How I Used My Platinum Perks on an NCL Cruise

I have experienced numerous cruises with various cruise lines, but it wasn’t until I sailed on Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) multiple times that I began to see the benefits of being a member of their cruise loyalty program. I advanced to the Platinum tier in NCL’s Latitudes program.

Here’s a breakdown of how NCL’s Latitudes program operates and how I utilized my benefits.

Passengers earn 1 point for each cruise night and additional points for booking a suite or The Haven. Extra points can also be earned through specific offers.

After their initial cruise, passengers are automatically enrolled by NCL, eliminating the need for manual sign-up.

My most recent cruise on the Norwegian Getaway marked my seventh with NCL since 2009. I had accumulated points from each cruise. Prior to embarking on the NCL Getaway, I had spent 53 nights on NCL ships and received bonus points for two cruises, bringing my total to 81 points before the Getaway voyage. Following the cruise, my points total increased to 88.

This placed me in the Platinum Latitudes tier, which is the intermediate level where significant benefits begin to take effect.

Latitudes features seven tiers, primarily named after jewels or metals:

• Ambassador: 700+ points. 

At the top Ambassador level, a complimentary seven-day cruise is one of the benefits.

The points accrued should reflect in your account within 48 hours post-cruise.

Benefits commence after one cruise, with the primary onboard benefit for Bronze members being a 10% discount in shipboard duty-free shops for NCL logo merchandise. This discount escalates to 15% at all other tiers.

Silver level members receive discounts on shore excursions, photos, and specific spa treatments during port days. The discount amount rises with each Latitudes tier. For instance, the shore excursion discount is 10% for Silver, Gold, and Platinum; 15% for Sapphire and Diamond; and 20% for Ambassador.

It’s convenient to utilize this discount when pre-booking shore excursions online before the voyage. The discount will be reflected in the shopping cart.

All tiers except Bronze also receive an invitation to a cocktail party onboard.

Additional benefits include discounted or complimentary laundry, priority tender tickets, and free water for Gold and higher tiers.

In all honesty, I didn’t find these benefits particularly valuable since I didn’t purchase photos and preferred spa visits on sea days rather than port days. As a result, I wasn’t overly excited upon discovering the card in my cabin outlining the onboard benefits at the Gold tier.

One aspect I wasn’t aware of during my four-night cruise on the Norwegian Jewel is that Latitudes benefits are only applicable on voyages lasting five nights or more. Therefore, while I received the onboard discounts, I missed out on the benefits of being a Gold tier member at the time, such as the complimentary water.

I have progressed in the Latitudes program and am now a Platinum member, which had me eagerly anticipating the benefits card in my Getaway cabin.

The upgrade in status translates to enhanced benefits that contribute to real cost savings and an elevated onboard experience.

Starting from Platinum status, members receive:

• Chocolate-covered strawberries. 

• Dinner for two with a bottle of wine.

• A behind-the-scenes ship tour. 

These benefits hold value for me.

A plate of six chocolate-covered strawberries costs approximately $25, while dining at a specialty restaurant can amount to $60 per person, making two dinners for two individuals worth $240. This calculation doesn’t even include the value of the wine bottle at one dinner.

Unfortunately, the plate delivered to the room only had two strawberries, but they were sizable and delectable.

The behind-the-scenes tour costs $139 per person, and a bag of laundry is priced at $34.

These benefits alone equate to a value of $438 (excluding a wine tasting or the bottle of wine), significantly contributing to savings on a cruise. These benefits also allowed me to experience the specialty dining restaurants, which are exceptional on Norwegian, at no extra cost.

Another advantage of being a Platinum elite on Norwegian is the ability to make early bookings for entertainment, dining, and onboard activities. This feature proves beneficial since specialty dining reservations are typically only available for booking once onboard.

While benefits amplify at higher tiers, I believe that the priority restaurant seating and the dinner with officers don’t offer significantly more than the Platinum level benefits. Diamond members receive a one-time complimentary cabin upgrade, and Ambassadors are entitled to a free seven-day cruise. These benefits hold substantial value, but it would require approximately a year of total ship time to earn the cabin upgrade and nearly two years of cruising to redeem the free cruise.

While some Latitudes benefits are automatic, others necessitated action on my part once onboard.

It all commenced at check-in at the port, where I could take advantage of the priority area. I must admit, I was quite thrilled about this benefit, considering the often lengthy regular lines.

My friend and I bypassed the standard check-in line and were onboard approximately 10 minutes after passing through security. While the other line wasn’t excessively long when we arrived, we didn’t have to wait at all.

Cruise NCL Perks Platinum