Liquor Prices

[Moosemarty]

If Oceania charges $11.50 for a single any one know what they charge for a double? Thanks

[LHT28]

Double  🙂

+ 20% Gratutiy

 

[DrHemlock]

That's why we do our drinking during Happy Hour, of which there are two every day.  Five-to-six p.m. and another later on, for which I don't know the time because we're asleep by then.

[Flatbush Flyer]

3 hours ago, Moosemarty said:

If Oceania charges $11.50 for a single any one know what they charge for a double? Thanks

Your question is unanswerable unless you specify the cocktail (or its ingredients) and the nature of the spirits (well swill or premium).
 

From a simple G&T (e.g., Tanqueray vs Gunpowder) to a more complex Side Car (“no name” brandy plus triple sec and citrus mixer vs Hennessy VSOP Cognac, Cointreau and fresh squeezed lemon juice), the retail prices of a “single” will vary and a “double” (highly recommended since O tends to use a 1 oz. pour of whatever is the predominant spirit in your drink) will, at least, be double the cost of the primary spirit.

FWIW: When we first started with O years ago, we did shorter cruises (under 3 weeks) and would do the Prestige Package of “unlimited” (except for the topmost shelf of Single Malts and Cognacs) spirits and wine-by-the-glass (of mostly mediocre offerings). We now do mostly long O cruises of 1-2 months and do not buy a booze package. At the least, I mention this because keeping up the “pace” of daily drinking wanes with time (especially when you’re a geezer like me). 
 

As regards booze package choices:

In addition to itinerary (number of segments and ports vs sea days), consideration is needed for your O Club status which, in addition to Captain’s Welcome events (one per segment), means one or more O Club parties and invited “officer dinners” all with complimentary spirits and/or wines.  
You can upgrade to Prestige (unlimited) from the basic “dining wine and beer” package available as one of the O Life options for $20/person/day.
 

A couple of the above mentioned Side Cars each day would make Prestige (which also includes the gratuity) a bargain. But, you’d still have the mediocre wine choices.

 

As do many other O regulars, we bring our own wine - often a case to start (replenished along the way as possible). Note that the “six bottle limit” cited on the O website is a mere CYA statement and O has never limited how much personal booze one brings aboard (see pic) - as long as the rules are followed: spirits remain in the cabin as does wine unless an unopened bottle is taken to a dining venue or other public space and a $25 corkage fee, which includes tip, is paid. Needless to say, the “bargain” is clear when you compare the price of your own $60 Pinot Noir (plus $25 corkage including tip) to the same bottle purchased onboard at $175 (or more) + tip. Moreover, O will store/retrieve that opened bottle for you. Note that there’s also a “seven bottle” purchase program (from a list that is “discounted” but still not a major bargain) and the more promising “bin end” list with 25%+\- savings.
 

For onboard spirits, we take advantage of the above mentioned invited events, Happy Hour twofers, select drink specials at other events. And, on long cruises, the daily consumption definitely does vary.

 

Cheers!

 

 

[Moosemarty]

I see they charge $11.50 + gratuity for Jack Daniels.  Since their pour is usually 1 1/2 oz I am wondering what they charge for a double?

[LHT28]

9 minutes ago, Moosemarty said:

I see they charge $11.50 + gratuity for Jack Daniels.  Since their pour is usually 1 1/2 oz I am wondering what they charge for a double?

Same answer  as Post #2

If you drink 2 doubles + per  day opt for the Prestige Package

No worries  then

[1985rz1]

22 minutes ago, Moosemarty said:

I see they charge $11.50 + gratuity for Jack Daniels.  Since their pour is usually 1 1/2 oz I am wondering what they charge for a double?

LHT28 is correct.  No discount for a double.  It's twice the price of a single.

[bbtondo]

I assume you pay double.  On my August Med cruise with the Prestige Drink package, almost every time I ordered a cosmo, or vodka a club, I was asked if I would like a double.  Everytime I say Heck Yeah!

