Cheers or not?? (just for fun)

[Jana60]

I vote "NO".

 

Me too! I usually buy a bottle of Skyy Vodka and the bottomless bubbles package to get the juices to mix with my vodka. I don't go back and forth to the room because I fill my Tervis mug with vodka and then spike my glasses of juice as I go. If you buy a drink you end up carrying around a glass so it's not inconvenient to carry my one little mug. The mug will hold 10 shots of booze which is more than I can drinking in an evening. Since I also get free alcohol at the past passengers party and on some of the tours on port days and have the bottle of wine we are allowed to bring I usually have more alcohol than I can drink for the price of the one bottle of booze and the soda package. That's less than $132! The bottle of vodka contains 33 and a half shots of alcohol plus there are about three and a half to 4 shots of alcohol in the Long Island tea that I get as my free brunch drink Plus about for generous glasses of wine in my bottle of wine I bring plus I usually drink 2-3 drinks at the past passenger party which adds up to 44 drinks not counting what I drink ashore during a cruise week.

Edited July 18, 2015 by Jana60

[Out to sea!]

I actually made a spreadsheet, lol - My husband is a light drinker, and I don't have to drink at all but I CAN be a heavy drinker if I want.

 

So I did the math on it. Turns out we had a bunch of gift cards coming our way and we decided to just use those and buy cheers so we don't have to think about it at all on the boat. But in case you want some extra data...

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MzzUPeiO7-4NNis0hQdLxtflx7viiQel4RSzrJ667Vo/edit?usp=sharing

 

The only problem with the spreadsheet is that you are violating Carnival contract by attempting to take on a bottle of rum or vodka from the store. Just an FYI.

[bobsfamily]

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.

The tax is charged on the entire packaged if purchased while in port (the embarkation port) prior to leaving. So if you get on in Charleston. SC and purchase the Cheers package while in port you will pay the full price plus the 18.5% gratuity and then 8.5% ( in fact it could be 10 5%) state/county /city tax on top of those combined. 3.5 miles out to sea and that fee disappears...

[katiel53]

The tax is charged on the entire packaged if purchased while in port (the embarkation port) prior to leaving. So if you get on in Charleston. SC and purchase the Cheers package while in port you will pay the full price plus the 18.5% gratuity and then 8.5% ( in fact it could be 10 5%) state/county /city tax on top of those combined. 3.5 miles out to sea and that fee disappears...

 

I don't know about Charleston, but on cruises from FL, the tax is NOT charged on the entire package and our tip on the whole package was 15% not 18.5%. Tax WAS charged on the drinks purchased in US ports such as Orlando, St Thomas and San Juan.

 

Tax was not charged anywhere else. If you read the Carnival site, you will see that the gratuity is added to the whole package, not per drink. It is $49.95 per person per day plus 15% and for the individual drinks, applicable taxes would apply.

[coevan]

St. Thomas has no sales tax

[bobsfamily]

I don't know about Charleston, but on cruises from FL, the tax is NOT charged on the entire package and our tip on the whole package was 15% not 18.5%. Tax WAS charged on the drinks purchased in US ports such as Orlando, St Thomas and San Juan.

 

Tax was not charged anywhere else. If you read the Carnival site, you will see that the gratuity is added to the whole package, not per drink. It is $49.95 per person per day plus 15% and for the individual drinks, applicable taxes would apply.

Thanks for the info from someone who has bought the package recently! I did not know that the tax was only charged on the drinks bought while in port... Last year in May while leaving from Charleston we were charged tax on the entire fee, it seems that has changed.

 

So my calculations would drop by about $80 for 7 nights for 2 ($40 for 1). That is still over $800 for 2...

[patrice1]

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!

 

Us, too. We find that our break even is 6 drinks a day and on vacation we do that, even on port days, what with shows, piano bar, martini bar, etc.:D At home, not so much!

[screwsmcernst]

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?)

 

 

 

It doesn't look like the cheers program is a bargain for you. Looking at day 3, why not just bring a cork screw with you, and open the bottle of wine in your room and take the glass with you to dinner? that way you don't pay the corkage fee. I would never pay $15 for the MDR to open a bottle I bring on board. IMO.

