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  1. #1
    I called NCL Casinos At Sea today and found out some info.

    - You can start booking your NCL cruse on February 1, 2016. Sailing must be completed by January 31, 2017.

    - They do NOT have a list yet from Caesars regarding who qualifies yet. Last year, Caesars was like 2 days late getting that over.

    - As always, Seven Stars get one cruise, with a balcony (category BB or lower) stateroom, but only an oceanview stateroom for Alaska. You will pay taxes and "non-commisioned fare" per person, which usually breaks out to about $175-$450 each. Also, you will be responsible for $14-per-person-per-day "gratuities", which in reality are just a service charge which I don't believe actually goes directly to cruise staff.

    - Blackout dates are not set in stone yet, but they are expected to be cruises including 4th of July, Christmas, and New Year's. Thanksgiving week is NOT expected to be blacked out.

    - There is a new cancellation rule for 2016. You used to be able to cancel up to 75 days before sailing for a full refund. Now it's 90 days before sailing, and 120 days if you have a suite.

    - If TWO Seven Stars are in the same household, they are not allowed to be on the same "free" cruise. Instead, their balcony room will be upgraded to a mini-suite (which isn't a very good upgrade to be honest), or their oceanview on Alaska will be upgraded to a balcony. This is a good reason why you and your traveling companion should probably have separate addresses in the system.

    - If you want to buy a second room, you will get a 10% discount. A third room and beyond will not get any discount.

    - Platinum members can book a cruise for a 10% discount, while a Diamond gets a 20% discount. I believe Seven Stars get 30 or 35%, but I forgot to ask about that. However, you CANNOT use your Seven Stars discount if booking a second room. So if you want two rooms and are traveling with a Diamond guest, you are better off having the Diamond book the second room themselves and get the 20%, instead of the 2nd room 10% discount. If a member changes tier levels before cruise cancellation date (90 days), they can call NCL and their trip will be re-rated to the better discount.
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  2. #2
    Originally Posted by Dan Druff View Post
    I called NCL Casinos At Sea today and found out some info.

    - You can start booking your NCL cruse on February 1, 2016. Sailing must be completed by January 31, 2017.
    Hi Dan:

    Am a correct that one has to make Seven Stars for 2016 by February 1, 2016 if you want book for a Seven Stars cruise on that early date? If so, it is a lot earlier than I expect to re-qualify by 2016.

    Also I received an invite for a Cruise Giveaway with only an "Ocean View Room" but the NCL ship I am looking at, the EPIC, has no ocean view rooms, as all outside facing rooms are balcony. Any idea whether balcony rooms are issued under that circumstance?

    Finally, if a spouse has a cruise giveaway certificate, does that mean that the Seven Stars spouse cannot use the Seven Stars cruise for the same trip?

    FAB

  3. #3
    Originally Posted by FABismonte View Post
    Hi Dan:

    Am a correct that one has to make Seven Stars for 2016 by February 1, 2016 if you want book for a Seven Stars cruise on that early date? If so, it is a lot earlier than I expect to re-qualify by 2016.

    Also I received an invite for a Cruise Giveaway with only an "Ocean View Room" but the NCL ship I am looking at, the EPIC, has no ocean view rooms, as all outside facing rooms are balcony. Any idea whether balcony rooms are issued under that circumstance?

    Finally, if a spouse has a cruise giveaway certificate, does that mean that the Seven Stars spouse cannot use the Seven Stars cruise for the same trip?

    FAB
    If you earned Seven Stars in 2015 (150k tiers or more in that calendar year), then you automatically qualify for the entire year of 2016, and thus can book your cruise on Feb 1 or after.

    If you are not yet Seven Stars for all of 2016 (because you didn't earn 150k tiers in 2015), then you will need to earn Seven Stars before booking this cruise.

    I don't know what they will do on the Epic if there are no oceanview rooms on the ship. Maybe they will issue a balcony in that case. Never seen that one asked before.

