Anyone else decline the open bar option?

[HowardK]

On 6/6/2021 at 12:02 PM, jcscv said:

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.

 

I agree with you I had it on my 2 cruises in 2018 - and when I go to Alaska will decline it. I was spacing out a few drinks a day and got sick on both cruises although it could have been uncorrelated.

With early ports, and time away from the ship depending on the sailing- it is not worth it IMHO

[Sailing12Away]

28 minutes ago, Lovecruise247 said:

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?

No. Generally speaking, bottled water and specialty coffee (Starbucks) is an extra cost.

 

Drink package gets you unlimited soda, juice, mocktails, cocktails, beer, liquor and wine.

[boatseller]

48 minutes ago, Lovecruise247 said:

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?

Yes.....at least I recall getting bottles of water at the bar.  It wasn't a huge thing for me but I did get them.  It's not like Carnival where you have to go to the MDR.

[Jamesatgsu]

If not taking advantage of the offer, seems like you'd do the cheaper bare bones rate or book Carnival/MSC/RCL.

[AwesomO]

A drink a day would be a lot for us. If it included Starbucks, then maybe.... I could probably easily drink $20 worth of that a day ha. But otherwise, DH and I aren't drinkers, nor do we even care for soda or juice, and neither do our kids. Water and coffee or tea is basically what we drink, so a drink package just isn't worth it for us, even if it is a bargain. I'd rather pay out of pocket for the maybe 3 drinks tops I'd likely have during our 10 day cruise. I wish we could bring our own beverages on board still 😞

[flcraigs5]

We booked the Sky for January awhile back as sail away because when looking how much more it would cost with the options  ($800) we would never drink that much. For this trip we are better off purchasing onboard credit to cover the cost. That being said on all past cruises it was worth it to take the package.

[luckyinpa]

https://www.ncl.com/onboard-packages/beverage-packages

 

looks like only the super duper pack gets bottled water...gotta read the fine print

 

amazing you can get a 15 dollar shot of booze but not a 10 cent bottle of water. 

[PhillyTravelBug]

I don’t drink alcohol, so I kind of wish they would have the option of the drink package or soda package. It’s the only offer I decline.

[sprint180]

We decline.  We don't use the restaurant offer either.

[sirenitas]

9 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

https://www.ncl.com/onboard-packages/beverage-packages

 

looks like only the super duper pack gets bottled water...gotta read the fine print

 

amazing you can get a 15 dollar shot of booze but not a 10 cent bottle of water. 

On the POA bottles of water are included in the drink package.  Specialty coffee only in the dining room.

 

We do not do the sail away rate because there are 3 of us and it works out better for us to book with the promos.

I don't drink alcohol (maybe one or two on a cruise with the promo) but I am a soda addict.  If we had to pay the full amount we would never get the package but for $277 (2 people, POA, 7 days) it is a good deal for us. 

 

 

[DCGuy64]

My wife and I don't drink a huge amount, she especially, but it's still worth it for us to get the unlimited beverage package. She might imbibe 2-3 times over the course of a day (and I end up finishing her drinks 1/2 the time, anyway, LOL), and I generally consume about 4-5. But we both like sodas and water*, so it works out better just to pay in advance. I also like the freedom of knowing I don't have to pay every time, and the unlimited package allows me to try new drinks and give them back if I don't like the taste, without having to pay again. Another way of looking at is this: if our cabin costs just under $900 for 7 days (exclusive of taxes, fees, etc.) and the beverage package retails for $99/day, then it's like our room only costs us each $200! 😁

*I understand bottled water isn't included, but we always keep empty plastic water bottles and fill them up ourselves, and will order water or soda water at the bar, and it's still free.

Compared with Carnival and Royal, I think NCL's UBP is a bargain.

 

 

 

[greatestvalue]

5 hours ago, sirenitas said:

On the POA bottles of water are included in the drink package.  Specialty coffee only in the dining room.

 

We do not do the sail away rate because there are 3 of us and it works out better for us to book with the promos.

I don't drink alcohol (maybe one or two on a cruise with the promo) but I am a soda addict.  If we had to pay the full amount we would never get the package but for $277 (2 people, POA, 7 days) it is a good deal for us. 

 

 

Hi Sirenitas, 

 

Sorry what is POA? 

Thank you 

[tokidoki]

25 minutes ago, greatestvalue said:

Hi Sirenitas, 

 

Sorry what is POA? 

Thank you 

pride of america

[tokidoki]

A great perk by booking thru CAS dept,  (casinos at sea), is the free drinks at the casino bar, which includes bottled water!   We dont really drink much alcohol and are not big gamblers, but we were able to get discounts thru CAS when we had a Caesers credit card.   

[rabidstoat]

I stayed in the Haven once, where you get all the perks, and declined the beverage package because I don't drink alcohol. But I did drink a LOT of diet soda at the time so I bought the soda package. At that time, paying for the soda package plus 20% tips was cheaper than the 20% tips on my "free" beverage package.

[spanishguy1970]

We always decline the drinking package. We are not real drinkers and if we want something we just order it.

