My wife and I went on a 4 day RC cruise last year and we got the drink package(about $500). We found out she was pregnant right before the cruise. I knew I had to drink for 2 to get my money’s worth. I kept a list of all my drinks, on the last day I added it up...$680! I WON!😂😂😂
Ben M perfectly fine, I never drink. It probably helped that I had plenty of food to soak up the alcohol. I would say I was only properly drunk for about 4-5 hours the whole cruise, the rest of the time I was just enjoying the drinks or had a light buzz.
While on cruise with Royal Carribean, I bought the non-alcoholic drinks package and it was so worth it. Unlimited smoothies, coffee, pina coladas as well as several other non-alcoholic drinks. I wasn't planning on getting drunk on my cruise so I stayed away from the alcoholic drink package. I paid for alcohol only when I really wanted to drink alcohol.
You’re traveling the world in your floating hotel. Get the drink packages and do not think about how many drinks you have to pay for each day, peace of mind adds to the great tile.
Last year we booked a balcony on NCL that included drink packages for the two of us, some free internet, $50 off 2 separate excursions and 2 nights specialty dining for a 5 night cruise. It came to less than the amount we would have paid if we purchased everything separately. Well worth it for us.
The Free at Sea offer! Just know that gratuity isn't included on those packages in the U.S. So the package is free, but you have to pay a 20% gratuity on it's value. Comes out to about $20 per person, per day.
@@Cruzelycom We knew. It still was worth it for us. It wasn’t just the drink package. We thought the specialty dining and $100 towards excursions just added to the benefit.
Nice. We have been numerous times on the Norwegian Sky. That ship includes ALL drinks. We drink Captain Morgan and that was included. Hope it remains the same when cruising resumes.
I cruised with NCL where the drink package, internet, and specialty dining were all thrown in for "free". The drink package was all you can drink. However, I tried my best to make it work out in my favor, but just could not. For me, it was just more than I "chose" to drink. As for the other two perks, neither were worth much. Each day, internet service was cut off because I had "used up" my minutes. I went to the service desk, and even their records showed that I had used less than 20 minutes. Service was restored, but the same thing happened each day. By the 3rd day, I just gave up - it wasn't worth the hassle. ' Specialty dining is normally a good thing. However, with 4000 passengers on board, all restaurants were booked up by 5pm on the day of embarkation. I mean, booked up totally for the entire week. You have to act fast or you lose out. In this case, I lost out. I'm not upset about it - I just learned a lesson.
Try being Australian. We actually need these packages and carnival doesn’t offer it to New Zealanders and Australians because of how much we drink. I didn’t think I needed one on a p & o cruise and spent $300 on my first day. Spent $750 on a package whilst on board and drank 3x what it was worth over the next 9 days.
I'll save you some time, if you drink like a fish, sure, the drink package can be worth it. If you don't, spend that HUGE chunk of change elsewhere. Also remember, drink fatigue is REAL.
That’s so true. I lost half a day sleeping trying to build up the energy to have some more fun on a cruise one time. It was also another reason we don’t buy the packages anymore. We want to enjoy every moment. If you have to start drinking the moment you get up you spend your time trying to reach your drink max and not just enjoying yourself. It’s easier to moderate yourself when you’re not thinking about making the $$ spent on your 🍹 package worth it. Just sayin.
I find that the drink package works very well for my husband and I. I drink about 8 to 10 bottles of water alone a day. Plus the mixed drinks, wine, or beer. My husband is the kind of guy that loves to sit by the pool and relax with a drink in hand. Having the drink package allows us not to think about how much another drink will cost us at the end of the cruise. It is very comforting to know what you paid if all you have to pay with no surprises. We all always prepay our gratuities and all of our excursions. So all we have to think about is if we want to shop on ship or port.
My parents went on a cruise few years ago, they were in Elevator with a Server, and my dad was getting shots while in the Elevator lol.. Staff member was like.. well this is a first
We thought the drink package was well worth it. The package included specialty coffee drinks that were as much as cocktails. Also we purchased it online and had it all paid for prior to the cruise.
We Pay for our drinks until about halfway through. RCL usually (at least they used to on all the trips I've been on) offers a 10 for $100 card about 3-4 days into the cruise. It's a paper card but it's a great deal. We fill it up and buy another card. The cost at the end we drink as much as we want and still come out ahead of the unlimited drink plan.
Only ever cruised on carnival! We always buy package online. It’s about $52 a day I believe. When I did the math I had to drink 9 Guinness a day to pay for itself. What we learnt last cruise was the package covers all sodas specially coffee and waters. So if you are at dinner and want a water you can get the fancy stuff like Perrier or Evian instead of tap water. If you don’t drink coffee get a smoothie once a day. You can drink as many fancy coffees and water as you desire. Our drink package was limited to 15 drinks a day (alcoholic drinks). If it wasn’t for a friendly staff member we would never have known about the coffees, sodas and waters included.
I ran into an issue one day with package. They limited the amount of drinks for 15. I know it is a lot but when you spread it out over 15 hours it really isn't. From a bloody mary in the morning to a beers by the pool, a break and then hit the casino before dinner and have a few drinks and dinner a few drinks and then show or the casino.
A lot of people use drink pouches and basically pour alcohol in there squeeze all the air out and wrap the pouches in your clothes in the suit case you give them to take to your room. x ray doesn’t pick it up unless there’s air bubbles. Why go through all the effort? The cocktails/drinks range from $12-16 with pretty low alcohol amount. Or get one unlimited package per one person and just have that one person get the unlimited drinks & give it to friends.
the really bad thing is the cost of the wine or beer you are being charge $12 for you may be drinking wine that they bought for $3 0r $4 a bottle. if you look at go buy a bottle at any of the shops on the trip vs what you are paying on the ship. why not just bring a bottle on the ship from the ports and just drink it in your cabin or just drink when off the ship it has to be cheaper
It literally says in the video, if one adult in the cabin buys a drink package, all adults in the cabin have to buy one. Specifically so you don’t do this!🙄
I mean, this should be no surprise. It's pretty much like any "unlimited" service - they have done the analysis to ensure that the average person is paying just as much, but probably more, than without the package. Obviously a minority of people can come out ahead, but what ever numbers the companies have come up with are designed to make them money, not lose it. Also, another thing to consider is that you will likely consume more with an unlimited package than without. It's the same with subscription services and such. It encourages consumption beyond your usual level in order to "get your money's worth". For example, if you normally drink $100 worth of drinks, but the package costs $150, you might drink $200 worth of drinks to get good "value". Therefore they basically sold you an extra $50 of product (minus their wholesale costs), but you still feel that you came out ahead instead of behind. I think this is an important concept to understand and consider as well.
Wife and I went on a 5 day trip to Bermuda on RC. Based on our drinking habits, getting us both the package did not make financial sense. However, once we were on board, a bartender offered to sell just ME the package. I happily agreed and then shared the package with my wife. We definitely got our money's worth. One thing the video does not cover is that Starbucks and specialty coffees are sometimes covered by the drink package (as mine was on the RC cruise) and that should also be factored in if you are a coffee snob (like we are).
