Drink package

[DaCruiseBug]

I received the RU2 offer and just booked the Mardi Gras. It was about $80 more per person to book with the beverage package.

 

What's interesting is that i've only sailed on Carnival once in my life and that was 7 years ago on the Breeze. I did gamble some on the ship...enough to get the free drink card in the casino after about 4-5 days. I'm not a real big fan of Carnival but it was $2,400 for 2 people with a drink package in a Spa Balcony cabin on a brand new ship so I figured what the heck...

 

At least Carnival isn't raising their prices to outrageous levels like Norwegian.

[simplelife]

DH and I each got the email with the free drink  package offer. (BTW, we have a current booking  Carnival Cruise for March 2022, Trying to decide if we should book anything before that or just put our money towards buying the drink package on our booked cruise.)  Interested in what everyone thinks is a safe date in 2021 book to reasonably expect semi-normal cruising?

 

[DaCruiseBug]

32 minutes ago, simplelife said:

DH and I each got the email with the free drink  package offer. (BTW, we have a current booking  Carnival Cruise for March 2022, Trying to decide if we should book anything before that or just put our money towards buying the drink package on our booked cruise.)  Interested in what everyone thinks is a safe date in 2021 book to reasonably expect semi-normal cruising?

 

 

I'd say August or later should be at least "semi-normal". But I think we'll return to cruising 2-3 months before that.

[linbobky]

we got the offer and we already had 2 cruises booked. 2 5 day b2b. we put the drink package on both and only paid 40 more dollars for both. i do not know how they figure the up charge on these cruises. But, i had to pay 198 more dollars for the deposit. it is non refundable and if we had to cancel we will be out all of the deposit.

[Indytraveler83]

We booked this offer too. It was a bit of a hefty addition, costing about $180/person more than the current sale. 

 

We offset that by booking a balcony on the Pride for Thanksgiving, as for whatever reason the balconies were barely more expensive than an inside cabin. 

 

(For those still looking for this info, we meet the "targeted" criteria as gold cruisers that have never bought Cheers, didn't have a booking and haven't sailed in about 2 years.)

[drsel]

23 hours ago, linbobky said:

we got the offer and we already had 2 cruises booked. 2 5 day b2b. we put the drink package on both and only paid 40 more dollars for both. i do not know how they figure the up charge on these cruises. But, i had to pay 198 more dollars for the deposit. it is non refundable and if we had to cancel we will be out all of the deposit.

you are penalised your entire deposit if you cancel, but Carnival is not penalized if they cancel.

[drsel]

On 12/17/2020 at 10:30 PM, DaCruiseBug said:

I received the RU2 offer and just booked the Mardi Gras. It was about $80 more per person to book with the beverage package.

 

What's interesting is that i've only sailed on Carnival once in my life and that was 7 years ago on the Breeze. I did gamble some on the ship...enough to get the free drink card in the casino after about 4-5 days. I'm not a real big fan of Carnival but it was $2,400 for 2 people with a drink package in a Spa Balcony cabin on a brand new ship so I figured what the heck...

 

At least Carnival isn't raising their prices to outrageous levels like Norwegian.

For many cruises, Norwegian's outrageous prices will crash around 45 to 60 days prior to sailing

[DaCruiseBug]

4 minutes ago, drsel said:

For many cruises, Norwegian's outrageous prices will crash around 45 to 60 days prior to sailing

 

That's probably true but then you're left with whatever cabins are leftover and gambling that you can get the time off if you request it only 6-8 weeks out.

[drsel]

3 minutes ago, DaCruiseBug said:

 

That's probably true but then you're left with whatever cabins are leftover and gambling that you can get the time off if you request it only 6-8 weeks out.

Yes agreed, it's good to be your own Boss and not be fussy about the location of the cabin.

[djb78]

It's too bad that the discount only allows two people in a room. I would book today. I've got two kids (who obv wouldn't be drinking any alcohol anyway) and I don't quite understand why the offer is limited to double occupancy only.

[drsel]

5 hours ago, djb78 said:

It's too bad that the discount only allows two people in a room. I would book today. I've got two kids (who obv wouldn't be drinking any alcohol anyway) and I don't quite understand why the offer is limited to double occupancy only.

If U want the Cheers for all 4 of you, (which can be as low as $5 pppd), you will have to book another room for the kids. It may not be worth the extra expense

[stellarose]

you can do connecting rooms. it was cheaper than one room for 4 of us. 

[firefly333]

On 12/17/2020 at 11:00 AM, DaCruiseBug said:

 

 

At least Carnival isn't raising their prices to outrageous levels like Norwegian.

My price is up $170 in the last couple of weeks. You wouldnt think so at the top of hurricane season but everyone seems to have decided to book and bring their friends. My roll call was over 180 last I heard and not a day goes by someone new doesnt join. Lol the travelling ducks have joined and hiding ducks for prizes. It's going to be a big party. ..and that's not counting the extra to change to cheers on us. It's going to be a party, but unless you got group space prices are going up. 

 

No price drop coming for me I'm afraid. I had hopes early on, but I seem to have picked the party cruise. How many cruises do you see with a daily count down for next September? 

[firefly333]

13 hours ago, djb78 said:

It's too bad that the discount only allows two people in a room. I would book today. I've got two kids (who obv wouldn't be drinking any alcohol anyway) and I don't quite understand why the offer is limited to double occupancy only.

The soda package probably costs about the same to get. Mocktails are fun, and the bubbles isnt cheap. What is a can of soda now 3.50 a can? Or give the kids the cabin across the hall without the drinks. I can understand why its limited to 2, for the price. 

