Originally Posted by
corky
I am faced with this decision now. Cunard package is $60 a day. I figure if I have a couple glasses of wine at dinner (maybe $30) and then a drink later at the casino I am already up to $45. Throw in some bottled water and maybe a soft drink and I am close. The package includes Wifi so that is tipping the scales to buying it.
This is my first cruise and I can't believe all of the nickel and diming. Bottled water? Really?
Even if we bring some booze onboard, we would have to buy mixers. I wonder if they would let me bring a bottle of wine into the dining room.
You can bring mixers too. Also, if you are NOT going on a transatlantic cruise, definitely don't get the drinks package. I was on four Cunard cruises late last year and almost every port I purchased alcohol, including beer. The transatlantic ones I bought two large bottles of vodka and two more in the duty free and transferred those to my new cabin for next cruise. I didn't buy any drinks package and didn't have wifi except the free portion that was granted with my membership level. I purchased five bottles of sparkling water twice per week on the first three cruises. The last one was in the princess suite that comes with unlimited bottled water. Next time I will book the Club Balcony cabins that also come with water and separate dining restaurant. Anything else is not worth it to me. But the best thing is to bring your own bottles, in my opinion and use wifi in the ports or buy it for one day. I remember when there was no wifi and I would just send postcards and take pictures and get them developed when I got home. It was more exciting to me to see how the photos turn out and re-live the entire adventure. But I don't think any drink package is worth it. I only drank half of the total amount whenever I purchased a package. Enjoy your cruise.