FAS Drink Pkg Gratuity up 10% for 2023

[laudergayle]

I was looking at additional cruises for 2023 and it appears that the FAS drink gratuity is now $21.80 pp, pd.  They raised the retail value from $99 to $109 pp, pd.  This change happened after 8/15/2022.   I wonder if they will raise the drink maximum from $15 to $16? 

[Two Wheels Only]

We knew that the price increase was coming. PBP going from $99 to $109 and PPBP going from $128 to $138 was shown on the NCL PDF that lists the available drink options but we didn't know when it would happen. Last week, it was still the old FAS services charges ($19.80pppd for PBP) but now it's higher. 

 

It's still showing a $15 per drink coverage with the new retail prices, though.  

 

Found some more info if purchased....

 

ITEM #: UBP

With the Unlimited Open Bar Package, enjoy a wide selection of beverages both on board and at Great Stirrup Cay. Here’s what you get:

• Select, premium cocktails & spirits under $15 USD (such as Patron Silver, Grey Goose and more)
• A variety of beer and wine by the glass under $15 USD
• 20% off all bottles of champagne and wine
• Unlimited soft drinks and juices
• (6) 1L Flow Water bottles delivered to your stateroom on embarkation day

Please Note: The Unlimited Open Bar Package is included with your reservation if you booked through Free at Sea.

Must be purchased for all guests 21+ on the same reservation. Individuals under 21 must purchase the Soda Package.  A 20% gratuity and beverage service charge will be added at checkout. See Terms and Conditions for full details.

*For sailings prior to January 1, 2023, the price will be $99 per person, per day and will NOT include Flow Water.

Edited September 21, 2022 by Two Wheels Only

[Two Wheels Only]

FAS Terms have been updated....

 

For sailings prior to January 1, 2023:
o Guests are responsible for 20% gratuities on the retail value of the Unlimited Open Bar Package ($19.80 USD per person per day) and/or Soda Package ($1.59 USD per person per day) prior to cruise
o Retail value of Unlimited Open Bar Package is $99.00 USD per person per day. Package price is subject to change

 

For sailings on or after to January 1, 2023:
o Guests are responsible for 20% gratuities on the retail value of the Unlimited Open Bar Package ($21.80 USD per person per day) and/or Soda Package ($1.59 USD per person per day) prior to cruise
o Retail value of Unlimited Open Bar Package is $109.00 USD per person per day. Package price is subject to change

[PATRLR]

18 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

We knew that the price increase was coming. PBP going from $99 to $109 and PPBP going from $128 to $138 was shown on the NCL PDF that lists the available drink options but we didn't know when it would happen. Last week, it was still the old FAS services charges ($19.80pppd for PBP) but now it's higher. 

 

It's still showing a $15 per drink coverage with the new retail prices, though.  

 

Found some more info if purchased....

 

ITEM #: UBP

With the Unlimited Open Bar Package, enjoy a wide selection of beverages both on board and at Great Stirrup Cay. Here’s what you get:

• Select, premium cocktails & spirits under $15 USD (such as Patron Silver, Grey Goose and more)
• A variety of beer and wine by the glass under $15 USD
• 20% off all bottles of champagne and wine
• Unlimited soft drinks and juices
• (6) 1L Flow Water bottles delivered to your stateroom on embarkation day

Please Note: The Unlimited Open Bar Package is included with your reservation if you booked through Free at Sea.

Must be purchased for all guests 21+ on the same reservation. Individuals under 21 must purchase the Soda Package.  A 20% gratuity and beverage service charge will be added at checkout. See Terms and Conditions for full details.

*For sailings prior to January 1, 2023, the price will be $99 per person, per day and will NOT include Flow Water.

So everyone who gets the drink package (which is a majority of cabins, I believe) is going to get 6 boxes of water delivered to their room?  That seems like a recipe for a tremendous amount of waste.

 

[spanishguy1970]

Well Del Rio did admit to raising prices again, he can always squeeze from cruises a little more money here and there, so not surprising 🙂

[Two Wheels Only]

4 minutes ago, PATRLR said:

So everyone who gets the drink package (which is a majority of cabins, I believe) is going to get 6 boxes of water delivered to their room?  That seems like a recipe for a tremendous amount of waste.

