Am I crazy to even be considering drink package?

[colesc15]

So here's my dilemma. My wife and I board Utopia on a b2b next week. We've both diamond +, so we each get the 5 free a day. We're both also prime in the casino, so we can drink in the casino anytime we want. 

 

We haven't purchased the drink package in years, because it just simply isn't worth it. We spend a lot of time in the casino, and have left the casino bar tipsy many times. 

 

With utopia next week, I want to spend more time at the Mason jar bar/pesky parrot/Schooner and less time at the casino bar at least on the 1st leg of the b2b which is the 4 nighter. I'm highly considering getting the drink package, just so we can spend more time outside of the casino on the first portion. Am I crazy? On previous cruises, the only time I mention that I wish we had the drink package is because I would enjoy beers at the pool, and I refuse to"waste " a diamond drink on a beer. We also won't be getting off in Nassau. 

 

I also can't bring myself to just purchase a few extra drinks throughout the day because when I see the tab of like $30 for 2 drinks, my mind won't let me. 

 

Right now for the 4 night cruise, I can get the drink package for the 2 of us for $811 all in.. I feel weird considering it since I'd be giving up our diamond drinks and free casino drinks, but the thought of drinking beers by the pool/mixed drinks and being able to go through the pesky parrot and Mason jar menu without worrying sounds nice too. The 3 dayer as the 2nd leg we'd go back to just our diamond drinks and casino which would work because I'm usually alcoholed out by the 5th day. For what it's worth, both legs are comped through the casino and I don't plan on gambling much this trip. 

 

What to do... 

 

 

[Biker19]

13 minutes ago, colesc15 said:

Am I crazy?

Only if you don’t mind padding RCI’s revenues. 

[ARandomTraveler]

Can you do it the other way around, do the casino for the first leg and get alcoholed out, that way your Diamond drinks go further the second leg, since you wont drink as much?
 

I went on a 3-night a few weeks ago and didn't buy a drink package of any kind (I usually get the refreshment). I figured it would be a good test run to see what I spend if I buy everything a-La-cart. I hardly bought anything (2 glasses of wine when I didn't want to walk back to my room) because I didn't think it was worth it.
 

To be fair, I'm generally fine drinking the free drinks and I brought my own wine, but what I did miss was grabbing as many bottled waters as I wanted. I refused to buy them because there's perfectly good free water on the ship. The problem was that the free water was often a hassle to get.
 

I didn't bring my own water bottle to fill, and when I was outside on the pool deck, the water they have sitting at the  bar in the dispenser tasted moldy, like the container is never cleaned. And then at night when the pool bars are closed, the water isn't set out at the bar anymore, so you end up having to go down to the promenade or up to the windjammer or to sorrentos etc to find the free water, and then carry it in a cup (which can't be tossed in your pool bag for later), it was just annoying. 
 

I learned from that experiment that I will choose not to pay out of pocket for drinks very often, even when it becomes a major hassle just to get water. And I didn't buy any non-alcoholic drinks whatsoever (coffee, soda, piña coladas...nothing) even though I always order them when I have the refreshment package. So I can see how it can kind of "ruin the fun" for drinkers when they skip the drink package. If that's you, go ahead and buy it. I personally wouldn't spend $800 on a drink package for 4 nights. Probably wouldn't spend it for 7 either. But it probably WILL stop you from having as much fun ordering drinks if you don't get it.

 

 

Edited August 17 by ARandomTraveler

[Another_Critic]

Do you really think you will come close to spending $811 beyond your D+ and casino drink allotments?

 

If not, you're crazy.

If yes, you need help.  😄

[colesc15]

11 minutes ago, Another_Critic said:

Do you really think you will come close to spending $811 beyond your D+ and casino drink allotments?

 

If not, you're crazy.

If yes, you need help.  😄

Hard to say. We generally only drink on cruises. I can easily drink probably 10 beers by the pool each day without an issue. 

[colesc15]

One way I'm looking at it.. It'll keep me out of the casino as often.. So spending the $800 could save me likely $5k or more that I'd lose in the 4 nights in the casino lol. 

