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Good Deal? Everything to Know About Norwegian’s “Free At Sea” Sale

Norwegian Cruise Line’s “Free at Sea” deal is one of the most appealing cruise line offers out there. After all, everyone likes getting something for free.

But is it a good deal? It is worth buying? And what details should you know when you book?

While cruise passengers have gotten used to shelling out plenty of cash for extras on the ship after they board, not everyone likes being nickeled-and-dimed.

That’s why this offer aims to provide many of the extras you’d normally buy on a trip, all included in your cruise fare at a price that’s normally less than if you booked them all separately. That gives you a more all-inclusive atmosphere on the ship, instead of worrying about more spending once on the ship.

With Free at Sea, you book a cruise and get any number of “free” perks included with your cruise. While what’s offered to passengers does change slightly from time to time, the traditional deal offers a lineup of perks for you to select from:

• Free open bar
• Free specialty dining
• Free shore excursions
• Free third/fourth guests

So with the deal you can pay one price and then get drinks for the duration of your trip, wi-fi, shore excursions, and more.

Norwegian has been offering some version of the sale for some time now. And anecdotally, it’s one of the most appealing offers out there. Who doesn’t want to get free drinks or free specialty dining tacked onto their cruise? In fact, it promises to take away so many of the extra charges that creep into the cost of a cruise these days.

But while the sale sounds mouth-watering, there are definitely some things you will want to know before you purchase your fare in order to get the best deal… and avoid any surprises.

In This Article...

The Number of Perks May Depend On Your Cabin Type (But Often Includes All Perks For Every Cabin)

First things first, while you can get all the perks included with your cruise, the number of freebies you can select may depend on the type of cabin that you purchase. Often no matter which cabin type you book, all the perks are included. Other times, it may be that the higher grade of cabin you choose, the more picks you receive. The offer can change occasionally.

If you book at a time when not everything is included, then if you pick a studio or inside cabin, you might only be offered one or two free perks. Oceanview, balcony, and mini-suites will usually get to pick more offers offers, while suites, and The Haven cabins normally get to select all the perks. 

But it seems limiting the perks based on cabin type is becoming less common . For example, as of this writing all cabins — regardless of if they are inside rooms or top-of-the-line suites — are able to get all the perks included in their fare.

Sometimes More Perks Are Offered

In addition to changing the number of perks included with the room you book, NCL also adjusts the actual perks themselves at times. Typically, this means adding a perk or two occasionally to sweeten the offer.

What you’ll find is the five base “freebies” don’t change. They include: 

But occasionally the cruise line adds in other deals. Most recently we’ve seen seen free airfare for second guests (for those flying to the port) and free cruise credit to put toward booking another trip while onboard the ship.

The Free at Sea Offer Runs Consistently

With the ability to get all the perks included with your cruise, it can be tempting to want to jump at the deal so that you don’t miss out. In fact, normally you’ll see a timer on the Norwegian website counting down until the sale ends.

In this case, you don’t seem to have much to worry about. The offer has run in some form or another (there are small tweaks here and there) for years. And while we don’t check every day, we can’t think of a time in recent history that it hasn’t been offered.

So yes, the sale may change slightly, but some form is seemingly always offered. Don’t think you have to rush to buy or risk missing out. If the time isn’t quite right to book, you’ll most likely see something similar when you are ready.  

Rooms Without Perks Are Less Expensive (If You Can Find Them)

One of the things you might not realize is that you can purchase cabins on the ship without the perks offered. Why would you want to do that? Sailing without the perks is actually cheaper than buying the same cabin as part of the sale.

Take a balcony cabin we found for 7-day Alaskan cruise, for instance. The price per person for a balcony cabin that included the Free at Sea offer was $2,369 per person. 

Norwegian also offers a “Sail Away” balcony, which is a room that’s not part of the promotion, and the cruise line picks your room. In return, you get a cheaper rate. In this case, it was $2,319 per person.

So the Free at Sea deal was actually $50 more per person — or $100 extra for a couple sailing together.

Remember that for that price difference you get all the perks and get to choose your actual cabin on the ship. As well, if you plan to buy things like drink packages ($109 per person, per day), you still come out way ahead despite the higher price. Still, it is a higher price to pay for the same type of room.

If the perks aren’t something you’ll use, then it may not be worth it for you to book the offer. But for most people, it likely will be worth the extra cost.

