NCL Take all free is back (balconies and mini-suites)

[kenns]

Hi All,

 

Wondering if I should change my current reservation to take advantage of this promotion. I am booked on the Encore for February 2020, going to San Juan, St. Thomas and Tortola. 

 

I am booked on the Encore for February 2020. My current reservation is for 2 people in a large ocean-view room (OB) for which I paid $1,099 (still have until October 2019 before final payment is due) and got the beverage package and dinning package. That same room is now going for $1,149 (increased by $50).

 

I just did a mock booking for the same cruise, which as part of this promotion is offering 4 offers (no free 3rd / 4th guest & no discounted airfare) in the cheapest available balcony, which is going for $1,299. So basically, it'll cost me $200 more per person or $400 total to go from ocean-view to balcony and to add-on the $50 per port shore ex credit and 250min of WiFi.

 

Do you think the "better" cabin, shore ex credit and 250min of WiFi is worth $400? My original plan was to just jump on WiFi while in port to check email, and do excursions on our own. 

 

Thanks!

Edited May 16, 2019 by kenns

[ja2nowak]

5 minutes ago, kenns said:

Hi All,

 

Wondering if I should change my current reservation to take advantage of this promotion. I am booked on the Encore for February 2020, going to San Juan, St. Thomas and Tortola. 

 

I am booked on the Encore for February 2020. My current reservation is for 2 people in a large ocean-view room (OB) for which I paid $1,099 (still have until October 2019 before final payment is due) and got the beverage package and dinning package. That same room is now going for $1,149 (increased by $50).

 

I just did a mock booking for the same cruise, which as part of this promotion is offering 4 offers (no free 3rd / 4th guest & no discounted airfare) in the cheapest available balcony, which is going for $1,299. So basically, it'll cost me $200 more per person or $400 total to go from ocean-view to balcony and to add-on the $50 per port shore ex credit and 250min of WiFi.

 

Do you think the "better" cabin, shore ex credit and 250min of WiFi is worth $400? My original plan was to just jump on WiFi while in port to check email, and do excursions on our own. 

 

Thanks!

 

As someone who loves balcony's yes. $150 for excursions across your 3 ports and the WiFi is worth $110. (I think) But for me $400 for more space and a balcony is enough. You can't beat the view when it's a nice day and there isn't much better than sitting on your balcony enjoying morning coffee or tea.

[Kingkonig]

8 minutes ago, kenns said:

Hi All,

 

Wondering if I should change my current reservation to take advantage of this promotion. I am booked on the Encore for February 2020, going to San Juan, St. Thomas and Tortola. 

 

I am booked on the Encore for February 2020. My current reservation is for 2 people in a large ocean-view room (OB) for which I paid $1,099 (still have until October 2019 before final payment is due) and got the beverage package and dinning package. That same room is now going for $1,149 (increased by $50).

 

I just did a mock booking for the same cruise, which as part of this promotion is offering 4 offers (no free 3rd / 4th guest & no discounted airfare) in the cheapest available balcony, which is going for $1,299. So basically, it'll cost me $200 more per person or $400 total to go from ocean-view to balcony and to add-on the $50 per port shore ex credit and 250min of WiFi.

 

Do you think the "better" cabin, shore ex credit and 250min of WiFi is worth $400? My original plan was to just jump on WiFi while in port to check email, and do excursions on our own. 

 

Thanks!

Oh hey we’re doing this itinerary too!  Feb 9-16?

 

And to answer your question, I always feel $400 for a balcony is worth it, it’s offset by about $150 in excursion credits, right?  So basically $250 for a balcony, I’d go for it if I were you.  Now the WiFi....I’ve never found it to be worth the money, but that’s cause we put our phones in the safe when we board, and take them back out when we disembark.  

[Tinyturtle22]

43 minutes ago, ja2nowak said:

Question, I did the same but I don't see the $100 OBC listed anywhere. Does it list out somewhere for you?

It wasn’t listed online but it is on the confirmation email they sent me. 

[ja2nowak]

4 minutes ago, Tinyturtle22 said:

It wasn’t listed online but it is on the confirmation email they sent me. 

Thanks. It's not showing on my confirmation. I'll have to call and make sure they apply it.

[browniegirl]

6 minutes ago, ja2nowak said:

Thanks. It's not showing on my confirmation. I'll have to call and make sure they apply it.

Yes it showed on my confirmation email as well as each person in room getting a $50 obc.

