Enchantment - To drink package, or not to drink package...

[atb]

For those with the beverage packages - how did it work to get a glass of wine with dinner?

We always got the wine & dine package, but that's history.

So we are relooking the beverage packages.

[NightOne]

Here I am 13 days til we set sail, I've been researching since NOV 2014 and I STILL can't decide whether or not to purchase a drink package. Ugh.. This is so frustrating. The cost is ridiculous, but I'm afraid to NOT purchase and incur a huge fee leaving the ship. I figure if I get just two frozen drinks at $12 each, that's already $24 bucks. If I have two a day for four days, that $100. I can try to "smuggle" on liquor but I don't want to have to be doing anything "clandestine" on my vacation. I just don't know which option to choose. What's everyone else's take on purchasing?

 

 

See:

 

http://www.cruisewithgambee.com/royal-caribbean-drink-package/

[Clarea]

For those with the beverage packages - how did it work to get a glass of wine with dinner?

We always got the wine & dine package, but that's history.

So we are relooking the beverage packages.

The beverage packages include unlimited wine by the glass in restaurants and bars. The Select package includes glasses up to $8 and the Premium/Ultimate packages include glasses up to $12.

[Brandywine_101]

See:

 

http://www.cruisewithgambee.com/royal-caribbean-drink-package/

Carl, thanks. That's crazy. Who in the world needs to drink 15 cocktails a day!? And that list doesn't include water, soda, coffee, tea.

[NightOne]

Carl, thanks. That's crazy. Who in the world needs to drink 15 cocktails a day!? And that list doesn't include water, soda, coffee, tea.

 

On at least one cruise line they cap your maximum drinks per day at 15 with their drink package which is why he may have added it to his chart that way. Royal's is unlimited btw.

[bbrady413]

Carl, thanks. That's crazy. Who in the world needs to drink 15 cocktails a day!? And that list doesn't include water, soda, coffee, tea.

 

Brandy, I've been having the same internal debate as you. This will be my 6th cruise on Sunday, and will be the first one getting a drink package. My thought- on previous cruises, I never had much of a bar tab. Always well under $200 for a week long cruise. But the reason was, I didn't want to rack up a huge bar bill, so I pretty much had a glass of wine at dinner, and a random cocktail, and that was about it.

 

Now, this cruise, I will drink all the time, and I'm not talking about being a sloppy drunk for 7 straight days. In general, I'm not a huge drinker, so how do I justify $65 per day? This is what I'm thinking (and am adding in the ala carte gratuity, ballparking):

 

Cappucino in the morning: $5

Mimosa with breakfast: $9

Frozen drink by the pool: $11

Two glasses of wine at dinner: $25

Dessert shot: $8

Four bottles of water each day: $4 (I'm going off of bringing a case on yourself)

Now throw in a soda while walking around, or another coffee, or an extra drink poolside or at a show, and its easy to hit that Ultimate Package $65.

 

And personally, I'm 6'1 200 pounds. Having a few alcoholic drinks spread out through the day won't have me throwing up off my balcony. It'll have me relaxed and not stressing about the bill at the end.

 

And by the way, Take out any of those random alcoholic drinks, and guaranteed it'll be replaced with more premium coffee, soda, or non-alcoholic frozen drinks. No problem hitting the $65.

 

Does my logic seem correct? I will be giving it a try in a few days.

[nik23]

My DH and I just returned from our 4day Enchantment today.

 

We don't buy specialty coffees....WJ coffee works just fine. DH drinks iced teas and they too are FREE in WJ. The OJ out of the fountains in WJ is doable for breakfast . The water out of the tap and in all the fountain machines is filtered and just as good as bottled, so just bring along your own Tervis mug and refill...no H2O needed.

 

We are beer and wine drinkers. No frozen drinks for us. So that keeps the tabs down a bit.

We brought on the allowed (2) bottles of wine = (8) glasses.

 

We purchased the beer cooler bag the first day. (5) beers for $36.30 ($30 + tip). Every refill thereafter is $23.00 ($20 + tip) You can mix-and-match whatever bottled beer you like.

( Reg.price = 5 coronos @ $5.75 ea. including tip = $28.75 )

 

We had a total of (2) coolers on Day 1 and 3 coolers on Day 4. = 5 coolers

= $128.30 They will keep adding ice to the bag too.

 

We missed CoCoCay.

We were in port for two days in Nassau, so we only purchased 2 drinks each before dinner. So if you have a long day in Nassau, you may not reach your 6-7 drink quoto for the day.

 

So, with several beers by the pool on sea days and a few cocktails before dinner we managed to have a tab of just under $200 for the two of us.

