UBP and how i used it, getaway 2/7-2/14

[Moby0215]

This is what we usually see. They go into the jar unless you give it to them a bit out of the way, then you'll see a hand slip into a pocket, especially with a $5 bill.

 

 

I have never seen a jar. Maybe I am just not that observant, but I never hid the fact that I was tipping cash and they always put it in their pocket and they always thank me heavily.

 

 

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[Kingofwylietx]

I've always had great service on our cruises and I don't carry cash. We just tip using the system set up by the cruise line (whichever one we are on). I honestly can't imagine the service we've received being much better even if I slipped them a few C-notes.

[hammsz]

What kind of smoothies and are they available everywhere??

 

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i drank about 3 dozen throughout the week, strawberry banana. Its available at 75% of the bars, really quick and easy for them to make, icecream mix, strawberry mix banana mix ice and bam done in less than 20 sec.

[prg2101]

I will be answering questions as well. Its definitely a "culture change" at NCL. I dont think the bartenders are getting the money coming in like they used to from tips. I found a few bartenders that were personable and started telling them to print out my "bill" so i could add a tip to my several rounds of drinks. The only thing on my account review was the actual tip i paid. It changed everything!!! just a few bucks here and there went a very LONG way. My service at Spice H2O was impecable after i helped them out a little bit. I booked the free UBP before they started charging the service fees lol. We came out so far ahead. My friends enjoyed 25+ drinks/shots each day. I drank smoothies all day and fireball all night.

 

Thank you for posting this.....this is what I have been trying to tell fellow CCers for the last few days when they had questions about the UBP....I did the

same thing that you did and had the best service from any bar that I went to, and then some. Didn't leave my cabin one day and the pool bartender noticed that I hadn't come up so he sent a bucket of beer and a large shot to my cabin for me to enjoy on my balcony.....few bucks here and there goes LONG;)

[prg2101]

This worked well for me too. When howl was packed - I had someone at my side every 5 minutes asking if I needed another round. At 5 o clock somewhere my glass never went empty and I was sent with a heavy "to-go" after closing. They really do appreciate it and will give you the best service (not that it is bad service if you don't... you are just in line with all the other non-tippers then).

 

couldn't have said it better:D:D

[grouchomarx]

I generally don't tip above and beyond what I'm already charged for beverage gratuities. However when I establish a relationship with a bartender or two on a cruise (frequenting their bar daily), and they get to know us, what we like, making nice conversation with us, I always go to them at the end of the week with a $20 to say thanks. They always seem that it is unexpected and appreciated. For example my guy in the Vibe club on the Breakaway. I practically had him all to myself. I have always found excellent bar service with or without extra tipping in any case but for those who went the extra mile helping you get your happy on, they deserve something if you can afford it.

[prg2101]

I generally don't tip above and beyond what I'm already charged for beverage gratuities. However when I establish a relationship with a bartender or two on a cruise (frequenting their bar daily), and they get to know us, what we like, making nice conversation with us, I always go to them at the end of the week with a $20 to say thanks. They always seem that it is unexpected and appreciated. For example my guy in the Vibe club on the Breakaway. I practically had him all to myself. I have always found excellent bar service with or without extra tipping in any case but for those who went the extra mile helping you get your happy on, they deserve something if you can afford it.

 

the only reason I don't wait till the end of the week is because sometimes its too late for them to really appreciate you. My wife and I made great friendship with the bartender on the Gem 2 years ago, was the best....always had my beer on the bar before I sat down and chatted with us all week, we actually still keep in touch with him now!

[saigonsister]

I have not had the UBP but get free drinks in the casino and always without fail,tip them at least $1 each time. I found that it does get you good service or at least they will come by more often than those who do not tip. I have UBP on my upcoming cruise so it will be interesting to observe what people do.

[HowardK]

My plan is the following : given I am already paying $13.95 in daily service fees and $80.63 in services charges for the "free" UBP promo and $13.95 or so for service charges for the "free" SDP promo, I am simply going to demand good service and if not obtain a refund on my service fees. Trust me. NCL knows who I am.

 

Are these service fees going directly to the employees or Jack Del Rio's revenue numbers? I doubt 100% of it is being passed on to employees, and sorry that is not something I have control over.