We booked the drink package on our last cruise. We came out a little ahead. While we had a budget for drinks in the past, we would feel guilty getting an extra drink here and there...when we had the drink package, we had no guilt or worrying about what cost would show on our tv and we weren’t saving up for the last day to see if we would go over budget....besides, we got great usage of the water, Gatorade, and specialty coffees. Won’t go back to per drink as long as it is in our budget.
Every cruise I've ever done I always got the drinks package.. Never regretted it .. always got value for the amount I drank.. Especially when it includes the water for day trips and specialist coffees. Since I was up 18 hrs a day enjoying the cruise, definitely got the time to enjoy it all
The biggest thing to add would be to think about the bookmark days. You are charged for the day you got on at 2:30 and the day you disembarked at noon.
Five day cruise? I'd be completely sauced all day, every day. They'd lose money on me. Hell, I'd get drinks just to try them. They can't require you to finish every one.
That's basically what I did on my cruise. The drinks package was included with the cost of my room as a promo, and I was basically drunk for an entire week. Plus yeah, I tried everything.
That must have been an really high end cruise because even the Disney Cruises which are more expensive and all inclusive still have alcohol packages separately.
@@davidczeizinger194 Princess Cruise offers drink packages with Suites or mini suites, which is about $7K on average for week long cruise. So really paying more than average on a drink package if you do the math.
NCL offers it free if you book a balcony or up now there offering choose 2 perks. NCL is the way to go if you like the booze I been on 7 NCL cruises and never have paid for the package. And I love the freestyle aspect
@@mikelancaster7389 You probably paid just as much, if not more for that drink package. They just made "included" it. You could pay $1500 a day for a room with drink package included or $700 for room plus $80 a day for drink package for inner cabin. So you're paying quite a bit more for that drink package and better room.
I did a cruise probably 6 years ago. Bought a drink package and later found out there was a menu of drinks where if you took the receipt to the cage at the casino they gave you a $5 match play chip. Made the package more worth it even though drinking and gambling isn't a good idea
We are big time drinkers and my now Fiancé did a comparison on one of our cruises. It turned out not to be worth it. Also, Carnival includes taxes to the amount of your drink when you are at port. I think the biggest reason though are days you are off the ship all day for excursions and whatnot. You can’t take your drink package with you. 😂 I think we will only ever do it again if they allow one adult in the room to buy the package. Then it would be worth the $$$. And BTW EVERY person in your room 21 and older has to buy the package if one person wants to buy it. We ❤️ to cruise but won’t be buying another drink package any time soon.
It depends on the cruise. We went on a 12 night Mediterranean last May, it didn't have many sea days, and most port days were 12 hrs. We did so much exploring in port that we just didn't have it in us to drink enough on the ship to make it worthwhile. However, our 5 night Bermuda cruise is totally worth getting the drink package. Same goes for unlimited dining package. Depends on the itinerary.
Package is also on the first and last day of the cruise. Not hitting your "limit" means more for the other days to break even. Then, as is said, what happens if you go ashore? You have to pay for that separate. If we are staying on board, I like to get my beers by the bucket. save a buck or two and dont have to be making beer runs all the time.
Yeah I think forcing the other person that’s in the same room to purchase a very expensive drink package is wrong. A drink package for 2 could almost be the price of the cruise fare
If they didn't do that, people would order multiple drinks and pass them around to the others in their group for free. So 1 person's drink package would end up costing the cruise line for 2-3 people instead, which means they'd lose money almost every single time.
@@jceess 100% disagree the cruise line sell drink packages for about $400 pp at least on a 7 day sailing the average fifth of liquor is $50 a fifth cruise line get it for much cheaper cuz they buy in bulk average person drink maybe 2 fifth on a 7 day sailing meaning the mark up of 300% the cruise charges you you cuz hand drinks out drinks to 2 more guest every day and they cruise like will still be profitable. Now double that by having another person in your room you can hand out drinks to 4 ppl every day for 7 days and the cruise line still makes money 🤷🏾♂️
@@shawnferrell1983 Well apparently it was a big enough problem that they decided to go ahead charge for every adult in the room. It seems to be a standard practice in the industry so I would imagine their accountants have a better idea of how it plays out in reality than the average person like you and me.
@@jceess it wasn’t a problem at all the cruises found a way to make more money off their customers by forcing all adults to drink even if they don’t want to. For a customer to break even he/she would have to drink a average of 5-6 drink every day now you may can do that but what if they person in the same cabin only drinks 1-2 a day that leaves the other person to drink now 7-8 drinks a day which is insane causing ppl to drink when more than they normally would.
went on a 4 day cruise with my friends and got the package, definitely worth it for us even on port days it was easy to get those 5 drinks in plus that covered the coffee bar in the morning
I went on a cruise with Carnival back in Feb with the drink package. 2/3 people in the cabin can drink like a fish. I had the equivalent of 17 drinks the first day (We didn't get on the boat until 2pm). The other days I started early and kept it rolling. I wasn't plastered all day but I kept a good even tipsy on. Plus ordering double cognacs will get your money's worth quickly.
Actually, my wife does not drink alcohol and we got the drink package with royal Caribbean. They said my wife doesn't have to get the premium package but has to get soda package. So it wasn't the price of the all inclusive price for both.
Some explanations require further thoughts. Some drink packages exclude the gratuities and some don't. For example on NCL, a free drink package does not include gratuities while on Princess it does. Some drink packages are unlimited while others are limited to 15 a day. Also drink packages must be purchased by all guests in a cabin age 21 or over. However, several cruise lines will relent and only make you pay for a pop package or non-alcohol package if you don't drink alcohol. The reason they do all this is obvious, to prevent sharing. Also keep in mind most drink packages include specialty coffees, smoothies, pop etc. which means you don't have to be drinking alcohol all day. Also, port intensive cruises mean you are not on the ship all day so you are not available to drink them. Some cruise line private islands do not include drinks when you are on them.
My wife and I always get the basic package and we opt for it at booking cheapest way. It gives us a peace of mind we can drink as we want anywhere including in the restaurants. It’s no stress we like that.
Hubby and I enjoy the drink package on Carnival. I love wine its included in the drink package so I can drink wine and water all day, I also like a few cocktail here end there but for us its worth every penny.
i do not see why you should be told what gratuities you should give the staff. there job is to make you happy no one should work that it looks more like your wages is the tip we get off people every day since there staff are from low paying countries.
I love Norwegian's "Free at Sea" promotion where you can select a premium drinks package (and sometimes Wi-Fi as well) as part of your cruise fare. To me this is the best bang for your buck, and a great marketing strategy
Another notable cost to pay attention to is when you are in still in port of the start of the cruise to a certain amount of miles out you pay taxes on everything you purchase and that also applies to when you reach that threshold on the way back.
best for 7 day cruise. includes water and coffee! at around $50-60 a day. So if you get 5 drinks (water or other) its worth it. i've had over 20 drinks a day... so its worth it.
I definitely worked in oir favor on carnival We had tropical drinks daily and nightly wine w/ dinner and that included conundrum , which is a good white & Red wine. So it was worth it to our group
I've done the drink package and if you can drink everyday more than 6 drinks you come on top adding other non-alcoholic drinks throughout the day, the problem is on port day you gonna wanna have a drink or 2 when visiting places and coming back to the ship no too late is key. Carnival drink package is $850 per 2 adult. Sometimes I don't buy it but I budget my drinks to $700 max that's good still saves me $150 but unless you are drinking more than 8 drinks per day this stragety won't work for you . ,.....Cheers (get it ?)
