eltigre Posted November 24, 2021 #1 Share Posted November 24, 2021 We never get a deal on the Cheers package and being Canadian figure a 22% exchange rate. So on a 7 day at $63.50 per day times 2 people times 7 days say $890 to round off. Average drink price $10 now, I'm thinking, that's 89 drinks in 7 days or 6 drinks a day per person. Three to four port days for 8 hours each are removed from the equation. So if my math is right, is it still a good plan to get a Cheers Pkg? What is your or bar bill? Or what would it be if you didn't have the package? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ray98 Posted November 24, 2021 #2 Share Posted November 24, 2021 (edited) $1000+ easy for us. It was $7-800 years ago with much cheaper drinks before drink packages became the rage. The number of port days really doesn't matter to me. I never start drinking to mid-afternoon anyway and we are just about always back on board by that time. Even if I started at 6 we never wrap up our day until 11 or later. At two drinks per hour I could still consume 8-10 drinks, way more than the 'break even'. Edited November 24, 2021 by ray98 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Beach Bum Posted November 24, 2021 #3 Share Posted November 24, 2021 I’ve done both and it usually comes out way better to have a drink package. Have just paid as I went a couple of times cause the wife doesn’t get her monies worth with cheers. If both drink in the 7-10 drinks a day then cheers is the way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mexicobob Posted November 24, 2021 #4 Share Posted November 24, 2021 The cruise lines would not be offering drink packages if they were losing money. The house always wins in the casino and at the bar. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ray98 Posted November 24, 2021 #5 Share Posted November 24, 2021 16 minutes ago, mexicobob said: The cruise lines would not be offering drink packages if they were losing money. The house always wins in the casino and at the bar. ....but it isn't that simplistic. A program like Cheers adds value to a vacation for most and enhances the customer experience. In a high markup sector such as the bar, sometime finding a balance between pure profit and fostering an enhanced experience is what leads to repeat customers that keep spending their money with you for years to come. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanger727 Posted November 24, 2021 #6 Share Posted November 24, 2021 Whether or not it’s a ‘deal’ entirely depends on you. We have cruised with or without drink packages and having them does change how we cruise. 1. Without drink package - always bring on the two bottles of wine, bring a refillable water bottle to refill at buffet, drink very little soda, drink more in ports, have regular coffee, drink less on ship - bill will be under $200 2. with drink package - don’t bother bringing wine or refillable bottle, grab bottles of water as we go, get more sodas when out and about on ship, drink less in ports, have cappuccinos and lattes more, have more day drinking afternoons and drinks around dinner time 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaMomRollTide Posted November 24, 2021 #7 Share Posted November 24, 2021 8 hours ago, eltigre said: We never get a deal on the Cheers package and being Canadian figure a 22% exchange rate. So on a 7 day at $63.50 per day times 2 people times 7 days say $890 to round off. Average drink price $10 now, I'm thinking, that's 89 drinks in 7 days or 6 drinks a day per person. Three to four port days for 8 hours each are removed from the equation. So if my math is right, is it still a good plan to get a Cheers Pkg? What is your or bar bill? Or what would it be if you didn't have the package? We would never buy Cheers because: A) we don’t drink that much B) we’re already bringing 2 bottles of wine on for a 5 night cruise C) two days in port, so might have some drinks there. D) can’t see spending $500 for 5 days of Cheers, when we’d not drink anywhere close to that. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilchuckie Posted November 24, 2021 #8 Share Posted November 24, 2021 8 hours ago, ray98 said: $1000+ easy for us. It was $7-800 years ago with much cheaper drinks before drink packages became the rage. The number of port days really doesn't matter to me. I never start drinking to mid-afternoon anyway and we are just about always back on board by that time. Even if I started at 6 we never wrap up our day until 11 or later. At two drinks per hour I could still consume 8-10 drinks, way more than the 'break even'. Am I the only one who thinks cruise drink prices have gone down? Especially beer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Saint Greg Posted November 24, 2021 #9 Share Posted November 24, 2021 I used to track that. I don’t anymore. Here’s one of the old ones from my phone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naxer Posted November 24, 2021 #10 Share Posted November 24, 2021 The way we cruise, the bill would easily be $1-1200 without Cheers. I only really drink on a cruise, and prefer to stay on the ship over doing excursions. Then, adding the coffee, it makes it even more worthwhile--I only ever buy coffee on vacation, too. I never eat out, except when company comes, and I think that's what allows me to afford the Cheers package. I'm a real bore at home, but get me on a cruise or on a vacation where I don't have to drive, and I'm sitting at a bar yucking it up with the best of them. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Saint Greg Posted November 24, 2021 #11 Share Posted November 24, 2021 14 minutes ago, lilchuckie said: Am I the only one who thinks cruise drink prices have gone down? Especially beer. They haven’t. They’ve stayed the same or gone up. Here’s 2018 vs 2021 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calnev1 Posted November 24, 2021 #12 Share Posted November 24, 2021 2 hours ago, naxer said: The way we cruise, the bill would easily be $1-1200 without Cheers. This would be true of 99% of the people on the ship who buy at least one drink. 