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Princess Beverage Package Cost?


asctony
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I just checked the Princess Web site to determine the Beverage Package price. It shows $69/day. Do they not have a more reasonable drink package to obtain wine and cocktails? That is somewhat expensive. Just booked a Classic Package on MSC for $47/day and that includes most drinks.

Yes, I know NCL charges $89/day. However, I normally get free beverage package on NCL.

 

We get free drinks on RCI since we are Diamond+ 5PM - 8:30PM and on Celebrity 5PM - 7PM we are Elite. We are Elite on Princess and yes we get the in-cabin bar setup. Princess' Happy Hour is $5/drink of the evening and normally it is not what we would choose.

 

Thanks for your feedback.

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I just checked the Princess Web site to determine the Beverage Package price. It shows $69/day. Do they not have a more reasonable drink package to obtain wine and cocktails? That is somewhat expensive. Just booked a Classic Package on MSC for $47/day and that includes most drinks.

Yes, I know NCL charges $89/day. However, I normally get free beverage package on NCL.

 

We get free drinks on RCI since we are Diamond+ 5PM - 8:30PM and on Celebrity 5PM - 7PM we are Elite. We are Elite on Princess and yes we get the in-cabin bar setup. Princess' Happy Hour is $5/drink of the evening and normally it is not what we would choose.

 

Thanks for your feedback.

You’re elite and don’t know that they only have the one alcohol drink package, a Soda package and a wine package??:rolleyes:

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Just got off Grand Princess. They have the soda and more for $80.50, gratuities included, which is non-alcoholic drinks plus hot chocolate and milkshakes from the ice cream place AND the alcohol one, which you mentioned. It's like 1 extreme to the other. My niece decided to just pay for the drinks and limited herself to one drink every night with dinner... so a "self-funded" package :)

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The drink package on Princess has gone up, but not by much, another drink's worth. I suspect it's due to the abuse of the package that the price went up, but that's just a personal opinion. It's expensive, but if there are a lot of sea days I find it to still be reasonably priced. It includes specialty coffee, small bottles of water (sparkling and still), and most alcoholic drinks. Plus, I like to consider my vacations all inclusive.

 

I won't do it on a port intensive cruise, but when there's plenty of sea days, I think the drink package is worth it.

 

We too are elite on Princess, but we don't drink much in our room. So, we usually don't even drink the little bottles.

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No less expensive alcohol packages on Princess but they do allow you to bring your own wine and Champagne onboard and require you pay $15 corkage fee on any bottles beyond two and any bottles you intend to drink outside your cabin. If you are on a 10 night or longer sailing, they have some wine packages onboard that may save you some money. Beers can be purchased onboard (or ahead of time) for 5 for the price of 4. You can purchase a 12 pack of bottled water, only prior to your cruise for about $7. Coffee packages (no longer on paper cards but loaded onto your cruise card) will save you some money and if you don't use your free mini bar, you can trade it for 2 coffee packages.

The beverages at the PES (platinum, elite, suite) event have gone up to $6 ... and I don't care for any of them on the new menu. The BOGO (Buy One, Get One for $1), which used to be held twice per day, was eliminated but understand they are bringing the evening one back on some ships. Hope they bring it back on all ships twice per day ... afternoon and evening. It was also about the gathering ...made for such a fun event to attend.

Oh, and they have a soda package for sale onboard as well.

Those are most of the ways we save a bit by not purchasing the beverage package.

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If you change your Nationality from Italian to American you could get the drinks package free under their Sip and Sail promotion. Until Princess extend this offer to Europeans we'll still be stiffed $69 USD a day.

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Just got off Grand Princess. They have the soda and more for $80.50, gratuities included, which is non-alcoholic drinks plus hot chocolate and milkshakes from the ice cream place AND the alcohol one, which you mentioned. It's like 1 extreme to the other. My niece decided to just pay for the drinks and limited herself to one drink every night with dinner... so a "self-funded" package :)

Just to be clear, the soda and more package is $8.05 per night of cruise. It is only $80 if your cruise is 10 nights. Also, milk shakes have been eliminated from the plan description on the web site and from most ships. A few ships are still allowing milkshakes per guest reports.

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Just to be clear' date=' the soda and more package is $8.05 per night of cruise. It is only $80 if your cruise is 10 nights. Also, milk shakes have been eliminated from the plan description on the web site and from most ships. A few ships are still allowing milkshakes per guest reports.[/quote']

Yes, thanks for clarifying that, lol. The guy at the International Café making me hot chocolate every night told me I could go to the ice cream place for free milkshakes (chocolate or vanilla only by his description), but I didn't try it because I was drinking way too much sugar already. I also didn't see it mentioned in the fine print.

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You’re elite and don’t know that they only have the one alcohol drink package, a Soda package and a wine package??:rolleyes:

Yes, I am Elite and didn't know they only have the one drink pkg. Does that make me a bad person?

Thanks for you valuable input/response. You really did add to this thread. LOL

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Thank you to those who did provide additional information on the question that I did ask. I do appreciate it. It is very possible that it did help others, too.

