How many got the UBP as a perk?

[Notnewtoit]

If this had happened in a pub in the UK there would have been an apology, and if not it would probably have got ugly, I'm talking generically here, not about me in particular. In this instance there was no apology, just a stony glance at the barman.

 

I'm with you... but then I'm a Brit too and was trained appropriately in the aforementioned pub.

[Notnewtoit]

No flame but let me give a different take on it. The wife and I might have 30 drinks for the week. If I tip the kind bartenders a buck each time that comes to 30 bucks, an absolutely inconsequential amount for me in the grand scheme of things. These guys and gals are away from their families for months, busting their asses to make sure we have a great time. I am happy to spend 30 bucks to help make it worthwhile to them.

 

Yeah I'm with you 100% and, as a regular at the Whiskey bar have made a few particularly marvelous guys/gals very happy over a week; it's just if tips on top of DSC becomes the new norm, it becomes kinda self-defeating.

[KarlChilders]

Yeah I'm with you 100% and, as a regular at the Whiskey bar have made a few particularly marvelous guys/gals very happy over a week; it's just if tips on top of DSC becomes the new norm, it becomes kinda self-defeating.

I don't think there is any danger of it becoming the new norm. On our previous cruise I saw way more not tipping than tipping just in casual observance.

[gambit57]

Don't drink so I had no use for it. DW only has one drink, so not worth it for her either.

 

We took the dining package instead.

[jrsegrl]

We never used to get the drink pkg as a promo because we don't drink much so figured it wasn't worth paying the gratuity for something we wouldn't use. Have changed our mind about that on the last couple cruises. If we only get 2 glasses of wine at dinner it's worthwhile. does depend on the cruise though. If we did another port heavy/long touring day cruise like the Baltic was I would probably choose something else. For me personally, alcohol and early mornings don't mix.

[jdazzler15]

It seems like everyone pretty much takes advantage of it, So if I am reading it correctly, there is no incentive for the bartenders because they are already getting tipped before even doing any work. So if 80% of the ship gets the UBP as a free perk, it seems like the service may not be as good. So how many people do take advantage of the perk?

 

I dont know how to do a poll, But are you taking the UBP as a free perk?

 

I did take the free perk.

 

Ever since they came out with this years ago, we have always taken the free UBP perk. Just think, those people who chose this perk would be drinking on the ship even if they didn't have the perk. If someone doesn't drink, they would opt for a different package. When I went on the escape in 2015 the bartenders were basically like "I am making pina coladas, who wants one" and 6 people raised their hand. It was a lot quicker service than one by one by one. It was also like this at the mojito bar.

[cardinals218]

My family for our upcoming cruise all took the UBP as one of our perks. In fact, before drink packages became available, we stopped cruising due to the cost of drinking while on board. Starting with Celebrity offering a package that we purchased back in 2010, we started cruising every other year again.

 

We always bring plenty of cash on board for tip money. I was raised by bar owners in the US and all of us have been bartenders for a living at least at one point in our lives here so we tend to overtip in most people eyes. It's not a function of wanting better or more preferential service, just remembering as a bartender how I lived off tips once and now am paying it forward.

[Mistizoom]

We have not taken the UBP as a free perk on our three cruises. The first cruise it was actually completely free if we wanted (gratuities were included) and I still took free DSC over free UBP (or SDP which was UDP at the time which was completely free also). DH and I are not big drinkers (I had one drink on my last cruise and didn't finish it, DH had one also), and the break even price for the service charge is higher than I would ever pay for any types of beverages on the ship. So we pay as we go for soda or alcoholic drinks.

[PTC DAWG]

This was my experience on the Spirit, only once, and never seen it happen on any previous cruise. I had been waiting for the barman to finish serving, as the only person at the bar I had made eye contact with the barman, so he knew I was waiting to be served, as the previous customers were leaving the bar with their drinks a couple immediately took their place, although the rest of the bar was empty, the guy held up his Keycard and immediately ordered himself and his partner a drink, the poor barman looked sheepishly at me, as he didn't really know what to do. I helped him out by giving my order and then saying to the couple that I was there first and had been waiting. I felt like a bit of a moaning old git but I was in the right. The barman served me and then turned to them and served them.

 

If this had happened in a pub in the UK there would have been an apology, and if not it would probably have got ugly, I'm talking generically here, not about me in particular. In this instance there was no apology, just a stony glance at the barman.

 

 

If you are tipping to help you get preferential service with all this "a tip goes a long way" nonsense, then I feel you are just being discourteous to other passengers. This is, of course, just my opinion.

 

Some folks are just rude, the couple that jumped ahead of you knew what they were doing. I always defer to someone I know for a fact was there ahead of me. Just common courtesy. And yeah, I leave extra tips too...I figure they can use it.

[ray98]

No problems getting drinks. False 'problem'.

[BostonGal35]

we always take it. its the one that is of the most value.

that said, we rarely have had bad bar service. but we usually avoid the pool bar (always a zoo), find our "favorite bar" where we will congregate, tip the waitstaff in the casino and drinks keep coming regularly to our table, and we always make sure to go to dinner with a full drink in hand and order another as soon as we sit down to make sure we never run out.

[KeithJenner]

No flame but let me give a different take on it. The wife and I might have 30 drinks for the week. If I tip the kind bartenders a buck each time that comes to 30 bucks, an absolutely inconsequential amount for me in the grand scheme of things. These guys and gals are away from their families for months, busting their asses to make sure we have a great time. I am happy to spend 30 bucks to help make it worthwhile to them.

