Are we the only ones who decline the free drink pkg on NCL?

[couplelovestravel]

On 5/12/2022 at 3:08 AM, styles27 said:

We sailed NCL for the first time last month and we declined the “free” (not free at all) package because it would have cost us $420 to add it. 🤔 Wait…I thought it was free? 

No way do we drink enough to justify that. Our bar tab for the week including some sodas for my grandson and a few Starbucks was about $120 so we definitely came out ahead on that one. 

 

Cruised on MSC November 2021 and accepted the all in Easyplus drinks and WiFi which cost us $160 total for the two of us for the week. Now that’s a big difference from NCL’s “free” drink package. 
 

I think NCL needs to drop the “pick up to 5 free at sea” lingo from their marketing because they’re far from free. 

 

I talked with Rep this morning.  Just getting quotes for sailaway.  She gave me quotes and I advised her she is charging $200 more per person to get the "free" at sea, plus then charge $20 per person per day on top of the extra $200 per person for the cruise, so my 10 day cruise would be an additional $400 per person, or $800 for a couple for a 10 day cruise.  I don't drink that much.  

[styles27]

43 minutes ago, couplelovestravel said:

I talked with Rep this morning.  Just getting quotes for sailaway.  She gave me quotes and I advised her she is charging $200 more per person to get the "free" at sea, plus then charge $20 per person per day on top of the extra $200 per person for the cruise, so my 10 day cruise would be an additional $400 per person, or $800 for a couple for a 10 day cruise.  I don't drink that much.  

That’s really crazy! 
 

When we had the free drinks on MSC last November by day 3 I couldn’t drink like I did the first 2 days. When we cruise I like a frozen drink in the afternoon and either a glass of wine or a martini with dinner but that’s about it. I guess for people who drink multiple drinks every day it can come out cheaper but there is no way we spend almost $100 a day on booze. 
 

I’d rather eat my calories instead of drink them lol

[KeithJenner]

1 hour ago, couplelovestravel said:

you can still get the excursion package without getting the drink package.  There is no extra charge.

Not in the UK.

 

We pay a fixed fee for free at sea. If you pay the fee you get them all, if you don't then you get none. Those are your two options.

Edited May 24, 2022 by KeithJenner

[Oceansaway17]

nope no alcohol for mew either.  Just food. If I want a glass of wine, no need to purchase a package.

I feel a lot of folks drink to get their money's worth.

[cruiseny4life]

18 hours ago, Oceansaway17 said:

I feel a lot of folks drink to get their money's worth.

I'm not a big drinker, but definitely tried to be two days on the cruise - totally didn't get my money's worth. After 5 drinks I went to take an afternoon nap ...my 30's have really crushed good ole drinking days! 

 

Having said that, I do enjoy different drinks - never order the same thing - so I'll probably continue getting the drink package just to try out the different drinks. I'd rather this than deal with payment at the end of the cruise.

[dbrown84]

I drink like a fish, and I still decline the drink package.  I just drink the free drinks while in the casino which doesn't attach a service fee to the drinks.  I simply tip as I go.  Plus, I can get water, soda, specialty coffees, and energy drinks using the casino drink card, all which are not included in the drink package unless you upgrade

[graphicguy]

On 5/11/2022 at 10:46 PM, complawyer said:

if you dont do a lot of drinking, it's in your best interests to pass on  the drink passage 

Kind of have to add up what you may (or may not) drink on board...including softdrinks.

 

Even if I have a couple of glasses of wine with dinner, maybe a beer during the day if it's hot outside, the drink package is worth it to me given I'm only paying for the "tips/service charges" on the package.

 

If I decide to have a "foo-foo drink" at some point at the pool, it's icing on the cake.

 

If you don't drink alcohol, probably not worth it.  I'd say the vast majority do take the drink package.  But, if it isn't worth the extra cost for tips/service charges, then it's a simple decision.

 

TA or PCC who doesn't know if anyone who doesn't take the package?  They're either brand new on the job, or are trying to boost their gross booking dollar amount for some reason.  While in the minority, I'd imagine there would be a few folks that don't consider the drink package a "good deal".

[Cruising Lynne]

I declined the drink package on my recent Boston to Bermuda cruise and totally regretted it. We had the drink card from Casinos at Sea and our free bottle of wine with our Platinum dinner, but I missed feeling free to try different drinks and not worry about paying for a drink I did not like. We did get some drinks of the day and a couple of beers outside of the casino but I missed the freedom of the package. While in Bermuda for the overnights, the casino did not open until 9 pm. I liked having both the casino drink card and the drink package on my previous trip. We were able to get bottles of water and a can of soda from the casino bar that we brought back to our room for the next day. I really enjoy having a Diet Pepsi on the balcony in the late afternoon while waiting for my turn in the shower. 

 

Even though we spent less on drinks than the cost of the gratuities of a drink package, I wished we had gotten it. It was not as fun thinking about each drink. It took away the spontaneity.

