Considering our next cruise before taking our first – need some advice

[JandC_Cruising]

Our very first NCL cruise is this August on the Escape.  If we have half as much fun on the cruise as we have had planning, we know we will want to plan another for next March.

Looking at options this weekend, we found we could get free airfare to a couple of potential departure cities.  Airfare in the “spring break” time frame can be brutal, so taking advantage of this benefit, when available, is a no-brainer for us.

Our questions, as rookies, are:

1.      Does anyone know how long they typically keep the “Free and reduced airfare” promo open before they peel it away? Do you think it will still be there as a benefit on a March 2020 cruise, come August?

2.      Assuming we love our cruise, we would purchase “Cruise next” certificates and use them for the March cruise.  If we book our cruise now, because we don’t wish to lose the free air benefit, can we still apply the CN certs we buy in August to that cruise we already booked with a minimal deposit?

3.      Is there any other benefit, extra perks, to doing the actual booking while on our August cruise?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[KeithJenner]

59 minutes ago, JandC_Cruising said:

3.      Is there any other benefit, extra perks, to doing the actual booking while on our August cruise?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

If you book onboard then you may get an upgrade to a better category. In effect this is a discount, as you pay for a lower category than you want.

 

How much this is worth depends on current pricing and what type of cabin you are after. On some of our bookings there is no benefit at all (especially if you are booking a non standard category type (aft, large balcony etc), and sometimes it can be worth having. We saved a few hundred pounds on our last booking.

[JandC_Cruising]

1 hour ago, KeithJenner said:

If you book onboard then you may get an upgrade to a better category. In effect this is a discount, as you pay for a lower category than you want.

 

How much this is worth depends on current pricing and what type of cabin you are after. On some of our bookings there is no benefit at all (especially if you are booking a non standard category type (aft, large balcony etc), and sometimes it can be worth having. We saved a few hundred pounds on our last booking.

Thanks Keith!

We would likely be looking at a BD balcony for example, so perhaps a "free bump" to an Aft balcony could be out there...good to know!

[KeithJenner]

1 minute ago, JandC_Cruising said:

Thanks Keith!

We would likely be looking at a BD balcony for example, so perhaps a "free bump" to an Aft balcony could be out there...good to know!

You wouldn't get upgraded to an aft, but could get a BA, BB or BC for the BD price.

 

The biggest problem is that you could wait until you are onboard and in the meantime prices go up anyway.

[Turtles06]

4 hours ago, JandC_Cruising said:

1.      Does anyone know how long they typically keep the “Free and reduced airfare” promo open before they peel it away? Do you think it will still be there as a benefit on a March 2020 cruise, come August?

 

Unless you have a crystal ball, there's no way to know.  

[amygutman]

I remember our first family cruise thinking "Good lord...what am I going to do for 3 days stuck on a boat?".

 

Now...we never book a cruise less than 7 days - no more relaxing / exciting / fun and educational way to spend a week - a sentiment echoed by my husband, son, parents, in-laws...and literally everyone we know personally who has cruised. 

 

Everyone has good and bad experiences on different ships / companies / itineraries. It's funny to me how you can read reviews of the same cruise, by similar ages / gender / family mixes, in similar staterooms - who have 180 degree different experiences. Different strokes, I suppose. 

 

But once you get hooked on cruising, I cannot imagine not loving it. It's a hotel-resort that takes you to see the world - how great is that!

 

We love NCL because of the ease of access (we live 90 mins from the terminal in NYC), the variety of ships and itineraries, the different room choices, but also because of some of the predictability of this line. No matter the size of the ship, there are similar restaurants and entertainment offerings (steakhouse, Brazilian steakhouse, asian, etc...braodway-style show, cirque-style show, comedians....etc) but with a broad delivery style. Even the casinos are fun (yes...even if you lose). Predictability is actually great if you are a "planner" - helps chose rooms, ships, locations, restaurants. Plus...seeing familiar staff faces when you cruise is really lovely - and NCL's staff is, with few exceptions, very friendly, warm and welcoming. 

 

NCLs room choices are also outstanding from very economical to high end. If you have a chance for an aft suite / balcony...grab it! That's what really hooked us on NCL - our first suite was an GEM upgrade (back when you could call) to an aft suite and IT WAS AMAZING!!!! The views, the snacks watching the sun-set...just being lazy on the ocean with your morning coffee. If you have an opportunity to book one - go for it. 

 

If you really want to go crazy - book a Haven. Certainly not as economical as a suite or balcony, but with all of the perks you will be spoiled silly. 

