My wife and I just started cruising 4 years ago and have only done Disney cruises so we've watched tons of helpful videos to navigate cruises and cruise ships with DCL. And now we are looking at other cruise lines, especially Norwegian. It is EXTREMELY helpful having people like yourself providing the important content we need to make the right choices on a new cruise line. Thank you!!!!
Hi Ry Guy 👋 Thanks so much for the kind words! I felt the same as I was first getting into cruising and wanted to pay forward all of the great tips and advice that I received from other seasoned cruisers. I'm so glad that they videos have helped! I hope that you're having a wonderful day!
@@CruisewithGrant It takes off a load of stress for sure in the planning process having people pay it forward like that. I'm able to wing it a little but that's not how my wife prefers lol!
I’ve been binge watching a lot of your videos. Thinking about booking a solo cruise for my 30th birthday and I’ve never been on a cruise before. Your videos give me less anxiety 😌
Oh my goodness I haven’t even watch 20 seconds of this video and i just want to squeeze you. You are the most adorable man ever. You can’t be this cute. Nice video
Awww shucks Rose, you're so sweet. I really enjoy cruising and I guess that comes off in my videos. I just love sharing my love and enthusiasm with our cruise community! So glad you're enjoying the videos!! A new one's posted every two weeks on Mondays!
This was so helpful. We cruise in a few days. I had to stop at the 2 minute point of your video and call NCL to reserve my additional specialty dining. I thought 2 dinners meant 1 for me and one for him. Who knew? Well now we do! Thank you so much, Grant.
Perfect timing, I am sailing on the Getaway in June. But an even better t-shirt! My son was in the youth sail program and I was fortunate enough to sail aboard Playfair twice. Keep up the great content.
Thanks so much Jeffery! So confession I may have snagged the cool t-shirt at a thrift store, but that's amazing that you've actually been on board! I'm always amazed at how things like this connect us! Thanks so much for your kind words! New video coming your way next week!
I'm so glad this was helpful! If you haven't already, please check out the video on the Shore Excursion credit, you may still be entitled to something 🤩 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aqBG1QncKco.html
Hi Grant - new subscriber / old acquaintance here. We saw Kinky Boots with a group and dined together on the NCL Encore last April. Thanks for the helpful tips!!
Hello 👋 The best is when the internets and real life run into each other! You're the most welcome for the tips! Hope that we'll cross paths again sometime 😊
@@CruisewithGrant I don't cruise nearly as often as you but am booked on the NCL Pearl for 11 days beginning 11/17. I hope we do run into each other again!
Lucky you to get to sail on the Prima! I think she's going to be an amazing ship! Thanks for checking out this video, the next one in the series is coming up next week!
Hello Grant. Thanks for the great NCL content in your videos. I am sailing my first NCL cruise on the Breakaway in January 2023. I have a 2 meal Specialty Dining package. Do you happen to know if I choose to eat at multiple Specialty Dining venues (more than 2) will I be able to select which ones I wish to apply the 2 free perks? Or will the package automatically default to the first two Specialty Dining meals that are charged to my account? Thanks again. Have a great day!
Hi Allen! Great questions! When you make your reservations you don't have to indicate how you'll pay (free at sea or other dining package, or just a la carte). When you arrive at the restaurant you'll have to let them know. So you can choose what you want to use and where. I hope this helps! Don't hesitate to reach out on Instagram if you have any other questions @cruisewithgrant 🤩
Hi Tammie 👋 If you've received the Free at Sea promotion or purchased dining packages you don't have a dollar maximum, there are just a few entrees where there is an upcharge e.g. for lobster, otherwise everything is included. Your servers will explain to you which and how many items you can choose from the different parts of the menu. Hope this is helpful!
Hi there! Thanks for the question, in general when you arrive they will give you the rundown on what's included with Free at Sea; it usually includes an appetizer AND a soup / salad, as well as a main course and a dessert. This is the same if you buy their dining packages. Hope this helps 😀
I'm confused, as I booked with Free at Sea and got 6 perks (I did not book airfare with them). My friend booked the same sailing, with the same agent, at the same time, and got 5. I can't figure out where my 6th one came from (not that I'm complaining... just confused!). Thanks for the great NCL videos!
