High alcohol prices

[atanac]

Don't forget the cruise lines get their liquor duty free where U.S. land based establishments can't.

It is price gouging plain and simple. It is capitalism but the deck is definitely stacked against the buyer.

[leaveitallbehind]

Don't forget the cruise lines get their liquor duty free where U.S. land based establishments can't.

It is price gouging plain and simple. It is capitalism but the deck is definitely stacked against the buyer.

 

I think the bar prices are comparable to most land base resorts and hotels and in that respect are to market. The cost and resulting margin is a matter of how they purchase and is not gouging to the consumer if the selling price is market based.

[Merion_Mom]

Don't forget the cruise lines get their liquor duty free where U.S. land based establishments can't.

It is price gouging plain and simple. It is capitalism but the deck is definitely stacked against the buyer.

They provision their ships, including liquor, in their home ports. Most of those voyages go out of U.S. ports, and most of those go out of Florida.

[Merion_Mom]

Don't forget the cruise lines get their liquor duty free where U.S. land based establishments can't.

It is price gouging plain and simple. It is capitalism but the deck is definitely stacked against the buyer.

 

 

 

Also, as any number of TV shows on the topic will tell you, cruise lines make their money from on board spending, NOT from cruise fares. Cruise fares stay low because the company knows that you will buy things like liquor, excursions, specialty meals, and souvenirs on board.

 

Of course the cruise line makes money on the drinks that they sell you. They are a for-profit industry.

[chrisby]

The mixed drink prices are very similar to a nice restaurant bar in my area but beer is higher. We get the Deluxe package, I really don't care what it costs, I'm on vacation and am just going to enjoy! I don't even get my diamond member drinks as I get the package, which sucks but I don't feel like having to think! Plus my fiance is not a diamond yet and she needs the package to keep up [emoji6]

 

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[reefdmain]

I think the bar prices are comparable to most land base resorts and hotels and in that respect are to market. The cost and resulting margin is a matter of how they purchase and is not gouging to the consumer if the selling price is market based.

 

Here is one big difference between the ship and your resort. You can stop at the local liquor store and buy stuff and take it to your room if you want. On a boat, you can not bring drinks aboard. So the arguments are not apples to apples.

[PigsCanFly]

Just a note re: "free drinks". I expect that the drinks given out to some of us in the casino rivals the total for the Diamond Happy hours. I do know that RCCL is not losing (yet) on the free casino drinks vs. my table/slot donations. Hopefully that changes in my January visit.

[Clarea]

Just a note re: "free drinks". I expect that the drinks given out to some of us in the casino rivals the total for the Diamond Happy hours. I do know that RCCL is not losing (yet) on the free casino drinks vs. my table/slot donations. Hopefully that changes in my January visit.

Almost impossible for the cruise line to lose money on cocktails.

[John&LaLa]

No. Diamonds (and higher) get the "free" drinks from the significant amount of money they paid to RCI over the many years of cruising with them to get to that level! :rolleyes: Small dividend! And we still pay the full price outside of the cocktail hours - just like everyone else.

Not entirely, we get a few e-coupons for BOGO and 25% on wine or beer

 

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[dpostman]

Just as a comparison, here are drink prices from last January on MSC Divina posted last week in the MSC boards

 

These are from Divina from January but it gives you an idea of prices.

 

 

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Note that those are NOT Euros but in fact $USD

dp

[Wine-O]

Beers on Freedom TA last month were $6.95 and up.

[Citymom92]

Agree with the other posters, that the Royal cocktail and beer prices are less than we pay at home. It's pretty much the norm for cocktails at bars on Capitol Hill to be in the range of $12-16 and beers $8-10. We're not huge drinkers, but on vacation might have a bloody mary or mimosa during the day, cocktails before dinner and a glass of wine or two with dinner, so the deluxe package I got for $41 ppd makes sense for us. Someone on another board made the good point that even if you didn't get the Deluxe package, the Refreshment package so the costs above the $18 for soda package isn't that much of difference, and is definitely worth it. We're not Diamond level obviously, but I think even if I could get the three drinks free in the lounge, I'd be inclined to buy the packages anyway just to have complete freedom of choice and location and timing for my drinks to enjoy my vacation.

[mark290]

They provision their ships, including liquor, in their home ports. Most of those voyages go out of U.S. ports, and most of those go out of Florida.

 

They must buy the liquor they sell in the onboard store from a non US port to get it duty free. Why wouldn't they also

buy the liquor for the onboard bars at those non US ports ? I would think they also pick up their fuel from wherever

it is the least expensive. The ships move so why not buy items that are considerably elsewhere at those places ?

They outsource everything from labor to where they build the ship based on cost.

[awestover89]

They must buy the liquor they sell in the onboard store from a non US port to get it duty free. Why wouldn't they also

buy the liquor for the onboard bars at those non US ports ? I would think they also pick up their fuel from wherever

it is the least expensive. The ships move so why not buy items that are considerably elsewhere at those places ?

They outsource everything from labor to where they build the ship based on cost.

 

Many reasons. There are distribution contracts in place at the departure ports for one, but the main reason is that the islands the ships visit are just not setup to handle the demand of a cruise ship. They don't have the necessary quantity or the infrastructure to get it loaded on the ship in bulk.

 

There's also the logistics of employees. It is much easier to load and stock on turnaround day when there aren't passengers wandering around the ship and employees are all busy helping guests.

 

There are also health code issues, mandatory inspections, and US agriculture and customs rules. If ships bought a bunch of items at foreign ports and returned to the US with it still in their storerooms it would be a customs nightmare.

