The definitive Cheers program Thread

[eeudj]

For clarification.. I am sailing out of Galveston, so if I purchase Cheers in advance I can begin to use the program on the first day? Or do I still have to wait until the second? Is that plus price the advantage of buying in advance???TIA

[Rod in Az]

For clarification.. I am sailing out of Galveston, so if I purchase Cheers in advance I can begin to use the program on the first day? Or do I still have to wait until the second? Is that plus price the advantage of buying in advance???TIA

 

When cruising out of Galveston, Cheers is not effective until 6:00 AM the morning after embarkation regardless of whether you pre-purchase it or purchase it on-board (either way you are charged for 6 days, not 7).

 

The difference in pre-purchase and on-board price does not play in to when the program is available. You simply save $5.75 a day by buying it before the cruise.

[camjake]

I've noticed different specialty restaurants offer different wine lists. On the Cheers program, can I walk into a specialty restaurant and order a glass of wine without purchasing dinner?

[ginnstars]

When cruising out of Galveston, Cheers is not effective until 6:00 AM the morning after embarkation regardless of whether you pre-purchase it or purchase it on-board (either way you are charged for 6 days, not 7).

 

Man!:eek: So once we board we can't use it? Bummer. :( (so much for Faster to the Fun!) I remember when we went out of NOLA they said something similar but we just had to be in international waters. That was because while we were near the US they had to charge us for tax and they couldn't do that while we had the Cheers program.

 

:cool:By 6am, though, we will be MORE than in international waters by then. Seems silly to wait that long. :rolleyes: Doesn't take that long to get to international waters form Galveston!

[Bookbug53]

Man!:eek: So once we board we can't use it? Bummer. :( (so much for Faster to the Fun!) I remember when we went out of NOLA they said something similar but we just had to be in international waters. That was because while we were near the US they had to charge us for tax and they couldn't do that while we had the Cheers program.

 

:cool:By 6am, though, we will be MORE than in international waters by then. Seems silly to wait that long. :rolleyes: Doesn't take that long to get to international waters form Galveston!

 

Texas tax laws determine what they are doing with Cheers out of Galveston. It takes effect at 6am the day after because you are not paying for Cheers at all for the first day. Has nothing to do with international waters in that case.

 

Tax is charged while in ALL US ports regardless if you have Cheers or not. It is simply sales tax for that particular city.

 

When on Cheers (other than Galveston, NYC) they WILL charge you just the tax on the drink while in port.

[les37b]

Wow. That is so messed up.

 

So they charge you a percentage tax on a drink you get charged $0.00 for? I won't claim to know if legally that's what they are meant to do in the US, or just another example of ripping of its customers. But they did this on some European Vista sailing, one they did correctly with cheers (26 August 2016) but on others they pulled this stunt and on others refused to sell cheers at all.

 

In Europe they were absolutely clueless about Purchase tax revenues.

[Bookbug53]

Wow. That is so messed up.

 

So they charge you a percentage tax on a drink you get charged $0.00 for? I won't claim to know if legally that's what they are meant to do in the US, or just another example of ripping of its customers. But they did this on some European Vista sailing, one they did correctly with cheers (26 August 2016) but on others they pulled this stunt and on others refused to sell cheers at all.

 

In Europe they were absolutely clueless about Purchase tax revenues.

 

You are charged tax on the price of the drink according to US tax LAWS. That money goes to the state in which it is charged.

 

The fact that with Cheers you are given a 'discount' of the drink price has no bearing on the tax while in US ports.

 

Keep in mind you are not charged tax on the sale of the Cheers package itself.

[les37b]

That is why I said it may explain WHY they messed up in Europe.

 

That said, do all lines charge a tax in US ports?

[ileys]

That is why I said it may explain WHY they messed up in Europe.

 

That said, do all lines charge a tax in US ports?

 

I can confirm that NCL does charge this tax while in US ports. I was on the NCL Getaway out of Miami in October and had the unlimited drink package. The bartenders were very deliberate about making sure that I would be paying the tax on the drink. It was there on my bill at the end of the cruise, but did not amount to much, even with NCL drink prices.

[les37b]

Has that always been the case and is it just the budget cruise lines that do it? Just that Carnival have always put in their sales patter that buying cheers means a one of payment with no surprise bills.

 

Do they also add tax to food eaten on board in port (assuming restaurants in the US do add tax? Asking purely because anything prepaid where no money changes hands as a charge, I'd expect food and drink to be treated no differently.

 

Obviously you are told it's a tax and it's handed over, but it wouldn't shock me if it wasn't. In Europe on the 26 August Cruise, they charged passengers 22% tax on a cruise out of Spain. Spanish drinks tax is 10%. Since all purchases would be subject to tax inspection, I think it fair to say, something like that would be noticed and corrected.

 

Carnival insisted the 21% they added was correct and refused to refund. I'm unsure if the term is theft or fraud but I expect the blogger who posts on here occasionally might confirm which it is.

 

 

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[Mistyhon]

We will be purchasing cheers for the first time ever in January.

 

My question is about non-alcoholic drinks. I know there is a 5 minute wait for alcoholic drinks, but what about the non?

 

For example, I'm at the coffee bar and order a latte. Can I also grab an energy drink or sparkling water at the same time?

[jmvideopro]

No, no wait time for non-alcoholic. But you can only get one at a time.

 

 

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[Stephanie0607]

We are sailing in A weeks time on the freedom, and are considering the cheers program. I cannot find much information about the wine which I really enjoy!

