Great questions. The gratuities for the free premium beverage package perk for 2 people is 7 day cruise for 2 people is $277.20 US (138.60 US p/p). The most elegant and formal restaurant in our fleet, Le Bistro promises an upscale dining experience with crisp white linens, an intimate atmosphere and attentive service. Passengers can use the free specialty dining package at most specialty venues, including American Diner, Cagneys Steakhouse, Food Republic, Le Bistro, La Cucina, Onda by Scarpetta, The Raw Bar, Los Lobos, Ocean Blue, Bayamo, Moderno Churrascaria, Pincho Tapas Bar, Q Texas Smokehouse, and Teppanyaki. The internet packages cannot be used on Norwegians private islands, Great Stirrup Cay, or Harvest Caye. NCLs popular Free at Sea promotion has been popular for years, and offers some good inclusive options that can save money and make your cruise more enjoyable. Honestly, there were so many great new and classic specialty restaurants that wowed us this year. Heres more info on gratuities and service fees that might be helpful: https://lifewellcruised.com/cruise-tipping-guidelines/. NCLs Free at Sea perks promotion is very popular with cruisers. But if you purchase a package, the taxes and gratuities are included. If you are paying more money for extra free perks, you might be spending more on the cabin than the free perk is worth. our first cruise, where the beverage package used to be around $400usd for a 7-day cruise, we ended up spending more than $1500usd in beverages between the two of us. Although youll find shore excursions available under $50, many tours cost well into the hundreds of dollars per person. Something important to be aware of, is that the free beverage perk does have an additional gratuity charge on the value of the package. I totally understand your concerns. 2 nights of specialty dining is $89 US. Yes the NCL UBP is the best. With this perk, the third and fourth guests sail free, while guests one and two pay the full fare. A 20% gratuity will be added to your reservation at a cost of $17.80 US per person, or $35.80 US per cabin. Wenn Sie die Website weiterhin nutzen, stimmen Sie der Verwendung von Cookies zu. 1. The online price ($69 + 18%) for the 3SDP covers your 3 meals. There are no added taxes. Each meal (as of now) will have one main entree and unl But, are they really free? This area will offer 11 diverse culinary venues: Cocos, Q Texas Smokehouse, Starbucks, Seaside Rotisserie, Nudls, Tamara, The Latin Quarter, Tapas Food Truck, Garden Kitchen, Just Deserts, and Just Ice Cream. Some of Norwegians sailing perks seem too good to be true. If youre planning excursions before your cruise, you can pre-reserve shore excursions online before your cruise and the credit will be applied. 2. Just that we are going on a med cruise in August 2021 I would hate to think that we would be forced into purchasing the excursions from Ncl which costs a lot . Cagneys is NCLs signature steakhouse serving up tender cuts of beef. Just keep in mind that sometimes it may be busy and there can be a wait time. Zustzliche und/oder Premium-Menpunkte werden in Rechnung gestellt. Weitere Informationen zu unseren Getrnkepaketen finden Sie unter Pakete an Bord auf ncl.com oder erkundigen Sie sich am ersten Kreuzfahrttag direkt in einer der Bars an Bord. On Carnival, you just show up at the place and watch. Some restaurants have a fixed price (SDP covers entire meal), some restaurants would be 1 SDP meal plus an upcharge ($7, $15, for ex.). NCLs Disclaimer: The purchase of any alcoholic drinks within the Hawaii Beverage Package may, in certain individual circumstances, be restricted in accordance with Hawaiis Intoxicating Liquor Law and applicable local rules and regulations.. The three main dining rooms serve the same menu, which rotates each evening. I am not familiar with the MSC packages, so thats interesting to know. Joel, co-owner of JJ Travel Associates (a Dream Vacations franchise), researches, plans, and manages the details of clients vacations saving them time and money, ensuring a stress-free vacation. That being said, I cant guarantee thats the case. Are Pre Paid Gratuities Required On A Cruise? One of the reasons I love cruising is the all-inclusive nature of the prices which I consider a great value. Also, say I go to the steakhouse for one of my nights, is everything on the menu unlimited, including alcohol over $15? Nein, Trinkgelder und Servicegebhren in Hhe von 20 % werden automatisch zum Preis