 

 

[Moosemarty]

Do both people in a room have to get the Prestige package or can only one get it?

[LHT28]

Just now, Moosemarty said:

Do both people in a room have to get the Prestige package or can only one get it?

Just one person

 

 If you take the O Life beverage package perk then both in the cabin  have to take the same O Life perk

[ghstudio]

If one doesn't have a drink package, what does the prestige package cost per day for one person.  My wife doesn't drink so getting a drink package under olife makes no sense.

[jondfk]

34 minutes ago, ghstudio said:

If one doesn't have a drink package, what does the prestige package cost per day for one person.  My wife doesn't drink so getting a drink package under olife makes no sense.

$60 per day, it’s okay if only one in the cabin purchases and uses.

 

I did so on our prior sailing, but not one the current one which has a much higher ratio of port to sea days.

[Moosemarty]

Does the Prestige package also include better wines than just the wine package? Can you also get bar service to your room?

[LHT28]

25 minutes ago, Moosemarty said:

Does the Prestige package also include better wines than just the wine package? Can you also get bar service to your room?

Same "wines by the glass" on both packages

 

[sunlover12]

 Wine that is included in both the basic and Prestige packages are wines that are sold by the glass on the wine list. If you want to purchase a bottle of wine and have the Prestige package, there is a discount off of the list price. I don't recall how much the discount is but someone else here can elaborate on that.

 

I had the basic package on my last cruise and ordered room service for dinner one night and they brought 2 glasses of wine that I ordered.  I'm not sure about bar service at any other time as we haven't tried that. 

 

We bring a couple bottles of wine onboard and will have a glass in our cabin before dinner.

 

 

[Flatbush Flyer]

1 hour ago, Moosemarty said:

Does the Prestige package also include better wines than just the wine package? Can you also get bar service to your room?

No on “better” wines. The Prestige package is best for folks who know their “spirits” and bring their own wine for dinner.

[ORV]

6 hours ago, jondfk said:

$60 per day, it’s okay if only one in the cabin purchases and uses.

 

I did so on our prior sailing, but not one the current one which has a much higher ratio of port to sea days.

Well initially. In the end with the extra day in San Pedro I would call it 4 to 4. 

[jondfk]

1 minute ago, ORV said:

Well initially. In the end with the extra day in San Pedro I would call it 4 to 4. 

Fair point, but I checked my bill today and would still say I’m about 1 day ahead not having a package, I’m quite a moderate drinker though and it’s easy to imagine somebody drinking 1 more every day coming out ahead.

 

I like early day bloody Mary’s but my god their juice is so spicy I’m limited to one a day, that could make the difference.  Btw I don’t remember such a spicy mix in April.

 

[Bongomauka]

We're booked on a cruise on the Marina in April 23 and have been debating what the best option would be for us in terms of basic drink package vs. wine package vs no package. I drink a glass or two of wine with dinner and can down a beer for lunch. I'll occasionally have a cocktail before dinner. My partner drinks considerably less, maybe a glass of wine or cocktail a day at most. I think for me, a basic drink package may be fine with us bringing on board some wine on embarkation and maybe replenishing with local wines at various ports. Problem is that my cabinmate/partner will need to sign up for a the same which would be a waste. We could just bring our own wine and replenish at port stops and get the BOGO cocktails at happy hour when we want but I'm not sure what the restrictions are for bringing on wine initially (officially 6 per cabin seems inadequate with our 21 day cruise) and bringing them on at port stops. Corkage fees plus gratuity seems high to us given that we may end up spending the same or possibly less for the bottle than the actual fee (we're not wine connoisseurs by any means). Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated as we are being driven to drink trying to decide. Thanks in advance.

