Can't bring soda on board anymore

[triptolemus]

The crew will be fine ...ncl does pay them and we the warm and fuzzy cruisers give cash extra anyway.....

 

Stand strong...reduce dsc....ncl will not only be dealing with angry pax but with disgruntled crew as well

 

Think about what you're saying. Those two highlighted conditions are mutually exclusive. If NCL pays them anyway, why would they be disgruntled?

[Cruisercl]

No significant sodium is in ship water as long as the system is maintained properly. A trace amount of chlorine is added, the same with most municipal tap systems.

 

The main causes of swelling on ships is a combination of diet and changes in activity and climate. Unless you skip all the soups, stews and sauces you are probably getting more salt on board then at home.

 

There is also something called Heat Edema, which is swelling due to a salt imbalance, which can be aggravated by alcohol consumption.

 

Let's see how many more times this needs to be posted...

 

Not necessarily... and I know you are quoting what you think your cardiologist said to you but it more than likely only applies to you; it is an opinion and quite subjective. Please do not be so snarky about this.

Your cardiologist (if he/she is good) would never generalize something like this. It absolutely varies with each patient so really cannot be applied to others.

Heat edema is short term occurs only if you are in high temperatures for a good amount of time but the body regulates itself if you go into a cooler environment which is always on the cruises in warm weather cruises. What about those that are on cruises in not high temperature areas?

 

Physiologically everyone is different; the salt imbalance you are referring to is not based just on vacation eating and drinking; it is on what your body physiology is.

My second question is, are you an expert on the sodium content of the water on the ship too? If so, I would like to know the details about the chemical make-up of the water purification systems on a ship. Always willing to learn.

[richstowe]

My cruise begins July 17th two days after this policy begins .

I'm showing up with bottled water. We shall see what happens .

I'm going to stress this.....while I dont remove dsc......

I think right now the best way to show ncl that we are not happy is to order their water which I assume adds 18% to the cost.....

Then....and I'm serious about this.....get the form from guest services and follow the procedures to reduce dsc by the EXACT amount the water cost you

Yes I am all warm and fuzzy with the crew...etc etc....but doing this WILL get ncl to see our point

The crew will be fine ...ncl does pay them and we the warm and fuzzy cruisers give cash extra anyway.....

But by reducing dsc in the exact water cost amount.....and telling ncl why you are doing it...will work

IMHO...this water issue will go the way of the no food from the buffet issue

Stand strong...reduce dsc....ncl will not only be dealing with angry pax but with disgruntled crew as well

Why would the crew be disgruntled if " ncl does pay them and we the warm and fuzzy cruisers give cash extra anyway....."

 

Make up your mind . Does cutting DSC screw the crew or not ?

I see your point but am concerned the hardest working staff will be hurt .

[AtlantaCruiser72]

When Carnival banned carry on bottled water and sodas last year (they still allow canned soda) they made 12packs of 16oz bottled water available for a very reasonable charge (about $5). Their goal was to reduce underage drinking and unmonitored alcohol consumption related to smuggled booze. I felt this was a fair compromise. They, ALONG WITH ALL OTHER CRUISE LINES, include some sort of bottle water option with beverage packages.

 

I drink the tap water in the MDR, buffet etc but like to have bottled water in my cabin, by the pool, to take ashore etc. NCL by prohibiting bottled water to be carried on, charging extortionate rates to buy water packages and not including bottled water in their "Ultimate" drinks package has really become uncompetitive. This combined with all the other policy changes, additional fees and price hikes really has turned me off.

 

I was waiting for the Jade fall 2017 transatlantic to open up for sale. I booked the Royal Princess 10/21/17 transatlantic yesterday instead. I will not be including NCL in my personal cruise searches for the near future.

 

How many other cruisers will do the same?

 

Why is NCL, with all their "free" perks sailing with open cabins in peak summer season from NYC and Florida, while RCCL (at higher average fares and no "free" perks) sailing full? I think many people are quietly leaving NCL and going elsewhere........

Edited July 3, 2016 by AtlantaCruiser72

[Hunwolf]

Seems NCL could solve a fair amount of this by offering a reasonable water package, non alcoholic all inclusive package, and include bottled waters in the UBP.

