NCL Sixthman Questions

[AK Dreaming]

I'm looking at booking a Sixthman cruise on the Gem in 2024.  The presale is next week and I've never done a Sixthman cruise before.  I am saphire and I do see that I get some of my benefits, but I have many questions that I cannot find answers to and was hoping someone with experience could fill in some blanks.

1.  I saw that I get a 30% discount on the drink package which I assume is not included in the pricing.  If there are 3 of us in my cabin will the discount be for all 3 of us?

2.  The website gives 3 ways to pay.  All at once, quarterly or monthly.  All starting as soon as you book.  Do they offer the same cancellation policy as NCL normally does.  I don't mind paying in advance, but the cruise is November 2024 and that's a long way off.

3.  The website only shows pricing for the cabins.  Are the drink packages the same as a normal NCL Cruise?

4.  On a typical Sixthman cruise are most of the activities an extra cost? (photos with guest, crafts, panels)

5.  I usually get trip insurance, does Sixthman offer their own or is it NCL insurance.

6.  What is usually included in the Sixthman fare?

 

Any other information regarding Sixthman will be greatly appreciated.  

[All-ready2cruise]

Have you tried contacting them directly?

Here's the info for contact, sorry if you've already tried this: 

SIXTHMAN HQ

If you have any questions, please use the LIVE CHAT feature, or call the Sixthman office at 1-877-SIXTHMAN (1-877-749-8462)

Local Phone - call if outside US: 1-404-525-0222

SMS text messaging only: 1-404-600-0026

guestservices@sixthman.net

Normal business hours are:
Monday-Friday 10am-6pm ET

Our mailing address is:
Sixthman
437 Memorial Dr SE
Ste A10
Atlanta, GA 30312
USA

Edited July 12, 2023 by All-ready2cruise

[All-ready2cruise]

Sorry wrong info

Edited July 12, 2023 by All-ready2cruise

[AK Dreaming]

13 minutes ago, All-ready2cruise said:

Have you tried contacting them directly?

Here's the info for contact, sorry if you've already tried this: 

SIXTHMAN HQ

If you have any questions, please use the LIVE CHAT feature, or call the Sixthman office at 1-877-SIXTHMAN (1-877-749-8462)

Local Phone - call if outside US: 1-404-525-0222

SMS text messaging only: 1-404-600-0026

guestservices@sixthman.net

Normal business hours are:
Monday-Friday 10am-6pm ET

Our mailing address is:
Sixthman
437 Memorial Dr SE
Ste A10
Atlanta, GA 30312
USA

I’m looking for actual experience from cruisers. 

[All-ready2cruise]

I don't suppose you've found much, have you? I know when I was looking a few years ago there wasn't much on here.  Good luck though. 

[laudergayle]

This looks like an interesting cruise.  I signed up for pre-sale.  I found most of the answer to your questions clicking through the terms and conditions.  On the drink package question, I am thinking that each guest in the cabin has to create a profile and link to yours as Lead…each guest will get the discount based on their level.  Thanks for asking about this cruise…I’m following.  Also are you on the other social media site for this group?

[chillyw]

3 hours ago, AK Dreaming said:

I'm looking at booking a Sixthman cruise on the Gem in 2024.  The presale is next week and I've never done a Sixthman cruise before.  I am saphire and I do see that I get some of my benefits, but I have many questions that I cannot find answers to and was hoping someone with experience could fill in some blanks.

1.  I saw that I get a 30% discount on the drink package which I assume is not included in the pricing.  If there are 3 of us in my cabin will the discount be for all 3 of us?

2.  The website gives 3 ways to pay.  All at once, quarterly or monthly.  All starting as soon as you book.  Do they offer the same cancellation policy as NCL normally does.  I don't mind paying in advance, but the cruise is November 2024 and that's a long way off.

3.  The website only shows pricing for the cabins.  Are the drink packages the same as a normal NCL Cruise?

4.  On a typical Sixthman cruise are most of the activities an extra cost? (photos with guest, crafts, panels)

5.  I usually get trip insurance, does Sixthman offer their own or is it NCL insurance.

6.  What is usually included in the Sixthman fare?

 

Any other information regarding Sixthman will be greatly appreciated.  