I had a deluxe drink package (soda/coffe/water/aclohol) on RCCL.. 7 night Cruise .. it was totally worth it . Got my moneys worth and so did my traveling companion. Nice not to worry about what the bar tab will be at the end of the cruise . I will get a package on my next trip too .. Its a no brainer :)
Hello! Just a note on a comment we believe we heard twice. Not all cruise lines require both persons I. The cabin to buy the drink package if one does. Celebrity is our cruise line of choice and that’s one of the reasons why. Excellent info overall though.
Im currently looking at an NCL 9-Day Alaskan Cruise in Sept. 2021. They are running a special where their Drink Package is included, as well as prepaid gratuities being taken care of.....As someone who travels solo and is looking into cruising for the first time.....And someone who loves a good drink no matter what time of day, I can justify paying $2000 for a 9-Day cruise in the cheapest inside cabin if I know that I don't have to worry about bar tabs and tips.....Knowing that would be close to $900-1000 by itself.
I like the drink packages so I know going in what my cruise cost will be. No big sticker shock on that last night of the cruise. Also, if I get a poorly made drink (it happens) I can dump it and try a different bartender and just get another.
Is it just me or do cruises just seem like huge cash grabs from the moment you book? I really want to change it up next year and go on a cruise but the sly extortion tactics used by cruise lines really makes me just want to book a package resort deal where none of this stuff happens.
I never been on a cruise before but want too in the future. My Bf doesn’t drink alcohol but loves drinking water and juice. Will they accept the alcoholic drink package for me and the non alcoholic package for him ?? Or do they only allow 2 packages the SAME have to be done. 💚
I am planning a cruise for 2021 and by the estimates from the price list for Carnival's drink package, that would mean roughly $470 for a 7-day cruise. I don't drink that often, so this seems like it would not be worth it. While my husband doesn't drink at all, the idea that we paid an extra $470 for him to have soda on a cruise seems like it really isn't worth it.
Do not buy the drink package .....by the sound of it you wud not get the value out of it...if you only have a few drinks a day it not worth it...you nearly have to be an alco to get the value....and that wud ruin your cruise.....excursions are ear,ly in morning and no point been hungover for a coach ride...but it’s up to each individual ......enjoy your cruise...I love cruises.
@@johnmcgarry7149 that's exactly what I was thinking. I feel like you have to really be into heavy drinking to really enjoy the package. I also feel since I am only a one or two drink maximum person I would be absolutely losing money on this. I'm glad I got the information from him though, because I was really thinking about purchasing it. 😊 Thanks to you for the advice as well.
Carnival has the option of buying a bottle delivered to your room for the cruise in the funshop. It has to be purchased before you go. Maybe get a bottle or two. I know they also allow you to bring a bottle of wine per person as well. The last time I checked you can bring a 12 pack of pop/ soda on the ship as well per person in your cabin that you can use as mixers. Also, bring a double insulated cup or water bottle to keep it cold. They also have drink specials during the day if you want to buy cocktails. Click In-Room Gifts & Shopping on their website to see the options.
I am not sure if you both would have to purchase the bottomless bubbles but that can always be an option if you decide to pre-purchase a bottle for the room so you aren't limited to basically the same mixer the whole time.
It's somewhere around 5-6 drinks per person per day to break even. If you drink around or over that get it if not don't. And that is just assuming the booze that isn't counting any of the non alcoholic you can get with drink package like fancy coffee, energy drinks, cokes, bottled waters etc. So that is why I say even if you are close on drinking enough booze go ahead and get it.
I like ice tea, ice water and coffee. I have a brain swelling issue so get really bad headaches that would ruin my trip with alcohol. I also could have a stroke if I mix alcohol with my medications. My husband is a huge alcohol drinker but is allergic to coffee. If we get doctor notes could I get myself the soda, water and coffee packages and my husband get the alcohol package?
Last thing I want to worry about on vacation is if I’m over spending on drinks and food I would get the package just for the peace of mind even if I don’t come out ahead it would just make it more enjoyable for me
You don't need to drink everyday to get your monies worth on the drink package. It is very easy to get your monies worth on Royal Caribbeans drink package when it goes 30% off. A couple big drinking days and you will hit it.
I also found that when I don't have the package, I generally choose a cheap drink. When I have the package, I order the fancy drink. Which one is the more enjoyable vacation?
hello watched this this morning from Thailand. I'd like to share an idea i was introduced to. 1. 1.. Find the cost of drink package, 2.. Do not buy drink package. 3.. Place the cost of drink package aside either in cash, or credit card. 4.. Go on your cruise, enjoy buy drinks have fun. 5.. Near end of cruise as second to last evening, Go late in evening /early morning to purse's desk less guest during this time. Check your drinking cost. Find out how much you have saved or overspent. Pay cost of drinking so far 6.. Thank the Purser walk away from desk with a big smile, now back to the fun or cabin. 7.. During next closing hours of cruise buy drinks, add new drink cost to on board spending account. Hopefully you have saved over the cost of package cost. From the start you have saved the 18% upfront gratuity that comes with the package...Happy travels
Scenarios can matter a lot. On a cruise in Greece (with a pretty cheap drink plan) we came out ahead by day 3 of 7. American run companies cost more. I was debating a package on my second cruise when I learned about the 'everyone in the stateroom pays' rule. I was with a non-drinker so, no, I'm not paying double. Then another cruise with a non-drinker so no package again. Fortunately, I don't feel a NEED to drink to have a good time. I might have gotten the package both of those times, but without it, I didn't drink nearly as much, well below the package cost, and the cruise line made a lot less money off me because of it. You're on their boat, it's their call.
I don't drink alcohol. I took Princess Alaska cruise in 2011. I don't know if price has changed over the decade. I paid 6x for non alcohol. Actuall almist every non alcohol. Some paid coffee are not included. The moment I entered the cruise, everone was drinking orage juice crazy. Eveyone carried a mug. Then I bumped to a beautiful Moldovan lady. She tried to sell me the package, and she told me it was a good deal because eaxh drink, tea, soda, juice, cost at least 2 dollars. I know i can get free drink at buffet restaurant on 13th floor. It was the first day. I explored the whole ship. There were many bars. Staff carried the drink all the time. If i wanted, i could hang on and went to 13th floor to get free juices every 30 minute. During that explore, i bumped to that lady couple times. She kept asked if I wanted to. I still said not now. Hours later, i got tired detour to 13th floor. I also found out if i want to drink anything besides plain water at non buffet restaurant, it was better for me to buy drink package. I finally bought it. After that, everytime on ship if i felt thirsty, i just flashed my key, i got different flavor of juice. At non buffet restaurants, i ordered tea. I always went to excursions. In the early morning or late evening, in between excursions, or on the sea days, if i got tired, i sat on the bar n ordered tea. I frequented the bar near my room. After two dqys, the staff knew me well that i did not to show my key. Whenever he was not busy, we chatted. He filled the tea evertime i finished. He replaced the bag after couple refikl. Don't forgot the beautiful Moldovan lady, I had bumped to her couple times before i purchased the drink, ehe recognize me for the rest of trip
We always get drink package. On RC my husband gets a jack & coke is like $10 plus gratuity. I usually get Margherita or a frozen drink and they are $12 plus gratuity. We figured out that to make the package worth it We EACH must drink 5 drinks per day. Which is easy to do... have a drink by the pool..have a drink with lunch, have a drink with dinner..have one at the show and at the casino. Very easy to drink 5 drinks. Our very first cruise we did not get drink package. Our bill was almost $800 in just drinks.
we got drink pkg last cruise we went on i had 14 makers mark with ginger ale 1 day so $200 and wife and got 5 or so drink of the day rest of the week so if you can get it for around $400 for the week you only need to get 5 per day give or take.
if you go to a supermarket and buy this drink who spends 52$ a day on alcohol. you have to drink the most expensive to make up the cost. water 19p a bottle so drinking enough to get to the money. but really it putting every one to a alcohol since cabins are based on two people so your more likely going to spend so much. can you just get a drink and just give it to some one else ?