Hi Pascale 👋 that's such a strange situation; I'm not sure I would know what's going on either, but as you say can't complain for extra benefits! Thanks for your kind words! What ship will you be cruising on?
@@SpeedNoodles I haven't been on the breakaway yet but was on her sister the Getaway last year. I think you'll have a good time. She's no Oasis class but there's still lots to do and the service is always amazing! 😊
Hi there 👋 The Free at Sea perks give you a set number of meals that you can use during your entire cruise, so if you have one meal, it's just one for the entire cruise. Hope this helps!
on their web site there are sample menus stating prices for each portion of the meal. are these the actual amounts that would be billed if you don't have the speciality meal pkg ? in addition there is a 20% gratuity charged on my original booking bill for the speciality dining, same as the drink pkg.Not sure if you mentioned this in your video
Hi there 👋 You're absolutely right, if you don't have Free at Sea or if you haven't purchased any dining packages you'll pay the prices that are listed for each item, along with a 20% gratuity (and don't forget taxes, I've linked a video below that I made that talks more about this one). Hope this helps! Have a wonderful day!! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-CKSCwNtH3_4.html
I'll soon be embarking on my first cruise (NCL) and have the Free-At-Sea package. How does one elect to apply a free meal at a specialty restaurant so as not to be charged?
Hi DS 👋 You can go ahead and make your reservations, when you arrive at the restaurant just let them know you'll be using your Free at Sea Dinner (you'll also have letters to indicate how many you have on your key card). Then away you go, just enjoy your delicious meal! Hope this was helpful!
Great content👍 will be on our first NCL cruise on the Encore this april, we got a 2 meal free at sea promo, we have two teens 14/16yr are they included or do we have to pay extra pre meal?
Hi Camilo 👋 sorry for the delay in responding, but I think I still got to you before you cruise! Unfortunately the free at sea promotion only applies to the first two guests on the booking, so if you and your kids are booked in the same room, only two of you will receive the promotion. You can still by the dining packages on board, or you can pay a la carte if you just want one or two things, so it will depend on what works best for you, how many dinners you'll book, and how much you'll eat. I hope that this helps! www.ncl.com/ca/en/about/terms-and-conditions/promotions
Hi Grant, we are doing back to back cruises on Norwegian dawn. 9 days and 10 days. We have the speciality dining included (free at sea perk). On the ncl AP it shows for each cruise we have 3 specialty dining meals. Does that mean 3 meals per cruise (6 in total) or 3 for both cruises? We are booked in a inside cabin. Thank you
Hi Jennifer! I hope you're doing well! So usually for an Inside cabin for cruises 7-11 days you should receive one dinner per person. It sounds like they may be treating your cruises together as a 19 day cruise so giving you the 12+ day number of dinners (3 dinners per person). Amazing! On my last back to back they did the same and my app showed my two cruises as one, 14 day cruise, rather than two sevens. I'd recommend reaching out to your travel agent or cruise consultant, or you can also use the NCL chat features (this has been a super easy way for me to clarify details about my booking). Then you can get on making your reservations, things fill up fast! Hope this is helpful! 😊 Link to promo terms and conditions: www.ncl.com/ca/en/about/terms-and-conditions/promotions
Also if you haven't wandered across this other video on the channel just yet it might be helpful 🫶 🎥What I loved and hated about Transatlantic Cruises ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZQsZM5HZnD4.html
Hi Grant! I have an 11 day cruise (Alaska! Yay!) coming up. Question: if my bid for a balcony upgrade is taken, will that give me an additional specialty dining meal? Would it even be worth discussing with Guest Services? Thanks!
The biggest issue is determining what is actually free with the free dining lol. If the choices are literally a sirloin and a porterhouse, why would anyone select the mediocre cut? Also, what drinks are included? Does it parallel your drink package or are the drinks totally free no matter what. I doubt it...they should clearly indicate "total cost shall not exceed $x"...that would make this nice and clear. Instead, the water is murky..no pun intended.
