Cheers Program

[falkcor]

the rules state sharing is not permitted, however, can it be easily done?

 

you have to purchase for every person in the cabin over 21, so it's not exactly the easiest thing to get around for most people. you're correct that the rules prohibit sharing, and if caught your cheers program can be revoked without refund for the remainder of the cruise. there's also a 5 minute waiting period between drink orders. i would never chance that or willfully break that rule (ruins it for everybody and all that), but that's not to say people don't do it and get away with it.

[RTRMom]

My husband and I are convincing ourselves to get it for our cruise coming up.

 

 

I wondered if it is true...that the service is not up to par when you have the program? Do the waiters not come back around after knowing you have the card?

 

 

Also, if both my husband and myself have the program....can he just take my card with him to get my drink. Or will I have to be present?

[falkcor]

My husband and I are convincing ourselves to get it for our cruise coming up.

 

I wondered if it is true...that the service is not up to par when you have the program? Do the waiters not come back around after knowing you have the card?

 

Also, if both my husband and myself have the program....can he just take my card with him to get my drink. Or will I have to be present?

 

i have not found there to be problems with the service.

 

as the tip is based on the package price, it is true that past 'break even' staff are not being tipped the same amount they would be without. if you'd like to ensure you're tipping the comparable amount you can always throw a dollar or two with orders if you want to, i typically do.

 

he should be able to get the drink for you. i might suggest you go together and order the first one so the bartender is familiar with you and that you're with him, but it shouldn't be a problem.

[RTRMom]

i have not found there to be problems with the service.

 

as the tip is based on the package price, it is true that past 'break even' staff are not being tipped the same amount they would be without. if you'd like to ensure you're tipping the comparable amount you can always throw a dollar or two with orders if you want to, i typically do.

 

he should be able to get the drink for you. i might suggest you go together and order the first one so the bartender is familiar with you and that you're with him, but it shouldn't be a problem.

 

 

 

Great! Thanks for the fast response. :D

Edited February 11, 2015 by RTRMom

[vbecky]

My husband has always been able to take my card and get me a drink as well.

[RTRMom]

My husband has always been able to take my card and get me a drink as well.

 

That is great news. I mean that is what husbands are for. :)

[jetta8300]

I would be worth it to us if every day was a sea day. The problem is on port days we never have that many drinks on the ship. I'm a martini gal and there's no way I can drink 6-7 martinis between dinner and bed, I'd be on the floor. In our experience, carnival makes their martinis strong. So it depends how you drink and what you drink.

 

We like to buy a $500 gift card and use that for "pre-paying" for drinks. That way, if we use it we use it. If we don't use it all, we don't waste that money and can use it for some thing else. Last cruise we spend about $370 on drinks and were able to use the other $130 on gambling.

[Frank12]

I would be worth it to us if every day was a sea day. The problem is on port days we never have that many drinks on the ship. I'm a martini gal and there's no way I can drink 6-7 martinis between dinner and bed, I'd be on the floor. In our experience, carnival makes their martinis strong. So it depends how you drink and what you drink.

 

We like to buy a $500 gift card and use that for "pre-paying" for drinks. That way, if we use it we use it. If we don't use it all, we don't waste that money and can use it for some thing else. Last cruise we spend about $370 on drinks and were able to use the other $130 on gambling.

 

We're in the same boat. Drink a lot on some days and just a couple on others. I don't think we'd break even.

[RTRMom]

I would be worth it to us if every day was a sea day. The problem is on port days we never have that many drinks on the ship. I'm a martini gal and there's no way I can drink 6-7 martinis between dinner and bed, I'd be on the floor. In our experience, carnival makes their martinis strong. So it depends how you drink and what you drink.

 

We like to buy a $500 gift card and use that for "pre-paying" for drinks. That way, if we use it we use it. If we don't use it all, we don't waste that money and can use it for some thing else. Last cruise we spend about $370 on drinks and were able to use the other $130 on gambling.

 

 

I was hesitant for awhile, because of this and I didn't think my husband would want to drink that much. But he just told me that he would gladly get the program.

