NCL Escape - Excluded Drinks on UBP?

Anyone want to speculate which bars will have mostly excluded drinks on the UBP? For example, beers are limited at $10 - what's the likelihood of beers in The District Brew House coming in under $10 each? How about margaritas in Margaritaville? I have a sneaking suspicion many of the drinks I will want, will not be included.

Concrete info is more appreciated than speculation, but I'll settle for either at this point. :)

There is no real way to know what the prices will be in either of those restaurants until the ship hits the sea. That being said, there are many other bars all over the ship where you can get all sorts of drinks. Margaritas can be made anywhere. I can't see a typical pint of any beer costing over $10 ... that would not be even close to being reasonable even on a ship. But until Escape hits the seas and we can see the menus, no one will know for sure. Having been on the Getaway, there are plenty of drink items you will find enjoyable on a ship like Escape :)

Anyone want to speculate which bars will have mostly excluded drinks on the UBP? For example, beers are limited at $10 - what's the likelihood of beers in The District Brew House coming in under $10 each? How about margaritas in Margaritaville? I have a sneaking suspicion many of the drinks I will want, will not be included.

 

Concrete info is more appreciated than speculation, but I'll settle for either at this point. :)

There is no concrete info yet. Your guess is as good as anyone's. You'll have a harder time finding drinks that aren't part of the UBP than one's that are.

Specialty drink from places like the Mojito bar are included on other ships, and I see no reason that wont hold true on the Escape. Most beer is under $10 a bottle even for rare beers. I could see them having SOME beers in larger bottles that could be shared that might be over $10 but MOST should be included. From my experience they prefer people buy the package and excluding a lot of items would stop people from doing this. In fact I have never been told no with the package.

6&8

I suspect everyone is right. I'll just be very disappointed if half or more of the beers in the brew house are considered "specialty" and therefore not included and I'm stuck drinking Bud Light. I'm an information type of guy and making decisions without knowing is tough. :-)

I'm in the same boat as you (heh), but realistically we aren't going to know anything solid until the first passengers get off. Even then, it could change as time passes.

You don't want speculation, but that's all anyone can do. Here is my guess: I think 99.99998% of the drinks on Escape will be included, just like they are on other ships. Beers run about $5.50 now. If the new District charges over $10, guess what? People will go where the beer is half price, and The District will be a flop. NCL isn't stupid.

You don't want speculation, but that's all anyone can do. Here is my guess: I think 99.99998% of the drinks on Escape will be included, just like they are on other ships. Beers run about $5.50 now. If the new District charges over $10, guess what? People will go where the beer is half price, and The District will be a flop. NCL isn't stupid.

:)^*^*^*^This, in a nutshell.^*^*^*^:)

You don't want speculation, but that's all anyone can do. Here is my guess: I think 99.99998% of the drinks on Escape will be included, just like they are on other ships. Beers run about $5.50 now. If the new District charges over $10, guess what? People will go where the beer is half price, and The District will be a flop. NCL isn't stupid.

I actually said I was OK with speculation - even expecting it, knowing full well that is all that is realistically possible.

I've happily paid for more than my fair share of beers costing over $10 (e.g. Belgian Tripels) and I'm hoping they have a selection of some higher end beers in The District. I do expect some will be above the $10 price point, especially given the captive audience. I'm just trying to gauge if that will be 10% of the beers available or 50%.

All that said, I agree with your premise that if The District is mostly at or above the $10 price point, it won't appeal to the mass market and therefore be a flop.

I will try to make a point to photograph as many new drink menus as I can on the TransAtlantic and post them. (Knowing full well that 50 other people will do the same, so I really won't have to.) We will be buying UBP like usual, so I will be keeping an eye on prices. I likes good beer.

I will try to make a point to photograph as many new drink menus as I can on the TransAtlantic and post them. (Knowing full well that 50 other people will do the same, so I really won't have to.) We will be buying UBP like usual, so I will be keeping an eye on prices. I likes good beer.

Perfect. I, along with many others, will be very appreciative. I'll be on the ship 7 days after the TA ends and will be looking for as much information as I can gather that week.

Yes thank you very much for the offer of pictures. I have a husband that hates cheaper beers. He had resigned himself to the fact that he was going to have to drink wine on ship so getting nicer beers will be a very nice surprise.

