Drink Package was best cruise deal ever!

[Fixit2010]

Now I am a bit confused...

 

I was led to believe that I could take my card and my (soon to be) wife's card up to a bar and get two drinks. If we both have the premium package, that won't be a problem, correct? No matter what picture pops up? Do I just have to point to where she is or something?

 

Yes, however I think they check at least the picture of the person giving them the cards. When you get the mobile waiters who come over in the Ocean Village Cafe or the theater, you hand them both of the cards, they go off and swipe them, laugh at your silly pictures because you and your other half may look like the "real ladies" from Little Britain and come back with your drinks.

[librarylady19]

I thought you were asking if you could get an alcoholic drink on your Husbands card (which you cannot). If you have both cards and order 2 drinks it shouldn't be an issue (now if you then gave those drinks to 2 other people, that would be another story....).

The drinks package really is so convenient....don't sweat it.

[pkw]

yes, cheers to you...and us!! I couldn't agree more with your initial assertion; it is indeed the best deal ever for many..

There have been negative comments on other threads, so I'm glad this thread has stayed positive.

 

 

We thank you for your advice - it has definately helped us to make the decision to buy the Premium package - once you get over the initial indecision it feels really good to have made that decision, paid for it upfront and not have to worry about a think whilst onboard.

 

Thanks again.

 

pkw

[walktheplank]

That's not to say your wines included in the Package deal were of the cheap variety. However, my experience is that cruise lines who sell wines at super inflated prices are ripping people off ( Aussie expression ) if you don't understand.

Here's an example HAL charged $11.50 for a glass of Peter Lehmann shiraz. I can buy a bottle at my local boozatorium for the same price. Mercifully, HAL allow you to take wine on board but you can only drink it in your cabin or pay $18 for corkage btw the wine is screw cap closure!!

I also notice that nearly all these blogs refer to ships below the 5 & 6 star rating.

After carefully weighing up all the options, after 6 cruises, soon to be 7, we are totally in favour of all inclusive cruising.

Cruise history.

RCCL Rhapsody of the seas 14 days Australia-New Zealand 2009

HAL Prinsendam 28 Days Great Britain-Mediterranean 2009

Crystal cruises Crystal Symphony 15 days Sydney-Singapore 2110

Silverseas Silver Shadow 10 days Hong Kong- Shanghai & return 2110

Oceania Marina 16 Days Dover to Rome via Mediterranean August 2111

HAL Nieuw Amsterdam 12 days Venice to Greece & Turkey & return June 2012

Next cruise

Crystal Symphony Melbourne to Brisbane 12 days including 5 o'nites. Jan 2013

The critical thing is we don't want a bill for anything when we leave the ship, self serve laundrette, don't gamble ( live 5 minutes walk from Sydney Casino & never been in the joint ) quality wines & champagne, ( hardly ever touch the hardstuff ) quality coffee made in a real espresso machine & top quality food & service.

Finally, by way of example to all those disposed towards spirit drinks, imagine how much it costs the cruise lines for liquor. RCCL were selling 4x one litre bottles of Bacardi duty free prior to dissembarkation in Sydney for US$28. By my calculation thats 21cents per shot & I presume they are making a profit on the duty free shop prices. Sooo! a double shot bacardi with some sort of juice ( also cheap when you buy by the container load ) costs about $1.00

Get real everyone & do the Math. A rising cabin & ship cost lifts all standards.

[FoxyTerrier]

Sorry, if you purchase the classic and want a drink over the max for the Classic, you will have to pay full price for that drink. The pay the difference thing only works for the Premium package.

 

I called guest services last week as I had a question about the drink packages. My son and his fiance decided on the Standard package while DH and I on the premium.

 

The gal I spoke with was glad to report they recently changed the rules for the Classic package and you can pay the difference just like with the Premiem package.

 

We will find out shortly if I was given the correct information.

[librarylady19]

I called guest services last week as I had a question about the drink packages. My son and his fiance decided on the Standard package while DH and I on the premium.

