Question about bottomless bubbles and alcohol packages

Hey there, getting ready to sail on a 4 day cruise on the Elation here in 2 days! Have 2 questions.

I am kind of interested in the bottomless bubbles package, but not 100% sure. I see its the same price regardless if I purchase it online or on the ship. Can I purchase the package any time during the cruise? So say I decide the 2nd night I may want it, can I get it then?

Also, is it any cheaper buying an alcohol pacakge from the funshops online Vs. waiting til you get on board? I've never ordered any packages from funshops before.

Thanks

Honestly, I thought about getting it too... But I've heard the soda tends to be warm and/or flat. So I'm bringing my own with me.

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Honestly, I thought about getting it too... But I've heard the soda tends to be warm and/or flat. So I'm bringing my own with me.

 

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I like soda now and then, but I really want the juice for mixers in case I get an alcohol package. The 6 they give you probably won't be enough for me for a whole bottle of liquor, plus I like to make different types of drinks.

I think both packages can be bought on embarkation day and the next day, but no more after that. Cheers will cost you an extra $5 a day.

As mentioned, Cheers! is $5/day cheaper to buy prior to sailing - you must purchase by 11:30pm the night before or something.

If Im reading this right you are asking about a bottle for your room? You can only buy an alcohol package through the fun shop BEFORE you cruise. Once on board you will have to buy Cheers or from the bar, No alcohol will be allowed in your room, from the funshop, or stores.

If Im reading this right you are asking about a bottle for your room? You can only buy an alcohol package through the fun shop BEFORE you cruise. Once on board you will have to buy Cheers or from the bar, No alcohol will be allowed in your room, from the funshop, or stores.

You actually can buy a bottle from room service for your room (different than buying duty free from the shops on board), but I don't know if it's the same price or more than purchasing online.

Honestly, I thought about getting it too... But I've heard the soda tends to be warm and/or flat. So I'm bringing my own with me.

 

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To solve that problem, all you need to do is get your cold cans of soda from the coffee bar instead of the warm ones that you'll get at a bar which is then poured over a cup of ice. The Coffee bar on the Horizon had a self serve case in the front as well as a glass front refrigerator in the back that had cans of soda, bottles of water, vitamin water, honest tea iced tea, etc.

Whenever I go to a bar to get soda with the bubbles package, I either ask for a full can and a cup of ice on the side or just a little ice in a cup with the soda poured over it if they won't give me the full can. On the Victory at least, last week it was hit or miss about getting a full can vs. getting a cup of warm coke poured over ice. If you don't like how they give it to you, just ask for it the way you like it the next time or go to a different bar. Now, the cheers package is cheaper if you pre-purchase it more than 48 or 72 hours I think before the cruise leaves and it is paid for right away - no worries about it going on your sign and sail account and having to pay for it later. It is a few dollars a day cheaper and includes everything liquor, soda, now even water and maybe Powerade but not sure about the Powerade. I know the people I sailed with this last time were getting bottles of water with the program. If you are going to drink more than a half dozen drinks a day along with soda and coffee and all that, go for it. But you are maxed out at 15 a day and no more after that. I will caution a person who wants to buy cheers of this however. My friends, who are huge social drinkers, even had a hard time getting to the 15 drink limit a few of the days of the 4-day sailing we just went on. You have to figure if you get up early, maybe a few drinks, one or two at lunch, one at dinner and if you are out late at a show or the club, you might get to your limit but it will be tough. If you have a lot of port days I really don't suggest getting it. For me it would not be worth it as I cannot get to 15 in one day, ever and rather I get the soda package and use my free platinum drink coupon and go to the VIFP all you can drink party on the last day of the cruise and that is plenty for me. Also, if you get off the boat, drinking in port will cost money and before you know it, you are buzzed when you get back onboard and you again won't get to your limit if you can even make it to the end of the night without retiring early. Drinking for a day or two is one thing but drinking like that for a whole week while having to justify your drinks by trying to get your money's worth isn't my thing. But it may be for some. Long winded I know, but it is my opinion and this is certainly a topic that has been heavily discussed on this site over the years. Oh, and before I end this - if it is a short sailing and you won't be drinking a half a case of soda a day every day, bring a 12-pack on at embarkation and then if you go to a place like Key West or another port that has a CVS or something similar, get another one there and bring it back on with you. I have heard that is allowed and a lot cheaper than paying 2.50 plus tip a can or the 8.00 a day plus tip that you pay for the soda package.