5-6 cocktails a day to break even on average so 7 day cruise is 42 drinks without water or specialist coffee. I would easily do 8 cocktails a day (more on a seaday) probably drink 3 bottles of water in hot places and usually have 4 coffees in the morning to help wake up and maybe a odd fruit juice or two. For someone like me the drinks package is the only way to go
I disagree with the 5 or 6 cocktails part about figuring costs... I drink enough water and cokes to make the basic drink package a must. So, all I need to look at is the price difference between the non-alcohol package and the good drink package. If there is a $40 difference, then only 4 drinks a day pay the difference. I can easily have 3 rum & cokes with lunch, and 3 or 4 with dinner. Any afternoon or evening drinking... yeah... the drink package is a no brainer for me ha ha 😎
My wife and I took a Viking Med Cruise last year. Bought the package onboard. My wife is a tea tootler and I am a bourbon drinker. It worked for us. We booked a Viking River Cruise for this past spring, cancelled, but the river cruise drink pricing was not worth it. One bar on river boats, limited entertainment. Just not conducive to a great deal of "recreational" drinking.
yes of course it was worth it I like the drink packages I bought a non alcoholic drink package unlimited I always do every single cruise and it was great
When i got the cheers for carnival I drank 6-8 bottle waters per day(two bottles per meal), 5 alcoholic beverages per day, Juice as a chaser or past time quencher. Without the package I would’ve spent 120$ per day but I also think the package made me drunk this much
Some cruise lines like Princess they don’t make everyone in the stateroom purchase the alcohol package, only whoever wants it. Now many cruises offering inclusive drinks, WiFi, gratuities and specialty dining its worth it.
I am surprised that royal didn’t attempt to bill me after my wife and I took a 7 day cruise. Lol. I drank from the moment I stepped on the ship until the bars closed. About 2-4 cocktails an hour. Excluding being off the ship. I won’t go Cruising without the drink package.
The last cruise i went on, usually drinks so much they dont offer a drink package. So you have to go play craps in the casino and get the players club benefits of a dozen free drinks a day.
On Australian cruises they charge per person not per room on the cruises I have been on you can have a group of 3 and only 1 has a drink package I also love to pre pay all tours and drinks give me piece of mind
People talk about not breaking even, i only paid around 1.5k for my 2 weeks cruising and was averaging about $4-500 a day in grog (what id normally have paid without it) so not too bad I reckon
I have cruised since the 80s and have been on many cruises. I can remember buying 1 drink while cruising. Even when not cruising I can't remember the last time I have had a drink. The drink package would not benefit me. It is great for those that it would be cost-effective for. It's unfortunate that every person in the cabin has to purchase one. I understand why they require this. Lots and lots of 💰.
I haven’t sailed norwiegen yet but saw that a lot of their cruises you could get a drinks package for free. It was that or some other options you could pick from like WiFi or specialty dining.
Yes, my last cruise was on Norwegian and we got the free drink package. It really made the cruise more enjoyable because I wasn't worrying about tallying up every drink and I didn't feel anxious about getting a second glass of wine! Not sure the cost is worth it on the other lines. But you'd be surprised what you can get if you just ask.
@@R.a.t.t.y most certainly not. this is strictly monitored and seen as fraud. Above that, each guest receives a sea pass on which all drinks are registered. The price ranges are from 40-70 dollars per day per person, depending on the ship and the itinerary.
I thought not. I just wasn’t sure how it worked. If the couple in cabin 123 have a drinks pass, pick up a drink, I wasn’t sure how the cruise line knew if they then handed the drink to someone not in their cabin. I guess the cameras spot this.
@@R.a.t.t.y off course you can cheat once or twice but it becomes noticeable when one couple does not spend money on drinks and the other couple spends 4 times as much. Besides that, you can’t order 2 drinks on 1 card. So when my husband gets drinks for the both of us, he has to show 2 seapasses to the bartender. We did 17 cruises and it’s always like that.
My wife and I went on a 4 day RC cruise last year and we got the drink package(about $500). We found out she was pregnant right before the cruise. I knew I had to drink for 2 to get my money’s worth. I kept a list of all my drinks, on the last day I added it up...$680! I WON!😂😂😂
How's the baby now ?
Set a goal and stick to it! Good Job
You won? How about your liver?
DORME SUJO Perfect, 8 months old now
Ben M perfectly fine, I never drink. It probably helped that I had plenty of food to soak up the alcohol. I would say I was only properly drunk for about 4-5 hours the whole cruise, the rest of the time I was just enjoying the drinks or had a light buzz.
While on cruise with Royal Carribean, I bought the non-alcoholic drinks package and it was so worth it. Unlimited smoothies, coffee, pina coladas as well as several other non-alcoholic drinks. I wasn't planning on getting drunk on my cruise so I stayed away from the alcoholic drink package. I paid for alcohol only when I really wanted to drink alcohol.
You’re traveling the world in your floating hotel. Get the drink packages and do not think about how many drinks you have to pay for each day, peace of mind adds to the great tile.
Last year we booked a balcony on NCL that included drink packages for the two of us, some free internet, $50 off 2 separate excursions and 2 nights specialty dining for a 5 night cruise. It came to less than the amount we would have paid if we purchased everything separately. Well worth it for us.
The Free at Sea offer! Just know that gratuity isn't included on those packages in the U.S. So the package is free, but you have to pay a 20% gratuity on it's value. Comes out to about $20 per person, per day.
@@Cruzelycom We knew. It still was worth it for us. It wasn’t just the drink package. We thought the specialty dining and $100 towards excursions just added to the benefit.
Princess beverage package plus does include the bar gratuity.
Nice. We have been numerous times on the Norwegian Sky. That ship includes ALL drinks. We drink Captain Morgan and that was included. Hope it remains the same when cruising resumes.
I cruised with NCL where the drink package, internet, and specialty dining were all thrown in for "free". The drink package was all you can drink. However, I tried my best to make it work out in my favor, but just could not. For me, it was just more than I "chose" to drink.
As for the other two perks, neither were worth much. Each day, internet service was cut off because I had "used up" my minutes. I went to the service desk, and even their records showed that I had used less than 20 minutes. Service was restored, but the same thing happened each day. By the 3rd day, I just gave up - it wasn't worth the hassle. '
Specialty dining is normally a good thing. However, with 4000 passengers on board, all restaurants were booked up by 5pm on the day of embarkation. I mean, booked up totally for the entire week. You have to act fast or you lose out. In this case, I lost out. I'm not upset about it - I just learned a lesson.
