UBP - Is this math correct?

I believe there is a limit, but it's sneaky. Like only 2 drinks an hour or something similar to that. I vaguely recall a waiter by the pool telling my friend about it when she wanted to get another drink or 2 drinks at once, but she had already had one drink that hour. It not only regulates how much you drink, but keeps you from "buying" drinks for others who may not have UBP. It's the kind of limit most wouldn't notice. This was over a year ago and my memory of the details are a bit hazy.

There is definitely no limit, we’ve had it twice (paid and free), and were able to get as many drinks as we wanted in an hour. We even did our own martini tasting, drink after drink (but not finishing each one).

I can't imagine doing Sail Away versus picking my cabin outright. Even if you do the GTY in a specific category, you know you will at least get that category or better. With Sail Away they could literally put you in the worst cabin on the ship! Taking a look at my upcoming cruise in October... I paid $999 per person for one of the angled balconies on Deck 13 on the Escape, which includes $100 OBC under the current promo, $100 OBC as a Latitudes Reward, double Latitudes points, Specialty Dining, and Ultimate Beverage. The Sail Away rate is $749.

 

If I do a mock booking, the total for two people comes out to a difference of $388.40 per person (that's after the added service charges for drinks and dining). That would be a lot to pay for just the drink package... roughly $55 per day. Could I spend that in paying for drinks outright? For sure! I would say I easily drink 7-10 drinks per day while cruising. But in addition to those drinks, I get 3 specialty dining meals, I get one of the nice angled balconies in a location of my choosing, we get OBC, and we get double points. Clearly well worth the total difference in price. So I am not "ONLY" paying the extra for the "free" drink package.

You’re only getting some of those things because you chose a specific sailing that they’re running the Latitudes offer on.

You’re only getting some of those things because you chose a specific sailing that they’re running the Latitudes offer on.

Sure, but you have to factor in all aspects when making a choice about cabin category. That's my point. Assuming that people are stupidly choosing the more expensive categories so they can get the "free" drink package is just that... an assumption. In my case, even if I were only getting the $100 OBC for the current promo, the drink package, specialty dining, and my choice of the angled balcony, it would still be worth $55 per person per day to me.

In our case, picking a cabin was $300 pp more than the OX guarantee. Why did we spend that to pick our cabin? Because OX's base (i.e. what you'll probably get) is an obstructed view porthole. We don't want an obstructed view ANYTHING, and aren't that crazy about a porthole. So we'll pay the extra $$$ to pick the room we want. The benefits are nice and everything, but they're not the reason we went up in price.

On my cruise I am getting the UBP and all my tips pre paid. I think if I had to pay for it, it might not be worth it, but I'm so glad I am getting it free, and no gratuities.... :)

First time ever we got the UBP with tips prepaid and DSC paid on a 15 day transatlantic. I'm not much of a drinker but developed quite a taste for the Irish coffees! Such a deal!

As this thread demonstrates, you can drive yourself crazy with trying to plan your drinking cost on a cruise that has not happened yet. I try not to drink too much on vacation because I don't want to be hung over and get up early and seize the day. I too have went back and forth if I should cancel the perk or stick with it. I don't think I will get my money's worth but I fear if I cancel I will regret it. Then I rationalize I will drink too much trying to get my moneys worth.

I am not going to fester over it anymore. Once the cruise is over then I can see how things stack up. Not going to worry about it and sit back and enjoy it. Too many other things that are bigger concern than worrying about this.

Having guarantee cabins for sail-a-way prices instead of choosing your own cabin is just another marketing ploy to get you to spend more money for the same thing in most cases. This is a lure to get people to think the free drink package is worth the money. There are very few cabins in a certain category that are much better than others in the same category and if you book guarantee you will get one in the category that you booked or one in a much better category. If you pick your cabin there is very little chance of getting upgraded.

Example: If you wanted to book a IE inside cabin on the Gem and pick your cabin, there are only 15 choices and not one is better than another or in a much better location. So you pay extra to book that cabin while some one else books it as guarantee and may either get the cabin next to you or get an upgrade to a much better cabin in a better area or even an oceanview cabin.

A few years ago my neighbor booked an OX obstructed view cabin and I booked a guarantee oceanview for a lower price. I was given a nice picture window cabin for a much lower price than his cabin with very little view.

Remember, most ships only have 2 OX cabins so if you know one is booked you have a very slim chance of getting the other one on a guarantee. And if you are Platinum you always have a much better chance of being upgraded.

First time ever we got the UBP with tips prepaid and DSC paid on a 15 day transatlantic. I'm not much of a drinker but developed quite a taste for the Irish coffees! Such a deal!

