Fees on "free" beverage package?

[skoeper]

We have never sailed on Norwegian before, and just booked two cabins tonight. Our travel agent called us and informed us that there is a $178.00 fee for two of us for the beverage package gratuities. Is this normal?

 

We've sailed Celebrity countless times and always had the free beverage package but never had an additional charge, so this is really new to us.

[Macadian]

Welcome to the Norwegian nickel & dime cruise line...😎

[Mistizoom]

Yes, you have to pay the 18% gratuities on the retail cost of the Ultimate Beverage Package.

 

ETA: I believe if you book a suite (Haven or regular suite, not a mini-suite), the gratuities are included, however.

Edited February 15, 2016 by Mistizoom

[sfaaa]

Nope, there are other perks with no 18% gratuities. It's up to you to choose.

[Nola26]

If you think you'd spend less than $180 on drinks on the cruise (bottled water not included in the plan) then skip this perk and select something else. If you'd easily spend more than that, keep the plan, pay the fee and forget about it.

 

We don't drink alcohol so $88pp for sodas for our cruise is too much. Last cruise we spent less than $20 on beverages so we selected a differ perk.

[Quilting_Cruiser]

If you think you'd spend less than $180 on drinks on the cruise (bottled water not included in the plan) then skip this perk and select something else. If you'd easily spend more than that, keep the plan, pay the fee and forget about it.

 

We don't drink alcohol so $88pp for sodas for our cruise is too much. Last cruise we spent less than $20 on beverages so we selected a differ perk.

 

Same for me. I drink very little and the gratuity on the package is more than I would pay purchasing my drinks as I go. I'm much happier with the dining package. :D

[mommy2lexylu32]

Do they automatically take all gratuities or can you choose to tip yourself like you can on Carnival?

[skoeper]

Thanks, all. This cruise is less than 90 days out and has offered all three perks. They are just....included, I guess. Plus we get $100 casino money, which we never go to but if there's a fee on that too, forget it, lol.

 

The package included 4 specialty meals as well and we see the T.A. tacked on $26.00 for that. This is really all new, we're spoiled by Celebrity!

[Quilting_Cruiser]

Thanks, all. This cruise is less than 90 days out and has offered all three perks. They are just....included, I guess. Plus we get $100 casino money, which we never go to but if there's a fee on that too, forget it, lol.

 

The package included 4 specialty meals as well and we see the T.A. tacked on $26.00 for that. This is really all new, we're spoiled by Celebrity!

 

The additional for the dining package is also gratuities. Just because you're offered the perk doesn't mean you need to accept it. If you won't drink the equivalent of the gratuities on the drinks package, then don't take. It for many people, it's a good deal.

 

The casino cash is a new promotion but I haven't heard of gratuities being added for that, and it wouldn't make sense. LOL.

[Quilting_Cruiser]

Do they automatically take all gratuities or can you choose to tip yourself like you can on Carnival?

 

Are you talking about the daily service charge? If so, then it's like Carnival in the sense that it's charged to your on-board account or you can pay it ahead of time. Unlike Carnival, you can't remove them or adjust them downward on the ship. You would need to pick up a form at Guest Services and sent it in after the cruise. This is a relatively new process for NCL.

 

Automatic gratuities are charged for drinks, specialty dining, and spa services.

[johnql]

Do they automatically take all gratuities or can you choose to tip yourself like you can on Carnival?

If you're talking about the DSC, see previous post from Quilting_Cruiser. However, if you're talking about the gratuities that are charged for selecting the beverage package, those gratuities are paid in a lump sum and cannot be withheld to be paid out to individual servers.

[Moby0215]

Thanks, all. This cruise is less than 90 days out and has offered all three perks. They are just....included, I guess. Plus we get $100 casino money, which we never go to but if there's a fee on that too, forget it, lol.

 

 

 

The package included 4 specialty meals as well and we see the T.A. tacked on $26.00 for that. This is really all new, we're spoiled by Celebrity!

 

 

Just wondering... Would you have tipped for your drinks or meal on celebrity? And if so then it really should t make a difference right?

