UBP raised to $79 per day

[Casino Comp Chick]

Wow seriously? You REALLY thin they raised the price of the UBP just so they could get more in gratuities? Some people need to learn to pick their battles is all I can say. Either that or it is a fact that some people just look for a reason to complain. :rolleyes:

 

Perhaps in your great wisdom you would like to explain why the price has gone from $394.45 a week to $652.54 a week in less then 3 years since its inception then?

 

That is an increase of 66.6%.

 

 

In your words.....Wow seriously?

 

 

__________________

Edited February 27, 2016 by iimmie

[Casino Comp Chick]

at the time i booked haven, the drink pack would have a 'list price' of about 1100 bucks. i do wish i could reduce the price of the spa room by 1100 and pay cash for all drinks but that option was nowhere to be found :)

 

when was this program started. id love to see historical haven prices without the free drinks

 

You can always go fishing for a cruise for historical data

[SteveH2508]

Had to have a little giggle to myself - been over to the RCI board where they are getting their panties in a bunch over some sailings having gone up to $64 pppd for the drinks package.

 

$79 pppd and no coffee etc. would send them into conniptions!

 

I do think NCL is taking the p*ss with these rises (even though I guess few people actually buy the UDP now).

[NCLfamily]

Had to have a little giggle to myself - been over to the RCI board where they are getting their panties in a bunch over some sailings having gone up to $64 pppd for the drinks package.

 

$79 pppd and no coffee etc. would send them into conniptions!

 

I do think NCL is taking the p*ss with these rises (even though I guess few people actually buy the UDP now).

 

 

UBP [emoji35]

[janpo]

Wow seriously? You REALLY thin they raised the price of the UBP just so they could get more in gratuities? Some people need to learn to pick their battles is all I can say. Either that or it is a fact that some people just look for a reason to complain. :rolleyes:

 

 

Wow..seriously???? Those rose colored glasses still blocking your view??

 

I would say that NCL is shooting themselves in the foot. Their constant hike in prices with not much improvements is out of control. It's down to how much will people tolerate.

Edited February 27, 2016 by janpo

[janetz]

Wow, of all the mainstream lines, NCL has the highest charge for drink packages yet.

[SteveH2508]

UBP [emoji35]

 

Sorry, fat fingers!:o

[mypleasure]

Can't say I'm really surprised to see the price going up when I read on another thread people saying that 15 drinks in a given day doesn't cover their needs. Based on my recent experience these unlimited drinks packages are seriously impacting the atmosphere onboard. I'm not a big drinker but I'm also far from a being prohibitionist - there were just far more people "over served" on my past two cruises than on all the previous combined.

 

On the Jewel I even overheard a conversation between two well lubricated gents loudly describing how they had to drink like "MF-ers" from dawn to dusk just to "break even". Unfortunately they didn't care that my 3 year old and 5 year old heard their colourful language either.

 

 

It seriously impacted the atmosphere on board the cruise my sister and I took in January. I thought it might settle down after the first sea day but it got worse as the week went on. Some of those cruisers also seemed determined to get what they paid for and were succeeding.

[beerman2]

I have mock booked Carnival, Royal, and Princess similar cabins, you know those cruise lines that charge extra for drink packages/specialty dining.

 

You are not paying that much more to have those 2 included on NCL. I can see the issue with the 18% as a money maker for NCL if that indeed is not going to the staff.

 

And no I'm not a cheerleader for NCL, our first time on NCL Epic last year we did encounter some issues. I'm just looking at the total cost issue when factoring in the packages.

[4774Papa]

Just read on another thread that the UBP is now $79 per day. For those who have to pay gratuities, that is an additional $1.80 per day. It does not seem like a lot, but the cost has now been increased from $64 to $79 in less than 2 months. For a seven day cruise, the gratuities are now $99.54, which is not a lot considering the free drinks, but it is the principle of offering a "free" drink package and increasing the cost to increase gratuities.

 

We have take cruises that cost less than that price for the drinks packages.

 

Also, since NCL adds the gratuities, it is ridiculous. From my standpoint, we never buy the drinks packages, since we usually spend about $400 for two for a 14 day cruise, We like the 10 bottle wine packages from NCL that involve a nice discount.

[insidecabin]

Check UK EU prices no extras on FREE stuff.

 

Checked a med Oceania cruise better value than NCL spirit both 12n but different itinerary.

 

Only a few(<25) $ difference per day once you added the extras.

[cdnsteelman]

The real point behind this business model is to increase revenue in the casinos would be my guess. Give people an unlimited drink package to lubricate their senses and recover a bit more up front cost with a higher gratuity and higher average cabin cost. Much like I saw more over served people on my last two cruises that the previous 11 combined I saw the casino being PACKED far more often as well.

 

NCL's CFO is likely loving the new business model. They may ultimately change the demographic of their typical cruiser but if that results in increased revenue then the shareholder will be happy.

[LMaxwell]

Some of us still cruise to see the ports, lie on a beach, learn to paddle board and the list could go on. :) Personally if all I wanted to do on my vacation was get some sun and drink I would wait for summer buy a cooler, some ice and some beer and pitch a tent in my backyard and call it vacation. Shocking to read that folks are staying on board to drink instead of enjoying the islands but it's their vacation so to each his/her own I guess.

 

Have you seen an NCL commercial where they market all the things available on their floating resorts? I don't blame anyone that wants to stay on the ship and use the pools, slides, rope course, gym, spa, lounge chairs, etc. Why does this bother you?

