Cruisefirst vs. Cruisenext
I am trying to understand these offerings.
I took my first cruise in 2020 and didn't use any promos at all.
In 2024, I purchased two cruisefirst promos and applied one on a cruise for $500 value in 2024 and another for another $500 value for the cruise I just got off of. I paid $250 for each of these, and I understand these cruisefirst promos aren't always available. I must have purchased them during a time when they were available to everyone because I had already taken my first cruise with NCL.
Fast forward, I didn't purchase Cruisenext on the ship I just got off of because I didn't get around to it. I only cruise once every year or two, and I don't like anything other than studios or inside rooms because I like the black-out nature of those rooms for sleeping. So I know that limits the number of credits I can use anyway. Can I just wait for another cruisefirst? How often do Cruisefirst promos come available? How often is that? I must have just happened upon cruisefirst when I bought those. I didn't fully understand it at the time but it sounded good. And those have been great. It did take me more than two years to use them. How do those differ from cruisenext in terms of how they work? And any advice on which is best for me? I do have the 100 shares of NCL for the onboard credit as well.
In my mind, I am thinking I can just wait for another public cruisefirst offering since I don't cruise often. But I may be missing something. To add more context, I really don't care much about itineraries and such. I just like to book the best value and this last one I booked last minute. I like just being on the boat primarily as it lets me unwind and unplug from work, so I don't care much about fancy staterooms or high-demand destinations or dates. What is best in my situation given these preferences?
Looking for guidance from more experienced NCL cruisers. Thanks