We just booked on the Escape for Dec 12, 2015 and opted for the free UBP as one of the 4 freebies offered. The fine print included with our reservation says beer under $11 included. Inflation, I suppose.

So, if the drink cost more than what is covered are you just charged the difference?

So, if the drink cost more than what is covered are you just charged the difference?

No, if it's more than the UBP allows, you pay full price.

No, if it's more than the UBP allows, you pay full price.

Thanks, I guess I'll have to watch what I drink

So, if the drink cost more than what is covered are you just charged the difference?

No, you pay only the difference.

from NCL's website under my reservation:

Norwegian's Ultimate Beverage Package includes a variety of spirits, cocktails, wines by the glass and bottled or draft beer up to and including $11 and unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants and the Great Stirrup Cay. A 20% discount will be applied to all bottles of wine purchased on board.

The Ultimate 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 $11. One (1) beverage per person per transaction. Package can be used in all restaurants, lounges, bars and Great Stirrup Cay.

I don't know what they consider a 'super premium brand' or that it's subject to change but I don't mind paying a few extra bucks for a premium brand, especially since we got the UBP as the promotion freebie on our Dec 15 sailing on the Escape.

Unless the rules have changed since the price increases, in January on the Dawn, the whole amount is payable if the drink (without gratuity) is over $11 (it was $10 then). However, I don't think I saw more than a total of six drinks that were over the limit, including Hennessy X.O. and a couple of glasses of wine. Most premium spirits were included including Tequila Sunrises made with Patron Silver!

No, you pay only the difference.

 

from NCL's website under my reservation:

Norwegian's Ultimate Beverage Package includes a variety of spirits, cocktails, wines by the glass and bottled or draft beer up to and including $11 and unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants and the Great Stirrup Cay. A 20% discount will be applied to all bottles of wine purchased on board.

The Ultimate 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 $11. One (1) beverage per person per transaction. Package can be used in all restaurants, lounges, bars and Great Stirrup Cay.

 

I don't know what they consider a 'super premium brand' or that it's subject to change but I don't mind paying a few extra bucks for a premium brand, especially since we got the UBP as the promotion freebie on our Dec 15 sailing on the Escape.

I don't know what you are quoting here, but if the drink is over $11 you pay the full price. Not just the difference. What you quoted says that the beverage package doesn't not include super premium beverages, not that you can pay extra for them. There are very few things excluded. Some wines, high end cognac, and some high end scotch that's about it.

6&8

U only pay the difference. Did it several times on epic. Bartender has to know how to do it by ringing in the drink and then adding a $11 ubp credit.

U only pay the difference. Did it several times on epic. Bartender has to know how to do it by ringing in the drink and then adding a $11 ubp credit.

That's exactly what happened with us on the Epic (although it was only $10 then). I didn't think I was going crazy or had too much to drink.....:D

Have not tried UBP yet, but I believe you pay the difference, not the full price, on an "upscale" drink. This is definitely the case when we have booked through CAS (Casinos at Sea) with the "free" beverage package (covers drinks in the Casino only)... Hubby ordered very nice scotch not included in our "House" beverage package and simply paid a $3-$4 surcharge for it - along with a nice tip for the fabulous server that got to know us throughout the week. This was true on the Gem, Jewel, Dawn, Breakaway and Getaway...

Just my two cents - I imagine the UBP is set up the same way - if you find the right bartender and/or server who's motivated to give you quality service and can navigate the darn computer system to accommodate you :)

I read a review on the Getaway that all the mojitos were included in that specialty bar. That's all it took for me. I just booked! And the cruise price dropped $200 between yesterday and today. Whoopee!!!

I was on the getaway just last week. It is correct statement to say you pay the difference over $11 as I did it several times. 98% of the menu was covered under UBP. La Rubia on draft was $7-8. They will be serving similar drinks at the District Brewery on Escape I cross my fingers they are included in UBP as I am sailing in Dec and looking forward to the variety and new cellars wine.

I was on the getaway just last week. It is correct statement to say you pay the difference over $11 as I did it several times. 98% of the menu was covered under UBP. La Rubia on draft was $7-8. They will be serving similar drinks at the District Brewery on Escape I cross my fingers they are included in UBP as I am sailing in Dec and looking forward to the variety and new cellars wine.

Right, but this just changed a couple months ago, which is why there was conflicting info posted here. Previously one had to pay the entire cost if it was over the allowed amount. Now only the difference needs paid.