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The caveats are that you can't get these free drinks from the bar, and catching a server in a busy casino can be challenging. You can also bring one bottle of wine per person on board on embarkation day. There is a corkage fee for opening it in a restaurant, but none if you open it and keep it in your cabin. The $35 per person, per night upgrade to All Included to get the Classic drink package in my example above was during the Black Friday Kickoff sale, a full two weeks before actual Black Friday. The gratuity is 20% and is added when you purchase the package. That eliminates any additional tip on individual drink orders unless you want to tip extra.
Are cruise line drink packages worth the price? Not necessarily - USA TODAY
Are cruise line drink packages worth the price? Not necessarily.
Posted: Mon, 18 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Does The Drink Package Work on Private Islands or Ports?
The bottom line is that drink packages on Royal Caribbean expand your choices. You can use packages to make your cruise as all-inclusive as you'd like (and maybe save some money in the process), or you can opt to cruise and drink in pay-as-you-go mode. Either way, you'll find plenty of fun cocktails and mocktails, as well as your favorite wine and beer, to enhance your vacation at sea. Those free perks could make the difference in which package you choose, if any. For example, a Diamond member might use her free drink allotment on cocktails and wine and save money with a Refreshment or Soda Package for her other daily drinks.
What Is Included in the Drink Package?
In addition, you receive even more perks — such as daily gratuities and wi-fi — included. Having either package also grants you a 25% discount on bottles of wine, large bottles of water and cans of soda. So if you make a purchase from the bar with the drink package, it will not have an additional gratuity tacked on — your drink is no cost from the bar. Without the package, you would pay the menu price, plus an extra 18%.
How do I know which drinks are included?
In those cases, your onboard drinking could drop to levels below the point at which packages are cost-effective unless you get a bargain price. There are no daily limits on how many drinks you can have on a Celebrity Cruises drink package, but you can only order one drink at a time. The exception to that is that you can usually request a bottle of water at the same time you order an alcoholic drink. For non-drinkers and under-aged guests, Carnival offers its Bottomless Bubbles program which includes unlimited fountain sodas and juices.
If you’re traveling with little ones, unlimited soft drinks and fruit juices are included for them as well. After finding the best Carnival cruise deals, purchasing the Cheers! Celebrity Cruises' three drink packages include the Zero Proof, Classic and Premium drink packages. All of the beverage package options include bottled water (usually served in aluminum bottles to reduce single-use plastics on board), specialty coffees and teas, soft drinks and mocktails. Royal also offers a Refreshment Package that includes all non-alcoholic beverages, freshly-squeezed juices, still and sparkling water, specialty coffees and teas.
The Value of the Drink Package Decreases Every Time You Add Someone Else to Your Cabin
For those only interested in bottled waters, the Water Package delivers six-, 12- or 24-packs of water to your stateroom. You can also look at drink packages from the point of view that it's simply another part of your vacation enjoyment. The three Celebrity drink packages make it simple for those who want an all-inclusive vibe on their cruise. Now that you have all the details, you can decide, based on your consumption habits, whether a package is right for you. If you know you'll be drinking four or five drinks per day, plus bottled water, sodas and a smoothie now and then and don't gamble much or have loyalty status, you're likely to at least break even on a package. Plus, each cruiser is allowed to bring up to 12 cans of nonalcoholic drinks on board on embarkation day.
If you're lucky and can purchase your package at the lowest possible price, almost anyone who drinks a combination of non-alcoholic drinks and a couple of cocktails daily would break even. But if your purchase price is somewhere in the middle of the price range (where most people land), you would need to consume a minimum of $55 per day beyond the average non-alcoholic beverages to break even. That equals six beers or four or five glasses of wine or cocktails. In addition, Princess also offers several non-alcoholic package options, including a soda package, a coffee package, and a Zero-Alcohol Drink Package that includes everything from mocktails to soda to energy drinks. However, we will focus our attention on the ins and outs of the alcoholic drink packages on Princess. This package is valid in all onboard bars, as well as the buffet and main restaurants, but not in specialty restaurants or signature venues.