Try being Australian. We actually need these packages and carnival doesn’t offer it to New Zealanders and Australians because of how much we drink. I didn’t think I needed one on a p & o cruise and spent $300 on my first day. Spent $750 on a package whilst on board and drank 3x what it was worth over the next 9 days.
I'll save you some time, if you drink like a fish, sure, the drink package can be worth it. If you don't, spend that HUGE chunk of change elsewhere. Also remember, drink fatigue is REAL.
yep well I drink like a fish and always get my moneys worth on the drink package
I start fading at end of day 5.
Get shots only and add your own juice because their mixed drinks are watered down to hell
That’s so true. I lost half a day sleeping trying to build up the energy to have some more fun on a cruise one time. It was also another reason we don’t buy the packages anymore. We want to enjoy every moment. If you have to start drinking the moment you get up you spend your time trying to reach your drink max and not just enjoying yourself. It’s easier to moderate yourself when you’re not thinking about making the $$ spent on your 🍹 package worth it. Just sayin.
I always wait till early afternoon. Before hitting it.
I find that the drink package works very well for my husband and I. I drink about 8 to 10 bottles of water alone a day. Plus the mixed drinks, wine, or beer. My husband is the kind of guy that loves to sit by the pool and relax with a drink in hand. Having the drink package allows us not to think about how much another drink will cost us at the end of the cruise. It is very comforting to know what you paid if all you have to pay with no surprises. We all always prepay our gratuities and all of our excursions. So all we have to think about is if we want to shop on ship or port.
My parents went on a cruise few years ago, they were in Elevator with a Server, and my dad was getting shots while in the Elevator lol.. Staff member was like.. well this is a first
Drink package is a must! Especially the cruise lines with the best deals!
We thought the drink package was well worth it. The package included specialty coffee drinks that were as much as cocktails. Also we purchased it online and had it all paid for prior to the cruise.
We Pay for our drinks until about halfway through. RCL usually (at least they used to on all the trips I've been on) offers a 10 for $100 card about 3-4 days into the cruise. It's a paper card but it's a great deal. We fill it up and buy another card. The cost at the end we drink as much as we want and still come out ahead of the unlimited drink plan.
Only ever cruised on carnival! We always buy package online. It’s about $52 a day I believe. When I did the math I had to drink 9 Guinness a day to pay for itself. What we learnt last cruise was the package covers all sodas specially coffee and waters. So if you are at dinner and want a water you can get the fancy stuff like Perrier or Evian instead of tap water. If you don’t drink coffee get a smoothie once a day. You can drink as many fancy coffees and water as you desire. Our drink package was limited to 15 drinks a day (alcoholic drinks). If it wasn’t for a friendly staff member we would never have known about the coffees, sodas and waters included.
not trying to be mean or anything but do you think there is actual Tap Water on cruises?
Royal no longer requires all in the cabin to have the drink package.
I ran into an issue one day with package. They limited the amount of drinks for 15. I know it is a lot but when you spread it out over 15 hours it really isn't. From a bloody mary in the morning to a beers by the pool, a break and then hit the casino before dinner and have a few drinks and dinner a few drinks and then show or the casino.
A lot of people use drink pouches and basically pour alcohol in there squeeze all the air out and wrap the pouches in your clothes in the suit case you give them to take to your room. x ray doesn’t pick it up unless there’s air bubbles.
Why go through all the effort? The cocktails/drinks range from $12-16 with pretty low alcohol amount. Or get one unlimited package per one person and just have that one person get the unlimited drinks & give it to friends.
the really bad thing is the cost of the wine or beer you are being charge $12 for you may be drinking wine that they bought for $3 0r $4 a bottle.
if you look at go buy a bottle at any of the shops on the trip vs what you are paying on the ship.
why not just bring a bottle on the ship from the ports and just drink it in your cabin or just drink when off the ship it has to be cheaper
It literally says in the video, if one adult in the cabin buys a drink package, all adults in the cabin have to buy one. Specifically so you don’t do this!🙄
@@davidsworld5837 most cruises limit you to one bottle of wine. No hard liquors. And there’s a corkage fee.
I mean, this should be no surprise. It's pretty much like any "unlimited" service - they have done the analysis to ensure that the average person is paying just as much, but probably more, than without the package.
Obviously a minority of people can come out ahead, but what ever numbers the companies have come up with are designed to make them money, not lose it.
Also, another thing to consider is that you will likely consume more with an unlimited package than without. It's the same with subscription services and such. It encourages consumption beyond your usual level in order to "get your money's worth".
For example, if you normally drink $100 worth of drinks, but the package costs $150, you might drink $200 worth of drinks to get good "value". Therefore they basically sold you an extra $50 of product (minus their wholesale costs), but you still feel that you came out ahead instead of behind. I think this is an important concept to understand and consider as well.
Wife and I went on a 5 day trip to Bermuda on RC. Based on our drinking habits, getting us both the package did not make financial sense. However, once we were on board, a bartender offered to sell just ME the package. I happily agreed and then shared the package with my wife. We definitely got our money's worth. One thing the video does not cover is that Starbucks and specialty coffees are sometimes covered by the drink package (as mine was on the RC cruise) and that should also be factored in if you are a coffee snob (like we are).
We booked the drink package on our last cruise. We came out a little ahead. While we had a budget for drinks in the past, we would feel guilty getting an extra drink here and there...when we had the drink package, we had no guilt or worrying about what cost would show on our tv and we weren’t saving up for the last day to see if we would go over budget....besides, we got great usage of the water, Gatorade, and specialty coffees. Won’t go back to per drink as long as it is in our budget.
This is great TK. you used the package to your advantage...
Every cruise I've ever done I always got the drinks package..
Never regretted it .. always got value for the amount I drank..
Especially when it includes the water for day trips and specialist coffees.
Since I was up 18 hrs a day enjoying the cruise, definitely got the time to enjoy it all
I once had a tall boy on the Staten Island Ferry. I made out like a bandit...
The biggest thing to add would be to think about the bookmark days. You are charged for the day you got on at 2:30 and the day you disembarked at noon.
I don't know about other cruise lines, but NCL packages do not include water, and to buy it, you will pay around $8 a bottle
Five day cruise? I'd be completely sauced all day, every day. They'd lose money on me. Hell, I'd get drinks just to try them. They can't require you to finish every one.
That's basically what I did on my cruise. The drinks package was included with the cost of my room as a promo, and I was basically drunk for an entire week. Plus yeah, I tried everything.
My last Cruise the drinks were included I like that package deal
That must have been an really high end cruise because even the Disney Cruises which are more expensive and all inclusive still have alcohol packages separately.
Probably princess or crystal line
@@davidczeizinger194 Princess Cruise offers drink packages with Suites or mini suites, which is about $7K on average for week long cruise. So really paying more than average on a drink package if you do the math.
NCL offers it free if you book a balcony or up now there offering choose 2 perks. NCL is the way to go if you like the booze I been on 7 NCL cruises and never have paid for the package. And I love the freestyle aspect
@@mikelancaster7389 You probably paid just as much, if not more for that drink package. They just made "included" it. You could pay $1500 a day for a room with drink package included or $700 for room plus $80 a day for drink package for inner cabin. So you're paying quite a bit more for that drink package and better room.
