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FS Group Perks


kba1988
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Hello, we have booked a Group Cruise with NCL...about 8 cabins.  Our group gets a choice of perks, but the two we chose are (1) ultimate beverage package for everyone and (2) all DSC and Tips waived for everyone.  I have copies of the FS Group Details with all the perks outlined for every cruiser and each cabin. But when these folks log into their online NCL accounts, these perks are not listed for each of them to see.  As the group leader, am I supposed to do anything special to make sure every group member gets what we're entitled to?  Or should we just be confident that when we board the ship in September that everything will be listed and recorded as it should.?? 

 

Has anyone here planned and executed a group cruise before?  Your insight and advice would be great!  Thanks in advance.

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I booked the group directly with NCL Cruise Consultant. I have all the paper work, but none of the perks are showing up on users' MyNCL pages.  So I'm curious to know why it doesn't show up, and will it show up directly on the cruise ship when we board?  I really don't want any headaches with the group members about what they were told they'd get vs. what actually happens on the ship.  I want to know in advance that everything that goes along with the group booking gets applied.  Should I just give them all a copy of the Group detail report??

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7 minutes ago, kba1988 said:

I booked the group directly with NCL Cruise Consultant. I have all the paper work, but none of the perks are showing up on users' MyNCL pages.  So I'm curious to know why it doesn't show up, and will it show up directly on the cruise ship when we board?  I really don't want any headaches with the group members about what they were told they'd get vs. what actually happens on the ship.  I want to know in advance that everything that goes along with the group booking gets applied.  Should I just give them all a copy of the Group detail report??

Do the extra perks show on your group report?  I have a group going in October and I am having issues getting answers from the PCC.  I had to submit each of their selections which were the same as Free at Sea.  We were also supposed to get an additional OBC but numerous phone calls and emails have resulted in the PCC not answering or returning calls or emails.  I am pretty frustrated.  Like you I think it is frustrating to tell people what they have told you and then for it to be an issue.  This is the first NCL cruise for many of us in the group and I really think it will be the last if I don't have some communication. 

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the perks DO show up on the Group Detail report for each cabin, but when they log into their MyNCL pages, there are no perks there.  I'm curious to know why the perks show up on the group report but not on their login pages??  How do I know the perks will show up for each cabin once we're onboard the ship if it doesn't show up on their pages?  This is my first (...and most likely my last!...) group cruise sailing.

 

Would definitely like to hear the experiences from other group leaders who coordinated group cruises before...

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Is there a reservation number for each stateroom?  Ask NCL to send you an Amenities Confirmation for each of them.  That should show all the perks. They should also show on the booking confirmation for each stateroom.  (I don’t know if things work differently for a group reservation.) 

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While I have not booked a group cruise. I have heard that there is a special department at NCL that deals with them - not your usual PCCs. This is one reason I use an independent TA - they have much better connections inside NCL (and other cruise lines as well). I also know that if it is not in writing there is no proof and once you are onboard ship the whole world changes and without written proof you have no leverage. As others have said, get a copy of the Amenities Invoice. 

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6 hours ago, bonvoyagie said:

While I have not booked a group cruise. I have heard that there is a special department at NCL that deals with them - not your usual PCCs. This is one reason I use an independent TA - they have much better connections inside NCL (and other cruise lines as well). I also know that if it is not in writing there is no proof and once you are onboard ship the whole world changes and without written proof you have no leverage. As others have said, get a copy of the Amenities Invoice. 

Our PCC can and does book group cruises.  They are allowed to book groups of 20 or less after that they turn it over to the group departments.  

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It seems to me that you are getting a run around from your PCC. One of the many reasons that I use a travel agent. Any questions I have are answered by her and if she does not know the answer it is up to her to get one from NCL; saving me hours on the phone trying to get answers from NCL. All you can do is continue to pester NCL through emails and snail mail, if you have the time. Make a pest of yourself, with courtesy, of course.

In the future get a travel agent recommended by a friend or family member.

Good luck and smooth sailing.

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I'd ask your PCC. I'm booked in two groups right now. The one booked with a TA does not show my perks when I log into NCL (but I've cruised in a group with this TA before and recieved them no problem). My group that was booked with a PCC shows all of the group perks on it when I log in.

 

Also when I couldn't get a hold of the PCC I just called the main number and pressed the option for group bookings and someone there was able to help me - and I was just changing a perk on my personal reservation and am not the one in charge of the group. So that's an option too.

Edited by smplybcause
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Perhaps the Perks don't show until the Group is finalized with the number of paid cabins that will sail , to earn the Perks?

Another case where a Good Cruise specialist TA could have been a big help , cost you nothing .

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22 minutes ago, Shoppie124 said:

Just a silly question... if a room normally gets 3 of the promos. Do they get the promotions in addition to the group promos

 

No they do not get additional promos since the group amenities are not combinable with Free At Sea.  It does not say this anywhere on the group page however from NCL they are not combinable.  That makes that portion of the groups perks basically worthless.  There is however supposed to be an additional onboard credit. 

 

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24 minutes ago, Shoppie124 said:

Just a silly question... if a room normally gets 3 of the promos. Do they get the promotions in addition to the group promos

 

 

While several of the options groups get are similar to the free at sea perks, they work differently. For example on my group cruise I'm in a studio but got to choose two things from a list of things (I chose the drink package and the dinner package but there were options beyond the normal free at sea) and an OBC based on cabin type selected. 

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5 minutes ago, smplybcause said:

 

While several of the options groups get are similar to the free at sea perks, they work differently. For example on my group cruise I'm in a studio but got to choose two things from a list of things (I chose the drink package and the dinner package but there were options beyond the normal free at sea) and an OBC based on cabin type selected. 