[ARandomTraveler]

1 minute ago, colesc15 said:

One way I'm looking at it.. It'll keep me out of the casino as often.. So spending the $800 could save me likely $5k or more that I'd lose in the 4 nights in the casino lol. 

Well that's another way to weight the benefit 😂 If you're gonna gamble more than $800 then you may as well buy the drink package because it sounds like it also has a non-monetary value to you. The convenience factor is discussed on here a lot, and everyone's price sensitivity for convenience is different. It wouldn't be worth $100/day to me for that convenience but I might spend $50, even though I wouldn't technically get my moneys worth. 
 

My limit on the refreshment package is $23/day. I've seen the alcohol package as low $43/day, but that was for a 12 day cruise and it wasn't worth $43 for 12 days straight (though I would have bought it in a heartbeat for a 7-day). I have a 13-day booked right now that has it listed for $59/day, but again....not paying that for 13 days straight. 

[Sunshine3601]

Both DH and I are prime and D+ and haven't bought a drink pkg in 6 or 7 years.     We used to always bring bottles of wine but rarely bother bringing anymore.    We also stock up on bottled water from the casino.    We use our D+ vouchers during the day while at the pool or Happy Hour.     There have been plenty of times of where I simply stop in the casino (when open for gambling) and pick up a drink to take to dinner or wherever I am headed and do not gamble a dime.   Of course, I will end back at the casino later in the night.   

 

IMO not worth drink pkg for night 1 when you can use your 5 vouchers, stop by the casino for a freebie or buy beer as you go.    When docked in Nassau if getting off the ship and headed somewhere on land for the day, probably not worth having the pkg for that day.  

 

Another suggestion would be buy your beer (or bucket of beer at the pool) and use the D+ vouchers for the $14 cocktails.     Then if you run out of drinks by nighttime simply drop by the casino bar. 

 

As you said it is a freebie cruise, so do as you wish it's your vacation!    Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CruisingHogFan]

I always buy the deluxe package then let my significant other use my diamond vouchers along with her vouchers. This seems to work the best in saving us money with only having to buy one deluxe package and I don’t have to worry (I drink a lot more)

[Iamcruzin]

2 hours ago, colesc15 said:

So here's my dilemma. My wife and I board Utopia on a b2b next week. We've both diamond +, so we each get the 5 free a day. We're both also prime in the casino, so we can drink in the casino anytime we want. 

 

We haven't purchased the drink package in years, because it just simply isn't worth it. We spend a lot of time in the casino, and have left the casino bar tipsy many times. 

 

With utopia next week, I want to spend more time at the Mason jar bar/pesky parrot/Schooner and less time at the casino bar at least on the 1st leg of the b2b which is the 4 nighter. I'm highly considering getting the drink package, just so we can spend more time outside of the casino on the first portion. Am I crazy? On previous cruises, the only time I mention that I wish we had the drink package is because I would enjoy beers at the pool, and I refuse to"waste " a diamond drink on a beer. We also won't be getting off in Nassau. 

 

I also can't bring myself to just purchase a few extra drinks throughout the day because when I see the tab of like $30 for 2 drinks, my mind won't let me. 

 

Right now for the 4 night cruise, I can get the drink package for the 2 of us for $811 all in.. I feel weird considering it since I'd be giving up our diamond drinks and free casino drinks, but the thought of drinking beers by the pool/mixed drinks and being able to go through the pesky parrot and Mason jar menu without worrying sounds nice too. The 3 dayer as the 2nd leg we'd go back to just our diamond drinks and casino which would work because I'm usually alcoholed out by the 5th day. For what it's worth, both legs are comped through the casino and I don't plan on gambling much this trip  

 

What to do... 

 

 

If I calculated correctly it will cost $101 a day for each of you. A better idea would be to add $500 payment to the credit card that you will use for onboard purchases. With all of the other free drinks you get that should be more than enough to cover the specialty bars on a 4 night cruise. At least this way if one person doesn't want to drink as much as the other then they won't feel pressure to do so just to stick it to the man. You may surprise yourself and not spend it all or have money for the second leg.

