Premium Plus Beverage Package

[smplybcause]

59 minutes ago, Kdiamond55 said:

I’d bathe in Verve Cliquot if I could, so I’d love to upgrade to it for my upcoming Bliss cruise this Sunday but I don’t see it offered online at this point. Maybe when I get onboard. I already have the UBP.

 

From all I've read it's available on board only. 

[Twipenne]

On 7/15/2019 at 7:55 PM, YankeesFan4Life said:

Here's a better question, totally not to sound cheap...since I've already spent a small fortune on this cruise anyway, what's another couple hundred, right??

 

Wife and I are booked in separate rooms...one each with a kid, did it that way to gain extra OBC (so again, no complaints about spending a couple hundred....)  What if I took the PPBP,  and she stuck with the PBP, and I went to the bar and ordered two drinks on the PPBP???  Ordered ONE bottle of wine at dinner and shared (which she did on her Sky cruise in May with no issues)......Is that a bad idea?  Think the bartenders would hesitate giving me TWO drinks worth $35 at a time???  Or should I just stick with the plan of both getting the package?  Inquiring minds want to know.....

 

 

I'm a solo traveller, so I never looked too heavily into how Norwegian stands on this, but I have heard some lines have in their fine print that "same cabin" extends to every cabin bolted with the same credit card. So, if NCL follows that logic (provided you and the wife aren't paying for your trips separately), you might be SOL right out of the gate. 

 

If they don't, then how lucky do you feel? You're breaking the rules. You know it. (And this isn't a lecture; I really don't care whether others follow the rules. I'm just stating facts.) Is the savings worth the risk of whatever might happen if you get caught? 

[Kdiamond55]

2 hours ago, smplybcause said:

 

From all I've read it's available on board only. 

Thanks for the info! 🍾

[Goldconnection]

Glad we are not drinkers.

[YankeesFan4Life]

3 hours ago, Goldconnection said:

Glad we are not drinkers.

Does that make us bad people? 

[bkrickles1]

On 7/15/2019 at 7:55 PM, YankeesFan4Life said:

Here's a better question, totally not to sound cheap...since I've already spent a small fortune on this cruise anyway, what's another couple hundred, right??

 

Wife and I are booked in separate rooms...one each with a kid, did it that way to gain extra OBC (so again, no complaints about spending a couple hundred....)  What if I took the PPBP,  and she stuck with the PBP, and I went to the bar and ordered two drinks on the PPBP???  Ordered ONE bottle of wine at dinner and shared (which she did on her Sky cruise in May with no issues)......Is that a bad idea?  Think the bartenders would hesitate giving me TWO drinks worth $35 at a time???  Or should I just stick with the plan of both getting the package?  Inquiring minds want to know.....

I believe you'd be fine.

The bartenders will definitely give you 2 drinks, regardless of cost, if it's included in your package. 

It is cheating so you have to be ok with that.

Lots of people cheat the drink packages but the cruise lines don't help with their crazy pricing for the packages/drinks and the way they force everyone in the same cabin to purchase a package.

RCCL had the right idea when they allowed only 1 person in a cabin to purchase the package, but I believe they may have changed that back a couple of years ago.

I will drink all day on vacation while my wife might have 2 drinks in a day. I always get my moneys worth and my wife, not so much. It's a little unfair if you're actually paying for the package and it's why I'm booked on my 3rd NCL cruise because it's much more palatable to get the "free" package and only pay the gratuities.

I will not be upgrading to the PPBP as that's overkill for me. I'm totally fine staying within the $15 and under limit.

Have a great trip!

 

[beckyboo1986]

So I have the beverage package included with my free at sea package, am I reading right that I can't get a specialist coffee on my package? What about smoothies if they have a healthy café?

[dcs1989]

We booked a 2 bedroom suite on the escape and are bringing along the in-laws.

 

For the included perks, we get the regular drink package and the in-laws dont.  They are not big drinkers so they are not paying for the drink package and they are not required when its a perk.

If we choose to upgrade,  will the in-laws be required to pay for the full  Premium Plus plan   or will we be able to just upgrade us two and leave them as is?  I've contacted NCL and they say its not a problem and they wont be required but I often find what they say...and what actually happens are two different things.  Has anyone actually done this?  

[smplybcause]

1 hour ago, beckyboo1986 said:

So I have the beverage package included with my free at sea package, am I reading right that I can't get a specialist coffee on my package? What about smoothies if they have a healthy café?

 

PBP 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 Great Stirrup Cay.

 

The Premium Beverage Package does not include room service, package sales, ship specific promotions or beer buckets, designated Super Premium brands (subject to change), bottled wine, mini bar purchases, bottled water, fresh squeezed juices, select Lavazza coffee beverages, energy drinks, vending machines, wine stations or spirits, cocktails, draft or bottled beer and glasses of wine over $15 USD.

 

https://www.ncl.com/terms/premium-beverage-package

 

If there's some place on the ship that serves smoothies that's not a mocktail, none of those. That I'm aware of. 

[Kdiamond55]

5 hours ago, YankeesFan4Life said:

Does that make us bad people? 

Oh lawd I sure hope not! Lol. I’ll never understand these ridiculous comments “Glad we’re not drinkers”. Like what is your point?

[kfnesq]

18 hours ago, rwest898 said:

I thought I read on an earlier post that Starbucks was included for the specialty coffee.  It's not a deal breaker for me if it's not but I guess I can call and verify.

