Drink prices increased?

[dc15]

Just noticed on the app a lot (if not most) cocktails are now up to $14. I could have sworn they were $13 before.

 

Has the drink package limit of $13 a drink increased as well?

[livingonthebeach]

21 minutes ago, dc15 said:

Just noticed on the app a lot (if not most) cocktails are now up to $14. I could have sworn they were $13 before.

 

Has the drink package limit of $13 a drink increased as well?

 

IDK if they have increased since I rarely buy a la carte -- the C&A drinks are plenty for me. Just as a side note, the MSC basic drink package for $38 prepaid online (regardless of ship or sailing date) is about the best drink package at sea (for the price). Now that MSC has added 5 ships to be based in North America -- watch out RCI. Not that people cruise for booze -- just 'sayin:

Here's is what you get at MSC for $38:

[cruisegirl1]

not yet.  

 

[OCSC Mike]

Weird, this is a very recent change. It was still $13 last week when I was looking at random stuff for my Indy cruise in 15 days. I now see the same $14 you mentioned.

[Bxc53]

35 minutes ago, dc15 said:

Just noticed on the app a lot (if not most) cocktails are now up to $14. I could have sworn they were $13 before.

 

Has the drink package limit of $13 a drink increased as well?

I’m on the Quantum now.  Most drinks a la carte are $13 plus mandatory gratuity, so $15.34 total.  It’s helping me keep on my “one a day” plan… 😏

[matj2000]

Prices are artificially inflated

 

In order to make drink package appear to be a good deal.

 

And it works.

[livingonthebeach]

Just looked at the Schooner Bar menu on the App for my upcoming Grandeur sailing and yes most cocktails are now $14. 

[Bxc53]

7 minutes ago, matj2000 said:

Prices are artificially inflated

 

In order to make drink package appear to be a good deal.

 

And it works.

Have to agree. At our favorite local restaurant/ lounge, an old fashioned is $7.50 or 5.00 on happy hour.  Got one yesterday onboard for $15.34 total and it was not as good ( or as strong) as my local watering hole… But a long swim to the next option 😉

[neverbeenhere]

If you ever bought a drink on a cruise, I can assure you the price might be inflated, but there is nothing artificial about what you are paying. 

[little britain]

1 hour ago, dc15 said:

Just noticed on the app a lot (if not most) cocktails are now up to $14. I could have sworn they were $13 before.

 

Has the drink package limit of $13 a drink increased as well?

If it hasn’t, there’s gonna be a riot !!! 

[cruisegirl1]

1 hour ago, matj2000 said:

Prices are artificially inflated

 

In order to make drink package appear to be a good deal.

 

And it works.

Exactly.  Same with the dining packages.  

M

[OCSC Mike]

30 minutes ago, little britain said:

If it hasn’t, there’s gonna be a riot !!! 

 

I have to believe both the drink package and the C&A vouchers will be updated to $14 (how long it takes that to appear in writing on the website is another story).

[zeberdee]

Hi all,

 

I've emailed CS and asked if they could confirm that our Deluxe drinks package for next May will cover this increase.

 

S

 

[ARandomTraveler]

1 hour ago, matj2000 said:

Prices are artificially inflated

 

In order to make drink package appear to be a good deal.

 

And it works.

I don't think they're artificially inflated, $13-$15 seems like an average cost for a mixed specialty drink to me. I don't drink a lot so I don't think the drink package will ever look like a good deal to me, but I do think that for people who drink more than I do, the drink package prices can go up pretty high before the majority of people will stop seeing them as a good deal and stop buying them. 
 

It would have to be $40 or less for me to consider buying it. And individual prices would have to get to $22 or more before I would just choose not to drink at all for the week, which I do most of the time anyway. 

[not-enough-cruising]

42 minutes ago, zeberdee said:

Hi all,

 

I've emailed CS and asked if they could confirm that our Deluxe drinks package for next May will cover this increase.

 

S

 

And your response will be a link to, or a cut and paste from the Royal website that says “up to $13”, and really doesn’t apply at

all. 

[not-enough-cruising]

44 minutes ago, ARandomTraveler said:

I don't think they're artificially inflated, $13-$15 seems like an average cost for a mixed specialty drink to me. I don't drink a lot so I don't think the drink package will ever look like a good deal to me, but I do think that for people who drink more than I do, the drink package prices can go up pretty high before the majority of people will stop seeing them as a good deal and stop buying them. 
 

It would have to be $40 or less for me to consider buying it. And individual prices would have to get to $22 or more before I would just choose not to drink at all for the week, which I do most of the time anyway. 

I agree. $13-$15 is not out of line for a drink in my area. 
 

At Del Frisco steak house last weekend, bought a round while we waited for our table. Five cocktails, $121 with tip. 

Edited October 9, 2022 by not-enough-cruising

[smokeybandit]

Since they've already jacked up the drink package price, I would imagine increasing the cocktail price would just be to get people to start buying drink package again

[clskinsfan]

1 hour ago, not-enough-cruising said:

and really doesn’t apply at

all. 

But it does apply for those of us cruising over the next couple of weeks who bought the drink package months ago. 

[poocher]

No it doesn’t.  The DBP will cover whatever the standard drink price is.  Website is always woefully behind in this respect.  If the drink price was $13 when you purchased the DBP but increases to $14 when you sail, it’ll cover the $14.  Different from a specialty drink that is higher than the standard price like a high end whiskey that will incur an additional cost.

[yogimax]

What about Diamond and Diamond Plus vouchers.  Will we be charged $1.00 for each drink?

[gumshoe958]

Cocktails have been $14 in Europe for ages, and are still covered by the DBP and D/D+/P vouchers. So no cause for alarm.

[poocher]

19 minutes ago, yogimax said:

What about Diamond and Diamond Plus vouchers.  Will we be charged $1.00 for each drink?

HIGHLY unlikely.

[monorail81]

Was on the Oct 1 Allure sailing. First lunch at Sabor, the menu we were handed had the cocktails at $13. A few days later we were handed a menu that showed $14 and the app still had $13. Yesterday, we were given a menu with $13. So, it’s coming, folks. 

[RockHoundTX]

4 minutes ago, poocher said:

HIGHLY unlikely.

Not sure about that. Have that exact issue on Carnival where the "free drink" is actually a dollar short of actually being free for any alcoholic drink/cocktail. I would not be at all surprised. 

[clskinsfan]

38 minutes ago, poocher said:

No it doesn’t.  The DBP will cover whatever the standard drink price is.  Website is always woefully behind in this respect.  If the drink price was $13 when you purchased the DBP but increases to $14 when you sail, it’ll cover the $14.  Different from a specialty drink that is higher than the standard price like a high end whiskey that will incur an additional cost.

Just wondering do you work for Royal? How could you possibly know this?