So to us the beverage package is not worth it. But to others it may be a good idea.

[BekkaW]

Brandy, I've been having the same internal debate as you. This will be my 6th cruise on Sunday, and will be the first one getting a drink package. My thought- on previous cruises, I never had much of a bar tab. Always well under $200 for a week long cruise. But the reason was, I didn't want to rack up a huge bar bill, so I pretty much had a glass of wine at dinner, and a random cocktail, and that was about it.

 

Now, this cruise, I will drink all the time, and I'm not talking about being a sloppy drunk for 7 straight days. In general, I'm not a huge drinker, so how do I justify $65 per day? This is what I'm thinking (and am adding in the ala carte gratuity, ballparking):

 

Cappucino in the morning: $5

Mimosa with breakfast: $9

Frozen drink by the pool: $11

Two glasses of wine at dinner: $25

Dessert shot: $8

Four bottles of water each day: $4 (I'm going off of bringing a case on yourself)

Now throw in a soda while walking around, or another coffee, or an extra drink poolside or at a show, and its easy to hit that Ultimate Package $65.

 

And personally, I'm 6'1 200 pounds. Having a few alcoholic drinks spread out through the day won't have me throwing up off my balcony. It'll have me relaxed and not stressing about the bill at the end.

 

And by the way, Take out any of those random alcoholic drinks, and guaranteed it'll be replaced with more premium coffee, soda, or non-alcoholic frozen drinks. No problem hitting the $65.

 

Does my logic seem correct? I will be giving it a try in a few days.

 

Yes, your logic is perfect. For me it would be similar, but more than one premium coffee throughout the day, add 2 or 3 sodas and probably 2 or 3 frozen drinks or cocktails between the pool, the show and the casino after dinner :)

[John&LaLa]

Brandy, I've been having the same internal debate as you. This will be my 6th cruise on Sunday, and will be the first one getting a drink package. My thought- on previous cruises, I never had much of a bar tab. Always well under $200 for a week long cruise. But the reason was, I didn't want to rack up a huge bar bill, so I pretty much had a glass of wine at dinner, and a random cocktail, and that was about it.

 

Now, this cruise, I will drink all the time, and I'm not talking about being a sloppy drunk for 7 straight days. In general, I'm not a huge drinker, so how do I justify $65 per day? This is what I'm thinking (and am adding in the ala carte gratuity, ballparking):

 

Cappucino in the morning: $5

Mimosa with breakfast: $9

Frozen drink by the pool: $11

Two glasses of wine at dinner: $25

Dessert shot: $8

Four bottles of water each day: $4 (I'm going off of bringing a case on yourself)

Now throw in a soda while walking around, or another coffee, or an extra drink poolside or at a show, and its easy to hit that Ultimate Package $65.

 

And personally, I'm 6'1 200 pounds. Having a few alcoholic drinks spread out through the day won't have me throwing up off my balcony. It'll have me relaxed and not stressing about the bill at the end.

 

And by the way, Take out any of those random alcoholic drinks, and guaranteed it'll be replaced with more premium coffee, soda, or non-alcoholic frozen drinks. No problem hitting the $65.

 

Does my logic seem correct? I will be giving it a try in a few days.

 

Your drink prices are a little high. Go back a few posts and click the link to the price list

[tm3750]

The drinks are not watered down, 6 or 7 drinks a day cover the cost and please, you do not have to buy the package. I feel it is a great deal, if you don't, don't buy it!!!

[ltc12345]

I am travelling with RC for the first time soon. Can anyone please provide information regarding the Select drinks package? This was included "free of charge" (I take that as included in the price of the cruise!). I drink very little, save for water. Would bottled water be included in the Select package?

 

One travel agent has advised it would be, the other said it wouldn't. If it is not, I wonder if I can swap Select for a water package. Would RC do this?

 

Thanks in advance for any replies.

[Clarea]

I am travelling with RC for the first time soon. Can anyone please provide information regarding the Select drinks package? This was included "free of charge" (I take that as included in the price of the cruise!). I drink very little, save for water. Would bottled water be included in the Select package?

 

One travel agent has advised it would be, the other said it wouldn't. If it is not, I wonder if I can swap Select for a water package. Would RC do this?

 

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Answered in your other thread:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2167577

[Brandywine_101]

Brandy, I've been having the same internal debate as you. This will be my 6th cruise on Sunday, and will be the first one getting a drink package. My thought- on previous cruises, I never had much of a bar tab. Always well under $200 for a week long cruise. But the reason was, I didn't want to rack up a huge bar bill, so I pretty much had a glass of wine at dinner, and a random cocktail, and that was about it.

