Norwegian to offer "All Inclusive"

[sparkey2030]

At least the Package is combinable with other Promo's

Use AARP and get another 5% off, still keep OBO offered

[davy jones]

I don't know if this was asked.

 

With the wine, photos, and water, is that per person, or per cabin.

 

Either way, it probably is not for us, but I can see it working for some.

[sparkey2030]

I don't know if this was asked.

 

With the wine, photos, and water, is that per person, or per cabin.

 

Either way, it probably is not for us, but I can see it working for some.

 

It is stated per Person.

[Shadow205]

We won't be taking part in this but it is an interesting new concept. IMHO I don't think it is truly all-inclusive since many items are not included such as the spa or other amenities onboard some ships. It is a nice mixture as another poster suggested for cruisers who just want to board and not think about extra costs.

 

Not everything is included at all AI resorts either. Spa services, some activities and even some specialty restaurants are not included. My experience is with Couples Resorts in Jamaica which we love. It will be interesting to see how well this goes over on a cruise.

[L-in-CLT]

We booked a 12 day H6 cabin about a week ago for January. Have been contemplating UDP for the cruise. We aren't big enough drinkers where UBP makes sense but a few glasses of wine a night and a soda here and there throughout the day is not unheard of. Not interested in the pics, choc covered strawberries or bingo. However, with the 10% discount, service charges and excursion credit, this becomes an interesting package that I will most likely add.

 

It really is about personal choices. I think it's an intriguing additional offering from a cruise line that is gaining a reputation for nickel and diming people.

 

I do like the idea of an a la carte inclusive system but my guess is NCL's back end systems aren't set up to handle that level of complexity. With everything key card driven, the system would have to be VERY comprehensive. I could only imagine people on the last day going to Customer Service with "I thought I selected..." and "they didn't tell me that wasn't included..." bill review complaints.

 

I think this particular all inclusive package is a good way for NCL to dip their toe in the water.

 

L

Edited August 5, 2014 by L-in-CLT
typo

[njsonja]

so what would the incentive be to become PLATINUM if you can purchase all these perks? platinum still get priority boarding and priority disembarkation....what else?

 

s

[littlelulu01]

Food for thought. I was curious about why the All inclusive package only benefits those who would purchase unlimited alcohol package so I did a little research and found: 5% of Americans are heavy drinkers. I don't know what percentage of cruise passengers fall into this category and it may be higher than 5% but thought it strange that the first AI package offer is only benefiting 5% of americans.

 

20% of Americans smoke. Now here's where it gets interesting; 80-95% of heavy drinkers are smokers (not the other way around.) If I was a company trying to make money I would certainly want the heavy drinkers in my bars and casinos vs drinking on their balconies with alcohol they may have brought aboard.

 

Perhaps coincidental that the new AI pkg, which only benefits a heavy drinker and excludes children, is introduced at the same time smoking on balconies is banned may be a way to keep the heavy drinker, AKA ship's money maker, on board vs switching to an AI Land based vacation.

[LrgPizza]

Food for thought. I was curious about why the All inclusive package only benefits those who would purchase unlimited alcohol package so I did a little research and found: 5% of Americans are heavy drinkers. I don't know what percentage of cruise passengers fall into this category and it may be higher than 5% but thought it strange that the first AI package offer is only benefiting 5% of americans.

 

 

 

20% of Americans smoke. Now here's where it gets interesting; 80-95% of heavy drinkers are smokers (not the other way around.) If I was a company trying to make money I would certainly want the heavy drinkers in my bars and casinos vs drinking on their balconies with alcohol they may have brought aboard.

 

 

 

Perhaps coincidental that the new AI pkg, which only benefits a heavy drinker and excludes children, is introduced at the same time smoking on balconies is banned may be a way to keep the heavy drinker, AKA ship's money maker, on board vs switching to an AI Land based vacation.

 

 

Your premise that the UBP only benefits heavy drinkers is false, so that renders the rest of your post worthless.

Edited August 6, 2014 by LrgPizza

[littlelulu01]

Your premise that the UBP only benefits heavy drinkers is false, so that renders the rest of your post worthless.

 

The cdc's definition of heavy drinker for a woman is more than 8 drinks per week and a heavy drinker man is 15 or more drinks per week. Im not saying that heavy drinking is good or bad.

[sverigecruiser]

Food for thought. I was curious about why the All inclusive package only benefits those who would purchase unlimited alcohol package so I did a little research and found: 5% of Americans are heavy drinkers. I don't know what percentage of cruise passengers fall into this category and it may be higher than 5% but thought it strange that the first AI package offer is only benefiting 5% of americans.

 

 

Do you mean that 5% of Americans are heavy drinkers when they are cruising or when they are at home?

