Drink Inclusive

[nmarsh]

We have an occasional alcoholic beverage, maybe three or four on a cruise. I'd rather not pay for someone else's. Imagine the number of falling down drunks there would be if liquor were included. It may be funny to watch.

[Z'Loth]

I'm a non-drinker. However, I wouldn't mind if I paid a little more on my soda card if it meant that I could get unlimited fruit smoothies.

How about a "dollar drink card" which gives you all you can drink at a $1 per drink. Why a $1? Gratuity.

[EastTex]

[quote name='stlrboo']I can only imagine bunches of people falling over the railing, and the ship and crew spending way too much time searching the ocean for those who over-indulged.. :eek:[/QUOTE]
Does this herald a whole new age of on-board upgrades?

[Momto5boys]

A no vote here....it would only mean my cruise price would go up. Each paying for their own liquor is the fairest way to go. Plus, you'd get way too many drunks.

I am surprised that soda isn't included, though. You'd think that would be cheaper than supplying the free milk and juice?? Of course, maybe people would drink far more soda than the other options and it would cost them more in the long run.

[MikeNBec]

My wife and I have been to Cancun 4 times, and each time stayed at an all-inclusive resort.......there, EVERYTHING is included......bottled water, all alcohol.....EVERYTHING. If they can do it, don't know why a cruiseline can't. I understand it would add a bit to the price, but it is definitely well-worth it to the majority of the people that post and the ones we've talked to.
I think a compromise that would work is have the option to include alcohol in the price when you book.....in other words, something like 50 bucks more a person and the alcohol could be included.
Just an idea.

[MikeNBec]

[quote name='Momto5boys']A no vote here....it would only mean my cruise price would go up. Each paying for their own liquor is the fairest way to go. Plus, you'd get way too many drunks.

I am surprised that soda isn't included, though. You'd think that would be cheaper than supplying the free milk and juice?? Of course, maybe people would drink far more soda than the other options and it would cost them more in the long run.[/QUOTE]Mom, thats a good idea, but if soda was included, the price would go up, so that wouldn't be fair to those that don't drink soda. Just like you feel it wouldn't be fair to include alcohol. See the problem? NOTHING will please everyone, so I think being able to pay an additional amount when you book the cruise for an all-inclusive alcohol deal would work.
And the softdrinks are available with a pay one price deal already when you get on the ship, by the way.

[Momto5boys]

Well, I was just theorizing that pop would be cheaper than milk or juice (and hence the prices wouldn't go up), but then I commented that perhaps people would drink a lot more soda than milk and juice (if it were included) and maybe that's why they don't include it.

And no, I wouldn't want my cruise prices to go up because of soda, either.

[MentalVacation]

I don't like chocolate. Can they deduct all chocolate-related expenditures from my cruise fare please? And what about non-seafood eaters? And the people who don't order room service? There are dozens and dozens of things that each of us are "subsidizing" for other cruisers, and also things that each of us will never do but other people spend their entire cruise doing (saving deck chairs?). Try as I might, I will never get my dear fiance to one of the sea-day dance classes, but the cost of having that option is still built into my cruise fare. I'd love the all-inclusive worry-free option -- booze, coffee, luxe desserts, soda....... And I am a bit offended that all person who drink at all are being termed "lushes" by earlier posters. I think that is a bit judgmental! On my last cruise I had champagne (2-3 glasses) 2 nights out of seven. I ordered one drink of the day and I paid out the nose for the bottled waters and diet cokes I bought b/c I'd heard that the fountain sodas weren't reliable. I would have welcomed the opportunity to not have to sign everytime I got a diet coke, or was curious about the drink of the day. I am not a booze hound. Nor do I make the buffet-tenders cringe when I grab my plate. They are making money off of my dining selections, and probably off of my lack of ability to say no to bingo (I have no idea -- I don't play ever except on cruises) so I figure a few drinks could be worked in with minimal increase in the fares. After all, they'd still have the Casino and the shops to make some cash. And don't forget the photos. Sheesh. That is where all my S/S money went!

[BabsandPaul]

Very well said, MentalVacation. My Dw and I are leaving on our 2nd *All Beverages Included* cruise next weekend, I'll try to post a report here when we get back. Paul

[richkinkade]

On many tropical islands, rum is cheaper than coke or other mixers. In St. Croix, a "local" rum and coke has more rum than coke. If it's all inclusive, the rum drinkers may be subsidizing the coke drinkers.

[cathyoo]

[quote name='EastTex']Does this herald a whole new age of on-board upgrades?[/QUOTE]

Interesting, wonder how that would work? If your cabin mate went overboard would you than get charged the single rate? If everyone in the cabin went overboard would there be a lottery for the empty cabin? Or if you had been upgraded would they then stick you back in the lower class of cabin? Maybe a new casino game? Place your bet on the 1st drunk to go overboard. I think it might work.

