Sthrngary

Installment #2: Drink Programs There are many misconceptions on drink programs. It would seem, every cruise brand and category has their own take on it. NCL has a Perk called "Free at Sea" and it includes an adult drink program yet you don't get it for nothing. You have to pay a few hundred dollars for Tips which make the perk not exactly free. Other brands have no drink program however you can buy a Wine/Beer at lunch and dinner, wine only by the bottle or unlimited Spirits, Wine and Beer for a cost. That last example is Oceania. I have found most of these programs seem to be done by the cruise brands marketing department because they are not always as they seem when written on a cruise ad. As with everything, read the find print. Once you have a handle on it, you can make an informed business decision. Remember the goal of this thread, "Realistic Expectations". Here is the mistake new guest make when considering a drink package. They want to make the cruise brand lose money on them. They figure, how many drinks makes buying the package a deal or value. I have a much better approach to your decision but it end up being up to you at the end. If you drink daily at home, get a drink package. If you hardly ever drink, done. Just buy a drink when you want one. The tendency is to drink more on vacation so a daily drink at home turns into two or three. Will drink packages be a deal or value to you, "NO". Will they make your vacation a little more relaxing, subjective but I say yes. Since this thread is for 1st Time Cruisers stories of how I messed up might make you understand cruising better. In the OLD days, their was no drink package. My wife and I had little money to go on vacation. So we would buy the three-Bottle Wine Package and drink one bottle together every other night. One cruise we has a little extra money and we bought a cocktail from time to time. Then we got our bill, under the door of our cabin on the dis-embarkment day. All I am going to say is, "Not A Fun Document". This only happened once. My goal on a vacation is to make it as "User Friendly" while vacationing as possible. I do this by making it as "All-Inclusive" as I can. So I buy drink packages knowing I will over pay but control my expenses. I never worry about a bill under my stateroom door. All That was figured out before I left for the vacation. I also never count my drinks to make sure I get all my value. Did I do that when we were much younger, "Yes". Did I pay the price the next day with the Hang Over from Hell, "Yes". I learned my lesson. Maybe my story will help you. My final note to you as a new cruiser. It is so easy to over do it on drinks your first night. You are happy, excited and want to party the night away. Just use good business judgment so you first full day on the water is not spent in bed. Sound advice from a old man that learned the hard way. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@pezgirlroy77 That will work perfectly. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Branbay I have an idea for you. I use a Cpap. They bring me a power strip and special water for my Cpap. Another idea is what I do also. I bring a round power strip that also has USB on it (Purchased on Amazon). I plug it in and have never gotten any push back. Remember, when you lights are off, the power in the suite also goes off. This is how they save electricity when you are not in the room. I have been on ships where they have card in the front that keeps the power on and also when only your key card when you are in your room will keep the power on. Just an FYI. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Meander Ingwa This is a good idea, just go on the Bliss or the Encore. The reason is the observation lounge in Alaska is the best place for viewing. What for a Balcony to show no single supplement which happens on occasion than do the Upgrade Bid for the Haven. If you get that far, let me know and I will give you strategy for Haven Upgrade Bids. To be quite frank, I think you would be better off looking at Oceania Cruises. They have something now called the "Extraordinary Sale" and "A Four Category Upgrade". I would do the Marina or Riviera with a preference for the Riviera because it was just dry docked. 1200 passengers, quiet focused on personalized service and food. The key is the Itinerary you would like to go on. Here is the really important part, call them directly, the prices you see online are less. You can always transfer your booking to a TA within 30 days. Think Viking for less money and better food. I also and I know this is hard to believe look at regent seven seas which is a Ultra-Luxury brand. From time to time, the single supplement is less than one might think. Just worth a look. I get what you outlined and think that you would enjoy what i call Quiet Excellence. My challenge with cruising right now is over crowding, cutbacks in food and services. That is why I suggested the approach above and attempting to bid up to the Haven. As you made clear, being a solo is an issue that in most times makes you pay a premium of close to double. Not fare, yet many lines now have solo cabins and the ones that are Luxury and Ultra-Luxury are worth looking into. Just my opinion. Which is based on life being to short so you might as well have a really nice experience. Hope that gives you some places to look.