 

 

 

I absolutely agree with you.

 

But I don’t think that that $30 makes me more important than the other people at the bar.

 

I’ll give them the $30 and wait my turn.

[tallnthensome]

I always take the UBP on NCL. I have this sucker for 15 days on my Panama Canal cruise on the Bliss. Even at $400+ for the service charge, it's a spectacular deal as my DW and I could drop that much in three days without it. No matter which line I'm on we get beverage package and I always tip an extra dollar in cash per drink. Last year on the Carnival Vista I had Cheers. It was 1 pm on the pool deck and I ordered two drinks. The bar tender stated LOUDLY that this was the first cash tip he had received all day much to the chagrin to those seated at the bar. Not that it matters but believe me, it does to them,

[BandM]

We always take the UBP and have had great service. I will tip the bartender accordingly if he is prompt and pours a good drink. I was sitting in the atrium bar last cruise and they literally are in constant motion sometimes for hours!!! What I always make sure to tip is the servers, a couple bucks here and there seems to go along way with them and we found they will take great care of you drurjbg the deck parties etc...when it’s really crowded.

[Biffire]

We always take the UBP, not huge drinkers, but nice not to have to worry about a big tab when I leave. When on vacation I try not to be in a hurry and if I wait two minutes for a drink, I don't get too concerned. On the Breakaway last fall there were plenty of bars, and I liked the one, a deck above the pool, she made great bloody marys, Miami Vices, mudslides, gin and tonics. Looking forward to the Dawn in May.

[KarlChilders]

:)

I absolutely agree with you.

 

But I don’t think that that $30 makes me more important than the other people at the bar.

 

I’ll give them the $30 and wait my turn.

Indeed, but if they notice me and fix my regular, I won’t complain :-)

[newmexicoNita]

It seems like everyone pretty much takes advantage of it, So if I am reading it correctly, there is no incentive for the bartenders because they are already getting tipped before even doing any work. So if 80% of the ship gets the UBP as a free perk, it seems like the service may not be as good. So how many people do take advantage of the perk?

 

I dont know how to do a poll, But are you taking the UBP as a free perk?

 

I did take the free perk.

ok, my opinion: I imagine anyone who drinks more than a few drinks a day would opt for it. As for the service, we have never had a problem with the exception to sail away day about 3 or so years ago. There was only one or two bar tenders by the pool that afternoon and very rude passengers who would just cut in front of everyone to get that one more drink. You would think the ship was about to run out of booze or something The other time, again when he perk was new was at the casino bar. Like around the pool, the bar was understaffed and over crowded. I don't think getting tips before hand had anything to do with the service.I wil add we do carry a few extra ones with us and if the server or the bar tender is overly nice or pours a good drink we tip them an extra buck.

 

For those who say since the introduction of the UBP they have seen a lot more drunks people, I guess we don't stay up late enough or hang out at the right places, because we have seen little or no increase in people being obviously smashed.

Edited February 22, 2018 by newmexicoNita

[newmexicoNita]

That logic works if you assume that the only incentive for a bartender is their tip.

 

I don’t believe that is the case.

 

 

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I totally agree with you on this. In fact I usually agree with you. :p

[caitlinhirsch]

So I was on the Sky on the flogging Molly cruise, which is basically a Irish music festival on a ship (they said the first year we drank more before the ship left port than a typical 7 day cruise drinks altogether). When the sky switched over to free ubp we still had impeccable service. Last year was on royal carribean and the service was ridiculously bad. So much so that they moved back to the Sky for this year. I'm going on my first regular NCL cruise in a few weeks. I have high hopes that NCL can continue to provide the service I've grown to know and love!

 

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[jrsegrl]

NewMexicoNita - had to laugh at your comment about running out of booze. On the 2/2 Breakaway they ran out of Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio. Really? This is from the beverage guy in the restaurant so I thought he meant only for the restaurant so I said I'd just go down to the Atrium bar and get one. Then he said no - there was none on the ship.

[mjkacmom]

The only difference I’ve noticed is a lack of servers taking orders by the pool, same in the MDR’s. The bartenders always appear to be working very hard.

[csopi]

I take the UBP and never had an issue getting a drink at any bar. We did have to wait a couple of minutes at the pool bar, but so what, we were on vacation, the weather was beautiful and it gave you an opportunity to talk to some fun people. My favourite was the Mojito bar on the Getaway. Jenny was a fabulous bartender, fun to talk with and made the best Coco Mojito I have ever had. She more than deserved the extra tip we used to leave.

[Seawoff]

If there are four adults in one cabin and only the first two get UBP benefit,

how does he ship charge guest three and four?

Are they required tp buy the UBP?

[PTC DAWG]

If there are four adults in one cabin and only the first two get UBP benefit,

how does he ship charge guest three and four?

Are they required tp buy the UBP?

 

No idea, I can’t imagine 4 adults in a room myself...good luck. Maybe a big Haven Suite...

[KeithJenner]

If there are four adults in one cabin and only the first two get UBP benefit,

how does he ship charge guest three and four?

Are they required tp buy the UBP?

 

 

No, they don’t have to buy the UBP. Obviously they can buy it if they want, or pay for the drinks individually.

 

 

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