Drink package question

[Ms RealBoss]

The UBP offer on ncl is a good deal to choose when they offer you promos to get on your cruise. My husband and I always choose that promo and we only pay the service charge of 99.54 per person. They charge you taxes for the drinks. The way to avoid having a bill from taxes for the drinks is to wait until the ship leaves the home port and once you're an hour into sea from embarkation you won't be charged taxes for drinks. Sea days and when you're in foreign ports you will not

be charged. It's smart to ask the bartender how long into sailing will it be before you're not charged taxes for drinks. I hope this helps out a lot. My husband and I sail every year with ncl. I don't know how other cruise lines are, just giving insight to how ncl works. Don't buy the UBP, choose it as a promo and pay the service charge, then you're set.

 

 

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[KeithJenner]

They charge you taxes for the drinks. The way to avoid having a bill from taxes for the drinks is to wait until the ship leaves the home port and once you're an hour into sea from embarkation you won't be charged taxes for drinks. Sea days and when you're in foreign ports you will not

be charged. It's smart to ask the bartender how long into sailing will it be before you're not charged taxes for drinks.

 

 

I can't imagine a dollar tax charge ever being an influence as to whether or not I get a drink when I want it.

[Moby0215]

The UBP offer on ncl is a good deal to choose when they offer you promos to get on your cruise. My husband and I always choose that promo and we only pay the service charge of 99.54 per person. They charge you taxes for the drinks. The way to avoid having a bill from taxes for the drinks is to wait until the ship leaves the home port and once you're an hour into sea from embarkation you won't be charged taxes for drinks. Sea days and when you're in foreign ports you will not

be charged. It's smart to ask the bartender how long into sailing will it be before you're not charged taxes for drinks. I hope this helps out a lot. My husband and I sail every year with ncl. I don't know how other cruise lines are, just giving insight to how ncl works. Don't buy the UBP, choose it as a promo and pay the service charge, then you're set.

 

 

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The tax you pay on drinks in home port are virtually negligible. A dollar or so. No big deal in the grand scheme of things.

 

 

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[wdsted]

There has not been a new original thought or gripe on this topic for a year. For those of you who grind your teeth endlessly on this topic, do a search on CC and enjoy. This perk is a great one for many people. If you don't like it, don't pick it. Simple.

 

 

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[gjvanoch]

Well for my wife and I it's a great deal. We are taking a 14 day Panama Canal (Miami to LA) cruise. We took the free drink package (well mostly free cause you still have to pay the gratuities). NCL charges $79 ea. Per day if you purchase it so the math works out like this for us:

 

$79 x2people x 14 days = $2,212 (price of package). Minus $398 for gratuities. So, We are saving over $1,800 bucks. Not sure we will drink 14/15 drinks or $2,212 worth of adult beverages, pop, water etc but the math works for us. It's a great bargain. Plus no worries when you are settling the bill at the end of the cruise? Mostly everything has already been paid for so no surprises!

 

 

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[rgruenhaus]

Sky's DSC....

 

$21.99 USD per person per day for Suites.

 

$18.99 USD per person per day for Mini-Suites and below.

$13.99/ day DSC for an inside room since early 2017. Was $13.50.

 

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[Two Wheels Only]

$13.99/ day DSC for an inside room since early 2017. Was $13.50.

Sky (with open bar for all) has a higher DSC.

[rgruenhaus]

Sky (with open bar for all) has a higher DSC.

I am getting UBP free with my inside room on the Pearl $13.99 DSC that was what NCL put out. Here in the USA it could be different I suppose.

 

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[ColinIllinois]

I am getting UBP free with my inside room on the Pearl $13.99 DSC that was what NCL put out. Here in the USA it could be different I suppose.

 

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https://www.ncl.com/faq#service-charge

[KeithJenner]

I am getting UBP free with my inside room on the Pearl $13.99 DSC that was what NCL put out. Here in the USA it could be different I suppose.

 

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The amount you are quoting for the Pearl is correct, as it is for most of the other ships.

 

What people are saying is that the Norwegian Sky charges it at a different rate, as quoted above.

[rgruenhaus]

https://www.ncl.com/faq#service-charge

Well, Sky IS special! That's how NCL can afford four new ships!

 

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[smm0218]

FWIW. I was able to change my perk from discounted excursions to UPB. Canceled the previously booked ship excursions, rebooked excursions through someone else. One excursion a little better, one pretty much the same, completely better but more to our taste and one we are going to do on our own as I only booked because we were getting discount. Saving over $400 after paying the gratuity on UBP, we don't have to worry about a drinks bill at end (which will save even more) and tours that are more suited to us.

 

Thank you to everyone that helped with info and guidance.

[$hip$hape]

FWIW. I was able to change my perk from discounted excursions to UPB.

Thank you to everyone that helped with info and guidance.

FWIW means "For What It's Worth"(I had to "google" this)

Me thinks you meant UBP but,

FWIW, You are welcome.:)

It's all fun.

Edited August 7, 2017 by $hip$hape

[KarlChilders]

I can't imagine a dollar tax charge ever being an influence as to whether or not I get a drink when I want it.

Post of the decade! If a dollar figures into ones decision as to having a drink, maybe one should stay home.

[Breezy Kate & Joe]

Post of the decade! If a dollar figures into ones decision as to having a drink, maybe one should stay home.

is there a way to like this:loudcry::loudcry::loudcry::loudcry::loudcry::loudcry::loudcry:

[rgruenhaus]

Post of the decade! If a dollar figures into ones decision as to having a drink, maybe one should stay home.

