When booking with casinos at sea...

[ALS1214]

Do you have to pay taxes and upgrades then and there or before sail date?

I picked up a certificate yesterday from a casino and want to book the Dawn. Also if you upgrade do they assign a room and floor or can you ask for a certain floor and area like midship? I've never used one before so I have no idea what's allowed.

 

 

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[kenlyn]

Do you have to pay taxes and upgrades then and there or before sail date?

I picked up a certificate yesterday from a casino and want to book the Dawn. Also if you upgrade do they assign a room and floor or can you ask for a certain floor and area like midship? I've never used one before so I have no idea what's allowed.

 

 

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If you are inside final payment date everything must be paid when booking. If not then standard deposit applies. I have used several of the casino certificates and always choose my own cabin.

[gooch47]

Of course, it depends on what is available but you do have a choice.

 

We always have a future cruise certificate or two available so we use that for the deposit

[ALS1214]

My husband got one for a different itinerary at the same give away event. I wonder if we can use that as a deposit?

 

 

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[rochelle_s]

My husband got one for a different itinerary at the same give away event. I wonder if we can use that as a deposit?

 

 

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No you would not be able to use one certificate as a deposit for another cruise. You need to put money down (your own) to show you are serious about booking. That money can be cash now or a FCC for which you have already paid. The certificate itself has no monetary value.

 

 

Rochelle

[sjbdtz]

Okay, that's odd. I haven't used a casino certificate, BUT.... when I've booked through CAS one of two things happens:

 

 

1. If I'm upgrading, I can use my Future Cruise Certificate as a deposit to hold the room until final payment date. No other money required.

 

 

2. If it is a full comp (that is, I'm happy with whatever room type they're offering), then full taxes & fees are due at booking - and there IS no final payment date.

 

 

This has been the case in each of my bookings for the past several years.

 

 

Stephen

 

 

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[rochelle_s]

Stephen,

 

If you are posting about what I posted as sounding odd. I understood the question to be:

 

Husband and wife both receive a free cruise certificate. Could the wife book a cruise using her free certificate and then use the husband's free cruise certificate as the deposit. I answered no that the free cruise certificate has no monetary value and this would not be allowed.

 

They would either have to place a deposit with cash or use a FCC (possibly + cash).

 

Otherwise it is exactly as you stated. I do believe exceptions can be made to #2 of your post but most often the amounts are very close and so they just process it through all at once.

 

 

Rochelle

[ALS1214]

We could use the mine as an upgrade,from inside to ocean view and go fro. There making our cruise $1600 for midship balcony , about half of what we paid this July. Of course we could have just had inside, but we really enjoyed the balcony.

 

 

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[garycarla]

The casino certificates are really not worth even a $1. I say that to point out you can not use 2 to get a better deal or use as a deposit, etc.

 

(not to be confused with future cruise cert folks buy on the ship)

 

What those certificates should be considered as are a special invite to come gamble with NCL. The casino gets you into the casino to gamble. that is what they get.

 

NCL gets a somewhat proven gambler on board and will cover some of the cruise cost in hopes they get that back in losses onboard.

 

These deals are a decent deal and when used, worth way more than the $1 mentioned above. Usually you just pay the taxes and fees. My experience is they want to the money when you call, not at a later date. Some have said they can just pay the deposit.

 

This is where I put my personal spin on this, even though it was not asked. If the amount of deposit or taxes are an issue, it might not be the best time for someone to be taking a cruise - especially if gambling is part of the equation.

[rochelle_s]

 

This is where I put my personal spin on this, even though it was not asked. If the amount of deposit or taxes are an issue, it might not be the best time for someone to be taking a cruise - especially if gambling is part of the equation.

 

Couldn't agree more.

 

 

Rochelle

[pokerpro5]

Okay, that's odd. I haven't used a casino certificate, BUT.... when I've booked through CAS one of two things happens:

 

2. If it is a full comp (that is, I'm happy with whatever room type they're offering), then full taxes & fees are due at booking - and there IS no final payment date.

.

 

Sorry but you've been misinformed.

 

Yes, your taxes & NCF are due immediately, but there is still a final payment date! That date indicates when your ability to cancel and/or rebook ends.

 

So once final payment date passes, you're locked in.

 

Prior to that, you can cancel or change without penalty.

[rochelle_s]

Sorry but you've been misinformed.

 

Yes, your taxes & NCF are due immediately, but there is still a final payment date! That date indicates when your ability to cancel and/or rebook ends.

 

So once final payment date passes, you're locked in.

 

Prior to that, you can cancel or change without penalty.

 

I think for the first part you are just splitting hairs. It is clearly evident what the poster meant.

 

As to the second part you are not locked in if you have purchased insurance. I know I know you do not believe in it. But many insurance policies have "cancel for any reason" so you could cancel just because you feel like it. You do not have to be, as you say, "locked in".