One thing to note is that it seems the fares without the offer often say they are sold out on NCL’s website. It may be difficult for you to find a fare without the offer.

You May HAVE to Buy the Free at Sea Offer

In years past, there was a rather large difference between the cruise fares with the Free at Sea offer and those sail away balconies (on the order of hundreds of dollars). Then that difference seemed to get smaller and smaller to where booking with the offer was a no-brainer. Now, it can be seemingly tough to find a cruise without the offer included.

During our most recent price checks, we looked at several cruises departing in the weeks ahead all the way to more than a year out. On none of them were we able to find a sail away room available. While the option was shown for all cruises, the website labeled them all sold old — even for cruises leaving more than a year from now. Meanwhile, there were still options available with the Free at Sea perks included.

In other words, if you wanted a fare without the offer, it may be tough to find.

You Still Have to Pay Gratuity… Even on Free Things

One of the biggest draws to the Norwegian sale is that you can get free open bar on your trip. With the price of alcohol on a cruise being high (think $10-14 for a cocktail or about $6-8 for a beer), having free bar privileges can be a huge money saver. Meanwhile, Norwegian charges $109 for an unlimited drink package. On a 7-day trip, that’s hundreds of dollars you’re saving by having it included.

But with the free drink package (as well as other things like specialty restaurants), you are still on the hook for gratuities. With Norwegian, that’s an automatic 20% on the value of the package, or $21.80 per person, per day. For two people, that’s $43.60 each day.

So on a 7-day cruise, a couple will end up paying more than $300 in gratuities for your “free” drinks.

It’s similar with the specialty dining package. There, you will see gratuities on the free meals with the offer, which are paid when booking.

You can opt out of the free drink package and specialty dining to avoid paying the gratuities. (See more on that below.)

You Don’t Have to Select a Perk If You Don’t Want It

With the extra gratuity cost of some perks like free drinks and specialty dining, there can actually be a disadvantage to having it included on your cruise if you don’t use these offers. That’s ok. When you book, you don’t have to take advantage of every single perk that’s offered.

When making your reservation, you have the choice to opt out of those packages that require a gratuity charge such as the drink package and specialty dining. That way if you don’t think you’ll get your money’s worth, you don’t have to pay the gratuity charge.

Understand the Terms & Conditions Before Booking (Lots of Fine Print)

In general the perks from Norwegian are straightforward, but there are some terms you should know about.

Gratuities: We’ve mentioned that gratuities are still charged even on free perks. But if you take advantage of the third and fourth guests in a cabin sail free perk, they will still be charged a daily service charge of $20 per person on the ship like any other passenger.

Specialty Dining: While other things to know include that the free specialty dining perk is only for a some meals (two per person in total for a 7-day cruise if booking a balcony cabin, for example but only one per person in a studio, inside, or oceanview) and gratuities are also charged on the value of the package.

Wi-Fi: The free wi-fi offer is for only 75 minutes on cruises less than seven days or 150 minutes for trips of 7-11 days. It is not unlimited.

Shore Excursions: While the shore excursions are labeled as “free” in fact, it is actually a $50 credit for the first guest, per excursion. If your excursion is more, then you’ll need to pay the difference. And NCL says the “offer is application to first guest on the cruise reservation” — not multiple guests in the cabin.

For the full terms and conditions of the offers, you can click here . And here is a breakdown of what’s included from Norwegian Cruise Line.

“Free At Sea Plus” Offer Could Be Better For You

Maybe you’ve made the choice to book Free at Sea instead of a basic cabin without the perks. There’s one more choice to consider, and that is Free at Sea versus Free at Sea Plus.

Norwegian has created an upgrade with the following perks included:

• Premium Plus Beverage Package (includes all top-shelf spirits)
• Two additional specialty dining meals
• $50 shore excursion credit per tour for both first and second passenger
• Unlimited wi-fi for first and second passenger  

Compared to the regular Free at Sea deal, this includes a higher-tier drink package , more specialty dining meals, an additional $50 credit per shore excursion, and unlimited wi-fi instead of a bundle of minutes.

The price runs $49 per person, per day ($29 pp for kids and $42 pp if traveling solo).

