Bringing a case of water onboard

[jebridan]

Can anyone tell me if I will be able to board the Dawn with a case of water? I've seen answers both way. Anyone boarded the Dawn in the last month with a case of water and allowed to bring it?

[eatdrinkfly]

100% no.

[ColinIllinois]

Sorry, no longer allowed and that is the official word.

[casofilia]

In July NCL changed the rules about taking water and soft drinks on board; it is now totally forbidden.

[jebridan]

Ok thank you so much.

[cmdchiefthom]

No longer allowed! But, you can pre-order a case of 24 and have it waiting in you stateroom when you board for .....wait for it.........for the bargain price of $70.74! A savings of 55% over the individual purchase price aboard ship!:D

[Loralye]

No longer allowed! But, you can pre-order a case of 24 and have it waiting in you stateroom when you board for .....wait for it.........for the bargain price of $70.74! A savings of 55% over the individual purchase price aboard ship!:D

 

Wow, 55% savings.... what a bargain!!!

[fshagan]

NCL has a couple of differences in how bottled water is sold versus other lines.

 

Bottled water is NOT included in the beverage package as it is on Celebrity and some other lines.

 

It is no longer allowed to be brought on board.

 

You can pre-purchase the expensive AquaFina water in 1 liter bottles for a little less than twice what my supermarket sells it for (a 12 pack is about $47 .... $40 plus $7.20 in mandatory gratuities; at my local supermarket, I can get 12 liter bottles of AquaFina for $24 plus $1.80 sales tax plus $1.20 CRV, or $27).

 

NCL also sells individual 20 ounce bottles of Aquafina for $2.50 (plus 18% gratuity). You cannot pre-purchase these, but reportedly can buy them on board.

 

Other lines either include bottled water in the beverage plan, or sell it at more reasonable prices (Carnival has "Carnival brand" water in 16 ounce bottles for $4 or so a case).

 

The filtered water served in the restaurants, bars and at the buffet tastes fine to us (but we would never drink the heavily chlorinated tap water from the cabin). Your room steward can (currently) bring you a complimentary pitcher of filtered water when he makes up the room at no charge. You can refill bottles of water at the buffet or from the pitcher to avoid the chlorine taste.

[pokerpro5]

NCL has a couple of differences in how bottled water is sold versus other lines.

 

Bottled water is NOT included in the beverage package as it is on Celebrity and some other lines.

 

It is no longer allowed to be brought on board.

 

You can pre-purchase the expensive AquaFina water in 1 liter bottles for a little less than twice what my supermarket sells it for (a 12 pack is about $47 .... $40 plus $7.20 in mandatory gratuities; at my local supermarket, I can get 12 liter bottles of AquaFina for $24 plus $1.80 sales tax plus $1.20 CRV, or $27).

 

NCL also sells individual 20 ounce bottles of Aquafina for $2.50 (plus 18% gratuity). You cannot pre-purchase these, but reportedly can buy them on board.

 

Other lines either include bottled water in the beverage plan, or sell it at more reasonable prices (Carnival has "Carnival brand" water in 16 ounce bottles for $4 or so a case).

 

The filtered water served in the restaurants, bars and at the buffet tastes fine to us (but we would never drink the heavily chlorinated tap water from the cabin). Your room steward can (currently) bring you a complimentary pitcher of filtered water when he makes up the room at no charge. You can refill bottles of water at the buffet or from the pitcher to avoid the chlorine taste.

 

You're giving NCL's markup too much credit for being reasonable here.

 

Your supermarket sells the 1-liter Aquafina for such a high price because 1-liter bottles are NOT common in the US.

 

However, a 24-pack of Aquafina of 16.9-ounce bottles is about $4-$5 at most supermarkets.

 

This is why the $70+ price for a 24-pack of bottled water onboard is such a horrible ripoff, as is the $2.50 per individual bottle.

[seashells]

I hate Aquafina.

If in the casino playing, do they offer free water or do you still have to purchase it?

If you have the beverage package and are in the casino playing, do they still charge you and only supply Aqua?

Would rather have a small Norwegian labeled bottle.

[Sissaaaaaa]

Can anyone tell me if I will be able to board the Dawn with a case of water? I've seen answers both way. Anyone boarded the Dawn in the last month with a case of water and allowed to bring it?

 

No.

[fshagan]

You're giving NCL's markup too much credit for being reasonable here.

 

Your supermarket sells the 1-liter Aquafina for such a high price because 1-liter bottles are NOT common in the US.

 

However' date=' a 24-pack of Aquafina of 16.9-ounce bottles is about $4-$5 at most supermarkets.

 

This is why the $70+ price for a 24-pack of bottled water onboard is such a horrible ripoff, as is the $2.50 per individual bottle.[/quote']

 

Yeah, I agree with you that it is priced too high. But, I have seen the same 1 liter bottles of "premium" bottled water for $7 in hotels. NCL's bottled water is very high priced, and a "rip off" like beer, wine and other drinks on board. I predict price creep will devalue the "free" UBP promos soon enough (they have already started that with the "ultra premium" wording on the T&C, where it is not included at all in the drink package, even though they are not currently enforcing that on board.

