Ugh....UBP is gone

[coldflame]

57.2% chance.

 

I respectfully disagree. After crunching numbers, it came out to 57.1995554% chance.

[coldflame]

A promo is a promo and that's why you bite when you get a chance. Else this will become nonsensical like RCCL that has had the same promo for over a year, recurring every month, and people are actually praying they will do away with it.

[NYcruzzer]

The Celebrity pick your perk isn't as good on the drink package because it's only the "classic" package they are giving out which limits the prices of each thing you can get and doesn't pretty much include everything.

 

Actually Celebrity's Classic Package is quite good. It includes fresh squeezed juices,

smoothies, bottled water, Cappuccino's, espressos, and Lattes

Beers up to $6 per serving, spirits, cocktails, liqueurs and frozen drinksup to $8 per serving, and wine-by-the-glass up to $9 per serving.

 

I'm going on Gem this June to Canada and Celebrity Summit this August to Bermuda. Both cruises with the free drink package. I'm sure I'll have a great time on both ships..

[NLH Arizona]

Actually Celebrity's Classic Package is quite good. It includes fresh squeezed juices,

smoothies, bottled water, Cappuccino's, espressos, and Lattes

Beers up to $6 per serving, spirits, cocktails, liqueurs and frozen drinksup to $8 per serving, and wine-by-the-glass up to $9 per serving.

 

I'm going on Gem this June to Canada and Celebrity Summit this August to Bermuda. Both cruises with the free drink package. I'm sure I'll have a great time on both ships..

The Summit is my favorite Celebrity ship.

[NYcruzzer]

The Summit is my favorite Celebrity ship.

 

Was on her last Summer and had a blast. Love the M class ships Entertainment was actually quite good. Former NCL CD "Big Ken" Mills was the CD . Since it was a Summer cruise their was plenty of kids and quite a young crowd. Booked this August's cruise while oonboard last August. Got the "all in package" for booking onboard. Included Classic Bev package, daily gratuities, and $125.00 OBC to be used on that sailing.

Edited May 7, 2015 by NYcruzzer

[NLH Arizona]

Was on her last Summer and had a blast. Love the M class ships Entertainment was actually quite good. Former NCL CD "Big Ken" Mills was the CD . Since it was a Summer cruise their was plenty of kids and quite a young crowd. Booked this August's cruise while oonboard last August. Got the "all in package" for booking onboard. Included Classic Bev package, daily gratuities, and $125.00 OBC to be used on that sailing.

Sorry, but I thought Ken Mills was totally obnoxious; however, I did like the assistant CD. I did January this year and have another booked on the Summit and since I did that one on the ships, I got all in package as well...got beverage package, gratuities and $450 OBC.

[NYcruzzer]

Sorry, but I thought Ken Mills was totally obnoxious; however, I did like the assistant CD. I did January this year and have another booked on the Summit and since I did that one on the ships, I got all in package as well...got beverage package, gratuities and $450 OBC.

 

 

I only booked a lowly OV room. Lol

[sparkinator]

if you think for one second that NCL has lost any amount of money with those promotions, you are mistaken. The increases in bookings will more than make up for any costs.

 

They can lose money and revenue on those promotions. They lose money on bookings all the time. Almost all companies lose money on some transactions. Not many, but some. They do so, to have the opportunity to make money off of you when they get you in the door. I'm sure that they've lost money on some of my cruises. I buy very few drinks, don't eat at specialty restaurants or book excursions through the ship, or gamble. We sail during off-peak times as well. My family cruises 4 to a room (sometimes inside cabins) and all 4 of us have cruised for 1400 dollars for a week. I think 400 of that was taxes and port fees. That trip, they may have broken even, but I doubt it. :D

 

I've got two more cruises booked with the UBP and they are going to struggle to make money on me once again. I don't begrudge the cruise line from making money, but my family just chooses to enjoy or vacation with what the cruise line offer as complimentary services, and cruise on a tight budget.