While in the back of the mind one hears "I'm not an alcoholic, I'm not an alcoholic, I'm not an alcoholic! " I just have to have that drink no matter the cost! LOL (laugh out low):cool:

[KarlChilders]

While in the back of the mind one hears "I'm not an alcoholic, I'm not an alcoholic, I'm not an alcoholic! " I just have to have that drink no matter the cost! LOL (laugh out low):cool:

Well if spending a dollar to have an umbrella drink for sailaway makes me an alcoholic, I better research where that Friends of Bill W meeting is :)

[rgruenhaus]

Well if spending a dollar to have an umbrella drink for sailaway makes me an alcoholic, I better research where that Friends of Bill W meeting is :)

if you believe in the need for a higher power which is in reality the humans with you in the room! I like the idea of trying something that cost more sometimes if I have not had it before. Though when having fun in the casino many drinks are available with their drink card too! It's all about choice and your budget. Drink up shriners! LOL

 

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[lumpkin8]

I just want to include my 2 cents, re: exc;ursions not thru the ship. I respect the opinion of others who want to save money. I have had actual experience with booking an underwater helmut dive thru the ship, in Nassau (not sure which ship or line). There was no traffic issues...the tour simply ran longer than it should have. The 6 people on this tour (my family of 4, and another couple) were returned q;uite late to the dock for the ship. Because it was a ship's tour, the ship did wait for us, and the gangplank was pulled up right behind us. This, to me, makes the higher price worth it eve;ry time.

 

When I can walk to a site, I don't take the ship's excursion. But if any kind of transportation is involved, I still prefer to keep my sanity and not have to worry about the ship sailing. I worry and stress very easily!!!!

[SNJCruisers]

But if any kind of transportation is involved, I still prefer to keep my sanity and not have to worry about the ship sailing. I worry and stress very easily!!!!

As long as you book an excursion that leaves right away or is supposed to get back two hours before the ship departs, you'll always be OK. But if spending more money for piece of mind is worth it to you, then go for it.

 

 

 

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[sanger727]

I just want to include my 2 cents, re: exc;ursions not thru the ship. I respect the opinion of others who want to save money. I have had actual experience with booking an underwater helmut dive thru the ship, in Nassau (not sure which ship or line). There was no traffic issues...the tour simply ran longer than it should have. The 6 people on this tour (my family of 4, and another couple) were returned q;uite late to the dock for the ship. Because it was a ship's tour, the ship did wait for us, and the gangplank was pulled up right behind us. This, to me, makes the higher price worth it eve;ry time.

 

 

 

When I can walk to a site, I don't take the ship's excursion. But if any kind of transportation is involved, I still prefer to keep my sanity and not have to worry about the ship sailing. I worry and stress very easily!!!!

 

 

 

Keep in mind that if there were no traffic issues - the tour simply ran long - that that probably only occurred because they knew they could run late. I DIY or take independent tours in at least 90% of the ports we have stopped in and never felt like we were close to returning late. In my experience independent operators are very good at returning you to the ship on time.

 

If that had been an independent tour they would have been more likely to cut something short to make sure they got you back on time. Since their reputation is based on sticking to the time frame they advertised.

 

 

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[KlassyKathy]

Cruising for the first time and I picked the ships excursions because I was worried about being late back to ship. Is that really something I need to worry about? Alaskan cruise if that makes any difference.

 

 

 

If you book with a reputable outside excursion company, you should have no problem. I would also discuss with them about getting you back an hour or so before the last onboard (which is usually an hour before leaving). Leave yourself a buffer. Alaska should be "low risk" and you should be OK. We did not do any ship tours. Juneau we dud whale watching with a local tour company. Ketchikan, we did kayaking with a local company. The port boards are very helpful...

 

With that said, ports where you have to go "further" or where transportation or terrain is dodgy- opt for the ship tour... For instance, when we did the Falkland Islands and we were going in to the bigs to see penguins (occasionally getting stuck) and there are only two flights out per week, you better believe we did a ship tour. Even when we went to Florence, Italy, it was 1.5 hrs inland and Italian trains are unpredictable - we used the ship transportation to the city.

 

 

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[rgruenhaus]

If you book with a reputable outside excursion company, you should have no problem. I would also discuss with them about getting you back an hour or so before the last onboard (which is usually an hour before leaving). Leave yourself a buffer. Alaska should be "low risk" and you should be OK. We did not do any ship tours. Juneau we dud whale watching with a local tour company. Ketchikan, we did kayaking with a local company. The port boards are very helpful...

 

With that said, ports where you have to go "further" or where transportation or terrain is dodgy- opt for the ship tour... For instance, when we did the Falkland Islands and we were going in to the bigs to see penguins (occasionally getting stuck) and there are only two flights out per week, you better believe we did a ship tour. Even when we went to Florence, Italy, it was 1.5 hrs inland and Italian trains are unpredictable - we used the ship transportation to the city.

 

 

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Drink pkg question?

 

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[txagfan]

Im always amazed these threads will go for hundreds of posts...unbelievable.

 

 

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[VacaLover1]

I love the drink pkg to try new things. If you hate it, you can walk away from it after one sip. I'm not the biggest drinker myself, but it is so nice to be able to pay the gratuity up front and sample away. Go big one day and lay off the next without ever worrying about the bill. I've walked off the boat with nothing on my bill in the past. It was great!!!!

 

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