 

I don't know if NCL has any more purchasing power than Von's supermarket (owned by ABS Corp - 59 billion in revenue last year). Or if my supermarket has more or less gross margin on the 1 liter bottles of Aquafina. But that's the only comparison to "real world" prices I've seen for the exact same thing.

 

Most people do what you do ... compare the price to different products. I suspect Lexus will always cost more than Toyota for the same size car.

 

My comparison has been criticized for not including what bottled water costs on other lines, so I included that. That's a fair criticism because you are comparing market - to - market. But I'll stand by my statement that I am not able to buy 1 liter of Aquafina at my local grocery store for less than $1.99 a bottle, about half of what NCL sells it for. (As far as I can tell, no other cruise line sells 1 liter bottles of Aquafina).

 

It is too high priced for me, as I buy the cases of water at Costco for much, much less. But saying it is 10 to 20 times what you can buy the exact same item for is not accurate. It is about twice the amount.

[Sauer-kraut]

I hate Aquafina.

If in the casino playing, do they offer free water or do you still have to purchase it?

If you have the beverage package and are in the casino playing, do they still charge you and only supply Aqua?

Would rather have a small Norwegian labeled bottle.

 

You can get water in the casino if you have the CAS beverage card. If not you can ask for glasses of water. Water is not included in the UBP

[mjkacmom]

You're giving NCL's markup too much credit for being reasonable here.

 

Your supermarket sells the 1-liter Aquafina for such a high price because 1-liter bottles are NOT common in the US.

 

However, a 24-pack of Aquafina of 16.9-ounce bottles is about $4-$5 at most supermarkets.

 

This is why the $70+ price for a 24-pack of bottled water onboard is such a horrible ripoff, as is the $2.50 per individual bottle.

 

You can't compare cruise ship prices to supermarket prices. A liter of water at Atlantis runs around $10.

[NLH Arizona]

I always see things like "I can buy it back home for X and NCL charges me Y". Well, you are not back home, you are on a floating resort and you either pay the prices they charge or you don't buy the item. I've never been to a land resort, where the prices are the same as back at home in my grocery store, so why the heck would I expect NCL to charge grocery store prices. Then some say "Well, Carnival sells it for X, which is really cheap". You are not on Carnival and (1) NCL doesn't have to mirror (thankfully) Carnival's on their policies, prices, etc. and (2) if one wants to pay the Carnival prices for water, then cruise on Carnival.

 

Do I think the water prices on NCL are high, yes. Do I purchase water on NCL, no, because I think the price is too high!

[seashells]

You can't compare cruise ship prices to supermarket prices. A liter of water at Atlantis runs around $10.

 

At Atlantis and at the 4 Seasons I can bring my OWN water ....that I like.

I also think that "Water" should be included in the drink package.

It would cut down on the rowdy, and encourage more money for the cruise line instead of $10. drinks.

Edited August 31, 2016 by seashells

[swedish weave]

Then some say "Well, Carnival sells it for X, which is really cheap". You are not on Carnival and (1) NCL doesn't have to mirror (thankfully) Carnival's on their policies, prices, etc. and (2) if one wants to pay the Carnival prices for water, then cruise on Carnival.

 

!

 

Excellent advice !!!!! I started doing that a while back and it has worked out very well for me !!! Thank you very much !!!!

[pokerpro5]

Did anyone read my post, or did you guys just knee-jerk a response back to me after just skimming a few words?

 

I'll say it again.

 

Comparing prices for NCL's 1-liter bottles versus prices for 1-liter bottles on land is not correct, because 1-liter water bottles are NOT common in the US, and therefore cost more.

 

The common bottled water size in the US is 16.9 ounces, and if you buy that size, the price is very reasonable.

 

This is why you can't say, "Well, it costs me $35 to buy 24 1-liter bottles in the supermarket, so $70 on NCL is reasonable, since it's a cruise ship."

 

No, you can't say that, because only a fool would buy 24 1-liter bottles on land, given the high price for them.

 

Here is the bottom line:

 

A 24-pack of 16.9 ounce bottles will usually be sufficient for one passenger for a 7-day cruise. This costs $4 at the supermarket. So it will cost $8 for two people.

 

A 24-pack of 1-liter bottes (33.8 ounces) will usually be sufficient for two passengers on a 7-day cruise. This costs over $70 on NCL.

 

Therefore, the markup is about a factor of 9. This is why everyone is so angry.

 

No one is expecting supermarket prices on NCL. However, a 9x markup on an item such as water is obscene, especially when you cannot bring your own onboard.

[ColinIllinois]

And another thread gets hijacked with another tired argument. The question was "can I bring a case of water onboard or not".

 

Question was answered within a few posts. Relax, folks.

[NLH Arizona]

I also think that "Water" should be included in the drink package.

It would cut down on the rowdy, and encourage more money for the cruise line instead of $10. drinks.