[Maryscooking]

We've sailed (and loved) Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Carnival...I think 15+ cruises now? We've never booked NCL due to the reputation for nickle and diming, but decided to give it a try for our next cruise. We have Escape booked for next May. This change has me doubting myself all over again.

 

An extra $100-200 in charges for something I think is worth the cost would be nothing to me. I would welcome the chance to buy a case of water rather than carry it with me - for a fair price; HOWEVER, I deeply resent being charged $40+ for a case of water. That makes me feel taken advantage of. I can just imagine my husband's face when he reviews our on board purchases and sees that charge. $300 in the spa, he wouldn't bat an eye - but the man knows how much water should cost lol!

 

Add in that 1) the UBP doesn't include soda (seriously???) and 2)it's Pepsi products anyway, and what seemed like a great deal just looks average. And so now I find myself back on Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and Carnival's websites checking out what they have to offer in late May/early June next year.

 

I don't know that I'll cancel my cruise over this, but I easily could.

[LMaxwell]

We've sailed (and loved) Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Carnival...I think 15+ cruises now? We've never booked NCL due to the reputation for nickle and diming, but decided to give it a try for our next cruise. We have Escape booked for next May. This change has me doubting myself all over again.

 

An extra $100-200 in charges for something I think is worth the cost would be nothing to me. I would welcome the chance to buy a case of water rather than carry it with me - for a fair price; HOWEVER, I deeply resent being charged $40+ for a case of water. That makes me feel taken advantage of. I can just imagine my husband's face when he reviews our on board purchases and sees that charge. $300 in the spa, he wouldn't bat an eye - but the man knows how much water should cost lol!

 

Add in that 1) the UBP doesn't include soda (seriously???) and 2)it's Pepsi products anyway, and what seemed like a great deal just looks average. And so now I find myself back on Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and Carnival's websites checking out what they have to offer in late May/early June next year.

 

I don't know that I'll cancel my cruise over this, but I easily could.

 

UBP includes soda, just not cans. It will be fountain sodas.

[NLH Arizona]

 

Add in that 1) the UBP doesn't include soda (seriously???)

 

Norwegian's Ultimate Beverage Package includes a variety of spirits, cocktails, wines by the glass and bottled or draft beer up to and including $15 USD and unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants and the Great Stirrup Cay. A 20% discount will be applied to all bottles of wine purchased on board.

Edited July 3, 2016 by NLH Arizona

[Sand and Seas]

I want my Diet Coke:eek: Didn't mind having to carry it on-board. They should allow us a reasonable amount of carry on soda if it's not available on board.

 

And if I only drink the water they have desalinated I notice the puffiness in my legs. If you want to test it, just wear an ankle bracelet and see how it fits by the end of the cruise. It is a health issue in my opinion if it's making that kind of change to your body. They should sell the bottled water at a more reasonable price if we aren't allowed to brink on bottled water anymore.

[Maryscooking]

Norwegian's Ultimate Beverage Package includes a variety of spirits, cocktails, wines by the glass and bottled or draft beer up to and including $15 USD and unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants and the Great Stirrup Cay. A 20% discount will be applied to all bottles of wine purchased on board.

 

Sorry, I guess I should have specified that it doesn't include canned soda. And it's still Pepsi, so the can vs fountain issue is moot - gross either way. That said, Pepsi from the fountain alone wouldn't tip me over the edge, but add in a $80+ bottled water charge, plus all the other little charges I've read about all over the ship, and it starts to feel a little ridiculous.

[Feelin' Nauti']

Wonder if this will apply to crew. I see them bringing soda and other stuff from groceries back all the time. It would certainly be a shame to take this away from them as they are taking it back to their "home".

I read an article from a past cruise member...She stated that she never drank the ships water. Only bottle.

[jaja]

The World Health Organization has done some studies on desalinated water. The issues they have found are not because it contains too much salt, but instead too few minerals. When the water goes through the desalination process, either by boiling and condensation, or by reverse osmosis, the minerals are removed and you basically end up with distilled water. holding, distributing and drinking distilled water is not good. So minerals are added back in. Even with the minerals being added back the end result probably has less minerals then what you are used to.

