NCL Star: What extras to pay for on board? & life on board tips?

[TraveleraRus]

Hi we are booked on our first cruise with NCL Star next Feb 14th to NZ & Auz. We have a 'free' booze package included. Please can anyone tell us if we have to pay the onboard tax of 18% per drink?? Or is that tax only applicable if you were purchasing drinks without the package?

Also what else do we have to budget for on board?

We would be grateful for ANY advise regarding life on board and the best way to book excursions. Also which are the best ones not to miss.

Be happy to chat with anyone else booked on this cruise. We are from Manchester England. Thank you

[Shawninrye]

Hi. How fun for you. Not sure about the details of what you would spend money on but when I went on a cruise 13 years ago I was frugal but not cheap. I spent $20.00 gambling and we did our own tours by renting a car and splitting the cost 4 ways. I bought a sofa package and one bottle of wine.

The cruise was $800.00 and I spent $400.00 being frugal.

However, it is all relative.

For my cruise in January I am bringing $1000.00 and if I don't spend it all it is light to carry home and takes up little room!

Again I am putting together my own trips when possible so I will need cash to pay those folks.

[CruiserBruce]

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

 

Take a look over on the portion of Cruise Critic devoted to NCL, located here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=107

 

You will find everything you will ever need.

[Quilting_Cruiser]

Hi we are booked on our first cruise with NCL Star next Feb 14th to NZ & Auz. We have a 'free' booze package included. Please can anyone tell us if we have to pay the onboard tax of 18% per drink?? Or is that tax only applicable if you were purchasing drinks without the package? The 18% gratuity is charged on board only if you don't have the UBP (beverage package).

 

Also what else do we have to budget for on board? There's a daily service charge of $13.50 per person ($15.50 per day if you're in a suite/Haven) that will be charged to your account. Specialty restaurants, photos, casino, room service (except limited breakfast items) has a $7.95 service charge, tips for room service, bottled water, and specialty coffees all have charges--for the most part, every line charges for these things (room service charge is less common on other lines).

 

We would be grateful for ANY advise regarding life on board and the best way to book excursions. Also which are the best ones not to miss. I don't personally book excursions through the ship--I find independent operators provide a less crowded and higher quality experience. That said, there are a lot of people who swear by cruise line excursions often touting that the ship will wait if you're late. But in all my cruises (haven't booked through the cruise line since my second cruise) I've never even come close to missing the ship and independents are very good about getting you back to the port. As far as which activities are not to be missed, that totally depends on what you're interested in doing. I usually start my research by seeing what the cruise line offers--of course they'll offer the things that are most popular. If there's something there I'm interested in, I then look for a tour operator that features that activity. Another good resource is the Ports of Call forum here on Cruise Critic (go back to the main page of this message board and scroll down to Ports of Call). You'll can read about what others have done and tour guides they've used. Also check with your roll call and see if anyone there is planning tours. Often roll call members will set up tours and ask others on the roll call to join them.

 

 

Be happy to chat with anyone else booked on this cruise. We are from Manchester England. Thank you

 

 

Here's a link to the NCL Star roll calls: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=355. That's where you'll find others on your sailing. I skimmed the page and didn't see anything for Feb 14, but there was a roll call for Feb 18. Are you sure you have the date right? Either way, that's where to go to "meet" others who will also be on the ship. CruiserBruce gave you the link to the NCL forum where you can get specific answers to NCL-related questions.

 

Have a great cruise!!

[TraveleraRus]

:cool:many thanks for all that valuable information.

Yes I was wrong with the date-we leave the UK on the 14th, have two nights in Auckland before embarking NCL Star on the 18/2. I will check out the roll call. I would never have found my way around this site if you hadn't made that suggestion

 

Kind regards

Ann C