Premium Non-Alcoholic Package

[wolfatlga]

Greetings...

This is our first time on Celebrity and we usually get the specialty coffee card so I was wondering if this is a better deal since it includes other beverages.

Any ideas?

Thanks..

Wolf

[dmwnc1959]

Greetings...

This is our first time on Celebrity and we usually get the specialty coffee card so I was wondering if this is a better deal since it includes other beverages.

Any ideas?

Thanks..

Wolf

 

Take a look-see at THIS THREAD and check out the individual drink prices listed for the products, as well as the different types of products included in the Premium Non-Alcoholic Beverage Package. Compare it against what you normally drink every day when on a cruise vacation and what other beverages you might partake of that you normally wouldn't buy if you had to pay for them but would like to try since they are included in the package anyway. Are you going to bring a case of water or soda with you? Or does that weigh down your boarding procedure? Or maybe you are flying in and cant stop to pick something up?

 

Add up the costs, conveniences, and options and it might head you in the right direction on whether it will be right for you.

 

Celebrity Website Says:

Premium Non-Alcoholic Beverage Package

Enjoy nearly our entire selection of sodas selections on board including:

 

- All canned and fountain soft drinks from Coca Cola

- Premium Bottled Water from Evian, Perrier and San Pellegrino as well as regular bottled water

- Specialty Coffees and Teas

- Non-Alcoholic Frozen Drinks and Smoothies

- Red Bull Energy Drink

- Specialty Waters from Vitamin Water.

 

*Starting from: 18.00 USD Per Night

 

Celebrity Website HERE

 

Canned sodas included:

Edited June 4, 2011 by dmwnc1959

[ETski]

Greetings...

This is our first time on Celebrity and we usually get the specialty coffee card so I was wondering if this is a better deal since it includes other beverages.

Any ideas?

Thanks..

Wolf

 

Just off the Summit and I agree with dmwc1959. You need to decide what your drinking patterns are. My HD did the premium drink package since he likes specialtiy coffees, beers around the pool, martini prior to dinner, 2 or 3 glasses of wine and then a gin and tonic or two at the casino. Get the picture!!! Not that he drinks like that at home but on vacation why not!!!!!!! That didn't include the vitamin waters and bottled water that he took off the ship while in port. Was it worth it for him Yes! was it worth it for me No! I'm what you call a cheap date. Maybe the entire 8 days I had 3 or 4 drinks. So I paid as I went along, thats what OBC is for. And no we did not share the drink package.

[Adammara]

My wife and I both had the premium non alcoholic package on Eclipse last month. According to our account we had 103 drinks in the 14 days, and according to my calculations, thats around $2.45 per drink. Lattes were $5.25 and we drank lots of those! The least we had was 6 in a day, and the most 10, including sparking water with dinner and latte's in the restaurant. We will be booking the same package for our next cruise in October, its a great feeling to drink what you want and when you want it, and knowing its all paid for, and you don't have to sign for it.

 

Beside latte's and other variations of coffee, we had tea, non alcoholic cocktails, smoothies, the Coke range and Red Bull.

 

Richard

[Muushka]

I did the premium non alc and my husband did the soda package. In 10 days we drank 101 drinks! I was shocked, but it was a blast. After having done the premium, I would not do it again, but yes to the classic. The reason being is that while the non-alcoholic drinks and smoothies are fun, they have a lot of sugar (well, more than I need) so I only got 2 smoothies and maybe 2 non-alc drinks the whole time. What I did drink were the coffees (loved that), the fresh squeezed juices (maybe 1/4 cup at a drink) mixed with soda water. And a few sodas along the way. And at dinner I got the Pelegrino, but a diet sprite would have been just fine. And I would have saved $30.

[uktraveller]

We have purchased the premium non alcoholic package for our Equinox cruise. Can you tell me which bars have the smoothies please?

[Muushka]

We have purchased the premium non alcoholic package for our Equinox cruise. Can you tell me which bars have the smoothies please?

 

The only place that I was told to get them was at the bar right next to Ocean View Cafe. A very nice man, Ahmed, was the king of smoothies. As time went by and we got to know one another, I asked him to make me something special. His choice. Big old smile over his face and magic followed!

 

I miss that man.:)

[CCMS14]

I got the premium non alcoholic on the eclipse in February because I only drink 1-2 alcoholic drinks a night, the alcoholic wasnt worth it for me. I loved the freedom of grabbing water on my way off the ship and drinking the pellegrino etc. with dinner. Would I have survived without it? Yes. However another added bonus was that I paid for it months before the trip, so I didn't have any more than a $50 bar bill when it was all said and done. Also, by day 2 or 3, the servers in Cafe al Bacio knew both my drink order and my boyfriends, which was a nice surprise as well!

