Free UBP promo charging me $29/day service charge?

[vivalv66]

We paid $1800pp,10 days, balcony cabin, airfare, hotel, transfers,

UBP, $100 casino credit, ALL taxes, ALL tips, and a tour of NOLA after cruise.

I think that is a pretty fantastic deal!

[triptolemus]

It's from a price tracking site that a lot of people here use.

 

Thanks.

 

}><((((º>

 

Just looked up my April 2016 SF Jewel trip. I hit the sweet spot. I don't typically look at that type of historical data, but nice to see that it's there.

[breezy270]

I know. Even when I spell it out like I did in the post above yours, there are still people who seem to think I'm paying more than I did 2 years ago. It's hilarious.

 

I agree it is a very easy concept.. In comparing a future cruise I am looking into ....the better deal is still NCL ..I am looking into a 7 day Mexican Riviera cruise...NCL is offering an inside at 499 pp and princess is 799 pp for the same dates even with the added 18% gratuity of the UBP it is still cheaper for me to book with NCL....I cruised on Epic before they started the promotions and I spent more than I did when I booked my Getaway cruise for May....

[texaridian]

I signed up for the UBP on the Star TA in April '16. Yes, the cost of the gratuities I had to pay is about $200 for the 14 day trip. And yes, I don't normally spend anywhere near that amount for alcohol on a cruise. I'm just not a big drinker.

 

However, I went with this because I want the option to try almost any drink I want. I'll be able to have a glass of wine with dinner each night. I can try the specialty drinks and expand my drink repertoire. Plus, I've never had a chance to compare "house" brands to some of the better brands of alcohol. As long as the drink doesn't exceed $15, now I can see if Grey Goose is really better than Smirnoff, or Patron is better in my margarita than Sauza.

 

So, based on the amount of alcohol I'll consume, no, this is not a wise financial decision. But based on this opportunity to have a unique experience, yes it's worth it to me.

[fshagan]

Smirnoff is closer to $20-25 a liter for me. I think the price varies be country and by region within the US. Still close to $1 an ounce. I don't buy Grey Goose by the bottle so I am not sure about the cost ,but I know it is more than Smirnoff so has to be over $1 a pour.

 

Most people have no idea how liquor laws and distributor agreements are different for restaurants and bars than they are for themselves. I know here in California a bar cannot run to Costco and buy wine or liquor; they are violating their purchase agreements and/or laws.

 

If alcohol was literally "pennies" there wouldn't be locked rooms and tight inventory controls on the stock held behind the bar.

 

I can buy a bottle of liquor for $25 and have it sit on my shelf for ten years if I don't quite like it, or pay $8 for a taste of it in a drink. Even though the per-ounce price is higher, the $8 drink is a better deal. Even more so if I get to meet people, converse, etc. instead of sitting alone in my family room with HGTV playing.

[navybankerteacher]

A cruise I'm considering has the free Ultimate Beverage package for any category but I noticed a bit of fine print..."Service charges are not included on beverage or dining package offers." So I did a mock booking and it wants to add $29/day for the service charge, that's got to be an error right!?

 

I got a free package on my cruise last year and they certainly did not charge me anything. I could see a dollar a drink or something but $29/day for drink tips? That seems crazy; the service charge on a free package is more than I would normally spend on drinks.

 

It's sort of a local dialect: there's "free", and then there's "NCL free"; totally different.

[ja2nowak]

I had to pay for the UBP on my last cruise. Base cruise rate with taxes for a 7 day inside came out to $755.39 with taxes. I added on the UBP at $435 for the week with the gratuity. At the end my bar tab was almost double that. It isn't hard to do if you have a mimosa for breakfast, a beer with lunch, a martini before dinner, a glass of wine or two, and a cocktail or two in the evening. For me it was totally worth it to have a known amount because my behavior would have been the same so I saved money.

 

Fast forward to my current cruise. 16 day transatlantic with the UBP added and 6 nights of UDP. Cost of the cruise $952.43 for a window view with taxes. Adding on the gratuity for the UBP and 6 nights UDP came out to $248.04. $227.52 for the beverage package and $20.52 for the dining.