As I said and was careful mention. Subjective. I can see why they feel that way. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Meander Ingwa The answer is not that I know of. However I can give you some idea's to look for. I recently did a Solo Cruise on NCL in what is called a Club Balcony Suite. I took it because I loved the ship and they were only charging a single rate instead of double occupancy. I will never see that deal again because it was only $800.00 for the week. So I go it by simply checking and when I saw it I pulled the trigger. Now on to your real intent for the question. I will give you my best suggestion however you have to give me things you want and don't want in your next or first cruise experience. For my evolution in cruising I started in an inside cabin one a Mainstream Cruise Brand. Over the year I stepped up each cruise and ended up with my family of 5 in the Owners Suite. My next cruise is on a Premium-Plus/Luxury brand for 10-days in the Mediterranean. Now that I am 65 and getting older, I no longer need go carts, lasor tag, water slides and average buffets. I want a different experience. Tell my what experience you want and I will give you places to look. Little hint. Premium Plus/Luxury and Ultra-Luxury understand they have folks that lost their spouses and are kind on the single supplement. NCL larger ships have a Solo Section as to a few other lines. Hope that all makes sense. Cruise well and enjoy ever moment.

@ORV This is the reason for the disclaimer on my spelling and grammar. My mind works faster then my fingers and I miss some things sometimes. My apologies. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@ldubs First I apologize for not including all brands. I was simply giving some basics on the different level of cruise brands. I will answer your question however know this is very subjective. Other may come back and suggest a different notion. I consider Princess and P&O as Premium. They for me don't tend to be in the Premium Plus category. In the past, both brands have been considered by others as Premium Plus so it is close. In my opinion they are a step up from Celebrity/HAL and yet not quite to the Crystal Cruise (of the Past and Now cruising again) ratings. Again, other will differ but you asked me my opinion. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Sound advice.

@MEFIowa Whether we do or don't is as we discussed, these items as you stated are out of our control. I have been on sailings that everything went as planned, and everything got really messed up. In either case, the key was having an "great attitude". Since we cannot change many happenings, finding a way to enjoy the process especially on a cruise is critical, yet sometimes hard. My best example is a cruise on Crystal Cruises right after Covid Restrictions started to get better. All my wife wanted was to, "Swim with the Pigs". That port and two others were cancelled. Disappointing however out of our control. Not the cruise lines fault and yes there was also a medical emergency. That cruise the average age was 103, LOL. They called my wife and myself youngsters. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@MEFIowa I am glad to here that. My preparation page just added installment #5 is based on my past experience. I want my guest joining me and those reading to have "Realistic Expectations". The likely hood of a charge from the ship hospital is something that would normally be unexpected. That is until one gets charged. That is when you wish you were told about "Travel Insurance" and "Costs" in ship Hospitals. Now if I went, and they choose NOT to charge, that would exceed my expectations. Thinking it is done all the time, even when the ship is not crowded, might case some disappointment if it happened to someone else. You live and learn when cruising and I hope to make this first cruise for my best friends a positive memory for the rest of their lives. Of course on the things I can control knowing so many things are out of my hands. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Installment #5: As I take every port and research Ground Transportation, Attractions, Food Options, What to Look Out for (Scams) and utilizing Google Maps coordinated with this list; I felt an update to this post was needed. I hope it is valuable and helps in some way. This is the first of many sections of my Pre-Travel Preparation Manual. General Instructions/Rules to Remember: Jetlag is a Thing: Due to excitement and lack of comfort on a long-haul flight, Jetlag is a thing. The best way to handle it is to have a strategy. Our flight gets into Athens, Greece at 09:30 AM. The best approach is hotel, walk, lunch, nap (A few hours ONLY) and up for dinner (we have reservations in Athens). None of these things are easy but when done, gets you in the time zone quickly. Event and Public Transportation Tickets: Whenever possible, for ports ground transportation/events, book ahead online. Eliminates the long lines and best use of our time in each port. Online links are included in this document under every port. Foreign Currency: Check with your bank that “Bank ATM” in Europe do not have a foreign currency fee. Make sure, we ONLY use Bank ATM. The other ones are tourist traps with high fees. Safety on the