Should you buy a drink package on a cruise? Someone did the math.
Jun 7, 2011, 10:01 pm
#16
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Beaverton OR
Programs: GE, AA PLT/2.6MM, BR Gld, Royal Carib. DM+, Celebrity Elite, NCL PLT, Princess Elite
Posts: 1,643
I usually carry on two or four 2-litres or a 24 pack (give the 24 to the porters. They'll get it to your room). I abhor the taste of Diet Coke (I do like Coke, but on a cruise I'd rather use the calories on dinner -- though I probably eat 15 cokes' worth of food), so Diet Pepsi from shore is the only way I'll drink it.
Do any cruise lines use Pepsi products? I've only been on Celebrity, RCCL, and Princess.
Do any cruise lines use Pepsi products? I've only been on Celebrity, RCCL, and Princess.
Jun 8, 2011, 6:21 pm
#17
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: BA Gold, HH
Posts: 673
thanks for posting that link. i sorta knew the numbers but it was nice seeing it all spelled out again. will have to run the figures from the last cruise to see if my kid got my monies worth out of the card before i buy another one on my cruise next week. LOL!
Jun 9, 2011, 11:25 am
#18
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,173
share one
My wife and I have the same first initial...so I use it to sign the single card I buy on the first day. We bring our own thermal cups and I can get a coke and pass off the card to her so she can get Diet coke. A flask of rum or bourbon in the room makes for cheap bar drinks (we usually buy a few frozen thingys too) I noticed pint bottles sold in duty free shops on the islands have plastic caps and dont set off the metal detectors when you come back onboard...finally a use for cargo shorts. Once we bought canned cokes in port, they sent them through the x-ray and never opened the bag to see if it was a 6 pack of coke or beer. That was the trip we brought a case with us, and skipped the card completely, the porters got it to the cabin with no problem.
Jun 9, 2011, 1:40 pm
#19
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 8
I have no suggestions for colored liquor.
Jun 11, 2011, 12:55 pm
#20
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC Aeroplan - Elite Status. DL Skymiles - Regular Status
Posts: 509
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.
Jun 11, 2011, 9:10 pm
#21
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: CYYZ
Programs: AC 50K E, A3 Gold, CX Gold
Posts: 203
thank, was wondering about the cases of water, going to my first cruise this coming october on norwegian sky, short 4 night bahama cruise.. me and my SO, are not heavy drinkers, nor pop drinkers, price of $4.50 for a large bottle of water was a bit worrisome, but if we're allowed to bring cases of water then that'll be one less thing i'll have to be worried about!
Jun 12, 2011, 7:58 pm
#22
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC Aeroplan - Elite Status. DL Skymiles - Regular Status
Posts: 509
Yep, we snuck rum into a bottle of wine... (We were allowed to bring 1 bottle of wine on Carnival, but no liquor.) When the guy asked why it was open, I told him it was home-made wine. He bought it and let us take it on.
Jun 13, 2011, 7:26 pm
#24
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: FLL
Programs: AA Gold, DL Gold, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, Starwood Gold, too many cruise programs to list
Posts: 655
If you're talking about the Celebrity program, no. That is a per person program. Holland America will bring you multiple glasses, but not leave the bottle as you're purchasing a certain number of "pours" for a set price.
Jun 17, 2011, 7:41 am
#26
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: louisville,ky usa
Programs: Delta Platinum, HH Diamond, , AA Gold, Bonvoy Titaniu
Posts: 619
The Frommer's writer is clearly not a Flyertalker! I was expecting chart on maximizing value, something like "How to Order 42 glasses of premium scotch at a net cost of $1.4 per".
CruiseCritic has far more detailed info on dring prices-- For example the Frommer's article only lists prices for the house wine (generally appallingly bad), but the Celebrity forum on CruiseCritic has a complete list of all by the glass offerings and pricing (which goes up to about $15 per glass IIRC).
Another thing not mentioned in the article is that on some lines you must purchase for all the remaining days in the cruise or for the entire cruise.
I have never purchased the drink package, but I can see that for SOME pax it makes sense.
CruiseCritic has far more detailed info on dring prices-- For example the Frommer's article only lists prices for the house wine (generally appallingly bad), but the Celebrity forum on CruiseCritic has a complete list of all by the glass offerings and pricing (which goes up to about $15 per glass IIRC).
Another thing not mentioned in the article is that on some lines you must purchase for all the remaining days in the cruise or for the entire cruise.
I have never purchased the drink package, but I can see that for SOME pax it makes sense.
Jun 17, 2011, 7:22 pm
#27
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,304
People who like the occasional glass of wine can also consider buying a bottle and having it stored. Royal and Celebrity ships usually have a wine bar with enomatic dispensers, but also offer actual bottles for purchase.
Celebrity Solstice class also had a half decanter size in the oceanview bar behind the oceanview cafe (buffet) that was $10, I think. The location has an aft ship view which is pretty nice.
Celebrity Solstice class also had a half decanter size in the oceanview bar behind the oceanview cafe (buffet) that was $10, I think. The location has an aft ship view which is pretty nice.
Jul 21, 2011, 5:57 pm
#28
Join Date: May 2006
Location: TX
Programs: AA PPro/ 1MM+, Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 287
I cannot speak for the lower cost options, but if you are looking at the all inclusive alcohol plans, you better be planning to drink A LOT. We just came back from a Celebrity 11 day cruise and the premium alcohol package would have cost $1200 or so for the two of us. We spent about $600 total including all the things we bought on board, dinner in one of the specialty restaurants, wine, pre dinner drinks, etc.
I would say that unless you have a sea day intensive cruise, you will probably not drink as much as you think as you will be in port for some time of the day.
To each his/her own
I would say that unless you have a sea day intensive cruise, you will probably not drink as much as you think as you will be in port for some time of the day.
To each his/her own
Jul 28, 2011, 11:35 am
#29
In Memoriam
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Southern California
Programs: Hertz 5 star, Priceline Hotel bidder. AA PLT, 1MM.
Posts: 2,910
On a 7 day cruise, we will bring a 2 or 3 liter box of wine. I break down the box, and put the bag of wine in a gallon size zip lock. Wrapped clothes around the zip lock. Always got through.
We will also buy a bottle or two of wine. On occasion, we had paid $15/bottle corkage to bring the wine onboard. The above was for NCL.
Different cruiselines have different policies.
We will also buy a bottle or two of wine. On occasion, we had paid $15/bottle corkage to bring the wine onboard. The above was for NCL.
Different cruiselines have different policies.
Last edited by chemist661; Jul 28, 2011 at 11:43 am