 

I've done multiple chartered cruises including one through sixthman. My experience:

 

1.) The drink package should be at NCL retail for each person minus any discounts, so the price will vary by sailor.

 

2.) Everything is non-refundable the moment you start paying and there's a fee to change passengers on the reservation.

 

3.) This can depend on the sailing but my experience with sixthman is that it was the same. On my other charters, it was different (ticket based).

 

4.) The only extra activity I ran into was anything usually extra by NCL. e.g. Casino, arcade, etc. All the festival activities were free.

 

5.) Sixthman had a third party for mine that offered two plans and enforced pre-existing conditions if late. I believe I went with my own if I remember right.

 

6.) It's basically just your cabin + any events the festival is doing. Also know that most specialty restaurants are pretty empty in my experience (or maybe even closed) and most venues get taken over so no normal shows. From my experience most people just eat at the buffet the entire time, but they did have one MDR open, and a couple specialty restaurants if you got bored of the food.

 

 

Edited July 12, 2023 by chillyw

[bookbabe]

The price and type of drink package available will differ from the regular NCL drink package, or at least that was the case on the Kiss Kruise we did in the fall.  The info will be on the festival website in one of the sub-sections, I think under On Board Experience maybe?  We booked and paid for the drink package with Sixthman through their booking site, not via the NCL website.

 

Most festival events were included, we had one or two things that were an extra charge but they were merch-related and included signings.

 

You can tell which specialty restaurants will be open by looking at the deck plans on the Sixthman festival website for your particular cruise.  The ones that are closed won’t actually appear on the deck plan.  Le Bistro was closed for ours, the assumption was that it was being used for the talent and special guests.  
 

The Haven was closed for our cruise, again, that’s where the talent stayed.  The only suites available to book were the ones located outside of the Haven, and didn’t include Haven access even if they normally would.

 

You won’t get your NCL booking number until close to the cruise, so NCL shore excursions don’t become available for actual booking until much later than you normally would be able to.  You’ll only have a Sixthman booking number right away.

 

It’s on an NCL ship, but it doesn’t really run like a normal NCL cruise.  The Sixthman staffers are excellent, though, and they have this type of thing down to a science.  It’s really well organized, and I’d do a Sixthman charter again if the right date and theme combination came up.

[AK Dreaming]

On 7/12/2023 at 10:24 AM, laudergayle said:

This looks like an interesting cruise.  I signed up for pre-sale.  I found most of the answer to your questions clicking through the terms and conditions.  On the drink package question, I am thinking that each guest in the cabin has to create a profile and link to yours as Lead…each guest will get the discount based on their level.  Thanks for asking about this cruise…I’m following.  Also are you on the other social media site for this group?

Yes.  Thank you.  I found a lot of info there and on the sixthman site.  Was hoping for actual experience because I've found that to be way more reliable.

[laudergayle]

2 hours ago, AK Dreaming said:

Yes.  Thank you.  I found a lot of info there and on the sixthman site.  Was hoping for actual experience because I've found that to be way more reliable.

I agree it is nice to get first hand insight.  Thanks again for your post.

[chillyw]

4 hours ago, bookbabe said:

The price and type of drink package available will differ from the regular NCL drink package, or at least that was the case on the Kiss Kruise we did in the fall.  The info will be on the festival website in one of the sub-sections, I think under On Board Experience maybe?  We booked and paid for the drink package with Sixthman through their booking site, not via the NCL website.
 

The Haven was closed for our cruise, again, that’s where the talent stayed.  The only suites available to book were the ones located outside of the Haven, and didn’t include Haven access even if they normally would.

 

You won’t get your NCL booking number until close to the cruise, so NCL shore excursions don’t become available for actual booking until much later than you normally would be able to.  You’ll only have a Sixthman booking number right away.

 

It’s on an NCL ship, but it doesn’t really run like a normal NCL cruise.  The Sixthman staffers are excellent, though, and they have this type of thing down to a science.  It’s really well organized, and I’d do a Sixthman charter again if the right date and theme combination came up.

 

That drink package experience was similar for me too.  One of them, it was the same as normal NCL retail prices.  All the others, it varied.  I think it depends on what Sixthman (or the other companies) can get away with for that audience.

 

Interestingly enough, on The Friendship Cruise this year on the NCL Joy, they're actually opening one Haven deck for guests, and leaving the other for artists.  First time I've seen that done.

