Wine....to bring or to just buy onboard??

[imwithTED]

I'll be on the Gem soon. And as I'm doing research....not really sure it's worth going through the hassle of bringing wine from home if your going to be charged a corkage fee...especially if you are bringing wine that has a twist top. It would end of being 25-30 a bottle. Can you purchase wine on board for 30 a bottle and take it back to the cabin with you if you don't finish it at dinner?

[punkincc]

I'll be on the Gem soon. And as I'm doing research....not really sure it's worth going through the hassle of bringing wine from home if your going to be charged a corkage fee...especially if you are bringing wine that has a twist top. It would end of being 25-30 a bottle. Can you purchase wine on board for 30 a bottle and take it back to the cabin with you if you don't finish it at dinner?

 

 

You may be able to find a wine list with prices somewhere on the board. Those who like nice wines sometimes find it is cheaper to bring their own, even with the corkage fee added. I think a bottle of Berenger White Zinfandel was $29 if that gives you some idea. The prices go up substantially from there. And yes, any wines not finished can be taken with you, or they will give you a receipt and store them for the next meal. You can ask for them in any restaurant on the ship.

[Demonyte]

Also one needs to remember that 18% is added to the list prices - a $30 bottle will become $35.40 on the receipt. (Comparable bottle on shore rarely costs $20 or over.)

 

If you want only to save money, bring your own - you'll be ahead in almost every case.

 

If you are fine with cheaper offerings and are ready to pay a little extra for convinience (of not having to lug the bottles to the ship), then you need to check the menus (and hope that all wines are available, not always the case) and compare prices.

 

P.S. Twist or cork top has nothing to do with any of this, you can request an opener to your cabin if you need one - you need to open it yourself there anyway.

Edited April 1, 2016 by Demonyte

[mjkacmom]

A $30 bottle on NCL costs $5 at home. We always bring some with us.

[ilovetotravel1977]

Also, if you are not American, you will have the on-board exchange rate. I figured this all out as well and we are bringing our wine on-board for way less money than just buying it on the ship.

[cole]

I'll be on the Gem soon. And as I'm doing research....not really sure it's worth going through the hassle of bringing wine from home if your going to be charged a corkage fee...especially if you are bringing wine that has a twist top. It would end of being 25-30 a bottle. Can you purchase wine on board for 30 a bottle and take it back to the cabin with you if you don't finish it at dinner?

 

Are you flying or driving? I have carried my own wine on every NCL trip we have taken. Will not do it on the Gem in September due to the fact that we have the UBP. Many times I have sought out wine stores near the port and purchased there rather than packing them in the suitcase, but I have also done that using wine protector's you can purchase. The prices on board are outrageous compared to what you would pay in a wine store (even with the $15 corkage fee). Also I have purchased wine while in one of the cruise ports and then paid the fee as we re-board the ship.

Cole

[sparks1093]

If they are still offering Viva Vino packages you may purchase a package for $88 for 4 bottles of wine (plus gratuity). You pick your bottles from the list and they give you chits for the bottles you choose which you then give to any server in any venue to receive your bottle. When I figured it all out we would have saved something like $2 a bottle by bringing our own so we opted for the package. If you search the term you will find the wine list.

[baflagg]

Our first cruise we brought wine with us. Although we enjoyed having the wines we like personally we did not like having to carry it on board and keep it with us until we could go to our room.

 

Now we have the beverage package and if we didn't we'd probably purchase a wine package. Just our personal preference.

[Demonyte]

Now we have the beverage package and if we didn't we'd probably purchase a wine package. Just our personal preference.

 

Problem with UBP is that the list of wines by glass is quite limited, a lot more options when paying for the whole bottle (of which you'd get a discount because of UBP, but still).

[imwithTED]

Thank you everyone! I think will end up bringing a couple of $5-7 ones from home. We drive down as we are only a little over 2 hours from the terminal and we have a friend drive us down. We booked too late to get the drink package included and its not worth the 1400 (ive already called and asked :( ). a bottle of wine and a can of sprite makes for many spritzers lol

[Va. Plumber]

Used to think the bring your own was way to go. Pain in the tail! Particularly if flying.

 

Bought four bottle package (net $26.00 per bottle). They stored it, delivered to table, and kept remainder for later. Don't know what I could have bought four bottles for onshore and really didn't care.

 

Not a wine snob. Wouldn't know the difference between $20.00 and $100.00 bottle, but don't drink a lot of $6-7.00 wine.