 

Some of the impacts from their tests are:

 

1. lower level of minerals makes the water less thirst quenching, so there is a tendency to drink more of it.

 

2. lower level of minerals depletes the body and food of minerals that it would normally get from drinking

 

3. lower levels of minerals makes the water tend to be less flavorable

 

4. lower levels of minerals makes the water more likely to absorb minerals from pipes and other materials it comes in contact with.

 

The following is an interesting paragraph detailing with a study with human volunteers

 

Results of experiments in human volunteers evaluated by researchers for the WHO report (1980) are in agreement with those reported in animal experiments. Low-mineral water markedly: 1) increased diuresis (almost by 20%, on average), body water volume, and serum sodium concentrations, 2) decreased serum potassium concentration, and 3) increased the elimination of sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and magnesium ions from the body. The basic mechanism of the effects of water low in TDS (e.g. < 100 mg/l) on water and mineral homeostasis was suggested as follows (WHO 1980). Low-mineral water acts on osmoreceptors of the gastrointestinal tract, causing an increased flow of sodium ions into the intestinal lumen and slight reduction in osmotic pressure in the portal venous system with subsequent enhanced release of sodium into the blood as an adaptation response. This osmotic change in the blood plasma results in the redistribution of body water; that is, there is an increase in the total extracellular fluid volume and the transfer of water from erythrocytes and interstitial fluid into the plasma and between intracellular and interstitial fluids. In response to the changed plasma volume, baroreceptors and volume receptors in the bloodstream are activated, inducing a decrease in aldosterone release and thus an increase in sodium elimination. Reactivity of the volume receptors in the vessels may result in a decrease in ADH release and an enhanced diuresis. The German Society for Nutrition reached similar conclusions, warning the public against drinking distilled water (DgfE 1993). This warning was published in response to the German edition of The Shocking Truth About Water (Bragg and Bragg 1993), whose authors recommended drinking distilled water instead of “ordinary” drinking water. The Society in its position paper explains that water in the human body always contains electrolytes (e.g. potassium and sodium) at certain concentrations controlled by the body. Water resorption by the intestinal epithelium is also enabled by sodium transport. If distilled water is ingested, the intestine has to add electrolytes to this water first, taking them from the body reserves. Since the body never eliminates fluid in form of “pure” water but always together with salts, adequate intake of electrolytes must be ensured. Ingestion of distilled water leads to the dilution of the electrolytes dissolved in the body water. Inadequate body water redistribution between compartments may compromise the function of vital organs. Symptoms at the very beginning of this condition include tiredness, weakness and headache; more severe symptoms are muscular cramps and impaired heart rate.

 

 

So if I was having problems with swelling on the ship, since the same water is used for cooking, I would check mineral depletion (the ship adds minerals in, but probably less then most natural water systems) and supplement with a multivitamin/ mineral tablet. My wife and I have not had issues with ship tap water, but then again we always take a multivitamin with supplemental minerals on board ship.

 

With that said I am a physicist, not a physician, and checking with your medical professional might be a wise thing if you have a repetitive issue. Such an discussion might result in him writing you a letter indicating medical necessity for bringing your own selected bottled water.

 

Thank you so much for the information...!! (not only complete and to the point..but very easy to understand...)...Again..thanks for the info...:)

[Feelin' Nauti']

An extra $100-200 in charges for something I think is worth the cost would be nothing to me. I would welcome the chance to buy a case of water rather than carry it with me - for a fair price; HOWEVER, I deeply resent being charged $40+ for a case of water.

 

.

$59.95 USD + 18% gratuities & service charge for a case. :cool::eek::rolleyes:

 

Shoprite store by me has specials - poland spring water 4 cases for $9-11. or six pack for .68 cents,

This week they have a sale

 

2 24 FOR $6 with Price Plus Card ($3 for 24)

 

Nestlé Pure Life Water

[Boschmann]

Ask for seltzer from the bar guns. If they even bother to charge, covered by the UBP if you have it, but in most cases, the bartenders haven't considered it a soda.

