Deluxe Beverage Package

[Kendall R]

As much as drinks cost now it doesn't take many of them to run up a big bar tab. We chose to skip the drink package on our last cruise aboard the Mardi Gras and ran up a $1400 alcohol bill not counting cash tips. Peace of mind is the most important thing to me so I won't be doing that again. Plus I enjoy experimenting and trying new things, something I didn't do much of when I had to come off the hip for each drink. 

[The Fun Researcher]

On 12/30/2022 at 2:11 PM, DaKahuna said:

Most of the drinks are showing $10.99 or $14.00. There are a couple at $8.99 or $9.99 

 

Not sure why prices are not showing in your app.  What ship and date are you on? 

 

 

 

and that's before the 18% automatic gratuity correct?

[Ocean Boy]

5 minutes ago, The Fun Researcher said:

and that's before the 18% automatic gratuity correct?

Yes.

[Sparetiming]

On 12/27/2022 at 10:25 AM, footzz said:

It's not just you. We've bought the DBP in the past, but never paid more than $58.99 a day pre-Covid. Even after the return to sailing, the first two cruises we took, the DBP was never higher than $62.99.

 

In our Cruise Planner for a Jan. cruise, the price has gone as low as $67.99 + grats a day and has gone as high as $77.99. Now it's at $72.99. There's no way are we going to pay over $1200 for a DBP. As long as people are willing to buy at the current prices, they're going to stay high. We'll manage just fine with our daily drink coupons and carry on wine.

I checked Black Friday sales our package was still $72.99. I have checked every day since and same price. I wonder if it is one price for some people and a different prices for others. I would have probably bought it at $67.99. You always have to sign in to get price so I wonder if prices are based on your Crown status or something. Our cruise is January 14th.

[CFLRetired]

I struggle with getting the package or not, but my Black Friday sale was $58.99 so I went ahead and bought it.  Although my next cruise is in a suite and as a Diamond + I received 5 drinks per day.  My thinking (right or wrong) is I can try as many different drinks as I like, plus two specialty coffees a day, plus fresh juice and hopefully come out ahead?  We also usually drink 5 or so bottles of water daily.  

[Husky1987]

1 minute ago, CFLRetired said:

I struggle with getting the package or not, but my Black Friday sale was $58.99 so I went ahead and bought it.  Although my next cruise is in a suite and as a Diamond + I received 5 drinks per day.  My thinking (right or wrong) is I can try as many different drinks as I like, plus two specialty coffees a day, plus fresh juice and hopefully come out ahead?  We also usually drink 5 or so bottles of water daily.  

If anything, it's always a good chance to see if that price point is worth it to you.

 

We used to always get the DBP.  My wife has her morning coffee/mimosa, loves her frozen drinks during the day, and we'd both have a few at night.  For me, I probably never "got my money's worth" if I penciled it out, but it was worth it to me just to not have to worry about it.  

 

But now, with D+ (and wife is Prime in the casino), we'll buy a case of bottled water and then pay as we go for her coffees, etc.  And that $1000-1200 per cruise pays for a lot of other things.

[Sarahsmom85]

On 12/30/2022 at 11:50 AM, Miloomar said:

And how much more did that NCL sailing cost you for a comparable RCC sailing? Bet it was at least $300-500 more with their "all inclusive included" pricing. 

Actually the ncl was much less than royal.  Ncl was a 5 night for $499 plus $100 for tip on free drink.  Royal was 7 nights for $1250 no drink package. Both balcony 

[The Fun Researcher]

39 minutes ago, Sarahsmom85 said:

Actually the ncl was much less than royal.  Ncl was a 5 night for $499 plus $100 for tip on free drink.  Royal was 7 nights for $1250 no drink package. Both balcony 

Yeah we have done a five night on NCL as well for a very good price with the drink package included.  That was a couple of years ago over Christmas on the Getaway. However I am struggling more and more lately to find prices better on NCL than Royal (for a decent class of NCL ship). We enjoyed our NCL cruise but still prefer royal more.  The killer for me is NCL‘s horrible pool deck.

 

Dan

[BettyJketocrew]

I have to ask… I just signed up for this package. How much are drinks??? 🍸I want to make sure I order enough it’s going to be my BIRTHDAY 🎉
 

Also someone mentioned you can use the drink package at Coco Cay! That’s awesome!! 

