Impact of Drink Packages on RCCL Cruises

We had the packages and we didn't get "tanked" on the ship, the only time we did was in port when a bar was serving rum punch in buckets ... packages made no difference in our behavior except maybe increasing our patience. We had to wait a bit longer for dinner service the first night. We also didn't get the same variety without my pre planning (brought printed copies of old drink menus to try fun drinks on the ship that they no longer advertise)

We don't get the package either, but I never noticed anyone out of control on our cruise a couple months ago. We met a lot of people with the package and the biggest benefit I could see what you could try a bunch of different drinks you may not normally try because you don't have to worry about liking them. If you don't like one you can just get a different drink.

They don't put much alcohol in the drinks so I think most people get water logged before they get drunk.

Tom

We've not sailed on RCCL since the advent of the all-inclusive alcohol packages and, having read these boards of late, I'm worried.

 

In the past, there were countless threads on smuggling alcohol. Now it seems that every other thread is about drinking -- how much you have to drink to "break even," which package, etc. And reviews of the ship we're sailing suggest long lines for drinks, horrendous crowds at bars and lounges, etc. -- all due to the introduction of these packages.

 

We aren't doing a drink package. I enjoy the occasional glass of wine but would never drink enough to warrant a package, and my DH is a non-drinker.

 

We don't want to be on a ship where most of the passengers are getting tanked in order to get their "money's worth" on the alcohol packages. We're not looking for a "party ship."

 

Someone please reassure me that my fears are unwarranted!

Can I join you?

I don't think the ship's manifest is completely filled yet! And while I'm not sure that these cruises are considered "party ships", but I will be enjoying the fruits of my labor, the DW's BD celebration and the old addage of work hard/play hard. :)

When I was looking at the drink packages at first I was thinking well getting the select package at $35 which includes beer and wine I would have to drink 6 beers to break even. In my mind I was like well that's a good bit of beer for everyday. But then I thought about it. If you were to drink say 3 beers around lunch at the pool and what not then take a break and have a glass of wine and 2 more beers at dinner and shows later that night you would hit your "quota" of 6 beers a day. Although, you wouldn't be "tanked" at all, probably not even buzzed. I think most people just think of people just sitting there all day and night drinking drink after drink.

I haven't seen a major difference in number of tanked people crawling around, theres always a few but seems about the same #.

Seems like the # of bar servers has been reduced so lines are a little longer but not bad.

The drink price increase earlier this year has had a bigger impact I think, seems to be the two camps now of not drinking at all or buying the package and not worrying about it. It definitely cut back on our on board spending.

Everyone who loves drink packages for sea days, raise your hand.

:)

Look at the dates of our next sailings in my signature. Avoid these.

Outstanding! You just made me want to sail with you! :D

Dan.

I am well beyond the partying stage of my life, I celebrate a major accomplishment if I can make it past 11pm.

Haha, I'm right there with you!

When I was looking at the drink packages at first I was thinking well getting the select package at $35 which includes beer and wine I would have to drink 6 beers to break even. In my mind I was like well that's a good bit of beer for everyday. But then I thought about it. If you were to drink say 3 beers around lunch at the pool and what not then take a break and have a glass of wine and 2 more beers at dinner and shows later that night you would hit your "quota" of 6 beers a day. Although, you wouldn't be "tanked" at all, probably not even buzzed. I think most people just think of people just sitting there all day and night drinking drink after drink.

It really is not hard to "get your money's worth" with drink prices now. Just because the drinks are not listed on the drink menus does not mean the bartenders will not make them for you. They really haven't cut back on the number of drinks they will make. Maybe they intend to limit options by not placing the drinks on the menu, but we found that they would make anything we asked.

I did not find the "roving waiters" by the pool to be hard to find. They were by every now and then, at least enough to meet my needs (which is not a lot.)

I only went up to the bar to get a drink one occasion, and that was when I was getting ready to leave the pool area to go back to my stateroom.

I am not a big drinker. Before the drink package, I would probably have 3-4 drinks in a day- to include a couple of glasses of wine around dinner time. With the drink package, I may have gone to 5 drinks in a day. Also, remember that the packages include sodas and some bottled waters (which would have to be paid for if you did not have a drink package.) I easily "broke even." I did not feel the need to drink more to "break even." I may have consumed more than usual knowing it would not change my bar bill in the end, but I was never "tanked" just to "break even."

Break even point isn't that many drinks because the prices of the individual drinks are so high. It's a good deal if you would normally spend that kind of money anyway. If you are adding drinks to make it a good deal, I'd rethink the reasoning.

Even before they raised the price, 2 mixed drinks and 4 beers equalled the current drink package of $49.00. Now break even is with even less drinks. Of course if you don't have 5 drinks, it makes no sense to get. But remember, you also get soda and water included and that's not even in the break even math. Now, let's have 6 drinks over an 12 hour period and I do believe, I'm not drunk.

I may have consumed more than usual knowing it would not change my bar bill in the end, but I was never "tanked" just to "break even."

This additionally is why I like the drink packages. I like to pre-pay gratuities, shore excursions, and now drink packages. When I get my bill at the end of the cruise it should only include anything I decide to buy in addition (bingo, gift shop purchases, and casino will come out of my pocket). It's nice to not have to worry about how much your drinks are adding up to everyday, it's vacation, you shouldn't have to worry about the numbers. The way I do it, is every couple weeks I pay off one the said items before the cruise so it's not a huge chunk all at once but it is all paid off in advance. I'll pay for my drink package this week, my wife's next week, etc..

