Thinking to cancel drinks package on upcoming Alaska cruise

[Calicoskies1234]

Can someone help me with ball park cost on buying drinks individually? We are not big drinkers, prob cocktails at dinner and maybe 1 after dinner. We drink lots of water, bringing a water bottle with us. Will both drink Starbucks 1-2x day. I’m thinking to cancel the alcohol packages and just pay for the drinks  as we go. Same with Starbucks. I’d like to know a little on pricing so I can do the math. We will be off ship many hours on port days too. Thanks for the help. I tried searching but only got convoluted search replies. Will be on the Encore. 

Edited December 2, 2023 by Calicoskies1234

[MeHeartCruising]

I would estimate $8-15 per drink.  But it really depends on WHAT you drink.  Beers are on the lower end.  Fancy martinis are on the upper end.  A generic screwdriver in between.

[TheDawg79]

The general fuzzy math comes out to 6-8 cocktails per day to break even. Beers would be closer 10. 

Edited December 2, 2023 by TheDawg79

[Calicoskies1234]

Those are both the replies I needed! Thank you both. I think since we only like beer or simple cocktails, it’s better for us to not have to drink pkgs. 

[RocketMan275]

8 minutes ago, Calicoskies1234 said:

Those are both the replies I needed! Thank you both. I think since we only like beer or simple cocktails, it’s better for us to not have to drink pkgs. 

Don't forget that if you do not have a drink package, you'll be charged an additional 20% for gratuities.

[cheersforbeers]

Bev ser charge is $19.8/day person. 7 day cruise in 24 $138.80. Beers bought without drink pkg is $8.40. $7/ beer 20% grat. 3 beers and you break even. 

[mjkacmom]

27 minutes ago, TheDawg79 said:

The general fuzzy math comes out to 6-8 cocktails per day to break even. Beers would be closer 10. 

Not even close, cocktails plus gratuity move the needle to around $14, $13 for wine, $21 pp pd is the gratuity, so two drinks makes the FAS worth it.

[mjkacmom]

30 minutes ago, Calicoskies1234 said:

Those are both the replies I needed! Thank you both. I think since we only like beer or simple cocktails, it’s better for us to not have to drink pkgs. 

if you only drink one each a day, then yes.

[destar]

On our last cruise, my sister and husband not big drinker either, decided to cancelled the free at sea drink package and pay per drinks.  At end of cruise they ended up spending more in alcohol than if they would have taken the package. 

[TheDawg79]

7 minutes ago, mjkacmom said:

Not even close, cocktails plus gratuity move the needle to around $14, $13 for wine, $21 pp pd is the gratuity, so two drinks makes the FAS worth it.

Where was the mention of FAS besides you bringing it up? Since there was no mention of FAS by anyone but you just now, I was factoring in the full cost of the package. When the facts given, not assumed, are factored in…my numbers are very close and yours are way off. Funny how details work sometimes

[mjkacmom]

1 minute ago, TheDawg79 said:

Where was the mention of FAS besides you bringing it up? Since there was no mention of FAS by anyone but you just now, I was factoring in the full cost of the package. When the facts given, not assumed, are factored in…my numbers are very close and yours are way off. Funny how details work sometimes

Lol literally no one buys that package for full price because it’s offered for “free” as a perk, the only reason it’s so crazy expensive is to increase the gratuity profit for NCL. The OP is trying to decide if the FAS is worth it, if $21 per day is worth paying to be able to drink unlimited amounts of alcoholic beverages. 

Unless someone maxes out at one drink per day, yes, it’s almost always the best deal.

[Calicoskies1234]

Ok, now with more info I think we will just keep the package and maybe we drink more and be merry!

[destar]

Just now, Calicoskies1234 said:

Ok, now with more info I think we will just keep the package and maybe we drink more and be merry!

Why not, you are on a vacation, enjoy yourselves.

[Calicoskies1234]

It’s a calorie thing, we’ve eliminated a lot of sugar and calories. Will have to stick to the hard stuff to avoid sugar, even more merrier. 

[dbrown84]

To the OP, if by chance you booked your cruise thru CAS, you can just stick with their drinks, and cancel the FAS packages.  CAS doesn't charge any up front gratuities and it includes water, soda, and specialty coffee, but not Starbucks 

[phillygwm]

The breakeven is roughly 2 alcoholic drinks per day, per person, assuming the average drink is $10-11.  As others have stated, a Bud will be less costly, most mixed drinks will be more.  

