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UBP drinks over $11

Lynandgio1

By Lynandgio1,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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LrgPizza

LrgPizza

Posted
Posted
Will there be any more taxes added if you have already paid.

You haven't paid any taxes yet. You will pay taxes on the drink price on the ship for drinks purchased while in some ports, like NYC and Miami. Those are the only taxes that will be paid.

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Lynandgio1

Lynandgio1

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As of October they're increasing the limit to $15 per drink price covered by the UBP. Make me wonder how much they're jacking the price for the people who can't get their packages (ie solo studio cabins). :cool:

 

Thank you for that update. So my Free UBP should have the $15 per drink limit when I cruise in December? I guess we will have to see when NCL updates their website next month.

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LrgPizza

LrgPizza

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Thank you for that update. So my Free UBP should have the $15 per drink limit when I cruise in December? I guess we will have to see when NCL updates their website next month.

 

Yes. It has changed 3 times in the past couple years, and the ship just works under whatever the current terms are.

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rochelle_s

rochelle_s

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I'm curious to know what drinks have you had on NCL that were over the $11 limit on the UBP. I know most drinks fall under the limit but it would still be fun to find out what goes over.

 

 

 

To answer your original question though on my last cruise there was only one drink that I ordered that cost above the $11.00 limit and that was the Pear Martini in Cagney's. It was $11.50 so with the added gratuity there was an extra charge of $0.58 on my bill.

 

I find this thread interesting about the increase in package and drink prices and the new $15 limit. I imagine everything will go up accordingly. I also believe NCL is doing a good job at pricing a lot of folks away from their line. I know if I did not have a drink package or a drink card in the casino its doubtful I would be purchasing very many drinks. I would likely be opting to bring my own wine on board and just pay the corkage fee.

 

As a Canadian a $15 glass of wine with added gratuity and the currency conversion I would be paying almost $25 for a glass of wine. Over a hundred a day to purchase the UBP. I have relatives joining me on a B@B cruise on the Epic next spring. They do not have the UBP and at a cost of over $2000 per person to purchase the package I can guarantee they won't be buying it.

 

 

Rochelle

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hawkeyetlse

hawkeyetlse

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Posted (edited)

I find this thread interesting about the increase in package and drink prices and the new $15 limit. I imagine everything will go up accordingly.

But so far, this is only in your imagination. Time will tell if your fears are correct. The drink prices went up around 7% in March for the first time in 5 years. As we all know, NCL is perfectly capable of raising the prices on something twice in one year, but for now I have not seen any indication that they are planning to do this for drinks. I have been expecting the price of the UBP to go up, and if it's true that they will no longer offer a discount for pre-purchasing, $64/day instead of $54/day is a big jump. But again, it doesn't necessarily mean that the individual drink prices are going to go up; it could just mean that people will need to drink more to break even (or focus on drinking the more expensive $15 drinks). Anyway, I guess we'll find out soon enough. Edited by hawkeyetlse
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rvsullivan

rvsullivan

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To answer your original question though on my last cruise there was only one drink that I ordered that cost above the $11.00 limit and that was the Pear Martini in Cagney's. It was $11.50 so with the added gratuity there was an extra charge of $0.58 on my bill.

 

I find this thread interesting about the increase in package and drink prices and the new $15 limit. I imagine everything will go up accordingly. I also believe NCL is doing a good job at pricing a lot of folks away from their line. I know if I did not have a drink package or a drink card in the casino its doubtful I would be purchasing very many drinks. I would likely be opting to bring my own wine on board and just pay the corkage fee.

 

As a Canadian a $15 glass of wine with added gratuity and the currency conversion I would be paying almost $25 for a glass of wine. Over a hundred a day to purchase the UBP. I have relatives joining me on a B@B cruise on the Epic next spring. They do not have the UBP and at a cost of over $2000 per person to purchase the package I can guarantee they won't be buying it.