Given the list prices of these services, you do come out ahead with this package if you used the features. For instance, the Premium Plus Beverage Package is $29 more per day while unlimited wi-fi runs $30-40 per day. That alone is more than the $49 per day that you’ll spend. Add on a couple of uses of the $50 shore excursion credit and the additional meals, and you’re well in the black.

But these are also extras that you may not need. For instance, many passengers would be just fine with the basic drink package. Some may not need unlimited wi-fi. Others may take only an excursion or two during the trip, meaning the discount isn’t as big a deal.

Before you book, you’ll want to do the math to figure if the daily cost ($98 a day for a couple traveling) is worth the upgrade. 

Check Prices on Airfare Offers

One of the perks that can be popular for people living a distance from the port is free airfare. Often, it is free for the second guest on the cruise, although the offer specifics can vary.

As you might expect, there are some caveats when it comes to free flights. Most notably, airfare charges will vary depending on where you’re flying from. You’ll be able to select your departure city, and then it will tell you the price of airfare for the guest that does have to pay.

In that case, it’s worth a quick search of flight-search websites like Kayak to see what the airfare rate will be. In a recent search, we found flights on our own for several hundred dollars cheaper than what we were quoted on the NCL website. However, when you consider the free airfare for the second guest, the Free at Sea offer was better overall.  

Good Deal? Likely, but Do the Math Before You Buy

For many people, selecting the Free at Sea offer is a no-brainer (or may be required if a sail away fare isn’t available), and they will end up saving a considerable amount of money. 

But if you aren’t a big drinker or plan to drive to the port instead of fly, or don’t care about shore excursions, it could be that buying the cheaper cabin is worth it for you. After all, you’ll have to pay gratuities on the drink package, still have to pay for some flights, and pay gratuities on specialty restaurant dining.

So if you won’t use the perks that are offered, be sure to consider if the deal is worth paying the higher price. If not, then you might be better off sailing without them. Even so, there’s a reason the offer is popular — for many people it’s a smart move.

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Ncl offers additional 50% off from normal 50% off. It says upon reservation to see as it is added to latitudes account. So in order to actually see total cost I have to book the cruise?

Please Beware, If you take the “Free” drink package you will be charged the $19.80 per day regardless of weather you drink or not, we do not drink. When I asked for a refund of the $200 gratuities Norwegian now says it is a service charge and not refundable. So the “Free” drink package cost us $200, IMO very dishonest and misleading.

Also they advertise a Bingo with a $5000 prize. AFTER you buy the tickets then then tell you the “RULES” You have to get a full card in 47 or less numbers to get this prize. It has about the same odds as getting struck by lightning.

At this point if you are considering a cruise with this company please investigate their claims carefully. This is my 4th cruise and the first with Norwegian while the entertainment and food were decent their business practices are very suspect .

I bough the cheaper inside cabin and got 2 free perks and 50 dolars OBC. The gratuities are included we don’t have to pay more. https://www.ncl.com/es/en/free-at-sea “Offer is applicable to all categories including IX, OX, BX and MX (Sail Away Categories).” “20% gratuities on the retail value of the Premium Beverage Package ($19.80 USD per person per day) and/or Soda Package ($1.59 USD per person per day) are included.”

Looks like you’re booking a cruise in Europe. For U.S. departures, there is still the $19.80 in gratuities you have to pay:

“Guest is responsible for 20% gratuities on the retail value of the Premium Beverage Package ($19.80 per person per day) and/or Soda Package ($1.59 per person per day) prior to cruise.”

What a joke, only get the one free perk when you book inside cabin, if you do not buy the least expensive inside cabin. If you upgrade (pay more) you could get the one free perk of $50 per cabin. Just spoke to Norwegian on the phone, to get the correct information. I Asked about the cost to use the bowling alley on the pearl, which I saw on a review from a past guest was $5. But this rep told me there is no bowling alley, now I am confused. Any body got any more interesting tips around things we should know about before we sail. Love to hear from you.

Been on the Pearl 5 years ago. Yes they have a bowling alley. I believe 4 lanes only. Line to use it was crazy. Not worth it. Also this ship had very few bars and lounges. They used the space to put in many specialty (pay extra) restaurants. I’d never go back on the Pearl.

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Home » Cruise » Norwegian Cruise Line » Norwegian Cruise Line Changes Free at Sea Perks

Norwegian Cruise Line Changes Free at Sea Perks

Norwegian Cruise Line changes its Free at Sea perks, downgrading some offers like free specialty dining for certain cabin categories.