 

Of course ships like the MSC that do a multi-month around the world cruise restock at some of their ports, but they specifically time out visiting the ports that have the infrastructure in place to allow for restocking.

 

There's also just the fact of efficiency of buying in bulk. Getting several tons of food and thousands of bottles of alcohol in bulk is significantly more efficient than getting a few tons here and there.

 

As an example, here's a list of what Oasis of the Seas typically stocks on turnaround day for a 7 day cruise.

 

Lobster tails: 5,400

Ice cream cones: 21,000

Tomatoes: 8,800 pounds

Lettuce: 9,000 pounds

Potatoes: 14,800 pounds

Apples: 2,600 pounds

Bananas: 5,400 pounds

Eggs: 46,800

Milk: 2,622 gallons

Chicken: 19,723 pounds

Beef: 18,314 pounds

Fish: 7,070 pounds

Hot dogs: 10,680

Beer: 31,900 bottles and 900 cans

Soda: 16,900 cans

Vodka: 820 bottles

Whiskey: 179 bottles

Scotch: 293 bottles

Rum: 765 bottles

White wine: 3,360 bottles

Red wine: 2,776 bottles

[CruisingNole]

I live in Orlando, which compared to the rest of the state, has very cheap prices for food and beverage. A pint of decent beer is typically about $7 at a bar, less during happy hour of course. About the same price for a single-liquor mixed drink. Sporting venues in the area charge $12 for a beer and even more for a mixed drink. I would expect a cruise to be less than sports venue gouging prices but more than your local bar. Which is what you usually pay at a hotel bar. So it seems like RC's prices are right where they should be.

[BlueHerons]

Cruise ship drink prices are WAY cheaper than what we pay in South Florida. Two draft Bud Lights at a Miami Heat Game were $24 including tip. Two mojitos at The Delano in South Beach including added gratuity were $50.

[atanac]

They provision their ships, including liquor, in their home ports. Most of those voyages go out of U.S. ports, and most of those go out of Florida.

I was in St Thomas and watched several pallets of liquor being stowed onboard a ship last year. One of the bartenders told me the liquor they sell while in a U.S. port has the duty paid as well as local sales tax. Once at sea as they use those bottles they restock with the duty free ones. He seemed to know what he was talking about.

[CruisingNole]

Cruise ship drink prices are WAY cheaper than what we pay in South Florida. Two draft Bud Lights at a Miami Heat Game were $24 including tip. Two mojitos at The Delano in South Beach including added gratuity were $50.

 

I used to have to travel to Ft. Lauderdale for work. $25 + tip for one margarita at a bar across from the beach. Thankfully I expensed everything to the company. I had never realized how good I had it in Orlando as far as cost of living goes.

[Wine-O]

Cruise ship drink prices are WAY cheaper than what we pay in South Florida. Two draft Bud Lights at a Miami Heat Game were $24 including tip. Two mojitos at The Delano in South Beach including added gratuity were $50.

 

I must be spoiled. Here in Myrtle Beach we have Happy Hour 7 days a week. Depending on where we go, I can get a bottle of Bud Light for $1.75, $1.90, and at a real expensive place, $2.50/2.75. :rolleyes:

[John&LaLa]

I must be spoiled. Here in Myrtle Beach we have Happy Hour 7 days a week. Depending on where we go, I can get a bottle of Bud Light for $1.75, $1.90, and at a real expensive place, $2.50/2.75. :rolleyes:

But how long does it last. Down here it generally runs 4:00 - 6:00.

 

That's at the Cove, Sandbar, Coconuts, etc..

 

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[reallyitsmema]

I must be spoiled. Here in Myrtle Beach we have Happy Hour 7 days a week. Depending on where we go, I can get a bottle of Bud Light for $1.75, $1.90, and at a real expensive place, $2.50/2.75. :rolleyes:

 

Happy Hour??? Come to Massachusetts and Happy Hours are banned. Embassy Suites can't even offer free drinks at their nightly Manager's Reception.

[Ocean Dancer]

I must be spoiled. Here in Myrtle Beach we have Happy Hour 7 days a week. Depending on where we go, I can get a bottle of Bud Light for $1.75, $1.90, and at a real expensive place, $2.50/2.75. :rolleyes:

 

But how long does it last. Down here it generally runs 4:00 - 6:00.

 

That's at the Cove, Sandbar, Coconuts, etc..

 

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At our watering hole south of Myrtle, they give us snowbirds happy hour prices all the time!

[Wine-O]

But how long does it last. Down here it generally runs 4:00 - 6:00.

 

That's at the Cove, Sandbar, Coconuts, etc..

 

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Most places 4:00 to 7:00. In the off season (Oct-Mar) some until 8:00. Craft beers from $3 to $3.50. The biggest decision I have to make in the late afternoon is "where are we going for happy hour." ;)

[John&LaLa]

Most places 4:00 to 7:00. In the off season (Oct-Mar) some until 8:00. Craft beers from $3 to $3.50. The biggest decision I have to make in the late afternoon is "where are we going for happy hour." ;)

 

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[LMaxwell]

There are hundreds of terrific happy hours in south Florida where two people can get a couple of cocktails and a couple of apps for $20.

 

https://foursquare.com/top-places/fourt-lauderdale/best-places-happy-hour

 

At higher end resorts or resorts that cater to business travel there is often bonkers pricing because it gets expensed out to the employer not the employee and sports events all bets are off.

 

There was a time when ship drink prices were at least noticeably cheaper than most everyday prices and more along the lines of happy hour pricing the whole time, and happy hours that were silly cheap. This of course was subsidized in part by higher cruise fares, made the alcohol seem like a deal, and lots of service so they did volume without packages