Streets/Scams: · Pickpockets: In Europe, pickpockets are a thing. I purchased from Amazon a money belt for cash, credit cards, cell phone, and passports. I will carry my wife’s stuff also. In addition, I will have a FAKE wallet if someone tries to hold us up. Pickpockets work in teams at crowded places. They also don’t want to be noticed or arrested which is important to know for protection. · People on the Street: Do not engage with folks on the street. Do not take free things (Bracelets/Flowers) from anyone on the street. Folks offering to give you HELP or people in costumes. It is ALL a scam. Simply say “thank you” and walk on. They can get forceful and aggressive so be on the alert. Like pick pockets, scams are a thing like in any big city. · Cell Phones: Stealing Cell Phones is also a thing in Europe. The thief waits for you to take a picture, so the security code is OFF. They also ask if you want them to take the picture then don’t give you your phone back until you pay them. They work in teams. Keep phones out of sight and on a theft strap available on Amazon. · Fake Restaurants: Restaurants by attractions especially with ALL English menus outside and a person trying to get you to come to the restaurant is a scam. Stay clear. Expensive and bad food. That is why we do such great research on where to eat. Kiosk that sell soda/water and packaged snakes outside attractions is also a tourist trap charging 7 to 10 Euro’s for a bottle of water. Drink water on the street from fountains like other Europeans and bring a water bottle to refill. Now we are not talking about street food which is a different category. Still use caution. Dining at Ports: · Coffee with Breakfast: Go to the Bistro for coffee and take it to breakfast with you. Much better coffee and the restaurant has no issue with it. This idea is directly from CruiseCritic.com. · Breakfast On-Board Strategy: When the ship gets to a port early like 08:00 AM, we have breakfast on the ship and lunch in the port. Look at listed lunch options in this document for each port. · Lunch On-Board Strategy: When the ship gets to the port at midday like 11:00 AM, we have breakfast and lunch on the ship. We can consider a snack while in the port. Ship Stateroom Portfolio: · Stateroom Charges: It is my habit to check my ship Portfolio every day at about the same time. It protects us all from mistaken charges to my stateroom as they might happen. The Mini-Refrigerator has soft drinks. Pre-requested, in stateroom #1 there is Cranberry, in Stateroom #2 there is orange juice to mix with champagne provided the first day. We have already purchased two Champagne Seal Device to keep the Champagne fresh for more than one day. · Gratuities: If you use the ship spa for nails, hair and or spa treatments, know that the tip/gratuities are included in the bill. No need to tip further unless you feel warranted. · Tipping Butler: The Butler is part of the pre-paid gratuities we did as part of our final payment. Still, it is customary if the butler has done a nice job, to provide them with an additional tip. I will be providing, depending on service received, an additional $100 to $150. Internet/Cell Phone On/Off the Ship Preparation: · On Ship: The cruise provides you with one (1) device unlimited internet non-streaming. Additionally, devices and streaming are available for a cost. I find these cost very high and just share the access with my wife during the trip. The Internet is awful on any cruise ship with any service. What you do is log in from another phone and it kicks the other device offline. Keep your cell phone on “Airplane Mode” when sailing. · Off Ship: Call your Cell Phone company Pre-Cruise and ask what the options are for internet and cell phone usage when in Europe. You are going to want your phone and ability to pick up Google maps when at ports. I called AT&T and with some rules, I have unlimited calls and internet (that is what I have in US) for $10.00 per day or $15.00 with Tami and my lines. Each time you make a call, receive a call, or use the internet, the $10 is charged for 24-hour usage. You must get them to make sure your account has the option. Visas and Covid Testing: · Visas: Currently no visas are needed however we might want to get one for Turkey. As time goes on, we can consider it. The rules can be challenging and hard to understand. An eVisa is $60.00 per person. · Covid Testing: This needs changes all the time based on where Covid is in the country we are going to. It would not be a bad idea to get a booster prior to going. We will keep each other informed of this topic. Weird Needs on a Cruise Ship: · Take Headache Meds with You: They don’t sell over the counter meds on a cruise ship. You must go to the ship hospital, and it is expensive. · Hairdryers Provided: The power of these hairdryers is questionable so you might want to take your own. · Drink Programs Need Suite Card: You need to take your suite card to swipe when ordering an alcoholic drink. This is because not everyone on the ship has a drink package. Also, the suite card is what is needed to buy anything onboard. No cash is accepted. · Binoculars: The state room usually has a pair however if you have room in your luggage, an extra pair will come in handy so both guest can view the sites. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Daniel A Hello, I grew up in Huntington, NY. NCL as nice as they can be, have some strict rules which they can break on occasion. Not often though. Example, the Sugar Cane was near the Cigar Lounge on the Joy. Not my bar and does not have my brands. The joy of a great cigar is a great cocktail with it. I usually have the Premium Plus Beverage Package so I want the good stuff. If my Butler was ok with it on day one, I would call. More often, i would go to one of the better bars and get a double then bring it with me. Now if I was on another brand which is Luxury or Ultra-Luxury, they would be all over me and get me anything I wanted. This is the difference with cruising on a Mainstream brand NCL or a Luxury/Ultra-Luxury brand. Easy fix either way. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Mugennosora Cooler heads will prevail. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Sthrngary. I am the author of this stream and other focusing on the Premium Plus Beverage Package and the Haven in General. I am also a cigar smoker and have used every cigar lounge on every ship I have ever sailed regardless of the brand. Sometime the written word does not allow us to know the intent of the writer. Allow me to clarify and if you have ever read my posts, I can be a bit wordy with terrible spelling and grammar. My goal in this response is to create "Realistic Expectations" for all that read it. Can a Butler as part of their job bring you things in certain parts of the ship? The answer is yes however it is very nice if you clear that with them when you met them on day one. Can a Butler as part of their job bring you food while lets say you are on the Sundeck? The answer is yes and again confirm this with them on day one. Can a Butler as part of their job bring you and adult beverage in the cigar lounge? The answer is sometimes. This one is tough because it is against NCL policy for the butler to provide drinks without charging your room as if it is room service. HOWEVER, Have I had it done it. YES. I asked my butler on day one how he could do it for me and he said he could do it from time to time. Is it guarantied, NO. It is the way you ask and asking upfront. This is why, when I cruise with NCL, In the Haven I do a Butler Letter with their tip in it on day one. I have had folks hate the idea and love the idea. I really don't care. Since doing it, I get almost anything I want. Before, my butlers were hit or miss. Now for the real deal. When you go on other brands that are Luxury or Ultra-Luxury brands, they have different rules. Those butlers would do all we ask and some. They would do things you never even ask. They, in my mind were true butlers. They had less Staterooms and were paid more upfront as part of our fare. That is the truth of the Butler situation. The way to get way we want is simply a matter of professional and kind communications. That is the general rule to get almost anything you want. Many folks think using a butler is one way or another. It is best to read up on it as I did with my first butler. True they are not our personal servant however a hamburger and drink seems reasonable in my humble opinion. Hope all that makes sense. Cruise well, Smoke a good Cigar, and enjoy every moment.

Are you new to cruise vacations? Welcome. On the boards you will see many post that start with, “This is my cruise cruise…..”. I have written a lot about cruising over my 44 years and 30 cruises. When I think of my first cruise, which was again, a very long time ago, it seems everything was perfect. Memories do that to people. In today’s cruising world, doing due diligence is a very proactive and positive approach. I will give you some hints and you can ask me anything you like. First let’s start with education. Education: In my humble opinion, there are several levels of cruise brands. · Mainstream: NCL, Royal Caribbean, MSC, and Carnival. These cruises are usually family oriented and very classic from a standpoint of layout, entertainment, pool games, Itinerary onboard and the list goes on. Most folks have their favorites for one reason or another. It is relative. · Premium: Celebrity, Disney, and Holland America. Debatable, however, more reviews these with slightly better food and services. Holland America usually has a bit older crowd and Disney is focused on Entertainment as one would expect. · Premium Plus/Luxury: Viking, Crystal, and Oceania. Food, drink, and personalized service is raised, and you pay for it. The ships are smaller and can go into smaller ports. I have found the activities and entertainment better in the other categories. The crowd seems to be 60 and above. · Ultra-Luxury: Ritz Carlton and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. There are more brands that fall into this category, and some feel the brands in Luxury should be included. Loyalty to a brand is a big thing in cruising. Ultra-Luxury usually is close to all inclusive and it better be at the cost often of a brand-new SUV. Everything is up a notch. Dining and food are usually good to great. Personalized server is over the top. Most everything is part of your fare from Gratuities to drinking programs and in some cases even excursions. The more you charge the more can be included. Now, many