So, I am a Sapphire on NCL and a Ruby in the Casino's at Sea. The fees are just plain ridiculous. I was going to use my free cruise offer and my free cruise was going to cost $1100. I know it has been creeping up over the years but over a $500 jump from my last "free cruise". Also, I didn't get any of the "Less at Sea" offers since I get them with my Ruby and Sapphire perks. (meaning no added gratuities) All the reservation specialists can say is well this is a great deal because the room cost is "blah" if you were just booking it without the offer. This is my favorite type of vacation and have done many. I have been brand loyal for the last 10 years and have done 13 cruises in that time. You earn status and then they jack up all the fees and change program benefits to where you don't feel very important. I know I am just preaching to the choir. I just wish we could just band together and boycott cruising until they return the price to what it should be. They keep taking away services and raising service fees. Cruising has always been the best bang for the buck vacation, but you can do an all-inclusive for 10-12 days for less than a 7-day cruise anymore.
Free cruise LOL!
2 Answers
I’m Platinum with NCL. My knee is Titanium, my crown (tooth) is gold. My beard is silver. I find a lot of copper with my metal detector. Hoping to complete all of the precious metals someday. By then I figure on collecting the Nobel gasses, though I already have a good start on those.
I am unfamiliar with the NCL perks, that being said, I do enjoy some from Princess. It has been my experience that while some rooms are free, all the taxes and fees still apply. The same goes for my casino credits, once I'm paid up them I get a certain credits for the casino. Recently, we have been pre-paying all gratuities and packages, that makes a bit of a difference as well.
Yes, I also found that All-Inclusive can sometimes be cheaper. That is why we trade off on our choices.