Cheers vs pay as you go

[rok233]

This always hurts me when I hear people throwing away perfectly good alcohol...LOL

 

Lol, I completely agree!

[Cruisin_groovin]

My observations have been about the same.

Thanks for the great input, Jamesr#

[CoastieBMC]

If you spend a lot of time in the casino and get a drinks in U.S. Card your drinks are free in the casino. And no cheers refund so just something else to think about

[Cruisin_groovin]

If you spend a lot of time in the casino and get a drinks in U.S. Card your drinks are free in the casino. And no cheers refund so just something else to think about

 

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What is a drinks in U.S. Card?

[RNsoon2beNP]

Really wish there were other options for drink packages for carnival. I work hard amd like to enjoy a few adults drinks while on vaca, but the hubby is diabetic and doesn't drink. And i definitely don't drink a $100 a day worth. Guess ill wing it ;)

[CoastieBMC]

Drinks on US card. Play a bunch at the casino and the casino buys all your drinks while your playing. For me it's usually day 3 or four on a 7 day cruise , day 2 or 3 on 4-5 day. Just throwing it out there.

[simplelife]

Remember when figuring "break even" that you pay the fee for each day of the cruise, even port days, when you may be drinking mostly off the ship.

[Cruisin_groovin]

Thanks Coastie!

[crewsweeper]

Drinks on US card. Play a bunch at the casino and the casino buys all your drinks while your playing. For me it's usually day 3 or four on a 7 day cruise , day 2 or 3 on 4-5 day. Just throwing it out there.

 

Do you count the $$$$ you "play" to get "free" drinks on a US card against the breakeven to a Cheers package? Unless you're a high roller lounging 24/7 at the craps table winning big and not playing the pass line, not sure if that'd ever make economical sense.

 

For 2 people who enjoy top shelf adult beverages, Alchemy cocktails and better bottles of wine in the MDR/Steakhouse Cheers makes a lot of sense. For the occasional big beer, lower quality Fun drinks and maybe a glass of wine at dinner, doubt you'll make it pay.

 

DW drinks sparingly and while I like craft beers and single malts, we'd never as a couple, be able to hit the 30 drinks minimum for 2 or the $$ necessary to breakeven for Cheers. But it's a good deal for a lot of cruisers.

[bigdog1958]

Does anyone know if the new cheers program includes bottled beers? Website says cocktail s under $50, beer and wine by the glass. When I called CCL they just repeated back to me what the website read....need to know if anyone knows if it includes bottled beer as my husband doesn't do draft.

 

yes, every beer they have is included with cheers. you just cannot get buckets of beer or tubes of beer... other then that all on the menu is included.

[cbtengwife]

Question? We have never purchased Cheers, but I was looking at it yesterday on a 5 day cruise we have coming up in December. When I added it to shopping cart to see what full cost would be it showed it only for 4 days. We are cruising out of Mobile, AL, so shouldn't we be able to used it on embarkation day?

[tropicaledrink]

Question? We have never purchased Cheers, but I was looking at it yesterday on a 5 day cruise we have coming up in December. When I added it to shopping cart to see what full cost would be it showed it only for 4 days. We are cruising out of Mobile, AL, so shouldn't we be able to used it on embarkation day?

 

Unfortunately, no. Alabama, Texas, and New York all have state laws that prohibit it being sold/used for the first day. Having sailed from Mobile twice (albeit 2010), I do recall a much more limited bar menu until we were in international waters.

[jamesr3939]

Really wish there were other options for drink packages for carnival. I work hard amd like to enjoy a few adults drinks while on vaca, but the hubby is diabetic and doesn't drink. And i definitely don't drink a $100 a day worth. Guess ill wing it ;)

 

I think I recall you can get a medical excuse and only have to purchase for one person, not sure on that.

 

Beers are whatever they dispense. If it's a glass bottle (Corona) and you are on deck they will pour it into a plastic cup. If it's Bud they have the aluminium bottles. If it's draft you will get either a glass or plastic cup. They will not open it if you request. The computer does lock you out for five minutes, but they can override it.

 

I know six drinks a day really sounds like a lot, at least according to my DW. However, if I go on deck by 9:30 I can do three bloody mary's by noon (that's one an hour), then I can do three beers before leaving deck around 4:00 PM (that's one an hour), then a drink or two while getting dressed and hanging out pre-dinner, glass of wine or two with dinner, and a couple of cocktails at a show. See it does tend to add up.

[vmt514]

This has been a great discussion.

 

I've thought about and decided not to do it. Going on Carnival and would have to buy 2, DH & I and that's a lot. Also, and 8 day cruise. So yes, there will be days I'll have the 6 or more, but then days I won't. Can't do that kind of drinking for 8 straight days. Will bring 2 bottles of wine on board (don't forget each person over 21 can do that) with us for those balcony drinks after a day in the sun resting before going out at night. Plus will be off the ship for 4 to 6 hours for 3 of those days, drinking "island" drinks. So, it's close. I'd consider it on a shorter cruise. But for DH & I not this time.

[jh2360]

This has been a great discussion.

 

I've thought about and decided not to do it. Going on Carnival and would have to buy 2, DH & I and that's a lot. Also, and 8 day cruise. So yes, there will be days I'll have the 6 or more, but then days I won't. Can't do that kind of drinking for 8 straight days. Will bring 2 bottles of wine on board (don't forget each person over 21 can do that) with us for those balcony drinks after a day in the sun resting before going out at night. Plus will be off the ship for 4 to 6 hours for 3 of those days, drinking "island" drinks. So, it's close. I'd consider it on a shorter cruise. But for DH & I not this time.

 

You can bring one bottle per person, not two each per Carnival's website.