 

Now I did have the option to select the internet or the shore credit as well which would have bypassed the gratuity and the price would still have been the $952.43. However, $20 for the upgraded dining for 6 nights is a steal. The even better deal, as I do enjoy a cocktail or two nightly and wine with my dinner, is the $227.52 up charge for the drinks gratuity.

 

Let's say I follow my schedule of a martini, 2 glasses of wine, and a couple of drinks in the evening (doubtful I will drink every night) it comes out to the princely sum of $14.22 a day. For me, this was a no brainer. Even if I only drink half the nights in my normal fashion $30 a day for drinks is nothing. That's a cheaper bottle of wine at a restaurant and a mid grade martini. And I don't drink much at home unless I'm entertaining guests because the social aspect is most of the fun. Ultimately, I think it comes down to 1) How much do you drink? 2) What is your personal preference.

 

I value the fact that for $227.52 the price of drinks on the boat is now irrelevant to me and I won't have a surprise like many uninformed cruisers do. I know what I'm paying for and getting and am fine with it even if it slightly inflated my cruise cost. I'm on vacation.

[hawkeyetlse]

Transatlantics with the UBP perk are a steal! I would never buy the package for such a long cruise, having to keep up that level of drinking for so many days in a row, I don't think I'd survive the crossing. But as a free perk (and it is completely free if you book in Europe), it adds so much value to the vacation.

[LrgPizza]

Transatlantics with the UBP perk are a steal! I would never buy the package for such a long cruise, having to keep up that level of drinking for so many days in a row, I don't think I'd survive the crossing. But as a free perk (and it is completely free if you book in Europe), it adds so much value to the vacation.

 

 

We canceled and rebooked the Escape TA a year after originally hooking to get the promo UBP. Ha! But we had been planning to purchase it anyway.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[SPB in da RVA]

A cruise I'm considering has the free Ultimate Beverage package for any category but I noticed a bit of fine print..."Service charges are not included on beverage or dining package offers." So I did a mock booking and it wants to add $29/day for the service charge, that's got to be an error right!?

 

I got a free package on my cruise last year and they certainly did not charge me anything. I could see a dollar a drink or something but $29/day for drink tips? That seems crazy; the service charge on a free package is more than I would normally spend on drinks.

 

 

Why is it that whenever someone reads something they do not like it is referred to as fine print? The print is the exact same size :P

 

Anyway it is clearly stated that the 18% gratuity must be paid. You ARE getting the package itself for free. If that is more than what you would normally spend on drinks then you might want to consider selecting a different freebie!

[boopsahoy]

Why is it that whenever someone reads something they do not like it is referred to as fine print? The print is the exact same size :P

 

Anyway it is clearly stated that the 18% gratuity must be paid. You ARE getting the package itself for free. If that is more than what you would normally spend on drinks then you might want to consider selecting a different freebie!

 

We had to choose another promo for that reason. $250 fr my husband and I for a 10 day cruise. We're booked through Cas so we already get free drinks int he casino which is where we do most of our drinking so it really didnt pay for us. We took the specialty restaurant promo and the shore excusrsion one which I still may change to the wifi (I have to look at the excursions and see if its worth it).

 

Edited to say I would have rather had a cheaper room rate (we paid to upgrade the "free" room)than the 2 promos.

Edited April 1, 2016 by boopsahoy

[hladygirl]

We had to choose another promo for that reason. $250 fr my husband and I for a 10 day cruise. We're booked through Cas so we already get free drinks int he casino which is where we do most of our drinking so it really didnt pay for us. We took the specialty restaurant promo and the shore excusrsion one which I still may change to the wifi (I have to look at the excursions and see if its worth it).

 

Edited to say I would have rather had a cheaper room rate (we paid to upgrade the "free" room)than the 2 promos.

We also booked with casino at sea and got 7 night Bermuda, ocean view with picture window, UBP , 4 night dining , cruise insurance and the platinum rewards for $1,000 total. This include tickets, taxes and gratuities on the packages for two. Where else can we go on an all inclusive cruise for a week for $500/pp. my husband doesn't even drink. He will get the cocktails minus the alcohol covered. I will indulge in multiple drinks that I usually don't indulge on cruises. This is a great bargain for us. The best part is we can drive 40 min to cruise port. NO AIRPLANE OR TRANSPORT FEES!!M

Edited April 1, 2016 by hladygirl

[SPB in da RVA]

NCL must be off their rocker. For $79 I should get my own waiter to follow me around with a cooler so I always have a cold beer nearby. lol

 

Then by all means do that instead of buying the package. ;)

[Aussiegrlfl]

Your logic is also ridiculous ---- You have bought in to NCL's idea that a drink should cost $15 when you could pour it yourself for pennies.

