Free Promos are Not Free

[ClaireAndMike]

Ohhhhhh, and I just thought of something else too. If I'm sharing a cabin with my mom (the non-alcohol drinker), she's got to have the UBP too, doesn't she? Yep, I think we'll be swapping that out with a different promo. We'll have no use for the UBP. She will OCCASIONALLY have a Coke, but doesn't drink Pepsi.

[SeaShark]

No, the package is not free. It is encumbered by a 20% service charge. There no way to obtain the "free" package without paying the service charge.

 

They also sell the package for $89.00 pp/pd.

 

No wait, it is NOT just $89.00 pp/pd. That is also encumbered by a 20% service charge. There is no way to obtain the "$89.00 pp/pd" package without paying the service charge.

[beerman2]

Yes, if one has to pay taxes and port fees the prize is not "free".

 

I suggest that most reasonable people seeing the phrase "free xyz" interpret that to mean there is no cost to acquire "xyz".

So would you pass on that "free" cruise because you would have to pay taxes, because of the "free" terminology?

[SteveH2508]

<snip> She will OCCASIONALLY have a Coke, but doesn't drink Pepsi.

 

NCL only have Pepsi products BTW.

[ClaireAndMike]

NCL only have Pepsi products BTW.

 

Yes, I know, that's why I said that - meaning she won't get ANY use out of it. I should've clarified.

[SeaShark]

So would you pass on that "free" cruise because you would have to pay taxes, because of the "free" terminology?

 

No, not because of the terminology...but because sometimes free is an adjective, and sometimes it is an adverb, and he can't tell the difference.

 

I'm so happy that I'm free of this misunderstanding. ;p

[Tatka]

Ohhhhhh, and I just thought of something else too. If I'm sharing a cabin with my mom (the non-alcohol drinker), she's got to have the UBP too, doesn't she? Yep, I think we'll be swapping that out with a different promo. We'll have no use for the UBP. She will OCCASIONALLY have a Coke, but doesn't drink Pepsi.

 

 

All non premium cruise lines now make first two pax in a cabin to acquire a drink package even if only one needs it.

But we calculated even $250 we paid for two for a week is a pretty good deal.

[jskinsd]

All non premium cruise lines now make first two pax in a cabin to acquire a drink package even if only one needs it.

But we calculated even $250 we paid for two for a week is a pretty good deal.

Who are ALL the non premium cruise lines? And who are considered the premium cruise lines.

[Tatka]

Who are ALL the non premium cruise lines? And who are considered the premium cruise lines.

 

 

Premium mass market is Princess, Celebrity, Holland, Cunard

 

Regular mass market are all others - Royal, NCL , Carnival, Costa, MSc.

[jskinsd]

Premium mass market is Princess, Celebrity, Holland, Cunard

 

Regular mass market are all others - Royal, NCL , Carnival, Costa, MSc.

You mention only nine cruise lines. What about the other cruise lines you didn't mention like Crystal, Disney, P&O, Silversea, Seabourn, Oceania? What are there mass market classifications? And how do they handle all you can drunk.

[Tatka]

You mention only nine cruise lines. What about the other cruise lines you didn't mention like Crystal, Disney, P&O, Silversea, Seabourn, Oceania? What are there mass market classifications? And how do they handle all you can drunk.

 

 

They are luxury or niche (Disney) lines except P&O , which is not really present at North American market.

 

I was talking about massmarket lines to which NCL belongs.

 

Luxury lines are all inclusive.

 

Another mass market is Aida and premium mass market TUI Meinschiff. Both are German. First has beer and wine included with meals and second is all inclusive.

 

[emoji4]

[fshagan]

2-3 drinks in a day while on vacation is "binge drinking"??!!?

 

According to the CDC, binge drinking is "when men consume 5 or more drinks or women consume 4 or more drinks in about 2 hours". Two to three drinks in 24 hours is definitely NOT binge drinking.

 

At least you quoted me before you misrepresented what I said:

 

Others are either heavy drinkers or binge drinkers while on a cruise, and will drink more than the 2 or 3 drinks it takes to break even on the $18 per day cost.

 

Please look up the term "heavy drinker" at the CDC to see if 4 or 5 drinks a day is considered "heavy drinking". To quote them at https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm#excessivealcohol

What do you mean by heavy drinking?

 

For men, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming 15 drinks or more per week. For women, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming 8 drinks or more per week.

Edited July 26, 2018 by fshagan

[fshagan]

You can choose to buy into the misuse of the word "free". I won't. As far as I'm concerned something is not free when one MUST pay something to receive it.

 

True, nothing is free. On Celebrity, to get promos you pay a higher fare (or at least you did when I last booked them .... one price for the standard beverage package, then another higher cruise fare for the premium drink package).

 

Even if it was totally free with no cash out of pocket it might cost you ... win a car on TV or have a TV show improve your home and you face a large tax bill for the "income" you gained.

[JamieLogical]

At least you quoted me before you misrepresented what I said:

 

 

 

Please look up the term "heavy drinker" at the CDC to see if 4 or 5 drinks a day is considered "heavy drinking". To quote them at https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm#excessivealcohol

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So we are all either heavy drinkers or binge drinkers if we consume more that 2-3 drinks per day WHILE ON VACATION? I do not consume 4 drinks in 2 hours on vacation. Nor do I drink more than 8 drinks per week while not on vacation. But I manage to drink more than 2-3 drinks a day while on vacation.....

[Visigoth]

I'm confused. If you think a "free promo" is not a good deal, don't opt for it. Why would you feel cheated? How is it unfair? You don't have to select that package. We never take the UBP and I have never posted a complaint on CC about it. Thats's like saying I don't think the price of a suite on Carnival is unreasonably high so I won't sail on Carnival.