    You are correct that spouses cannot use their Seven Stars cruise certificate on the same trip (that is, you can't get TWO rooms that way). In such a case, they will upgrade you to a mini-suite, which is a bit of a misnomer. A mini-suite in reality is only slightly better than a balcony room. I would suggest that you have your spouse change her address to be different than yours, and NCL isn't all that likely to catch it. Then just book separately and try to choose rooms close to one another (without associating the reservations in any way). Once onboard, you can combine accounts to where it's all one big folio, and no one will care.

    And when I say "change your address", I mean you should do so in BOTH the CET and NCL systems. Both of these can be done online, I believe.
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  4. #4
    Hi Dan:

    Thanks for the quick response. But for the last question, my wife is Diamond not Seven Stars and she is being offered a certificate for a cruise as part of a weekend giveaway from CET. May I still assume that (absent different addresses) we cannot book two rooms even if one is under her certificate and one is under my Seven Stars?

    FAB

  5. #5
    Originally Posted by FABismonte View Post
    But for the last question, my wife is Diamond not Seven Stars and she is being offered a certificate for a cruise as part of a weekend giveaway from CET. May I still assume that (absent different addresses) we cannot book two rooms even if one is under her certificate and one is under my Seven Stars?
    I have heard two different answers from NCL on this.

    One person told me that, yes, Seven Stars certificates and Diamond certificates in the same household can be used together.

    Someone else told me that they can't.

    You are safest using 2 different addresses.

    With that said, they still may not catch it. There is a difference between the rules and what is actually enforced regularly.

    I will say that, once you successfully have 2 bookings, it is not that likely they will go back on it. And once you're onboard, you have it for sure. They cannot retroactively charge you or anything like that.

    They are also not actively looking to catch people playing address games. So if you do go with 2 addresses, your chance of successfully getting 2 rooms is close to 100%.
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  6. #6
    Originally Posted by Dan Druff View Post
    I will say that, once you successfully have 2 bookings, it is not that likely they will go back on it. And once you're onboard, you have it for sure. They cannot retroactively charge you or anything like that.
    No walking the plank? No keelhauling? No time in the brig? What a relief.

  7. #7
    Dan, you do one helluva job explaining this stuff.

  8. #8
    Also, to book the cruise, cal 1-877-752-9625

    Do NOT call the other number that Caesars gives you for it. That other number is the NCL Arizona office, which has zero power (and really obnoxious employees).

    The number I listed above is the Miami number, and you speak directly with the NCL Casinos At Sea department.
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  9. #9
    Got a call yesterday that Caesars has sent the Seven Stars list over, and it's entered successfully.

    So you can now book your Seven Stars book any time.

    I would suggest doing it soon, because these fill up quickly.

    You have until 90 days before sailing to get a full refund.
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  10. #10
    BUMP again

    If you book, you will see an "Admin Fee" that wasn't there in previous years.

    It's actually nothing new. It's just renamed. The NCF (non-commissioned fare) portion is now called "Admin Fee".

    I first saw it on LoneStarHorse's reservation, and I didn't understand it. Now I do.
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  11. #11
    Hi Dan:

    Thanks for the NCL information. I called NCL and signed up for my Seven Stars Cruise cruise embarking from Barcelona on the EPIC later this year. Calling that number you suggested made it a lot easier to get through.

    FAB

  12. #12
    For anyone who booked a Seven Stars cruise recently:

    The promotions just got better! You now qualify for TWO freebies instead of one.

    So for example, I chose just the dining package as my freebie. Today I called and rebooked, and got the dining package AND 250 minutes of internet at no additional cost.

    There is no downside to this.

    Call (877) 752-9625 from 6am to 2:30pm PST (Mon-Fri), select option 1, and tell them you want to change it because a second "free at sea" item is now available to balcony rooms.
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  13. #13
    Hi Dan:

    Thanks for the heads up. I just contacted NCL and added the excursion discount to my dining package - for free. The "hold" message on the phone said that this 2fer is available until Feb 29.

    FAB
    Last edited by FABismonte; 02-19-2016 at 11:12 AM.