[LHT28]

If you are not big drinkers  just  bring your own wine  (pay the fee)  or just buy as you go

Depends on how particular about your wine

 Do that math & see what works best

You can bring on bottles at every port if you wish 

JMO

 

[Robjame]

1 hour ago, Bongomauka said:

and bringing them on at port stops. Corkage fees plus gratuity seems high to us given that we may end up spending the same or possibly less for the bottle than the actual fee (we're not wine connoisseurs by any means). Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated as we are being driven to drink trying to decide

The one thing that has not been mentioned here is your itinerary. We are taking a Caribbean cruise and our experience has been poor in finding decent wines at a decent price in many of the islands. You, on the other hand, are booked on a Mediterranean cruise with stops in Portugal, Spain, France and Italy. You can walk into a grocery store like Casino in France and pick up a decent local red for under 20 euros (about $20).  Even with the corkage charge you will have a wine to rival a much more expensive one on board the ship - or go to a wine store like Nicolas in France and the employee there will be happy to suggest wines ready to drink.

 

One suggestion - when the wine steward opens the wine, ask him to sample it and tell you what he thinks. You will make an instant friend, learn a bit about wines and may even find someone who may neglect to add the corkage fee to your bill. 😀

[arima22]

1 hour ago, Bongomauka said:

We're booked on a cruise on the Marina in April 23 and have been debating what the best option would be for us in terms of basic drink package vs. wine package vs no package. I drink a glass or two of wine with dinner and can down a beer for lunch. I'll occasionally have a cocktail before dinner. My partner drinks considerably less, maybe a glass of wine or cocktail a day at most. I think for me, a basic drink package may be fine with us bringing on board some wine on embarkation and maybe replenishing with local wines at various ports. Problem is that my cabinmate/partner will need to sign up for a the same which would be a waste. We could just bring our own wine and replenish at port stops and get the BOGO cocktails at happy hour when we want but I'm not sure what the restrictions are for bringing on wine initially (officially 6 per cabin seems inadequate with our 21 day cruise) and bringing them on at port stops. Corkage fees plus gratuity seems high to us given that we may end up spending the same or possibly less for the bottle than the actual fee (we're not wine connoisseurs by any means). Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated as we are being driven to drink trying to decide. Thanks in advance.

There are no additional gratuities added to the BYOB wine corkage fee.  The corkage fee covers the full service.

[LHT28]

You can also opt  to NOT take O Life perk unless you do the ship's tours  then just buy the basic package for yourself

Pay for  the other drinks as you go

There are many options 😉

 

[Tyskie]

We will be new Oceania cruisers Sept 2023 after having sailed with Princess, Celebrity and yes, even NCL!

 

We have a port intensive 12 day cruise scheduled.  Do I understand that the 2 Happy Hours are BOGOs?  Are the times the same on all the ships?  (Riviera)   I can bring liquor onboard to be consumed in our cabin and wine corkage fee of $25 if brought to the DR.

 

We are just weighing our options and thus far have decided not to take the beverage pkg.  

 

Thank you for all the great info I have gleaned from CC threads.  We're so excited to try something new.

Edited September 17, 2022 by Tyskie

[1985rz1]

12 minutes ago, Tyskie said:

We will be new Oceania cruisers Sept 2023 after having sailed with Princess, Celebrity and yes, even NCL!

 

We have a port intensive 12 day cruise scheduled.  Do I understand that the 2 Happy Hours are BOGOs?  Are the times the same on all the ships?  (Riviera)   I can bring liquor onboard to be consumed in our cabin and wine corkage fee of $25 if brought to the DR.

 

We are just weighing our options and thus far have decided not to take the beverage pkg.  

 

Thank you for all the great info I have gleaned from CC threads.  We're so excited to try something new.

We have a port intensive 12 day cruise scheduled.  Do I understand that the 2 Happy Hours are BOGOs?  Are the times the same on all the ships?  (Riviera): YES

 

I can bring liquor onboard to be consumed in our cabin and wine corkage fee of $25 if brought to the DR. : YES

 

Happy Sailing!!!!

Edited September 17, 2022 by 1985rz1