First time Cruise - General questions

[Maxim1300]

I'm a college student taking my first cruise(Sun 03/08-03/15) and had some general questions.

1. I guess the most important would be how much are drinks at the bar?

2. IF I was going to smuggle some illegal contraband on-board what would be the best way to do so? I have heard plastic bottles in the luggage.

3. I keep hearing that cruises can get expensive so are there any hidden or unknown fees that I should be enlightened about? I mean from my point of view the only thing I am really spending money on is drinks since food and most everything else is included...right?

 

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.

[cliffd64]

I'm a college student taking my first cruise(Sun 03/08-03/15) and had some general questions.

1. I guess the most important would be how much are drinks at the bar?

2. IF I was going to smuggle some illegal contraband on-board what would be the best way to do so? I have heard plastic bottles in the luggage.

3. I keep hearing that cruises can get expensive so are there any hidden or unknown fees that I should be enlightened about? I mean from my point of view the only thing I am really spending money on is drinks since food and most everything else is included...right?

 

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.

 

1. Drink prices ranger from about 5.15 (including auto-tip of 15 percent) for a 20 ounce domestic beer to around 8.95 for drink-of-the-day in souvenir glasses and more for certain specialty items. Soda will be about 2 bucks for a drink.

 

2. IF you plan on it, posting here would be fruitless as crew members read these forums and therefore would know what to look for.

 

3. Read your travel documents from the cruiseline, it will detail things like the $10 a day per person service charge. Any photos are extra, any excursions will be extra, as will alcoholic beverages. Basically, your fare pays for your room, meals, port charges etc.... If you purchase nothing at all on board, your final bill will include just the $10 a day service charge. Otherwise, every drink, trinket at the gift shop, duty free purchases on board, photos, and excursions, art purchases, specialty restaurant cover charges will be charged to your account.

[CC Help Michell]

I'm a college student taking my first cruise(Sun 03/08-03/15) and had some general questions.

1. I guess the most important would be how much are drinks at the bar?

2. IF I was going to smuggle some illegal contraband on-board what would be the best way to do so? I have heard plastic bottles in the luggage.

3. I keep hearing that cruises can get expensive so are there any hidden or unknown fees that I should be enlightened about? I mean from my point of view the only thing I am really spending money on is drinks since food and most everything else is included...right?

 

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.

 

I will give you the benefit of the doubt that this isn't a joke, or someone who is bored on Sunday seeking to generate controversy.

 

1) Drinks at the bar will vary from about $5 to about $9.

 

2) NCL is among the strictest lines in the industry. They know ALL the tricks, will be looking for booze (especially on a spring break cruise) and you can expect a summons to the naughty room.

 

3) Except for very, very high end lines cruises are NOT all inclusive. Shore excursions, alcoholic beverages, soda pop (other than Disney), photos, tips (automatically added to your tab on NCL), specialty restaurant surcharges, spa, casino, taxes, and many other things are added to your bill. Food at the main restaurants is included. For more information see -- http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/cruiser/cmsPages.html?pageId=FAQ#cruisefare

 

Have a good time. :)

[jetskier]

Also lets hope the OP is 21 years or older. If not, you are going to have to find someone else to cruise with.

 

Company policy dictates that a passenger under 21 years of age must be accompanied in the same or connecting stateroom by a passenger 21 years or older who expressly agrees to be responsible for the under 21 passenger throughout the cruise. This includes, but is not limited to, preventing under-age purchase or consumption of alcohol**, preventing under-age gaming activities and preventing violations of any ship's rules. Passengers must be age 21 to purchase or consume alcohol and age 18 to gamble on the ship. If the accompanying adult is not the minor's parent or legal guardian, a PARENTAL/ GUARDIAN CONSENT LETTER that authorizes the minor's travel and further authorizes medical treatment in case of an emergency must be delivered to an NCL representative at the pier. Failure to produce this letter at embarkation may result in boarding being denied, with no refund of cruise fare provided.

 

 

With the exception of Alaska and Hawaii itineraries, (Where you must be 21 years of age to consume or purchase alcohol of any kind) NCL permits guests between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty (20) to purchase and personally consume wine and beer while on NCL ships with the consent of an accompanying parent or legal guardian on the same sailing once the vessel is outside the US state territorial waters (3 miles out).

[Planer's Edge]

Also lets hope the OP is 21 years or older. If not, you are going to have to find someone else to cruise with.

 

Company policy dictates that a passenger under 21 years of age must be accompanied in the same or connecting stateroom by a passenger 21 years or older who expressly agrees to be responsible for the under 21 passenger throughout the cruise. This includes, but is not limited to, preventing under-age purchase or consumption of alcohol**, preventing under-age gaming activities and preventing violations of any ship's rules. Passengers must be age 21 to purchase or consume alcohol and age 18 to gamble on the ship. If the accompanying adult is not the minor's parent or legal guardian, a PARENTAL/ GUARDIAN CONSENT LETTER that authorizes the minor's travel and further authorizes medical treatment in case of an emergency must be delivered to an NCL representative at the pier. Failure to produce this letter at embarkation may result in boarding being denied, with no refund of cruise fare provided.

 

 

With the exception of Alaska and Hawaii itineraries, (Where you must be 21 years of age to consume or purchase alcohol of any kind) NCL permits guests between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty (20) to purchase and personally consume wine and beer while on NCL ships with the consent of an accompanying parent or legal guardian on the same sailing once the vessel is outside the US state territorial waters (3 miles out).

 

We can assume that the OP is over 21 since he is already booked and has made the final payment.

 

PE

[Maxim1300]

Thank yall for your responses.

FYI - I am 21.

It sounds like it would be much easier to set up an in room bar then deal with the hassle of lugging alcohol aboard.

Anyone know how long before the cruise you have to do that?

[Planer's Edge]

Thank yall for your responses.

FYI - I am 21.

It sounds like it would be much easier to set up an in room bar then deal with the hassle of lugging alcohol aboard.

Anyone know how long before the cruise you have to do that?

 

The cutoff for ordering a bar setup is no later than 2 weeks before sailing date. So, you are sort out of luck.

 

PE

[smeyer418]

The cutoff for ordering a bar setup is no later than 2 weeks before sailing date. So' date=' you are sort out of luck.

 

PE[/quote']

actually they accept it until about 6 days before.....

[Planer's Edge]

actually they accept it until about 6 days before.....

 

But, people have stated that they were denied because they were inside the 2 week window. I have also been told by ship coordinators that 2 weeks in the latest to order. But, I guess you have better contacts than I have.:rolleyes:

 

PE

[jetskier]

Thank yall for your responses.

FYI - I am 21.

It sounds like it would be much easier to set up an in room bar then deal with the hassle of lugging alcohol aboard.

Anyone know how long before the cruise you have to do that?

 

Email shipcoordinatorsun@ncl.com The cutoff is 2 weeks prior to sailing. If you had 15 people to signup for it, you could have a one-hour cocktail party. It runs $18.40 per person.

 

Dave