Soda Package Gone?

[Z'Loth]

On 3/2/2023 at 9:13 PM, Guppy99 said:

🙄next someone will want a discount because although there is a pool, they don't use it. Discriminating against non-swimmers!

 

The pools aren't exactly designed for swimming, more like wading. 

 

Anyways... beyond the bit of sarcasm in my post, there are those of us who don't drink alcohol. In my case, I don't have any great story behind it beyond "I don't like the taste", "It does nothing for me", and "It's bleeping expensive". I have enough problems in my life to stay far far away from alcohol. While some of the drinks appeal to me in the Zero Proof package, I really don't think I can "spend" $27 per day to get my full use. 

[newcruzer2]

On 3/2/2023 at 8:23 PM, Z'Loth said:

 

That is so discriminatory against teetotalers. I'm sure I won't get my full value with a zero-proof package. 

I know what you need when we last sailed celebrity there were 2 water packages , NOW none and all we drink is Bottled water

[terrydtx]

Last year when we booked our June Equinox cruise with our 12 year old granddaughter in a Sky Suite with us, our invoice showed our GD would get the premium non-alcohol, package instead of the Premium drinks package. We made our final payment on Friday and I saw that on the final invoice she is getting the zero proof drinks package. 

[PTC DAWG]

On 3/2/2023 at 10:46 PM, NMTraveller said:

I hardly think so.  A drink package is $109 per person per day + 20% more for gratuities.

 

Just part of the crazy pricing for add ons X has adopted.

Who buys this?  Booking AI makes much more sense. 

[terrydtx]

3 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

Who buys this?  Booking AI makes much more sense. 

When you add in all that is included AI does make sense, unless you are not a heavy drinker.

[DaKahuna]

4 hours ago, terrydtx said:

When you add in all that is included AI does make sense, unless you are not a heavy drinker.

 

 I agree 100% and my wife falls into that latter category.  One or two mixed drinks and a glass of wine with dinner, and sometimes lunch and that's about it for her.  However, we always have a drink package on Celebrity.  In the days when we did not sail in a suite, I would upgrade my classic to the deluxe but not hers.  More recently we just book suites and don't worry about it.  We look at it as this is our vacation and the less we have to worry about the better.  

 

[perakcruiser]

Also the wine packages seem to be gone.

[gardenbunny]

I was shocked to recently see there is no longer a soda package.  I went on line last week to purchase it for our 4/23 13-day TA.  My husband and I fall into the non-drinkers category and have no use whatsoever for the addl beverages offered in the Zero pkg.  

The cost is totally prohibitive for 2 people!  

We called Customer Service to see if there is no longer a just soda pkg and they said that was correct. DH told them it was a really bad decision.  But the customer service said if we can carry our own drinks on that is fine.  So we are going to each bring a carton with us at check in!

What about families with kids - cruising will become way too expensive.  

We cruise Princess and have a 21 day Med on May 6.  Since it seems that when a one cruise line makes a policy change, they all play “follow the leader”. So I quickly looked on my booking and saw the Zero plan - said oh no - but scrolled down and “just soda” was still there.  Bought it.

I understand they need to get revenue, but some things are not right.  It is forcing future customers to have to pick a “fare package” and know most things they won’t use but buying what you want a la carte will cost more.

Kinda like getting a low airfare  but buy the time you pay for a carry on, bags, seats, etc you haven’t saved anything.

Covid has really put a dent in travel budgets!

 

[jagoffee]

On 3/5/2023 at 5:37 AM, PTC DAWG said:

Who buys this?  Booking AI makes much more sense. 

Customers who get  a free or significantly discounted cruise that is cruise only.  The AI package is not something that you can purchase “stand alone”.  For instance Blue Chip Casino offers.

18 hours ago, gardenbunny said:

I was shocked to recently see there is no longer a soda package.  I went on line last week to purchase it for our 4/23 13-day TA.  My husband and I fall into the non-drinkers category and have no use whatsoever for the addl beverages offered in the Zero pkg.  

The cost is totally prohibitive for 2 people!  

We called Customer Service to see if there is no longer a just soda pkg and they said that was correct. DH told them it was a really bad decision.  But the customer service said if we can carry our own drinks on that is fine.  So we are going to each bring a carton with us at check in!

What about families with kids - cruising will become way too expensive.  

We cruise Princess and have a 21 day Med on May 6.  Since it seems that when a one cruise line makes a policy change, they all play “follow the leader”. So I quickly looked on my booking and saw the Zero plan - said oh no - but scrolled down and “just soda” was still there.  Bought it.

I understand they need to get revenue, but some things are not right.  It is forcing future customers to have to pick a “fare package” and know most things they won’t use but buying what you want a la carte will cost more.

Kinda like getting a low airfare  but buy the time you pay for a carry on, bags, seats, etc you haven’t saved anything.

Covid has really put a dent in travel budgets!

 

Was the Celebrity Soda package previously only $9 plus gratuity?   If a can of soda costs $4 each that seems way under priced. And it was so difficult to enforce the no sharing policy.

 

Princess does still have a soda only package, but it only includes fountain drinks.  Princess has now has a similar Zero non alcoholic package.  
 

i would not be surprised if Celebrity reconsiders their very liberal policy related to carrying on non alcoholic drinks.  In the meantime, enjoy it.  
 

Inflation sure has increased costs for both the cruise lines/companies and their customers.  
 

 

Edited March 6, 2023 by jagoffee

[jagoffee]

On 3/5/2023 at 5:15 AM, terrydtx said:

Last year when we booked our June Equinox cruise with our 12 year old granddaughter in a Sky Suite with us, our invoice showed our GD would get the premium non-alcohol, package instead of the Premium drinks package. We made our final payment on Friday and I saw that on the final invoice she is getting the zero proof drinks package. 

I wonder what will happen to those that have the basic AI with the Classic Drink package and perhaps the eliminated Classic non alcoholic package. N

[NJRonbo]

So, just to verify as it's easy to get lost in this new drink package...

 

There is actually a soda package being offered

 

However, that soda package is part of the Zero Proof premium non-alcoholic package which I am assuming everyone is pissed off about because it's significantly more expensive than the once-available soda package? 

[Raxter54]

1 hour ago, NJRonbo said:

However, that soda package is part of the Zero Proof premium non-alcoholic package which I am assuming everyone is pissed off about because it's significantly more expensive than the once-available soda package? 

That about sums it up. Luckily we purchased the soda package back in June of last year, before it disappeared. I assume it will be honored for our February cruise. I guess us non-alcohol drinkers who have been thanking the buyers of the alcohol packages for subsidizing part of our cruises are now being forced to ante up like the drinkers 😏 Not looking forward to lugging 12 packs of soda on the ships...if the cruise lines don't get rid of THAT option....

[NJRonbo]

6 minutes ago, Raxter54 said:

That about sums it up. Luckily we purchased the soda package back in June of last year, before it disappeared. I assume it will be honored for our February cruise. I guess us non-alcohol drinkers who have been thanking the buyers of the alcohol packages for subsidizing part of our cruises are now being forced to ante up like the drinkers 😏 Not looking forward to lugging 12 packs of soda on the ships...if the cruise lines don't get rid of THAT option....

From everything I have been reading, those who purchased the older packages before the changeover will see their package honored.