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Free Promos are Not Free


Djptcp
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As former NCL cruisers DH and I were open to trying NCL again. When attempting to book a 5-day cruise out of Tampa I selected the Free Drinks promo. Imagine my surprise when the total cruise cost amount included a $178 service charge for the "Free Drinks." What is free about that? I chatted with a NCL rep and was told the service charge is the 20% gratuities for the free drinks! Free drinks should include the gratuities or it isn't really free. No thanks, we'll stick to Carnival and Holland America where there aren't service charges for "free" promos. By the way, their drink gratuities are 15%, not 20%.

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Does carnival ever offer a free drink package though?

 

Btw this has been discussed a lot, it says on the offer it doesn't include the service charge. Most still find it a great deal. I'm paying 3x as much for a drink package on my next royal cruise.

 

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

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I still don't understand how people are shocked by this. When you go to a restaurant with a gift card or a coupon for a free meal, do you not tip your waitstaff?

Agree!! I just shake my head at posts like these.

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We don't buy drink packages on Carnival or HAL because we don't drink that much. I do get free drinks in the casinos every time we cruise and the server gets a tip - I asked the casino hosts because I wanted to make sure he/she received a tip. So free is free there.

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Or you know...you could just NOT pick the drink package.

 

The 3 meal dining package is about $15 per person for service charges. So you can go to Cagney's 3 nights on your cruise, and order 8 oz Filet Mignon steaks (not to mention appetizer, sides and dessert) for $5 a meal.

 

But it's not free...so I guess another bad deal by NCL

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We don't buy drink packages on Carnival or HAL because we don't drink that much. I do get free drinks in the casinos every time we cruise and the server gets a tip - I asked the casino hosts because I wanted to make sure he/she received a tip. So free is free there.

Well then simple solution, don't take the free drinks promo, use another one if they have more offers, just be aware the free specialty dining will automatically add the 20% gratuity as well, which by the way is the norm now, not 15%, so give Carnival time, they will bump it up .

 

Free drinks in casino is a horse of a different color, no comparison.

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I like waffles. Some people do not. So, a breakfast coupon deal for free waflles would not be a good value for them, but it would be for me. I would still tip my waiter/waitress based on the total value of the meal, free items included.

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We don't buy drink packages on Carnival or HAL because we don't drink that much. I do get free drinks in the casinos every time we cruise and the server gets a tip - I asked the casino hosts because I wanted to make sure he/she received a tip. So free is free there.

 

First, the drink package costs $89 per day PLUS the 20% for gratuities. When purchasing it you pay one cost for the package and another for the gratuities. They are offering the package for free...not the gratuities. No surprise there.

 

Second, if you don't drink that much, and you get free drinks in the casino, they why would you choose the free drink package? It makes no sense. Choose something different...OR...pick the sail away rate and bypass the extra costs alltogether.

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It's actually still a good deal even if you have to pay the grats. But, this is a good reminder to always read the Terms and Conditions of promos you are getting.

 

Remember "Good Deals" are subjective. Paying $176 in gratuities if you don't drink their maximum of drinks is NOT a good deal for some. I NEVER drink even $176 in drinks....so having to pay up front what NCL calls "gratuities" on a service not yet rendered is far from FREE no matter what the cost of the package is on other lines? I am not against paying the gratuities....BUT only for WHAT I drink, not a 'flat fee' on drinks not served!! NCL probably makes out well on this promo (it is a business after all and they wouldn't offer it if they lost $$).

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Me thinks we are just feeding a troll. The OP's casino drink comment just shows me how off base his original post was. He didn't need the drink package, but chose it anyways...paying 18 bucks a day or so for it, and then chose to complain. People can be funny.

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Remember "Good Deals" are subjective. Paying $176 in gratuities if you don't drink their maximum of drinks is NOT a good deal for some. I NEVER drink even $176 in drinks....so having to pay up front what NCL calls "gratuities" on a service not yet rendered is far from FREE no matter what the cost of the package is on other lines? I am not against paying the gratuities....BUT only for WHAT I drink, not a 'flat fee' on drinks not served!! NCL probably makes out well on this promo (it is a business after all and they wouldn't offer it if they lost $$).

