don1976

Hi. If I buy the SDP, how does it actually work in practice? Can I order anything at all of the menu or is there a limit to what I can order within the scope of the package?

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I've spoken to NCL today and they've told me that all wine being brought aboard must be done at embarkation. You cannot replenish at the ports along the way.

That's a bit frustrating. We're on the Epic this Sunday from Barcelona. I was hoping to get a couple of bottles of local wine in each port as we make our way up the coast of Italy, but that's that idea put to bed.

Now we'll have to get it all in Barcelona. I assume the tactic by NCL is to encourage you not to bother, which I suppose is fair enough as they want you to spend money at the bar.

However, €15 corkage per bottle is 100% profit for them other than the provision of the glasses.

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We cruise on the 17th from Barcelona.

I'll report back any drama and tantrums from the queues.

Just debarked the Jade in Houston after the Transatlantic sailing from Barcelona. This was our first Norwegian and first TA sailing so had a few new things to get used to but will limit this discussion to the UBP which we had as one of our perqs.

 

Now I'll be the first to admit that this is a little nitpicky but it's also a little bit amusing, at least to me. Notwithstanding the fine print about the package, which I would guess the vast majority of people surely don't read, one of the first things that stood out to us was that bottled water and canned soda were not included. Being a persnickety sort, I immediately wondered about the naming and marketing of the package as "ultimate". As an adjective, it has many meanings as follows:

 

 

 

Now, to be certain, one can get a fountain soda or a glass of ice water from a bartender but in either case wouldn't it just be easier to provide the container that they come in? For shore excursions, which are few a far between on this particular sailing, it's also nice to be able to take water ashore and one might reasonably argue that the "Ultimate" package could/would/should include it, no? It's clearly a cost issue for the line as fountain soda and water is no doubt cheaper but the point still comes back to the name of the package.

 

A quick anecdote from our sailing: In the Garden Café, I wanted a Diet Pepsi with my lunch and I asked for a can. I was told politely that per company policy my UBP only allowed for a cup of soda and not the can. Fine, so that's what I ordered. The gentleman then proceeded to open a can of Diet Pepsi and poor the whole thing into a plastic cup...What am I missing? :confused: :rolleyes:

 

These things just struck us as strange, in comparison to some other lines we've sailed with, that these items (along with VAT which was not charged to us on Celebrity sailings) were not included in the package. Maybe the name should be "Penultimate Beverage Package" because, well, it's not quite the ultimate... ;)

One of your definitions is 'highest'.

Do NCL have a higher package than the UBP then?

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I never mentioned anything about a Mediterranean cruise.

The thread is about value in NCL cruises. Some like myself are looking at better value at better places for the price of a NCL cruise. Its that simple.

You are entitled to your opinion. I am not the only one. NCL scores the lowest in value on cruise critic reviews even those who rave about their ships.

I understand threads like these keep you up at night but its a fair topic otherwise cruise critic would not ask its members to rate "value for your money" in the review section.

Albeit 3 out of 5 ships in the cruise critic ratings Best for Value (large ships) are all NCL.

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Hi Dazman. My wife wants to know about the hairdryers in the staterooms. Are they decent or just like a typical travel type dryer.

We're leaving behind sunny Yorkshire on Saturday to board the Epic on Sunday in Barcelona.

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We're on the Epic next week and were hoping to take wine on and paying corkage. There seems to be some disagreement regarding bringing bottles if wine from shore.

We'll probably get through 10 bottles of wine over the course of the week and were hoping we wouldn't have to turn up with 10 bottles at embarkation in Barcelona. We'd prefer to buy one or two bottles at each shore of the trip.

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How do they work? How much can you typically save by buying one on board?

Thanks in advance.

Steve

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In my opinion, the value of NCL is all about the freedom to understand the costs. I like the idea of the transparent costs. I prefer a lower up front cost and then have the freedom to add the individual elements to customise the holiday as I see fit.

It does amuse me how people refer to some things being 'free' on certain cruise lines . Nothing is free. You either pay for something as and when you use it at point of utilisation, or alternatively you pay a certain amount/contribution up front added to the price of the fare.

I pay approx £20 a month to use my local gym. Each time I visit the gym, it's free - but clearly I'm paying for it. The value comes in to appreciate how much you use it.

Likewise, I pay approx £100 a month for my travel card. This gives me 'free' local bus travel.

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It would be interesting for someone to file a claim under the PTR for the increased cost to them for the change in policy concerning water. All they should have to show is that water was allowed to be carried on when they booked, that they were not informed of the change in policy prior to their last cancellation date and that they were denied cancelling without penalty in accordance with the requirements of the PTR.

 

Nothing in the US would allow it, but someone who purchased in the UK might be successful in filing a claim under the PTR.

I could theoretically do it as I'm in the UK. Although the new policy won't increase our costs at all.

