No Wellwishers beer or liquor delivery...

[Mekamax]

Sangiovese, Lucente Tuscany $44

 

This was an excellent wine and we had it for our 15th anniversary dinner on board the NCL Sun in December. We had a wonderful cruise on NCL - I was very worried after all the negativity but we had an excellent time - as always after 19 cruises. Personally I think I'm exactly what the cruiselines want on board - I know kind of self centered.. - but they can't fill up the ship with only the top cabins - they won't sail that way. I did have an aft balcony cabin though and that was great too!!! :)

 

Really the main thing that had me questioning the choice of NCL was the feed back I got here. I learned some great things and am happy - always happy - but the negativety and the criticism for trying to help is not good for NCL. People are getting alienated and NCL can't be happy about this. I bought only 1 draft beer on board.... Tyipcally we buy a few buckets. Not good for NCL. I had the very least - about $150 - on board acct charge. On other lines that would have been at least double.... Again people are getting pushed away by being criticized that may love NCL. Hope I'm saying this in a good way - I don't mean to alienate anyone myself and have tried hard not too - but I do hear the criticisms and think I'm glad I'm a good person and a happy one at that. :p Debbie

[electricron]

How many bars ashore allow customers to BYOB? Few if any.

Yet passengers complain when they can't bring their own alcohol aboard a ship. Why?

 

Imagine going to McDonalds to eat with your bring your own Burger King Whopper? Do you think the McDonald's manager is going to be happy you decided to eat your Whopper at his fast food restaurant?

 

Why do some believe Norwegian will allow BYOB? Every bottle of alcohol smuggled aboard is potentially one less bottle sold aboard the ship. It's just like every Whopper eaten at a McDonald's restaurant is one less Quarter Pounder sold. McDonald's is in the business of selling Quarter Pounders, not in the business of renting tables and chairs for your convience.

 

Likewise, NCL is selling cruise vacations, and everything associated with a cruise vacation. The casino, the restaurants, the bars, the spas, the stores and the shore excursions all exist so NCL can sell you things so they can make a profit serving your needs.

[CruisinMatt]

How many bars ashore allow customers to BYOB? Few if any.

Yet passengers complain when they can't bring their own alcohol aboard a ship. Why?

 

I think you're spinning the issue a little. Nobody is suggesting that they would mix drinks at the bar or dining room on the ship with the booze they bring aboard the ship. They want to consume it in the cabin - thus the reason for the increase in the well-wishers orders - it's delivered to the cabins. I bring my own mix drink supplies to hotel rooms for a cocktail and I'm sure many people do as well.

[electricron]

Why is it a necessity to drink in your cabin when there over a dozen bars and lounges aboard the ship? Cabins make lousy spaces for parties, as they are usually much too small.

 

Is it that difficult to walk 200 feet for a drink, which you can take back to your cabin? Is it that difficult to order a drink from room service when all you have to do is pick up the phone?

 

It's not wishing to drink in the cabin that's the reason many wish to bring their own alcohol aboard, the real reason is that many are just too cheap to pay NCL's prices for the drinks.

 

Yes, they do make a very high profit on all drinks, yet these high prices also help keep the ticket fares down. If NCL reduced prices for drinks, they would have to compensate by raising the fare prices. I would rather pay higher prices for my drinks than pay higher prices for my cruise.

[fozzyfoz]

How many bars ashore allow customers to BYOB? Few if any.

Yet passengers complain when they can't bring their own alcohol aboard a ship. Why?

 

Imagine going to McDonalds to eat with your bring your own Burger King Whopper? Do you think the McDonald's manager is going to be happy you decided to eat your Whopper at his fast food restaurant?

 

Why do some believe Norwegian will allow BYOB? Every bottle of alcohol smuggled aboard is potentially one less bottle sold aboard the ship. It's just like every Whopper eaten at a McDonald's restaurant is one less Quarter Pounder sold. McDonald's is in the business of selling Quarter Pounders, not in the business of renting tables and chairs for your convience.

 

Likewise, NCL is selling cruise vacations, and everything associated with a cruise vacation. The casino, the restaurants, the bars, the spas, the stores and the shore excursions all exist so NCL can sell you things so they can make a profit serving your needs.

 

The difference is if you dont want to pay land-based bar/restaurant prices for drinks you can always just drink at home. On a ship, your cabin is your home - it's your only private space. We used the NCL bar set-up on our cruise for drinks in our cabin - it was nice to have a drink in the cabin while dressing for dinner or while sitting on the balcony in pj's, etc. Having a bottle in the room did not stop us from drinking martinis, etc in the ship bars/lounges. Maybe if NCL publicized/marketing their bar set-up and offered a larger selection of alcohols then people would not turn to well wishers. I would not have known about the bar setup if not for cruisecritic. I dont mind paying the money at all, I just like having options.

 

I agree people take advantage of the situation and there are always those people who will hit the pool deck with a big gulp cup of rum and coke if they could get away with it, but MOST people dont plan on mixing drinks in their cabin and carrying them to the bars for the evening. I think most people would just like a happy median (and a few drinks in their cabins) and hopefully the cruise lines will keep that in mind.