 

As for cruise next certificates - on your cruise, you will be offered a "double your money" offer - if you have ANY inkling of cruising in the next 4 years, jump on it. It's essentially free money - you get OBC for $250-500, and depending on the deal, may get additional money on top of that. 

 

Long winded about why you should book your next cruise before your first - why not? You get the room you want, with a potential for a price drop (remember...you can always haggle until you make the final payment), and we get amazing deals because we book a year in advance. 

 

Have a great trip - no matter what you choose, if you go in with an open mind and heart you will have a blast!

Amy

[JandC_Cruising]

Thanks Amy!

We are definitely excited and fully expect to love the cruise .

We are also considering an Aft balcony for the March trip the more we consider our options.

I'm nearly convinced to pull the trigger and book the March cruise now so i don't lose the free airfare promo.  I can secure this with only $100 total today!  As you said, "why not?"

 

The only thing holding be back at this point is this...

If I book my March cruise today and place my minimal deposit, can I buy Cruise Next certificates on my August cruise and then apply those to my March cruise even though it is already a "booked cruise"?  I will still be 7 months out and will not have paid in full at that time.

I have done quite a bit of searching on these boards and keep finding conflicting answers.  

Thanks!

[amygutman]

I reached out to my "guy"...works for a discount travel company that I use re: cruisenext certificates. He tells me that you cannot use cruise next on cruises you have already booked - that being said, when I have booked through him, he has been able to successfully apply these certificates on previously booked cruises. It's likely because he has an established relationship with NCL and knows a work-around. 

The average cruiser would not likely have this option. 

 

Aft balconies do sell quickly...perhaps book the room, go on your cruise, get your cruise next certificate and roll your dice on re-booking or actually working one-on-one with a cruise next staffer on the cruise ship - I will bet you that if you say to them "hey... I will happily buy a certificate if you can apply it to my aft balcony". Be charming...be polite...considering that the cruise next staff have sales numbers to meet, you may get lucky!

 

Have a great time! Amy

[yearsofcruising]

Enjoy..Thats how I felt many many years ago ( did I mention many ). Was " taken " on my 1st cruise after I was married & 48yrs later , still enjoy the planning. I have booked another cruise while on-board cruises , and on the following day I get back !!

 

Hey KJenner , wife has her uncle living in London & she was born Middlesex , Cty of Sussex or is it the other way around ? never remember..lol  marc

[JandC_Cruising]

7 hours ago, amygutman said:

I reached out to my "guy"...works for a discount travel company that I use re: cruisenext certificates. He tells me that you cannot use cruise next on cruises you have already booked - that being said, when I have booked through him, he has been able to successfully apply these certificates on previously booked cruises. It's likely because he has an established relationship with NCL and knows a work-around. 

The average cruiser would not likely have this option. 

 

Aft balconies do sell quickly...perhaps book the room, go on your cruise, get your cruise next certificate and roll your dice on re-booking or actually working one-on-one with a cruise next staffer on the cruise ship - I will bet you that if you say to them "hey... I will happily buy a certificate if you can apply it to my aft balcony". Be charming...be polite...considering that the cruise next staff have sales numbers to meet, you may get lucky!

 

Have a great time! Amy

Thanks for doing that legwork!

We pulled the trigger last night and booked the trip (and an Aft balcony)!

What your "guy" said, I have seen confirmed on these boards.  But, I've also heard that once you have CN certs in your account, they appear as a payment option for existing bookings.  I guess we will see on that. 

I agree, the best approach will be to visit the CN salesperson on our upcoming cruise and let them do some magic at that point.  

Thanks again for your input. 

I will report back come August when we see how it all works!

[GonnaSetSailSoon]

58 minutes ago, JandC_Cruising said:

Thanks for doing that legwork!

We pulled the trigger last night and booked the trip (and an Aft balcony)!

What your "guy" said, I have seen confirmed on these boards.  But, I've also heard that once you have CN certs in your account, they appear as a payment option for existing bookings.  I guess we will see on that. 

I agree, the best approach will be to visit the CN salesperson on our upcoming cruise and let them do some magic at that point.  

Thanks again for your input. 

I will report back come August when we see how it all works!

I will definitely be curious to see what happens with this as I may want to book another before I cruise again.  Honestly, I think you made a wise decision to book now getting the cabin you want and the air fare.  And worse case you will have to book another if the certificates can't be applied.  We just went on our first cruise last month and we loved it so much we bought the cruise certificates and booked another within a week of coming home.  I think I'm totally hooked now!