were not drinkers and will have the CAS beverage card anyway.

 

No charge for the UBP however we pay (I believe) $64 taxes on the UBP. Might not have been the best choice for our freebie, however we did the Ultimate Dining package in December and only made it to the Main Dining room once. We were surprised by the quality of the food in the MDR plus the burgers and salads at the Up town grill, we figured that we do UBP and if the urge hits us, try Cagneys one night!. The wife loves her Muscato and Baileys/coffee ( i don't drink) so I let her pick what she wanted this go around.

[chery4lbooks]

We usually use 4 land-based certificates per year for balcony cabins and haven't upgraded. Just booked our first CAS offer of inside cabin. We were quoted $90 PP to upgrade to Ocean-view, and $320 PP to upgrade to balcony. We chose to go with Ocean-view and were very pleased to be able to book the best OV with picture window for that flat 90 instead of an obstructed or porthole.

 

Our son has cruised for years on land-based comped inside or ocean-view certificates. In our experience, the non-com fees and taxes are same for a particular cruise whether you are inside, ocean-view or balcony.

 

Was your non commissionable rate $184pp plus port fees and taxes?

[Nola26]

Our recent "free" Inside offer wasn't so free through land based certificate. We were charged a non commissionable rate of $184pp plus port fees and taxes. That was to stay in the inside room.If upgrade to balcony its $320pp more and mini suite would be $500pp. We are a group of 8 with 4 separate rooms and we all were quoted the same prices booking over a 2 week span. Anyone else charged non commissionable rate with land based certificate?

 

That is exactly my offer and upgrade. Your offer package will make it clear that taxes and NC fees are your responsibility. You'll have a week cruise for less than $100/night for two people. You can get an additional promotional freebie if you book by Friday, what a great deal.

[Sand and Seas]

Was your non commissionable rate $184pp plus port fees and taxes?

 

Our August Balcony on Getaway is $190 plus 118 tax/port fees.

Our December Ocean View on Jewel is $185 plus 116 tax/port fees.

Our January 2016 Balcony on Escape is $190 plus 120 tax/port fees.

Our March 2016 Balcony on Dawn is $185 plus 120 tax/port fees.

 

We always us a Cruise Reward certificate so that gives us $250 towards these cost for an actual cost to us of $150. We love NCL:D

[Sand and Seas]

That is exactly my offer and upgrade. Your offer package will make it clear that taxes and NC fees are your responsibility. You'll have a week cruise for less than $100/night for two people. You can get an additional promotional freebie if you book by Friday, what a great deal.

 

Exactly! We've been enjoying these cruises for less than $100/night with some great food and entertainment thrown in....and picking up the UBP:cool:

[retirementagesoon]

Was always comped an inside room. Recently called to book the 10 day cruise on breakaway in November, 2015. Was told that since I only "LOST" $2,000. on my last cruise in May, 2015, I only qualified for a 20% discount "AND" my 3rd guest would not be free!

 

Was able to book a balcony on the 7 day breakaway cruise, third person free and UBP. As a platinum cruiser (Actually 2 of us) as well as booking through casino, get quite a few free dinners as well as the free deinks in casino. Wanted the UBP since the casino only gives certain brands of liquor, that really are not to my liking. With the UBP I can get the brands of liquor I enjoy. And since I need to lose more than $2,000. to be comped, I probably will enjoy my cocktails at other locations on the ship.

 

Told the representative "I GET IT", but if I would win a little, I would spend "MORE"! At the end of March I was a Gold Casino Member. Went down to Red after that. Enjoy the Breakaway and the Gem out of New York. Not many options, but enjoy the cruisin life. Although not too happy with the changes, it will not deter me from booking cruises through NCL. Also sail out of New York on Carnival. No free drinks in Casino, but when you reach 1500 points "ANY" drink is free. Had 1500 points by day 2. When you pay for the drinks, they always added a "Service Fee" to the total price.

 

All cruise lines seem to Nickel and Dime. Yet, cruisin at a somewhat discounted price as well as some perks, is better than a week at my house!

[fstuff1]

Was always comped an inside room. Recently called to book the 10 day cruise on breakaway in November, 2015. Was told that since I only "LOST" $2,000. on my last cruise in May, 2015, I only qualified for a 20% discount "AND" my 3rd guest would not be free!

