Watch Next: How NCL Free at Sea Perks Work - Episode 2 Shore Excursion Credits kzread.info/dash/bejne/k6V2qZOKnsaxk9I.html

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!!!!

@CruisewithGrant

Ай бұрын

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!

@RyGuyDCL

Ай бұрын

@@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

@CruisewithGrant

2 жыл бұрын

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!

Thank you so much! This video was so informative and helpful for a first time cruiser like me with NCL.

@CruisewithGrant

Жыл бұрын

Hi Moona 👋 I'm so thrilled that this was helpful! Thank you for your support! More good stuff coming so please keep watching!

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.

@CruisewithGrant

2 жыл бұрын

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!

Great series! Very informative and succinct!

@CruisewithGrant

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the kind words Mary! I'm always so glad to hear that my videos are helping folks!!

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.

@CruisewithGrant

Жыл бұрын

Hi 👋 I’m so glad my video helped (Wow and even a mid video)! I hoped you watched to the end for more good stuff 😜 Thanks for all your support!

Thanks for the info. Did not know this👍👍👍

@CruisewithGrant

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the feedback Kim! I'm so glad it was helpful! A new video is coming shortly on the shore excursion perk!

Thank you for the great content!! 😎

@CruisewithGrant

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for the kind words, it means alot to know that people are enjoying and finding them helpful!

Thanks a lot Grant, regards from Muscat

Appreciate ur information

@CruisewithGrant

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment. I'm so glad to hear the video was helpful! Another one is coming soon (May 3), stay tuned!

I was wondering about this. Thanks!

@CruisewithGrant

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment! Glad to hear it was helpful! More videos on the Free at Sea Perks coming up, stay tuned!

@carylosborn1808

2 жыл бұрын

I’m a first time cruiser come Sept and I need all the info I can get 🙂

@CruisewithGrant

2 жыл бұрын

@@carylosborn1808 I got you covered ;)

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!!

@CruisewithGrant

Жыл бұрын

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 😊

@denvergigi7329

Жыл бұрын

@@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!

Omg thank you, I've been wondering how all the free perks apply to my cruise -- IT DOESN'T! I didn't realize it was only for the better rooms lol

@CruisewithGrant

Жыл бұрын

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 🤩 kzread.info/dash/bejne/k6V2qZOKnsaxk9I.html

I love the specialty dining even though I am lactose intolerant and a pescetarian.

Booked our first NCL cruise on the Pr1ma. Got the free at sea, dining, drinks, internet. I’ll be looking for your other demystify videos. Thanks

@CruisewithGrant

2 жыл бұрын

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!

@rickthibodeau9172

2 жыл бұрын

Nice! When are you sailing on the Prima? We're book for June 2023! I can't wait.

@smadden3933

2 жыл бұрын

Nice!! We are booked for the Viva March 2024

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!

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!

@CruisewithGrant

Жыл бұрын

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 🤩

Thank you for this video! How does the ala carte speciality dining work? Is there a dollar amount you're allotted for each free meal?

@CruisewithGrant

Жыл бұрын

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!

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?

@CruisewithGrant

Жыл бұрын

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

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.

So free at sea specialty dining included, but not every day? Kinda deceiving

Our package says 2X 4 specialty dining package.....we have booked cruise for September 2023 back in July 31 2021

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

@CruisewithGrant

11 ай бұрын

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!! kzread.info/dash/bejne/dX-HpdmHpKuZj5c.html

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

@CruisewithGrant

Жыл бұрын

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

@CruisewithGrant

Жыл бұрын

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 kzread.info/dash/bejne/jIWnvK9ueL3UdJc.html

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?

@CruisewithGrant

2 жыл бұрын

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!

❤

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?

@CruisewithGrant

Жыл бұрын

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 😊

@michelleloomis2687

Жыл бұрын

@@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?

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

@CruisewithGrant

Жыл бұрын

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!

@akdboy

Жыл бұрын

@@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

@CruisewithGrant

Жыл бұрын

@@akdboy my pleasure! I think you’ve got it all covered ☺️🙌

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?

@CruisewithGrant

Жыл бұрын

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!

How many appetizers/soups/salads can you order for free with the free at sea specialty dinning?

@CruisewithGrant

Жыл бұрын

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 😀

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?

@CruisewithGrant

Жыл бұрын

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!

@manorominn7941

Жыл бұрын

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.

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!

@CruisewithGrant

Жыл бұрын

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

Жыл бұрын

@@CruisewithGrant we'll be on the Breakaway our of New Orleans! Our first NCL cruise (we usually sail Royal)

@CruisewithGrant

Жыл бұрын

@@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! 😊

How come we get 3 free meals then for a 10 day cruise in an inside cabin?

So is the 1 Meal Specialty Dining Package one specialty meal per day or 1 specialty meal for the entire cruise?

@CruisewithGrant

Жыл бұрын

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!

What's included in this "meal" for specialty dinning? Appetizer, entree and dessert?

@CruisewithGrant

2 жыл бұрын

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!!

If we have free at sea dining pakage can we book in advance or only on ship ?

@CruisewithGrant

2 жыл бұрын

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.

@lindasalconi2039

2 жыл бұрын

@@CruisewithGrant sailing encore in nov from quebec

@jhawkins1411

2 жыл бұрын

The option to make restaurant reservations appeared on our App about six weeks out from out departure date on the Epic.

So if I am Going on a 5 day cruise I get one free meal and I have to pay for the rest of my food for the trip ??

@CruisewithGrant

Жыл бұрын

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

@sabrinaarianaallende3555

Жыл бұрын

@@CruisewithGrant thank you I did figure that out haha when I asked the ncl Facebook group but thanks I will take a look at the link 👍🏼👍🏼

@CruisewithGrant

Жыл бұрын

@@sabrinaarianaallende3555 Don't worry we got you! 🥰 If you have any other questions you can also message on Instagram @cruisewithgrant

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.

oh damn, that's good to know (the 20% they are charging you as a TIP). urgh; Aussies don't tip. LOL

@CruisewithGrant

Жыл бұрын

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!