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Norwegian Cruise Line frequently runs its popular promotion called Free at Sea. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea offer entitles guests to free perks like drink packages, specialty dining, WiFi, kids sail free, and more when booking a cruise. Effective today, Norwegian Cruise Line changes the Free at Sea perks, downgrading the value for some cabin categories.

Norwegian Cruise Line has been known for its Free at Sea program for some time now. Usually, guests receive up to 5 free perks when booking an NCL cruise. Sometimes, airfare is also part of the promotion, making it 6 free perks.

Currently, Norwegian Cruise Line is running a sale that includes free open bar, free specialty dining, free excursions, free WiFi, free extra guests, and free airfare for 2nd guest in addition to 70% off second guest. While historically only Suites and The Haven received all 5 offers, NCL has been providing the 5 perks (instead of just 2) to most stateroom categories.

This sounds like a great value, and it is. However, you do need to know the fine print. You also need to be aware that as of January 18, 2022 the value of some of the perks has been downgraded based on the type of stateroom you book.

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Norwegian Cruise Line Free at Sea Perks

Free open bar, free specialty dining, free shore excursions, free 3rd and 4th guests.

• Free Air Fare for 2nd Guest

In terms of the free open bar, guests 1-8 on the reservation will receive the Premium Beverage package (excluding Pride of America sailings). If guests 3-8 are under 21 years of age, the Premium Beverage package does not apply.

Further, a soda package will no longer be given as a substitution. If guest 1 or 2 are under 21, he/she will receive the soda package.

The free specialty dining is applicable to only guest 1 and 2 on the reservation. The number of meals received has always been based on the length of the cruise. However, it is now also based on the stateroom reserved.

For instance, all guests used to receive 1 free meal for 3-5 night cruises and 2 free meals for 6-8 night cruises. Now, all guests will receive 1 meal for 3-6 night cruises regardless of cabin category. However, only balcony and above will receive 2 free meals for 7-11 night cruises. Guests on 7-11 night cruises who book a studio, inside, or oceanview will only get 1 free meal.

See the below chart for the NEW specialty dining breakdown.

The Free WiFi perk has also changed. Previously, guests received 100 minutes for 3-6 day cruises, 250 minutes for 7-13 day cruises, and 500 minutes for 14+ day cruises per stateroom.

Now, guests receive 75 minutes for 3-6 day cruises, 150 minutes for 7-11 day cruises, and 300 minutes for 12+ day cruises, with two logins provided for each stateroom.

This offer is applicable to only the first guest on the reservation.

The first guest only on the reservation will receive a shore excursion credit of $50 per port. Guests can use this credit to purchase any tour offered by the cruise line. If the tour is less than $50, no refund will be issued. If the tour is more than $50, the guest will be responsible to pay the difference.

This offer has remained the same.

This promotion is sometimes also referred to as Kids Sail Free. It is exactly as it sounds.

Basically, this offer is valid for guests 3-4 sharing a stateroom with guests 1-2 paying full fare. This offer is only applicable on select sailings. Further, if there are guests 5-8 in a reservation, those guests will pay prevailing fares.

Free Airfare for 2nd Guest

This offer is valid on select 4+ night sailings only. With this perk, the second guest on the reservation flies for free when buying airfare for the first guest. Offer is not applicable to guests 3-8 on the reservation.

This perk is also capacity controlled.

Key Changes to Norwegian Cruise Line Free at Sea Perks 

• Reduced Number of Specialty Dining Meals
• Number of Internet Minutes
• Guests 3-8 No Longer Qualify for Free Soda Package if Under 21

EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS: Book Your NCL Cruise Now!

Are the Norwegian Cruise Line Free at Sea Perks Really Free?

Some of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea perks are truly “free” while some are not.

In terms of the Free Open Bar, guests will still need to pay 20% gratuity on this “free” perk. Further, if you enjoy specialty coffee or want bottled water, you will have to pay extra to upgrade to the Premium Plus beverage package.

Similarly, guests are responsible for paying 20% gratuity on the specialty dining package as well. 

In terms of the free shore excursions, the $50 credit per stateroom will not cover much. So, you will likely need to pay extra to cover the costs of shore excursions.