[uktraveller]

The only place that I was told to get them was at the bar right next to Ocean View Cafe. A very nice man, Ahmed, was the king of smoothies. As time went by and we got to know one another, I asked him to make me something special. His choice. Big old smile over his face and magic followed!

 

I miss that man.:)

Thanks....I will be trying out the smoothies on Equinox in a little over 4 weeks.:)

[Jo and Rob]

I've bought the premium non-alcoholic package for the Eclipse in July. I would like to know what you would recommend in terms of mocktails and frozen drinks and which bars sell them. Would I be able to order a mocktail with dinner? Did you order water and another drink at the same time?

[Lsimon]

Greetings...

This is our first time on Celebrity and we usually get the specialty coffee card so I was wondering if this is a better deal since it includes other beverages.

Any ideas?

Thanks..

Wolf

 

 

It is only a good deal if you'd normally consume enough to make it a good deal. We thought we were big consumers due to the size of our onboard account. But I've analyzed our cruise bills every which way and on most cruises we fall far short of the package cost. So we just pay as we go. OTOH, everything doesn't have to be a 'good deal' to be worthwhile and some people are more than willing to buy the package just because they enjoy the all inclusive experiance it offers.

Edited June 5, 2011 by Lsimon

[goofysmom99]

Greetings...

This is our first time on Celebrity and we usually get the specialty coffee card so I was wondering if this is a better deal since it includes other beverages.

Any ideas?

Thanks..

Wolf

 

 

Some folks bring their own coffee-making supplies so they don't rack up the big bucks that I spend on coffee. I really don't like the coffee in the buffet. During the course of a day, if I drink a latte -$4, cafe americano - 4, iced coffee (at least one) - 5, and fresh OJ - $2.50, I've already exceeded the cost of the classic non-alcohol package. If I want water, soda, or a smoothie (but I'm with Muushka about the sugar in those), I go waaaay over. I'm planning to buy the premium non-alcohol package for my cruise in November because, in addition to decent coffee, I like Pellegrino with lime a lot. So, yes, I think the non-alcohol packages are worth it. I don't drink much alcohol nowadays, so the alcohol packages aren't a consideration for me anymore.

Edited June 6, 2011 by goofysmom99

[PS90]

To me, one of the biggest reasons to go on vacation is to NOT have to worry about anything. My job is stressful enough at home, and I don't want to do any addition/multiplication of bar bills in my head, and I certainly don't want to worry about paying a bunch more money after-the-fact.

 

That in itself is a big reason that I like all-inclusive resorts, and (if I could afford it) the luxury cruise lines that are also all-inclusive.

 

I have never used a beverage package other than a simple soda package, but I am doing the Premium NA package on our upcoming Solstice cruise, and will be happy with that decision even if we don't make up the cost difference (and Celebrity will probably be happy if we don't, as well:)).

[NSgal]

I've bought the premium non-alcoholic package for the Eclipse in July. I would like to know what you would recommend in terms of mocktails and frozen drinks and which bars sell them. Would I be able to order a mocktail with dinner? Did you order water and another drink at the same time?

 

There is a mocktail section in all of the bar menus onboard. My cousin ordered a lot of virgin strawberry daquiris and mudslides. Also something like a funky monkey (?) Chocolate and banana. You can order mocktails with dinner and I had no problem ordering Pellegrino as well as wine with dinner in the MDR

[Jo and Rob]

There is a mocktail section in all of the bar menus onboard. My cousin ordered a lot of virgin strawberry daquiris and mudslides. Also something like a funky monkey (?) Chocolate and banana. You can order mocktails with dinner and I had no problem ordering Pellegrino as well as wine with dinner in the MDR

 

I love mudslides. I didn't realise you could get a non-alcoholic version. That sounds fantastic! Do all the bars do mocktails?

[britchicknyc]

If you buy the Premium Non Alcoholic package and want an alcoholic frozen drink:

 

Is it best to get the virgin with the card and then a shot or two of alcohol, or just order the drink and charge it to your seapass?

 

Or is that just making things too complicated?

 

Thanks!

[Miss SeaBee]

I'll throw in my 2 cents worth and say that, although I didn't sit down and do a cost analysis before the cruise, I totally enjoyed having the premium package and just not worrying about drinks at all. I don't drink alcohol, but I am also not crazy about just the tea and punch available free from the buffet. I enjoyed having coffee drinks, Perrier, frozen non-alcoholic bar drinks and anything else I wanted, anytime, without having to worry about price. Made for a fun and relaxing week without sticker shock at the end.

 

My daughter and mom both do drink alcohol in moderation. They both had the premium alcohol package and loved the worry-free convenience, too.

Edited August 29, 2011 by Greensuz

[CaptData]

I intend to get the noAl package in 2013 Jan. I drink lattes and water, tea (specialty type not bagged), fresh squeezed juice every morning. So I believe this will be great for me. I will have a martine or two at night (one mostly) or a simple rum & diet coke with a twist of lime. So this package will be good for me as my bar bill will be about $140.00 for 14 nights.

Edited August 29, 2011 by CaptData

[Jo and Rob]

I would thoroughly recommend the premium NA package having enjoyed it on Eclipse. It was worth it for the coffees alone! Breakfast in MDR I have cappuccino and freshly squeezed orange juice (no complaints when ordering them both in the MDR but did have a comment in the buffet), the iced coffees throughout the day, plus expresso machiatto after lunch and dinner, needless to say that Cafe al Bacio was a favourite place for me on the ship!

 

By the pool people on soda packages were getting well and truly fed up with fizzy drinks and some I spoke to ungraded to the NA package during the cruise as they hadn't realised it existed. With the NA package I enjoyed the frozen drinks, zero proof cocktails and the premium and vitamin waters, plus there was no need to sign which in venues like the theatre was a real bonus!

 

I would definitely have the premium non-alcoholic package again. My drinking habits definitely changed because I had the package as I was able to indulge without thinking about the cost and I enjoyed every minute of it! ;)

[britchicknyc]

Does anyone have a menu for the Cova Cafe?

[Lsimon]

Greetings...

This is our first time on Celebrity and we usually get the specialty coffee card so I was wondering if this is a better deal since it includes other beverages.

Any ideas?

Thanks..

Wolf

 

 

It depends on how much of the included items you drink. We've found we do better paying as we go.

 

Also, if you are interested in "specialty coffee" might I ask what you consider a "specialty coffee"?

 

My point in asking this is that even though Celebrity uses this term in their package distinctions they do not have a definition of what a specialty coffee is. So if your primary interest is espresso, latte, cappuccino type coffees the Classic package might be just fine for you as these are included in both packages.

 

Finally, my advice is if you are at all uncertain as to whether a package is "worth it" or right for you then wait until you are on the ship and take a day to check out the beverages, prices and your drinking patterns. You can do pay as you go to start and if you decide you'd rather have the package you can buy it a day or two into the cruise at a price pro-rated for the remainder of the cruise.

 

BTW - Celebrity has no coffee card so the only way to get the upscale extra charge coffees is to either pay as you go or buy one of the unlimited beverage packages.

 

Does anyone have a menu for the Cova Cafe?

 

I saw one posted on someone else's photo site at: http://schplinky.smugmug.com/Solstice-2010/Bar-Menus/12454637_Aaaum#891894624_SCNbe

Edited August 29, 2011 by Lsimon

[britchicknyc]

 

 

I saw one posted on someone else's photo site at: http://schplinky.smugmug.com/Solstice-2010/Bar-Menus/12454637_Aaaum#891894624_SCNbe

 

Thanks! Is the menu at Cafe Cova the same as at Cafe Al Bacio ?

Edited August 30, 2011 by britchicknyc

[Lsimon]

Thanks! Is the menu at Cafe Cova the same as at Cafe Al Bacio ?

 

I believe the Cova Cafes have been, or soon will be, converted to Cafe Al Bacio. I believe it is a licensing issue as I think that Cova Cafe was the name of a land based establishment in Italy which Celebrity licensed. The menu might be slightly different at one of the Covas, if they still exist, and the M class ships and Century which don't yet have the Gelateria wouldn't have the gelato items. Other than that it should be the same or very similar in any event.

[PS90]

 

 

 

I saw one posted on someone else's photo site at: http://schplinky.smugmug.com/Solstice-2010/Bar-Menus/12454637_Aaaum#891894624_SCNbe

 

Thanks very much for the menu. Does anyone know if the coffee selections on that menu under the "Other Favorites" section (pages 5 and 6 on the link above) are included in the Premium Non-alcoholic package? Some of those listed, such as the "Espresso ai Frutti di Bosco" and the "Espresso Croccante" (and most of them on page 6) don't seem like they would count as drinks, although I must admit that I have never heard of these before. They are listed on the Beverage Package Sticky Thread, though...

 

Thanks!

Edited August 30, 2011 by PS90

[britchicknyc]

I'm a bit puzzled by the pricing of this package - I'm on a 6 night cruise and I went to order it, it say from $108, which is $18 per day, but when I click Purchase Now it says it is $124.20 per person with a total (I assume gratuity) of $140.40.

 

Why is it $124.20 and not $108? Do these packages cost different amounts on different cruises?