The Economy of A Drink Package

[KALCJ1]

We were on the Navigator 9 night 2/17/17 and both my husband and I had drink packages. I had booked in October, but every time the price went down, I cancelled and purchased again. The final price for both packages was $807.12. So, $403.56...which I think was $38 a day plus gratuity.

 

We never gave a second thought to purchasing the package for my husband, as he loves to drink on vacation and can easily get his monies worth...now for me, I went back and forth on it. I can easily drink 3 bottles of water and always get a specialty coffee each morning. (Although, I will say I'm fine drinking a cup of water with ice.) But grabbing a bottle of water each evening to put in the fridge is convenient.

 

Each afternoon I would drink a mojito (or 2) by the pool. I think these were around $10 -$12. Before dinner I would order a lemon drop martini with grey goose and these were $14.16 each. (I have a receipt as I bought one for a friend). After dinner I usually had 1 drink...either a martini or a patron margarita.

 

So I figured as long as I had 3 drinks and a few waters and a coffee each day, I would break even or at least be satisfied with what I was paying.

 

I will mention...I was disappointed on Labadee as they do not have full bar service, unless you're in a suite.

 

Another tip I will offer if you decide to purchase the drink package...All week I ordered my lemon drop martini with grey goose and a variety of top shelf drinks, not necessarily listed on the menu, and not once was there an upcharge, but the last night in the casino I ordered a cosmo off the menu and it had grey goose...the bartender said there would be a $1.00 upcharge. I said really..why? He said because it's grey goose...I said I've ordered grey goose all week and not once been charged any type of upcharge. He said "oh"...but I told him, that's fine...I'll pay the upcharge, just wanted to try to "figure out" this whole drink package and the varying prices in different venues. So when he swiped my seapass card he said "oh, it didn't charge you extra"...but the receipt said something about an adjustment, so I'm not sure if he changed it or not.

 

My thought is if you order a drink that isn't specifically listed on the menu with top shelf liquor they just charge you the "basic" price, but if it's on the menu and indicates a premium price, then they "may" charge you an upcharge. The good thing is...they will definitely tell you right away if there's going to be an additional charge, which I appreciate.

[NewSalt]

Just off (this morning) our second cruise with the package. On none of the previous nine cruises did our bar bill come close to the cost of a package, but the combination of a sale and a healthy OBC on our tenth (with a little prodding from DD) convinced us to give it a try. We definite did get our money's worth, even on port days, especially this past cruise with the addition of the specialty coffees and freshly squeezed juice.

 

 

A mimosa and/or Irish coffee or cappuccino with breakfast, a couple of G&T's or pina coladas at the pool, some juice and a bottle of water, and you've reached break-even and your pre-dinner drink, two glasses of wine at dinner, an after-dinner cordial, an espresso, a drink at the show, or a nightcap would all be "free." Now, that's more than I had in the past, but there were lots of times that I really would have enjoyed a drink, but the idea of adding to our end-of-cruise bill stopped me. For us, taking the plunge ahead of time made the cruise more enjoyable. That may not be logical, but we are not completely logical creatures. There are psychological factors at work, too.

[dswallow]

I posted this on Facebook after my last RCL cruise (11 nights on the Grandeur). This was just casual drinking. All the shots were brought by the waitress at dinner in the MDR as "after-dinner" treats. Using the Coke Freestyle machines was extremely inconvenient (4 of them mostly locked away in the Windjammer, and one out in a public area in the middle of the ship), so that could've been higher had they been more accessible... not to mention having to drag that stupid cup around to use them. I had a lot of iced tea/lemonade or other flavored water beverages that were free that I didn't try to count.

 

Unless I venture out again tonight for something, my final bar tab total would be $834.61 including gratuity if I hadn't bought the Deluxe Drink Package for $493.24 including gratuity. That's, in no particular order, 26 Stoli (mostly, sometimes they would be out and I'd substitute another vodka) Sea Breezes (sometimes they didn't make the Sea Breeze right but I drank it anyway), 32 Strawberry Daiquiri's, 12 bottles of water, 14 shots, 3 Bloody Mary's, 6 Venti Cafe Mocha's and 5 sodas. All over 11 days.