 

 

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[rnr4thatsme]

Just wondering... Would you have tipped for your drinks or meal on celebrity? And if so then it really should t make a difference right?

 

 

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Having just booked a NCL cruise after investigating both options, the difference is that Celebrity covers the gratuity in their free alcohol packages, whereas on NCL, you are responsible for covering that. So, you see no charges made to you on the Celebrity cruise. You see the charge on NCL. However, nothing in life is free, just what I believe, so it's just a matter of whether you pay separately or they tack onto the cruise fare or somewhere else!

[pieshops]

Welcome to the Norwegian nickel & dime cruise line...😎

 

We have never sailed on Norwegian before, and just booked two cabins tonight. Our travel agent called us and informed us that there is a $178.00 fee for two of us for the beverage package gratuities. Is this normal?

 

We've sailed Celebrity countless times and always had the free beverage package but never had an additional charge, so this is really new to us.

 

I just don't get people.

 

When you get a coupon for a buy one get one free at a restaurant you are expected to tip on what the bill would have been if it had not been free, when you win a free car, or trip you must pay taxes on the value.

 

Why is it nickel and dining to pay a gratuity to the people making the drinks? SMH

[4774Papa]

We cruise Celebrity and NCL, but don't buy the drinks packages. We have an Alaskan cruise on the Sun in September with the drinks package as a freebie (no gratuities since we booked before NCL changed the policy).

 

Frankly, we would not book the drinks package if we had to pay for the gratuities. For a 14 day cruise, we normally pay for about $400 in alcohol. We usually buy a 10 bottle wine package, which provides a nice discount.

 

Another factor against the drinks packages is that it encourages excessive drinking. There is a point when heavy drinking is just not healthy.

[Angelo_R]

You have to figure out the cost versus value of the package. NCL charges the gratuity either way (buy a package or get it free).

 

For the Ultimate Beverage Package (Soda, Beer, Wine, Spirits up to $15), at $69/day I would never buy it since I don't drink 6 drinks a day (avg is $11/drink). And while NCL says "FREE Drink Package", having to pay the 18% gratuity is misleading for many in their statement. Saying that though, for $12.42/pp/per day, I would get it--and have on my last cruise and upcoming sailing. It will pay for at least the drink of the day, plus it's cheaper than buying an $11.00 drink + 18% gratuity ($12.98 total). So, it allows me without thinking to get 2 or even 3 drinks throughout the day without worrying about extra fees on my account.

 

For the soda package, it depends on how much soda you drink. You can bring on as much soda as you like either carry-on or as checked luggage (I've been hearing that people tape a luggage tag to the case of soda or water). Figure a 24-pack at it's lowest is about $6.00 and peak is $9.00. On a 7-day cruise that would be 3 cans a day... more than plenty for myself and it saved me from paying $61.95 for the soda package. Plus it allows me to bring on what I like which is Coke Zero (NCL has a contract with Pepsi). And I really don't see why people would every buy the water package or individual bottles of water on the ship. Bring your own water on or ask for a glass of water at the bar/table. The potable water is clean and tastes just fine.

 

The gratuity fee is also added to the dining package as well, but if you've thought about doing any of the specialty dining, choosing the "FREE Dining Package" and paying the gratuity is a no brainer as well. On a 7-day sailing you normally get the 4-day dining package (4UDP). It's $74 + 13.32 gratuity/pp. Most of the restaurants are a la carte now, but you will still on average spend $25-$30 for a meal plus have the 18% gratuity added to the total. For $13.32 you get 4 specialty meals at $3.33/meal per person. You can have the 32-oz porterhouse steak or succulent lobster all 4 meals.

 

Other services also add the gratuity when purchased on the ship. While it states on the website that the Thermal Spa packages are supposed to have 18% added, I pre-ordered on the Star before the cruise and did not get charged the 18% gratuity.

