UBP vs Casino Drink Card??

[Paulras]

Booked through the casino on the Breakaway in June to Bermuda. They said both of us in the cabin would receive a drink card for drinks in the casino. But they couldn't elaborate what kind of drinks or dollar limit per drink. I'm also interested in the Ultimate Beverage Package. Though it's not as inclusive as Celebrity's drink package, it would still be a good deal. But if I get it, then the Casino drink card is useless.

 

Trying to decide on using the drink card and just paying for non-casino drinks or just getting the UBP. Any thoughts? Do you know what drinks are included in the casino drink card? Never been on NCL but this was a free cruise from Revel casino.

 

We will definitely have at least 8 alcoholic drinks a day each (plus sodas too). And it ranges from beer to wine, mixed cocktails and martinis. 2 or 3 of those could easily be in the casino nightly.

 

I believe the casino is closed when we're docked in Bermuda for 2 full days so the casino card won't be able to be used then. Although we'll probably be off the ship for most of that time anyway.

 

Tough decision - I feel like I keep swaying one way and then the other on what to do. So any thoughts would be appreciated.

[time2cruise1]

The casino basic drink card will only get you well pour cocktails. UBP premium liquors.

[sjbdtz]

The casino basic drink card will only get you well pour cocktails. UBP premium liquors.

 

 

Unless your casino tier is Golden or higher, then you get Premium.

 

 

 

.

[Askmelanie]

They do include bottled water too at the casino. The well vodka is horrible. The rum is Bacardi, so you could have mojitos or rum and coke. Bourbon is Jim Beam, so you could do that in soda or ginger ale. The beer was basic including bud light, Amstel light, coors, and tecate. I think the limit was $7 or $8 per comped drink, but you could get 2 at a time. We also tipped an extra $1 a drink.

 

We did a wine package along with our casino drink package, and paid for any extra drinks.

[Paulras]

Unless your casino tier is Golden or higher, then you get Premium.

 

 

 

.

 

Not sure what I'll get. The agent on the phone had no idea that there were different casino drink cards. If I get on board and see the cards, will I know if it's premium or basic? Is it specified on the card?

Edited December 3, 2013 by Paulras

[Fishbait17]

Not sure what I'll get. The agent on the phone had no idea that there were different casino drink cards. If I get on board and see the cards, will I know if it's premium or basic? Is it specified on the card?

 

If you are booked through an outside casino, I would suspect you would get the lowest level drink card. There are three levels of drink cards through CAS, depending on what level you are with them directly, and usually having nothing to do with your level at the Revel (I also suspect there are exceptions to this for extremely high level players brought in personally by their home-base hosts). Once you establish through CAS, your points per year will determine your level with them.. Here is a link to NCL's CAS program webpage: http://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/casinos-at-sea/players-club

 

Robin

[VideoTech]

You may be aware of this, but the casino drink card is only good IN the casino. It won't help you ordering drinks anywhere else on the ship. So you'd have to go to the casino each time you wanted a drink, and of course, as you mentioned, there are many times when the casino is not open.

[jaja]

They do include bottled water too at the casino. The well vodka is horrible. The rum is Bacardi, so you could have mojitos or rum and coke. Bourbon is Jim Beam, so you could do that in soda or ginger ale. The beer was basic including bud light, Amstel light, coors, and tecate. quote]

 

 

Oh yes!!!--the well vodka is GIbley's and it IS horrible...:o--I switched to wine....;)

[asubaru]

Oh yes!!!--the well vodka is GIbley's and it IS horrible...:o--I switched to wine....;)

 

 

 

Curious at to what your wine options were with the CAS card?

 

Appreciate any responses.

[LeeTravels]

There's also no limit on how much you want to drink, as long as you have one drink at a time.

[Paulras]

Interesting that the CAS drink card gets you bottled water but the UBP doesn't. Doesn't make much sense that the UBP doesn't include it. But at least that's one thing I will use the CAS card for if I buy UBP. Always like to take a bottle of water back to the cabin at night so I have something to drink before I hit the sack and when I wake up.

[Coastalbreezes]

Oh yes!!!--the well vodka is GIbley's and it IS horrible...:o--I switched to wine....;)

 

 

 

Curious at to what your wine options were with the CAS card?

 

Appreciate any responses.

 

 

Unfortunately with Lucky or Hot status, the wine choices are (literally) red or white; both not so good. When i was Hot, I did get an ok from the host to get pinot grigio and now that I am Golden, I can pretty much order what I want.

 

Tracy

Edited December 5, 2013 by TracyE

[jaja]

Curious at to what your wine options were with the CAS card?

 

Appreciate any responses.

 

 

Unfortunately with Lucky or Hot status, the wine choices are (literally) red or white; both not so good. When i was Hot, I did get an ok from the host to get pinot grigio and now that I am Golden, I can pretty much order what I want.

 

Tracy

 

House red or white (which I had.)...was ok..not great...but surely better than the vodka swill..:eek:

[asubaru]

Thank you both for the info!