When taking advantage of the Free 3rd and 4th Guest perk, you will still be responsible for paying the Government Taxes, Fees, and Port Expenses for “sail free” guests. These fees vary based on the itinerary but will likely cost $200+ each guest.

What do you think of the news that Norwegian Cruise Line changes its Free at Sea perks? Do you book with NCL because of the value of this Free at Sea program? Drop us an anchor below to share your experiences sailing with Norwegian Cruise Line.

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They’re cheaping-out more and more as time goes by……even frequent cruisers, like myself, don’t get our Diamond level perks per-person any more. Now it’s per-room. Our free dinner perk isn’t enough to cover the 4 people in a 2 bedroom suite! And, a cruise that would be 10-12k is now around 20k. I can’t afford that!

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Welcome Aboard! We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. We took our first cruise vacation together 13 years ago and have been hooked ever since. Follow along as we share our travel tips, cruise reviews, information on ports of call, and the latest cruise news to help you plan the ultimate cruise vacation. Are you ready to embark on your journey to “sea the world, one port at a time”?

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This amazing new Black Friday cruise deal will let you bring a companion on a ship for free

Add Norwegian Cruise Line to the list of industry brands offering early — and impressive — Black Friday deals.

Now through Dec. 5, when you book a voyage on any of NCL's ships (including the brand-new Norwegian Prima ) under the "Best Deal Ever" offer, you'll be able to bring someone along on the cruise for free — as long as you pay for their port charges and fees.

The offer is available for cruises in Europe, the Caribbean, Alaska and other destinations.

Plus, you'll still be able to take advantage of the line's popular "Free at Sea" promotion, which allows you to choose up to five of six add-ons on a complimentary basis. Options include free alcohol and specialty dining, shore excursion credits, onboard Wi-Fi, airfare for your companion (when you pay for yours and book through Norwegian ) and a discount that allows third and fourth passengers in the same cabin to sail for just $99 each, plus taxes.

Those freebies alone are valued at more than $3,400.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Sample cruises

A quick look on Norwegian's website shows these sailings offered as part of the deal, with various dates available:

• 6-night Alaska cruise on Norwegian Encore, roundtrip from Seattle, from $519 ($43 per person, per night).
• 6-night Western Caribbean cruise on Norwegian Breakaway, roundtrip from New Orleans, from $399 ($33 per person, per night).
• 6-night Mexican Riviera cruise on Norwegian Bliss, roundtrip from Los Angeles, from $489 ($41 per person, per night).
• 9-night Mediterranean cruise on Norwegian Epic, roundtrip from Barcelona, from $1,179 ($66 per person, per night).

This offer is valid on sailings of three nights or longer and cannot be applied to group bookings. Free at Sea options must be selected at least 24 hours prior to embarkation day, they cannot be changed once on board, and they apply to everyone booked in the same stateroom.

In addition, government taxes, fees and crew gratuities are not included in this offer. The promotion also comes with cancellation penalties and does not apply to pre- or post-cruise land tours.

Additional conditions apply and can be found here .

Other current deals

These offers are, perhaps unsurprising, following this season's price drops on fares. Recently, some lines have offered fall cruises for as little as $26 per day , and one line this week was selling seven-night Europe sailings for just $180 for the entire voyage (not per day).

Other brands have been promoting their soon-to-depart itineraries in recent weeks by including free tours worth thousands of dollars .

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The 5 Best Kids Sail Free Cruises for 2024 & Beyond

I f you're angling for an affordable family cruise , you'll be happy to know that several major cruise lines let children sail for free (either regularly or during special promotions). Read on to discover which lines cater to families with kids sail free offers.

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Holland America Line

Deal: Holland America Line is offering a "Kids Cruise Free" promotion on select itineraries in 2024. The offer applies to several itineraries including Hawaii , the Caribbean and the Panama Canal; to qualify, children must be 18 or younger and cruising as third and/or fourth guests in the same cabin as adults. As with similar promotions, taxes and port fees are still required for each child's sailing.

Family-friendly perks: Amenities onboard Holland America ships include kids clubs and youth programs, as well as shore excursions oriented to families with little ones in tow. Plenty of stateroom options can also accommodate larger bookings. The Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam ships, in particular, feature oversized staterooms with beds for four, a large sitting area and a spacious veranda.

