Wine packages

[pizzadog]

We are considering the purchase of a seven bottle wine package for our upcoming Panama Canal cruise. If not doing it online how do we go about ordering it once on board. Can we sample the wines before choosing? Is it worth the money or would we be better off just buying a bottle with dinner? We like a glass or two with dinner but don't drink wine at cocktail hour so seven bottles would work for our 19 day cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

On Embarkation day there will be tables set up in various places on the ship where you can buy a wine package.

You can also talk to your wine steward at dinner and buy a package.

No sampling of the wines.

[DaveOKC]

We are considering the purchase of a seven bottle wine package for our upcoming Panama Canal cruise. If not doing it online how do we go about ordering it once on board. Can we sample the wines before choosing? Is it worth the money or would we be better off just buying a bottle with dinner? We like a glass or two with dinner but don't drink wine at cocktail hour so seven bottles would work for our 19 day cruise.

 

While there is no free wine sampling on HAL, they do have a wine tasting event the first day or two onboard which (for a fee) you can sample a few of the wines.

 

As to cost of the wine packages versus just buying bottles "as you go", it is a bit cheaper to get the package, but it may or may not be worth it to you depending on your wine tastes. With the packages, you are locked into HAL's limited selection. Further, if you like HAL's house wine (I personally like the chardonnay) that would be a less expensive option.

 

One you reach 3-5 Stars (Mariner) you get 25-50% discounts, so this definitely makes the packages a better deal.

[summersigh]

We just returned from a 7 day HAL cruise. The packages did not include our favorite wine but it was available on the Indulgences list along with the option of having it delivered to our stateroom or DINING - which is what we did. We ordered 5 bottles of our favorite delivered to the MDR (we had late fixed seating) where it was opened and served as "needed" :) by the wine steward. The difference in cost was about $5 less than buying the package with the wines we didn't care about.

[AliceS]

So, perhaps I should give the (house) Chardonnay a try and then, decide. The wine seems a bit pricey, so a package for a long cruise might suit me? Still in the decide mode. I appreciate the information.

 

When you bought the 5 bottles of the Favorite...was it less expensive that way or just convenient? Thanks, Alice