[chars]

I was on the Breakaway in December. This was my 4th CAS cruise with the drink card. My status is lucky, so I was only able to get the well drinks, and cheap wine. The wine that you get isn't even on the menu, it is a specific wine that is only for CAS drink cards. (this is what the bartender told us) It was awful. I also couldn't get my mud slides, which I was able to get on every other cruise. My husband and I would always get a bottle of water when leaving the casino at night which we brought back to the room. I know with the new CAS tiers the drink cards have changed. My husband and I both agreed that on the next cruise we will purchase the UBP and not worry about what drinks we can get.

[garycarla]

... My husband and I both agreed that on the next cruise we will purchase the UBP and not worry about what drinks we can get.

 

And, you will probably spend less time in the casino. Therefore, you might even save enough to pay for the UBP.

 

LOL!

[cbhummingbird]

Curious at to what your wine options were with the CAS card?

 

Appreciate any responses.

 

 

Unfortunately with Lucky or Hot status, the wine choices are (literally) red or white; both not so good. When i was Hot, I did get an ok from the host to get pinot grigio and now that I am Golden, I can pretty much order what I want.

 

Tracy

 

According to the website you do not get drinks until the Hot status. Are you saying that you or others have been able to get drinks with just a Lucky status that has no minimum points?

[time2cruise1]

Unfortunately with Lucky or Hot status, the wine choices are (literally) red or white; both not so good. When i was Hot, I did get an ok from the host to get pinot grigio and now that I am Golden, I can pretty much order what I want.

 

Tracy

 

According to the website you do not get drinks until the Hot status. Are you saying that you or others have been able to get drinks with just a Lucky status that has no minimum points?

 

 

The answer is yes but. You have to have had points and qualified and booked with casino at seas. Everyone else gets a lucky card onboard and no free drinks until 1500 points.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk - Jim

[jusstice]

I just upgraded to Gold, so I get slightly better drinks now. Previously, the Casino Drink card was also good for lattes (which I drink) as well. As the Casino is centrally located, I had no problem just strolling through and getting a drink. OF course, it always would up with me putting money in amachine while a waited.

 

I did the Breakaway when we went to Bermuda. If you guys are big drinkers, then the UBP is probably your best bet as that is a good part of the cruise that the casino will be closed.

[kayhil3]

I was on the Breakaway in December. This was my 4th CAS cruise with the drink card. My status is lucky, so I was only able to get the well drinks, and cheap wine. The wine that you get isn't even on the menu, it is a specific wine that is only for CAS drink cards. (this is what the bartender told us) It was awful. I also couldn't get my mud slides, which I was able to get on every other cruise. My husband and I would always get a bottle of water when leaving the casino at night which we brought back to the room. I know with the new CAS tiers the drink cards have changed. My husband and I both agreed that on the next cruise we will purchase the UBP and not worry about what drinks we can get.

 

What NO MUDSLIDES, we were able to have them on the Jewel in August.

[Vinegarjoe10]

Paulras - We cruised on the Breakaway in October '13. We pre-purchased the UBP and found that we did get value out of purchasing it.

 

On day 3 of our 7 day cruise, we earned enough points for the casino drink card, and quickly discovered that aside from the bottled water, for the drinks that my wife and I like to drink, the casino drink card was useless.

 

As other posters have indicated, you would have to go to the casino (when it's open) in order to take advantage of the casino drink card.

 

I did just read ( see attached link) that Bermuda has passed a cruise ship casino act that would allow cruise ships to open their casinos while in port between 9 am to 5 pm. The article stated that cruise ships with 2,000 or more passengers would have to pay for a licensing fee, so I have no idea if NCL is going to do this.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2013/10/04/bermuda-cruise-ship-casino-gambling/2921697/

 

I would go with the UBP.

 

Regards,

 

Vinegarjoe

[1smudslide]

On my last cruise, which was booked through CAS, I had the drink card. I never ordered anything but bottles of water. I just had no clue what would be included. I like sweet drinks. I drink frozen drinks on vacations. Would any of those be included? If I ordered a sombrero, would that be included? If I order something that isn't included, would they let me know or would I just get a charge on my bill when I leave?

[chars]

On my last cruise, which was booked through CAS, I had the drink card. I never ordered anything but bottles of water. I just had no clue what would be included. I like sweet drinks. I drink frozen drinks on vacations. Would any of those be included? If I ordered a sombrero, would that be included? If I order something that isn't included, would they let me know or would I just get a charge on my bill when I leave?

 

 

I was able to get mudslides on the Gem in July, but I really think they are much stricter now. (or, it may just be the Breakaway) I was told no kahula drinks. The drink would have to contain the well alcohol. They would also tell me when I ordered the drink that it wasn't included with my card level. Sometimes, I would just order a different drink, but sometimes I would just pay for what I want. Really, the vodka and wine weren't good.

I really can't complain though, because just being able to get some drinks comped was a pretty nice perk.

[1smudslide]

There was some kind of party where they gave away some fruity rum drinks. those were good. I don't know if they were rum runners. Would that be included?

[CasinoCruzGirl]

According to the website you do not get drinks until the Hot status. Are you saying that you or others have been able to get drinks with just a Lucky status that has no minimum points?

 

 

The answer is yes but. You have to have had points and qualified and booked with casino at seas. Everyone else gets a lucky card onboard and no free drinks until 1500 points.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk - Jim

 

Not true I was told more than once our drink cards will be in our cabin upon arrival and I have never said with NCL before