Anyone else decline the open bar option?

[Derbie]

My husband drinks about 15 beers a year, and I don't drink at all.  I had the TA remove this option for us on our December cruise, since I didn't feel the $200 standard tip was a fair trade on what probably will be 5 beers during the cruise. I wish the line would offer another option for non-drinkers, such as possibly a port excursion or a dinning experience, coffee bar trade.  We are good solid tippers, so we will gladly tip on anything my husband drinks while on our trip.  Just curious if anyone else was ever able to get an alternate offering on the ship; rather than, the open bar?  Thanks in advance for the valuable input!

[KeithJenner]

The standard offer, unless you book a suite or there is an offer on, is that you pick from a selection of offers (usually here in the UK it is select two, I think the US is the same), so that is where you select an alternative.

 

If there is a pick all offer on then you are already doing better than standard bookings, so I would just enjoy the others.

[MsTabbyKats]

This is why we do "sailaway" rate (can always upgrade if cabin is awful).  Neither of us drink nor do we want extra food.

We still get the $50/port excursion credit.

To answer your question: you cannot substitute the open bar with another "freebie"

[CroozFanatic]

I decline.

 

I just wish NCL would put the "up to $2900 in value" in my on-board account and let me decline all of the offers.

 

 

 

[Capitan Obvious]

Back before NCL offered the drink package (by norming it across all guests and including the cost in the fare), the popular refrain on CC was that people wished NCL would just include the drinks so they don't have to worry about the bar bill.

 

Quite ironic, no? 

[Sailing12Away]

48 minutes ago, CroozFanatic said:

I decline.

 

I just wish NCL would put the "up to $2900 in value" in my on-board account and let me decline all of the offers.

You can decline all offers - it's called the "Sailaway Rate". Tends to be a bit lower than the same cabin offering that comes with the perks.

 

Depending on your cabin choice you either get 0 freebies, pick 2 freebies or take all 5. For non drinkers, just pick the port excursion credit and free dining or internet. The dining credit is definitely worth it - I think the gratuities you pay on it come out to about $20, so you're paying $20 for a $100 meal. Definitely worth it in my eyes to have another option to try out.

[saltsandknit]

My mother declines the drink package and internet. She doesn’t drink alcohol or soda. She doesn’t use the internet. 
We use everything I am really happy it is all offered. Drink packages on other lines are around 800$ for 2 for a week. 

[robcolem]

I either decline the drinks package or opt for the specialaty dining instead.

[nicoleinwi]

Yep decline drink package, and we drink.  But we have maybe 1 drink each a day (DH & I) and for our next cruise 2 days are late port days so those wouldn't have a ship drink.  We will come out ahead paying for our drinks out of pocket vs the tips on the free package.  I remember a cruise maybe 6 years ago where we had the free drink package and it was straight up free, no added tips. We took it then. 

[Yinster]

In the UK we get gratitudes added with the drink package so it's definitely free for us. Not that I drink. I'm teetotal but my partner drinks. So we never worry about any extra costs. 

 

I do understand why people want the option of which freebie to choose from. But in the UK the drink package is a very good offer. I get soda or smoothie instead. 

 

 

[KeithJenner]

27 minutes ago, Yinster said:

In the UK we get gratitudes added with the drink package so it's definitely free for us. Not that I drink. I'm teetotal but my partner drinks. So we never worry about any extra costs. 

 

I do understand why people want the option of which freebie to choose from. But in the UK the drink package is a very good offer. I get soda or smoothie instead. 

 

 

Whilst we don't pay the gratuities, we do need to pay extra in order to be able to select free at sea options, so they are not free for us.

 

What the UK method means is that we pay the same amount regardless of whether we select the beverage package. That means that getting that package has a similar cost to the US, but anyone who doesn't drink pays a lot extra for the other offers. If I didn't drink then it's unlikely that £198 for a 7 day cruise would be worth it for us for the other offers.

Edited June 6, 2021 by KeithJenner

[Yinster]

13 minutes ago, KeithJenner said:

Whilst we don't pay the gratuities, we do need to pay extra in order to be able to select free at sea options, so they are not free for us.

 

What the UK method means is that we pay the same amount regardless of whether we select the beverage package. That means that getting that package has a similar cost to the US, but anyone who doesn't drink pays a lot extra for the other offers. If I didn't drink then it's unlikely that £198 for a 7 day cruise would be worth it for us for the other offers.

That's true. But when the drinks are about £10 or more per glass it's adds up really quickly. Plus you usually get two of the five so it's not just the drink package.

 

When they introduced the free at sea, you could choose which offer instead of having the drink package plus one other. This was when speciality dining was unlimited.

 

What I was trying to say is that once you bought the offer, then there's nothing more to pay unlike the Americans who still have to pay for gratitudes per drink 

[Selion]

3 hours ago, MsTabbyKats said:

This is why we do "sailaway" rate (can always upgrade if cabin is awful). 

 

One note - Check the total fares if you are going to fly to the port of embarkation.  When booking Sailaway rates, you won't qualify for any air promo.  Take the air cost (NCL or independent) into account, then compare the total costs.