[SANDPEBBLES]

The analogy of bringing one's own food into a McDonald's and smuggling one's own alcohol into a cruise cabin just doesn't quite make sense to me.

 

We pay huge sums of money to the cruise lines. Before we buy one drink, we have paid for cabins, food, entertainment, and transportation from port to port. While on the ship, most of us spend more in the casino, specialty restaurants, shore excursions, gift shop, etc.

 

Moreover, many of us book over a year in advance. Last week, I called NCL to doublecheck the winelist prices posted on their website. Several times I was told that the website was not current. Prices on many items had gone up. Other items were no longer available.

 

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm. If NCL is hiking prices (their right), don't they have an obligation to update the website for us to peruse with confidence (our right)?

 

Now, when I walk into McDonald's, I have paid nothing in advance. I am not tied to them in any way. If I don't like the prices, I can just walk out. In other words, I haven't paid several thousand dollars in advance to McDonald's. I haven't entered into an agreement with McDonald's that will cost me more money to cancel. I didn't invest in airfare to get to McDonald's. Finally, once I enter McDonald's, I am not obligated to stay inside for a week (or longer). Under these circumstances, I can't imagine why I would go inside a McDonald's to eat an Arby's Roast Beef 'n Cheddar!

 

My point is this: NCL can and should charge whatever they like for adult beverages. It just seems to me that booked cruisers should have an up to date website (at the very least).

 

I've never noted the prices posted on a McDonald's menu, only to be charged more after I ordered.

 

One other point: I often read on these boards that the cruise lines make their profit from sales of alcohol. I have no doubt that their profits are enhanced by such purchases. But, does this mean that those who have paid for a cruise, but don't drink, have left the cruise line high and dry? Hard for me to believe that.

[seahorse]

Why is it a necessity to drink in your cabin when there over a dozen bars and lounges aboard the ship? Cabins make lousy spaces for parties, as they are usually much too small.

 

Is it that difficult to walk 200 feet for a drink, which you can take back to your cabin? Is it that difficult to order a drink from room service when all you have to do is pick up the phone?

 

It's not wishing to drink in the cabin that's the reason many wish to bring their own alcohol aboard, the real reason is that many are just too cheap to pay NCL's prices for the drinks.

 

Yes, they do make a very high profit on all drinks, yet these high prices also help keep the ticket fares down. If NCL reduced prices for drinks, they would have to compensate by raising the fare prices. I would rather pay higher prices for my drinks than pay higher prices for my cruise.

 

I disagree.....wether you are in a suite.....balcony.......inside...people like to have a drink in their cabin. Did you ever order a Martini from room service?......yuck. Did you ever carry a drink back to your room?......half of it spills out before you get back:eek:

 

Being cheap is not the issue.......I book suites......I like to relax......invite friends over.....have dinner in my cabin......whatever. I don`t smuggle. I order a bar set-up even tho some people think it is way too expensive. Why?........I like the option of drinking a drink ,that I have made my way, in my cabin;)

[jetskier]

You can also over price your product which causes less of the product to be sold and people find other methods of meeting their needs. Cruise photos is a good example. If the prices were lowered, more would be sold instead of adding to the garbage volume.

 

Dave

[CSM]

My daughter just got back from a trip to Las Vegas where she said drink prices in all the lounges ranged from $8-$9. With a tip most alcoholic drinks were in the $10 range. That makes NCL prices seem to be right in line with other resorts.

[shoreguy]

I think you're spinning the issue a little. Nobody is suggesting that they would mix drinks at the bar or dining room on the ship with the booze they bring aboard the ship. They want to consume it in the cabin - thus the reason for the increase in the well-wishers orders - it's delivered to the cabins. I bring my own mix drink supplies to hotel rooms for a cocktail and I'm sure many people do as well.

 

 

Here is the rub. It had nothing to do with in cabin consumption. Many were bringing booze onboard not to consume in there cabins. I sat there last winter and watched CC members with a bottle of rum poolside adding it to the coke they got with a single soda card, I watched the year before a CC member take a small bottle of Baileys and add it to her coffee in the main dining room.

 

The thread on Wellwisher before was clear in the intent not to have some libation for the cabin but to drink it anywhere on the ship.

 

As I have posted over and over a few have ruined things for the rest of us.

[electricron]

Passengers were and would be drinking their BYOB everywhere on the ship, not just in their cabins. Every glass of BYOB drank elsewhere on the ship outside your cabin is stealing profits from NCL, but also stealing funds from every crew member depending upon their share of the auto 15% tip on alcohol.

 

The main booze cop aboard the Sun last month wasn't a security guard. He was very visible each evening serving drinks at the Stardust Theatre. I guess he was more thorough at his job because it's his and his shipmates salary he was protecting.

 

If you can't afford to pay resort alcohol prices aboard a cruise ship, maybe you can't afford to cruise.

[jander]

I can afford to pay resort alcohol prices, but I can also deceide to go where the prices are what I want to pay. Right now I can get better prices for drinks on RCCL. Not saying anything bad about NCL, but I'll go where I feel I am getting a better deal on drinks, because I like to party while on a cruise.

