Brand new to NCL have questions Please

[katiepe]

Cruisng NCL for the first time this fall on the Spirit Med Cruise and need some help.

I have read quite a few of the posts and searched but cant seem to find the answers to these questions..

Can you buy liquor for your cabin like on Carnival(like Bon Voyage) I have seen something called a Bar Set up but can not find anything recent.

Can you buy wine packages?

Is it really worth paying 15.00 plus the cost of the wine you buy to bring your own wine onboard? Are bottles of wine that expensive on board?

Is Deck 9 on the Spirit a "good" deck? Any noise issues from below?

Are there launderettes on board or is getting laundry done fairly reasonable?

Any other comments/tips would be most helpful.

Thank you in advance

[drumexpert510]

Can you buy liquor for your cabin like on Carnival(like Bon Voyage) I have seen something called a Bar Set up but can not find anything recent.

yes you can buy bo voyage gifts and some of them include wine

Can you buy wine packages?

In the bon voyage section on ncl.com there is a complete wine list that you can purcahse from

 

Is it really worth paying 15.00 plus the cost of the wine you buy to bring your own wine onboard?

I say no because your going to buy it and then pay the extra on top when you could just buy from NCL and save the hassle of bringing it.

Are bottles of wine that expensive on board?

Some are some arnt, it depends what you like. I think they have bottles or around $30 so its not too bad.

Is Deck 9 on the Spirit a "good" deck? Any noise issues from below?

NCL ships for the most part are pretty good about their noise from other area. I personally have never really had a problem.

 

Are there launderettes on board or is getting laundry done fairly reasonable?

Yes, they have laundry bags with individual prices per garment or on certain days they usually have a fill the bag special (whatever fits in the bag for one lump price)

[katiepe]

Thank you I appreciate the answers.

I did see the Bon Voyage gifts on ncl.com. Carnival has that also but you can buy bottles of liquor for your room as well. We love a predinner cocktail on the balcony. I wondered if NCL did as well. I guess I will call and check.

[drumexpert510]

no you can only buy wine as far as I am concerned. Once on the ship and sailing you can buy liquor in the duty free shop but they take it till the end of the cruise. Now that the "legal way".

 

I have heard of people tipping their room steward "heavily" and they go down to the crew bar and get a bottle for them... but that is not condoned lol.

[Fishbait17]

no you can only buy wine as far as I am concerned. Once on the ship and sailing you can buy liquor in the duty free shop but they take it till the end of the cruise. Now that the "legal way".

 

I have heard of people tipping their room steward "heavily" and they go down to the crew bar and get a bottle for them... but that is not condoned lol.

 

This is not true, with the exception of the Pride of America. NCL has Bar Setup available, with three-tier pricing, starting around $80-100 per two liter bottle (can't remember after the last price increase). We always get a couple of bottles for in room cocktails and entertaining. NCL has recently moved the purchase of these from the group coordinator to the regular phone lines - but people have been getting uninformed agents on the phone sometimes. If the agent you speak to doesn't know what you are talking about (use the words "bar setup"), hang up and call back until you get someone who does.

 

The $15 corkage fee can be a great deal on some European cruises, as great wines are available cheap in ports all over the Med. I *think* NCL wines start at about $22+ gratuity per bottle. We have purchased some AMAZING wines in Spain and Italy for roughly $10-15 that put many $50 bottles of wine to shame. It's more a matter of convenience, whether you want to carry them on. We generally carry on 2-3 bottles and pick up more in ports if we want to.

 

Robin

 

Robin

 

 

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[lhwils]

I found this post. Even lists some prices for liquor.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1538301

[Fishbait17]

I found this post. Even lists some prices for liquor.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1538301

 

That is the list, but the prices have increased by $20 per bottle since then.

 

Robin

 

 

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[drumexpert510]

WOW... I have been cruising with NCL for long time and have never heard of the bar set up and have asked repeatedly about something like this....

 

<<< Putting my foot in my mouth. >>>

[peg013]

WOW... I have been cruising with NCL for long time and have never heard of the bar set up and have asked repeatedly about something like this....

 

<<< Putting my foot in my mouth. >>>

 

It is discussed on here frequently. And the list is also posted as people get it. There was a major discussion recently when they changed from the group event coordinator taking care of it to calling the general NCL phone number.

[NMLady]

Thank you I appreciate the answers.

I did see the Bon Voyage gifts on ncl.com. Carnival has that also but you can buy bottles of liquor for your room as well. We love a predinner cocktail on the balcony. I wondered if NCL did as well. I guess I will call and check.

 

You used to be able to purchase a bar setup by emailing group event at your ship, but now you call the reservations number to order a bar setup.

It's an expensive bottle of liquor with a $3 service charge but is nice to have in your cabin for cocktails.

 

I don't have a current list but I know that some bottles are $103. All bottles are one liter.

 

I think the $15 corkage fee is worth it only if you have a special wine or like a wine that isn't carried by NCL.

Personally we just order a house wine, usually a zinfandel, for about $22 and are satisfied with that.

[FEckeT]

This is not true, with the exception of the Pride of America. NCL has Bar Setup available, with three-tier pricing, starting around $80-100 per two liter bottle (can't remember after the last price increase). We always get a couple of bottles for in room cocktails and entertaining. NCL has recently moved the purchase of these from the group coordinator to the regular phone lines - but people have been getting uninformed agents on the phone sometimes. If the agent you speak to doesn't know what you are talking about (use the words "bar setup"), hang up and call back until you get someone who does.

 

The $15 corkage fee can be a great deal on some European cruises, as great wines are available cheap in ports all over the Med. I *think* NCL wines start at about $22+ gratuity per bottle. We have purchased some AMAZING wines in Spain and Italy for roughly $10-15 that put many $50 bottles of wine to shame. It's more a matter of convenience, whether you want to carry them on. We generally carry on 2-3 bottles and pick up more in ports if we want to.

 

Robin

 

Robin

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Robin,

 

Is it really a 2 liter bottle with the $20 price increase?

 

I am hoping you are correct, so we can purchase our usual bottle of rum. At $83 for 1 liter, I decided to switch to wine in our cabin, and purchase a "fancy" drink or two at a bar, we always drink in the casino.

 

Please tell you this is correct :D

 

Thanks,

 

Tina

[pris993]

If you are an experienced wine drinker, you will enjoy buying wines in port to try, we often simply talk to a local and ask them what they like, indicating we like dry red or white wines.

 

Generally fine cruise lines have a significant mark up on their cheaper wines.

 

We would much rather buy a better wine in port and pay the corking fee.

[Fishbait17]

Robin,

 

Is it really a 2 liter bottle with the $20 price increase?

 

I am hoping you are correct, so we can purchase our usual bottle of rum. At $83 for 1 liter, I decided to switch to wine in our cabin, and purchase a "fancy" drink or two at a bar, we always drink in the casino.

 

Please tell you this is correct :D

 

Thanks,

 

Tina

 

I apologize, I am not great with measurements. Looking at a bottle of NCL Absolut right now - and it is ONE liter.. Feels like it's much bigger, though, we can never seem to finish all of ours :D. But then, we do most of our drinking in the casino as well...

 

Still a good deal if you spend time in your cabin. You can pour your own strength, mix it your way, take your drink with you.. And cheaper than drinks by the glass..

 

Robin

 

 

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[katiepe]

Wow..I sure hope NCL is worth the difference;)

We paid 43 for Absolut on Carnival! for a bottle in our cabin.

Thanks again for all the repsonses.