He!p My husband decide about purchasing Prestige Beverage package

[ChucktownSteve]

Yes they do LHT28. On our Marina cruise I upgraded but my spousal unit didn't. I had been tipping the regular bartender throughout the cruise. When I ordered a sparkling wine with her card, he upgraded her to the premium stuff without me asking. That was a nice touch which I appreciated.

[LHT28]

Yes they do LHT28. On our Marina cruise I upgraded but my spousal unit didn't. I had been tipping the regular bartender throughout the cruise. When I ordered a sparkling wine with her card, he upgraded her to the premium stuff without me asking. That was a nice touch which I appreciated.

Not sure what you mean by upgrading to the premium stuff???

Did he not charge her for the wine ??

[ORV]

Not sure what you mean by upgrading to the premium stuff???

Did he not charge her for the wine ??

 

Agree, if she had the lunch and dinner package as a perk then "the good stuff" is included. I read it to say that she got a more expensive wine than she ordered.

[LHT28]

Agree, if she had the lunch and dinner package as a perk then "the good stuff" is included. I read it to say that she got a more expensive wine than she ordered.

agreed

It was not clear in the post whether she paid for the drink or was a freebie

 

 

When I ordered a sparkling wine with her card, he upgraded her to the premium stuff without me asking.

The Sparkling wine selections "by the glass" are limited so maybe rather than open a new bottle the bartender just used something similar that was open

 

 

AFAIK Oceania does not have premium spirits that are not included in either package other than a couple of Top shelf cognacs

[ChucktownSteve]

Not sure what you mean by upgrading to the premium stuff???

Did he not charge her for the wine ??

We both started with the House Select package. I upgraded to Prestige Select. He gave her a Prestige quality champagne at no extra cost. Yes I handed him her card and mine for drinks.

 

 

How long has the house select only been available during lunch/dinner. I thought it was different when we cruised.

[LHT28]

We both started with the House Select package. I upgraded to Prestige Select. He gave her a Prestige quality champagne at no extra cost. Yes I handed him her card and mine for drinks.

There is no different Champagne "by the glass" whether you have a package or not

 

As I said perhaps he was trying to use up an opened bottle especially if it was in the evening

 

Oceania is different from other lines where I think the bar staff have some leeway in the wine selections

 

jmo

[Cruseforme]

We both started with the House Select package. I upgraded to Prestige Select. He gave her a Prestige quality champagne at no extra cost. Yes I handed him her card and mine for drinks.

 

 

How long has the house select only been available during lunch/dinner. I thought it was different when we cruised.

Our first cruise with O was in 2012, and our cruising friends get a pkg every time, and in 2012 the house select was only at meals, (and has been so since), so if you previously cruised before 2012, one of the longer cruisers will need to chime in.

[pete_coach]

agreed

......

........

AFAIK Oceania does not have premium spirits that are not included in either package other than a couple of Top shelf cognacs

They do have "premium" scotches, whiskeys, vodkas as well as cognacs and brandys. At east they did in the Martini bar and when I ordered a drink I got a "premium" brand, Grey Goose, and someone else got a "bar" brand, I had the premium package. I was alos able to get VSOP Cognac while the other person had to pay extra to get that.

 

 

I thought I read in one of your posts that you said you have not cruised in 5 or 6 years? I may have misread? Anyway, things change.

[LHT28]

How long has the house select only been available during lunch/dinner. I thought it was different when we cruised.

This was posted back in 2012

but did see some comments on the packages from 2011

so not sure when they started

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=33539231&postcount=3

Edited May 12, 2017 by LHT28

[ORV]

We both started with the House Select package. I upgraded to Prestige Select. He gave her a Prestige quality champagne at no extra cost. Yes I handed him her card and mine for drinks.

 

 

How long has the house select only been available during lunch/dinner. I thought it was different when we cruised.

 

The House Select is only available at lunch and dinner, or Room Service with a meal. Prestige is available anytime.

 

The selections of wine, champagne and beer are exactly the same on either package. But you can't get either at a bar as a standalone drink with the House Select.

[ORV]

They do have "premium" scotches, whiskeys, vodkas as well as cognacs and brandys. At east they did in the Martini bar and when I ordered a drink I got a "premium" brand, Grey Goose, and someone else got a "bar" brand, I had the premium package. I was alos able to get VSOP Cognac while the other person had to pay extra to get that.

 

 

I thought I read in one of your posts that you said you have not cruised in 5 or 6 years? I may have misread? Anyway, things change.

 

If it's on the bar menu then it is available with the Prestige, if not, even if it's cheaper than something on Bar Menu, then it's not available. Makes no sense to me that I can get 18 yr Macallan on the package but not Balvenie 12.