 

 

Rochelle

[pokerpro5]

I think for the first part you are just splitting hairs. It is clearly evident what the poster meant.

 

As to the second part you are not locked in if you have purchased insurance. I know I know you do not believe in it. But many insurance policies have "cancel for any reason" so you could cancel just because you feel like it. You do not have to be, as you say, "locked in".

 

 

Rochelle

 

So you would insure a trip you got for just taxes and NCF?

 

Lol

 

Please tell me you're not serious.

 

Anyway I was just correcting what Stephen wrote because its misleading. It looks like you have to pay up front with no refunds, but in reality you can both cancel and rebook without penalty. Rebooking is useful because you can switch promos if a better one comes up.

[sjbdtz]

Sorry but you've been misinformed.

 

Yes, your taxes & NCF are due immediately, but there is still a final payment date! That date indicates when your ability to cancel and/or rebook ends.

 

So once final payment date passes, you're locked in.

 

Prior to that, you can cancel or change without penalty.

 

 

I wasn't misinformed, it's just that yet again, you're off confusing facts with what you think (aka your opinion).

 

There is no final payment date on a full comp. You didn't pay anything for the cabin, therefore the idea of penalties based on a percentage of the fare doesn't make sense.

 

 

I've done this, several times. I'm fairly certain I understood what I was doing.

 

 

.

[rochelle_s]

So you would insure a trip you got for just taxes and NCF?

 

Lol

 

Please tell me you're not serious.

 

Anyway I was just correcting what Stephen wrote because its misleading. It looks like you have to pay up front with no refunds, but in reality you can both cancel and rebook without penalty. Rebooking is useful because you can switch promos if a better one comes up.

 

You seem to have a fixation with trip cancellation insurance.

 

My next cruise is for a fully comped spa balcony cabin and yes I did purchase insurance.

 

Aside from pre existing conditions my daughter and I will be active on this cruise. We are doing a speed boat/snorkeling excursion one day and scuba diving on another. My daughter will do the ropes course, climb the rock wall and do the slides. She will spend time in the gym and likely run at some point every day. She was a competitive athlete for many years and is now a professional coach. We are both well aware that anything can happen- even to her; young, healthy and fit. My main purpose for purchasing insurance is for medical coverage. The policy I purchased is comprehensive and it does indeed cover cancellation/ trip delay etc. So if I miss my ship for some unknown reason the insurance will cover the cost of getting me to the first port. Last minute flights to an island can be expensive.

 

On my last cruise (European -another line) my mother and I lost our suitcases. It was a two week cruise and we did have some more formal type clothes with us but nothing that I would consider expensive and still when we tallied up the contents of our bags we had just under $10,000. Perhaps you don't mind losing that much but we do.

 

I don't think many people go out to purchase just cancellation insurance. I believe that what most people look for is the medical coverage. A comprehensive policy to include everything usually costs very little more. On another thread in reference to cancellation insurance you said;

 

The premiums are several times higher than they should be. So if you're paying $500, you should probably be paying $100.

 

I asked for stats that shows this. If you don't personally purchase insurance how can you speak to the numbers and the breakdown for what amount is for what portion of the coverage? I do purchase insurance. have purchased just medical/evacuation and comprehensive. To me the difference in price has not been that significant.

 

As to you correcting Stephen -- I fortunately have never had to cancel a cruise but it is my understanding the taxes are always refundable, so I really don't understand how what he said could be considered misleading.

 

 

Rochelle

[sjbdtz]

Rebooking is useful because you can switch promos if a better one comes up.

 

 

Clearly we're not even talking about the same thing, yet you're sure you're right.

 

 

I'm talking about calling Casinos At Sea, and determining what type of comp cabin they will offer me for the cruise date & location of my choosing.

 

What I said was:

 

1. If they offer me a mini-suite and I choose to upgrade to a full suite, then I can leave a deposit (FCC can be applied) and remit the balance at the 90-day prior mark (or whatever date is traditionally 'final payment' date),

 

OR

 

2. If they offer me a mini-suite and I'm content with that option, then instead of paying a deposit, I remit the full payment at the time of booking.

 

I've never tried to cancel one of these, but since taxes are fully refundable if you don't travel, then I'm really unclear as to how any penalty would be calculated.

 

And I'm not talking about promos at all.

 

 

 

Stephen

 

 

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[pokerpro5]

I wasn't misinformed, it's just that yet again, you're off confusing facts with what you think (aka your opinion).

 

There is no final payment date on a full comp. You didn't pay anything for the cabin, therefore the idea of penalties based on a percentage of the fare doesn't make sense.

 

 

I've done this, several times. I'm fairly certain I understood what I was doing.

 

 

.

 

I thought you are still paying NCF.

 

They refund that if you cancel close to sailing?

 

Because I thought NCF is treated the same as regular fares.