 

Case in point, last month I was checking out NCL Gem out of Dominican Republic and comparing two different balcony categories.  I was surprised the sailaway rate was only $50pp lower than the other even with all "gratuities" included.  Then I noticed the air component's costs shot up to $1000 and negating any savings on the cruise itself.

Edited June 6, 2021 by Selion

[MsTabbyKats]

4 minutes ago, Selion said:

 

One note - Check the total fares if you are going to fly to the port of embarkation.  When booking Sailaway rates, you won't qualify for any air promo.  Take the air cost (NCL or independent) into account, then compare the total costs.

 

Case in point, last month I was checking out NCL Gem out of Dominican Republic and comparing two different balcony categories.  I was surprised the sailaway rate was only $50pp lower than the other even with all "gratuities" included.  Then I noticed the air component's costs shot up to $1000 and negating any savings on the cruise itself.

I'm lucky....I can walk to my port (but take a cab due to luggage).

But I get it....you have to weigh all the factors and what looks like a bargain may not really be a bargain!

[Derbie]

Thanks everyone!  I do see where someone else posted a similar idea a little after this post of mine was loaded up. We had the package removed, and I think next time we will do the Sailaway rate and call it a day. Thanks again

 

[jcscv]

It depends on the itinerary of the cruise if I get the drink package.  I don't want to feel like I have to force myself to get my money's worth. If the cruise is port intensive, and I know I'll be off the ship a lot, I'll pass on the package, and just order drinks as I want them.  If there's a lot of sea days, or short port stops, I may decide to go with it.  It's just figuring out if you'll get your money's worth with it.

 

[dbrown84]

the problem with just declining the drink package is you're only saving on the gratuities (about $20 a day).  NCL is still making out big because of the cost of the drink package is already included in your cruise fare.  Luckily, I cruise on casino comps so the price of the drink package is not a concern.  I still decline it though rather than pay the gratuities since I also get free drinks in the casino.  I'm limited to only the casino bar, but this has never been a problem for me. 

[tony s]

I love the drink package but the high services charge,not. Fairest thing is either lower it to 15 or 10 percent.  I believe folks would then give more for good service. This overpriced mandate gives no incentive for good service. I have also seen and it is wrong folks giving less on the disc. Maybe it should be a straight 20 percent for all.

[Sailing12Away]

If you take the drink package promotion, it works out to roughly 3 alcoholic beverages/day per person to break even. So if that is a lot for you, skip it and pay as you go.

 

For others like myself, challenge accepted! It's not to say that we plan on having a cocktail every hour of the day, but with the package you can try out those specialty drinks without worrying if you just wasted $12 on something you don't enjoy. You can have a mimosa at breakfast, a beer at lunch, and a glass of wine at dinner without having to keep track of your budget. You're on vacation, enjoy yourself.

[RaftingJeremy]

8 hours ago, Capitan Obvious said:

Back before NCL offered the drink package (by norming it across all guests and including the cost in the fare), the popular refrain on CC was that people wished NCL would just include the drinks so they don't have to worry about the bar bill.

 

Quite ironic, no? 

I would never decline this. It’s the biggest expense and I love having it already included. I would say it’s wildly popular with most people 

[CaptainWoody]

6 minutes ago, RaftingJeremy said:

I would never decline this. It’s the biggest expense and I love having it already included. I would say it’s wildly popular with most people 

I'm guessing that most of us rats would agree with you.  That said, some people for many good reasons don't drink alcohol, and for them it certainly makes sense to avoid spending dollars needlessly.  There are others who don't drink alcohol for no good reason.  I don't travel with such people.  I know a few, but they generally aren't much fun to be around.

 

As long as the ship's captain isn't drunk, it's all good...

Edited June 6, 2021 by CaptainWoody

[Two Wheels Only]

7 hours ago, Yinster said:

What I was trying to say is that once you bought the offer, then there's nothing more to pay unlike the Americans who still have to pay for gratitudes per drink 

 

Americans pay the 20% on the package, not per drink. Having 5 drinks would cost the same as having 50 drinks.

[boatseller]

Keep in mind, you don't have to buy alcohol.  It covers anything they can make/mix/serve at the bar.  The coffee situation is it but muddy, depending on the ship but it should be included as well.

[Lovecruise247]

On 6/6/2021 at 12:01 PM, Derbie said:

Thanks everyone!  I do see where someone else posted a similar idea a little after this post of mine was loaded up. We had the package removed, and I think next time we will do the Sailaway rate and call it a day. Thanks again

 

We usually opt for the Sailaway rate, because we don’t really drink much.  For my next booking, though, I opted for the Free At Sea rate, because triple points are not offered on the Sailaway rate.  Then, we went ahead & declined the drinks package; didn’t want to pay nearly $200 in tips for maybe, 3-4 drinks, max.

[Lovecruise247]

On 6/6/2021 at 6:06 PM, boatseller said:

Keep in mind, you don't have to buy alcohol.  It covers anything they can make/mix/serve at the bar.  The coffee situation is it but muddy, depending on the ship but it should be included as well.

This is something I hadn’t considered when I declined the drinks package.  We usually buy bottled water while on board, is water included in the drinks package?