of the brands have a concept made famous by NCL called a “Ship-Within-A-Ship”. It allows you to have more of a luxurious cruise in a private VIP area and still have access to the rest of the ships’ activities and shows. NCL has the Haven, MSC has the Yacht Club, Celebrity has the Retreat. You have a serious premium you must pay, and some say they love this option because it is the best of both worlds. Essentially there is an experience for everyone that depends on your personal budget, wants, needs, and motives. This brings me to my next section called, “Know Yourself”. Know Yourself: Take out a piece of paper and write down all the things you want in your next vacation experience. My wife and I do this anytime we are going to spend a significant amount of money. Whether homes, cars, appliances, and yes vacations. Now match your list to the brands, amenities, perks provided and reputation online. Wait, you are new so hard to do that. Well, you have the perfect environment to research here on CruiseCritic.com. Go to the brand boards, click the button for boards on your top right of your screen and choose a brand. Now read some of the postings for the brand you selected. Go to the reviews and read some of them. You will get the idea very quickly. Other social media video sites are also extremely helpful. Remember to keep in mind your list created. You will NOT click all the boxes, but you might come close. About now you might say, “why so much effort, I just want to go on a vacation?” My reason is based on the phrase, “Realistic Expectations”. The more due diligence you do, the higher likelihood you will be happy at the result of the experience. I used to love Disney World however it takes some strategy to fully enjoy that vacation. Best time to go to the park, restaurants, which rides get the most crowd and where to stay. The best strategies, based on good research, get the best results. A word of advice before we move forward. I was SO excited prior to one of my many cruises that I messed it up for myself. I had “unrealistic expectations” by looking for perfect. Daydreaming about a cruise is NOT reality. Every cruise has positives and negatives just because of the nature of being on the sea. Some things are not controllable by humans. So, stay flexible and go with the flow. That was some GREAT advice. Where to buy your cruise: Please lose the thought of “Best Price”. Years ago, that might have been some crazy deals to be had. Over those decades pricing got super competitive even between like brands. Computers now control pricing so looking for the ultimate deal has less likelihood of being found. So, let’s choose where to buy first then when to buy for the best strategic result. The main outlets to purchasing a cruise are as follows: · Third Party Sources: We have guidelines here on CruiseCritic.com and I am not sure I can mention the names of the major third-party companies. So do a google search on your own. These companies are good, however, since their discounting clearly lets you know, not the places to gain unbelievable service after the fact. Yet, the pricing is better because of several reasons. o The source gives up some commission because they do huge volume. o Often you book with a deposit that is non-refundable. o The perks given by other sources are not always provided. o The rule here is “read the fine print before you make the booking”. Be educated and know what you are buying. I have booked with some of those sources and was pleased. Yet in the back of my mind was, “If the price is discounted, how much of the service, if needed, would be discounted?” · Cruise Travel Agents: Like with any industry there are good and bad agents. Look for one with a great reputation. Community guidelines do not allow endorsement of any agent or agency so again, google is your friend. Look at reviews of their service especially when something went wrong. Communication promptness is a key. A word of caution, when you are watching videos made by Travel Agents or Cruise Influencers, it does not mean they are great with their customer service. Check them out as you would with a real estate agent. Your selection makes a difference especially when, not if, something is not quite right. As with third parties, cruise travel agents can give up some of their commissions, or their agencies might be doing some sort of promotion from time to time. Don’t count on it but do ask. · Cruise Brand Direct Booking: I have used Third Party, Cruise Travel Agents and Booked Direct. The issue for me is American Express Platinum Card Cruise Perks. When you book direct or Third Party, they do not give the perks which for me can be as much as $300 of On-Board Credit and dinner for two at a specialty restaurant/Wine Event. So, if the AMX perk are NOT available for a sale/promotion, that is when I book direct. The key is the ONLY time you can communicate directly with the cruise brand on an issue or change is when you book directly. With the other two cases, the Third Party or Travel Agent is the direct customer of the cruise brand. This can be frustrating when you are more passionate about your issue then your Agent. No discounts or perks other than what is available to every other client that books directly. You can book direct and transfer