Still waiting for NCL to drop the take 5

[welove2cruise*]

I keep hoping the "ends in blah blah days" and "extended for a limited time" is really going to be the end.  I am waiting for better pricing that doesn't "include" all of the things I don't need that have driven prices through the roof.  Anyone else feeling the same?  If they would let me choose with the airfare when I wanted to fly in and back out that would be one thing but from what I understand you have to fly in the day of the cruise and fly home the day you depart. 

 

 

 

 

 

[slugg]

Couldn’t you just get a sail-away?

[RedwingHockeyFan]

Current offer is not take all 5, it is up to 5 but that is only for Haven.  Balcony and Oceanview is take 2.  Anything lower is just 1.

 

https://www.ncl.com/cruise-deals/choice

 

[spanishguy1970]

1 hour ago, welove2cruise* said:

I keep hoping the "ends in blah blah days" and "extended for a limited time" is really going to be the end.  I am waiting for better pricing that doesn't "include" all of the things I don't need that have driven prices through the roof.  Anyone else feeling the same?  If they would let me choose with the airfare when I wanted to fly in and back out that would be one thing but from what I understand you have to fly in the day of the cruise and fly home the day you depart. 

and don't you love it when they put " back by popular demand, extended time" LOL ....some of us are waiting for the " free gratuities" perk but alas i don't think that will ever happen...

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Edited March 8, 2019 by spanishguy1970

[dltvermont]

I thought I read you could opt out of the "free" prices and get a sailaway rate without all of that. Not sure what the price difference is.

[RedwingHockeyFan]

2 minutes ago, dltvermont said:

I thought I read you could opt out of the "free" prices and get a sailaway rate without all of that. Not sure what the price difference is.

 

Sailaway balcony rate was about $300 per person cheaper for a 7 day cruise, but they are frequently sold out.  I looked at a FEB 2021 cruise on the Bliss and they were all sold out.

[TeresaJ]

I feel like all the "freebies" are jacking up the prices. We cruised for a lot less last year and the year before. 

[cdnsteelman]

The only time this will "end" is when they devise a new program that will be even more profitable than the current one. Cruisers are voting with their wallets. From NCL's perspective (and that of other cruise lines) if capacities are trending level to up from previous years and revenues per passenger are increasing, the promotion is successful. All the communication coming out of corporate is about driving profitability (and nobody should be surprised that a corporation wants to do just that).

 

IMO NCL is no longer just competing with other cruise lines as much as they are trying to capture a share of the All Inclusive beach vacation market. The product is starting to feel like a ~3.5 - 4 star Mexican AI resort that costs a family of 4 $3-4K in shoulder season and $5-6K in peak season.

 

The other trend I see is that NCL is moving away from discounting to fill ships because - in general - they find the discount traveler isn't spending much more once on board.

[janice2348]

You can fly in the day before for an additional $50 pp.  I just booked reduced airfare yesterday $99 pp from Nashville.  If you book a hotel through NCL you don’t pay the $50 pp stipend. 

This is a great deal for us, but it depends on where you are flying from.  And yes, you fly out the day you come back.  By then, we will be ready to go home. 

[beaucajun]

41 minutes ago, janice2348 said:

You can fly in the day before for an additional $50 pp.  I just booked reduced airfare yesterday $99 pp from Nashville.  If you book a hotel through NCL you don’t pay the $50 pp stipend. 

This is a great deal for us, but it depends on where you are flying from.  And yes, you fly out the day you come back.  By then, we will be ready to go home. 

That is correct.  You can fly in up to 2 days before.  We booked an Aus/NZ cruise Monday flying in 2 days before.

[thetaro]

There are no such things as freebies with NCL. You are basically forced to buy bundled stuff at a "discounted" price for being able to pick rooms.

[drvmywifecrzy]

New promo coming in April

[Georgie562]

The "free 😂" perks promotion will never go away. It is way too popular and they are making money off it. That's why is still around.

[spanishguy1970]

4 hours ago, cdnsteelman said:

The only time this will "end" is when they devise a new program that will be even more profitable than the current one. Cruisers are voting with their wallets. From NCL's perspective (and that of other cruise lines) if capacities are trending level to up from previous years and revenues per passenger are increasing, the promotion is successful. All the communication coming out of corporate is about driving profitability (and nobody should be surprised that a corporation wants to do just that).