Tip's prepaid...when do they offer that?

Some UK and Australian bookings (passenger location not ship location) include that because of the mostly non-tipping cultures, but the wordings on those bookings has since changed to say Butlers and Concierge should be tipped extra for those in the Haven. (Hopefully this thread doesn’t fall too fall into the tipping sinkhole. :). )

Look, don’t ASSume the drink package isn’t worth it for anyone but yourself...I know it’s worth it for The Bride and myself..carry on..

Having guarantee cabins for sail-a-way prices...

My experience is similar to yours. I booked an inside sailaway at a dirt cheap rate, got a good location when they assigned it, then got an upgrade to a picture window for $100 on a 10 day cruise. You can buy a lot of drinks, go on excursions, whatever, with the difference. Or just buy the full priced bev package for that much.

Even at "free," it's still not worth it for us. The "free" price (which means you're still paying the Service Charge) for our upcoming 15-night cruise was $288/person. On a 15-night cruise, that means each of us would have to buy an average of two drinks every night just to break even. Simply don't plan on boozing that much.

Same here. I calculated that we'd have to drink $17 a day just to break even...you're not coming out ahead. It'd be difficult to drink that much when we are off the boat for port stops for a lot of the trip. We chose the shore excursion credit which helps us come out ahead.

"There are very few cabins in a certain category that are much better than others in the same category and if you book guarantee you will get one in the category that you booked or one in a much better category. If you pick your cabin there is very little chance of getting upgraded."

While this may be true, if left up to the guarantee, I'd likely be assigned to a cabin under the disco or the pool deck. I'd prefer to pick my cabin and the location I want, than hope for an upgrade. Not that this has anything at all to do with the OP's question...That's just me.

CM

Same here. I calculated that we'd have to drink $17 a day just to break even...you're not coming out ahead. It'd be difficult to drink that much when we are off the boat for port stops for a lot of the trip. We chose the shore excursion credit which helps us come out ahead.

It comes out to $17.80 per day with the service charge on the UBP. If you drink fewer than 2-3 drinks per day, it's not worth it. For people who do drink, it's not unreasonable to drink at least that much, even on port days. I did the math after my second cruise and found that I was drinking 7-10 drinks per day while cruising, so it is certainly worth it for me. What it boils down to is making the best choice for YOURSELF and ensuring you have the best possible experience on your vacation.

Same here. I calculated that we'd have to drink $17 a day just to break even...you're not coming out ahead. It'd be difficult to drink that much when we are off the boat for port stops for a lot of the trip. We chose the shore excursion credit which helps us come out ahead.

I’m way more likely to drink 1 1/2 drinks vs. paying double for an excursion through the cruise line. Actually, it’s very unlikely that I’m only having 1 1/2 drinks.

I believe there is a limit, but it's sneaky. Like only 2 drinks an hour or something similar to that. I vaguely recall a waiter by the pool telling my friend about it when she wanted to get another drink or 2 drinks at once, but she had already had one drink that hour. It not only regulates how much you drink, but keeps you from "buying" drinks for others who may not have UBP. It's the kind of limit most wouldn't notice. This was over a year ago and my memory of the details are a bit hazy.

Could it be the memory is hazy because you’d had too many drinks by the pool? [emoji6]

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I believe there is a limit, but it's sneaky. Like only 2 drinks an hour or something similar to that. I vaguely recall a waiter by the pool telling my friend about it when she wanted to get another drink or 2 drinks at once, but she had already had one drink that hour. It not only regulates how much you drink, but keeps you from "buying" drinks for others who may not have UBP. It's the kind of limit most wouldn't notice. This was over a year ago and my memory of the details are a bit hazy.

I was recently on the Escape and ordered three drinks in one hour on multiple occasions.

It comes out to $17.80 per day with the service charge on the UBP. If you drink fewer than 2-3 drinks per day, it's not worth it. For people who do drink, it's not unreasonable to drink at least that much, even on port days. I did the math after my second cruise and found that I was drinking 7-10 drinks per day while cruising, so it is certainly worth it for me. What it boils down to is making the best choice for YOURSELF and ensuring you have the best possible experience on your vacation.

Everyone makes their own decision regarding the viability of the beverage package. I must admit that my drink habits have changed over my lifetime. I now prefer largely wine, with perhaps a beer at happy hour and a brandy after dinner. However, the last time that I consumed 10 drinks a day, I was 19 years old at a college frat party.