 

Was able to book a balcony on the 7 day breakaway cruise, third person free and UBP. As a platinum cruiser (Actually 2 of us) as well as booking through casino, get quite a few free dinners as well as the free deinks in casino. Wanted the UBP since the casino only gives certain brands of liquor, that really are not to my liking. With the UBP I can get the brands of liquor I enjoy. And since I need to lose more than $2,000. to be comped, I probably will enjoy my cocktails at other locations on the ship.

 

so you got the 7day cruise free? or a 20% discount?

or just paid full and did not go through CAS?

 

hm.. thought that a $2k loss gets you an inside for a 7day and 2.8k loss gets you an OV.

 

and don't play for comps. it's cheaper to buy the cruise out right!

play for fun.

Edited July 28, 2015 by fstuff1

[BingoSlots]

This is a problem for me, too. I also booked through CAS (received a free cruise for two, inside cabin from a local casino) and when I inquired about the upgrade the amount they wanted was absolutely ridiculous! Just to upgrade to an obstructed oceanview would have been an additional $400 per person and a balcony was like $700 per person.

 

I brought up the same point when booking direct through NCL the costs are not that much in between stateroom categories. One rep told me the same as what was previously posted (flat casino rate) and another rep told me that it's whatever the price of the day. I don't buy that because I was quoted the exact same price each time I called a few weeks apart.

 

Since this is my first experience cruising, I'm wondering based on my slot play if they will offer me an upgrade for free on future cruises. I don't know how this elusive "upgrade fairy" works but maybe she will come in time for our October cruise!

[Daghis]

As an additional data point, I was comped a balcony cabin (by CAS directly) for our upcoming Escape cruise next year. That qualified us to get a BA cabin.

 

We were told these were the upgrade pricing available for a few categories about which I had inquired:

• B6 (large balcony) - $10/person
  
• B1 (aft, large balcony) - $100/person
  
• Mini-suite (I forget which category code) - $230/person

 

These were based off the price difference between a BA cabin and the upgraded category at the time.

 

My understanding, though, was that from inside to oceanview or balcony cabins, and from oceanview to balcony cabins, the upgrade pricing was fixed by CAS and unrelated to the actual pricing.

Edited July 28, 2015 by Daghis

[gl1200a]

Loss has nothing to do with it.

It's theoretical play.

[retirementagesoon]

so you got the 7day cruise free? or a 20% discount?

or just paid full and did not go through CAS?

 

hm.. thought that a $2k loss gets you an inside for a 7day and 2.8k loss gets you an OV.

 

and don't play for comps. it's cheaper to buy the cruise out right!

play for fun.

 

 

Booked this through CAS. Only got the 20% off. Back in the day got free inside room and upgraded to balcony, without losing that much, hence maybe amount of time played which used to be almost every minute casino was open.

 

Have learned to enjoy playing-not just for comped rooms- as well as learned to enjoy all that ships, such as the Breakaway, has to offer. And yes, just as with Carnival Cruise Line, sometimes reserving the cruise outright is cheaper than going through CAS. Yet CAS through NCL gives you more perks, such as a dinner and free drinks, something that Carnival does not unless it is a premier cruise.

[Ctrinh225]

I have so many comps from CAS and been only on the Getaway (2/2015) which I got free from a land based casino. I can't go this year so most have been wasted but I did book 2 cruises on Escape for next year (3/2016 & 10/2016). I was comped an OV for March on escape......total for 4 person with gratuities and UDP for all 4 is less than $1200. Now that's a GREAT deal. The one in October I was comped a balcony but upgraded to a spa balcony.... 3 person total with gratuities and a UBP less than $1500.

Yes....I am still confused about the NCF and ports and taxes and how they calculate it..... I just usually do a mock booking and then subtract between the 2. It's usually like between 55 to 68% off original prices. Go figure?

I've sailed with RCCL and I believe CAS gives the best discounts so far.....

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[clcjdn]

Best part for me running with CAS is when you get the current promo, like the UBP and the KSF at the same time. Makes my family of 5 about $1,000 for the week, and the adults get UBP and the kids get Soda......I also think it pays to get to know the host....after my Epic, didn't have a good theo amount, didn't interact much with host. After my Breakaway, comped an SE, and talked to the executive host almost every day......go figure....not sure how much impact they have on theo when playing machines, but it seemed like a huge difference for me.....out of pocket was less than $1,000 different between the two.....