 

I advise friends to get the package.  Not that they'll be binge drinking (necessarily) but when you're on vacation, it isn't difficult to put away a couple drinks...especially on a sea day.

 

As for the casino drinks, point taken, as long as you only expect to drink in the casino.  That isn't going to help you if you want a glass of something with dinner.

 

Edited December 2, 2023 by phillygwm

[destar]

3 hours ago, phillygwm said:

The breakeven is roughly 2 alcoholic drinks per day, per person, assuming the average drink is $10-11.  As others have stated, a Bud will be less costly, most mixed drinks will be more.  

I think the FAS package included at booking starts at $89pppd, you only pay the 20% gratuities. The package covers drinks up to $15 dollars, so you need to consume  at least 6-8 drinks/cocktails a day to break even. 

[zqvol]

33 minutes ago, destar said:

I think the FAS package included at booking starts at $89pppd, you only pay the 20% gratuities. The package covers drinks up to $15 dollars, so you need to consume  at least 6-8 drinks/cocktails a day to break even. 

As has been explained you only pay the gratuities, so 2 drinks covers it. 

[depplep]

Also, if you don't have the FAS+ you will have to pay per drink at Starbucks. Not sure if this was mentioned, I may have missed that.

[complawyer]

i was about to do the same. whenever we have the drink package, i tend to drink more than i normally would. we're booked on the 17 day rio to lisbon next april.

the drink package is 370 per person for 17 days it broke down to $21 per day. i usually have at least 4-6 cokes per day, and they are over $3.00. my wife likes sparking water. and a glass of reisling with dinner. i like a chivas prior to, and a glass of port after. in the long run, it was cheaper to keep the package. by the way, neither of us are big drinkers when we're home, which is why i was going to cancel. But, a cold heineken after a long, hot shore excursion, cant be beat

[Asawi]

I drink very little alcohol but I like having the drink package anyway. A coke is around $4 or something like that and I probably wouldn't buy many at that price. Even though I'd like some. Since I do get the drinks package I get them when I want them and it kind of feels like a cheap luxury. 😁 And I do add a beer, a frozen cocktail or a Kahlua for my coffee once or twice a day. Just because I can. 😁 So yes, I drink more than at home, but not enough to be worried. 😮  

[DominicAUS]

I love a drink, even if I weren’t a big drinker to have the peace of mind that I won’t have a bill to cover at the end is worth it too. 

[skittl1321]

On 12/2/2023 at 10:38 PM, Asawi said:

I drink very little alcohol but I like having the drink package anyway. A coke is around $4 or something like that and I probably wouldn't buy many at that price. Even though I'd like some. Since I do get the drinks package I get them when I want them and it kind of feels like a cheap luxury. 😁 And I do add a beer, a frozen cocktail or a Kahlua for my coffee once or twice a day. Just because I can. 😁 So yes, I drink more than at home, but not enough to be worried. 😮  

 

I guess it's all relative because one or two drinks a day for a week doesn't seem like "very little alcohol".  Makes perfect sense to keep the drinks package! Especially if you are also having sodas.

 

I cancelled the FAS drinks package for my cruise, I figured I would pay out of pocket if I wanted a mocktail, but in the end, didn't get any at all, since I added the soda package, soda was enough for me. Even that gets a bit expensive per day (I think it's about $9 per day? As opposed to $22 for the FAS package) so next cruise will probably be water only and buy a soda at dinner every few days.

 

I have never taken a cruise where I've spent $22 a day on drinks, so for me, that free package is really expensive!

 

 

[Asawi]

1 minute ago, skittl1321 said:

 

 

I have never taken a cruise where I've spent $22 a day on drinks, so for me, that free package is really expensive!

 

 

I totally get that! I'm in Europe and we buy the FAS. All or nothing. It's around $20-25 per day unless it's a half price promo. I probably wouldn't pay that much just for drinks package.

[Liljo22]

On 12/2/2023 at 10:37 AM, TheDawg79 said:

Where was the mention of FAS besides you bringing it up? Since there was no mention of FAS by anyone but you just now, I was factoring in the full cost of the package. When the facts given, not assumed, are factored in…my numbers are very close and yours are way off. Funny how details work sometimes

Every guest over 21 in the cabin gets the FAS drink package if they choose.  Why would anyone decline it and then buy the package for $130pppd?  Kind of a crappy response given the facts on how NCL works.