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Ozwidget

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Posts posted by Ozwidget

    Is the drink package a good idea?

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    I think that it depends on you, on the cruise duration, type and itinerary. We are booked on 2 upcoming cruises, the first is 8 days in the South Pacific, with 4 shore days with MIL and FIL, DH, DS and DD - MIL and FIL are both very sensible types and no doubt this behaviour will be catching - whilst we will enjoy a wine at dinner and maybe a cocktail at a show, it is unlikely the drinks package will be worthwhile. Also as we have 3 cabins, we can bring 6 bottles of wine onboard between us which will further mitigate our bar bill.

     

    Our other upcoming cruise is a 19 day transpacific with the husband and kids and another couple who are longtime friends. (The last time we holidayed with them (pre-Kids) we had to implement a ‘no drinking before noon’ rule!) And there is a much lower shore/sea day ratio. All up the package will definitely be worth it for this cruise - I got it at the cheapest price I have seen so far and I am safe in the knowledge that I have already paid our bar bill months before I set sail!

     

    But inthe end - it’s up to you!

     

     

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    Help please comparing chalk and cheese

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Are you sure you really want to do this?

     

     

     

    That is a very long time to be on a cruise, especially for kids.

     

     

     

     

    What will you do the whole time?

     

     

     

    I love cruises, but I would never consider anything that long.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Let’s hope so - already booked - kids will be 13 and 14 so they will be fine... hopefully!

     

     

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    Help please comparing chalk and cheese

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Not sure if it helps your decision, but I personally find the Oasis class less cramped/crowded than any other ship! What I'm trying to say is, I guess they've built more deck space/things to do into the ships as they've got bigger and bigger to a point where the passenger loading is seemingly irrelevant?

     

     

     

    I've done a 17 nighter around NZ & Oz so not only am I envious, but that cruise itinerary sounds/looks amazing!

     

     

     

    Thanks IzznOll17 We actually booked it last night and am super excited that I hardly slept! I can’t wait.

     

     

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    Help please comparing chalk and cheese

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Thanks for your help guys - am leaning towards ovation, it also works out better with school holidays and missing hardly any school, it is really only the number of fellow passengers that worries me. Probably because the number of people on board including crew is about the same as the number who live in our sleepy rural town !

     

     

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    Help please comparing chalk and cheese

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    We are looking at booking a cruise from Hawaii to Sydney in September 2019. There are 2 choices:

     

    Radiance of the seas leaves on 20 September for 18 nights

    Or

    Ovation of the seas leaves on 30 September, for 19 nights - (but it’s not clear why Ovation takes an extra day)

     

    As far as I can see, Ovation has more things to do on board, which would probably be better, as our kids will be 13 and 14, and there are a fair few sea days but also has an extra 2000 passengers also looking for something to do on sea days.

     

    We are going with friends we have known for ever and know we will have a fantastic holiday regardless, but would appreciate any advice from those who have more cruise experience - which ship would you chose?

     

     

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    To drinks package or not to drinks package - my solution

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    The only thing you might miss out on is a good price on the package. During a recent sale I got the deluxe package for $42 USD. That is a significant savings off the on-board price of $55 USD per day.

     

     

     

    I'd suggest keeping an eye on the sales and, if you are able, get deluxe package. I'm not a big drinker (but hubby is) so I calculated that with one specialty coffee, one fresh squeezed OJ, minimum five bottles of water and only TWO drinks per day, I will break even with this sale price (Hubby will definitely get his moneys worth). Of course this depends on if you enjoy the non-alcoholic drinks I suggested (I plan on them every day with or without the drink package). Otherwise you have to have at least four alcoholic drinks per day which isn't too excessive. Like others have said, it's more about not having to worry about going over my budget so I'm happy if I just break even.

