Would you purchase a drink package?

[01Sweetpea]

This package is not for me. I drink one MAYBE two lavaflows per day and that's about it.

[jcupcake]

I love the option, but would have to consider the number of port days on the trip. We are not big drinkers but when we do have a couple of drinks it's usually in port....much cheaper.

[vikman]

Yes we would. It would be better than wondering how high the sail and sign tab would be.

[G&TQ]

If soda was included would definately get the package for Hubby and I. :D

[Cupcrazy]

I don't drink enough to make the new package worth while. I'll get a wine package for dinner still as I like to have a drink with dinner.

[silentbob007]

I was just thinking about this for a Celebrity cruise I have coming up in a few weeks. For the classic alcohol package it is over $300 for 7-days. I'm not a huge drinker, and while I would like to try different things, I can only think that I would over-indulge just to make sure I got my "money's worth." Given that I can at least have a drink or two for free every night due to being a frequent cruiser ... a la carte just makes the most sense.

[firefly333]

I wonder the logistics of it, how will RCL minimize sharing? My suspicion is they may charge it to a room, so both passengers or neither have the package.

 

That was my first thought ...how much sharing is going to be going on.

[Maxiecat3]

That was my first thought ...how much sharing is going to be going on.

 

Have not read anything from a Celebrity cruiser on how they handle sharing, but I can see RCI doing something like Disney does with their Fast Passes. They could do a "lock-out" on your sea-pass card for a time (10-30 minutes?) so you would be restricted on how quickly you could order another drink. If they worked it with a reasonable time, the only people that would really complain would be the ones trying to scam the system.

 

Gregg

[houlacruiser]

DH would get the beer package. We travel with a group, so it would be nice to have, especially when the boys get into buying a round! And especially since it includes grat's I think it's a decent deal.

[critterchick]

Not worth it for us as we only drink wine with dinner and would never get our money's worth out of the $29 package per person each day. Besides, the $29 package only includes glasses of house wine - could that be LaTerre?

 

The bars on ships sailing from US ports don't have La Terrible on their list of wines - Castle Rock is the least expensive option. But I would bet that they'll bring it back for package purposes.:rolleyes:

 

I wouldn't buy the package - we can get our evening drinks in the CL or at the Diamond Event, and we don't drink enough prior to the cocktail hour to make it worthwhile. We actually drink quite a bit of wine with our dinners, but I don't want to be restricted to buying it by the glass, since the service is pretty slow. And there aren't enough wines under $10/glass that interest me.

[constable145]

DH would get the beer package. We travel with a group, so it would be nice to have, especially when the boys get into buying a round! And especially since it includes grat's I think it's a decent deal.

 

 

I don't think buying a round would be an option if you purchase the package. I would imagine there is a very strict "no sharing" policy.

[iambumbo]

Haven't seen anyone point out that it would encourage people to go back to the ship to party rather than stay in port at bars and restaurants near the pier. The bean counters probably assume it'll have a spillover effect to spending on other things since more people would be on the ship than normally would be now.

 

You'd also see fewer people show up at the Captain's Party and the Returning Cruisers Party, so perhaps some nominal savings there.

 

Count me in the heavy beer drinker category who has in the past smuggled aboard about 18 beers on a 7-day cruise. At the $29/day price, I wouldn't bother messing around with the carry-on, especially if it would include wine with dinner (which I normally don't have but which I'd likely partake in if part of the package).

 

Even if this packaging doesn't result in extra profit for the cruise line, I have to think it would be no worse than a wash economically and would generate a significant amount of goodwill for the cruise line.

[SamFritz]

Four Drinks per day for low end to make it worthwhile and then you're stuck with the house brands of wine. Six or seven drinks at the higher levels. No thanks.

[saltywillie]

We used a drink package on a Costa cruise ,was excellant ,I saved lots of $$$$ would use it on any cruise line again.

[Bosjoe]

If the packages were the same like Celebrity it would be worth it. Those extra things on X, The coffees, bottle water, can soda, fresh squeeze oj, would make it worth it. I tried it on X and it was great, they have it right over there.

[readytolose]

We would definitely purchase the package. We can very easily drink 4-5 drinks throughout the day, sometimes more. Then another 4 at night. Usually don't order alcohol with breakfast but I wouldn't mind a mimosa once in awhile!

 

Our next cruise will be in the summer after both my daughters turn 21. I'm sure the package will be worth it for them too!

 

Our seapass bill generally runs about 2500 for my husband and I and about 4-5000 with the kids. I can see the alcohol package significantly lowering that amount!:D

[PeggyTC]

It would definately be worth it for my husband and i. Like others have said it would take away the guess work of how much the bill will be at the end of the week ( and the smuggling :) Also it would make it a little more all inclusive not having to think about every drink you want to have. We travel with a good size group and i know they would all buy it. Just curious, does anyone know if it would include a long island iced tea? I don't know what that is considered.

[Ander026]

The $29 Beer package would work for me because I usually spend about that amount a day on drinks and I drink mostly Beer with the wine at dinner.

[constable145]

Pretty favourable responses. I'd urge those of us on this board who are in favour of these packages to email their thoughts to Royal Caribbean..... The CEO and VP of hotel op's email addresses are out there and available without doing too much research..

[phoenix1181]

My initial thought was we don't drink that much but then I looked at our bill from our November cruise................. One or two in the afternoon, a couple before dinner, a couple with dinner, a couple while in the casino. they add up pretty quickly!

 

Based on that tally, the premium package would save us money & we could still have our Absolute! I hope they do this fleet wide.

[diva girl]

Was going to vote "yes: but I don't think so. I would rather see the bucket of beer with an extra thrown in or a wine/cocktail card. Can't get the special bucket of beer on the Oasis or Allure know we could get it on the Princess ships. We both don't drink enough for a pkg. but it was nice to have the extra beer to put in the refridge. Mostly wine/cocktail drinker but like a beer with pizza on the balcony.:)

[Johnmac]

Just wondering if anybody knows whether the package will be available on Jewel of the Seas sailing out of the UK (Harwich).

 

Thanks

[temple1]

Just wondering if anybody knows whether the package will be available on Jewel of the Seas sailing out of the UK (Harwich).

 

Thanks

 

Doesn't look like it yet. They are testing it on 3 ships but not Jewel.

[caribbean sailor]

Me and all my pals have discussed this since the news came out...

 

We all agree that, even at the premium level of $49 per day, Royal Caribbean would end up losing a significant amount of money on each and every one of us. :p

 

I agree this will cause another problem.The complaints will go from smoking,to drunken cruisers.All trying to drink their moneys worth.

 

Let's go to the CARIBBEAN. :) :) :)

[dscomp]

Yes in a heart beat!:) Our bar bill is always the biggest expense on our cruises anymore. The mid range package would be great! Just wish that it was going to be available on the Voyager in 2 weeks, a back to back with an all inclusive drink package would make my day or make my 14 days!:D