Taking alcohol on board

[Selbourne]

Whilst I don’t think it’s good value (unless you are a very heavy drinker), and I wouldn’t want to be restricted to what I could and couldn’t have, those contemplating not taking it up until the end of the 2nd day may want to rethink.

 

On round trips from Southampton, the 2nd day is always a sea day and I would think that you are far more likely to get your money’s worth when you are on the ship for 24 hours than a Port day when you may have to cram your 15 drinks into an evening.

 

I wonder, does the package allow for any and all drinks up to the price cap? The reason I ask is that some drinks packages on other lines restrict which brands are included (certain beers, certain brands of spirits etc) which, again, I wouldn’t like. I also think it’s a damned cheek that you can’t just pay the difference for more expensive drinks rather than just get 20% discount off the full price.

[Harvey1976]

Whilst I don’t think it’s good value (unless you are a very heavy drinker), and I wouldn’t want to be restricted to what I could and couldn’t have, those contemplating not taking it up until the end of the 2nd day may want to rethink.

 

On round trips from Southampton, the 2nd day is always a sea day and I would think that you are far more likely to get your money’s worth when you are on the ship for 24 hours than a Port day when you may have to cram your 15 drinks into an evening.

 

I wonder, does the package allow for any and all drinks up to the price cap? The reason I ask is that some drinks packages on other lines restrict which brands are included (certain beers, certain brands of spirits etc) which, again, I wouldn’t like. I also think it’s a damned cheek that you can’t just pay the difference for more expensive drinks rather than just get 20% discount off the full price.

 

Yes I agree with you, if your drink is over £6.95 you should just pay the difference. This is what I did on RCL.

[CCFC]

Its ANY dink under £6.95, I would have expensive coffees, milkshakes, coke, fruit juices well before I started on the alcoholic ones.

[eddie11]

From the P&O Help Pages -

 

some sample prices on this link

 

https://ask.pocruises.com/help/PO/life-on-board/drink_cost?_ga=2.173648353.316335582.1531123034-2067075532.1527959390&_gac=1.169458835.1531481343.CKX1sda28dACFcK87QodBRsD1Q

[kenhem]

On the ultimate package it says two people in a cabin both have to buy the package which I think is unfair if one is a non drinker unless one has the option of buying the non alcoholic package. The way it's worded is not clear on this.

 

Having said that a drinks package is not for us, particularly on a port intensive cruise when you are off the ship for a good chunk of the day. We're on a 28 night cruise next year which means £2240 for drinks packages!

[Harvey1976]

I think it would be very unfair if both had to take out the same package if one person doesnt drink.

[bee-ess]

I think it would be very unfair if both had to take out the same package if one person doesnt drink.

 

That's in line with other cruise lines who operate drinks packages

[Pidgeofcdf]

Whilst I don’t think it’s good value (unless you are a very heavy drinker), and I wouldn’t want to be restricted to what I could and couldn’t have, those contemplating not taking it up until the end of the 2nd day may want to rethink.

 

On round trips from Southampton, the 2nd day is always a sea day and I would think that you are far more likely to get your money’s worth when you are on the ship for 24 hours than a Port day when you may have to cram your 15 drinks into an evening.

 

I wonder, does the package allow for any and all drinks up to the price cap? The reason I ask is that some drinks packages on other lines restrict which brands are included (certain beers, certain brands of spirits etc) which, again, I wouldn’t like. I also think it’s a damned cheek that you can’t just pay the difference for more expensive drinks rather than just get 20% discount off the full price.

 

I never said about waiting till the end of the second day, I simply said it was good that you don’t have to purchase on the first day. By the time you board, unpack and muster and explore on the first day it wouldn’t be worth it personally.

The second day morning would be my preference.

If fully rolled out I think it will be good that people get the choice whilst not impacting cruise fares as some had feared when myself and others suggested they offer an all inclusive package (when they limited the drinks you could bring onboard)

I don’t think it will affect bar prices, these will continue to slowly rise (20-30p a year)

I do however think that the ultimate package will creep up in price if it is fully rolled out, expect £45 in 3 years time.

[happy v]

Its ANY dink under £6.95, I would have expensive coffees, milkshakes, coke, fruit juices well before I started on the alcoholic ones.

You might want to read the conditions first, canned and bottled soft drinks, some juices, smoothies, and medium coffee and chocolate are excluded.

[Presto2]

The rules are in line with American cruise lines we have sailed with but the price is much cheaper -- and with no additional service charge of 18%.

 

When we first sailed with Celebrity we worked out that we would not drink enough to make it pay for us. At the end of the day it will suit some and not others - each to their own and good on P&O for listening and trialling this.

 

:-)

[P-L-B]

On the ultimate package it says two people in a cabin both have to buy the package which I think is unfair if one is a non drinker unless one has the option of buying the non alcoholic package. The way it's worded is not clear on this.

 

Having said that a drinks package is not for us, particularly on a port intensive cruise when you are off the ship for a good chunk of the day. We're on a 28 night cruise next year which means £2240 for drinks packages!

I am surprised that no one else has pointed out that most people would be hard pressed to get through £80.00 per couple on port days.

Although, no doubt some would treat it as a challenge.

[picsa]

I am surprised that no one else has pointed out that most people would be hard pressed to get through £80.00 per couple on port days.

Although, no doubt some would treat it as a challenge.

