Cheers or not?? (just for fun)

[jnojr]

I don't think I'd do an all-you-can-drink package. You pretty much have to drink at least six drinks per person per day. Don't get me wrong, I can do that... but maybe not every day, and certainly not the days when the ship is in port.

 

I have to give a X2 for the idea of getting a bottle or two in the room and bring on some mixers. A liter is ~20 shots. That's plenty for me for a week of evening cocktails on the balcony.

 

Last cruise I was on, there was a group of HARD drinking people who had the packages, and they saved their receipts to make sure they got their money's worth. They didn't need to bother, as they started at 7AM and went until 1AM. They were constantly drunk. That isn't how I like to spend my cruises.

[Vitamin_Sea]

our last cruise was 8 nts.

 

Cheers would have cost $900+ for 2 people :eek:

 

There are ways to drink for less... We all know em :cool:

[swscruiser]

I do know that my wife and I are considering not buying the Cheers for our next 7 night cruise. We are thinking of buying a couple of bottles thru Bon Voyage and some beer.

 

Cheers program cost:

7 nights x $49.95 = 349.95 x 18% gratuity = 412.87 x 8.5% state tax = 447.66. Which means in reality the daily cost is 447.66/7 = 63.95 per person per day.

Double for 2 = 895.32

 

Alternative thru Bon Voyage:

2 bottles of booze with six pack of coke/sprite/whatever each (rum 90/vodka 85) $175 x 8.5% state tax = 189.88 - delivered to sate room

2 quarts of booze equals just over 40 drinks at 1.5 oz a drink - or just about 6 drinks a day for a 7 night cruise.

4 - 16 beers = $24 x 8.5% state tax = 26.04 x 7 = 182.20

4 x 7 = 28 beers or 4 beers per day

 

so for $372.08 I can have 10 drinks a day, every day.

we don't have to buy double so another bottle and maybe 8 more beers would do it so about $550 for 2.

 

I do not drink heavily every day, some days I may not drink at all. 3 days we are in port, one of them at HMC which the Cheers program does not count at BUT you can take booze OFF the ship (if you have it).

 

$895.32 - $550 = $345 that I could spend on drinks here and there and still be at the price of the cheers program. Plus most likely by the 3rd-4th day we both will have the "drinks on us" cards in the casino.

 

 

 

On cheers program you are only charged sales tax on the drinks you order while still in port not on the whole amount.

[pezhead]

Yes and no. It all depends who I'm cruising with.

 

3 night cruise with the college drinking buddy. Cheers is a no brainer, we've pulled in $150 bar tabs in an afternoon. On a sea day, it's paid for by lunch.

 

Upcoming girls vacation, no. It might pay off for me but not for anyone else. I'm putting the money on a gift card. I'll see how much I actually spend.

 

Sent from my KFTHWI using Tapatalk

Edited July 18, 2015 by pezhead

[crzndeb]

We get cheers and for us it's worth it, I can try drinks I would never try and if they are gross no big loss

 

Plus I know I won't have a surprise bill at the end

 

I always shed a few tears at throwing away perfectly good alcohol, when people say they can try things and toss them if they don't like. LOL

[ladylyn915]

If I did the math correctly, an 8 day cruise would cost $919.08 (49.95 x 15% x 8 x 2). Seems crazy - but we plan to do the Cheers program.

Here's why:

 

This would be my day:

mimosa ( or two) at breakfast = $ 10

umbrella drink of the day @ 11AM = $ 10

soda with lunch

rum punch @pool @ 2PM = $ 10

rum punch @ pool @4PM = $ 10

lemon drop martini before dinner = $ 10

wine @ dinner = $ 10

after dinner drink(bailys in coffee) $ 7

2 drinks later @comedy club, night club etc. = $ 20

 

$87 for the day. On port days, it might be $57 - $77

 

Of course, it might not be every day, but I don't think its that hard to drink 7 or 8 mixed or frozen drinks in the course of 14-15 hours.

I will probably also try some of the different martinis at the martini bar. I always ask the bartender to make the drinks "light" and I drink water in between.

The idea is to feel good - not fall asleep!

 

I enjoy wine at home once or twice a week - sometimes less.

 

Buying a bottle for the cabin would be much cheaper, but we have tried making the drinks in the room and hated running back and forth.