 

I'm normally not a heavy drinker but I do drink every day on a cruise. A few cocktails and a few glasses of wine every day on a cruise. I don't drink enough to be drunk, not at home and absolutely not on a cruise, but I guess that I'm qualified as a heavy drinker when on a cruise.

[littlelulu01]

Do you mean that 5% of Americans are heavy drinkers when they are cruising or when they are at home?

 

I'm normally not a heavy drinker but I do drink every day on a cruise. A few cocktails and a few glasses of wine every day on a cruise. I don't drink enough to be drunk, not at home and absolutely not on a cruise, but I guess that I'm qualified as a heavy drinker when on a cruise.

 

I don't know the answer to cruise passenger stats. I assume more Heavy drinking occurs on vacation though than at home. The most liberal definition of heavy drinking I could find on the Internet is, "SAMHSA defines heavy drinking as drinking 5 or more drinks on the same occasion on each of 5 or more days in the past 30 days." And stats I found say 5% of Americans are heavy drinkers. I guess only the cruise lines know what percentage are purchasing AI and UBP and then again what of that percentage they make or lose $ on. I just don't want to be the percent whom they make a ton on.

 

I'm not trying to say anything derogatory. If they had the AI program avail when i was in college they would have lost a bundle on me. But now I'm paying for kids private college, im on a budget, love to travel and am always looking at vacation deals, the demographic targets and stuff like that. Also always curious about big changes and how why they happen such as no smoking on balconies, when best time to travel etc. I read boards like this to look for patterns and changes and also to get the biggest bang for my buck.

[Warm Breezes]

so what would the incentive be to become PLATINUM if you can purchase all these perks? platinum still get priority boarding and priority disembarkation....what else?

 

s

 

The incentive would be that you don't have to purchase them once you became Platinum :rolleyes:.

[Starrgazer50]

so what would the incentive be to become PLATINUM if you can purchase all these perks? platinum still get priority boarding and priority disembarkation....what else?

 

s

 

Laundry Service

25% on one bag of laundry Gold members, complimentary one bag of laundry Platinum members

Welcome gift

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Concierge Service

Complimentary Dinner for Two at Le Bistro with a Bottle of Wine

Complimentary "Behind the Scenes" Ship Tour

Complimentary Sparkling Wine in Your Stateroom

 

One a 12 day cruise I received two vouchers for free laundry service.

Welcome gift was a box of Godiva Chocolates.

Here's a pic.

 

If I want liquor I can purchase the bar set-up and make cocktails in my cabin to-go. I can bring a few bottles of my favorite wine for dinner and it's still a whole lot cheaper than the all inclusive and the UBP.

 

The AllIn is more for convenience. That's fine if that's what your looking for.

Edited August 6, 2014 by Starrgazer50

[violettewaits]

You're also missing the fact that the unlimited beverage package has been available on Norwegian sailings for years now, and at roughly $400-$500 a cruise (per person, depending on length), and would likely be a far better option for those who were just in it to get their booze, rather than spending roughly $1,000 (per person, depending on length) on the "All in" package.

 

 

Food for thought. I was curious about why the All inclusive package only benefits those who would purchase unlimited alcohol package so I did a little research and found: 5% of Americans are heavy drinkers. I don't know what percentage of cruise passengers fall into this category and it may be higher than 5% but thought it strange that the first AI package offer is only benefiting 5% of americans.

 

20% of Americans smoke. Now here's where it gets interesting; 80-95% of heavy drinkers are smokers (not the other way around.) If I was a company trying to make money I would certainly want the heavy drinkers in my bars and casinos vs drinking on their balconies with alcohol they may have brought aboard.

 

Perhaps coincidental that the new AI pkg, which only benefits a heavy drinker and excludes children, is introduced at the same time smoking on balconies is banned may be a way to keep the heavy drinker, AKA ship's money maker, on board vs switching to an AI Land based vacation.

Edited August 6, 2014 by violettewaits

[Starrgazer50]

You're also missing the fact that the unlimited beverage package has been available on Norwegian sailings for years now, and at roughly $400-$500 a cruise (per person, depending on length), and would likely be a far better option for those who were just in it to get their booze, rather than spending roughly $1,000 (per person, depending on length) on the "All in" package.

 

Just clarifying "roughly". My 12 day cruise UBP $745.00.

Edited August 6, 2014 by Starrgazer50

[littlelulu01]

You're also missing the fact that the unlimited beverage package has been available on Norwegian sailings for years now, and at roughly $400-$500 a cruise (per person, depending on length), and would likely be a far better option for those who were just in it to get their booze, rather than spending roughly $1,000 (per person, depending on length) on the "All in" package.

