Can't bring soda on board anymore

[hawkeyetlse]

If Every pax holding cruise next certs...asked for a refund....I bet we would be grandfathered in to the water thing...

That's not going to happen, obviously, but since you mentioned refunds… Last year when Carnival introduced their policy, they gave people a month's notice and for one week they let people cancel their cruises if they were unhappy about the policy. (I don't know how that actually worked out in practice, and in reality I think most people who demand the right to cancel without penalty over such changes really only want to be offered the right, they don't seriously intend to cancel.)

I personally would not care if they raised the cost of the UBP and started including speciality coffee, canned soda and bottles of water to justify it.

People have been saying that, and waiting expectantly for it to happen, ever since the UBP cost $49/day… Edited July 1, 2016 by hawkeyetlse

[Merriem]

For the past several years, we have had the promo UBP, both before and after the 18% was added. Once they started adding the 18%, it amounted to ... I don't even know. Less than $200 for two people. Big whoop. We would never walk away with a bar bill that low for an entire week. We are sailing over New Year's this year. Two balcony cabins are costing us $5,038, with the UBP and $100 obc for each cabin, plus an additional $50 shore excursion credit for each cabin. The cheapest by far of any cruise line sailing over NYE. We normally sail over spring break and usually spend half of that on two balcony cabins. We go to Disney world every few months and easily spend more there in a few days than we do on just one cabin fare alone for a cruise with NCL. I personally think the value with NCL is there. The NCL crew are the best at sea. We have no complaints about the food, in fact, the quality has increased. I could truly care less about the $1 gratuity they want to add to my $6 bottle of water. I would have left that on the bar for the bartender anyway. That's my take. We are all entitled to spend our $ as we wish. There are plenty of other lines if NCL if no longer for you. NCL made a lot of changes in a short period of time. Some good, some not so good; however, when you add it all up, it still is a better value (to me) than a different line. That's what it boils down to.

 

I paid a little over $5000 on Celebrity for an Alaska cruise this summer in a suite, which includes eating in their private suite restaurant. Included was the following..I would note that their beverage packages includes everything

 

Premium Beverage Pkg for 2

$150 pp to spend onboard

Prepaid Tips for 2

Unlimited Internet for 2

 

Actually got a $600 OBC from Celebrity and a $500 of my TA.

[Single Cruiser]

I don't know what third world country you live in, but I've never seen what you're describing at any Five Guys or Wendy's that has them.

 

 

And on Royal Caribbean the staff were always cleaning the machines, mopping up any spills etc.. Good fun trying different flavoured combinations ..

 

 

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[madoris]

They keep sailing with full ships, they must be doing something right.

[fshagan]

Well, this takes away one of the last few differentiators we consider when cruising (no one else allows you to take a case of water on board). With NCL's high price on bottled water it also adds to the cost of the cruise for us.

 

We'll probably try X for Alaska this year instead of NCL and see how we like them. Or Princess again (although I wish they would fix their beds!)

[Shih-tzu]

When Carnival stopped allowing bottles of water, I pre-ordered 2 12-packs on line prior to cruising and they were $3.99 I believe. With 2 diabetics in the room, we would have no desire to pay the price NCL charges........but I don't think they would accept that as a medical reason as it's not distilled. (But on the flip side.....there's Pepsi:))

[roger001]

Right or wrong, my wife is a Diet Pepsi addict. She needs her Pepsi fix just like I do my coffee fix each morning. She then takes one with her as she wanders the ship through out the day, and has one available for the evening. We take two 12 packs on board to keep in the refridge. I'm not going to leave the room to run to a bar for a small cup of fountain Pepsi when she "needs" one. I guess I'll now just stock the refridge with the $2.95 cans that must be purchased on the ship. Based on what I get Pepsi sale priced at usually, that is $.45 more per can than I pay for a whole 12 pack. NCL is getting $35.40 for a 12 pack. Or...I'll now be paying another $70.80 for the cruise. Little things....beginning to add....and become irritating.

[sparks1093]

What are NCL fans drinking?

 

Something other than carried on water or soda:cool:.

[hartwickds]

Well NCL better switch to Coke products then!

[chisox021]

Good for you.... and enjoy your Haven upgrade, etc.... This effects the money conscience people who can't afford the nicer things in life, that save for years for one nice vacation, that you can..... Cry others and NCL a river... If you can afford the finer things in life, you have no business bitching about being nickelled and dimed like the "Lower Tier" do. Enjoy your cruise....

 

We are leaving July 3rd as well and are planning to bring bottled water and soda on board to keep in the room. I think it is ridiculous that you cannot bring these sealed items on the ship for personal consumption. With all of the up charges it is definitely going to turn many people away not only the undesirables.

 

We chose to be up graded to Haven, purchase the UBP and SDP and do not have a problem with paying for that, but when it comes to charging unreasonable prices for water I find this to be a deal breaker that will affect my decision to cruise in the future. I enjoy bottled water and do not want to have to leave my room in order to drink water. While I can carry a refillable bottle, I shouldn't have to worry every night if I filled it for the evening when I retire to my room or if I have enough to last me.

 

This was a stupid move on NCL's part. Your top tier likes having their own things and doesn't like paying over the top prices just because we can!!!! We're not idiots, we can find the services and better pricing for what we want elsewhere!

[RR61]

Another reason to love CAS, bottled water comes with your drink card and I get canned soda from my casino tier. I will just have to order extras when playing.

 

Though I am a Pepsi fan it does suck for people who love coke products.

I knew that you were able to get bottled water from the CAS drink card but I didn't realize canned soda also. What tier do you need to be to get that? I'm currently Golden.

