How much wine is too-much wine?

[ilovetotravel1977]

Hmmm, forgot about that 18% fee. It ends up being the same price for me, as I would need to pay the 18% then another 19% for NCL exchange rate.

[khaide612]

There is a wine I like that I can get onboard for $59/bottle plus 18% tip is $70/bottle onboard. That same wine at home costs around $30/bottle. If I buy a case from my local liquor store, they will usually give me 10% off. So now I paid $27/bottle. If I carry it onboard, I get charged $15 and the wine cost me $42. That's a savings of $28 per bottle!

[maja651]

For us we like a particular champagne. It is only $14 a bottle at Costco. $20-$23 a bottle at the grocery store. It's not even available on the ships. But, what they do have would cost us about $50 a bottle plus the 18% gratuity. Much much cheaper to bring on board. Plus, we drink what we like and it's in the room with us for anytime! :)

[ilovetotravel1977]

My wine tastes are cheap LOL Not sure how much a bottle of Relax Rielsing or Moselland Riesling is in the US...

[khaide612]

Oh that's where there are huge savings! The cheapest wine onboard is like $30 plus the 18% gratuity so say $35. There are wines I like for $5 and under - Trader Joe's has amazing wine selections for really cheap. I get bottles of $5 wine & bring them onboard and pay $15 corkage & that's $20 per bottle.

 

For any wine snobs who are going to be offended at drinking wine under $5 - watch John Cleese's Wine for the Confused. :)

[ilovetotravel1977]

Yay! Another cheapy wine drinker! lol

 

Do you pay cash for the corkage or does it get added to your onboard account?

[electro]

I brought on a bottle of Louis Jadot, Pouilly Fuissé.

I paid $20 + corkage of 15 for a total of $35.

On board it is $59 + 18% for a total of apron $70 so I saved $35 on one bottle.

 

This is also why I think all wine bought on board should have a $5 flat fee gratuity instead of a percentage.

It doesn't take any more work to open the $180 bottle than it does to open the $30 bottle so why should the person buying the expensive bottle have to pay a $32 tip while the person who buys the $30 bottle pay a $5 tip for the exact same service.

 

Lois

[maywell]

When you don't drink it all, is when you know you brought too much wine....

 

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[ilovetotravel1977]

That is true! Never even thought of that one...

[leekel619]

I brought on a bottle of Louis Jadot, Pouilly Fuissé.

 

I paid $20 + corkage of 15 for a total of $35.

 

On board it is $59 + 18% for a total of apron $70 so I saved $35 on one bottle.

 

 

 

This is also why I think all wine bought on board should have a $5 flat fee gratuity instead of a percentage.

 

It doesn't take any more work to open the $180 bottle than it does to open the $30 bottle so why should the person buying the expensive bottle have to pay a $32 tip while the person who buys the $30 bottle pay a $5 tip for the exact same service.

 

 

 

Lois

 

 

So true

[Shawnino]

I brought on a bottle of Louis Jadot, Pouilly Fuissé.

I paid $20 + corkage of 15 for a total of $35.

On board it is $59 + 18% for a total of apron $70 so I saved $35 on one bottle.

 

This is also why I think all wine bought on board should have a $5 flat fee gratuity instead of a percentage.

It doesn't take any more work to open the $180 bottle than it does to open the $30 bottle so why should the person buying the expensive bottle have to pay a $32 tip while the person who buys the $30 bottle pay a $5 tip for the exact same service.

 

Lois

 

Because the 'tip' doesn't go to the person opening the bottle.

It's a money grab by corporate...

[PSULion]

I brought on a bottle of Louis Jadot, Pouilly Fuissé.

I paid $20 + corkage of 15 for a total of $35.

On board it is $59 + 18% for a total of apron $70 so I saved $35 on one bottle.

 

This is also why I think all wine bought on board should have a $5 flat fee gratuity instead of a percentage.

It doesn't take any more work to open the $180 bottle than it does to open the $30 bottle so why should the person buying the expensive bottle have to pay a $32 tip while the person who buys the $30 bottle pay a $5 tip for the exact same service.

 

Lois

 

This is a great post! When I tip in a resturant, I add a $10 tip on the wine regardless of the price of the bottle ($20 if wine is extra special and requires decanting) and then 15-20% on the food. I 100% agree with your assessment.

 

John

[asubaru]

You can google Total Wines and check prices. They have stores in the Miami and Ft Laud area.

 

 

My wine tastes are cheap LOL Not sure how much a bottle of Relax Rielsing or Moselland Riesling is in the US...

[Patsfans]

We brought 24[emoji3]

[asubaru]

No, when you add the 18% they are over that and, for my tastes, the drinkable cabs start in the mid $60 range. I don't like sparkling wine, nor prosecco, and their cheapest champagnes start at $85. I like Korbel Brut and w/the corkage, I'm paying about $25.

They do not always have their listed selections available and they do run out.

