Please stop deposits on beer buckets

[KevinsCruising]

Just off the Gem. Had an awesome time. Ship crew is fabulous. Senan is the best cruise director by far. Food was good in all restaurants. Hypnotist show a blast. Could not dock at Stirrup Cay due to winds...bummer.

 

No complaints at all except for the deposits on all buckets of beer. Not sure why NCL went back to doing this. After returning buckets and having receipts, deposits were not taken off final bill. Spending an hour at the reception desk on your last day is not a great way to finish off a cruise. It makes you want to not spend the money on the bucket because if you do not return the bucket, that advertised free beer is really not.

 

Other then that, thanks NCL for a great cruise!

[RNPJN]

Just off the Gem. Had an awesome time. Ship crew is fabulous. Senan is the best cruise director by far. Food was good in all restaurants. Hypnotist show a blast. Could not dock at Stirrup Cay due to winds...bummer.

 

No complaints at all except for the deposits on all buckets of beer. Not sure why NCL went back to doing this. After returning buckets and having receipts, deposits were not taken off final bill. Spending an hour at the reception desk on your last day is not a great way to finish off a cruise. It makes you want to not spend the money on the bucket because if you do not return the bucket, that advertised free beer is really not.

 

Other then that, thanks NCL for a great cruise!

We were on the Pearl for 2 weeks in Oct and they did not have deposits on the buckets. and we bought many LOL:D

[SuiteCruiser]

I agree, but if they do charge a deposit, keep your bucket and keep getting it refilled, that way you would only have the initial deposit, that would be easier to lose at the end if they messed up. We did this on our last couple of cruises.

[wandrr]

It makes you want to not spend the money on the bucket because if you do not return the bucket, that advertised free beer is really not. quote]

 

How much was the deposit? Did you eventually get your deposit back?

[KirkNC]

I agree, but if they do charge a deposit, keep your bucket and keep getting it refilled, that way you would only have the initial deposit, that would be easier to lose at the end if they messed up. We did this on our last couple of cruises.

 

A yes, beer bucket management ;)

[armwinder]

Just off POA, no deposit on the bucket.

[Sam The Cat]

Sorry I brought 2 home with me over 5 cruises. One was a football helmet with the NCL logo the one fish swiming the against the others and the other one was a Heinekin bucket. Both which I use during the summer in Buffalo. So I do not might not getting my deposit back They remind me of the cruise

[KevinsCruising]

It makes you want to not spend the money on the bucket because if you do not return the bucket, that advertised free beer is really not. quote]

 

How much was the deposit? Did you eventually get your deposit back?

 

 

5 dollar deposits... .the problems was we were bowling, then decided to have a bucket of beer. The last empty bucket was in the cabin. So you just get another one instead of going back to the cabin. By the end of the cruise, we had 7 empty buckets. Eventually was refunded but took an hour at the reception desk when ready to get off ship. My last Gem cruise, no deposits so not sure what was going on with this sailing. :confused:

[Guest LoveMyBoxer]

Sorry I brought 2 home with me over 5 cruises. One was a football helmet with the NCL logo the one fish swiming the against the others and the other one was a Heinekin bucket. Both which I use during the summer in Buffalo. So I do not might not getting my deposit back They remind me of the cruise

 

And thus the reason for a deposit!

[jack300s]

Just back from POA. No deposits.

[mbarnaby99]

I haven't been charged a deposit for the bucket in several years.

[Ewoodspark]

More to the point regarding beer, what is the cost of the buckets of beer?. Am I correct that they sell 6 bottles for the price of 5? Are these bottles or cans?

[melligene]

NCL doesn't seem to be cosistant in the depost thingee. 2008 Dawn/deposit. 2009 Jewel/no deposit. 2011 Pearl/ Sky high bar/deposit...Topsiders bar/no deposit.

[CruisinCrow]

No deposit required on our November Sky cruise.

 

The buckets cost something like $35! You got 6 beers for the price of 5 cruise-ship beers (or 6 beers for the price of a couple of cases at home). :)

 

They were bottles not cans.

[Norwegian Cruise Line]

Dear KevinsCruising,

We apologize for any inconvenience you experienced with the beer buckets. We are evaluating the current deposit requirement and hope to have a new policy in place in early 2012.

 

Thank you for cruising with us.

 

Regards,

Norwegian Cruise Line Public Relations

[Prnsessmoi]

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but...

 

I just have to say, I find it very encouraging (and smart) that NCL has people monitoring this board. And it is very nice to occasionally see responses from them.

 

Good job, NCL! ;)

[Cubechick]

As far as I can determine the policy is in tact by enforced sporadically. On our 15-day Star cruise we had only one employee try to charge us the deposit...and that was something like 12-days into the cruise. (We declined and just carried the beer away.)

[camz]

I am not a beer drinker so I never have looked into theses buckets. However, I have seen many passengers leaving the ship and going home with the helmet type buckets. I always thought they were included in whatever the costs were. I guess like the fish bowl glass they were selling a couple of years ago or the NCL souvenier glasses.

[dexddd]

Our experience has varied by ship but both times on the Star in 2009 and 2011 they charged. They say they want the receipt when you return at the end to give the $5 back so we end up putting that someplace safe.

[Rochesterboatingdotcom]

I hope they drop it too.. On Sky in October - no deposit. On Dawn the very same week, had to pay deposit ONCE. And to top it off, turned in the bucket and reciept but was never given credit.

[darrengs]

In my experience the bartenders charged the deposit but the other servers did not. I also never got my deposits refunded on the Gem last month, unfortunately I did not realize until I read your post and checked,

[monicajay]

Nice to see NCL is monitoring this thread. Please get rid of the deposits and maybe think about some other beer options.

 

Loved the X1 on Costa

 

Better still was the pre-purchase only bottled beer coupons on MSC.

[sdmike]

Sounds like a nice $5 souvenir bucket to me :)

[KevinsCruising]

Dear KevinsCruising,

We apologize for any inconvenience you experienced with the beer buckets. We are evaluating the current deposit requirement and hope to have a new policy in place in early 2012.

 

Thank you for cruising with us.

 

Regards,

Norwegian Cruise Line Public Relations

 

Thank you NCL. I appreciate you looking into it. Looking forward to sailing again soon with NCL. I am sure you will take the necessary actions. Thanks to everyone aboard the GEM for giving us a WONDERFUL vacation. Special applause goes out to Jeffery (bar service in Spinaker), Irene ( bar service pool 2nd level) Paul ( bar service main pool) Raul ( dance instructor). Jim and Andy in the Casino ( Andy probably the best bartender on the ship) Jenny Assistant Hotel Director !

 

Standing ovation for you all ! :D

[luddite]

Dear KevinsCruising,

We apologize for any inconvenience you experienced with the beer buckets. We are evaluating the current deposit requirement and hope to have a new policy in place in early 2012.

 

Thank you for cruising with us.

 

Regards,

Norwegian Cruise Line Public Relations

 

We're OK with paying a bit too much for beer aboard the ship.

Most of us get by in a make-do mode when it comes to the crappy selection of beers.

 

Charging a deposit for the bucket is just piling on.