Cost of free cruise making me second guess going

[buffkids]

So, after receiving help from folks on this board, I narrowed down my “free” cruise to an Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Pearl. I did some modeling with pricing by going through the NCL website and was so happy to see that Govt Taxes and Fees came out to only $220 total for my husband and I. Unfortunately when I called to get real pricing on my free cruise through CAS, it turns out the fees are much higher – more like $500. It’s irritating because nobody seems to be able to give me a breakdown of the amount (how much is taxes? How much fees? And what are the fees for?). I don’t get why they can’t give me the breakdown. I know it’s not a huge difference between the $220 and the $500, but once I start adding in all of the other expected gratuities and expenses that would be associated with the cruise, it starts feeling an awful lot like what I would spend on any vacation. I’m so torn!!! To go, or not to go, that is now my question!!!

[njhorseman]

I don't know where you vacation, but how can $220, or $500 come anywhere close to what a week at a hotel, all meals, and entertainment for two would cost? There's no way you're even getting a hotel for anywhere near that price. Add on the service charge and it's still not even in the same ballpark.

[Don Haynes]

While your free cruise isn't really free, one could easily add up $500 hotel bills in two or three days... Paying a cruise's taxes, fees, and surcharges of $500 for a week is easier on the wallet than spending a week in any nice hotel...

[buffkids]

I know - I'm being a little whiney. I think I am just reacting because I'm frustrated over feeling like I can't get a satisfactory answer about why the fees are different and what is really included in the fees. The agent's response has been "I don't know - that's just what I see on my screen." It's not really the agent's fault; it's more the fault of the people who train the agent and don't give them enough info to be able to explain these items to their customer. All in, I agree that it's still a heck of a deal for a cruise vacation; just frustrating that it feels like a craps shoot as to how much I will pay in fees. I've never been on a cruise before, so even though all of these "extra costs" are customary for the cruise industry, it takes a little bit of getting used to for me....

[SeaShark]

I know - I'm being a little whiney. I think I am just reacting because I'm frustrated over feeling like I can't get a satisfactory answer about why the fees are different and what is really included in the fees. The agent's response has been "I don't know - that's just what I see on my screen." It's not really the agent's fault; it's more the fault of the people who train the agent and don't give them enough info to be able to explain these items to their customer. All in, I agree that it's still a heck of a deal for a cruise vacation; just frustrating that it feels like a craps shoot as to how much I will pay in fees. I've never been on a cruise before, so even though all of these "extra costs" are customary for the cruise industry, it takes a little bit of getting used to for me....

 

The major point that you've missed in this whole thing is that you are comparing apples to oranges.

 

The booking prices available on the NCL website and the booking prices available through CAS are NOT the same.

 

Not only will your taxes and fees be different, but so with the base fare, and so will the discount structure.

 

 

Any "special" that you get from CAS is based on THEIR pricing, not the pricing on the website.

[Oldsweets]

I understand as it is difficult to compare land to sea vacations when you have only tried one. We pick sea vactions EVERY time as being a cheaper choice. Example we are flying into Bahama's to catch a tall ship cruise over New Years and the 7 day trip is clearly cheaper then a land based. We are getting a room for one night and the basic 2 star room fee on land started out at $200 per night and jumped to $300, $600, or $1,000 per night PLUS the taxes and fee's plus, food, entertainment, etc. I am sure many on this board would be happy to take this difficult (and I am not trying to be a wise guy) decision off your hands. You've been blessed and I wish it were me!

[uppitycats]

So, after receiving help from folks on this board, I narrowed down my “free” cruise to an Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Pearl. I did some modeling with pricing by going through the NCL website and was so happy to see that Govt Taxes and Fees came out to only $220 total for my husband and I. Unfortunately when I called to get real pricing on my free cruise through CAS, it turns out the fees are much higher – more like $500. It’s irritating because nobody seems to be able to give me a breakdown of the amount (how much is taxes? How much fees? And what are the fees for?). I don’t get why they can’t give me the breakdown. I know it’s not a huge difference between the $220 and the $500, but once I start adding in all of the other expected gratuities and expenses that would be associated with the cruise, it starts feeling an awful lot like what I would spend on any vacation. I’m so torn!!! To go, or not to go, that is now my question!!!

