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Protips for enjoying beverages onboard without the deluxe beverage package

woostergirl
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woostergirl

woostergirl

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I hemmed and hawed about both the UDP and deluxe beverage package up until my cruise on Navigator on August 15th. On July 18 my RC trip planner offered me:

UDP for two adults at $431.80 (30% off) and the Deluxe Bev Package (DBP) for 2 at $670.08 (at $70.99/guest/day) (The breakdown is $567.92 + $102.16 gratuities = $670.08)

 

On Aug 2, I was offered UDP for two adults at $408.20 (40% off) and the DBP was the same price. $670 is a lot of money...especially since the 4 night cruise for our family of 4 was only $1,300 for a panorama oceanview room. So I signed up with the UDP for me and my DH but we decided to buy all our beverages a la cart.

 

Some observations and tips for first time cruisers and those who don't have the drinks package but want to imbibe now and again:

  • Protip #1: Bring two bottles of wine on board per adult. We only brought two and wished we brought four.
  • Protip #2: Bring wine that have a screw top. The bartenders at the Lime and Coconut gave us a hard time and told us they did not have a wine bottle opener or wine glasses. You have to get the bottle opener and wine glasses from your room steward or room service.
  • Protip #3: Bring whites and roses to drink poolside. (Why not reds for dinner? Read on!)
  • Protip #4: You can buy a bucket of beer! One can of Red Stripe is $10 but you can get a bucket of 5 cans at the Lime and Coconut for $41 (this includes gratuities). And they give you a bucket with ice. Nice part about this is that you can bring your beer back to the mini-fridge in your cabin if you don't need all 5 in one sitting! 🙂
  • Protip #5: Get the UDP...This was much more reasonable package and the food at the specialty restaurants were much better than the MDR. Also, which I didn't know, is that you receive 40% off on bottles of wine at the restaurants. So $40 only cost $24...a great idea as a bottle wine is about four wine glasses (I like large pours!) So buy reds to go with dinner at Chops at Chops.
  • Protip #6: You can only buy bottles of wine at specialty restaurants. We tried to get one at Lime and Coconut to no avail.
  • Protip #7: Buy another bottle of wine before you leave the restaurant. They will open it for you and then you can take it with out to finish in your cabin or elsewhere.
  • Protip #8: Sometimes I just wanted a cocktail by the pool, so what's a girl to do? Just get a regular cocktail. 🙂  My go-to is Jameson & ginger ale or it could be a vodka tonic or a rum & coke...whatever you fancy. Traditional/classic cocktails are only $10 a glass whereas all the specialty/fancy cocktails are around $15 a glass. Also, there is more alcohol in the classic cocktails IMHO (if you care about stuff like that!) Most of the specialty cocktails I had on board (including the Bamboo Room) were pretty weak. 
  • Protip #9: Buy a pitcher of beer at Playmakers. It's only $18!! And Playmaker's is the best location to experience the dance parties in the promenade. Go early during the pre-party. Get the high top table "outside" in the promenade and a pitcher of beer and you are all set! Oh and you have UDP so order more wings!!
  • Protip #10: RC has free beverages everywhere. Before I went on board, one of my concerns was that it would be hard to find iced tea and lemonade during the cruise. But they have big containers set up by the taco area on the pool deck and it was no problem getting ice tea  or lemonade at Windjammer.
  • Protip #11: Juices are free at Windjammer for breakfast. Not the "fresh squeezed" juices which have an upcharge, but orance, apple, and cranberry juice was plentiful.
  • Protip #12:  Coffee is free and widely available at all meals and at any time at the Cafe Promenade. If you really want a Starbucks, buy a cup of Starbucks! Just like you would do at home or anywhere else.

 

We had an amazing time on our cruise and didn't feel like we were missing out on anything. I hope these tips are helpful and let me know if you have your own tips!

 

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Cruisin' Life

Cruisin' Life

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20 minutes ago, woostergirl said:

I hemmed and hawed about both the UDP and deluxe beverage package up until my cruise on Navigator on August 15th. On July 18 my RC trip planner offered me:

UDP for two adults at $431.80 (30% off) and the Deluxe Bev Package (DBP) for 2 at $670.08 (at $70.99/guest/day) (The breakdown is $567.92 + $102.16 gratuities = $670.08)

 

On Aug 2, I was offered UDP for two adults at $408.20 (40% off) and the DBP was the same price. $670 is a lot of money...especially since the 4 night cruise for our family of 4 was only $1,300 for a panorama oceanview room. So I signed up with the UDP for me and my DH but we decided to buy all our beverages a la cart.

