margeecruiser Posted October 6 #1 Share Posted October 6 I'm concerned about the quality of the wine choices in the Plus package. Can I buy better/more expensive wine and pay the difference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrysalis Posted October 6 #2 Share Posted October 6 yes.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lx200gps Posted October 6 #3 Share Posted October 6 45 minutes ago, margeecruiser said: I'm concerned about the quality of the wine choices in the Plus package. Can I buy better/more expensive wine and pay the difference? That's exactly how it works. Any alcohol on the ship is available to anyone, with or without a Package. The package level simply determines your "deductible", so yes, with Plus you would pay the delta + tax. Note that there aren't really that many wines or spirits that are over the Plus limit, and those that are will be usually about $3-$5 more per glass. VERY expensive stuff is hard to find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillmom Posted October 6 #4 Share Posted October 6 In April I found the plus wines to be "lacking" to say the least, at least the reds. For $1 to $3 (plus 18% on the $1-$3) there were much better choices. I did watch them sell a bottle at 25% off, plus tip, to someone for around $50 when, if by ordered by the glass could have been had for under $20. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memoak Posted October 6 #5 Share Posted October 6 We are on the Majestic and for some reason the Pinot Grigio in the MDR is much better than usual and better then in the bars. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arizona Wildcat Posted October 7 #6 Share Posted October 7 Generally find wines at Vines superior to especially the MDR. Big issue atVines is if there is a band playing nearby the noise is dreadful. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crawford Posted October 7 #7 Share Posted October 7 4 hours ago, Arizona Wildcat said: Generally find wines at Vines superior to especially the MDR. Big issue atVines is if there is a band playing nearby the noise is dreadful. Agreed. Get a “double” at Vines and take it to the dining room. Cuts down on the time it takes to get a drink in the MDR, as well. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susancruzs Posted October 7 #8 Share Posted October 7 Haven't cruised since 2019, so anxious to check this all out. Was on the Emerald 30 days in 2018, Vines was my hangout. So. Amer. introduced me to Malbec, generally like the reds. I'm onboard Emerald the 17th. Can't wait. I've been to wine tastings, bought wine on vineyard tours, had quite a few favs in NE Wis. when I lived near Door County. I'm not enough of a connoisseur by any means so I might be quite happy with selections Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margeecruiser Posted October 7 Author #9 Share Posted October 7 Vines will be our gang's hangout before dinner. Can we buy a bottle there and take to dinner in the main dining room? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Fa-Li Posted October 7 #10 Share Posted October 7 2 hours ago, susancruzs said: Haven't cruised since 2019, so anxious to check this all out. Was on the Emerald 30 days in 2018, Vines was my hangout. So. Amer. introduced me to Malbec, generally like the reds. I'm onboard Emerald the 17th. Can't wait. I've been to wine tastings, bought wine on vineyard tours, had quite a few favs in NE Wis. when I lived near Door County. I'm not enough of a connoisseur by any means so I might be quite happy with selections I too like a Malbec,and have been able to find some that fall under the plus package. Also, if you like SA reds, ask if they have a Carmenere. These tend to a lower price point just because not everyone knows about them yet. We enjoyed the two that were available on Enchanted. We will be on Emerald next month, I’d love f you could report on your wine impressions. Have a great cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bosswench Posted October 9 #11 Share Posted October 9 On 10/6/2024 at 9:24 AM, margeecruiser said: I'm concerned about the quality of the wine choices in the Plus package. Can I buy better/more expensive wine and pay the difference? Yes. On the Emerald last April I didn't like the Plus wines at all and always ordered the Premium. Price difference was about $2 a glass so my upcharge for a 15 day cruise was about $50. It was well worth the difference. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare leck57 Posted October 9 #12 Share Posted October 9 On 10/8/2024 at 8:27 AM, margeecruiser said: Vines will be our gang's hangout before dinner. Can we buy a bottle there and take to dinner in the main dining room? Yes you can, but why buy a bottle when you have a package. I would just pay the difference per glass if you want a better wine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lx200gps Posted October 9 #13 Share Posted October 9 2 hours ago, leck57 said: Yes you can, but why buy a bottle when you have a package. I would just pay the difference per glass if you want a better wine. Some folks will want to buy wine by the bottle because the overall selection of wines by the bottle is far greater than the selection of wines by the glass. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margeecruiser Posted October 9 Author #14 Share Posted October 9 I may want to treat my entire party to a good bottle at dinner sometimes. We will probably buy by the glass nd occasionally get a bottle of the good stuff. Thanks everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandancer Posted October 9 #15 Share Posted October 9 On 10/8/2024 at 12:46 AM, Fa-Li said: I too like a Malbec,and have been able to find some that fall under the plus package. Also, if you like SA reds, ask if they have a Carmenere. These tend to a lower price point just because not everyone knows about them yet. We enjoyed the two that were available on Enchanted. We will be on Emerald next month, I’d love f you could report on your wine impressions. Have a great cruise! We were on Regal in August. Did not see a Carmenere. We had the premium package but we would definitely have ordered the Carmenere if it was available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memoak Posted October 9 #16 Share Posted October 9 13 hours ago, leck57 said: Yes you can, but why buy a bottle when you have a package. I would just pay the difference per glass if you want a better wine. In the MDR the bottle selection is huge and most of the really good wines are only available by the bottle not by the glass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare leck57 Posted October 10 #17 Share Posted October 10 1 hour ago, memoak said: In the MDR the bottle selection is huge and most of the really good wines are only available by the bottle not by the glass Yep, that's a fair point. I'm just not sure that I'd pay the price they charge for bottled wine over the by the glass upcharge from Plus to Premier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaska Lily Posted October 10 #18 Share Posted October 10 We've sailed on Sky several times and as a wine drinker really enjoyed Vines. We are sailing on Enchanted in February and see that there is no Vines. Looks like it's O'Malleys Irish Pub in the space. Does anyone know if this cuts down on the selection of wines by the glass as Vines had a pretty good selection. Just as an aside...we were on Celebrity in August and the wines in their "basic" beverage package were dreadful. Definitely lower quality than Princess "basic". Fortunately, they handle the "upcharge" just like Princess. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memoak Posted October 10 #19 Share Posted October 10 16 hours ago, leck57 said: Yep, that's a fair point. I'm just not sure that I'd pay the price they charge for bottled wine over the by the glass upcharge from Plus to Premier. The point is that there is a very limited menu for wines by the glass. For dinner we don’t mind paying $50-$70 for a bottle that lasts us 2 dinners Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justjan2 Posted October 10 #20 Share Posted October 10 On 10/6/2024 at 9:24 AM, margeecruiser said: I'm concerned about the quality of the wine choices in the Plus package. Can I buy better/more expensive wine and pay the difference? Yes. And you will want to. The cab, chardonnay, rose, red blend are, how you say? BAD. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrgoodbar Posted October 11 #21 Share Posted October 11 They have several high end reds that are excellent and available per glass at reasonable prices. Approx $28-30 per glass and if you have either plus or premier you are only paying the difference. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memoak Posted October 11 #22 Share Posted October 11 8 hours ago, Mrgoodbar said: They have several high end reds that are excellent and available per glass at reasonable prices. Approx $28-30 per glass and if you have either plus or premier you are only paying the difference. The difference plus 18% of the difference The wines you mention are not on any Vines menu I have seen. I will still go with a bottle at dinner with the 25% discount with tons of good options 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justjan2 Posted Sunday at 09:12 PM #23 Share Posted Sunday at 09:12 PM On 10/11/2024 at 3:09 AM, Mrgoodbar said: They have several high end reds that are excellent and available per glass at reasonable prices. Approx $28-30 per glass and if you have either plus or premier you are only paying the difference. WOW. $28-30 per GLASS is reasonable??????? 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrgoodbar Posted Tuesday at 05:00 AM #24 Share Posted Tuesday at 05:00 AM I guess reasonable depends on what you like….. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sultan_sfo Posted Tuesday at 06:05 AM #25 Share Posted Tuesday at 06:05 AM On 10/11/2024 at 9:09 AM, memoak said: ... I will still go with a bottle at dinner with the 25% discount with tons of good options Plus 18% on the remainder 75% of the bottle cost? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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