 

Now, this cruise, I will drink all the time, and I'm not talking about being a sloppy drunk for 7 straight days. In general, I'm not a huge drinker, so how do I justify $65 per day? This is what I'm thinking (and am adding in the ala carte gratuity, ballparking):

 

Cappucino in the morning: $5

Mimosa with breakfast: $9

Frozen drink by the pool: $11

Two glasses of wine at dinner: $25

Dessert shot: $8

Four bottles of water each day: $4 (I'm going off of bringing a case on yourself)

Now throw in a soda while walking around, or another coffee, or an extra drink poolside or at a show, and its easy to hit that Ultimate Package $65.

 

And personally, I'm 6'1 200 pounds. Having a few alcoholic drinks spread out through the day won't have me throwing up off my balcony. It'll have me relaxed and not stressing about the bill at the end.

 

And by the way, Take out any of those random alcoholic drinks, and guaranteed it'll be replaced with more premium coffee, soda, or non-alcoholic frozen drinks. No problem hitting the $65.

 

Does my logic seem correct? I will be giving it a try in a few days.

Your logic seems, well logical. I seriously dont want to be worying about a huge post-cruise bill.

[Brandywine_101]

My DH and I just returned from our 4day Enchantment today.

 

We don't buy specialty coffees....WJ coffee works just fine. DH drinks iced teas and they too are FREE in WJ. The OJ out of the fountains in WJ is doable for breakfast . The water out of the tap and in all the fountain machines is filtered and just as good as bottled, so just bring along your own Tervis mug and refill...no H2O needed.

 

We are beer and wine drinkers. No frozen drinks for us. So that keeps the tabs down a bit.

We brought on the allowed (2) bottles of wine = (8) glasses.

 

We purchased the beer cooler bag the first day. (5) beers for $36.30 ($30 + tip). Every refill thereafter is $23.00 ($20 + tip) You can mix-and-match whatever bottled beer you like.

( Reg.price = 5 coronos @ $5.75 ea. including tip = $28.75 )

 

We had a total of (2) coolers on Day 1 and 3 coolers on Day 4. = 5 coolers

= $128.30 They will keep adding ice to the bag too.

 

We missed CoCoCay.

We were in port for two days in Nassau, so we only purchased 2 drinks each before dinner. So if you have a long day in Nassau, you may not reach your 6-7 drink quoto for the day.

 

So, with several beers by the pool on sea days and a few cocktails before dinner we managed to have a tab of just under $200 for the two of us.

So to us the beverage package is not worth it. But to others it may be a good idea.

The premium package which has unlimited beer and wine costs $165 for the four days. So you couldve drank your fill for less than what you paid. My hubby drinks beer, gin, water, iced tea (ocassional soda) so I got the premium package for him. Im a coffee drinker, I can have three hot and two cold coffees a day. I like wine with dinner and an ocassional beer or margaritta, so I got the replenish package for me -$89 bucks for four days. All tolled cost $254. Not bad for free drinking and no bar tab at end. We areny doing any excursions so thatll be the extent of what we spend save the obligatory trinkets to take the grandkids.

[Brandywine_101]

My DH and I just returned from our 4day Enchantment today.

 

We don't buy specialty coffees....WJ coffee works just fine. DH drinks iced teas and they too are FREE in WJ. The OJ out of the fountains in WJ is doable for breakfast . The water out of the tap and in all the fountain machines is filtered and just as good as bottled, so just bring along your own Tervis mug and refill...no H2O needed.

 

We are beer and wine drinkers. No frozen drinks for us. So that keeps the tabs down a bit.

We brought on the allowed (2) bottles of wine = (8) glasses.

 

We purchased the beer cooler bag the first day. (5) beers for $36.30 ($30 + tip). Every refill thereafter is $23.00 ($20 + tip) You can mix-and-match whatever bottled beer you like.

( Reg.price = 5 coronos @ $5.75 ea. including tip = $28.75 )

 

We had a total of (2) coolers on Day 1 and 3 coolers on Day 4. = 5 coolers

= $128.30 They will keep adding ice to the bag too.

 

We missed CoCoCay.

We were in port for two days in Nassau, so we only purchased 2 drinks each before dinner. So if you have a long day in Nassau, you may not reach your 6-7 drink quoto for the day.

 

So, with several beers by the pool on sea days and a few cocktails before dinner we managed to have a tab of just under $200 for the two of us.

So to us the beverage package is not worth it. But to others it may be a good idea.

I meant the select package has beer and wine, not the premium.

[hansolosmom]

Here's my take.