Estimate If Drink Packages Are A Deal For You
After you book your cruise, you can either call the cruise line or login to your cruise line account. In addition to a likely discount, buying ahead of time also means the package is ready to go for you the moment you get on the ship. Margaritaville At Sea drink packages aren't all-inclusive, so anyone who plans on drinking at least 10 alcoholic drinks will save money on the pre-packaged offerings. For less than 10 beverages throughout the voyage, a la carte pricing may be a better option.
Classic drink package
The Beers, Wines, and Spirits Option includes a selection of beers, wines by the glass, spirits, liqueurs and cocktails in addition to the benefits of the Premium Soft Drinks Option. This package includes a discount on some bottles of wine, the Cunard Wine Academy and their Cocktail Master Class. Celebrity's "Always Included" offers are ideal when booking eligible cruise fares, as the Classic Package is already included and will serve most travelers best. At the regular price, you'd either need to drink a lot of alcohol every day to break even, or really lean into the nonalcoholic beverages if you can't handle that much liquor daily.
Royal Caribbean ships offer a variety of packages, from a simple Water Package that keeps you and your crew hydrated during your cruise to a comprehensive plan that includes most alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Other than the Water Package, which is priced based on the quantity you order, drink packages on Royal Caribbean are priced per person, per day. Holland America offers its Signature and Elite Beverage Packages for alcoholic drinks up to $11 and $15 per serving, respectively, as well as specialty coffees and teas, fountain drinks, juices, and bottled water. Back in the day, the only option for excluded drinks was to pay as you go.
MSC Cruises drink packages: Save money on onboard beverages - The Points Guy
MSC Cruises drink packages: Save money on onboard beverages.
Posted: Sun, 07 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Or, perhaps, the free drinks are enough that it's cheaper to buy a few nonalcoholic beverages a la carte. You can purchase a beverage package as soon as you book your cruise. If you're sailing within a few months, go ahead and get any packages you plan to buy — unless Black Friday happens before you sail. Black Friday deals on drink packages are generally the lowest you'll find all year. You will notice that the Deluxe Beverage Package price range listed above is a bit wider than what is posted on Royal Caribbean's site.
Subtracting that cost out, it means you’ll pay $44 total for the drink package. That’s the cost of only a handful of drinks each day, and don’t forget that non-alcoholic beverages like specialty coffees, water, and soda are also included. For alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees and other premium nonalcoholic drinks, guests may purchase drinks a la carte or buy a Bar Tab to cover drinks. In all cases, crew gratuities are already included so the price guests see is the price they pay. This package may also be used onboard and during port visits to Great Stirrup Cay. Celebrity's Zero Proof Package includes nonalcoholic drinks such as sodas, fresh juices, premium coffees and teas, premium bottled water, vitamin water and Red Bull editions, along with zero proof cocktails.
Drink packages are expensive, ranging from $60-80 per day in most cases. Since you’re charged each day of the cruise, you’ll have to drink this amount’s worth each and every day of the trip over the course of the cruise. Whether you are sitting poolside with a fruity cocktail, or maybe playing at the casino with a beer, or having a glass of wine with dinner, having a drink just feels natural on a cruise. I was travelling solo on this cruise, which made adding the drink package a no-brainer. If there are three adults in a cabin, it becomes $795 – and that’s likely more than most people paid for a cruise of this length in an entry-level stateroom. Drink package in hand, I ordered a second pint of ThirstyFrog in the Atrium Bar while listening to the strings trio play classical hits.
After all, you have to drink enough each day to make up for the cost of the drink package. With Princess’ all-inclusive offers, however, the math shifts strongly in favor of having the package. Princess places a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per 24 hours, going from 6 a.m. If you try to exceed this limit, then the cruise line says it’s “at the discretion of shipboard management and crew” but will be charged the menu price. As you can see, the price for these all-inclusive options is less than the cost of the drink package alone.
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