Celebrity drinks package service

[brammers]

Hi, can anybody tell me if when you have a drinks package whether the service is the same? eg:- do the waiters take longer serving you, or won't serve you until previous drink consumed etc etc, are they more reluctant to serve you?

TIA

[RCKM43]

I noticed no difference in their attitude towards those who have the package. Service was the same for my husband and I with the package, as before. If anything sometimes it was better. My wine glass in the MDR was kept full without asking on the drink package.

[muleevans]

Never had a problem on the Equinox !!

[Tommy3putts]

Considering most passengers ordering booze have some sort of bev package I've noticed no difference. The difference usually comes with how the passenger treats the wait person. Even though gratuities are added, I always through a buck or two towards the staff per drink. Within a day or two they know be by name and are usually asking me if I need another drink.

Edited February 28, 2016 by Tommy3putts

[dkjretired]

Believe there is a time limit between drinks something like 15 minutes or so on the computer system. This is to help prevent stealing by purchasing drinks for someone else who doesn't have the package.

[bigbenboys]

We were on Silhouette March 2015 on a Western Caribbean cruise. With Silhouette not having a Aft Oceanview Cafe bar we found it hard to get drinks. The Sunset Bar seemed to be always packed with people wanting drinks. In the past I was able to just walk up to the Pool Bar and get drinks. Now the bar is full of people. Our last cruise on Summit we did not have any problems getting drinks. Our cruise in less than a week on Reflection with out a Aft Oceanview bar and a added deck we will see.

[rmalbers]

Believe there is a time limit between drinks something like 15 minutes or so on the computer system. This is to help prevent stealing by purchasing drinks for someone else who doesn't have the package.

 

You know, I heard this before my last cruise but they didn't seem to care or the system wasn't working because I made a couple of trips to different bars, with our two cards to get some extra drinks for the evening and they didn't say anything. I wasn't cheating the system or anything, just stocking up so I could relax for the night and not have to run out again, lol!

About service: I'm not sure the bar help even knows you have a dink package until they slide your card do they?

Edited February 28, 2016 by rmalbers

[ChucktownSteve]

Believe there is a time limit between drinks something like 15 minutes or so on the computer system. This is to help prevent stealing by purchasing drinks for someone else who doesn't have the package.

 

I don't believe there's a time limit. Just got off a cruise last week. I ordered drinks multiple times (both liquor & non alcoholic) within only a few minutes.

 

One of the times a woman sat next to me and ordered a premium drink but only had the classic package. The bartender didn't discover it until after the drink was poured. He asked me if I minded buying her a drink so she didn't have to pay the full drink price. I happily agreed. I also tipped him that day because he was so nice to her not to mention I had been getting great service from him.

Edited February 28, 2016 by ChucktownSteve

[skiwhe]

Do most people still tip the waitstaff when they have the drink package and prepaid gratuities?

 

 

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[Marelaine]

We were on Silhouette March 2015 on a Western Caribbean cruise. With Silhouette not having a Aft Oceanview Cafe bar we found it hard to get drinks. The Sunset Bar seemed to be always packed with people wanting drinks. In the past I was able to just walk up to the Pool Bar and get drinks. Now the bar is full of people. Our last cruise on Summit we did not have any problems getting drinks. Our cruise in less than a week on Reflection with out a Aft Oceanview bar and a added deck we will see.

 

That hasn't changed on the the Silhouette. On our January Eastern Caribbean cruise, service around the pool wasn't the greatest. I just went to the bar to order my own drinks. The bartenders were great, but where were the servers? The attendant in the Solarium went out to the pool area to make sure the servers made the rounds in the Solarium. Aft of Oceanview, there was one server who waited tables. When she was on duty, no problem getting drinks. Otherwise, we went to the Mast bar to get our own.

 

Elsewhere on the ship, there were no problems getting drinks.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Believe there is a time limit between drinks something like 15 minutes or so on the computer system. This is to help prevent stealing by purchasing drinks for someone else who doesn't have the package.

 

I'll "test" this starting next weekend!

 

I definitely heard that there's a waiting period on Carnival. Not only that, they impose a 15 drink/day limit. Beyond that point, you can't even pay for a drink... they cut you off.

 

Having said that, I (personally) can't imagine nearing that limit... and if I did, I'd likely FORGET doing it !! :eek: :D

 

Tom

[Tommy3putts]

Do most people still tip the waitstaff when they have the drink package and prepaid gratuities?

 

 

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I do.

[Marelaine]

Do most people still tip the waitstaff when they have the drink package and prepaid gratuities?