[bargainsniper]

It doesn't look like the cheers program is a bargain for you. Looking at day 3, why not just bring a cork screw with you, and open the bottle of wine in your room and take the glass with you to dinner? that way you don't pay the corkage fee. I would never pay $15 for the MDR to open a bottle I bring on board. IMO.

 

Yeah, we are debating about that. Not sure if we want to go back to the room during dinner (it is a special occasion that night)

 

Would they still charge us corkage if we brought an open bottle and two glasses to the table with us without them having to do anything?

[Pops, Esq.]

The only problem with the spreadsheet is that you are violating Carnival contract by attempting to take on a bottle of rum or vodka from the store. Just an FYI.

 

Pretty sure that $80 bottle comes from the ship's store. Otherwise, the price would be cheaper (unless they like really high-end booze).

[noxiousdog]

Yeah, we are debating about that. Not sure if we want to go back to the room during dinner (it is a special occasion that night)

 

Would they still charge us corkage if we brought an open bottle and two glasses to the table with us without them having to do anything?

 

Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. The idea isn't the labor, it's that you're not buying a bottle of wine from the ship.

 

You can always say it was opened in one of the other restaurants on a previous night. They won't argue.

[Blondie40]

I vote YES for CHEERS!! :D While I do drink, on occaision when not on vacation, I do let my hair down while on vacation.

 

Had Cheers on last cruise and came out even or a little better purchasing the program. Gave me the opportunity to try different things and enjoy. At no time, well maybe on a night or two, was I anything but feeling good and not "wasted"; it's all about spreading it throughout the day:)

 

Sister and I are sailing (in 169 days) and we have budgeted to purchase and even my sister thinks its a good idea and she drinks less than I do.

[ctjrb]

We'll be on Splendor, ports are San Juan, St Thomas, and Grand Turk.

 

If I'm on the ship while we are in port, and I order a drink, is it covered under Cheers?

 

Or is Cheers kind of suspended or blacked out during those hours?

[sid_9169]

We'll be on Splendor, ports are San Juan, St Thomas, and Grand Turk.

 

If I'm on the ship while we are in port, and I order a drink, is it covered under Cheers?

 

Or is Cheers kind of suspended or blacked out during those hours?

 

Cheers is good at any time while on the ship, in port or at sea...

[Jay Sam]

I vote for Cheers.

 

I spend about that much not doing the plan, and by doing it, I get all I want.

 

Actually more than I want. Only got the 15 drinks one time, on a sea day.

 

I don't order anything that would not be included in Cheers.

[Dallas Bengal]

we will be on a 10 day cruise with 4 sea days and we will likely stay on the ship most of the day in Jamaica, so we are going to try the Cheers program for the first time.

My question is this. We have never had a issue getting a drink fast while by the pool. Does the bar staff or waiters frown on the cheers program? I want to make sure that they don't avoid the cheers people LOL

Thanks everyone,

scott

[sid_9169]

we will be on a 10 day cruise with 4 sea days and we will likely stay on the ship most of the day in Jamaica, so we are going to try the Cheers program for the first time.

My question is this. We have never had a issue getting a drink fast while by the pool. Does the bar staff or waiters frown on the cheers program? I want to make sure that they don't avoid the cheers people LOL

Thanks everyone,

scott

 

In my experience they do not give those with Cheers ant less service than those without. I believe part of their pay is determined by the total amount of drinks they ring up, thus they try to ring up as many as possible...

[Blondie40]

In my experience they do not give those with Cheers ant less service than those without. I believe part of their pay is determined by the total amount of drinks they ring up, thus they try to ring up as many as possible...

 

Agree!

[Halfpint012]

We do cheers and it most definitely pays for itself. We always buy it on day 2 to save a little (I usually have 3-4 drinks by noon, mostly mimosas, and I couldn't do that on the first day) Not sure where people are getting they still charge you for day 1 if you purchase on day 2. I've gone out of Jacksonville & port canaveral and wasn't charged for the first day at either place.

[Out to sea!]

Pretty sure that $80 bottle comes from the ship's store. Otherwise, the price would be cheaper (unless they like really high-end booze).

 

Considering alcohol bought on board at the store cannot be taken back to the cabin and I've never heard of anyone call Bon Voyage "the store", I have to disagree.

