The Economy of A Drink Package

[Bootman4U]

Yes, I know it has been done to death but so has everything else so why not?

 

Right now, trying to decide if the package really IS "worth it."

 

The current cost per person is $48 per day. Times 2 people times 7 days and adding in an 18% gratuity that comes out to $792.96 for the week.

 

This translates to $113.28 per day for two.

 

If the maximum amount of one drink the package will cover is $12 that means not quite 10 drinks for two people per day or about 70 $12 drinks in the week.

 

We also each get three drinks for free during the cocktail hour every day.

 

Bottom line: would we break even? I seriously doubt it but you know what? For convenience (I can just see Richard Fain grinning and thinking about getting another new Ferrari:):):)) I think I'm going to get the thing anyway!!!:D:D:D

 

Do these people who say, "It paid for itself" really drink SEVENTY $12 drinks a week plus all those free ones?

[Woodmnky]

The 3 free drinks for those that get them really does make a difference in whether the package makes sense for people. Each person is different. If you really don't think that you could come out ahead, you could just put the cost of the drink package as OBC so that you get back any extra.

[M&JfromSDL]

Your math is a little off. The drink package covers up to $13. If you don't have a package that drink is $13 + 18% gratuity. If you drink $7 beers all day, then the economics may not work out. But you'll be hard pressed to find a cocktail for less than $10 especially if you prefer premium brand liquors.

 

Also, it's worth mentioning there's value in not having to worry about trying something new and finding out you don't like it.

 

 

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[maryjaden]

At best we are at a break even point, but really enjoy the convenience of the package and the fact that I pay for it in advance and that's I less thing to worry about.

[chandom]

Math is already off. The gratuity would still have to be paid on the purchased drinks onboard.

 

Better look is 48, that will bring the count down to 4 drinks a person a day. So the total number would be 56 between two.

 

Also, the three free drinks (not taking in to account unlimited in the lounge) are during about a four hour time period for a limited selection.

 

Me personally, I like the three W aspect of the package: What, where, and when (I want)

Depending on bar and drink, four can be easy done in a two hour period.

 

Plus bottled water, fresh OJ, and "coffee house" style beverages will be covered in a pacakage.

 

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[Goodtime Cruizin]

Short answer... Yes. Your math is WAY OFF!!!!

Long answer... We don't get three free drinks. We also drink bottled water, fresh squeezed OJ, & specialty coffees. Therefore we don't have the need to justify your incorrect math 70 drinks per couple. If one can't handle (3) drinks a day for 7 days, then one shouldn't buy the package. The maths work for us.

Edited March 12, 2017 by Goodtime Cruizin

[akcruz]

A few things to add.

 

The max price per drink varies by ship. The newer ships have higher drink prices so the max is higher. We were on Jewel in February and the max was still $12.

 

To the OP you are mixing pre gratuity and post prices in your equation. If you paid $48, it would take 4 $12 drinks to break even, not 5.

 

Also remember soda, bottled waters, coffee, etc is included. You may be able to take 1 mixed drinks off and replace with a mix of those.

 

No straight easy answer for most on worth of the packages with so many variables.

 

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[Badgertr]

Personally, I don't care about breaking even. I budget for vacation and part of that is drinks. I've told my DH 5 drinks per day per person, he didn't like being "budgeted" and I didn't like counting. He always went over [emoji57]. The last couple I bought the drink package beforehand when they had it on sale and my bill at the end of the cruise was under $200 for Internet and a couple pics. I was happy. We also got A LOT more out of the cruise. We used to sit on our balcony to stay away from deck and activities where waiters come around for drinks. Now we go up for the sail away party and try the drink of the day everyday. Instead of beer by the pool we do frozen drinks. Just little things but it has made it more enjoyable and I don't have to count.

 

 

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[dplusd]

Yes, I know it has been done to death but so has everything else so why not?

 

Right now, trying to decide if the package really IS "worth it."

 

The current cost per person is $48 per day. Times 2 people times 7 days and adding in an 18% gratuity that comes out to $792.96 for the week.

 

This translates to $113.28 per day for two.

 

If the maximum amount of one drink the package will cover is $12 that means not quite 10 drinks for two people per day or about 70 $12 drinks in the week.

 

We also each get three drinks for free during the cocktail hour every day.

