Should you buy a drink package on a cruise? Someone did the math.
Aug 9, 2011, 7:06 pm
#47
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Phila, PA
Posts: 891
NB: I don't work for Seabourn, Carnival, or anyone else.
Aug 19, 2011, 7:15 am
#49
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: louisville,ky usa
Programs: Delta Platinum, HH Diamond, , AA Gold, Bonvoy Titaniu
Posts: 619
Not necessarily. with it's expansion of 3 larger ships, the prices have dropped radically. When one factors how much their bar bill with the tipping daily costs, it may be much closer than one might think. No tipping and all inclusive but for spa treatments and excursions, the costs might surprise many cruisers.
NB: I don't work for Seabourn, Carnival, or anyone else.
NB: I don't work for Seabourn, Carnival, or anyone else.
Aug 19, 2011, 9:19 am
#50
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Phila, PA
Posts: 891
Seabourn certainly is not child-friendly, and that includes some of the passengers. I don't comparison shop because my only HAL cruise was 1962 on the old Statendamn. However, friends who do, have noted recent drops in prices which they believe comparable to similar accommodations to other lines. Certainly not v. an inside cabin, of course.
Aug 19, 2011, 9:26 am
#51
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: ORD
Posts: 870
The drink package is worthwhile if you are traveling with more than 2 people..
We just put the unlimited drinks on my wife's card, and whenever our daughters wanted something she'd get it. I think we really got our money's worth. (assuming they each had 5 or so pops per day, that would mean 5*2 = 10 * 7 days = 70 pops. Plus maybe 10 between my wife and I, so 80.
80 drinks for 40 bucks (I think that's how much it was).
Pretty good value. Alcohol however, was pricey.
We just put the unlimited drinks on my wife's card, and whenever our daughters wanted something she'd get it. I think we really got our money's worth. (assuming they each had 5 or so pops per day, that would mean 5*2 = 10 * 7 days = 70 pops. Plus maybe 10 between my wife and I, so 80.
80 drinks for 40 bucks (I think that's how much it was).
Pretty good value. Alcohol however, was pricey.
Aug 19, 2011, 5:18 pm
#52
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
And in gift shops in port, the wife distracted the clerk while the kids just took whatever they wanted. The wife would buy one trinket or another to make it OK.
It's pretty much the same thing.
It's pretty much the same thing.
Aug 30, 2011, 8:52 am
#53
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: louisville,ky usa
Programs: Delta Platinum, HH Diamond, , AA Gold, Bonvoy Titaniu
Posts: 619
Seabourn certainly is not child-friendly, and that includes some of the passengers. I don't comparison shop because my only HAL cruise was 1962 on the old Statendamn. However, friends who do, have noted recent drops in prices which they believe comparable to similar accommodations to other lines. Certainly not v. an inside cabin, of course.
On the original topic, we would never "sneak" beverages aboard or attempt to defraud the cruise line via multiple person use of a single drink account, but we do favor lines that allow wine/soda to be brought aboard and that have packages that can be used by multiple people (the HAL soda card for example, works out to about $1.20 per can of soda and can be used by anyone in the party).
Sep 27, 2011, 12:28 pm
#54
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 40
OTOH, there is probably very little chance of getting a blender aboard. They are now cracking down on extension cords, so I'm guessing a blender would probably get caught also.
With Carnival, you can buy bottles through the Bon Voyage department, at roughly 2 to 4 times the street price. The more expensive the bottle, the smaller % the markup generally, just like with wine on the ship. Supposedly you can also ordered bottles through room service, but results are (pardon thepun) mixed.
Sep 29, 2011, 9:14 am
#55
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 501
All Inclusive
We have found that we love the smaller ships. Our second sailing on the Paul Gauguin which normally focus on Tahiti is in January. All inclusive including all drinks, wine, soda, etc. While I don't drink alcohol those milk shakes are great.
Sep 29, 2011, 10:02 am
#56
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: FLL or MIA
Posts: 181
My experience has been the packages are not worth it. Assuming 7 days and 5-6 ports I am usually drinking/eating lunch in port and probably one dinner in port. Assuming a couple of drinks and a bottle of wine at dinner I come out ahead just buying it directly rather than the package.
Same is true for excursions I almost never purchase the site seeing packages. You are at the mercy of the tour timing and what they setup. I always just find a local taxi guy and hire for the day. Usually we can find another couple we like and split it and we come out way ahead and do what we want on our time schedule in port
Same is true for excursions I almost never purchase the site seeing packages. You are at the mercy of the tour timing and what they setup. I always just find a local taxi guy and hire for the day. Usually we can find another couple we like and split it and we come out way ahead and do what we want on our time schedule in port
Sep 29, 2011, 12:00 pm
#57
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
This thread is funny.
It comes down to this.
If you can calculate out how much you expect to drink on the cruise, and the package price is less money, it's a good deal. If it's not, than it's not a good deal.
What works for one person may or may not work for somebody else. There's people who can pretty much make the money back on a soda or drink card in the first couple of days of the cruise, and there are people who won't even come close.
