Have fun! With all those drinks, drink one for me too! 😁

Name your poison!

Chartreuse!

Any type of beer would be fine!🍺🍻👍

:D:D

In retrospect we are both glad that we got the drinks package. It just made things so much easier and more convenient. Yes, since we were on the Club balcony level, we each had 2 big bottles of water in our cabins replenished as needed as well as a bottle of French sparkling wine. It was fine to try specialty cocktails all over without a thought to price. We often had an afternoon cocktail when getting back on board after a shore day, then clean up for dinner and meet for a pre dinner drink and always a glass of wine at dinner. If we were going to watch entertainment we would get another glass of wine or drink and since I ended up in the casino for 10 nights in a row :eek:, that always required a drink. So we got our money's worth. The wifi was crap but I was happy to have it for when it wasn't.
Now I have been semi back on the wagon---I never drink that much at home but anything goes on a vacation.

Glad to hear you had a good time and was able to walk off the ship without assistance!🍸🍹🍺🍻🥤☕🍵🧋🫖🥃🍷🍾🍶🥂Did I miss any?😂

Drinks packages are a straight up mathematical calculation. You must know what the cruise line charges for ala carte purchases and what you will use. We mostly cruise now with Princess and their packages include crew appreciation (gratuities), wifi, some specialty and/or casual dining, specialty coffee and tea, bottled water, and a few other perks in addition to alcoholic beverages. Over on Cruise Critic, one Princess sailor even has a spreadsheet you can use to do the math for you.

Even with the recent price increase, the Plus package still makes sense for us. But it’s very much a personal choice that varies from cruiser to cruiser. Some need wifi, some put their phones in the safe as soon as they board. Some drink adult beverages, some do not, some even hit the daily 15 drink Plus package limit. Some enjoy specialty dining, some stick to the MDR and buffet. Some need an element only available in a package (guaranteed show seating), some never attend the shows. There is not a one size fits all answer. There is a correct answer for each of us depending on a lot of variables. And if it’s a toss-up, many opt for a package so they never have to think about a choice based on fear of the final folio.

One thing I particularly like, and it’s outside my personal calculation, is the ability to order a cocktail not knowing if I will like it. Two sips, and I’m back at the bar ordering a replacement? No problem.

Good points. Yes, we got a steakhouse dinner and a champagne tea which were both excellent. They were a nice change that we might not have paid extra for if it wasn't included in our drink package. We ate dinner most nights in the Club dining room but I found the food uninspired and ordinary. I also agree that I confidently experimented with cocktails that I might not normally order knowing that if I didn't like it, just order something else! I still don't see how anyone gets close to the max # of drinks which is pretty generous.

I have seen people sitting at the bar at 6:00 am when I’m going for coffee. I guess they’re pacing themselves.

I did not read all the comments, but we do cruise a lot, so pardon any repeats. Note many items fall in multiple categories, but are listed only once. I am sure I have missed a lot, but thought this would be helpful.

Free drinks: Some cruises give you a drink as you board (mostly upscale). The Captains coattail party often offers free drinks (many lines). Some lines give you a free drink voucher (Holland haa). Some lines give you a started bottle of wine in your room (most upscale cruise line provide a sparkling wine). If you are booking a premium suite, they some times come with in room bar/frig (upper tier lines). If you go to some functions you can get a free glass of wine (in art auctions) as an inducement to get you there. Water is always free from the tap. Bring a water bottle. You might meet a friend that shares. Some cruises provide wine and beer with lunch and dinner (Viking, American Cruise Line). ACL also have a predinner coattail hour.

Limits: drink packages do not include your room in most cases (you have to go get it, and likely both of you will need to go...same with a refill). Packages have a daily limit (usually not a problem), Often packages are multitier, so there maybe premium level drinks. You cannot share with others. Sometime you may use your drink package in specialty dining, others not (in any case your may feel cheap do so).. Getting a second drink at the showroom can be problematic.. All adults in you cabin must buy...definitely a problem with a roomy who doesn't drink or drinks lightly). You can only get one drink at a time (we have not had a problem in getting a margarita and a bottle of water at the same time).

Economics: When calculating don't be surprised if they have some special priced drinks on board, at a discount (diluting your value). Having a package may detour you from participating in wine tasting or hard liquor tasting programs. Same with wine paring meals. You cannot change your mind mid cruise. Often it is cheaper to buy before you sail, but that can put the money at risk if you can't go, and loses interest. If you get sick, your drinking can be limited. If you have covid, they will bring your drinks to your room (Regent 7 Seas, not a package). Often drink packages are include in larger packages, at steeper discounts. Some people like to hang out in a bar in the late hours, while others are 9-10 hour sleepers (early to bed). Some lines allow some wine to be brought aboard.(corkage may apply). This is especially true if bought on tour, ie wine tasting tour. Buy it and forget it, is the peace of mind of having a package (prepaid). Use your Costco card and get 3% rebate on your package.

Wine bottle packages: These can be good, especially if you are mostly a wine drinker. You can have the bottle (s) in your room (in room meals and casual drinking) or order anywhere on ship. This wine can be shared. Packages come in 4, 6, 8 bottle groups, and again there are tiers of quality/pricing. The wine can be accessed anywhere (staff keeps it for you).

What situations enhance getting a drink package: Lots of sea days mean more opportunity to use them. Lots of tour package limit the use. Shorter cruises may allow you to drink more, as you don't feel like you are killing your body. However, on shorter cruises the start day and end day are limited time, so watch what they charge you in days. Some people can just out drink others (body weight and sex?).

We have a cruise coming up late next year (two before that) Holland. Our room includes club. We want wine in our room and not have to go get it (wine bottle package, which at 4* we get for half price). We have access to an honor bar in club. We drink lots of wine with dinner. There are a number of days at sea and the cruise is 28 nights. We both get one drink ticket. We will be attending a free wine tasting. Still thinking about a drink package too. So the above does not answer all the questions, but it does provide some of the things to consider.

I drink what I want when I want it and never buy a drinks package. As you've already paid for the drinks, it is too easy for the daily limit to become a goal and you will drink more to get your "money's worth." I don't want an incentive to drink more than I might otherwise. I also don't want to be wondering if my drinks package covers the occasional treat of a fine brandy or top tier vintage wine much less deny myself the pleasure if it doesn't.

This is key. As much as I can, I try to convince my brain it's a sunk cost. The main change in behavior for my wife and I is that we end up ordering wine by the glass at lunch and dinner whereas without a drinks package we almost always got bottles. Other than that, either way, we try to just drink what we want when we want it (including the occasional splurge on a high-end cognac or whiskey well beyond the price limit of the drinks package).

It takes an average of 3 drinks to make back the cost of my Plus package on Princess. While that is above my usual daily consumption, I am not usually on vacation. Additionally, you only pay the difference between the cost of a higher priced drink and the $15 limit. We do go for better wines but usually at a cost of $3 extra.

Same
I certainly didn't look at the max # of drinks on the package as a goal but I admit there were times when I may not have had a drink but did because it was paid for. Like you--vacation rules are different than home rules.
On this Alaska cruise we were coming up on the 1st big glacier viewing and it was such a sight that it was emotional. Everyone was out oohing & ahhing. The ship set up a little table with coffee or hot chocolate with various liquers (Baileys, Frangelico, Grand Marnier etc). It was only noon & I might not have wanted to pay for that one but we each got one & it was a nice celebratory thing to do without deciding if I felt like spenidng $14 for a spiked hot chocolate. 3 or 4 drinks to break even made sense especially since it included wifi and special dining places.