Deluxe Beverage Package Question

[sunshinetricia]

First time RCCL cruiser here!

 

I purchased the Deluxe Beverage package for my husband and myself for our trip on the Adventure this summer. I just saw in the App that menus are starting to be added for the cruise. According to the fine print of the beverage package, you can order drinks up to $12. But almost every cocktail listed at every bar is $13. So do you have to pay $1 plus gratuity for every rum punch or sangria you order? Seems strange that they wouldn't have the drink price limit be the same as the price of the majority of the featured drinks on the menu. Charging $1 extra for every common drink is weird. 

[Magicat]

Only paid a $1 every round to tip the bartender.  Never were up charged on any drinks.  Had Chocolate martinis, beers, vodka (Stoli), ceasers and other premium liquors.  

[zekekelso]

34 minutes ago, sunshinetricia said:

First time RCCL cruiser here!

 

I purchased the Deluxe Beverage package for my husband and myself for our trip on the Adventure this summer. I just saw in the App that menus are starting to be added for the cruise. According to the fine print of the beverage package, you can order drinks up to $12. But almost every cocktail listed at every bar is $13. So do you have to pay $1 plus gratuity for every rum punch or sangria you order? Seems strange that they wouldn't have the drink price limit be the same as the price of the majority of the featured drinks on the menu. Charging $1 extra for every common drink is weird. 

Basic frozen drinks and punches have always been covered - even many fancier drinks. Only the super dooper fancy, drinks in a special cup, and top shelf should require extra payment. There’s a mistake somewhere. 
 

Unpopular opinion: You are already paying an 18% gratuity on the package. No need to pay additional by the drink gratuity. Of course, feel free to tip if the bartender is especially helpful or entertaining. 

[Sea Dog]

We had the DDP on Harmony in 2019. It covered everything that we drank including shots, frozen, top shelf bourbons and whisky's and other mixed drinks.. I don't think you will have a problem. We do tip extra for a good bartender that remembers us and knows what we like.

[Tree_skier]

I have never been charged extra for anything off the drink menu unless I specified something off the top shelf, which I rarely do.

[davekathy]

2 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

I have never been charged extra for anything off the drink menu unless I specified something off the top shelf, which I rarely do.

Same here. 

[sunshinetricia]

Thank you!!! It seemed really strange to me! I've also been thinking about the tipping situation. Even though you prepay an 18% gratuity, do the staff really get that? I think I would feel guilty not tipping them each time. But even at $1 or 2 a drink plus the 18% prepaid, you could be tipping a total of 30% on your drinks. That adds up over the course of a week for 4 people! 

 

I know I will like the convenience of the prepaid drinks but I feel like they didn't really give a lot of information on the site before I bought it. They didn't even put the limit of the $12 on that page. I found it in teeny tiny print on a pdf that they linked to. 

[sailor05]

I'll tip an extra $1-$2 in cash somewhere like the Casino Bar or somewhere that I frequent. Gets me better service when there's a crowd.

Edited May 26, 2021 by sailor05

[Ken at the beach]

1 hour ago, sunshinetricia said:

First time RCCL cruiser here!

 

I purchased the Deluxe Beverage package for my husband and myself for our trip on the Adventure this summer. I just saw in the App that menus are starting to be added for the cruise. According to the fine print of the beverage package, you can order drinks up to $12. But almost every cocktail listed at every bar is $13. So do you have to pay $1 plus gratuity for every rum punch or sangria you order? Seems strange that they wouldn't have the drink price limit be the same as the price of the majority of the featured drinks on the menu. Charging $1 extra for every common drink is weird. 

You will see different prices for different ships.  Newer ships are $13 and most drinks start at $13.  older ships cover $12 and most drinks start at $12.  I wouldn't worry

Edited May 26, 2021 by Ourusualbeach

[Cigar King]

1 hour ago, zekekelso said:

Unpopular opinion: You are already paying an 18% gratuity on the package. No need to pay additional by the drink gratuity. Of course, feel free to tip if the bartender is especially helpful or entertaining. 

Unpopular opinion.  If you can't afford to tip generously you probably can't afford to be spending money on a cruise.

[WVHillbilly]

I almost always give an extra $1 per drink, It makes the bartender/waiters remember you and get prompt service.

 

Here's a little example of how i think tipping that extra $1 helps.  A couple days into the cruise, Schooner was pretty crowded and i saw a couple setting at a table with a couple empty chairs.  So i asked if we could share their table, the lady said yes but if you want something to drink you'll have to go to the bar, saying they were slow.   We just smiled and said okay, a minute later our drinks were delivered, the lady had this shocked look on her face.  We had actually ran into one of the waiters we had before when we first walked into the bar.  He took our order and said go ahead and find a seat and I'll find you.

[firefly333]

41 minutes ago, sailor05 said:

I'll tip an extra $1-$2 in cash somewhere like the Casino Bar or somewhere that I frequent. Gets me better service when there's a crowd.

I bring a envelope of small bills and believe in the cash tip so they remember you. I might order wine at dinner mostly, but wherever you frequent. The above is my system too.

 

I think they pocket the cash but if you add a tip (on the receipt you sign) it goes into a shared pool.

 

Edited May 26, 2021 by firefly333

[sunshinetricia]

This is VERY helpful information! Small cash on hand it will be! 

[HicksRA]

I usually just go to the casino and get 1$ bills for tips rather than carry on a stack. 

[karena1]

2 hours ago, sunshinetricia said:

First time RCCL cruiser here!

