John Heald: Liquor Distribution Change

[keith75]

It's seems a little over the top.

 

How many people drink that much the last night? When I have to fly or drive the last thing I need is to have had too much to drink the night before.

 

Maybe I'm in the minority:confused:

 

I'm with you! The last night I'm packing all my crap up as early as possible and getting drunk is the last thing on my mind. May have a few drinks at a show or casino but not sitting in my cabin getting hammered.

[42CruiseCrazy]

On the Epic in January, you went to a location to pick it up, but it was the last evening, not in the morning of debarkation.

 

 

I always purchase booze at the Fun shop duty-free. Their prices are as good as or better than in port. I can accept picking up my purchase in a designated location on the last night of the cruise if Carnival is too lazy to deliver it to me. But I WILL NOT buy anything if I must pick it up in the morning. Carnival's loss is the airport duty free shops gain.

[misguidedangel]

My problem is that I usually have two pieces of heavy, maxed, or close to maxed, out luggage and two carry on bags packed as full as I can to get off the ship. How or where would I put a bottle of booze I bought in a carry on that is at least 25lbs and full.....I wouldn't be happy having to open the suitcase and pack the bottle once I managed to get off the ship. First off I would hope that the bag wasn't close to the 50lbs limit.....

 

They will have to back off of this or change it to pick the alcohol up in room they can close off for a few hours after dinner for people to pick the booze up so it can be packed and bags put out before midnight.....

[misguidedangel]

Just a momentary thought, perhaps this is a way to stock the crews bar because how many people wouldn't be bothered picking up the booze because they can't or won't repack it, and like me can walk away from a cheap bottle of alcohol.....

[S.S.Oceanlover]

My problem is that I usually have two pieces of heavy, maxed, or close to maxed, out luggage and two carry on bags packed as full as I can to get off the ship. How or where would I put a bottle of booze I bought in a carry on that is at least 25lbs and full.....I wouldn't be happy having to open the suitcase and pack the bottle once I managed to get off the ship. First off I would hope that the bag wasn't close to the 50lbs limit.....

 

They will have to back off of this or change it to pick the alcohol up in room they can close off for a few hours after dinner for people to pick the booze up so it can be packed and bags put out before midnight.....

 

 

Thats a lot of luggage for one person:eek:

 

Bill

[Max49]

The only opinion from us that they care about is when we vote with our wallet CC or checkbook. Quit buying liquor , this will change fast. Quit buying cruises, they will reconsider how greedy they need to be for more profits.

I loved my first cruise but I think they are expensive and pretty greedy in wanting to get rich off of alcohol sales. I think non drinkers should have to buy booze even if they don't drink just to support the cruise lines. Sure they deserve some profit but 2000% markup on alcohol, no wonder they are freaking out because they may be losing selling a drink on the last night of the cruise.

Some people take 20 or 30 cruises a year, no wonder they feel they can do what ever they want.

I don't like to fly much because I feel like I'm being herded like a piece of cattle. I hope they don't try to ruin the fun of cruising by making so many ridiculous rules to increase profits but claim it's for our own good.

[richstowe]

I have bought liquor and have opened it the night before departure . It only takes two drinks to make opening duty-free liquor "pay" for itself given the disparity between the cost of duty-free and regular mixed drinks . I know I am not alone in doing this. This was only done when not flying out immediately .

 

As always , I suspect those complaining most bitterly about this are those that have abused the system , like me (except I'm not complaining) . It won't change things that much as I preferred to buy duty-free at the airport when flying out that day .

[firemanbobswife]

I have bought liquor and have opened it the night before departure . It only takes two drinks to make opening duty-free liquor "pay" for itself given the disparity between the cost of duty-free and regular mixed drinks . I know I am not alone in doing this. This was only done when not flying out immediately .

 

As always , I suspect those complaining most bitterly about this are those that have abused the system , like me (except I'm not complaining) . It won't change things that much as I preferred to buy duty-free at the airport when flying out that day .

 

Nope. Never have opened a bottle. Like I said, they are for other people. I can't stand hard liquor, and I have no desire to make my own foo foo drinks at home.

 

Matter of fact, right now I have 3 bottles of Bacardi - can't tell the sizes as they are laying in the rack in the cabinet, but one is small, one is medium, and one is HUGE. 3 bottles of who knows what kind of wine, a 5th of Jack Daniels, half a gallon of Jose Cuervo Silver, a thing of Montazuma Tequila (guess it's cheap stuff - no idea), a thing of strawberry daiquiri mix that is probably older than my cat who is almost 4, and some Margarita Mix that is a now a shade of green that rivals a sinus infection. Oh and some Gray Goose that's been in the fridge since Christmas (which year I really couldn't tell ya). There could be more, but I don't feel like digging in the dark recesses of my cabinet in my robe feeling pretty darn good after a Blackhawks win.

 

Party at my house if booze that's unopened doesn't expire. Does it expire? Anyone?

[Max49]

Nope. Never have opened a bottle. Like I said, they are for other people. I can't stand hard liquor, and I have no desire to make my own foo foo drinks at home.

