Question about extra charges

[Deacon22]

I am wondering what extra charges are there if you don’t do any ship excursions.
 

I am going on the Getaway next month. I upgraded to the free at sea plus.  I prepaid service charges.  My question is will there be additional charges in the ship. I believe I prepaid gratuities as well. 
 

TIA

[sailorusvi]

Depending on port, you might have to pay tax on drinks.

[Uff da]

Not unless you want there to be. If you want to play some of the game shows, go to tastings, painting class or bingo, it costs extra. Starbucks is extra. Laundry is extra if you are not Platinum and need that service.

One thing that can cost extra the first day is tips on alcohol while still in port. It's minimal, but it's there. 

If you are careful, you can avoid all extra costs if need be. You just have to know what to look out for. 

 

[BirdTravels]

24 minutes ago, Deacon22 said:

I am wondering what extra charges are there if you don’t do any ship excursions. I am going on the Getaway next month. I upgraded to the free at sea plus.  I prepaid service charges.  My question is will there be additional charges in the ship. I believe I prepaid gratuities as well. 

 

Taxes on drinks while in New York

Gift Shops

Casino

Bingo

Lottery

Buying something at an art auction

Canvas by U painting

Dining Upcharges If you pick a specialty dinner that includes an upcharge

Dinner show in the Illusionarium

Pull Tabs (lottery "scratchers")

Deal or No Deal

Room Service

Taking things from the room Minibar

Tips to your drink waiters

Tips to your bartenders

Edited January 21, 2023 by BirdTravels

[MeHeartCruising]

44 minutes ago, Deacon22 said:

I am wondering what extra charges are there if you don’t do any ship excursions.
 

I am going on the Getaway next month. I upgraded to the free at sea plus.  I prepaid service charges.  My question is will there be additional charges in the ship. I believe I prepaid gratuities as well. 
 

TIA

Based on what you said, I think you should not be facing any additional required expenses.  You might hand a couple dollars to a bag handler who will take your luggage when you arrive at the pier.  When you bought the free at sea plus, part of that fee was to prepay gratuities for the drinks and meals.  So you don’t need to tip more.  SOME people do.  I don’t usually, but sometimes I do if impressed with the service.  The daily service charge it sounds like you paid would cover gratuities for everyone else who does things for you.  SOME people may give an added cash tip to their cabin steward if the feel they were looked after nicely.  I tend to give a $20 to the steward on the last day if I was impressed.  If I’m not impressed, I don’t give anything additional.  If you use the spa services, I don’t think those employees have been included in the ship wide gratuity/service charge pre-payment.  I think most people tip the spa staff directly.  I could be wrong on that. 

[cruiseny4life]

If you have Free at Sea Plus, don't worry about charges at Starbucks (except taxes while in port). If you go to American Diner for a milkshake, it doesn't count as a drink which perplexes me.

 

Otherwise, with the exception of taxes on drinks while in port (NYC, for sure, questionable on others), unless you decide to purchase something else, you'll be fine.

 

You've prepaid service charges, so there is absolutely no reason you need to tip anyone (unless you're in the Haven), even bartenders and servers. You can tip, but don't feel like you have to.

 

@MeHeartCruising, if one books a spa service, an extra gratuity is automatically added to your bill.

 

Have a lovely, extra fee free, cruise!

[Deacon22]

Thanks all.  Someone mentioned Starbucks is extra.  I believe that was included with the Free at Sea plus along with bottled water.   I’m addition o think I have a total of four specialty restaurants.   I’m assuming that is also free now. 

[MeHeartCruising]

36 minutes ago, Deacon22 said:

Thanks all.  Someone mentioned Starbucks is extra.  I believe that was included with the Free at Sea plus along with bottled water.   I’m addition o think I have a total of four specialty restaurants.   I’m assuming that is also free now. 

Yes.  Your package’s specialty restaurants are free and you have pre-paid the gratuity.  Be aware that there are usually a few high-price options on the menu that require an up charge.  But plenty to eat without needing to do that. 

[European_CruiseGirl]

39 minutes ago, Deacon22 said:

Thanks all.  Someone mentioned Starbucks is extra.  I believe that was included with the Free at Sea plus along with bottled water.   I’m addition o think I have a total of four specialty restaurants.   I’m assuming that is also free now. 

Just notice you cannot eat whatever you want at a specialty restaurant. Some dishes have an extra charge and are not included with the package (you need to pay extra if you choose one of them). 

[hallux]

40 minutes ago, Deacon22 said:

Someone mentioned Starbucks is extra.  I believe that was included with the Free at Sea plus along with bottled water

If you go to Starbucks you may be charged tax on your 'purchase' while in port (depends on the laws of the port).  The same applies to alcoholic beverages.

[dbrown84]

the only thing I see missing is shore excursions.  If you plan on doing ship excursions, you can pre-pay those also, or wait to book when you're onboard which will go to your onboard account.

[Hotspring]

On 1/21/2023 at 1:36 PM, BirdTravels said:

 

Taxes on drinks while in New York

Gift Shops

Casino

Bingo

Lottery

Buying something at an art auction

Canvas by U painting

Dining Upcharges If you pick a specialty dinner that includes an upcharge

Dinner show in the Illusionarium

Pull Tabs (lottery "scratchers")

Deal or No Deal

Room Service

Taking things from the room Minibar

Tips to your drink waiters

Tips to your bartenders

Does the 'Dinner show in the Illusionarium' still exist?   Cannot find anything on this venue or the Cirque on the Getaway.

 

[cruiseny4life]

7 hours ago, Hotspring said:

Does the 'Dinner show in the Illusionarium' still exist?   Cannot find anything on this venue or the Cirque on the Getaway.

 

There is definitely no cirque show on Getaway. I did some research prior to my April cruise. That show left quite some time ago as NCL didn't re-sign the contract. Instead, NCL had a Junk band play. It was one of those bands that use garbage cans, buckets, etc. I didn't go as that's not my idea of a show, unless I'm walking along the Vegas Strip and happen upon a performance on the sidewalk. Then I'll give it two or three minutes. 

 

But, on my last sailing, in Dec/Jan, there was no dinner show in the Illisuionarium at all. I'm guessing it's gone, as I haven't seen confirmation on @Laszlo's live. @mking8288, is this something you could check on? Pretty sure it hasn't been re-instated, but since you're currently on Getaway, you could get us the best answer. 

[BirdTravels]

7 hours ago, Hotspring said:

Does the 'Dinner show in the Illusionarium' still exist?   Cannot find anything on this venue or the Cirque on the Getaway.

 

Sorry. It still exists on the Breakaway. 

[BirdTravels]

On 1/21/2023 at 9:13 PM, dbrown84 said:

the only thing I see missing is shore excursions.  If you plan on doing ship excursions, you can pre-pay those also, or wait to book when you're onboard which will go to your onboard account.

Yeah, the very first sentence in the OP's Post #1 says no shore ex.