 

I have brought up to 12 bottles (2 were unused and corkage credited). Although it's a money saver, it is more about having what I like available.

 

Even with the UBP, I'll probably bring a few bottles of champagne. I have always had my drinks, including bottles, comped by the casino, but from what I'm reading, the "comping climate" has changed. I don't want to take the chance of getting a large bill for bottles of wine and champagne at the end of my cruise.

 

 

 

Does it really save that much money if you aren't drinking expensive stuff? Cause you have to buy the bottle, carry it with you, and pay $15. If the price of the bottle you are bringing is $15 then that means you are really paying $30 for the bottle. Could you not get a bottle on board for around $30 or a little higher? I'm only asking because I would like to know how it works.

 

 

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[asubaru]

We brought 24[emoji3]

 

I feel so much better! LOL I hesitated to say 12!

[newbe dave]

Just as the title reads...

 

Since we have an inside cabin this cruise, no UBP for us :( Plus, we are sailing with our DD7 so won't have a lot of time for daytime drinking.

 

What is the most amount of wine bottles have you brought on board at one time with NCL?

 

Also, if someone can share how much a bottle of Riesling is in the stores in Miami would be appreciated :)

 

I thought I would use this thread to tell how I have used corkage the last 4-5 cruises. Right now, I usually bring 5-6 bottle of wine on board in a carry-on suitcase (a typical 20 inch roller bag). I pack it with my beach towel and other things to help protect my babies. My bag is always flagged by security when screened and I take it to the alcohol table. $15 corkage fee is put on my account for each bottle and a corkage paid sticker is applied to each bottle. Then I keep my treasure with me until I can get to my room to store it.

 

I typically enjoy a glass of wine in the afternoon while getting ready for dinner. I also take a glass with me to dinner most nights. And I will usually take a bottle to dinner a couple nights and have them store it for me. That way, I can call up the bottle while dining but also have some stored in my cabin. So I will have about 3 glasses each night so about 3/4 of a bottle. So 5-6 bottles for a 7 day cruise works great.

 

Some hints I have found are:

• You can get a wine glass at any bar. If you get one at the pool bars, expect it to be plastic. Other bars have glass.
  
• The corkage paid stickers are valued by the bar staff. I think they get some tip money when they turn them in. So do not just discard your empties from your cabin. Take them to your favorite bartender for "proper" disposal. Make sure they see the sticker and maybe a wink too.
  
• After you leave wine glasses in your cabin a couple times, your cabin steward may start bringing you some
  
• You can get some looks walking about the ship carrying a bottle of wine. But, they are usually envious looks, not "are you crazy" looks.
  
• You can save some money paying corkage. But the convenience of having wine in your cabin and of having wine you like also add value for me.
  

 

Basically, it is your cruise. Enjoy it how you wish. PS. Always cruise with a cork screw and bottle stoppers.

Edited October 2, 2015 by newbe dave

[ilovetotravel1977]

I thought I would use this thread to tell how I have used corkage the last 4-5 cruises. Right now, I usually bring 5-6 bottle of wine on board in a carry-on suitcase (a typical 20 inch roller bag). I pack it with my beach towel and other things to help protect my babies. My bag is always flagged by security when screened and I take it to the alcohol table. $15 corkage fee is put on my account for each bottle and a corkage paid sticker is applied to each bottle. Then I keep my treasure with me until I can get to my room to store it.

 

I typically enjoy a glass of wine in the afternoon while getting ready for dinner. I also take a glass with me to dinner most nights. And I will usually take a bottle to dinner a couple nights and have them store it for me. That way, I can call up the bottle while dining but also have some stored in my cabin. So I will have about 3 glasses each night so about 3/4 of a bottle. So 5-6 bottles for a 7 day cruise works great.

 

Some hints I have found are:

• You can get a wine glass at any bar. If you get one at the pool bars, expect it to be plastic. Other bars have glass.
  
• The corkage paid stickers are valued by the bar staff. I think they get some tip money when they turn them in. So do not just discard your empties from your cabin. Take them to your favorite bartender for "proper" disposal. Make sure they see the sticker and maybe a wink too.
  
• After you leave wine glasses in your cabin a couple times, your cabin steward may start bringing you some
  
• You can get some looks walking about the ship carrying a bottle of wine. But, they are usually envious looks, not "are you crazy" looks.
  
• You can save some money paying corkage. But the convenience of having wine in your cabin and of having wine you like also add value for me.
  

 

Basically, it is your cruise. Enjoy it how you wish. PS. Always cruise with a cork screw and bottle stoppers.

 

Bottle stoppers...would have totally forgot about that!

 

I didn't see a lot wines that I actually like on the NCL list. And like previously stated, what if I can't get the ones I actually do like on the list because they are sold out, etc.

 

Thanks again for all of your input and experiences...it was nice to have a thread that didn't go snarky for once. :)

 

Happy Cruising!