Alcohol use/abuse and celebrity drinks packages

[Pushka]

We loved just enjoying a drink at the aft open buffet around 6pm before we headed off to our pre dinner drinks at the Martini Bar. I had no idea that others might think this strange.

[clr315]

This has been a concern for me as well on our next cruise, but then I'm hoping that most people will be as we are. While I have the drink package I do not plan on over indulging and becoming drunk I am planning on trying some new drinks! This is an opportunity to try things I might not normally try as I didn't want to waste money on something I may not like, I guess it's like eating on a cruise. If something unique or new is on the menu I'll try it!

[captdave]

Nothing.

 

Always people in line for drinks by the pool.

 

I didn't see any problems at all, this is not Carnival with a bunch of 20 year olds.

 

CaptDave

[BrendaJ]

I must say, when the drink packages first came out (for pay, no freebies back then), I went on a short Caribbean cruise while the students were still off on their Christmas break. I have never seen so many young people on a ship in my life. I felt like the oldest person there. As it was just a four night cruise, I expected that many would have purchased the drink package and I anticipated the worst. However, I did not see one person out of line on that cruise. I and my five girlfriends had all purchased the premium package, and we quickly realized that there was no way we would ever drink our money's worth per day. But it was fun to try.

 

Before my week-long Caribbean cruise earlier this year, I had read reports of difficulty getting drinks since the Pick Your Perk became common, but we had no problem getting drinks when we wanted them, and again did not notice any bad behavior.

 

I do find it surprising that people tend to drink fairly responsibly even with the packages, since my experience at all-inclusive resorts is definitely different. Perhaps it's just that cruising attracts an older crowd, many of whom may not want to or be able to indulge the way many of us did when we were young.

 

In any case, I do enjoy having the package for the convenience, and being able to shut up the accountant in my head every time I order a glass of wine. ;)

[MGK]

Purely a question of observed behaviours ....

 

Have any celebrity cruisers noticed any change in behaviours onboard since the introduction of the 'free' drinks package incentives?

 

Lots of boozing? Or restrained drinking?

Bad behaviour or generally the usual refined and civilised ambience?

 

Interested to hear your comments!

 

 

Just finished the diverted Bermuda Cruise (Port Canaveral/Nassau) on Celebrity Summit. I had the Classic Beverage Package. I would challenge anyone to get drunk on this ship. Specfically by the pool as the service is so slow I could have swam back to New Jersey and got a beer faster. The bar service was pathetic for the most part.

[captdave]

Just finished the diverted Bermuda Cruise (Port Canaveral/Nassau) on Celebrity Summit. I had the Classic Beverage Package. I would challenge anyone to get drunk on this ship. Specfically by the pool as the service is so slow I could have swam back to New Jersey and got a beer faster. The bar service was pathetic for the most part.

 

At the pool there is a small bar one deck up, take the stairs. No line or at least not as bad. I used this bar all the time when it got busy on the Summit last November.

 

CaptDave

[simon stingray]

On our Silhouette sailing this past March, IMO, the drinking was a lot out of control.

 

Was it just 1 passenger who was "out of control" or the whole ship?

 

Were they fighting? Throwing the furniture or were they just drinking more than you would drink?

 

And did it really affect your cruise?

 

Sorry to ask but I have never experienced anything "out of control" on a ship.

 

The only time I witnessed anyone really drunk was on a RCCL ship BEFORE they introduced the beverage packages. The passenger (who was sailing solo) clearly had a problem and would drink to excess if he had a package or not (and he did):D

 

He started drinking at 9.00am at the pool bar (we passed him on our way to breakfast). By mid afternoon he was very drunk and at 5.pm he was passed out in the Schooner Bar. We then saw security escorting him away-presumably to his stateroom.

 

Did it affect our cruise-no of course not. We found it amusing to watch him in the beginning and then we felt a little sorry for him.

 

I just wonder things were really "out of control" as you describe on your cruise:confused:

[phoebecat]

Was it just 1 passenger who was "out of control" or the whole ship?

 

Were they fighting? Throwing the furniture or were they just drinking more than you would drink?

 

And did it really affect your cruise?

 

Sorry to ask but I have never experienced anything "out of control" on a ship.

 

The only time I witnessed anyone really drunk was on a RCCL ship BEFORE they introduced the beverage packages. The passenger (who was sailing solo) clearly had a problem and would drink to excess if he had a package or not (and he did):D

 

He started drinking at 9.00am at the pool bar (we passed him on our way to breakfast). By mid afternoon he was very drunk and at 5.pm he was passed out in the Schooner Bar. We then saw security escorting him away-presumably to his stateroom.

 

Did it affect our cruise-no of course not. We found it amusing to watch him in the beginning and then we felt a little sorry for him.

 

I just wonder things were really "out of control" as you describe on your cruise:confused:

 

I'm the OP and asked the question in part because of the following ...

 

Our v good friends cruised p and o not so many years ago and drinks package not included, witnessed the ugliest scenes when a fight broke out between drunken passengers and deck chairs were thrown overboard. I think the incident has been alluded to on these boards before.

 

That, I have to admit, was at the back of my mind when I posed the original question ....

[wallie5446]

I'm the OP and asked the question in part because of the following ...

 

Our v good friends cruised p and o not so many years ago and drinks package not included, witnessed the ugliest scenes when a fight broke out between drunken passengers and deck chairs were thrown overboard. I think the incident has been alluded to on these boards before.

