Signature v. Elite Beverage Package -- Bourbons

[Arrowinc]

Does the Elite Beverage package offer any bourbons other than those listed?  As a Kentucky boy, I am quite satisfied with Knob Creek or Makers Mark, but am curious whether the Elite Package offers any additional choices.  

[knittinggirl]

We had a  beverage package on a recent Princess cruise, and didn't get our money's worth.

[ottahand7]

I am interested in this also as I love a good bourbon.   They have some high end bourbons on all of the ships I have been on but I have never had the Elite beverage package before.  There is a specialty liquor tasting bar on Kdam and there are bars behind the casinos that also have high end liquors not listed on the regular lists.  The question is are they < $15.   I plan on getting my money's worth with the Nicholas F champagne with breakfast lunch and dinner and a bourbon after dinner.  I wouldn't have signed up but my fiance' wanted it so I went along, he paid.  

[Arrowinc]

Your fiancé is wise.  I do favor the Beverage Package because it eliminates fretting, not because it saves money.  Again, Knob Creek and Makers Mark are plenty good neat or with a single cube, but an opportunity to upgrade to Woodford Reserve, one of the better Four Roses, or (in my dreams) or one of the Pappy or Stagg products would be highly tempting.  

 

We are sailing on the Zuiderdam, which does not (I believe) have the tasting bar you mention on Kdam.  

 

I wish that I knew enough about wine to make an decision as between Signature and Elite, but the old taste buds have been so long dulled by cheap rotgut whiskey that I doubt I would know the difference.

[kazu]

1 minute ago, Arrowinc said:

I wish that I knew enough about wine to make an decision as between Signature and Elite, but the old taste buds have been so long dulled by cheap rotgut whiskey that I doubt I would know the difference.

 

there is a big difference in the wine selections with those 2 packages.

 

However if your taste buds have been dulled 😉 it might not be worth your while.

[ottahand7]

I am sure the will offer the bourbon tasting on the Zuiderdam,  it is worth every penny tasting bourbons that the cost of buying a bottle at home would be pretty steep.  I took pics of all the ones I loved and found the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked at home.  A wonderful sipping bourbon.   All the photos of the labels are in my phone, too bad.   

[Arrowinc]

Am I to understand that the Elite package includes the tasting?  That could change my thinking.  I may have also overstated the dullness of my taste buds as to wine.  In your opinion, do the better wines offered with the Elite warrant the additional cost?

[ottahand7]

No Elite probably wouldn't cover but I would imagine Woodford Reserve and their Double Oaked might make the $15 number.  Just find the bars with them and ask. With Signature you can set up your own head to head tasting (as long as you wait a few minutes between orders).   They have things I never realized they stocked until I signed up for bourbon and rum tastings.   

 

I am such an incorrigible drunk I am bringing my own cellar wines to have with dinners.   The single vineyard Chateau St. Michelle red wines if they have them would be good choices if you go with the EB package.   Most of the wines that they have that would meet the $9 or less are the kinds they would offer at Applebee's or Outback.    Better brands are offered in the >$9 price point across the board.       

[Arrowinc]

Ottahand, thanks very much for the information.  It is definitely worth a try.

[TAD2005]

I just checked the Roger Jet site for HAL drink menus.  All bar menus that he has posted show that every bourbon on the menu is available for $9 or under. 

 

The comment about the Princess drink package being not worth the money..... Yes, the Princess drink package, if you purchase it, is $59.99 per day plus 15%, or $68.99 per day.   They only show one level of package.  Their drink limit is $12, and 15 per day.  As a comparison, the SBP on HAL is $51.70 total, including 15% SC.   That extra $20 per day would be the deal breaker for me too.  Comparative drinks on Princess are also more expensive than on HAL, which is why the package is almost $20 more expensive.  Here's the info from the princess website.

                                        Premier Beverage Package       $59.99 per person, per day

Enjoy a wide range of drinks for $59.99 per day plus a 15% gratuity. The Premier Beverage Package includes any individual beverage item such as fountain soda, 500 ML bottled water, cocktails, spirits, wine by the glass, beers, coffee and tea, up to $12 (retail value). A 25% discount is also offered on all bottles of wine when purchased in bars, dining room or specialty restaurants.

 

Edited January 29, 2019 by TAD2005

[ottahand7]

If one trolls the bars on the ship there are plenty of liquors not listed on Roger Jett's wonderful resources.  If we hadn't spent time in the bars and doing the tastings we would have thought that was all HA offered.