All Inclusive Beverage Packages

All Inclusive Beverage Packages are new since my last cruise. We are sailing December 4th on the Star for 17 days to Santiago Chile and I'm trying to decide if the $56.00 package (including gratuity) will be a good choice. I'm curious about people's experiences with this option on longer cruises and if they've found value. In my mind it would be an obvious value for a shorter cruise where I might be inclined to imbibe a bit more daily, but for a longer cruise, I'm thinking I might take breaks from drinking and not find the value. Also, my traveling partner really isn't much of a drinker so it clearly would not be a great deal for her, but at dinner she enjoys wine. I'm wondering if I can purchase a bottle of wine with the 40% discount for her to enjoy over a few days, while I order wine by the glass. One thing I've noticed about Princess is they sell half bottles of liquor for consumption in your stateroom at a very reasonable price. I'm curious if these bottles are available for purchase throughout the cruise or only prior to setting sail. If they are, this would factor into my decision.

All Inclusive Beverage Packages are new since my last cruise. We are sailing December 4th on the Star for 17 days to Santiago Chile and I'm trying to decide if the $56.00 package (including gratuity) will be a good choice. I'm curious about people's experiences with this option on longer cruises and if they've found value. In my mind it would be an obvious value for a shorter cruise where I might be inclined to imbibe a bit more daily, but for a longer cruise, I'm thinking I might take breaks from drinking and not find the value. Also, my traveling partner really isn't much of a drinker so it clearly would not be a great deal for her, but at dinner she enjoys wine. I'm wondering if I can purchase a bottle of wine with the 40% discount for her to enjoy over a few days, while I order wine by the glass. One thing I've noticed about Princess is they sell half bottles of liquor for consumption in your stateroom at a very reasonable price. I'm curious if these bottles are available for purchase throughout the cruise or only prior to setting sail. If they are, this would factor into my decision.

The package includes all cocktails, spirits, beer and wine priced below $10, as well as nonalcoholic items like soda, mocktails and shakes. Also included are coffee, tea, espresso and specialty drinks. Additionally, it includes a 40 percent discount on bottled wines priced less than $100 and any food items usually included with the coffee card like crepes and gelato. :D ;)

Cato :)

Completed Cruises !

Pre-cruise Days - The Big Red Boat, 1993 ??

1st cruise - Coral Princess, 19 November 2008, 10 day Panama Canal, FLL to ACA

2nd cruise - Coral Princess, 15 May 2009, 3 day Repositioning, Los Angeles to Vancouver.

3rd cruise - Sapphire Princess, 25 November 2009? 7 day Mexican Riviera.

4th cruise - Golden Princes, 12 June 2010, 7 day Alaska. (Golden Anniversary Cruise)

5th Cruise - Island Princess, 04 October 2010, Vancouver - Los Angeles, Repositioning

6th cruise - Sapphire Princess, 05 January 2011, 10 day Mexican Riviera. LA to LA.

7th cruise - Golden Princess, 11 May 2011, 3 day, LA to Vancouver, Repositioning

8th cruise - Sapphire Princess, 14 May 2011, 1 day, Vancouver to Seattle, Repositioning

9th cruise - Coral Princess 19 May 2011 2 day, San Francisco to Vancouver, Repositioning

10th & 11th cruises - Coral Princess 02 July to 16 July 2011, round trip Vancouver - Whittier Alaska, B2B

12th & 13th cruises - Sapphire Princess, x2, Cabins, 18 Sep. 2011, 1 day, Seattle to Vancouver, Repositioning

14th & 15th cruises - Golden Princess, x2, Cabins, 24 Sep. 2011, 1 day, Seattle to Vancouver, Repositioning.

We have now reached Elite status with Princess Cruise Lines :D

16th cruise - Oasis of the Seas, 26 Nov. 2011, 7 day, Western Caribbean, Ft. Lauderdale, Ret.

17th & 18th cruises - Crown Princess B2B, 03 - 10 Dec & 10 - 17 Dec 2011, 14 Days, South & western Caribbean

19th cruise - Grand Princess, 31 Mar. - 07 April 2012, 7 Days, Eastern Caribbean, FLL - FLL

20th cruise - Island Princess, 06-16 June 2012, 10 day cruisetour Vancouver - Wittier

21th cruise - Emerald Princess, 16 day, 10 - 26 Sep. 2012, TA, Copenhagen - New York

22nd cruise - Carnival Ecstasy 10 - 14 January, 2013, 4 Day Bahamas, Port Canaveral Ret.