 

Matter of fact, right now I have 3 bottles of Bacardi - can't tell the sizes as they are laying in the rack in the cabinet, but one is small, one is medium, and one is HUGE. 3 bottles of who knows what kind of wine, a 5th of Jack Daniels, half a gallon of Jose Cuervo Silver, a thing of Montazuma Tequila (guess it's cheap stuff - no idea), a thing of strawberry daiquiri mix that is probably older than my cat who is almost 4, and some Margarita Mix that is a now a shade of green that rivals a sinus infection. Oh and some Gray Goose that's been in the fridge since Christmas (which year I really couldn't tell ya). There could be more, but I don't feel like digging in the dark recesses of my cabinet in my robe feeling pretty darn good after a Blackhawks win.

 

Party at my house if booze that's unopened doesn't expire. Does it expire? Anyone?

 

Shoot, donate all that old booze to a cruise line, they will turn that into $50,000

[firemanbobswife]

Shoot, donate all that old booze to a cruise line, they will turn that into $50,000

 

 

Great idea! Heck, I'd be happy with a free 7 day cruise in an inside room :)

[cruizinisthebest]

I have bought liquor and have opened it the night before departure . It only takes two drinks to make opening duty-free liquor "pay" for itself given the disparity between the cost of duty-free and regular mixed drinks . I know I am not alone in doing this. This was only done when not flying out immediately .

 

As always , I suspect those complaining most bitterly about this are those that have abused the system , like me (except I'm not complaining) . It won't change things that much as I preferred to buy duty-free at the airport when flying out that day .

 

You would be wrong. Sometimes things bother people legitimately.

 

I can throw 'em back like the next person, but trust me - I don't shop duty free and then open a big butt bottle only to make a few drinks real quick before I try and pack it OPENED to get home to NJ. Never happened and never will. When and if I want a drink on the last night, I find my way to a bar like I did every other night of the cruise. The bottles my husband and I buy are for us to enjoy at home and to give to other people. Not to nip off of the night before.

[42CruiseCrazy]

Carnival beards!!! Are you listening? If you follow through with this totally stupid plan to make people pick up their liquor purchases in the morning of disembarkation day, you will lose duty free sales that far exceeds any increase in last night drink sales. Listen to your passengers - they seem to be using more brain cells than the people who came up with this crazy idea.

 

 

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[love my grandkids]

I have bought liquor and have opened it the night before departure . It only takes two drinks to make opening duty-free liquor "pay" for itself given the disparity between the cost of duty-free and regular mixed drinks . I know I am not alone in doing this. This was only done when not flying out immediately .

 

As always , I suspect those complaining most bitterly about this are those that have abused the system , like me (except I'm not complaining) . It won't change things that much as I preferred to buy duty-free at the airport when flying out that day .

 

Have to disagree with you on this.

 

We have never opened our liquor the last night and drove home with full bottles. Believe the vast majority do the same.

[love my grandkids]

Carnival beards!!! Are you listening? If you follow through with this totally stupid plan to make people pick up their liquor purchases in the morning of disembarkation day, you will lose duty free sales that far exceeds any increase in last night drink sales. Listen to your passengers - they seem to be using more brain cells than the people who came up with this crazy idea.

 

 

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[vacruisin]

Yeah, we buy the booze to take home to family and friends and to stock up for our annual huge family Thanksgiving week at the Outer Banks, NC. Makes no sense to me to open a bottle of booze for a few sips only to pack it in a suitcase and have it potentially soak my clothes during the trip home. I think it's pretty safe to assume that most people don't crack open bottles and "turn up" the night before getting off the ship.

 

 

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[Havingfun2010]

It's funny how many people are crying over this. Get up in the morning, take a shower, go eat, pick up your booze and walk off the ship. Sorry so many people are distraught over loosing their "right" to drink it on the last night, or such extreme inconvenience to put it in your bag when you get off the ship. I just don't get all the crying.

[Sweet Dutch Girl]

Carnival beards!!! Are you listening? If you follow through with this totally stupid plan to make people pick up their liquor purchases in the morning of disembarkation day, you will lose duty free sales that far exceeds any increase in last night drink sales. Listen to your passengers - they seem to be using more brain cells than the people who came up with this crazy idea.

 

 

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Since the "change" has never ever been publicly associated with "drinking on the last night" (a hypothesis posted by someone and then carried as a banner by others) the idea that this little change in liquor distribution will economically harm Carnival is utterly absurd. Those who buy liquor will buy it (except for the few rabble-rousers who abhor change to their routines) irregardless of when they pick it up.

 

Eliminating the need for staff to spend their last evening going from deck to deck and room to room (a labor intensive and time consuming method) Carnival is now adopting a distribution practice that is "normal" on many other cruiselines (and there is no empiracal proof that it "hurts" their sales).

 

I am sure Carnival has weighed the slight inconvenience to a few and have adopted this much more practical method because IT IS better, faster, and much more efficient. The corporation isn't stupid....even though a few disgruntled "I have to have time to pack it in my suitcase" passengers may think it is.