 

However, they do charge that much a drink nowadays or close to it, so unless you smuggle your own, which is not allowed......and you want to have a few drinks on your vacation......then it's still a deal.....and in our case..$1000.00 pp for a balcony for 7 days including a few drinks and some dining options.....is still a great deal....no matter how you add it up and that price includes the service charge.....and taxes.......I've paid a lot more for less.....just saying......

[lmintzer]

I just put a deposit down on a NCL Pearl Alaska cruise (will be our first cruise)--late July. I booked a mini-suite for my two boys (a tween and a teen) and myself.

 

I had originally selected the free specialty dining and the unlimited drinks package, our travel agent told us that there would be a $99/surcharge PER PERSON. Say, what? My two boys (ages 12 and 15) will only be able to drinks sodas. How can they charge the 18% on what would be a total package price of $79.99/day when they are clearly kids who would otherwise purchase a soda package for $5-8/day. I had thought it would be a nice treat for me to have free drinks. But not for $300! There is no way that will pay off. I am thinking if I purchase 2 drinks per day on average (a glass of wine and a cocktail--maybe they will cost me $20/day including tip?). That would be $140 for the week. I'd lose money unless I order 4 drinks per day (plus a few sodas here and there for my older son--my younger doesn't even like carbonated drinks).

[hawkeyetlse]

I had originally selected the free specialty dining and the unlimited drinks package, our travel agent told us that there would be a $99/surcharge PER PERSON. Say, what?

It's $99 just for you, if you pick the beverage perk. Your older son (be sure he is listed as passenger #2) will automatically be downgraded to the soda package and you will only have to pay the service charge on that, which I think is $9.45 for 7 days. Your younger son will receive no perks. You can purchase the soda package for him, but it doesn't sound like that will be necessary.

 

So you and your older son can have all the drinks you want for the week for about $110, total.

 

The specialty dining perk has an additional service charge, if it's a 3-meal package you will have to pay $12.42 per person for you and your older son. You'll have to decide if you want to purchase the same package for your other son, or if it's cheaper to pay for his meals à la carte and/or have him order off the free kid's menu when you go to specialty restaurants.

 

It sounds like maybe your travel agent hasn't booked a lot of NCL cruises lately…

Edited April 1, 2016 by hawkeyetlse

[lmintzer]

Wow, thanks. No, this travel agent says she has not booked NCL in a while. She is a friend of my SIL's and works for a reputable company in AZ. I think she means well, but . . .

 

I should share this info with her. What you are saying makes more sense.

 

I am a little concerned, honestly, that none of the perks went through. I see nothing on my invoice and there are no surcharges for the restaurant.

[hawkeyetlse]

If you are not seeing the promo service charges for your beverage and dining perks, I think there probably is a problem, and you should get your TA to look into it and then send you the amenities invoice from NCL that confirms everything (or you can call NCL and ask for this document yourself).

 

You should also make sure you're getting the extra OBC offer from NCL that ended today (on top of whatever the TA is able to offer you, if anything).

[TrinaLC]

How does the above not make sense? There is no world in which a drink costs pennies.

 

I manage a bar and even our rail vodka is almost a dollar a pour for just the cost of the vodka. But the vodka isn't the only cost of the drink. You have to pay for the mixer (juice, soda), the ice machine that makes the ice, and the water in the ice, the glass that it's served in, washing the glass it's served in, the blender the makes the slushy drink, the electricity to run the blender, the bevnap or coaster it's sitting on, the shelf the liquor sits on, the cabinet it's stored in, the stool the patron parks on, the floor the stool is sitting on, the heat/air conditioning to keep the patron comfortable, the liability insurance incase something happens to the patron, in addition to the staff to make the drink, move the stock (barback), manage the shift..... The list goes on and on.

 

Our median pour price is $2.50 a drink BEFORE the cost of anything that goes into the glass.