My physician advises me that brandy is the best alcohol for expanding circulation and red wine is more healthy. However, 2-3 drinks a day is best for my health. I had a friend die of liver failure at the age of 65, which is a good reminder of moderation. I am not passing judgment on anyone, but just making an observation. Also, I wonder if having a drinks package encourages heavy drinking?

Same here. I calculated that we'd have to drink $17 a day just to break even...you're not coming out ahead. It'd be difficult to drink that much when we are off the boat for port stops for a lot of the trip. We chose the shore excursion credit which helps us come out ahead.

That is just 2-3 drinks, not much even on a port day.

Everyone makes their own decision regarding the viability of the beverage package. I must admit that my drink habits have changed over my lifetime. I now prefer largely wine, with perhaps a beer at happy hour and a brandy after dinner. However, the last time that I consumed 10 drinks a day, I was 19 years old at a college frat party.

 

My physician advises me that brandy is the best alcohol for expanding circulation and red wine is more healthy. However, 2-3 drinks a day is best for my health. I had a friend die of liver failure at the age of 65, which is a good reminder of moderation. I am not passing judgment on anyone, but just making an observation. Also, I wonder if having a drinks package encourages heavy drinking?

I certainly don't drink 7-10 drinks a day in my real life! I go days and sometimes weeks with no alcohol at all. I would say my average is under 1 drink a day in my real life. But on vacation I definitely like to indulge more. It's not unrealistic on a cruise for me to have 1-2 mimosas or screwdrivers with breakfast or some Bailey's in my coffee... then a drink out on the deck between breakfast and lunch, then maybe two drinks between lunch and dinner on the deck or in a lounge, then a drink with dinner, and then a couple of drinks at shows or in the lounges listening to live entertainment or in the casino after dinner. Pretty easy to get to seven drinks when you space them out throughout the whole day while cruising. In real life, I have to work, drive, run errands, and fulfill other obligations. I am lucky if I get in one beer after work on an evening where I have the luxury of just relaxing at home. Or maybe a mimosa at brunch with friends on a Sunday. Or a beer or two doing trivia at the local pub with friends on a Tuesday night. If I get in seven drinks a WEEK, it's a rare thing.

I think the part that is hard from this equation is the actual drink prices currently on the ship. I think when I was on last fall on the epic, it felt like we were the only people who didn't take the drink package as a perk (to the point where I kept ordering sodas, they brought us it in a plastic cup and then would go back and get a me a can when they realized we didn't have the package).

We paid over $10 for each alcoholic drink with the service charge. So, one glass of one with dinner and one glass of wine while watching a show and a soda during the day put me over the $17/day and that was the most port intensive cruise I had ever been on (which is why I didn't take it as one of my picks in the first place). I regretted not taking the package, just becuase it would have been one less thing to worry about and I would have come out ahead.

I think the part that is hard from this equation is the actual drink prices currently on the ship.

The prices really aren't that unreasonable. I think it depends on where you are from and what you are used to paying "locally". I live in Rochester, NY, which isn't exactly the "big city" and I am used to paying $6-10 per drink when I am out. I know when I am in places like NYC, I can't find a drink under $10 to save my life. I think the difference really comes in if you typically only drink at home and pay for wine or liqueur by the bottle. I think another difference is when you are at home, living your real life, you might only ever have a drink or two when you are out to dinner or out with friends a couple of times a week. Whereas, on a cruise, you are "out" to eat every meal and often hanging out with people in lounges or places that are conducive to drinking.

Even at "free," it's still not worth it for us. The "free" price (which means you're still paying the Service Charge) for our upcoming 15-night cruise was $288/person. On a 15-night cruise, that means each of us would have to buy an average of two drinks every night just to break even. Simply don't plan on boozing that much.

man, different strokes for different folks... two drinks a day would be "in the noise" for me!!! LOL. Even on days where I don't feel like drinking that much.

man, different strokes for different folks... two drinks a day would be "in the noise" for me!!! LOL. Even on days where I don't feel like drinking that much.

Eggxactly, two bloody marys with breakfast starts the dayoff right!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Two assumptions:

1) Each drink is $8

2) Cruise is 5 days

 

Cost of package per day $89 + 20% ($17.80) = $106.80/day = $534

If I were to drink 8 $8 (plus 20% = $1.6) drinks per day that would be $64 plus $12.80 = $76.80 = $384

 

Therefore, using ONLY the above assumptions, it would be more cost effective to pay per drink rather than buy the package.

I have onlt seen "beers" at about $8...all the other drinks are like $10.95 and up...seen some special "souvenir" drinks in special fancy glasses ranging from like $15 to $16 per drink...but i think the drink pkg only covers drinks up to $15.

redo the math with these numbers and see how it comes out..