Do you really think that if someone has the drink package and water was available under the package, they are going to pass up an alcoholic drink, especially when water is already readily available on the ship for the taking or asking? If water was available within the package, NCL would probably have the same amount of alcohol consumed and have additional water consumed, which would cost them more, not less. BTW, anyone who wants to be a rowdy drunk is not going to drink water over alcohol, IMHO.

[mjkacmom]

Did anyone read my post, or did you guys just knee-jerk a response back to me after just skimming a few words?

 

I'll say it again.

 

Comparing prices for NCL's 1-liter bottles versus prices for 1-liter bottles on land is not correct, because 1-liter water bottles are NOT common in the US, and therefore cost more.

 

The common bottled water size in the US is 16.9 ounces, and if you buy that size, the price is very reasonable.

 

This is why you can't say, "Well, it costs me $35 to buy 24 1-liter bottles in the supermarket, so $70 on NCL is reasonable, since it's a cruise ship."

 

No, you can't say that, because only a fool would buy 24 1-liter bottles on land, given the high price for them.

 

Here is the bottom line:

 

A 24-pack of 16.9 ounce bottles will usually be sufficient for one passenger for a 7-day cruise. This costs $4 at the supermarket. So it will cost $8 for two people.

 

A 24-pack of 1-liter bottes (33.8 ounces) will usually be sufficient for two passengers on a 7-day cruise. This costs over $70 on NCL.

 

Therefore, the markup is about a factor of 9. This is why everyone is so angry.

 

No one is expecting supermarket prices on NCL. However, a 9x markup on an item such as water is obscene, especially when you cannot bring your own onboard.

 

One liter bottles of Aquafina at my grocery store are $1 each, on sale. A 24 pack of 12 ounce bottles is $5, on sale. Still a mark up, but not as much.

[pokerpro5]

One liter bottles of Aquafina at my grocery store are $1 each, on sale. A 24 pack of 12 ounce bottles is $5, on sale. Still a mark up, but not as much.

 

You need to find a new grocery store, then.

 

All grocery stores around here (and other cities I've been to) tend to charge between $4 and $6 for a 24-pack of 16.9 ounce bottles. (16.9 ounces is 0.5 liters, by the way.)

[seashells]

Do you really think that if someone has the drink package and water was available under the package, they are going to pass up an alcoholic drink, especially when water is already readily available on the ship for the taking or asking? If water was available within the package, NCL would probably have the same amount of alcohol consumed and have additional water consumed, which would cost them more, not less. BTW, anyone who wants to be a rowdy drunk is not going to drink water over alcohol, IMHO.

 

Yes I have the drink package but drink NON-Alcoholic drinks. I also don't want to lug around a 16oz bottle of water. I measure my water intake with small 8 oz. bottles.

Providing water of one brand and one size is a money maker.

Having sailed on NCL many times, along with other companies, I always praised them for being a leader.

They became the first with free-style which I loved, and the CC people were massively complaining about missing dining with the same people at the table.

Now it will be back to those other cruise lines after this booked cruise.

[bjlaac]

Yeah, I agree with you that it is priced too high. But, I have seen the same 1 liter bottles of "premium" bottled water for $7 in hotels. NCL's bottled water is very high priced, and a "rip off" like beer, wine and other drinks on board. I predict price creep will devalue the "free" UBP promos soon enough (they have already started that with the "ultra premium" wording on the T&C, where it is not included at all in the drink package, even though they are not currently enforcing that on board.

 

I don't know if NCL has any more purchasing power than Von's supermarket (owned by ABS Corp - 59 billion in revenue last year). Or if my supermarket has more or less gross margin on the 1 liter bottles of Aquafina. But that's the only comparison to "real world" prices I've seen for the exact same thing.

 

Most people do what you do ... compare the price to different products. I suspect Lexus will always cost more than Toyota for the same size car.

 

My comparison has been criticized for not including what bottled water costs on other lines, so I included that. That's a fair criticism because you are comparing market - to - market. But I'll stand by my statement that I am not able to buy 1 liter of Aquafina at my local grocery store for less than $1.99 a bottle, about half of what NCL sells it for. (As far as I can tell, no other cruise line sells 1 liter bottles of Aquafina).

 

It is too high priced for me, as I buy the cases of water at Costco for much, much less. But saying it is 10 to 20 times what you can buy the exact same item for is not accurate. It is about twice the amount.

 

All fuzzy math by NCL to confuse the issue. Larger bottles should be cheaper than smaller bottles when you compare the quantities involved. The easiest way to do that is calculate the cost per ounce.

 

NCL-24 litres = 811.5 oz for $70.74 or $.087 per oz

Walmart 24 16.9 oz bottles for $4.18 or $.010 per oz

 

NCL is almost 8.5 more expensive so no its not twice the price its almost 9 times the price.

 

Just another straw on the camels back

[PhillyTravelBug]

Don't forget these mark ups are all for Aquafina...purified drinking water.... Not even for Poland Spring.