 

 

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I don't, unless there's been an attentive server who has looked after us throughout the cruise. I would give that person an envelope on the last night, rather than tip per drink.

[cheeseheads4ever]

I just got off a cruise earlier this week. I had the classic package and my wife had premium package. As far as who has what it seemed very few didn't have a drink package. The bartenders were fast and efficient. Everyone was treated equally. I was kind of worried prior to my cruise also wondering the same thing. But once you've been to the same bar a couple times they know what you like and give you what you want.

They all were extremely friendly and awesome bartenders. As far as tipping. We didn't tip every drink. But did tip a $20 now and then. You have a pretty happy bartender when you drop a $20 in the bucket.we pretty much hung out at Martini bar...please tip these guys as long as they meet or exceed your expectations. Any bartender that can make 5 martinis at one time deserves a tip!!

[farmerslou]

I just got off a cruise earlier this week. I had the classic package and my wife had premium package. As far as who has what it seemed very few didn't have a drink package. The bartenders were fast and efficient. Everyone was treated equally. I was kind of worried prior to my cruise also wondering the same thing. But once you've been to the same bar a couple times they know what you like and give you what you want.

They all were extremely friendly and awesome bartenders. As far as tipping. We didn't tip every drink. But did tip a $20 now and then. You have a pretty happy bartender when you drop a $20 in the bucket.we pretty much hung out at Martini bar...please tip these guys as long as they meet or exceed your expectations. Any bartender that can make 5 martinis at one time deserves a tip!!

 

Dropping a $20 is brilliant. I plan on doing it at whatever bars we frequent. The bartenders work hard, and I have zero problem taking care of them. Maybe they will run out of good wine for someone else other than us then? Hahahaha.

[az_tchr]

A tip at the beginning gets you great service. The servers do not have any idea who has a package and who does not so not difference with service. Have never found a time limit between drinks as have often forgotten my card and she bought a drink using her card and immediately another for me (my card in the room). always happily served and would gues they knew who we were.

 

As to complaints about servers - with all the packages it would be impossible to "serve" everyone.

[karena1]

That hasn't changed on the the Silhouette. On our January Eastern Caribbean cruise, service around the pool wasn't the greatest. I just went to the bar to order my own drinks. The bartenders were great, but where were the servers? The attendant in the Solarium went out to the pool area to make sure the servers made the rounds in the Solarium. Aft of Oceanview, there was one server who waited tables. When she was on duty, no problem getting drinks. Otherwise, we went to the Mast bar to get our own.

 

Elsewhere on the ship, there were no problems getting drinks.

 

We were on Silhouette in dec and had FANTASTIC service around the pool. Servers were all over the place. In fact, on the last sea day, they brought waiters from other areas of the ship (ie our waiter from the nightly Sky lounge) to make sure there were enough servers at the pool. We never had an issue getting a drink. They were great.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Do most people still tip the waitstaff when they have the drink package and prepaid gratuities?

 

 

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Most of our drinks will be consumed in the casino. They comp my drinks already in there, but we also have the premium package this next sailing. Any "free" drink (or usually two) received in the casino will earn the server a $5 chip. For the most part, we find the servers quite attentive. We often choose one to go with for the sailing, but the others never hesitate to offer! :)

 

Tom

[NCCruiseguy111]

The only restriction that I recall after being on 3 different Celebrity cruises is that you cannot get two drinks at a time with the same seapass card, obviously because you could be trying to get a 'free' drinks for someone. Never noted any difference in service, it's always great !

 

 

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[cincin30]

I do have a question on the drink package. We have the classic package on an upcoming Silhouette cruise. I believe it covers drinks $8 and under. Does anyone know if that covers frozen drinks. Not looking for souvenir glasses but prefer things like pina coladas and the like. Also, does anyone recall if they served hard cider like Strongbow UK by any chance? Husband really loves that stuff and we can't get that version in the US anymore.

 

Thanks!

[ClaudiaB]

Classic covers the frozen drinks. I don't even think Celebrity has a 'souvenir glass' option.

 

If you want a higher priced drink you pay the entire price of the drink, whereas with the premium package a higher priced drink is only charged the difference.

 

And....the bartenders of course know who has a package. It's on your card and with a package you don't have a slip to sign. They get a tip for every drink ordered on the package, same as if you paid for it a la carte. It's been our experience that people on packages get great service. The more you order the more tips they get.

 

And you'd be surprised how many people do NOT have a drink package. In 13 cruises on Celebrity we've only had it once.