23rd cruise - Sapphire Princess 30 March - 06 April, 2013, 7 Day Coastal LA - LA

24th cruise - Coral Princess, 19 May - 22 May, 2013, 3 Day Repositioning Cruise, LA - Vancouver

25th cruise - Royal Princess 16 June - 05 July, 2013, 19 Day Inaugural cruise, Southampton - Venice.

26th cruise - Emerald Princess, 06 - 16 October, 2013, 10 Day Canada - New England, Quebec city to New York

27th cruise - Royal Princess, 24 November - 01 December, 2013, 7 Day,Eastern Caribbean, Fort Lauderdale Ret.

28th cruise - Sapphire Princess, 20 - 24 Jan, 2014, 4 Days, California

29th cruise - Crown Princess, 03 - 10 May 2014, 7 Day, LA to Vancouver.

30th cruise - Pacific Princess, 05 - 12 Aug. 2014, 7 Days, Vancouver RT, Alaska

31st cruise - Golden Princess, 13 - 17 Oct. 2014, 4 Days, LA - Mexican Riv, RT,

32nd cruise - Crown Princess, 20 - 27 Dec. 2014, 7 Days, LA - Mexican Riv, RT.

33rd cruise - Coral Princess, 27Apr. - 02 May.2015, 5 Days, LA - Vancouver, Repo

All Inclusive Beverage Packages are new since my last cruise. We are sailing December 4th on the Star for 17 days to Santiago Chile and I'm trying to decide if the $56.00 package (including gratuity) will be a good choice. I'm curious about people's experiences with this option on longer cruises and if they've found value. In my mind it would be an obvious value for a shorter cruise where I might be inclined to imbibe a bit more daily, but for a longer cruise, I'm thinking I might take breaks from drinking and not find the value. Also, my traveling partner really isn't much of a drinker so it clearly would not be a great deal for her, but at dinner she enjoys wine. I'm wondering if I can purchase a bottle of wine with the 40% discount for her to enjoy over a few days, while I order wine by the glass. One thing I've noticed about Princess is they sell half bottles of liquor for consumption in your stateroom at a very reasonable price. I'm curious if these bottles are available for purchase throughout the cruise or only prior to setting sail. If they are, this would factor into my decision.

Lots of threads on this subject, google brings up a few...

Check this thread out and the link in the first post to a spread sheet.

I would add a $1 or $2 for price increases.....

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&sqi=2&ved=0CEUQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fboards.cruisecritic.com%2Fshowthread.php%3Ft%3D2038576&ei=ED1jVZfyMIfvsAWE3IOQCQ&usg=AFQjCNEo1BS9wO8eyHdDyA5BuFqbmt09MA&sig2=A1lc8fwpTigXptnFCRwx_Q&bvm=bv.93990622,d.b2w

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=311975&d=1399496113

One thing I've noticed about Princess is they sell half bottles of liquor for consumption in your stateroom at a very reasonable price. I'm curious if these bottles are available for purchase throughout the cruise or only prior to setting sail. If they are, this would factor into my decision.

To answer your question about the half-bottles of liquor - yes, you can buy them while on the cruise. Just call room service to order. Much cheaper than the bar prices. :)

Whether it is worth it depends on the individual. Other than a glass of wine at dinner I dont typically drink much alcohol so I usually get a soda card and coffee card and if I decide I want a cocktail I pay as I go.

My DH gets the all inclusive and some days ( generally sea days) he comes out ahead - some days Princess does. He is able to use the card to purchase bottles of wine at dinner for 40% off and I am able to enjoy that wine with him which is very nice.

We are cruising Canada - New England this year which is very port intensive and are debating whether he will get the card for that one since we will be off the ship so much of the time. For a cruise with a lot of sea days he would get one.

When I was on in February, I purchased the Unlimited Soda and More package. Included all soda and "mocktails". There was the occasion where I would order a glass of wine, but just paid the price for it.

When I go again, I will definitely be getting that again. I found it very economical.

