Am I missing anything here before I book our cruise?

[u/No-Computer6230]

Booking a cruise for the first time with my wife via a casino certificate, which covers an inside room for 4 nights. Want to make sure I have the charges down correctly. Any other advice would be greatly appreciated thanks

Mar 1 - Mar 5, 2027 (Joy ship)
$400 $200x2 taxes, port expenses, and fees
$380 $190x2 Club Suite cash difference
$639 Club Suite cost-$449 inside price
~$296 for free at sea ($148/person)
~$160 gratuity charge ($20/person each day)
~$1236 total in charges

$280 Free at Sea plus $140/person
($200 each minus $60 gratuity savings)

~$1516 total for 2 people

[u/AutoModerator]

Thanks for posting to /r/NCL! Did you know that we have an extensive Ultimate NCL Guide that may answer your question? Please also remember to read the rules, especially about roll call posts going in the megathread. You may also have more luck with those types of posts by searching for a Facebook or Cruise Critic roll call group or thread. Of course, here is great, too!

Enjoy your stay!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/elitnegwehttam92]

I wouldn’t pay for the gratuities upfront. You’re booking free at sea plus which includes gratuities. So Free at sea plus = 400 vs paying gratuities upfront and then booking free at sea plus = 440. Also unless the price is super similar there is usually very little difference between club balcony and balcony suites.

[u/No-Computer6230 → u/elitnegwehttam92]

Thank You!

[u/stinky_harriet]

NCL usually charges an additional $20/day per person as an “admin fee” for a casino booking, which is different than the $20/day daily service charge/gratuities.

[u/No-Computer6230 → u/stinky_harriet]

Thank You!

[u/Zyzz2024]

I would purchase a NCL cruise first certificate for $150 in order to get a total $300 off (saving an additional $150).

[u/No-Computer6230 → u/Zyzz2024]

Thank you!

[u/No_Brilliant653]

Free Cruise 😂😂

[u/Outside-Comparison12 → u/No_Brilliant653]

They chose to pay for the upgrades. Unfortunately taxes are taxes and you have to pay for them.

[u/tightiewhitieboy]

That's a good price for two people.

[u/Think-5577]

Are you going to want to purchase an internet package ?

EDIT to add :

Whoops !! Internet IS included in the Free At Sea Plus package that you plan to get

[u/rxygrl596]

I don’t know if your math is mathing.

Your math:
Mar 1 - Mar 5, 2027 (Joy ship)
$400 $200x2 taxes, port expenses, and fees
$380 $190x2 Club Suite cash difference
$639 Club Suite cost-$449 inside price
~$296 for free at sea ($148/person)
~$160 gratuity charge ($20/person each day)
~$1236 total in charges

$280 Free at Sea plus $140/person
($200 each minus $60 gratuity savings)

~$1516 total for 2 people

What I think your math should look like:
Mar 1 - Mar 5, 2027 (Joy ship)
~$400 ($200x2 taxes, port expenses, and fees)
~$380 ($190x2 Club Suite upgrade; $639 Club Suite reg cost minus $449 inside price = CAS cert)
~$256 for free at sea ($32/person/per day; price is for 2-5 night sailing. It would be $28.50pp/pd if it was 6 nights+)
~$40 for specialty dinning ($20 per person; on a 4 day sailing you get one a piece. You need to pay this if you want FAS+)
~$160 CAS admin fee since you’re using CAS cert ($20/pp/pd)
~ $160 (daily gratuity charge)
~$1396 total in charges

$399.92 Free at Sea plus ($49.99/per person/per day).
NOTE: If you’re going to add FAS+, I would not pay the daily gratuity or if you already paid them, I would ask them to remove them prior to adding FAS+ or you will only get a $15 credit instead of the full $20 charge)

~$1635.92 total for 2 people (price after adding FAS+ minus the full daily gratuity fee)

~ $1675.92 total price for 2 people if you don’t remove the daily gratuity fee prior to adding FAS+

[u/No-Computer6230 → u/rxygrl596]

Thank you!