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 free drink package also excludes Starbucks, Wine and Spirit Experiences, tastings, Ice Bars, and wine stations. There are some packages that allow for 3-7 different specialty dining nights. In addition to the perks listed below, Norwegian Cruise Line often adds additional limited-time-only perks, such as free airfare or free cruise credit. so were effectively sailing for half price, considering we would have bought the beverage packages. Prime dining times also fill up quickly. Oh, I almost forgot! In fact, it would have been cheaper for us to pay a la carte at Los Lobos. $439.00 USD. When we were on the Breakaway we made reservations for shows, including comedy shows, onboard. It's not a big charge, but it is worth mentioning. Which Norwegian Cruise Free at Sea Perks Should I Choose? You dont have to spend a penny extra on food during your cruise if you dont want to, I usually dont! Most of the specialty restaurants went a la carte such as Bistro Cagneys and La Cucina. More on that in a minute. Two notable items only available at the Local is the Rachel sandwich and the Watermelon Greek Salad. For our 14 day cruise, we can buy a 3 meal package for $81.42 each. The restaurant serves wok fried dishes and traditional soups. Ive been cruising since I was 11 years old. 2) Moderno (Brazilian steakhouse) is $29.50, Teppenyaki (Japanese steakhouse) is $34.22, the others are a la carte (Cagneys, Le Bistro, La Cucina). By it really took a lot of scrimping and saving to send us for that one (our airfare was pretty expensive from Canada) and so having the beverage package included, with only the applicable gratuities being included in our cruise fare was amazing. Learn how your comment data is processed. But if you purchase a package, the taxes and gratuities are included. Related: How To Save Money While You're On A Cruise. and for me, it works out great to have a beverage package. Start with an impressive salad bar of imported cheeses, olives, cured meats, ceviche and specialty salads. Back then, specialty dining was half price for children, so it was an easier decision since I wouldn't feel badly if it didn't work out at half price. American Diner is a casual eatery serving up American classics. Hello, Great point Elmer. 1 night of specialty dining is $50 US and a 20% gratuity charge will be added to However, guests can use the drink package to purchase bottles of wine or liquore and tastings and flights at a 20% discount. I recommend booking your dining and shows the second it comes available (usually 60-90 days before the cruise. If you purchase a dining package before boarding, you will be able to make reservations for those meals (but not the Free at Sea meals). This free perk is an amazing value for families in particular. Melden Sie sich fr unseren Newsletter an! If forced to choose just one ship, Celebrity Beyond had the perfect combination of various upscale options that were well worth the costs in our opinion. OSheehans has three menus throughout the day: breakfast, lunch & dinner, and late night. And, like the Free Open Bar, guests that opt for the free Hawaii Drink Package are responsible for the 20% gratuity. Norwegian is known for its specialty, or extra-charge, dining venues on their ships. If youve had the free specialty dining package in the past, youll notice that Norwegian Cruise Line has made some significant changes. 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. Below, weve outlined the five core perks that Norwegians free at sea offers: The Free Open Bar perk is perhaps the most popular choice among Norwegian cruisers. for those whod like that in USD, our cruise cost around $967, and beverage packages would have cost approx $990 for two people. 50 Most Recommended Cruise Essentials for 2022. In some cases, Norwegian will have a much lower rate on certain cabins that dont include access to any free perks. Yes exactly. Reservierungen erfolgen an Bord je nach Verfgbarkeit. How Much Are Drinks On Viking River Cruises, Where Are Norwegian Cruise Ships Registered, Which Side Of The Ship Is Better For Alaska Cruise, How To Get Off Viking Cruises Mailing List, Whats The Biggest Cruise Ship In The World, Kings Bay Scenic Cruise From Crystal River, When Is The Best Month To Cruise To Alaska. The daily gratuity charge is $19.80 per person per day, which amounts to $138.60 per person for a 7-day cruise. Read more:What to Wear on a Norwegian Cruise (day & evening). As noted with the free beverage package perk, be prepared to be charged a 20% gratuity on the free meal package. 