NCL Ultimate Beverage Package

[KeithJenner]

Mom and I enjoy wine with and after dinner. We drank either the blackstone Merlot or the Estancia Pinot Noir. By the glass they ran around $9 a glass. Wine is not a big pour. Add some midday, afternoon, and a nightcap and you definitely break even. Not counting getting sodas in between.:

 

 

I must just point out that, whilst comparing prices per glass often shows an easy break even using the UBP, it is not necessarily a fair comparison.

 

Blackstone and Estancia both cost $24.50 a bottle is bought as part of the Viva Vino package, so you can drink two bottles a day for the cost of the UBP.

 

The wine package is not a way that works for everyone, but the per glass cost is not the best price comparison.

 

 

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[Sparkles87]

I haven't sailed on Epic yet (Im patiently waiting for July :D ), but I thought I'd weigh in anyway. I'm from sunny Scotland and I enjoy a good drink, especially a few good cocktails and maybe a glass of wine or 2 ;)

 

Using a site, I found a link to on CC, where someone posted pictures of bar menus from an NCL ship (I think it might have been from Breakaway) i made up a sheet of the costs of drinks I would drink on my cruise. I estimated that (based on my previous cruise) I would drink between 8 and 12 alcoholic drinks a day plus soda's during the day. Now on an average drinks price of $8.77 I estimated that I would spend between $70 and $105 a day on the cruise.

 

So for me the UBP is the going to be better for me financially, plus if I can pre-purchase it it's a cost I wont have to bear at the end of my cruise.

 

Here is the link to the site I used. I have also hopefully attached my spreadsheet with the prices on it, though i don't drink beer so that is not included on my spreadsheet.

 

http://cruisewithgambee.com/norwegian-drink-lists/

Drinks Spreadsheet.xls

Edited February 21, 2014 by Sparkles87

[TaraMatt]

Using a site, I found a link to on CC, where someone posted pictures of bar menus from an NCL ship (I think it might have been from Breakaway) i made up a sheet of the costs of drinks I would drink on my cruise. I estimated that (based on my previous cruise) I would drink between 8 and 12 alcoholic drinks a day plus soda's during the day. Now on an average drinks price of $8.77 I estimated that I would spend between $70 and $105 a day on the cruise.

 

Here is the link to the site I used. I have also hopefully attached my spreadsheet with the prices on it, though i don't drink beer so that is not included on my spreadsheet.

 

 

I love how you think and that you did this! This has been on my to-do list myself to determine if it will be worth it for us (I think it will be, but want to run the numbers!).

[Sparkles87]

Go for it! Run the numbers and see if its worth it for you.

 

Originally I didn't think it was going to be worth it because the cocktails looked much more expensive. But when someone posted the link to the site and I worked it all out I found that it was actually going to work better for me to go for UBP because there's tons I can drink on it.

 

When you are doing you calculations remember your price limits on different drinks..... and don't forget that if you have UBP don't add in the extra 15% gratuity on the price of the individual drink - you will have already paid that.

[isdoo]

I haven't sailed on Epic yet (Im patiently waiting for July :D ), but I thought I'd weigh in anyway. I'm from sunny Scotland and I enjoy a good drink, especially a few good cocktails and maybe a glass of wine or 2 ;)

 

Using a site, I found a link to on CC, where someone posted pictures of bar menus from an NCL ship (I think it might have been from Breakaway) i made up a sheet of the costs of drinks I would drink on my cruise. I estimated that (based on my previous cruise) I would drink between 8 and 12 alcoholic drinks a day plus soda's during the day. Now on an average drinks price of $8.77 I estimated that I would spend between $70 and $105 a day on the cruise.

 

So for me the UBP is the going to be better for me financially, plus if I can pre-purchase it it's a cost I wont have to bear at the end of my cruise.

 

Here is the link to the site I used. I have also hopefully attached my spreadsheet with the prices on it, though i don't drink beer so that is not included on my spreadsheet.

 

http://cruisewithgambee.com/norwegian-drink-lists/

 

If you are on Epic this summer and sail from Barcelona, don't forget to factor in 10% VAT if not going outside the EU.

 

if you purchase in advance, you might not be subject to the 10% making it even better value.

[isdoo]

BTW - which coffees are not included in the UBP - just says 'selected'?

[Sparkles87]

If you are on Epic this summer and sail from Barcelona, don't forget to factor in 10% VAT if not going outside the EU.

 

if you purchase in advance, you might not be subject to the 10% making it even better value.

 

I am sailing from Barcelona this July. If I pre-purchase at home in the UK I won't be charged the VAT. However, even with the vat added - it would still work out cheaper for me to purchase UBP (it works out at $62 incl. gratuity and VAT)

 

 

As for coffees, I'm sure i read somewhere that no specialist coffees were included in UBP - but i'm not 100% sure.

[violettewaits]

I struggled and went back and forth on whether or not to purchase the UBP on our January 9-day Gem cruise. Ultimately, we decided against it because we never cruised before and weren't sure if we'd get our money's worth. Well, that turned out to be a wise choice because I ended up getting a 2-day flu on the cruise, during which I definitely didn't drink, and really, I just didn't drink as much as I thought I would, in general.

 

The biggest detriment for me was that beer buckets weren't included, because we ordered a ton of those. :D My hubby and I totaled all of our alcohol receipts at the end, and found we only spent about $650 on booze so I doubt I would buy the package in the future.

[mablinki]

I have a daughter who will be cruising with me in May. She is 30 but multiply handicapped. Would they let me purchase the UBP and her the soda package?

