NCL Ultimate Beverage Package

[hawkeyetlse]

Those with first hand experience - are the drinks in the UBP limited to the house brands? Can you order Captain or Absolute, etc.

You are not limited to the house brands. Have a look at this list, which may not be totally up-to-date: Beverage Brands List. As you can see, Captain Morgan and all the flavors of Absolut are included.

What about martini's in the specialty restaurants or at the martini bar?? Are the included?? Under the 8.50 limit??

Most of the martinis listed in the bar menus go over $8.50 but the bartenders may agree to let you have them anyway, or make you something similar with cheaper ingredients.

What about "doubles"? Due to the alcohol/mixer ratio - we usually order doubles. Can that be done with the UBP??

No doubles, technically. But you can ask, and you might get them anyway.

One last question....if you have on board credit and purchase the UBP once on board does the OBC get applied to that charge??

Yes.

[happy cruzin]

You are not limited to the house brands. Have a look at this list, which may not be totally up-to-date: Beverage Brands List. As you can see, Captain Morgan and all the flavors of Absolut are included.

Most of the martinis listed in the bar menus go over $8.50 but the bartenders may agree to let you have them anyway, or make you something similar with cheaper ingredients.

No doubles, technically. But you can ask, and you might get them anyway.

Yes.

 

Thanks!

[ImADaneFan]

We are going to try the UBP for the first time in September. We normally order an in room bar set up. The advantage of the UBP for us will be the convenience. We now won’t have to go back to our room to make a drink before going to the shows. Another advantage it gives me, is I now have the opportunity to try drinks that I normally would not try. And the main reason I wouldn’t try something new, would be the expense in case I didn’t like it.:o

[cruiseclues]

ARE THERE REALLY PEOPLE WHO THINK THIS PACKAGE IS A GOOD DEAL??

 

You need to drink 8-10 drinks a day everyday just the break even.

 

What a waste of a cruise if that is your plan. Just stay home and save the rest of us from having to see you so drunk you do not even know you are on a boat.

 

Not in agreement that 8 or even 10 drinks in a day would make you drunk if reasonably spaced...however since I would normally ask the bartender to not use liquor like Grey Goose and other more expensive liquors for cocktails...usually the price can be a bit lower... as much as $3 or so lower...so if NCL operates in the same way as other cruise lines...then if you do as I do, it would require you to drink more than 8-10 drinks to break even. I wouldn't be able to break even anyway, though, because I rarely drink as much as 8-10 drinks in a day. :):):):)

[PWTexas]

Planning on going on the NCL Jewel out of Houston, did I see that the Ultimate Drink package is now $54 plus the 15%, and a note that says save $5.00 per day if purchased before getting on the SHIP... is this correct, and what is the correct price, $54 or $49. we are going as Casino Guest, and we get free drinks as long as we are gambling in the Casino, but that gets expensive to keep gambling just to drink... good price on room, just wondering which is the correct price for Dec. 2014, $49 or $54 plus the 15%. and do the coffees come with the package, after reading the posts still not sure about specialty coffee drinks. like the $4.50 etc. iced coffee and cappuccinos:confused: thanks so much..

[triptolemus]

Planning on going on the NCL Jewel out of Houston, did I see that the Ultimate Drink package is now $54 plus the 15%, and a note that says save $5.00 per day if purchased before getting on the SHIP... is this correct, and what is the correct price, $54 or $49. we are going as Casino Guest, and we get free drinks as long as we are gambling in the Casino, but that gets expensive to keep gambling just to drink... good price on room, just wondering which is the correct price for Dec. 2014, $49 or $54 plus the 15%. and do the coffees come with the package, after reading the posts still not sure about specialty coffee drinks. like the $4.50 etc. iced coffee and cappuccinos:confused: thanks so much..

 

The correct price is $54 per day (+ 15% gratuity) when purchased in advance and $59 per day (+15%) when purchased on the ship.

 

Speciality coffee drinks are not included.

 

Forget $49 -- it doesn't exist.

[PWTexas]

The correct price is $54 per day (+ 15% gratuity) when purchased in advance and $59 per day (+15%) when purchased on the ship.

 

Speciality coffee drinks are not included.

 

Forget $49 -- it doesn't exist.

 

Thank you so much, appreciate the information... still doing the numbers, not a big drinker, but like to enjoy myself and my wife likes to drink, might be cheaper to get the package, and stay out of the casino...

[KeithJenner]

Thank you so much, appreciate the information... still doing the numbers, not a big drinker, but like to enjoy myself and my wife likes to drink, might be cheaper to get the package, and stay out of the casino...