[spanishguy1970]

5 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

My wife and I don't drink a huge amount, she especially, but it's still worth it for us to get the unlimited beverage package. She might imbibe 2-3 times over the course of a day (and I end up finishing her drinks 1/2 the time, anyway, LOL), and I generally consume about 4-5. But we both like sodas and water*, so it works out better just to pay in advance. I also like the freedom of knowing I don't have to pay every time, and the unlimited package allows me to try new drinks and give them back if I don't like the taste, without having to pay again. Another way of looking at is this: if our cabin costs just under $900 for 7 days (exclusive of taxes, fees, etc.) and the beverage package retails for $99/day, then it's like our room only costs us each $200! 😁

*I understand bottled water isn't included, but we always keep empty plastic water bottles and fill them up ourselves, and will order water or soda water at the bar, and it's still free.

Compared with Carnival and Royal, I think NCL's UBP is a bargain.

 

 

 

I heard that Celebrity cruises drinking package the gratuities are included, is that true? I wonder if NCL will ever do that.

Edited June 8, 2021 by spanishguy1970

[Selion]

12 minutes ago, spanishguy1970 said:

I heard that Celebrity cruises drinking package the gratuities are included, is that true? I wonder if NCL will ever do that.

Princess's, too.  Given NCL's marketing for the past few years, I doubt they will include gratuities.  That'd make the drink package truly "free."  They can always hike up the cruise fares, but I don't think they would even do that as the lowest advertised rates shown are sailaway rates.

[CaptainWoody]

47 minutes ago, spanishguy1970 said:

I heard that Celebrity cruises drinking package the gratuities are included, is that true? I wonder if NCL will ever do that.

Are the drink packages free? 

[luckyinpa]

this says yes

 

https://www.celebritycruises.com/blog/cruise-drink-packages

 

If you’re looking to enjoy premium drinks on your cruise without having to worry about costs adding up during your vacation, then a cruise drink package is perfect for you. Thankfully, our Always Included pricing (as of November 17, 2020) includes a Classic Beverage Package and prepaid gratuities.

That means as soon as you step onto the ship, you’ll have the option to enjoy a selection of premium coffees, beers, cocktails, frozen drinks, and wines by the glass as part of your cruise fare. The Classic Beverage Package also offers a 15% discount on all wine bottles on board.

[CaptainWoody]

7 minutes ago, luckyinpa said:

this says yes

 

https://www.celebritycruises.com/blog/cruise-drink-packages

 

If you’re looking to enjoy premium drinks on your cruise without having to worry about costs adding up during your vacation, then a cruise drink package is perfect for you. Thankfully, our Always Included pricing (as of November 17, 2020) includes a Classic Beverage Package and prepaid gratuities.

That means as soon as you step onto the ship, you’ll have the option to enjoy a selection of premium coffees, beers, cocktails, frozen drinks, and wines by the glass as part of your cruise fare. The Classic Beverage Package also offers a 15% discount on all wine bottles on board.

Thanks.  That's interesting.  It looks like not long before Covid Celebrity tried to match the competition.  I'm not sure what impact the $9 vs. $15 limit would have.

[Nebr.cruiser]

We rarely drink, so we always opt out of the drink package, since the grats on that are so high.  What I don't understand is why our cruise rate doesn't go down at least somewhat if we aren't taking the drinks, which have to cost the cruise a lot.  

 

We usually choose dining and and it seems like the wifi and port money are always included.  I would much rather have tips included rather than the $50 per port, which we would rarely use, at least before Covid.

[DCGuy64]

4 minutes ago, Nebr.cruiser said:

We rarely drink, so we always opt out of the drink package, since the grats on that are so high.  What I don't understand is why our cruise rate doesn't go down at least somewhat if we aren't taking the drinks, which have to cost the cruise a lot.  

 

We usually choose dining and and it seems like the wifi and port money are always included.  I would much rather have tips included rather than the $50 per port, which we would rarely use, at least before Covid.

That’s why I don’t understand why people decide to forego the FAS deal. When I compare prices it’s only $150 cheaper without the drinks package, Internet and specialty dining. The gratuities charge isn’t really all that much. What is it, 20%? 

[Nebr.cruiser]

Just now, DCGuy64 said:

That’s why I don’t understand why people decide to forego the FAS deal. When I compare prices it’s only $150 cheaper without the drinks package, Internet and specialty dining. The gratuities charge isn’t really all that much. What is it, 20%? 

Well if you don't drink paying several hundred dollars in grats is a lot.  We don't even drink much pop.  And water, coffee isn't included.  I guess if we had to take the drinks package we might have a drink or two, but it's just not something either of us need/want.

 

We do like the specialty dining.  Probably for us we should just do the sailaway rate and pay ala carte for any specialty dinners we want.

[DCGuy64]

If you don’t go on a cruise to drink, then you’re doing it wrong! LOL

(kidding, of course, I know not everyone is interested in a booze cruise)  

The way I see it, we pay X amount for our cabin and the gratuity cost IS the cost of the drinks. Which for my money is cheap! I’m paying $138.60 for 7 days of drinking which is less than $20/day. That’s a bargain! I couldn’t

even get the room for the price NCL gives me included drinks (before gratuity)