 

Seems reasonably easy to be honest -

 

Coffee with breakfast

Mid-morning coffee or soft drink

Lunch - Water and a glass of beer or wine or soft drink

Afternoon - Glass of beer or soft drink

Evening - Cocktail before dinner

Dinner - Water, a couple of glasses of wine, and a coffee

Evening - Late night cocktail

 

That just about exceeds £40, is well under the 15 drinks, and isn't really extortionate consumption for a holiday.

 

However... there really isn't any sense in buying the AI package if you are not saving any money. So unless you do aim to hit the 15 drink limit with the most expensive alcoholic drinks you may as well pay as you go (until that is they push up the bar prices to make the AI look good value for money.

 

Also slightly bonkers the rules say no doubles and 15 minutes between drinks. That will annoy the waiters having to return multiple times to serve the double that was wanted.

[P-L-B]

Seems reasonably easy to be honest -

 

Coffee with breakfast

Mid-morning coffee or soft drink

Lunch - Water and a glass of beer or wine or soft drink

Afternoon - Glass of beer or soft drink

Evening - Cocktail before dinner

Dinner - Water, a couple of glasses of wine, and a coffee

Evening - Late night cocktail

 

That just about exceeds £40, is well under the 15 drinks, and isn't really extortionate consumption for a holiday.

 

However... there really isn't any sense in buying the AI package if you are not saving any money. So unless you do aim to hit the 15 drink limit with the most expensive alcoholic drinks you may as well pay as you go (until that is they push up the bar prices to make the AI look good value for money.

 

Also slightly bonkers the rules say no doubles and 15 minutes between drinks. That will annoy the waiters having to return multiple times to serve the double that was wanted.

If you read my post again I did say on port days when most people will be ashore for most of the day, well we are anyway.:)

[majortom10]

If you read my post again I did say on port days when most people will be ashore for most of the day, well we are anyway.:)

 

I agree then the mid morning coffee is missed, glass of beer or wine with lunch and mid afternoon so makes £79-90 for port days very expensive and hard to reach so makes cost of sea days more than £79-90 have to be exceeded to make up for lost on port days to make it worthwhile.. Sorry not for me.

[majortom10]

If you drink as you do now you get whatever Peninsular Tier you maybe off your drink purchases but P&O cannot confirm according to their Facebook page that same discount will apply to drinks packages so making it less value for money.

[P-L-B]

I agree then the mid morning coffee is missed, glass of beer or wine with lunch and mid afternoon so makes £79-90 for port days very expensive and hard to reach so makes cost of sea days more than £79-90 have to be exceeded to make up for lost on port days to make it worthwhile.. Sorry not for me.

Thank you majortom10, I agree and that was precisely my point.(y)

[P-L-B]

If you drink as you do now you get whatever Peninsular Tier you maybe off your drink purchases but P&O cannot confirm according to their Facebook page that same discount will apply to drinks packages so making it less value for money.

That's a good point, I forgot about that.

We indeed get a reasonably good Peninsular discount.:D

[FangedRose]

You might want to read the conditions first, canned and bottled soft drinks, some juices, smoothies, and medium coffee and chocolate are excluded.

I don't see where it excludes bottled soft drinks in the description of the ultimate package.

 

The children's package says draft soft drinks, but that is only part of the ultimate package.

 

Hot chocolate is specifically mentioned as being available.

[FangedRose]

That's a good point, I forgot about that.

We indeed get a reasonably good Peninsular discount.:D

As far as I'm aware the only thing that is excluded from the peninsular discount is grats. It certainly comes off individual drinks. I can't see how they could justify not applying it to packages too.

[picsa]

Sorry not for me.

 

It will be when the bar prices rise to the same as other Carnival brands that offer AI.

[FangedRose]

If you read my post again I did say on port days when most people will be ashore for most of the day, well we are anyway.:)

As someone who usually only spends a couple of hours ashore I assure you that most people do not spend the whole time in port off the ship.

Some don't get off at all. Some will spend a couple of hours wandering round the local town. Others will do tours which are usually half day, and vast majority are back in time for lunch, or don't leave the ship until after lunch.

The bars and coffee shops are reasonably frequented.

Only the shops and casinos are shut, and that can make the atrium seem empty.

[Selbourne]

I am surprised that no one else has pointed out that most people would be hard pressed to get through £80.00 per couple on port days.

Although, no doubt some would treat it as a challenge.

 

I did, ten posts before yours.

[happy v]

I don't see where it excludes bottled soft drinks in the description of the ultimate package.

 

The children's package says draft soft drinks, but that is only part of the ultimate package.

 

Hot chocolate is specifically mentioned as being available.

It definitely does.

[FangedRose]

It definitely does.

Just found a different PDF file which gives more information than the one I was looking at. You are mostly right. My bad.

But Hot Chocolate is specifically mentioned as being available.

[P-L-B]

As someone who usually only spends a couple of hours ashore I assure you that most people do not spend the whole time in port off the ship.

Some don't get off at all. Some will spend a couple of hours wandering round the local town. Others will do tours which are usually half day, and vast majority are back in time for lunch, or don't leave the ship until after lunch.

The bars and coffee shops are reasonably frequented.

Only the shops and casinos are shut, and that can make the atrium seem empty.

I guess apparently we are in the minority then in wanting to maximise and enjoy our time ashore. As said before the package would be poor value for us.