 

 

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[Teesa1021]

Are the drinks of the day and frozen drinks included in the ultimate beverage package?

[jeepgirlroo]

Are the drinks of the day and frozen drinks included in the ultimate beverage package?

 

 

Mixed drinks have to cost $8.50 or less to be included. So yes, if they meet that price criteria.

 

 

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[Demonyte]

I have a daughter who will be cruising with me in May. She is 30 but multiply handicapped. Would they let me purchase the UBP and her the soda package?

 

According to T&C the answer is no, you'd need to purchase UBP for her too.

 

You might be able to sweet talk yourself around the limitation but as said, there are no exceptions for the rule that states that all passengers aged 21 and over in the same cabin must purchase UBP.

[isdoo]

I have a daughter who will be cruising with me in May. She is 30 but multiply handicapped. Would they let me purchase the UBP and her the soda package?

 

I would call NCL or your agent.

 

I have read of several occasions where exceptions have been made.

[johnql]

I would call NCL or your agent.

 

I have read of several occasions where exceptions have been made.

Can you clarify? What kind of exceptions have been made?

[isdoo]

Can you clarify? What kind of exceptions have been made?

 

I have read exceptions where one person does not drink for medical or religious reasons being exempted for example.

 

I would have thought that under discrimination laws if one member of the party is medically unable to drink or can't through religion then they can't force that person to purchase a package or restrict the other person from buying one.

 

The laws may differ depending upon where the cruise is taking place, but I have read of exceptions being made.

 

Having never cruised NCL before, I have been doing a lot of reading in the last 2 or 3 weeks. :)

[johnql]

I have read exceptions where one person does not drink for medical or religious reasons being exempted for example.

 

I would have thought that under discrimination laws if one member of the party is medically unable to drink or can't through religion then they can't force that person to purchase a package or restrict the other person from buying one.

 

The laws may differ depending upon where the cruise is taking place, but I have read of exceptions being made.

 

Having never cruised NCL before, I have been doing a lot of reading in the last 2 or 3 weeks. :)

Interesting. Thanks for the clarification. I've seen plenty of threads regarding the UBP but haven't seen any first-hand accounts of exceptions being made. I must have missed them.

[isdoo]

I have also read that people who have simply said 'My husband does not drink' is out of luck. I would have thought that it would need some sort of proof either visual or written.

[triptolemus]

I would have thought that under discrimination laws ...

 

What discrimination laws?!?! Being able to drink is not a protected class or circumstance. Even if we assume US ADA (which we shouldn't ), nowhere in the Act is this addressed. In fact, The ADA defines a covered disability as "...a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity."

 

Seems like every time something is perceived as "unfair" folks go around thinking it must be discriminatory. Wow.

[isdoo]

LOL - welcome to the world of discrimination in both the USA & Europe.

 

You can't prevent someone from partaking in an activity or scheme open to all because of the inability of one member to take part either through religion or disability. A bit like saying you can't come into my bar and drink because your wife is unable to drink due to her religion - that bar would soon be up in court I am sure - especially in the USA!

 

Whether you could even restrict through choice is probably questionable.

 

In all cases the purchase of a single alcoholic drink would probably enable the line to charge the package to their account.

 

All I am saying is that there are cases posted in this forum of exceptions being made by NCL.

[triptolemus]

You can't prevent someone from partaking in an activity or scheme open to all because of the inability of one member to take part either through religion or disability.

Yes... you can. Unless that activity is a major life activity including, but not limited to, "caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working" as well as the operation of several specified major bodily functions.

 

Participation in an unlimited beverage program does not meet the definition of a "major life activity."

 

I'm not going even address the religion angle. It's utter nonsense.

 

All I am saying is that there are cases posted in this forum of exceptions being made by NCL.

 

I agree. That's why I replied that the OP should call NCL and ask rather than asking here. For some reason, my post (around #4 or so) was deleted. I guess telling an OP to call the cruise line and ask is a violation of some silly rule.

[KeithJenner]

A bit like saying you can't come into my bar and drink because your wife is unable to drink due to her religion - that bar would soon be up in court I am sure - especially in the USA!.

 

 

That isn't what they are saying though.

 

What they are saying is that you can come in, but if you want to partake of a particular offer then your wife needs to get the offer as well.

 

Having someone else in your room who can't drink doesn't stop you from taking out the UBP, it just makes it more expensive, and most likely not worth it. There are other deals open to you which may fit your circumstances better.

[Mustangdrew]

Get a doctors note. They are suppose to honor that. Anyway sneak the booze in with rum runners and you save a lot of money.

Think of all the time your off the ship and you will probably reconsider.

 

 

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[ebor]

We did it last June on the Gem. Was told we could get it on the 2nd day but they were still going to charge us all 7 days, so why waste a day! We won't get it again though because we didn't drink that much! We came up about $150 short of what we paid....:(

Hi

Can you be taxed on the UBP when in port ,say Venice Italy

[KeithJenner]

Hi

Can you be taxed on the UBP when in port ,say Venice Italy

 

 

This does seem to be quite random (not in Venice specifically). Some have said they were charged the tax, some weren't.

 

To be sure you have to wait until you are in international waters. It is then not clear whether you will be charged for drinks you have before purchasing. If you are charged for them then apparently you may be able to get them removed by going to guest services.

[isdoo]

Hi

Can you be taxed on the UBP when in port ,say Venice Italy

 

Only on cruises ending /starting in Spain that do not go outside the EU.

 

Italian does incur VAT on some items, but these cruises usually go outside the EU (Turkey for example)