No More "Free Open Bar" on Sun & Sky

[gatour]

On 6/20/2019 at 7:02 AM, SuiteRose said:

when did Royal Caribbean start offering open bar cruises?

They don't. 

 

The closest they offer is buying a drinks package which allows unlimited number drinks.  Carnival offers something similiar but you are limited to a total of 15 drinks.  Other mass market cruise lines (Princess, HAL) also don't have open bars, not sure about drink packages.

 

Some of the up market lines do offer this perk

[emdia43]

On 6/19/2019 at 11:35 AM, Tagsalong said:

On the Sun this week.  Was told by the CruiseNext Consultant last night that NCL will be discontinuing the "Free Open Bar" on the Sun and Sky starting with sailings in September.  Also said the other cruise companies that offer the drinks included cruises (ie Royal Caribbean et al) will be doing likewise.  A Guest Services Rep. said he knew the change would be coming, but had not heard of a specific date.

They still have them on the website for sale. I am looking at Oct 15. Free open bar is what they show....

 

[Tagsalong]

1 hour ago, emdia43 said:

They still have them on the website for sale. I am looking at Oct 15. Free open bar is what they show....

 

Per this link posted in another thread - https://cruiseradio.net/norwegian-cruise-line-stops-open-bar-on-two-ships/

Norwegian Cruise Line announced they are stopping the all-inclusive bar program on Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun, effective for voyages on or after September 7, 2019.

Norwegian said in a statement, “Any guests sailing on Norwegian Sun and Sky after September 7, 2019 who booked a cruise which included Free Open Bar at time of purchase, will still be able to enjoy the unlimited open bar.”

Guests sailing the two ships may continue to enjoy unlimited open bar as well as complimentary specialty dining, shore excursion credits, free WiFi, the option to have friends and family sail free, and free or reduced airfare, through the brand’s ongoing Free at Sea program.

 

I have not seen the statement directly from Norwegian.   And I also see the Free Drinks showing on their bookings beyond Sept 7.  Not sure how this is going to play out but we booked the Sun for Sept 7 the day before the announcement and will book Sept 2, since the price just went down, today.  We get cheapest guarantee insides and expect to get the free drinks while having to pay $20.50 pppd gratuities instead of the normal $15.

 

However, it seems that their announcement says that any bookings made on, or after, yesterday, September 21, will not include free drinks regardless of what is showing on the booking web page.  The higher category, more expensive, cabins will allow for choosing the drink package via the "Free at Sea" Program.  But then you also have to pay the 18% gratuity up front and will only have $15 pppd daily gratuity.

 

I guess it is possible that they will honor the "Free at Sea" if it is still showing on the October booking page when you do your booking.  But I personally doubt it.  It's all rather confusing and speculative at this moment.

 

Edited June 22, 2019 by Tagsalong

[bobsfamily]

The "open bar" concept was that no card was needed because nothing was "rung" up.  You just went up to the bar and ordered a drink/beer and it is handed to you.  People who have already purchased a cruise will have an open bar but I bet anything you will have to show your card, it be swiped and then receive that slip with 0 for the amount charged.

 

Still free drinks (noting that you paid upfront thru the price of the cruise) but not exactly the same.

[Tagsalong]

You know, I just did a search and the only source of this announcement has been CruiseRadio dot net.  Why has it not been shown on Norwegian's web site or on Cruise Critic (other than this thread)??!!!

 

I heard it from the CruiseNext consultant on the Sun last week when at his desk to book a September cruise.  But later the next day asked the Hotel Director (now called General Manager) and he had not heard of any such change to the program.

 

Something strange going on here.

[bobsfamily]

3 hours ago, Tagsalong said:

You know, I just did a search and the only source of this announcement has been CruiseRadio dot net.  Why has it not been shown on Norwegian's web site or on Cruise Critic (other than this thread)??!!!

 

I heard it from the CruiseNext consultant on the Sun last week when at his desk to book a September cruise.  But later the next day asked the Hotel Director (now called General Manager) and he had not heard of any such change to the program.

 

Something strange going on here.

Just did a mock booking for next July and the Sun is going to Alaska but the Sky still goes out of Miami and is still offering the "free open bar"... so I agree.  Maybe they are talking about the SUN only?

[gadaboutgal]

The no more open bar was also posted here:https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/21130-norwegian-ends-open-bar-on-sun-and-sky.html

Then, again, maybe they just copied the info from CruiseRadio!

[Tagsalong]

It's now becoming more "official".

