Cruiser_1977 Posted July 16, 2018 #1 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Two assumptions: 1) Each drink is $8 2) Cruise is 5 days Cost of package per day $89 + 20% ($17.80) = $106.80/day = $534 If I were to drink 8 $8 (plus 20% = $1.6) drinks per day that would be $64 plus $12.80 = $76.80 = $384 Therefore, using ONLY the above assumptions, it would be more cost effective to pay per drink rather than buy the package. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razor7_us Posted July 16, 2018 #2 Share Posted July 16, 2018 You definitely low balled your $8.00 cost assumption. Think airport prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gampy1967 Posted July 16, 2018 #3 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Two assumptions:1) Each drink is $8 2) Cruise is 5 days Cost of package per day $89 + 20% ($17.80) = $106.80/day = $534 If I were to drink 8 $8 (plus 20% = $1.6) drinks per day that would be $64 plus $12.80 = $76.80 = $384 Therefore, using ONLY the above assumptions, it would be more cost effective to pay per drink rather than buy the package. $8 per drink is probably too low, however most people get the UBP as a perk, not purchase it outright. I would think you would have to be a very heavy drinker to make the math work for the UBP if you purchased it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaiderDuck Posted July 16, 2018 #4 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Most of the drinks will be more like $10-12 per. Even at those prices, you'll still have to REALLY hammer them back to get the UBP to pay for itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruiser_1977 Posted July 16, 2018 Author #5 Share Posted July 16, 2018 At $12 the math works in my favor....$576. Thanks all! The Sky was easy because of open bar. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam_s_allen Posted July 16, 2018 #6 Share Posted July 16, 2018 The cheapest liquor drinks are $8.50 + 20%, so roughly $10. You would still need to drink quite a lot to make purchasing the package outright pay off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PTC DAWG Posted July 16, 2018 #7 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Who pays full price for the drink package? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaiderDuck Posted July 16, 2018 #8 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Who pays full price for the drink package? Even at "free," it's still not worth it for us. The "free" price (which means you're still paying the Service Charge) for our upcoming 15-night cruise was $288/person. On a 15-night cruise, that means each of us would have to buy an average of two drinks every night just to break even. Simply don't plan on boozing that much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casofilia Posted July 16, 2018 #9 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Even "free" I wouldn't take it unless it was FREE, that is no 20% charge. With the 20% fee we both would have to drink 3 drinks a day, every day, just to be slightly in front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notnewtoit Posted July 16, 2018 #10 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Even "free" I wouldn't take it unless it was FREE, that is no 20% charge. With the 20% fee we both would have to drink 3 drinks a day, every day, just to be slightly in front. We're willing to make that sacrifice ;p "If it ain't beer, it ain't breakfast"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
$hip$hape Posted July 16, 2018 #11 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Even at "free," it's still not worth it for us. The "free" price (which means you're still paying the Service Charge) for our upcoming 15-night cruise was $288/person. On a 15-night cruise, that means each of us would have to buy an average of two drinks every night just to break even. Simply don't plan on boozing that much. Good for you, figuring this whole thing out. Many "potential cruisers" actually stay away altogether. For us, that is okay also.:cool:;p No need to have whiners on board. whiner. noun. A person who habitually complains or grumbles: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruiser_1977 Posted July 16, 2018 Author #12 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Who pays full price for the drink package? There were only 4 free at sea on the cruise I was researching. Prepaid Service Charge, Pre-Cruise Hotel, Specialty Dining and Shore Excursion Credit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Wheels Only Posted July 16, 2018 #13 Share Posted July 16, 2018 There were only 4 free at sea on the cruise I was researching. Prepaid Service Charge, Pre-Cruise Hotel, Specialty Dining and Shore Excursion Credit. What ship? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruiser_1977 Posted July 16, 2018 Author #14 Share Posted July 16, 2018 What ship? I believe POA...and I just realized it is not available on POA anyway....However, lesson learned :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Wheels Only Posted July 16, 2018 #15 Share Posted July 16, 2018 I believe POA... "Ultimate Beverage Package is not available for purchase on charters, sailings that are two (2) days or less, the Pride of America or Harvest Caye." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zqvol Posted July 16, 2018 #16 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Two assumptions:1) Each drink is $8 2) Cruise is 5 days Cost of package per day $89 + 20% ($17.80) = $106.80/day = $534 If I were to drink 8 $8 (plus 20% = $1.6) drinks per day that would be $64 plus $12.80 = $76.80 = $384 Therefore, using ONLY the above assumptions, it would be more cost effective to pay per drink rather than buy the package. If you are buying the package outright then your math is correct. The reality is that most drinks are closer to $12 +20% and most people don't buy the package they get it as a perk and only pay the gratuity which is about $100. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