[honestguy]

I am so ready for august to get here!. Just for fun I am daydreaming about my cruise. As part of that, whether or not to get Cheers based on (I am a math nerd.)

 

 

What do you think? I am leaning towards no. I don't think we will even drink as much as I have listed below, we are moderate drinkers. Listed for both of us (in the same cabin.) prices pre-gratuity

 

Embarkation day:

 

1. Whee!!! embarkation on the ship fruity drink $16 for two (whatever is on special, I am assuming an $8 drink special without souvenir glass)=2 drinks

2. OOH!! Taste bar opens at 5:00--Two $5 specials please! ($10) =2 drinks

3. pre-dinner cuba libre in room for two ($14 from BV bottle prepaid and carry-on cokes)--this is made with 2 oz of liquor each, more like 1.5 drinks each = 3 drinks

4. late Dinner seating- $36 bottle , drink one glass each save the rest, =2 drinks

5.after dinner--go to party, split disco ball ($14.00)=2 drinks

 

onboard drinking total embarkation: 11 drinks, $90

 

Day 2- sea day

 

1. brunch mimosa/screwdriver (pre 11:00 am special, $16)= 2 drinks

 

2,3. bucket o'beers at serenity ($22)= 4 drinks

 

4. after lunch cuba libres in room for two ($14 from BV bottle prepaid and carry-on cokes)--this is made with 2 oz of liquor each, more like 1.5 drinks each = 3 drinks

 

5. dinner-finish wine from night before ($0)= 2 drinks

 

6. after dinner cocktails (MDR, $1 off MDR elegant night special, $16)=2 drinks

 

7,8. after dinner beers in casino ($24)=4 drinks

 

onboard drinking total day 2: $92, 17 drinks

 

day 3-port

wake up. go to breakfast. Get off in port. Have drinks all day at cheap prices.

Come back at 4:00 and shower, etc.

 

1.Pre-dinner cuba libres in room for two ($14 from BV bottle prepaid and carry-on cokes)--this is made with 2 oz of liquor each, more like 1.5 drinks each = 3 drinks

 

2,3.. dinner: corkage fee $15, bottle was $11 at home, drink whole bottle ($26 total)= 4 drinks

 

4,5. Whatever is on special, (at Comedy show or whatever, two rounds) ($36)=4 drinks

 

onboard drinking total day 3: $76, 11 drinks

 

day 4- port

 

hit a snorkeling excursion, come back mid-afternoon.

 

1,2. Drink Cuba Libre each while relaxing in our room-last of the bottle ($14)=3 drinks

 

3. Dinner: cocktail for hubby, wine for me, ($17) = 2 drinks

 

4. each have a beer at casino or show ($11)= 2 drinks

 

7. Champagne in our room, 1/2 the bottle, we bought for $12 at home = 2 drinks

Onboard drinking total day 4: $54, 9 drinks

 

Day 5-sea day

 

1. Order room service, make mimosas in room for breakfast out of leftover champagne ($0)= 2 drinks

 

2. Bucket of beers onboard ($22)=4 drinks

 

3,4. martini tasting ($34)=4 drinks

 

5. Glass of wine each with dinner ($18) =2 drinks

 

6. Nightcap celebrating the end of our cruise ($18)= 2 drinks

 

Total onboard drinking, day 5: $92, 14 drinks

 

total number of drinks on cruise: 63

 

total onboard drinking cost all of cruise: $404 (less than $500, so no to Cheers)

 

About $6.50 a drink, 6 drinks each a day average.

 

 

anybody else a math nerd on here who likes figuring this stuff out? does this sound about right for my drink price estimates? Also figuring 4 glasses per bottle of wine, so those are generous pours (isn't is supposed to be more like 5 glasses each bottle?)

 

 

Without reading everyone else's response's you are purposely being cheap, which is fine to save 100 dollars. Why not do cheers, and then you don't have to stress about money. Each have 1.5 extra drinks a day, and you more than paid for cheers. You also don't have to drink in your room.