How do they charge gratuities on the free-at-sea drink package? Does it matter how many drinks you get in a day or do they just assume most people will order a certain amount?
Thanks for the comment! A video is coming soon the Free at Sea Premium Drink package, stay tuned! But to answer your question, NCL charges Free at Sea perk gratuities based on the regular value / price of the package. So while you don't pay for the package itself, you'll pay the same gratuities as someone who did. The gratuities don't change based on the number of drinks, of course feel free to tip your amazing bar staff! Hope this all makes good sense!
Okay so I am still confused. I have an ocean view on a 9 day cruise. We got the free at sea and it shows 2 on the specialty dining so does that mean on night with a meal for each of us or two nights with a meal for each of us.
If you initially book an Oceanview cabin, but bid for a Balcony in the upgrade program and it's accepted, do you go from 1 to 2 Specialty Dining Meals, or is it based on the initial booking?
Hi Michelle 👋 Great question! The Free at Sea Perks are based on the original category of room that you booked. So for me I booked a studio (Solo) cabin that came with one dinner and then got accepted for a bid to a Balcony; I still only received one meal. I hope that this helps 😊
@@CruisewithGrant That's what I figured and exactly what I needed to know. If my balcony bid is accepted that is more important than an extra specialty meal anyway. Do you have any tips on the bidding process or how to tell what the inventory looks like for a particular cruise?
Hi Alana, in general you have it exactly right. The menus are set up so that it is usually one item from each section. There are a few exceptions, like at Cagney's steakhouse you get both an appetizer and a soup / salad with the dining package. Your servers will give you the rundown when you arrive as you'll let them know you're using the package. Just a note there are a few items like lobster that have an upcharge not covered by the perk, but they'll also be clearly indicated on the menu. Hope this helps!!
Hi Sabrina, please don't worry there will be no shortage of included food. 😉 I've included a link below with some more info. The on meal only refers to specialty dining restaurants that usually have a fee. www.ncl.com/ca/en/why-cruise-norwegian/cruise-dining
Gratuities are added at the final bill, correct? What if I don’t end up using the specialty dining or excursion credit? I’m only going for a 3 day cruise. I’ve already paid for my cruise so I don’t think I can opt out of anything or do you think I can call and get them credited back?
Hi Manorom 👋 Usually you pay any gratuities associated with Free at Sea at the time that you make your final payment. For the Open Bar and Speciality Dining that will be 20% on top of the value of what your'e being offered. The Shore Excursion credit has no cash value so you won't pay anything on this (shameless plug, please check out my video on this promo as well). In terms of opting out after your final payment, that'd be a question for NCL or you can try calling your Travel Agent or cruise consultant, but it may be tough one. No harm in giving it a try! Let me know how you make out. I hope this was helpful!
I call NCL and they said I can’t opt out of any free at sea promotions since I’ve paid in full. Which is annoying since I know we won’t be able to use everything and we did our reservations over the phone. I honestly don’t think we were giving a option to opt out of anything. So we’ll be charged gratuity for thing we won’t use. Wish I had seen your videos before paying in full.
Great video. i'm going to antartic Cruise in february. All the drinks during the meal are included if i use one of the special dinning included on my free at sea perk? And may i Book before the cruise in the app the special dinning if the restaurantes appears on the app? Thank You for your videos
Hi Juan 👋 The specialty dining doesn't include drinks, that would only be included if you have the drinks package. Of course you can always have water, tea, coffee, etc. free of charge. You can also definitely book reservations for specialty dining in advance either on the app or using the NCL website. I hope this helps!
@@CruisewithGrant thank you for your answer! I also bought a basic drinking package with the free at sea!so i think that this special dinners will be totaly free for me :) .. thanks again for your advices and happy new year
Great question! It seems to depend on the ship and the restaurant, but usually you can book in advance. On my April cruise on the Encore only some of the restaurants were accepting pre bookings online. Definitely do this your first day if the online reservations aren't available for the ones you want.
It's aways good to know what "free" means. 😉 If you haven't checked out the videos on the other Free at Sea perks, I also go through some of the great stuff, but also the watch outs! Wishing you save and happy cruising!
