Classic Drink Package or Not?

[SeaBunny]

We're new to Celebrity and trying to decide whether or not to purchase the above. 

 

I understand you are allowed to bring two bottles of wine on board (per stateroom). Is that correct? And they are for in-room consumption only?

 

Are there any happy hours with reduced price drinks? If so, what are the  parameters? (frequency/type of deal/etc.)

 

How hard is it to get bar service?

 

What other questions should I be asking to make an informed decision?

 

If it makes any difference, we will  be on the Eclipse and there will 10 sea days during our 14 day cruise.

 

Thanks to everyone for your help!

[rose6]

Is your cruise on the Eclipse a repositioning cruise?  If not, you can possibly get a perk option with a drinks package if you book ocean view or higher category.  We need to know more about your booking in order to offer you opinions and suggestions. 

[jelayne]

Yes you can bring 2 bottles of wine on board.  There is no corkage fee if you don’t take the bottle to the dining room.  If you want to enjoy the bottles in tge dining room you will be charged a corkage fee - think it is $25 but not positive.

 

There is usually a drink of the day not a real bargain IMHO.  There are occasional buy one get one or 50% off martinis later in the evening or beer specials- pay for 5 get 6. 

 

You didn’t say how soon your cruise is, but if it is a TA, TP or repositioning Cruise with no booking perks then keep checking your  Cruise Planner on-line.   From time to time they have “flash sales” (last a few days) and the beverage package can be discounted anywhere from 20% to 50%.  We are doing a repo on the Eclipse in March and a few months ago there’s was a sale and th e beverage package was 50% off.

[Marelaine]

You may bring 2 bottles of wine in your carry-on bag on embarkation day, only. You didn't ask, but if you purchase alcohol in port, it most likely will be confiscated and held until the last night of your cruise, when it will be delivered to your cabin. You may bring your own bottle of wine to the dining room, but a $25 corkage fee will be charged. If you pour your glass in your cabin, you may carry it anywhere on the ship. You may purchase wine by the glass or  by the bottle. Any unused portion of your bottle may be saved for you by the MDR staff and served at the next dinner. 

Classic alcohol package includes any drink that is under $9, Al Bacio coffees and teas, bottled non-sparkling water, canned and fountain soda, fresh squeezed orange juice. Free beverages include, coffee, tea, milk, tap water in the MDR, juice, lemonade, coffee, tea, cocoa, milk from the beverage stations in the OceanView Cafe. 

Usually we choose the Classic Alcohol Package as a perk with our cruise. I like the freedom of being able to get nice tea and coffee in Al Bacio, wine with dinner, a few afternoon cocktails, lots of bottled water, without having to worry about the tab. But, again, I book our cruises only when 2 perks are available. If I had to pay $69/each/day, I'd be doing some math to see if it's worth it to us.

Bar service is easy enough to get after the first day rush. Service poolside from attendants varies,  but the bartender will get to you if you go to the bar yourself. Two more notes: The packages go on sale from time to time, so rather than purchase at full price, wait for a sale. You can purchase during your cruise up until the last three days, so you might want to try it without a package to see what your consumption is. 

 

 

[Algebralovr]

We usually get the classic package as our “perk” when booking.  

If we don’t get it as s perk, we purchase a non-alcohol package, as our real desire is the specialty teas at the Cafe Al Bacio.  If that is our choice, I may pay for one glass of wine every couple of days.  

[shofer]

On our TA in November, there were free drinks in the Casino for all active players.  Since we played Blackjack every day, we could take advantage of this.  Originally, they were confining it to well liquor but as the cruise progressed, people were ordering whatever they wanted.  Celebrity was getting enough money out of us to cover it.   

 

I am not a big drinker and good for one a night.  After a couple of glasses of wine with dinner,  there was no way I was going to top it off with whiskey!  One afternoon, another lady & I both asked for a Pina Colada and received it.

 

Hubby & I figured that we didn't drink enough to break even on any drinks package.  Ironically, the wine we purchased at dinner for $42/bottle, I found for $6/bottle at Costco.

[Laumat19]

Hi,

I hope you don't mind me jumping on we're doing our first cruise with celebrity in March as a celebration for my 30th. It's 13 nights ultimate Caribbean and the classic drinks package was included in the price. I was going to start a new topic to ask what exactly was included as I'm finding it hard to find updated info and there's a lot of conflicting posts.(perhaps I'll speak with the travel agent when I call to collect the tickets etc) however the comments on this thread are helpful.