 

Agree that the charters are a blast, and if I find the right one, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

[dexddd]

What about Lats perks?  Get any of those?

[bookbabe]

1 hour ago, dexddd said:

What about Lats perks?  Get any of those?

https://www.sixthman.net/latitudes

[laudergayle]

It’s crazy that I got notification two days ago that the cruise the OP referenced has already sold out in pre-sale.  It was the Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise.  When I looked at it on 7/16 the only availability was inside cabins for $1450 pp for a 4 night cruise.  

[schmoopie17]

I've been on CC for almost 20 years...Platinum on NCL...and this is the first I've heard of Sixthman.

Guess I've been out of the loop all this time...

[cruiseny4life]

27 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

It’s crazy that I got notification two days ago that the cruise the OP referenced has already sold out in pre-sale.  It was the Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise.  When I looked at it on 7/16 the only availability was inside cabins for $1450 pp for a 4 night cruise.  

Most likely travel agents booked group blocks onboard. If you want to go you may need to do a long search on Google to find an agency with rooms. NCL and Sixthman have really been promoting groups to travel agents for the last six months. 

[laudergayle]

15 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

Most likely travel agents booked group blocks onboard. If you want to go you may need to do a long search on Google to find an agency with rooms. NCL and Sixthman have really been promoting groups to travel agents for the last six months. 

Thanks for your insight…that makes a lot of sense.  But, @ $1450pp for inside cabin for 4 nights, umh hard pass.  I’ll be happy staying home watching Hallmark movies, eating popcorn from the microwave, wearing my ugly Christmas sweater…all for my convenience, of course.😂

[cruiseny4life]

4 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

Thanks for your insight…that makes a lot of sense.  But, @ $1450pp for inside cabin for 4 nights, umh hard pass.  I’ll be happy staying home watching Hallmark movies, eating popcorn from the microwave, wearing my ugly Christmas sweater…all for my convenience, of course.😂

I agree! I thought about the Broadway cruise with Kristin Chenoweth this past March. Then I saw the prices! Hard pass here too. 

 

Hope you enjoy some nice hot cocoa with or without that Bailey's! Remember, no upcharge when you're at home!!🎅

[AK Dreaming]

1 hour ago, laudergayle said:

It’s crazy that I got notification two days ago that the cruise the OP referenced has already sold out in pre-sale.  It was the Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise.  When I looked at it on 7/16 the only availability was inside cabins for $1450 pp for a 4 night cruise.  

It sold out very fast. I was fortunate enough to get a balcony cabin but I signed up for the presale as soon as I heard about it. Others could not log into book until their presale time and by then it was sold out. Now they have a waiting list that you could not even sign up for until your designated booking time. 

[laudergayle]

4 hours ago, AK Dreaming said:

It sold out very fast. I was fortunate enough to get a balcony cabin but I signed up for the presale as soon as I heard about it. Others could not log into book until their presale time and by then it was sold out. Now they have a waiting list that you could not even sign up for until your designated booking time. 

Happy for your score. It’s like Christmas in July 🎄 It sounds like an awesome cruise. Hope you post about it.  Enjoy!  

[dexddd]

On 7/21/2023 at 8:56 AM, schmoopie17 said:

I've been on CC for almost 20 years...Platinum on NCL...and this is the first I've heard of Sixthman.

Guess I've been out of the loop all this time...

You missed the Gronk cruise?   That's a big loss.

[dexddd]

On 7/21/2023 at 9:30 AM, laudergayle said:

Thanks for your insight…that makes a lot of sense.  But, @ $1450pp for inside cabin for 4 nights, umh hard pass.  I’ll be happy staying home watching Hallmark movies, eating popcorn from the microwave, wearing my ugly Christmas sweater…all for my convenience, of course.😂

Plus $315 fees plus grats per person.

[SuzD123]

Hoping to get this thread jump started again...

 

A close friend told me about this sailing last summer (2023).  She had snagged a balcony cabin for her another friend (Nov 5-9).  Fast forward a couple months and the other friend backed out (for whatever reason) and I was offered the opportunity to step in.  Heck yea...don't need to ask me twice for anything cruise related...and this has the bonus of a Hallmark Christmas theme.