[singbluesilver1]

Lol I didn't say I'd toss them I make hubby drink them lol

[Saint Greg]

We get cheers and for us it's worth it, I can try drinks I would never try and if they are gross no big loss

 

Plus I know I won't have a surprise bill at the end

 

I loved not having to worry about my bill at the end..and trying different drinks was nice as well. I tried this chocolate drink that looked good...didn't Like it so I left it after one sip. Other drinks I tried I did like. I got way more than my money's worth and brought home a 6pk of 16oz Heinekens.

[maxwell'sparents]

Buying a bottle for the cabin would be much cheaper, but we have tried making the drinks in the room and hated running back and forth.

 

This was one of the reasons DH and I decided to do Cheers on our upcoming cruise on the Breeze. We have purchased a bottle of Skyy vodka in the past and mixed it with lido lemonade but last year on the Liberty it was really inconvenient running back to the room so much. Even if we don't drink all 15 drinks in a day, Cheers will save us a lot of time and blisters on our feet from running back to the room so much.

[Luvoceans]

I Vote yes for the Cheers package ~!!~ It is Vacation and it is like having an all inclusive cruise ...no surprise bill the last day !

(who wants to keep running back to the room for a drink on vacation ? )

 

Also you do have to purchase it the first day to get it , except out of Galveston and out of Galveston you have to purchase the second day because of Texas laws.

Edited July 18, 2015 by Luvoceans

[kids1stcruise]

I vote Yes.... But it the 2nd day! At least you can drink the wine you brought on and save yourself $60.

[Carnival Cutie]

I don't begrudge anyone who can make Cheers work. It's not for everyone.

 

Hubby is a beer drinker and he likes to purchase bucket of beer. Cheers does not allow this. I am not really a drinker, at the most I may do a couple of drinks a week on a cruise and if I spend enough time in the casino I will earn a Drinks on Us card. So Cheers does not work for us. Hubby also likes rum and drinks it straight so we may consider purchasing a bottle through Bon Voyage but the idea of $80 for a bottle is a bit much to me. He doesn't normally drink that much at home and I probably wouldn't help.

 

I wish Carnival did not require all adults in a cabin to purchase Cheers. If they did not I think hubby could get over the beer bucket thing and get it, between the occasional mixed drink, beer and rum shot it may be worth it to him. I still wouldn't want it even with unlimited sodas and nonalcoholic drinks because I don't like Coke products and I bring my own sodas.

 

Oh well, guess we'll still have a bar tab.

[Luvoceans]

I vote Yes.... But it the 2nd day! At least you can drink the wine you brought on and save yourself $60.

 

 

You have to purchase Cheers the first day unless you are leaving from Galveston. I know this for sure !

[Cruise, J.D.]

I don't understand having to run back to the room to make drinks. I just carry a pocket flask.

[Vitamin_Sea]

I don't understand having to run back to the room to make drinks. I just carry a pocket flask.

 

I hear that. Its better to make ya own drinks :cool:

[skittl1321]

My thought to the OP:

I wouldn't do cheers. But if you do- don't preorder your regular bottle from Bon Voyage/Fun Shops. It will be a bit more effort to run out of the room for your cuba libres, but silly to pay for them elsewhere if you can get them on your cheers card!

[katiel53]

On our Liberty cruise last year, we purchased Cheers on the 2nd day and it was NOT retroactive to day 1. I don't know if it was because we only had a few drinks on day 1 or if it is Carnival's policy to not make it retroactive.

 

We ended up not leaving the ship in any ports as we have been to the ports many times and at the time DH was using a roller walker, so we stayed onboard the entire cruise. We averaged 6-8 drinks per day. My drinks were the Mango swirl, Kiss on the Lips, wine with dinner. A couple of days I had scotch and soda after dinner.

 

My husband had rum and coke or screwdrivers. He is not a wine drinker so when I had wine with dinner, he had one of his drinks. At the time we bought the Cheers, it was $37.50 per person per day.

 

I felt it was worth it because we could order drinks and if I ordered something I didn't like, I didn't have to drink it. A good example of that was the Chocolate Getaway or something like that. It was way too sweet for me, so one sip and it was done. I didn't feel guilty or that I wasted my money trying it.

 

I would possibly buy it for my next cruise as that is a 7 day again. The one after that is a 10 day and I know I will be off the ship a lot, so it won't be worth it. In addition, the person I am traveling with doesn't drink, so there isn't any way to get it just for me.

