Not getting open bar

[thefourhills]

We are sailing on Breakaway in a few weeks. One of us does not drink, so we didnt choose the free drink package. Wondering if that was a good or bad idea? 

How much is a cocktail, beer or glass of wine?  We saved only $310, but wondering if we will drink that much paying individually??

Anyone know of drink prices??

THanks

 

[cruiseny4life]

You can find some drink prices on menus on this forum or online. My guess is these prices may increase (as most everything else has).

 

As for general pricing, you'll be paying $7 - $9 for a beer, not sure about wine, and cocktails are start around $11 - $14/15. Others may have more updated prices on upcoming cruises.

[CaptainBazz]

We were on the Bliss in September...cocktails were $12-$14...wine $9-$13 and beer $7-$9. There were more expensive drinks but the prices I quoted were what we had and was covered by the drinks package.

[Two Wheels Only]

To some extent, even if you don't select the PBP promo, you're still paying for it. 

 

You might as well select it, pay the 20% charge on the package, and not worry about the cost of individual drinks that are $15 and under. If you decide to not select the PBP promo and buy drinks a la carte, each drink will have a 20% charge added to the menu price.

 

The non-drinker can still enjoy non-alcoholic drinks with or without the package but NCL charges a lot for non-alcoholic drinks if going a la carte.  

Edited January 23, 2023 by Two Wheels Only

[Liljo22]

If one person has to drink enough to cover the $310, they would need to average 4 drinks a day to cover it.  

[SpanishForker]

Also remember that Soda is included in the Drink Package, so if the non-drinker drinks soda that will help with the cost as well.

[scooter6139]

Soda can get expensive.  This old Beverage/Drink List I have show it as $3 per, but I don't recall what it is from last cruise as we never looked (always have FAS).

NCL+Drink+Menu.pdf

[skeeter195]

57 minutes ago, scooter6139 said:

Soda can get expensive.  This old Beverage/Drink List I have show it as $3 per, but I don't recall what it is from last cruise as we never looked (always have FAS).

NCL+Drink+Menu.pdf 858.71 kB · 4 downloads

True, but when ordering just a soda at a bar rarely does the bartender ask for your room key.  I am not one to cheat the system normally but $3+ for a 8oz soda with ice is insulting to put it nicely.  

[cmph]

2 hours ago, thefourhills said:

We are sailing on Breakaway in a few weeks. One of us does not drink, so we didnt choose the free drink package. Wondering if that was a good or bad idea? 

How much is a cocktail, beer or glass of wine?  We saved only $310, but wondering if we will drink that much paying individually??

Anyone know of drink prices??

THanks

 

FWIW, our PCC stated about $15 per drink when trying to talk me out of declining the drink package. He was not specific about the types. I did the math, and it was not in favor of the package. YMMV of course, but I'm the only one who drinks in my family and the others aren't big on the other paid options. Port-intensive Baltic (no sea days), some late days in port; no way will I be drinking more than 1 or 2 drinks a day on-board. My suggestion would be to consider not just your party's preferences, but your itinerary and how much you're likely to drink each day. 

[acct1975]

there are also a number of mocktails they can enjoy (virgin daquiris and the like) so your non-drinker can take advantage of the package that way

[Grumpella]

We don’t order the drink package, as I don’t drink alcohol or soda. My husband never spends more than $100 on a cruise for beer. He does most of his drinking on the islands. The beers were $7.20 for a budweiser with the 20 percent tip on the Epic last month.

 

I don’t think it is worth it, unless your husband likes the cocktails and not beer.

[BirdTravels]

3 hours ago, skeeter195 said:

True, but when ordering just a soda at a bar rarely does the bartender ask for your room key.  I am not one to cheat the system normally but $3+ for a 8oz soda with ice is insulting to put it nicely.  

They don't swipe if you have a beverage package. They do check that you have something. 

[scooter6139]

3 hours ago, skeeter195 said:

True, but when ordering just a soda at a bar rarely does the bartender ask for your room key.  I am not one to cheat the system normally but $3+ for a 8oz soda with ice is insulting to put it nicely.  

 

They've always asked for my card.  Perhaps they just don't trust me.

[cruiseny4life]

4 hours ago, skeeter195 said:

True, but when ordering just a soda at a bar rarely does the bartender ask for your room key.  I am not one to cheat the system normally but $3+ for a 8oz soda with ice is insulting to put it nicely.  