Happy Cruising!

 

I am sure it did. I have been Elite for a long time and I just recently bought my first drink package for my last cruise. I also had to research the pricing and coverage!

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This is why I asked. Other cruise lines have two packages and cheaper.

RCI - What is the cost of the drink package on Royal Caribbean?

Royal Caribbean has one unlimited alcohol package to choose from, the Deluxe Beverage package, which costs $55 per passenger, per day and features unlimited beers, wine by the glass, cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages, premium coffee, tea, fountain soda, fresh squeezed juices, sparking and bottled still water.Jan 15, 2018

MSC - All-Inclusive Classic Drink Package - for Adults

 

AVAILABLE ON MSC SEASIDE & MSC DIVINA IN THE CARIBBEAN

$47 per person / per day* for cruises between 4 - 8 nights

$38 per person / per day* for cruises with 9+ nights

Celebrity - Differences Between Premium vs. Classic Beverage Packages

 

The key difference between the two packages is price. Expect to pay between $40 and $55 per day for a Classic Package, while a Premium one will set you back at least an additional $10 per day.

 

 

 

 

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The beverage package can be seen as a good value or as a not so good value. For people who enjoy there cocktails say 6-10 a day plus water and coffee it is a excellent deal - for those who only have 2 drinks a day it is not a good deal.

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This is why I asked. Other cruise lines have two packages and cheaper.

RCI - What is the cost of the drink package on Royal Caribbean?

Royal Caribbean has one unlimited alcohol package to choose from, the Deluxe Beverage package, which costs $55 per passenger, per day and features unlimited beers, wine by the glass, cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages, premium coffee, tea, fountain soda, fresh squeezed juices, sparking and bottled still water.Jan 15, 2018

MSC - All-Inclusive Classic Drink Package - for Adults

 

AVAILABLE ON MSC SEASIDE & MSC DIVINA IN THE CARIBBEAN

$47 per person / per day* for cruises between 4 - 8 nights

$38 per person / per day* for cruises with 9+ nights

Celebrity - Differences Between Premium vs. Classic Beverage Packages

 

The key difference between the two packages is price. Expect to pay between $40 and $55 per day for a Classic Package, while a Premium one will set you back at least an additional $10 per day.

 

 

 

 

FYI f the RCI package price shown above is BEFORE the 18% gratuity is added in. It's total cost is $64.90. The $68.80 Princess package price is AFTER the 15% gratuity has been added on. The package price is $59.99 . And they only have one alcoholic beverage package option, like Princess does..

Just making sure you're comparing apples to apples.

 

And Celebrity's Premium package, which is the online one comparable to Princess Premier Beverage, is $69 per day PLUS 18% gratuity , for s total of $81.10 a day, quite a bit more than Princess package.

 

If you're cruising for beverage package, P + O has a quite reasonably priced one, and MSC also (although totally price by day is closer to Princess, RCI and Celebrity, as again, you're above price doesn't include gratuity, which is added at purchase. While your above Princess price does include the gratuity)...

Edited by reedprincess
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This is why I asked. Other cruise lines have two packages and cheaper.

 

I just posted a comparison of Celebrity and Princess packages in response to a question on another thread. Yes, each line is different in what it offers, what is included, etc.

BUT....if you've decided to cruise a particular line, shouldn't the question be whether the package(s) on that line are a good value for you rather than how that line's packages compare to another line's options?

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I just posted a comparison of Celebrity and Princess packages in response to a question on another thread. Yes, each line is different in what it offers, what is included, etc.

BUT....if you've decided to cruise a particular line, shouldn't the question be whether the package(s) on that line are a good value for you rather than how that line's packages compare to another line's options?

 

FYI f the RCI package price shown above is BEFORE the 18% gratuity is added in. It's total cost is $64.90. The $68.80 Princess package price is AFTER the 15% gratuity has been added on. The package price is $59.99 . And they only have one alcoholic beverage package option, like Princess does..

Just making sure you're comparing apples to apples.

And Celebrity's Premium package, which is the online one comparable to Princess Premier Beverage, is $69 per day PLUS 18% gratuity , for s total of $81.10 a day, quite a bit more than Princess package.

If you're cruising for beverage package, P + O has a quite reasonably priced one, and MSC also (although totally price by day is closer to Princess, RCI and Celebrity, as again, you're above price doesn't include gratuity, which is added at purchase. While your above Princess price does include the gratuity)..

 

I value your opinion and saw your comparisons of Celebrity and Princess. I did not compare only Celebrity to Princess. I posted RCI and MSC, too.

To add to my posting and your comparisons:

1. Celebrity has a Happy hour from 5-7Pm and gives out free drinks on 5 of the 7 nights of a 7 day cruise for Elite and above. We are Elite+ on Celebrity. Thus, I do not need to buy a package regardless of package price on Celebrity.