We did a Celebrity cruise & I did the non-alcoholic package because we were with the kids. I'm not a soda drinker but I love coffee drinks, between those and water bottles the package more than paid for itself.

 

Last April it was just dh & I & i was the same way as you about getting the alcohol package for me, since I don't drink a lot. But in all honesty I thought it was great. I'd get coffee in the morning, a mimosa once or twice. Get a drink while playing trivia or by the pool. Have wine at dinner and then something while out listening to music. For my Dh its a no brainer to get the package because he's a drinker. I may not have "broke even" but I liked that I didn't have to stress over the end of the cruise bill.

 

I think you need to think about what/how you normally drink when cruising, then do a price compare.

[splash_in_the_water]

yes, it's for sure a combination of breaking even and "not stressing". Unless you're really on the low end of the "is it worth it scale" you'd probably be glad you got the appropriate drink package.

 

I've been there. It's too easy to hand over our card for whenever you want a drink. Sucks when you get the bill and realize you've racked up 5 or 600 hundred in drink bills. or even 2-300.

 

It's almost just an insurance package....as long you break even anyway

[atb]

The beverage packages include unlimited wine by the glass in restaurants and bars. The Select package includes glasses up to $8 and the Premium/Ultimate packages include glasses up to $12.

 

With the Wine & Dine package, we are used to having a bottle of wine on our table. How does this work with the beverage packages. Do you get one glass, and then never see a bottle again?

Or are they generous with the refills? :confused:

[Clarea]

With the Wine & Dine package, we are used to having a bottle of wine on our table. How does this work with the beverage packages. Do you get one glass, and then never see a bottle again?

Or are they generous with the refills? :confused:

With the beverage packages, you generally won't see the bottle. The bar server will serve you glasses of wine. If you want more, they will bring you another glass.

 

When you see the bar server, just tell them to come by often.

[tamtot]

If one purchases the drink package before boarding (online), would they upon check in have the drink sticker already on their sea pass card? OR would that info be in their cabin? My friend cruises later this week and wants to make sure if she pre-purchases she would be able to use it for the welcome aboard drink,etc.

Thank ya!

[Clarea]

If one purchases the drink package before boarding (online), would they upon check in have the drink sticker already on their sea pass card? OR would that info be in their cabin? My friend cruises later this week and wants to make sure if she pre-purchases she would be able to use it for the welcome aboard drink,etc.

Thank ya!

Drink sticker would be on the card at check-in. The special cup for the Freestyle machine would be in the room.

[CruisinSinceIwasBorn]

Wife and I debated for a long time and decided to purchase it. I was a big fan of the patron margaritas ($10/each) so you can quickly hit the break even. In addition, we got a bottle of water with every drink and utilized the freestyle machines. More than anything, we enjoyed not thinking about our bar tab because we knew exactly what it was going to be the minute we stepped onboard.

[tm3750]

My gosh, really. 15 drinks to get even. who is making this stuff up. Read the packages and make a decision. This is not brain surgery. If you have a mimosa or bloody mary with breakfast, get a couple of bottles of water a day. A beer or a cocktail at the pool and a wine with dinner. Bam, you are there. I don't drink to get " even " . If that is what you are thinking don't buy the packages and just pay as you go. Move on and have some fun on the cruise

[Brandywine_101]

Here's my take.

We did a Celebrity cruise & I did the non-alcoholic package because we were with the kids. I'm not a soda drinker but I love coffee drinks, between those and water bottles the package more than paid for itself.

 

Last April it was just dh & I & i was the same way as you about getting the alcohol package for me, since I don't drink a lot. But in all honesty I thought it was great. I'd get coffee in the morning, a mimosa once or twice. Get a drink while playing trivia or by the pool. Have wine at dinner and then something while out listening to music. For my Dh its a no brainer to get the package because he's a drinker. I may not have "broke even" but I liked that I didn't have to stress over the end of the cruise bill.

 

I think you need to think about what/how you normally drink when cruising, then do a price compare.

I completely agree. I went ahead and got the packages I described previously. I figure I can always get the hubby to get me a cocktail or two - or I can use his card since he has a "girls" name... lol. I always tease him about it, but it's a unisex name.

[Brandywine_101]

With the beverage packages, you generally won't see the bottle. The bar server will serve you glasses of wine. If you want more, they will bring you another glass.

 

When you see the bar server, just tell them to come by often.

I have read here somewhere, where the wait staff wont bring you another drink until you drain the first glass! I thought that was ludicrous. I mean I understand the "no sharing" rule and them trying to police it. But if I paid my money for unlimited drinks, if I want to sit and stare at 10 drinks, that should be my choice. Oh well...