Bailey's Not Included?

[complawyer]

i never would have imagined so many people would be up in arms about baileys.  that being said however, i agree with northernjoey.  go ahead and order the baileys, only $1.00  per drink  should show up on your bill.

 

ive mentioned before, i'm addicted t o pepsi (and the switch to coke is killing me) a 12oz can is about $3.00 extra. i usually drink at least 3 cans per day. so for a 10 day cruise its an additional $90. i can live with that, and if i want a baileys or 2 (or3) for the buck extra i can live with that also

[mianmike]

3 hours ago, complawyer said:

i never would have imagined so many people would be up in arms about baileys.  that being said however, i agree with northernjoey.  go ahead and order the baileys, only $1.00  per drink  should show up on your bill.

 

ive mentioned before, i'm addicted t o pepsi (and the switch to coke is killing me) a 12oz can is about $3.00 extra. i usually drink at least 3 cans per day. so for a 10 day cruise its an additional $90. i can live with that, and if i want a baileys or 2 (or3) for the buck extra i can live with that also

 

As a stockholder, I appreciate your attitude! 

[PATRLR]

4 hours ago, complawyer said:

i never would have imagined so many people would be up in arms about baileys. 

 

It's not just Baileys, it's the fact that something as basic as Baileys isn't include in what is called a "premium" drink package.  

 

4 hours ago, complawyer said:

  go ahead and order the baileys, only $1.00  per drink  should show up on your bill.

Agreed, and I will. And I suspect everyone else who enjoys Baileys will too.  But the fact that I have to pay NCL a buck ($1.20 actually) each time is annoying when supposedly I have this "premium" beverage package.

[mjkacmom]

5 hours ago, PATRLR said:

 

It's not just Baileys, it's the fact that something as basic as Baileys isn't include in what is called a "premium" drink package.  

 

Agreed, and I will. And I suspect everyone else who enjoys Baileys will too.  But the fact that I have to pay NCL a buck ($1.20 actually) each time is annoying when supposedly I have this "premium" beverage package.

NCL’s “premium” beverage package is still the lowest alcohol package, no matter what it is called.

[JamieLogical]

3 hours ago, mjkacmom said:

NCL’s “premium” beverage package is still the lowest alcohol package, no matter what it is called.

 

For me, it's not the name of the package that makes it hard to swallow. It's that they say the package covers drinks under $15, which most reasonable humans would think means most drinks. And then something as basic as Bailey's isn't fully covered because they say it's worth $16, which is patently absurd.

[mjkacmom]

5 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

For me, it's not the name of the package that makes it hard to swallow. It's that they say the package covers drinks under $15, which most reasonable humans would think means most drinks. And then something as basic as Bailey's isn't fully covered because they say it's worth $16, which is patently absurd.

I agree it’s strange, I don’t drink it but I was happy with the included drinks, even happier that I can bring all the wine I want since I used to pay corkage (love some drinks on the balcony).

[CruizinSusan70]

6 hours ago, mjkacmom said:

NCL’s “premium” beverage package is still the lowest alcohol package, no matter what it is called.

But Belvedere vodka is included and is more expensive to purchase than Bailey's.  No rhyme or reason.  Saw the same thing on NCL a few years ago when Goose was covered but the flavored varieties of Goose wasn't.  Even though all of the Goose varieties were the same price in the gift shop.

[Oxo]

Moscato wine you can NOT buy it by the glass. It cost $27 per bottle.

 

Yet other wines that cost $26 by the bottle may be bought by the glass for $8.

Then other wines that COST $27/bottle are sold for $17/glass.

 

I thought that i could order a drink up to $15/drink. So, I asked if I could get 2 glasses with 2 cards which would equal 1 bottle using my Premium Package and they said NO. I HAD TO BUY THE BOTTLE . LOL

[graphicguy]

5 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

 

For me, it's not the name of the package that makes it hard to swallow. It's that they say the package covers drinks under $15, which most reasonable humans would think means most drinks. And then something as basic as Bailey's isn't fully covered because they say it's worth $16, which is patently absurd.

The cruise lines have some sort of formulas that price the drinks the way they do.  Not sure we'll ever be privy to them.  I agree about Bailey's.  Having that as an expensive drink is kind of weird.  

 

 

That said, have the bartenders put some Creme de Cocoa, Buffalo Trace and some heavy cream in a glass and mix it up.  I bet that would taste better than Baileys.  And, they're included in the package.

 

Matter of fact, I might try that myself when we sail. 😉

[Cruising Lynne]

I seem to remember a thread a while back that was about a shortage of some liquors, including Bailey's. Although, they still had it in the duty free shop on board. It may be the higher price right now 

due to a supply issue. I like graphicguys idea of experimenting with other things that are included.🍹

[CptAleSpill]

3 hours ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Even though all of the Goose varieties were the same price in the gift shop.