 

Thank you,

Laura

[SchnauzieMom]

I used this link.   I’ve upgraded from classic to premium.  The wine choice is very important to me.  Didn’t want to have to look at the prices before I ordered.   

http://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Celebrity/General_Info/Flyers/11026027_CEL_Beverage_Packages_Flyer.pdf

[KateWes]

We always get the classic package as a perk on our cruises, but I think even without it as a perk we would purchase it! 

 

As others have said- the drink “deals” and happy hours aren’t great deals but they do offer small discounts. See how your consumption is over the 1st few days and possibly purchase it later in your cruise if you’re unsure and don’t want to commit straight away for your whole cruise! 

 

I found the the bar service excellent everywhere apart from in the OVC! The drinks waiters were very hard to flag down and took forever ( we were normally done eating when the drinks came.) Also if you went to get the drinks yourself the bar was so disorganised and they sometimes just ignored you! This may have just been specific to our cruise/ship but that was my experience.

 

 

[ghstudio]

We take the drink package if it's offered as a perk, but we would never pay the price they ask for that package.  Figure that your average alcoholic drink will cost $11 and sodas and special coffees/teas (both coffee and tea are free)/bottled water at maybe $6 each.  Figure out what you might drink in a day and you'll see if it's a good deal or not for YOU.  There are estimater programs that folks have written...search CC for one of them....but using the numbers above probably will get you close enough.

 

You will have the same service/etc with or without the package. If waiters are scarce, just go to the bar and get your own drinks.

[cruzysuzy]

Can someone definitely confirm the 'fresh squeezed' orange juice in the Classic Package?  I thought it only covered orange juice in a carton.

[ghstudio]

There is no orange juice actually squeezed on board (any more).  It arrives pre-squeezed....and is called "fresh squeezed".  That upgraded "not from concentrate) juice is included in the classic package

 

IMHO, it's hard to tell the difference....the regular (free) orange juice is pretty good.

Edited January 13, 2019 by ghstudio

[zanderblue]

This is a pretty subjective decision. Some good advice above about trying to figure out how much you are likely to spend daily on drinks without package, if it less than package, then it becomes harder to justify.

Other factors to consider are 

Speciality coffees and water are included in package.

 

additionally there are no big bills or surprises at end of cruise. Also knowing that you are on the package, gives you the freedom to try different drinks..........

 

For us, it’s a no brainier, we both enjoy an aperitif and digestif, plus wine with dinner.

If the package is not included as a perk, then we wait until it is discounted online pre cruise and buy it then.

 

[SeaBunny]

On 1/12/2019 at 5:20 PM, rose6 said:

Is your cruise on the Eclipse a repositioning cruise?  If not, you can possibly get a perk option with a drinks package if you book ocean view or higher category.  We need to know more about your booking in order to offer you opinions and suggestions. 

 

It's not repositioning but round trip from Buenos Aires with lots of scenic cruising (Antarctica, etc.). We have a balcony. I don't recall "perks" as being part of this booking but just sent an email to our TA to confirm.

 

What does OVC mean (as mentioned in the post by KateWes)?

[davekathy]

3 minutes ago, SeaBunny said:

 

It's not repositioning but round trip from Buenos Aires with lots of scenic cruising (Antarctica, etc.). We have a balcony. I don't recall "perks" as being part of this booking but just sent an email to our TA to confirm.

 

What does OVC mean (as mentioned in the post by KateWes)?

OVC = Ocean View Cafe (buffet)

 

Edited January 14, 2019 by davekathy

[SeaBunny]

More questions:

 

How much is charged for soft drinks? Are they canned or fountain or both?

 

If you buy the Classic Package, do both cabin mates have to buy it? Or can one do it and not the other?

 

If you wait until onboard to buy the Classic Package do they pro-rate the cost? I would think so.

 

And thanks for the information already provided!!

[KateWes]

In terms of drink prices.. here are a few menus from our cruise on the equinox lazy May! Hopefully will give you a few guide prices at least! There’s 2 from the OVC tables (Oceanview Cafe), 2 from the gastro bar and 1 from Slush by the pool!

[jled]

Based on those menu prices, frozen drinks are not included in classic???

