What was your S&S balance with Cheers?

[E&B]

So I saw the other thread yesterday about a reduced/shared Cheers package that sounded perfect for us and then was disappointed when John Heald said no such plan. It got me thinking though. If I cancel the wine package we bought, and the two bottles of champagne I ordered from Bon Voyage and our budget for other drinks and spending onboard, it would be about $300 more than I budgeted for 4 of us to buy the full Cheers package. That doesn't sound like that much extra for the benefit of getting whatever we want (no way we'd use close to 15).

 

This is under the assumption that we have virtually no other S&S charges. We have prepaid tips and would prepay for Cheers as well. We may buy one or two pictures, and aren't big shoppers. So, those of you who have done Cheers, what was your S&S balance without Cheers and tips? Thoughts? I'm not going to track a break even point. I think we'd come close each day if we brought no bottles onboard with us. Just looking at my overall budget.

Edited January 7, 2016 by E&B

[singbluesilver1]

We had hardly any charges after cheers and tips. Think I bought one picture and maybe a Christmas ornament in the store.

 

Better to get cheers, then you can get what you want when you want , we had booze in the room once it's a real drag having to go all the way back to the cabin when you want a drink

[jennraycruise]

We had hardly any charges after cheers and tips. Think I bought one picture and maybe a Christmas ornament in the store.

 

Better to get cheers, then you can get what you want when you want , we had booze in the room once it's a real drag having to go all the way back to the cabin when you want a drink

 

I agree with this. Unless you use the spa or buy lots of pictures you wont have much else on your tab. But if you play bingo or gamble then you may have more. I am getting cheers this trip. Last trip I spent a small fortune on booze and this time I want to know exactly what I am spending.

[RHilla619]

My exact cost for my GF and myself on a 5night Fantasy last week was $575 total for both of us, including gratuities. So it works out to $57.50 per person, per day. We love the peace of mind in having the drink package, even if we don't hit 15 each day (normally do lol), its just nice to get whatever you want whenever you want and not having to worry about a big bill at the end. If you don't want it on your S+S bill you can also pre-purchase it now on Carnival's website.

[E&B]

We're not gamblers at all. I'm leaning towards it. Just need to convince hubby.

[WendyVF]

Other than cheers and tips, our sail & sign is usually close to nothing. This time I forgot a hat so bought one for $10 and used $10 off my card in the slots. There were minimal charges for the tax on the drinks on the first day and the last night once we hit the Mississippi River.

 

We used to lug sodas and wine onboard. It is so nice not to have to worry about that. Now if we could only get Carnival to include bottled water in the Cheers package!

[thistle1234]

We just got back from a Christmas cruise on the Fantasy. We cruised on NCL in May and didn't get the drink package, and were kicking ourselves as we spent a LOT on drinks. This time, we got it, (as we did when we were on the Breeze previously) but honestly, I probably would have done better just paying for our drinks. I know I came nowhere near 15 drinks a day, and the only day my DH did, it was because he was on a mission to hit that number..LOL (I do think we were crazier on the NCL cruise because we didn't have our son with us...so maybe we won't get the drink packages when we cruise with him and have to behave...ha ha ha!)

 

And to answer your actual question, we spent about 400.00 once we subtracted the cheers package for both of us.

Edited January 7, 2016 by thistle1234

[Jimmy Geegitz]

What U really wish they had is a beer package

[KCruizer]

We usually don't buy anything besides Cheers or drinks onboard. One thing I have noticed when we have Cheers we tend to tip a dollar or so with each drink. So on top of the cost of Cheers on a 7 day cruise we end up with an extra $100-$150 or so. When we don't have Cheers we only tip the 15% that is already on the receipt. This makes Cheers not really worth it to us usually, but our last cruise we didn't get it and ended up drinking way more than usual and it would have been worth it. Does anyone else feel obligated to tip extra with each drink when you have Cheers? Whether we have it or not we tip our favorite bartenders and servers extra on the last night.

