Free Promos are Not Free

We don't buy drink packages on Carnival or HAL because we don't drink that much. I do get free drinks in the casinos every time we cruise and the server gets a tip - I asked the casino hosts because I wanted to make sure he/she received a tip. So free is free there.

I suggest you don't take the offer and instead pay for the drink package plus the 20% gratuity on the price of the package. That way you won't feel you are being swindled. I hope that helps!

I am on the Sun in just under a month ... it's an open-bar ship so free drinks but it's not a "promo" ... I was going to bring cash to tip the bartenders but on an open-bar ship, are gratuities squeezed into my cost to sail somehow?

You are charged a higher DSC.

Norwegian Sky All-Inclusive and Norwegian Sun All-Inclusive (Port Canaveral sailings only)

• $22.99 USD per person per day for Suites
  

• $19.99 USD per person per day for all other stateroom types
  

I am on the Sun in just under a month ... it's an open-bar ship so free drinks but it's not a "promo" ... I was going to bring cash to tip the bartenders but on an open-bar ship, are gratuities squeezed into my cost to sail somehow?

I was on the Sun earlier this month. As another poster mentioned, the DSC is higher, $19.99/day.

But yes, yes, yes, please tip those guys and tip them well for good service. From what I observed, they were the hardest working staff on that entire ship and also from what I observed, that sailing had some of the cheapest clientele I've ever cruised with. You should have seen how excited they were just to get $1 and treated with courtesy. It was sad, really. :(

You are charged a higher DSC.

 

Norwegian Sky All-Inclusive and Norwegian Sun All-Inclusive (Port Canaveral sailings only)

 

• $22.99 USD per person per day for Suites
  

• $19.99 USD per person per day for all other stateroom types
  

Thank you!! :D

I was on the Sun earlier this month. As another poster mentioned, the DSC is higher, $19.99/day.

 

But yes, yes, yes, please tip those guys and tip them well for good service. From what I observed, they were the hardest working staff on that entire ship and also from what I observed, that sailing had some of the cheapest clientele I've ever cruised with. You should have seen how excited they were just to get $1 and treated with courtesy. It was sad, really. :(

Thanks!! I will still plan doing so!!

kat

I am on the Sun in just under a month ... it's an open-bar ship so free drinks but it's not a "promo" ... I was going to bring cash to tip the bartenders but on an open-bar ship, are gratuities squeezed into my cost to sail somehow?

yes, baked into the cruise price.

plus higher per day DSC/cabin tips

I was on the Sun earlier this month. As another poster mentioned, the DSC is higher, $19.99/day.

 

 

 

But yes, yes, yes, please tip those guys and tip them well for good service. From what I observed, they were the hardest working staff on that entire ship and also from what I observed, that sailing had some of the cheapest clientele I've ever cruised with. You should have seen how excited they were just to get $1 and treated with courtesy. It was sad, really. :(

You are paying a higher DSC to sail on the all inclusive sun. Nothing wrong with throwing a few bucks to a bartender for exceptional service but I whole heartedly disagree that additional tipping should be expected, and not doing so definitely does not make one cheap.

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You are paying a higher DSC to sail on the alcohol all inclusive NCL Sun. Nothing wrong with throwing a few bucks to a bartender for exceptional service but I whole heartedly disagree that additional tipping should be expected, and not doing so definitely does not make one cheap.

 

 

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"Free" is all in the marketing, here are 4 cruises, I just picked a random weekend after the holiday season with 4 nice but not newest ships in the respective fleets. Priced for 2 guests

NCL Getaway 7 night western- $2912 including all taxes and service charges

Rccl Allure of the Seas 7 night western-$1992 including taxes + drink package $924 (20% gratuity included)=$2916

Carnival Magic 7 night western. $1809 including taxes + drink package $918 (15% gratuity included)= $2727

Celebrity Equinox 7 night eastern $3574 including free bev package perk and taxes included

Now the rccl and carnival bev packages are buying on the ship, $55 and $56.95 per day respectively plus gratuity.

(you can both online cheaper but we're going to keep it on the ship)

so

NCL- $2912 "Free package"

RCCL-$2916 a la carte

CCL-$2727 a la carte

CEL-$3574 "Free Perk"

So it basically comes down to nothing is free, choose a ship and sail date that is right for you at the price you want to pay.

Again I can bring up the Bliss and the Symphony and totally blow these prices up but I thought these 4 ships are pretty equal in age and or popularity among the respective cruise line.

You are paying a higher DSC to sail on the all inclusive sun. Nothing wrong with throwing a few bucks to a bartender for exceptional service but I whole heartedly disagree that additional tipping should be expected, and not doing so definitely does not make one cheap.

 

 

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though we normally tip a few people extra including the bar staff I agree with you. This should not be expected and for those who do not, I certainly don't think they are cheap.

"Free" is all in the marketing, here are 4 cruises, I just picked a random weekend after the holiday season with 4 nice but not newest ships in the respective fleets. Priced for 2 guests

 

NCL Getaway 7 night western- $2912 including all taxes and service charges

Rccl Allure of the Seas 7 night western-$1992 including taxes + drink package $924 (20% gratuity included)=$2916

Carnival Magic 7 night western. $1809 including taxes + drink package $918 (15% gratuity included)= $2727

Celebrity Equinox 7 night eastern $3574 including free bev package perk and taxes included

 

Now the rccl and carnival bev packages are buying on the ship, $55 and $56.95 per day respectively plus gratuity.

(you can both online cheaper but we're going to keep it on the ship)

 

so

NCL- $2912 "Free package"

RCCL-$2916 a la carte

CCL-$2727 a la carte

CEL-$3574 "Free Perk"

 

So it basically comes down to nothing is free, choose a ship and sail date that is right for you at the price you want to pay.

 

Again I can bring up the Bliss and the Symphony and totally blow these prices up but I thought these 4 ships are pretty equal in age and or popularity among the respective cruise line.

Yes, among the mass market lines, Celebrity and Princess are rated 5*

For non drinkers, the sail away cabins can be a real bargain..if location isn't that big of a deal. Me, I'll take the UBP.....but yeah, pick a cruise you like and take it.

Yeah, none of the "free" stuff is really free but doesn't mean that it isn't valuable.

On my latest cruise, I was surprised when my TA got me a substantially cheaper rate on a cruise by not having the "Distinctive Voyage" benefits included (who knew it was even an option to NOT have it!).

Yeah, none of the "free" stuff is really free but doesn't mean that it isn't valuable.

 

On my latest cruise, I was surprised when my TA got me a substantially cheaper rate on a cruise by not having the "Distinctive Voyage" benefits included (who knew it was even an option to NOT have it!).

On our last Celebrity cruise, our OTA put us in the "Distinctive voyages" class as a loyalty gift. We were invited to an exclusive private cocktail party only for the DV guests and we also received a complimentary shore excursion with lunch in a 5* hotel.

What exactly is this '"Distinctive voyage" benefit in Norwegian and how do you know if your cruise has it?

On our last Celebrity cruise, our OTA put us in the "Distinctive voyages" class as a loyalty gift. We were invited to an exclusive private cocktail party only for the DV guests and we also received a complimentary shore excursion with lunch in a 5* hotel.

On Norwegian, Distinctive Voyages give you $50/port shore excursion credit, $100 hotel credit, up to $400 airfare credit, 250 minutes of internet, and a "phone package", which I have no idea what that is. These perks are combinable with any other Free At Sea perks you would otherwise be eligible for.

On Norwegian, Distinctive Voyages give you $50/port shore excursion credit, $100 hotel credit, up to $400 airfare credit, 250 minutes of internet, and a "phone package", which I have no idea what that is. These perks are combinable with any other Free At Sea perks you would otherwise be eligible for.

How much more does it cost? Is it optional?

There is no upfront cost associated with it, it is just available on select cruises. It sound like someone was able to *save* money by having their TA remove the perk from their booking though. I don't think you'd be able to count on that happening in the future or saving any specific amount of money by doing that. You would probably just have to talk to your TA or Cruise Consultant during the booking process.

Thanks. I think that Distinctive voyages has a website listing all the cruises in 2018 where it is available

Thanks. I think that Distinctive voyages has a website listing all the cruises in 2018 where it is available

Thanks. I think that Distinctive voyages has a website listing all the cruises in 2018 where it is available

Only Celebrity, Holland America and the premium cruise lines like Oceania, Crystal, Cunard, Silverseas, etc are included.

No Norwegian anywhere.

There is no upfront cost associated with it, it is just available on select cruises. It sound like someone was able to *save* money by having their TA remove the perk from their booking though. I don't think you'd be able to count on that happening in the future or saving any specific amount of money by doing that. You would probably just have to talk to your TA or Cruise Consultant during the booking process.

I know you can get a much better rate if you opt-out of the FREE at Sea perks using the SailAway rate.

Don’t see that option for Distinctive Voyages. Don’t know what makes some cruises Distinctive, but the perks are not always the same as what someone else posted.

My last cruise was Distinctive and one of the perks was double points. So my points went from 18 to 36 and that moved me into Gold and positioned me for Platinum during my next cruise. And I had double shore excursion credits so that worked out well for me.

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I know you can get a much better rate if you opt-out of the FREE at Sea perks using the SailAway rate.

...

As far as I can determine, the SailAway rate offers a very limited selection of generally poor cabin choices. This is what convinced me that the cruise line profits directly from the "Free at Sea" program.

https://view.joomag.com/distinctive-voyages-2018-2019-affiliates-2018-dv-mag-nonengaged-afi/0970416001525720672?short

 

Only Celebrity, Holland America and the premium cruise lines like Oceania, Crystal, Cunard, Silverseas, etc are included.

No Norwegian anywhere.

This is the correct link

https://www.ncl.com/cruise-deals/distinctive-voyages