There are probably just as many people at the end of any given cruise who wish they bought a drink package but did not spending more than they needed to, as there are people who did and saved a ton of money.
There is no one answer for everybody, it's why they are offered, so people can choose to purchase them or not based on their needs.
It comes down to this.
If you can calculate out how much you expect to drink on the cruise, and the package price is less money, it's a good deal. If it's not, than it's not a good deal.
What works for one person may or may not work for somebody else. There's people who can pretty much make the money back on a soda or drink card in the first couple of days of the cruise, and there are people who won't even come close.
There are probably just as many people at the end of any given cruise who wish they bought a drink package but did not spending more than they needed to, as there are people who did and saved a ton of money.
There is no one answer for everybody, it's why they are offered, so people can choose to purchase them or not based on their needs.
Oct 3, 2011, 9:19 pm
#58
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Redondo Beach, CA USA
Programs: UA 1KMM, Bonvoy LTE+A, HH D, Nat'l EE, Hertz Plat, Avis PC
Posts: 3,713
That's a great summary and way to look at things, cordelli. The only thing I would add is that to some people, even if a drink card or package doesn't make total economic sense, it can be worth it just for the peace of mind of not having to pay for each and every visit to a bar. It's kind of like a lite version of all-inclusive pricing on luxury cruise lines...
Oct 4, 2011, 7:47 am
#59
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 243
This thread is funny.
It comes down to this.
If you can calculate out how much you expect to drink on the cruise, and the package price is less money, it's a good deal. If it's not, than it's not a good deal.
What works for one person may or may not work for somebody else. There's people who can pretty much make the money back on a soda or drink card in the first couple of days of the cruise, and there are people who won't even come close.
There are probably just as many people at the end of any given cruise who wish they bought a drink package but did not spending more than they needed to, as there are people who did and saved a ton of money.
There is no one answer for everybody, it's why they are offered, so people can choose to purchase them or not based on their needs.
It comes down to this.
If you can calculate out how much you expect to drink on the cruise, and the package price is less money, it's a good deal. If it's not, than it's not a good deal.
What works for one person may or may not work for somebody else. There's people who can pretty much make the money back on a soda or drink card in the first couple of days of the cruise, and there are people who won't even come close.
There are probably just as many people at the end of any given cruise who wish they bought a drink package but did not spending more than they needed to, as there are people who did and saved a ton of money.
There is no one answer for everybody, it's why they are offered, so people can choose to purchase them or not based on their needs.
Also just know that Cruise companies are in it to make money, so just realize that your cup size that they give you for the drink package is usually fairly small and they always load it with ice. So be prepared to be making constant trips.
Oct 5, 2011, 11:35 am
#60
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 40
True, but if you go down to the atrium bar (on Carnival) or in the main dining room, you get a bigger glass (which is actually glass).
It's all relative: I can go with just the occasional soda and "save" money, but I enjoy soda so I get the card. I probably make out like a bandit in the sense that I may get 8 or 10 sodas in a day... but I'd never buy that many.
I like the 'benefit' that if a soda gets warm, or flat, or my hands are full (we have twin toddlers), or it gets knocked over, or it's on the deck and gets pool water splashed in, or I want 1/2 a glass for a rootbeer float, etc... I don't really worry about waste. Not that I intentionally waste food/soda, but at least I'm not throwing away $5 or $10 a day on wasted soda.
The net of it is that I have a soda whenever I want, without having to consider if it's worth the $2 oright now or if I should wait until I inevitable go for a snack in 30 mins.
The downside is that the bar service sucks when they aren't getting a tip. The roaming bar servers generally will never come back with a soda (though admittedly I haven't tried in several years) and some bartenders will generally ignore someone with a soda card, especially if the bar is busy. I actually had one on Carnival Miracle ignore me (or try to) when his bar was totally empty.
Of course it's personal preference. We're there on vacation, so splurging on a soda card is a no brainer. We probably wouldn't be on a cruise to being with if we were calculating the value of our enjoyment strictly based on math.
It's all relative: I can go with just the occasional soda and "save" money, but I enjoy soda so I get the card. I probably make out like a bandit in the sense that I may get 8 or 10 sodas in a day... but I'd never buy that many.
I like the 'benefit' that if a soda gets warm, or flat, or my hands are full (we have twin toddlers), or it gets knocked over, or it's on the deck and gets pool water splashed in, or I want 1/2 a glass for a rootbeer float, etc... I don't really worry about waste. Not that I intentionally waste food/soda, but at least I'm not throwing away $5 or $10 a day on wasted soda.
The net of it is that I have a soda whenever I want, without having to consider if it's worth the $2 oright now or if I should wait until I inevitable go for a snack in 30 mins.
The downside is that the bar service sucks when they aren't getting a tip. The roaming bar servers generally will never come back with a soda (though admittedly I haven't tried in several years) and some bartenders will generally ignore someone with a soda card, especially if the bar is busy. I actually had one on Carnival Miracle ignore me (or try to) when his bar was totally empty.
Of course it's personal preference. We're there on vacation, so splurging on a soda card is a no brainer. We probably wouldn't be on a cruise to being with if we were calculating the value of our enjoyment strictly based on math.