Edited August 18 by Iamcruzin

[Tree_skier]

2 hours ago, colesc15 said:

So here's my dilemma. My wife and I board Utopia on a b2b next week. We've both diamond +, so we each get the 5 free a day. We're both also prime in the casino, so we can drink in the casino anytime we want. 

 

We haven't purchased the drink package in years, because it just simply isn't worth it. We spend a lot of time in the casino, and have left the casino bar tipsy many times. 

 

With utopia next week, I want to spend more time at the Mason jar bar/pesky parrot/Schooner and less time at the casino bar at least on the 1st leg of the b2b which is the 4 nighter. I'm highly considering getting the drink package, just so we can spend more time outside of the casino on the first portion. Am I crazy? On previous cruises, the only time I mention that I wish we had the drink package is because I would enjoy beers at the pool, and I refuse to"waste " a diamond drink on a beer. We also won't be getting off in Nassau. 

 

I also can't bring myself to just purchase a few extra drinks throughout the day because when I see the tab of like $30 for 2 drinks, my mind won't let me. 

 

Right now for the 4 night cruise, I can get the drink package for the 2 of us for $811 all in.. I feel weird considering it since I'd be giving up our diamond drinks and free casino drinks, but the thought of drinking beers by the pool/mixed drinks and being able to go through the pesky parrot and Mason jar menu without worrying sounds nice too. The 3 dayer as the 2nd leg we'd go back to just our diamond drinks and casino which would work because I'm usually alcoholed out by the 5th day. For what it's worth, both legs are comped through the casino and I don't plan on gambling much this trip. 

 

What to do... 

 

 

I can't see it making sense... 5 a day plus what you get in the casino plus paying cash for the lower cost beers! You'd have to drink an awful lot on top of all that to break even. It can be done but that is some serious drinking.

[ARandomTraveler]

4 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

I can't see it making sense... 5 a day plus what you get in the casino plus paying cash for the lower cost beers! You'd have to drink an awful lot on top of all that to break even. It can be done but that is some serious drinking.

I don't think they care about breaking even, if I'm reading them right. 

[Tree_skier]

Yeah I got that impression too but there has to be some financial sense to the decision.  Just flushing money away for no reason defies my ability to comprehend.  🙂

Edited August 18 by Tree_skier

[expectthebest]

3 hours ago, colesc15 said:

So here's my dilemma. My wife and I board Utopia on a b2b next week. We've both diamond +, so we each get the 5 free a day. We're both also prime in the casino, so we can drink in the casino anytime we want. 

 

We haven't purchased the drink package in years, because it just simply isn't worth it. We spend a lot of time in the casino, and have left the casino bar tipsy many times. 

 

With utopia next week, I want to spend more time at the Mason jar bar/pesky parrot/Schooner and less time at the casino bar at least on the 1st leg of the b2b which is the 4 nighter. I'm highly considering getting the drink package, just so we can spend more time outside of the casino on the first portion. Am I crazy? On previous cruises, the only time I mention that I wish we had the drink package is because I would enjoy beers at the pool, and I refuse to"waste " a diamond drink on a beer. We also won't be getting off in Nassau. 

 

I also can't bring myself to just purchase a few extra drinks throughout the day because when I see the tab of like $30 for 2 drinks, my mind won't let me. 

 

Right now for the 4 night cruise, I can get the drink package for the 2 of us for $811 all in.. I feel weird considering it since I'd be giving up our diamond drinks and free casino drinks, but the thought of drinking beers by the pool/mixed drinks and being able to go through the pesky parrot and Mason jar menu without worrying sounds nice too. The 3 dayer as the 2nd leg we'd go back to just our diamond drinks and casino which would work because I'm usually alcoholed out by the 5th day. For what it's worth, both legs are comped through the casino and I don't plan on gambling much this trip. 

 

What to do... 