Book a Holland America Line Cruise on GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Deal: Norwegian Cruise Line lets third and fourth guests cruise free on select itineraries throughout the year. Cruises to which this promotion applies are offered all over the world, including bucket-list destinations like Alaska and the Mediterranean .

Some of the itineraries that qualify for free third and fourth guests also come with complimentary amenities like an unlimited open bar, specialty dining, shore excursions and/or complimentary Wi-Fi. Additionally, some of the itineraries include generous discounts on the total cruise cost , as well as free airfare for a second guest (when booked through the cruise line).

Family-friendly perks: With Norwegian's all-ages kids clubs, family dining, entertainment and activities included in one bundled rate, planning a kid-approved vacation with the cruise line is a breeze. Many Norwegian ships also feature an array of family-friendly staterooms with plenty of extra space. For example, the luxurious Norwegian Prima offers a two-bedroom family villa with a large balcony in "The Haven" – its exclusive area for VIP guests.

Explore Norwegian Cruise Line deals on GotoSea.

Royal Caribbean International

Deal: Royal Caribbean offers a "Kids Sail Free" deal several times each year, allowing children 12 or younger to cruise free provided they are the third guests (or beyond) staying in the same cabin as at least two paying adults. The only catch is that blackout dates apply – typically during holiday and school breaks.

Family-friendly perks: There's a reason so many families choose Royal Caribbean ; kid-friendly amenities range from age-specific programming to zip lining at sea. The line's  exclusive island for cruisers , Perfect Day at CocoCay in  the Bahamas , is also a big hit with young passengers thanks to its waterslides and splash areas.

Compare Royal Caribbean cruise itineraries on GotoSea.

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Costa Cruises

Deal: Costa Cruises may not be as popular as some other cruise lines on our list, but it's a worthwhile option for cruisers looking to sail through Europe, the Middle East or South America. The cruise line allows kids traveling as third or fourth guests to sail for free with two adults in the same cabin, and this promotion applies to passengers ages 2 to 17. This offer is valid on all sailings offered by the line, many of which feature destinations in desirable ports along the Mediterranean such as Barcelona , Marseille and Rome .

Family-friendly perks: Costa Cruises vessels offer abundant family-friendly amenities, from water parks to arcades to mini golf. Kids clubs are available for children ages 3 to 11, and they provide entertainment like arts and crafts, themed parties, and games galore. A teen zone also hosts cruisers ages 12 to 17 who want to mingle, sing karaoke and play group sports when ships aren't in port.

Find a Costa Cruises deal on GotoSea.

MSC Cruises

Deal: MSC Cruises lets children younger than 18 cruise for free on select itineraries, depending on the ship's capacity. (Other exclusions or eligibility requirements may apply.) Kids must be the third or fourth guests traveling in the same cabin as their parents (at least two adults) for the deal to be valid; note that any port fees and taxes still apply to children's fares.

Family-friendly perks: MSC Cruises offers a variety of leisure activities and amenities designed specifically for kids. On board, youngsters can take advantage of perks from water parks with slides and swimming pools to Broadway-style shows and interactive dinners. The line also hosts fun family excursions and a "Lego Experience On Board" event on every cruise. In addition, there are a myriad of amenities for parents to enjoy while the youngest passengers are occupied by one of five dedicated kids clubs.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is a seasoned travel writer who has covered family travel and cruises for more than a decade. Johnson has traveled with her family to more than 50 countries, and her many trips have included cruises all over the world. Johnson lives in Indiana with her two children and her husband, Greg.

You might also be interested in:

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• The Best Cruises for Teens
• Do You Need a Passport to Cruise?
• How to Get Your Child a Passport
• The Best Cruise Insurance Plans

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• Norwegian Cruise Line

Second guest sails free

By runner15km , December 9, 2022 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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Received a email today that second guest sails free. I clicked on the link and choose a oceanview stateroom for 499.00 on a 9 day sailing from NYC. I also choose the free offers such as drinks, specialty dining and wifi. I understand the taxes, fees and gratuities but not the final price of 2104.00.   I was thinking we could sail for around 1700.00 not 2104.00. Sort of bait and switch ?   

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The entire pricing/marketing system has been like this for years. It's a great pull for new cruisers who 'think' they are getting a screaming deal when in fact this is the same deal that has been going on for years. The cruiselines hemorrhaged over the last years and must now attempt to make up for it as quickly as possible. Pricing is up, fees are up and the amount of 'free' stuff is quietly reduced and limited as years go on.

