Administrators Rare LauraS Posted October 5, 2018 Administrators #1 Share Posted October 5, 2018 Check out the latest Norwegian Cruise Line news from Cruise Critic: Norwegian Cruise Line Raises Prices of Drink Packages Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliffd64 Posted October 5, 2018 #2 Share Posted October 5, 2018 Demand? They give it away ... so how is there demand? Virtually no one pays the $89 or now $99 per day ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceansMotion Posted October 5, 2018 #3 Share Posted October 5, 2018 Demand? They give it away ... so how is there demand? Virtually no one pays the $89 or now $99 per day ... No, but they do pay 20% gratuity on that extra $10.00 per day per person which is another $4.00 per day. Our 13 day TA price is $52.00 less for gratuity than when I checked today. I also found out on my last cruise that the bartenders do not get that 20% tip added on to their account. I was under the impression that when they swiped their card before mine, it showed who served the drink, therefore giving them part of the 20% I paid on the package. Not so! Even though I paid gratuity I still throw a few dollars down every time we order so at least they know I appreciate their service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alwalaska Posted October 5, 2018 #4 Share Posted October 5, 2018 I wonder if I should purchase my soda package now for my Feb cruise before those prices go up too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceansMotion Posted October 5, 2018 #5 Share Posted October 5, 2018 I wonder if I should purchase my soda package now for my Feb cruise before those prices go up too? That would lock in the price like mine was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdsgu Posted October 6, 2018 #6 Share Posted October 6, 2018 Who actually purchases the NCL drink package? I never have. All this really does is allow them to charge more "gratuities" to cover the drinks they are serving with the Free at Sea UBP perk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceansMotion Posted October 6, 2018 #7 Share Posted October 6, 2018 Who actually purchases the NCL drink package? I never have. All this really does is allow them to charge more "gratuities" to cover the drinks they are serving with the Free at Sea UBP perk. I don’t either but I save on the extra gratuities. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newmexicoNita Posted October 6, 2018 #8 Share Posted October 6, 2018 No, but they do pay 20% gratuity on that extra $10.00 per day per person which is another $4.00 per day. Our 13 day TA price is $52.00 less for gratuity than when I checked today. I also found out on my last cruise that the bartenders do not get that 20% tip added on to their account. I was under the impression that when they swiped their card before mine, it showed who served the drink, therefore giving them part of the 20% I paid on the package. Not so! Even though I paid gratuity I still throw a few dollars down every time we order so at least they know I appreciate their service. where did you hear and who told you the bar tenders are not part of the tipping pool? I do not think this is correct. If you heard it from a bar tender, remember don't believe everything you hear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisinHarvey Posted October 6, 2018 #9 Share Posted October 6, 2018 where did you hear and who told you the bar tenders are not part of the tipping pool? I do not think this is correct. If you heard it from a bar tender, remember don't believe everything you hear. Do you really think that with all the increases to UDP over the past couple of years, it was give their bartenders a raise? $138.60 per week per UDP passenger. On a mega ship, what is that 2000 people, about half, getting the free perk? just do the math. They'd be making more than any bartender I've ever talked to anywhere. Both my son and nephew were bartenders, and we laugh about it. NCL would have every bartender from every cruise line applying for work. Talking to bartenders on other cruise lines, that's just not the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4774Papa Posted October 6, 2018 #10 Share Posted October 6, 2018 We don't want no stinking beverage packages that cost more than most cruises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliffd64 Posted October 6, 2018 #11 Share Posted October 6, 2018 Do you really think that with all the increases to UDP over the past couple of years, it was give their bartenders a raise? $138.60 per week per UDP passenger. On a mega ship, what is that 2000 people, about half, getting the free perk? just do the math. They'd be making more than any bartender I've ever talked to anywhere. Both my son and nephew were bartenders, and we laugh about it. NCL would have every bartender from every cruise line applying for work. Talking to bartenders on other cruise lines, that's just not the case. The queston you have to ask yourself is who does it serve to tell you they aren't getting any tip money? If I was fishing for extra tips I'd cetainly paint a tale of woe. I am reasonably certain that at least a portion of the service charge/gratuity collected goes to the bartender, and server, and bar manager on down the line. I have noticed that service has mproved dramatically since they applied the service charge to the free beverage packages, whereas before there seemed to be no incentive to serve. So while it's probably not a simple math equation, I'm sure the gratuities do filter down to the bartenders and servers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joebucks Posted October 6, 2018 #12 Share Posted October 6, 2018 Who actually purchases the NCL drink package? I never have. All this really does is allow them to charge more "gratuities" to cover the drinks they are serving with the Free at Sea UBP perk. And to say you're getting a "bigger discount" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron46936 Posted October 6, 2018 #13 Share Posted October 6, 2018 This means the "free" drink package is now $20 per person per