 

 

If you aren't a big drinker then the cheapest option will probably be to buy the drinks as you go....and stay out of the casino. :)

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[PWTexas]

Great Advise.. thanks . How did you like the Epic, my wife and I went on it last December 2103, and my feet hung off the bed, not that tall but tall, the ship was nice, but room was a little different, I Hope the Jewel will be nice, and we only live a 3 hour drive from Houston, TX so do not have to fly to Miami. Would like to go on the Getaway next Dec. 2015 when it changes it's route and goes to different ports.. thanks again for the advise.

[triptolemus]

Thank you so much, appreciate the information... still doing the numbers, not a big drinker, but like to enjoy myself and my wife likes to drink, might be cheaper to get the package, and stay out of the casino...

 

Most folks ask about the beverage package because they want to go penny-for-penny with the cruise line. I'm not suggesting you have money to burn, but if the cost isn't a primary concern, the UBP is a fun way to enjoy yourself, budget the tab, and not have to muck about with "cost" and stuff...

 

I'm from Vegas. That casino... well, you know what's its capable of!

 

Cheers!

[PWTexas]

Thanks and yes I know about those Casinos, my wife and I are both 65, and I just love the graphics and sounds on the slot machines these days, my way of entertainment.. don't have to think, just enjoy and laugh and hope for a bonus, the NCL package does seem nice, we are from a small farm town in central Texas, we do not go out to bars and mostly beer, but love to try the different drinks, when available... we are going on the MSC Divia out of Miami, Sept. 13... probably hurricane season, but they have an all inclusive drink package, and I mean all, coffee shop, pastry shop, no price limit, and even bottled water, and the mini bar, for $57 a day, that sounds very inviting... will try that one first in September and see how it works, all pastries, and the Italian ice cream, I cannot spell, never been on MCS but price in September was so good for a window room, thanks again.

[jordan9900]

Here is my quick review.

 

My wife and I kept all the receipts for all our drinks and it totaled $1440 for the two of us.

 

If you have the package you still have to sign for all your drinks, they can run a tab and put it on one card. It freaks you out the first time you sign as it shows the total purchased but it does not show on your account except when you are drinking in "Texas" they will only charge you the Texas sales tax. It's not NCL's fault just Texas collecting some sales tax for the privilege of drinking before you hit international water. The staff will switch out to bottles that do not have a Texas tax sticker on them.

 

As for what's included: Just about everything we drank which was $10 or less. Vodka: Grey Goose, Ultimate, Ciroc, and all the frozen blended drinks that did not exceed $10.

 

The glasses of wine we had ranged between $8.50 and $9.75.

 

So if you average 6 drinks a day it's worth it, if not don't. It would be nice if it included bottled water which would make it easier to get to your "quota":D

 

Would I do it again, sure, I'm on vacation!:cool:

[hawkeyetlse]

My wife and I kept all the receipts for all our drinks and it totaled $1440 for the two of us.

How many days?

[Guindalf]

I rarely drink. In fact, most times when I buy a six-pack, it goes out of date before I finish it! I like a drop of whisk(e)y occasionally.

 

However, I plan to take advantage of the soda and wine with dinner, etc. Wife doesn't drink much at all, so she will probably drink virgin cocktails and soda. Not worried if we meet the full price or not as anything we drink will be more than we would have. I would normally get the soda package just for me, so that's a $50 savings right there.

[jordan9900]

How many days?

 

7 days

[AEckhardt]

On my first cruise in 2011, if they had the UBP package I wasn't aware of it. We did not purchase anything on the ship other than one dinner for two at Cagney's and alcohol for the week. Our tab at the end of the week was $1200. We weren't counting drinks, we were just having a good time. I was shocked the bill was almost as much as our cruise fare. After that, ( unless cruising with the kids and knowing it would be a tamer vacay, alcohol wise ) we buy the drink package. If anything, I like knowing its prepaid, but I'm fairly confident I save a few bucks, too.

[ashkramer8]

I am thinking about booking a cruise under the current Freestyle Choice promotion. There would be four of us sharing a suite. I have cruised NCL a few times, but not since they started offering the UBP. If we book under this promotion, two of us will get the UBP for free and the other two get just the soda package. Does anyone know if the value of the soda package can be applied to the cost to get the UBP for the other two people?

 

Thanks!

[Demonyte]

I am thinking about booking a cruise under the current Freestyle Choice promotion. There would be four of us sharing a suite. I have cruised NCL a few times, but not since they started offering the UBP. If we book under this promotion, two of us will get the UBP for free and the other two get just the soda package. Does anyone know if the value of the soda package can be applied to the cost to get the UBP for the other two people?

 

No, promotional items like these do not usually have monetary value (there are some exceptions like specific speciality dining promos where the cover charge can appear as OBC).