We do drink -- never to the extent of getting drunk and even with that -- we loved the beverage package, albeit, that was on celebrity when offered as a free perk. Sure wish Princess would do that because over $100 a day per couple is above my price point if it is coming out of my pocket separately. When they offer it as a 'free perk', prices are higher, but certainly not by $100 a day....at least for the cruises I have checked into.

While sharing is strictly prohibited, I think Princess allows one person to book the package and the other doesn't have to. So, you could buy a bottle of wine at a discount for your wife and you, with the package, could get yours for free.....so definitely more economical than purchasing packages for both.

Learning from other's experiences is really useful. I'm still on the fence regarding the package because being at sea for 17 days, I'm suspecting my drinking might taper off over time. The rules regarding unlimited beverage package are clear, but some subtle benefits seem to be emerging. It seems that I for instance can drink wine at the sushi bar and my wife can eat the included sushi (which I don't like and she loves.) I can buy a bottle of discounted wine at dinner which she can enjoy, and then order wine by the glass for myself. It's nice that we both don't have to buy the package, because as I said before, her one or two glasses of wine a day habit wouldn't make the plan add up, but my fondness for martinis and top shelf whiskey could make it a good deal for me. Now that I know that I can buy Princess' fairly inexpensive half bottles of liquor for our stateroom all cruise, that adds another thing to consider. The bottles really are a great deal for us, coming originally from Washington State where liquor taxes are so high prices in the stores there are about the same or worse.

We do drink -- never to the extent of getting drunk and even with that -- we loved the beverage package, albeit, that was on celebrity when offered as a free perk. Sure wish Princess would do that because over $100 a day per couple is above my price point if it is coming out of my pocket separately. When they offer it as a 'free perk', prices are higher, but certainly not by $100 a day....at least for the cruises I have checked into.

 

While sharing is strictly prohibited, I think Princess allows one person to book the package and the other doesn't have to. So, you could buy a bottle of wine at a discount for your wife and you, with the package, could get yours for free.....so definitely more economical than purchasing packages for both.

What do you mean by sharing is strictly prohibited? What happens?

What do you mean by sharing is strictly prohibited? What happens?

The package is per person, Princess is well aware of people trying to beat the system.

Its theft so I would not want to be the one to test those waters. :eek:

The AIP is a good deal, but difficult to keep up a constant alcohol intake for 17 days (as my DH found out). Coming down with a cold or other illness does impact on consumption as well.

The AIP is a good deal, but difficult to keep up a constant alcohol intake for 17 days (as my DH found out). Coming down with a cold or other illness does impact on consumption as well.

It covers more than alcohol and a number of people have found that when combined with a moderate number of alcohol beverages that the addition of juices, mocktails, specialty coffees and water make the package a better purchase than buying all the beverages individually.

It really isn't about the alcohol for me. Yes I drink wine and enjoy a good cocktail but I drink A LOT of water. And I know the ship has decent water but I choose bottled and the occasional good coffee in the morning. I just do not want any pieces of paper that everyone throws into a drawer and does not look at them again. I am on vacation and do not wish to have a paper trail of my drinking.

It really isn't about the alcohol for me. Yes I drink wine and enjoy a good cocktail but I drink A LOT of water. And I know the ship has decent water but I choose bottled and the occasional good coffee in the morning. I just do not want any pieces of paper that everyone throws into a drawer and does not look at them again. I am on vacation and do not wish to have a paper trail of my drinking.

Not sure this package is for you. You will still get those pieces of paper with a zero cost on each.

24 bottles of water a day will justify the cost of the package.

Not sure this package is for you. You will still get those pieces of paper with a zero cost on each.

 

24 bottles of water a day will justify the cost of the package.

We never got the rceipts to keep, just a single copy to sign. This was on Caribbean Princess for 16 nights this soring. Most bartenders, once they were used to us, just ran a tab for us and we only had to sign once for the evening. But we nevé got double copies, ie one for them one fore us. It was always a single copy to sign that they kept. So no drawer full of receipts to throw away.

It covers more than alcohol and a number of people have found that when combined with a moderate number of alcohol beverages that the addition of juices, mocktails, specialty coffees and water make the package a better purchase than buying all the beverages individually.

+1 This. We haven't used the beverage package on Princess yet but on Celebrity, and appreciate the simplicity. We drink only bottled water all day, several specialty coffees each, and then our fair share of cocktails and glasses of wine in the evenings. Combined we *maybe* come out even but the convenience is the deciding factor for us.