[Schoifmom]

DH and I have decided to give Cheers a try on our next cruise, since they enhanced the program. We don't really drink much, but we do tend to drink more on the ship. I always want to try some of the specialty mixed cocktails and frozen drinks, but don't because I'm afraid that I'll spend money on them and not like them. This way, I don't have to worry about it. DH loves the specialty coffees. That and drinking nicer wines with dinner (without having to lug on our two allowed bottles), will go a long way to helping with the break-even on the package.

[ZanzibarCreek]

I have purchased drink packages on both Carnival and Royal.

 

While I may not break even each time, I look at the packages as an insurance that I won't go over that dollar amount. Plus I like to be able to try upscale liquors at a discount. Glad hubby and I did that time because we had considered purchasing more upscale bottles at the duty free shops to bring back. We decided to try them first. Turns out, we didn't like many of them and that saved us from buying something we would end up not drinking.

[MissyMac13]

DH drinks some and I drink very little (alcohol), so we don't participate in the Cheers program. On our next cruise, it is a Casino deal and he is supposed to get free drinks in the Casino, so he will get me a fruity drink also. But neither of us drinks enough to warrant the cost.

When we went on the Princess Cruise, I bought a coffee card which entitled me to 10 specialty coffees. I didn't get all 10 and DH even helped drink some coffee.

[stephkd]

DH and I have decided to give Cheers a try on our next cruise, since they enhanced the program. We don't really drink much, but we do tend to drink more on the ship. I always want to try some of the specialty mixed cocktails and frozen drinks, but don't because I'm afraid that I'll spend money on them and not like them. This way, I don't have to worry about it. DH loves the specialty coffees. That and drinking nicer wines with dinner (without having to lug on our two allowed bottles), will go a long way to helping with the break-even on the package.

 

This is very similar to why we are considering it. I would like to try a lot of different drinks and would be more inclined to do so with the package. Also, my husband loves coffees and would like that as well. The appeal of not bothering to bring any wine on board is also nice.

 

The only issue I'm coming into is that we really don't drink much, and he primarily drinks beer. I'm sure we will drink more on the cruise, but I am not sure how much more.

[july694]

We were on the fence too. Until they recently changed the program to include all specialty coffees, bottled water, virgin frozens, milkshakes, Gatorade, sodas including specialty ones, honest tea and so on...looks to me like just about every non alcoholic drink is included as well as anything we would drink at the bars. So for us that made it worth the price. We just purchased ours last night and we cruise in 45 days!!

[oumagic]

We were on the fence when we booked the cruise and went ahead and separated the booking of two rooms between people that thought they wanted the package and those that definitely did not want it. After the changes, some of the definitely "no" are thinking about it. The non-alcoholic drinks is the big difference. Most of that room were thinking that they would spend roughly $30 on alcohol/day and they LOVE their coffee and that was why they were not getting Cheers. Now it is a tough decision.

[cruzinlisa]

I think I recall you can get a medical excuse and only have to purchase for one person, not sure on that.

 

Beers are whatever they dispense. If it's a glass bottle (Corona) and you are on deck they will pour it into a plastic cup. If it's Bud they have the aluminium bottles. If it's draft you will get either a glass or plastic cup. They will not open it if you request. The computer does lock you out for five minutes, but they can override it.

 

I know six drinks a day really sounds like a lot, at least according to my DW. However, if I go on deck by 9:30 I can do three bloody mary's by noon (that's one an hour), then I can do three beers before leaving deck around 4:00 PM (that's one an hour), then a drink or two while getting dressed and hanging out pre-dinner, glass of wine or two with dinner, and a couple of cocktails at a show. See it does tend to add up.

 

It is definitely doable and you are right they add up. But I don't really want to drink just to feel like I am getting my money's worth. Paying out of pocket I would probably be more likely to drink less. Maybe 1 frozen drink in the afternoon returning from port, 1 at dinner, 1 at the show. On a sea day maybe add in another afternoon drink. Because I am on vacation. At home, I rarely drink. (I have had a six pack of Smirnoff ice for 3 weeks). But my husband on the other hand, no problem. And he is a beer drinker, those are cheaper.

 

I wish they would allow one person to buy cheers. I know they worry about people sharing it. I wouldn't do it even if I could get away with it, because I want to be able to have a drink at the same time as DH.

[SmittyCo]

ahhhh .... I can't decide what to do?!?!?! Dh, dd, and myself are the only ones going. So of course both of us have to buy the package. If all the kids were coming, dh and I would be booked in separate rooms.....

 

I know on sea days I can sip belinis, mimosas, then fruity drinks all day ....

 

$800 is just a lot of money!

[hpugirl27]

I always thought we would never get the Cheers program because for us, it just wouldn't make sense. We don't drink 15 drinks per day. But, this new enhancement I think really changes the game and will make Carnival a lot more money by reaching a broader audience. My husband and I both like our coffees, and my husband loves nice wine and good quality liquors. Plus, I like how it includes bottled water. This could make port days easier to reach limit by bringing water into port. Now, it might make sense for us along with the couple other drinks per day we might have.

[splash_in_the_water]

We did it on our Nov cruise the old cheers .worked very well. We tend to stay on board most port days. I am a miller lite drinker. But on vacation I would have couple bloody Mary's on our balcony. And with cheers I tried the drink of the day every day. I found I liked all of them. Then few beers by pool and couple with dinner. Throw in the late night comedy. Then watch dive in movie. Burgers at aft lido and would sit and have a few and talk to bartender. I hit the 15 limit almost every day and the bartenders all said your not even drunk. In saying that 15 drinks from about 8am when I get up to roughly 2am is not that hard to do. Any way like any thing it what fits you style

 

sounds about right...similar to how I do it. 15/day is easy when you're doing it all day. Then again, I do practice little bit.