Starbucks is absolutely included; we went there every morning on the Jade a couple of months ago and used Premium Plus with no issues.

[rwest898]

11 minutes ago, kfnesq said:

Starbucks is absolutely included; we went there every morning on the Jade a couple of months ago and used Premium Plus with no issues.

Thank you!!

[podgeandrodge]

19 hours ago, esm54687 said:

Something that may matter to people.... specialty coffees (espresso, cappuccino, etc) are available ONLY in the dining room

So what I gather from other posters, what you have said is not true? Are you in agreement?

[esm54687]

10 minutes ago, podgeandrodge said:

So what I gather from other posters, what you have said is not true? Are you in agreement?

Well, based on my experience in May 2019 on the Gem...... I am in agreement that I personally did not enjoy that same benefit that other posters did. But that doesn't suprise me either because of the different answers you get from PCCs about things as well as posters experiencing staff's different interpretation of the SDP T&Cs 

[podgeandrodge]

1 minute ago, esm54687 said:

Well, based on my experience in May 2019 on the Gem...... I am in agreement that I personally did not enjoy that same benefit that other posters did. But that doesn't suprise me either because of the different answers you get from PCCs about things as well as posters experiencing staff's different interpretation of the SDP T&Cs 

I do know on my last NCL cruise, with the "normal beverage package", specialty coffee was only in the dining rooms. I think the premium plus removes this limitation.  The extra cost for me, being a beer drinker, is not enough to justify just for the water and coffee though. 

[ollienbertsmum]

On 7/16/2019 at 12:42 PM, El_Rolfo said:

You guys feel okay with paying $129 (at least on paper) for drinks per day?

Absolutely not.  

 

I pay the tips on the drinks package and I feel that we have broken even and had a good cruise.  $129 is more than my drinks bill for a month at home.   

[tanyaewa]

It’s really worth it for the bottles of wine at dinner.

And dont get me started on the Veuve! 🍾🥂

[YankeesFan4Life]

14 hours ago, tanyaewa said:

It’s really worth it for the bottles of wine at dinner.

And dont get me started on the Veuve! 🍾🥂

 

As much as I like Veuve, there's plenty of other great Champagnes out there, but there's nothing wrong with Yellow Label!  Did you guys also see there's Feuillate Rose???  That's a terrific bottle of Rose Champagne!  Personally, I'm a Roederer or Laurent-Perrier drinker, but if it's included, I'll drink it!!!!!

[Zippeedee]

5 hours ago, YankeesFan4Life said:

 

As much as I like Veuve, there's plenty of other great Champagnes out there, but there's nothing wrong with Yellow Label!  Did you guys also see there's Feuillate Rose???  That's a terrific bottle of Rose Champagne!  Personally, I'm a Roederer or Laurent-Perrier drinker, but if it's included, I'll drink it!!!!!

I just wish there were plenty of other good champagne choices on the ship for less than $30 a glass. Even just paying the difference is a bit steep. The prosecco choices are pretty horrible.  I feel like they are holding my beloved Veuve hostage!  My next cruise is 21 days. There is no way I will drink enough to justify the upgrade price!

[UFMOM]

The Veuve, Botanist gin, Whistle Pig, possibly Blantons, sparkling water and Starbucks are making me seriously consider this for the Encore.  Just want to see what high end wines by the glass are available in the Cellar before I push the button on this.

  Also we will be eating in the specialties for the whole cruise. Are the included select free wines by the bottle included if you are dining there and not the mdr?

 

Mary Ann

 

 

[aero777]

6 hours ago, YankeesFan4Life said:

 

As much as I like Veuve, there's plenty of other great Champagnes out there, but there's nothing wrong with Yellow Label!  Did you guys also see there's Feuillate Rose???  That's a terrific bottle of Rose Champagne!  Personally, I'm a Roederer or Laurent-Perrier drinker, but if it's included, I'll drink it!!!!!

 

Yes, it was excellent!

 

[bboop51]

On 7/15/2019 at 2:51 PM, PTC DAWG said:

Yes, and yes. 

This is really disappointing.  I can't drink at all.  The hubby would love the upgrade if we book. But to upgrade both of us for him to get this would be absurd.

[tanyaewa]

12 hours ago, Zippeedee said:

I just wish there were plenty of other good champagne choices on the ship for less than $30 a glass. Even just paying the difference is a bit steep. The prosecco choices are pretty horrible.  I feel like they are holding my beloved Veuve hostage!  My next cruise is 21 days. There is no way I will drink enough to justify the upgrade price!

No way I could drink 21 bottles of wine in 21 days.....

but 7 in 7? I can give that a try for sure 

[YankeesFan4Life]

13 hours ago, bboop51 said:

This is really disappointing.  I can't drink at all.  The hubby would love the upgrade if we book. But to upgrade both of us for him to get this would be absurd.

Not sure about NCL, but in Royal I've heard that if one person in the cabin has extenuating circumstances like a medical or recovering they would let the one person have the package. Best of luck! 

[Voelfgar]

10 hours ago, tanyaewa said:

No way I could drink 21 bottles of wine in 21 days.....

but 7 in 7? I can give that a try for sure 

On the cruise we just got back from, we brought 6 bottles of wine with us from home, so had a bottle with dinner 6 of the 7 nights.