 

I don't think anyone in it just to get their booze would pay for the AI package. I'm saying it's a really good deal for those who would purchase the UBP and the other options, a good deal for those who would even use half of the available options included in addition to the UBP and it is a terrible deal for anyone who is not a heavy drinker on the cruise.

 

Perhaps it's just coincidence that the only person who can benefit from this package also happens to have a 80-95% chance of being a smoker and who may be a little upset upon recently learning they can no longer do so on their balcony.

 

I just thought it odd that the first attempt at an AI package only targets 5% of America. If it was all about offering an AI for simplicity sake why would they not have an option for at least the kids sailing with the AI parents?

[newmexicoNita]

The cdc's definition of heavy drinker for a woman is more than 8 drinks per week and a heavy drinker man is 15 or more drinks per week. Im not saying that heavy drinking is good or bad.

that is an average of; vacation time, holiday time, other special times many people who are not heavy drinkers consume more. I don't think on a cruise you can use these guidelines and I would actually question cdc on this. Why, because many doctors are suggesting 2 glasses of wine a nght is good for the heart. If cdc is correct we have to be heavy drinkers to benefit our hearts. !!!! LOL

 

and where are you getting the information that says those who will benefit from the AI are probably smokers?

Edited August 6, 2014 by newmexicoNita

[violettewaits]

I don't think this package has any kind of effect at targeting smokers. I fully believe that it is NCLs way of mirroring the perks of an all-inclusive resort on land. Whatever statistics you have regarding heavy drinking are, I'm sure, due to be very inflated on a cruise. When people are on vacation, a lot of the time, they drink much more than they would were they at home. If you fall into this category, then you already likely considered getting the UBP. It just so happens that if you also tend to get other little perks too, then the "All in" deal would be much better for you.

 

But saying that this package is targeting smokers, because it's targeting heavy drinkers, is completely oversimplifying the matter. If your argument were true, and NCL DID want to target the "heavy drinkers" and thus, smokers, they likely would have released some sort of deal on the UBP. The "All in" promotion isn't cost effective unless you typically tend to get the other perks offered, as well.

 

 

I don't think anyone in it just to get their booze would pay for the AI package. I'm saying it's a really good deal for those who would purchase the UBP and the other options, a good deal for those who would even use half of the available options included in addition to the UBP and it is a terrible deal for anyone who is not a heavy drinker on the cruise.

 

Perhaps it's just coincidence that the only person who can benefit from this package also happens to have a 80-95% chance of being a smoker and who may be a little upset upon recently learning they can no longer do so on their balcony.

 

I just thought it odd that the first attempt at an AI package only targets 5% of America. If it was all about offering an AI for simplicity sake why would they not have an option for at least the kids sailing with the AI parents?

Edited August 6, 2014 by violettewaits

[littlelulu01]

that is an average of; vacation time, holiday time, other special times many people who are not heavy drinkers consume more. I don't think on a cruise you can use these guidelines and I would actually question cdc on this. Why, because many doctors are suggesting 2 glasses of wine a nght is good for the heart. If cdc is correct we have to be heavy drinkers to benefit our hearts. !!!! LOL

 

and where are you getting the information that says those who will benefit from the AI are probably smokers?

 

I googled, "Percentage of heavy drinkers who smoke" to find that 80-95% of heavy drinkers smoke. I also googled, "percentage of Americans who drink heavily" to find the 5% and googled, "definition of heavy drinking" to find out that 8 or more per week for a woman and 15 or more per week for a man. The CDC also defines moderate drinking as one per day for a woman and 2 per day for a man.

 

Perhaps the CDC is not accurate in their definition of heavy drinker, I doubt it but you never know. Even so I can't find any information on any website that would classify a female who drinks 4 or more per day and male who drinks 5 or more a day in five of the last 30 days as anything but a heavy drinker.

 

For my fourteen nt cruise at $869 for the UBP I would need to be drinking heavily according to anyone's standards every day for 14 days straight just to get to a break even point on the UBP. At a cost of $1449 for AI the Alcohol is the single most expensive portion of the pkg, costing more than all other components combined.

 

So... it only stands to reason that; if the AI package is designed to benefit a heavy drinker, 80-95% of heavy drinkers smoke, the and the heavy drinker is one of NCL's most lucrative customers spending a lot on a ship, that NCL would want to offer them some sort of AI package to compete with the land based AI they may be switching to with the upcoming smoking ban on balconies.