Why do you think that gift shop prices have anything to do with this?  I'm guessing that NCL negotiates bulk purchase prices based upon many factors, including the non-gift shop POS pricing.  For every bottle sold in the gift shop, there are likely dozens, hundreds,......  consumed on the cruise.

[kelib]

Since we are talking about drinks, has anyone seen Limenchello on the ships? Did not see it listed and  I enjoy it with some deserts. 

[CruizinSusan70]

37 minutes ago, CptAleSpill said:

Why do you think that gift shop prices have anything to do with this?  I'm guessing that NCL negotiates bulk purchase prices based upon many factors, including the non-gift shop POS pricing.  For every bottle sold in the gift shop, there are likely dozens, hundreds,......  consumed on the cruise.

A few years back, regular Goose was included, while the flavored variations were not.  Yet all of them were the same price in the gift shop.  It's still NCL bulk purchasing, whether the bottle is sold whole in the gift shop or per drink in the bars.

[CptAleSpill]

27 minutes ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

A few years back, regular Goose was included, while the flavored variations were not.  Yet all of them were the same price in the gift shop.  It's still NCL bulk purchasing, whether the bottle is sold whole in the gift shop or per drink in the bars.

That may well be, but it doesn't mean that NCL's agreements with their suppliers need to reflect that.  Flavored Vodka is crap, but marketed like it is something special.  That's a different marketing scenario than going toe-to-toe with other suppliers of good Vodka for the vast majority of ship revenue.  If NCL includes their product in the drink package, they will sell tons.  If they price it even $1 higher, they likely won't.  It's all business, and it doesn't have to make sense to the average consumer.

 

NCL: "hey Bailey's supplier, I'll include your product in our standard package if you sell it to me 10% cheaper"

Booze distributor: "nah, pound sand"

NCL: "we'll do that and talk to you again when you aren't happy with how much less we're buying from you"

 

Wash, rinse, repeat.

[steamboats]

7 hours ago, kelib said:

Since we are talking about drinks, has anyone seen Limenchello on the ships? Did not see it listed and  I enjoy it with some deserts. 

 

Onboard Norwegian Prima they had Limoncello in the Observation Lounge. I had asked for a Lemon Drop Martini and the bar tender apologized that she doesn´t have the flavored vodka she would usually use but just lime juice. I told her that we make it with regular vodka and limoncello. She answered that she has limoncello and I should tell her next time so she can make it for me. So next time I ordered the Lemon Drop Martini with limoncello.

 

steamboats

[DaCruiseBug]

On 10/4/2022 at 8:59 AM, graphicguy said:

Hooo…..boy.  You obviously haven’t stayed at a Ritz Carlton lately.  Even a teeny shot of Jack Black will run you close to $20.

 

Anyway, if you buy drinks individually, they’re priced like they are at a resort.  Certainly not cheap.  If you have the drink package, your alcohol outlay is mitigated.  Personally, I think NCL’s included package is a pretty good deal.  For the roughly $20/day (tips), I can drink all the beer, alcohol and wine I want.  I’ve heard the wine selection is mediocre, but I’m not a wine drinker.  So, that doesn’t affect me.

 

 

I have, and it was about $9 for Baileys at the Ritz Carlton Macau. I uploaded a menu for you to look at if you don't believe me.

 

Also, please stop justifying NCL drink prices. They're absurd. No other cruiseline even comes close to the prices they charge. It's like some of you are paid by NCL to defend their absurd policies or something.

[DaCruiseBug]

On 10/4/2022 at 6:56 AM, detroitlions said:

Not the point. Were not talking street prices no one expects that. Bailys is not premium at all and not even $16 at the Ritz Carlton. What's included and what's not is becoming a game to see what they can get away with charging to lure you into another package. Don't forget if the drink package was not "FREE" 80% of the folks on CC would be on another cruise line cause there bar tab would be $2000 at the end of the cruise .

 

Basically, NCL is slowly raising the price of the drink package (so they can pocket more in service charges) and raising drink prices so more and more is included. Soon enough we'll be left with mostly cheap off-brand liquor that's covered or you'll have to shell out $400 and upgrade your beverage package which is what they really want you to do anyways.

 

The NCL standard drink package costs more money than any drink package on any other cruiseline ($109 per day) yet covers less than any other package. Perfectly legal but should tell you all there is to know about how NCL makes money.

[DaCruiseBug]

On 10/3/2022 at 2:25 PM, JamieLogical said:

 

I see you are correct. It is now $15/day + service charge to upgrade on Celebrity. So $18/day for a drink package that includes Bailey's and just about everything else on the ship. Whereas for a comparable package on NCL, it will cost you $54.60/day.