 

So I figured I would break it down and for me it is worth it. I only drink frozen drinks...so I would need to drink 7 a day to break even. I could see that on sea days. Then on port days..we are not "full day" excursion people. We eat breakfast then head off the ship. Come back on the ship to eat lunch and then head back off to shop. Then back well before dinner. So we still have plenty of time to take advantage.

 

 

The unlimited soda included is good for my husband as well. We were planning on getting a coke card anyway, since we always buy it.

[jetta8300]

I was hesitant for awhile, because of this and I didn't think my husband would want to drink that much. But he just told me that he would gladly get the program.

 

 

 

So I figured I would break it down and for me it is worth it. I only drink frozen drinks...so I would need to drink 7 a day to break even. I could see that on sea days. Then on port days..we are not "full day" excursion people. We eat breakfast then head off the ship. Come back on the ship to eat lunch and then head back off to shop. Then back well before dinner. So we still have plenty of time to take advantage.

 

 

 

 

 

The unlimited soda included is good for my husband as well. We were planning on getting a coke card anyway, since we always buy it.

 

 

Actually my thing would be specialty coffee. I can drink my weight in cappuccinos! But those aren't included. If they were I may have to consider... Haha.

 

Martinis are our thing. My husband and I on sea days have usually 2-3 drinks during the day and then another 2-3 in the evening. Let's say 5 martinis on average per day. Still not 6 to break even. Then on port days we may have a drink before dinner, and 2 more during/after dinner, so only 3-4 per day on port days. (Let alone the 1/2 day on boarding day, we have 2-3 embarkation day, not 6.) We feel like we drank A LOT, the drinks were strong, and we were definitely at our limit alcohol wise,so it would have never been worth it for us.

 

But if you're a beer drinker that's another story. So it really depends WHAT you drink. People can easily drink 10+ beers a day. But trying to drink 6 martinis on a port day would be a feat.

[RTRMom]

Actually my thing would be specialty coffee. I can drink my weight in cappuccinos! But those aren't included. If they were I may have to consider... Haha.

 

Martinis are our thing. My husband and I on sea days have usually 2-3 drinks during the day and then another 2-3 in the evening. Let's say 5 martinis on average per day. Still not 6 to break even. Then on port days we may have a drink before dinner, and 2 more during/after dinner, so only 3-4 per day on port days. (Let alone the 1/2 day on boarding day, we have 2-3 embarkation day, not 6.) We feel like we drank A LOT, the drinks were strong, and we were definitely at our limit alcohol wise,so it would have never been worth it for us.

 

But if you're a beer drinker that's another story. So it really depends WHAT you drink. People can easily drink 10+ beers a day. But trying to drink 6 martinis on a port day would be a feat.

 

 

If frozen coffee drinks were included...that would be awesome. Even better if those drinks came from a Starbucks onboard. We can only wish. ;)

Edited February 11, 2015 by RTRMom

[jemima12533]

I would be worth it to us if every day was a sea day. The problem is on port days we never have that many drinks on the ship. I'm a martini gal and there's no way I can drink 6-7 martinis between dinner and bed, I'd be on the floor. In our experience, carnival makes their martinis strong. So it depends how you drink and what you drink.

 

We like to buy a $500 gift card and use that for "pre-paying" for drinks. That way, if we use it we use it. If we don't use it all, we don't waste that money and can use it for some thing else. Last cruise we spend about $370 on drinks and were able to use the other $130 on gambling.

 

We are 4 Liverpool England Lasses joining the Breeze in September. We have been known to like the odd drink(!) but are new to Carnival and are interested in what you had to say about Gift cards. Can you give us any information on them?? How do we get them....how do they work.. and can you chose any amount?

Any help much appreciated

[TeresaJ]

We are probably getting it for our 8 day cruise in March. I like the idea that I can get daiquiri's without alcohol or pop when I want too. I normally am a beer or rum drinker but I also get bored of that after a few days so it's nice to mix it up with a Miami Vice, a glass of wine, etc.