I did a cruise probably 6 years ago. Bought a drink package and later found out there was a menu of drinks where if you took the receipt to the cage at the casino they gave you a $5 match play chip. Made the package more worth it even though drinking and gambling isn't a good idea
We are big time drinkers and my now Fiancé did a comparison on one of our cruises. It turned out not to be worth it. Also, Carnival includes taxes to the amount of your drink when you are at port. I think the biggest reason though are days you are off the ship all day for excursions and whatnot. You can’t take your drink package with you. 😂 I think we will only ever do it again if they allow one adult in the room to buy the package. Then it would be worth the $$$. And BTW EVERY person in your room 21 and older has to buy the package if one person wants to buy it. We ❤️ to cruise but won’t be buying another drink package any time soon.
It depends on the cruise. We went on a 12 night Mediterranean last May, it didn't have many sea days, and most port days were 12 hrs. We did so much exploring in port that we just didn't have it in us to drink enough on the ship to make it worthwhile. However, our 5 night Bermuda cruise is totally worth getting the drink package. Same goes for unlimited dining package. Depends on the itinerary.
Package is also on the first and last day of the cruise. Not hitting your "limit" means more for the other days to break even. Then, as is said, what happens if you go ashore? You have to pay for that separate. If we are staying on board, I like to get my beers by the bucket. save a buck or two and dont have to be making beer runs all the time.
it's almost always impossible even breaking even with all you can eat or all you can drink, they are designed to make money of course
Hold my beer 🍻
Yeah I think forcing the other person that’s in the same room to purchase a very expensive drink package is wrong. A drink package for 2 could almost be the price of the cruise fare
If they didn't do that, people would order multiple drinks and pass them around to the others in their group for free. So 1 person's drink package would end up costing the cruise line for 2-3 people instead, which means they'd lose money almost every single time.
@@jceess 100% disagree the cruise line sell drink packages for about $400 pp at least on a 7 day sailing the average fifth of liquor is $50 a fifth cruise line get it for much cheaper cuz they buy in bulk average person drink maybe 2 fifth on a 7 day sailing meaning the mark up of 300% the cruise charges you you cuz hand drinks out drinks to 2 more guest every day and they cruise like will still be profitable. Now double that by having another person in your room you can hand out drinks to 4 ppl every day for 7 days and the cruise line still makes money 🤷🏾♂️
@@shawnferrell1983 Well apparently it was a big enough problem that they decided to go ahead charge for every adult in the room. It seems to be a standard practice in the industry so I would imagine their accountants have a better idea of how it plays out in reality than the average person like you and me.
@@jceess it wasn’t a problem at all the cruises found a way to make more money off their customers by forcing all adults to drink even if they don’t want to. For a customer to break even he/she would have to drink a average of 5-6 drink every day now you may can do that but what if they person in the same cabin only drinks 1-2 a day that leaves the other person to drink now 7-8 drinks a day which is insane causing ppl to drink when more than they normally would.
@@shawnferrell1983 drunk people usually spend more money in stores and casinos. so there is that too that is why some casinos give free drinks.
I drink Scotch, I'd imagine the cost of it would make the package a good bet.
The cruise I went on only covered up to a certain drink price. All the (good) scotch was above that so wasn’t included in the package.
went on a 4 day cruise with my friends and got the package, definitely worth it for us even on port days it was easy to get those 5 drinks in plus that covered the coffee bar in the morning
I went on a cruise with Carnival back in Feb with the drink package. 2/3 people in the cabin can drink like a fish. I had the equivalent of 17 drinks the first day (We didn't get on the boat until 2pm). The other days I started early and kept it rolling. I wasn't plastered all day but I kept a good even tipsy on. Plus ordering double cognacs will get your money's worth quickly.
Me and my alcoholic friends always get the Carnival Cheers program and it is so worth it!
Actually, my wife does not drink alcohol and we got the drink package with royal Caribbean. They said my wife doesn't have to get the premium package but has to get soda package. So it wasn't the price of the all inclusive price for both.
It's ALWAYS a good idea to ask. Anecdotally, heard sometimes they let you get the soda package (cheaper) and other times they don't.
what I liked about the Soda package is the fact that it worked even at the shows and dining room.
Some explanations require further thoughts. Some drink packages exclude the gratuities and some don't. For example on NCL, a free drink package does not include gratuities while on Princess it does. Some drink packages are unlimited while others are limited to 15 a day. Also drink packages must be purchased by all guests in a cabin age 21 or over. However, several cruise lines will relent and only make you pay for a pop package or non-alcohol package if you don't drink alcohol. The reason they do all this is obvious, to prevent sharing. Also keep in mind most drink packages include specialty coffees, smoothies, pop etc. which means you don't have to be drinking alcohol all day. Also, port intensive cruises mean you are not on the ship all day so you are not available to drink them. Some cruise line private islands do not include drinks when you are on them.
good grief!...i'm just gonna go to the neighborhood pool!
My wife and I always get the basic package and we opt for it at booking cheapest way. It gives us a peace of mind we can drink as we want anywhere including in the restaurants. It’s no stress we like that.
Hubby and I enjoy the drink package on Carnival. I love wine its included in the drink package so I can drink wine and water all day, I also like a few cocktail here end there but for us its worth every penny.
Forcing gratuities and making everyone in cabin buy drink package is scummy.
There’s ways around it, but it’s from people where they’d share the drink package with their roommates
i do not see why you should be told what gratuities you should give the staff. there job is to make you happy no one should work that it looks more like your wages is the tip we get off people every day since there staff are from low paying countries.
I love Norwegian's "Free at Sea" promotion where you can select a premium drinks package (and sometimes Wi-Fi as well) as part of your cruise fare. To me this is the best bang for your buck, and a great marketing strategy
Another notable cost to pay attention to is when you are in still in port of the start of the cruise to a certain amount of miles out you pay taxes on everything you purchase and that also applies to when you reach that threshold on the way back.
best for 7 day cruise. includes water and coffee! at around $50-60 a day. So if you get 5 drinks (water or other) its worth it. i've had over 20 drinks a day... so its worth it.
I definitely worked in oir favor on carnival
We had tropical drinks daily and nightly wine w/ dinner and that included conundrum , which is a good white & Red wine.
So it was worth it to our group
Thank you for you time and effort, loved all the info even if I have no plans of ever going on a cruise lol
I've done the drink package and if you can drink everyday more than 6 drinks you come on top adding other non-alcoholic drinks throughout the day, the problem is on port day you gonna wanna have a drink or 2 when visiting places and coming back to the ship no too late is key.
Carnival drink package is $850 per 2 adult. Sometimes I don't buy it but
I budget my drinks to $700 max that's good still saves me $150 but unless you are drinking more than 8 drinks per day this stragety won't work for you .
,.....Cheers (get it ?)
I had a deluxe drink package (soda/coffe/water/aclohol) on RCCL.. 7 night Cruise .. it was totally worth it . Got my moneys worth and so did my traveling companion. Nice not to worry about what the bar tab will be at the end of the cruise . I will get a package on my next trip too .. Its a no brainer :)
It's always worth it to me I'll never cruise without the package.