[drsel]

There is one way, if you live/book through the UK/EU, our all inclusive UBP includes the service charge as well as 1L of water a day, and specialist coffee at meal times, it really is all inclusive.

I guess there is nothing stopping anyone from booing through a UK TA, you would be paying in UK£ though, so would have to pay the exchange rate from US$ to UK£.

Isn't that much more expensive than booking through US online cruise agents?

[Jana60]

They also sell the package for $89.00 pp/pd.

 

 

 

No wait, it is NOT just $89.00 pp/pd. That is also encumbered by a 20% service charge. There is no way to obtain the "$89.00 pp/pd" package without paying the service charge.

 

 

 

They could just say they are giving an $89 pp/day discount on the drink package but someone would still find something to complain about.

 

 

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[ziggyuk]

Isn't that much more expensive than booking through US online cruise agents?

 

I don't know, I paid £1,209.00 PP for the 10 day southern caribbean cruise (no flights) from Miami on 1st March 2019 with inside cabin.

 

Included is "all inclusive UBP" (drinks, gratuities, 1L water a person a day, specialist coffee with food, free wifi)

 

We also got $50 a cabin per excurtion, $75 hotel credit, $150 airfare.

 

Over here we have two choices when booking "just cruise" or "all inclusive" with "just cruise" covering just cabin, food & tips (I think the same trip was about £850 on just cruise).

 

I booked direct on NCL but can't see the US NCL site without a VPN running.

 

Currently £1,209.00 equals $1,596.36, maybe you can see what the same trip is currently on the US NCL site for a direct comparison.

[4774Papa]

I'm confused. If you think a "free promo" is not a good deal, don't opt for it. Why would you feel cheated? How is it unfair? You don't have to select that package. We never take the UBP and I have never posted a complaint on CC about it. Thats's like saying I don't think the price of a suite on Carnival is unreasonably high so I won't sail on Carnival.

What if we don't want any promos?

[pieshops]

What if we don't want any promos?

There is an option when you book online to not choose any, you save a few bucks but nothing significant - other then the grats

[SeaShark]

It is interesting how the whining and complaining always seems to be centered around alcohol.

 

 

If you take the free UDP perk you still have to pay the gratuity. However, we aren't seeing thread after thread after thread of people complaining that the UDP isn't "free". :rolleyes:

 

If you take the shore excursion perk you still have to pay anything over $50. However, we aren't seeing thread after thread after thread of people complaining that the shore excursions aren't "free".** :rolleyes:

 

If you take the 3rd and 4th guest free perk you still have to pay gov't taxes and port fees on the 3rd and 4th guest. However, we aren't seeing thread after thread after thread of people complaining that the 3rd and 4th guests aren't "free". :rolleyes:

 

What people seem to miss is that most of NCL's costs for these promos are built into the overall cruise cost. Even the people who have no perks are paying something toward the perks everyone else has. Despite all of the free things, NCL's revenue is increasing . . . and that money is coming from somewhere. Too many times people are complaining about the tree while they are oblivious to the forest.

 

 

** Financially, the shore excursion promo isn't much different than the UBP. NCL covers part of the cost ($50 per port for the shore ex, and $89 per day for the UBP) and the cruiser pays the rest.

[Tatka]

People complain because they're always suspicious that they might get stiffed somewhere. :) They are a bit worried that they won't be able to analyze best deal independently and make the best decision. More choices for many present more headache.

 

I bet if pricing was all inclusive there wouldn't be as much arguments. Not everybody would be able to afford it, but that is another story.

[mugtech]

People complain because they're always suspicious that they might get stiffed somewhere. :) They are a bit worried that they won't be able to analyze best deal independently and make the best decision. More choices for many present more headache.

 

I bet if pricing was all inclusive there wouldn't be as much arguments. Not everybody would be able to afford it, but that is another story.

Of course we all pay for the free alcohol, even those of us who do not drink. Lately we have noticed a greater price difference between NCL and RCI, the alcohol could be a factor, but 4 of our last 5 cruises were on RCI for a number of reasons, price being one of them.

[Tatka]

Of course we all pay for the free alcohol, even those of us who do not drink. Lately we have noticed a greater price difference between NCL and RCI, the alcohol could be a factor, but 4 of our last 5 cruises were on RCI for a number of reasons, price being one of them.

Well.. as we finally gained Diamond status and for some other reasons , indoor pools are one of them, we are also cruising more with Royal, but our next cruise is on NCL Star .. and we are using UDP for the first time. :) Cruise fare and itinerary was better than RCCL offered for Europe too.

 

We sail with almost every line now and always take all factors into consideration.

 

Royal does offer better better perks for corresponding levels. One of them is a happy 3 hours a day.

[fshagan]

So we are all either heavy drinkers or binge drinkers if we consume more that 2-3 drinks per day WHILE ON VACATION? I do not consume 4 drinks in 2 hours on vacation. Nor do I drink more than 8 drinks per week while not on vacation. But I manage to drink more than 2-3 drinks a day while on vacation.....

 

If you are going to be nit picky about what I post, you could at least try to read what I post. Here, I will emphasize the part of my statement that is in contradiction to your objection for you so it's easier to read:

Others are either heavy drinkers or binge drinkers while on a cruise, and will drink more than the 2 or 3 drinks it takes to break even on the $18 per day cost.

I think most people read the statement uncritically, and saw it as giving advice that if you are a heavy drinker or a binge drinker while on a cruise, using the standard definitions you yourself pointed out from the CDC, the $18 per day cost is worthwhile. If you are not a heavy drinker during your cruise it is not worth it.

 

I made no value judgments about the amount of alcohol anyone drinks.