50 Must-have Cruise Essentials from Amazon, 30 Cruise Cabin Hacks Every Cruiser Needs to Know, What to Pack for a Caribbean Cruise (full packing list included), What To Wear on a Cruise Vacation (day, evening & formal night), 27 Cruise Packing Mistakes You Might be Making, 40+ Dollar Store Items to Bring on a Cruise. Cirque Dreams), if you book your reservation on the ship. 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. Ihre Kabinen-Schlsselkarte enthlt auf der Vorderseite einen SDP-Code. If you choose to decline any perks to which you are entitled, you will not receive a refund and cannot gift it to anyone else. 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. The lunch and dinner menu has several appetizers including the soup du jour and two salads, some classic Irish items , fajitas and an array of burgers, hot dogs, and sandwich choices. If so, how does that work? We booked a cruise to Bermuda for July and it included the beverage, WiFi, Dining packages. In this post I share what perks are included with Norwegian Free at Sea, if some of the perks are actually free and if they are worth it. 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. Das Paket kann auch am ersten oder zweiten Kreuzfahrttag an Bord erworben werden. Auf 1- und 2-tgigen Kreuzfahrten werden keine SDP angeboten. We used this package to eat at La Cucina, Moderno, and Teppanyaki. Considering the package for the two of us was just $237.60, this is a total savings of over 45%. As with anything else you purchase, the decision to buy or not to buy Norwegians Ultimate Dining Package will come down to personal preference and how often you like to dine 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. If youre planning a shore excursion before your cruise, you can book online in advance or onboard the ship. I would recommend Le Bistro and Moderno. You can also check the Norwegian Cruise Line fanpage on Facebook, as theyve got great info there from recent cruisers. Each meal (as of now) will have one main entree and unlimited apps, desserts, etc. You would have a similiar savings at Le Bistro. which isn't untrue If you opt for the free premium beverage package offer, youll be charged a %20 gratuity at the time of your booking. Itll be cruise #22 for us with 15 on NCL. The gratuity on the free specialty dining package perk is 20% of the total cost of the meal package. 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. The first thing that I loved about Norwegian Encore was the main dining rooms! (Wouldnt give us cash)They gave us one too. Is it worth upgrading your cabin to get more free perks? Zu den Veranstaltungen/Events, die nicht in SDP enthalten sind, gehren: Zimmerservice, SWIFT, District Brewhouse, The Bake Shop, Coco's, O' Sheehan's Ice Cream Bar, Dolce Gelato, Mens fr besondere Anlsse/Feiertage und ausgewhlte Entertainment-Mahlzeiten. I don't think they do the onboard discounts anymore. Many people have the SDP free with booking so they don't have any trouble filling the specialt 4) We will have to find out if we can exchange the Excursion perk for another one. Though, some prices have increased since then. Ask longtime NCL cruisers, and theyll likely rave about the chicken wings that are served here, as well as the fish & chips. If you arent purchasing alcoholic drinks on your cruise, you probably shouldnt choose this perk. The number of free meals you receive is based on the length of your cruise and the category of stateroom you book. The only discounts that I know of are 50% off for Haven guests for embarkation lunch at Margaritaville or Food Republic. This is most often used by families, who weigh the pros and cons of the savings versus staying all in one cabin. We had always eaten in the MDR and shared a table so we could meet new people. Your email address will not be published. If you're of the mind that you're already paying for your meals with your cruise fare and you already have enough variety with the rotating Main Dining Room menus, the buffet, the Chinese restaurant and O'Sheehans, then you may not see any value in purchasing the SDP. I used to cruise more with another line, but now that I cruised NCL with Free at Sea and had a great time, I want to give NCL as many chances as I gave the other line (I went 4 times with the other line) so now I have 2 more booked with NCL already (the getaway again, and the jade). 