Free Promos are Not Free

[wdsted]

So glad that OP pointed this out. No thanks to this “free” perk. We’re sticking with the truly free style option of choosing to pay an $800 bar bill instead! Take that, NCL!

 

 

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[newmexicoNita]

If the bar staff truly received 100% of that, they'd probably be earning more than the captain.

 

$17.80 per person, per day for every person on the ship with the UBP is A LOT of money.

What you are forgetting is 2 things: 1-not everyone has a drink package or perk and 2-the gratuities do not all go to the wait person, it is and should be split up to help more than just the person who delivers your drink.

[Dalebale]

Hi. Really sorry if this has been covered, but my booking says it includes service charge for adult UBP. I’m on a UK booking, are our offers and terms different possibly?

[YVRBassElectric]

Hi. Really sorry if this has been covered, but my booking says it includes service charge for adult UBP. I’m on a UK booking, are our offers and terms different possibly?

 

Yes

 

The confirmation email, that NCL sends after a deposit is paid, will list the total price you pay & the included amenities.

[KeithJenner]

Hi. Really sorry if this has been covered, but my booking says it includes service charge for adult UBP. I’m on a UK booking, are our offers and terms different possibly?

 

Yes, in the UK we have never had to pay the gratuity on these promos.

 

Our offers and terms are very, very different from the US.

[Costa canary]

Actually, the higher prices that you pay cover what others are complaining about. With "Premium All Inclusive", you don't "see" the charges but you still pay them.

On my upcoming 2 week cruise on the Escape I got a price from NCL,s UK website and then got a price from NCL,s US website and a price from vacations to go and no surprises the price was almost the same , the uk price was a bit higher but it included more perks ( water in cabin every day and specialty coffee and 250 mins internet ) that were not offered in the US deal at that time . I do think the European way is better as I don’t have to sit there with a calculator and add up all the different charges just to get a final price .

It’s the same for hotels , I was in the process of booking a hotel in NY and you get all these daily service charges and other amounts added , the price you first see is never the price you pay , this is actually illegal in the UK as the original advertised price is always the final one .

[Dalebale]

Yes, in the UK we have never had to pay the gratuity on these promos.

 

Our offers and terms are very, very different from the US.

 

Yes

 

The confirmation email, that NCL sends after a deposit is paid, will list the total price you pay & the included amenities.

 

 

Thanks both. I will have extra drinks in your honour.

[KeithJenner]

On my upcoming 2 week cruise on the Escape I got a price from NCL,s UK website and then got a price from NCL,s US website and a price from vacations to go and no surprises the price was almost the same , the uk price was a bit higher but it included more perks ( water in cabin every day and specialty coffee and 250 mins internet ) that were not offered in the US deal at that time . I do think the European way is better as I don’t have to sit there with a calculator and add up all the different charges just to get a final price .

It’s the same for hotels , I was in the process of booking a hotel in NY and you get all these daily service charges and other amounts added , the price you first see is never the price you pay , this is actually illegal in the UK as the original advertised price is always the final one .

 

And this is why all this discussion is pointless, in my opinion.

 

The thing that matters is the final cost. If that represents value then I really couldn't care less whether they call it cruise fare, gratuity, service charge, or staff christmas party fund. Just add up what it costs, decide whether that is a good price and either pay it or not.

 

Then get on with enjoying the holiday which is, after all, what the whole point of the exercise is.

[Tatka]

So glad that OP pointed this out. No thanks to this “free” perk. We’re sticking with the truly free style option of choosing to pay an $800 bar bill instead! Take that, NCL!

 

 

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You just love NCL too much and want to show appreciation. :)

[GA Dave]

The cheapest way to go is to not cruise. Leaves more room on the ships for the rest of us. :D

[zqvol]

We don't buy drink packages on Carnival or HAL because we don't drink that much. I do get free drinks in the casinos every time we cruise and the server gets a tip - I asked the casino hosts because I wanted to make sure he/she received a tip. So free is free there.

 

If you don't drink that much then why would you consider a drink package on NCL? There are other options on the free at sea deal.

 

BTW, it only takes about 2.5 drinks per day to cover the cost of the package. Do the math. is you bar tab on CCL or HAL more than the cost of the gratuities on NCL? If it is then you end up coming out better on NCL. You either pay now or you pay later.

[fstuff1]

Exactly. That is what irks many about pre-paying gratuities for services they have not received.

I guess the rules at sea are different. A USA based land restaurant could never get away with making customers pre-pay gratuities and not giving them to their staff.

The auto gratuity for house keeping is around $70 per day for a cabin of 5. A cabin of 2 is around $27?

If they were paid those gratuities for every cabin cleaned every day plus their wage, they would make a fairly good wage I doubt housekeeping sees those gratuities either.

If you ever watch or read a blog from a cruise worker, they will tell you they don't see all these gratuities.

100% of the dsc does go to the crew.

ncl doesnt keep any of it.

it's in writing somewhere from them.

 

BUT the crew doesnt get 100% of it in their pocket.

some % is held for general crew morale like crew parties.

[jimbuild]

How does NCL keep track of the use of the drink package for each passenger? Cruise card, wrist band or what.

