pokerguy90 Posted May 7, 2022 #1 Share Posted May 7, 2022 My wife and I do not drink alcohol for religious reasons. So when we booked our cruise our TA said “your the first of her clients to ev br er decline that offer”. I told her we don’t drink alcohol because of religious reasons. She said you can get Pop, or other non alcoholic beverages. We said OK. Well then that could work. The we noticed that we would prepay a 20% service fee on that drink package $140 each. Our bar bills for the occasional mocktail or pop, juice never exceed $100 for both of us for the entire cruise. For me to pay almost $300 is money wasted, we could not possibly drink that much pop in 7 days. Boy was she confused at us over this one. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostongal965 Posted May 7, 2022 #2 Share Posted May 7, 2022 My son is diabetic and his wife doesn't drink much, so they decline it. You're not alone! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Shacklefjord Posted May 7, 2022 #3 Share Posted May 7, 2022 I booked online and turned it down. I’m alcohol free and I need to stay sharp while traveling. The break even point for the gratuities would be five sodas per day. And it doesn’t include fancy coffee or bottled water. A la carte for me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftygrandma Posted May 7, 2022 #4 Share Posted May 7, 2022 We always decline the drink package on NCL. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julig22 Posted May 7, 2022 #5 Share Posted May 7, 2022 I don't take it. Allergic to wine, don't drink at all. Even the soda package is over priced for me. The water out of the faucet is just fine and you can pay individual price for anything you want. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mslaabs Posted May 7, 2022 #6 Share Posted May 7, 2022 I declined it on NCL because I don' t drink alcohol and I'm not a fan of Pepsi. I figure I'll be drinking water and ice/hot tea the entire cruise. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsTabbyKats Posted May 7, 2022 #7 Share Posted May 7, 2022 Never took it......never will. I don't drink,; DH rarely drinks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PATRLR Posted May 7, 2022 #8 Share Posted May 7, 2022 The soda package is only $66.78 per person for a week. If all you are going to drink is the soda, that would be much better deal than the tips on the drink package. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennjess Posted May 7, 2022 #9 Share Posted May 7, 2022 1 hour ago, ChC said: I drink little alcohol. I am the occasional drinker. And I prefer Coca Cola than Pepsi. I also refuse to pay overpriced water. But I do take the drink package only because from UK point of sale there is no gratuities to be paid. Otherwise I will be the first one to refuse it. Not worth it. So I totally understand all you guys above me here. Yes the drink package is worth it if booking from Europe since the gratuities are included. I also drink very little alcohol or soda but several juices a day and a glass of wine at dinner it is worthwhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare EllieinNJ Posted May 7, 2022 #10 Share Posted May 7, 2022 We do not get the drink package either. All those wasted calories. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ontheweb Posted May 7, 2022 #11 Share Posted May 7, 2022 Also, a no here. I do not drink that much and DW can't drink due to a possible side effect with prescribed medication. Won't drink soda that much if at all, but might get bottled water for going on shore, but not enough to account for the charged tips on the package. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SomewhereGirl Posted May 7, 2022 #12 Share Posted May 7, 2022 No drink package for me. Even the one time I had it years ago when it was actually more free (no gratuities), I had maybe one drink a day and that was probably because I figured I might as well use it. NCL beverages prices are ridiculous compared to a recent Princess cruise, so I refuse to purchase any beverages on NCL. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadow73 Posted May 7, 2022 #13 Share Posted May 7, 2022 We (myself, husband, 16 year old) are going on a 10 day this summer and we declined it. Husband doesn't drink at all and none of us drink soda. I will have a cocktail or perhaps some wine with dinner, but not every night. Since there seemed to no way to limit the package to just me, the added service charge was more money than I would spend just paying for my occasional drink a la carte. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcipjr Posted May 7, 2022 #14 Share Posted May 7, 2022 I decline it for long cruises. The gratuities add up, and honestly I’m not much of a drinker. For 7-day cruises, the cost tends to be low enough that I can justify it (“I can get a beer whenever I want”). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