 

A Ft Lauderdale Norwegian employee called me today to see if we were going to book the September 2 Cruise on the Sun that we had on-hold.  During the conversation I asked him if the Open Bar on the Sun and Sky would be eliminated.  He said that he had in writing  that any bookings made after July 7 - for sailings on or after September 2 - would no longer include the open bar.

 

Also, we got an e-mail from Norwegian regarding our September 7 booking.

 

It stated: 

Thank you for choosing to sail with Norwegian Cruise Line.

In an effort to have consistency across the fleet, beginning September 7, 2019, the Free Open Bar offering on Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Sky cruises will no longer be available. Guests may continue to enjoy unlimited open bar as well as other value-added offers through the brand's Free at Sea program.

Guests who booked a cruise which included Free Open Bar will still be able to enjoy free unlimited beverages with the Premium Beverage Package at no additional cost. This will be automatically applied to your reservation. Norwegian Cruise Line's Premium Beverage Package includes a variety of spirits, cocktails, wines by the glass and bottled or draft beer up to and including $15 USD as well as unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants and on our private island, Great Stirrup Cay.

Guests with bookings that already include the Premium Plus Beverage Package remain unchanged.
 

 

Edited June 27, 2019 by Tagsalong

[mushroom]

How will this new policy impact the third person in a stateroom?

[Tagsalong]

22 minutes ago, mushroom said:

How will this new policy impact the third person in a stateroom?

Exactly like it has on any of the other 15 ships.  From now on, with the Sun and Star, you will have to either buy the drink package or chose a cabin category that lets you chose one of the five freebies (Free at Sea program), or all of them, or something in-between. This is how it has been for a long time on the other ships.

[bobsfamily]

Well I wasn't going to book another cruise til I was on the next one but I may have to look at a short cruise with the open bar offered before July 7th... it would save on gratuities.... then again maybe the price will be reduced by that amount?

 

[bobsfamily]

1 minute ago, Tagsalong said:

Exactly like it has on any of the other 15 ships.  From now on, with the Sun and Star, you will have to either buy the drink package or chose a cabin category that lets you chose one of the five freebies (Free at Sea program), or all of them, or something in-between. This is how it has been for a long time on the other ships.

Did you mean Sky instead of Star?

[Tagsalong]

4 minutes ago, bobsfamily said:

Did you mean Sky instead of Star?

Yes

 

but I looked into the Sky and saw Stars!  metaphorically

Edited June 27, 2019 by Tagsalong

[moesyk4]

1 hour ago, Tagsalong said:

Exactly like it has on any of the other 15 ships.  From now on, with the Sun and Star, you will have to either buy the drink package or chose a cabin category that lets you chose one of the five freebies (Free at Sea program), or all of them, or something in-between. This is how it has been for a long time on the other ships.

 

I think their question is for those already booked...will the open bar carryover for those that are booked before July 7th be open to all guests as it would've been before the "Free Open Bar" concept was removed or will it carryover as their promotional offer does with it only been for 1st and 2nd guest? This would be a make or break for us because we have 3 adults.

[Tagsalong]

6 hours ago, moesyk4 said:

 

I think their question is for those already booked...will the open bar carryover for those that are booked before July 7th be open to all guests as it would've been before the "Free Open Bar" concept was removed or will it carryover as their promotional offer does with it only been for 1st and 2nd guest? This would be a make or break for us because we have 3 adults.

????  Best to call Norwegian.  The reps seem to have a written statement, re change, at their desks now. 

[bobsfamily]

9 hours ago, moesyk4 said:

 

I think their question is for those already booked...will the open bar carryover for those that are booked before July 7th be open to all guests as it would've been before the "Free Open Bar" concept was removed or will it carryover as their promotional offer does with it only been for 1st and 2nd guest? This would be a make or break for us because we have 3 adults.

The wonderful part of the "open bar" on Sun/Sky was no card needed... you just ordered and walked away with a drink. No swiping, no checking if you have the package.  If after a certain date cruises are sold without the open bar then regardless of what you booked you are going to have to show your card because not all passengers will have "free" drinks.

 

So even if it's carried over it's still not going to the same...

[bobsfamily]

11 hours ago, Tagsalong said:

Yes

 

but I looked into the Sky and saw Stars!  metaphorically

LOL, yes the stars are there!

[Tagsalong]

45 minutes ago, bobsfamily said:

The wonderful part of the "open bar" on Sun/Sky was no card needed... you just ordered and walked away with a drink. No swiping, no checking if you have the package. 