[Two Wheels Only]

How does NCL keep track of the use of the drink package for each passenger? Cruise card, wrist band or what.

Bartender will swipe your card and the card owner's picture will show on the screen.

[CruisingNole]

Exactly. That is what irks many about pre-paying gratuities for services they have not received.

 

When I was in college, I did banquet serving/bartending (such as wedding receptions) for several major hotel chains in the US. All of the food and beverage consumed by the party got slapped with an 18% gratuity. I know for a fact that management took a percentage off the top before it was distributed to the actual employees that were waiting tables and making drinks. You know, the employees that actually worked for it.

 

I wouldn't be surprised in the least bit if this occurred on a cruise ship. The language on the website certainly makes it sounds so.

 

"Staff members including complimentary restaurant staff, stateroom stewards and behind-the-scenes support staff are compensated by a combination of salary and incentive programs that your service charge supports."

[CruisingNole]

BUT the crew doesnt get 100% of it in their pocket.

some % is held for general crew morale like crew parties.

 

I bet the C-suite have some pretty sweet parties.

[Maniacal Cruiser]

100% of the dsc does go to the crew.

ncl doesnt keep any of it.

it's in writing somewhere from them.

 

BUT the crew doesnt get 100% of it in their pocket.

some % is held for general crew morale like crew parties.

 

 

which is why it is not a tip

[vince_g]

Oddly, the 20% is charged at $89/day for the drink package. Packages on other lines (that are superior and include bottled water and specialty coffees) cost $45 - $55 day. So in other words, NCL claims their package is worth DOUBLE, yet they offer less. Hmmm. Interesting math.

 

If the "free drinks" wasn't simply a money grab, the 20% would be charged at a rate comparable to the competition, which would be $45-$55. Not $89.

 

Just an observation.

 

Hate to tell you Nole, but I was just reviewing one online TA weekly top 20, and here is an offer I found on Celebrity... You will notice that they are valuing the unlimited drink plan at $129 a day. Prices shown are for balcony cabins.

 

Score low prices on 7-night Caribbean cruises in upgraded balcony cabins this fall, and enjoy your choice of two VIP perks to complete the experience -- plus an exclusive $200 credit.

• Sail roundtrip from San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Celebrity Summit for the following per-person prices:
  

• 
  
  • $749 ... Nov. 24; Dec. 8, 15
    
  • $799 ... Nov. 17; Dec. 1
    
  • $909 ... Oct. 27
    
  • $999 ... Nov. 3, 10
    

• Sail roundtrip from Miami on Celebrity Equinox for the following per-person prices:
  

• 
  
  • $999 ... Nov. 24; Dec. 1, 15
    
  • $1399 ... Oct. 15 (8-night cruise)
    
  • $1599 ... Oct. 5, 26 (10-night cruises)
    

Receive an exclusive $200 onboard credit plus a choice of two of the following perks per cabin:

• Unlimited drinks package (worth $129 per day)
  
• Prepaid gratuities (worth $36 per day)
  
• Unlimited Wi-Fi
  
• $300 onboard credit
  

[shtoopidanimal]

Remember "Good Deals" are subjective. Paying $176 in gratuities if you don't drink their maximum of drinks is NOT a good deal for some. I NEVER drink even $176 in drinks....so having to pay up front what NCL calls "gratuities" on a service not yet rendered is far from FREE no matter what the cost of the package is on other lines? I am not against paying the gratuities....BUT only for WHAT I drink, not a 'flat fee' on drinks not served!! NCL probably makes out well on this promo (it is a business after all and they wouldn't offer it if they lost $$).

 

 

I'm debating whether to get the UBP free at sea promo. Is it $176 per person in gratuities paid up front?

[cruisinkat311]

I am on the Sun in just under a month ... it's an open-bar ship so free drinks but it's not a "promo" ... I was going to bring cash to tip the bartenders but on an open-bar ship, are gratuities squeezed into my cost to sail somehow?

[drsel]

I'm debating whether to get the UBP free at sea promo. Is it $176 per person in gratuities paid up front?

I think that it is added to your cruise bill.

Edited June 21, 2018 by drsel

[njkate]

I'm debating whether to get the UBP free at sea promo. Is it $176 per person in gratuities paid up front?

Only you can answer that! How long is the cruise and how many drinks per day do you anticipate drinking?

[ray98]

It is baffling how many people who cruise cannot understand basic math. We aren't talking about managing the books at a business, just simple addition and subtraction.

 

 

If finding the true value of a drink package is too much then how do you get through life?

[LrgPizza]

It's not a fixed amount of $176. It's exactly 20% of the total retail price of all the beverages you drink in the UBP. They track every drink you order.

You pay it in your cruise bill before disembarking.

That is completely wrong information. It is 20% of the price of the UBP package if one were to buy it. (The UBP is $89/day). The gratuities are paid at the time final payment is made on the cruise. Nothing is paid on the ship for beverage gratuities if you have the UBP.

[LrgPizza]

I'm debating whether to get the UBP free at sea promo. Is it $176 per person in gratuities paid up front?

 

Only you can answer that! How long is the cruise and how many drinks per day do you anticipate drinking?

No, anyone can answer it. He/She isn't asking if it's worth it. He/She's asking when it is paid.

 

Yes, it is paid up front.