[E&B]

So this afternoon the rational part of my brain took over. We're talking about DH and I and two brand new 21 year olds. DH and I probably may brake even on sea days but would probably cut back the next day if we had so many drinks the day before. Not sure it's worth it now. And the 21 year olds would probably try to get my money's worth and haven't yet learned how to responsibly control alcohol use. Leaning toward keeping the wine package and just bringing four more bottles on with us and supplementing as needed.

[FlyingSoloTonight]

So this afternoon the rational part of my brain took over. We're talking about DH and I and two brand new 21 year olds. DH and I probably may brake even on sea days but would probably cut back the next day if we had so many drinks the day before. Not sure it's worth it now. And the 21 year olds would probably try to get my money's worth and haven't yet learned how to responsibly control alcohol use. Leaning toward keeping the wine package and just bringing four more bottles on with us and supplementing as needed.

 

On my first 4-day cruise, I thought I wouldn't need the cheers program (26 years old, male. I guess I fall into the 'drinking' category)

 

Within the first 3 hours of the first day, my tab was already up $40-$50. So I immediately went and signed up for the cheers program. I don't think I ever hit the maximum number of drinks on any given day, but it was nice having peace of mind and getting whatever refreshing mixed drink they had on the menu under $10 - which is a broad selection.

 

Also, I did tip very generously during my stay, and most of the bartenders knew me by name, and were really great about making me a priority whenever I walked near by or needed something.

 

I plan on getting it for my 5 day Bahamas cruise on the Sunshine in a few weeks.

Edited January 8, 2016 by FlyingSoloTonight

[hawaiissunshine1]

I love that we can now pre-buy Cheers. I can't wait to get it paid for and out of the way before we leave.

 

The thing with Cheers is that you don't have to drink all 15 drinks to make it worth it. If you drink 6 drinks (a combination of frozen drinks on deck, martinis, and wine that is just shy of the $10 mark), you have made it worth it. Drinking 15 drinks in 24 hours is not an easy feat. In 21 days at sea with Cheers, I hit 15 maybe 4 times and it was plenty (and I am 5'8", 200lbs, and still in my mid-20's), granted I started in the morning with mimosas and bellinis, and went to bed past midnight.

 

But other than Cheers, my S&S account is usually around $200. A little on the slots, a little here, a little there. I usually budget for $500 on board spending, but I usually fall quite below my budget.

[bdziewit]

We did the cheers package last trip and it was totally worth it, not much else was charged except when my husband would sneak off to the casino:p

 

With the new way of ordering online, does anyone know that works with Galveston. Last year you couldn't buy it until the next day once we were out of Galveston. Is it the same way if you preorder, you just can't use it until the next day.

[Jana60]

We did the cheers package last trip and it was totally worth it, not much else was charged except when my husband would sneak off to the casino:p

 

With the new way of ordering online, does anyone know that works with Galveston. Last year you couldn't buy it until the next day once we were out of Galveston. Is it the same way if you preorder, you just can't use it until the next day.

 

I would like to know that myself!

[Drose716]

I just actually found my bill in my bag last night while starting to pack for next weekend's cruise. It was $316 for me (friend had separate account). 5 day cruise with cheers package. I had $25OBC. I purchased 1 shore excursion in St. Thomas through Carnival. I'm guessing we must've prepaid gratuities but I can't remember for sure.

 

I think Cheers was worth it. I at least broke even & may probably saved a few dollars. My 5 day cruise before that my S&S was about $375 without cheers. No excursions but gratuities were not prepaid. And that time included some fun shop purchases. So I'd estimate I saved about $50-$75 with Cheers.

Edited January 8, 2016 by Drose716
Add & spelling

[hotsauce126]

My exact cost for my GF and myself on a 5night Fantasy last week was $575 total for both of us, including gratuities. So it works out to $57.50 per person, per day. We love the peace of mind in having the drink package, even if we don't hit 15 each day (normally do lol), its just nice to get whatever you want whenever you want and not having to worry about a big bill at the end. If you don't want it on your S+S bill you can also pre-purchase it now on Carnival's website.

 

that was your S&S or the total cost of the cruise?