  14. #14
    Originally Posted by FABismonte View Post
    Hi Dan:

    Thanks for the heads up. I just contacted NCL and added the excursion discount to my dining package - for free. The "hold" message on the phone said that this 2fer is available until Feb 29.

    FAB
    Do you take ship-run excursions?

    I ask this because they tend to be VERY expensive, and you don't get to see as much as when you go out on your own (or hire a private tour).

    I'm not sure what kind of discount they give, but it still may be expensive even after that.

    For example, on last year's Canada cruise, I wound rent a car and drive the entire family somewhere for $50 (plus gas), when the excursion version (on a slow bus with tons of people, and zero flexibility) was like $125/person! So even half price would have been a bad deal.

    This is why I chose the internet as my 2nd.

    You probably didn't choose the beverage package because you don't drink. I don't, either, but that one is the best value if you do.
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  15. #15
    Hi Dan:

    The choice of the specialty dining was a no brainer. The better question is which other package to choose. I don't drink much and if I wanted a drink I could use the casino-at-sea card anyway so was not interested in the beverage package.

    The internet package was only 250 minutes which I could otherwise purchase for $100. Moreover, I know how to buy some coffee or snacks on shore and use the cafe's wifi.

    The discount on the excursions is only $50 per cabin per port. So I figure two ship excursions was the break even. I take some but not all ship-run excursions depending on the port and the language issues. Naples is an easy walk from the ship , and some places like the Majorcas are easy to self-guide, but one time I was in Italy and almost missed the boat because I was confused about the mandatory departing cruise bus pick up location in Civitavecchia (near Rome) when my wife and I went nomad. Boy, my wife was NOT happy with me.

    I realize ship excursions tend to be more expensive but sometimes I would rather just pay for the convenience and domestic tranquility.

    FAB
    Last edited by FABismonte; 02-19-2016 at 01:14 PM.

  16. #16
    Hi Dan:

    Earlier this month I went on an NCL cruise on the Epic with my wife and another couple. We cruised in the Western Mediterranean. I used my Seven Stars annual cruise, my wife got a "free" cruise for an "oceanview" cabin on one of the CET offerings. I booked a balcony cabin for me and the husband. Even though my wife had only a "ocean view" certificate, all outside cabins on the NCL Epic enjoy balconies so they gave her a balcony room which she booked for her and the accompanying wife. Our cabins were on the same level. When we got on board, we got additional room keys issued so each couple could be with their spouse. Here is a photo:

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    I thought it was unusual that there is no ID or reference on the card, but it did the trick of letting us swap rooms under the radar. The room attendants did not really care although at first they were wondering why I wanted to have the beds placed together given my cabin mate was "Sam."

    My wife's friend told her (female) cabin attendant that my wife "hooked up" with a guy she met on the first night and decided to move there.

    We divided up the expenses by having the other couple make any charges to their cabin and my wife and I charged to our cabin.

    So we were able to get some heavily discounted cruises for the four of us and enjoyed the company. Thanks for all your suggestions.

    FAB

  17. #17
    Hey FAB, thanks for the report.

    I know you enjoy taking these discounted Seven Stars cruises as much as I do.

    I haven't been to any of the European ones yet, because I don't think my young son is ready all the flying to get there. But maybe soon.

    Great trick with the oceanview getting force-upgrade to the balcony. Glad that worked for you.

    When I took my Alaska cruise in 2014, I only got an oceanview as the Seven Stars benefit (which is still true for Alaska to this day), but they had an occasional promotion for "free upgrades" that year, so I waited for it and booked then. We got a balcony thanks to that, which makes a HUGE difference on those Alaska glacier cruises.

    Sadly they did away with the "free upgrade" promo in 2015.

    What did you do about the new "no drinks brought onboard" poiicy? I find that highly annoying. I used to always bring on a few cases of water and some soda. Now I can't do that anymore.

    Regarding the room swapping, the stewards are used to people doing that. It is very common. The most common scenario involves a family of four, where it is required that a person over 18 is booked in each room. So the husband books one, the wife books the other, and then they change it once onboard, putting the husband and wife in one room, and the two kids in the other. NCL does not care at all who physically stays in each room. There is a soft policy to ignore that.