Just smuggle spirits on board. Much cheaper.
@@PreservationEnthusiast i can handle 350 dollars or so for all the drinks i want because the bars are fun
Hello! Just a note on a comment we believe we heard twice. Not all cruise lines require both persons I. The cabin to buy the drink package if one does. Celebrity is our cruise line of choice and that’s one of the reasons why. Excellent info overall though.
Im currently looking at an NCL 9-Day Alaskan Cruise in Sept. 2021. They are running a special where their Drink Package is included, as well as prepaid gratuities being taken care of.....As someone who travels solo and is looking into cruising for the first time.....And someone who loves a good drink no matter what time of day, I can justify paying $2000 for a 9-Day cruise in the cheapest inside cabin if I know that I don't have to worry about bar tabs and tips.....Knowing that would be close to $900-1000 by itself.
I like the drink packages so I know going in what my cruise cost will be. No big sticker shock on that last night of the cruise. Also, if I get a poorly made drink (it happens) I can dump it and try a different bartender and just get another.
Is it just me or do cruises just seem like huge cash grabs from the moment you book? I really want to change it up next year and go on a cruise but the sly extortion tactics used by cruise lines really makes me just want to book a package resort deal where none of this stuff happens.
I know someone who got this package and he said you have to get pissed every day to make it worthwhile. He's a drinker but didn't like that.
I never been on a cruise before but want too in the future. My Bf doesn’t drink alcohol but loves drinking water and juice. Will they accept the alcoholic drink package for me and the non alcoholic package for him ?? Or do they only allow 2 packages the SAME have to be done. 💚
I am planning a cruise for 2021 and by the estimates from the price list for Carnival's drink package, that would mean roughly $470 for a 7-day cruise. I don't drink that often, so this seems like it would not be worth it. While my husband doesn't drink at all, the idea that we paid an extra $470 for him to have soda on a cruise seems like it really isn't worth it.
Do not buy the drink package .....by the sound of it you wud not get the value out of it...if you only have a few drinks a day it not worth it...you nearly have to be an alco to get the value....and that wud ruin your cruise.....excursions are ear,ly in morning and no point been hungover for a coach ride...but it’s up to each individual ......enjoy your cruise...I love cruises.
@@johnmcgarry7149 that's exactly what I was thinking. I feel like you have to really be into heavy drinking to really enjoy the package. I also feel since I am only a one or two drink maximum person I would be absolutely losing money on this. I'm glad I got the information from him though, because I was really thinking about purchasing it. 😊 Thanks to you for the advice as well.
Carnival has the option of buying a bottle delivered to your room for the cruise in the funshop. It has to be purchased before you go. Maybe get a bottle or two. I know they also allow you to bring a bottle of wine per person as well. The last time I checked you can bring a 12 pack of pop/ soda on the ship as well per person in your cabin that you can use as mixers. Also, bring a double insulated cup or water bottle to keep it cold. They also have drink specials during the day if you want to buy cocktails. Click In-Room Gifts & Shopping on their website to see the options.
@@kabisme6692 very helpful. Thank you. 😊 These are great options. 😊😊😊
I am not sure if you both would have to purchase the bottomless bubbles but that can always be an option if you decide to pre-purchase a bottle for the room so you aren't limited to basically the same mixer the whole time.
Me and my friends regretted not getting the drinks package on our 7 day carnival cruise. We each went 200 dollars over
Sounds like cruise ships have just become floating bars.
...and floating casinos.
And Petri dishes 🦠
They have always been floating bars. 😎
It's somewhere around 5-6 drinks per person per day to break even. If you drink around or over that get it if not don't.
And that is just assuming the booze that isn't counting any of the non alcoholic you can get with drink package like fancy coffee, energy drinks, cokes, bottled waters etc. So that is why I say even if you are close on drinking enough booze go ahead and get it.
I like ice tea, ice water and coffee. I have a brain swelling issue so get really bad headaches that would ruin my trip with alcohol. I also could have a stroke if I mix alcohol with my medications. My husband is a huge alcohol drinker but is allergic to coffee. If we get doctor notes could I get myself the soda, water and coffee packages and my husband get the alcohol package?
Well worth the package cost.
Hi!
Does anyone know what the background music is in this video? I’m particular interested in the one that plays at 7:53.
I have never purchased the drink package before but I plan on doing so on my next cruise. Can you say seven day alcoholic?
Last thing I want to worry about on vacation is if I’m over spending on drinks and food I would get the package just for the peace of mind even if I don’t come out ahead it would just make it more enjoyable for me
You don't need to drink everyday to get your monies worth on the drink package. It is very easy to get your monies worth on Royal Caribbeans drink package when it goes 30% off. A couple big drinking days and you will hit it.
I also found that when I don't have the package, I generally choose a cheap drink. When I have the package, I order the fancy drink. Which one is the more enjoyable vacation?
hello watched this this morning from Thailand. I'd like to share an idea i was introduced to. 1. 1.. Find the cost of drink package, 2.. Do not buy drink package. 3.. Place the cost of drink package aside either in cash, or credit card. 4.. Go on your cruise, enjoy buy drinks have fun. 5.. Near end of cruise as second to last evening, Go late in evening /early morning to purse's desk less guest during this time. Check your drinking cost. Find out how much you have saved or overspent. Pay cost of drinking so far 6.. Thank the Purser walk away from desk with a big smile, now back to the fun or cabin. 7.. During next closing hours of cruise buy drinks, add new drink cost to on board spending account. Hopefully you have saved over the cost of package cost. From the start you have saved the 18% upfront gratuity that comes with the package...Happy travels
Brilliant!
Scenarios can matter a lot. On a cruise in Greece (with a pretty cheap drink plan) we came out ahead by day 3 of 7. American run companies cost more. I was debating a package on my second cruise when I learned about the 'everyone in the stateroom pays' rule. I was with a non-drinker so, no, I'm not paying double. Then another cruise with a non-drinker so no package again. Fortunately, I don't feel a NEED to drink to have a good time. I might have gotten the package both of those times, but without it, I didn't drink nearly as much, well below the package cost, and the cruise line made a lot less money off me because of it. You're on their boat, it's their call.
It should tell you all you need to know about cruises that the only way most people enjoy themselves is by getting wasted every day.
Not worth it. I tried and failed to drink enough
I don't drink alcohol. I took Princess Alaska cruise in 2011. I don't know if price has changed over the decade.
I paid 6x for non alcohol. Actuall almist every non alcohol. Some paid coffee are not included.
The moment I entered the cruise, everone was drinking orage juice crazy. Eveyone carried a mug. Then I bumped to a beautiful Moldovan lady. She tried to sell me the package, and she told me it was a good deal because eaxh drink, tea, soda, juice, cost at least 2 dollars. I know i can get free drink at buffet restaurant on 13th floor. It was the first day. I explored the whole ship. There were many bars. Staff carried the drink all the time. If i wanted, i could hang on and went to 13th floor to get free juices every 30 minute. During that explore, i bumped to that lady couple times. She kept asked if I wanted to. I still said not now. Hours later, i got tired detour to 13th floor. I also found out if i want to drink anything besides plain water at non buffet restaurant, it was better for me to buy drink package. I finally bought it.