[dcgrumpy]

We were on the Navigator 9 night 2/17/17 and both my husband and I had drink packages. I had booked in October, but every time the price went down, I cancelled and purchased again. The final price for both packages was $807.12. So, $403.56...which I think was $38 a day plus gratuity.

 

We never gave a second thought to purchasing the package for my husband, as he loves to drink on vacation and can easily get his monies worth...now for me, I went back and forth on it. I can easily drink 3 bottles of water and always get a specialty coffee each morning. (Although, I will say I'm fine drinking a cup of water with ice.) But grabbing a bottle of water each evening to put in the fridge is convenient.

 

Each afternoon I would drink a mojito (or 2) by the pool. I think these were around $10 -$12. Before dinner I would order a lemon drop martini with grey goose and these were $14.16 each. (I have a receipt as I bought one for a friend). After dinner I usually had 1 drink...either a martini or a patron margarita.

 

So I figured as long as I had 3 drinks and a few waters and a coffee each day, I would break even or at least be satisfied with what I was paying.

 

I will mention...I was disappointed on Labadee as they do not have full bar service, unless you're in a suite.

 

Another tip I will offer if you decide to purchase the drink package...All week I ordered my lemon drop martini with grey goose and a variety of top shelf drinks, not necessarily listed on the menu, and not once was there an upcharge, but the last night in the casino I ordered a cosmo off the menu and it had grey goose...the bartender said there would be a $1.00 upcharge. I said really..why? He said because it's grey goose...I said I've ordered grey goose all week and not once been charged any type of upcharge. He said "oh"...but I told him, that's fine...I'll pay the upcharge, just wanted to try to "figure out" this whole drink package and the varying prices in different venues. So when he swiped my seapass card he said "oh, it didn't charge you extra"...but the receipt said something about an adjustment, so I'm not sure if he changed it or not.

 

My thought is if you order a drink that isn't specifically listed on the menu with top shelf liquor they just charge you the "basic" price, but if it's on the menu and indicates a premium price, then they "may" charge you an upcharge. The good thing is...they will definitely tell you right away if there's going to be an additional charge, which I appreciate.

 

I was also very disappointed at Labadee. I hadn't been to Labadee in almost 10 years. I was looking forward to lying on the beach with a Labadoozie. To find out they didn't have Labadoozies or any frozen drinks for that matter on Labadee. Plus the bar was completely closed before 2pm when all aboard was 3:30pm. You couldn't even get a water or a soda.

[rolloman]

I personally find the drink package hard to justify. I will never buy at those prices. I think it actually encourages you to get bombed each day. This whole business of well I can try drinks I don't like and throw them away....yeah ok.......sounds like a waste of cruise time. The other argument of...I don't have to stress over how many drinks I buy.... well I don't believe that either....I think you stress MORE over the drink plan as you are always worried about getting your monies worth. To each his own though... I get my D+ drinks, buy an occasional drink onboard or ashore without spending the 700+ bucks for a plan, this leaves me with disposable dollars for another booking.

[Clarea]

... 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?

Don't know about Bailey's, but you can usually get a bloody mary at Windjammer in the morming.

[Goodtime Cruizin]

Don't know about Bailey's, but you can usually get a bloody mary at Windjammer in the morming.

 

The Cafe Promenade offers liquor as well.

[jamesr3939]

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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Exactly on point!!! I never factor in the gratuity as I am paying it no matter. In fact I would rather pay it on the fixed priced deluxe package than "pay as you go."

 

I have bought drink packages at various prices and configurations for about ten years and at worse I break even, at best I am a few dollars ahead. My estimate on RCCL has been average drink cost for me is about $11, between domestic beers, well and call cocktails. So four drinks and I am even with the package.

 

Since the last 4-5 cruises we seldom get off the ship it's been better to buy the package.

 

If you can get the package for $44 per day then it's worth it for just about anybody.