 

IMO NCL is no longer just competing with other cruise lines as much as they are trying to capture a share of the All Inclusive beach vacation market. The product is starting to feel like a ~3.5 - 4 star Mexican AI resort that costs a family of 4 $3-4K in shoulder season and $5-6K in peak season.

 

The other trend I see is that NCL is moving away from discounting to fill ships because - in general - they find the discount traveler isn't spending much more once on board.

Bingo. We cruise with them for the freestyle, the only perk we take are either the wifi or excursion credit.  We are not big drinkers and if we want a drink we pay for it which is  a lot cheaper than paying the 20 % service charge on the UBP. We are platinum plus so we already eat at the restaurants we want and if we want to repeat a restaurant we just pay for it. On our last cruise, we got a refund check from NCL in the mail so we are one of those people, NCL is losing money on, or at least making money on what we pay for the cruise. We cruise our way and we enjoy it no matter what...:-)....

[rocky1]

2 hours ago, drvmywifecrzy said:

New promo coming in April

So..........any clue what it might be?

[Zippeedee]

6 hours ago, RedwingHockeyFan said:

 

Sailaway balcony rate was about $300 per person cheaper for a 7 day cruise, but they are frequently sold out.  I looked at a FEB 2021 cruise on the Bliss and they were all sold out.

They are not really sold out. They will pop up in a few months when they have a better idea of how many full price cabins are selling. They are not going to see a bare-bones priced cabin until they are sure they can't sell it for more $ first.

[Sand and Seas]

7 hours ago, drvmywifecrzy said:

New promo coming in April

Well.....I hope it's the same as last April.  I booked two cruises then

[BirdTravels]

14 hours ago, welove2cruise* said:

I keep hoping the "ends in blah blah days" and "extended for a limited time" is really going to be the end.  I am waiting for better pricing that doesn't "include" all of the things I don't need that have driven prices through the roof.  Anyone else feeling the same?  If they would let me choose with the airfare when I wanted to fly in and back out that would be one thing but from what I understand you have to fly in the day of the cruise and fly home the day you depart. 

Already been dropped. 

[hladygirl]

Where do you see this offer dropped? Same ncl promo is still there. Been there for months now. 

[Casino Comp Chick]

12 hours ago, rocky1 said:

So..........any clue what it might be?

 

The last 2 April’s were tax/government fees free on Oceanview and above. My gut is telling me they are going to up it to balconies and above this year. 

[welove2cruise*]

I’ll hope for a good promo in April. I like the pick 2 promo. Just feel like this added air has caused too much increase. 

[ucfpirate]

I noticed the Govt Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses went up yesterday on a cruise I have my eyes on booking but fare remains unchanged. Do you think that is cruise specific or did NCL make that change fleet wide?

[Sailing12Away]

The current promos work for us. So long as people feel there is a perceived value to them, they'll book. So long as people keep booking, they'll keep offering it.

 

Our most recent trip on the Jade we drank and ate anything we wanted, got $200 total off our bill between onboard credits and port credits, and flew JFK to MIA for free.

 

Next trip coming up on the POA we're flying to Hawaii for $600 - the best I could find on my own was $1100. We originally were not going to do a cruise, but do 2 islands in Hawaii with just hotels, car rentals and one inter-island flight. The cruise with the perks and 4 islands worked out to be over $1,000 cheaper per couple, without even taking into account food and drinks (which are included on the cruise but not for the land only option).

[ready2cruzagain]

19 hours ago, drvmywifecrzy said:

New promo coming in April

 

That is what was said last month..."New promo coming in March"🙄

[Casino Comp Chick]

3 hours ago, ucfpirate said:

I noticed the Govt Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses went up yesterday on a cruise I have my eyes on booking but fare remains unchanged. Do you think that is cruise specific or did NCL make that change fleet wide?

 

Port fee comparison:

NCL is charging over $255 for 7 night to Bermuda from NYC

Carnival is charging $229 and change for an 8 night to Bermuda from NYC

Same embarkation port

Same Kings wharf port of Bermuda

Wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy different pricing.

 

i guess add the $26.00 per person to DelRios get more money from the passenger speech. 

 

Edited March 9, 2019 by Casino Comp Chick