On previous cruises the Haven staff didn't ask for the card after the first drink or two. On my trip in Dec/Jan, they did...every single time. Maybe because of that poster who supposedly racked up Haven charges. Hmm....

 

Outside of the Haven, even for a club soda (most times), bartenders asked for my card and definitely if I were ordering a soda they would. How do you go about not having this happen?

[Sand and Seas]

I usually purchase the Soda package after boarding with my OBC.  They then issue me a new key card that says SODA.    Especially nice now that they have my favorite Diet Coke/Coke Zero to have it with meals.  I also walk up to any bar and request a soda.  I hold my card out so the bartender, but they have  always waved it back and never taken it to scan.   (I don't know if they read 'soda' on the card, but I hold it so they can see.)

 

We have drink cards in the Casino (booked through CAS) so we can easily get any drink we want or cartons of water when the casino is open.  Haven't needed more than that on our cruises.

Edited January 24, 2023 by Sand and Seas

[Monica887]

I never drink $300 worth of drinks so it's not worth it. I'll have a few drinks, but definitely not nearly 3 a day or whatever will make it worth it. 

[cruiseny4life]

13 hours ago, Monica887 said:

I never drink $300 worth of drinks so it's not worth it. I'll have a few drinks, but definitely not nearly 3 a day or whatever will make it worth it. 

No package for you then! 

 

On two cruises I had the package. One I didn't. We definitely saved some cash on me not getting the package, but I do enjoy the freestyle approach to ordering what I want, when I want, and not worrying about paying for it/adding it up, etc. If I don't have a package I drink about ten/fifteen alcoholic drinks on the cruise. If I do have the package I drink, probably an average of four to five per day.

 

I did find that a lot of my non-package expense was on club soda. I didn't think any bar would ever charge for club soda, but apparently NCL does. That was a surprise almost $4/per club soda hit to the wallet. Oh well. At least the base package includes club soda, so I don't go to the paupers house due to my yearning for some club soda. 

 

On my September non-drink package cruise, I found out about the kiwi-enhanced water in the buffet. That stuff is good and definitely provided a little variety since I wasn't purchasing nearly as much booze.

[MagnoliaBlossom]

14 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

On previous cruises the Haven staff didn't ask for the card after the first drink or two. On my trip in Dec/Jan, they did...every single time. Maybe because of that poster who supposedly racked up Haven charges. Hmm....

 

Outside of the Haven, even for a club soda (most times), bartenders asked for my card and definitely if I were ordering a soda they would. How do you go about not having this happen?

If you’ve been to a bar once or twice, the bartenders will remember you, especially if you engaged them with some friendly conversation.

[pookel]

I'm currently on the last full day of a 9-day cruise with three ports and I've been tracking every drink I order (including non-alcoholic) to see how worth it the drink package is. On average I've had maybe 1 soda and 3-4 alcoholic drinks a day, which is honestly a lot less than I expected. I don't think I'd miss it too much if I didn't have the drink package - I'd just have a few drinks I really wanted instead of ordering one every time I get bored and I'm sitting in the Atrium.

 

Re: cards, the waiters are way less strict than expected. We're with three friends who don't have drink packages, and I haven't tried to sneak them drinks at all, but if we're all having dinner together and our friends get sodas, the server will take a single card from me or my husband and flat out refuse cards from our friends trying to pay for their own sodas. They seem to prefer taking one card for all the drinks - they never let me or my husband each offer our own card either. I'm guessing it's just easier to ring everything up at once?

 

And yeah they definitely give us soda without checking the card, although not every time. 

[farmecologist]

On 1/24/2023 at 10:44 AM, pookel said:

I'm currently on the last full day of a 9-day cruise with three ports and I've been tracking every drink I order (including non-alcoholic) to see how worth it the drink package is. On average I've had maybe 1 soda and 3-4 alcoholic drinks a day, which is honestly a lot less than I expected. I don't think I'd miss it too much if I didn't have the drink package - I'd just have a few drinks I really wanted instead of ordering one every time I get bored and I'm sitting in the Atrium.

 

Re: cards, the waiters are way less strict than expected. We're with three friends who don't have drink packages, and I haven't tried to sneak them drinks at all, but if we're all having dinner together and our friends get sodas, the server will take a single card from me or my husband and flat out refuse cards from our friends trying to pay for their own sodas. They seem to prefer taking one card for all the drinks - they never let me or my husband each offer our own card either. I'm guessing it's just easier to ring everything up at once?

 

And yeah they definitely give us soda without checking the card, although not every time. 

