graphicguy

Still jealous of you, and I was there for ½ of it.

You’re kind. Thank you. Unnecessary, though! More than happy to connect, however. It’s my user name at Yahoo!

Yeah...someone told someone else who's related to the cousin of one who sailed on a cruise ship one time that Portland won't let you drink in port on any day ending in "Y". This has been drug out about as far as it can go. Best of luck to all of you in the U.K. Looks like everything has worked itself out.

Interesting role reversal with a liquor being available on a cruise, but not at home. LOL! If I want Buffalo Trace, short of going on a cruise, I have to drive a couple of hours to the distillery.

It’s an anomaly around these parts we just can’t figure out. In OH, where I live, distribution of all liquors is controlled by the state. IIRC, the distilleries ship directly to the state for distribution. At least, that’s my understanding. So, gov’t agency involved, who knows? That said, I can go right across the Ohio River to get it at a liquor store in KY. That’s a 25 minute drive for me. It’s just a real PITA to get to the bridge and then across the river and then drive back. There’s also a Costco in N. KY with a liquor store attached. But, that’s about 40 minutes away from me. If I’m making a big run to pick up a lot of stuff (for me and others) I’ll go there to get BIG bottles of BT. I was shocked the first time I saw BT on a ship given my difficulty trying to get it in my home state. All that said, seems like they have just about every Tequila made around these parts. You’d be happy with the selections.

Thanks for letting me know. Again, Wine/Champagne are not my forte. I just recall having Moët one time. Out of all I’ve had (including Dom), Moet is probably the one I liked the most. But, my taste buds are simple and unsophisticated.

In all frankness, on every cruise I’ve sailed, on 5 different cruise lines, something goes amiss. Sometimes it’s major, sometimes minor, some in between. I’m amazed that given the complexity of a sailing ship, serving thousands of passengers and crew food and drinks, entertaining them, making them as much comfort as a lux hotel, in sometimes unpredictable weather, while floating in sometimes tempestuous seas, much more doesn’t go wrong.

One can only hope and pray! LOL!

All sorted out. Figured it would be. Good news. Still feel this was a faux pas by one NCL person who misunderstood or misinterpreted some regulation. Lord knows, no one at CC is going to let them get away with that.

There are some liquors I just can’t drink without getting a migraine. I know my spelling will be wrong, but “Kumchyaka vodka” is one of them. Titos? No problems. To those wine champagne people, is Moët similar to Veuve?

Can not. And, I live about 2 hours from the distillery. Crazy! The good news is there are lots of other good bourbons available around here.

I get it. My Bliss cruise, I had a Bloody Mary in the a.m., usually in the Observation Lounge. Bartender would ask what kind of Vodka, and I’d say “well vodka is fine”. That happened to be Goose. But, it could have been Titos or Belvedere or any vodka. It’s mixed, so it doesn’t matter to me. If I drank it straight, or like you, in a non-flavored mixer? Maybe it would. But, even with Bourbon (my preferred liquor), my go to is Basil Hayden. But NO cruise ship or cruise line stocks that. So, given they had Buffalo Trace, which I can’t even get at home, I drink that. Barring that, it’s 1792. Barring that, it’s Bulliet. Point being, at home, I don’t even drink Bloody Marys. Actually, if I drink a couple of beers on the weekend after cutting grass, that’s usually the extent of it. If we’re going out as a group….friends, guys, girls, wives, husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends, etc, we go to this really small bar. It seats under 20 inside and maybe another 8 on their patio outside. It’s quaint. Everybody knows everybody else. They have maybe 3 whiskeys/bourbons (none of them my top choice), they have 2 vodkas and gins. Not a tequila guy, but I know they make margaritas. They have red wine and white wine (don’t know the brands). Draft beers that have Bud and Miller. I think they have Heineken and one of the local microbrews, too. That’s it. We go there because we like it. They serve liquor, beer and wine. Enjoying the place has nothing to do with the brands they serve. I view cruises (regardless of the cruise line) the same way. Matter of fact, every cruise I’ve ever been on probably has the widest selection of beers, wines and liquors I’ve ever seen.