 

In this case what you see is what you get - soda package is soda package, not it's price in OBC.

[cherylroslyn]

Here is my quick review.

 

My wife and I kept all the receipts for all our drinks and it totaled $1440 for the two of us.

 

If you have the package you still have to sign for all your drinks, they can run a tab and put it on one card. It freaks you out the first time you sign as it shows the total purchased but it does not show on your account except when you are drinking in "Texas" they will only charge you the Texas sales tax. It's not NCL's fault just Texas collecting some sales tax for the privilege of drinking before you hit international water. The staff will switch out to bottles that do not have a Texas tax sticker on them.

 

As for what's included: Just about everything we drank which was $10 or less. Vodka: Grey Goose, Ultimate, Ciroc, and all the frozen blended drinks that did not exceed $10.

 

The glasses of wine we had ranged between $8.50 and $9.75.

 

So if you average 6 drinks a day it's worth it, if not don't. It would be nice if it included bottled water which would make it easier to get to your "quota":D

 

Would I do it again, sure, I'm on vacation!:cool:

I agree, I really like the way Celebrity does their packages. They include all of the Starbucks type coffees, smoothies, fancy juices from the juice bar, fancy teas from the café, soda, water, even sparkling water, red bull......it just makes sense. A lot of people use more of the non-alcohol items during the day than alcohol items.....and it discourages people from ordering alcohol drinks just for the sake of it. Rarely if ever do you see super drunk people on Celebrity, but their demographic is much older, also no black out periods.....they trust their customers.

[wndmom]

Our family of five is in two cabins. My husband gets the UBP for one cabin, I get one on the other cabin, and the kids get the soda package. However, my kids love the frozen non-alcoholic drinks, and we should be able to get two UBP per cabin. Do they ever let kids on the UBP? I'm going to hate paying for their non-alcoholic drinks when they should be free!

[Demonyte]

Our family of five is in two cabins. My husband gets the UBP for one cabin, I get one on the other cabin, and the kids get the soda package. However, my kids love the frozen non-alcoholic drinks, and we should be able to get two UBP per cabin. Do they ever let kids on the UBP? I'm going to hate paying for their non-alcoholic drinks when they should be free!

 

 

Age limit for UBP is 21 years (25 years during the spring break period), no exceptions.

[hawkeyetlse]

The UBP cannot be sold to anyone underage, and I doubt they will make an exception for the free UBP being given away in the wave promo. I don't think the staff would know what to do if they saw the UBP sticker on a child's card (apart from call their supervisor).

 

Still, I agree with you that your kids are getting the short end of this promotion (at least the two that are listed as guest #2 in each cabin). They really should get all of the non-alcoholic benefits of the UBP for free.

 

I wouldn't bother asking NCL about this before your cruise. But once you're on board, maybe have a word with the bar manager or the food & beverage manager and maybe they will be sympathetic and come up with something for you and your kids.

[wndmom]

The UBP cannot be sold to anyone underage, and I doubt they will make an exception for the free UBP being given away in the wave promo. I don't think the staff would know what to do if they saw the UBP sticker on a child's card (apart from call their supervisor).

 

Still, I agree with you that your kids are getting the short end of this promotion (at least the two that are listed as guest #2 in each cabin). They really should get all of the non-alcoholic benefits of the UBP for free.

 

I wouldn't bother asking NCL about this before your cruise. But once you're on board, maybe have a word with the bar manager or the food & beverage manager and maybe they will be sympathetic and come up with something for you and your kids.

 

 

Great idea! Thanks for the advice. I will certainly give it a try.

[cruizecrazygramma]

I just spoke with NCL to ask if there was any option for a virgin cocktails drink package and was told that there was not however he did say that with the soda package, you can ask bartenders for a frozen virgin cocktail and they will ring it in as a soda. Anyone have this experience? Not trying to cheat the system, just following up on what an NCL employee has said

[NJ Mr. E]

http://www.cruisewithgambee.com/norwegian-drink-lists/

 

Best link. If you are a penny pusher, do the math. You'd need to drink a lot. For me, I really only drink bottled beer. Those are $5.50 in the aluminum bottles. That's about ten a day to hit the price per day. So that would mean two by the pool, two at dinner and six at night (roughly). If I'm really in the mood to put them back, then it's a great idea. But you also have to account that I'll be on the island not getting my "free" drinks. It's not like stirrup cay. So I would have to cram my ten drinks in if I went back to the ship. Last year on my Bahamas trip on breakaway, my total bill at the end was about $370. That's was just for me. No packages. No excursions. I ate at four specialty restaurants and had some drinks each night. So last year, I would have burned money.

It depends on each persons plan while on board.