Pre-hotel stay charge per person

[brandid82]

I decided to look into the $100 discount on a pre or post-hotel stay that was part of the Distinctive Voyage promo.

 

I called NCL and they only book one hotel in New York City for this promo, the New York Marriott Marquis. I thought this was great because we wanted to stay in Times Square and I already had a tab open with this hotel rate on my laptop.

 

The agent let me know the hotel would be $149 per night for each of the 4 of us, 2 of which are children. So $600 for one night in the low season of January. She did say they would transfer us to the ship and take off $100, but this still seemed excessive. The rate for the hotel advertised online was $299 for all 4 of us without any discounts.

 

We ended up booking a suite across the street at the Double Tree Times Square for $150 including taxes and fees. We'll find out own way to the port! Not a big deal. We're fine booking our own hotel. I just thought the "discount" was misleading and a little comical, especially charging the full rate for the adults and children.

 

 

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[NMLady]

I decided to look into the $100 discount on a pre or post-hotel stay that was part of the Distinctive Voyage promo.

 

I called NCL and they only book one hotel in New York City for this promo, the New York Marriott Marquis. I thought this was great because we wanted to stay in Times Square and I already had a tab open with this hotel rate on my laptop.

 

The agent let me know the hotel would be $149 per night for each of the 4 of us, 2 of which are children. So $600 for one night in the low season of January. She did say they would transfer us to the ship and take off $100, but this still seemed excessive. The rate for the hotel advertised online was $299 for all 4 of us without any discounts.

 

We ended up booking a suite across the street at the Double Tree Times Square for $150 including taxes and fees. We'll find out own way to the port! Not a big deal. We're fine booking our own hotel. I just thought the "discount" was misleading and a little comical, especially charging the full rate for the adults and children.

 

 

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The discount is not misleading if there are only two people. $149 each for two is $298 but is then only $198 after the DV perk.

It is always a good idea to compare costs as you've discovered but that doesn't mean it is misleading since they do give the discount.

[brandid82]

The discount is not misleading if there are only two people. $149 each for two is $298 but is then only $198 after the DV perk.

 

It is always a good idea to compare costs as you've discovered but that doesn't mean it is misleading since they do give the discount.

 

 

 

Maybe misleading was the wrong word. But for NCL to charge for the children, when the hotel doesn't, doesn't seem right in my opinion. They are the middle man simply booking the hotel and should not pocket the additional cost.

 

 

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[garycarla]

I would guess that at least 90% of the hotels in America (maybe the world) charge per room, assuming 2 people. The cruise lines almost always charge per person. Same with transportation.

 

Be aware.

 

By the way, at least in the past when we stayed there, the Marriott Marq is a great place to stay.

[casofilia]

Booking direct with hotels or with their corporate office we invariably are quoted and pay per room. I think all cruise lines are used to charging per person so just do that for 'their' hotels too.

 

Back to the good old Caveat Emptor.

[brandid82]

I would guess that at least 90% of the hotels in America (maybe the world) charge per room, assuming 2 people. The cruise lines almost always charge per person. Same with transportation.

 

 

 

Be aware.

 

 

 

By the way, at least in the past when we stayed there, the Marriott Marq is a great place to stay.

 

 

 

Thanks for the response! I'm aware now! We've only cruised with Princess and Carnival before. I think I was just taken aback by the difference in price online and NCL's price. We actually booked a different hotel.

 

 

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[CruiseGal999]

I decided to look into the $100 discount on a pre or post-hotel stay that was part of the Distinctive Voyage promo.

 

I called NCL and they only book one hotel in New York City for this promo, the New York Marriott Marquis. I thought this was great because we wanted to stay in Times Square and I already had a tab open with this hotel rate on my laptop.

 

The agent let me know the hotel would be $149 per night for each of the 4 of us, 2 of which are children. So $600 for one night in the low season of January. She did say they would transfer us to the ship and take off $100, but this still seemed excessive. The rate for the hotel advertised online was $299 for all 4 of us without any discounts.

 

We ended up booking a suite across the street at the Double Tree Times Square for $150 including taxes and fees. We'll find out own way to the port! Not a big deal. We're fine booking our own hotel. I just thought the "discount" was misleading and a little comical, especially charging the full rate for the adults and children.

 

 

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That's a ripoff! Since when do hotels charge PER PERSON??? It's per room! Are the kids young? Kids aren't normally charged to be in the hotel room with parents!

[brandid82]

That's a ripoff! Since when do hotels charge PER PERSON??? It's per room! Are the kids young? Kids aren't normally charged to be in the hotel room with parents!