The object is not to drink 15 alcoholic drinks per day, just enjoy enough to get your monies worth. If you wish to drink 3 Grey Goose VX martini at the Alchemy Bar @ 20.00 each, you have already made your money. This has been debated on many threads on here and the thought that you don't get your monies worth on a port day does not hold water since you still have a minimum of 8-10 hours on board to get your monies worth, which can be had in 3-8 drinks depending upon your preference. Spreading 8 drinks over 8 hours does not get you drunk, unless you're a 100 lb lightweight who should not even be contemplating Cheers anyway.

Hey there, getting ready to sail on a 4 day cruise on the Elation here in 2 days! Have 2 questions.

 

I am kind of interested in the bottomless bubbles package, but not 100% sure. I see its the same price regardless if I purchase it online or on the ship. Can I purchase the package any time during the cruise? So say I decide the 2nd night I may want it, can I get it then?

 

Also, is it any cheaper buying an alcohol pacakge from the funshops online Vs. waiting til you get on board? I've never ordered any packages from funshops before.

 

Thanks

On a 4 day cruise why would you purchase the soda package after the first day?:o:o

Whenever I go to a bar to get soda with the bubbles package, I either ask for a full can and a cup of ice on the side or just a little ice in a cup with the soda poured over it if they won't give me the full can. On the Victory at least, last week it was hit or miss about getting a full can vs. getting a cup of warm coke poured over ice. If you don't like how they give it to you, just ask for it the way you like it the next time or go to a different bar. Now, the cheers package is cheaper if you pre-purchase it more than 48 or 72 hours I think before the cruise leaves and it is paid for right away - no worries about it going on your sign and sail account and having to pay for it later. It is a few dollars a day cheaper and includes everything liquor, soda, now even water and maybe Powerade but not sure about the Powerade. I know the people I sailed with this last time were getting bottles of water with the program. If you are going to drink more than a half dozen drinks a day along with soda and coffee and all that, go for it. But you are maxed out at 15 a day and no more after that. I will caution a person who wants to buy cheers of this however. My friends, who are huge social drinkers, even had a hard time getting to the 15 drink limit a few of the days of the 4-day sailing we just went on. You have to figure if you get up early, maybe a few drinks, one or two at lunch, one at dinner and if you are out late at a show or the club, you might get to your limit but it will be tough. If you have a lot of port days I really don't suggest getting it. For me it would not be worth it as I cannot get to 15 in one day, ever and rather I get the soda package and use my free platinum drink coupon and go to the VIFP all you can drink party on the last day of the cruise and that is plenty for me. Also, if you get off the boat, drinking in port will cost money and before you know it, you are buzzed when you get back onboard and you again won't get to your limit if you can even make it to the end of the night without retiring early. Drinking for a day or two is one thing but drinking like that for a whole week while having to justify your drinks by trying to get your money's worth isn't my thing. But it may be for some. Long winded I know, but it is my opinion and this is certainly a topic that has been heavily discussed on this site over the years. Oh, and before I end this - if it is a short sailing and you won't be drinking a half a case of soda a day every day, bring a 12-pack on at embarkation and then if you go to a place like Key West or another port that has a CVS or something similar, get another one there and bring it back on with you. I have heard that is allowed and a lot cheaper than paying 2.50 plus tip a can or the 8.00 a day plus tip that you pay for the soda package.

Why do you need to 'get to 15 drinks a day"? 4-5 a day along with bottled water, soda, specialty coffees, milk shakes, etc. more than makes it worth my while with Cheers. It doesn't have to be a drinking challenge.

Why do you need to 'get to 15 drinks a day"? 4-5 a day along with bottled water, soda, specialty coffees, milk shakes, etc. more than makes it worth my while with Cheers. It doesn't have to be a drinking challenge.