After that, everytime on ship if i felt thirsty, i just flashed my key, i got different flavor of juice. At non buffet restaurants, i ordered tea. I always went to excursions. In the early morning or late evening, in between excursions, or on the sea days, if i got tired, i sat on the bar n ordered tea. I frequented the bar near my room. After two dqys, the staff knew me well that i did not to show my key. Whenever he was not busy, we chatted. He filled the tea evertime i finished. He replaced the bag after couple refikl. Don't forgot the beautiful Moldovan lady, I had bumped to her couple times before i purchased the drink, ehe recognize me for the rest of trip
We always buy the drink package after our first cruise. We pre-purchase so it's one less thing to worry about.
We bought a 2 for 1 drink package on Celebrity Equinox. Well worth it for us.
We always get drink package. On RC my husband gets a jack & coke is like $10 plus gratuity. I usually get Margherita or a frozen drink and they are $12 plus gratuity. We figured out that to make the package worth it We EACH must drink 5 drinks per day. Which is easy to do... have a drink by the pool..have a drink with lunch, have a drink with dinner..have one at the show and at the casino. Very easy to drink 5 drinks. Our very first cruise we did not get drink package. Our bill was almost $800 in just drinks.
we got drink pkg last cruise we went on i had 14 makers mark with ginger ale 1 day so $200 and wife and got 5 or so drink of the day rest of the week so if you can get it for around $400 for the week you only need to get 5 per day give or take.
Thank you. For your adviser, very helpful. We going to cruise on '22 , we want to buy drinks packages.
Do you have to tip the bartender every time you get a drink? Or is that incl in the pre paid gratuity?
if you go to a supermarket and buy this drink who spends 52$ a day on alcohol. you have to drink the most expensive to make up the cost.
water 19p a bottle so drinking enough to get to the money. but really it putting every one to a alcohol
since cabins are based on two people so your more likely going to spend so much.
can you just get a drink and just give it to some one else ?
I just really want to know what that purple drink is (on Norwegian maybe)?
5-6 cocktails a day to break even on average so 7 day cruise is 42 drinks without water or specialist coffee. I would easily do 8 cocktails a day (more on a seaday) probably drink 3 bottles of water in hot places and usually have 4 coffees in the morning to help wake up and maybe a odd fruit juice or two. For someone like me the drinks package is the only way to go
I disagree with the 5 or 6 cocktails part about figuring costs... I drink enough water and cokes to make the basic drink package a must. So, all I need to look at is the price difference between the non-alcohol package and the good drink package. If there is a $40 difference, then only 4 drinks a day pay the difference. I can easily have 3 rum & cokes with lunch, and 3 or 4 with dinner. Any afternoon or evening drinking... yeah... the drink package is a no brainer for me ha ha 😎
My wife and I took a Viking Med Cruise last year. Bought the package onboard. My wife is a tea tootler and I am a bourbon drinker. It worked for us. We booked a Viking River Cruise for this past spring, cancelled, but the river cruise drink pricing was not worth it. One bar on river boats, limited entertainment. Just not conducive to a great deal of "recreational" drinking.
yes of course it was worth it I like the drink packages I bought a non alcoholic drink package unlimited I always do every single cruise and it was great
When i got the cheers for carnival I drank 6-8 bottle waters per day(two bottles per meal), 5 alcoholic beverages per day, Juice as a chaser or past time quencher. Without the package I would’ve spent 120$ per day but I also think the package made me drunk this much
For some cruise ship exceptions can be made for purchase
Some cruise lines like Princess they don’t make everyone in the stateroom purchase the alcohol package, only whoever wants it. Now many cruises offering inclusive drinks, WiFi, gratuities and specialty dining its worth it.
I am surprised that royal didn’t attempt to bill me after my wife and I took a 7 day cruise. Lol. I drank from the moment I stepped on the ship until the bars closed. About 2-4 cocktails an hour. Excluding being off the ship. I won’t go Cruising without the drink package.
Sounds like you have a drinking problem. Get help. Being on a cruise is not a special excuse.
You. Sir are probably correct. Thank you for your much needed Opinion.
The last cruise i went on, usually drinks so much they dont offer a drink package. So you have to go play craps in the casino and get the players club benefits of a dozen free drinks a day.
10 beers a day ? challenge accepted!
Do you have to book a drink package everyday on the cruise or can u just book special days
Its for the length of the cruise. I wish you could only purchase it for a few days instead of the full 7 days.
that said, we bought wine b;y the bottle, and just moved about the ship!
On Australian cruises they charge per person not per room on the cruises I have been on you can have a group of 3 and only 1 has a drink package I also love to pre pay all tours and drinks give me piece of mind
People talk about not breaking even, i only paid around 1.5k for my 2 weeks cruising and was averaging about $4-500 a day in grog (what id normally have paid without it) so not too bad I reckon
I have cruised since the 80s and have been on many cruises. I can remember buying 1 drink while cruising. Even when not cruising I can't remember the last time I have had a drink. The drink package would not benefit me. It is great for those that it would be cost-effective for. It's unfortunate that every person in the cabin has to purchase one. I understand why they require this. Lots and lots of 💰.
I haven’t sailed norwiegen yet but saw that a lot of their cruises you could get a drinks package for free. It was that or some other options you could pick from like WiFi or specialty dining.
Yes, my last cruise was on Norwegian and we got the free drink package. It really made the cruise more enjoyable because I wasn't worrying about tallying up every drink and I didn't feel anxious about getting a second glass of wine! Not sure the cost is worth it on the other lines. But you'd be surprised what you can get if you just ask.
You pay the gratuities for the free drink package. We just booked a 10 day cruise and the gratuities for that cruise is $198 per person.
NCL does not include the coffee bar in the package. A latte is over $4.00.
Thanks !
Calculator is very helpful
Cheers 🍺🍺🍺
Just a question:
We travel as a group of six, so three cabins. Can one couple get the drinks package and then share out the drinks?
No, as a couple you have to buy 2 packages
@@avv1435 I realise a couple buys two packages. However if there are six of us, can the two with the packages get drinks for all of us?
@@R.a.t.t.y most certainly not. this is strictly monitored and seen as fraud. Above that, each guest receives a sea pass on which all drinks are registered. The price ranges are from 40-70 dollars per day per person, depending on the ship and the itinerary.
I thought not. I just wasn’t sure how it worked. If the couple in cabin 123 have a drinks pass, pick up a drink, I wasn’t sure how the cruise line knew if they then handed the drink to someone not in their cabin. I guess the cameras spot this.
@@R.a.t.t.y off course you can cheat once or twice but it becomes noticeable when one couple does not spend money on drinks and the other couple spends 4 times as much. Besides that, you can’t order 2 drinks on 1 card. So when my husband gets drinks for the both of us, he has to show 2 seapasses to the bartender. We did 17 cruises and it’s always like that.
What stops me going to multiple bars and giving drink to someone who didn't pay for drink package.
Took a cruise. Didn't buy the package. Bought 2 drinks and kept the glasses. Drinks were quite weak. Expect that.
On Princess Cruises is not the rule if one adult in stateroom buy drink package the another one must aswell.
Yeah I have 3 drinks a day at most, not worth it and actually the individual prices are not bad at all.