Does the Free at Sea promotion ever ACTUALLY end?

[WashyWashyHappyHappy95]

Seems like whenever I check the NCL website it's "5 days left!" on the usual freebies, then 3 days left, then 1...accompanied with a flurry of "Hurry before it expires!" type emails.

 

Then the deadline passes and it says "Offer extended!"

 

I check the NCL site almost daily, and I can't recall the last time there were no promotions being offered. Am I wrong, or is Free at Sea always going on?

[fstuff1]

Am I wrong, or is Free at Sea always going on?

well yeah.. duh.. because marketing.

 

you are paying for these promos and i dont mean the 18% tip.

gty cabins dont have promos, and it's cheaper.

 

so it's a way for ncl to get more $ from you.

dont get me wrong. it's great if you were already planning on getting sdp, or ubp, etc.

but i'm betting a vast majority of passengers wouldnt be getting any of the packages if it wasnt for the promo.

 

also, what expires is the promos offered.

it used to be 4day sdp. now it's 3 day. :(

 

free grats is back. it's the most popular promo choice from the posts i've read on this board.

i expect this to be gone next month

Edited September 19, 2016 by fstuff1

[SheehanDJ]

NCL never seems to have different sales. RCCL has two they cycle thru the buy one get one half off and the 30% off sales, they adjust prices between them so you end up paying the same, but at least you get to look at different graphics on the web site. :D

[amyh13]

I have been following the boards for a while as I am looking to book an NCL cruise. The offers seem stale. It also has allowed me to see the changes.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[wdsted]

These offers will end eventually. When they do, prepare for howling and screeching from the same people who currently complain about the 18% gratuity (i.e., $98/week) for the booze package offer.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[BirdTravels]

I have been following the boards for a while as I am looking to book an NCL cruise. The offers seem stale. It also has allowed me to see the changes.

 

Not sure what "stale" means. They have had promotions for a couple of years. Usually dining and drinks. The free service charge is new. The free photo package is gone. The free arcade credits are gone. Double CruiseNext vouchers come and go. Shore excursion credits come and go. Free wifi is mostly there.

[calmpets]

With the recent increases in alcoholic beverage costs onboard, I'm guessing they expect to keep the free beverage promo around for the foreseeable future, and just switch around some of the other offered freebies. The beverage prices were clearly redesigned with the UBP in mind ($16.95 drinks to collect a small amount from you for each free premium beverage). The actual price of the UBP (if you were paying for it) is so prohibitive and above other lines that they can't possibly expect many people to buy it. JMHO, or course, but it seems to me they've designed and priced everything to continue offering the UBP as a perk.

[wdsted]

With the recent increases in alcoholic beverage costs onboard, I'm guessing they expect to keep the free beverage promo around for the foreseeable future, and just switch around some of the other offered freebies. The beverage prices were clearly redesigned with the UBP in mind ($16.95 drinks to collect a small amount from you for each free premium beverage). The actual price of the UBP (if you were paying for it) is so prohibitive and above other lines that they can't possibly expect many people to buy it. JMHO, or course, but it seems to me they've designed and priced everything to continue offering the UBP as a perk.

 

You are overstating the number of drinks that exceed the $15 UBP "subsidy." It's funny how many people all of a sudden named the chocolate martini and flavored Grey Goose as must-haves after they went up to $16.95.

[easyboy]

Seems like whenever I check the NCL website it's "5 days left!" on the usual freebies, then 3 days left, then 1...accompanied with a flurry of "Hurry before it expires!" type emails.

 

Then the deadline passes and it says "Offer extended!"

 

I check the NCL site almost daily, and I can't recall the last time there were no promotions being offered. Am I wrong, or is Free at Sea always going on?

That will be the case for as long as there is competition.

[calmpets]

You are overstating the number of drinks that exceed the $15 UBP "subsidy." It's funny how many people all of a sudden named the chocolate martini and flavored Grey Goose as must-haves after they went up to $16.95.

 

I don't think the surcharge drinks are crazy drinks outside the normal drinking choices of the average cruiser. On my last cruise my go-to drink was a cosmo with their equivalent of citron for the vodka. That same drink now goes for $16.95. I live in CT, where we overpay for everything, and even our casino restaurants cap those at around $12-13. Can you drink for free? Absolutely. Will you have to choose something other than your normal drink to keep it free? Possibly. But I think you are kidding yourself if you think the price adjustment wasn't done just to try to squeeze some extra money out of people on the UBP.

[fstuff1]

On my last cruise my go-to drink was a cosmo with their equivalent of citron for the vodka. That same drink now goes for $16.95.

 

But I think you are kidding yourself if you think the price adjustment wasn't done just to try to squeeze some extra money out of people on the UBP.

 

wow.. never thought it would get to the point of nickel and diming the 'free' promos on top of the $100 you're paying for. :eek:

Edited September 21, 2016 by fstuff1