 

 

Rochelle

 

 

I just tried to follow these numbers you're throwing around. It looks like the Canadian dollar is now about $.70? So Canadian is about 30% of the U.S. dollar now? I don't see that anywhere! It's currently pretty hard to find a drink that makes the $11 limit, so are we now assuming that every drink on the ship is going to $15??

No one has to buy a single drink on board nor do they need the UBP. So a net cost of zero if you chose to not drink. I still haven't noticed the official change to any of these numbers yet. Someone got a link???

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Kaboochi

Kaboochi

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Posted

The CEO is way off in left field. After one cruise at the higher nickel and diming pricings for specialty restaurants, room service and drink prices, taxes and tips, cruisers may decide to chose anoth line. I love cruising NCL but the rules are getting way to complicated. So much for their "free style" montera!

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rochelle_s

rochelle_s

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I just tried to follow these numbers you're throwing around. It looks like the Canadian dollar is now about $.70? So Canadian is about 30% of the U.S. dollar now? I don't see that anywhere! It's currently pretty hard to find a drink that makes the $11 limit, so are we now assuming that every drink on the ship is going to $15??

No one has to buy a single drink on board nor do they need the UBP. So a net cost of zero if you chose to not drink. I still haven't noticed the official change to any of these numbers yet. Someone got a link???

 

I don't personally have a link to the source of this information. I just made a comment about how a price increase, as reported here in this thread, could affect a Canadian like myself. Online currency exchange (here) is showing US at $0.75 which means it would cost me at least $1.33 Cdn for one US dollar. There is no where I can buy it at that price so I have to add a couple extra percent for the conversion fee.

 

If what is being reported about the package price increasing along with the per drink limit is true, then I have to agree with UpTheBanner who said the drink prices must be going up. Does anyone believe that NCL just came up with a way to give more value to the UBP holder?

 

I was not trying to make inflammatory comments when I said how this could affect a Canadian. Based on today's prices and exchange rate a basic $10 glass of wine costs us about $16 in our own money. There is no exaggeration there.. it's just the way it is. When our dollar is low it does indeed play a significant role in the decision making of most Canadians, especially when it comes to discretionary funds such as vacation dollars. A family might have a $10,000 holiday budget. This might seem like a nice size budget to have, but without even factoring in conversion fees they are looking at a loss of 25% before they even step out the door because suddenly that amount drops down to less than $7500.

 

Higher prices affect everyone. It's just with the current dollar, Canadians are feeling it even more. It's like the current gratuities. People complain about paying $13.50. In our money that is just over $18.00 per day per person.

 

And yes, no one is forced to have a drink on a cruise ship. But there are plenty that enjoy one. I guess if some of us Canadians can't afford the US dollar we can always go back to vacationing all inclusive in Cuba. :D

 

 

Rochelle

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LrgPizza

LrgPizza

Posted
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From what I have read, I'd you have the UBP you are not charged tax or the 18% tip. Anyone heard different?

 

If you buy the UBP, you are charged the gratuity at the time of purchase. It has been this way since the first introduction of UBP. Also, you pay the 18% gratuity on the price of the package prior to sailing if you are given the UBP as a promo. This started several months ago.

 

Whether or not you have UBP, you pay sales taxes while on board for drinks purchased while docked in certain ports, like Miami or NYC.

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AtlantaCruiser72

AtlantaCruiser72

Posted
Posted (edited)

 

I'm betting US site will be updated in 24/48 hrs.

 

With all the changes NCL has made to my cruise options since I first booked the Escape this past March I will be unlikely to book with them again. The lack of grandfathering, grace periods or public announcements in advance of changes has soured me on them before I even step foot aboard the ship. No matter how lovely the staff or great the entertainment I have other choices that are more consumer friendly upfront and will direct my business there. I was giving NCL a try for the first time in almost 18 years and this looks to be a one time visit.

 

Edit: Looked at NCL's terms and conditions on the UK/EU site and the exclusions have not changed, but per drink limit is indeed going to $15/drink but going with the assumption that drink prices increasing (again)

Edited by AtlantaCruiser72
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