Explained Norwegian Cruise Line Free at Sea - Updated for 2024!
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- Опубликовано: 3 июл 2024
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In this video, we break down everything you need to know about Norwegian Cruise Line's Free at Sea program. Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or planning your first voyage, understanding "NCL Free at Sea can help you get the most value from your trip. Is it worth it? Will explain all the details in this video to see if you should opt for this popular promotion on your next Norwegian Cruise!
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Norwegian Cruise Line Free at Sea Explained
0:00 Introduction
0:55 The Basics of Norwegian’s Free at Sea Promotion
2:40 Free Unlimited Open Bar
4:23 Norwegian Specialty Dining Package
6:41 Free Shore Excursion Credit
7:47 Free WiFi Minutes
8:52 3rd and 4th Guests Sail Free
9:34 Free Airfare Offer
10:22 Norwegian Cruise Line Gratuities
10:52 The Costs of NCL Free at Sea
13:00 Picking Perks in Norwegian’s Free at Sea
15:58 Is NCL’s Free at Sea Worth it?
16:28 Upgrading to the Free at Sea Plus Package
19:17 Which Itineraries Qualify for Free at Sea
20:58 The One Perk We Have Never Tried
BASICS OF NORWEGIAN FREE AT SEA
Norwegian Cruise Line's Free at Sea is a popular promotion that offers guests free perks such as drink packages, specialty dining, WiFi, kids sail free (or 3rd & 4th guests sail free), and more. The number of perks varies based on the current sale and the stateroom category booked. Typically, guests can get up to 5 free perks, and occasionally up to 6 if airfare is part of the promotion.
Key Inclusions:
Free Unlimited Open Bar Package: This perk includes a variety of drinks and a 20% gratuity is added to all beverage packages.
Free Specialty Dining: Enjoy dining at NCL's specialty restaurants. This perk is available to the first two guests on the reservation.
Free Shore Excursions: A $50 credit per port for shore excursions.
Free WiFi: Complimentary minutes based on the length of the cruise.
Free 3rd and 4th Guests: Applicable on select sailings, allowing additional guests to sail free when sharing a stateroom.
Free Airfare for 2nd Guest: Available on select sailings, where the second guest flies for free when purchasing airfare for the first guest.
How to Maximize Your Benefits:
Choose Perks Wisely: Select perks based on your preferences and cruising style. For instance, the drink package is highly valuable if you consume alcoholic beverages.
Read the Fine Print: Terms and conditions can change, so always check the details at the time of booking.
Combine Offers: This promotion can often be combined with other offers, such as onboard credits or travel agent deals.
Limitations: Not all perks are available to all stateroom categories or sailing dates. Ensure you understand the limitations before booking.
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE FREE AT SEA PLUS
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea Plus is an upgraded version of the Free at Sea package, offering enhanced benefits for an additional fee of $49 per person per day.
Free at Sea Plus Perks
• Premium Plus Beverage Package for Guests 1 and 2
• Two Additional Specialty Dining Meals for Guests 1 and 2
• Additional $50 Shore Excursion Credit per Tour for Guest 2
• Unlimited WiFi (No Streaming) for Guests 1 and 2
If you plan to take full advantage of the Premium Plus beverage package and at least one other perk, the Free at Sea Plus package is likely a good deal.. However, sticking with the standard Free at Sea promotion might be more cost-effective if you only want one perk or are indifferent to the upgraded benefits.
Our Personal Experience:
We've enjoyed using the "Free at Sea" package on multiple cruises and found it to enhance our overall experience. The flexibility and value offered by the program make it a worthwhile addition to any Norwegian cruise.
#NorwegianFreeAtSea #CruiseTips # #NorwegianCruiseLine
LEARN MORE ABOUT Norwegian’s Free at Sea Back on the Blog
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Развлечения
I have sailed many times on NCL using both “Free at Sea” and “Free at Sea Plus” and I can attest that with both of these packages, the “flow” water carton bottles are included when obtained at the bars. One must sign a slip when getting these carton bottles but they’re not charged. Also, and this is particularly important with Cruises in both Hawaii and certain European waters, alcoholic beverages are subject to liquor taxes depending on where the ship is sailing. With Hawaii, if the Ship is docked in a Hawaiian Port at the time of an alcoholic drink purchase, a mandatory liquor tax is charged regardless of the drink package entitlements.
The taxes charged when in certain ports or within certain areas are going to be for ALL lines, just to be clear.. Has nothing to do with NCL. I still don't 100% buy that the flow cartons are included. I guess I'll check that out in December.
Thanks for the video. I'm a loyal guest to NCL and since free at sea promotion was offered first a long time ago, we always have booked it. For me, either cruising solo or with family/friends, free at sea package is a great value. Btw for me when cruising as solo traveller NCL does a great job - overall it is pioneer of solo cruising and has great deals.