 

I set foot in Freeport just to say I had done so, then got back on the ship and had a nice lunch and drinks by the pool. It was a great way to spend the afternoon. If they wanted you off the ship they could simply close the bars and restaurants:rolleyes:

[LMaxwell]

Wow seriously? You REALLY thin they raised the price of the UBP just so they could get more in gratuities? Some people need to learn to pick their battles is all I can say. Either that or it is a fact that some people just look for a reason to complain. :rolleyes:

 

They aren't complaining, they are making an observation. Not sure how that is picking a battle. It's just simple math and economics.

 

Guess what? When you pay NCL that 18% 2 to 3 months before you set foot on ship they aren't handing it out to bar tenders. It's counted as revenue for them to distribute whenever and however they see fit. More revenue = happy shareholders. And since NCL can do whatever they want with the money, it is likely offsetting their liquor costs.

 

You don't, for a second, believe NCL is losing money on these promos, do you?

[Suze10860]

Agreed.. That is still the only reason my dw and ds cruise... It's to see the world .. I guess in my review of the breakaway on 3/6 to 3/13 I will make sure I take notice... I may even take some pics of my fellow passengers who are chair hogging that way we can put them on blast!!! I hope people don't just sit on the ship and get wasted... That would be a waste.

 

Come on. Just because it's "the only reason" for you, really does not mean it must be "the only reason" for everyone. In my opinion, this is one of the most judgmental posts I've seen.

 

I agree that I don't want others drinking so much that they intrude on MY (or anyone else's) vacation. But please don't think that your reason for cruising is any more valid than a person who wants nothing more than to be on a ship in the middle of the ocean without a care in the world. If that were anything like pitching a tent in my backyard and just staying home, I'd start renting out real estate.

 

Sorry, but even if I don't in any way over-drink when I cruise, I found this a little offensive.

[LMaxwell]

Agreed.. That is still the only reason my dw and ds cruise... It's to see the world .. I guess in my review of the breakaway on 3/6 to 3/13 I will make sure I take notice... I may even take some pics of my fellow passengers who are chair hogging that way we can put them on blast!!! I hope people don't just sit on the ship and get wasted... That would be a waste.

You're going to Port Canaveral and Nassau. The least adventurous "seeing the world" I can imagine. After 30 minutes in Nassau you too may be rushing back to the ship.

 

If people are using chairs they aren't hogging them. So you're going to walk around taking pictures of people using lounge chairs, enjoying themselves, to put them on blast??? Me thinks you should grab a lounger besides them and chill out.

[Suze10860]

They aren't complaining, they are making an observation.

 

Pretty sure they ARE complaining. A lot.

[LMaxwell]

People cruise to enjoy relaxing and getting away. Im sorry you dont drink so the UBP doesnt help at all, but there is plenty of food in the lido deck buffet to stuff your face.....All these bull posts about price increasing and BLAH BLAH BLAH....ITS A CRUISE!!!!! Not grandmas cottage where all the food and drinks are payed by grandma. Its getting expensive now cause of cheap people that dont tip or sneak things on the ship......Getting OLD!!!!!!

 

Can anyone translate this to English?

[LMaxwell]

Pretty sure they ARE complaining. A lot.

 

I read it as simply contrasting the old versus new and stating the math. I didn't see a complaint.

 

Boy am I happy I booked last January when UBP was "free free" without any of these add on charges!

Edited February 27, 2016 by LMaxwell

[jaja]

NCL prices for everything are going insane.

 

I agree...have been watching with amazement as prices soar and benefits decline.:eek:

We booked a cruise last March for this May....probably will take a break from NCL/cruising after that....

[janpo]

I agree...have been watching with amazement as prices soar and benefits decline.:eek:

We booked a cruise last March for this May....probably will take a break from NCL/cruising after that....

 

I wish I could remember the person that posted around a year ago what will happen once the old promos are used up. They posted how expensive NCL prices would get. Seems they were right.

[Karysa]

Have you seen an NCL commercial where they market all the things available on their floating resorts? I don't blame anyone that wants to stay on the ship and use the pools, slides, rope course, gym, spa, lounge chairs, etc. Why does this bother you?

 

I set foot in Freeport just to say I had done so, then got back on the ship and had a nice lunch and drinks by the pool. It was a great way to spend the afternoon. If they wanted you off the ship they could simply close the bars and restaurants:rolleyes:

 

To each his own doesn't mean that it bothers me. :)

 

If they closed the restaurants and bars while in port folks could simply stock up before hand ;) and wait it out until things open up again. NCL has probably thought of that one already and that could be why they haven't tried that one yet.:)

[ready2cruzagain]

Some of us still cruise to see the ports, lie on a beach, learn to paddle board and the list could go on. :) Personally if all I wanted to do on my vacation was get some sun and drink I would wait for summer buy a cooler, some ice and some beer and pitch a tent in my backyard and call it vacation. Shocking to read that folks are staying on board to drink instead of enjoying the islands but it's their vacation so to each his/her own I guess.

 

 

This is the first time we will have a drink package and have been staying on the ship during port days for years.

 

Some of us have been to the ports so many times that we do stay on the ship and enjoy sitting by the pool, relaxing with a drink. It is not about the ports to us

but about the relaxation, the not having to cook, not having to clean, etc. Sitting at home by a cooler is not the same as sitting on a cruise ship by the pool, sipping a drink, while in port.

Edited February 27, 2016 by ready2cruzagain

[Karysa]

This is the first time we will have a drink package and have been staying on the ship during port days for years.

 

Some of us have been to the ports so many times that we do stay on the ship and enjoy sitting by the pool, relaxing with a drink. It is not about the ports to us

but about the relaxation, the not having to cook, not having to clean, etc. Sitting at home by a cooler is not the same as sitting on a cruise ship by the pool, sipping a drink, while in port.

 

Sipping a drink by the pool does sound nice to. :)

[ready2cruzagain]

Sipping a drink by the pool does sound nice to. :)

Especially when when I am looking out the window at snow. LOL