2. RCI has a Happy Hour from 5 - 8:30PM nightly in a dedicated lounge for Diamond and above, plus they give you 3 drinks that you may use in any bar during that period of time. We are Diamond+ on RCI. In addition, RCI discounts their beverage package when you buy one and you get another one for a 30% discount. So, if I buy 2 packages I would pay $64.90 per day for 1 package compare to $68.80/day on Princess. I would only pay $38.50/day plus 18% = $45.43/day on RCI. That is $26. 87/day less on RCI. $188.09 savings on a 7 day cruise.

3. MSC - I just bought 2 beverage packages for the Sinfonia 7 day cruise in the Med. It cost a total of $402.00. Yes, $402.00 for both Classic packages that included beer, alcohol, specialty coffees, galoto,etc. For the Caribbean this November it cost me $329 for the package/person. They do not add any % gratuity at all. We are Black Card on MSC.

 

To help you understand why I would question this is really not relevant to this discussion. However, I must add that if people don’t question things, others never know and some people will always justify their personal beliefs.

 

We are Elite on Princess, Have cruised Princess since 1986. Have over 100 cruises. Have been selected many times as Most Traveled Cruisers on many Princess ships. Have come in 2nd and 3rd on other cruises.

 

As you can see and read, we have been there and done that. That is what this forum is for. Questions and Clarification. My posting count is not high as I post only when I feel a need to. Not like some people who think they must get their counts up.

Happy Cruising!!!

 

 

Thank you again for your comments.

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I just purchased the Princess drink package for me and my DH on our upcoming Alaska cruise. It has gone up since our cruise last year. $965.86 for 2 this year. Last year it was $804.30 for the 2 of us. I'm not sure if the extra $161.56 and a new limit is really worth it or not for us. Before there were drink packages, it seemed like we averaged around $800 for our onboard account. For my DH, he might have many drinks on a few days of the cruise--more than 15 including his shots. But then he goes a couple days without having a drink at all. I am a little worried about the limits. If they would carry over, that would be fine. Oh well, I guess we will see.

 

As it relates to other lines, while RCI is almost the same with the gratuity, most sailings have a discount which makes it about 30%+ less cost and it is unlimited. And with their drink prices higher, it definitely makes it worth it to have the package.

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As stated Princess does NOT have any other alcohol packages. I did some research, well drinks run between $8 & $10, some exotic drinks are more. Wine runs about the same per glass. Beer and hard cider start at $6.25 and go to $8.50. Add 15% to all these estimates. Unless you drink a lot the package is not worth it.

 

You can not bring any liquor or beer on board, but you can bring wine and soft drinks on board. The 1st bottle of wine is free if drunk in your stateroom, $15 corkage fee if taken to a restaurant. All additional bottles are $15 corkage no matter where drank. Experts say it’s still cheaper to bring your own wine.

 

BTW: If you purchase a bottle of wine in the dining room, and don’t drink it all, they will mark it and save for your future meals.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

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If you change your Nationality from Italian to American you could get the drinks package free under their Sip and Sail promotion. Until Princess extend this offer to Europeans we'll still be stiffed $69 USD a day.

I too get blanked when I make such remarks.

 

Maybe because we are from the same area of the world. Lived in Coniston Avenue 30 years or so back!

 

I think the US cruisers ignore them in the hope that instead of us getting better offers theirs get worse.

 

I had a go at princess on their 3 for free package and why could their US clients switch to this for free

 

and we cant. It is some time ago but I think they said well you can but you will lose your deposit and pay a cancellation fee - think he was having a laugh!

I said at that point well that OK I will have one for free and just cancel the tips!!clear.png?emoji-eek-1725

At which he went on about me the stiffing the staff.

which I thought extremely unprofessional.

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The current price for the Premium Drink Package is $59.99 + 15% or $69.99 per person/day or about $140 per couple/day. We recently received an e-mail from Princess pushing this package for an upcoming cruise and DW and a good laugh. Based on more then 40 years of extensive cruising we know that we average $75-$85 a day for drinks and that is the cost for 2! Even if we forced ourselves to drink more then normal there is no way we would ever spend over $100 per couple/day. We think the reality is that few couples would spend anywhere near $140 per couple/day during a cruise when you consider that would include even port days when you are not spending a lot of time on the ship. Drink packages are a very good deal for the cruise line :).

 

For those who think the drink package is a good deal we would suggest looking at what you have spent on previous cruises (we used to save our invoices from the onboard account). While some might actually make out with the package we suspect it is a small minority of cruisers.

 

Hank

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I will continue to buy the PBP and my wife will continue to PPD...at least until Princess decides to require both/all adults in the same cabin to either all or none...:beer-mug:

 

will definitely have to reconsider at that point...and prolly go back to our old ways...:lips-sealed::evilsmile:

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For many of us the package is a very good deal since most cocktails run about $10. We average a glass of wine with lunch, maybe 1 at the pool, 2 cocktails per dinner, 2 glasses of wine with dinner, 1 after dinner drink, and then maybe 3 cocktails in the casino. Plus add in 1 -2 bottles of water and 1 - 2 specialty coffees. This is per person so you can see we definitely save money with the package. Our last 2 and future 2 long cruises already booked were with the sip and sail promo so even better when you are talking about a 14 - 21 day cruise

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