Opinion: Free UNLIMITED DRINKS! not really “free”

From my experience the price difference between sailaway and regular only varies greatly after final payment (I have noticed it widen on sailings that are near booked too). I picked three random cruises from different ships that haven't hit final payment yet. Unless the lowest category/categories were sold out the difference between sailaway and regular was $100. On balcony and above it was often $200, but there were a few dates where even for minisuites it was only a $100 difference. Which considering you get two perks and can pick your room it's not a lot.

 

$100-200 difference between regular and gty rate is the same difference I see on Royal so it's not that big of a difference.

 

As for the price coming out the same, almost every time I look after adding in the drink package royal is more expensive - but I pretty much exclusively travel solo. I will say I'm splitting a cabin on bliss and getting everything for under $1000 - that would just barely pay cabin only on symphony.

 

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The only issue I have with your post is that it really shouldn't need such a long post to point out what is surely just logic. However, I think it does need it.

 

I remember a few years ago, when Free at Sea was fairly new, there was much discussion on these boards about how NCL's prices had gone up significantly. Some of us were making the point that they wasn't much difference in the final price, when you take into account your onboard account, as long as you drink a reasonable amount.

 

Basically, the introduction of the promo UBP and price rises went together. That did cause some people who don't drink to go elsewhere as they are effectively subsidising the bar bills of the drinkers.

 

As for what happens now, I personally think that Free at Sea with the UBP is here to stay. In the UK, we don't just not pay the gratuity, but our fares are "all inclusive" so you get the UBP without even selecting it (unless you book sail away). However, this change was accompanied by a further price increase. There are again winners and losers. I know no drinkers who stayed a few years ago who can now no longer justify cruising NCL at the current prices. I will probably never do another solo transatlantic, as the price now effectively includes two UBPs (due to single supplements). Meanwhile, if there are three or four sharing a cabin, they all get the UBP even though the 3rd and 4th passengers are paying a reduced fare that often isn't much more expensive than the UBP would cost.

 

Certainly, NCL is becoming a lot less attractive for non drinkers. That's financially OK for me, as I do drink, but even given that I am now paying about 25% more than I was a few years ago. It's very much top end of what I think the cruise is worth.

You do realize that even without changes prices don't stay static right? There's inflation. If you're comparing today's prices to say five years ago with that 25% (I don't know when they started the perks) and went with the standard 3% inflation that would make prices 16% higher today before accounting for any difference the perks made. Though I'm pretty sure other cruise line prices are increasing at a rate above that right now, so I'm not so sure it's all NCL.

 

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Yeah but how do they know I’m having so many drinks that my tip needs to be $249, for example if My wife and I have 3 drinks a day each at $14 a drink I should tip 18% or 20% which is $2.80 approx. per drink per person per day that’s $117.60 in tips for the both of us for the 7 day cruise not $249.

 

Where I get aggravated is that they are basing the amount of tips to be charged based on how much they think I may spend in drinks not actual cost.

 

What if a restaurant charged you a $25 tip for your waiter the moment you walk in the door regardless of how much your actual meal was? Then if you have a $1,000 meal you really stuck it to your waiter and short changed them but If all you had was a sandwich you way over tipped them...just saying

 

 

so if you get 3 drinks a day each at $14. per drink for the both of you, thats $588. for the cost of the drinks. then you add the 117.60 in tips and you will pay 705.60.

 

so you are saying you would rather pay 715.60 in total than 249. strictly because the tips are more than you would pay?

 

I dont think you are seeing the big picture and if you are accurate to your example, you WOULD save hundreds of dollars.

I find the whole concept of forced tippping on an all-inclusive service grating to start with.

 

You are right, it’s not free; NCL is already charging an obnoxiously high surcharge in addition to the base beverage charge for alcohol to start with. That charge should already earn multiples of their employment costs.

 

I don’t think for one second that the forced gratuity doesn’t more than pay for their employment, material and overhead beverage costs in addition to a profit.

