AncientWanderer Posted January 4, 2020 #26 Share Posted January 4, 2020 That's a shame. HAL may find that the price jump doesn't help their bottom line. We order bottles for the room so that we can enjoy a cocktail while sitting on our balcony. We won't go to a bar instead, as that's a different experience entirely. We will continue to find a way to enjoy our balcony -- without ordering excessively overpriced bottles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boytjie Posted January 4, 2020 #27 Share Posted January 4, 2020 (edited) I wonder if some of the increases can be attributed to the higher tariffs placed on imports. Edited January 4, 2020 by Boytjie 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted January 4, 2020 #28 Share Posted January 4, 2020 4 minutes ago, Boytjie said: I wonder if some of the increases can be attributed to the higher tariffs placed on imports. That’s a very good point! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratixman Posted January 4, 2020 #29 Share Posted January 4, 2020 Wow. I didn't know inflation for booze was so big. Makes one think seriously about becoming a tea totaler. Since we most commonly sail in inside cabins we have never found an appeal to buying bottles to consume in the cabin. At the new prices quoted I would say beverage packages are going to be looking more appealing in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrldtvlr Posted January 4, 2020 #30 Share Posted January 4, 2020 Perhaps we can blame Congress for this also. https://fortune.com/2019/12/17/whiskey-tax-price-hike-law-tariffs/ 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gknep Posted January 4, 2020 #31 Share Posted January 4, 2020 This just shows how different people enjoy different aspects of cruising. I love bars on land and sea and would much rather have a drink in one the onboard venues than in my cabin on my verandah. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom O. Posted January 4, 2020 #32 Share Posted January 4, 2020 19 minutes ago, wrldtvlr said: Perhaps we can blame Congress for this also. https://fortune.com/2019/12/17/whiskey-tax-price-hike-law-tariffs/ The possible tax increase would only be $1.71 per bottle, and that would only occur for small craft makers of whiskey. So, I don't think it has anything to do with this massive price increase by HAL. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAD2005 Posted January 4, 2020 #33 Share Posted January 4, 2020 HAL would pay the same wholesale price for a bottle of liquor if it was sent to your cabin for your personal use or sent to a bar for by-the-drink service. So, if the actual price of the liquor went up by those large amounts, you would assume the cost of individual drinks served at the bars would also go up, and following that logic, the cost of the 2 beverage packages would also go up. I just checked the HAL website, they didn't !!! The SBP is still $44.95 per day, (purchased online) and the Elite package actually went DOWN. The Elite package used to be $59.95 and it was the same price purchased online or onboard. (All prices plus 15% SC). The Elite package is now $49.95 per day, online purchase, and $59.95 purchased onboard. With the massive increases in in-room liquor, the 2 beverage packages become more interesting. As some have posted, it seems that HAL is discouraging you to stay in your cabin and drink your own liquor, and to go out to the bars and pay by the drink or get one of the packages. With the online price of the Elite package now only $5 more per day than the SBP, but you get a $4 higher per-drink allotment, there will be more people buying the Elite package, or upgrading their SBP once onboard, IF that is still possible with this new rate structure. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasick Sailor Posted January 4, 2020 #34 Share Posted January 4, 2020 Makes me wonder about ships that include alcohol or run free alcohol included specials lose in revenue? Perhaps we are paying for the future Free at Sea cruises. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crystalspin Posted January 5, 2020 #35 Share Posted January 5, 2020 57 minutes ago, TAD2005 said: ...following that logic, the cost of the 2 beverage packages would also go up. I just checked the HAL website, they didn't !!! The SBP is still $44.95 per day, (purchased online) and the Elite package actually went DOWN. The Elite package used to be $59.95 and it was the same price purchased online or onboard. (All prices plus 15% SC). The Elite package is now $49.95 per day, online purchase, and $59.95 purchased onboard... TAD -- I want to thank you in words (not just a "LIKE" click)! I had not noticed the lower price for Elite BP when purchasing the SBP for our upcoming cruise. I assumed the difference would be $30x28 and we are not that discerning of wine drinkers. But for $10 a day (for both of us together) -- and using @Crew News recent Wine List -- ESPECIALLY the reds are SO much more appealing -- I cancelled the SBP and bought the EBP! WooHoo! Also a hat-tip to @kazu who long ago pointed out that the difference in price (even at $15pppd) is the cost of one glass of wine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texkat Posted January 5, 2020 #36 Share Posted January 5, 2020 I’m having trouble finding where to prepurchase the beverage packages online... please help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJSkarbo Posted January 5, 2020 #37 Share Posted January 5, 2020 2 hours ago, texkat said: I’m having trouble finding where to prepurchase the beverage packages online... please help! Once you log into your Holland America account, go to "cruise activities" then "beverages" the option for both packages will be listed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DFWGUYZ Posted January 5, 2020 #38 Share Posted January 5, 2020 (edited) . Edited January 5, 2020 by DFWGUYZ . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crystalspin Posted January 5, 2020 #39 Share Posted January 5, 2020 3 hours ago, texkat said: I’m having trouble finding where to prepurchase the beverage packages online... please help! What @AJSkarbo said -- but take note: it is not a drop down menu but a horizontal line of photos with labels (Beverages is the one you want). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tv24 Posted January 5, 2020 #40 Share Posted January 5, 2020 Wow! Big increase! We're not buying any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoggyDaddy Posted January 5, 2020 #41 Share Posted January 5, 2020 I went to the site last night and sure enough the gin and tonic package I usually buy (with plain Bombay Gin) had gone up significantly. However, a bottle of Bombay Sapphire had not gone up at all, and was now cheaper than the G&T mix. Guess what I did? DD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leerathje Posted January 5, 2020 #42 Share Posted January 5, 2020 16 hours ago, wrldtvlr said: Perhaps we can blame Congress for this also. https://fortune.com/2019/12/17/whiskey-tax-price-hike-law-tariffs/ I doubt it....didn't see any craft whiskeys for sale on HAL.... L. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitford Posted January 5, 2020 #43 Share Posted January 5, 2020 I guess that I was around in the good ole days, Jan 2019. Really getting tired of the nickle and dine stuff, it is making more money but frustrating, how about include it in the fare? 50% is just too much!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilvertoGold Posted January 5, 2020 #44 Share Posted January 5, 2020 What about bar, dining room pricing? Increases there, as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woofbite Posted January 6, 2020 #45 Share Posted January 6, 2020 For some reason Skyy Vodka is only $40 a liter compared to $69 or more for the others. I figure they missed it so I snagged some for our November trip before they notice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitford Posted January 6, 2020 #46 Share Posted January 6, 2020 My bottle of Gin went from $46.25 reasonable to $80.00 not so much. I guess they are not making enough money on the tickets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom O. Posted January 6, 2020 #47 Share Posted January 6, 2020 28 minutes ago, whitford said: My bottle of Gin went from $46.25 reasonable to $80.00 not so much. I guess they are not making enough money on the tickets. I assume you were talking about the Gin and Tonic Package that included Original Bombay Gin. I suggest that you switch to Bombay Sapphire, which is still priced the same at $56.25, and then order a couple of cans of tonic once you are on the ship. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitford Posted January 6, 2020 #48 Share Posted January 6, 2020 I was lucky and got the original price. I guess the lesson here it to lock in as many prices as you can before the first of the year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CafeBruno Posted January 7, 2020 Author #49 Share Posted January 7, 2020 5 hours ago, Woofbite said: For some reason Skyy Vodka is only $40 a liter compared to $69 or more for the others. I figure they missed it so I snagged some for our November trip before they notice. I did the exact same thing!! I agree with you that HAL probably just missed a giant increase on that one. I didn't want to say anything in case HAL is reading this board. But hopefully, they are just allowing one final reasonable cost option, instead of a lot of them back on Dec. 31. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoggyDaddy Posted January 7, 2020 #50 Share Posted January 7, 2020 I did what TomO suggested, but did it a few days ago. Curious, would a soda card work for cans of tonic water (at the half price)? DD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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