[The Collie]

I've never purchased a drink package unless it was a bundled offer and is fairly low cost. The only times I had a drink was maybe like 1 glass of wine at dinner and 1 or 2 drinks during a  comedy show. Was never a big drinker regardless of what it is.I probably drink more Diet Coke than alcohol. I just throw in my luggage a bunch of the mini cans. The specialty coffees do look good to me but I'm too cheap to buy it. 

[mpcaruth]

I just booked a cruise and declined the drink package. My husband and I do drink, but not during the day. We may have a couple of drinks at the comedy club a few nights. Never more than 10 drinks in the week.  We had the drink package once, and two of the days (busy port days) we did not even get a single drink.  Drinking relaxes me, and I am already on a relaxing cruise, so drinking just makes me sleepy.  I don't want to sleep my cruise away just to get my money's worth.

[Dcoy]

We don’t drink alcohol either but I love soda and my wife drinks lots of water. We declined the alcohol package and purchased soda and water packages. Saved a couple of hundred dollars on our upcoming 10 day cruise. 

[mistyPA]

I really wish it included specialty coffee because then with a drink or 2 a day it would be worth it, but unfortunately no coffee.

[Joesantos]

On 5/6/2022 at 11:07 PM, 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.   

Sail away prices are much cheaper than free drinks packages room! NCL gem we got a great price on 14 nights Carib cruise! My wife’s not much of a drinker and I survived without all the booze! It’s a big change in amount of specialty dinners in packages used to be a lot more on longer cruise. On bliss we had drinks package and enjoyed the mojitos bar for dancing nightly! If you’re not a big drinker on land then book the sail away cheaper room and cruise more! We’re now in loyalty program to the point of 2 specialty dinners and free laundry 🧺 a good goal to achieve 

[beanie315]

We just booked a 7 day to Bermuda in November thru casinos at sea and we declined the drink package . I don't drink and my wife doesn't drink a lot so the $277 savings covers the " administrative " fee charged by casino at sea . We do get the free drinks in the casino .

[spanishguy1970]

On 5/6/2022 at 11:07 PM, 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.   

 

You are not alone.

We always decline the drinking package and dining package. When we want a drink we order it, not big drinkers here, so ordering a drink or two works for us, specially if we have on board credit which we usually do. We don't take the dining package either. We are Diamond and the restaurant vouchers we get are more than enough and eating at the main dining room is good for us. We spend our money on excursions if anything or the spa pass.

[TBear88]

We don't get the drink package, as we are only occasional drinkers.  With the 20% gratuity we end up paying $140 each for something we don't use. If we want a cocktail or glass of wine we typically use our on board cruise credit or to buy one bottle of wine and split it over 2 nights.  They put you room number on it and keep it for you.  Also, having a beverage in port  is nicer, cheaper and more memorable.

[Markanddonna]

Especially for port intensive cruises, the drink package is expensive and not a good idea for us.

[Oregonhiker]

I object to calling it free in all their advertising. When pricing out a three week cruise our 'free' drinks will cost $800. Other lines like Celebrity, etc don't do that.

[ontheweb]

1 hour ago, Oregonhiker said:

I object to calling it free in all their advertising. When pricing out a three week cruise our 'free' drinks will cost $800. Other lines like Celebrity, etc don't do that.

And they also advertise free excursions. They are only free if they are $50 or less.

[Oregonhiker]

Right and only 'free' for one person. Don't get me started on the 'free' specialty dining.

[ontheweb]

1 hour ago, Oregonhiker said:

Right and only 'free' for one person. Don't get me started on the 'free' specialty dining.

re: the "free" shore excursions. Travelling with DW, I know I am the primary name and get the "free" excursion. But what if I stay on the ship and she does an excursion, can she then use it? Also can I get a "free" excursion at the same port both in the morning and the afternoon?

[julig22]

4 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

re: the "free" shore excursions. Travelling with DW, I know I am the primary name and get the "free" excursion. But what if I stay on the ship and she does an excursion, can she then use it? Also can I get a "free" excursion at the same port both in the morning and the afternoon?

You can get as many "free" excursions as time will allow. Only the primary on the reservation gets the discount - although it's been pointed out that the tickets are rarely checked for the name.  Could be an issue for some excursions that require liability waivers if they take a roll-call however.

[complawyer]

yes, she can you the excursion, you get a voucher and show it to the person on the tour bus. ncl doesnt care. and if there are 2 excursions am and pm. if they are different you can get the $50 discount on both. my wife gets the discount, but i usually do the shore excursion bookings, and the tickets are always in my name

 

 

 

 

[ontheweb]

2 hours ago, complawyer said:

yes, she can you the excursion, you get a voucher and show it to the person on the tour bus. ncl doesnt care. and if there are 2 excursions am and pm. if they are different you can get the $50 discount on both. my wife gets the discount, but i usually do the shore excursion bookings, and the tickets are always in my name

 

 

 

 

Thank you, that's what I thought as we have never on any cruise excursion on several different lines had our names checked off of the excursion ticket.

[FlGoodShips]

On 5/6/2022 at 11:07 PM, 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.   

We have been cruising with NCL for over 10 years. We never get the beverage package.