Look at the dates of our next sailings in my signature. Avoid these.

:):):)

also, with the drink package, i will try new drinks without fear of knowing i might not like it and have to pay for something i'm not going to drink.

I have to say that I had the same concerns, however, I did not see many over do it at all. I saw no one at all actually drunk - but we do not stay up much past the late show so maybe some do later on . Now over doing the food - that's a different story!

I have not noticed any change in behavior or wait times in bars. On our latest cruise, the only REALLY drunk person was a young woman at the muster drill. We wondered how she had managed to get that drunk already. She had probably already broken even on her package.

also, with the drink package, i will try new drinks without fear of knowing i might not like it and have to pay for something i'm not going to drink.

Yup this is me.

I want to try new drinks and if I dont like it I will move on.

Never had a martini, and this Mojito sounds different.

I am a traditionalist....Captain Jack and Diet coke, and when I splurge I will move upto champagne.

Now I can see what others rave about.

Later

Break even point isn't that many drinks because the prices of the individual drinks are so high. It's a good deal if you would normally spend that kind of money anyway. If you are adding drinks to make it a good deal, I'd rethink the reasoning.

You have written what I was thinking.

Even before they raised the price, 2 mixed drinks and 4 beers equalled the current drink package of $49.00. Now break even is with even less drinks. Of course if you don't have 5 drinks, it makes no sense to get. But remember, you also get soda and water included and that's not even in the break even math. Now, let's have 6 drinks over an 12 hour period and I do believe, I'm not drunk.

Before March 1st, two cocktails and four beers would have cost me $36. (Thats less the gratuity as you quoted the package price without gratuity)

Break even is is with even less drinks because the individual drinks are priced so high.

People will buy the packages for different reasons.

Sometimes they are included as 'free all inclusive' (added into the cruise price).

It depends on the sailing but I have seen many 'well oiled' cruisers on the packages seemingly getting their money's worth, especially on sea days, but not to the point of falling down drunk.

Look at the dates of our next sailings in my signature. Avoid these.

hahahahahahahahaha! LOL

Yup this is me.

 

I want to try new drinks and if I dont like it I will move on.

 

Never had a martini, and this Mojito sounds different.

 

I am a traditionalist....Captain Jack and Diet coke, and when I splurge I will move upto champagne.

 

 

Now I can see what others rave about.

 

Later

You should try a Moscow Mule, vera tasty.

Look at the dates of our next sailings in my signature. Avoid these.

LMAO ... the best answer.

Yup this is me.

 

 

 

I want to try new drinks and if I dont like it I will move on.

 

 

 

Never had a martini, and this Mojito sounds different.

 

 

 

I am a traditionalist....Captain Jack and Diet coke, and when I splurge I will move upto champagne.

 

 

 

 

 

Now I can see what others rave about.

 

 

 

Later

Try the frozen mojito it's awesome.

I think the real issue here is that RCCL has inflated the cash drink prices in order to justify the cost of the pre-paid drink packages. With cocktails prices at $12 + 18% tip, it's easy to justify paying $49 + 18% gratuity because all you need to do is order more than 4 drinks per day, on average, to get more than your money's worth. What we forget id the actual "reasonable and customary" price of drinks. I live in Alabama, which has the highest liquor taxes in the country. My poison of choice is Johnnie Walker Red, which is about $55 per 1.75l bottle. If I drank $55 of JW Red in a day, I'd be dead (or at least I'd probably wish I were!) But since individual cocktails are priced so high, paying $55/day for 4-5 drinks actually seems "reasonable".

I will probably buy the premium package for our cruise (no need for ultimate - I don't do fancy coffees or juices). Why? Not because I intend to get drunk, but I am sure I'll have a cocktail at the poll during the day, a few glasses of win at dinner, and a few cocktails at night. It will likely be less expensive to have the package, and even if not, I'll have a firm budget for my trip.

Just a freindly reminder... you really can't drink all day....

unless you start in the morning.

OK, I admit it. I stole that from a FB post. :D

Thanks for all the serious (and humorous) replies. B/c we haven't cruised RCCL for awhile, I didn't realize per drink prices had gone up.

The discussion above makes it much more clear why so many choose a package and why it can still be a "good deal" -- or at least a known quantity in terms of expense -- even for those who don't drink all that much.

Thanks again!

I think the real issue here is that RCCL has inflated the cash drink prices in order to justify the cost of the pre-paid drink packages. With cocktails prices at $12 + 18% tip, it's easy to justify paying $49 + 18% gratuity because all you need to do is order more than 4 drinks per day, on average, to get more than your money's worth. What we forget id the actual "reasonable and customary" price of drinks. I live in Alabama, which has the highest liquor taxes in the country. My poison of choice is Johnnie Walker Red, which is about $55 per 1.75l bottle. If I drank $55 of JW Red in a day, I'd be dead (or at least I'd probably wish I were!) But since individual cocktails are priced so high, paying $55/day for 4-5 drinks actually seems "reasonable".

 

I will probably buy the premium package for our cruise (no need for ultimate - I don't do fancy coffees or juices). Why? Not because I intend to get drunk, but I am sure I'll have a cocktail at the poll during the day, a few glasses of win at dinner, and a few cocktails at night. It will likely be less expensive to have the package, and even if not, I'll have a firm budget for my trip.

This is probably the most sense making post I have read in a long time.

Agree wholeheartedly with every word of it.