[LHT28]

They do have "premium" scotches, whiskeys, vodkas as well as cognacs and brandys. At east they did in the Martini bar and when I ordered a drink I got a "premium" brand, Grey Goose, and someone else got a "bar" brand, I had the premium package. I was alos able to get VSOP Cognac while the other person had to pay extra to get that.

 

 

I thought I read in one of your posts that you said you have not cruised in 5 or 6 years? I may have misread? Anyway, things change.

 

YES they do have premium spirits & all are included in the Prestige package

At one time the Premium cognacs were not included .... yes things do change

 

Again you must have misread my posts as we cruised in 2016

We are down to 1 a year now ..sadly :(

[LHT28]

If it's on the bar menu then it is available with the Prestige, if not, even if it's cheaper than something on Bar Menu, then it's not available. Makes no sense to me that I can get 18 yr Macallan on the package but not Balvenie 12.

Why can you not get the Balvenie if it is on the bar menu ??

just curious

[ORV]

Why can you not get the Balvenie if it is on the bar menu ??

just curious

 

I guess I wasn't clear, it's not on the bar menu, but some of the bars have it.

[LHT28]

I guess I wasn't clear, it's not on the bar menu, but some of the bars have it.

Ok I think what you are saying is

 

if it is not the bar menu that you are in they will not go to a bar that has it for you???

 

I only see it listed on the Polo bar menu

 

I do not drink the stuff but DH likes a good scotch

[pete_coach]

If it's on the bar menu then it is available with the Prestige, if not, even if it's cheaper than something on Bar Menu, then it's not available. Makes no sense to me that I can get 18 yr Macallan on the package but not Balvenie 12.

 

I guess I wasn't clear, it's not on the bar menu, but some of the bars have it.

Not all bars carry the same variety of spirits. The Martini Bar for instance, has a large variety of Gins and Vodkas, not all bars (even the Casino Bar a few steps away) have that. The Martini Bar also has a large(er) selection of Cognacs and Brandy. Even the Horizons Bar had lesser stock.

 

In my recent Rivieria experience, if you had a Prestige package, you could choose any of the spirits. I saw people ordering drinks and they got "bar" stock but if the wanted the "premium" spirits, they had to pay more.

[LHT28]

In my recent Rivieria experience, if you had a Prestige package, you could choose any of the spirits. I saw people ordering drinks and they got "bar" stock but if the wanted the "premium" spirits, they had to pay more.

so are you saying if you have the package & you want premium spirits they charge you extra $ for them??

 

When DH orders (we do not have the package ) he tells the bar man he wants Bombay in his G & T rather than Gordons or what ever brand they normally use

 

the Bar menu has the prices so you know Bombay is more

 

http://www.thepreismans.com/riviera16_menus.htm#main_bar

[ORV]

Not all bars carry the same variety of spirits. The Martini Bar for instance, has a large variety of Gins and Vodkas, not all bars (even the Casino Bar a few steps away) have that. The Martini Bar also has a large(er) selection of Cognacs and Brandy. Even the Horizons Bar had lesser stock.

 

In my recent Rivieria experience, if you had a Prestige package, you could choose any of the spirits. I saw people ordering drinks and they got "bar" stock but if the wanted the "premium" spirits, they had to pay more.

 

Let me try this again, if it's not on one of these two menus it's not available with the Prestige package, regardless of whether it's on the shelf or not. That's not to say that a bartender might give you something that's not on it, but that's not the policy.

 

http://www.thepreismans.com/riviera16_menus.htm#main_bar

 

http://www.thepreismans.com/riviera16_menus.htm#martinis

[pete_coach]

so are you saying if you have the package & you want premium spirits they charge you extra $ for them??

 

When DH orders (we do not have the package ) he tells the bar man he wants Bombay in his G & T rather than Gordons or what ever brand they normally use

 

the Bar menu has the prices so you know Bombay is more

 

http://www.thepreismans.com/riviera16_menus.htm#main_bar

No, what I said was, "if you had a Prestige package, you could choose any of the spirits." Meaning, any brand (on the shelf) is available to you if you have the Prestige Package, no extra charge. I ordered Hennesy XO and did not have to pay any extra than if I ordered Hennesy VS. Yes, if you don't have the package, there are different prices depending on what you order.

Let me try this again, if it's not on one of these two menus it's not available with the Prestige package, regardless of whether it's on the shelf or not. That's not to say that a bartender might give you something that's not on it, but that's not the policy.