[Ocean Boy]

2 minutes ago, BettyJketocrew said:

I have to ask… I just signed up for this package. How much are drinks??? 🍸I want to make sure I order enough it’s going to be my BIRTHDAY 🎉
 

Also someone mentioned you can use the drink package at Coco Cay! That’s awesome!! 

Typical drink is $14, a little less for something simple like a vodka tonic.

[GalvestonCruiserx3]

No way are we getting the deluxe drinking package-for our cruise on Allure next summer for the two of us it would be $1300!!  We just do not drink enough sugary drinks or alcohol to justify that. We just got the Coke package because we like the sparkling water they have in the freestyle machines.

[shellunderwater]

13 hours ago, CFLRetired said:

I struggle with getting the package or not, but my Black Friday sale was $58.99 so I went ahead and bought it.  Although my next cruise is in a suite and as a Diamond + I received 5 drinks per day.  My thinking (right or wrong) is I can try as many different drinks as I like, plus two specialty coffees a day, plus fresh juice and hopefully come out ahead?  We also usually drink 5 or so bottles of water daily.  

And bottled water, both still and pelligrino. 

[A2Mich]

Our Dec 2023 Symphony DBP is currently sitting at $77.99, and with the apparent lack of availability on our particular sailing, doubting it will come down much, if at all. May just buy it soon and watch pricing. 

[BettyJketocrew]

6 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

Typical drink is $14, a little less for something simple like a vodka tonic.

Thank you so much … now I need to figure out how to reply without the quote 🤷🏻‍♀️

[BettyJketocrew]

On 12/31/2022 at 2:18 PM, The Fun Researcher said:

and that's before the 18% automatic gratuity correct?

Thank you, Liberty Jan 27, I didn’t realize drink prices were listed. I just loaded the app I’m not familiar with it. 

[Ocean Boy]

3 hours ago, BettyJketocrew said:

Thank you so much … now I need to figure out how to reply without the quote 🤷🏻‍♀️

Though you can reply without the quote I think it is better to leave it in place as it makes it easier to follow the conversation.

[Crazy4Cruisin225]

For me & my wife, it depends on the itinerary. We’re going on Oasis in a few weeks. Western Caribbean.  We bought the drink package at $72.99 (just dropped to $67.99 for New Years Sale). We will drink that before dinner most days, no problem. Mimosa or Bloody Mary with breakfast. 4 or 5 pina coladas by the pool (more on a sea day), pre-dinner drink, wine with dinner, a few cocktails late night in casino or Schooner bar. And that doesn’t even include the water, soda, & coffee that we will consume. There will be a day or 2 that Royal will win (Cozumel we are going to Nachi Cocum), but we’ll more than make up for it the other days. Last cruise we broke even by day 3 😉

 

Now in October, we are going on a 9 night Canada/NE cruise. That one we will not buy the package. We won’t drink nearly as much in a colder climate. No frozen drinks by the pool. We’ll just buy the refreshment package for that one. 

[mandyleighflies]

I always purchase the Refreshment package for my kids and myself and when we cruise alone. I do not drink and obviously neither do the kids, but we do enjoy the mocktails, bottled/canned waters, specialty coffees and some soda. My husband drinks and I used to also but gave it up in March 2022 and he has not been able to cruise with us due to work conflicts since February 2022. We are cruising together for our wedding anniversary next December and curious if we can work out something with RCCL that he can buy DDP and I the RP since I'm Sober Fabulous. The kids and I are cruising with my parents for Spring break (90 days out today 🥳) and we purchased the RP for $23 per person per day which considering we spend that a day in iced coffee on land (🙈)...is a steal. 

 

The cost of the Deluxe package makes my Sober Fabulous life choice seem even better 😆

[poocher]

53 minutes ago, mandyleighflies said:

I always purchase the Refreshment package for my kids and myself and when we cruise alone. I do not drink and obviously neither do the kids, but we do enjoy the mocktails, bottled/canned waters, specialty coffees and some soda. My husband drinks and I used to also but gave it up in March 2022 and he has not been able to cruise with us due to work conflicts since February 2022. We are cruising together for our wedding anniversary next December and curious if we can work out something with RCCL that he can buy DDP and I the RP since I'm Sober Fabulous. The kids and I are cruising with my parents for Spring break (90 days out today 🥳) and we purchased the RP for $23 per person per day which considering we spend that a day in iced coffee on land (🙈)...is a steal. 