[Rowan555]

I think Carnival should definitely offer an all-inclusive package which would include alcohol and sodas. They have the fountain fun card, why not have a similar card which also inlcludes alcohol. But how much would this cost for a 7 day cruise? We don't drink that much and still managed to put about $200 on our S&S last time just in the foo-foo drinks we enjoyed while laughing at the Karaoke singers each night ;-)


What would you pay for an unlimited beverage card? $200 pp? I just don't know what people would be willing to pay. I also think that someone who has never been on a cruise before would balk at the cost, not realizing how much MORE they will end up spending buying drinks individually. i've heard of people spending $500 just on drinks.

[L2J]

[quote name='Rowan555']I think Carnival should definitely offer an all-inclusive package which would include alcohol and sodas. They have the fountain fun card, why not have a similar card which also inlcludes alcohol. But how much would this cost for a 7 day cruise? We don't drink that much and still managed to put about $200 on our S&S last time just in the foo-foo drinks we enjoyed while laughing at the Karaoke singers each night ;-)


I also think that someone who has never been on a cruise before would balk at the cost, not realizing how much MORE they will end up spending buying drinks individually. i've heard of people spending $500 just on drinks.

[/QUOTE]

I believe CCL does offer this but only for groups with a minimum of 50 and it's $50 per day which would be $350 for a 7 day cruise. A bargain IMO. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

You would "think" that people would do some research BEFORE cruising if for no other reason that to keep the excitement level up, God forbid someone try to "educate" themselves.:rolleyes:

[Rowan555]

[quote name='livtojump']
You would "think" that people would do some research BEFORE cruising if for no other reason that to keep the excitement level up, God forbid someone try to "educate" themselves.:rolleyes:[/QUOTE]

It's amazing to me how many people "fly by the seat of their pants" when it comes to things like vacationing. In this day and age, I guess I just expect people to have the common sense to hop on the internet and get answers to just about any question. But even people with internet access at home so often don't even THINK to use that access to get information that would help them. My dad was just in the hospital for a week, and the doctor told him the condition he had, but it was a LONG word and my dad forgot. My mom was flipping out, wringing her hands, saying oh now we have to wait TWO WEEKS until your followup to find out! I hopped on their computer and found the condition, along with TONS of information on it, within about 30 seconds. Granted, the hospital should have given him some information! But this is just one example of how people just don't have the sense to use the internet to get the information they need.

I'll be on the Sensation this weekend and I'm doing little BUT surfing the internet for photos, details, etc. Not that I really NEED this - but it's FUN!

You're right, though - if a person who is looking to drink and party a lot goes on the cruise not expecting a HUGE tab at the end of the week, that's just plan STUPID. Seems that at the end of every cruise, though, I see people scratching their heads and muttering about not expecting to have such a big bill on their S&S after they spent the week drinking, buying photos, and booking shore excursions through the ship.

[L2J]

[quote name='Rowan555']In this day and age, I guess I just expect people to have the common sense to hop on the internet and get answers to just about any question. But even people with internet access at home so often don't even THINK to use that access to get information that would help them.

I'll be on the Sensation this weekend and I'm doing little BUT surfing the internet for photos, details, etc. Not that I really NEED this - but it's FUN!

Seems that at the end of every cruise, though, I see people scratching their heads and muttering about not expecting to have such a big bill on their S&S after they spent the week drinking, buying photos, and booking shore excursions through the ship.

[/QUOTE]

Common sense went out the window the second the computer came out of the box, was powered up and CRUISE CRITIC popped up:rolleyes:

I'll be on a Princess ship next month and at last count there were 6-7K pics of the ship I'll be on and I've probably looked at over half of them if not more. Like I said if not for the educational value, at least keeps the excitement level up. I go over to the Princess boards frequently to get as much info as I can but rarely post over there.

GUILTY:D

[Julia’s Journey’s]

[quote name='Host Terry']Alcohol does not make or break a cruise for me. My wife usually has a glass of wine or two on a cruise and the the few drinks I have sure would not make a difference. I say keep the price low and make the drinkers pay for their own drinks![/QUOTE]

I'm with you.......the whole cruise goes by before I remember to order a foo foo drink and it's normally on the way home I think of it!!!:eek: :D :D

[Tamhugh]

I would not want it to be all inclusive because I'm not much of a drinker. However, I think the package should be offered to more than just the really large groups. On one of our RCI trips we were offered the package and we had less than 20 people. It was also $50 a person for everyone in our group--even the kids had to pay, although they couldn't drink. We all figured that at about $5 a drink, it was far cheaper to just pay as we went. I was also under the impression that you still were expected to tip. For me, it seems like you would have to be a pretty big drinker to make it cost effective. Although, I guess that "big drinker" means different things to different people. My one "foo foo" drink at sailaway and Loving cup every night after dinner is light to me, but to my teatotaller (sp?) SIL, I am practically an alcoholic.

