Cruising Extra Charges? Are They Necessary? | Norwegian Bliss
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- Опубликовано: 16 окт 2024
- NCL is the king of upcharges on their ships and I wonder if they are necessary. Do you need to spend extra money on your cruise? I feel like a cruise should be cheaper if there things that are not included with the cruise fare (not including specialty dining). For me, I typically only cruise on NCL when the sailing is discounted so I can account for the extra charges I will encounter on the ship.
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A Little About Sean & Stef:
I'm Stef and together with my husband Sean, we started this channel to document our travels around the world. Sadly, Sean passed away from cancer in 2021 but the one thing he made me promise him was that I would continue to travel. So that is what I am doing. I am learning through every painful new, solo adventure, there is joy and hope. Here's to all the new experiences that are out there awaiting US (cause Sean will always be by my side)!
I love the laid back vibe of NCL and the "free at sea" package is generally enough for us. We have done some of the upcharge things, but we've scaled that back after trying them. I have done the math and all the lines cost about the same if you get all the things in free at sea. If you don't need or want those things it is probably cheaper to sail another line. We like having everything paid before we go so the all inclusive feel of NCL suits us. People like to bash them, but we've had good experiences with them. The Bliss was my first. Love that ship!
Totally agree and you are absolutely right about the cost. For me and because of the extra charges that I know come from sailing with Norwegian, I only sail NCL when the cost is so low you can’t say no. That way I can still enjoy all the extras and not feel like I paid to much
Im so glad that you got to travel with Ben and David. You guys always look like you have so much fun together. I always enjoy watching your videos, they are so detailed. Thanks for sharing
I love your energy and your enthusiasm. Watching you makes me smile.
I love sitting on the balcony and read a book and chill - the ocean sounds are so calming!!
So glad your still doing what you love. ❤
Thank you for addressing this! A lot of folks kinda dance around it. I also like how you encourage folks to really think about what they're into for the cruise. 👍
My problem with NCL upcharges is that everyone in the room have to have the same drinks package. That makes it much harder to justify the expense, but I would have liked the Starbucks, but couldn't justify it cause I was the only one that would have wanted it. If they are going to charge for all the extras, they should allow for differences with in the cabin. I'm so glad you're enjoying yourself!! I was just on the Bliss this past December.
Cruisers should be allowed to have one drink package per room but with a drink limit of say 15 drinks per day per room. My wife and I had the drink package included as one of the "perks" (gratuities included) and there's no way in h*ll that we could drink enough to make it worth our while if we had purchased it separately. And then you have to eat on top of that which destroys the buzz anyway. Overall not a very comfortable feeling, being full of liquid all the time. Best to buy the odd drink outright and pay the gratuity. I'd be happy with just a drink before dinner and maybe one at dinner.
can i just say how Happy we are to see you out an about Looking Really Good and enjoying LIFE , Keep Going Stef ,✝🛐❤
Thanks for the very kind words. I love that I am traveling again ❤️
Balconies are the best! Great to see the smile and your creative side is in full view.
Upcharges are so dangerous. You can get carried away so easily with all the temptation! Thanks for this video. :D
I can feel Sean with you, especially when you say Good Evening, Good Evening
Thanks for the video Stef explaining the upcharges x❤
Hi Stephanie . My name is Maria. I will be seeing you on NCL the breakaways on January 29. My husband and I love watching your videos. Looking forward taking a picture with you. God bless you
Lovely to see you Great video. Looks like you had a fantastic time 😅
Shame so many changes & extra cost . The view from your Balcony wauw. I could watch that all day 😜
We sailed the Bliss without adding any up charges. With the included packages only we had a great cruise. We would not buy a drink package but did enjoy the included one.
I agree that upcharges keep the crowds down, but NCL charges a premium to begin with, so it’s twice as painful to have to pay extra for things in their ships. Plus they got rid of Pepsi (how dare they!)…😂. Glad you had fun!!!!
Bring back PEPSI NCL!!!! Sorry had to get that one out 😂 I agree with you about the prices of the lines. I only sail Norwegian now on a sale to make up for those costs
DO THEY HAVE DIET COKE
@@sherylshepherd1138 they do have Diet Coke. They changed over from Pepsi
I was so excited when I booked my cruise-they had Pepsi products… now I find they change to Coke, so bummed 😢
Where can I find information on the free at sea plus? Do I need to call my PCC?
Yes but RC never does the free at sea....and also has a lot of things they upcharge for as you mentioned ie..restaurants, starbucks, dessert shops/ice cream shops. I also love how NCL treats all suite guest the same but RC has different perks depending on the suite level. I guess you find the good and bad on all the lines. You always have the best attitude and the best smile, I love watching your videos because you remind me why I love cruising all the time.