[pbsteve]

the wife and I got it last year on the breeze. Well worth it. while I drink maybe a beer or two a month at home, it was still worth it, here's why

Day one of the cruise, got a drink, headed to the lido deck to relax, the wife had a pedicure appt shortly after we boarded. I had another waiting for her to finish hers. after, we walked around and talked, explored, and went to dinner. had wine with dinner. I tried their late harvest wine thinking it would be close to ice wine... nope left it unfinished. Then after dinner, we met some people, and hung out talking, probably had 3 more drinks before bed. didn't get drunk.

Day two at sea, woke up, had breakfast, no alcohol. Went exploring, beer with lunch at around noon. walking exploring having fun. around 4 we spotted our new friends, sat and talked for a few hours, I had Orchata (like rumchata but lower alcohol content) it was really 3 drinks poared into a bigger cup, savored that for an hour or so. off to dinner wine, and grand marnier. off to the comedy show.. nope, full up, grab another drink and off to the casino. another drink before before bed.

Day 3 at port, got back to the ship around 4, had a drink before dinner, wine, grand marnier, another orchata 3 drink drink, chatting with friends, a few more.

 

the rest of the cruise went like that, and at the end, we came out as a couple a few hundred dollars ahead of carnival. especially some of the higher end drinks like glen fiddich, grand marnier, and some of the wine my wife got.

 

for us, its a good value. but for some it isnt'. I was glad I could try just about anything I wanted without worrying I wouldn't like it and waste money on it.

 

I'm guessing some of you stick to the drinks you know you like for that reason, and if you could might try other drinks, I never would have tried some of the scotch's since I usually don't like it, but did anyway since people tell me there's a scotch for everyone... well not me on carnival, but at least I didn't spend much to try them, even without them, we were still at break even point.

[SportsMomof4]

For my Husband & I, it's a no brainer. We get Cheers every time. We are not huge drinkers but when we are on vacation & relaxing, it's something we enjoy doing. We have sat & figured it out a few times & it just seems like the best deal for us.

 

A few frozen drinks out lounging by the pool, a few glasses of wine with dinner, a cocktail or 2 at the comedy club & a cocktail or 2 at the casino...it all adds up. And that's just for me :D.

 

Same for my Husband but he adds in a few chocolate martinis a day :D

 

It also gives me an opportunity to try other drinks that I normally wouldn't try & not feel guilty about wasting it if I did't like it.

 

I also don't like being surprised with an alcohol bill at the end of the cruise. For us, it's 1 price....drink all lol. Now if Carnival would just include the cheers program into the cruise fare, we'd all be set lol!

 

Definitely a cheers couple here!

[bargainsniper]

OK! We are back from our cruise and thought I would update with lessons learned for fun and future cruisers to make their own decisions.

 

We actually wanted to drink more, but the bar service was not great. It was the only major disappointment on the cruise. If you had one in your hand when someone came by (or just weren’t ready to order anything), and said “not right now, come back in 15 minutes”, you never saw them again. Seriously. I guess they were only interested in the hard-core drinkers pounding shot after shot or were really short-staffed.

 

It was especially bad on Serenity and in the casino, where we spent a lot of time. Most people were buying buckets on Serenity by the end of the cruise, so I am guessing they were having the same problem as me. You could usually get a drink relatively quickly going to a bar yourself, but the bartenders there seemed rushed and in a bad mood. It was disappointing.

 

As a result of the poor service, we took to walking around with our cuba libres and poor man’s pina coladas (will share recipe if anyone is interested) in our Tervis tumblers (with rum purchased pre-cruise from bon Voyage). Technically against their policy, but I am not going to sit there for 30 minutes trying to flag down a server. Or get an eye roll from a bartender, when I asked what was in a Bellini. Sorry for my ignorance lady, no excuse to be rude.

 

 

Also, not a single one of our dinner tablemates (we had assigned seating) drank at all. They were two families. They never said anything, but I could tell they were a little uncomfortable on elegant night when we brought our wine to the table. They were very nice, I think it might have been a religious thing for them. So, we did not have anything at dinner after that night out of respect for them. We were having plenty of drinks otherwise, so it didn’t cramp our style, no biggie.

 

But, the great news was that the Bon voyage bottle was 1.14 liters, not the 750 ml we thought it would be, so there were 38 ounces of liquor in the bottle, not the 25 we assumed.