 

The gal I spoke with was glad to report they recently changed the rules for the Classic package and you can pay the difference just like with the Premiem package.

 

We will find out shortly if I was given the correct information.

 

I'd ask for that in writing!!

[gemini32]

Sounds fantastic, can't wait until our cruise in March on the soltice. We purchased the drink package last month the top range package, was good to check out the price list . thanks for your update

[phillygirl2400]

Thanks for all of the info. I booked the Premium Package at the 10% discount. Can't wait till February.

[Winterpeg007]

When, how far in advance do you have to book to get the "discount" on the drink packages? Not sure if it is too late as no one had mentioned this discount if you book in advance.

Thanks:

Celebrity Summit Bermuda Aug 26, 2012

[FoxyTerrier]

When, how far in advance do you have to book to get the "discount" on the drink packages? Not sure if it is too late as no one had mentioned this discount if you book in advance.

Thanks:

Celebrity Summit Bermuda Aug 26, 2012

 

It expired on 6/22 unless it was extended or a new open posted.

[kcrown]

My wife and I purchased the Custom Package which includes beers up to $5. All I drink is Corona which is showing at $5, so I hope they don't up the price of this beer before we sail next April on the Silhouette.

[Nanatravel]

Original poster checking back in! WOW over 80,000 posts....I should get a free drink for winning the most replys contest LOL

 

Surprisingly my qualifier worked cause I didn't receive a single negative comment about our holiday alcohol consumption...WELL DONE FOLKS!

 

Just got the package discount for our upcoming cruise in Jan so now I believe that the drink package truly is the "best cruise deal ever!"

 

Cheers and to those who bought a package based on my info...have a cool one for me!

 

Thank you for starting this thread, detailing your daily consumption/cost breakdown and everyone who refrained from any negative unnessary comments.

 

We enjoy a specialty coffee on cruises (don't indulge at home), love a frosty cold conconction out by the pool, have wine with dinner and a martini or two before and after dinner. DH enjoys a cold beer and the higher end type like Stella and an after dinner liquor. With the spreadsheet I found also, it helped me calculate what we "might" spend on board. Our 14 day Premium package is expensive in anyone's terms, but I think we will enjoy ourselves, not have so schlep bottled water or bottles of wine or mini-nips on board. We bought the Premium package. I figure it will be all paid off by the time we cruise. I'll try to report back next March if it was worth it or not.

[FLACRUISER99]

If I had to buy the Premium Alcoholic Package for 2 persons it would cost $1490.40 for the first 12 days and $1987.20 for the next 16 days. That's a total of $3477.60. Yikes, I think I'll quit drinking!!

[jabo123]

Can you bring wine on board from Bayonne departure? Going on repo to San Juan in October

[librarylady19]

Yes, 2 bottles per cabin.

[Anthony327]

It's too much. Maybe for a 7 day Caribbean it works, but just did it for 12 day Mediterranean) and frankly you have to be a heavy drinker. Get a 3 bottle Wine package, have a few in your room and order a drink here or there (and many pour very stiff ones;)), happy hours, 5 for 4 buckets and you have plenty.

 

More economical and palatable is the premium non-alcoholic package $18/day. Fresh OJ (vs mediocre juices), smoothies, much better lattes/cappuccinos, pop, waters, perrier, red bulls........

 

Never again and I do drink......

[Cpamomma]

We are going on our first cruise in MANY years in November. We are trying to determine whether or not we should buy beverage packages. We drink very little and were thinking about bringing the allowable two bottles of wine onboard to drink on our veranda before dinner. We generally drink a lot of regular water all day long and are planning on bringing collapsible water bottles to use onboard and on excursions. We might want an occasional cocktail or specialty coffee, but I am thinking that we may want to "pay as we go" instead of buying a package. Any thoughts?