 

Bottom line: would we break even? I seriously doubt it but you know what? For convenience (I can just see Richard Fain grinning and thinking about getting another new Ferrari:):):)) I think I'm going to get the thing anyway!!!:D:D:D

 

Do these people who say, "It paid for itself" really drink SEVENTY $12 drinks a week plus all those free ones?

 

I would look at how much you've spent on drink on past cruises. Unless it was close to the cost of the package, just pay as you go. I tried a package when they were newer and didn't come close to breaking even...and I tried. Based on my past bar bills I should have known I was not a candidate!

[Bootman4U]

Appreciate all the math-correct responses. I just know what the cost in the cart is.

[vanesssss]

It works for some and not for others. I like mixed drinks & wine, husband likes mixed drinks and specialty coffee. We also grab a few bottles of water throughout the day to keep in the cabin or bring to port with us.

 

I think the itinerary also factors in. We did not get the package on our 5 day to Bermuda since we were in port overnight & for 2 days so we spent little time on the ship. For our upcoming Western Caribbean cruise, we have 3 sea days + a day in Labadee where the package is accepted, plus we're traveling with family so I know we'll make good use of our packages.

[EleventyBangBang]

On NCL, if you didn't have the package, you still had to sign a slip for every drink. But if you had the package, then your drink would just appear, no questions asked. So I think that made it worth it, even if you only broke even, just for the convenience of it.

 

Can I assume the same will hold true on Royal?

[Clarea]

On NCL, if you didn't have the package, you still had to sign a slip for every drink. But if you had the package, then your drink would just appear, no questions asked. So I think that made it worth it, even if you only broke even, just for the convenience of it.

 

Can I assume the same will hold true on Royal?

You may or may not get receipts to sign on RC. Inconsistent.

[MrsP_29]

I only have a few drinks a year but I do enjoy Diet Coke. I cannot justify $8/50/day. I may have 2 a day on the weekends but it doesn't cost $8.50. I like bottled water too. Still doesn't add up. I can drink the free options and if I feel re need for a soda. I'll pay whatever the cost is for a single can.

 

Although you are talking alcohol, etc, and I was talking about soda, the same concept applies. Figure how much you normally drink and do the math. Personally I don't spend $48 a year on alcohol so it sounds like a terribly expensive package for a one week cruise.

[EleventyBangBang]

You may or may not get receipts to sign on RC. Inconsistent.

 

I always also include a dollar with my card when ordering. I wonder if that will help.

 

(Funny story, the ONE time I did not do this on NCL, they lost my card and i had to go get a new one.)

[dcgrumpy]

Last month on IOS I was never charged the difference even when the drink was over $13. I ordered glasses of wine over the limit expecting to be charged the difference but I never was.

 

I was unsure beforehand if I should get the package. I easily came out ahead though. I may not have ordered $46 worth of alcohol every day but once I added in bottled waters and the occasional latte I was ahead by dinner. I liked the flexibility of trying new drinks.

[time4u2go]

When considering how many drinks you might drink per day, don't forget to consider that on port days (if you get off the ship), you most likely wouldn't have as many drinks as on the ship.

[Bruin Steve]

I disagree with a lot of the math experts on here. It matters little that the "maximum" is $12 or $13...The real question is the price of whatever you are drinking...You may be drinking $8 drinks all cruise long. I seriously doubt most with the package are going out of their way to find and order $12 drinks...

 

And, remember, a lot of premium drinks you won't qualify for on the package...

 

If you are drinking $8, the "break even" is SIX drinks per day per person...and that is just to break even. Drink that and you could have just ordered "by the drink" and ended up in the same place...but have retained your option to NOT drink...or to occasionally order a "premium" drink that would not have qualified on your package.

 

Now, remember also, that aside from those three free "card-loaded" drinks...or unlimited drinks from 5:00 to 8:30 in the Diamond Lounge, you also have PORT DAYS...Days when you'll get off the ship and go into port or go on a tour...and won't get back to the ship until it's time to get dressed for that Diamond Cocktail Hour...That is time you WON'T be drinking--or, at least, not drinking on that "package"...You will have to make up your quota of six drinks all after dinner...

 

And, yes, rather than all that alcohol, you can also order soda or bottled water or whatever on the package...But those would have cost a lot less...and just think about how much liquid you'd have to put through your body to make the package pay at those prices...You might be spending most of your cruise in the rest room...