 

I purchased the Deluxe Beverage package for my husband and myself for our trip on the Adventure this summer. I just saw in the App that menus are starting to be added for the cruise. According to the fine print of the beverage package, you can order drinks up to $12. But almost every cocktail listed at every bar is $13. So do you have to pay $1 plus gratuity for every rum punch or sangria you order? Seems strange that they wouldn't have the drink price limit be the same as the price of the majority of the featured drinks on the menu. Charging $1 extra for every common drink is weird. 

We never pay extra for anything - husband gets Jack and high end Vodka.  If I want a margarita I get Patron.  No issues.

[Jasukkie]

Add me to the never tip extra crowd. Never had any problems with that. Some bartenders remember my name, some don't, it's okay either way. Do whatever you want, but from observations, I don't see a lot of people handing off dollar bills, like ever. It's not expected. But if you want to tip 30%, there's nothing to stop you.

 

 

[wolfcathorse]

We had the Deluxe Beverage package on Mariner and we were charged the $2 difference between the limit and our drinks in the Bamboo Room. You'll find each ship is different, depends on if they need to meet their revenue goals! 

[Mim Lloyd]

1 hour ago, Cigar King said:

Unpopular opinion.  If you can't afford to tip generously you probably can't afford to be spending money on a cruise.

I think you're already tipping generously after having an 18% 'gratuity' already added so it wouldn't cross my mind to give any more. But I'm British and we generally aren't comfortable with the US tipping culture as it's not a big thing here.

[karena1]

1 hour ago, Jasukkie said:

Add me to the never tip extra crowd. Never had any problems with that. Some bartenders remember my name, some don't, it's okay either way. Do whatever you want, but from observations, I don't see a lot of people handing off dollar bills, like ever. It's not expected. But if you want to tip 30%, there's nothing to stop you.

 

 

We always tip extra, that is not the issue.  But we never have to pay extra for the drinks themselves. We usually tip $1 per drink or round.  Just the 2 of us, so a drink for him and a beer for me. But we don't put it on the tab, we hand out cash.

[taglovestocruise]

2 hours ago, Jasukkie said:

Add me to the never tip extra crowd. Never had any problems with that. Some bartenders remember my name, some don't, it's okay either way. Do whatever you want, but from observations, I don't see a lot of people handing off dollar bills, like ever. It's not expected. But if you want to tip 30%, there's nothing to stop you.

 

 

You are only paying 18% if you break even on the package. Double or triple your breakeven price and you will only be paying 6%. Some may breakeven by lunch on a package.  

[taglovestocruise]

2 hours ago, WVHillbilly said:

I almost always give an extra $1 per drink, It makes the bartender/waiters remember you and get prompt service.

 

Here's a little example of how i think tipping that extra $1 helps.  A couple days into the cruise, Schooner was pretty crowded and i saw a couple setting at a table with a couple empty chairs.  So i asked if we could share their table, the lady said yes but if you want something to drink you'll have to go to the bar, saying they were slow.   We just smiled and said okay, a minute later our drinks were delivered, the lady had this shocked look on her face.  We had actually ran into one of the waiters we had before when we first walked into the bar.  He took our order and said go ahead and find a seat and I'll find you.

We always tip in the Diamond Lounge. No matter how crowded it gets we always get great service. 

[zekekelso]

4 minutes ago, taglovestocruise said:

You are only paying 18% if you break even on the package. Double or triple your breakeven price and you will only be paying 6%. Some may breakeven by lunch on a package.  

I a big fan of drinking on ships. But if you are getting triple your break even cost on the package, extra tipping or not is the least of your worries 🙂

[Cigar King]

2 hours ago, Mim Lloyd said:

I think you're already tipping generously after having an 18% 'gratuity' already added so it wouldn't cross my mind to give any more. But I'm British and we generally aren't comfortable with the US tipping culture as it's not a big thing here.

 

I'd suggest you are not giving 18% on a drink.  You're tipping 18% on the package, which depending on the price you paid, and the number of drinks you consume could be more or less than 18% per drink.

 

[Tree_skier]

5 hours ago, sunshinetricia said:

Thank you!!! It seemed really strange to me! I've also been thinking about the tipping situation. Even though you prepay an 18% gratuity, do the staff really get that? I think I would feel guilty not tipping them each time. But even at $1 or 2 a drink plus the 18% prepaid, you could be tipping a total of 30% on your drinks. That adds up over the course of a week for 4 people! 

 

I know I will like the convenience of the prepaid drinks but I feel like they didn't really give a lot of information on the site before I bought it. They didn't even put the limit of the $12 on that page. I found it in teeny tiny print on a pdf that they linked to. 

You are not obligated tip any more than the 18% that is included in the overall price.  Many people do.  Some like to find a couple preferred bartenders and tip them generously at the end of the cruise while others add a buck or two to a drink.  Still other tip nothing additional to the 18%.  All are appropriate and don't feel uncomfortable with whatever you choose.  Don't worry about the $12 dollar limit.  My suspicion is that it is an oversight and that a typo or oversight.  Where did you see the pricing?

[Tree_skier]

3 hours ago, firefly333 said:

I bring a envelope of small bills and believe in the cash tip so they remember you. I might order wine at dinner mostly, but wherever you frequent. The above is my system too.

 

I think they pocket the cash but if you add a tip (on the receipt you sign) it goes into a shared pool.

 

That is my system always.  I store up my $1 bills and stick them in a envelope at home and then bring the envelope along with me on the cruise.  With cruising being down for so long I'm starting my forth envelope LOL.  I've got tip money for a long time to come!

Edited May 27, 2021 by Tree_skier