 

Ok, dumb newbie question here....but I'm a little confused about *non-alcoholic* drinks with the "free at sea" package. 

 

From my reading it appears that "fountain" soda and club soda is included...but bottled/canned water/soda/etc... isn't.  In other words...anything that comes out of the bar fountain 'guns' is included in the basic FAS....correct?

 

For example, if I wanted a diet coke, I could ask for one at the bar and it would be included...correct?  But a can of diet coke would *not* be included?

 

 

Edited January 28, 2023 by farmecologist
add question

[BirdTravels]

4 minutes ago, farmecologist said:

 

Ok, dumb newbie question here....but I'm a little confused about *non-alcoholic* drinks with the "free at sea" package. 

 

From my reading it appears that "fountain" soda and club soda is included...but bottled/canned water/soda/etc... isn't.  In other words...anything that comes out of the bar fountain 'guns' is included in the basic FAS....correct?

 

Correct. You can order mocktails. All the virgin frozen drinks you want. 

 

• Does not include Wine and Spirit Experiences, tastings or flights, Starbucks, Ice Bars, room service, package sales, bottled water, ship specific promotions, Connoisseur Collection beverages, bottled wine, mini bar purchases, fresh squeezed juices, wine dispenser, energy drinks or vending machines.
   

• A 20% discount will be given on non-select bottles of wine (champagne and sparkling included), Wine and Spirit Experiences, Connoisseur Collection beverages, tastings and flights purchased on board.

 

 

Edited January 28, 2023 by BirdTravels

[farmecologist]

4 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Correct. You can order mocktails. All the virgin frozen drinks you want. 

 

• Does not include Wine and Spirit Experiences, tastings or flights, Starbucks, Ice Bars, room service, package sales, bottled water, ship specific promotions, Connoisseur Collection beverages, bottled wine, mini bar purchases, fresh squeezed juices, wine dispenser, energy drinks or vending machines.
   

• A 20% discount will be given on non-select bottles of wine (champagne and sparkling included), Wine and Spirit Experiences, Connoisseur Collection beverages, tastings and flights purchased on board.

 

 

 

Ok..thanks! 

 

I forgot one more question. While I know Starbucks isn't included in the basic FAS, I thought I saw that they serve "starbucks" coffee in the restaurants and possibly in the MDR?  If so, is that included with basic FAS? 

 

In the past on other cruise lines we also sometimes like to order a cappuccino, etc... after dinner.  Is that included with basic FAS?  On other cruise lines it always has been included ( if I'm remembering correctly, that is...it has been a while ).

 

 

[cruisebeachgirl703]

On 1/23/2023 at 6:18 PM, cruiseny4life said:

On previous cruises the Haven staff didn't ask for the card after the first drink or two. On my trip in Dec/Jan, they did...every single time. Maybe because of that poster who supposedly racked up Haven charges. Hmm....

 

Outside of the Haven, even for a club soda (most times), bartenders asked for my card and definitely if I were ordering a soda they would. How do you go about not having this happen?

Was on the Joy Haven July 2022. Haven bartender asked for card every time including just bottled water. 

 

Ordered water at the casino with P+. Not far enough out of port, got charged the virginia tax, which is fine, but he had other person's drinks on our tab, pina colada, etc. (had the wrong items taxed taken off)

[BirdTravels]

47 minutes ago, farmecologist said:

 

Ok..thanks! 

 

I forgot one more question. While I know Starbucks isn't included in the basic FAS, I thought I saw that they serve "starbucks" coffee in the restaurants and possibly in the MDR?  If so, is that included with basic FAS? 

 

In the past on other cruise lines we also sometimes like to order a cappuccino, etc... after dinner.  Is that included with basic FAS?  On other cruise lines it always has been included ( if I'm remembering correctly, that is...it has been a while ).

 

 

No. It is not included in the MDR or any specialty dining. 

[phillygwm]

On 1/24/2023 at 9:06 AM, MagnoliaBlossom said:

If you’ve been to a bar once or twice, the bartenders will remember you, especially if you engaged them with some friendly conversation.

Right.  Bartenders will always ring your card for alcohol (or bottled water) because they can tie that back to inventory.  There are x shots in a bottle, we sold y shots, so we should have gone through z bottles.  For fountain drinks they don't watch it as closely.  In my experience, if I'm at a bar where I'm not known, they take my card for everything.  If they know me, they'll generally just swipe the alcohol (or they'll swipe the fountain drink just once.)