[pokerpro5]

They can lose money and revenue on those promotions. They lose money on bookings all the time. Almost all companies lose money on some transactions. Not many, but some. They do so, to have the opportunity to make money off of you when they get you in the door. I'm sure that they've lost money on some of my cruises. I buy very few drinks, don't eat at specialty restaurants or book excursions through the ship, or gamble. We sail during off-peak times as well. My family cruises 4 to a room (sometimes inside cabins) and all 4 of us have cruised for 1400 dollars for a week. I think 400 of that was taxes and port fees. That trip, they may have broken even, but I doubt it. :D

 

I've got two more cruises booked with the UBP and they are going to struggle to make money on me once again. I don't begrudge the cruise line from making money, but my family just chooses to enjoy or vacation with what the cruise line offer as complimentary services, and cruise on a tight budget.

 

You are doing NCL a favor when you stuff 4 people into a room, unless you are booking on a "friends/family sail free" promo. Also, what you believe to be "port fees" are actually non-commisioned fares, all of which NCL keeps.

 

And sailing at off-peak times doesn't cost NCL money. Again, you are doing them a favor by filling their ship when they otherwise might have to dump rooms for ridiculously cheap.

 

With that said, I agree that the base cruise fare is often a loss leader for mid-grade cruise lines like NCL.

 

So if you're taking a 7-day cruise and grabbing an inside cabin for $299 per person plus tax and not buying many extras on board, yes, they are kind of losing money on you. And when I say "kind of losing", I mean that they would still rather have you than sail empty (because empty cabins cost them money, too -- due to the fixed costs of operating and hiring staff), but you are sailing for far cheaper than they need per cabin to cover overall expenses.

 

This is why cruising can be a GREAT value if you do it right and understand how and where to save money.

 

BTW, specialty restaurants are one of the few good deals to be had onboard. That's not a good place to "save" if quality food is important to you.

 

However, like you, I otherwise cruise cheaply. I book my own excursions with outside companies (or just create my own excursions with a rental car), never buy drinks onboard, never gamble in the casino, and never use the spa.

[Cruise-Crazy]

Where in the heck do you get that nonsensical figure? It's not logical at all.

 

The cost to provide that promotional item is far less than what you think it is. When you are a cruiseline buying thousands upon thousands of bottles of liquor and beer and wine a week, you have much more buying power than you or I. Therefore the cost to provide a weeks worth of drinks for the average person is way below what you as a passenger would pay for them.

 

Also, just because some people got the UBP for free, the average person enjoying it is not going to max it out to it's utmost potential. I'm sure Norwegian has actuarial accountants that estimated what the cost of the promotional items would be long before they offered them. if you think for one second that NCL has lost any amount of money with those promotions, you are mistaken. The increases in bookings will more than make up for any costs.

 

The cost of the liquor is not where numbers come from. It's the potential revenue from selling the drinks.

[cliffd64]

They can lose money and revenue on those promotions. They lose money on bookings all the time. Almost all companies lose money on some transactions. Not many, but some. They do so, to have the opportunity to make money off of you when they get you in the door. I'm sure that they've lost money on some of my cruises. I buy very few drinks, don't eat at specialty restaurants or book excursions through the ship, or gamble. We sail during off-peak times as well. My family cruises 4 to a room (sometimes inside cabins) and all 4 of us have cruised for 1400 dollars for a week. I think 400 of that was taxes and port fees. That trip, they may have broken even, but I doubt it. :D

 

I've got two more cruises booked with the UBP and they are going to struggle to make money on me once again. I don't begrudge the cruise line from making money, but my family just chooses to enjoy or vacation with what the cruise line offer as complimentary services, and cruise on a tight budget.

 

You are missing the point altogether... In the post I quoted, the poster said that in order to break even with the free UBP NCL would have to charge $300 per person per day (or 2100 per person for a week) on an inside cabin. That is completely and utterly ridiculous. The cost of your average $10 drink is way less than a dollar wholesale. When you apply actuarial averages to the promotions, the average person who selected the UBP is not going to max out their consumption... so again, the cost of what is actually being provided can be estimated. Also, as many many people have pointed out, the fares during the times when these promos were offered were a bit higher so that helped across the board as far as making up for the promotional items. Now that NCL is a public company, you will see when they report revenue and earnings for the next several quarters that revenue is increasing, not decreasing. More and more bookings equals more revenue.

