Desire a extra inclusive expertise on a big cruise ship stuffed with eating decisions and actions? If that’s the case, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea promotion is perhaps simply the ticket. This promo gives a variety of “free” perks to company primarily based on the size of their cruise and the stateroom class booked … however what does the tremendous print say? Are the perks actually free?
On this piece, we’re diving into the whole lot you have to learn about Norwegian’s Free at Sea promotion so there aren’t any surprises when it comes time to e book your cruise.
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Overview of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea promotion
Norwegian’s Free at Sea promotion provides company a number of perks coated by the cruise fare, with the quantity typically dependent upon the size of the cruise and the stateroom class chosen.
The selection of perks sometimes modifications, however Norwegian usually provides the next 5: a free drinks package deal, free specialty eating, free shore excursions, free Wi-Fi and free third and fourth company in a cabin. Sometimes, free airfare or a 50% air credit score for the second particular person in a cabin can be a Free at Sea possibility.
The Free at Sea promotion runs nearly continuously, with the precise inclusions various relying on which model of the promotion NCL is operating on the time. At present, you’ll be able to e book and obtain the entire Free at Sea perks, although you’ll be able to decline any you don’t want to obtain.
Beforehand, you would select the variety of Free at Sea perks primarily based in your cabin class. For instance, should you booked a studio or inside cabin, you would solely select one perk. Oceanviews, balconies and minisuites might decide a couple of, whereas suites and The Haven staterooms obtained all perks. This model of the deal might come again, however we have been seeing it much less continuously than we used to.
Notice that this promotion solely applies to voyages three nights or longer, and all passengers sharing a cabin should select the identical provides (if there’s a alternative). These reserving a “Sail Away” (assure) cabin are ineligible for Free at Sea. Constitution sailings are ineligible as nicely.
What’s included in NCL’s Free at Sea promotion?
Let’s check out what every Free at Sea perk entails and dive into the tremendous print, so you realize precisely what you might be (and are not) getting.
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Free Limitless Open Bar package deal
The Limitless Open Bar Package deal is Norwegian Cruise Line’s base drinks package deal. The drinks package deal usually prices $109 per particular person, per day, plus a 20% gratuity, so it’s by far the most well-liked perk chosen with the Free at Sea promotion (when a alternative is obtainable).
The package deal contains limitless soda and juice, beer and wine by the glass price beneath $15, and choose premium cocktails and spirits price beneath $15. A 20% low cost applies to bottles of wine and Champagne, wine and spirit experiences, tastings and flights bought on board.
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The package deal doesn’t embrace Starbucks, ice bars, room service, bottled water, beer buckets, designated “tremendous” premium manufacturers, minibar purchases, freshly squeezed juices, wine dispensers or vitality drinks.
This is what you have to know earlier than you select a beverage package deal as certainly one of your Free at Sea provides: It is probably not “free.” You continue to must pay the 20% gratuity on the total worth of the package deal. Because of this should you’re 21 or older, you may must pay $21.80 per particular person, per day for “free” drinks. (That is $152.60 for a seven-night crusing.) Should you’re the primary or second visitor in a cabin and beneath 21 (that means you’ve gotten the soda package deal), you have to pay $1.59 per particular person, per day.
Should you drink alcohol and plan to get pleasure from it throughout your cruise, chances are high good that selecting this perk might be nicely well worth the every day gratuity you are charged. Should you do not assume you may drink $22 price of extra-fee drinks, alcoholic or not, per day, select one other perk or flat-out decline this Free at Sea supply. You will find yourself saving cash in the long term.
High quality print
The drink packages lengthen to Norwegian Cruise Line’s non-public island within the Bahamas, Nice Stirrup Cay. They don’t lengthen to the road’s non-public vacation spot in Belize, Harvest Caye.
This Free at Sea perk is offered to the primary via eighth company on a reservation who’re ages 21 and older. If the primary and/or second visitor in a cabin is beneath 21, they are going to obtain Norwegian Cruise Line’s Limitless Soda Package deal (valued at $9.95 per particular person, per day) as a substitution. If further company and past are beneath 21, they won’t obtain a substitution for this perk. Should you’re 21 or older however don’t drink, you can not go for the soda package deal as a substitute.
Free specialty eating
With the free specialty eating Free at Sea perk, you may get an included eating package deal, which helps you to dine in a number of specialty eating places with out having to pay the per-person price and with out having to purchase the package deal individually.
By means of Free at Sea, the eating package deal applies to the primary and second company on a reservation who should be at the very least 2 years previous. This is a breakdown of what number of specialty restaurant meals you get should you select this perk, primarily based on the size of the cruise and the cabin class you’ve gotten.
You’re topic to a 20% gratuity (primarily based on NCL’s evaluation of the package deal’s worth), in order with the beverage package deal, the package deal is not technically “free.”
