Royal testing to bring back same drink package for all

[mommao729]

I just got off the harmony of the seas 3 weeks ago. My husband had the drink package I didn't. Just booked oasis for next September and now everyone 21 and over needs to purchase or the exception is to buy the refreshment package. I don't understand why. I didn't have the drink package and I was able to get coffee lemonade juice in the windjammer and promenade. Now I have to pay for that. Are they gonna do away with all the refreshments that were included. What they are doing is getting another $182.00 out of me because I don't drink? I think this is horrible. And I just booked 5 rooms. Either make it an all inclusive cruise. Put it in the base price. Or give us other options. If we don't drink or feel we won't get our money's worth offer the drink card on the first day where we can get 10 drinks for $80.00. I would be happy to do that. I'm sure other people would to.

[CleverFirst]

FYI - if you cruise on or after December 31, 2017 and one person in your cabin buys the alcohol package, all adults in that cabin will be required to buy one as well. I spoke to a "resolution manager" with RCL today as we are cruising on Oasis in a couple weeks and on the Rhapsody in January. My husband always bought the beer package, however beginning December 31, 2017, fleet wide, if one person in the cabin buys the alcohol package, all adults in that cabin over 21 are required to buy (even if they don't drink). Does not matter to RCL if the other adult is a non-drinker. I explained to the resolution manager that I have a medical condition and explained to the "resolution manager " what is was and that it does not allow me to drink......does not matter. So much for the "exceptions" that I saw on one website of pregnant; medical condition; personal preference and/or religion. Needless to say, even though we are Diamond Plus, Rhapsody will be our last cruise. Thanks for the compassion RCL...NOT!

 

Ditto. I've recently (2015 was first cruise) fallen in love with cruising: went on Allure, then Anthem, and booked for Independence this December. I started with Royal but have also gone on 1 Carnival, and 1 NCL, and this drink package policy change is the straw that broke the camel's back. We always got 1 drink package because hubby is a water drinker. With Carnival and NCL being so comparable in experience (and less expensive, with better perks and amenities) and RCL literally giving me less of an experience with every sailing, this will be my last one with them. Totally unimpressed with their vulture techniques. See ya, Ruthless Caribbean International.

[Toofarfromthesea]

I just got off the harmony of the seas 3 weeks ago. My husband had the drink package I didn't. Just booked oasis for next September and now everyone 21 and over needs to purchase or the exception is to buy the refreshment package. I don't understand why. I didn't have the drink package and I was able to get coffee lemonade juice in the windjammer and promenade. Now I have to pay for that. Are they gonna do away with all the refreshments that were included. What they are doing is getting another $182.00 out of me because I don't drink? I think this is horrible. And I just booked 5 rooms. Either make it an all inclusive cruise. Put it in the base price. Or give us other options. If we don't drink or feel we won't get our money's worth offer the drink card on the first day where we can get 10 drinks for $80.00. I would be happy to do that. I'm sure other people would to.

 

You can thank the people who believe rules are made to be broken and it isn't wrong to share, if you don't get caught. People like you end up as collateral damage. It stinks, but there it is.

[mommao729]

Yes it's a shame we have to pay for other people's actions. I know it's not gonna change anything but I just emailed royal Caribbean I told them how upset I was over this new policy. Told them there were other options they could go with that would be better received then what they are offering. Like offering drink cards for pre purchase and day one. I would gladly pay $80.00 for 10 drinks. As I don't drink enough to pay full price. Or make it an all inclusive. But having to buy a refreshment package so he can get a drink package is just wrong. Especially when coffee and lemonade and iced tea is already included. I know it won't change anything but if more people voice there opinions just maybe they will listen.

[Ocean Boy]

The only thing RCI is going to listen to is if they find that their bottom line is decreasing from the change. I am pretty sure the reason that sales on the packages keep showing up for various cruises is because they are not meeting their expectations for moving packages at the price point that they originally set.

[mommao729]

That is true. I did tell them I am a member of cruise critic and I know they read the boards. Told them people weren't happy and some were looking at other cruise lines. That it was great that we used to have the option to have one person purchase the drink package and the other didn't have to. Now they are like the rest so I will look elsewhere for better deals.

[Milwaukee Eight]

Simple solution. Book a Sky Class and have access to SL and they serve beer and wine from 1100-2300 hours (Free). Or book Star Class and it is all inclusive. Play enough in the Casino to earn Club Royale VIP and drink anything for FREE while playing. Two drink packages at $500-600 a piece ($1200) might be enough to move from a Balcony or JS and save your packages.

 

Royal is moving to Star/Sky/Sea Class soon, on all ships. You saw it coming as ships convert from CL to SL.