 

Some observations and tips for first time cruisers and those who don't have the drinks package but want to imbibe now and again:

  • Protip #1: Bring two bottles of wine on board per adult. We only brought two and wished we brought four.
  • Protip #2: Bring wine that have a screw top. The bartenders at the Lime and Coconut gave us a hard time and told us they did not have a wine bottle opener or wine glasses. You have to get the bottle opener and wine glasses from your room steward or room service.
  • Protip #3: Bring whites and roses to drink poolside. (Why not reds for dinner? Read on!)
  • Protip #4: You can buy a bucket of beer! One can of Red Stripe is $10 but you can get a bucket of 5 cans at the Lime and Coconut for $41 (this includes gratuities). And they give you a bucket with ice. Nice part about this is that you can bring your beer back to the mini-fridge in your cabin if you don't need all 5 in one sitting! 🙂
  • Protip #5: Get the UDP...This was much more reasonable package and the food at the specialty restaurants were much better than the MDR. Also, which I didn't know, is that you receive 40% off on bottles of wine at the restaurants. So $40 only cost $24...a great idea as a bottle wine is about four wine glasses (I like large pours!) So buy reds to go with dinner at Chops at Chops.
  • Protip #6: You can only buy bottles of wine at specialty restaurants. We tried to get one at Lime and Coconut to no avail.
  • Protip #7: Buy another bottle of wine before you leave the restaurant. They will open it for you and then you can take it with out to finish in your cabin or elsewhere.
  • Protip #8: Sometimes I just wanted a cocktail by the pool, so what's a girl to do? Just get a regular cocktail. 🙂  My go-to is Jameson & ginger ale or it could be a vodka tonic or a rum & coke...whatever you fancy. Traditional/classic cocktails are only $10 a glass whereas all the specialty/fancy cocktails are around $15 a glass. Also, there is more alcohol in the classic cocktails IMHO (if you care about stuff like that!) Most of the specialty cocktails I had on board (including the Bamboo Room) were pretty weak. 
  • Protip #9: Buy a pitcher of beer at Playmakers. It's only $18!! And Playmaker's is the best location to experience the dance parties in the promenade. Go early during the pre-party. Get the high top table "outside" in the promenade and a pitcher of beer and you are all set! Oh and you have UDP so order more wings!!
  • Protip #10: RC has free beverages everywhere. Before I went on board, one of my concerns was that it would be hard to find iced tea and lemonade during the cruise. But they have big containers set up by the taco area on the pool deck and it was no problem getting ice tea  or lemonade at Windjammer.
  • Protip #11: Juices are free at Windjammer for breakfast. Not the "fresh squeezed" juices which have an upcharge, but orance, apple, and cranberry juice was plentiful.
  • Protip #12:  Coffee is free and widely available at all meals and at any time at the Cafe Promenade. If you really want a Starbucks, buy a cup of Starbucks! Just like you would do at home or anywhere else.

 

We had an amazing time on our cruise and didn't feel like we were missing out on anything. I hope these tips are helpful and let me know if you have your own tips!

 

You can not bring 2 bottles of wine onboard per adult. Policy is  2- 750ml bottles per stateroom

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woostergirl

woostergirl

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3 hours ago, Cruisin' Life said:

You can not bring 2 bottles of wine onboard per adult. Policy is  2- 750ml bottles per stateroom

We only brought on two bottles with us. Good to know for next time. Thanks for clearing that up!

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librarylady19

librarylady19

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Some great tips. We are Diamond and get 4 per day but still often wish to buy more. We will definitely get the beer buckets and "well cocktails" as well as investigating the "Drink of the day" if it's cheaper and save our Diamond "coupons" for the $13 cocktails!!

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HaveWeMetYet

HaveWeMetYet

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On 8/28/2022 at 11:48 AM, woostergirl said:

On Aug 2, I was offered UDP for two adults at $408.20 (40% off) and the DBP was the same price. $670 is a lot of money...especially since the 4 night cruise for our family of 4 was only $1,300 for a panorama oceanview room. So I signed up with the UDP for me and my DH but we decided to buy all our beverages a la cart.

 

204 seems like a lot per person for the UDP for a 4 night cruise. How many meals do you get?

 

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sgmn

sgmn

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7 hours ago, Motor City said:

Does RC do happy hours?

They use to have a cocktail 'special' of the day. And in the good ol days, pre covid had a 10 drink card which you could share

Also use to have cheap drinks in the casino at certain times of the day  

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sgmn

sgmn

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16 hours ago, Cruisin' Life said:

You can not bring 2 bottles of wine onboard per adult. Policy is  2- 750ml bottles per stateroom

I heard a rumour it was now two bottles each but haven't checked it out, or that may of been celebrity 

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Sea Viewer

Sea Viewer

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Posted (edited)
18 minutes ago, sgmn said:

I heard a rumour it was now two bottles each but haven't checked it out, or that may of been celebrity 

Yes, Celebrity allows 2 bottles per passenger over 21 for US departures. 