[ja2nowak]

Just now, browniegirl said:

Yes it showed on my confirmation email as well as each person in room getting a $50 obc.

Thanks!

[Sand and Seas]

9 minutes ago, browniegirl said:

Yes it showed on my confirmation email as well as each person in room getting a $50 obc.

Is it possible your OBC is for a Latitudes cruise?  I'm not seeing OBC on the regular listings.   The Latitudes OBC just adds onto whatever other promos are on.

[browniegirl]

Just now, Sand and Seas said:

Is it possible your OBC is for a Latitudes cruise?  I'm not seeing OBC on the regular listings.   The Latitudes OBC just adds onto whatever other promos are on.

Hi, I don't think so.  The only latitude perk I got was 30 extra minutes of wifi……. says free $50 OBC credit non-refundable (and both of us in cabin received this.    When I did a mock booking, it showed up in writing at the bottom saying it would be automatic and when my pcl sent my amenity confirmation, the $50 each was on there.

 

Leah

 

[cincicruisers]

Thanks for posting.  Was able to take advantage of the special.

[cruisewithbaby]

Are private islands considered a port that you can use the shore ex $50 at? 

[OHRiverRats]

Yes, the private islands are eligible for the $50 shore ex credit. The credit should show up on your onboard account the day after the excursion.  I would call to make reservations so you aren't charged until you're on board so your credits are applied before you have to pay for it. 

[Casino Comp Chick]

15 hours ago, cruisewithbaby said:

So I waited for my TA to call me back and she never did...so I called today and talked to someone else in the office. Glad I did bc she got us the take 4 instead of take 2 (5 not offered on our sail) AND the price per cabin went down so we got $120 per cabin  back AND the 4th cabin got bumped to a mini so less than the balcony was originally costing them by $5! Win/win 

 

 

question about the $50 shore credit though. I already booked a shore excursion (cabana) on GSC and paid in full bc I did it through the app, the TA said the $5 will show up as a credit at the end of the cruise and to just watch for it....what do you all think? Also if we book our other excursions should we call the shore X number and book that way when they become available instead of doing it on the app to have the $50 applied per  cabin?

 

Since you paid in full on the cabana your credit will be applied the 1st sea after all ports have been done. When booking any other excursions yes call the phone number instead, your tickets will be in your room when you board and you will be charged the price minus $50 (per day, not per person). If you are a higher latitudes tier also let them know as they will remove the % discount when booking. 

One thing to note though, when NCL applies the credit to you onboard they only apply it to the account of passenger one even if it was 2 people using the excursion. For example, 2 platinum plus people go to Cocoa Beach @ $29.00, NCL will remove 15% ($4.35 each) making each excursion $24.65, NCL will apply a credit of $49.30 to passenger 1’s account only, they will not apply the full $50 unless the excursion was equal to or greater then $50.00.

i did a thread a while back calculating out the platinum plus discounts on shore excursions when they first added it to the PP+ tiers. 

[cruisewithbaby]

THank you!i understand the reasoning that it is applied after bc Incase the ship doesn’t end up stopping at the port of excursion. have a question, is it ONLY to be used by 1st person listed in the cabin? For example, we booked the cabana and got our silver discount but I booked it under my name and I’m listed 2nd on the cabin. Then we also plan to book a dolphin swim in the Bahamas, our adjoining room has 2 grandparents and my son, but only my son who is lister 3rd and a minor will do the dolphin excursion, will the $50 still be used just given to the grandparent listed as 1st in the cabin (that’s fine) just wanted to make sure the 1st person doesn’t have to be on the excursion?? 

 

Hope that makes sense. 

[cruisewithbaby]

Also is it credited as OBC or a refund onto your credit card? 

[firstimecruiseronncl]

16 hours ago, browniegirl said:

Yes it showed on my confirmation email as well as each person in room getting a $50 obc.

Thanks to this thread I called and received the shore excursion credit and 250 wifi minutes for my Feb 2020 Bliss cruise. I also saved $40 because our fare decreased $20 a person.

The $100 onboard credit was also given because we used cruisenext certificates on the original booking. 

[browniegirl]

4 minutes ago, firstimecruiseronncl said:

Thanks to this thread I called and received the shore excursion credit and 250 wifi minutes for my Feb 2020 Bliss cruise. I also saved $40 because our fare decreased $20 a person.

The $100 onboard credit was also given because we used cruisenext certificates on the original booking. 