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. Please share your thoughts and tips in the comments below. There are some packages that allow for 3-7 different specialty dining nights. We are cruising on NCL 12+ days in January. That said, the 3rd and 4th guest sail free option is a great perk. Im an avid cruiser and have been giving out insider tips for more than 10 years! Guests have the option to sit indoors or out on The Waterfront. 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 Just got back from the Bliss. After all, we had everything we needed! There is an additional gratuity charged for the dinners. graduation announcements uf; legolas x reader masterlist; cura material profiles; green burial virginia; Zustzliche und/oder Premium-Menpunkte werden in Rechnung gestellt. With the 20% service charge, this plan cost us $118.80 for five meals. Although youll find shore excursions available under $50, many tours cost well into the hundreds of dollars per person. Zustzliche und/oder Premium-Menpunkte werden in Rechnung gestellt. 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. *Allgemeine Geschftsbedingungen Auf Kreuzfahrten von weniger als 5 Tagen und auf Charterkreuzfahrten ist das Paket nicht verfgbar. I have dined in this restaurant on the Norwegian Epic and really enjoyed it. Some of Norwegians sailing perks seem too good to be true. All the managers, from the dining rooms to the specialty dining, were incredibly accommodating, even if he waited until the afternoon to order. Reservations are not required but are highly recommended. I figured it to be about $30ish per meal. Eine SDP-Mahlzeit in A-la-carte-Restaurants umfasst 1 Vorspeise, 1 Suppe oder Salat, 1 Hauptgericht und 1 Nachspeise (gilt nicht fr Aufpreis-Restaurants oder Food Republic, Pincho Tapas Bar und Sushi, wo eine Mahlzeit alle 4 Menpunkte umfasst). Try going on the website and just checking this off, or asking your travel agent for assistance. 2023 Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. 11 Grnde, in diesen Sommer Alaska zu bereisen | NCL Reiseblog, 14 Tage authentisches Alaska-Landprogramm Richtung Norden | Norwegian Cruise Line, 14 Tage authentisches Alaska-Kreuzfahrt Richtung Sden | Deckplne | Norwegian Cruise Line, 20 Tage Transpazifik-Kreuzfahrt ab Tokio (Yokohama) und Alaska | Norwegian Cruise Line, 11 gute Grnde fr eine Alaskakreuzfahrt diesen Sommer | NCL-Reiseblog, Kreuzfahrten fr Passagiere mit besonderen Bedrfnissen. 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. Ein Trinkgeldaufschlag von 20 % wird zum Paketpreis dazugerechnet. Were sailing in 3 weeks and looking forward to it. In total, our specialty dining bill would have been $346.46 if we dined at these five restaurants and paid a la carte pricing. I have WIFI calling on my phone and all I need is access to the internet. Norwegian Cruise Lines Free at Sea: Ultimate Guide, Norwegian Cruise Lines Free at Sea Promotion, Free Shore Excursions ($50 Shore Excursion Credits). Typically, guests who book a studio or inside cabins might only get one free perk. I know it will help others to make a decision as well. You will need to pay a la carte for items purchased at these locations. They charge you like fifteen bucks service charge. There are no additional taxes charged. We have sailed with NCL four times. Despite the different names the idea behind the restaurants is the same. As soon as I hear, Ill update the information on this site and as well chat about it on YouTube. If you have the beverage perk, it sounds like youll be just fine and have what you need. With $50 of per port and 10% Latitudes credits. While it goes by different names on different ships, one thing remains the same: theres a restaurant in which to grab food 24-hours a day. Norwegian Cruise Line ; NCL on Christmas - Anything special on the menu in main dining rooms? It is brought around by the wait staff and cut onto your plate. Instead, guests can dine at one of the many onboard restaurants. If youre planning a cruise, youll likely book some shore excursions at the ports of call. With Norwegians free shore excursion credit, youll receive $50 credit on excursion bookings. That said, we recommend booking in advance as popular shore excursions fill up fast. Book a specialty restaurant in either of those scenarios, and you wont be disappointed. Have never used another cruise line because we just like everything about NCL so much. Spezialittenrestaurant-Pakete sind in den folgenden Restaurants gltig: American Diner, Cagney's Steakhouse, Food Republic, Italian, Le Bistro, Los Lobos, Moderno Churrascaria, Pincho Tapas Bar, Q Texas Smokehouse, Raw Bar, Seafood, Sushi und Teppanyaki. KNNEN RESERVIERUNGEN FR ZUSAMMENREISENDE GSTE VORGENOMMEN WERDEN, AUCH WENN NICHT ALLE REISENDEN AM PAKET BETEILIGT