    Cruising is also fairly popular with gay people, so two men rooming together is not unusual at all.
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  18. #18
    As for Casino information on the cruise let me point out that while I was walking around Naples (Italy, not Florida) I found a slightly slummy casino. Here is the outside. The inside consisted of a small room with about 20 penny slot games. I did not check out the details for play there so I have no idea what the denominations were other than it was in Euros.

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    Also on board the NCL Epic where all denominations were in US dollars, there were the standard highly tight slot and video poker machines.

    But the table games were OK. The craps was standard rules with no Bonus Bets or Fire Bets. There were two tables one was $5 minimum and the other was $15. But I never saw the other table open.

    The blackjack was 6-5 on a BJ but only at the $6 minimum level. Do not ask me why it is $6 and not $5. For those tables a dealer told me at $10 or more the BJ's paid regular 3-2. I only, however, found $15 or higher and did not see any $10 tables.

    Here is a photo of the High Limit Room, as you can see, the default limit for High Limit room BJ was $100 minimum.

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    Last edited by FABismonte; 10-27-2016 at 03:25 PM.

  19. #19
    Dan, I normally go on Carnival cruises. I have not taken a seven stars cruise yet. I also can get balcony cruises from NCL from PNG gaming (Hollywood). I am going to look at NCL. Do you know if you can get any of the free extra's that they offer like the unlimited drink package (normally $79 a day)? I am thinking the value of the drink package may actually be worth as much as the cruise. $79 a day is a lot. Carnival is about $55 a day and I think that is a lot.

  20. #20
    Originally Posted by supermaxhd View Post
    Dan, I normally go on Carnival cruises. I have not taken a seven stars cruise yet. I also can get balcony cruises from NCL from PNG gaming (Hollywood). I am going to look at NCL. Do you know if you can get any of the free extra's that they offer like the unlimited drink package (normally $79 a day)? I am thinking the value of the drink package may actually be worth as much as the cruise. $79 a day is a lot. Carnival is about $55 a day and I think that is a lot.
    Yes, you get any promo they are running at the time.

    Also, if you see a better promo, and it's before "final payment" date, you can simply call them and switch, with no penalty.

    If you want the UBP (ultimate beverage package), yes that will almost always be a promo available to you. However, keep in mind that they charge 18% on top of that for "tips" (which are not even given to the crew, which is even more offensive!), and that you must pay. So I think you will be on the hook for $90 per person in "tips" if you get the UBP. While that's WAY cheaper than $79/day, you should only get it if you plan upon drinking enough to be worth $90.

    Also, the UBP doesn't include ALL drinks onboard (the more expensive ones are excluded, or there's an upcharge, I forget which), nor does it include bottled water (which is REALLY expensive).

    I will say that NCL has a better reputation than Carnival, primarily for its clientele. Carnival tends to attract a lot more of the young, party type, while NCL's crowd tends to be 50+. On some itineraries, NCL's crowd is quite old. I took a New England/Canada NCL cruise in 2015, and I was one of the youngsters there at age 43. It was rare to see anyone there who was fewer than 15 years older than me!

    I actually prefer the older crowds because they aren't nearly as rowdy, loud, or drunk. The only irritating thing about cruising with old people is that they tend to walk really slowly in the hallway, and it's a pain in the ass getting by them.

    Usually balcony rooms get 2 of the "free" perks. You should consider grabbing the dining package. The specialty restaurants (especially Cagney's and Le Bistro) are far superior to the main dining room, both in atmosphere and food.

    The "free internet" is also a good perk, though it's only 250 minutes, which goes really quickly. I prefer to just get other perks and then buy the unlimited internet. I can use that to make phone calls to shore for free.

    Also, after booking, keep checking back to see if they've added on board credit as a balcony perk. Sometimes you'll get as much as $100. Again, you can keep rebooking with better perks up until final payment date.
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