 

Bottom line, it is misleading to say FREE when they still charge you the gratuities up front, but the value is staying within a budget knowing no additional fees will be added. As I write this statement, there are additional fees while docked at certain ports. Florida ports charge 7% tax on the price of the drink so you will see these taxes added to your stateroom account. So know that if you have the UBP, the "Sail Away" drink will cost you 7% tax. Once the ship is somewhere between 25-40 miles out, the taxes stop.

[NLH Arizona]

Thanks, all. This cruise is less than 90 days out and has offered all three perks. They are just....included, I guess. Plus we get $100 casino money, which we never go to but if there's a fee on that too, forget it, lol.

 

The package included 4 specialty meals as well and we see the T.A. tacked on $26.00 for that. This is really all new, we're spoiled by Celebrity!

I also cruise on Celebrity and yes it is different, but for me, Celebrity is way more expensive than NCL, so in the end, even with the 18 percents tacked on for the beverage and dining packages, I'm still sailing for much less on NCL.

[skoeper]

Just wondering... Would you have tipped for your drinks or meal on celebrity? And if so then it really should t make a difference right?

 

 

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Gratuities are included in Celebrity's drink pkg. We DID, however, tip extra to some bartenders at the martini bar who would make us smaller versions of the martini's not on the list. Slip them a couple $$ for each martini and we were set for the whole cruise. But basically, as long as you followed the drinks on the list, it was absolutely free.

[dijid]

When you get a coupon for a buy one get one free at a restaurant you are expected to tip on what the bill would have been if it had not been free,

 

I wouldn't expect to pay a tip up front based on the establishment's determination of what the coupon could be worth. Instead, I expect to pay the tip for the actual value of the meal I got for free.

[Moby0215]

I wouldn't expect to pay a tip up front based on the establishment's determination of what the coupon could be worth. Instead, I expect to pay the tip for the actual value of the meal I got for free.

 

 

It is not NCLs determination of what the UBP could be worth, it has an exact cost of $69/day. If you don't find it of value then just pick a different promo.

 

 

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[PLW0520]

So if you booked your cruise before this policy went into affect would you still have to pay the 18% gratuities?

[LrgPizza]

So if you booked your cruise before this policy went into affect would you still have to pay the 18% gratuities?

 

 

If you plan to buy the package, then yes. If you received it as a promo, then no.

Edited February 15, 2016 by LrgPizza

[PLW0520]

If you plan to buy the package, then yes. If you received it as a promo, then no.

 

That's good news. We booked the cruise a long time ago and received it as a promotion.

[DMH15]

The additional for the dining package is also gratuities. Just because you're offered the perk doesn't mean you need to accept it. If you won't drink the equivalent of the gratuities on the drinks package, then don't take. It for many people, it's a good deal.

 

 

 

The casino cash is a new promotion but I haven't heard of gratuities being added for that, and it wouldn't make sense. LOL.

 

 

I only tip in the casino if I win on a table game. The bigger the win the bigger the tip. So, needless to say I hope I win BIG.

[Orleanscruiser]

We have never sailed on Norwegian before, and just booked two cabins tonight. Our travel agent called us and informed us that there is a $178.00 fee for two of us for the beverage package gratuities. Is this normal?

 

We've sailed Celebrity countless times and always had the free beverage package but never had an additional charge, so this is really new to us.[/QUOTE]

 

Are you sure Celebrity never had an additional charge to their package

 

term &condition Premium,Classic & Standard Beverage Packages

from celebrity cruise

All prices in USD are subject to change without notice. An 18% service charge will be added to Soda, Wine, Water, Classic and Premium Package prices at checkout. Package prices may reflect an additional tax for certain ports or itineraries. Packages are sold on a per cruise basis, are not sold on a per day or any other basis, and no refunds will be issued for unused amounts. Packages may not be shared, and do not include beverages sold in gift shops, mini-bar or room service. Ordered packages may be modified up to four days prior to sailing by canceling and reordering the package. Cancellations or refunds will not be issued onboard the vessel after embarkation day. Availability of beverage packages varies by ship. You must be at least 21 years of age to purchase any alcoholic package and to consume alcohol. See the terms of our guest alcohol policy. Other terms and conditions apply.