     

     

     

    That’s a great point - and I think that the fear of missing out is always a great incentive - however, my planner is currently offering me the delux package at $81 in Aussie dollars, on the current exchange rate that’s a smidge above $US60. (granted though, you would never actually get that rate from the bank). If the package was anywhere in the $60 Aussie dollar range, I think I would definitely reconsider! - I am no hopeful, but will definately keep checking.

     

     

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    To drinks package or not to drinks package - my solution

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    So I’ve got a plan: put simply I’m going to overpay my credit card.

     

    I’m not going to get the packages and I’ll put the $2300 away and just before we go I’ll transfer this money onto my card. Then I get to not worry about our bar bill at the end of the cruise, if we spend more than that, well we only have to deal with the balance. I’ll get the kids the soda package to give them the independence of getting their own drinks and load a few dollars on their seapasses so they can buy the odd milkshake or whatever and I’ll keep an eye on what they are spending. I suppose I could potentially upgrade them i need to (or cut them off lol!).

     

     

    This is exactly what I do. Last 6 cruises and spent no where near the cost of a drink package! I do like to drink on holiday. Going on an 18 night cruise later this year and plan on doing the same thing. Of course, I will evaluate my spending on drinks mid cruise and could always get s drink package for the remaining days if my expenditure looks like equaling the cost of a deluxe (premium) drink package.

     

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Forums

     

     

     

    Thanks for that - it’s good to know there’s someone who’s putting the plan into practice

    To drinks package or not to drinks package - my solution

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    This is my first post so please be kind.

     

    On Monday I booked our cruise on Explorer for myself, hubby, DD 13 and DS (who will be) 12, and the MIL and FIL - 9 days in the South Pacific in the January school holidays. Our second ever cruise (the 1st about 6years ago)but the in laws have cruised loads around the med and the Caribbean.

     

    For the past 5 days I have been trawling the forums and interweb to work out if it will be worthwhile pre-purchasing the drinks packages. By all accounts, there are some very divided opinions - I was looking at delux for me and the hubby and refreshment for the kids.

     

    It’s not made any easier by the fact that the packages on my planner are quoted in AU$ and includes gratuity and the bar menus I’ve found on the web are quoted in US$ and then you have to add 18% on top! (As I understand it).

     

    I’ve tried to imagine how much I would drink over the course of a day. Don’t get me wrong, I like to relax on my hols and am partial to a nice wine and a few cocktails after dinner. Both me and th OH sometimes over indulge (and these days it gets harder to shake off the foggy head the next day!) But I am wondering if we can sustain that for 9 nights straight. Plus you would drink less on shore days. Of which we have 4. Also as we have 3 rooms, that’s 6 bottles of wine we can bring onboard.

     

    The in laws would probably not go for a package as, although FIL likes a tipple, MIL would probably have max 3 drinks and they would both have to purchase as in the same room.

     

    Then there is the refreshment Package. As my kids are teens I am thinking that the plain Soda package would be too limited - the refreshment package is the next one up and 3 times the price needing around 8 drinks a day to be drank, so would it really be worth it?

     

    I know people talk about the prepayment and convenience factor of not having to worry about it during the cruise, but at the current price 2 x delux packages and 2 x refreshment packages works out at just over $AU 2,300- I reckon there would be a bit of worry either way - if I buy the packages if I’ve wasted money, or if I don’t, the massive bar bill at the end of the cruise.

     

    So I’ve got a plan: put simply I’m going to overpay my credit card.

     

    I’m not going to get the packages and I’ll put the $2300 away and just before we go I’ll transfer this money onto my card. Then I get to not worry about our bar bill at the end of the cruise, if we spend more than that, well we only have to deal with the balance. I’ll get the kids the soda package to give them the independence of getting their own drinks and load a few dollars on their seapasses so they can buy the odd milkshake or whatever and I’ll keep an eye on what they are spending. I suppose I could potentially upgrade them i need to (or cut them off lol!)

     

    Sorry I’ve rambled a bit, but that’s my plan - I just need to make sure I don’t spend my barbill money over christmas!!

     

    I’ll let you know how it goes.

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