your booking to an agent within a time of 30 days with some restrictions. Call the cruise brand for more details. How To Reduce Your Cost after Booking: There are websites that you can join to get price fluctuations. This is why having a refundable security deposit is so important. Here is what I do and the key to remember is once the full balance is due and you have paid it, all bets are off. I go on CruiseCritic.com daily to the cruise brand I booked and look for posts on special sales. When I see one, I call my Cruise Travel Agent and see if I qualify. If so, I have gotten stateroom upgrades, reduced fairs, and On-Board-Credit. Sometimes, I am not eligible. Either way, this is the real key to getting a great fare, but it takes some work. So cruising is a rare opportunity to reduce your fare after you purchased it. That is why I usually book as far in advance as possible. Pre-Cruise Flights and Hotels: After 30 cruises you learn from your mistakes. Too much money is on the line to take any chances. The personal rule is to fly into the port at least a day before the cruise leaves. This is a result of almost missing a cruise twice. The stress and anxiety it put me throw was not worth saving in time. I have heard all the excuses in the world because clients think flying on a cruise the day of is a good idea. I have read all the horror stories when it does not work well which usually ends up blaming the cruise line or the airline. · Pre-Cruise Flights: Sometimes it seems the cruise brand has a deal on air which is sold as a promotion. If you take the cruise brand air, remember it will not have all the control you might like to have when booking air travel. The cruise brand chooses the air brand, itinerary, day, times, and does it to be as cheap as possible. You often can make changes however they have a premium or cost. It is a good idea to plan your cruise as early as possible and gain your own flight reservations so you can control them. Look to see if they are competitive prices. I recently did a Europe flight, with a fully refundable ticket, that was about the same as the so-called promotion with the cruise brand. The challenge with booking a non-refundable fare is you are stuck with it if you cancel your cruise reservation. This provides food for thought when booking a pre-cruise flight. · Pre-Cruise Hotel: I usually use a discount hotel site that allows for full refunds. My choice is to get as close to the port as possible to make my travel time short for the morning. This goes with my approach to getting on the ship as soon as possible with a drink in my hand. Pre-Cruise Registration: The moment you can pre-register, do it. It is usually 21 days in advance of your departing date. The reason is at that time, you can choose an early boarding time at the gate. The cruise lines tend to be strict at these times so remember this advice. This is a good start, if you have any other 1st Timer Question, just let me know. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

You were in the Haven so you will be taken down via the service elevator on your last morning. I probably would tell your driver to meet you at 9 o’clock. You might even have to wait for me for 45 minutes. It makes all the difference in the world going down that service elevator. Cruise well, and enjoy every moment

@basor Exactly. My TA goes directly to their contact at Oceania. Sometimes there is a wait, other times they get right in. The point is, on things that are not crystal clear on a social media site, need to go through the Cruise Brand. If it takes a while, so be it. Better to know now then wait until it is to late. @jonthomas Fight the good fight and get your answer. Some days it is easy to get into the right person, some days it is not. In any case, stay calm and get your answer. All that matters is all the details are done and accurate when we cruise so we simply have a great time. All the waiting will be forgotten by then. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@jonthomas I can see how frustrating this must be for you. I felt the same way on Airfare, "O" Perks, and Drink Packages. My advice is call Oceania, be very specific on what you want to do and get the answer straight from the Horse's mouth. On a very personal note, I had the "O" air option for my November 2023 cruise. I cancelled it and took the lower fare. I booked myself with Delta on a Fully Cancelable fare. Not to much different and controlled everything. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@fletcher32 I am NEW to Oceania and my first voyage is November 2023. We have two Suites. Suite one is my wife and myself the others is for our best friends. As you most likely know by now, the Select (Perk) Drink program is ONLY Wine and Beer at lunch and dinner. If you choose that package, you can upgrade to the Prestige Package on-board. There is some confusion on the Upgrade Amount and it has all the benefits of the buying the Prestige Package upfront. Specifically the benefit of a % off certain dining special events. The other choice is the Prestige Package which is Unlimited Spirits, Wine and Beer. My understanding which is from this board is the bars onboard open at 11:00 AM. I am sure but can not verify that you could get something like a Mimosa for