$hip$hape Posted July 16, 2018 #17 Share Posted July 16, 2018 "Ultimate Beverage Package is not available for purchase on charters, sailings that are two (2) days or less, the Pride of America or Harvest Caye." Thanks for posting; I'm so inept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathi007 Posted July 16, 2018 #18 Share Posted July 16, 2018 On my cruise I am getting the UBP and all my tips pre paid. I think if I had to pay for it, it might not be worth it, but I'm so glad I am getting it free, and no gratuities.... :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PTC DAWG Posted July 16, 2018 #19 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Even at "free," it's still not worth it for us. The "free" price (which means you're still paying the Service Charge) for our upcoming 15-night cruise was $288/person. On a 15-night cruise, that means each of us would have to buy an average of two drinks every night just to break even. Simply don't plan on boozing that much. Different strokes, that seems like nothing to me on vacation...choices are good.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Georgia_Peaches Posted July 16, 2018 #20 Share Posted July 16, 2018 We will easily get our $17.95 pp per day service charge's worth on our 7 day in November. Here's a typical breakdown while on vacation: 1. bloody mary or mimosa with breakfast 2. pina colada or something similar by the pool 3. pina colada or something similar by the pool 4. martini before dinner 5. glass of wine (or 2) with dinner 6. after dinner drink in casino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisegal415 Posted July 16, 2018 #21 Share Posted July 16, 2018 I wasn't sure if I wanted to take the UBP when it was originally a choice of one of four as DH and I don't drink that much. For "free" we would be paying about $277 total for the package. As a perk, though, it's a no-brainer, since the drinks I like are about 9.95-10.95 per person, I figure one-two a night, plus one or two glasses of wine a night, even with just two drinks per person per day, it pays for itself on a 7 day cruise. And even though four drinks a day sounds a lot, it's not unusual to have a glass of wine or two with dinner, and a drink at a show after dinner. On sea days, one-two frou-frou drinks around the pool are not unusual. But without the "free" perk, it definitely wouldn't be worth it. I like the idea of having it as a perk and not having to worry about how much "extra" charges I'm racking up during the cruise, however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4774Papa Posted July 16, 2018 #22 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Two assumptions:1) Each drink is $8 2) Cruise is 5 days Cost of package per day $89 + 20% ($17.80) = $106.80/day = $534 If I were to drink 8 $8 (plus 20% = $1.6) drinks per day that would be $64 plus $12.80 = $76.80 = $384 Therefore, using ONLY the above assumptions, it would be more cost effective to pay per drink rather than buy the package. I hate the NCL price bundling with these overpriced beverage packages. We are mainly wine drinkers and used to purchase a wine package for about $300 for a 14 day cruise and that was all we spent on the cruise. Charging $89 per day is ridiculous. Charging 20% gratuity on a drinks package from a bundled package is even more ridiculous. The gratuity for a 14 day cruise would amount to about $230, almost what we once paid for our wine package. That is why we never select the drinks package when forced to pick two promos. Our only cruise with the drink packages was on the Sun in 2016 when no gratuity was charged. Even then, we didn't like the options for red wine on the drinks packages. I plan to take 5 bottles of wine to take on the ship (price per bottle about $9 and pay the $15 corkage charge. We get one free bottle for our free dinner at Le Bistro, so that will take care of our needs for a seven day cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonicaV Posted July 16, 2018 #23 Share Posted July 16, 2018 We paid a total of $89.00 for our drink package on our 5 days cruise on the Pearl in February. It was $89.00 total not per day [emoji484]and was well worth it. Sent from my LGL164VL using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chloemonkey Posted July 16, 2018 #24 Share Posted July 16, 2018 We're willing to make that sacrifice ;p "If it ain't beer, it ain't breakfast"! I like your thinking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
softl Posted July 16, 2018 #25 Share Posted July 16, 2018 We're willing to make that sacrifice ;p "If it ain't beer, it ain't breakfast"! I sure am grateful to all those tea-totalers out there that help subsidize my over-indulgence at the pool, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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