....... and if I tip $1 cash per drink

[tallnthensome]

1 hour ago, juanarcin said:

 

If classy is what you are going for, then may I suggest skipping the backpack and instead opting for a top hat my good sir?

Yes, a bottle of burbeon would fit perfectly in it atop my head. Haha! 

[pc_load_letter]

I guess running back and forth to the run could be remedied by simply putting your booze in a large thermos type device

 

Stanley Classic Vacuum Insulated Wide Mouth Bottle - BPA-Free 18/8 Stainless Steel Thermos for Cold & Hot Beverages – Keeps Liquid Hot or Cold for Up to 24 Hours : Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry (amazon.com)

[CajunOyster]

35 minutes ago, pc_load_letter said:

I guess running back and forth to the run could be remedied by simply putting your booze in a large thermos type device

 

Stanley Classic Vacuum Insulated Wide Mouth Bottle - BPA-Free 18/8 Stainless Steel Thermos for Cold & Hot Beverages – Keeps Liquid Hot or Cold for Up to 24 Hours : Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry (amazon.com)

Too obvious.  Let's keep it classy with those plastic bladders you can stay under your clothes.

[Purvis1231]

I admit I have not been to Europe this century but in the past tipping was really not a thing in most of Europe. Has this changed?  

Even in here Western Hemispheric, I don't see much cash tipping on drinks even from those who I know have Cheers. 

[ArchieCruise]

Gratuities are already assessed at 18% when buying the package.  While many do tip in addition to that it isn’t expected or required.  

[PelicanBill]

I don't tip an extra $1 per drink every time. But at a couple of regular bars I will tip $1 cash with each order of 1 or 2 drinks.  It gets me remembered, and favored. More fun to sit at the bar when they entertain. My drinks have long pours and leftovers get pushed my way.  And I feel good as these people are trying to support families from far away for  months at a time.

[Elaine5715]

17 hours ago, ArchieCruise said:

Gratuities are already assessed at 18% when buying the package.  While many do tip in addition to that it isn’t expected or required.  

Drinks are not assessed at 18% of the individual drink cost. That $10 ish daily amount is divided between all beverages so it could be 25 cents tip

[Colorado Cruzer]

the only way anyone is going to know if Cheers is worth it is to not have it and spend like your normally would on alcoholic beverages, coffee shop and non alc beverages.  See your total and hten decide for next trip.  We did that and spent $900 on a 4 night cruise so Cheers it is for us!

[justafem]

I always go to the bank and get 100 $1 bills before a cruise.  I also don't buy the booze package, but I do have free drinks in the casino.  So when everyone else is complaining about how long it takes to get a drink, I frequently have numerous servers asking if I'd like another one almost as soon as my glass gets to about 1/2 full.  I could (and have) gotten 6 drinks in the time it takes most people to get 2.  But it's not just booze, I get bottles of water and energy drinks.  Servers don't open them (even though they're supposed to) and I can stash them for the next (port) day. 

 

Does anyone have a list of the soda that carnival carries?  Hubs is a soda (kinda) drinker, but has to stay away from cola's.  He prefers the premade sweetened tea.  If they have that on the ship, I'll get him the soda package and if not, I'll buy a couple of 12 packs for him.  

[Pellaz]

On 6/15/2022 at 3:02 PM, PelicanBill said:

I don't tip an extra $1 per drink every time. But at a couple of regular bars I will tip $1 cash with each order of 1 or 2 drinks.  It gets me remembered, and favored. More fun to sit at the bar when they entertain. My drinks have long pours and leftovers get pushed my way.  And I feel good as these people are trying to support families from far away for  months at a time.

Same here.  Even though I have Cheers, I'll fill in a tip, typically $1.00 for alcohol and $.50 for a soda.  It's great to see the bartenders' appreciation when they see the tip and their faces light up.   

[BoozinCroozin]

Yes it is getting insane for alcohol. Higher cost, smaller pours. It is a MASSIVE profit for cruise lines because of what they pay for the alcohol. You'd be surprised at their costs. But even at 4-5 drinks being the break even spot, I can see it a savings. 

[MMastell]

When the 18% surcharge was added to the packages and the individual drinks I stopped adding extra.

[Eli_6]

I would never get the drink package on a 12 day European cruise.

1. You can carry on alcohol in Europe.

2. The cruise tends to be port intensive so most people won't be on the ship much during the day. 

3. I can drink enough for 3 or 4 days to make it worth the cost on the drink package...if I try. No way I could ever do that for 12 straight days.  You are basically having to drink (or you and the person you are cruising with together) roughly 140 or so drinks to make Cheers financially make sense.   