des Pakets hinzugerechnet. This perk is a definite first choice for most people. If your cruise is 3-6 nights, youll receive one meal in a specialty restaurant for all cabin types (studio cabins, inside cabins, ocean-view, balcony cabins, club balcony cabins, suites and the haven). Since you are still before final payment changes can often be made. They have a large variety of meats. New to Celebrity Beyond is the specialty restaurant Le Voyage. At one of the ports, my daughter didnt really want to go there (she takes political issue with one of the places we went due to their treatment of a segment of the population that she supports) and so we stayed on board and had a great time! So, it comes down to choosing which perk is best for you. The prices are fair, although higher without a package than with one. Moderno: Samba Into Deliciousness. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. With Norwegians free shore excursion credit, a $50 credit will be applied to the first guest on the reservation. Norwegians free beverage package perk includes a variety of spirits and cocktails, wines by the glass and bottled or draft beer up to $15 US per drink. We had the soda package for her, but found at the end of the trip that we had an additional $400+ smoothie bill because they werent included and we never thought to ask. 1 night of specialty dining is $50 US and a 20% gratuity charge will be added to your reservation when booking your cruise. Hinweis: Fr alle Gste, die nicht das Spezialittenrestaurant-Paket gebucht haben, wird ein Aufpreis berechnet. There is an additional gratuity charged for the dinners. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Norwegians Free at Sea perks are generally applicable to all sailings of 3 nights or greater. I have an upcoming cruise on the Norwegian epic. Adding to the culinary offerings available on Norwegian Primas Ocean Boulevard, the site will host three additional dining venues offering both indoor and outdoor seating including Onda By Scarpetta, Los Lobos, and The Local Bar & Grill. If your plans change, you can cancel your reservations 24 hours in advance with no charge . Compare? They charge you like fifteen bucks service charge. And, like the Free Open Bar, guests that opt for the free Hawaii Drink Package are responsible for the 20% gratuity. SOME people are told only one app, side, etc. You may choose one of the dining rooms with the menu of the evening, or a more casual venue for pub style food or maybe the buffet. If you're a foodie and / or want to try cuisine that's outside your norm while you're expanding your horizons and think you'll want to avoid the dining room more often than not, the dining packages are a great value. On a seven day cruise I usually take the included three specialty dining plan. It does get quite busy so I would recommend you eat at a less popular time if at all possible. If we had used the specialty dining package at one or both of these venues instead, the value would have been much better, as the meals are more expensive at these KANN ICH MIT MEINEM SPEZIALITTENRESTAURANT-PAKET EIN ABENDESSEN FR EINE ANDERE PERSON BEZAHLEN? When you book your cruise, you will choose the perks for the reservation, not the individuals. On Norwegian Cruise Line's Breakaway, there is a trip advertised at $489pp However, this doesn't include taxes and port charges which come to $188.37 To stay This is a community for sharing cruise-related experiences, opinions, news, etc. Since the Free at Sea offers can change and be withdrawn, when you see a great deal on a future cruise, its a good idea to act quickly and book your cruise. Read Also: Cruises Out Of Mobile Alabama 2016. If youre considering your first cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line you may be wondering what is included in the cruise fare in regards to food. If more than four guests are on a reservation, guests five to eight will pay the total cruise fares. Balcony and above cabins receive 3 free specialty dining meals. I love to share my passion for cruising and travel with readers. Thanks so much! Most of the specialty restaurants went a la carte such as Bistro Cagneys and La Cucina. If youd like to learn more about the main dining rooms check out this video and dont forget to. They must stay in the same room to be free. If you arent going to be taking advantage of the free 3rd and 4th passenger offer or the free drinks and specialty dining package, this may be worth looking at and comparing. Though the retail value varies, this perk can save you hundreds of dollars on your cruise fare. If it's related to cruising, it belongs here! Always check the the terms and conditions on the cruise line website and on your booking. Although the base fare is free when using the perk, you will be required to pay the taxes, fees, and port expenses for the third and fourth guests. La Cucina: This Italian restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating and offers dinner. If you wish to use a SDP meal credit, you will need to wait until you are onboard the ship to book. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By Does this include taxes? On Norwegian youll have a set service fee charged daily which is given to those who serve you on the ship like the cabin steward and waiters. The Premium Beverage Package includes fountain soda, draft beer, glasses of wine, spirits, and cocktails up to $15 per drink. The restaurant serves wok fried dishes and traditional soups. If youre planning a shore excursion before your cruise, you can book online in advance or onboard the ship. https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/specialty-dining-package/faq, 3) You can use your meals at any restaurant you wish, it does not have to be the same restaurant each time. Meals 8 through 14 work out $10 per meal (or $14.20 per meal for 14). Enjoy your cruise. Learn how your comment data is processed. In fact, they have more extra-fee restaurants than any other North American cruise line (on their newest ships, less than 30% of all the restaurants are included in the base cruise fare). You'll need reservations, and for the Free at Sea promotion, you won't be able to make them until you're on board (and only one meal per sailing at Cagney's and Le Bistro). You may occasionally be able to catch them on sale direct with NCL, or there are instances when a travel agency is running a promotion for free premium dining options, but you should expect to pay (US Dollars) per person: You should know, I am extraordinarily cheap when I cruise. Its important to note that the Premium Beverage Package doesnt include room service, specialty coffee, energy drinks, fresh-squeezed juices, ship-specific promotions, buckets of beer, mini bar purchases, bottles of wine, or drinks designated Super Premium brands. Compare? In most cases, the cost of the meal is more than the cost per meal of the SDP. Norwegian Cruise Line do feature a lot of speciality dining options onboard their ships but these have an extra cost. This means that all guests sharing a reservation will receive the same selection of perks.Its important to note that the order matters when multiple people are on a reservation. You will need to pay a la carte for items purchased at these locations. This upscale French restaurant is the perfect spot to celebrate a special occasion. (our cruise is approx $1,295 CDN. Can I Choose Different Free at Sea Perks Than My Cabinmates? my friends and I never cruise without one anymore. Either way, the credit will be applied. We used this package to eat at La Cucina, Moderno, and Teppanyaki. The gratuity on the free specialty dining package perk is 20% of the total cost of the meal package. Do you know if I would need to purchase the unlimited or premium package? What is your opinion of the pre-cruise package for specialty dining? If you get all five bonuses, you can opt out to avoid paying gratuities. Cirque Dreams), if you book your reservation on the ship. You should also know that taxes are charged to your reservation, even with the Free at Sea specialty dining promotion and gratuities are not included so don't forget to tip your wait staff -- they'll be there all week! Norwegians freestyle approach means passengers enjoy no set dinner times or table arrangements. its one of the frustrations that many cruisers have, when they see the initial base price of a cruise and want to book that, but then are disappointed that the low price applied to the sail away categories, which dont include the Free at Sea. Wenn Sie fr einen anderen Gast das Essen bezahlen mchten, knnen Sie dafr nicht Ihr SPD verwenden. The value of the plan does vary based on the restaurants at which you choose to dine during your trip. Enjoy the finest ingredients at our vibrant Italian ristorante, La Cucina. This offer is only available on select sailings. Told we can not choose just free at sea dining without the beverage. (I'm talking "sit on