[weltek]

I had no idea the promo was ending so soon! Hopefully it was successful and they'll bring it back. :confused:

 

The promo that included the UBP was running for about 4 months...longest running NCL promo I've ever seen!

[sparkinator]

you are doing ncl a favor when you stuff 4 people into a room, unless you are booking on a "friends/family sail free" promo. i am booking during friends/family sail free

 

also, what you believe to be "port fees" are actually non-commisioned fares, all of which ncl keeps. not sure about that. I know we have received refunds on port fees when we miss a port.

 

and sailing at off-peak times doesn't cost ncl money. Again, you are doing them a favor by filling their ship when they otherwise might have to dump rooms for ridiculously cheap. i didn't say they were fiscally irresponsible for offering those fares, just that they don't make money on all bookings.

 

with that said, i agree that the base cruise fare is often a loss leader for mid-grade cruise lines like ncl. agreed

 

so if you're taking a 7-day cruise and grabbing an inside cabin for $299 per person plus tax and not buying many extras on board, yes, they are kind of losing money on you. And when i say "kind of losing", i mean that they would still rather have you than sail empty (because empty cabins cost them money, too -- due to the fixed costs of operating and hiring staff), but you are sailing for far cheaper than they need per cabin to cover overall expenses.I understand fixed vs. variable costs and the desire to at least cover fixed costs on every transaction. It still doesn't mean they make money, just that it is a beneficial transaction if it at least covers fixed costs.

 

This is why cruising can be a great value if you do it right and understand how and where to save money.My sentiments exactly.

 

Btw, specialty restaurants are one of the few good deals to be had onboard. That's not a good place to "save" if quality food is important to you. to each his own. My family finds the main dining room fare to be delicious and a special treat. We are usually more than satisfied with the service and food served. Again, as a part of the included fare.

 

however, like you, i otherwise cruise cheaply. I book my own excursions with outside companies (or just create my own excursions with a rental car), never buy drinks onboard, never gamble in the casino, and never use the spa agree. Again, i don't begrudge any company making money, and i certainly don't try to nickel and dime them to death. It just so happens that to me and my family, they offer a really great product at their lowest fares, and we don't feel the need or desire to upgrade from the included amenities. As far as the excursions, we just find booking independently to be a better choice. It's less expensive, and we've actually developed friendships with some of the operators we've booked with. Ncl just can't offer the intimate side of the excursion experiences.

 

xxx

[sparkinator]

You are missing the point altogether... In the post I quoted, the poster said that in order to break even with the free UBP NCL would have to charge $300 per person per day (or 2100 per person for a week) on an inside cabin. That is completely and utterly ridiculous.Not missing a point, just commenting on a statement you made. I agree that actual expenditures from UBP plans are a fraction of the total costs of purchasing the plan, but opportunity costs are also missed by not having the ability to make drink sales to those customers. (Definitely not 2100 dollars though) :eek:

The cost of your average $10 drink is way less than a dollar wholesale. When you apply actuarial averages to the promotions, the average person who selected the UBP is not going to max out their consumption... so again, the cost of what is actually being provided can be estimated. Also, as many many people have pointed out, the fares during the times when these promos were offered were a bit higher so that helped across the board as far as making up for the promotional items. My fare didn't go up during that promo. One of my bookings actually went up AFTER the promo had expired, but neither were increased before the promo. I'd been watching these prices for months prior

 

Now that NCL is a public company, you will see when they report revenue and earnings for the next several quarters that revenue is increasing, not decreasing. More and more bookings equals more revenue.Agreed, but it could mean less overall profit. Time will tell. They are also competing against other companies for those cruise dollars so getting a booking, even if not much profit, is better than some other cruise line getting those dollars instead. These promos may prove beneficial from a quick cash flow proposition, as well.

 

It will be interesting to see how these promos play out and if more cruise lines follow suit.