[littlelulu01]

I paid a little over $5000 on Celebrity for an Alaska cruise this summer in a suite, which includes eating in their private suite restaurant. Included was the following..I would note that their beverage packages includes everything

 

Premium Beverage Pkg for 2

$150 pp to spend onboard

Prepaid Tips for 2

Unlimited Internet for 2

 

Actually got a $600 OBC from Celebrity and a $500 of my TA.

 

And your beverage package comes with free canned soda, preimum bottles of water, speciality coffees, fresh squeezed juice, smoothies and michael's club where you can grab some sodas or water bottles to take to your room. All of which make their package much more inclusive.

 

Even if not in a suite and you had the classic package you will still get water bottles, speciality coffees and canned soda, just minus a few preimum water bottle brands.

[BrandoMan13]

I am a pretty heavy diet soda drinker. Its my vice for sure. I prefer diet pepsi to diet coke but I will drink whatever is on sale that week, besides the generic store brands which are usually pretty terrible.

 

While I think the policy is pretty crappy overall, the part that really gets me is the bottled water. As many have stated, if you're not going to allow bottled water, then you really have some nerve charging $40 + 18% for a 12 pack.

 

The soda part is more annoyance than anything else.

 

Overall I have a good feeling my upcoming cruise will be my first and last. I got a good deal with my friend setting up our group with his travel agent. The TA has been great and I look forward to having a good time with my friends, but between the service fees, SDP and policies changing at any moment before your cruise even after you've paid in full, its not for me.

 

I have the UBP and it would be nice to mix in some bottled water in between drinks to keep myself hydrated as I've done on all inclusive trips. I'll suffer through the tap water I suppose.

Edited July 1, 2016 by BrandoMan13

[Merriem]

And your beverage package comes with free canned soda, preimum bottles of water, speciality coffees, fresh squeezed juice, smoothies and michael's club where you can grab some sodas or water bottles to take to your room. All of which make their package much more inclusive.

 

Even if not in a suite and you had the classic package you will still get water bottles, speciality coffees and canned soda, just minus a few preimum water bottle brands.

 

Exactly.

[NLH Arizona]

NCL will have to stock coke products as well as pepsi, to appease those of us who prefer it.

Can they do that? I've never been on a cruise line that has both Coke and Pepsi and I thought that each cruise line had an exclusive contract with one of the distributors.

[richstowe]

Well, this takes away one of the last few differentiators we consider when cruising (no one else allows you to take a case of water on board). With NCL's high price on bottled water it also adds to the cost of the cruise for us.

 

We'll probably try X for Alaska this year instead of NCL and see how we like them. Or Princess again (although I wish they would fix their beds!)

Huh ? Where did you get that info ? You are so wrong . I have brought on soda and/or water onto Princess HAL Celebrity and RCI in the last few years . RCI doesn't specifically allow or prohibit it . Carnival bans only water though they have instituted a very reasonable charge for water ($4 for 12) .

So the correct comment was everyone allows you to take a case of water on board except NCL !

[NLH Arizona]

When Carnival stopped allowing bottles of water, I pre-ordered 2 12-packs on line prior to cruising and they were $3.99 I believe. With 2 diabetics in the room, we would have no desire to pay the price NCL charges........but I don't think they would accept that as a medical reason as it's not distilled. (But on the flip side.....there's Pepsi:))

What would be the medical reason to have to bring water on board for a diabetic person?

[Shih-tzu]

Can they do that? I've never been on a cruise line that has both Coke and Pepsi and I thought that each cruise line had an exclusive contract with one of the distributors.

 

That's what I thought too (same as McD's, Wendy's, etc)

[esm54687]

I'm using my 2 certificates ASAP and looking elsewhere

 

Problem is so many pax are newbies and giddy about their cruises that they let Ncl get away with anything

 

It's not just the newbies that "let NCL get away from it" .... you, a seasoned veteran, locked yourself into 2 CruiseNext certificates fully aware of the changes NCL has been making and with a reasonable expectation that more changes would still be made. :confused::confused:

[Casino Comp Chick]

I knew that you were able to get bottled water from the CAS drink card but I didn't realize canned soda also. What tier do you need to be to get that? I'm currently Golden.

 

Golden/VIP can get canned sodas by asking specifically. I always do. I had one waiter who looked at my room key and said you cannot get a can with this card (UBP) so I pulled out my golden card and said but this card can, he did not question me again the rest of the cruise.

Edited July 1, 2016 by Casino Comp Chick

[DMH15]

That only applies if you go to buffet to fill that bottle from the drink dispenser one glass at the time (as the rules are).

 

 

 

The liquid coming out from taps has significant amount of chlorine (because of regulations) and having one bottle that gets filled out from there and waiting for hours to the chlorine to dissolve just isn't very convenient.

 

 

 

Tap water onboard just is not a valid replacement to chlorineless bottled water, for example the chlorine is a known cause for water retention and it just tastes bad (you don't drink from a chlorinated pool either, do you? :D ).

 

 

My niece brings her Britta water filter.

[kathybelcher2433]

Maybe they're just done with disposing of all those single use bottles and cans without any revenue to offset. I know I would be.

[insidecabin]

I really don't see what all the fuss is about. Most people now have the UBP, and for free, which includes your sodas. Granted that doesn't cover water, but still ... we carried water onboard once. It was a hassle, and I personally would rather just buy it onboard. :confused:

 

Club soda was fine for carbonated water around the ship.

[Merriem]

Maybe they're just done with disposing of all those single use bottles and cans without any revenue to offset. I know I would be.

 

Recycle

[Shawnino]

Does 'Abe3' have the day off work?