 

I have NEVER paid full price for a drink package...and never found my bar bill to even come close to what that price would have been...especially on RCCL with my ability to get free pre-dinner drinks in the DL and maybe one more just after dinner--if I'm done to get back before 8:30...

 

I have had the unlimited drinks package a couple of times on Celebrity...only because it was part of a "deal" and the choice was the drink package or $200 in onboard credit, so, basically, the package was only costing us $100 pp...Two drinks per night was do-able...even though my wife never really got to two after drinking in the Elite Cocktail Hours...

 

As to not having to worry about my bar bill...I've never found that an issue...I don't worry about it when I'm out for the evening at home either...I drink when I want and I stop when my body tells me to and I know the cost will never really get that high...and I do not feel compelled to "get my money's worth"...It all takes care of itself...

 

The cruise lines do not offer these packages to give away free booze and destroy one of their best profit centers...They do it because, basically, the package guarantees them passengers pre-paying for approximately 6 drinks a night (okay, four if you've found the magic $12 drink)...They know from years of data that most people will NEVER drink that much...and, even if a few do, those drinks really don't cost THEM $8-12 per drink...more like 30-50 cents...There's enough profit margin in those first six drinks to make up for a couple dozen more...and nobody does that...Mathematically, it is a deal the cruise lines will take all day long...Sort of like the slot machines in the casino--sure, every now and then someone wins...but the cruise line KNOWS it is way ahead in the long run.

[BNBR]

The main benefit to me, is that there are bars EVERYWHERE on these ships. So if you are walking by or looking for something to do, you just grab a drink, maybe something interesting you wouldn't have tried before as others have said. But I like that I'm not mentally budgeting WHEN I want to have a drink. We try tons of new stuff, but also find myself getting drinks much more often all over the place without feeling the anxiety of budgeting. I love it.

[juliea344]

Where do you get the fresh squeezed juice? And Specialty coffee? I had a package recently but never figured that out. Lol

 

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[Clarea]

Where do you get the fresh squeezed juice? And Specialty coffee? I had a package recently but never figured that out. Lol

Fresh squeezed juice would be available at Windjammer and the MDR for breakfast, and possibly other venues depending on the ship. Specialty coffee is available at restaurants, and again depending on the ship Cafe Promenade, Cafe Latte-Tudes, Park Cafe, etc.

[mollyeilis]

Appreciate all the math-correct responses. I just know what the cost in the cart is.

 

 

Sure, but you would be paying the gratuity on each drink you order a la carte. So the grat is happening either way. Better to compare pre-tip prices

 

 

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[gsuoumu]

Every time this topic comes up I think the same thing:

 

Fixed cost is a wonderful thing. Having paid for the package in advance and knowing that my on-board expenses will be normally <$100 is wonderful. Knowing that I can drink as much as I want or as little as I want each day and not have to worry about how much it's costing? Wonderful. Wife enjoys soft drinks and that's included. We've tried so many drinks on cruises that we would've never given a shot on land because if we don't like it we can just trash it and get a new drink instead.

 

And if you're asking if my wife and I - who aren't heavy drinkers on land AT ALL - can both enjoy at least five drinks a piece each day... the answer is a very very very large YES. We talk all the time about how we're basically on the Kennedy Package when we're on a cruise. You'll hardly ever see us without a drink in our hands. We're not out there getting smashed because we'll be eating enough to cover it, but we're enjoying ourselves.

 

It's entirely up to each individual person to make that determination. We weren't planning on it on our first cruise, but as soon as we got on board and looked at each other at noon and said "Hey, let's get a drink" we kinda knew we should be getting a package. We've gotten it every trip since then without regrets.

[FPP777]

I think many of us can get the most out of the package on any given day without having to try and make it a contest to beat RCCL. This is the first time I have the package and knowing how I drink, I will be close to break even or over. The great thing is, there is no looking back.

 

I am an early riser and I am thinking that with a trip down for premium coffee and hopefully I can find some baileys early in the morning, plus two bottles of water on the walk back to the room, I can spend 15 dollars before breakfast. And that is every day.

 

Does anyone know if you can get booze that early in the morning, or should I make my last drink of the night a shot of Baileys on the way to the room?

[cstimmons]

In my opinion you cannot put a price on peace of mind that there is a fixed cost. To me that has an economy all on its own. It even includes top shelf stuff to some extent and a nice espresso after dinner.