 

 

 

12 and 8. There was only the additional charge booking through NCL. Either way it would be a room with 2 beds.

 

It's fine if they charge per person, but it should be $75 per person to total the rate charged if I were to book it online myself. Then it could be discounted $100 and I would have booked it for $200.

 

It all worked out and I got a suite nearby for just $150 with taxes.

 

 

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[NLH Arizona]

 

The agent let me know the hotel would be $149 per night for each of the 4 of us, 2 of which are children. So $600 for one night in the low season of January. She did say they would transfer us to the ship and take off $100, but this still seemed excessive. The rate for the hotel advertised online was $299 for all 4 of us without any discounts.

Some years ago, I looked into booking a hotel room in Rome through a cruise line (not NCL), they quoted me the price and then it double because I was the only one in the room and they said the rate they quoted me was per person. I looked on line and what they were charging me was double what I could book the hotel for. When I called the cruise line, they said it was because they had a contract rate. I tried to explain that a contract rate should be lower than the rack rate, but they didn't seem to understand or care. I've never even looked at booking a hotel through a cruise line since then.

[brandid82]

Some years ago, I looked into booking a hotel room in Rome through a cruise line (not NCL), they quoted me the price and then it double because I was the only one in the room. I looked on line and what they were charging me was double what I could book the hotel for. When I called the cruise line, they said it was because they had a contract rate. I tried to explain that a contract rate should be lower than the rack rate, but they didn't seem to understand or care. I've never even looked at booking a hotel through a cruise line since then.

 

 

 

Crazy! Ours was double the rate I could get, then they would discount it the $100. Pretty shady...

 

 

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[ollienbertsmum]

But really the price difference and apparent rip off is not specific to cruising. Whenever I book a hotel I always compare the prices on Internet boooking sites with what the hotel offers on their own websites. Invariably the internet sites give bigger discounts. It does not make sense.

 

I do agree that charging 'per person' rather then 'per room' is ridiculous. It shows that it always pays to do your homework when booking anything.

[Cruisercl]

You really need to look at the room rate details. Most hotel prices are based on double occupancy and the rate rules will state as such.

However, in my experience if you put in that there will be more than 2 occupants the room rate can/may be higher. I have also had a quoted rate be for up to 5 occupants in the room.

 

The rules are never the same from hotel to hotel; JMHO.

 

Safe sailing al! :)

[garycarla]

You really need to look at the room rate details. Most hotel prices are based on double occupancy and the rate rules will state as such.

However, in my experience if you put in that there will be more than 2 occupants the room rate can/may be higher. I have also had a quoted rate be for up to 5 occupants in the room.

 

The rules are never the same from hotel to hotel; JMHO.

 

Safe sailing al! :)

 

Yes, some hotels doe charge for each person over 2. But it is almost NEVER the same as the per person for the first two. Again, YMMV.

[negn]

Looked at air credit also. Would be several hundred more than if I booked on my own

[Son of a son of a ...]

Here is some info I found out that may be relevant

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2533679

[brandid82]

You really need to look at the room rate details. Most hotel prices are based on double occupancy and the rate rules will state as such.

 

However, in my experience if you put in that there will be more than 2 occupants the room rate can/may be higher. I have also had a quoted rate be for up to 5 occupants in the room.

 

 

 

The rules are never the same from hotel to hotel; JMHO.

 

 

 

Safe sailing al! :)

 

 

 

I stated that the rate online was with 4 occupants. There was no difference in price for the children online vs 2 occupants.

 

 

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[NMLady]

That's a ripoff! Since when do hotels charge PER PERSON??? It's per room! Are the kids young? Kids aren't normally charged to be in the hotel room with parents!

 

Some US hotels do charge per person for two people.

Charging for additional people, including children, is also sometimes done, especially if it requires additional beds or bedding.

Edited September 4, 2017 by NMLady

[POA1]

Some US hotels do charge per person for two people.

Charging for additional people, including children, is also sometimes done, especially if it requires additional beds or bedding.

The Marriott Marquis' rate is double occupancy, with no charge for minor children. That's the salient point here. NCL's charging double for the room.

[brandid82]

The Marriott Marquis' rate is double occupancy, with no charge for minor children. That's the salient point here. NCL's charging double for the room.

 

 

 

Exactly! Thank you! Some hotels charge a minimal charge for additional guests over 2, but this hotel doesn't so there isn't a reason for NCL to. If NCL wants to charge per person for everything, that is fine, but the rate should be $75 a person to equal the rate the hotel would charge me, not double the rate.

 

 

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