Casino offer advice?

[Spoiledtcangel]

Hi all, I need a bit of insight I received a free interior offer from a local casino, I've sailed on CCL numerous times on casino offers but never NCL. So I'm hoping for a bit of info!

 

1. Is there a specific upgrade fee to go from interior to balcony? (Like ccl is $260 pp 7 daysailing )

 

2. Will I be eligible for their freestyle promo? Drinks, dining etc?

 

Thank you all in advance :)

[Sand and Seas]

Yes, you will be eligible for any promos that go with your original type of cabin. That means for you that it would need to be a promo eligible for insides even if you upgrade. If you sign up for cruise now with current promos you can always call back to change to new promos before your final payment date. (I've done this several times)

 

There is a specific fee to upgrade, but I'm not sure what it is. I think it was $90 to go from inside to ocean view. Can't remember what it was to go to balcony but I'm sure someone else will answer.

 

Just give Casinos at Sea a call at 1-888-785-8259 or 1-877-752-9625 to ask. Super friendly (usually) about answering your questions.

[Spoiledtcangel]

Thank you I will be calling tomorrow, do you know if the upgrade is like carnival where you get the highest category Included? Like when I upgrade my interior to a balcony its good for spa or aft no extra charge?

[Sand and Seas]

Thank you I will be calling tomorrow, do you know if the upgrade is like carnival where you get the highest category Included? Like when I upgrade my interior to a balcony its good for spa or aft no extra charge?

 

When I have been given a balcony cruise certificate it is good for BA category but it is extra cost to go to a Aft view balcony or spa balcony. When I had an inside and upgraded to ocean-view I could take top category OA.

 

I've always found the CAS agents very good at checking out other room types and prices for me. They will probably ask you for a ship and date to check on so be prepared. There will be an Admin Fee of $190 per person plus taxes no matter what category you go with. (At least it was $190 pp a few weeks ago.)

 

We have been on other lines but now are exclusive with NCL since we get so many great deals through CAS. Have a great time!

[Sand and Seas]

Just in case you aren't familiar with NCL's categories-

The top regular balcony cabin is BA, then BB, BC, etc.

 

If you see B1 or B6 or B9, those are special balcony types. B1 is an aft facing. B6 is a large balcony port or starboard. B9 is a spa balcony.

[Spoiledtcangel]

I can't thank you enough for the information which was pretty much spot on :)

 

NCL sure does like their fees though LoL, they had room on our original sailing and it to upgrade from the free interior to a balcony was $320

 

We were originally booked for $2478 total 2 people balcony with drink package, not including gratuities. So adding the $94.50pp total $2,667

 

Our breakdown on the casino offer is

 

$320 upgrade

$200 Admin

$194.65 taxes

$99.54 beverage service charge

$94.50 prepaid gratuities

 

So $1,817.38 with everything a savings of $850 not as good as i get on carnival but better than full price for a cruise I was already going to go on LoL :)

[Sand and Seas]

Glad it saved you $$:D I love balconies too, but don't mind an ocean view if I can go on more cruises. I get balconies from the LV Harrah's properties but Casinos at Sea is now offering me ocean-views.

 

Does Carnival give you the drink package too? We haven't sailed on them in years. NCL has great entertainment and we enjoy their food so we have stuck with them the last several years.

 

There are some good threads about how to use that UBP to full advantage by trying some new drinks. And if you don't like one, no problem just order another. One of my favorites is a Mango Meltdown!

 

If you are on the Escape, don't miss the District Brewhouse. If you are on Getaway, Breakaway or Escape, the Waterfront is great. Let us know how your NCL cruise was for you.

[Tyskie]

Administration fee? Is that something new? [emoji33] We always pay port charges & taxes plus upgrade to balcony which is $300+. We just did a 7 day in Jan & will be doing BA to Bermuda shortly[emoji846]

 

 

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[Sand and Seas]

Also when you book through CAS you will find a players card in your cabin for everyone over 21. Attached to it is a 'free drinks while playing in casino' card. Since you have the UBP and won't need it for alcohol and soda, you can use it to get bottled water and energy drinks which aren't part of the UBP. We never carry bottled water on-board anymore or have had to buy any on board.