- Three- to six-night cruise, any cabin: one meal ($59 worth, $11.80 gratuity/package deal)
- Seven- to 11-night cruise, studio, inside or oceanview cabin: one meal ($59 worth, $11.80 gratuity/package deal)
- Seven- to 11-night cruise, balcony cabin or above: two meals ($99 worth, $19.80 gratuity/package deal)
- Twelve-night cruise or longer, studio, inside or oceanview cabin: two meals ($99 worth, $19.80 gratuity/package deal)
- Twelve-night cruise or longer, balcony cabin or above: three meals ($139 worth, $27.80 gratuity/package deal)
Eating places that you should use your specialty eating perk towards embrace Cagney’s Steakhouse, La Cucina, Meals Republic, Le Bistro, Moderno Churrascaria, Q Texas Smokehouse, Teppanyaki, Los Lobos, Ocean Blue, Bayamo and Onda by Scarpetta.
High quality print
At a la carte eating places, the eating package deal limits you to at least one appetizer, one soup or salad, one predominant course and one dessert. At Cagney’s and Le Bistro, you might be additionally restricted to at least one predominant course per particular person (along with starters and desserts). Extra predominant programs are charged on the a la carte menu value.
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Harvest Caye eating places, The Bake Store, the Ice Cream Bar, gelato, specialty gadgets within the Asian restaurant, Jazz Brunch, and Wine Lovers and Homicide Thriller lunches are usually not included as a part of the specialty eating packages.
Free shore excursions
Should you plan to e book shore excursions via the cruise line, this perk will probably be nicely price it.
You do not essentially get free excursions, although. As an alternative, you get a $50 shore tour credit score for the primary visitor on the cruise reservation in every port. In contrast to some Free at Sea provides, this perk doesn’t apply to the second visitor. If the tour prices lower than $50, no refund is issued. If it prices greater than $50, you have to pay the distinction.
High quality print
The credit score doesn’t apply to Nice Stirrup Cay and Harvest Caye gear leases. Pre-cruise and post-cruise land excursions, non-public excursions and customized shore excursions are usually not eligible for this promotion; nonetheless, group debarkation-day excursions are eligible. The primary visitor might redeem the $50 credit score on multiple shore tour per port however not tickets for them and a journey companion on the identical tour.
If a port name or shore tour is canceled, you may be refunded the quantity you paid. Because of this in case your shore tour prices greater than $50, you may solely be refunded the quantity you paid above $50; you will not be refunded for the credit score.
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Free Wi-Fi
The free Wi-Fi perk doesn’t offer you limitless web entry for all the cruise. As an alternative, you get a variety of free minutes, relying on the size of your crusing.
For a voyage that is three to 6 nights lengthy, you get 75 minutes of web per particular person. Seven- to 11-night cruises embrace 150 minutes of web per particular person, whereas 12-night or longer sailings embrace 300 minutes of web per particular person. Selecting Wi-Fi as certainly one of your Free at Sea provides is definitely free, because it contains the activation charge.
This supply applies to the primary and second company in a stateroom. Two logins are supplied per stateroom, with every package deal ready for use on one system at a time. It doesn’t permit for streaming.
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Should you assume you may want extra web, you’ll be able to improve to Limitless Wi-Fi or Limitless Premium Wi-Fi (with streaming) for a reduced value as in comparison with the outright price of these web packages. This low cost is because of a “credit score” of the worth of the minutes which might be included in Free at Sea.
Free third and 4th passengers in a cabin
This perk isn’t accessible on each crusing, so verify earlier than you e book should you want to make the most of this freebie. Voyages throughout fashionable household cruise instances (resembling college breaks and summer time) won’t often have this perk as an possibility.
The third and fourth company staying in a cabin will both be free or pay $99 every with the primary two company paying full fare. No deposit is required for the third and fourth company, however they do must pay taxes and port charges. The precise cost for these taxes and charges varies primarily based on the cruise size and itinerary however will be over $200 per particular person on some seven-day voyages.
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If there are 5 to eight passengers on a reservation, these further company are required to pay the prevailing fares.
Can I choose out of Free at Sea?
In case your cruise reserving comes with extra Free at Sea perks than you need, you wouldn’t have to decide on the quantity you might be allotted; you’ll be able to decline all or any Free at Sea perks. For instance, in case your reserving contains all present Free at Sea provides, however you realize you will not drink sufficient soda, specialty drinks or alcohol to warrant the every day gratuity on the Free Open Bar package deal, you’ll be able to decline that perk altogether.
Should you select to say no perks, keep in mind that you may’t switch them to anybody else and will not obtain any financial worth for giving them up.
Vacationers on a good funds who do not feel the necessity to make the most of the Free at Sea perks can even think about reserving a “Sail Away” (assure) cabin. Reserving a assure cabin means selecting a cabin class however not a particular cabin on the ship. Nearer to the sail date, the cruise line will assign you a cabin inside the chosen class. Assure cabins are cheaper than reserving a particular stateroom and are excluded from the Free at Sea promotion.