your suitcase to get it closed" stuffed.). If you would otherwise spend more, daily, then likely this is worth it for you. I think youre right, even for moderate drinkers, this package can be a great deal! You can make reservations online for the specialty restaurants up to 120 days prior to your cruise. Have you run into this? Unsere Gste knnen ihre SDP-Mahlzeiten auerdem in ausgewhlten Entertainment-Restaurants einlsen. These include reduced 2nd passenger fares, additional onboard credit, and on rare occasions, free gratuities on certain cabin categories. The $50 credit per stateroom does not cover much when it comes to the free shore excursion. You can, however, use the meal credit at an entertainment-based restaurant for an price (e.x. We have been sailing more with friends and family now. Started June 21, 2021, By Your email address will not be published. Norwegian Cruise Line runs a popular Free at Sea promotion throughout the year. In fact, it would have been cheaper for us to pay a la carte at Los Lobos. As with any promotion, it is essential to read the fine print at the time of booking. (Granted, its not as good as the old UPB, but its still a great deal.) We are Platinum so we already get free meals. It was not a great experience. With $50 of per port and 10% Latitudes credits. Hi All, Im Ilana. Looking forward to our 2nd NCL cruise this March. Make sure to try Le Bistro (French restaurant) and La Cucina (Italian). And, you will save a lot of money when the base fare is free. If your cruise is 7-11 nights, youll receive one meal in a specialty restaurant for all cabin types. On other cruise lines I notice that they will have 1/2 price specials on the ship if certain restaurants have slow days. The cruise line offers cruise passengers a choice of free perks that include free drink packages, shore excursion credits, free internet, and more. At La Cucina, we each got an appetizer, entree, and dessert. Norwegian Cruise Lines Free at Sea promotion is one of the most popular offers in the cruise industry. Sie knnen es telefonisch oder direkt im Restaurant buchen. People often ask if Norwegian Cruise Lines Free at Sea is worth it, especially since the some of the most popular free perks do have an additional gratuity charge. We can do that with morning Mimosas or Bloody Marys! The Open Bar drink package is costing us $475 for this 12 day cruise, but it only works out to just under $20 per day/per person. Keep in mind that the per meal cost does decrease as you purchase more meals on the plan adding further value. The additional gratuity added to your booking will be $23.80 per person, or $47.60 per cabin. Instead, a plethora of specialty dining options are scattered across the ships, ranging from Asian fusion, sushi and Mexican street food, via craft beer pubs and whiskey bars, to French and Italian establishments with fine dining ambitions. If you have your heart set on a specific experience or tour, do yourself a favor and book it early. 1) The 3-meal package is $69+18% gratuities, or $81.42. When you make your reservations, be sure to tell them if its your birthday or anniversary or retirement party. Diese Website verwendet Cookies. I will be sailing with celebrity and they off the classic free with cruise, you can upgrade to premium and not too expensive Unfortunately, that means eating at these venues can get pricey. If you like to have a few drinks a day on a cruise,Norwegian Cruise Lines Free Open Bar perk (free premium beverage package) is one of the best parts of NCLs Free at Sea. Weve even seen Studio cabins that only qualify for one perk. The number of premium dining meals you can eat depends on the length of your cruise. Nancy. Insider Tips: You only get a limited number of minutes with the free wifi perk. IST DAS TRINKGELD IM PREIS DES SPEZIALITTENRESTAURANT-PAKETS INBEGRIFFEN? Your email address will not be published. The total a la carte costs for her meals were $82.43, which meant she save just over $1 with the plan. Additionally, Hawaii sailings offer a modified version of the Free at Sea perks. The value of Free at Sea is there, but you do need to calculate the costs and see what is worth it to you. The Soda Package gratuity is $1.59 per person per day or $11.13 per person on a 7-day cruise. Norwegian bliss/general specialty dining - worth it? https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/specialty-dining-package/faq, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. Teppanyaki. You