fstuff1

I took some out to have cash while we were on shore. It was less expensive to pay the 3% than to pay the $5 ATM fee. The slots on the Gem are cash only and I presume it's the same for the table games.

cash only?!

geez.. when I was on royal carribean Alaska, the room card doubled as your cash card for slots. just enter your pin.

now I gotta bring loads of cash to this trip comped by my casino :(

SIGH

I'm going on my 1st NCL cruise (GEM) in sept.

I've read something about a 3% fee for taking out cash.

just wondering why you need cash while on the ship?

thought everything could be charged to your acct, including gambling?

I looked at my reservations again.

it's not $25/day obc.

it's a flat $25?!

doh!

uggg.. wanted to edit my OP but by the time I was done, the 20min time limit lapsed. and all that typing went to waste :(

anyway, I've only went on one cruise and that was on Royal carribean to Alaska. the way it worked there was that everything was changed to my shipboard acct:

mandatory tips, obc, gambling charges

then at the end of the trip, the balance was charged to the credit card linked to my acct.

it doesn't work like that on NCL?

from this thread:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2060543

I'm on the Gem for 7 days for Canada and NE this sept.

I have a $25/day obc.

I'm not going to be using the obc to be buying drinks.

my casino paid for my cruise thus i have a drink pass at the ship's casino.

What else can i use the obc for?

Could also relate to what is above it or below it or how close it is to an elevator.

10fl, the room is all the way forward, furthest from the elevators.

yes, less noise from the elevators. but a longer walk.

would have thought quiet and longer walk would cancel each other out?

Is it higher up on the ship?

 

location location location.

 

the higher you go-- even by one deck-- the more you will pay

 

I1 is a family inside-- it holds 4 people.

but it's the same square footage as a regular inside room -> 138 sq feet

so they're basically cramming more people in a same sized room and charging them more for the experience?!

thx!

There's a lot of good suggestions in this thread. Over the years I've stayed in all types of cabins, starting with an inside. It's really personal preference and your lifestyle. We had to leave the bathroom light on to get some light at night while in an inside cabin, I've heard of some bringing a night light. Didn't care for the inside as we didn't know if it was night or day. I personally can't see sleeping the day away while on a cruise, but to each their own... I'd go for at least a porthole, as others said, it's easier to wake up to the light of day. My wife and I also spend tons of time on our balcony. Nothing like it. If you're getting the cruise for free, $300 for a balcony upgrade is nothing considering what you unloaded in a casino to get a free cruise.

very true. I basically bought this trip w/the amount of $ lost to earn my reward tier level.

but I'm not a cruiser. the only reason I even looked into it is because it's free.

thx for the info about port holes and waking up to natural light

How much to upgrade to a balcony? :)

$300 per person. :eek:

since I'm going alone, $300 ;)

got a free NCL cruise from my casino.

they're giving me a I1 inside room which costs more than other inside rooms.

Why is it better? it's the same sq feet. and the location is Forward.

I can understand if it's in the middle of the ship, but its a long trek to breakfast in the back of the ship :(

So why is a I1 a better inside cabin?

I set my acct to weekly notifications, yet I still get an email for EACH reply.

why didn't it switch to weekly?

I guess you are OK with ignorance? I was not the first to bring up taxes. Why didn't you ask that person to leave?

 

I guess your OK with the spread of misinformation on this site.

 

I never responded to your posts so why get snotty with me and not the original person that brought up taxes?

soory.. this was page 2. I assumed you were the same person spewing tax guilt that was on page one.

if not, then I apologize.

I got a free cruise from my casino.

I'm going solo and booked a 7day cruise from nyc to Canada.

I got an 'upgraded' inside room (I1). it's located in the forward section. I have no idea why it's considered an upgraded room since its the same sq feet (138) as the rest of the inside rooms.

I can upgrade to an oceanview room for $80 more.

Worth it? Why?

Donray,

please leave my thread.

thank you

I'm more concerned w/medical evac.

hm.. Square Mouth lists Seven corners as cheapest at $9 for medical evac only. $300k coverage.

cheaper than the $29 from NCL directly.

Go 3rd party?

7day solo cruise on NCL Gem from NYC to Canada in Sept 2014.

it's free from my casino but I'm paying $350 in port fees + taxes.

if I don't go onto the trip, I only forfeit the port fee ($185). the taxes get refunded.

I also have my own health insurance.

when I booked my cruise via NCL, the lady on the phone said the trip insurance is $29. she said the major thing is being air lifted off the cruise ship which runs $10k+.

Worth it???

(I'm thinking no?)

One more to add to list:

 

Bermuda (New York -> Breakaway)

thx but that's not on my list of free cruises. (I asked)

:(

my casino is giving out free cruises to high tier card members.

I say 'free' because I have to pay $300 to $400 per person in port fees. :(

Destinations:

Alaska (Vancouver/Whittier -> Sun)

Bahamas (Miami )

Bahamas & Florida (New York -> Breakaway or Gem)

Bermuda (Boston ->Dawn)

Canada & NE (New York -> Gem)

Caribbean (Houston , Tampa , Miami or New Orleans )

Mexican Riviera (Los Angeles )

i can drive to NYC and park my car at my parents house so leaving from there is the obvious choice for minimum expenses.

So pro/cons of Bahamas and Canada?

or if you have other suggestions?

If you are a US citizen, Income taxes.

huh? whats that have to do w/what im talking about?

7 day nyc to Bahamas/FL.

there are 2 ships: Breakaway and Gem

Which one would you pick and why?

Please make sure there are no strings attached. You don't have to listen to a sails pitch etc.. And just a heads up, if you choose to accept this, you will have to pay taxes on it as well. :)

tax on what? the $600 price tag quoted on NCL's website?

Before committing, be sure the $300 is all you will have to pay. sometimes there are things like "booking charges", etc. Also, airfare is not included.

no mention of booking charges. I know airfare isnt included.

and the daily tip charge isn't included

No the quoted NCL price usually does NOT include port fees/taxes.

So your price is 1/3 of the price,

oh! :eek:

deals looks a little better now

Breakway is a great ship. And - most likely they won't put you in an inside - which is what the low price was for I'm sure. I had friends who got a free gambling cruise and they were put in a balcony.

I sailed on the may 11 sailing to Bermuda and really liked the ship.

the info I received the from the casino is inside cabin. upgrade to balcony is $300.

one of the benefits of being a higher tier rewards card member at my casino is a 'free' 7 day cruise on NCL.

but they're not paying the port taxes, which is $300 per person.

I priced it on NCL's website. from nyc to Bahamas+florida on the Breakaway, it's $600.

so the 'free' cruise is basically 50% off.

if it was free, i would jump all over this. but at 50% off, I'm on the fence.

(I'm going alone.)

Help me decide?