[Spoiledtcangel]

My Husband needs a balcony I could care less as i am barely in the room, luckily for me During winter carnival out of MD has french door rooms which are considered interior so I book one between Life boats, he gets to open the doors and see out and I don't have to pay an upgrade fee. However on our 2/20 i finally got a free balcony so it cost $364 for a balcony total 2 people (NY is so much more expensive to leave from in terms of taxes etc)

 

We always get the Drinks on us card day 1 and on premieres I get $700 in cash so its hard to pass up. no drinks throughout the ship though. Last one we got steakhouse for 4 with a bottle of wine and the host sent me and hubby for a couple massage so I feel a bit spoiled however I am sure I will love the Breakaway it looks amazing!!

 

I was pretty shocked by the admin fee to be honest since I never heard of one til now maybe its just for land based offers IDK.

[Sand and Seas]

Administration fee? Is that something new? [emoji33] We always pay port charges & taxes plus upgrade to balcony which is $300+. We just did a 7 day in Jan & will be doing BA to Bermuda shortly[emoji846]

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

They used to call it Guest fare or Non-commisionable fare. On our latest booking I believe it was called admin fee. It's always the same whether we are booked in an ocean view, balcony, or Haven suite. The fee was something like $120 per person many years ago and has gradually gone up to the current $200 which we still find a great bargain to us. We always get to choose from the top cabin type in that category and the admin fee is the same.

[Sand and Seas]

 

We always get the Drinks on us card day 1 and on premieres I get $700 in cash so its hard to pass up. no drinks throughout the ship though. Last one we got steakhouse for 4 with a bottle of wine and the host sent me and hubby for a couple massage so I feel a bit spoiled however I am sure I will love the Breakaway it looks amazing!!

 

I was pretty shocked by the admin fee to be honest since I never heard of one til now maybe its just for land based offers IDK.

 

Sounds like they give you nice offers! The admin fee is also for cruises I get directly from CAS. If you reach different tiers with CAS they start giving you a little more. 'Hot' tier gives you $75 for food/drink to use anywhere on ship each cruise. 'Golden' give you $100 plus $125 in spa. That's simplified but when you are on the ship the hosts can explain more to you. And it never hurts to call CAS a week after you returned to see what you may have qualified for. I've been offered inside or ocean-view cruises but others often are offered balcony or suites. At the least they appear to offer people a percentage off their next cruise. Never hurts to ask! I currently have 5 future cruises booked. Three from land-based (two balcony and a Haven suite!) and two from CAS direct, both ocean views.

 

Breakaway is a beautiful ship! Hope you have a wonderful time

[Spoiledtcangel]

Since you've sailed NCL often maybe you can clear 2 things up for me since I seem to be getting conflicting information.

 

1. Specialty Dinning... We have the UBP not dinning but I'm definitely interested in the Hibachi, Steakhouse & Maderno. 2 of the 3 show an a la carte menu but seen a chart showing a flat cover charge. $20, $25 & $30 so $75 total which i'm fine with but if it is a flat charge it would be cheaper than buying the 3 day dinning package at $84 but if it's a la carte it would be cheaper doing the package.

 

2. Do they have ship specific picture packages? I seen the online ones of 10, 20 & 30 pictures?

[skeeter195]

The dining prices as of March are:

Cagneys steakhouse-a la carte

Moderno-$30

Teppanyaki Hibachi-$30

 

Then you have to add 18% on top of what you spend. So the $84 3 meal plan works out better and the 18% is already included in their.

[Sand and Seas]

Since you've sailed NCL often maybe you can clear 2 things up for me since I seem to be getting conflicting information.

