Snubbed with beverage package??

[Bird166]

I am on the fence about buying the premium bev package. My DH and I always have a large bill at the end of a cruise for drinks, specialty coffees, pictures, etc. so I thought this could be a good choice for us. I read a post on here though about getting poor service if the bar staff see you are "on the plan" and therefore tip is already included. Anyone else experience this?

[Cruisegirl6]

I don't believe that the service be bad if you have the package. I say get the package, we do and we so happy with it, never have to see a bill at the end of the cruise and can drink whatever whenever we want its nice touch to the cruise.

Edited November 14, 2013 by lyndamr

[MrFunInTheSun]

I am on the fence about buying the premium bev package. My DH and I always have a large bill at the end of a cruise for drinks, specialty coffees, pictures, etc. so I thought this could be a good choice for us. I read a post on here though about getting poor service if the bar staff see you are "on the plan" and therefore tip is already included. Anyone else experience this?

 

When I had the package back in April on the Jewel of the Seas I had nothing but super service. I'm sailing next week (November 17th) on the Allure of the Seas and have the package a second time and expect nothing but super service. I see you sail on the Allure a couple weeks after me. I'll be doing a "Live" from trip report and am sure I'll have a comment or two about the drink package and great bar service. Happy to have you sail along. :D

 

Happy Cruising!

[Cruisegirl6]

Did you say LIVE wow thank you I can't wait! I know you can't wait for the cruise too lol

[Selswick]

Hi

 

We have had the package several times on different ships and never had a problem. We do tip the servers and bar staff with the odd dollar as we did when we did not have the package.

 

My wife loves trying different cocktails and we have even had "off menu" suggestions from the bar staff which went down very well !!.

 

Selswick

[sxphil]

Defiantly not I have had package on both my cruises and have been treated just the same

Indeed on the Indy they didn't even want me to sign for anything so it made it easier for them

On the Freedom they wanted us to sign for everything

[Bird166]

When I had the package back in April on the Jewel of the Seas I had nothing but super service. I'm sailing next week (November 17th) on the Allure of the Seas and have the package a second time and expect nothing but super service. I see you sail on the Allure a couple weeks after me. I'll be doing a "Live" from trip report and am sure I'll have a comment or two about the drink package and great bar service. Happy to have you sail along. :D

 

Happy Cruising!

 

I can't wait to follow your "Live" report! I love them, especially when I have an upcoming cruise!! Have a wonderful time!!

[Bird166]

Thanks everyone for your replies! I kind of thought the post I saw was perhaps not the norm. I always tip extra too. I think I'm going to go for it! Cheers!!;)

[papaflamingo]

Never done the drink package but my wife does soda package. She orders club soda at shows etc. The service is fine, but they usually don't "bust their butt" getting a soda. Occasionally it gets forgotten. But all in all the service is fine and whenever I buy a drink and she orders a soda I do leave an extra tip. I'm sure there are times when you'll feel that they may be "ignoring" you, but try it and see. We don't do it because we are D+ and have the "happy hour." We also like getting bottles of wine at dinner. I have looked at our bills and we are a few hundred below the package price. But if I didn't have the happy hour I'd sure consider the package. Would be nice to not have to worry about the cost.

[Merion_Mom]

Thanks everyone for your replies! I kind of thought the post I saw was perhaps not the norm. I always tip extra too. I think I'm going to go for it! Cheers!!;)

 

I read that thread, too.

 

Almost all of the people who responded with their own experiences said that they had received great service with the package.

[Pebbles468]

When I had the package back in April on the Jewel of the Seas I had nothing but super service. I'm sailing next week (November 17th) on the Allure of the Seas and have the package a second time and expect nothing but super service. I see you sail on the Allure a couple weeks after me. I'll be doing a "Live" from trip report and am sure I'll have a comment or two about the drink package and great bar service. Happy to have you sail along. :D

 

Happy Cruising!

 

I will be looking forward to your LIVE report from the Allure! Have you planned excursions... or winging it??