 

 

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Wow, math is hard for some folks. IF you drink a decent amount, this perk is the best ever.....believe me, I just got off the Escape with the UBP......I paid for it before the first port stop. :)

 

Mimosa's with breakfast are the bomb...

FTR, I agree that if you drink enough alcohol you will pay less with the “free” UBP.

 

I’m arguing it is extremely disingenuous for NCL to call it “free” then tack on a service charge that covers the company’s cost for the advertised as “free” perk.

 

Just call it what it is: discounted UBP.

 

 

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FTR, I agree that if you drink enough alcohol you will pay less with the “free” UBP.

 

I’m arguing it is extremely disingenuous for NCL to call it “free” then tack on a service charge that covers the company’s cost for the advertised as “free” perk.

 

Just call it what it is: discounted UBP.

 

 

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Do you have evidence that NCL is using this charge to "cover the company's cost" and not actually passing it along to bar tenders and waitstaff as the gratuity it purports to be?

FTR, I agree that if you drink enough alcohol you will pay less with the “free” UBP.

 

I’m arguing it is extremely disingenuous for NCL to call it “free” then tack on a service charge that covers the company’s cost for the advertised as “free” perk.

 

Just call it what it is: discounted UBP.

 

 

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The flaw in your logic is that even if the UBP wasn’t offered as a perk and you decided to buy it, you will still also pay the same service charge. Hence yes the package is free but the service charge is not.

 

 

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Eh, the service charge was probably added on in the first place to lower the cost of the UBP. The tip is optional if you pay directly, right?

 

Since most alcohol I drink is with meals the drink service charge would have been wrapped up in the waitstaff service charge right? I don’t know about you, but I don’t double tip wait staff for bringing me a glass of wine.

 

 

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Royal and carnival have mandatory gratuity/service charge on their drink packages and also mandatory on drinks just like NCL has. Not sure which started what, but 8 years ago royal had the mandatory add to all individual drinks.

 

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Do you have evidence that NCL is using this charge to "cover the company's cost" and not actually passing it along to bar tenders and waitstaff as the gratuity it purports to be?

 

 

 

I’d bet money that NCL takes an administrative cut out of all “gratuity” we pay to the crew.

 

 

 

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You do realize that even without changes prices don't stay static right? There's inflation. If you're comparing today's prices to say five years ago with that 25% (I don't know when they started the perks) and went with the standard 3% inflation that would make prices 16% higher today before accounting for any difference the perks made. Though I'm pretty sure other cruise line prices are increasing at a rate above that right now, so I'm not so sure it's all NCL.

 

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Yes, of course I understand inflation.

 

The prices have actually gone up by more than 25% in the past few months. I said 25% because I’m giving them 5%+ to account for general price rises.

 

When we went all inclusive, NCL increased their prices significantly on the same day, and were very open about it. It was justified by the fact that bookings include £x of savings. The point that the vast majority of that value (ie UBP) was included beforehand was conveniently ignored.

 

 

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Eh, the service charge was probably added on in the first place to lower the cost of the UBP. The tip is optional if you pay directly, right?

 

Since most alcohol I drink is with meals the drink service charge would have been wrapped up in the waitstaff service charge right? I don’t know about you, but I don’t double tip wait staff for bringing me a glass of wine.

 

 

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No - 20% is added to the cost of individual drinks. It is not optional and applies to drinks ordered at the bar or in the dining rooms. (It could be 18% - not sure - but it’s definitely added and not included in the “waitstaff service charge”.)

 

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Edited April 19, 2018 by flexsmom

Yes, of course I understand inflation.

 

The prices have actually gone up by more than 25% in the past few months. I said 25% because I’m giving them 5%+ to account for general price rises.

 

When we went all inclusive, NCL increased their prices significantly on the same day, and were very open about it. It was justified by the fact that bookings include £x of savings. The point that the vast majority of that value (ie UBP) was included beforehand was conveniently ignored.

 

 

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Didn't realize you were talking about the change in UK. Going all inclusive - it's nice to have just one price, but it removes any insight into how and what you were charged for.

