Avoiding full-priced alcohol on Royal Caribbean

[jaygee77]

Well, after a few years away from cruising, I'm finally back in the fold. I've tried to catch up on a lot of the updates and changes, but to an extent the amount of material to cover is overwhelming. 

 

There are so many avid cruisers on this board, and you all are so knowledgeable about the details of cruising. What I'm trying to do is figure out how best to get cheap(ish) drinks on board Royal Caribbean. Here's what I've come up with so far:

 

I'm not going to sneak anything on board. I'm reformed. Besides, I know where those threads are. This isn't one of them. 

 

I'm also not going to purchase the unlimited drink package. I'm sailing with my wife and two kids. It's not THAT kind of cruise for me. 

 

It looks like I can get a 375 mL bottle of rum delivered to my room, in the Cruise Planner. But it also says my ship (Independence) is not eligible. I'm confused. Is this a case of RCI's website being incorrect? It looks like this may only apply to Texas-based sailings. 

 

Do RCI bars ever do BOGO drinks? I saw a thread somewhere that indicated as much, but it was one of the more secluded bars, only at a certain time. Do these BOGOs get advertised in the cruise compass? Or do you just have to know? 

 

I'm a pretty consistent table games gambler in the casino, albeit at very low stakes. I get that they don't want to give free drinks away to hit-and-run gamblers. But has anyone ever had success getting drinks comped in the casino? I'm a Platinum level on Crown and Anchor, if that matters. I know Diamond has this as a perk. 

 

Are there any other tips or tricks that I'm missing? Thanks in advance, especially if you have read this far. I really appreciate you! 

 

[dodgestang]

Follow the cruise compass for 'events'...things like the art auction, showings, conferences/demonstrations always have free champagne.  Last cruise I was on I noticed quite a few elderly ladies basically always seemed to just drop into someplace that was doing something and come out a short time later with a free champagne glass in hand.

 

Prime members in Casino get drinks free in the casino....you won't have that for your first sailing...but if you gamble enough you will have it for 2nd sailing 😉

Edited January 11, 2019 by dodgestang

[taglovestocruise]

5 minutes ago, jaygee77 said:

Well, after a few years away from cruising, I'm finally back in the fold. I've tried to catch up on a lot of the updates and changes, but to an extent the amount of material to cover is overwhelming. 

 

There are so many avid cruisers on this board, and you all are so knowledgeable about the details of cruising. What I'm trying to do is figure out how best to get cheap(ish) drinks on board Royal Caribbean. Here's what I've come up with so far:

 

I'm not going to sneak anything on board. I'm reformed. Besides, I know where those threads are. This isn't one of them. 

 

I'm also not going to purchase the unlimited drink package. I'm sailing with my wife and two kids. It's not THAT kind of cruise for me. 

 

It looks like I can get a 375 mL bottle of rum delivered to my room, in the Cruise Planner. But it also says my ship (Independence) is not eligible. I'm confused. Is this a case of RCI's website being incorrect? It looks like this may only apply to Texas-based sailings. 

 

Do RCI bars ever do BOGO drinks? I saw a thread somewhere that indicated as much, but it was one of the more secluded bars, only at a certain time. Do these BOGOs get advertised in the cruise compass? Or do you just have to know? 

 

I'm a pretty consistent table games gambler in the casino, albeit at very low stakes. I get that they don't want to give free drinks away to hit-and-run gamblers. But has anyone ever had success getting drinks comped in the casino? I'm a Platinum level on Crown and Anchor, if that matters. I know Diamond has this as a perk. 

 

Are there any other tips or tricks that I'm missing? Thanks in advance, especially if you have read this far. I really appreciate you! 

 

I believe Indy has the 10 drink card available after the third or forth day.  Runs about $70.00 and can be shared.

[jaygee77]

2 minutes ago, dodgestang said:

Follow the cruise compass for 'events'...things like the art auction, showings, conferences/demonstrations always have free champagne.  Last cruise I was on I noticed quite a few elderly ladies basically always seemed to just drop into someplace that was doing something and come out a short time later with a free champagne glass in hand.

 

Prime members in Casino get drinks free in the casino....you won't have that for your first sailing...but if you gamble enough you will have it for 2nd sailing 😉

What constitutes "prime"? I'll typically spend a couple of hours at the tables each day, but playing the lowest minimums. I'm not frugal with just alcohol! 

[Chiliburn]

Get a suite,it’s a lot of money but the benefits add up .

 The lounges have free drinks in the evening.

[George C]

They do have some specials , on my recent oasis cruise they had 2 dollar mimosa one day at noon in the casino, people were ordering 4 at a time. You can bring two bottles of wine with you . 

[dodgestang]

2 minutes ago, jaygee77 said:

What constitutes "prime"? I'll typically spend a couple of hours at the tables each day, but playing the lowest minimums. I'm not frugal with just alcohol! 

