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FYI, I used the ATM this month, $5.50, so depending on amount withdrawn, can be lower or higher than the 3% fee.

On NCL as of last week, still live dealers. :)

If the comp is for an ocean view, can't you just get the UBP? If not, only people in the same cabin get the on us card.

Didn't get the whole list, but Julie was CD on the Breakaway this past week.

I would push for the drink card before you go since you had more than 5,000 points on your last cruise with them......I have had success on each of me "comp" cruises directly from Carnival.

My March 15 trip on the Epic still provided bottled water with the House card.

I usually bring gifts. Chocolates from my home town.....seems like the whole crew gets to enjoy them!

Interested as well......we go early June!

We booked the Getaway in 05/2016.....will be curious to see how it plays out!

We had a super time in March on the Epic.....look for Caesar in Spice H20, or Fernando in the casino/Maltings....both were excellent servers!

All about right place, right time....my wife won >$6K on video poker on a Carnival cruise a few years back......I won two $1,500 hand pays on video poker in March on the Epic.....the Jewel has the same video poker machines as the Epic, so it can be done. :)

As soon as you get on board look for a table in the main atrium where they will be selling the individual soda packages. Have fun!

I also believe if you purchase in port you will be charged the appropriate sales tax. If you wait until the casino/shops open, you will be in international waters, and there will not be sales tax.

Thanks to this thread, I checked my 2016 booking....saved me $1,050 today! Much appreciated! Gotta love it when I can get a CAS comp, the UBP promotion, and Kids Sail Free......7 days for about $1,027 total for 5 people!

Thank you for the reply. Yes, when I tried to purchase online, it is pre-filling for the entire cabin.

 

Can it be purchased onboard without purchasing for the entire cabin?

Yes, that is my understanding.....I know my 3 kids have purchased whereas my wife and I did not, once on the ship.

The soda program doesn't require everyone in the cabin to participate. You can purchase for an individual.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe this is true when purchase onboard. If you try to pre-purchase, it wants one for everyone in the cabin.

We have done the Getaway 5 person OV, and are booked on another in 2016. We also picked up our June 2015 on the Breakaway 5 person OV. These rooms are sold until the lifeboat capacity is close to filled, then they want less than 5. I highly doubt that it is only a couple of rooms......

I wonder how this all plays with the promos that they are running.....if someone gets UBP, it duplicates the On Us card. If someone gets UDP, it duplicates the comp dinner. My personal belief is to get enough action to qualify for an OV comp or better, and hope they keep running these promos....now, it would be nice if they changed the CAS perks to something that isn't being duplicated from the promos, that would be great....not enough time with the program to have an instinct on that front yet......but, if they cut the CAS perks and get rid of the promos, IMO, more people will be exploring other options.......

BofA doesn't know how it works....there is no "cash advance" fee for anything charged through your room. It comes through as one transaction at the end of your sailing. There is an option to take cash against a credit card (I think Global Express is the company) like any other casino, which has a % of the transaction as a fee. However, if you charge against your room, you get the 3% fee (if you get at least 2,500 points, the host can review your charges and comp based on their system). My last cruise I only got $37 removed, but I had 2 tax forms for $1,500 wins and a couple other cashouts more than $1,000. The cruise before that I had about $200 removed at the end, but only had 1 cashout of $900. These end of cruise comps are based on win/loss assuming you got to the 2,500 points. Hope this helps.

FYI, both of those cruises I charged against my room with the NCL BofA card used for final payment.

I too would love to see these! :)

Yes, I believe it will stay the same for awhile, with minor tweaks here and there.

 

We have seen this "Choice" promo for the entirety of 2015. It keeps "ending" and then immediately restarting under very similar terms.

 

This is different than NCL's prior promos, which would be very different from one another, and often vastly vary in value for the average cruiser.

 

It now looks like Choice is the new normal for NCL.

Thanks for your insight! I probably owe you a beer or something. :)

I am not sure when this was last updated.....anyone know if the dry docks on the Gem, Star, or Epic have happened yet? The table says "Coming 2015"......not seeing any "updated last" dates here.....may be somewhat stale.

WOW... I didn't realize I was entitled to Any perks with only one cruise! how does priority boarding work?

I believe it says Priority Check In, which means a Latitudes line in the terminal. Depending on sailing, that line may have more people than the non-Latitudes line. Actual boarding is based on Boarding Zone number, which you get after you are done checking in. Hope this helps.

In an interesting twist, those with casino "free cruise" certificates (well, actually "free" means taxes+NCF) are now getting a lot more value, because base fare is so much more these days, and you're not likely to find many last minute bargains anymore.

I have found this to be true so far......my CAS bookings are lower than my CCL offers (except that 1 time a year or so when I get a CCL comp). I look at it like I am getting 2 or 3 for 1 when I book.....CAS Rates (1), KSF (2), and whichever perk I use, currently UBP so I don't have to pay for drinks at any point (3). I may make out better financially with one of the other choices, but IMO the value of not buying drinks when the casino is closed makes me smile. :)

Based on this, I assume you believe that the Choice promo will continue each month unless something happens with their financials?

Sheesh, that's crazy!

I just take my kids out of school so I can get KSF. Plus I need to escape NY winters for a bit! We just can't afford it any other way... Well, we couldn't afford a balcony or higher, I mean! ;)

We've been doing that in the past, but now our twins are starting high school.....looks like our cruise schedule is going to be impacted. :)

Oh too bad I never even saw a ksf for our week. June 21

 

I think I saw for earlier weeks but not mine. Maybe i missed it. Oh we'll no biggie right now

 

 

 

 

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Yeah, I think someone addressed it.....later in June only KS50%, I grabbed the earlier June on the cheap.....really cheap when I add in my CAS comp.....$6,000 cruise for $1,200, paid my gambling budget......good return even if I don't win.