 

The one thing I will say is that a tip is included in the cost of Cheers so I wouldn't feel that you had to tip extra.  I usually do, but you are still technically tipping even if you don't tip. 

 

 

Edited June 20, 2022 by Eli_6

[Eli_6]

Also, I really don't think you need to sneak it. From what everyone I have talked to has said, they just walked on with it in Europe.  Even hard liquor.  Whether it is against the technical contract or not, the fact is no one is going to stop you.  And if you don't want to go back to your room frequently, just buy you a 64 ounce Yeti mug. Or get you a fish bowl at the beginning of the cruise on the debark happy hour and use it all week.  I suppose you could even bring a flask, although 64 ounces will last you awhile so that seems a bit redundant.  

Edited June 20, 2022 by Eli_6

[grillinchillin]

5 hours ago, Eli_6 said:

I would never get the drink package on a 12 day European cruise.

1. You can carry on alcohol in Europe.

2. The cruise tends to be port intensive so most people won't be on the ship much during the day. 

3. I can drink enough for 3 or 4 days to make it worth the cost on the drink package...if I try. No way I could ever do that for 12 straight days.  You are basically having to drink (or you and the person you are cruising with together) roughly 140 or so drinks to make Cheers financially make sense.   

 

The one thing I will say is that a tip is included in the cost of Cheers so I wouldn't feel that you had to tip extra.  I usually do, but you are still technically tipping even if you don't tip. 

 

 

Great summary.

 

I have drinks everywhere on the ship for our October cruise out of Rome. My DW, is not a big drinker, so between the 7 ports and wines we can bring on board, we are solid.

[Elaine5715]

On 6/20/2022 at 4:53 AM, BoozinCroozin said:

Yes it is getting insane for alcohol. Higher cost, smaller pours. It is a MASSIVE profit for cruise lines because of what they pay for the alcohol. You'd be surprised at their costs. But even at 4-5 drinks being the break even spot, I can see it a savings. 

Pour sizes haven't changed.  A shot is still 1.5 oz

[Elaine5715]

18 hours ago, Eli_6 said:

Also, I really don't think you need to sneak it. From what everyone I have talked to has said, they just walked on with it in Europe.  Even hard liquor.  Whether it is against the technical contract or not, the fact is no one is going to stop you.  And if you don't want to go back to your room frequently, just buy you a 64 ounce Yeti mug. Or get you a fish bowl at the beginning of the cruise on the debark happy hour and use it all week.  I suppose you could even bring a flask, although 64 ounces will last you awhile so that seems a bit redundant.  

It isn't illegal in Europe

[Elaine5715]

23 hours ago, MMastell said:

When the 18% surcharge was added to the packages and the individual drinks I stopped adding extra.

That 18% "surcharge" on CHEERS isn't the same amount for servers as the 18% per drink auto grat.  

[Joebucks]

When you tip $1 extra, your pours become doubles or triples, and the red carpet is rolled out when you're within 20 feet of a bar. The internet told me so.

[BoozinCroozin]

1 hour ago, Elaine5715 said:

Pour sizes haven't changed.  A shot is still 1.5 oz

I measure mine by the cup. Maybe I have a different pouring system. 50/50 pours is what I enjoy. 8oz Pepsi, 8oz rum.

Edited June 21, 2022 by BoozinCroozin

[Elaine5715]

1 hour ago, BoozinCroozin said:

I measure mine by the cup. Maybe I have a different pouring system. 50/50 pours is what I enjoy. 8oz Pepsi, 8oz rum.

I'd have a Coconut rum and orange juice, please

[Elaine5715]

2 hours ago, Joebucks said:

When you tip $1 extra, your pours become doubles or triples, and the red carpet is rolled out when you're within 20 feet of a bar. The internet told me so.

It is either my $1 tip or my megawatt smile

[MMastell]

12 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

That 18% "surcharge" on CHEERS isn't the same amount for servers as the 18% per drink auto grat.  

Yes. I very aware of this.

[pc_load_letter]

On 6/20/2022 at 1:53 AM, BoozinCroozin said:

Yes it is getting insane for alcohol. Higher cost, smaller pours. It is a MASSIVE profit for cruise lines because of what they pay for the alcohol. You'd be surprised at their costs. But even at 4-5 drinks being the break even spot, I can see it a savings. 

 

I worked for a nightclub in college as a bouncer. Could not believe how cheap they purchased bottles of booze. Profit after the first drink pretty much.

[CajunOyster]

On 6/21/2022 at 11:45 AM, BoozinCroozin said:

I measure mine by the cup. Maybe I have a different pouring system. 50/50 pours is what I enjoy. 8oz Pepsi, 8oz rum.

No booze on any ship has ever been an 8oz pour.