 

The "taxes" and "fees" issue can vary from travel agent to travel agent, web site to web site. They can't give you a "breakdown" because there IS no 'breakdown'. What one site calls "taxes" another one calls "fees", and it's a fluid amount that can change ..seemingly with the wind.

 

If indeed your basic cruise is "free"...then just settle for the $500 (plus gratuities), go on your cruise and have a wonderful time. I really doubt you'd spend just $500 on a vacation, unless it was something like a camping trip where you'd bring your own food and cook it!!

 

Yes, its frustrating. It's also frustrating to shop for a cruise, having to pay for the whole thing, and finding so many different prices on each website, when it appears that you're shopping for the same thing.

 

If you get this hung up over this, you'll have a miserable time. Let it go, and have a good time on the cruise.

[buffkids]

You're right Sandshark - I had no idea these were two different animals!! I figured it was all NCL and that the people I was talking to were looking at the same databases (and that I was looking at the same info on the NCL website). Sorry to get everyone's feathers ruffled, but this is not quite intuitive for new folks, like me :) I do get it now - if I was calling two different hotels, I'd expect two totally different quotes, so it seems this is the same basic concept. Anyway, whining aside, I am realizing how great of a deal this still will be. If you think you can trade a twenty dollar bill for a hundred, you're ecstatic. If you can still buy that hundred dollar bill for a fifty, it's still an awesome trade, right? Go ahead, virtually slap me for complaining about my great deal ;)

[swedish weave]

You're right Sandshark - I had no idea these were two different animals!! I figured it was all NCL and that the people I was talking to were looking at the same databases (and that I was looking at the same info on the NCL website). Sorry to get everyone's feathers ruffled, but this is not quite intuitive for new folks, like me :) I do get it now - if I was calling two different hotels, I'd expect two totally different quotes, so it seems this is the same basic concept. Anyway, whining aside, I am realizing how great of a deal this still will be. If you think you can trade a twenty dollar bill for a hundred, you're ecstatic. If you can still buy that hundred dollar bill for a fifty, it's still an awesome trade, right? Go ahead, virtually slap me for complaining about my great deal ;)

 

Consider yourself slapped !!:p:p Now ---- Go on the cruise and have the time of your life !!!!!

[negn]

Also paid $520 for my comped 9 day cruise Still beat the hell out off full price!!

[swedish weave]

Also paid $520 for my comped 9 day cruise Still beat the hell out off full price!!

 

That is almost 30 dollars a day per person !!! That's a lot of money !!!!:p:D

[lmfl0820]

I think what you may be missing is that port charges are usually included in cruise price and then gov't taxes and fees are extra. The difference is most likely the port charges.

[retired rascal]

You will love the PEARL. You may become a cruise convert as we did. We suddenly loved being able to board once, unpack, and then go to as many as 14 different destinations without EVER packing/unpacking again, boarding a bus or a train or another plane, without driving a mile.....we figured why spend all that time traipsing from place to place for the hundreth time when you can use that same time to sleep, eat, lie in the spa, lie in the sun, 'whatever.' Now if we do Europe, we'll fly to Barcelona and go from there. Panama Canal this November? Board in LA, fly home from Miami...2 plus weeks later...in between pampering, gorgeous places, adventures, etc. GO!! Try it. Pay for the fees and taxes and excursions and just be joyous some of it is truly for free....hotels and meal costs covered. Do try a few of the 'pay' restaurants especially the asian ones.:)

[sunshine nana]

Do you have to pay income taxes on this "free" cruise? Will NCL report it to the IRS as income at the full price? I know sometimes people turn down "free" prizes that are way overpriced. Better be forewarned that you might be getting a 1099.

[EZeeAsPi]

So, after receiving help from folks on this board, I narrowed down my “free” cruise to an Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Pearl. I did some modeling with pricing by going through the NCL website and was so happy to see that Govt Taxes and Fees came out to only $220 total for my husband and I. Unfortunately when I called to get real pricing on my free cruise through CAS, it turns out the fees are much higher – more like $500. It’s irritating because nobody seems to be able to give me a breakdown of the amount (how much is taxes? How much fees? And what are the fees for?). I don’t get why they can’t give me the breakdown. I know it’s not a huge difference between the $220 and the $500, but once I start adding in all of the other expected gratuities and expenses that would be associated with the cruise, it starts feeling an awful lot like what I would spend on any vacation. I’m so torn!!! To go, or not to go, that is now my question!!!