The $20 daily gratuity term - minute 10:30 - is not correct. NCL calls it daily service charge per person. It will be automatically charged to onboard account, but can also be prepaid before cruise.
Note: All major cruise lines do have this daily kind of fee. Only amount may be different.
Very thorough...great job! 👍
Very informative
Great video, very thorough. In the past we have used the flying perk when it was free 2nd guest and we are flying across the country to take the cruise.
The Word free means free feeling, ot free as in money value!
This is a very complicated promotion in my opinion.
it's not. If you like to drink more than 2 drinks a day, take the free at sea.. If you dont, dont take it.
The free at sea is a heck of a lot cheaper than say RC drink package. For 3 of us this December on NCL for a week, the "free" beverage package will cost us $457 in gratuities. That's $150 / person.. That equals out to around $22 per person per day.. If you drink 2 drinks a day, it is worth it. My wife and I are going on a 4 night cruise with RC in april, and right now, for just the 2 of us, with tips and all, the drinks package is about $650. Probably not going to be worth it. So $450 for 3 for 7 days, or $650 for 2 for 4 days.. Plus it (ncl) does include 150 minutes of wifi for 1st 2 guests. Where we are in a club balcony for the first 2 guests, we also get 2 specialty dining each. The gratuities on that is $40 for 2 of us.. so $10 per special meal. And those that are saying "OH NCL is nickel and diming you to death" no they arent.. You do NOT have to take the free at sea stuff. You can happily pay per drink like every where else. You dont have to take the special dining etc etc. So please stop with the nickel and diming crap.. It's getting old.
Yes it is. That’s why we still think it’s a great value. Thanks for watching.
I upgraded to free at sea plus for $249. I get bottled water (which was my main reason), unlimited Starbucks, unlimited WiFi (which was my second reason), unlimited drinks… top shelf, 2 more specialty (3 total because I’m traveling solo)… I did not get any extra shore excursion credit.
That is on the NCL Epic in November.
This is for a 7 day cruise in a solo studio cabin. Idk… I felt like it was worth the extra $249 for the bottled water and the WiFi. The Starbucks is a plus… I don’t drink coffee but I love their refreshers!!!
I also got the free at sea plus mainly for the water. $250 for unlimited hard and soft beverages is a steal. I didn’t get the WiFi, but I got $50 off an excursion in each port and 4 specialty dining meals. I’m not cruising until 2026, but I’m so excited about the solo cabin.
Cruising solo and out of local ports, the reduced or free stuff for a second traveler doesn’t help me, but I think most people could benefit from that as well.
Me too. Had to upgrade just to get bottled water and unlimited wifi. I had never heard of a drink package that didn't include bottled water.
Does the unlimited WI-FI include streaming?
NCL’s Free at Sea program doesn’t seem very free to me. How about “Some Stuff is free, but you will have to Pay Additional Amounts above the limit - plus Gratuities at Sea” program?
I agree!
you dont have to take it and you are only paying tips on the price it would have cost you if you bought the package.
The one or two meals for free in specialty dining is about the same per person per meal as Royal Carribean, my average per meal averages just under 20$ each abg
you are about $10 per meal per person with the free at sea for special dining. So about 1/2 it sounds like.
NCL suite/haven best way to sail!
Yep, when cruising with family/friends The Haven - Garden Villa and/or Deluxe Owner's Suite are just amazing. When cruising as solo traveller, solo studio (incl solo lounge) is a must have.
They add about $300 to your tab for gratuities if you get the "Free at Sea" package....that's pretty annoying.
To explain for others:
$300 are gratuity for two guests normally for a 7 day cruise. So $150 per person means $21.43 per day for unlimited drinks on board and nothing else to pay.
If you don't have this package, you have to pay on board for each drink plus 20% gratuity for each drink.
If you don't want having booked drink package, just remove checkmark for drink package at booking procedure online or tell travel agent.
Free at sea plus upgrade for the 3rd person. Seems like they get nothing but better drinks??
Free is misleading as most are not technically free as when you select them, the fairs go up... that's not free!
I've heard they nickel and dime you to death. We were told to be prepared to spend lots of money.
So true.
The fair doesn’t go up, they do put the gratuities onto you cart to check out. I don’t drink alcohol, but the drinks package is still a great deal because I drink a lot of soda and juice. I also like the Virgin cocktails.
@@ReeceS6419 you are wrong.. If you want to enjoy the dining in the main dining room and the local / osheehans / the buffet and are good with what drinks are available for free ie: water, coffee, machine juices at the buffet you do not need to spend one more dime. I really dont know where people are coming up with "nickel and diming you to death" You dont have to take any extra.
@@DB-zp9un Thank you. We have no experience with cruises, so the negative feedback was concerning.
Nothing is free. It is included or not.