We have 3 sea days, one short port day, and the first day we will be on board noonish so i think it will totally be worth it for me and my DH. We also have $200 OBC so it won't cost me as much out of pocket.:p

[CalaDragonflyLady]

We are 4 Liverpool England Lasses joining the Breeze in September. We have been known to like the odd drink(!) but are new to Carnival and are interested in what you had to say about Gift cards. Can you give us any information on them?? How do we get them....how do they work.. and can you chose any amount?

Any help much appreciated

 

http://www.carnivalgiftcards.com/

 

I don't know if there's a UK version of the Carnival website? The link shows gift card info; I recommend eGift cards, as they are the same as cash. They can be used to book or pay off a cruise IF you booked directly with Carnival. They can also be used for on board credit.

 

I would recommend using your favorite search engine to see if there are any deals. One of our US cellular companies was offering the eGift cards at 10% off, it really adds up! :)

 

You will love the Breeze! I'm going on her for the second time in a few weeks

[blarko]

I purchased Cheers on my 8 day Liberty cruise (September 13 sailing) at the 37.50 price. We had three sea days and I certainly thought I'd come out ahead buying Cheers. The most I drank in one day was 7 drinks and that was only one day. No way did I come anywhere near fifteen drinks, nor did I want to. Quite honestly, by about the fourth or fifth day of the cruise, I didn't even feel like drinking that much anymore, but I did because I felt like I had to at least break even. I was able to try drinks that I wouldn't have otherwise tried. I'm glad I tried the Cheers program when it was the lower price, but I don't think I'd do it again.

 

Sent from my KFTHWI using Forums mobile app

[jetta8300]

We are 4 Liverpool England Lasses joining the Breeze in September. We have been known to like the odd drink(!) but are new to Carnival and are interested in what you had to say about Gift cards. Can you give us any information on them?? How do we get them....how do they work.. and can you chose any amount?

Any help much appreciated

 

No problem. The gift cards worked out very well for us. We actually got this idea from going to Disney World so many times (we get gift cards to pre-pay for food in Disney rather than going with their dining plans) and it worked out very well on our cruise as well.

 

We bought a $500 gift card on http://www.carnivalgiftcards.com. I was able to put anything on it from $25-$1000. And then when we checked in we applied it to our sign and sail account so we had $500 on there to drink or do whatever with. It was SO MUCH nicer than forcing drinks down our throats because we didn't feel like we were forced to drink. On day 5, my husband got a little sick of drinking and eating so much and was only able to stomach 1-2 drinks that day, so we were GLAD we did not purchase cheers. It was very easy and we had some extra money to use at the casino on our first cruise.

 

We did the same thing on Royal Caribbean on our last cruise, and we ended up eating at a few of their specialty restaurants with the leftover balance since again we didn't use the entire $500.

 

It's nice in theory to say that "oh sure, i'll drink 5 drinks a day" but you never know how you'll feel. Hard liquer 7 days in a row is difficult for us. (again if you're a beer drinker that's a different story). Not to mention the first day my husband is usually pretty sea sick and doesn't feel like drinking. So after doing the gift card thing I don't think we will ever purchase Cheers, we drink as much as we want and don't have to worry about the end bill, but also we don't feel forced to drink when we don't want to.

Edited February 11, 2015 by jetta8300

[butterfly529]

classic cocktails would be long island iced tea, margarita, mojito, the cruiser, mai tai and sex on the beach.

 

martinis & more includes the likes of the carnival cosmo, pomtini, appletini, blue moon and tiramisu

 

frozen drinks would include kiss on the lips, hurricane wave, mocha chocolate getaway and strawberry, banana, peach, raspberry, mango, lemonade or hurricane daquiris, pina colada and miami vice.

 

liquors would include the various price points / quality of vodkas, bourbon, gin, scotch, rum, tequila, etc.

 

You seem quite knowledgeable! My question is if you don't sail until 4:00, can you wait until the next day to purchase your Cheers card? So Sunday to Sunday cruise, do you have to purchase 7 days or 6 days?