[RuthlessBoss]

It's funny how many people are crying over this. Get up in the morning, take a shower, go eat, pick up your booze and walk off the ship. Sorry so many people are distraught over loosing their "right" to drink it on the last night, or such extreme inconvenience to put it in your bag when you get off the ship. I just don't get all the crying.

 

Those screaming the most seem to be those who are flying. I don't get it. Are they willing to pay for over weight bags just for booze when they could pack it the night before? One poster must think he's special, accuses Carnival of being too lazy to deliver it. Can you imagine the manpower needed to deliver? The ships are getting bigger and bigger.

[figdu]

It's funny how many people are crying over this. Get up in the morning, take a shower, go eat, pick up your booze and walk off the ship. Sorry so many people are distraught over loosing their "right" to drink it on the last night, or such extreme inconvenience to put it in your bag when you get off the ship. I just don't get all the crying.

 

14 Carnival cruises and have never once opened a bottle on the last night. To me it isn't even the convenience of having it delivered. If they do not want to use the manpower to deliver it I am fine with that. What irks me is the decision that it must be picked up on the morning of debarkation. That is already the most stressful and busiest time around the ship. If I could pick it up myself on the last night I would be okay with that.

[42CruiseCrazy]

Those screaming the most seem to be those who are flying. I don't get it. Are they willing to pay for over weight bags just for booze when they could pack it the night before? One poster must think he's special, accuses Carnival of being too lazy to deliver it. Can you imagine the manpower needed to deliver? The ships are getting bigger and bigger.

 

 

If you are right and Carnival has made this change to save valuable manpower then distributing the liquor on the last night of the cruise would make more sense because on debarkation day everyone (passengers and crew) are very, very busy. If I must pick up my booze in the morning, I just won't buy it. I'm not against picking up the booze myself. I just believe the time is wrong

[Frank12]

14 Carnival cruises and have never once opened a bottle on the last night. To me it isn't even the convenience of having it delivered. If they do not want to use the manpower to deliver it I am fine with that. What irks me is the decision that it must be picked up on the morning of debarkation. That is already the most stressful and busiest time around the ship. If I could pick it up myself on the last night I would be okay with that.

 

This! :)

[beloum]

Really bad idea. I was on Elation in 2004 and they tried this as an experiment. Horrible experience. Had to wait over an hour to pick up the liquor. After a few weeks on selected ships, policy was changed back to the regular distribution method. Here is a link from 2004 about it. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=341444

[cruizinisthebest]

Those screaming the most seem to be those who are flying. I don't get it. Are they willing to pay for over weight bags just for booze when they could pack it the night before? One poster must think he's special, accuses Carnival of being too lazy to deliver it. Can you imagine the manpower needed to deliver? The ships are getting bigger and bigger.

My bags are never overweight. I learned that lesson a few years back when I had to repack at the airport quickly before our outbound flight. We were on our way to the cruise, so bottles wasn't even the issue.

 

We bring one suitcase each now and these bottles don't make a single one overweight. This is why it is important that people get their goods in time to pack them properly. There is nothing reasonable or sensible in expecting people (as a matter of written policy) to repack in the port or at the airport or to pay to check an extra bag. And that is the only option for people who fly. And that is probably the majority of passengers or close to it.

 

Many people in this thread have stated that they are willing to go get their goods themselves on the night before. When it makes sense. One person made a comment about the workers being lazy. I don't think that poster represents most of us.

 

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[love my grandkids]

Since the "change" has never ever been publicly associated with "drinking on the last night" (a hypothesis posted by someone and then carried as a banner by others) the idea that this little change in liquor distribution will economically harm Carnival is utterly absurd. Those who buy liquor will buy it (except for the few rabble-rousers who abhor change to their routines) irregardless of when they pick it up.

 

Eliminating the need for staff to spend their last evening going from deck to deck and room to room (a labor intensive and time consuming method) Carnival is now adopting a distribution practice that is "normal" on many other cruiselines (and there is no empiracal proof that it "hurts" their sales).

 

I am sure Carnival has weighed the slight inconvenience to a few and have adopted this much more practical method because IT IS better, faster, and much more efficient. The corporation isn't stupid....even though a few disgruntled "I have to have time to pack it in my suitcase" passengers may think it is.

 

Do you seriously believe this?

[Sweet Dutch Girl]

14 Carnival cruises and have never once opened a bottle on the last night. To me it isn't even the convenience of having it delivered. If they do not want to use the manpower to deliver it I am fine with that. What irks me is the decision that it must be picked up on the morning of debarkation. That is already the most stressful and busiest time around the ship. If I could pick it up myself on the last night I would be okay with that.

 

Embarkation and debarkation are stressful for many, not because of the procedures, but because of their own timetables and interests. I am never stressed the last morning because I don't carry my own luggage or attempt to leave the ship before anyone else does. I'm always in the last wave to debark and have oodles of time to complete my morning tasks like eating and relaxing and people watching the thousands of stressed out individuals.

 

If "liquor" pick-up adds to stress...just don't buy it. Its a simple concept.