New to NCL.. beginning to regret the move

[beachmonkey]

I think there are 2 reasons why it is not available during spring break.

 

The first, as has been stated, is that NCL stands to make more money due to the increased beverage consumption.

 

The second has to do with the safety and enjoyment of passengers. I appreciate that this is a consideration.

 

I might be off my rocker, but that is how I see it.

[tiffygirl]

So I guess im confused.:confused:

 

You have a poor impression because a DIFFERENT cruise line has DIFFERENT rules. But you wanted to try a DIFFERENT cruise line to experience something DIFFERENT.

 

So you dont like the 'rules' that are stated clearly of the black out dates (UBP). SO now DIFFERENT cruise line has now made a poor impression to you due to there business decision.

 

 

You would like us to tell you..... that you are going to still enjoy your cruise by buying a drink by the glass?

 

Corrrect me if i got this wrong...

 

ok...

 

You will still have a great time without the UBP! Great shows and food. Find you a heavy pourer bartender so each drink will have longer lasting affect. Passengers are fun...Music is great. Dont miss the white hot party, or the caribbean deck party. Try the line dance classes and the salsa dance classes by the pool...Be brave a partcipate in the sexy legs competition...so much fun..if you win you actually will have a trophey! Don't compare...its not carnival,royal, or CCL , NCL has there own way of doing somethings...so just go with it.

 

bon voyage!

[Nyc2tropics]

Just smuggle your own liquor on.

[330_cruiser]

So I guess im confused.:confused:

 

....

 

Corrrect me if i got this wrong...

 

ok...

 

tiffygirl, thanks for your feedback - much appreciated.. Apologies for any confusion or offense!

 

- we were advised by NCLs reservations (UK office) initially the package was available - mistakes happen at all levels, not the end of the world

- certainly don't expect a different operator to mimic other operators policies, we've been on enough cruises to know each have company have there own way of doing things

- primary concern was the description given by the NCL agent (US number) that due to "passenger demographics" the drinks package was pulled - this lead to an impression that we were booked on a ship that was unsuitable for us. Having travelled over Spring break many times before (and not noticing anything significantly different) the comments made by the NCL agent caused alarm.

- in addition there were several NCL issues that effected our booking which were subsequently resolved - this caused a poor first impression but could happen when dealing with any organisation

 

Hope that clarifies our position and thanks again for your positive feedback on your NCL experience.

[Big Chippy]

You will get on just fine buying drinks as required. Actually in a group of 8 the UBP could be a bit of a pain as you can only get one drink at a time, you can't buy"rounds"

I bet if you pool the overall cost of the UBP for your party you will come out ahead.

Don't forget you can bring on an unlimited amount of your own wine (corkage $15 per bottle) and you can take it anywhere on the ship.

Don't forget your shore days either, you will no doubt have a "few" whilst on shore.

Have a ball :) sure it will be great.

[Big Chippy]

A further thought, NCL have inexpensive beer, wine and Martini tasting sessions on sea days, can be fun, most especially if in a group:rolleyes::D

Edited January 17, 2014 by Big Chippy

[Tralfie]

Have you thought of purchasing bar setups? Might even be cheaper in the long run. I always have a bottle of Absolut and mixers waiting in my suite.

 

I have to agree with this. I'll admit, I had the EXACT same reaction as the OP when I found out that I wouldn't be able to get the beverage package. That was rather important to me, and it made me re-think the whole thing. Then I realized that one of the big draws (I'm also on a March 2 voyage, but on the Breakaway) for this trip is my aft-facing balcony... so I ordered bar set-up in my room. I'll be having cocktails on the balcony each night!

 

Richard/Tralfie

[cruisingcasinos]

Hi Zoey, unfortunately with work commitments this was the only week all eight of us could get together.. We've travelled other lines at this time and never had a problem

 

My DH and I are on the epic this week as well. Last year we were on her the week of march 9. we always travel late Feb early March not because it is spring break but because by then we are so Done with winter and just want to get away to some sun and fun. We have never had any issues with overzealous spring breakers. NCL just likes to be cautious.

 

Get the Bar set up and just remember you are on vacation- don't sweat what you can't control- and just Have a Great time!:D

-Barbara

[tiffygirl]

tiffygirl, thanks for your feedback - much appreciated.. Apologies for any confusion or offense!

 

- we were advised by NCLs reservations (UK office) initially the package was available - mistakes happen at all levels, not the end of the world

- certainly don't expect a different operator to mimic other operators policies, we've been on enough cruises to know each have company have there own way of doing things

- primary concern was the description given by the NCL agent (US number) that due to "passenger demographics" the drinks package was pulled - this lead to an impression that we were booked on a ship that was unsuitable for us. Having travelled over Spring break many times before (and not noticing anything significantly different) the comments made by the NCL agent caused alarm.

- in addition there were several NCL issues that effected our booking which were subsequently resolved - this caused a poor first impression but could happen when dealing with any organisation

 

Hope that clarifies our position and thanks again for your positive feedback on your NCL experience.

 

ok I see. I know im sailing getaway in april, the ubp is not available.

 

Can anyone confirm if NCL pulls the UBP fleet wide for the blackout dates or is it just Caribbean/Bahamas sailings?

 

I m thinking "passenger demographic" is just legal jargon for ... you will be paying by the glass, because we got to make that money! money ! money!!

 

I ask if its fleet wide because the percentage of spring breakers sailing on itineraries outside the Caribbean/Bahamas would be relatively small. those sailings would not have the same 'passenger demographics'. so I wonder if it was an all or nothing decision.

 

if so...you should look at from the angle of MONEY versus rowdy drunk passengers.

