Can you choose your cabin through URComped?
Yes, you can. But sometimes the comp cabins we get are guarantee cabins or they may be a certain cabin category. So someone could log into a Royal Caribbean website and it says that a cabins available, but that cabin may not be part of the comp block that we have. BUT you can work with your URComped host, if you have a specific cabin in mind, and they can pick it for you. Even easier, that gives us a little more flexibility, is giving us a generic location you want (ex: mid ship, 8th or 9th floor). Aside from it being a guaranteed cabin, we should be able to get it for you.
Why does NCL (Norwegian Cruise Lines) Casinos at Sea Charge admins fees?
From the perspective of someone who works with several cruise lines, it's all marketing and how different cruise lines choose to promote. How much money can they get up front? How much can they make? How are they going to position themselves to get the most people booked? What NCL, who Craig worked with years ago as a host on board the ship, likes to do is give a Comp Cabin and add that they are also going to give you something else (ex. Wi-Fi package, drinks on board, or specialty dinners). So NCL player's receive a comp plus two out of three of these extra options/ add-ons.
On the surface, it looks great, but it ends up costing you $600-$900 for a Comp cruise, but you also have extra perks. Other cruise lines, such as MSC, have a different strategy. MSC gives you a Comp cabin without fees, and they charge a $400 deposit which you get back in full in onboard credit. They don't add on extra packages (ex, Wif-Fi, specialty dinners,etc.). When you dig into the numbers, the MSC deal is a lot better, because you can buy the wi-fi package, the drink pack, etc and still come out ahead.
Is it better to book through URComped or direct through a cruise line for a Non Comped Cruise?
If you're starting out and don't really have any good offers, you may be wondering, "Is it better to start and try to book direct and build up offers, or go with URComped initially?" You should book with us if you have no history with the cruise line.
If you book direct with the cruise line, then URComped won't be able to book you there for a certain amount of time, because the way our deal works with the cruise lines.
But if you book with us, we can put you on your first trip on a casino rate (discount rate) which is better than booking through a travel agent. Plus, if you play at a land based casino and have offers, we may be able to give you some additional discounts. So we'd recommend that you start with us, let us build up your your profile. Then on the next cruise, you will get even better offers. We have offers direct from the cruise line you want as well as our own offers and other cruise line offers.
Will URComped automatically try to upgrade my onboard cruise certificate?
We will always try. No matter what, the cruise line has to honor what is on the certificate at the least. What could happen, is that the price of the sailing you are interested in goes up, and if it wasn't on that certificate, you wouldn't be able to book that cabin category. The reverse can happen as well! It's on the certificate and for whatever reason the price goes down. All of a sudden, we have access to get you a higher cabin category at a price that would normally be what you originally qualified for. We will always check to see if we can get you a better deal than what's on the certificate.
Not sure what URComped is?
URComped works with Casino Partners to give Qualified Members new offers (comps) to Caribbean Resorts and Cruise Lines that they have never been to/ played at before. Think you may be qualified?? SIGN UP (ITS FREE) upload offers that you've received from either land based casinos or cruise lines to see what NEW COMPS you qualify for!