che-vos Posted May 7, 2022 #15 Share Posted May 7, 2022 We decline it also. Neither of us drink alcohol. I wish they offered the soda package instead. I sometimes will purchase the soda package, but honestly I can just go without. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Langham1865 Posted May 7, 2022 #16 Share Posted May 7, 2022 One of my friends whom I sometimes travels with always declines. I usually decline on the port intensive itineraries, as I do not drink enough to warrant the service charge on those. Enjoy your cruise the way you want Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowardK Posted May 7, 2022 #17 Share Posted May 7, 2022 I had it on my last 2 NCL cruises, but not the previous 4. When I sail again I will decline as well- it wasn't worth it. I found myself trying to get my money's worth. what then happened was i got sick on both cruises due to lack of sleep and probably too much alcohol even though the drinks were spaced apart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 1025cruise Posted May 7, 2022 #18 Share Posted May 7, 2022 I'll get it if its included, but I won't go out of my way to purchase it. For me, having it is a convenience. It's nice to not have to worry about it, and the price of the gratuities doesn't bother me. If I had to buy the package separately, I'd skip it. I can be happy with just the included beverages. My wife, on the other hand, needs her soda. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ontheweb Posted May 7, 2022 #19 Share Posted May 7, 2022 1 hour ago, HowardK said: I had it on my last 2 NCL cruises, but not the previous 4. When I sail again I will decline as well- it wasn't worth it. I found myself trying to get my money's worth. what then happened was i got sick on both cruises due to lack of sleep and probably too much alcohol even though the drinks were spaced apart. That is a problem. I have a feeling that if I took it, I would drink to try to justify the cost and definitely get sick. 😢 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimsig Posted May 7, 2022 #20 Share Posted May 7, 2022 (edited) 13 hours ago, pokerguy90 said: ... She said you can get Pop, or other non alcoholic beverages. We said OK. Well then that could work. The we noticed that we would prepay a 20% service fee on that drink package $140 each. Our bar bills for the occasional mocktail or pop, juice never exceed $100 for both of us for the entire cruise. For me to pay almost $300 is money wasted, we could not possibly drink that much pop in 7 days. Boy was she confused at us over this one. It sounds like your TA gave you the wrong info for the service charge cost for the soda package. We just got off the 7 day Pearl Bos/Bermuda cruise and the service charge on the soda package was only $11.13 for my daughter. It was about $140 for the Alcoholic drink package for me. Edited May 7, 2022 by jimsig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PTC DAWG Posted May 7, 2022 #21 Share Posted May 7, 2022 14 hours ago, pokerguy90 said: My wife and I do not drink alcohol for religious reasons. So when we booked our cruise our TA said “your the first of her clients to ev br er decline that offer”. I told her we don’t drink alcohol because of religious reasons. She said you can get Pop, or other non alcoholic beverages. We said OK. Well then that could work. The we noticed that we would prepay a 20% service fee on that drink package $140 each. Our bar bills for the occasional mocktail or pop, juice never exceed $100 for both of us for the entire cruise. For me to pay almost $300 is money wasted, we could not possibly drink that much pop in 7 days. Boy was she confused at us over this one. Math is easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PTC DAWG Posted May 7, 2022 #22 Share Posted May 7, 2022 3 hours ago, HowardK said: I had it on my last 2 NCL cruises, but not the previous 4. When I sail again I will decline as well- it wasn't worth it. I found myself trying to get my money's worth. what then happened was i got sick on both cruises due to lack of sleep and probably too much alcohol even though the drinks were spaced apart. If two drinks a day is too much, no doubt you should decline the package. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PATRLR Posted May 7, 2022 #23 Share Posted May 7, 2022 1 hour ago, jimsig said: It sounds like your TA gave you the wrong info for the service charge cost for the soda package. We just got off the 7 day Pearl Bos/Bermuda cruise and the service charge on the soda package was only $11.13 for my daughter. It was about $140 for the Alcoholic drink package for me. But adults won't be given for "free" the soda package. So, they would have to buy it for 66.78 per adult - still way better than the $140 per person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yankprintster Posted May 7, 2022 #24 Share Posted May 7, 2022 I always decline it, and then buy the soda package due to the large gratitiues on the "free" alcohol package. I wish there was a way to downgrade it to the soda package versus declining it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare insidecabin Posted May 7, 2022 #25 Share Posted May 7, 2022 9 hours ago, jennjess said: Yes the drink package is worth it if booking from Europe since the gratuities are included. I also drink very little alcohol or soda but several juices a day and a glass of wine at dinner it is worthwhile. They increased the price last week. The dinner count got reduced in Jan It's about £20pppd now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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