 

Yes, she has tried this as on all recent cruises we had UBP and seltzer water from the bar guns is evidently not even close to carbonated sparkling water in bottles (sorry, I don't drink the stuff, but I've had several people agree it is totally different). Also, she cannot keep it for any length of time and will go flat quickly as it is served in a cup. Evidently even the Pelligrino is a bad substitute as it is effervescent not heavily carbonated like frizzante. Hell, sparkling water drinkers are just as picky as soda brand loyalists. I don't get it, but I have to live with it for two weeks so NCL needs to make it available for me to enjoy my cruise. Evidently they don't get that.

[gothicreader]

This is our first cruise with NCL, and will probably be our last. :eek:

 

Since we wanted to cruise the Hawaiian Islands we found that we didn't want to spend extra days at sea to get to Hawaii, and we chose to fly to Oahu. When we setup our booking we were very specific about bringing our own bottled water and canned soda. We were told at the time (February 2016) that we could. Now receiving their email and changing their policy is very disingenuous.

We won't cancel since we've purchased non refundable airline tickets that would incur a cancellation fee, and possibly cost more if we reschedule.

 

We've been on several cruises, mainly with RCL and PCL, and we are always happy with their service. Like most others our expectation is to receive the same service or better. Having already known about NCL fee for room service, that should have been a sign. To charge 18% plus a service charged with an already outrageous price for a 12 pack of water is ridiculous. What I don't understand is more and more people are cruising so it's not like their not making money.

 

I guess like the airlines they stuck us with checked baggage fee due to the cost of higher fuel cost, and we accepted it. Now that the cost of fuel is much lower they continue to charge checked baggage, the closer you want to get closer to the front of plane with 3" more of leg room is another fee, blah blah blah. Why? Because more and more people are traveling, and demand.

 

Since we'll have an opportunity to buy water and soda when we dock in Maui and Kuai we'll try to slip in our purchases.

[Boschmann]

You'd have a ship full of healthy people.

As long as they keep the casino and gym...I'm good. :)

 

Seriously...I do understand that people are upset...and if things upset them, then find another vacation venue.

 

IMHO...all of this "free stuff" is nonsense, because nothing is free. NCL should make an adjustment to the fares, so people will at least believe that they are getting the freebies. It's just a psychological thing...and it will make everybody happy.

 

I hate to even respond to such garbage, but I can't resist.

 

I personally have no real stake in this as I don't drink soda and can tolerate the ship's water. I find it very telling that as long as you're happy, all is well. But, I don't need you (or NCL) to intervene in how I live, what I eat and drink or what I do to regarding my health. Imagine what would happen if NCL made only reduced salt meals and banned carry on salt, but would sell customers salt at $25 an ounce. I'm sure you would be happy, until NCL went out of business. How about if they ban carrying on cigarettes, but sell them for $30 a pack. You probably wouldn't care, but same result. Sure, they get away with it on alcohol, but not without a lot of grief and smuggling. Maybe they will have to start charging for entry to the gym and ban all other exercise gear from being brought or used on board before you care. Anyway, I'm glad you at least show your lack of caring as long as it doesn't affect you.

 

I have no idea why you are rambling on about "freebies" and fares. Everyone here knows NCL is a business and is not giving anything away for free regarding the promos. I see no relevance related to this new policy. People were not given anything for free, they were allowed to bring on drinks of their preference, often not offered by NCL. Now, if you don't like what NCL offers (ship tap water) you can buy their specific water at an extremely inflated price. If you want a soda brand not offered, then tough. Don't under estimate a soda/water drinker's brand loyalty they will "find another vacation venue". But I forget that is fine as long as it doesn't affect you. Just be careful as when this group leaves it wont take NCL long to start looking for a revenue replacement from those that remain. The next revenue source will possibly include you. Policies that affect our fellow cruisers will often end up affecting us as well.

[Annmeat]

I don't think that is entirely true. FWIW, my next cruise with NCL isn't until March of 2017 and I've already received the notice...well outside of the cancellation penalty phase.

 

 

I suspect that many of those who have not yet been notified are those who booked with a TA. Remember, NCL is only going to notify the guests who booked direct. Those who booked with a TA will only receive the notice from their TA, not from NCL.