 

 

True. But like others have said you don't have to take the promo, therefore no gratuity charge. Some simple calculations will help one easily decide if it's worthwhile.

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Remember "Good Deals" are subjective. Paying $176 in gratuities if you don't drink their maximum of drinks is NOT a good deal for some. I NEVER drink even $176 in drinks....so having to pay up front what NCL calls "gratuities" on a service not yet rendered is far from FREE no matter what the cost of the package is on other lines? I am not against paying the gratuities....BUT only for WHAT I drink, not a 'flat fee' on drinks not served!! NCL probably makes out well on this promo (it is a business after all and they wouldn't offer it if they lost $$).

 

I then suggest you buy drinks as you go. IF you only drink 2 or so a day, you'll come out ahead..otherwise, you'll pay dearly.

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BUT only for WHAT I drink, not a 'flat fee' on drinks not served!!

 

That isn't how it works. The 20% has nothing to do with drinks served or not served...it is based on the per day cost of the package. Nothing to do with the cost and/or number of drinks consumed or not.

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As former NCL cruisers DH and I were open to trying NCL again. When attempting to book a 5-day cruise out of Tampa I selected the Free Drinks promo. Imagine my surprise when the total cruise cost amount included a $178 service charge for the "Free Drinks." What is free about that? I chatted with a NCL rep and was told the service charge is the 20% gratuities for the free drinks! Free drinks should include the gratuities or it isn't really free. No thanks, we'll stick to Carnival and Holland America where there aren't service charges for "free" promos. By the way, their drink gratuities are 15%, not 20%.

 

OK, bye.

Safe sailing!

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I can't get enough of these silly threads where people think they are teaching people something. Cheers is about $900 for a week for 2 on Carnival. Tell me what a great deal that is? I've had Cheers and NCL's and it's a way better deal on NCL for the price of the service charge. My 15 day Panama Canal next year had a service charge of just under $500 for the both of us for the package for 15 days. Cheers was $1800 in their Panama Canal cruise. Also the NCL cruise a day longer on a brand new ship for the same price with the drink promo. The deal blew Carnival's away.

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I also don't understand why people don't "get this". If you don't want to pay the gratuities on a free drink package, don't. Cruise with the other lines where you'll pay $50+/day for the drink package. Personally, I am happy to pay the gratuities on the package to the hard working bar staff. I'm also happy to save the $500+ dollars I'd pay for the drinks and gratuities on another cruise line.

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Oddly, the 20% is charged at $89/day for the drink package. Packages on other lines (that are superior and include bottled water and specialty coffees) cost $45 - $55 day. So in other words, NCL claims their package is worth DOUBLE, yet they offer less. Hmmm. Interesting math.

 

If the "free drinks" wasn't simply a money grab, the 20% would be charged at a rate comparable to the competition, which would be $45-$55. Not $89.

 

Just an observation.

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Oddly, the 20% is charged at $89/day for the drink package. Packages on other lines (that are superior and include bottled water and specialty coffees) cost $45 - $55 day. So in other words, NCL claims their package is worth DOUBLE, yet they offer less. Hmmm. Interesting math.

 

If the "free drinks" wasn't simply a money grab, the 20% would be charged at a rate comparable to the competition, which would be $45-$55. Not $89.

 

Just an observation.

 

 

LOL...you've got some seriously fuzzy business logic going on there, Nole.

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Maybe this is a crazy way of thinking about it, but in my view, the perks are either worthwhile to me or they aren't. It doesn't matter to me whether NCL is charging 20% of $89 (which they are) or whether Carnival charges 15% of $55 (I have no idea). Ultimately the choice is mine as to whether I like it or I don't. I'm sailing NCL because the overall price works for me, the itinerary works for me, and I'm looking forward to a good experience. I'm not so naive as to think that everything listed as "free" is really free, especially when there are asterisks all over the place.

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