That is fantastic!!!  I love it when we learn stuff on cruise critic that gets us bonuses and a better deal, yay us!

[Casino Comp Chick]

7 hours ago, cruisewithbaby said:

THank you!i understand the reasoning that it is applied after bc Incase the ship doesn’t end up stopping at the port of excursion. have a question, is it ONLY to be used by 1st person listed in the cabin? For example, we booked the cabana and got our silver discount but I booked it under my name and I’m listed 2nd on the cabin. Then we also plan to book a dolphin swim in the Bahamas, our adjoining room has 2 grandparents and my son, but only my son who is lister 3rd and a minor will do the dolphin excursion, will the $50 still be used just given to the grandparent listed as 1st in the cabin (that’s fine) just wanted to make sure the 1st person doesn’t have to be on the excursion?? 

 

Hope that makes sense. 

 

It doesn’t matter who goes on the excursion, the tour operators do not check names but the credit will still only go to passenger 1.

[cruisewithbaby]

Thank you! I was worried I would have to switch the name.

[shari75202]

We’re sailing on the Spirit this Oct on the 15 day Greek Isles. I just called NCL and got a refund of almost $500! They included all perks except airfare because we’d already purchased air. Thanks everyone for this information !! 

[tanyaewa]

Thanks for this heads up!  I did a mock booking and my Oct Bliss cruise has gone down by $300 and I still keep “all 5”. 

Many thanks 

[pe4all]

Just priced out our August Greece cruise.  The new promo would add $1600 to the cost of our balcony cabin.  We already have the $50 shore excursion credit and dining perks, and 30 min. internet each for being Platinum.   Not big drinkers, so unlimited drinks isn't a make or break for us.  May still call NCL and see what they can do for us.  If nothing, we are perfectly happy with what we have!

Edited May 18, 2019 by pe4all

[Obobru]

It's our first time on NCL and we are thinking of booking the Transatlantic with this offer but I can't work out with the dining package on a 14-night cruise how many dining credits do you get? I have read anything from 3-5 to one for every day of the cruise! Thanks

[ggTexasGal]

5 minutes ago, Obobru said:

It's our first time on NCL and we are thinking of booking the Transatlantic with this offer but I can't work out with the dining package on a 14-night cruise how many dining credits do you get? I have read anything from 3-5 to one for every day of the cruise! Thanks

   ...Per Terms and Conditions  @   https://www.ncl.com/termsandconditions/promotions

 

Specialty Dining Package

Sail Length	# Of Dining Package Meals		Retail Value		20% Gratuities
3-4 Nights	1		$25 per person		$5.00 per package
5-6 Nights	2		$69 per person		$13.80 per package
7-8 Nights	3		$79 per person		$15.80 per package
9-10 Nights	4		$94 per person		$18.80 per package
11+ Nights	5		$109 per person		$21.80 per package

Package prices are subject to change.
Guest is responsible for 20% gratuities on the retail value of the Specialty Dining Package prior to cruise.
Packages are based on a per meal basis.
Applicable to guests 1-2 on the reservation.
Dining package is applicable to guest ages 2 and older.
Any Harvest Caye bars, restaurants, or venues, Food Republic, The Bake Shop, Ice Cream Bar, Gelato, specialty items in the Asian restaurant, Special Occasion/Holiday menus (New Year's, Christmas, etc.), Jazz Brunch, Wine Lovers and Murder Mystery lunches, and beverages are not included as part of the Specialty Dining Packages. 
You may choose to dine in the following venues as part of your Specialty Dining Package for the corresponding upcharges: Cabaret ($15 USD), For the Record ($15 USD), Ocean Blue ($10 USD), Bayamo ($10 USD), Cirque Dreams ($10 USD regular seats/$15 USD premium seats/$35 USD VIP seating on Breakaway), Sushi Bar ($7 USD), Pincho Tapas Bar ($7 USD), and Raw Bar ($7 USD).
Specialty Dining Packages include one main course per person at Cagney's and Le Bistro restaurants. Additional main courses will be charged at the a la carte price listed on the menu.
There is no minimum or maximum to the number of meals that can be redeemed in a day, however each meal is counted towards the package.

[firstimer2009]

I'm on hold now with the Casino at Seas reservations trying to get the Wifi package added to our promo.  We are in a mini-suite in September out of Venice.

 

Just wanted to say thank you to the OP for this information.  It's one reason I always read these forums when I can.  I learn things I would never know otherwise.