 

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I am getting the same "free" benefit on my next cruise. I selected all 4 items including the beverage package. I was surprised that they charged me a total of $276.80 for services charges for 2 people. $13.80 x 2 for the Dining Package and $124.60 x 2 for the Beverage Package.

 

The last time I received a "free" beverage package was from Holland America and theirs was actually free. The only limit was $9.00 per drink but it did include the gratuity..

 

From HAL -- Signature Beverage Package has a daily limit of 15 beverages, which includes all beverages priced at US$9.00 or lower. Guests must order beverages one at a time and must be 21 years or older for alcoholic beverages. Sharing is not permitted. Beverage management reserves the right to revoke the package if misused and refuse service for any reason, including service of alcoholic beverages to intoxicated guests. Package excludes purchases made in Signature Shops, Mini Bar and In Room Dining, or beverages on Half Moon Cay.

All of this boils down to goodness of fit and priorities. Personally, my husband and I spend very little time in our room on vacations. Therefore, selecting a specific room is not a priority. Out of seven cruises, I have actually never picked my room (or if I did, I put very little thought into the choice) and have been fine. Our room is for the 4 S's (sleep, shower, sex, sh*t), and we don't need that much for any of those things. We greatly enjoy our adult beverages on vacation, so that is a much higher priority than the room. Thus, the UBP works well for us.

I was going to book the Encore online and the computer wanted to add $249.20 to my unlimited drinks package as a service charge. there is no way in my wife and I are going to drink enough drinks that we would spend $249.00 in tips for drinks alone!

 

We kind of felt like that, too, at first. But then we did the math. Drinks are about $10 each (mixed drinks, that is. Beer is about $8/9). If you divide the $250 by 10, you get 25. Divide that by 2, and you get 12 1/2! So, the 2 of us would have to drink 12 1/2 drinks total each over the course of a week in order to make it worthwhile. We did that one the first day. So, the UBP was well worth it for us - we averaged at least 10-15 drinks a day, for each of us.

Even at 5 drinks a day for both of us at $10 a drink, that would have cost us at least $100/day, not counting tips. So, if you are a very light drinker and only have 1 or 2 drinks a day, then the UBP would not be worth it. But, if you drink more than that (we don't normally, but, hey - it's vacation!) then it is definitely worth it.

JMHO!

What I have noticed is that Royal, Carnival and NCL all have about the same prices once you consider everything. Royal and Carnival don't charge the 20% gratuity on the value of the package when they offer them as a promo. But that 20% is such a small amount compared to the total price of the cruise, and they don't have the free promo very often. So people say "Hey, Carnival's drink plan is limited, yeah, but at least it's only $54 a day" (or whatever lower price point they have). But, NCL usually has the "$18 per day promo" and $18 a day is less than $54.

 

So it doesn't make sense to say you are losing out on the embedded value of the drink package when you don't pay the gratuity amount on it. You can make the argument like has been done here, with accounting, and show why sane people think accountants are wrapped a little too tight. The "numbers" don't look at the market, or human behavior. The variable that has to be considered is the comparative fare between cruise lines, not a cost-accounting of promos.

 

NCL values their drink package at $89 per day plus $18 gratuity. They are not collecting $89 per day. Is the cruse you take on NCL $89 a day higher than Carnival or RCL? My experience is that it is not.

 

When I choose a cruise, I'm not lamenting that the cruise line is "charging me more" because there are various promos, discounts and freebies. I have chosen the price based on a comparison of fares and decided which one is best. I think most people do that. We don't need to do an accounting and spend MORE money to get a phantom value that is no value to us.

 

There are resident discounts, affinity programs through AARP or AAA, discounts for veterans, free promos, casino players discounts, etc. None of that matters to me, because I'm in the real world, comparing real prices, from competing firms.

And all this nonsense about how much it costs or must be paid is very amusing to us who do not drink alcohol. We will never pay for an all inclusive, helping to pay for other people's drinks. Don't mind never sailing the Sky.