So, here’s the breakdown (not including gratuity)

Embarkation day:

What I estimated:

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

Actual: Ahem. We were out the night before with local friends celebrating birthday. Not quite feeling up to a drink that early in the day. Drank plenty of water and ate mashed potatoes instead ($0)=0 drinks

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

Actual: I had the $5 blue’s margarita special , hubby had a Guinness $6.25 ($11.25)=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

Actual: same, except our liquor was cheaper per ounce, so about $10)=3 drinks

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

Actual: Nothing. Still dehydrated and just drank water.

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

Actual: went to karaoke bar and got a Guinness and an angry orchard ($12.20)=2 drinks

We went to the casino afterwards. Wanted to get another drink each but couldn’t find a server walking around. Casino bar was packed with heavy smokers 3 deep. We decided to save the cash and rehydrate some more, Hubby went and got our Tervis tumblers and filled with water,

 

onboard drinking total embarkation day estimated: $90, 11 drinks

actual: $33.45, 7 drinks

 

Day 2- sea day

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

Actual: hubby had bottle of water , I had an $8 Bellini on lido after brunch= 1 drink

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

Actual: had trouble finding anyone after saying “come back in 15 minutes”. Waited another 10 minutes and ended up going back to our room and making 2 cuba libres and taking back to Serenity. ($10)=3 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

Actual: same but $10 estimate=2 drinks

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

Actual: pre-dinner had $5 chianti special at taste bar, hubby had a bourbon ($7.95 I think with elegant night special) so $12.95=2 drinks

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

Actual: took advice from on here and went back to room and poured two glasses of wine, took to dinner with us ($6)=2 drinks

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

Actual: took another two glasses around with us ($6)= 2 drinks, finished bottle,

 

onboard drinking total day 2: $92, 17 drinks

Actual: $42.95, 12 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.

Actual: did this.

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

Actual: same ($10)=3 drinks

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

Actual: nothing. We had plenty to drink all day already and wanted to make our tablemates feel comfortable.

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

Actual: made one round of pina coladas in room and took to casino in tumbler. $10=3 drinks. Tried to flag down a server in casino after that ran out, could not and did not want to leave machines and go to the bar. No more drinks that evening. Thirsty us. Carnival’s loss.

onboard drinking total day 3 estimated: $76, 11 drinks

actual: $20, 6 drinks

 

day 4- port

 

hit a snorkeling excursion, come back mid-afternoon.

Actual: just went around port, decided not to spend money on excursion.

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

Actual: drank 2 cuba libres each while relaxing in room and strolling around the ship ($20)=6 drinks, still have rum left!

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

Actual: nothing.

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

Actual: Comedy show . No one stopped at our table to take an order although I did see a couple walking around. Sat there with no drinks. Again, Carnival’s loss. After show, went back and made 2 more cuba libres and walked around ($10)=3 drinks

*we are out of rum at this point even though we should have had some left. I guess we were giving more than 2 oz per drink, lol!

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

Actual: nothing. Tired, and went to sleep!

Onboard drinking total day 4: $54, 9 drinks

Onboard drinking day 4 actual: $30, 9 drinks

Day 5-sea day

 

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

Actual: Went to brunch and just had plain juice. A little bit over drinking during the day at this point.

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

Actual: nothing. Had cokes in our Tervis Tumblers.

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

Actual: Had 2 rounds of $5 rum drink special after 5:30. Bartender recognized us and asked if we wanted the $5 special, lol! We tipped him $3 extra. ($20)=4 drinks

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

Actual: nothing

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

Actual: Drank our whole bottle of champagne in room ($12)=4 drinks.

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

Actual: $32, 8 drinks

 

Somebody check my math, but I think that brings it to:

total number of onboard drinks on cruise estimated: 63

total number of onboard drinks on cruise actual: 42

 

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

total onboard drinking cost all of cruise actual: $158.4

 

About $3.77 a drink, 4 drinks each a day average.

 

So there you go, if anyone is interested. We would definitely carry-on cans and order a Bon voyage bottle again.

A few things led to us drinking less/spending less than I had estimated. They were in no particular order: we had celebrated a little too much pre-cruise, the in-room bottle was larger than we anticipated, we had non-drinkers at our table at dinner, and the service was bad. I was very glad we did not purchase Cheers.

Wish that the bar service had been better, I think Carnival would have received at least $150 more of our money if it had been. The casino bar (which was where the taste special was) was good during off-times, but later on when crowded was very difficult to get service.