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The problem is not (and has never been) the amount of sodium (that pretty much does not exist in distilled water or water produced through reverse osmosis), it's the chlorine that is added to the purified warmer because of health regulations (to keep ship's water lines germ free) and which is a known cause of water retention.

 

In bars and restaurants that same chlorine is filtered out from the water to prevent residue buildup in their equipment, so it's not the same water that comes out from a tap onboard.

Do you know if there is a reason why Ozone isn't used instead of Chlorine for this purpose?

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You might also run a little test. If you have been drinking ship water on previous cruises then try adding or drinking some electrolytic drinks as well. Gatorade is a good example. If it is caused by ship water it would probably be due to electrolytic depletion. Which could be also be impacted if you are in a hot climate as well.

One of the important ingredients of electrolyte drinks is salt/sodium - I thought the issue of ship water was that it was meant to have too much salt for some people.

Aren't you just suggesting replacing salt from the ship water with salt from the gatorade?

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10686 or 10866?

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Hi. Apologies for the newbie questions.

Can you confirm if all wine has to be brought on on embarkation day, or are you free to bring on wine as and when you want throughout the week from when you visit shore?

Also, whilst Port is a fortified wine, is it classed as wine in the eyes of NCL?

I don't want to buy a nice bottle only for it to be denied.

Can I assume once on board and corkage is paid, the wine can be kept in your cabin?

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I keep reading about this UBP being gratis or a perk, and that most people have it. However, it would cost me £900 ($1165) total extra if I wanted this for my wife and I.

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I certainly hope so! :D It would be nice to think that enough passengers stamp their collective feet to make a difference.

 

Mind you, we did receive 4 emails from NCL on the subject - are we in a minority in getting advance warning?

We sail in a couple of weeks time on the Epic, we've all received emails.

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Their disclaimer is funny at the bottom of the email. "please do not copy or use it for any purpose nor disclose its contents to any other person."

It's like they don't want the secret to get out.

However surely there's a loophole. Bottled water can be taken on "for the reconstitution of infant formula". If you also take on some infant formula then what can they say? Their new policy doesn't say that the said reconstituted infant formula has to be consumed by an infant. Sure, they will ask questions if there is no infant in your group, but what can they say? You're abiding strictly to the new rules.

We actually sail on the 17th out of Barcelona on the Epic, so we'll be one of the first subject to the new rules. However, we have no problem with the likes of the water on the ship ourselves.

I can just see it now, port workers clocking off and opening a local 'soft drinks and swiss army knife' stores on every corner.

 

Relax, and don't like sugar water destroy your vacations.

 

There is plenty of hydration opportunities available on the ship. There won't be any spike in infirmary admissions. Have water with tea, herbal tea, with cordial, in a filter bottle, with ice, in lemonade or my favourite way in a frozen pina colada.

 

I paid $12 for a can of diet coke the other day in France, I didn't give the bar owner a lecture about the wholesale cost of his product nor did I ask him to lug a pre-purchased 24 pack of the drink next to my table for me.

Is cordial available on the ship?

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What exactly is a 12 pack of water? Are we talking about 12 x small 330ml bottles or 12 x 1 litre or more bottles?

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Hi. We sail the NCL Epic in a months time and I've just printed the luggage tags.

They seem to be colour coded and ours are marked up as 'Lime'. Does this colour mean anything? Is it anything to do with boarding priority?

We all use 3 for our mobiles. The main reason for that is their "feel at home" where your tariff includes data, calls and text in lots of other countries. It includes most of Europe and the US. It's really worth it if you travel a lot.

Thanks Keith. I think I'll get a 3 sim. I assume this only works when you're close to shore when on the ship?

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The wifi is as patchy as always. I think it's quicker than previously, but it does seem quicker when it works.

 

As usual, it is very reliable when we are in port but does jam up a bit when everyone arrives back and starts posting pictures and things.

 

We've tended to use the shore cellular service whilst in port as we can all be online at the same time, and rely on the wifi when we are at sea. That means that we are using it at the busy times.

 

I don't know any specifics about the casino, but dollars are used onboard for everything, regardless of the ships location.

 

I seem to remember mention of a specific machine that takes Euros, but I don't know whether that is correct.

Keith. When you say shore cellular, how have you gone about it? Have you bought a local sim in Italy?

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Hi.

We're sailing with our 10yr old daughter on the Epic in July and have booked a Guaranteed Blacony BX. Our stateroom has now been allocated to us and we're on deck 13, which is apparently a B3 category. Specifically 13085.

It's our first cruise, so we wouldn't know what to consider when choosing our own cabin. It's about 1/3 of the way from the front - is this a 'decent' location ? It looks handy for the kids club at least.

I'm better with beer and food to be honest. :)

The important things :)

Awesome - I can't wait! Thanks for doing it!

 

I'd love to know if day passes are offered to the spa. And if they have a "girls' night". Thanks!

Isn't every night a girls night ? I read on a review somewhere that they have separate male & female,but I suppose the OP is best to advise, as I don't cruise onthe Epic until July.