So what is the benefit of booking a group?

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4 minutes ago, Shoppie124 said:

So what is the benefit of booking a group?

Besides the extra on board credit, there is a Tour Conductor credit which is a free fare that can be split, depending on the leader.  If the group is large enough there can be extra amenity dollars to be used. 

 

I didn't know about the Free at Sea not being combinable before we got the group together.  I think that should be spelled out on the website.  Please no comment about a TA.  Never needed one on any other cruise line.  The people at the Carnival, Princess and RCI have always been responsive and informative.  I feel like NCL is just doing a bait and switch.  Lots of general promises up front.

 

 

 

Edited by Dar & Bob
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3 minutes ago, Shoppie124 said:

So what is the benefit of booking a group?

 

Uhhh exactly what I said. Studios and insides usually only get one perk. Though the current promo is different, by and large oceanview and balconies do get two - but like I said there were more options than the free at sea if someone doesn't like those. Also OBC. Oh and for a 7 day cruise the group dining perk is 4 nights which is more than the free at sea. Plus the credit mentioned above, but that fully depends on what the person in charge of the group decides. 

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1 hour ago, Shoppie124 said:

So what is the benefit of booking a group?

 

A lot. Huge one being waived DSC. And up until recently, gratuities for beverage package could also be waived (if this was a perk the group selected). It is my understanding that is no longer the case.

 

There were a few groups setup for a TA I considered earlier this year. It was 15 nights I believe and the value from the waived DSC and beverage package gratuities was over $1k per stateroom at double occupancy.

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7 minutes ago, CruisingNole said:

 

A lot. Huge one being waived DSC. And up until recently, gratuities for beverage package could also be waived (if this was a perk the group selected). It is my understanding that is no longer the case.

 

There were a few groups setup for a TA I considered earlier this year. It was 15 nights I believe and the value from the waived DSC and beverage package gratuities was over $1k per stateroom at double occupancy.

The waived DSC does not seem to be an option anymore.  However, I am sure if you have enough cabins anything is negotiable. 🙂

 

 

This is from a Group Options Cheat Sheet that was sent to me from an NCL rep

Some things to note:
- The TC is 1 for every 5 cabins and 10 people booked
o Studios and singles only count as a half cabin towards the TC
- Guests are now required to pay 20% gratuities on the UBP and Dining packages
- Prepaid service charges is no longer a choice
- If your group decides to take the cocktail party or fundraiser amenity, everyone in the group must select it
- If you change ships/sail dates, guests are subject to the new group program
- The tiered OBC is dependent on the stateroom type

If you have any questions, please see your Manager.

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On 7/7/2019 at 9:38 PM, Dar & Bob said:

The waived DSC does not seem to be an option anymore.  However, I am sure if you have enough cabins anything is negotiable. 🙂

 

 

This is from a Group Options Cheat Sheet that was sent to me from an NCL rep

Some things to note:
- The TC is 1 for every 5 cabins and 10 people booked
o Studios and singles only count as a half cabin towards the TC
- Guests are now required to pay 20% gratuities on the UBP and Dining packages
- Prepaid service charges is no longer a choice
- If your group decides to take the cocktail party or fundraiser amenity, everyone in the group must select it
- If you change ships/sail dates, guests are subject to the new group program
- The tiered OBC is dependent on the stateroom type

If you have any questions, please see your Manager.

All the members of our group got the waived DSC except US !!!  We are the only ones in the group who booked a Haven Suite.  We got all the Haven perks, but we did not get the prepaid services charges.   I guess you cannot combine group perks with suite perks ?? Who knew? 

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On 7/7/2019 at 8:03 PM, smplybcause said:

 

Uhhh exactly what I said. Studios and insides usually only get one perk. Though the current promo is different, by and large oceanview and balconies do get two - but like I said there were more options than the free at sea if someone doesn't like those. Also OBC. Oh and for a 7 day cruise the group dining perk is 4 nights which is more than the free at sea. Plus the credit mentioned above, but that fully depends on what the person in charge of the group decides. 

Hmmmm....we got no OBC.  🤨 And - yes - the Studios and the Insides are definitely getting the best deal by being in a group cruise.

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20 hours ago, kba1988 said:

Hmmmm....we got no OBC.  🤨 And - yes - the Studios and the Insides are definitely getting the best deal by being in a group cruise.

 

It depends when you booked. NCL changed their group perks this year - we did a new group cruise the beginning of March and it was under the new rules. 

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22 hours ago, kba1988 said:

All the members of our group got the waived DSC except US !!!  We are the only ones in the group who booked a Haven Suite.  We got all the Haven perks, but we did not get the prepaid services charges.   I guess you cannot combine group perks with suite perks ?? Who knew? 

 

Waived DSC does not apply to Haven. I remember reading this disclaimer back when I was looking into a group cruise last year. 

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On 7/7/2019 at 9:38 PM, Dar & Bob said:

The waived DSC does not seem to be an option anymore.  However, I am sure if you have enough cabins anything is negotiable. 🙂

 

 

This is from a Group Options Cheat Sheet that was sent to me from an NCL rep

Some things to note:
- The TC is 1 for every 5 cabins and 10 people booked
o Studios and singles only count as a half cabin towards the TC
- Guests are now required to pay 20% gratuities on the UBP and Dining packages
- Prepaid service charges is no longer a choice
- If your group decides to take the cocktail party or fundraiser amenity, everyone in the group must select it
- If you change ships/sail dates, guests are subject to the new group program
- The tiered OBC is dependent on the stateroom type

If you have any questions, please see your Manager.

 

It probably would have to be a lot of rooms to get that! I know it wasn't an option for a group of over 100 people. 

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