 

If the average drink is $8.95 and at 18% the average gratuity is $1.61- then i am under a lot of pressure to consume 50 drinks on my cruise!!!

 

Given I have ordered one drink the last four cruises COMBINED and tipped $2.00 on it they are already getting 8 times the amount from me alcohol wise.

 

If I am not pleased with my service, I will simply fill out a contact card, get a refund on my service fees, and not sail NCL.

 

I have no problem tipping a room steward and always have, but this notion of service charges is going overboard (no pun intended)

 

I think tipping someone you have developed a relationship with is one thing, but to be expected to dole out $1 bills every time you have a drink is absurd especially on vacation.'

 

I am glad though I have this package- someone tried to scam me last cruise and bill me for drinks on GSC that I didn't order- and I had proof I wasn't even on the island at that time. Heck, one time I was double billed for a coffee I didn't drink as well.

 

They were apologetic when they realized who they were trying to scam.

[Warm-Water Diver]

I generally don't tip above and beyond what I'm already charged for beverage gratuities. However when I establish a relationship with a bartender or two on a cruise (frequenting their bar daily), and they get to know us, what we like, making nice conversation with us, I always go to them at the end of the week with a $20 to say thanks. They always seem that it is unexpected and appreciated. For example my guy in the Vibe club on the Breakaway. I practically had him all to myself. I have always found excellent bar service with or without extra tipping in any case but for those who went the extra mile helping you get your happy on, they deserve something if you can afford it.

 

This is exactly what I did. I got most of my drinks hanging out at the Pool Bar and I rewarded the main guys that took care of me with a $20 on the last day of the cruise. Resulted in a huge smile from ear to ear and a Thankful Nod..:D

[hbridges2000]

Do you usually just give a $1 or so each time you get a drink?

[nbsjcruiser]

Interesting thread. Isn't the tip included when you buy the UBP?

[js]

I will be answering questions as well. Its definitely a "culture change" at NCL. I dont think the bartenders are getting the money coming in like they used to from tips. I found a few bartenders that were personable and started telling them to print out my "bill" so i could add a tip to my several rounds of drinks. The only thing on my account review was the actual tip i paid. It changed everything!!! just a few bucks here and there went a very LONG way. My service at Spice H2O was impecable after i helped them out a little bit. I booked the free UBP before they started charging the service fees lol. We came out so far ahead. My friends enjoyed 25+ drinks/shots each day. I drank smoothies all day and fireball all night.

 

 

I have the perks on my next NCL cruise but just had the drink package on my Carnival Breeze trip a couple weeks ago. I did the same thing. First day I found an outside bartender that made a great mojito and tipped in singles. Did this the first day and all week I never had to wait for a drink. When she saw me, I was served and never had to give my order. She always welcomed me by name. At the end of the cruise I gave her a bigger tip to thank her. In the grand scheme of it all it was minimal with what was paid for the cruise but certainly went a long way.

[TowerOrchard]

Interesting thread. Isn't the tip included when you buy the UBP?

Yes, it's included. But bartenders are still humans - if they are getting an immediate tip for their hard work, instead of some lump sum on a paycheck at some future point, they are far more likely to give you fast service, generous pours, and a big smile.

 

So, tipping the bartender when you get your drinks is not REQUIRED. But it's a small amount to pay for higher quality service - totally worth it to me.

[js]

Yes, it's included. But bartenders are still humans - if they are getting an immediate tip for their hard work, instead of some lump sum on a paycheck at some future point, they are far more likely to give you fast service, generous pours, and a big smile.

 

 

 

So, tipping the bartender when you get your drinks is not REQUIRED. But it's a small amount to pay for higher quality service - totally worth it to me.

 

 

Ditto

[HowardK]

Interesting thread. Isn't the tip included when you buy the UBP?

 

 

exactly- and the dsc should be going into the pool as well .

pretty soon people are going to be writing about tipping the maitre d at shows and tipping in the mdr

[nbsjcruiser]

Yes, it's included. But bartenders are still humans - if they are getting an immediate tip for their hard work, instead of some lump sum on a paycheck at some future point, they are far more likely to give you fast service, generous pours, and a big smile.

 

So, tipping the bartender when you get your drinks is not REQUIRED. But it's a small amount to pay for higher quality service - totally worth it to me.