The extra charges are ridiculous. My wife and I were in the Haven on the GA last week. We had 3 meals of speciality dining. We ate at LeBistro and they had an uncharge of $10 on the filet. The ironic thing is I could have just passed on the meal and eaten in the Haven restaurant, gotten a better and larger piece of meat without paying $10
Oh my!!! Two weeks in a row. Lunch with Stef!! NCL is over the top with up charges for everything. Totally agree about sleeping on the balcony. It's the best, so calming! Fun day for sure. I haven't done the go carts. ( being able to get in wouldn't be the problem, however getting up and out might be). Lol. Thank you for all you do to bring us along with you. Have a great weekend 💖💖
Hehe, yay for lunch. Hope it was good 😁 NCL really is the king of upcharges. I only sail with them if the price is cheap because of that. And OMG, having a balcony was so nice. I felt so spoiled having the door open and hearing the sounds. The go karts are really fun but yeah, getting in an out isn’t the easiest. Thanks so much for watching 😊
I agree with you I don't have a problem with up-charges for extra kinds of things, like for example the go carts since I would not use them, but if it was included I would be paying for it. The other side is also with the go-carts if it was included, good luck ever getting on without an insane line.
Hi Step love your channel and sorry for your loss, it took me a long time to watch your channel shows all the way to the end after Sean passed , because I am also recently widowed and also recently started cruising by myself It's one of the hardest things I ever done that being said I'd like to know if the Sophie that you Speak of is Ben and David's sister-in-law if it is I wish she would show her face more she is a beautiful person inside and out,I actually met all of them on my first cruise (on the Harmony of the Sea )without my wife, what a wonderful group of people you fit right in. I also wish I could meet you one day keep up the good work and God bless
I agree with you. Only paying for what you want is ok. I done buy Starbucks more do kid rides anymore. I like the destinations, food and drinks, so that is what I buy. I like that about NCL.
We did Whale watch in Cabo and it was absolutely wonderful even saw a mama and baby jumping out of the water 🌊
That’s AMAZING!!!!!!! I was so impressed by the wildlife I saw on this cruise. We don’t get that on the east coast
I luv NCL !! I won't go on any other cruise ship. Ship always look great, best food and 🍹🍻 and entertainment. Always get Vibe passes. Great video Stef
Great vid. Going on Bliss to Mexico in a year, can't wait!!!
Awesome!!! Hope you have a great cruise!
The salted caramel cream cold brew is my favorite too!
Cruising is like booking a hotel/resort with some meals included, transportation to each port, and some activities, shows, events, games, etc. You'll pay for your drinks, other not included restaurants plus tips, Wi-Fi, other activities, tipping housekeeping, spas, etc. That is what to expect. Except for gratuities, you do not need to spend even 1 penny, and even those can be paid in advance. 😀😀
We were on Bliss in Alaska and it was nice. It will be interesting to hear what your thoughts are on the Prima which we just on recently. The cabin on Prima was one of the nicest we've ever had on any ship throughout all the years and visually the interior of the ship was very nice, BUT... functionally we thought the ship was a failure and one of our least favorite so it will be interesting to hear your thoughts and experiences.
We have noticed NCL has become the king of upcharges too. We sailed back in October in Europe and we felt like we were being nickeled and dimed for the 11 days we sailed.
What a wonderful time you appear to be having. I would rather bundle everything into the cruise fare, and use what I like. I enjoyed Princess with their "Princess Plus" package (wifi-drinks-gratuities) because then I could relax and not worry about the "extra charges " at the end of the cruise. Going on MSC next month, and my booking got me a balcony for the price of an inside. Great bargain, then the add on's started.....sigh...not a bargain anymore.
A whale!!! The sunset!!!!!!!!! What highlights. You’ve sold me on the unlimited Starbucks 😂😂
Thanks for these videos. Super helpful. Can we buy unlimited race rides?
Thanks for watching. Yes, there is an unlimited ride pass. Check with the crew when you make a reservation on the first day. They should be able to help you out
Royal charges for internet and drink package is 500. Or more
Also drink packages is up charge for coffee
There are absolutely a lot of upcharges, but as an NCL client I'd rather the upcharges than the higher prices of RCCL. I bought the premium plus on my upcoming NCL Bliss cruise cause I would want unlimited Wifi, and I will make sure of the upgraded wines and dining credits (no shore excursion bonus as I am sailing solo)
As for other upcharges such as say the go karts, galaxy pavillion, laser tag, escape room etc, I don't mind them charging for that at all as I spend my cruise time next to the pool when at sea.
Exactly. I’d rather the people using it pay up charges for their activities instead of including junk in my cruise fee I would never use.
Well said, it's included and not-included not "paid" and "free". I'm happy with them keeping the non-included items if it keeps the initial cruise costs down. I'll add the extras as I see the need and have the budget to do so.