The Free at Sea drink package adds up to about $22 a day in gratuities. If you only have two drinks a day, it's not worth it. I found that the "low ball" airfare program is hardly worth it. You get the cheapest seats, at the worst times, with the cheapest airlines, with no upgrades. In 5 days, I'm flying for 3-1/2 hours, out to Seattle, for an Alaska cruise. 3-1/2 hours is a long time to spend in NCL provided, basic economy, when you are over six feet tall. Instead, I got a great deal to fly out First Class on Delta. I decided to hold off paying for the mandatory gratuities until after the cruise was over because I learned that if any of your excursions have to be cancelled, you are reimbursed with future cruise credit. This way, I can apply the credit to gratuities.
PS. I also have a three week Canal cruise with NCL booked for October, 2024. I also deleted their reduced fare airflight deal and used miles to book a United First Class ticket, on the way out.
@billkallas @all
The around $22 is per person in cabin per day - so in total around $150 for 7 days cruise per person and this $150 are charged with booking ($300 at double occupancy) and then there is nothing else to pay on board.
You are right, with just 2 drinks (depends on price of each) package might not be worth it.
But consider, with each price of drink (no matter, if alcohol or not) in bars/restaurants, there comes an additional 20% gratuity on top.
I would say if you have drinks a day, on a consistent basis for all of your guests, it WOULD be worth it, barely.
How does unlimited drinking package work for family with young children? Will they be charged the same amount of gratuities as 20% of the package value? Apparently they don’t drink alcohol so it seems like a bad value if they can’t opt out and just pay gratuity based on soda package.
Unlimited drink package is only for adults. You can opt out at booking. There is unlimited soda package onboard available, 20% gratuity (value of soda package). But there are lemonade/squash/water/icetea dispenser at buffet. Just bring own bottle and refill as much as you like without cost.
There was an odd reference to wine at dinner. Is wine by the glass at dinner included in the $109 package? I see that it includes 20% off wine by the bottle, but am specifically concerned about by the glass at dinner.
Wine by glass are included in the standard drink package.
@@Eatsleepcruise1 thanks....it just wqsn't clear if that included in the dining rooms.
So… I get $50 off excursions at every port? I thought it was just $50 off total.
Yes
Yup every port. 😊
We thought the same thing. Maybe the reservationist talked too fast through that part.🤷🏼♀️
Thanks!
Every port and every excursion you do.
This is very expensive and it seems after you have paid for your cruise, what you get is very basic. I am going soon and I already regret booking with this cruise line.
You only pay gratuities on drinks and dining if you don't opt out, but it is worth the money. If you want an all inclusive cruise, go on Viking, maybe $500 a DAY.
Have you freaking priced a royal drinks package? THEN come back and tell me how expensive the free at sea is... Go ahead, I'll wait right here.
I think the Free At Sea is very misleading. Excursions are definitely not free. $50.00 off one guests. Where is an excursion that costs $50.00? Free Wii again is not free. You’re limited on how many minutes. It would take me 3-4 minutes just to log on. I feel NCL still nickels and dime you to death!
Last November I was on a cruise to Mexican Riviera last year and there were about 6 excursions around 50-60$ - so as I'm mostly solo traveller when cruising, it was really a great value.
And with WiFi it took me only at first login/logout a bit longer to create/confirm password, but then it was just seconds for login/logout (with saved password on phone). And speed was fast - both on Bliss (November) and Spirit (November/December) - depends where you are on ship (for max speed watch out for the small router boxes on ceilings/walls).
NCL free at sea is totally misleading!
Just back from NCL Spirit
Double charge $40/pp fees and others cruise line $16/pp or $18/pp
Services are lower standard compared others lines.
@@masonzhang7635Even when you book special promotions or standard fares with other major cruise lines, this additional daily service charge (NCL 20$ per person per day, not per cabin) is applied to onboard account with nearly all lines. Only amount or term is different. If you read terms and conditions of free at sea promotion when booking, you can see exactly, what's included in this promotion. You find also information about daily service charge in FAQ and cruise contract. And you can also find information about daily service charge within your reservation number and you even can pay this charge before sail date. So, you are completely informed before your cruise.
Btw after coming back on cruising, a lot of major cruise lines have lowered service standards (for example steward attendants service just once a day). They all do still suffer from shutdown.
Note: Spirit is the smallest ship of NCL's fleet. You simply cannot have same ship fitting and things to experience like you have on larger or mega ships.
it is very clearly explained on their site. The excursion one is more of a "bonus" discount, never was meant to be free excursions. And again, you do not have to take the free at sea stuff.. You can opt out and not pay anything "extra" and have plenty of food and normal beverages ie: water coffee milk juices at buffet etc etc.
@@masonzhang7635 well if you got double charged, then you need to make sure that gets taken care of. Other than that it's shown how much the daily charges are.
This cruise line sounds very complicated. No thanks !
it's not.. this video makes it sounds hard. Do you like to have adult beverages? yes? more than 2 per day? yes? get the free at sea. It's really that easy.
Free??? Absolutely misleading use of the word! Crafty sales technique to siphon money from you.
Then dont take it lol.