[littlelulu01]

I don't think this package has any kind of effect at targeting smokers. I fully believe that it is NCLs way of mirroring the perks of an all-inclusive resort on land. Whatever statistics you have regarding heavy drinking are, I'm sure, due to be very inflated on a cruise. When people are on vacation, a lot of the time, they drink much more than they would were they at home. If you fall into this category, then you already likely considered getting the UBP. It just so happens that if you also tend to get other little perks too, then the "All in" deal would be much better for you.

 

But saying that this package is targeting smokers, because it's targeting heavy drinkers, is completely oversimplifying the matter. If your argument were true, and NCL DID want to target the "heavy drinkers" and thus, smokers, they likely would have released some sort of deal on the UBP. The "All in" promotion isn't cost effective unless you typically tend to get the other perks offered, as well.

 

You may be right. There just seems to be less and less land vacations that allow smoking in a convenient manner. Cruises and Land AI's seem to be the last haven for those who smoke and drink. Many of those on the smoking threads are reporting canceling their vacations and switching to an AI where their drinks and many other items are covered and they can smoke.

 

That's probably a knee jerk reaction to a new rule but if many do the switch and then don't switch back there is a big loss. If the cruise line could capture some of the AI land based vacation switches with their own AI they might not lose that big money maker group to the land based AI.

 

If the cruiser can take a trip with the AI cruise and realize that he can still have fun and not need to smoke on his balcony they may keep him around for future cruises.

[Starrgazer50]

I'm sorry, but I don't understand how the smokers and UBP connect. I use to smoke so I know that I enjoyed it more when I would drink alcohol, but Isn't the issue with smokers due to not smoking on the balcony, but in designated area? Will the smokers be able to smoke at the bar? I don't get it.

Edited August 6, 2014 by Starrgazer50

[MrMan]

Not sure why the angst with another option, doesn't work for you don't take it. For me this is a dream.

 

I am a consultant. I book time off between gigs so mostly last minute, tend to be higher fares. Ususally fly in on same day as cruise from client site. I am on the ship to stop thinking and making decisions. I can't imagine bringing a case of cokes or water, not that there is anything wrong with it, but I am there to relax and destress, not shopping at Walmart for water on vacation. Play bingo, go on many exersions ususally booked day before, because quite frankly 3 days before the cruise I did not know I would be on it or where I was going. I travel every week, so much this is time for my Partner and I. We eat most nights a specialty restaurants, never the buffett. Have breakfast cappachino, drinks by pool, happy hour, sunset, dinner, piano bar, casino, post show nightcap. Would give away internet time as I don't want to be connected to the world I am escaping. On exersions most days unless the Bahammas, and then the drinks by the ships pool will end up more than an exersion costs. Being able to not worry about getting a beer or well vs preimum and enjoying a vacation, and not being slapped by the bill at the end of the cruise would be awsome.

[njsonja]

Laundry Service

25% on one bag of laundry Gold members, complimentary one bag of laundry Platinum members

Welcome gift

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Concierge Service

Complimentary Dinner for Two at Le Bistro with a Bottle of Wine

Complimentary "Behind the Scenes" Ship Tour

Complimentary Sparkling Wine in Your Stateroom

 

 

yes, the laundry service isn't included in the new inclusive package; however, the chocolate covered strawberries are, the complimentary dinner is moot if you buy the UDP, concierge service comes with a suite if you stay in one, the wine with dinner and in my stateroom are no longer needed since i have the UBP and how many times can you do a BEHIND THE SCENESE SHIP TOUR?

[Starrgazer50]

Laundry Service

25% on one bag of laundry Gold members, complimentary one bag of laundry Platinum members

Welcome gift

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Concierge Service

Complimentary Dinner for Two at Le Bistro with a Bottle of Wine

Complimentary "Behind the Scenes" Ship Tour

Complimentary Sparkling Wine in Your Stateroom

 

 

yes, the laundry service isn't included in the new inclusive package; however, the chocolate covered strawberries are, the complimentary dinner is moot if you buy the UDP, concierge service comes with a suite if you stay in one, the wine with dinner and in my stateroom are no longer needed since i have the UBP and how many times can you do a BEHIND THE SCENESE SHIP TOUR?

 

I guess it like, Mr Man said: If if doesn't work for you- don't do it. If it does - go for it! And hopefully to put this issue to rest, I will quote my Dads favorite saying (may he rest in peace) It's Your little red wagon, you can push it or pull it. :D

 

[Happy Sails 2 U]

AI Update:

 

Solo travelers who book studio cabins can no longer avail themselves of All Inclusive special. Yesterday, we could. Today, not. And while we're required to pay double for any other cabin, if you book as a single traveler, and enter the promo code ALLIN, you get the same warning studio passengers get: Promo code not valid on selected sail date and/or stateroom type.

 

Love your father's red wagon quote, Starrgazer! ;)

 

HS2U :)