day. PLUS the free package is not available on the lowest cost cabins in any category, so that is another whammy. Altogether the "free" drinks add several hundred dollars to the price. So even though we are Platinum and have been for a long time we now go on Celebrity where they actually offer a free drinks on many cruises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliffd64 Posted October 6, 2018 #14 Share Posted October 6, 2018 This means the "free" drink package is now $20 per person per day. PLUS the free package is not available on the lowest cost cabins in any category, so that is another whammy. Altogether the "free" drinks add several hundred dollars to the price. So even though we are Platinum and have been for a long time we now go on Celebrity where they actually offer a free drinks on many cruises. That works for you! Enjoy! There are several other reasons I will not cruise on Celebrity that have nothing to do with price however. It's more of a overall lifestyle difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron46936 Posted October 6, 2018 #15 Share Posted October 6, 2018 That works for you! Enjoy! There are several other reasons I will not cruise on Celebrity that have nothing to do with price however. It's more of a overall lifestyle difference. Celebrity is definitely a different style geared to older passengers. I just am really against deceptive advertising. It's like the infomercials on TV that offer a second item free just pay separate shipping handling etc. and it ends up costing more than the item. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njkate Posted October 6, 2018 #16 Share Posted October 6, 2018 Not suprised, they raised the DSC a few months back as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisingNole Posted October 7, 2018 #17 Share Posted October 7, 2018 NCL has always had a drink package that costs twice that of their competitors. Their inflated cruise fares plus "gratuity" charges cover the cost of this "perk." It's obvious they raised the price to increase "gratuity" revenue. So I have to wonder...what happens when NCL no longer offers the drink package as a "perk?" Are people really naive enough to pay $120/day and not even get a bottle of water that sells for $.10 at my grocery store? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Wheels Only Posted October 7, 2018 #18 Share Posted October 7, 2018 So I have to wonder...what happens when NCL no longer offers the drink package as a "perk?" Are people really naive enough to pay $120/day and not even get a bottle of water that sells for $.10 at my grocery store? People who intend on drinking more than $831.60 pp per week will buy the package. People who don't intend on drinking $831.60 pp per week will not buy the package. Many people suspect that NCL is heading towards all-inclusive in all or most markets and every guest 1&2 will get the UOB/UBP as part of the fare whether they want it or not. The only people who will buy the UOB/UBP at retail will be guests 3+ or people who book Sail Away. If/when that day comes, people will choose what works best for them....if they have the option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Wheels Only Posted October 7, 2018 #19 Share Posted October 7, 2018 I wonder if I should purchase my soda package now for my Feb cruise before those prices go up too? Those prices did go up already.... Soda Program (13 and older) was $7.50pppd, is now $7.95pppd. Soda Program (12 and under) was $5.50pppd, is now $5.95pppd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronin23 Posted October 7, 2018 #20 Share Posted October 7, 2018 For our upcoming cruise in 2019, we had the option of Free at Sea or 50%off the second guest. Taking the latter option saved us over $3k and was never going to be drinking that much worth of beverages.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare KeithJenner Posted October 7, 2018 #21 Share Posted October 7, 2018 Many people suspect that NCL is heading towards all-inclusive in all or most markets and every guest 1&2 will get the UOB/UBP as part of the fare whether they want it or not. The only people who will buy the UOB/UBP at retail will be guests 3+ or people who book Sail Away. If/when that day comes, people will choose what works best for them....if they have the option. Where NCL do have all inclusive, everyone gets the beverage package, so there is no need for guests 3+ to buy it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlayCousin Posted October 7, 2018 #22 Share Posted October 7, 2018 I remember when the NCL beverage package was a very reasonable $49.99 a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newmexicoNita Posted October 7, 2018 #23 Share Posted October 7, 2018 NCL has always had a drink package that costs twice that of their competitors. Their inflated cruise fares plus "gratuity" charges cover the cost of this "perk." It's obvious they raised the price to increase "gratuity" revenue. So I have to wonder...what happens when NCL no longer offers the drink package as a "perk?" Are people really naive enough to pay $120/day and not even get a bottle of water that sells for $.10 at my grocery store? there is already a long thread on this. Why start another one? NCL has always had a drink package that is twice what other lines charge: NOT, maybe not as good but not always twice: that is an exaggeration. how would you know what they have always had?: According to your post back when you cruised NCL in the spring it was your first cruise on NCL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam_s_allen Posted October 7, 2018 #24 Share Posted October 7, 2018 I remember when the NCL beverage package was a very reasonable $49.99 a day. Yeah I can’t think of much else that has doubled in price in 5 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_sobe Posted October 7, 2018 #25 Share Posted October 7, 2018 $831.00 You can take a cruise for that price. When alcohol costs as much as the cruise something is wrong :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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