 

I am past final, booked via NCL and have not received an email. I feel left out!😜

[gothicreader]

I hate to even respond to such garbage, but I can't resist.

 

I personally have no real stake in this as I don't drink soda and can tolerate the ship's water. I find it very telling that as long as you're happy, all is well. But, I don't need you (or NCL) to intervene in how I live, what I eat and drink or what I do to regarding my health. Imagine what would happen if NCL made only reduced salt meals and banned carry on salt, but would sell customers salt at $25 an ounce. I'm sure you would be happy, until NCL went out of business. How about if they ban carrying on cigarettes, but sell them for $30 a pack. You probably wouldn't care, but same result. Sure, they get away with it on alcohol, but not without a lot of grief and smuggling. Maybe they will have to start charging for entry to the gym and ban all other exercise gear from being brought or used on board before you care. Anyway, I'm glad you at least show your lack of caring as long as it doesn't affect you.

 

I have no idea why you are rambling on about "freebies" and fares. Everyone here knows NCL is a business and is not giving anything away for free regarding the promos. I see no relevance related to this new policy. People were not given anything for free, they were allowed to bring on drinks of their preference, often not offered by NCL. Now, if you don't like what NCL offers (ship tap water) you can buy their specific water at an extremely inflated price. If you want a soda brand not offered, then tough. Don't under estimate a soda/water drinker's brand loyalty they will "find another vacation venue". But I forget that is fine as long as it doesn't affect you. Just be careful as when this group leaves it wont take NCL long to start looking for a revenue replacement from those that remain. The next revenue source will possibly include you. Policies that affect our fellow cruisers will often end up affecting us as well.

 

 

Well said. And thank you.

[Loonbeam]

He's very good first of all, and its not subjective at all. Someone else posted the technical details as to mineral content, etc, but the answer still applies. There is very little sodium in ship water. There is lots of sodium in ship food. A reverse osmosis system or steam distillation - the most commonly used types of water generation (as posted above) removes almost EVERYTHING from water, so unless the ship decides to put salt back in for some reason, there isn't any. In fact, if anything there's too little minerals in the water.

 

It is most likely, if you are swelling, its the food. You're right, its not 100 percent certain, but medically speaking (and I have some training myself as well), if you don't swell from landside tap, you should not from just ship's water. If you do swell from landside tap or from just ship water, you should probably seek medical attention as you are (again most likely), retaining water.

 

I am sure there is a small population that may have an adverse reaction to

ship's water for some reason, but the probability of excessive sodium (which is the specific topic here) being the cause is simply technically very low because of the way drinking water is produced. I did note that if the filtration system is not properly maintained you COULD see a higher sodium level as well, which could also account for scattered reports (generally speaking, in that case you would probably taste the difference in the water).

 

Also, to achieve a salt content sufficient for people to retain water for swelling, the amount of salt that would needed to be added back to the water (remember, its not only drinking water, its food prep, bathing, pool and toilet water) would require a ridiculous amount of sodium to be brought on board and stored on the ship, for generally no reason...

 

If you want info on reverse osmosis, here's a fairly decent Wikipedia article "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_osmosis". Note the section on demineralization, the parameters for magnesium and sodium are similar.

 

Also, some additional reference material.

 

This is from a paper from North Dakota State:

 

"

Treated water will not produce scale in kettles and coffee makers. Because sodium and potassium are removed, people on a medically prescribed sodium- or potassium-restricted diet may benefit. R/O units may also remove contaminants such as chromium, mercury and nitrates..."

 

Canadian water quality association:

 

 

"Will Reverse Osmosis remove sodium from water? Yes. The initial application of the reverse osmosis process was removal of salt (desalinization) from sea water for use as drinking water aboard naval vessels. This application has been expanded to include large, land-based facilities supporting entire communities. This may prove to be very beneficial to someone on a low sodium diet."

Not necessarily... and I know you are quoting what you think your cardiologist said to you but it more than likely only applies to you; it is an opinion and quite subjective. Please do not be so snarky about this.

Your cardiologist (if he/she is good) would never generalize something like this. It absolutely varies with each patient so really cannot be applied to others.

