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Drink Package question, again. (sorry)

whitshel

By whitshel,
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ghstudio "Live from...." Rare

ghstudio

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You can get some of the special drinks at the world class bar with the premium pkg, but some cost an extra $2. You can also get some liquors neat that aren't at other bars..e.g. Johhny walker platinum....and they are in the premium pkg.

 

 

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PoppyandNana

PoppyandNana

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On our previous cruises we upgraded to the premium package on embarkation. Booked for February and will upgrade again with our onboard credit. We found that it was worth the cost as could have most drinks and if you have something that is more expensive you only pay the difference. I like to not have to think about how much I am spending, and also it is great to be able to have a different wine with every course at dinner

 

If I order a drink that is not in the classic package do I pay the difference? How do they determine the price of say an Absolute vs Grey Goose?

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sofietucker

sofietucker

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Just off the Summit. A few observations...

The automatic 18% bar gratuity (separate from the daily $13.50 pp shared among the service folks) was included in our package.

 

Most of the bars just ran the card and handed it back; the outdoor bars had us sign a paper receipt. The receipt always showed our price as drink "00.00," 18% gratuity "00.00," and total "00.00."

 

We also upgraded from Classic to Premium once aboard (after we looked at the wine lists), for another $70 each ($10/day). Premium wine by the glass is by far the better way to go; a 10% discount on a bottle doesn't save money comparatively.

 

I suppose it varies from ship to ship, but the one bar where they could make "everything" was the Rendezvous Lounge (the large midship entertainment venue), followed by the Cellar Masters (yep, in addition to a sommelier and wines, they had a fully stocked bar and experienced bartenders). The Martini Bar makes full-sized martinis; the other bars use a smaller glass. Occasionally we were served two wildly different "drinks-of-the-day" (same drink name, same day) at different bars--hilarious.

Cheers!

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whitshel "Live from...." Rare

whitshel

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Premium package also includes:

 

• Fountain soda selections • Fresh and bottled juices • Premium coffees and teas • Premium bottled purified water • Vitamin Water • Red Bull

 

Again, doesn't the classic cover those as well except the Red Bull and Premium waters?

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sunpsyche

sunpsyche

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This is a helpful thread, in spite of having read many similar threads :)

 

 

Finally can Classic still get a martini in the Martini Bar ?

 

In my experience, no, you cannot get a martini at the Martini Bar unless you have the Premium package. You may get a martini at other bars, but they are smaller in volume.

 

We just got off the Equinox December 9.

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teamflames

teamflames

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In my experience, no, you cannot get a martini at the Martini Bar unless you have the Premium package. You may get a martini at other bars, but they are smaller in volume.

 

 

 

We just got off the Equinox December 9.

 

 

On the Connie you could have a martini at the martini bar on the classic package but you had to drink it out of a tumbler, a ridiculous policy I found insulting so never drank there. A friendly waiter later informed me that you can ask any waiter to go to another bar to fetch a smaller martini glass (not the bartenders though) that was a very kind offer but I wasn't interested in imposing that request on anyone and would rather drink elsewhere.

 

 

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jagoffee

jagoffee

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On the Connie you could have a martini at the martini bar on the classic package but you had to drink it out of a tumbler, a ridiculous policy I found insulting so never drank there. A friendly waiter later informed me that you can ask any waiter to go to another bar to fetch a smaller martini glass (not the bartenders though) that was a very kind offer but I wasn't interested in imposing that request on anyone and would rather drink elsewhere.

 

 

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On the Solstice Class ship I am fairly certain that have a service bar inside a door on the port side forward of the Martini bar where the waiter can go and get you drinks not served at the regular Martini Bar. Or maybe it is a shortcut to another bar?

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teamflames

teamflames

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On the Solstice Class ship I am fairly certain that have a service bar inside a door on the port side forward of the Martini bar where the waiter can go and get you drinks not served at the regular Martini Bar. Or maybe it is a shortcut to another bar?

 

 

Not sure as 3 years since I was on that ship but in connie they have to go to casino or rendezvous. I just had my drink in those bars instead, I didn't like the atmosphere of martini bar and found the barmen to be arrogant.

I am happy to accept lower alcohol or smaller serving but to be made to drink a cocktail out of a tumbler is pathetic and an attempt at making you feel lower class ... they shouldn't sell the package if that is how they treat those who buy it.

To be honest it didn't really matter , as we were more than happy to drink elsewhere.

 

 

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VMartini

VMartini

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On the Connie you could have a martini at the martini bar on the classic package but you had to drink it out of a tumbler, a ridiculous policy I found insulting so never drank there. A friendly waiter later informed me that you can ask any waiter to go to another bar to fetch a smaller martini glass (not the bartenders though) that was a very kind offer but I wasn't interested in imposing that request on anyone and would rather drink elsewhere.