 

 

I am a current investor in RCL stock (100 shares to be exact) and I say go for it!!  Spend your money to have the time of your life… you can’t take it with you. Like they say in the Jay Z song “young forever” when the director yells cut I’ll be fine. Enjoy your cruise!!

[MichaelCMTX]

4 hours ago, ARandomTraveler said:

 My limit on the refreshment package is $23/day. I've seen the alcohol package as low $43/day, but that was for a 12 day cruise and it wasn't worth $43 for 12 days straight (though I would have bought it in a heartbeat for a 7-day). I have a 13-day booked right now that has it listed for $59/day, but again....not paying that for 13 days straight. 

 

I was long a big advocate of "c'mon, just get the package and don't sweat when they slip the seapass statement to you at the end", and this even though we'd book a suite where we had HH in the Suite Lounge; but our first post-COVID trip was a 12-nighter that I never saw the per-day charge on the package go below $68 (pre gratuities) - that meant our bar tab was over $1800 before leaving port. That was a bridge too far.  Went with our 2 bottles of wine we could bring, Diamond Drinks and Happy Hour and had a perfectly good time and never felt shorted.  

So nope, unless some sanity returns to the pricing we're done with the drink package so long as the lounge and Diamond Drinks remain unchanged.  Especially because 4 weeks from we're getting upped to D+. If I wasn't in a suite, I'd think money spent on a drink package would be better applied toward a suite. 

[island lady]

Gosh no...please book the package!  Yes, I am a stockholder with RCI.  😉 😄 

[njasmine]

10 hours ago, colesc15 said:

One way I'm looking at it.. It'll keep me out of the casino as often.. So spending the $800 could save me likely $5k or more that I'd lose in the 4 nights in the casino lol. 

This is sad.  You could use some help 

[Jam0610]

Save the money.  

 

[FamilyCruiserUK]

Same the money, your liver and your weight........

Not worth the money imo

[rolloman]

Since you are on a casino cruise, you are obviously prone to gambling. Therefore, the idea you can stay out of the casino is flawed thinking. Even in the unlikely event you are able to limit the time in the casino, often that "free" drink turns into a $100.00 gambling loss while waiting for the server to bring it to you. Personally, I have never bought a drink package and never will. The daily pressure of constantly counting and consuming drinks just to break even ruins the concept of a relaxing vacation. 

[jerseyjjs]

10 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

If I calculated correctly it will cost $101 a day for each of you. A better idea would be to add $500 payment to the credit card that you will use for onboard purchases. With all of the other free drinks you get that should be more than enough to cover the specialty bars on a 4 night cruise. At least this way if one person doesn't want to drink as much as the other then they won't feel pressure to do so just to stick it to the man. You may surprise yourself and not spend it all or have money for the second leg.

 

 

Then add in their Diamond-plus 5/day valued at $70/day.   They'd have to swig down $171/day EACH just to break even.  Good luck with that.   (Not to mention the complimentary casino drinks they'd get)

[not-enough-cruising]

2 hours ago, njasmine said:

This is sad.  You could use some help 

With drinking and gambling

[dwp10mm]

What about calling to get your wife the Refreshment package instead?  That way you can drink as much as you want, and she can take your D+ drinks.  That should save a pretty good amount of money.  I'm Diamond and we usually get the Refreshment package as I like my morning coffee, the freestyle machines and as much bottled water as we want.  This way I only use my Diamond drinks for the higher priced alcohol drinks.

Edited August 18 by dwp10mm

[colesc15]

2 hours ago, njasmine said:

This is sad.  You could use some help 

Lol thanks for your not even remotely useful input. Ever think maybe we make enough money to be well off and if gambling is something we enjoy, it doesn't matter? Guess what, even if we drop that amount of money, the bills are still paid. 

 

As an added tidbit to your message, when we go to Vegas for 3 or 4 nights, we've easily lost $20k before. 

 

Let's not tell me I need help without knowing our finances, thanks. 

[colesc15]

2 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

With drinking and gambling

See above comment. Thanks.