 

Unless you're getting a comp with no NCF, but your post seemed to imply ("taxes and fees") that you are paying NCF.

[garycarla]

So you would insure a trip you got for just taxes and NCF?

 

Lol

 

Please tell me you're not serious.....

 

Yes, there are times when this makes perfect sense.

 

When I do insurance, it is not for the cost of the cruise. It is instead to cover severe medical expenses, flights back home, etc.

 

Buying insurance even for the actual cost of the cruise (if paying) is not the type on insurance I would buy.

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Your all confusing me. I booked through A casino certificate for last march. I only needed to leave a regular standard deposit upon booking there was a special of $100 each for the deposit and on the final payment date paid the rest. Now I booked through CAS and had a great deal $639 for a balcony for 2 of us and full payment due upon booking. I think there are different rules for different offers. I know this because when I first booked this next cruise I only had to leave a $100 deposit for bith of us combined $50 each and pay the rest at final payment date but with the new offer I changed from one offer to another I had to pay the whole thing. So different payment options for different offers.

[Casino Comp Chick]

You seem to have a fixation with trip cancellation insurance.

 

My next cruise is for a fully comped spa balcony cabin and yes I did purchase insurance.

 

Aside from pre existing conditions my daughter and I will be active on this cruise. We are doing a speed boat/snorkeling excursion one day and scuba diving on another. My daughter will do the ropes course, climb the rock wall and do the slides. She will spend time in the gym and likely run at some point every day. She was a competitive athlete for many years and is now a professional coach. We are both well aware that anything can happen- even to her; young, healthy and fit. My main purpose for purchasing insurance is for medical coverage. The policy I purchased is comprehensive and it does indeed cover cancellation/ trip delay etc. So if I miss my ship for some unknown reason the insurance will cover the cost of getting me to the first port. Last minute flights to an island can be expensive.

 

On my last cruise (European -another line) my mother and I lost our suitcases. It was a two week cruise and we did have some more formal type clothes with us but nothing that I would consider expensive and still when we tallied up the contents of our bags we had just under $10,000. Perhaps you don't mind losing that much but we do.

 

I don't think many people go out to purchase just cancellation insurance. I believe that what most people look for is the medical coverage. A comprehensive policy to include everything usually costs very little more. On another thread in reference to cancellation insurance you said;

 

 

 

I asked for stats that shows this. If you don't personally purchase insurance how can you speak to the numbers and the breakdown for what amount is for what portion of the coverage? I do purchase insurance. have purchased just medical/evacuation and comprehensive. To me the difference in price has not been that significant.

 

As to you correcting Stephen -- I fortunately have never had to cancel a cruise but it is my understanding the taxes are always refundable, so I really don't understand how what he said could be considered misleading.

 

 

Rochelle

 

10 grand worth of stuff in your suitcases?

I think I will just bite my tongue on this one

[CasinoCruzGirl]

10 grand worth of stuff in your suitcases?

I think I will just bite my tongue on this one

 

Must have had St. John Marie Gray knits in there lol

[sjbdtz]

10 grand worth of stuff in your suitcases?

I think I will just bite my tongue on this one

 

Must have had St. John Marie Gray knits in there lol

 

 

Or watches, or jewellery, or casino cash, or computer equipment/ipads, or 10 shirts @ $250 + 3 pants @ $300 + various other accoutrements, plus contact lens supply, plus, plus, plus.

 

Easy to get that much (or 3x that much) into a suitcase.

 

Hope you don't bite your tongue all the way off, with this one...

 

 

:rolleyes:

 

 

 

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[hpecorari]

Or watches, or jewellery, or casino cash, or computer equipment/ipads, or 10 shirts @ $250 + 3 pants @ $300 + various other accoutrements, plus contact lens supply, plus, plus, plus.

 

Easy to get that much (or 3x that much) into a suitcase.

 

Hope you don't bite your tongue all the way off, with this one...

 

 

:rolleyes:

 

.

 

I'd hope no one puts watches, jewelry, cash, computer equipment/ipads, contact lenses, meds, etc. in a suitcase and that they'd put those type of items in something they'd be carrying.

 

Harriet

[sjbdtz]

I'd hope no one puts watches, jewelry, cash, computer equipment/ipads, contact lenses, meds, etc. in a suitcase and that they'd put those type of items in something they'd be carrying.

 

Harriet

 

 

 

Ahh... I only bring carry-on. :)

 

 

.

[pokerpro5]

I'd hope no one puts watches, jewelry, cash, computer equipment/ipads, contact lenses, meds, etc. in a suitcase and that they'd put those type of items in something they'd be carrying.

 

Harriet

 

Exactly.

 

That's why some of us are perplexed that Rochelle would be carrying $10,000 worth of stuff in her checked luggage.

 

Anything of value (aside from clothes) goes in my carryon. Between lost luggage and possible theft (remember, they X-ray it), there's no way I am leaving expensive things in there!