SIND? FREE airfare. I have to agree theres some peace of mind that comes with having a package too! Some restaurants have a fixed price (SDP covers entire meal), some restaurants would be 1 SDP meal plus an upcharge ($7, $15, for ex.). The 5-night meal plan was priced at $99 at the time of our sailing . Tip: If you arent interested in the Free at Sea perks, booking Sail Away cabins is a great way to save money. Hi Ilana I havent cruise with HAL yet, but Ive heard a lot of good things about Norwegian and their accomodations for special diets and food allergies. Norwegian Cruise Line often offer speciality dining as part of a booking perk. Thanks for taking the time to comment. And of course, room service is available aboard all Norwegian ships. Meals 8 through 14 work out $10 per meal (or $14.20 per meal for 14). Teppanyaki and Moderno are the only 2 restaurants in the fleet that have a flat rate cover charge all other restaurants are a la carte pricing. We have the Beverage Pkg and the Excursion Pkg picked, but now we are thinking of booking our own tours instead of NCL ones. What is your opinion of the pre-cruise package for specialty dining? Any ideas would be a bonus. Most of the specialty restaurants went a la carte such as Bistro Cagneys and La Cucina. It may make sense if there's a specialty restaurant you want to try but you've already used or plan to use your allotment of Free at Sea promo or dining package meals. I wouldnt do more than three because I usually want to eat at the main dining rooms or OSheehans a few times. When you arent actively using the internet package, its a good idea to disconnect your device to save minutes. The marketing screams, "Free specialty dining!" As a matter of fact, when I do book a new cruise, as long as I book via telephone, theyve always asked if there have been any changes or additions that need to be added. The Specialty Dining Package from Norwegian Cruise Line allows you to purchase meals at the ships added cost Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952022 The Independent Traveler, Inc. If you choose the free beverage package perk or the free specialty dining offer, youll be charged a 20% gratuity on the value of the package. Depending on your starter and entree selections, if you had two appetizers, an entree, and a dessert, you would average somewhere between $32 to $35 a person. Oftentimes, the chef and waitstaff at a specialty restaurant have the time and ability to do something special maybe a special toast or dessert designed for the occasion. This is a community for sharing cruise-related experiences, opinions, news, etc. 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. This breaks down to a per meal cost of $23.76. Unsere Gste knnen ihre SDP-Mahlzeiten auerdem in ausgewhlten Entertainment-Restaurants einlsen. 2 nights of specialty dining is $89 US. Our next cruise is the 9-day Baltic cruise in Aug 2020. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. This restaurant is on all ships in the fleet except Norwegian Encore and Spirit. Keep in mind that the per meal cost does decrease as you purchase more meals on the plan adding further value. SDP is not available on 1 and 2-day sailings; On 3-day sailings, SDP is for There is no maximum to the number of meals that can be redeemed each day. Norwegian Cruise Lines Specialty Dining Package (SDP) starts at $69 per person for three specialty meals and goes up to $199 per person for 14 meals. Die Dining-Optionen variieren je nach Schiff. But the only real difference is the name. With this perk, the third and fourth guests sail free, while guests one and two pay the full fare. Other dining options including Room Service, the Bake Shop, Dolce Gelato, and Atrium Cafe which are not included in the cruise fare and do not accept the specialty dining package. Luckily, this staple venue is on all ships in the fleet. Compare? In allen unterhaltungsbasierten Restaurants wird eine Trinkgeldgebhr von 20% erhoben. However, I have still found it to be worth it. Ultimately, you need to determine if the stateroom and the additional perks are worth it for you. LauraS La Cucina: This Italian restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating and offers dinner. Thank you! Spark a conversation amongst friends over a great bottle of wine and freshly baked artisan farm bread. We are pretty cautious when booking excursions or sometimes going on our own, but missing the ship is always our biggest concern. La Cucina: Go Italian. I value and respect your privacy - that means I'll never sell, share, or misuse your information. It's