Heat edema is short term occurs only if you are in high temperatures for a good amount of time but the body regulates itself if you go into a cooler environment which is always on the cruises in warm weather cruises. What about those that are on cruises in not high temperature areas?

 

Physiologically everyone is different; the salt imbalance you are referring to is not based just on vacation eating and drinking; it is on what your body physiology is.

My second question is, are you an expert on the sodium content of the water on the ship too? If so, I would like to know the details about the chemical make-up of the water purification systems on a ship. Always willing to learn.

[fstuff1]

Bad news for all lovers of sparking water and caffeine free diet coke:

 

https://www.ncl.com/faq/liquor-beverage-policy

 

Effective July 1, 2016, for sailings July 15, 2016 and beyond, guests are prohibited from bringing any beverages -- including liquor, beer and non-alcoholic drinks such as water, soda and juices -- on board either as carry-on or checked luggage, with the exception of purified or distilled water in factory-sealed containers for use in conjunction with medical devices or for the reconstitution of infant formula; and fully sealed and/or corked wine bottles for personal consumption onboard that is subject to screening and a corkage fee (for guests 21 years of age or older). Open beverages of any kind must be consumed or discarded at the security check-point, on embarkation day and at any port of call.

This is the straw the broke the camel's back.

 

I usually bring a 24pack of water on board, even tho I have a casino drink card that gives me 'free' water.

but I usually tip $1 for each drink at the casino bar so that 'free' water is going to cost me ~$20 through out a 7 day cruise. :(

 

I have a 'free' cas cruise to the Bahamas already booked for Oct.

I also have another 'free' CAS cruise waiting for me but i decided I wont use it.

Bahamas will probably be the last NCL cruise i take unless something changes.

 

Tired of being NiCkeLed and dimed by FDR. :mad:

Voting with my wallet and trying out a competitor cruise line for 2017.

Edited July 3, 2016 by fstuff1

[mikealpine]

Well looks like our first and now only NCL cruise has passed. We only drink Diet coke and really hate diet pepsi, even worse is well made pepsi. Plenty of other cruise lines out there that value customers. It is after all our vacation choice.

[SNJCruisers]

The easy solution to this would be to let people bring on canned soda just like the other mainstream lines do. The problems with the bottles were all of the people trying to smuggle in alcohol and the inspections of the bottles was very time consuming. Banning bringing on bottles makes sense because of this, but including cans in the ban goes against common sense. Reasonably priced bottled water, similar to Carnival, and including bottled water in the drinks package, like various lines do already would solve the problem. The fact that NCL charges the most for their alcoholic beverage package and does not include espresso based products or bottled water similar to Celebrity, Carnival or Royal is a disgrace.

[Boschmann]

I can't help feeling like NCL is playing us. Here we, myself included, are clamoring for a bottled water ban. If it is a scheme, they are creating a lot of really bad sentiment in the interim.

 

(I wanted to post this now so I could quote it later and ask NCL if it was worth it.)

[luvtheships]

Think about what you're saying. Those two highlighted conditions are mutually exclusive. If NCL pays them anyway, why would they be disgruntled?

 

 

IMHO since dsc is supposed to go to "crew incentives". Lol. The crew will lose out on an hour of time off. At most

 

 

The crew gets paid we know that regardless of dsc....but Ncl would somehow figure a way to cut something from the crew anyway...like an hour of off time....

 

Ncl is such a manipulator it isn't funny...

 

Now they are playing games with water and soda

 

They currently sell water cases at sky high prices that pax more than likely don't buy

 

Now....Ncl bans wAter brought on....

 

Next step.....lower the case price by 25%....which still makes it ridiculously expensive

 

But now pax buy them....because they think it's a deal

 

It just like raising a cruise price by $300 and tacking on dsc.....and telling the pax they are getting free ubp

 

 

Ncl is just playing us again!!!!!

[Single Cruiser]

One common trend I'm seeing is a whole lot of Pepsi/Cola haters. Is the mixture so mixed up in the USA, I know they have loads more sugar and additives than Europe's solution. I drink either and could barely tell the difference! [emoji848]

 

 

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