BaWBarmy

Although a bit more expensive NCL run shuttles to the airport or at least they did last time we were on the Epic (2016). You will get to the airport in plenty of time. We were on the Spirit at the end of 2017 I had arranged a flight for 11 am we had to be at the airport by 9 we walked off at 7 had a private transfer already booked as there were 6 of us. We were at the airport by 8.

If your airline allows you to check in on line, then you don't have to be there 3 hours before, just have to leave enough time to take your luggage to the drop off.

I get what OP is saying, and it is interesting. When I read "open bar," however, I immediately think only of the short cruises to Bermuda or the Bahamas or Cuba, where everyone gets free booze, not just those who choose a beverage package.

 

I'm always rather boggled by all the UBP posts on here. I'm not a veteran cruises - only been on 3. My upcoming November cruise will be the first one on which we've chosen the UBP as one of our "perks." I had absolutely no problem going onto the NCL website and looking up what the package included and didn't include. I read the part where gratuities would be added to my "free" perk. I understood that if I purchased the UBP I would still pay those same gratuities, plus the cost of the package itself, so yes, I was getting a free beverage package, but I was not getting free gratuities. It wasn't hard. Why are people always asking what's included, what's not, why isn't it really "free," etc.? I also understood that I could pay less for a Sailaway cabin and not have any free perks. I did the math and figured out how much more it would cost to choose my own cabin and then get the UBP as one of my perks.

 

I'm not exceptionally smart, and I figured it out.

Anybody who is having problems with exactly what the UBP is, what it contains, it's cost, gratuities and whether its free or not should be made to read and re-read this excellent post until they understand.

We are due to sail on the Escape in early September, it will be our first cruise since becoming Platinum Latitudes members.

We have cruised out of NYC twice before and I just remember being herded into a line, herded might be a bit strong, we'll say shepherded, We were shepherded into a line towards a bank of check in desks and given a number.

I know that as Platinum there is a quicker way to board however our 26 year old daughter who is Bronze is part of our reservation and will be sharing a stateroom. Obviously she doesn't get priority check in / embarkation but does need to check in with us. Do we just check in as normal and embark when our number is called, or do we check in as normal and then the two platinum members of our party can just embark when we want but the Bronze member of our party will have to wait, as she'll have her keycard and be checked in.

Its not a big issue I just wanted to use all the benefits of Platinum that I could get.

Also as a bit of a follow on. Would she be allowed to join us for our Speciality restaurant meals as long as she, sorry I, paid for her meal?

We did this itinerary about 2 years ago. As far as I remember tender tickets only became available the evening before and only to Haven guests and higher Latitudes guests. NCL obviously reserve spaces on early tenders for NCL excursions. As we had no excursions booked and we were just going to wander round Cannes we just waited for the early morning rush to die down and we ventured straight down and onto a tender at about 10:30.

The point of my post is that at that time I wasn't aware of tender tickets being available in advance of 24 hours.

I could easily be mistaken.

I don't think they serve speciality coffee in the buffet. So you can only get it in the MDRs and Speciality Restaurants. None of which you would go to just for a coffee.

I'm only going on my experience here.

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I love when people get on here, all huffy about something that NCL does and vow they will never cruise again on NCL. Do they think we care?

 

To me it’s just one less whiny, obnoxious , pretentious passenger to have to listen to on the ship.

 

 

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Yeah I agree but lets imagine the conversation at the bars on another cruise line.

"Well we were going to book on NCL because they had like this free drinks promo and then we got the price and like they'd added a 20% gratuity on the FREE DRINKS package. We could not believe it, could we Norm?, so we cancelled straight away."

"Yeah the same thing happened to us and we did the same. I said to Larry, I said. Larry we are not paying gratuities on FREE DRINKS and we quickly booked a cruise with a company were we can pay gratuities on drinks that we've paid for"

"We'll never book with NCL again"

The changing of the system probably delayed us by a cruise. It has taken us about 5 years to become Platinum. Our first two NCL cruises were 2 years apart and booked through a TA, although it was exactly the same cruise we got 7 pts for the first and 14 pts for the second. We then went through a different TA and had 1 cruise which got us another 7 pts. So we had 28 pts and were Silver when the system changed, we were grandfathered so remained Silver even though we were 2 pts short under the new system. The big difference was we had also booked 2 cruises using NCL before the new system came in, points were awarded for these cruises dependant on what system was in place when we booked NOT when the cruise finished. So we ended up with 16 pts for one (double points for Insider deal) and 30 pts for the other (Triple points, Insider deal booked more than 9 months out) then we sailed on the Bliss Trans Atlantic for 12 pts and so we are now Platinum on 86 pts just in time for our Bermuda Anniversary cruise in September.

My daughter also benefitted from booking before the change. She has been cruising with NCL since 2015, has cruised 4 times and is 17 pts short of Platinum. The triple points being awarded because of when we booked not when the cruise was really helped there.

I can't wait for my first cruise as Platinum.

Regular coffee is free at all times. Specialty coffees are not ever free and not included in the UBP.

