bruadhin Posted May 18, 2018 #26 Share Posted May 18, 2018 With these "free" promos, the basic price of cabins plus port taxes, etc. seems to go up. Even with the 3 & 4 person sail free, prices are higher so the "free" is being rolled into the pricing. :(So not always a sale for some of us. MARAPRINCE It really just depends. When comparing NCL to Carnival for our next cruise, the pricing was near identical, NCL may have even been slightly cheaper. And that included a drink package for my wife and I with NCL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisingNole Posted May 18, 2018 #27 Share Posted May 18, 2018 Nothing is free. Just look at the bottom line price. Sure, they say "free drinks" but you're paying for it somehow be it through your fare and the bloated service charges. 20% service charge on $89? Funny, comparable beverage packages on Carnival and Royal (that include bottled water) sell for nearly HALF that amount. Now, I wonder why NCL's beverage package is twice that of competitors? It's so they can charge everyone a higher service charge per day. All the cruise lines do it. Royal does BOGO 50%, 30%, blah blah blah. At the end of the day, the price is the same. The only thing that changes is the promotion name and theme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.S.Oceanlover Posted May 18, 2018 #28 Share Posted May 18, 2018 Mark, to us it is almost like going on an AI cruise which is just fine. The best part is, for those who really do not want all the perks, just want the lowest price they have that choice as well. It is all good. Except in most cases you have to book a gty cabin to get the lowest price without the perks. At least that has been my experience. Maybe I'm missing something. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisingNole Posted May 18, 2018 #29 Share Posted May 18, 2018 Except in most cases you have to book a gty cabin to get the lowest price without the perks. At least that has been my experience. Maybe I'm missing something. Bill Bingo. The "perks" come with higher priced cabin categories and in some cases said "perks" require you to spend money you normally wouldn't spend. Exmaple: $50 dining credit. OK great, but without it, I would have just eaten free in the MDR. But, might as well use it, right? Oops, the credit isn't going to cover the whole family. Cha-ching! Extra money in NCL's pockets. Example: UPB. OK great, but what if normally I wouldn't have bought UBP because I'm a light drinker? Cha-ching! Extra $18/day in "service fees" in NCL's pockets. These "perks" (or in reality, sales gimmicks) do work out to SOME folks' advantage. Or they at least tell themselves it does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPicott Posted May 18, 2018 #30 Share Posted May 18, 2018 I have seen a number of cruises that don't offer it -- we were planning an Alaskan cruise next summer and opted for the Jewel, with Free at Sea, over the Bliss, which didn't have Free at Sea. Not surprising, given that the Bliss is new, better and more popular, but it made our decision for us. What I like is the rare instance (Black Friday last year was one time) where everyone gets all five of the Free at Sea choices, not just two in a balcony. That's worth waiting for. We are sailing on Bliss to Alaska and we got Free at Sea but it's only for 2 upgrades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newmexicoNita Posted May 18, 2018 #31 Share Posted May 18, 2018 Except in most cases you have to book a gty cabin to get the lowest price without the perks. At least that has been my experience. Maybe I'm missing something. Bill Bill, I think you are right but the fact still remains: you have choices. if you want to go cheap you can, if you want the perks so it is an IA you can have that. Or you can bid for a better category cabins and hope for the best at a better rate than the Free at sea rate. At least I think you can.. You still do not choose your cabin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newmexicoNita Posted May 18, 2018 #32 Share Posted May 18, 2018 Bingo. The "perks" come with higher priced cabin categories and in some cases said "perks" require you to spend money you normally wouldn't spend. Exmaple: $50 dining credit. OK great, but without it, I would have just eaten free in the MDR. But, might as well use it, right? Oops, the credit isn't going to cover the whole family. Cha-ching! Extra money in NCL's pockets. Example: UPB. OK great, but what if normally I wouldn't have bought UBP because I'm a light drinker? Cha-ching! Extra $18/day in "service fees" in NCL's pockets. These "perks" (or in reality, sales gimmicks) do work out to SOME folks' advantage. Or they at least tell themselves it does. Look at it this way, it simply is an AI like a land AI. If you choose an AI on land but don't like the dining choices do you think you can simply say, reduce my rate a little, I would be happy to eat in the buffet every meal? :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
takeadip Posted May 18, 2018 Author #33 Share Posted May 18, 2018 Nothing is free. Just look at the bottom line price. Sure, they say "free drinks" but you're paying for it somehow be it through your fare and the bloated service charges. 20% service charge on $89? Funny, comparable beverage packages on Carnival and Royal (that include bottled water) sell for nearly HALF that amount. Now, I wonder why NCL's beverage package is twice that of competitors? It's so they can charge everyone a higher service charge per day. All the cruise lines do it. Royal does BOGO 50%, 30%, blah blah blah. At the end of the day, the price is the same. The only thing that changes is the promotion name and theme. Your response reminded me of a large big box clothing retailer i do not shop at anymore...the name rhymes with "Bowls" but spelled like k.o.h.l.s....i bought a shirt ($25.00) with a 20% off coupon....and on the reciept it said i saved $54.00 !!!! im like wait....the shirt was only priced at $32.00 how can that be....its crazy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fshagan Posted May 19, 2018 #34 Share Posted May 19, 2018 Given the seeming never-ending nature of Free at Sea, I'm reminded of the class action suits against the maker of My Pillow for similar marketing tactics: The difference is that NCL does have cruises being offered that do not include the deals. And they do change from time to time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdvmd Posted May 22, 2018 #35 Share Posted May 22, 2018 It's a very popular offer and people are booking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare shof515 Posted May 22, 2018 #36 Share Posted May 22, 2018 the free at sea promo spoiled me with the dinning package. i dont think i can cruise without it again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare aubreyc1988 Posted May 22, 2018 #37 Share Posted May 22, 2018 I am hoping for NCL to sweeten the deal a little bit this memorial day...we shall see! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CozGurl Posted May 23, 2018 #38 Share Posted May 23, 2018 I'm new to NCL and looking at a 10 night on Dawn next year but it doesn't offer any "free" packages. Do they not offer them on longer cruises or do I just need to wait? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare shof515 Posted May 23, 2018 #39 Share Posted May 23, 2018 I'm new to NCL and looking at a 10 night on Dawn next year but it doesn't offer any "free" packages. Do they not offer them on longer cruises or do I just need to wait? how did you pick your cabin? if you booked a guarantee cabin,you do not get any free packages. All of the 10+ days cruises on the dawn shows as free at sea eligible on the ncl website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeaShark Posted May 23, 2018 #40 Share Posted May 23, 2018 how did you pick your cabin? if you booked a guarantee cabin,you do not get any free packages. All of the 10+ days cruises on the dawn shows as free at sea eligible on the ncl website.Small, but important correction... If you book a guarantee cabin, it does come with Free at Sea choices. If you book a Sail Away rate, it does not. All Sail Aways are guarantees, but all guarantees are not Sail Aways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CozGurl Posted May 23, 2018 #41 Share Posted May 23, 2018 Ahh, I'll check their site. I was looing at another site that shows all cruise lines, ports, etc. "to go" if you know what I mean ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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