[mollybloomers]

If they are still offering Viva Vino packages you may purchase a package for $88 for 4 bottles of wine (plus gratuity). You pick your bottles from the list and they give you chits for the bottles you choose which you then give to any server in any venue to receive your bottle. When I figured it all out we would have saved something like $2 a bottle by bringing our own so we opted for the package. If you search the term you will find the wine list.

 

This is what I am planning on doing. I have the UBP, but the SO and I want to have wine in our cabin since we have a balcony

Edited April 1, 2016 by mollybloomers

[SmitteeB11]

We cruise next week on Getaway, I just couldn't see the true value in the UBP for us.

 

We will end up brining on 8 bottles of wine at $120 corkage fee plus the cost of the wine. All in we will have paid $300 for wine. Add in a bucket of beers every day and we are at $550 for alcohol for the trip...About $900 savings over the $1400 UBP.

 

My wife and I both are airline crew so traveling with the wine isn't an issue for us so that may make it easier.

 

I have a feeling if I did the UBP and I drank to get my value, I'm not sure I would make it home...

Edited April 1, 2016 by SmitteeB11

[kathybelcher2433]

We were on the Epic in ports in Italy and Spain. We visited wineries and purchased wine in every port (and paid the corkage fee) to enjoy on board. And we had the drink package. But as much as I am a wine snob I wouldn't bother to fly with wine even domestically. The juice isn't worth the squeeze. (Pun intended)

[mjkacmom]

Used to think the bring your own was way to go. Pain in the tail! Particularly if flying.

 

Bought four bottle package (net $26.00 per bottle). They stored it, delivered to table, and kept remainder for later. Don't know what I could have bought four bottles for onshore and really didn't care.

 

Not a wine snob. Wouldn't know the difference between $20.00 and $100.00 bottle, but don't drink a lot of $6-7.00 wine.

 

All of the wines in that package can be purchased for under $10 on land.

[OneWord]

A $30 bottle on NCL costs $5 at home. We always bring some with us.

 

Yup.

[RobTheGob]

We've been thinking about trying to buy some wine pre-cruise. But I'm not sure if it's going to work out.

 

When it comes to wine - we like what we like, but we're a long way from wine connoisseurs or snobs...

 

In the end - the easiest path for us is likely going to be Viva Vino.

[OCruisers]

We had much rather buy our wine on board than go to the trouble of bringing it ourselves. :D

[mollybloomers]

We had much rather buy our wine on board than go to the trouble of bringing it ourselves. :D

 

Us too! Especially since we're leaving from San Juan :)

[CalLuvsCrusingToo]

I brought ONE bottle of wine with me last cruise, to be consumed in our cabin. i bought a carrier for it, cost $4 from a shipping store. It looked like a big egg carton. It was a hassle, from flying to carrying on...... been there done that, won't do it again.

 

Plus, we ended up Not finishing it. Between the Casino host comping drinks, and we got a dinner that included $50 bottle of wine, yada, we never needed to bring anything. We went to a Wine tasting....that was 5-6 small drinks, etc. It was more than enough.

 

Also I gained a few more pounds, Not from the food, as much as all the wine!

 

Next cruise, I ain't bringing any, and I'm drinking more iced tea. :o

[olemissreb]

Does anyone know if the Viva Vino package is available on the POA? Can we have the wine delivered to our room? My mom and I would love to sit on our aft balcony at sail away and have a couple glasses of wine. Who knows? My 22yo (currently 20yo) DS might also enjoy some by then too.

[Orleanscruiser]

You may be able to find a wine list with prices somewhere on the board. Those who like nice wines sometimes find it is cheaper to bring their own, even with the corkage fee added. I think a bottle of Berenger White Zinfandel was $29 if that gives you some idea. The prices go up substantially from there. And yes, any wines not finished can be taken with you, or they will give you a receipt and store them for the next meal. You can ask for them in any restaurant on the ship.

 

https://www.ncl.com/sites/default/files/WineList_Fleetwide_07092015.pdf

[Demonyte]

https://www.ncl.com/sites/default/files/WineList_Fleetwide_07092015.pdf

 

 

That wine list is dated before last two drink price hikes last year (one in October, another in December).

[blackwing]

I didn't notice the Vino package available on Escape. I am not a wine expert but my father in law has a lot more experience and he said the white wines were by far more reasonably priced for the value than the reds.

[renata102]

I love the quality of Costco wine. I pay 7.99 for a magnum size at home. I brought two of them. I did pay a double corkage fee so my double bottle was $38.00 in total (for wine and corkage fee). Taste as good as their mid level wines where two would cost $90 or so onboard. It's a no brainer for me. They also store it in their wine cellar. U get a ticket and a ticket is also wrapped around the wine neck.