 

so your poor impression was not just the bad facts given ubp it was more little things that added up... I gotcha. we each have our own tolerance level.

 

hopefully NCL can redeem themselves, the Epic is my favorite ship.

Gose, the bartender at Maltings bar deck 7 aft is great, my other favorite .. fun bar!! also go and see the Chocolate Cowboy..(that's his name he's known by) he's at the casino bar on deck 6. he works from 6pm until close THE BEST BARTENDER ON THE SHIP!...Gose and the chocolate cowboy makes some good drinks. also go to the bar on spice h20 as well...but always send the ladies to the bar :) not the mean ones LOL..the smiley ones.

 

o'sheehan's bar I would avoid for mix drinks...you might as well purchase a virgin drink.

 

Don't miss the quest, cirque show or BMG.......oh the blue man group drink Is good too, but you can only get it at the blue man show.

 

do the martini tasting and margarita tastings. The best money you will spend... you will get 4 to 5 martini /margarita's for $15 ea..if Gose is on his game...he will send you to bed afterwards.

 

the martini flights are a pleasant surprise. one of the strongest drinks on the ship. 6 mini martini $15. vodka and gin marini's. they are small but they pack a punch OMG! you will need help to finish them.

 

Maltings bar also has Patron flights its either 3 or 4 of them , its the gold, silver and another patron served in the TALL shot glass $15...you gotta like tequila but that is a SUPER DEAL straight liquor; no juices.

 

 

 

they also have a beer and wine tastings $15 each..but you are getting bang for your buck check the dallies to see if they have a pub crawl, they don't have those every sailing so you have to check.

 

the waves bar by the pool only from 9-11:30am 50% ( $5 and some change)off select cocktails bloody Mary's, mimosas, screw drivers and one other I forgot!

if you run into any problems regarding any of the bars ask for David , the bar supervisor and he will make it right!

 

this is what I heard, I know none of this by fact!:)

Edited January 18, 2014 by tiffygirl

[Demonyte]

Can anyone confirm if NCL pulls the UBP fleet wide for the blackout dates or is it just Caribbean/Bahamas sailings?

 

Yes, it's fleetwide - there have been numerous discussions about disgruntled passengers on Mediterranean cruises during said timeline. Only location based restriction with UBP is that it is not available on Hawaian cruises (Pride of America) at all because of Hawaian alcohol legislation.

[elevario]

Bring your own wine or champagne and pay the $15 corkage fee per bottle. This is what I am doing on my March 15th sailing. It is still cheaper to procure your own wine and pay the fee then to buy wine on board. Besides, NCL is in business to make money and they know that they can make more money charging college kids per drink in lieu of the drink package. Don't let the little things upset you on a great cruise vacation. NCL knows that they need to also keep order on the ship during spring break for the enjoyment to ALL of their guests. I truly will appreciate it.

[cruiseclues]

OP said they were not big drinkers. Another Consideration about saving money with your drinks. When most people decide on getting a drinks package due to the likelihood of saving money, they often look at current cruise line bar menu prices if available.

 

Note that all cruise lines, to my knowledge, will make many drinks which may not be on the bar menu...additionally many of the drinks on the bar menu are made with high priced liquor, such as Grey Goose vodka.

 

On the last cruise we asked the price of a cocktail if it was not made with Grey Goose vodka, but using some other vodka, and the price was $3.00 cheaper.

 

Cruise Lines don't usually have liquors which are relatively unknown brands, so in the example of vodka, if you didn't want the expensive Grey Goose, it would probably be a choice of many of the brands which you know and may even think of as expensive. :):):):)

Edited January 18, 2014 by cruiseclues

[sparks1093]

I m thinking "passenger demographic" is just legal jargon for ... you will be paying by the glass, because we got to make that money! money ! money!!

 

UBP is designed to make the cruise line money, so yes, turning the program off during spring break is a matter of dollars and cents. Why they choose to blackout cruises not affected by spring break I do not know. In the documentary "Cruise Inc." whether or not a particular sailing made a profit came down to one thing- bar sales. So yes, money is very likely the driving force behind this decision. (Most people that buy the UBP have calculated how many drinks they need to consume per day in order to "break even" with the program. You can bet the bean counters at NCL have done the same thing from the other point of view:).)

[hawkeyetlse]

(Most people that buy the UBP have calculated how many drinks they need to consume per day in order to "break even" with the program. You can bet the bean counters at NCL have done the same thing from the other point of view:).)

And they have some information that we don't have, i.e. what the drinks actually cost them. For a passenger looking at the heavily marked-up menu prices, it takes maybe 6 or 7 drinks per day to break even and start "saving money". At this point your UBP becomes less and less profitable for NCL, but it is still profitable. I wonder how much you have to drink before NCL actually starts losing money.

[luddite]

Thanks for all the feedback!

 

Is NCL always this militant ? It seems quite different to other lines in this regard and certainly fails to create a good first impression.

 

They are always this experienced.

[jjikids]

We do not take the drink package since we are not big drinkers. We know people who are big drinkers. They decided not to take the package since they felt the price would be a lot more. It ended up to be the same price. Remember they are big drinkers. We do not think the package is worthwhile unless you drink many drinks all through the day. That would not be a reason to cancel a cruise. As another poster said there are daily specials.

[bamagrad92]

We have sailed twice on spring break, but out of New Orleans. Both times on NCL. We have found some "party crowds" but for the most part it is families. Its not the party ship you would think. Sailing out of Miami may be different, not sure. I wish NCL would offer the UBP during spring break but can understand the potential issues. We are sailing again this spring break on the Jewel, again out of new orleans. (location is close) We have to small kids, 6 and 3 and are not worried at all about the party scene. But, its lively enough for all to have a great time! Go and enjoy!!