Thank you for saying that about free vs included. There really is a difference. And yes, I agree that the cruise costs should be lower if things are not included. I only sail on NCL if it’s a good deal now because of that
You should try Regent which is owned by Norwegian Everything is included. Lots of extras
So genuinely pleased to see you out and about enjoying yourself, Stef, doing what you love, cruising 🛳 and making travel vlogs. Loved your take off of Sean with the hand gestures that Sean was famous for. Take care keep going Stef, know that you are so loved. 🫂🫂🫂🫂🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗 some upcharges in bundles is good, but some are just there for a money making scheme. Unlimited use of things fabulous. Byeee Stef
Thank for the kind words Matt ❤️ and totally agree with you about some of the upcharges being there just to make money. I think it catches a lot of new cruisers and that’s why they do it
Oh, “Everything “ on Royal is most definitely NOT included! A lot of premium features are not always free!
Thank you for sharing
We always have to get the unlimited streaming Wi-Fi too, so thanks for the tip about doing the free at sea plus instead
The plus package is a great deal if you need unlimited internet
Where can I find the “Free at sea plus” offered , all I can find is a la carte options nothing bundled for internet, starbucks and water- leaving in a week- ugh!
@@jilllambertus8052 it’s too late for that if you’re leaving in a week!
@@jilllambertus8052 try calling NCL and seeing if the package is available
My 1st ncl coming up 2024 mediterranean. We have 8 ports in 11 days. Thanks for info. I am still debating on upcharging to premium
A Med cruise sounds amazing and LOVE that you have so many ports. With that many ports, I probably wouldn’t get the plus package because I wouldn’t be on the ship to use it enough. For me, I would sit down and work out the cost per day to see if it was worth it. Have a great time!!
I will upcharge for Carnival's Jungle Java when I want a Carribean Coffee.
The "Free" stuff I'd have to compare the "taxes and service fees" that you still have to pay for. We normally only pay for wifi and prepay gratuities. lol I'd YELL get out of the way, just like driving on the freeway. Move Bish, get out the way. Aggressive yes, but I'm not road rage aggressive. You are absolutely correct that upcharges have to work for the person/family. It's not one fit for all.
Agree totally with you Stef. Vacation the way you want to make you happy. You're looking great. Leave Sunday 1/22/23 for a 49 day cruise aboard the Bliss (Mexican Riviera, LA to Miami Full Panama Transit, Western Caribbean, Western Caribbean, and return on a full Panama Canal Transit Miami to LA. Diamond Member so the free specialty dining, free weekly laundry, free wine tastings, free mixology events, excursion credits and discounts, and priority embarkation, disembarkation, dining and show reservations, as well as all the free at sea perks (unlimited alcoholic beverages for only $21 a day for gratuities is an enormous savings). People need to remember that ALL the cruise lines are in business to make money and after two years of no income due to the pandemic are all trying to generate additional revenues anyway they can in order to stay in business.
Are you related to Ben & David ? I’m certain we just saw you in their NCL Bliss video ??
I haven't sailed NCL since 12/2019 with the pandemic, but it killed me. We were Platinum Plus at the time and our free meal voucher covered entrees up to $35. I wanted the lamb which was like $37, and they actually charged me the $2+18%. I mean .... i got better and more lamb at the time on land for $30. That left a bad taste.
Thanks for the video Stef and I appreciate your thoughts on all this. Hubby and I are considering upgrading to the Plus Package for our Alaskan Cruise in May. Our only concern is the quality of the internet. Yeah, it's unlimited, but is it reliable? Will it work when we want to use it? LOL Do you have any thoughts or experience with the quality of the internet? Thanks so much!
I think the internet was good for internet at sea. I was able to post videos to social media without any problem from my cabin and from around the ship. I have noticed on ships in general, there are spots where the internet is slower but I didn’t encounter that on the Bliss. I also had to upload work stuff from my cabin and that didn’t have any issues either. Don’t expect land speeds but I thought the internet was decent enough for being in the middle of the ocean. Hope you have a great time in Alaska!! Happy Cruising!
Thank you entertaining as always 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Thanks so much for watching
I'm new to crusing and haven't heard of bidding for upgrades. How dose this work? New to your channel after seeing you with Ben and David.