 

 

Sent from my iPod touch using Forums

 

Not sure as 3 years since I was on that ship but in connie they have to go to casino or rendezvous. I just had my drink in those bars instead, I didn't like the atmosphere of martini bar and found the barmen to be arrogant.

I am happy to accept lower alcohol or smaller serving but to be made to drink a cocktail out of a tumbler is pathetic and an attempt at making you feel lower class ... they shouldn't sell the package if that is how they treat those who buy it.

To be honest it didn't really matter , as we were more than happy to drink elsewhere.

 

 

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Can't they just charge you the difference? For instance, if I had the classic package, but wanted a premium vodka such as Belvedere? Or would they charge you for the full price of the premium drink despite having a classic pkg? And yes, the tumbler thing seems ridiculous.

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VMartini

VMartini

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If you order a drink over the allowed price you pay the total price of the drink not the difference.

 

Found the answer to my previous question. Is this true on all ships? Seems a bit slicky to me. Its getting ridiculous with all of the up charges.

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1cruiselvr

1cruiselvr

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Found the answer to my previous question. Is this true on all ships? Seems a bit slicky to me. Its getting ridiculous with all of the up charges.

Which is why a lot of people buy the premium package when they get on board. I've only had 1 experience with a drink package, last year on the Constellation. I thought I'd start out with it and if not happy, upgrade as the cruise progressed. Turns out for me, as a not fussy drinker, the classic package was fine. However, we could not use it at the Martini Bar. It seems to be a place the premium package people hang out and that's what the bartenders cater to and know. At least that was my experience on the Constellation last year.

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bEwAbG

bEwAbG

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I've only ever seen the one poster mention this drinking-out-of-the-tumbler thing, so it's obviously not widespread. Probably a crew member making a joke.

 

Whether or not you can get a standard martini that would be on the Classic Package at the Martini Bar is entirely dependent on the staff working and how busy they are. I've seen them make small martinis (just a standard martini--not small versions of the specialty martinis) and I've seen them send people to another bar for both regular martinis and other cocktails. In the evenings when they are most busy, they will likely send you elsewhere. The reason the Martini Bar exists is to serve the specialty martinis that are on their menu. There are other bars within a few yards of this space that offer standard drinks, so I'm not sure why people get so bent out of shape about it.

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jagoffee

jagoffee

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With the classic package, if a drink costs more than the limit, you pay the full price. Ridiculous...of course....but it's their rules.

 

 

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Celebrity would certainly sell less premium packages and upgrades to the premium package if Celebrity did as you suggest. And the processing costs for the extra charges with the Classic Package would be a hassle for Celebrity.

 

Does not seem ridiculous to me. Actually seems like a smart way to do it. I always upgrade to the premium, but I probably would not if Celebrity did as you suggest.

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VMartini

VMartini

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Which is why a lot of people buy the premium package when they get on board. I've only had 1 experience with a drink package, last year on the Constellation. I thought I'd start out with it and if not happy, upgrade as the cruise progressed. Turns out for me, as a not fussy drinker, the classic package was fine. However, we could not use it at the Martini Bar. It seems to be a place the premium package people hang out and that's what the bartenders cater to and know. At least that was my experience on the Constellation last year.

 

Interesting. So, is there a discount to upgrading to the Premium Pkg once onboard vice doing it prior to the cruise?

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GottaKnowWhen

GottaKnowWhen

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I know there are a million threads on the drink packages but i couldn't find a definitive answer for my question. We have the classic package on our upcoming Summit cruise.

 

I guess I'm a lil confused, on one hand the classic pkg says it covers drinks up to $8 and there is also a pdf showing what liquors are covered with the classic package. https://secure.celebritycruises.com/celebrity/media/celebrity/shared_assets/pdf/Classic-Premium-Bev-Pckgs.pdf

 

So my confusion is looking at the cafe menu, it shows lots of coffee spirits with liquors contained in the classic package but they are priced at $8.25 so are those covered or not? ie Baileys and coffee, Baileys is on the pdf as covered in the classic package but it's $8.25, covered or not?? I'm sure there are other examples but that caught my eye:confused:

 

Note that getting Bailey's as a drink is not the same as getting a Bailey's mixed into a coffee; in the latter case, you are probably getting only a half to a third of the pour you would get if you ordered the drink alone. So it can be covered under the Classic package, not because of liquor quality but because of quantity. In my humble opinion.

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GottaKnowWhen

GottaKnowWhen

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Found the answer to my previous question. Is this true on all ships? Seems a bit slicky to me. Its getting ridiculous with all of the up charges.

 

X is very clear that the Classic package is for a limited set of drinks. Crap beer, low end wines and spirits. But it provides an option for those who are not heavy drinkers, who are not demanding of the drinks they receive. My wife is fine with the Classic, I upgrade to Premium. I find it quite pleasant that they do not treat us as one-size-fits-all and instead offer options. You may call it a slicky upcharge, I call it "you makes your choices and pays the price".

 

Stan

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