 

I just wish that Carnival would change some of the rules regarding everyone in the cabin over 21 having to purchase it or no one can purchase it. I do understand the reasoning, and I also wish they would reduce the price as they did for a couple of months.

 

Another wish I had is that Carnival had a package that was x many dollars and it was for x many drinks which included the drinks on the Cheers package. I would buy that if there were a discount, but I know this won't happen.

[YubaSutter]

:eek:

 

How do you get the beer past the security screener?

 

Had three six packs and a bottle of wine in a backpack. Had a bottle of tequila in a paper bag. When I went through the x Ray, the scanner yelled to the alcohol desk that I had alcohol. I walked to the desk and handed them the bottle of tequila. They put my cabin number on the tequila and I walked to the elevator with beer and wine.

[bargainsniper]

Without reading everyone else's response's you are purposely being cheap, which is fine to save 100 dollars. Why not do cheers, and then you don't have to stress about money. Each have 1.5 extra drinks a day, and you more than paid for cheers. You also don't have to drink in your room.

 

LOL, I love saving money! (bargainsniper after all).

 

But I also like value. As you said yourself have 1.5 extra drinks a day and then you have paid for cheers. I would feel obligated to "get my money's worth" by drinking more.

 

My spouse doesn't even think we would drink as much as I listed. He doesn't think he would want that much alcohol after we have been busy at ports all day.

 

As for drinking in our room, we have tervis tumblers that are 20 ounces. ;)

 

I really don't think anyone is going to question us about the contents of our cups unless we are complete drunken idiots.

[Roscoe13]

Buying a bottle for the cabin would be much cheaper' date=' but we have tried making the drinks in the room and hated running back and forth.[/quote']

 

This was one of the reasons DH and I decided to do Cheers on our upcoming cruise on the Breeze. We have purchased a bottle of Skyy vodka in the past and mixed it with lido lemonade but last year on the Liberty it was really inconvenient running back to the room so much. Even if we don't drink all 15 drinks in a day, Cheers will save us a lot of time and blisters on our feet from running back to the room so much.

 

 

I just use an empty water bottle and bring that up on deck with me filled with alcohol. Saves many a trip to the cabin.

 

Convenient and classy.

[sgttami]

I did the math too.

 

On my first Carnival cruise (8 day) last year I didn't do Cheers and by Day 5 I was sorry.

 

I would have saved $125.00 had I done it.

 

I cruised the same ship 4 weeks later and that's the first thing I bought..

 

Unless I quit drinking, I'll always buy Cheers!

[ladylyn915]

This was one of the reasons DH and I decided to do Cheers on our upcoming cruise on the Breeze. We have purchased a bottle of Skyy vodka in the past and mixed it with lido lemonade but last year on the Liberty it was really inconvenient running back to the room so much. Even if we don't drink all 15 drinks in a day, Cheers will save us a lot of time and blisters on our feet from running back to the room so much.

 

 

I just use an empty water bottle and bring that up on deck with me filled with alcohol. Saves many a trip to the cabin.

 

Convenient and classy.

 

You could. But, there is still the matter of mixing it.

Plus while I don't want a V & T at 11 AM, I might want Bay Breeze or a frozen concoction. The Cheers program let's me have a variety of beverages throughout the day and night.

I just try not to think about how expensive that privilege is - lol

[MasterMason]

Cheers program cost:

7 nights x $49.95 = 349.95 x 18% gratuity = 412.87 x 8.5% state tax = 447.66. Which means in reality the daily cost is 447.66/7 = 63.95 per person per day.

Double for 2 = 895.32

 

Your math is wrong.

 

The gratuity is ONLY on drinks you order, not on the package itself. So if you only have 1 drink, you only have 18% of that drink price (18% of $10 = $1.80)

 

And, as already said, state tax is only on drinks ordered in US ports.

 

 

 

 

 

___________________________

[Jana60]

Your math is wrong.

 

The gratuity is ONLY on drinks you order, not on the package itself. So if you only have 1 drink, you only have 18% of that drink price (18% of $10 = $1.80)

 

And, as already said, state tax is only on drinks ordered in US port_

 

That's not true. The gratuity is charged on the entire package not the individual drinks. The tax is only charged on the drinks you drink in a US port.