2,500 — 24,999 points

 

I have no idea how points are racked up other than it is a function of time and average wager hourly or something.  I took my first cruise with RCCL in August 2018 and was told I was Prime at the end of the 9 night sailing and when I took my free cruise that they gave me in Dec I got the word PRIME on my seapass card and everything ;).  I buy drink packages though....but I did use it to get a discount on internet 😉

[patlasch]

On my last cruise, $5 gambled in the slot machines was a point, not sure about table games. So by cycling through $12,500 in the slot machines, you get the Prime status. The casino host was great about allowing me to check my progress towards it.

[jaygee77]

1 minute ago, patlasch said:

On my last cruise, $5 gambled in the slot machines was a point, not sure about table games. So by cycling through $12,500 in the slot machines, you get the Prime status. The casino host was great about allowing me to check my progress towards it.

I wonder if it carries over from past cruises. I'll have to ask. Otherwise, even at a 90% payback machine (which seems generous), that's a $1,250 theoretical loss. I severely doubt I play that much at the tables to hit that kind of theoretical loss. Thank you for the insight! 

[Biker19]

You can get your booze on at the Top Tier event. 

[suesnake2002]

Drink of the day is cheaper

[carnival03]

3 hours ago, taglovestocruise said:

I believe Indy has the 10 drink card available after the third or forth day.  Runs about $70.00 and can be shared.

 

Is this offered fleet wide? What about Anthem? Is it always the third or forth day, even for nine day cruises?

[taglovestocruise]

8 minutes ago, carnival03 said:

 

Is this offered fleet wide? What about Anthem? Is it always the third or forth day, even for nine day cruises?

For those of us who cruise Royal the only thing for sure is things change ship to ship and sailing to sailing.  Fleet wide? usually. On Anthem, probably.  For a 8 night cruise?  More likely around day 6.  Ask any bartender about the card after a few days of sailing. Be sure to keep checking the cruise planner as drink packages go on sale every few months. 

[cincychad]

Don't dismiss the beverage package.  Have purchased for Allure sailing on Feb 10th for $42 per day.  Break even is 3.5 to 4 drinks per day.  

[pink845]

We used to at least get a couple of free drinks at the Top Tier Cocktail event.  However, on our recent Allure of the Seas cruise in early December 2018, there was no Top Tier cocktail party with the captain and the band where free booze is handed out with canapes.  All they had was a 10:45 am presentation in the Aqua theatre at the back of the ship with watered down mimosas.     I wonder if this is a new trend.

[cgags47]

1 hour ago, cincychad said:

Don't dismiss the beverage package.  Have purchased for Allure sailing on Feb 10th for $42 per day.  Break even is 3.5 to 4 drinks per day.  

Does the price of the Beverage Package vary from sailing to sailing?  Or is it a consistent $42 per day?

[DISFANS3]

Going to look into the drink cards next cruise...

[Junkhouse]

Also the pool offers buckets of 5 beers (16 oz cans) for around $30. You can put leftovers in room fridge. 

[whyrlygig]

8 hours ago, cgags47 said:

Does the price of the Beverage Package vary from sailing to sailing?  Or is it a consistent $42 per day?

The price seems to be all over the place.  My upcoming 7 night Navigator sailing is selling it for a sale price of $49 right now.   

[Clarea]

8 hours ago, cgags47 said:

Does the price of the Beverage Package vary from sailing to sailing?  Or is it a consistent $42 per day?

 

Very little is consistent in the Royal Caribbean world.

[carnival03]

13 hours ago, taglovestocruise said:

For those of us who cruise Royal the only thing for sure is things change ship to ship and sailing to sailing.  Fleet wide? usually. On Anthem, probably.  For a 8 night cruise?  More likely around day 6.  Ask any bartender about the card after a few days of sailing. Be sure to keep checking the cruise planner as drink packages go on sale every few months. 

 

Good to know. Sounds like a good deal if/when offered. We don't drink enough per day for the package to make sense, so we're keeping our fingers crossed for this.

[pstone1]

In case you don't know, Royal Caribbean allows you to carry on two 750ml bottles of wine per cabin. 

[cincychad]

9 hours ago, cgags47 said:

Does the price of the Beverage Package vary from sailing to sailing?  Or is it a consistent $42 per day?

Varies a lot.  From my research, this is a very low price for an Oasis class ship.  It has dropped many times from a high of $56.  I think $48 to $50 is the typical low for Oasis class ships.  Other ships may be lower.

[SRF]

17 hours ago, jaygee77 said:

I wonder if it carries over from past cruises. I'll have to ask. Otherwise, even at a 90% payback machine (which seems generous), that's a $1,250 theoretical loss. I severely doubt I play that much at the tables to hit that kind of theoretical loss. Thank you for the insight! 

 

IIRC, it is based on the last 12 months.

[pynnkar]

Just sailed on Serenede and saw a sign in the bar that the premium drink package was $63 per day.  If you are Platinum you will be offered one BOGO drink, that's all we saw.  They had $2 mimosas in the Casino on Sea Days, and free drinks at the Platinum Guests' party... no canapes though. One or two other opportunities for a free glass of bubbly...