All Inclusive Beverage Packages are new since my last cruise. We are sailing December 4th on the Star for 17 days to Santiago Chile and I'm trying to decide if the $56.00 package (including gratuity) will be a good choice. I'm curious about people's experiences with this option on longer cruises and if they've found value.

In my mind it would be an obvious value for a shorter cruise where I might be inclined to imbibe a bit more daily, but for a longer cruise, I'm thinking I might take breaks from drinking and not find the value.

Also, my traveling partner really isn't much of a drinker so it clearly would not be a great deal for her, but at dinner she enjoys wine. I'm wondering if I can purchase a bottle of wine with the 40% discount for her to enjoy over a few days, while I order wine by the glass.

One thing I've noticed about Princess is they sell half bottles of liquor for consumption in your stateroom at a very reasonable price. I'm curious if these bottles are available for purchase throughout the cruise or only prior to setting sail. If they are, this would factor into my decision.

~ We buy the All Inclusive Drink stickers for each of us on whatever length of cruise (19 days on our next). They work for us best and save money for us but might not be good for everyone.

~ Yes, you can use you 40% discount for wine to share with your traveling companion. This is something that is not considered cheating by Princess. If the whole bottle of wine is not finished they will save it for you or you can take it with you.

You can also order your wine by the glass.

~ The liquor by the bottle (they are sort of small) is offered from room service for the entire cruise.

Look forward to having a WONDERFUL cruise to South America! :D

LuLu

To those who are wondering...most cruise lines require all adults in a cabin to purchase a beverage package. They don't allow one person to have it and the other person not have it.

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To those who are wondering...most cruise lines require all adults in a cabin to purchase a beverage package. They don't allow one person to have it and the other person not have it.

 

 

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Not true on Princess.

Complimentary beverage package is one thing, but paying $56 per day? We had a complimentary package on our 20 day transatlantic. We are not big drinkers. $112 per day for the 2 of us? We never came anywhere near that! Did like the fresh squeezed orange juice and cappuccinos .

Each person has to analyze their situation.

I'm in limbo for getting this package.... Neither my wife or I drink much, however being on the Dec 10 cruise, I may drink like I was 20 again. Mainly I just want to try new drinks, specially frozen ones! But besides that we normally drink lots of water and my wife loves teas. So we are in debates on which package we should buy OR do I just muscle in cases of water boarding the ship, use mio type squeeze things and lord knows my wife has enough teas at home that she could make the ships tea stock Blush.

All Inclusive Beverage Packages are new since my last cruise. We are sailing December 4th on the Star for 17 days to Santiago Chile and I'm trying to decide if the $56.00 package (including gratuity) will be a good choice. I'm curious about people's experiences with this option on longer cruises and if they've found value. In my mind it would be an obvious value for a shorter cruise where I might be inclined to imbibe a bit more daily, but for a longer cruise, I'm thinking I might take breaks from drinking and not find the value. Also, my traveling partner really isn't much of a drinker so it clearly would not be a great deal for her, but at dinner she enjoys wine. I'm wondering if I can purchase a bottle of wine with the 40% discount for her to enjoy over a few days, while I order wine by the glass. One thing I've noticed about Princess is they sell half bottles of liquor for consumption in your stateroom at a very reasonable price. I'm curious if these bottles are available for purchase throughout the cruise or only prior to setting sail. If they are, this would factor into my decision.

Using the drink spreadsheet I figured I would only consume max about $40 per day, not worth $56 per day.

Not true on Princess.

I know...an earlier poster had done this on Princess, and wondered if the other cruise lines do the same.

I was just letting them know.

Pam

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I know...an earlier poster had done this on Princess, and wondered if the other cruise lines do the same.

I was just letting them know.

OK, gotcha. ;)

On Royal Princess we did not get receipts for each drink - no confetti to keep track of:D.

We both like a drink:D - a decent coffee or two in the morning; a couple of G&Ts after a days excursioning; 2 martinis before dinner; 2 wines with dinner and a brandy afterwards and we were well in front. Any drinks after that (e.g. casino) were buckshee. Often took a scotch up to the cabin as a nightcap as well.

We reckoned we roughly doubled the value of the AIBP to us over 12 days.

If I got a cold the AIBP would get a hammering for medicinal whisky:rolleyes:.