This is a great question. I was unsure how this worked until I did it. If a cruise is not sold out, the cruise lines now offer a way to upgrade by paying for it. It becomes like a silent auction. You are offered different cabin types that you can place a monetary bid on. I booked an solo studio cabin on Bliss and I had the opportunity to bid on an inside, oceanview and balcony cabin upgrade. If you booked in a balcony cabin, you will get higher cabin upgrades available like suites. The upgraded cabins then allow you to put down a value of money that you are willing to pay. You enter in the dollar amount and a credit card number. If your bid is accepted by the cruise line, your credit card is charged that amount. If it is not accepted, you are not charged and you will remain in the original cabin that you purchased. I put in the minimum bid (which was $100/pp which comes to $200 for double occupancy) and that bid was accepted by NCL and I was assigned a new cabin. Keep in mind that the amount you bid will be charged double because of occupancy and you do not get to pick your location. I don’t mind any cabin on the ship and if I can get a balcony cabin for almost 75% off the original asking price, I am happy. Hope that helps
@Sean & Stef such great info!! And quick reply. Shouldn't you be sleeping...😆, Thanks! (Down a rabbit hole middle of the night, just watched your NCL Bliss series from California)
Truly enjoying your videos, heading out next week, can’t find the bundled package you mentioned, is it still being offered? I can only find “premium plus beverage package” - does that come with the internet - we need the internet and water but would love me some starbucks and premium drinks if I can bundle them all . - 🙏🏼 Thank you for you guidance and grace as you have faced a rough loss. 💗
Hi Jill, if you can’t see the bundled package, I would give NCL a call. They would be able to tell you if it is no longer being offered. For me, the package was located on the “upgrade cabin” page. It was right below the offers to make an upgrade. I added the package from that screen so I don’t know where it would be on the regular NCL menu. Calling should help sort it out
Just curious as to why you do so little filming around the ship? Most of the cruise vloggers I follow film meals, entertainment, etc. Most of your content is the cabin or empty hallways.
I did film the meals and I talked about them outside of Food Republic in this episode. When I am by myself, I have the camera at the table but I was with a group of people on this cruise and I wanted to be respectful so I didn’t talk about the food at the table. For entertainment, NCL has a strict no filming policy with their shows. I respect the rules of the ship and I do not record when I am told not to. If I do not record it, I do not typically talk about it because I don’t have anything to show. For this vid, I actually started talking in Starbucks and then I was on the go kart track and then yes, I was in the cabin to relax. The video does end with me in the cabin because that is the format I have used in all of our videos. Most of the time I recap the day but on this specific video I was sharing more of my thoughts about upcharges on NCL. My format is not everyone’s cup of tea but that’s the great thing about youtube, there is something for everyone
Everything is NOT all included on Royal Caribbean. That’s just a false statement. The examples you mentioned (bid up, premium internet, Starbucks, many attractions, etc) are all extra charge on Royal Caribbean as well.
I never said everything was included on Royal. The only thing I mentioned on Royal were the activities. Those are complimentary vs the activities on NCL have a charge. I mentioned that because like I also said, cruise prices reflect those included things, which is another reason why Royal prices are a bit higher than NCL (not the only reason but one of them). I still stand by the fact that once you are on the ship, NCL is the king of upcharges
I am a NCL cruiser, they nickel and dime more than rcl but not as much as she make it in this video.
I simply pointed out the upcharges and the only comparison to Royal was in regards to the activities. The activities are included with Royal where NCL charges
@@seanandstef not throwing rocks at you, i just stated that all cruise lines upcharge NCL just does it a little more.
Free at see is an up charge? I’m confused
You pay taxes and gratuity for your "free booze" "free specialty dining", etc. A couple hundred dollars at least pp depending on length of cruise. If you plan to have a couple cocktails or more per day it's worth it. Also on the NCL private island in the Bahamas, the drink package extends there so you can really live it up! The specialty dining is so good and totally worth it. Sadly they decreased it to 2 specialty dining (from 3) on a 7 day cruise after the pandemic. The longer the cruise, the more specialty dining you get. Your Cruise consultant or your travel agent can price all that out for you. NCL is my favorite cruise line honestly. I love the layout of their Breakaway and Breakaway Plus class ships. And the waterfront is the best!!!
I think Royal Caribbean is the worst with up charging, and much more pricey than NCL. And other lines do not have the highlight activities like laser tag and race track. Overall I enjoy NCL (and Princess and Celebrity)…😉
Another amazing video! Your explaining the up charges compared to other cruise lines made a lot of sense! We are NCL cruisers, and our favorite ship is the Bliss! ❤ great job Stef!
NCL like all the big American lines like to nickel and dime for everything it is such a shame and wouldn’t be so bad if the fairs were good value to start with but we love there laid back free at sea just a big shame about nickel and dime everything
Could not agree more. Love NCL’s cruising style but the extra charges get a bit frustrating
❤ It does add up for sure. Planning is important. . WIFI IS $$ a have to for a creator for sure. Thanks for the information 👍
Hello Stef so great to see you having a great cruise. Thanks for giving your opinion in regards to upgrades. Great to see your competitive side come out. Continue doing what your doing as seeing your smile is always wonderful. Also glad to see Sean Bear is always with you xoxo
NCL is no longer a value for us.
I hear this a lot of NCL. With all the extra charges, I only sail when the price is so cheap you can’t refuse