As the e-mail states (which we got after booking the July 7 five nighter on the Sun) we will get the premium beverage package loaded onto our seapass cards.  And yes, with this program, the bartenders \ servers will have to ring in every drink order and pass out the receipts to the guests.  This will certainly have an impact on service at the busy bars - like the pool bar on embarkation day when there are guests in five lines, ten deep, waiting to get a drink!

[4774Papa]

The open bar was never FREE.   Prices were inflated and the ridiculous 20% gratuity on overvalued amount of $99 per day.

[Tagsalong]

2 hours ago, Tagsalong said:

As the e-mail states (which we got after booking the July 7 five nighter on the Sun) we will get the premium beverage package loaded onto our seapass cards.  And yes, with this program, the bartenders \ servers will have to ring in every drink order and pass out the receipts to the guests.  This will certainly have an impact on service at the busy bars - like the pool bar on embarkation day when there are guests in five lines, ten deep, waiting to get a drink!

Sorry, after booking the Sept. 7th cruise.  I had the July 7 change date on my mind.

[Tagsalong]

20 minutes ago, 4774Papa said:

The open bar was never FREE.   Prices were inflated and the ridiculous 20% gratuity on overvalued amount of $99 per day.

Actually the open bar was $5.00 per day.  The daily gratuities added to your account were $20.50 pp versus $15.50 pp per day on ships without the open bar.  From now on (as of July 7) the gratuity add-on at time of booking will be 20% if you choose the drink package.  Still don't know what gratuity we will have to pay (if any) on our Sept 2 and Sept 7 cruises.

[CruisingNole]

The open bar is the only thing that made those Sun cruises even worth considering IMO. I've grabbed a few last minute weekend 3 nighters for $300 - $350 pp at sailaway rate (comes out to about $850 - $900 per cabin after the inflated taxes and "fees" and TA OBC) and even then do I barely consider that to be worth the money considering on top of that, the DSC is $20.50pp/pd. That puts you at $1,000+ for a 3 night trip to Nassau and GSC with no sea days in an interior GTY.  Sun is a nice, older refurbished ship, but there are better options out there. The open bar available at sailaway rate set the Sun apart from the competition.  With RC's new and improved Mariner of the Seas at Port Canaveral, I don't know how NCL thinks they are going to compete. 

[Tagsalong]

10 minutes ago, CruisingNole said:

The open bar is the only thing that made those Sun cruises even worth considering IMO. I've grabbed a few last minute weekend 3 nighters for $300 - $350 pp at sailaway rate (comes out to about $850 - $900 per cabin after the inflated taxes and "fees" and TA OBC) and even then do I barely consider that to be worth the money considering on top of that, the DSC is $20.50pp/pd. That puts you at $1,000+ for a 3 night trip to Nassau and GSC with no sea days in an interior GTY.  Sun is a nice, older refurbished ship, but there are better options out there. The open bar available at sailaway rate set the Sun apart from the competition.  With RC's new and improved Mariner of the Seas at Port Canaveral, I don't know how NCL thinks they are going to compete. 

I agree.  A few weeks ago we (2 of us) got on the Sun four nighter for under $600 because of the Cuba fiasco.  The Mariner of the Seas was way higher.  We are booked on the Mariner in late August for a reasonable price and then the Sun for 10 nights in September at a good price with the free drinks.  After that the Sun will be less attractive unless prices drop significantly.

 

Our recent Sun booking was the first time on that ship and we liked everything about her, including being so close to home.  However, the price must be right to get us back after the September cruises.

[mushroom]

My travel agent spoke with NCL today on my behalf regarding how the new policy will affect the third adult in the room. He assured her that NCL would not take away anything the client had already paid for.  I understand this to mean that the drink promo will be tweaked to include all adults in the stateroom and not just passengers 1 and 2. My cruise is not until mid September, so I'm hoping someone who travels before me can give me first hand reassurance that this will be the case.

[moesyk4]

5 hours ago, mushroom said:

My travel agent spoke with NCL today on my behalf regarding how the new policy will affect the third adult in the room. He assured her that NCL would not take away anything the client had already paid for.  I understand this to mean that the drink promo will be tweaked to include all adults in the stateroom and not just passengers 1 and 2. My cruise is not until mid September, so I'm hoping someone who travels before me can give me first hand reassurance that this will be the case.

Keep me posted or post here if you get anything in writing! We got a good deal on the cruise but will probably only keep it if we know for sure all 3 of us will get the package. I can't imagine them taking it away, but it seems a little up in the air right now and our reservation online doesn't show anything yet.