 

1. Specialty Dinning... We have the UBP not dinning but I'm definitely interested in the Hibachi, Steakhouse & Maderno. 2 of the 3 show an a la carte menu but seen a chart showing a flat cover charge. $20, $25 & $30 so $75 total which i'm fine with but if it is a flat charge it would be cheaper than buying the 3 day dinning package at $84 but if it's a la carte it would be cheaper doing the package.

 

Cagney's steakhouse is now ala carte. There are several threads that will show you the menu prices. We haven't purchased the dining package. We are platinum with NCL so we have two free dinners (Le Bistro) plus the $100 food credit from CAS. Other than that we enjoy the MDRs.

 

2. Do they have ship specific picture packages? I seen the online ones of 10, 20 & 30 pictures?

They do have packages but I'm not sure what they are. Maybe someone else can give you details.

[CTSandy]

I've done several casino cruises on NCL and just assumed the NCF of $200 was standard in the industry. Recently was offered a Celebrity Cruise (have never sailed on Celebrity before) based on play and I was surprised that there was no NCF charged. They booked me in an Aqua class cabin and the charges were $198 per person plus the gratuity charges they collect up front. Very pleasantly surprised! I had already had a cruise booked with NCl on Breakaway to Bermuda, a second cruise out of Boston on Dawn with my niece and family to Bermuda and now a third cruise on Celebrity out of NJ to Bermuda. Employees on the dock in Bermuda are going to be on a first name basis with me:)

[hladygirl]

I just booked our first casino comp cruise with twin rivers and CAS. We used both our certificates and got an ocean view cabin with picture window, insurance, UBP and 4 nights dining for $1000 total for both of us for 7 night Boston to Bermuda. Very sweet deal. We don't even have to fly. We are platinum now so also get 2 nights in lebistro with wine and sparkling wine in room. Where else can we get a week away all inclusive for $500 pp total cost?

[NLH Arizona]

Administration fee? Is that something new? [emoji33] We always pay port charges & taxes plus upgrade to balcony which is $300+. We just did a 7 day in Jan & will be doing BA to Bermuda shortly[emoji846]

 

 

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I asked what the fee was on my newest booking and here is what I was emailed:

 

Hello Nancy,

 

...........you have always been charged this. It’s now just referred to as an administrative fee instead of just staying in the guest fare slot.

 

XXXXXX XXXXX | Casinos at Sea Specialist

[Spoiledtcangel]

yes that's new to me also considering I have only sailed on casino offers on CCL

 

for the same cruise with CCL would have just broken down as

$260 upgrade

$164 Port taxes and fees

$87.50 gratuities

 

$511.50 PP so $1,023 total only difference is I would only have free drinks in the casino.

 

This reminds me sort of going on a friends/family cruise rate which is $35 a day LoL

 

No complaints though I was planning on going anyways and it saved me $850 I do wish I could have gotten the 2 promotions since I upgraded but she said its based on what cabin we were offered. I considered upgrading to a suite but whats the point (besides bigger room of course) if I don't get the amazing promotions that come along with it :/

 

Now do these ever come with OBC (their promo now included OBC) or priority check in?

 

Also am I allowed to transfer the booking over to my TA?

Edited April 21, 2016 by Spoiledtcangel

[Sand and Seas]

Now do these ever come with OBC (their promo now included OBC) or priority check in?

 

Also am I allowed to transfer the booking over to my TA?

 

If you see a promo you like more, or gives you more for your originally offered Inside cabin, you can change over by calling CAS prior to your final payment date. I've done that several times.

 

You could change your UBP (free drinks up to $15 throughout the ship) to one of their other promos. That would be closer to what you had on Carnival with drinks just in the casino. It doesn't include the more expensive drinks but they would just charge you the difference. If I remember correctly, the first tier of free drinks in casino is up to about $11 which covers quite a few of them.

 

You do get priority check in. Look for the 'Casinos invited guests' line.

 

Sorry, I don't think you can change it over to your TA but maybe someone else can confirm that.