have a great point! Im a big fan of having meals in the pub in the UK so maybe that is why I enjoy it so much. Norwegian is known for its specialty, or extra-charge, dining venues on their ships. We used it and got a CruiseNext Credit. I see you mentioned that the Specialty Dining has free dinners. All guests under 21 will receive the soda package, which has a value of $7.95 US a day. During this post, we explore the options that are included in the cruise fare and talk briefly about the paid for extra options. Good Sailing yall! I don't think they do the onboard discounts anymore. The following dining options are offered at a surcharge. I was wondering what you know about the internet packages. But, it may not be worth it if youre not a big drinker. Home / Cruise Tips / Norwegian Cruise Lines Free at Sea: Ultimate Guide. Guests who opt for the free specialty dining perk receive the Norwegian Cruise Line Specialty Dining Package (SDP). If you switch to dining, then you will get 3 specialty dinners (check your cruise though as perhaps a 9 day is more?). You can use 3 times at the same restaurant if you want. You can use it for 3 meals at cagney's, but there really are many other good specialties. Considering the package for the two of us was just $237.60, this is a total savings of over 45%. We have sailed with NCL four times. Same thing with the Open Bar drink package. Oh, I almost forgot! Ive seen that others state you need the premium but they were using apps. FREE 3rd & 4th Guests. Virgin Voyages Partners with Sustainable Marine Fuel Providers, D23: Disney Treasure, Lighthouse Point, and Australia, Carnival Celebration Begins First Set of Sea Trials, Oceania Cruises New 180-Day World Cruise And Grand Voyages. I'm a big fan and think everyone will enjoy the experience. IN WELCHEN LOKALEN KANN ICH MEIN SPEZIALITTENRESTAURANT-PAKET EINLSEN? So . 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Forum Assistance - Welcome to Cruise Critic, Announcement: Upgrade Your Horizon ~ Sponsored by Regent Seven Seas Cruises. At the cruise lines signature Cagneys Steakhouse and Le Bistro, you can order as many starters, sides, and desserts as you want with the Norwegian Specialty Dining Package. But the only real difference is the name. On most ships you will find a bar/pub which is open 24 hours a day. Bei drei- und viertgigen Kreuzfahrten kann dieses Paket nur am ersten Tag Ihrer Reise erworben werden. If you're in a stateroom with more than two people, you'll have to purchase a specialty dining package. Cagneys Steakhouse: American-style steakhouse offering signature steakhouse favorites. Are you celebrating a special occasion or is it just date night and you want to do it in style? Cruises 7 11 nights receive 150 minutes, Cruises 12 nights and longer receive 300 minutes. You can also choose to book a specialty restaurant which will offer generally more upscale dining such as the French Bistro or the Japanese Teppanyaki. Le Bistro: Go Parisian. Like the Free Open Bar, guests must pay the service charges when they select the specialty dining package. 50% off all cruises with. But we are not sure which one would be best for the money. 1. However this may have changed so I recommend checking your online cruise personaliser, as usually youll find any places to make reservations there. Come join my Facebook Cruise Community Thanks for reading and Happy Cruising!! In total, our specialty dining bill would have been $346.46 if we dined at these five restaurants and paid a la carte pricing. Despite the different names the idea behind the restaurants is the same. I understand that that's not typical. food, drinks, entertainment, hot tub, comfortable cabin having a beverage package really does offer a great peace of mind. That said, we dont recommend waiting for this special offer. In total for our 3 specialty dinners, I would have spent $96.67 if we paid a la carte. At this time, Norwegian Cruise Line is offering a choice of 5 free perks as part of the Free at Sea promotion for all sailings of 3 nights and longer. If youve done this on RC, I cant see why not but I dont know. The gratuity charge is added to the price of your reservation and payable before your cruise, and will not be charged on board. WIE KANN ICH TISCHRESERVIERUNGEN FR DAS SPEZIALITTENRESTAURANT-PAKET VORNEHMEN? We still got sticker shock when we booked a cabin for $1500 p/p and its over $2,000 after port taxes, prepaid service charges and Beverage package tips.