Free Shore Excursions

[GirlWriter]

The credit is $50 per cabin, per port.

[Feelin' Nauti']

The credit is $50 per cabin, per port.

Not a great perk then. :cool:

 

 

Picking 2

1) FREE Unlimited Beverages

2) FREE Specialty Dining

3) FREE WiFi

4) FREE Shore Excursions

 

 

Which 2 do you feel is the BEST deal?

I can't decide, the free unlimited beverages is a no brainer.

But I can't decide on what else to pick. :o

 

Wish they had included tips like Celebrity. ;)

[boopsahoy]

Not a great perk then. :cool:

 

 

Picking 2

1) FREE Unlimited Beverages

2) FREE Specialty Dining

3) FREE WiFi

4) FREE Shore Excursions

 

 

Which 2 do you feel is the BEST deal?

I can't decide' date=' the free unlimited beverages is a no brainer.

But I can't decide on what else to pick. :o

 

Wish they had included tips like Celebrity. ;)[/quote']

 

Fee specialty dining is my choice. The beverage package for the 10 day cruise incurred a "gratuity" charge of $250 for the 2 of us. We already have free drinks in casino and spend most of our free time there (as well as the free champagne for being platinum and for booking a suite) we don't think we would make full use of that package. Our bar bill is usually zero so really its a waste for us! The dining package is pretty good though

[IrieBajan54]

For the so called Free Shore Excursion....It states Each stateroom receives a $50 per port Shore Excursion credit. :cool:

 

That is totally misleading since I have never seen an excursion less than $25 p/p...:rolleyes:

 

Just wondering if the perk is just for one day use or is that for each island you visit?

 

Thinking of taking a 14 day cruise. Visiting 7 islands.

 

Many large law firms go after deep pocket companies for misleading information. NCL uses "FREE" arbitrarily for their advantage. Only problem with class action suits by any law firm is that they end up with a check for million$ while the clients would get a $10 coupon to book another cruise on NCL. LOL.

 

My next cruise, I get 2 picks and went with SDP (best of the lot) and Internet (don't really need Internet but had to choose something). My alcohol bill is almost nil so UBP is disregarded immediately. Sometimes the Excursion credit is useful but this time don't plan on doing anything in 2 of 3 ports. It all depends on the individual as to whether any of the picks are useful.

Edited February 29, 2016 by IrieBajan54

[Feelin' Nauti']

Ultimate Beverage & Specialty Dining Package

Eat for free at our specialty restaurants

Drink for free on your cruise

 

I'm thinking of this package.

14 day cruise

Now many nights can I eat in the Specialty Restaurants...???

How does tip work? :confused:

They can't figure that in, since they don't know how many times you'll dine there, am I right on this?

[Regguy]

Free Unlimited Beverages - I can get any amount of beverages I want, free. I've never had a drink cost more than was permitted. Some say it's not 'free' because of the 18% gratuity, however, I still see it as the drink being free....just not the tip.

 

Well, this is exhibit 1 for why NCL does it the way they do it. You're an NCL marketer's dream.

 

Most people are paying far more for the "free" UBP than just the "tips". And for most people the notion of "18 percent" is a lie. It is 18 percent of a dramatically inflated amount -- now $158 per cabin per day. The amount you are paying is far more than just "tips" unless you and your cabin mate would drink 120 to 160 drinks in a week. The service charge for moderate drinkers -- say three drinks a day -- is closer to 50 percent. That's some tip, and actually not even a tip at all since NCL doesn't even pretend to give it to servers anymore.

[hpecorari]

Well, this is exhibit 1 for why NCL does it the way they do it. You're an NCL marketer's dream.

 

Most people are paying far more for the "free" UBP than just the "tips". And for most people the notion of "18 percent" is a lie. It is 18 percent of a dramatically inflated amount -- now $158 per cabin per day. The amount you are paying is far more than just "tips" unless you and your cabin mate would drink 120 to 160 drinks in a week. The service charge for moderate drinkers -- say three drinks a day -- is closer to 50 percent. That's some tip, and actually not even a tip at all since NCL doesn't even pretend to give it to servers anymore.

 

Common sense - If you're only going to drink 3 drinks a day DON'T get the UBP and pay per drink!

 

Harriet

[Regguy]

Common sense - If you're only going to drink 3 drinks a day DON'T get the UBP and pay per drink!

 

Harriet

 

At three drinks a day it still makes sense to get the "free" UBP unless you would get more value out of the Internet package or whatever other choice you have. $15 for three drinks is still a good deal. But my point is it's hardly "free". Nor is it anything approximating "tips". The tips on three drinks is a third of that. It's not "free" for moderate drinkers. It's more like "40 to 50 percent off drinks".