What’s Free at Sea Plus?
If you need much more perks, you’ll be able to improve to Free at Sea Plus for $49 per particular person, per day. If the second visitor is a toddler, their improve is $29 per day.
This is what you get with Free at Sea Plus:
- The Limitless Open Bar Package deal is upgraded to the Premium Plus Beverage Package deal. It contains all top-shelf cocktails and spirits; all beer, Champagne and wine by the glass; limitless soda and juice; limitless nonetheless and glowing bottled water; all Starbucks espresso and specialty drinks; and vitality drinks. It additionally contains choose premium bottles of wine and Champagne with dinner, in addition to 40% off all different bottles.
- Two further specialty eating meals for the primary and second company
- A shore tour credit score of $50 for the second visitor
- Limitless Wi-Fi (no streaming) for the primary and second company
The third visitor on a reservation and past should buy the Premium Plus Beverage Package deal if the primary and second company buy Free at Sea Plus. They obtain it at a decreased charge of $34.80 per particular person, per day, together with gratuity.
If the second visitor is a toddler, they get the identical perks aside from the Premium Plus Beverage Package deal; they’d nonetheless obtain the soda package deal.
Friends who improve to Free at Sea Plus can improve their limitless Wi-Fi package deal to incorporate streaming for an extra $10 per particular person, per day (relevant to the primary and second company solely).
Regularly requested questions on NCL’s Free at Sea
Nonetheless have a query about Free at Sea that hasn’t been coated but? We handle further issues under.
Does Free at Sea embrace every day gratuities?
Does Free at Sea embrace airfare?
Sometimes, one of many Free at Sea perks is free airfare for the second visitor on a reservation when the primary visitor additionally books airfare via Norwegian Cruise Line. This supply applies to seven-night or longer voyages and gives financial system, round-trip flights from choose departure gateways.
Solo vacationers paying 200% of the voyage fare qualify without spending a dime airfare when provided. You aren’t eligible for the free air promotion should you e book on the final minute (reservations should be made greater than 110 days previous to crusing to qualify) or should you select a Sail Away (assure) cabin.
If contemplating this perk, take into account that selecting it places your air journey preparations within the arms of Norwegian Cruise Line. Whereas the flights they select could also be handy and what you’d select your self, they might additionally contain less-than-ideal timing, routing and layovers that you would keep away from by reserving your individual air journey.
Whereas it is a perk to think about if you would like the cruise line to deal with as a lot of your trip as attainable otherwise you’re seeking to save on flights, it is not one we might suggest you select.
Do Pleasure of America cruises supply the identical perks?
Hawaii voyages aboard NCL’s Honolulu-based ship, Pleasure of America, supply the identical Free at Sea inclusions however have a beverage package deal perk that is a bit totally different from the standard Free at Sea Open Bar package deal.
The Hawaii Beverage Package deal perk applies to the primary via eighth company on the reservation and contains a wide range of drinks price as much as $15. Those that select this perk should pay the gratuities, that are $19.80 per particular person, per day. The retail worth of the Hawaii Beverage Package deal is $99 per particular person, per day.
The phrases and circumstances say, “The acquisition of any alcoholic drinks inside the Hawaii Beverage Package deal might, in sure particular person circumstances, be restricted in accordance with Hawaii’s Intoxicating Liquor Legislation and relevant native guidelines and laws.”
Along with alcoholic drinks, the Hawaii package deal contains fountain soda, contemporary juice, bottled water, nonalcoholic beer and specialty espresso ordered within the eating rooms solely. It would not embrace specialty espresso outdoors the eating places, room service, minibar purchases or merchandising machine purchases.
The principle distinction between the Hawaii Beverage Package deal and NCL’s regular beverage package deal is that the Hawaii package deal contains specialty espresso in the primary eating rooms whereas the conventional one doesn’t.
What else should I do know concerning the NCL’s Free at Sea promotion?
Listed below are some phrases and circumstances of the Free at Sea promotion:
- Free at Sea choices should be chosen at the very least 24 hours previous to crusing and can’t be modified as soon as on board.
- For bookings made inside 24 hours of departure, Free at Sea perks are chosen on the time of reserving.
- Solo vacationers paying 200% of the per-person voyage fare qualify for Free at Sea.
- Free at Sea is a cruise-only supply — it doesn’t apply to the land portion of Cruisetours.
Backside line
Should you e book a particular cabin with Norwegian Cruise Line, some type of the Free at Sea promotion is nearly assured to be included in your reservation. Free at Sea is a good worth should you plan to completely make the most of every perk. If some inclusions give you the results you want however others don’t, rigorously think about whether or not the worth is price the price (i.e., gratuities). Do not be afraid to say no any perks you don’t need.
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