 

That's what it seems like. When I first saw it, I thought that it was 1 box per guest 1&2 but it looks like they will get a $19.95 (plus 20% 😛) 6-pack for $2 pppd more than what's currently charged. 

 

 

[ChiefMateJRK]

10 minutes ago, PATRLR said:

So everyone who gets the drink package (which is a majority of cabins, I believe) is going to get 6 boxes of water delivered to their room?  That seems like a recipe for a tremendous amount of waste.

 

Aren't cardboard and water both renewable?

[Two Wheels Only]

9 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Aren't cardboard and water both renewable?

 

"The revolutionary company focuses on an impact model, taking into consideration both how the water is sourced and packaged. Flow is 100% spring water in a plant-based carton. The carton is made of 82% renewable materials – the paper carton is made from trees grown in responsibly-managed forests and the cap and shoulder are made from a sugarcane-based plastic. It is refillable and recyclable." - NCL

[Katie H]

I have cruises booked in February and April and my invoice shows the $19.80 pp/pd charge for drink package.  Will they revise the invoice or am I grandfathered in at that price? 

[cruiseny4life]

40 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

For sailings on or after to January 1, 2023:
o Guests are responsible for 20% gratuities on the retail value of the Unlimited Open Bar Package ($21.80 USD per person per day) and/or Soda Package ($1.59 USD per person per day) prior to cruise
o Retail value of Unlimited Open Bar Package is $109.00 USD per person per day. Package price is subject to change

@Katie H, this post answers your question.

[PATRLR]

23 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Aren't cardboard and water both renewable?

Perhaps those two materials are renewable.  Still takes a lot of energy and other resources to produce and transport the product.  And by transport I mean all the way to your cabin. 

[Two Wheels Only]

3 minutes ago, Katie H said:

I have cruises booked in February and April and my invoice shows the $19.80 pp/pd charge for drink package.  Will they revise the invoice or am I grandfathered in at that price? 

 

Based on my past NCL bookings when changes happened after I booked, you should be locked into what you were originally charged and grandfathered. 

 

You might not get the water boxes but the staff will probably be so used to giving nearly everyone a case, you could score a 6-pack. 

 

[Katie H]

1 minute ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

Based on my past NCL bookings when changes happened after I booked, you should be locked into what you were originally charged and grandfathered. 

 

You might not get the water boxes but the staff will probably be so used to giving nearly everyone a case, you could score a 6-pack. 

 

That does seem the most likely scenario.  Not sure I care about the water.  We already get 4 boxes for Diamond level.  Just more stuff to take up space in the cabin.

[ChiefMateJRK]

32 minutes ago, Katie H said:

I have cruises booked in February and April and my invoice shows the $19.80 pp/pd charge for drink package.  Will they revise the invoice or am I grandfathered in at that price? 

It is highly unlikely that a cruise after 1/1/23, that has already been booked and invoiced, will have any increase in prices.  That never happens with anything else, so why would it happen here?

[dandelpino]

1 hour ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Aren't cardboard and water both renewable?

Technically speaking, yes. Practically speaking, no.

 

The cardboard bottles have to be plastic or wax lined because cardboard alone is obviously not waterproof. The lining needs to be stripped from the cardboard before recycling. Striping the lining is a challenging process that adds cost and isn't available everywhere. It's a great way to make recycled cardboard pulp more expensive than new/virgin cardboard pulp.

 

• “To me, it’s a little bit ludicrous to put your water in a carton and claim that that is more sustainable than putting it in a plastic bottle which is, in fact, more readily recyclable,” says Darby Hoover, a senior resource specialist with the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90421638/boxed-water-isnt-the-environmental-solution-they-want-you-to-think-it-is

 

Putting water in a cardboard box is just a greenwashing stunt to make people feel like they're doing a good thing when in fact the empty cardboard boxes are more likely to end up in landfills. 

[ULCajunCruiser]

56 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

@Katie H, this post answers your question.

Does it???

[ChiefMateJRK]

11 minutes ago, dandelpino said:

Technically speaking, yes. Practically speaking, no.

 

The cardboard bottles have to be plastic or wax lined because cardboard alone is obviously not waterproof. The lining needs to be stripped from the cardboard before recycling. Striping the lining is a challenging process that adds cost and isn't available everywhere. It's a great way to make recycled cardboard pulp more expensive than new/virgin cardboard pulp.