 

That, I have to admit, was at the back of my mind when I posed the original question ....

 

Poor human nature can, and does, rear it's uglyness in each and every facit of life. On air planes two times just this past week. Look at the fights between sober parents at Pee Wee or Little League sports functions that are in the news all the time.

 

Young or old, rich or poor, Celebrity or any other line. It can happen, so do we stop going and lock ourselves in the house forever then?

[JanineM]

We just disembarked Solstice & it seemed like everyone had a drinks package. I saw only one person who appeared truly drunk. I think a lot depends on the sailing - which impacts the pax demographics. We were on an Alaska sailing. A Caribbean sailing would likely be an entirely different story.

[Jenna109]

Probably more people would get 'merry' on a cruise with many sea days. However, transAtlantic and Transpacific are excluded from the offer so Celebrity have thought this through - or perhaps realised that on those cruises everyone would have the opportunity to drink more!

[Loracpin2]

The Silhouette cruise was March 30 in the Caribbean and it was not this "year's spring breakers", but ones who would have been on college spring break 15-20 years ago.

 

It does impact when you'd like to find a lounge chair and relax by the pool, but can't because there are drunks all around you. It does impact you, when you're trying to play roulette and there are drunks (some of the same ones from the pool) sitting at the end of the table, who are not playing, have a comment about all you bets, are completely ruining your game, and you have to walk away because they are not told to leave the table by Casino management. Result was I never went back to the casino the remainder of the cruise.

 

I'd like to add, the unlimited drink package was also a perk on last October's Silhouette port intensive Adriatic, and I never noticed behavior like we experienced on the Caribbean cruise. It's also a perk on this month's upcoming Infinity. Will be sure to let you know what that was like when we return.

[steveweese]

Having been on Carnival I have not seen any difference.

[steveweese]

When I drink I have personal limits. The problem is that I pass out before I reach them.

[jp30338]

Me and the g/f cant wait for our first cruise with the bev package!! We are gonna be sooo wasted and have lots of fun!!

 

Look out all ya old and conservative peeps on the 3/28/2015 summit sailing, woohoo :p

Edited September 5, 2014 by jp30338

[Padme_Amidala_Skywalker]

Interesting... I have thought about a package before but never done it. Might this time. Is there a thread somewhere that describes each package and the difference? The only really drunks I have seen that bothered me was HAL cruise several years ago, Caribbean and 6 night...

[Hapytocruise]

While it can be very entertaining for awhile we noticed behaviour on a past Caribbean X cruise which by the end of the 10 days was disgusting

These were 30-50 yr old men and women starting off with beer for breakfast, an able bodied guy racing handicap scooters around the pool deck (mind you he was unlikely able to walk at that point) and women falling down at the bar by 2:00pm.

Have not observed similar behaviour on other itinaries.

 

 

 

 

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[pammi44]

Did a Med. cruise last June on Silhouette. I drink an occasional glass of wine and was with my adult daughter who drinks a little more. Almost everyone we hung out with had the drink package. They started early and kept going until late into the evening. I was amazed that no one seemed the least bit out of control and everyone had a blast. One drink and I'm out:D

[BayAreaBC]

I've noticed passengers on cruises who are more concerned about other people behaving "properly" than focusing on relaxing and releasing stress from their everyday lives. They are the people who enjoy being the fashion police and sobriety police more than having fun and being on vacation.

[miched]

This whole discussion is driving me to drink.

 

I haven't had a drink since Labor Day and was waiting until tomorrow to have a few during the NCAAF games but couldn't resist it and had to pop open a Sierra Nevada seasonal OKtoberfest.

 

Drink up 🍸🍺🍻

[Orator]

I drink a lot more and different drinks as well since I received the Premium Package as a benefit. I no longer drink Ginger Ale at the Elite Hour and may have an Arizona Ice Tea. I may stop at A Bacio for a specialty tea which I never would do prior to the package. I also pick up an Evian prior to leaving the ship. I just need to be more disciplined and controlled than before.

[virginialucy]

This whole discussion is driving me to drink.

 

I haven't had a drink since Labor Day and was waiting until tomorrow to have a few during the NCAAF games but couldn't resist it and had to pop open a Sierra Nevada seasonal OKtoberfest.

 

Drink up 🍸🍺🍻

 

There are NCAAF games on Friday night! You could have had a few while you watched my beloved BC Eagles get pantsed by Pitt. If I wasn't already drinking I'd want to have a few...

 

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[ratacake]

Dear Orator,

 

Before what? :confused:

 

 

Love

ratacake

[Nachosdelux]

My wife and I recently returned from a 7 night med cruise (Silhouette), and did not notice any issues.

 

This was our first cruise with the (included) drink package. (we have cruised about 10 times)

 

I will admit that it was a really nice thing to have.

 

That said, we are not big drinkers, and it made it easy to drink more than normal.

 

We do enjoy the elite cocktail hour, so not sure if we will purchase the drink package on our next cruise, if it is not included.

Edited September 6, 2014 by Nachosdelux

[bobsfamily]

I've noticed passengers on cruises who are more concerned about other people behaving "properly" than focusing on relaxing and releasing stress from their everyday lives. They are the people who enjoy being the fashion police and sobriety police more than having fun and being on vacation.

Now that about sums it up.