Drink package question

[RMS Olympic]

I am curious as to whether anyone has felt the bar service was different when the staff knew you had pre paid via the drink package. I ask this because on another line the bar staff were less than enthusiastic waiting on passengers that had pre paid for their drinks. Could it be that they think potential extra tipping is not a possibility so the service is slower or just not the same?

I normally tip something beyond the built in gratuity and would do so even if I bought the drink package....but wonder if the bar staff dislike the idea of pre paid drinks? I know this question would be best answered by a crew member, but wondered if any passengers noted a difference in service/ treatment when they had bought the drink package. I wont mention the other line, but the lower level of service was very apparent.

Thanks

[bagney]

On our recent Grand Princess cruise to Alaska in May 2015, we each had the all inclusive drink package (our first time) and did not notice any issues with bar staff - all staff were quick and efficient with taking our orders and brining our drinks. We were in many of the lounges/bars and did not notice any deterioration of service at all.

[STREETKING]

We recently cruised on the Caribbean Princess last February and we both had the All-Inclusive Package, during that 5 day cruise not once were we approached by wait staff for our orders when we in the pool area . We had to go to the bar for service and it was at times slow and understaffed. I don't think it had do to with the servers knowing you had the AIDP because they just weren't around to even know. I think it was more an understaffing problem.

[Kinkacruiser]

We recently cruised on the Caribbean Princess last February and we both had the All-Inclusive Package, during that 5 day cruise not once were we approached by wait staff for our orders when we in the pool area . We had to go to the bar for service and it was at times slow and understaffed. I don't think it had do to with the servers knowing you had the AIDP because they just weren't around to even know. I think it was more an understaffing problem.

 

Same for my husband. Once the commission is earned by the drink waiter ( a hefty sum for a US 985 package (17 day cruise), you had to go up to the bar near the pool and stand in line. Disappointing service.

[seamanfs]

We recently cruised on the Caribbean Princess last February and we both had the All-Inclusive Package, during that 5 day cruise not once were we approached by wait staff for our orders when we in the pool area . We had to go to the bar for service and it was at times slow and understaffed. I don't think it had do to with the servers knowing you had the AIDP because they just weren't around to even know. I think it was more an understaffing problem.

 

We sailed in Feb on the Caribbean too and agree completely. We did not have any drink package and had to go to the bar to get anything to drink no matter which area we were in, even the casino was impossible to get service unless we went to the bar. Never in 28 cruises had we noted that problem. We also thought the ship might have been understaffed.

[petlover]

We didn't have the drink package but on both the Crown and the Grand we had to go to the bar to get our own drinks, regardless of the venue. They definitely needed more bar staff to be able to take orders and bring the drinks to the passengers in a timely manner. It is surprising considering they should want to sell more drinks not fewer.

Edited June 25, 2015 by petlover

[reedprincess]

We had the package on Caribbean Princess this spring (March-April, a 4, 5 and 7 night sailing) and had no problems at all getting service, at any of.the bars. The 4 and 5 nighter were noticeably busier at the vars, to be expected on such short, spring break time cruises, and so we didn't sweat a few extra minutes as we waited for our cocktail or beverage, or if it took a few extra minutes for pool waiter to get to us...didn't seem to have anything to dobwith whether we had a package and much more to dobwith how very many people were bellied up to the bar. On the 7 night sailing, whole different atmosphere. Wait staff was much less busy, and service was obviously quicker.

We've had it on multiple sailings now, and really don't notice any difference in service. Bartenders take our order, make up our drink and serve it - same as before the package. Some bartenders are more personable than others, same as always. But service levels are the same, whetger we have a package or not. I watched people accuse bat staff of serving those with a package first, and watched some accuse staff of serving those without a package first - really, bar staff was serving in order the customer got there....We've enjoyed our service with the packages, and will continue to have them.

[Colo Cruiser]

We have not had issues with the drink package.

 

Service around the pool areas and in the theater has become pretty bad over the last couple of years. :(