 

 

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[RFerrington]

Royal is moving to Star/Sky/Sea Class soon, on all ships. You saw it coming as ships convert from CL to SL.

 

I hope this is true and they get on with it already !

[rukkian]

I just got off the harmony of the seas 3 weeks ago. My husband had the drink package I didn't. Just booked oasis for next September and now everyone 21 and over needs to purchase or the exception is to buy the refreshment package. I don't understand why. I didn't have the drink package and I was able to get coffee lemonade juice in the windjammer and promenade. Now I have to pay for that. Are they gonna do away with all the refreshments that were included. What they are doing is getting another $182.00 out of me because I don't drink? I think this is horrible. And I just booked 5 rooms. Either make it an all inclusive cruise. Put it in the base price. Or give us other options. If we don't drink or feel we won't get our money's worth offer the drink card on the first day where we can get 10 drinks for $80.00. I would be happy to do that. I'm sure other people would to.

 

I agree it sucks for people that really don't need it, but putting it in the base price is even worse. Then people where neither in the room want it are actually paying more so that others can get it for "free". Don't fool yourself thinking that anything is ever free. Everything they put on a ship, from the flowriders to the chairs, to the food can be included by charging more. By switching to charging for individual items, they are able to charge less for the cruise itself while making the profit that is their ultimate goal.

 

Having options would be nice like the drink cards, but even those only seem to be offered if drink (and drink package sales) are not high enough. Having them available pre-cruise would stop some from buying the packages, which again lowers profits.

 

In the end, everybody wants a lower price (I would love a lower price), and if other lines offer a better product, then people will switch, which would cause RCI to reevaluate the policies in place.

[mommao729]

But that's my point. I'm already paying for coffee in the promenade lemonade and iced tea. I know it's not free. So why do I have to buy a refreshment package if my husband wants to purchase the drink package. That's not fair. It should be up to the person if they want to buy a drink or not. It's not cost effective for me since I may have one or two drinks the whole cruise. But my husband likes the package. It's paid for upfront and he doesn't have to keep checking his account. There has to be something else they can do

[Milwaukee Eight]

But that's my point. I'm already paying for coffee in the promenade lemonade and iced tea. I know it's not free. So why do I have to buy a refreshment package if my husband wants to purchase the drink package. That's not fair. It should be up to the person if they want to buy a drink or not. It's not cost effective for me since I may have one or two drinks the whole cruise. But my husband likes the package. It's paid for upfront and he doesn't have to keep checking his account. There has to be something else they can do

 

 

 

As has been stated previously, nobody is forcing your husband to buy a package. If you don’t drink, it might be cheaper to buy ala carte. If not, go with the packages.

 

 

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[rukkian]

But that's my point. I'm already paying for coffee in the promenade lemonade and iced tea. I know it's not free. So why do I have to buy a refreshment package if my husband wants to purchase the drink package. That's not fair. It should be up to the person if they want to buy a drink or not. It's not cost effective for me since I may have one or two drinks the whole cruise. But my husband likes the package. It's paid for upfront and he doesn't have to keep checking his account. There has to be something else they can do

 

Agreed on forcing you to buy the refreshment, my comment was about making it all inclusive. I think if package (and drink) sales go down, or they start seeing reduced bookings, these will change, but if profits go up, then more of these policies will happen.

[time4u2go]

But that's my point. I'm already paying for coffee in the promenade lemonade and iced tea. I know it's not free. So why do I have to buy a refreshment package if my husband wants to purchase the drink package. That's not fair. It should be up to the person if they want to buy a drink or not. It's not cost effective for me since I may have one or two drinks the whole cruise. But my husband likes the package. It's paid for upfront and he doesn't have to keep checking his account. There has to be something else they can do

They tried doing something else (allowing just one person in a room to buy the drink package). They found it wasn't as profitable.

[Milwaukee Eight]

Agreed on forcing you to buy the refreshment, my comment was about making it all inclusive. I think if package (and drink) sales go down, or they start seeing reduced bookings, these will change, but if profits go up, then more of these policies will happen.

 

 

 

On Oasis Class ships, which seems to be the conversation so far, they already offer inclusive drinks in Star Class. Sky Class has beer and wine from 1100-2300 hours.

 

 

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[Biker19]

I really wonder what the revenue effect would be to simply do away with drink packages?

[rukkian]

I really wonder what the revenue effect would be to simply do away with drink packages?

The packages seem popular, so I doubt it would go well. With the current drink prices, many would not actually buy much I think.

 

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[Biker19]

With the current drink prices, many would not actually buy much I think.

