Third and fourth guest free??

[njkate]

Just had a drawn out conversation with someone on this. Are there people who actually fall for this like the person I was discussing with??!

They aren’t “ free” as fare for guest one and two go up

[njkate]

37 minutes ago, njkate said:

Just had a drawn out conversation with someone on this. Are there people who actually fall for this like the person I was discussing with??!

They aren’t “ free” as fare for guest one and two go up

Or am I missing something in the way this is marketed 

[Karaboudjan]

I think it depends on how you look at it.  It appears that the extra guests do in fact not pay the base price, but they do pay taxes and gratuities.  Still a good deal IMO.  As I recall we booked a 3rd person once (with no promo in effect) and their base price was around 1/2 of the first two, so you are probably saving $500 or more for each person.

[HaveWeMetYet]

30 minutes ago, njkate said:

Or am I missing something in the way this is marketed 

You are not missing anything.

3 to a room just pushes everyone into a more expensive cabin category. You can not get the sail away rate for 3for example.

 

I guess it would be cheaper than two cabins with one person paying the solo rate but I have not priced it out.

[complawyer]

ncl just distributes the costs differently. the price per the1st 2 people goes up proportionately. 

[phoenix1181]

No matter what the Promo is, be assured the cruise line is making sure they make $$.  They play with fares so much, and so often, there are times you'll see multiple price changes in a matter of days.  One thing goes up while something else goes down.

[chillyw]

3rd person free is absolutely a thing, but you have to remember that NCL is making their money off of that person on the on-board amenities.

 

Essentially, what they're doing is allowing them to come onboard for free, in a room where they're already making money on double occupancy, and then hoping to make money off of specialty dining, shore excursions, etc.

 

Go take a look at a fare comparison of two guests vs three guests.  The total price on the base cruise fare for two guests vs three guests won't change.  Taxes, obviously, will.  Then, you'll start to see additional charges for that third guest, like drink package gratuities, if you choose it.

 

This third guest then provides them opportunities to gamble in the casino, buy art work, shore excursions, etc. to make their money.

 

Remember, the rooms are already priced to make money at double occupancy (outside of studios).  The only extra costs they really need to cover on that 3rd person is food and any extra staff time they use up (slightly more room steward time?).  Overall, fairly cheap.  A 3rd person can easily make up that and more with onboard spend, so it's beneficial to let them on for a comped base cruise fare.

Edited August 14, 2022 by chillyw

[dmms]

So when I first read this post - I double checked our cruise invoices. 
Originally booked a cruise for DH and myself on Prima 2/2023 - made reservation/paid deposit last April.

In June - our adult son decided to join us to see if cruises were as much fun as we as we always said they were. Added him as third guest in our room under free 3/4 guest promo. 
Revised invoice reflected no increase in base fares for DH and myself. Only charges for son are port taxes/fees and grats on drink package - amounts are identical to what DH & I were charged. Son’s base fare is listed as zero. 
But as stated in previous post -  NCL will still benefit from son’s presence as there will be additional internet/specialty dining package/excursions charges to be added around final payment. 
Booked through our PCC and I have to say we were pleasantly surprised. Not zero dollars for our son - but significantly less than our total fares. Plus - his joining us is absolutely worth the price of a few perks😎

[HaveWeMetYet]

You will not get a 3rd person free in the lowest fare category. If  you have already booked and do an add on then you must have been on a higher fare to begin with. If, for example, you do a higher end balcony to begin with  and then do the add on there will not be a fare increase. Maybe sometimes you can get away with it a the last minute but I think it is rare. 

[Sailing12Away]

Our first cruise with NCL they had the 3rd & 4th free promo. The price for 2 of us in a mini suite (club balcony now) was $3100, to add on my MIL it was an extra $500 to cover taxes and fees and such. 

 

Our cruise earlier this year in February we were able to snag the garden villa at a steep discount. Was able to run and grab 2 extra friends to join us. Price to add each of them on was about the same, roughly $500 each to cover the taxes and fees.

 

That's close enough to free for me.