[Compass Rose]

We are on an 11-day out of Ft. Lauderdale in April.  My husband and I don't really drink a whole lot, so we may have a beer in the afternoon, a glass of wine with dinner and a glass of wine in one of the bars afterwards.  We will bring on 2 bottles of our favorite cab and we can enjoy a glass on the balcony before retiring.  So, because this is our MO, we probably won't purchase a package and just buy the drink by the glass, as we stick to beer and wine.  Those cocktails are notoriously  pretty skimpy with the alcohol anyway.  If a good discount comes up while we are on board, we may change our minds.  That's how we roll. 😁

[micheleata]

Yes, frozen drinks are included in the classic package.   However,  not those particular drinks from the Slush bar.  You can get daquiris, pina coladas, margaritas, maimi vice etc from every other bar,  they just make them with a well liquor.

[davekathy]

2 hours ago, SeaBunny said:

More questions:...

If you buy the Classic Package, do both cabin mates have to buy it? Or can one do it and not the other?...

 

 

Both occupants in the stateroom do not have to purchase the BP. But sharing is prohibited. No matter the drink. 

Edited January 14, 2019 by davekathy

[jled]

49 minutes ago, micheleata said:

Yes, frozen drinks are included in the classic package.   However,  not those particular drinks from the Slush bar.  You can get daquiris, pina coladas, margaritas, maimi vice etc from every other bar,  they just make them with a well liquor.

Thanks...I usually never drink frozen drinks...too many calories...but I was just on a weekend cruise on Royal with a big group...we had their drink package and I indulged in a frozen mojito...and I can't wait to have another one...Just a few more laps running around the deck and its worth it.  I am a cheap wine drinker or Malibu Rum with Diet Sprite...but nice to know that the frozen drinks are included too..

[offnoncruiser]

On 1/12/2019 at 5:34 PM, Marelaine said:

Classic alcohol package includes any drink that is under $9........

 

We're on the Equinox next week.  I thought I had seen a rumor here on the boards that since the classic beverage package had gone up to $59/day, the classic package drink limit was going to be raised to a max of $11 per drink, to take effect the beginning of this month (1 Jan 2019).  The premium drink limit price was raised to $15 I believe when that package price was increased.  Has anyone heard or personally experienced anything about this since 1 Jan?

 

Thanks.

 

 

[Laumat19]

20 minutes ago, offnoncruiser said:

We're on the Equinox next week.  I thought I had seen a rumor here on the boards that since the classic beverage package had gone up to $59/day, the classic package drink limit was going to be raised to a max of $11 per drink, to take effect the beginning of this month (1 Jan 2019).  The premium drink limit price was raised to $15 I believe when that package price was increased.  Has anyone heard or personally experienced anything about this since 1 Jan?

 

Thanks.

 

 

I contacted celebrity cruises on Facebook this morning they had this to say :

Hi Laura, Yes with your beverage package, you can visit all bars on board and as long as your drink is under the value of $9 then it is included in your package. If for example you purchased a drink that is $11 you would just pay the additional $2. The only bar that does not have any drinks included in the Classic Package is the World Class Bar. Thanks, Celebrity Cruises UK

 

 

Hope this helps,

Laura

[benatty]

In our experience the drink package is not good value; however, this is purely a math/quantity issue.  We have done the drink package on Celebrity and other lines when they are included as a perk.  It is nice not to have to think about the mounting costs of each drink, and to simply order what you want, when you want.  We paid for a drink package on one cruise and it was a big mistake for us.  We simply couldn't drink enough to make the package worthwhile, and even found ourselves ordering a drink in order to get value, when we did not really want one.  It simply depends on how much you drink each day, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage.  At about $50 a day for the classic package you need to drink a lot.  We love espresso/cappucino's, bottled water, wine with dinner and a cocktail most nights and we never got close to the $50 per day amount, over the length of the cruise.  We spent about $800 for the drink package (including the tip added to the packet) for a week, and drank about $350 of beverages of all kinds.  Since you are going on a transatlantic you will likely get a much better value as you are getting drinks each day, while we were off the ships every day, except for 2 sea days, and only really drinking at night, other than a morning coffee. Even if you drink 4 alcohol drinks at day at $9 each you are still $14 short of the $50 per day charged for the package.  Add in a coffee drink and a couple of bottles of water and you are close to the $50 per day for the drink package.  As I said, I would estimate how much you normally drink a day on vacation and do the math.  I know our friends love the drink package, but they drink more than we do.  We have cruised enough that we know we simply can't get the value from the package.