Edited by Sea Viewer
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brillohead "Live from...." Rare

brillohead

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18 minutes ago, sgmn said:

I heard a rumour it was now two bottles each but haven't checked it out, or that may of been celebrity 


The rule is still two bottles per stateroom, but if two adults are in two different security lines, the port security agents are unlikely to put 2 and 2 together and come up with 4. 

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rolloman

rolloman

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Mega Pro Tips- 

  • For that occasional pool side drink, carry on a couple mini's at each port stop to mix with complimentary juice.
  • Visit the onboard art auction and jewelry stores for complimentary champagne.
  • Captains' gala event (when it comes back) for free champagne toast
  • Watch the planner for taste testing in the ships liquor store
  • Make friends with a D and above passenger who does not drink
  • Collect 2500 (PRIME) points in the casino and get free beverages in the casino bar.
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Mum2Mercury

Mum2Mercury

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Posted (edited)
On 8/28/2022 at 5:43 PM, time4u2go said:

Pro tip #2a: Bring a corkscrew so that you can bring wine with a cork. 

I don't like wine, but my husband does -- he says he's going to choose screw top bottles (no jokes, please -- he's not a top shelf drinker).  If that should fail, he will bring our own corkscrew from home.  

15 hours ago, sgmn said:

They use to have a cocktail 'special' of the day. And in the good ol days, pre covid had a 10 drink card which you could share

Also use to have cheap drinks in the casino at certain times of the day  

Yes, I was going to bring up Drink of the Day.  Don't take a melty drink from the tray that the waitress has been carrying around -- go up to the bar and order a fresh one. 

 

Johnny Rockets used to sell slightly larger draft beers for slightly less than the ship's bars -- you can just walk in and buy a beer /carry it out /you don't have to pay the cover charge.  This may or may not still be true.  

 

They give out free champagne at the art auctions and sometimes at Welcome Back kind of parties.  Read your Compass carefully to see what's available.

 

It's not exactly cheap, but order a bottle from the ship ahead of time -- it's about $40-45 for a bottle of liquor and 4 sodas to be delivered to your room. 

 

Drink on the islands, but don't drink so much that you can't find your way back to the ship on time! 

 

Buy a 6-pack on the islands and bring it back onboard.  Maybe you'll get through, maybe you won't (for what it's worth, my husband brought a bottle of rum from Jamaica back through without difficulty -- he didn't open it onboard; in fact, it's still not open).  At the worst, they'll confiscate it and return it to you on the last night of the cruise, which means you have a 6-pack for the last night of the cruise.  

 

Last but not least, put a bottle into your checked luggage.  My local ABC store has a section labeled "Cruise" /features all-plastic bottles.  Again, at the worst, you get it back the last night.  

Edited by Mum2Mercury
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rolloman

rolloman

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8 hours ago, Mum2Mercury said:

I don't like wine, but my husband does -- he says he's going to choose screw top bottles (no jokes, please -- he's not a top shelf drinker).  If that should fail, he will bring our own corkscrew from home.  

Yes, I was going to bring up Drink of the Day.  Don't take a melty drink from the tray that the waitress has been carrying around -- go up to the bar and order a fresh one. 

 

Johnny Rockets used to sell slightly larger draft beers for slightly less than the ship's bars -- you can just walk in and buy a beer /carry it out /you don't have to pay the cover charge.  This may or may not still be true.  

 

They give out free champagne at the art auctions and sometimes at Welcome Back kind of parties.  Read your Compass carefully to see what's available.

 

It's not exactly cheap, but order a bottle from the ship ahead of time -- it's about $40-45 for a bottle of liquor and 4 sodas to be delivered to your room. 

 

Drink on the islands, but don't drink so much that you can't find your way back to the ship on time! 

 

Buy a 6-pack on the islands and bring it back onboard.  Maybe you'll get through, maybe you won't (for what it's worth, my husband brought a bottle of rum from Jamaica back through without difficulty -- he didn't open it onboard; in fact, it's still not open).  At the worst, they'll confiscate it and return it to you on the last night of the cruise, which means you have a 6-pack for the last night of the cruise.  

 

Last but not least, put a bottle into your checked luggage.  My local ABC store has a section labeled "Cruise" /features all-plastic bottles.  Again, at the worst, you get it back the last night.  

Only Disney allows a 6 back of beer to be brought onboard at port stops. Royal does not.

 

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zoepipes

zoepipes

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On 8/29/2022 at 6:48 AM, rolloman said:

Mega Pro Tips- 

  • For that occasional pool side drink, carry on a couple mini's at each port stop to mix with complimentary juice.
  • Visit the onboard art auction and jewelry stores for complimentary champagne.
  • Captains' gala event (when it comes back) for free champagne toast
  • Watch the planner for taste testing in the ships liquor store
  • Make friends with a D and above passenger who does not drink
  • Collect 2500 (PRIME) points in the casino and get free beverages in the casino bar.

DyMORa9UcAAD7_l.jpg

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