 

http://www.thepreismans.com/riviera16_menus.htm#main_bar

 

http://www.thepreismans.com/riviera16_menus.htm#martinis

If it is on the shelf, you can get it, regardless if it is on the list or not.

 

On the shelf means it is available. A bartender offered me an Otard XO, he said they got a case, but it was not on the list.

[LHT28]

No, what I said was, "if you had a Prestige package, you could choose any of the spirits." Meaning, any brand (on the shelf) is available to you if you have the Prestige Package, no extra charge. I ordered Hennesy XO and did not have to pay any extra than if I ordered Hennesy VS. Yes, if you don't have the package, there are different prices depending on what you order.

so people can choose to pay for the brand they want then

When you order a scotch or cognac most people choose the brand they want ..what would be the "bar "stock in those drinks ???

 

If you order a rum & coke or G & T yes they will grab the cheaper brand unless you ask for the brand you prefer ..prices are listed so you know they are more $$ for some brands

 

 

 

if people only drink 1-2 drinks per day why would would they pay for the package unless of course those drinks are VSOP or Top shelf Scotches that they drink then it pays to have the package

[pete_coach]

so people can choose to pay for the brand they want then

When you order a scotch or cognac most people choose the brand they want ..what would be the "bar "stock in those drinks ???

 

If you order a rum & coke or G & T yes they will grab the cheaper brand unless you ask for the brand you prefer ..prices are listed so you know they are more $$ for some brands

 

if people only drink 1-2 drinks per day why would would they pay for the package unless of course those drinks are VSOP or Top shelf Scotches that they drink then it pays to have the package

I am not sure what your point is or what you are saying or asking. I think you questioned and answered your own question. You order a G and T and get "bar" (cheapest) stock. if you want a better brand of G, then you pay more.

Why would anyone buy the Premium package? Well, it is up to them I guess. No mystery, no secret, just what you want.

I am not sure what is so difficult for you to grasp? You pay for what you want. Be it a package, a la carte or whatever. You even linked to a price list.

 

My point was only that if you do have the Premium package, you get all brands without having to pay extra.

[ORV]

No, what I said was, "if you had a Prestige package, you could choose any of the spirits." Meaning, any brand (on the shelf) is available to you if you have the Prestige Package, no extra charge. I ordered Hennesy XO and did not have to pay any extra than if I ordered Hennesy VS. Yes, if you don't have the package, there are different prices depending on what you order.

 

If it is on the shelf, you can get it, regardless if it is on the list or not.

 

On the shelf means it is available. A bartender offered me an Otard XO, he said they got a case, but it was not on the list.

 

I don't mean to be argumentative, but your information is incorrect. Your experience might have been different, these things happen, but what I posted is the absolute 100% policy.

 

I'm really not trying to argue with you, but that's the way it is.

[LHT28]

Why would anyone buy the Premium package? Well, it is up to them I guess. No mystery, no secret, just what you want.

I am not sure what is so difficult for you to grasp? You pay for what you want. Be it a package, a la carte or whatever. You even linked to a price list.

 

My point was only that if you do have the Premium package, you get all brands without having to pay extra.

The point is... not everyone gets the beverage package

 

You can get the premium brands for the prices listed in the bar menu you do not need the beverage package for that

It is not like you ask for Bombay & they say NO because you do not have the package

I do not know why you cannot grasp that concept

 

If you do not ask for a top shelf spirit then they will give you the Bar brand .....if you want a better drink ASK & pay the price listed for that drink

 

just like one would going to any bar off the ship

 

 

BTW not everyone gets the package deal

[pete_coach]

I don't mean to be argumentative, but your information is incorrect. Your experience might have been different, these things happen, but what I posted is the absolute 100% policy.

 

I'm really not trying to argue with you, but that's the way it is.

Also, not being argumentative, my information for what I was explaining is as it happened to me and, as you also said, "these things happen", so, there it is.

 

It was my experience, saw it and drank it. It may be "policy" but, that was not the way it was on the cruise I was on and the bar I was sitting in. Why can I not tell it as it happened to me? Does it offend you in some way?

[pete_coach]

The point is... not everyone gets the beverage package

 

You can get the premium brands for the prices listed in the bar menu you do not need the beverage package for that

It is not like you ask for Bombay & they say NO because you do not have the package

I do not know why you cannot grasp that concept

 

If you do not ask for a top shelf spirit then they will give you the Bar brand .....if you want a better drink ASK & pay the price listed for that drink

 

just like one would going to any bar off the ship

 

BTW not everyone gets the package deal

OMG, what is it that has you so confused? I never once said everyone gets a Premium package. You are just parroting what I have been saying all along. :rolleyes:

Done.