 

We have a Princess 15 day RT to Hawaii from San Francisco and the package was $65 per day, which I thought was a little high. However, when it was offered for "free" we jumped all over it.

[FPP777]

The Cafe Promenade offers liquor as well.

 

 

Thanks. That could be one stop shopping.

[tOSUSteve]

My liver says no, but I haven't started listening to my liver....

 

 

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[dh6230]

I got the drink package for numerous reasons. First they offered it for 20% off, second I won't have to worry about a bar bill at the end of the trip, third I really want to try drinks I have never had before and last I like soda and specialty coffees also. You can drive yourself nuts trying to get your money's worth or worrying about if you got your money's worth. I will be on vacation and I don't want to worry about buying a drink and spending $12 and I don't like it. If I don't like it I will get something else. Everyone needs to make their own decision on the drink package. For me, it made sense so I bought it.

[Bootman4U]

Thanks for all the rationales listed. I really WISH we could GET the UDP for less than $500 for TWO (must have been a rough week at RCCL headquarters that time around) and I will continue to factor in the gratuity because I am PAYING it one way or the other.

 

Anyway, as I said at the beginning: I'm getting it regardless but it is interesting to hear all the justifications and thanks for taking the time to post.

[George C]

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?

 

Bar by windjammer was open when we went for breakfast would get a champagne , so I am sure you can get a Baily's

AS for package we get it every cruise, was mistake on last cruise since we were in Europe only 2 sea days on 12 day cruise long excursions and we were in suite on Brilliance and concierge lounge was excellent , but we came close to breaking even, all other cruise we saved money with package

[tdtanc]

In addition to the diamond benefit and the all you can drink package I normally get....I have the casino VIP benefit of free drinks while in the casino obviously. The problem for me is when we sit next to the pool during the day....could be ordering anywhere from 5-6 drinks so feel I need the package. I hate the feeling I am always getting charged so I'm ok with the breaking even at a minimum.

 

Todd

[Freehike]

Your math is a little off. The drink package covers up to $13. Forums

 

 

 

$13 on the newer ships. $12 on the older ships.

 

 

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[Cauzneffct]

I haven't gotten a package in the past because our itineraries have been long and/or port intensive and I knew I wouldn't want to drink the requisite amount every day. That said, if, as some people have indicated, you can get a package in the $40 range, given what it includes, it may be worth it.

 

For me, the "fixed cost" aspect is only a positive if one is at or exceeding the paid value. Otherwise, one may be better served by preloading OBC rather than buying and potentially not fully using the package.

 

Also, I may be in the minority, but trying and discarding drinks isn't something I'm into. Ive drank enough to know what I like (and more importantly, what I don't) so I have a pretty good idea of whether I'll enjoy something and I cant recall every discarding something because I was blindsided.

[ljmandelbaum]

I'm trying to decide it package is worth it for us for our 5 night Bermuda cruise, but it was definitely worth it on the last 3 cruises.

I had 2-4 glasses of wine at dinner ($10.62 without the package). Plus a frangelico with dessert Tried a few of the coffe booze drinks at the coffe shops. One was just a iced mocha with frangelico.

[milljef]

Do the prices of drinks vary from old to new ship as well ? We are cruising on NOS and not sure of water, soda, beer and frozen drinks ?

[Clarea]

Do the prices of drinks vary from old to new ship as well ? We are cruising on NOS and not sure of water, soda, beer and frozen drinks ?

The prices of drinks vary, period. New ship, old ship, same ship different bar, time of day, etc.

[DISFANS3]

Thanks for info...

[DivaMI]

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?

Do you guys ever factor in the liquor when you book a all inclusive resort? You know the drinks are included in the price of that.? Do you take out the drinks to see how much cheaper the resort would be or is it just because it is separated for you on a cruise. Something to think about.

[Cauzneffct]

Do you guys ever factor in the liquor when you book a all inclusive resort? You know the drinks are included in the price of that.? Do you take out the drinks to see how much cheaper the resort would be or is it just because it is separated for you on a cruise. Something to think about.

 

That's why I tend to avoid all-inclusive resorts.