[shoreguy]

I can afford to pay resort alcohol prices, but I can also deceide to go where the prices are what I want to pay. Right now I can get better prices for drinks on RCCL. Not saying anything bad about NCL, but I'll go where I feel I am getting a better deal on drinks, because I like to party while on a cruise.

 

NCL prices have in fact just gone up but they are now about the same as RCCL. NCL wine selection and prices are still better. The one thing that is missing is the specials.

[jander]

Was on the Rhapsody Dec 4, domestic beer $3.00, Buy a bucket $15.00 for six. I don't think you get that on NCL. I like NCL very much, and have sailed 19 times with them, but again I'll go where I get what I want.

[shoreguy]

Was on the Rhapsody Dec 4, domestic beer $3.00, Buy a bucket $15.00 for six. I don't think you get that on NCL. I like NCL very much, and have sailed 19 times with them, but again I'll go where I get what I want.

 

We too - I looked to book the Voyager again last year from NJ - a balcony cabin was more the a penthouse suite on the Dawn. Like everything you have to look at the total cost not each price element.

 

At the end of the day how a cruise line gets our $ is not important but what that total is.

 

NCL is now 3.95 for a domestic beer. If you drink a 100 that is $95 more. Much better then the $600 extra for the balcony cabin.

[jander]

The cruise fare is set and will remain that way once it is purchased. The on board expenditures are not set, they can vary. Having choices is really great for the consumer.

[shoreguy]

The cruise fare is set and will remain that way once it is purchased. The on board expenditures are not set, they can vary. Having choices is really great for the consumer.

 

Yes it is - and when it is 100s more - I can control the total on the rest. Having choices is what I enjoy

[jander]

Wow, am I glad we got that taken care of.

[shoreguy]

Wow, am I glad we got that taken care of.

 

Me too - enjoy your next cruise no matter what ship it is on.

[jander]

To be honest, I'm interested in the new Spirit itinerary May 20, Ny to St Thomas, Tortola and Bermuda. Sailed the Spirit to Alaska last May and loved the ship. If the fare is right it will absorb the cost of my beer. Again it's great to have choices.

[electricron]

May 20 Spirit fares:

8 days departing May 20, 2006 with the following ports:

St. Thomas, Tortola, and King's Wharf, Bermuda

Inside $934

Oceanview $1,034

Balcony $1,414

Pnethouse Suite $3,729

Note: No mini-suites on the Spirit.

 

May 19 Explorer of the Sea fares:

9 days departing May 19, 2006 with the following ports:

St. Thomas, St. Maarten, San Juan and Labadee

Inside $1259

Oceanview $1549

Balcony $1869

Mini-Suite $2249

Penthouse or Owner Suite ?????

 

Difference in prices:

1259 - 934 = $325 per person, $650 double occupancy.

1549 - 1034 =$515 per person, $1030 double occupancy.

1869 - 1414 =$455 per person, $910 double occupancy.

 

At $1 more expensive beer and alcohol prices aboard NCL ships, you would have to drink 650 to 1030 drinks to make up the fare differences.

At $2 more expensive beer and alcohol prices aboard NCL ships, you would have to drink 325 to 515 drinks to make up the difference.

At $3 more expensive beer and alcohol prices aboard NCL ships, you would have to drink 217 to 343 drinks to make up the difference. On a 8 night cruise, that's 27 to 43 drinks per day. I don't know anyone who could drink that many drinks a day for a week.

[bkbc7]

Not surprising since NCL reads these boards. Problem started when there was a wave of posters taking advantage of what was a traditional Bon Voyage gift company and turning it into an alternate smuggling means. Like any business they will react when customers try and reach deep into their pockets.

 

You have a strange way of looking at things when NCL has the nerve

to charge $ 40-55 for a bottle of liquor in a bar setup that costs about $3.00

We're reaching into THEIR pockets ?? I think not !

 

BK

[shoreguy]

You have a strange way of looking at things when NCL has the nerve

to charge $ 40-55 for a bottle of liquor in a bar setup that costs about $3.00

We're reaching into THEIR pockets ?? I think not !

 

BK

 

Strange:confused: Wellwishers charges the same or more what am I missing. Perhaps you think the cruise lines and Wellwishers are not in business to make a profit.

[bkbc7]

How many bars ashore allow customers to BYOB? Few if any.

Yet passengers complain when they can't bring their own alcohol aboard a ship. Why?

 

Q.How many hotels allow patrons to bring their own liquor to their room ??

A. ALL of them

 

thats the answer to the "why"

 

BK

[WaldosPepper]

You have a strange way of looking at things when NCL has the nerve

to charge $ 40-55 for a bottle of liquor in a bar setup that costs about $3.00

We're reaching into THEIR pockets ?? I think not !

 

BK

 

Costs about $3.00? :confused: Sure, NCL is making a profit on the bar setup, but let's be reasonable here. The offerings are all branded, and I don't care how big a business is - they're not paying $3.00 a bottle for any branded liquor.