 

1. I read that there is a "Wine Bar" Bar Nouveau deck 5, but cannot find a wine menu or much information

 

2. Are the wine menu's different depending where you are? MDR, Sun King, Alchemy, Red Frog..

 

3. Are the nicer wine only sold by the bottle?

 

Thank you in advance! I so enjoy my wine, it's important to me whether or not I can get a fine glass of wine on the Lido Deck as well as in the MDR or at various bars on the ship

[thatoneguyyouknow]

We are sailing in A weeks time on the freedom, and are considering the cheers program. I cannot find much information about the wine which I really enjoy!

 

1. I read that there is a "Wine Bar" Bar Nouveau deck 5, but cannot find a wine menu or much information

 

2. Are the wine menu's different depending where you are? MDR, Sun King, Alchemy, Red Frog..

 

3. Are the nicer wine only sold by the bottle?

 

Thank you in advance! I so enjoy my wine, it's important to me whether or not I can get a fine glass of wine on the Lido Deck as well as in the MDR or at various bars on the ship

 

 

1. I am pretty sure that wine bar was taken out on the freedom at a Dry Dock.

 

2. Yes the menus are different. I do not think there is much wine on lido deck, but I am not sure. Alchmey does not have wine at all you would have to go to the casino bar. Steakhouse has a few options that can only be bought there. (you can go to the bar at the steakhouse without getting dinner there) MDR has more options then most bars.

 

3. Yes. Steakhouse has a Rose that is $22 a glass which I think is the most expensive by the glass wine on the ship. Most are 8-15 from bottles that would be in 10-20 range on land.

[Stephanie0607]

1. I am pretty sure that wine bar was taken out on the freedom at a Dry Dock.

 

2. Yes the menus are different. I do not think there is much wine on lido deck, but I am not sure. Alchmey does not have wine at all you would have to go to the casino bar. Steakhouse has a few options that can only be bought there. (you can go to the bar at the steakhouse without getting dinner there) MDR has more options then most bars.

 

3. Yes. Steakhouse has a Rose that is $22 a glass which I think is the most expensive by the glass wine on the ship. Most are 8-15 from bottles that would be in 10-20 range on land.

 

 

 

Thank you! Appreciate the info & taking the ime to share

[cruiseguy4567]

I asked this question several weeks ago in another post but didn't get an answer - so here goes:

 

I've had CHEERS on the last few cruises - not sure I broke even, but I will no doubt continue to purchase it. When I've tried to upgrade to top shelf liquor - not a problem if I order a Margarita (ask for patron) or if I'm ordering a grapefruit/vodka (ask for Grey Goose), but when I asked to upgrade when ordering one of CCL's mixed drinks - specifically The Cruiser which contains vodka, rum, peach schnapps, etc. - I was told that they are pre-mixed and I can't upgrade??? However, I watch them mix it while I'm waiting - with crappy vodka - so what's the story?

 

Can you get top shelf in any drink or not? How about frozen drinks - Twilight Zone, for example - I could have sworn on the Breeze they were upgraded, but on this last cruise on Magic it was a no go. Has anyone else had this problem?

 

The drink of the day is pre-mixed and served out of plastic pitchers and can't change to top shelf.

 

I ordered bloody mary's with breakfast, and asked for Grey Goose without an issue.

[cruiseguy4567]

So, ran into an "problem" on the Sunshine in October.

 

Was a day at sea and hit my 15 drinks about 1am. Tried to order a beer and pay for it, they wouldn't allow me. Is this normal?

 

Just a FYI...Had a few bloody mary's with breakfast and and man...those remaining 13 go fast......

[Wanna_Cruize]

On fascination last month I often had a Cruiser with a top shelf liquor. However I ordered it directly from a bartender and always put a dollar or two on the bar with my SS card. No prob at all

 

 

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[A_Sea_Bugg]

So, ran into an "problem" on the Sunshine in October.

 

Was a day at sea and hit my 15 drinks about 1am. Tried to order a beer and pay for it, they wouldn't allow me. Is this normal?

 

Just a FYI...Had a few bloody mary's with breakfast and and man...those remaining 13 go fast......

At 15 drinks you are cutoff. However if you are able to keep track of your drinks you can buy a friend a drink at 14.

[Dazellyn]

New to the cheers program and I see it includes 15 drinks a day; do sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages (tea, coffee, juice) count toward the 15 drink limit or only the boozy ones?

 

Thanks!

[TxCruiseGuy]

Does anyone have any first hand experience of them not counting non-alcoholic drinks toward the 15? I know it's for alcoholic but I could have sworn my energy drinks counted toward my daily limit on my last cruise.

 

That being said maybe they didn't count them and I just lost ability to keep track after drink number 10 or so ;)

 

Thanks!

[helene109]

I will be curious on the energy drinks? Since that is new thanks

 

 

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[beerman2]

New to the cheers program and I see it includes 15 drinks a day; do sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages (tea, coffee, juice) count toward the 15 drink limit or only the boozy ones?

 

Thanks!

 

15 alcohol drinks, the others don't count toward total.

[doneinne]

Alcoholic only

 

 

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[EpcotBill]

Does anyone have any first hand experience of them not counting non-alcoholic drinks toward the 15? I know it's for alcoholic but I could have sworn my energy drinks counted toward my daily limit on my last cruise.

 

That being said maybe they didn't count them and I just lost ability to keep track after drink number 10 or so ;)

 

Thanks!

Yes. I was on Pride in October and can say for sure that specialty coffee, bottled water and soda did not count toward the 15 drink limit. It's only alcohol that is limited.