 

The cost of the Deluxe package makes my Sober Fabulous life choice seem even better 😆

Yes, you must call RCCL to do this.  They will put you on hold for 5 minutes while they get “permission to make an exception for you” and then they’ll do it.  Family trip in May and DD is listed in a cabin with her brother & cousin.  They will more than break even, her not so much.  Got them the DBP @ $67.99 and her the RP.  She will have her specialty coffees and San Pellegrino plus 2 bottles of wine & pay as she goes (ok WE will pay as she goes!)

[nasa1974]

5 hours ago, Crazy4Cruisin225 said:

For me & my wife, it depends on the itinerary. We’re going on Oasis in a few weeks. Western Caribbean.  We bought the drink package at $72.99 (just dropped to $67.99 for New Years Sale). We will drink that before dinner most days, no problem. Mimosa or Bloody Mary with breakfast. 4 or 5 pina coladas by the pool (more on a sea day), pre-dinner drink, wine with dinner, a few cocktails late night in casino or Schooner bar. And that doesn’t even include the water, soda, & coffee that we will consume. There will be a day or 2 that Royal will win (Cozumel we are going to Nachi Cocum), but we’ll more than make up for it the other days. Last cruise we broke even by day 3 😉

 

I have a cruise on the Oasis in March (Western Caribbean). I purchased the drink package for $72.99 BOGO 50% off before the Black Friday deals. I have checked the website every day and that price has not gone lower. What kind of racket is RCI pulling?

[Scotico]

We just p[aid 72.99 PP on our upcoming cruise.  The way we look at it, you must take advantage of everything the beverage package has to offer.  We usually have 2 coffees each in the morning and those run about $5-$6 each plus we drink a lot of bottled water during the day.  I believe they either have San Pellegrino or Evian.  We have several drinks through the day.  Just make sure you ask for top shelf liquor when ordering a drink.  You may spend a little less without it or spend a lot more.  It's nice not having to track every drink you purchased to make sure you do run up a huge bar bill.  

On our last cruise we opted not to get the beverage package and ended up spending $400 more than what the beverage package cost.

[poocher]

43 minutes ago, nasa1974 said:

I have a cruise on the Oasis in March (Western Caribbean). I purchased the drink package for $72.99 BOGO 50% off before the Black Friday deals. I have checked the website every day and that price has not gone lower. What kind of racket is RCI pulling?

It’s not a racket, it’s a “read and understand before you buy”. Bogo 50% off is the same as 25% off each.  Full price runs about $98 so 25% off is about $72.99 each.  That’s what they advertise, that’s what you get.

[poocher]

32 minutes ago, Scotico said:

We just p[aid 72.99 PP on our upcoming cruise.  The way we look at it, you must take advantage of everything the beverage package has to offer.  We usually have 2 coffees each in the morning and those run about $5-$6 each plus we drink a lot of bottled water during the day.  I believe they either have San Pellegrino or Evian.  We have several drinks through the day.  Just make sure you ask for top shelf liquor when ordering a drink.  You may spend a little less without it or spend a lot more.  It's nice not having to track every drink you purchased to make sure you do run up a huge bar bill.  

On our last cruise we opted not to get the beverage package and ended up spending $400 more than what the beverage package cost.

We opted out and spent over $1000 less.

[nasa1974]

32 minutes ago, poocher said:

It’s not a racket, it’s a “read and understand before you buy”. Bogo 50% off is the same as 25% off each.  Full price runs about $98 so 25% off is about $72.99 each.  That’s what they advertise, that’s what you get.

No, I get that. That was the best price I had seen before the Black Friday deals which was no different from what I purchased. It then went back up to its normal price and currently I see it as $72.99 BOGO 50% off. You always have to price everything out to see if the deal is really a deal. Is it cheaper to go    “a la carte” or buy the on-sale package. Where I’m coming from is Crazy4Cruisin225 is sailing on the Oasis in a couple of weeks and sees a New Year’s sale for $67.99. I’m on the Oasis in March and I don’t see the same deal. How come?

[poocher]

Different sailings, different prices.  This is not new.  Supply and demand.