[tgorno7772]

My wife and I sailed on the Allure Feb 2013. We purchased the premium package and loved it. It was nice knowing your drinks were prepaid. We had nothing but great service from all the bars we visited including the casino. We are sailing again on the Allure in Jan 2014 and already purchased the premium package.

 

I say go for it and try as many new drinks as you like. If you dont like it get another ;)

[Thetrail]

I am on the fence about buying the premium bev package. My DH and I always have a large bill at the end of a cruise for drinks, specialty coffees, pictures, etc. so I thought this could be a good choice for us. I read a post on here though about getting poor service if the bar staff see you are "on the plan" and therefore tip is already included. Anyone else experience this?

When you get one negative post and a hundred positive posts, well use common sense:rolleyes:

[sabres431]

We had the package on the Sept 7 Oasis of the Seas sailing. We loved it! There was never any problem with bar service. The package pays for itself in convenience alone. There was no signing slips and no thinking about how much each drink would cost. Most of the drinks I had I probably never would have tried if I was paying for them individually.

[Havingfun2010]

I am on the fence about buying the premium bev package. My DH and I always have a large bill at the end of a cruise for drinks, specialty coffees, pictures, etc. so I thought this could be a good choice for us. I read a post on here though about getting poor service if the bar staff see you are "on the plan" and therefore tip is already included. Anyone else experience this?

 

Think about this. The tip is included with buying a single drink, or the package. It is added to your bill either way, so no different. The tips, are most likely pooled someway. Plus, many people will just break even or actually be below the breakeven point. So the tips are higher for those. I like the package simply because it means I don't have to pay for every drink. More I prepay, the happier I am. I can now walk onto a ship, and leave on the last day, with almost a $0.00 bill.

[pfman]

:confused: How long do people think a bar server, or other waitstaff, will keep their Job if they do not give great service regardless if you have a beverage package or have pre paid gratuities??

Not long I would think!:D

[adirondacksailor]

You certainly get at least the same service as they know you will most likely be ordering quite a few drinks to get the most out of the package. Thus, more tips for them.

[JillLovesTravel]

We had the Premium package in October. Loved it. Only signed one receipt. Service was very good. We will be doing it again in a few months and now it looks like they will include bottled water and better wines in the Premium package for the same price as we paid. Even better!!!

 

If you don't think $55 a day is worth it don't buy it but you may be surprised.

 

For example:

 

At late breakfast or early lunch in the WJ…drink of the day @ $6.50

 

Off the ship in port for the afternoon. Bring large bottle of water from ship @ $3.50

 

Return to ship have another drink of the day…@ $6.50

 

Pre-dinner Grey Goose Martini @ $8.00

 

Wine with dinner @ $10 (new package)

 

After dinner shot @ $6.50

 

Beer or cocktail at the show or in the casino @ $6.50

 

Another bottle of water to bring back to the room @ $3.50

 

Total for the day $51.00 plus an additional 15% gratuity included and your total is $58.65

 

Now if you drink soda in addition to this or lots more water your savings are even greater. And if you drink more alcohol than this on a given day then the package is a no brainer. Also on Sea days one would probably drink more water, soda or alcohol.

[sabres431]

Bottled water isn't part of the premium package

[Clarea]

Bottled water isn't part of the premium package

So far, it appears that bottled water will be included in the new premium package starting tomorrow.

[JillLovesTravel]

Bottled water isn't part of the premium package

 

As of tomorrow it looks like not only is bottled water included in the premium package but wines up to $12 per glass as well. That sure beats the $6.50 per glass house wines!!

[sabres431]

Wow! While I didn't dislike the house wines I definitely would have tried different types with that option. The bottled water wouldn't be a big deal since we just filled a bottle from the faucet. I also would have utilized the specialty coffees too!

[MAHA]

There is no way this package would be economical for us. We have a couple of glasses of wine before dinner in the diamond lounge as well as a couple of diet coke's each day. We could not drink that much alcohol and be functional. We don't drink juices or coffees of any kind. We buy an occasional drink or bottle of wine as well.

[rushedmom]

I am very excited about the addition of bottled water and higher wine allowance. I think this will sway us to the package.