Tammy

[BabsandPaul]

My DW and I just returned on Jan 16th from our second "all inclusive" cruise. ALL drinks $5.75 or under were included. We were traveling with a group from the Wisconsin Tavern Leaque...as near as we can determine we paid somewhere between $30-40 dollars extra per person per day for this privilege. We kept as many receipts as we could, but did manage to lose a fair amount of them...we still managed to come up with a total of almost $800 in drink charges on our "free" beverage card. This is the amount we WOULD have been charged on our regular sign and sail card. Also, we didn't drink alcohol at all on one day of our cruise. I do have to say that we certainly drank more than we would have if we didn't have this beverage card...it seems that you feel that you must get your moneys' worth out of the card and hence use it more than you might normally do. We also did use our cards quite a bit for water and sodas. As for the people using these cards stumbling drunk all over the ship, we did not see this. In fact we talked to many people on board and to several on these boards after returning who commented on how much fun the WTL group was. I realize of course that we could not be everywhere at once on this ship, but we heard nothing but favorable comments about the Tavern league group. Hope this helps, Paul

[GottaLuvCruising]

I would NOT want my cruise fare to include alcohol. We drink minimally and I don't want to supplement the cost for heavy drinkers. Plus, of at least as much concern, I wouldn't want Carnival to return to the "party boat" atmosphere of its former reputation. I'm afraid that would happen if drinks were included.

[scotnickel]

[quote name='SevenVII']I voted yes, but I thought you meant included in a special package. I dont think that everyone shoudl pay for it, just offered to those who want an all-inclusive style cruise.[/QUOTE]

My thought is pay in advance, if you want to drink. They could make a package price for all of us alcoholic binge drinkers, but also maintain the right not to serve anyone that is polluted. Same as the bars around here. Don't forget all the free rum punch drinks on the Caribbean cruises. Those people usually aren't the fighting type, more the happy "pass out" type. Drink and be merry, overdrink and be stupid. Cheers,


Scott
Cruise Virgin, cruising on Carnival Destiny April 17,2005 from San Juan

[morganboys]

:confused: I hate to offend all a lot of you out there but I don't agree all of this should be included. There are a lot of people who don't drink, drink in moderation, people who drink a lot, and drunks. Those in the first two groups would in tern be paying a higher cruise price to pay for the latter two groups. I see a lot of people saying they hate the obnoxious kids that run around. How about the obnoxious drunks that run around. I have no issue with them issuing a card that allows one so many drinks a day or a cruise but unlimited would be insane. Also think of the liability for the cruise lines. They would increase their prices by leaps and bounds to cover themselves. :eek:

[GoinCruisin]

They already offer unlimited for large groups :rolleyes: And the pricing is very reasonable... Of course some would take advantage of it if it were offered to them, just as some kids take advantage of the soda card (I think most of the "destructive" kids on the ship are the ones that have the soda card and get hopped up on sugar and caffeine! LOL!!! :p ) I think it has been said many many times that people that don't drink alcohol should not have a higher price for those that do, just as those that don't drink sodas shouldn't have a higher price for those that do.... it is something that would be nice if offered for people without having to book 50 cabins though....

[tutak]

[quote name='morganboys']:confused: I hate to offend all a lot of you out there but I don't agree all of this should be included. There are a lot of people who don't drink, drink in moderation, people who drink a lot, and drunks. Those in the first two groups would in tern be paying a higher cruise price to pay for the latter two groups. I see a lot of people saying they hate the obnoxious kids that run around. How about the obnoxious drunks that run around. I have no issue with them issuing a card that allows one so many drinks a day or a cruise but unlimited would be insane. Also think of the liability for the cruise lines. They would increase their prices by leaps and bounds to cover themselves. :eek:[/QUOTE]

I agree, I don't dance and regret the fact that I have to pay for everyone's music.

[GoinCruisin]

True, and I don't go to the shows or the midnight buffet either... maybe I can get a refund :p LOL!!!

[morganboys]

:rolleyes: Last I knew they didn't charge you $6 + tip for every dance or show. They should offer different packages. Call them the non-alcoholic package, The ocassional drink package, The binge package, and the drunk package. This way everyone could pick their package that fits them. Try and put in your 2 cents and all you get back is snide comments. :rolleyes: