The new promo is lame

[Binks240]

I booked my November cruise while they had a great promotion going on. We got an ocean view room that included the drink package and free excursion as well as KSF. Didn't need the KSF but still a nice option.

 

I was pricing Carnival Pride out of Baltimore vs. Norwegian Breakaway out of NY for the same week and just about same itinerary. Maybe because I wanted the drink package it was a good deal to me but if I went with Carnival and paid for an ocean view and then paid their drink package price on top vs what I got with Norwegian, Carnival would have been $300 more.

 

I'm thrilled with my price and my perks. I'm looking to do another Norwegian in 2016 and will wait to see what promotions come down the line.

[kcwiak]

The last promo was great. They can't keep giving away that much stuff indefinitely.

 

We completely lucked out! I just happen to look at NCL last week and we got a 7 day WC, Family suite, KSF, UBP, UDP, gratuities and $75 shore excursion for 4 people.....$3100!

 

I am shocked and impressed. But the new ones are not as great!

Edited May 1, 2015 by kcwiak

[EyeSeaEwe]

And if NCL had decided to not offer a promo this month people would be complaining that "they could have at least offered us SOMETHING". It must really suck to have your glass half empty all the time!

[kcwiak]

They weren't giving away anything. The prices were and still are inflated and we the paying customers paid for those "free" things.

 

Bill

 

I disagree completely. We will pay A LOT less overall with the promos we got. Plus, the price a lone was awesome.

[wichitastatecruiser]

my apologies to everybody. I guess I had a knee jerk reaction to all these post and that NCL must have moved up in the world of cruising.

 

I have never paid anywhere close to $2600 for a balcony cabin on any line for the first week of February.

 

Maybe higher prices are trending now in cruising. Maybe it is also time for me to look at different options for vacation.

 

Heck I only paid $1700 for a balcony cabin on the Oasis of the Seas in the off season.

 

I will say that every post i read that the people who are booked in suites have some great deals.

 

Oh well enjoy your future cruises.:)

 

Bill

 

Bill, I think cruise companies are starting to find that Superbowl weekend is becoming a high demand cruise week. For one reason or another people like being on a cruise ship and watching the game on the big screen there. the only way to find out for sure is to price similar class ships and itinerary over the same week.

 

I know the feeling. My last two cruises have been Halloween which are in "Hurricane" season. 2 years ago I got a Central Park balcony on the Oasis for @1800, I could have gotten a ocean balcony for $2200. This last October on Allure over Halloween was $2400 for a Central Park and $2800 for a ocean balcony. I figure that cruise lines are starting to figure out that people like being on the ships during Halloween also. Part of the reason I went with the Getaway is that the M6 is the equivalent to a RCCL Junior Suite and was only $2600, the fact that in the end it only cost me $1800 and I got OBC made it a whole lot better!

Edited May 1, 2015 by wichitastatecruiser

[sfaaa]

NCL did warn you when the last promo was expiring. Should have listened.

[LC253]

Can anyone help me out? I'm not sure if I should make a new thread about this.

Yesterday was the awesome promo's expiration. I booked a cruise YESTERDAY to get it after finding out about it last minute. We had called our bank beforehand to up the limit they allow to leave our checking account. Well I got an email an hour ago saying payment was denied, our reservation was cancelled, and if we wanted to rebook it would have to be at the current rates.

 

I called the bank to ask what gives and they basically said sorry, the most we can do is be on the phone with you when we call them. I've yet to give that a try because my husband needs to be here for that (his name is on the card!!)

 

Waiting impatiently for him to get home... Are we completely screwed?

Edited May 1, 2015 by LC253

[jmele999]

We completely lucked out! I just happen to look at NCL last week and we got a 7 day WC, Family suite, KSF, UBP, UDP, gratuities and $75 shore excursion for 4 people.....$3100!

 

I am shocked and impressed. But the new ones are not as great!

 

I hope that you are aware that some of the perks are only for the first two guests and that the $75 shore excursion credit is per room per port and not per person.

 

Enjoy the cruise.

[Sizzlechest]

Question to everyone thankful about snagging the previous promo:

 

Are you all booking full suites? Isn't the promo for mini-suites and below just one of the options? For non-suite customers, does it really matter?

[NLH Arizona]

I guess NCL could keep offering wonderful promotions and just raise prices on some of the items while on the ships. Just a thought!

[dales wife]

my apologies to everybody. I guess I had a knee jerk reaction to all these post and that NCL must have moved up in the world of cruising.

 

I have never paid anywhere close to $2600 for a balcony cabin on any line for the first week of February.

 

Maybe higher prices are trending now in cruising. Maybe it is also time for me to look at different options for vacation.

 

Heck I only paid $1700 for a balcony cabin on the Oasis of the Seas in the off season.

 

I will say that every post i read that the people who are booked in suites have some great deals.

 

Oh well enjoy your future cruises.:)

 

Bill

 

 

I agree with Bill, though it seems we are in the minority on this thread!

 

If I were booking a suite anyway, even if the price had gone up a couple hundred dollars during the promo, of course I'd be thrilled with all of the "free" perks offered -- in fact, I would be saving the cost of what I might have also purchased anyway (UBP,UDP, etc).

 

While I'm not poor (I don't have to empty my bank account or worse, use credit for my vacations), I can't afford to spend thousands on a suite, and am perfectly happy with a regular balcony or oceanview cabin. But with these promos, I agree pricing was much higher (than from normal inflation) in those categories.

I would much rather have a lower "base" price, and then add on what I want, or what I can afford, to pay for. To me, that method also goes along better with NCL's "Freestyle" concept of cruising.

[geegee1]

They weren't giving away anything. The prices were and still are inflated and we the paying customers paid for those "free" things.

 

Bill

 

Its all about timing. ;)

 

I booked my cruise in early Feb. My kids are sailing free... Booze is free.. AND my gratuities have been prepaid before the new prices went into affect. If I were to book the same cruise last week, I would have paid 3g MORE. The key is to been a savvy shopper. Know your prices. Track them weekly....

 

I've never booked a cruise more than few months out before. Booked our cruise for next February yesterday just to get the promo. If it wasn't for an email from my TA I would have probably put it off even longer. The room we booked ended up being less than it was at the end of February. Unless the price of our room goes down an additional 1G, I am making out in the deal by getting the previous promo. I agree that this current one is a stinker of a promo.

[kcwiak]

I hope that you are aware that some of the perks are only for the first two guests and that the $75 shore excursion credit is per room per port and not per person.

 

Enjoy the cruise.

 

Gratuities for first 2 passengers and $75 a cabin shore excursion. UBP and UDP are for all 4. Those are really the ones we care about. We drink wine/beer and will drink mixed too. I did not realize excursion was per port so bonus!!Great deal!

Edited May 1, 2015 by kcwiak

[kcwiak]

Question to everyone thankful about snagging the previous promo:

 

Are you all booking full suites? Isn't the promo for mini-suites and below just one of the options? For non-suite customers, does it really matter?

 

We got an SJ - full suite no balcony. Butler/concierge.

[kcwiak]

I guess NCL could keep offering wonderful promotions and just raise prices on some of the items while on the ships. Just a thought!

 

True! For us we don't buy pictures or gifts on ship. With everything except excursions and casino just about paid - it would not affect us. But they do have to make back their money some place.

[tarps14]

Can anyone help me out? I'm not sure if I should make a new thread about this.

Yesterday was the awesome promo's expiration. I booked a cruise YESTERDAY to get it after finding out about it last minute. We had called our bank beforehand to up the limit they allow to leave our checking account. Well I got an email an hour ago saying payment was denied, our reservation was cancelled, and if we wanted to rebook it would have to be at the current rates.

 

I called the bank to ask what gives and they basically said sorry, the most we can do is be on the phone with you when we call them. I've yet to give that a try because my husband needs to be here for that (his name is on the card!!)

 

Waiting impatiently for him to get home... Are we completely screwed?

 

This really sucks. Did you use a TA to book the cruise originally? The reason I ask, we booked one about three weeks ago directly with NCL and for some reason (the bank never could actually give us an exact reason) the credit card didn't go through. NCL left a voicemail for my DH, he checked the card and then had them run it again and the next time it did go through. At no time did NCL cancel the reservation. They simply said to call in by a certain time (which was like two days from then) to rectify it. Not at all sure why yours would have cancelled outright unless maybe it was a TA.

 

Let us know how this one plays out. And I think I would make sure to bring up when you actually booked and the promo you had gotten. Make it clear you want that promo and see what happens. They could say no but they also could agree.

Edited May 1, 2015 by tarps14

[conandrob240]

Agreed. Terrible promo. And I am really surprised that there was no last hurrah effort on the previous promo. At the very least, NCL usually makes a big effort to update TAs on changes like this and this one was very quiet. Now, the prices are as high or higher as other lines and w/o the free beverage, there is absolutely no incentive to push NCL over other lines. Why are the prices exactly the same today as they were last month when they were offering these nice deals? At the very least, pricing should have come down a little bit to make it feel a little better. I feel like I have been "scammed" for sure! Goodbye NCL!

Edited May 1, 2015 by conandrob240

[luv2cruisecats]

Always have a spare future cruise deposit around from an NCL cruise. Then if you see a good deal with perks go ahead and book it since it will not cost anything; if between that date and 75 days before what you booked must be paid you see a better cruise just call and move the date. You keep the perks (unless it is one of the few that are not eligible) and it will cost nothing to change at that time. By booking direct you eliminate the TA as a go between and you can react quickly including short lived fare drops.

[ColinIllinois]

Agreed. Terrible promo. And I am really surprised that there was no last hurrah effort on the previous promo. At the very least, NCL usually makes a big effort to update TAs on changes like this and this one was very quiet. Now, the prices are as high or higher as other lines and w/o the free beverage, there is absolutely no incentive to push NCL over other lines. Why are the prices exactly the same today as they were last month when they were offering these nice deals? At the very least, pricing should have come down a little bit to make it feel a little better. I feel like I have been "scammed" for sure! Goodbye NCL!

 

 

You haven't been "scammed" one little bit. :rolleyes:

[tarps14]

Agreed. Terrible promo. And I am really surprised that there was no last hurrah effort on the previous promo. At the very least, NCL usually makes a big effort to update TAs on changes like this and this one was very quiet. Now, the prices are as high or higher as other lines and w/o the free beverage, there is absolutely no incentive to push NCL over other lines. Why are the prices exactly the same today as they were last month when they were offering these nice deals? At the very least, pricing should have come down a little bit to make it feel a little better. I feel like I have been "scammed" for sure! Goodbye NCL!

 

"Scammed"? Really? Not sure how you figure that one. You knew about the previous promo. It seems you knew when the promo would expire. You took a gamble and waited (assuming you planned on booking a cruise anyway) and the gamble didn't pay off. Just can't see how that equates to being scammed. NCL has made a big "hurrah" about this last promo for months. It's not like it was only for the month of April. It's been running for some time now. Sorry, not following the logic here.

 

Edit: I see now where you are a TA. Why would you go on a public forum and say a cruiseline is scamming? That's just not very smart business sense to me. You do realize NCL monitors these boards, right?

Edited May 1, 2015 by tarps14

[Sotermarler]

I also have to disagree. We are paying $100 more this year for the Escape WITH the UBP in nov 2015, than we paid for the Getaway nov 2014 with no freebies. I also booked the Jade (granted older ship) for nov 2016 with the drink package and its $900 less plus we are brining our son free on that one!

I am so excited because we had two sets of friends jump in and book last night to join us too!!

[conandrob240]

It was in quotes because I didn't literally mean "scammed"- let's say this leaves a terrible taste in my mouth. For months, NCL has done a huge push to TAs, sharing and creating excitement around various promos usually around 1-2 weeks before. This one, was quietly changed under the radar. If its so great, why not have the same fanfare around it?

 

Worse for me, prices jumped (coincidentally?) when the free bev package was offered. Right around the amount of the bev package (and no, not every single cruise and yes, there are exceptions- but, in general, the prices went up in direct relation to the timing and amount of the value of the "free" bev package). Prices haven't come down. So, today, you are paying more for a lot less.

 

And, no I don't have anything I was booking for myself or others on the immediate horizon. I am just disappointed in the integrity of a product I had a fondness for. The new promo sucks. The new pricing model sucks. The underhanded nature of some recent changes sucks.

 

And at or above competitor's pricing with no "hook" like free beverage- there is no reason to promote NCL over the competition.

 

I am not the kind of person to worry too much about what others think. I work 100% for my clients and if I see something I think affects them negatively, then I'll say it. I am not a koolaid drinker with the vendors I partner with.

 

I'll say it: the new promo sucks. The new pricing model sucks. The underhandedness of some recent changes sucks.

Edited May 1, 2015 by conandrob240

[Theresa522]

The last promo was great. They can't keep giving away that much stuff indefinitely.

Yes that was an awesome deal and I am very glad to have gotten in on it also.:D

[CasinoCruzGirl]

We got a great deal during the last promo

 

An SJ suite for 5 of us on the Star in Nivember for $2100 plus UDP for all 5 and the three adults all get casino drink cards. How could I have said no.

 

Of course this was due to CAS and KSF

 

Geri

Edited May 1, 2015 by FootballParent

[Theresa522]

It was in quotes because I didn't literally mean "scammed"- let's say this leaves a terrible taste in my mouth. For months, NCL has done a huge push to TAs, sharing and creating excitement around various promos usually around 1-2 weeks before. This one, was quietly changed under the radar. If its so great, why not have the same fanfare around it?

 

Worse for me, prices jumped (coincidentally?) when the free bev package was offered. Right around the amount of the bev package (and no, not every single cruise and yes, there are exceptions- but, in general, the prices went up in direct relation to the timing and amount of the value of the "free" bev package). Prices haven't come down. So, today, you are paying more for a lot less.

 

And, no I don't have anything I was booking for myself or others on the immediate horizon. I am just disappointed in the integrity of a product I had a fondness for. The new promo sucks. The new pricing model sucks. The underhanded nature of some recent changes sucks.

 

And at or above competitor's pricing with no "hook" like free beverage- there is no reason to promote NCL over the competition.

 

I am not the kind of person to worry too much about what others think. I work 100% for my clients and if I see something I think affects them negatively, then I'll say it. I am not a koolaid drinker with the vendors I partner with.

 

I'll say it: the new promo sucks. The new pricing model sucks. The underhandedness of some recent changes sucks.

Soooo are you trying to say you think the new promo sucks?? lol :p:D;) j/k

Edited May 1, 2015 by Theresa522