DCGuy64

Yes, you're right about that, but your statement assumes the T&C's are reasonable. When they aren't, violating them isn't wrong-at least that's how I see it. We may have to agree to disagree. Apple used to only support its Safari web browser on its iPhones, leading some people to jailbreak the phones in order to add Chrome, etc., even though that voided the warranty. Ultimately Apple p***ed enough people off (because that was seen as unreasonable BY CONSUMERS, without whom Apple wouldn't exist) so they relented. Examples like this are legion. Just because "that's what you agreed to" doesn't mean I can't challenge them. Lawsuits are filed all the time due to this.

Impossible to say, it depends on the situation and the person. Too many unknown factors to make a blanket statement. My wife is an attorney and she used to represent people in court accused of reckless driving and such. If the police clock you at 2 mph over the limit and ticket you, the judge would laugh that out of court because there could have been an issue with the radar gun's calibration, for instance. The "actual line" you want drawn doesn't exist.

You make a great point here, and one I can relate to since it happened to me personally. I bought a new Honda Accord in 2015 and it lacked some features I wanted, but with Honda things are based on trim levels. I ultimately sold the car and bought a new Ford Fusion as a factory special order, and I was able to customize the car in many ways Honda wouldn't let me. I love my car and now won't go back to Honda. You just made my point. Allowing people customization is a good thing.

Actually, it IS. NCL and other cruise lines are in the travel and leisure business, so p***ing off customers isn't a good strategy. I'd actually argue that "forcing" people (deliberately in quotations because it isn't ACTUAL force, but more a condition I object to) to overpay for drinks unintentionally induces people like the OP to consider cheating and giving non-paying customers free drinks. Scenario 1: I get the drink package and my wife doesn't. She pays for hers out of pocket, NCL still makes money. Scenario 2: Neither of us gets the drink package (because it's either both or none) and we drink less than even one of us on his own WITH the package. NCL loses money it would have made had only "I" gotten the package. That's not a smart business decision, in my opinion. I'm not here to convince anyone, BTW. Just shooting the breeze. I don't expect to change anyone's mind, but to offer a counter argument.

That reads like "take it or leave it." So say NCL says no more solo cabins, so solo travelers will now be randomly assigned a cabin mate, take it or leave it. Are you OK with that? Them's the rules! I'm not sure I'd be OK with that.

Exactly my point. I also think it's important to distinguish between objecting to something and agreeing to it reluctantly. I accept, albeit reluctantly, if the rules say both me and my wife have to get the UBP, even if she drinks 1/5 of what I do, for instance. Sure, I accept the terms and conditions, but I object to them. What if the spa starts to say "free use of the Thermal Spa with any service of $100 or more" instead of the current procedure which is that it's free with ANY service, regardless of price? Or what if Cagney's decides you and your dinner companion have to have the SAME entree, or maybe one of equal or lesser value? NCL could legally do that and make it part of the T&C's, but people can still complain about it.

Apparently, some people here think the bar tender should have been charged with being an accomplice to grand larceny. LOL 😂 Your point is well taken, though. No one is 100% consistent in the "rules are rules" line of reasoning, anyway. Better just to enjoy your vacation and not fret over trivialities like this. Speaking of which, I should be on the Epic this time a week from today! 😄 Free drinks on me! 🍹

In a cabin of two adults, if one gets the Premium Beverage Package, the other must, no exceptions. It's both or none. I recently read where a lady was supposed to be traveling with her husband, and both had the package. The only way she got NCL to drop his was when he wasn't able to make the cruise for work reasons, so she's effectively a solo passenger.

You seriously need to calm down, dude. This isn't a court of law, it's a forum for cruisers. Wow. Just chill.

Anything can be silly taken to the extreme. I had a friend who commented at a putt-putt golf course once when a kid's parent was just pushing the ball into the hole that "that kid is going to grow up to be a bank robber because his parent shows him he can cheat and get away with it." Also, the great Ralph Waldo Emerson said "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds." I think we can agree that some rules are arbitrary, capricious and inconsequential, while others are more serious. Speeding is against the law no matter what, but going 16 mph in a 15 zone is a whole lot different than 120 in a 55.