 

The reason I asked was that there was another thread where someone asked an officer where the 18% gratuity went that was placed on the UBP. They were told that that information was not to be released. When you consider this along with the few threads I've seen where workers claim not to be getting the money they used to get, it might appear to some that the 18% gratuity is being pocketed by NCL while cruisers tip on top of the tip so that the workers get paid. Shady if true.

[cincicruisers]

Most of the cruise lines now have automatic service charges added for dining, beverages, and specialty restaurants. I have no problem with this. The problem I have is that everyone still is expecting a cash tip. I always tip bartenders $1 per drink and cash for room Seward if we got great service. What I don't like is that we no longer get the envelopes to put tips into. The workers do not know ahead of time if there is extra tips or not.

 

What happens when I recieve poor service? We still regular tip and I think workers think we are cheap to not pay extra. The rule of thumb now is mandatory service charges with additional tips for good service.

 

I never eat in MDR, but still tip as the food servers work at other venues as well as dining room.

 

I miss handing out the tips and thanking all those who provided great service. Those were the good old days.

Edited February 21, 2016 by cincicruisers

[Honeymooner15]

i drank about 3 dozen throughout the week, strawberry banana. Its available at 75% of the bars, really quick and easy for them to make, icecream mix, strawberry mix banana mix ice and bam done in less than 20 sec.

 

 

Is that apart of the ubp? And are there other flavors?

[Ddmc]

My wife and I always get the UBP. We bring 100 ones and plenty of fives and tip every single time that we get a drink. Nothing major, but minimally we give $1 per drink. By the end of the second day, we never wait. I have been 4 deep at the pool bar and served the very next time. Put it in the budget and have a great trip. You'll feel like a VIP by the third day.

[DavyB]

My wife and I always get the UBP. We bring 100 ones and plenty of fives and tip every single time that we get a drink. Nothing major, but minimally we give $1 per drink. By the end of the second day, we never wait. I have been 4 deep at the pool bar and served the very next time. Put it in the budget and have a great trip. You'll feel like a VIP by the third day.

 

Exactly this....I don't know how many times at the Glow parties I'm 3 or 4 deep and my bartender points to the end of the bar to hand me my drink. :D

[Mac4YYZ]

It's amazing what a little generosity will do. And for people who moan about tipping consider it an investment.

 

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[kathybelcher2433]

I get all the things these "extra tippers" are purporting without tips beyond the mandatory daily service charge. Go figure. My drinks come exactly as ordered, and immediately. What exactly would I tip extra for?

 

 

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[Chirpbird]

I'm not trying to 'get' anything by tipping. My mom was a bartender, and I value the effort bartenders put into their job. I know there's a gratuity built in to the package, but it doesn't allow me that personal opportunity to show my appreciation.

 

Do I get faster service? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The bartenders do recognize me, but I also engage in conversations with them.

[wdsted]

My plan is the following : given I am already paying $13.95 in daily service fees and $80.63 in services charges for the "free" UBP promo and $13.95 or so for service charges for the "free" SDP promo, I am simply going to demand good service and if not obtain a refund on my service fees. Trust me. NCL knows who I am.

 

Are these service fees going directly to the employees or Jack Del Rio's revenue numbers? I doubt 100% of it is being passed on to employees, and sorry that is not something I have control over.

 

If the average drink is $8.95 and at 18% the average gratuity is $1.61- then i am under a lot of pressure to consume 50 drinks on my cruise!!!

 

Given I have ordered one drink the last four cruises COMBINED and tipped $2.00 on it they are already getting 8 times the amount from me alcohol wise.

 

If I am not pleased with my service, I will simply fill out a contact card, get a refund on my service fees, and not sail NCL.

 

I have no problem tipping a room steward and always have, but this notion of service charges is going overboard (no pun intended)

 

I think tipping someone you have developed a relationship with is one thing, but to be expected to dole out $1 bills every time you have a drink is absurd especially on vacation.'

 

I am glad though I have this package- someone tried to scam me last cruise and bill me for drinks on GSC that I didn't order- and I had proof I wasn't even on the island at that time. Heck, one time I was double billed for a coffee I didn't drink as well.

 

They were apologetic when they realized who they were trying to scam.

 

 

Off topic and kind of weird.

 

 

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