We all know the age-old phrase, "There's no such thing as a free lunch"

 

The solution is pretty simple, if you don't feel like you will consume $250 worth of alcohol, don't use this as one of your options. If you do think you will spend more than that on alcohol (like we do), then it is worthwhile to get this package. At the end of the day, the free at sea deal is better than paying the full $89 per person, per day price PLUS gratuities!

I was going to book the Encore online and the computer wanted to add $249.20 to my unlimited drinks package as a service charge. there is no way in my wife and I are going to drink enough drinks that we would spend $249.00 in tips for drinks alone!

 

In my personal opinion They are being totally unreasonable, assuming I spend $12 per drink which is not the case as soft drinks and house drinks are much cheaper at 18% tip that’s $2.16 tip per drink that means that based on their $249.00 drinks service charge I would have to have 115 drinks.....not gonna happen they should stop with this free at sea promotion it’s really not free in my opinion! FREE DRINKS WOULD BE FREE DRINKS AND THEY PICK UP THE SERVICE CHARGE AS WELL - that’s what free means.

 

Reminds me of the old TV commercials where some salesperson offers you a free product and say it’s FREE!!! Plus $11.95 shipping and handling lol... and that’s probably what the item is worth to begin with

 

I know I don’t have to choose the unlimited drinks package if I don’t drink a lot but it’s the way they stick the service charge based on their estimate of what I’ll drink that aggravated me.

 

So buyer beware - calculate on average what you actuallly drink on vacation it’s probably cheaper to pay for your drinks and tip as you go if you only drink a glass of wine with dinner or lunch for example.

 

Also what do they do with the left over tips if you don’t drink as much as they Estimated? do they refund it because they overestimated the tip??? Lol I’m sure they don’t. Remember the proposed in the online summary in my case of $249 was not for the package (if it was theN Yes it would be a good deal if you’re a heavy drinker) the drinks package was free the $249 was to tip the bar staff that’s why it doesn’t add up in my mind.

 

I also called NCL to clarify and the booking agent confirmed that the $249.20 service charge I was seeing is in addition to the regular service charge for waiter room attendant etc...they tried to reason with me that if I just had 4 drinks per day without the package I’d spend more than the $249.20 service charge, that may be true, don’t know, but then say it’s a reduced savings drink package it’s not really free! Maybe I’m in the minority in my feeling in this but thought I’d share my thoughts.

 

I would like to point out that your math and logic about the cost are incorrect. Assuming that there are two of you and using $10 as the average price for a drink ($8 + 20% gratuity) , if you pay as you go it will take approximately 28 drinks between you to make up the $249, that works out to about 2 drinks each per day. If you are going to drink any more than that then the UBP becomes a good deal, if you are going to drink less than that you are correct that it is not a good deal.

 

 

When doing the original calculations you only figured service charges, and not the cost of the drinks themselves, which of course you don't pay with the UBP, but do pay if you are on a pay as you go status. Don't forget that the UBP also includes "virgin" drinks, soda, and juices that you normally would pay for.

 

 

If you are even a social drinker the UBP works out to be the most economical way to go about 98% of the time.

Exactly and to those that say just choose another package- you don’t get as good a deal.

 

For example the have a pick 5 deal going on now if you drink a lot you can pick all 5 packages including the drink package but if you don’t drink a lot you either get charged the $249 or you pick only 4 packages while the others get 5 perks instead of 4

 

Bait and switch is how I feel about it...

 

Suggest that you consider choosing another line, or pick a sailaway rate that does not include any perks.

What I see is a faulty premise on the part of the OP, who is only viewing the gratuity charge in terms of being a gratuity. If the OP changes that to a view of the overall charge to have unlimited adult beverages, they will realize how reasonable the "freebie" really is.

Can we table this for now? We can go over it again in May. :)

My past 4 cruises have been on Pullmantur. They offer Free Drinks, included in cruise fare. Daily tips are the standard $15 a day total. You can upgrade for an additional $120 a week with no added tip. Not sure how they can do this and the other lines cant.