Yes....it ended when May sailings were starting. None of the bartenders and/or wait staff knew of any changes. Personally, none of it affects me one way or the other. So, I really don't care. But, I've seen these rumors, time and again be floated out there, when it reality, none of it turns out to be the case. If you want Goose, and it costs more, so be it. I can go Titos just as easily. You can serve me sparkling wine and tell me it's Veuve. I'll drink it if it's offered. But, wouldn't order it. Point being, IF (BIG IF) there are any changes, make certain it actually happened before reporting it. Further, if Grey Goose or Veuve is a slam dunk, absolutely have to have it, and it costs more, I guess you budget for it. Me? There is no liquor, wine or beer that's critical to my enjoyment of any cruise. No Goose? Titos it is. No Veuve? White Star works. No Buffalo Trace? 1792 is another one I like. No "foo-foo" micro brew? I'm OK with Blue Moon (and an orange slice for my vitamin C). Sail on my friends.

I asked them directly, on the ship. No one knew anything about it. And, from all reports so far, Goose is still the well vodka and Veuve is still being served by the glass

Not going to get into an argument with anyone. But, from the reports here, both Veuve (by the glass) is still available and Grey Goose is part of the FAS drinks package. If that changes some time in the future, who knows? As these reports go, sometimes people are misinformed, sometimes they report things they misheard, sometimes it’s a “huh…what are you talking about?” Moment. But, we’re half way through May and no one has experienced these alleged changes.

Veuve was always part of the top tier drink package. With the Premium Drink Package (that comes with Free at Sea), it’s an up charge, but discounted. Grey Goose…..not an up charge as some have insinuated.

Verizon worked fine for me. LTE or 5G data off ship was fine, too. On ship data while in port was dismal….almost like NCL was jamming it.

Well…if there’s a silver lining in all of this, NCL didn’t throw the employee or the dept responsible under the bus.

Agree....they'll get it figured out. Someone in the NCL HQ didn't secure something that was required with the U.K. (or, wherever this is occurring in the EU). My guess is it will stem back to one dept or maybe even one person. That someone has probably been put "on notice" for the oversight...if not outright relieved of their position. Given they're now offering drinks to those with a drink package seems they're getting some agreement and has more to do with finding a way to appease whichever regularity body put the restrictions in, than it is for getting it totally sorted. But, probably will be soon.

Sounds like an issue with the U.K. And the EU. But, from what you’re saying, maybe only the U.K. As it’s not been reported in other areas for a while. We know it’s a regulatory and/or tariff/tax issue between the U.K. And NCL. But, other than that, it’s all we know.

That’s the best way of going to another cruise line you may like more. NCL is the cruise line I seem to sail most (I do like their cruise experience). But, I cruise other lines. This is only happening in the U.K. So, while it is a “thing” for those cruises and cruisers, it seems the rest of the world where NCL sails doesn’t have these rules and regulations. Again, there’s more to this. We just don’t know what it is other than there’s some barrier (either by U.K. Or NCL) that’s keeping them from serving hard liquor on ships sailing around the U.K.

There's just something about this whole thread that feels like there's something missing in all of this. I can't imagine NCL stating "it's the law" and then dropping it. There's something more to it, I'm thinking. Again, what did NCL state when you asked to have your bill adjusted?

Has anyone gone to Customer Service and asked to have their charges adjusted as a result of this "alleged lying"? Or, are you just looking to whine about something you won't accept? Personally, I would like to hear how the Customer Service people respond.

If you think something nefarious is going on, go to Customer Service and ask to have your bill adjusted because you can’t drink in port. The rest of all this is speculation. NCL tells you what’s going on. You don’t believe them. No one here is able to help you.

Warm weather cruises, I prefer to dine outside than inside. Shorts it is. And personally, if anyone notices (or not), it doesn’t matter to me.