 

Thanks,

Karen

[bunnyette]

Well that's good to know. Hubby likes to drink but it would be really wasted on me. (Real lightweight here) So knowing he could get one type of package (premium alcohol) and I could get another (non-alcohol) is great!

 

That's what I did - got the premium package for me and the non-alcohol for Hubby as he doesn't like wine and only has the occasional cocktail but loves soda and fresh squeezed juice. I also love the specialty coffees as well.

 

Figured if I pay for that in advance, one less thing to worry about on the bill at the end.

[librarylady19]

It's too much. Maybe for a 7 day Caribbean it works, but just did it for 12 day Mediterranean) and frankly you have to be a heavy drinker. Get a 3 bottle Wine package, have a few in your room and order a drink here or there (and many pour very stiff ones;)), happy hours, 5 for 4 buckets and you have plenty.

 

More economical and palatable is the premium non-alcoholic package $18/day. Fresh OJ (vs mediocre juices), smoothies, much better lattes/cappuccinos, pop, waters, perrier, red bulls........

 

Never again and I do drink......

 

I would disagree that you have to be a "heavy drinker". It only takes a couple specialty coffees, wine and sparkLing water with lunch and dinner, a couple of cocktails and pool drinks and water to take ashore to make it worthwhile for us. That's not heavy drinking in my book. TEHO

Edited July 4, 2012 by librarylady19

[ORV]

We are going on our first cruise in MANY years in November. We are trying to determine whether or not we should buy beverage packages. We drink very little and were thinking about bringing the allowable two bottles of wine onboard to drink on our veranda before dinner. We generally drink a lot of regular water all day long and are planning on bringing collapsible water bottles to use onboard and on excursions. We might want an occasional cocktail or specialty coffee, but I am thinking that we may want to "pay as we go" instead of buying a package. Any thoughts?

 

Thanks,

Karen

 

I think you've answered your own question. You should simply drink the supplied drinks, tap water and pay for the occasional drink as you get it.

[Anthony327]

I would disagree that you have to be a "heavy drinker". It only takes a couple specialty coffees, wine and sparkLing water with lunch and dinner, a couple of cocktails and pool drinks and water to take ashore to make it worthwhile for us. That's not heavy drinking in my book. TEHO

 

That is why I said the $18 premium non alcoholic package is a much better deal because I love fresh squeezed OJ, smoothies and specialty coffees. That leaves $36 for drinks, and that is an awful lot when many drinks are $5-$6. I added that you can have wine/sparkling in your room (and pretty easy to bring 4 bottles into the room) and add to that happy hours and specials. I know in a few cases there was "forced"drinking to meet the $54/day.....

[firstcruiserDB]

Dh drinks Tanguaray Gin on the rocks before and after dinner. We are thinking about the premium package, but I cannot even find out if that gin is offered on the Summit. Wouldn't want to pay the price if they don't offer his drink of choice. All listings I've found does not answer that question. This seemed like a good place to start...

 

Thank so much to anyone who knows about this. I really appreciate your help!

[AlwaysReadyToSail]

I think this is a few years old but I can't imagine it had changed TOO much. http://schplinky.smugmug.com/Solstice-2010/Bar-Menus/12454637_sZk2zn/892296926_fyRPu

[wildwoods]

Just a few things to bear in mind ;) we had the soda package for me (yeah I know its bad for me) and husband had the Classic package. I bought the cards in the 10% sale.

However on embarkation day all the packages were been sold at 10% off which ticked a lot of people off who had paid full price in advance....not surprising

Hubby accidentally ordered a beer over the classic limit and the waiter said don't worry we wont charge on this occasion, which was a nice gesture.

If they ran out of the brand within our Classic price range eg whisky they used any other brand available ..............the Chevas Regal was very welcome in his Rusty Nails:rolleyes: same happened with his wine

Double check your onboard account as we did get charged extra for a couple of items , which were immediately taken of the bill

[firstcruiserDB]

Both of his gins were on list! Even if it's an old listing, I'm sure it hasn't gone up THAT much.

 

Thanks a lot!