Exactly, and you know what? Why isn't it considered stealing for the cruise line to force 2 adults in the same cabin to get the package, even if one is a non-drinker, recovering alcoholic or allergic to alcohol? It's a great case of seeing one injustice and ignoring another. The holier-than-thou pontificators are hilarious to me. I wonder where their ire is when the cruise line closes a venue like Spice H20 with no reduction in the fare, skipping ports with no compensation, cancels a cruise and gives them FCC, but then jacks up the price of the next cruise, etc, drops their favorite Scotch or charges extra for it, etc.? I could go on. They see the "sin" of a person sharing a package but then give a pass to the cruise line when they're shafted for far more. Hilarious!

Oh, really? You don't seriously believe this, do you?

Aren't you glad you asked? 🤣 I used to "run things by" folks here like you did, and then I just decided it wasn't worth it. If I'm considering doing something, I just do it, or not. As far as your scenario goes, it all comes out in the wash. My wife drinks very little, so what NCL might theoretically lose in your case, they'll more than make up for with my wife. I think they allow unlimited numbers of drinks per day. Well I'm lucky if I make it to 5. My wife? Maybe 2-3. Don't sweat it. Have a great cruise.

On our cruise with MSC in December 2019, we stayed on until they literally told us "you have to leave." It was close to 11:30 am. What can I say? If we pay for 7 days, we stay 7 days, and we wring every free drink and piece of food we can get our hands on. We also had a VERY long time before our flight (something like 7 hours to kill) so were in no mood to rush.

Not necessarily. I can think of 10,000 scenarios where a person's choices are limited. Agree to disagree.

The movie was hilarious and absolutely great. Is the musical pretty much the same? Looking forward to seeing this next week!

To make matters even more confusing, you can find NCL menus online from the past year that show O'Sheehan's serving Lavazza instead of Starbucks. I love Lavazza (just drank some this morning) and hate Charbucks. But it seems Star$ has taken over completely. *sigh* The included Melitta drip coffee is fine for me.

Exactly. When I was younger, I had time but no money. Now I have (some) money, but not as much time. Hopefully retirement will be a better blend of both! 🙂

At my job they don't allow time off without pay. I try and keep a vacation buffer just in case, but there are times where it's literally a matter of flying in the day of, or not going. I doubt I'm the only cruiser in that boat, no pun intended.

I used to be one of those people, but two things happened to me: 1. I found myself overdrinking to get my money's worth and ended up very hungover and/or sick. 2. I realized I was wasting money, so every $ I don't spend on an upgraded drinks package is one I can use for souvenirs, excursions, etc.

This is a great point and one which shouldn't be overlooked. It may also depend on where/when you order. My wife ordered a glass of wine at La Cucina which cost $17, but we weren't charged the $2 + tax. And we found the included coffee (for me) and juices to be just fine. We might splurge and order a fresh glass of OJ occasionally, but that was still way less than upgrading both of us. I did the math and for both of us it would cost well over $600 on our upcoming cruise. We wouldn't get anywhere near close to that on our own.

Agreed, I'm pretty sure that's their rationale for not letting just one person upgrade. But in our case, they wouldn't be losing money. But yeah, you're right about that.

Yeah, I tried that but the spa balconies were all sold out. 😞

I'd pay that, too. On our upcoming 9-day on the Epic the price was $313 per person. $259 is a freakin' bargain for 11 days.

Agreed. My biggest beef is that in a cabin of two adults, both must get the package. I could see availing myself of the PP package, but it doesn't make sense for my wife since she doesn't drink coffee, ever, and she almost never finishes a glass of wine. I hate the taste of Starbucks so I'm paying double for just fancy drinks and it's not cost effective for me. Maybe we aren't the typical couple, but it just feels like NCL is missing out on an opportunity to make some money off people like us who only want to upgrade one person. But that's just how it is.