Speciality coffee IS included in the Premium All Inclusive deal BUT only with meals (not the buffet). This is not the regular coffee available after meals, but the coffee at the bottom of the menu which is usually Lavazza but was actually Starbucks on the Bliss, this is the Latte and Cappucino stuff. The waiter still tried to get us to sign for it the first time we asked for it but was given short shrift by my wife who presented her keycard, which was labelled UBP + C + J, although we never could work out what the J was.

Water is delivered to your cabin beforehand, we found that it was best to ask our steward to empty the fridge of all the alcohol and expensive water, which is not included in any deal, then we re-stocked the fridge with bottled water, we found the cold water tasted much better, it tasted fairly poor otherwise.

The UBP is just as the normal UBP as was listed earlier.

The internet is a new one which we have just noticed and added to our 30 mins Platinum allowance could come in handy on our next cruise as we are taking a slave to the internet with us. We didn't get the internet allowance on the Bliss earlier this year.

Of course all your DSC and gratuities on the UBP are also taken care of.

now that you mention price in lbs, it is clear you are number 1-not from America so are not accustom to the tipping of DSC policy most of us live with and you are comparing liquor prices to what you pay in your country. That explains your concerns. You know there are other lines out there you can sail if you don't like the American way of tipping and the prices for liquor that most of us are accustom to paying. Even in our little part of the country, it is tough to find a really decent glass of wine for less than $8 or so a glass and mixed drinks start at about the same, with good martinis for instance starting around $10. our various happy hours at our clubs only include the less expensive brands of booze often not even middle of the road brands

The DSC has absolutely nothing to do with bar prices on NCL and this thread isn't really about tipping. I also think it's a bit rude to tell someone there are other lines to sail if someone doesn't like the American way. The poster had already mentioned P & O's alcohol prices and so I think he's already pretty aware that there are other lines.

Alcohol prices that you talk of in the US are only slightly higher than here in the UK, however the prices on NCL are even higher than that and I can understand the posters concern. Usually when you board a ship and enter international waters, no duty is charged, this tends to make drinks cheaper. I get very frustrated that according to NCL I have to pay more than $15 for a single measure of Glenfiddich or many other well known drinks. At present exchange rates that is £11.25 if I have to add a tip then so be it. NCL definitely need to review the pricing structure because, like it or not and from wherever you come, they are ripping people off.

Fortunately the UBP is included for us but the fact that so many drinks are priced out of the UBP is quite frankly ridiculous.

We are booked on the Escape to Bermuda in September, we have a balcony booked and as Europeans we have Premium All Inclusive. The Upgrade offers have come along and I've put a very low, ok the lowest, bid in for a Forward facing Penthouse with balcony.

My question concerns things like how do we pay the extra DSC? As we are PAI the regular DSC is included in our fare but I understand the DSC for Haven is slightly more per person per night. Would this just be added to our stateroom bill at the end of the cruise.

How do you go about tipping the Concierge and the Butler and what sort of tip should we be giving for a 7 night cruise?

I presume we will still be PAI?

Anything else we should be aware of should we be successful in our cheeky bid? although I don't hold out much hope.

I’d love to see proof of that. Sure some of the money goes to the bar staff but there’s no way the house isn’t taking a percentage off the top. I suspect the only reason the drink package is “free” is because 20% the bloated price of $89 (twice what RCL charges, and RCL includes much more) easily covers the cost of the alcohol to NCL.

 

Nothing is free.

The burden of proof is on you isn't it? Can you provide proof that what NCL says is a gratuity for bar staff is not being used as such? Its not for anyone to prove that NCL is doing as it says. This is the not the first time that someone on this thread has questioned what NCL do with the money they take in without any proof.

The cost of the pack may well be bloated but doesn't that mean that NCL bar staff are getting better tips. Again the burden of proof is on you to say they're not.

I actually did book in Jan 2017 which was before they offered Premium All Inclusive - I got the Free at Sea deal. Saved money on booking it later �� I have the DSC at total £119 on my invoice but no UBP service charge.

We got the free UBP on an Epic cruise in 2016, must admit I can't remember having to pay gratuities on it. It was part of a deal through a TA. I think it had something to do with EU law and if it says free it means free and that you can't charge something additional on something you have said is free. Now we've Premium All Inclusive it's even easier, if a little more expensive.

So were you charged this fee when you booked your holiday? I have free UBP and the only few on my invoice are the daily service charge I chose to pay up front. Been expecting to get charged the UBP service charge on my room bill at the end of the cruise but from the way I read here, it’s not done then?

You'll be Premium All Inclusive, unless you booked about 2 years in advance or through a US site. The DSC and the Gratuities on the UBP will show as included on your invoice, in the amenities section with no charge against them.

I see that NCL has two packages Premium All Inclusive and Premium All Inclusive +.

 

As I am looking at a European cruise most of the package is not required e.g. Internet and Phone is not required.

 

All I want is a reasonable drinks package but this does not seem to be available. I have no idea on how much a drink may cost if I ignore these packages.

 

Advice may be useful.