 

I know - I'm being a little whiney. I think I am just reacting because I'm frustrated over feeling like I can't get a satisfactory answer about why the fees are different and what is really included in the fees. The agent's response has been "I don't know - that's just what I see on my screen." It's not really the agent's fault; it's more the fault of the people who train the agent and don't give them enough info to be able to explain these items to their customer. All in, I agree that it's still a heck of a deal for a cruise vacation; just frustrating that it feels like a craps shoot as to how much I will pay in fees. I've never been on a cruise before, so even though all of these "extra costs" are customary for the cruise industry, it takes a little bit of getting used to for me....

 

 

If you haven't been on a cruise before, how are you getting a comp cruise from CAS?

 

CAS comp cruises are usually only based on prior CAS casino play (not land-based).... maybe that's why things are different?

 

If you've figured out the secret to free cruises, please share! :)

[Rochesterboatingdotcom]

We have paid around $500 for our comped NCL cruises for 2 people. I think that is pretty darn good! They don't send you a 1099 or report the cruise as income, it is the same as getting comped in Vegas. Now if you hit big in the casino, you might get one..

[buffkids]

Good to know about the 1099. I had thought about that, but forgot to ask. I hate to say too much about our free cruise, because I honestly don’t know why we got it. We got an offer from Harrah's LV that only required us to show up on a particular weekend and pick up our free offer. Lucky for us, we were already planning a trip to LV that weekend, so we were able to take advantage. We are NOT big Harrah's corporation players at all, so I really cannot figure out why we got this. I am sure we’ll dabble in the casino on the ship, but I can’t imagine we will be earning anything from our play. I should stop talking before they figure it out and pull my offer!!

Now, I will say that the slapping (self-inflicted, and virtually inflicted by some of you :o) has worked. We are planning to book today, and now we are thinking we may even go for the balcony upgrade!

[EZeeAsPi]

Good to know about the 1099. I had thought about that, but forgot to ask. I hate to say too much about our free cruise, because I honestly don’t know why we got it. We got an offer from Harrah's LV that only required us to show up on a particular weekend and pick up our free offer. Lucky for us, we were already planning a trip to LV that weekend, so we were able to take advantage. We are NOT big Harrah's corporation players at all, so I really cannot figure out why we got this. I am sure we’ll dabble in the casino on the ship, but I can’t imagine we will be earning anything from our play. I should stop talking before they figure it out and pull my offer!!

 

Now, I will say that the slapping (self-inflicted, and virtually inflicted by some of you :o) has worked. We are planning to book today, and now we are thinking we may even go for the balcony upgrade!

 

 

Does the small print say to contact CAS, or to book through NCL, or to book through Harrah's?

 

Sometimes they might do something like this in exchange for sitting through a timeshare presentation.....but it seems unusual that CAS would be the booking agent for a shore-based promo.....

[weloverunning]

Something is weird. We have booked through CAS three times based on our previous play. We only qualify for the minimum perk which is 17% off of the cruise price listed on NCL website. It has always been the total minus 17% off. (they do not discount the taxes by 17%) I have also called CAS up to a week before a cruise to tell them the price went down and they have credited me the difference. Maybe it has something to do with the fact it came from Harrahs or it was free.

However, KEEP IN MIND (drumroll please) when you book through CAS you get free drink cards in your room. This allows unlimited free drinks while you are playing the the casino. If you and hubby only have 2 drinks per night per person, that is equal to at least $168.:D Don't forget to tip the server and they will notice you as soon as you walk into the casino and continously ask you during the night if you would like a drink!!

[buffkids]

It is definitely CAS. Since I've never been on a cruise before, I'd never heard of "CAS," and didn't realize it was somewhat of an offshoot from NCL. I received a specific phone number to use - which I'm gathering is the CAS line, even thought I do think they answer the phone "NCL..." I imagine that this will be a one-and-only type of offer for us, especially now that I'm realizing how tight the comps/awards are when you actually gamble on the ship. I almost think I'd be better off NOT tracking my piddly play. Of course, if the free drinks will require tracked play, then track my play, I will!!! And yes, will definitely tip... Question about that. Given the service fee on the boat, I wouldn't think I'd be expected to tip if I order a drink at a charge that includes a service fee, like if I just go up to the pool bar and get a drink. Is that an OK assumption? Thanks!

[weloverunning]

There is an automatic 15% added to your sail and sign bill on any drinks you BUY.