 

The only way a drink costs "pennies a pour" is if you're drinking Nikolai a half oz at a time, warm, at home, in the dark, where your other costs are already sunk in your price of living.

 

Almost all of the cost of liquor is TAX. I presume NCL and the other lines purchase their booze in one of their ports of call rather than in the US (just as their passengers like to do).

[funtosun]

Is this a new thing having to be charged a service charge with UBP? I booked my cruise in March of 2015 with the UBP but does this mean I will be charged daily on my drink package? I am new to NCL and having UBP..

[Demonyte]

Is this a new thing having to be charged a service charge with UBP? I booked my cruise in March of 2015 with the UBP but does this mean I will be charged daily on my drink package? I am new to NCL and having UBP..

 

March 2015 was the last month when service charges were included in promo UBP for new bookings in US.

 

And no, nobody with UBP will be charged bar gratuities onboard regardless of how they got it.

Edited April 1, 2016 by Demonyte

[SmitteeB11]

This is why we took the wifi package plus an obc from our Ta

 

Done with the specialty places as they just aren't what they used to be

 

Drink package is a joke and would never in a million years drink that much....calories alone are disgusting

 

Shore excursions. Really? All that does is guarantee Ncl full excursions and I watch excursion prices and it's quite apparent they have raised them significantly...of course the local tour guy is still getting the same $$ I'm sure. Lol. And who in their right mind cant just take a taxi to a gorgeous beach in the Carib? In most if not all Carib ports regulated taxis are well run and dependable. It's your choice if you choose to use some non regulated one to save $5.

 

 

Also it's only $50 per port per cabin ...um...so a family of 4 must book Ncl excursions at Ncl prices? Really....I have a bridge for sale btw

 

It should be noted that I have booked Ncl excursions in the past when the prices were lower and I felt it important to be with Ncl...as in our 5 hour call in Tortola at 7 am. The smart money booked the baths excursion thru the ship if you wanted to go there. Primarily for return to ship timing. If had a full day DIY would be ok but not for our call.

 

I would take the free dsc if offered but it isn't right now

 

Every single one of the perks is designed to fund Ncl in one way or another. I'm sure the wifi will be slow but I also set up my iPhone thru Verizon for their $40 package as well. I'm not penny wise and pound foolish. I always have a plan b/c/d at the ready

 

Regarding the drink package...well since it costs Ncl pennies per pour....they are nt giving away much. If it COSTs them $10 per day per pax in alcohol cost plus overhead...that's a lot

 

You can't think retail drink prices when analyzing the package from Ncls standpoint...you must think cost. So the 18% they charge you covers their cost....unless you are naive enough to this the bartenders get it....

 

The bartenders get a salary plus the cash you throw at them because you feel guilty they work so hard ....it's their choice remember

 

Also IMHO. Ncl who we know reads these boards is thrilled we all think the dsc does NOT get to the crew....they and the crew know that means we will

Pay the dsc plus tip in cash

 

I dont remove the dsc and only tip $30 to the steward per cabin. He deserves it.

 

*NOMINEE*

Post of the Year

[ja2nowak]

Is this a new thing having to be charged a service charge with UBP? I booked my cruise in March of 2015 with the UBP but does this mean I will be charged daily on my drink package? I am new to NCL and having UBP..

 

Not really new, but I know that the first time I payed out of pocket for the package the gratuities were included.

[CasinoCruzGirl]

A cruise I'm considering has the free Ultimate Beverage package for any category but I noticed a bit of fine print..."Service charges are not included on beverage or dining package offers." So I did a mock booking and it wants to add $29/day for the service charge, that's got to be an error right!?

 

I got a free package on my cruise last year and they certainly did not charge me anything. I could see a dollar a drink or something but $29/day for drink tips? That seems crazy; the service charge on a free package is more than I would normally spend on drinks.

 

Welcome to the crusing way of FDR. When he took over he vowed to get an extra $5 pp per day well he's exceeded even his own expectations. Shame on him and his people for these consistent increases that have been going on. When will it stop? It sure has changed a lot over the last year but either change lines or pay up.

[LrgPizza]

Not really new, but I know that the first time I payed out of pocket for the package the gratuities were included.

 

You would have paid the gratuities at the time you bought the package. There have always been gratuities assessed on the package price when purchased.