The Premium All Inclusive doesn't include Internet or Phone although I think they are available on the plus package.

The Premium All Inclusive DOES include the UBP (Ultimate Beverage Package), it also includes Bottled Water per day, premium coffee with meals and the DSC (Daily Service Charge) it also includes the gratuities on the UBP.

The plus has all this and the internet, phone and some other stuff.

OK...my bad.... I get it now...NCL drink package is 750.00 for 7 days...where Carnival is $418.00 all in...:confused: carnival is 15% ...NCL is 20%...:confused: wonder who gets my vote...:'):'):')

Well book your bloody cruise on Carnival then. Stop wittering on about the NCL drink package, which happens to be given as a free perk to almost anybody not called Susan, You could have added this to any number of threads about the cost of the drinks package and gratuities and the rest of us could have spent our time more usefully discussing the merits of NCL MDR's versus the MDR on RCCL ships or even Buckingham Palace (the service was awful, none of the waiters smiled or talked, I didn't tip any of them)

Thank you and goodnight.

UK staff appreciate tips on top of the minimum wage they receive.

I always leave a cash tip of 10% of our total restaurant bill in the UK.

Most people leave tips but some are Tightwads and only leave small change or nothing at all claiming tipping is not in our culture!!!.

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The people stiffing servers are their employers. You go on about a service charge in London, you don't have to pay it. It's usually charged to tourists . Secondly, London is definitely not representative of the UK.

Put prices up, pay the servers a proper wage. The customer will see no difference. Then stop blaming people from non tipping societies for the mess that the tipping system has become.

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Do tell cruiser man 60. I’m curious how one justifies receiving the service without feeling compelled to tip for it. Clearly I’m a crazy American. I simply don’t understand the logic. Im not trying to be condescending...

 

 

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If a tip is expected, rather than seen as a bonus, then it may as well be included in the price of the meal etc.

I don't understand why you would feel compelled to tip?

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The difference being the wage that the bartender/server makes. In the end it is a wash. If we were to stop the tipping culture in the USA then they would just increase the price and we would still be paying the same. Makes no difference really.

 

 

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I think the difference may be tax. I'm not sure on any of this and I've no real idea on how the IRS works. The restaurant / diner owner will only pay tax on what they receive for their goods. So if they charge a smaller amount and then underpay their wait staff their tax bill will be smaller than if they charged more but paid their staff a decent wage. I'm not sure if there is any tax paid on tips received.

I still think our way is better just because it seems to cause less arguments, and you don't get chased half way down 9th Avenue because you only left a few pennies as a tip. :)

My point was that we were told they take a percentage off to do the paper work on prepaid gratuities. For 30 cruises we always did what we were supposed to do plus more. We just thought to make our last cruise something special, we would do it the old fashioned way to be more personal!

Looking at what you said the DSC is then I'm assuming you are in some sort of suite or the DSC has gone up. If you are in a suite I always thought you paid the inflated DSC AND tipped your butler and concierge. Not sure how true this is because I've never been in a suite.

We don't. No such thing as a tip/gratuity on a night out at the pub. Restaurant bills will occasionally add a service charge for a large party,most don't. Most people just leave their change or a 'couple of quid'

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I think the best one is when people moan like hell about paying the 20% gratuity on their free UBP then freely admit that they like to take a wad of $1 (or $2) bills with them to tip the bar staff.

Does anyone know what the breakdown of the $17.50 gratuities are? They used to have it. We are thinking of giving them cash instead.

Just give them cash ON TOP rather than INSTEAD

I had a feeling anything other than praise for NCL would result in a backlash from the pom pom waving cheerleaders, and I was correct.

That would probably be because most of your posts on the NCL board are critical and negative considering you've only just come back from your first, and judging by your posts, only, NCL cruise.

So if YOU say the food is bad, it's because you know, because, you know, comparisons, and you know, you've been there seen it and done it on other cruise lines. If you are right then I can't say that the Fish and Chips are poor* because I've never had Fish and Chips on another cruise line?

* I think (subjective) they are poor and it's one of the only things I refuse to eat on an NCL cruise.

Therein lies the rub. What is in YOUR mind is not what matter. I do not need a 'excuse' to go to the bar, the bathroom, or to go up to my cabin to get my meds if I forgot them. Seeing as I am limited mobility and use a walker, it can easily take me more than your silly personal time limit to accomplish any task I may need to get done. NEVER move another person's belongings ever.

It's easy isn't it. The chair, although I think this thread refers more to the comfortable loungers, is fair game if someone isn't sat on it. The only exception in my book would be a .visit to the bathroom. If you needed to go to your cabin to pick up meds you forgot then that's tough. You have vacated the seat, it is now available for somebody else to utilise. The same applies to getting up and going for a bite to eat. On your return you will have to find a vacant seat. Should you want a drink then get a waiter to bring you one. I believe this should apply to sun loungers around the ship too. If you wish to reserve a prime sun lounger or seat in the observation area then you should pay for it. Maybe a lounger pass. As for moving a persons belongings, maybe they shouldn't leave then unattended.