As with any trip, it simply comes down to the final number. If folks think it's too high they'll spend their dollars elsewhere and the lines might have to adjust. But yes, it always feels very bait and switch...

yeah, they really doing it tricky right now.  The price you see when you search for the sailing is half price from the "regular" price and charged per person:

So that is why you see the price for the cabin as 2 times the listed price, instead of just once (with the 2nd person being free) as you would expect.  So, the bottom line price doesn't change at all.  It's just a trick to make you think a promotion is going on

not only that, but ncl has jacked up the original price, cut that price in half and are trying to convince

people they're getting a deal.

anytime ncl runs one of it's "amazing sales" (which in fact they have been doing in one form or another for a couple of years) it's buyer beware!

Its a trap and those who have traveled already know the game; first time cruisers they think they are getting a deal. Don't fall for it.

RocketMan275

NCL is no different than the other cruise lines.  This sales gimmick is used by other cruise lines as well.   

A marketing professional will tell you that the quickest way to make a sale is to convince the buyer they're getting something for free.

You must always remember: "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch" (TANSTAAFL). 

I'd go further and say NCL is no different than any other business running a "sale".  I always take that word with a grain of salt, looking up the price and comparing.

spanishguy1970

5 hours ago, complawyer said: not only that, but ncl has jacked up the original price, cut that price in half and are trying to convince people they're getting a deal.   anytime ncl runs one of it's "amazing sales" (which in fact they have been doing in one form or another for a couple of years) it's buyer beware!

they call second guest sails free but they really don't they just charge double occupancy to the first person :-)...LOL

wil e coyote

7 hours ago, runner15km said: Received a email today that second guest sails free. I clicked on the link and choose a oceanview stateroom for 499.00 on a 9 day sailing from NYC. I also choose the free offers such as drinks, specialty dining and wifi. I understand the taxes, fees and gratuities but not the final price of 2104.00.   I was thinking we could sail for around 1700.00 not 2104.00. Sort of bait and switch ?   

Right...so here's the deal. The "MSRP" is listed at $998 per person, so they are "giving" you 50% off which is $499. But that is still  per person , so the fare is $998. Add on $700 in port fees and taxes and $400 in beverage and dining gratuities, and voila! $2,100.

So is the second person really free? Well yes, if you look at it as 50% off of two passengers equals one person is free. But no, if you look at it as having to pay $499 twice. The website portrays both of these facts in a way that makes it look like you're getting 50% off  and  a $499 fare, but you're not.

I agree that other cruise lines (and other businesses) do this all the time. 25 years ago, there was a department store in upstate New York who got sued because they  always  marketed their products at some %% off "regular" price. The AG took them to court and argued that since the merchandise was never offered at the "regular" price, the regular price wasn't real, and they were engaging in false advertising. A judge agreed. I'm surprised no one has gone after the travel industry for that.

Regardless, as others have said, you need to get to the final price before you get excited about something that looks like a great deal.

MoCruiseFan

The 499.00 is the average per person double occupancy cruise fare only.  You still have port fees and taxes, and as you say you took the FAS offers which means you pay the gratuities on the drink and dining packages.  No bait and switch, you just failed to read the terms and conditions of the offer before jumping in.  Still 2104.00 for two people to sail a9-day cruise with open bar and specialty dining for however many days is not a bad deal.

wayne_trisha

3 hours ago, MoCruiseFan said:   The 499.00 is the average per person double occupancy cruise fare only.  You still have port fees and taxes, and as you say you took the FAS offers which means you pay the gratuities on the drink and dining packages.  No bait and switch, you just failed to read the terms and conditions of the offer before jumping in.  Still 2104.00 for two people to sail a9-day cruise with open bar and specialty dining for however many days is not a bad deal.

So when I looked at Escape before the "SCAM/sale" it was arounf $3400 for 2 people during spring break. During the sale when it was 2nd guest sails free $3500. Stright BS marketing but I guess some people do not know or are ignorant about how "SCAM/sales" work.

Lionkingrichard

Really 9 NCL cruises and 6k post?

They have been doing this when I started with NCL almost 6 years ago!

Don't fall for it people!

Skip the hype and look at the bottom line. Everything else is marketing bs. 

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