 

• “To me, it’s a little bit ludicrous to put your water in a carton and claim that that is more sustainable than putting it in a plastic bottle which is, in fact, more readily recyclable,” says Darby Hoover, a senior resource specialist with the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90421638/boxed-water-isnt-the-environmental-solution-they-want-you-to-think-it-is

 

Putting water in a cardboard box is just a greenwashing stunt to make people feel like they're doing a good thing when in fact the empty cardboard boxes are more likely to end up in landfills. 

Thanks.  I learned something.  Honestly though, to call five small extra cardboard boxes of water "tremendous waste" likely goes beyond hyperbole.  I pack my hydro flask and fill it with ice water in the observation lounge (or several other venues).  I have delicious ice cold water all day long and I've just saved the environment, which lets me give dirty looks to those with those awful cardboard boxes.

 

(disclaimer: I would never actually do that)😎

[ChiefMateJRK]

1 minute ago, ULCajunCruiser said:

Does it???

not really

[ULCajunCruiser]

Just now, ChiefMateJRK said:

not really

Glad we agree

[PATRLR]

3 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Thanks.  I learned something.  Honestly though, to call five small extra cardboard boxes of water "tremendous waste" likely goes beyond hyperbole. 

Let's say 75% of the cabins get the drink package.  On the Encore that's about 1500 cabins.  6 cartons of water per cabin - 9000 cartons every single week of a product that I'd guess the overwhelming majority of cabins would otherwise go without.  Even if 50% of those 1500 cabin would otherwise purchase the water, that still leaves 4500 cartons that aren't necessary.  

If that's not tremendous waste, I don't know what is.

[schmoopie17]

2 minutes ago, PATRLR said:

Let's say 75% of the cabins get the drink package.  On the Encore that's about 1500 cabins.  6 cartons of water per cabin - 9000 cartons every single week of a product that I'd guess the overwhelming majority of cabins would otherwise go without.  Even if 50% of those 1500 cabin would otherwise purchase the water, that still leaves 4500 cartons that aren't necessary.  

If that's not tremendous waste, I don't know what is.

Wouldn't you think NCL would simply take any unopened water and give it to another cabin on the next sailing? Something tells me they're not going to toss them.

[ChiefMateJRK]

2 minutes ago, schmoopie17 said:

Wouldn't you think NCL would simply take any unopened water and give it to another cabin on the next sailing? Something tells me they're not going to toss them.

Exactly.  Our friends can be green if they want to.  Those cartons that have price tags on them in cabins certainly just sit there until somebody pays the price.  Just like crap in the mini-bar.  That said, of all the TONS of stuff consumed on each cruise (much wasted), that cardboard and water is noise.  I really don't even understand why the water is part of the discussion.

[PATRLR]

26 minutes ago, schmoopie17 said:

Wouldn't you think NCL would simply take any unopened water and give it to another cabin on the next sailing? Something tells me they're not going to toss them.

Who said those 4500 that weren't necessary, aren't opened?  Put them in rooms, people are going to use some of them.  Going into port?  Pop a couple in your backpack and probably get tossed somewhere along the way.  

But sure thing folks, thousands of extra bottles of water isn't tremendous waste, it's hyperbole.  @ChiefMateJRKyou win.  

[ChiefMateJRK]

37 minutes ago, PATRLR said:

But sure thing folks, thousands of extra bottles of water isn't tremendous waste, it's hyperbole.  @ChiefMateJRKyou win.  

So you want to outlaw bottled (boxed) water?  Good luck with that!

 

(disclaimer: I'm already doing my part with my Hydro Flask, Brita Pitcher and ice from my freezer.  You can quit your whining and thank me now. 🤣)

[PATRLR]

14 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

So you want to outlaw bottled (boxed) water?  Good luck with that!

 

What are you talking about?  I never said anything about outlawing anything.   Do NOT put words in my mouth.  

If you must carry on this confrontational persona that you seem to enjoy, it would be a lot more effective if you at least tried to comprehend what is written and not make things up to confront people with.  

 

14 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

You can quit your whining and thank me now.

Pointing out waste is whining?   

Edited September 21, 2022 by PATRLR