[djb78]

22 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

The soda package probably costs about the same to get. Mocktails are fun, and the bubbles isnt cheap. What is a can of soda now 3.50 a can? Or give the kids the cabin across the hall without the drinks. I can understand why its limited to 2, for the price. 

Oh, I wouldn't care at all if the kids get no drink package, they just drink milk and apple juice anyway. A room for them alone would be hundreds more.

[firefly333]

On 12/18/2020 at 2:34 PM, drsel said:

For many cruises, Norwegian's outrageous prices will crash around 45 to 60 days prior to sailing

Ncl prices are always high early on, then last minute they offer them with no perks and drop the prices. Normal for them to remove perks last minute, so of course they can drop the prices.

[let's go cruising]

On 12/20/2020 at 10:41 AM, firefly333 said:

My price is up $170 in the last couple of weeks. You wouldnt think so at the top of hurricane season but everyone seems to have decided to book and bring their friends. My roll call was over 180 last I heard and not a day goes by someone new doesnt join. Lol the travelling ducks have joined and hiding ducks for prizes. It's going to be a big party. ..and that's not counting the extra to change to cheers on us. It's going to be a party, but unless you got group space prices are going up. 

 

No price drop coming for me I'm afraid. I had hopes early on, but I seem to have picked the party cruise. How many cruises do you see with a daily count down for next September? 

 

Sounds like fun to talk and plan though! When is your cruise? Mine in January 2022 and I am alone on the roll call. No fun for me.

 

[firefly333]

2 minutes ago, let's go cruising said:

 

Sounds like fun to talk and plan though! When is your cruise? Mine in January 2022 and I am alone on the roll call. No fun for me.

 

Sept 11. Even bags are planned for vets. 5 or 6 events. Someone posts a beach picture with a daily countdown as if this is the most important cruise ever. Travelling ducks or some group is hiding ducks for prizes and doing shot glass exchange. Idk what all, lots of planned activities.. sure hope by sept we are back up and cruising. Tbh I got a hotel suite the night before and parking is paid for, moved from another date. Hotel is non refundable but the price was right so I just said to myself book it. Great location. No idea why this cruise just everyone seems to have said ok, me too. Crossing my fingers cruises restart. Lots of first time cruisers all excited, some vets, friends of friends of friends. With so popular I figured cant hurt to grab that suite at the hotel. Lol says sleep 6, I'm solo, beach view. I'm ready to go. Just gotta get rid of this stupid covid.

[MRVEGAS711]

On 12/17/2020 at 1:25 PM, simplelife said:

DH and I each got the email with the free drink  package offer. (BTW, we have a current booking  Carnival Cruise for March 2022, Trying to decide if we should book anything before that or just put our money towards buying the drink package on our booked cruise.)  Interested in what everyone thinks is a safe date in 2021 book to reasonably expect semi-normal cruising?

 

I do not see anything normal on the OFF CHANCE cruising returns in 2021. I wouldn't book until 22 at the absolute earliest.

Don't listen to the people here who book / cancelled / book / cancelled / book like robots thinking Carnival is cruising in April / June / August etc. 

 

[pinto18]

3 hours ago, MRVEGAS711 said:

I do not see anything normal on the OFF CHANCE cruising returns in 2021. I wouldn't book until 22 at the absolute earliest.

Don't listen to the people here who book / cancelled / book / cancelled / book like robots thinking Carnival is cruising in April / June / August etc. 

 

I guess that makes us robots . But also, its not a big deal to cancel (although its been Carnival who cancelled) and rebook over and over since we are flexible about when we go. And psychologically having a cruise coming up in months, even if I am in no way convinced it will sail, is better than waiting 2 years.

[MeganGC1983]

Robot here as well then. 🙄

[firefly333]

7 hours ago, MRVEGAS711 said:

I do not see anything normal on the OFF CHANCE cruising returns in 2021. I wouldn't book until 22 at the absolute earliest.

Don't listen to the people here who book / cancelled / book / cancelled / book like robots thinking Carnival is cruising in April / June / August etc. 

 

I NEED some ocean. So if sept doesnt go, then I'm booked for christmas in 2021. Il, surely be vaccinated by then. Right now I want to be on a cruise so bad I cant stand it. Ok so I'm a robot. A robot who wants sunshine, beaches and ocean. Maybe I'm a addict regarding the ocean.

[let's go cruising]

3 hours ago, pinto18 said:

I guess that makes us robots . But also, its not a big deal to cancel (although its been Carnival who cancelled) and rebook over and over since we are flexible about when we go. And psychologically having a cruise coming up in months, even if I am in no way convinced it will sail, is better than waiting 2 years.

 

That's how I feel too. I felt like there was no way I was EVER going to want to cruise again. And then, they announced the vaccine that is so effective! I booked within days. I booked for January 2022 because I thought that gives a 6 month buffer from when they SAID people could be vaccinated. 

 

As soon as I booked a cruise, my mood got dramatically better! I didn't book a cruise for 2021 because I didn't think the risk was going to be great for my mood. 

 

It makes me very happy to be looking forward to something.

[stellarose]

we are booked for New Years 21 into 22 so I figure that is almost a whole year from now. 

 

[TNcruising02]

Add me to the list of people who like to have a cruise booked.  I have rescheduled three times, but it's fine.  I didn't lose any money and have the $600 OBC.  I think my April cruise will be rescheduled, but my backup one is in August.  Anyway, I like having something on the books.  Everyone is different and people should do whatever makes them happy and comfortable. 

On my next cruise I am going to party like it's 2999!

Edited December 23, 2020 by TNcruising02