Yet, they don't mind shelling out $60 per day for the package?:confused:

[rukkian]

Yet, they don't mind shelling out $60 per day for the package?:confused:

There are many people that would be spending lots more than that if there were no packages. I know for me, if it we're just alcohol, I would never get my money worth, but with just considering the difference between replenish and deluxe, I got it last time, and drank several drinks I would have never tried if I had to pay $12 for. The convenience of the package is worth something to me, and if the package were gone, I would make due with only buying a couple of drinks all week, and figure many others would as well.

 

I am one that only drinks 3-4 times a year, normally.

 

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[Biker19]

I got it last time, and drank several drinks I would have never tried if I had to pay $12 for. The convenience of the package is worth something to me, and if the package were gone, I would make due with only buying a couple of drinks all week, and figure many others would as well.

Human nature is a very interesting thing - if no package were available you'd only spend $25 on drinks but with the package available you don't mind spending $400+? Really? RCI are geniuses.

[rukkian]

Human nature is a very interesting thing - if no package were available you'd only spend $25 on drinks but with the package available you don't mind spending $400+? Really? RCI are geniuses.

Didn't say that. I am more willing to spend on a package as it takes some stress out of the vacation. I like being able to try things and just get whatever anytime. While I could live with just drinking what they offer for free, if I can get unlimited I will.

 

Since I rarely drink, being able to try things with no extra cost gives me the incentive to try new things. No different than trying escargot in the dining room because it is included, but would never try it if I had to purchase it.

 

Since the replenish is available, I get that, and the deluxe was only $12 more at the time we purchased it, so it made perfect sense.

 

There is also a difference about not having a huge bill at the end, we would much rather pay for it upfront.

 

 

 

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[Ourusualbeach]

Simple solution. Book a Sky Class and have access to SL and they serve beer and wine from 1100-2300 hours (Free). Or book Star Class and it is all inclusive. Play enough in the Casino to earn Club Royale VIP and drink anything for FREE while playing. Two drink packages at $500-600 a piece ($1200) might be enough to move from a Balcony or JS and save your packages.

 

Royal is moving to Star/Sky/Sea Class soon, on all ships. You saw it coming as ships convert from CL to SL.

 

 

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While I do see Royal possibly expanding the benefits for suites upon other classes of ships I don't see them rolling out Star/Sky/Sea in its current format to all ships.

 

Pretty much every other ship in the fleet has only 1 or possibly 2 cabins that would qualify as Star class. In general all the suites on the other ships command no where near the prices that they do on Quantum and Oasis class ships and to add all those extra perks the money has to cone from somewhere.

 

And I would think that if Royal was going to roll it out fleet wide they would have already started especially

since they already introduced the suite lounge on Liberty

[Biker19]

I would make due with only buying a couple of drinks all week

 

Didn't say that.

A couple of drinks is about $25. A package is about $400.

[rukkian]

A couple of drinks is about $25. A package is about $400.

Yes, and if I am buying them one at a time, I would make due. I don't need drinks. Could I buy the same amount as if I had the package- sure. Will I - probably not. I am not claiming that buying the package is only to save money, the difference of taking away a worry of how much we are spending is appealing to me. Not saying you should.

 

 

There is a big difference, and like I said, I only switched from replenish ( which I do like to have) to deluxe because it was only$12 more per day. I drank way more than$12 per day with their drink prices. Not sure I will even go to deliver next time.

 

 

 

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[Candleonwater]

I have been following this thread, but please help me with some clarification. I sail Dec 21, 2017 on Grandeur. When I purchased DD's Deluxe Drink package the notice was there indicating that I would have to purchase it as well. However, I was able to just purchase for her. Multiple phone calls to RCL (yes, I know... call 10 times, get 10 different answers), have ALL answered, no I do not have to purchase the package. I have even canceled her package and repurchased at a lower rate. I don't "really" drink, my diamond lounge drinks are more than enough to keep me happy.

 

On our roll call there is one person that keeps posting that the rule is in effect for our sailing, he didn't purchase it in time, so he's out of luck... have I missed something here?

[rukkian]

I have been following this thread, but please help me with some clarification. I sail Dec 21, 2017 on Grandeur. When I purchased DD's Deluxe Drink package the notice was there indicating that I would have to purchase it as well. However, I was able to just purchase for her. Multiple phone calls to RCL (yes, I know... call 10 times, get 10 different answers), have ALL answered, no I do not have to purchase the package. I have even canceled her package and repurchased at a lower rate. I don't "really" drink, my diamond lounge drinks are more than enough to keep me happy.

 

On our roll call there is one person that keeps posting that the rule is in effect for our sailing, he didn't purchase it in time, so he's out of luck... have I missed something here?

 

From everything I have seen, you are good. I am not sure how they could force you later to buy the package.