"Free" drinks package - do we now have to pay 18% service charge?

I have the free drinks package for our February cruise. I am assuming that, like other cruise lines we would pay nothing when we order a drink up the the amount of $15 I am sure I read on here that from December we will now have to pay a 18% service charge for each drink we order now? Is that correct? If so, what is 18% of nothing - for that is what we will be paying for our drinks? If this in fact correct, then there is no "free" drinks package and passengers will be paying 18% of drinks prices rather than nothing up to the stated amount.

I have the free drinks package for our February cruise. I am assuming that, like other cruise lines we would pay nothing when we order a drink up the the amount of $15 I am sure I read on here that from December we will now have to pay a 18% service charge for each drink we order now? Is that correct? If so, what is 18% of nothing - for that is what we will be paying for our drinks? If this in fact correct, then there is no "free" drinks package and passengers will be paying 18% of drinks prices rather than nothing up to the stated amount.

If you've booked through EU, U.K., or AU then you don't need to pay the 18%, if you've booked through the US or Canada then Yes there is an 18% gratuity added.

MM That was a speedy reply :) Thank you - great for us then, but still seems a con for the rest.

MM That was a speedy reply :) Thank you - great for us then, but still seems a con for the rest.

Agree, there has been a lot of discussion around the introduction of the charge, I suppose for those of us not in the US/Canada, they generally win with cheaper prices and better cancellation and change conditions than what we get in other parts of the world.

The 18% is NOT per drink for those with the UBP promo no matter where they are from. The "out of pocket" cost is 18% of the retail price of the UBP and is paid before boarding the ship for those who have to pay it. Once onboard, the only "extra" that needs to be paid would be taxes (depending on port) and the cost over $15 per drink plus 18% on the over amount. If the drink is $18, the guest would pay $3 plus 18% ($3.54 total).

No one pays 18% per drink during the cruise due to the free drink promo. Customers where it is applicable pay a service fee when booking with the promo. Customers where it is not applicable do not. But either way, everything is upfront when booking, no surprise charges after the fact.

If you received the UBP by way of a FREE promo then there should be NO gratuity or 18% service charge.

NOTHING TIMES NOTHING IS OF COURSE NOTHING and 18% of NOTHING is still nothing !

Now if you purchased the UBP then you would be charged the cost of the UBP

package and an additional 18% of the program cost.

Thanks NCL for making that Oh so clear.

If you go to a bar restaurant etc. and order a drink costing more than $15 (FREE) you could expect to be charged the difference plus the 18% of that difference.

So you order an high end premium drink that costs $20 - $15 is covered under

the UBP and the remaining $5 is charged the gratuity of $0.90 for a charge

of $5.90 for that premium drink.

It is fawty (intentionally misspelled) math to charge 18% on the total drink of $20 when $15 was under a FREE program or had already been charged 18% !

Something is rotten in the state of Norway - or put another way what part of FREE do you not understand NCL ?

On our upcoming 7 day cruise with the free drinks package, UBP, it cost us $99.54 per person up front. So for 2 of us it was $199.08, it is called, bar service charge.

If you received the UBP by way of a FREE promo then there should be NO gratuity or 18% service charge.

NOTHING TIMES NOTHING IS OF COURSE NOTHING and 18% of NOTHING is still nothing !

On our upcoming 7 day cruise with the free drinks package, UBP, it cost us $99.54 per person up front. So for 2 of us it was $199.08, it is called, bar service charge.

The charging of the 18% gratuity on top of the "free" perk was instituted some time during mid 2015. Prior to that, it was factored in and not charged to the cruiser.

I suspect both UK and EU law would not allow advertising of something that is free that the consumer has to pay for.

In other news, Elvis has died.

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With other perks to choose from, no one is forced into paying the 18% gratuity, they can simply pick another perk.

With other perks to choose from, no one is forced into paying the 18% gratuity, they can simply pick another perk.

Exactly and this should be the end of the discussion......PICK ANOTHER PERK IF YOU DON'T WANT TO PAY THE BAR SERVICE CHARGE. No, I'd rather whine and complain.:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

And nothing is ever "FREE".

On our upcoming 7 day cruise with the free drinks package, UBP, it cost us $99.54 per person up front. So for 2 of us it was $199.08, it is called, bar service charge.

Since our bar tab always exceeded $200 on a 7 day cruise, it's ideal for us!

If I win at the casino, lottery or a washing machine from a grocery store promotion I still have to pay taxes on the winnings. I don't see the difference of having to pay the service charge on a free promotional offer. Too many people got their knickers in a twist on here.:rolleyes:

MM That was a speedy reply :) Thank you - great for us then, but still seems a con for the rest.

The 18% was included in your booking. You won't be charged for each drink when you order on board.

It seems clear that the gratuity is charged on the "value" of the package, and not per drink - which means the more you drink, the lower the per-drink gratuity will be.

To me, the only question is why do people who pay for a drink package insist upon calling their drinks "free"?

To me, the only question is why do people who pay for a drink package insist upon calling their drinks "free"?

The same reason that people who pay for a cruise call the buffet "free". :p

If I win at the casino, lottery or a washing machine from a grocery store promotion I still have to pay taxes on the winnings. I don't see the difference of having to pay the service charge on a free promotional offer. Too many people got their knickers in a twist on here.:rolleyes:

FYI - in UK there is no tax on casino, lottery or washing machine winnings etc..

Different countries, different systems.

We just returned from a cruise on the Jade. We were 4 cruisers. 2 of us had the UBP as a perk & the other 2 bought it.

None of us saw any gratuity charges on our bills at the end of the cruise other than the DSC.

We just returned from a cruise on the Jade. We were 4 cruisers. 2 of us had the UBP as a perk & the other 2 bought it.

None of us saw any gratuity charges on our bills at the end of the cruise other than the DSC.

The OP is from the UK so the promo works differently here

If NCL charged grats on a free promo they then would be liable for income tax on the grats.

A lot easier for them to not charge grats and the claim back 20% in tax relief ( offsetting VAT) on every "free drinks package" they give away

Man...the drama queens flock here. Just pick another amenity and purchase the drink package at retail and still pay the service charge. That will show them!

The OP is from the UK so the promo works differently here

 

If NCL charged grats on a free promo they then would be liable for income tax on the grats.

 

A lot easier for them to not charge grats and the claim back 20% in tax relief ( offsetting VAT) on every "free drinks package" they give away

NCL are a corporation so they do not pay income tax. They would pay corporation tax on profits, not income.