[Lady Anna & Sir Troy]

NCL is trying to compete with Celebrity and all-inclusives. However, they tried to factor in client satisfaction by offering more choices. To be honest most all-inclusive won't give you tour credits if you don't drink. On the flip side though, these offerings let them raise prices on the fares so they get more money upfront instead of onboard.

[shadowmeboy]

My wife and I will not drink 3+ drinks a day each. Nor will we use the internet, because we go on a cruise to get away.

 

Therefore, choosing the SDP and the shore excursion credit were the only remaining options on our pick two. we like getting discounted shore excursions, it allows for us to do more things with our limited budget. That is a great deal for us. Plus, using the SDP will free ore money up to go on better discounted excursions!

[Nola26]

A more critical issue with free drinks and dining is that you are now charged the 18% gratuity that is charged with the package. I think our free drinks were $80 each. The gratuities used to be included.

 

That said, I don't understand the disparity in published costs ("value" is relative) for the choices. We will use 250 minutes of WiFi, so we'd have to buy more, and it costs $125. The dinner package is $87.32 for four meals. The excursions are $50 per cabin per day, and you can't combine them. Booze is $528. For you do the math, the booze gets you the most "value", unless you don't drink at all.

 

To me, it's a question of which I will actually use. I would not drink $500 worth of drinks, and it's not worth $500 to have unlimited. It is worth $80 to have unlimited.

 

I will eat in the specialities - almost every night. So, I will pay gratuity and tax to get four nights in the specialties, then use my Platinum dinners. (This is an improvement from UDP.)

 

So, nothing is free but it just looks like they're trying to get people to choose booze.

 

 

The beverage package is a horrible deal for my family. Just to break even we'd have to spend $175 on beverages on the cruise and that isn't going to happen. That $175 is fresh money NCL would pry out of my pocket and not money I would have ordinarily spent. Even if we bought a $10 beverage everyday it wouldn't equal our fees on the beverage package. :eek: it would actually be cheaper to just purchase 2 Adult soda packages than to pay the fees on the UBP.

 

Now the shore excursion credit offsets money we'd actually spend on the trip so it is an actual savings that will reduce planned expenses. :p

 

I don't really want a WiFi connection. If my boss strongly suggests I have access it will have to come while in port. ;)

 

We took the Specialty dining as our second perk, but really don't need it. The upcharge was only about $20 so a worthwhile expense to have some new experiences. :)

[Nola26]

Ultimate Beverage & Specialty Dining Package

Eat for free at our specialty restaurants

Drink for free on your cruise

 

I'm thinking of this package.

14 day cruise

Now many nights can I eat in the Specialty Restaurants...???

How does tip work? :confused:

They can't figure that in' date=' since they don't know how many times you'll dine there, am I right on this?[/quote']

 

Both of these options will have fees. The SDP on a 6 night cruise was $21 and it covers the gratuities. The fee for the beverage package was $87pp to cover tax and gratuities. Tip more if you want, but you've already covered those with the fees and your general service charge payment.

 

Good luck with planning and enjoy your cruise!

[MicCanberra]

It's been advertised as one of Norwegians Freestyle Choice in the past and will continue to be advertised as a one until April 10th. However, it's actually misleading.

 

The perk is NOT 'free shore excursions'. It's a $50.00 per cabin/per port credit towards a shore excursion.

 

I love NCL but wish they'd just be honest and upfront. Why not call it something like, "Free Shore Excursion credit" or "Shore Excursions Credit"

I understand the word *FREE* catches the attention but they're really not free.

 

A bit misleading - however the T&A spell it all out correctly if one takes the time to read them.

 

Harriet

I doubt that there would be any shorex for $25 per person.:(

[MicCanberra]

Everyone would know that 'Free' really means prepaid in the fare and that some people will get great value while others will not. Even still, Free does not mean you only get half or partial payment for the product.:(

[Manxcruiser]

The credit is $50 per cabin, per port.

 

Up to 4 ports though! Or so it says on the NCL site/terms/wave15

[riddle]

On Dawn next month I will get a $100 dining credit from CAS as I am golden. We will combine with free platinum dinner for 2 and hope to get 3 specialty meals for just a little added cash. I booked and paid final charge before the SDP was available. Still, happy with 3 specialty dinners for almost nothing. I believe Dawn is still a flat fee for the restaurants as it does not go into dry dock till summer - can some one confirm this?

[MicCanberra]

Up to 4 ports though! Or so it says on the NCL site/terms/wave15

 

It is more of a discount than a freeby.

[CP3o]

It's been advertised as one of Norwegians Freestyle Choice in the past and will continue to be advertised as a one until April 10th. However, it's actually misleading.

 

The perk is NOT 'free shore excursions'. It's a $50.00 per cabin/per port credit towards a shore excursion.

 

 

Dang, totally thought this was per person! I think I'm changing my perk back to wifi..........arrgh.