It isn't but if people are paying that $60 a day for it, they are naturally going to try to get their money's worth. If you are drinking 4 beers/wine/drink of the day and a couple sodas each day, it is pointless to get the package and may as well just pay per drink or get the soda only. The few times I have gotten cheers, I have had to due to being in a cabin with other drinkers but even then I found myself trying to drink when I maybe did not want to just to try to get a better value for the package. What they should do, is a tiered program like other lines did and include a package that just gets you beer, maybe low end wine and soft drinks for one price, another mid-grade plan that includes more stuff and then finally a premium package for those who want those $20 martinis that everyone seems to keep talking about for a higher price. Then everyone would be happy. I could buy a bucket of beer each day or one every two days for half of what the cheers package would cost and have more than enough most of the time. The main point is that unless you drink a lot, getting the package may end up costing you more than it is worth and you are locked into it for every cruise day, whether or not you actually use it. That was my only caution. A lot of people don't realize that when considering buying.

On a 4 day cruise why would you purchase the soda package after the first day?:o:o

If you want to avoid paying an additional 25 cents or so until the evening per warm soda on the first night due to taxes and only getting a half a day's use of the package on the first day, saving that $9 or so could be a good option. I've never done it like that but you certainly can and it could be a savings if you don't drink a ton of soda on the first day or don't get onboard until 300P or for whatever reason that would limit your usage of the plan.

The object is not to drink 15 alcoholic drinks per day, just enjoy enough to get your monies worth. If you wish to drink 3 Grey Goose VX martini at the Alchemy Bar @ 20.00 each, you have already made your money. This has been debated on many threads on here and the thought that you don't get your monies worth on a port day does not hold water since you still have a minimum of 8-10 hours on board to get your monies worth, which can be had in 3-8 drinks depending upon your preference. Spreading 8 drinks over 8 hours does not get you drunk, unless you're a 100 lb lightweight who should not even be contemplating Cheers anyway.

Yes, I can enjoy a few drinks in a day, maybe more than a few at the club or outside the casino or in the punchliner lounge in the evening, but I don't want to do that every night of the cruise, especially ones longer than 3 or maybe 4 days. Unless you're a bigtime drinker, run the math before buying and realize based on factors such as port days, evening activities, rest and recovery time, etc, are you going to get that value every day or not? For most people, no they probably will not. Yes, you can get a very expensive drink such as the strawberry martini (or whatever my buddy had at Alchemy on my last cruise) and 2 or 3 of them would add up but again, is that an everyday thing for most? I understand it is not a race to get to 15 just for the sake of doing it, but the real only way to get true value from that and not just break even or lose money on the package is to really drink all day and night for the entire cruise. Yeah, some people just want to prepay their drinks and be out that money ahead of time without worrying about a bill later and enjoy and that's great. But it is ultimately up to each person. I am just trying to give some perspective to someone who is contemplating buying the package on its pros and cons.

Depending on what you drink, the pre-purchased bottles can be the best deal on alcohol. You can buy a 1 liter bottle for ~$100ish. For me, as a Jack and Coke guy, bringing cans of Coke and getting a bottle is the best value. If you are going to try lots of different drinks, especially the excellent Alchemy menu, Cheers may be for you.

Depending on what you drink, the pre-purchased bottles can be the best deal on alcohol. You can buy a 1 liter bottle for ~$100ish. For me, as a Jack and Coke guy, bringing cans of Coke and getting a bottle is the best value. If you are going to try lots of different drinks, especially the excellent Alchemy menu, Cheers may be for you.

Solid advice

I understand it is not a race to get to 15 just for the sake of doing it, but the real only way to get true value from that and not just break even or lose money on the package is to really drink all day and night for the entire cruise.

You don't have to go full bore every day, you could drink heavily every other day and still come out ahead. You don't have to drink 24/7 in order to get your value from Cheers. This concept is easily grasped by some, but others will never comprehend it, probably because of preconceived ideas and notions.

If Im reading this right you are asking about a bottle for your room? You can only buy an alcohol package through the fun shop BEFORE you cruise. Once on board you will have to buy Cheers or from the bar, No alcohol will be allowed in your room, from the funshop, or stores.

You can order a bottle from room service