🙂 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calnev1 Posted November 24, 2021 #13 Share Posted November 24, 2021 I am someone who is competitive, cost conscious, and who doesnt drink much. Buying the Cheers package would lead only to pain and misery as I strove mightily to get my money's worth. 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fabby50 Posted November 24, 2021 #14 Share Posted November 24, 2021 I don't drink, my husband does. I would never buy the package as we both would have to get it. It has been nice when its included. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grillinchillin Posted November 24, 2021 #15 Share Posted November 24, 2021 Handy Dandy Drink-o-matic calculator! https://cruisespotlight.com/drink-package-calculator 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evandbob Posted November 24, 2021 #16 Share Posted November 24, 2021 No need for me to use a calculator. In all of my 50+ cruises since 2003, my bar bill has been Zero. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eltigre Posted November 24, 2021 Author #17 Share Posted November 24, 2021 15 minutes ago, grillinchillin said: Handy Dandy Drink-o-matic calculator! https://cruisespotlight.com/drink-package-calculator Used your Handy Dandy Drink-o-matic calculator and found out in my calculations I forgot to include the 18% gratuity on the package. 😲 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurab23 Posted November 24, 2021 #18 Share Posted November 24, 2021 7 hours ago, naxer said: The way we cruise, the bill would easily be $1-1200 without Cheers. I only really drink on a cruise, and prefer to stay on the ship over doing excursions. Then, adding the coffee, it makes it even more worthwhile--I only ever buy coffee on vacation, too. I never eat out, except when company comes, and I think that's what allows me to afford the Cheers package. I'm a real bore at home, but get me on a cruise or on a vacation where I don't have to drive, and I'm sitting at a bar yucking it up with the best of them. You sound a lot like me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DramaQueen22 Posted November 24, 2021 #19 Share Posted November 24, 2021 We opt not to purchase Cheers. Both my husband and I drink 2-3 drinks a day, less on a port day. We don't get smoothies or juices. If I want an iced coffee, I get one. For us the cost runs about $50 a day for those purchases. We just did an 8 day on the Horizon and spent less for the entire week than it would have cost for 1 person's Cheers package. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LatinaInTexas Posted November 24, 2021 #20 Share Posted November 24, 2021 We are very casual drinkers, only average about $70 in drink charges per week long cruise. Had Cheers recently for first time because of $120 each promo price. Estimated cost of alcohol and non alcohol drinks was about $916. Also another $75 or so in extra tips. Having Cheers had pros and cons but not something I could/would ever pay full price for. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeMo Posted November 25, 2021 #21 Share Posted November 25, 2021 I've never been much of a drinker, but I've made up my mind to change that. Between the Cootie Virus and the new boss, I'm gonna start drinking heavy. Starting with the Cheers package this weekend. Hope ya'll have a wonderful Thanksgiving. 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duanerice1 Posted November 29, 2021 #22 Share Posted November 29, 2021 We don't purchase it but when we sail on Celebrity it is usually included (and yea we pay for it but not separately). I don't drink but still like having it as I drink coffee, soda and like grabbing a bottle of water as we leave the ship. When we don;t have it, many times our bar bill is zero. Wife takes a couple of bottles of wine and that's usually enough for her. We've never had a bar bill over $50.00. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virga Posted November 29, 2021 #23 Share Posted November 29, 2021 Back before you could buy the drink package on any sailing, we usually doesn't a few hundred bucks on bonvoyage bottles, brought on what they'd let us, tried our luck bringing back from ports, and still had bar bills - probably spent about what we currently spent on Cheers, despite only having a few drinks at bars. Now we get to make friends with the bar staff, try whatever we like, and get free water/electrolytes/energy drinks. Plus just tips on the bill at the end, which is always nice for planning purposes! On the downside, we'll apparently never be offered anything but RU9 for the Cheers package offers - they apparently know they don't make any money off our drinking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ilovesailaway Posted November 29, 2021 #24 Share Posted November 29, 2021 Op I don't remember exactly what my bar bills used to be before you could buy drink packages. I get the package now because I like having a fixed cost. I'm on vacation. I don't want to wonder how high is my bill getting? or if I should order a cheaper drink? I want the convenience of drinking whatever I want wherever I want. I will pay for that. Just like I will pay a little more for better flights or better hotels if they will add to my experience and the cost is reasonable. Its vacation. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MeganGC1983 Posted November 29, 2021 #25 Share Posted November 29, 2021 29 minutes ago, Ilovesailaway said: Op I don't remember exactly what my bar bills used to be before you could buy drink packages. I get the package now because I like having a fixed cost. I'm on vacation. I don't want to wonder how high is my bill getting? or if I should order a cheaper drink? I want the convenience of drinking whatever I want wherever I want. I will pay for that. Just like I will pay a little more for better flights or better hotels if they will add to my experience and the cost is reasonable. Its vacation. All of this. Before Cheers! I would try to talk myself out of drinks and I don’t want to do that on vacation. Once it’s paid for, I never look back. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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