 

While I have sailed many times...this will be my first charter/theme cruise and my first NCL sailing.  The majority of my experience has been with RCCL (D+) and I am fully prepared and understand that this will be very different on a number of levels.  That said we are both beyond excited.  This will be fun!

 

Not sure if this would be more of a Sixthman or NCL question, but on RCCL guests can bring up to 2 bottles (750ml) of wine per cabin onboard.  Does anyone know the comparable rule for NCL??  I haven't been able to put my finger on that information.  We're not thinking of getting a beverage package.

 

In the meantime, ugly Christmas sweater has been purchased and is waiting in the wings.  🙂

 

TIA!!

Edited April 17 by SuzD123

[Sailing12Away]

1 hour ago, SuzD123 said:

Hoping to get this thread jump started again...

 

A close friend told me about this sailing last summer (2023).  She had snagged a balcony cabin for her another friend (Nov 5-9).  Fast forward a couple months and the other friend backed out (for whatever reason) and I was offered the opportunity to step in.  Heck yea...don't need to ask me twice for anything cruise related...and this has the bonus of a Hallmark Christmas theme.

 

While I have sailed many times...this will be my first charter/theme cruise and my first NCL sailing.  The majority of my experience has been with RCCL (D+) and I am fully prepared and understand that this will be very different on a number of levels.  That said we are both beyond excited.  This will be fun!

 

Not sure if this would be more of a Sixthman or NCL question, but on RCCL guests can bring up to 2 bottles (750ml) of wine per cabin onboard.  Does anyone know the comparable rule for NCL??  I haven't been able to put my finger on that information.  We're not thinking of getting a beverage package.

 

In the meantime, ugly Christmas sweater has been purchased and is waiting in the wings.  🙂

 

TIA!!

My guess is it's more of a Sixthman question. The general rule on NCL is that if you have the drink package, you can bring as many bottles of wine on board as you want with no fee. If you don't have the drink package there's a $15/bottle corkage fee. 

 

I have no idea if those same rules will apply on a charter - my guess is no, as it's not an NCL cruise. It's a charter cruise that just happens to be using an NCL ship.

[bookbabe]

3 hours ago, SuzD123 said:

Not sure if this would be more of a Sixthman or NCL question, but on RCCL guests can bring up to 2 bottles (750ml) of wine per cabin onboard.  Does anyone know the comparable rule for NCL??  I haven't been able to put my finger on that information.  We're not thinking of getting a beverage package.

 

The best place to get answers is the festival website, search “alcohol” in the FAQs and you get this…

https://www.hallmarkchannelcruise.com/faq/search/

 

• What do I need to know about alcohol? 

   

   

  Norwegian Alcohol Policy

  Please note that with the exception of Wine and Champagne, all guests are prohibited from bringing alcohol on board our ships. If you purchase any alcohol at one of our ports-of-call or in our onboard shops, the ship will safely store your purchase(s) until either the final night of the cruise or the morning of debarkation, at which time it will be available for pick up in a designated area. 

  Beverage Packages

  Guests can pre-purchase beverage packages prior to sailing via their NCL account once reservation numbers are shared (4-6 weeks prior to sailing). You may also choose to purchase on board (on first or second day of sailing). Everything you need to know can be found at hallmarkchannelcruise.com/beverages.

  Wine & Champagne Policy

  Guests may bring bottles of wine and champagne on board. When bottles are brought on board and served or consumed in any restaurant, public room area or in their stateroom, a corkage fee will be charged according to bottle sizes noted below. Please note that for safety reasons there are no glass beverages allowed on the pool deck lawn. 

  750 ml Bottle: $15.00 USD*
  1,000 ml Bottle: $20.00 USD*
  1,500 ml Magnum: $30.00 USD*

  Wine or champagne sent directly to the ship by travel agents, friends, family, etc. or from another retail source, are subject to the same fees. Box wines are not allowed on board.

  To speed up the process of checking your wine or champagne at the port, print out this form and bring it with you.

  *Corkage Fee is not applicable to guest with alcohol beverage package.

  Bottle Service 

  Guests can order items through the Gifts & More program including bottles of liquor that are delivered on board with mixers (not advertised but available if you call) and gourmet treats— outside of 10 days prior to sailing.

  Please note there are no glass bottles allowed on the pool deck lawn.