 

Don't forget that on Celebrity not everyone in the cabin has to buy the drink package or pay to upgrade whereas on NCL you do.

 

So if there's 2 adults in the cabin and 1 person wants to upgrade on Celebrity...they just pay $18 per day and they're done. On NCL they would both have to shell out $54.60 per day even if the 2nd person doesn't need or want it. So the difference can easily be $109.20 per day on NCL versus $18 per day on Celebrity.

[graphicguy]

I’m going to have to go to Macau to get a cheap(er) Bailey’s.  This was the last drink list I saved from my last Ritz visit for lunch…..

-Bailey’s was $20+ For 2 oz shot.  And, it’s not a free pour.  It’s a true 2 oz shot.

 

https://s7d2.scene7.com/is/content/ritzcarlton/CONTOUR_LUNCH _2021pdf

 

It really doesn’t matter if you like NCL’s liquor pricing.  Not trying to start a debate.  If you don’t like NCL’s pricing, there is a wealth of other cruises you can book.

[Oxo]

7 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

I’m going to have to go to Macau to get a cheap(er) Bailey’s.  This was the last drink list I saved from my last Ritz visit for lunch…..

-Bailey’s was $20+ For 2 oz shot.  And, it’s not a free pour.  It’s a true 2 oz shot.

 

https://s7d2.scene7.com/is/content/ritzcarlton/CONTOUR_LUNCH _2021pdf

 

It really doesn’t matter if you like NCL’s liquor pricing.  Not trying to start a debate.  If you don’t like NCL’s pricing, there is a wealth of other cruises you can book.

The same ole response! If you don't like it, don't say anything to provide your comments/suggestions. Just cruise another cruise line. SMH

Accept whatever they do and say. You are only paying for it. LOL

[DaCruiseBug]

38 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

I’m going to have to go to Macau to get a cheap(er) Bailey’s.  This was the last drink list I saved from my last Ritz visit for lunch…..

-Bailey’s was $20+ For 2 oz shot.  And, it’s not a free pour.  It’s a true 2 oz shot.

 

https://s7d2.scene7.com/is/content/ritzcarlton/CONTOUR_LUNCH _2021pdf

 

It really doesn’t matter if you like NCL’s liquor pricing.  Not trying to start a debate.  If you don’t like NCL’s pricing, there is a wealth of other cruises you can book.

 

So to validate your point you went and pulled up the drink prices at the Ritz Carlton Central Park in Manhattan...perhaps one of the most expensive venues in the world...and comparing it to drink prices on Norwegian Cruise Line. Not to mention their labor costs are at least 4-5x as much as on NCL. You realize how bad that looks right?

Edited October 8, 2022 by DaCruiseBug

[DaCruiseBug]

30 minutes ago, Oxo said:

The same ole response! If you don't like it, don't say anything to provide your comments/suggestions. Just cruise another cruise line. SMH

Accept whatever they do and say. You are only paying for it. LOL

 

It's funny because it's true. Also, these are the same people that will throw a temper tantrum if there's a change made to something they care about but dismiss any complaint from someone who cares about something different.

[Cruising Lynne]

For now, with the Free at Sea drink package, I am very satisfied with the varieties of drinks I can get that are included. I am not a NCL cheerleader, but can do basic math and determine what is a good value for me. I realize nothing is free and the total cost of a cruise on any line has to be taken into consideration as well as what you pay for drinks. I have also sailed NCL without a drink package and just a Casino at Seas drink card. I did order some drinks out side of the casino and found that the pricing aligned with the drink prices in my local area (Central New England). I also ordered some drinks of  the day which are a little bit less expensive. Do whatever works for you. For any trip, it is good to compare different cruise lines that you like before booking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 8, 2022 by Cruising Lynne

[mjkacmom]

11 minutes ago, Cruising Lynne said:

For now, with the Free at Sea drink package, I am very satisfied with the varieties of drinks I can get that are included. I am not a NCL cheerleader, but can do basic math and determine what is a good value for me. I realize nothing is free and the total cost of a cruise on any line has to be taken into consideration as well as what you pay for drinks. I have also sailed NCL without a drink package and just a Casino at Seas drink card. I did order some drinks out side of the casino and found that the pricing aligned with the drink prices in my local area (Central New England). I also ordered some drinks of  the day which are a little bit less expensive. Do whatever works for you. For any trip, it is good to compare different cruise lines that you like before booking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m with you, where is live in the NYC metro area house wines start at $13, cocktails $14, draft beer $8, even at casual bars/restaurants. One place dies down a taco Thursday with $7 half price margaritas, but they’re small

[CptAleSpill]

Reading this thread made me want a drink.  See my avatar....  Cheers!