breakfast. Yet, I am quite sure someone will confirm or deny that on this board. I am not sure but I think the cost per day for this package recently went up. There are mixed information. A link to the drink package was a few posts earlier. My wife and I Pre-Purchased the Prestige Drink Package a month or so ago. It shows on our online Oceania "Managing Your Cruise" information. I used the $600.00 OBC PLUS paid the rest in cash. Why am I telling you this? Because I choose NOT to get the drink perk and upgrade on the ship. Why bother, just get what you want upfront. Cost about the same. The second suite is our friends. The wife drinks and the husband does not. I am assisting with their booking. I got the Wife the Prestige Package and the husband has no drink package. Again, used what we could of her OBC and paid the rest with a credit card. Your question, I can't answer. If both want Unlimited Spirits, Wine, and Beer than yes. Upgrade when on board or do what we did and buy what you want now, not an upgrade. If one wants it and the other does not, all indications is that is not an issue. I travel on NCL all the time. NCL forces all members in the cabin to have the same drink package. Oceania does not. Lots of things different. I hope I answered your question. Cruise Well and Enjoy Every Moment.

Yes, much nicer option than other brands. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I am the one who said this because it was something that I read some where. My bad and I apologize to the board. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

There are lots of YouTube video's on this subject. On cruise ships, especially with casino's I have gotten ATM and Cash advances many times. However, when you research on YouTube, you might find a better strategy when in another country. I would also talk to your band on fees when out of the country so you have no surprises. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Based on how your asked your question, I am going to assume you are new to Oceania as I am. Oceania has several ways/approaches to get to the same place on drink packages. Choose the "O" perk drink package as your, One out of Three perks. This provides you with the package that gives you Wine and beer at lunch dinner. Choose the Prestige Drink package. This package gives you unlimited Spirits, Wine and Beer when ever a venue is open. Two ways to get this drink package. First, get the perk above and upgrade when you are onboard. Second, as I did, I purchased the Prestige Drink Package pre-cruise. I used the $600.00 OBC I choose as my perk and paid with my credit card for the balance. Happy Hour. I really like that every evening the bars have a happy hour. From what I understand, it is two for one drinks. The give you both drinks at one time. Most folks just want a drink or two and this seems very efficient for those occasional drinkers in my opinion. Soft drinks, juices and waters are provided complementary to all guest regardless of what drink packages selected or not selected. One more thing, there are some event when wine and beer are provided complementary. I hope this makes sense. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Trivan My pleasure. Ask any questions you like and I or one of the other members will give you an answer. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Yes you are reading lots of issues with ALL Cruise Brand Flights. To be fair, it every flight was a mess, the cruise line would stop offering them. The majority of the flights get the guest from point A to point B in time to board. Just like everything else online or in Social Media, the real emotions are when things don't workout. If you are angry, you write and want everyone to agree with your emotion. Just human nature. Part of your issue is you have not gotten your flights yet and the anticipation of a bad itinerary. I hesitate to make the following recommendations because I only have 5 million miles and 40 years of air flight experience. It seems, those year don't matter to some online so called experts yet I will risk giving some thoughts. In live never believe everything you read and think what makes the most business sense. When you get your flights, adjustments are usually not allowed. The key word is usually. You only really know when you ask. It the weather looks bad or your flights seem to not give you enough cushion to get to the ship on time, call the airline direct and be nice. They don't have to do a darn thing. You see, the airlines really does not want you to be delayed or miss your cruise. It creates bad guest experience. There is the business motivation. Second, this instant send an email, and more importantly "Certified Next Day" request directly to NCL head quarters asking for your flight to get in a day earlier. You have not gotten your flights because they "Most Likely" have not been booked yet. The POWER of a well written and framed business letter is under utilized. For all those that want to say my advice on sending a letter won't work, I am not the guy to say that too. I have used this technique for decades with great results. Remember, a real live letter on paper, never threaten, explain your situation, and make a reasonable request. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.