Rouge Posted February 16, 2014 #1 Share Posted February 16, 2014 We were under the impression that the "Ultimate Drink Package" would cost $565.50 including all gratuities and taxes when we spoke with the NCL representative on the phone. However when we got on board "The Norwegian Sun" on Feb. 3rd in Miami, we were charged $602 for our packages. We were told we had to buy on the first day of sailing. The package would not be available after the first day of sailing. They added on Miami taxes which brought the price up to over $600!! Won't do that again...never even spent $400 and that was pushing it! I guess if you can drink over 10 drinks a day it might be alright but pretty hard to do when you go to port on some of your days. Everyone in your state room must purchase the package if one person does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newmexicoNita Posted February 16, 2014 #2 Share Posted February 16, 2014 We were under the impression that the "Ultimate Drink Package" would cost $565.50 including all gratuities and taxes when we spoke with the NCL representative on the phone. However when we got on board "The Norwegian Sun" on Feb. 3rd in Miami, we were charged $602 for our packages. We were told we had to buy on the first day of sailing. The package would not be available after the first day of sailing. They added on Miami taxes which brought the price up to over $600!! Won't do that again...never even spent $400 and that was pushing it! I guess if you can drink over 10 drinks a day it might be alright but pretty hard to do when you go to port on some of your days. Everyone in your state room must purchase the package if one person does. IT Wasn't a good deal for you and it certainly wouldn't be for us either, but for many it is a very good deal. Yes, we all know everyone in the stateroom has to purchase. There is a good reason for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SissasMomE Posted February 16, 2014 #3 Share Posted February 16, 2014 We were under the impression that the "Ultimate Drink Package" would cost $565.50 including all gratuities and taxes when we spoke with the NCL representative on the phone. However when we got on board "The Norwegian Sun" on Feb. 3rd in Miami, we were charged $602 for our packages. We were told we had to buy on the first day of sailing. The package would not be available after the first day of sailing. They added on Miami taxes which brought the price up to over $600!! Won't do that again...never even spent $400 and that was pushing it! I guess if you can drink over 10 drinks a day it might be alright but pretty hard to do when you go to port on some of your days. Everyone in your state room must purchase the package if one person does. If you had just waited until you were out in international waters, you wouldn't have had to pay the tax! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare KeithJenner Posted February 16, 2014 #4 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Interesting about the tax though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vols_159 Posted February 16, 2014 #5 Share Posted February 16, 2014 If you had just waited until you were out in international waters, you wouldn't have had to pay the tax! Agreed ... Wait till you are out of US waters no tax then.. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
js Posted February 16, 2014 #6 Share Posted February 16, 2014 It worked for us and plan on doing it again in August. I even got to try some drinks I never would even think to order such as a dirty banana. Yummmyyy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deladypilot Posted February 16, 2014 #7 Share Posted February 16, 2014 I could not do it either. Could never drink that much. But it sure was fun laughing at the man on the last cruise who was taking full advantage of the package. I think by noon he was lit every day. Each day he would run into us somewhere on the ship and ask if we had purchased the UBP and what a great deal it was. He was drunk enough that he could not remember he had already asked us about 10 times. So...to each his own, that is what it is there for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcwingwalker Posted February 16, 2014 #8 Share Posted February 16, 2014 (edited) We were under the impression that the "Ultimate Drink Package" would cost $565.50 including all gratuities and taxes when we spoke with the NCL representative on the phone. However when we got on board "The Norwegian Sun" on Feb. 3rd in Miami, we were charged $602 for our packages. We were told we had to buy on the first day of sailing. The package would not be available after the first day of sailing. They added on Miami taxes which brought the price up to over $600!! Won't do that again...never even spent $400 and that was pushing it! I guess if you can drink over 10 drinks a day it might be alright but pretty hard to do when you go to port on some of your days. Everyone in your state room must purchase the package if one person does. Sorry that you did not know about the tax. The Ultimate Beverage Package has been discussed almost endlessly on this board and I'll admit I've learned a great deal about it. If you check the NCL board now and then, you'll soon find you learn something new almost every day. Hope you had a great cruise! Edited February 16, 2014 by kcwingwalker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdmike Posted February 16, 2014 #9 Share Posted February 16, 2014 If I had to drink enough to make the UBP worthwhile I probably wouldn't remember much of my cruise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rigs32 Posted February 16, 2014 #10 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Do they add the taxes if you pre-pay before boarding? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare KeithJenner Posted February 16, 2014 #11 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Do they add the taxes if you pre-pay before boarding? No, that's the main benefit of prepaying, especially on cruises where tax is charged throughout. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare KeithJenner Posted February 16, 2014 #12 Share Posted February 16, 2014 If I had to drink enough to make the UBP worthwhile I probably wouldn't remember much of my cruise It really depends on what you drink, and how much time you spend onboard. Drinking a days worth of UBP value over 12 hours is very easy, especially if you don't want to get involved with wine packages etc. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_sobe Posted February 17, 2014 #13 Share Posted February 17, 2014 (edited) I can drink a lot. But I could never drink $600 of alcohol during one week. If you average $7 per drink, you would have to drink 12 drinks every day just to break even on a 7 night cruise. Even if the deal is $600 for a couple, that is just over 6 drinks every day for each just to break even. THAT is LOTS of drinking :) Edited February 17, 2014 by david_sobe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare KeithJenner Posted February 17, 2014 #14 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I can drink a lot. But I could never drink $600 of alcohol during one week. If you average $7 per drink, you would have to drink 12 drinks every day just to break even on a 7 night cruise. Even if the deal is $600 for a couple, that is just over 6 drinks every day for each just to break even. THAT is LOTS of drinking :) It isn't for a week, that would cost $395. I suspect it was a 10 night cruise Remember, that price includes gratuities, so it would only be 7 drinks at $7. As I said earlier, it depends what you are doing. 7 drinks is less than one an hour if you are drinking through the afternoon. It's very easy to do without getting at all drunk. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RikkuCat Posted February 17, 2014 #15 Share Posted February 17, 2014 We could totally break even - if the UBP covered everything. For us, the issue is that the package doesn't cover a lot of our preferred drinks. As our bar tab usually ends up being about the same as the cost of the package, we decided not to get it this time. We would rather order whatever we want for about the same price, rather than being restricted by what the package covers. Could we find a bartender willing to give us any drink/beer/wine for the package price? Perhaps. Could we have a great cruise drinking what was covered by the package? Sure! But since we're going to break even at best, why not pay by the drink and order whatever we want? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeBlonde1 Posted February 17, 2014 #16 Share Posted February 17, 2014 (edited) Agreed ... Wait till you are out of US waters no tax then.. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Interesting. I asked the NCL rep on the phone if they charged tax if you buy UBP once you gt on the ship and she said, it will be the same price no matter when I buy it...and there are no taxes charged. Do you know if you wait and buy it after sail away (international waters), will it be retroactive to include the drinks you had before you left port? Edited February 17, 2014 by DeBlonde1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vols_159 Posted February 17, 2014 #17 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Interesting. I asked the NCL rep on the phone if they charged tax if you buy UBP once you gt on the ship and she said, it will be the same price no matter when I buy it...and there are no taxes charged. Do you know if you wait and buy it after sail away (international waters), will it be retroactive to include the drinks you had before you left port? Anything you order while on port has the state or federal tax on it. That's why the casino is closed and normally the gift shops what I was told is if your sign up for the Pepsi package before in international waters you get charged the tax Wait till you are out of port tax free.. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love my butler Posted February 17, 2014 #18 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Interesting. I asked the NCL rep on the phone if they charged tax if you buy UBP once you get on the ship and she said, it will be the same price no matter when I buy it...and there are no taxes charged. I think that is the main reason the OP is unhappy. More misinformation from an NCL rep. You should be able to rely on the answer you get from NCL when asking a specific question. If the rep does not know, then say you don't know. Don't just guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raindrops27 Posted February 17, 2014 #19 Share Posted February 17, 2014 How much would it be for 7 nights for 2 people? I love beer, and frozen drinks what frozen drinks and beer are included? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godiva830 Posted February 17, 2014 #20 Share Posted February 17, 2014 How much would it be for 7 nights for 2 people? I love beer, and frozen drinks what frozen drinks and beer are included? $49pp per day times 2 for 7 days $686 Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kato92 Posted February 17, 2014 #21 Share Posted February 17, 2014 $49pp per day times 2 for 7 days $686 Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Plus 15% gratuity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godiva830 Posted February 17, 2014 #22 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Plus 15% gratuity Oh yes! $102.90 extra. $788.90. Plus tax if you buy it while still in port! Yikes!! Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medtech2 Posted February 17, 2014 #23 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Interesting about the tax though. You'd think Guest Services would tell people to come back later then... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cherry30 Posted February 17, 2014 #24 Share Posted February 17, 2014 They did not charge me the tax when I boarded in Miami. I signed a paper receipt and I assume they punched it in while in international waters. I was also only slightly drunk once (and sobered up quickly) and broke even. I was a bit under the first week as I was a bit ill but made up for it the second week. I may or may not order again as I really missed my martinis. But we spoke to the bar manager one night and he hinted that changes to the program may be coming when I said I would pay more for martini story be included. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thephillykid Posted February 17, 2014 #25 Share Posted February 17, 2014 First, we don't have the option of buying the drink package on our upcoming cruise, as ncl has a black out period for us spring breakers...my wife and I just turned 50 this year....lol. We will be in port 3 days, so really we have only 4 days on board. We had a unlimited drink package on our last celebrity cruise and the 6 of us really enjoyed getting adult beverages and not having to worry about the bills. That being said, I believe I will have a bill of a few hundred dollars for beer etc while on board. You have to be resolved that you will be billed at the end of the cruise and ready for the bill. Remember my saying ...."were on vacation". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now