perfectly acceptable to pay whatever the cost is per person. Norwegian Cruise Line Beverage Packages: Whats Included and is it Worth it? I see you mentioned that the Specialty Dining has free dinners. Specialty Dining Packages (SDP) are available online for pre-sale or onboard during the first two days of the voyage. You can dine as many times as you would like, on some cruises have eaten lunch in a venue and then come back for an afternoon snack. On other cruise lines I notice that they will have 1/2 price specials on the ship if certain restaurants have slow days. the next time, we bought the packages and had peace of mind and control over our spending. Be sure to save room for the delicious skewers of slow-roasted meats including beef, pork, lamb and chicken all carved tableside by our authentic Pasadores. As you can expect, popular times of year are excluded from this perk, such as Christmas, New Year, and March Break. You can make reservations online for the specialty restaurants up to 120 days prior to your cruise. However, whether youre planning your first cruiseor a seasoned cruiser, youll want to know the details and see if its the best option for you. Elsewhere, several ships in the Norwegian fleet feature shows which come with the option of having dinner before the entertainment begins. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The Premium Beverage Package includes fountain soda, draft beer, glasses of wine, spirits, and cocktails up to $15 per drink. 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 for us, who now always get the beverage packages, thats like sailing half price! That said, we dont recommend waiting for this special offer. While many Free at Sea perks are genuinely free, others have a hidden cost. Have you run into this? Do you have to make reservations for all the entertainment on board? Great point for the large ships! If you're in a stateroom with more than two people, you'll have to purchase a specialty dining package. Make sure to try Le Bistro (French restaurant) and La Cucina (Italian). Eine Rckerstattung von nicht genutzten Mahlzeiten ist nicht mglich. If youre like many cruisers, you love the idea of getting a perk or two included in your cruise fare! If you get all five bonuses, you can opt out to avoid paying gratuities. With that in mind, I enjoy everything about a great meal, better than the amazing service onboard, and the quietness of the specialty restaurants. On our last one several years ago, we tried the specialty restaurants and did not think that they were significantly better than the regular dining rooms. Ja. The Specialty Dining Package is accepted at Le Bistro, and it is a great value as dinner here can be quite pricey. When we went on our Christmas cruise (a year before the shutdown), the specialty restaurants all had their normal menus for Christmas. Keep in mind, if you do get those perks, the dining rooms will hold your bottle if you dont finish it! 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. This promotion is often called Kids Sail Free because it is typically used by families. 2. 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! A 20% gratuity will be added to your reservation at a cost of $17.80 US per person, or $35.80 US per cabin. Spezialittenrestaurant-Pakete werden individuell verkauft und sind nicht bertragbar. Im still unclear about the beverage perk. SOME people are told only one app, side, etc. Online im Bereich Dining auf ncl.com/myncl oder ber die Reservierungsabteilung von Norwegian unter 0611 3607 0. Norwegians Free at Sea perks are generally applicable to all sailings of 3 nights or greater. Depending on your ship there may be other restaurants where your SDP will only be good a discount, not the full meal. Something important to be aware of, is that the free beverage perk does have an additional gratuity charge on the value of the package. Id love to connect with you on Instagram and Facebook @lifewellcruised. NCL hasnt announced yet, however I would hope that by August 2021 things will be somewhat different and this may not be the norm. While their nachos are surprisingly underwhelming, the brownie cheesecake should not be missed. Edited August 7, 2019 by kitkat343 Bei drei- und viertgigen Kreuzfahrten kann dieses Paket nur am ersten Tag Ihrer Reise erworben werden. If you want to buy a Norwegian specialty dining package, the published prices are below. I was wondering what you know about the internet packages. Bis auf die Meeresfrchte-Platte in der Raw Bar sind alle Gerichte der Spezialittenrestaurants in dem Paket enthalten.