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How much do you drink (alcohol) on a cruise?


trident777
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Usually about 1-2 day drinks, then some pre-dinner cocktails, wine with dinner and drinks at the casino or nightclub til the wee hours ;)

 

DH and I average about $75 per person per day on drinks. Drink prices are pretty much what we're used to paying at home and much less if we make the quick trip to NYC.

 

We're still debating on bringing wine on board for our first NCL cruise next week. Also probably going to try to get some Bacardi Torched Cherry on for DH (NCL doesn't carry it :( )

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How much I consume is different than what I pay for. I bring my own wine, smuggle my own booze so I only buy a mixer or use juice from room service, and will probably have one to two cocktails an evening. My next cruise is 14 days, I'll probably end up having 30 cocktails/martinis.

 

How do you smuggle booze? I'm a first-time cruiser (sailing in July), and I've heard that they actually go through your luggage to make sure you don't have any alcohol. I'd love some tips! :P

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How do you smuggle booze? I'm a first-time cruiser (sailing in July), and I've heard that they actually go through your luggage to make sure you don't have any alcohol. I'd love some tips! :P

 

 

There is actually a thread somewhere about how to smuggle booze, maybe on the Carnival threads.... They WILL take full bottles out of your luggage and give them back to you at the end of the cruise (no, I have not tried this, only read about it...they leave a note in your luggage). I have also read about guys (and I'm sure some gals) bringing flasks or filling smaller toiletry bottles with booze. The only time I actually brought any, I put it in a water bottle. I didn't even drink all of it, LOL. A bottle of wine goes a long way for me, as do the two larger beers in a bucket that are mine. I have taken my second bottle back to the room! Depending on if we buy a nice wine or bottle of champagne during the week, the price we spend can vary considerably. Although we have never done the booze package, we often buy the wine package for dinner. In port, the ABC stores and bars offer cheap alternatives if you want to avoid the ship prices, but not always.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 10 months later...

I always drink on cruises. But on my last cruise I drank over $900 bucks worth of booze. I got the alcohol package which was $400. But I was able to keep track. That is the most I have ever consumed on a cruise. I love Martinis, shots, mixed drinks and beer.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Storied cocktails (e.g., Aviation, Sazerac, even a true Mai Tai made with Orgeat) are hard to find on a cruise ship due to the limited stock of premium spirits and appropriate mixers. Pretend or knockoff substitutes (e.g., not using agave nectar in a reposado Margarita) are just so wrong. So, our pre or post dinner cocktails usually consist of something simple like a Sapphire Martini (made dry by isolation of the Vermouth molecule) or whatever I can convince the bartender to make from available ingredients.

Being from NorCal, we seldom have lunch or dinner without wine (though, again, finding stellar choices -even among the better bottles - takes some sleuthing). And we pass on any special shipboard events that suggests you can appreciate the finer points of multiple wine varieties in a single sitting that also includes "food pairings."

I seldom drink beer unless it's Guiness with corned beef on St. Paddy's or a good IPA with the likes of a pulled pork sandwich.

On a sea day, a morning Grey Goose Bloody Mary is a possibility. Not much for "night caps" except for a once-in-a-rare-while warm B&B.

On Oceania, we find the premier package allows us the necessary flexibility to responsibly enjoy alcoholic beverages.

Speaking of responsible drinking, I am reminded of an acquaintance known for the saying: "I know my limit. But, I usually pass out before I reach it."

Edited by Flatbush Flyer
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A wise man (perhaps he was a "wise guy") once said that if you can remember how much you drank, you have not drank (or is it drunk) enough :)

 

Hank

 

Well it may have been some guy saying it to begin with, but now when I repeat that I'll be sure to say "Hank said..." ;)

 

Lorie

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We have never bought a drink package, but we will each have one on our upcoming cruise because of Explore 4. On our past cruises, we have tended to start our cruise by grabbing a DOD when we board. We have a few more mixed drinks that day, maybe 4 or 5 each. I would say the daily average is 3 to 7 drinks in a day, spaced out over the day.

 

I especially like wine with dinner, so I buy an average of two full bottles over the course of a week, and that's just to be consumed at dinner. I find wines by the glass to be even more expensive than buying it by the bottle on a cruise. We like the martini tastings\flights, we do that once during a cruise too. Our bill at the end of the cruise has always been between $800 and $900, but that covered not just drinks but specialty restaurants and any other incidentals bought onboard, like snacks from the gift shop, or bottles of liquor bought onboard to take home.

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  • 3 weeks later...

My family are not drinkers so I only have 1 or 2 a day. But my upcoming trip will be with friends who drink and we have the unlimited drink package so that total will be way higher trying to find a good balance of not overdoing it. Cheers.

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I'm a lightweight when it comes to drinking - I rather be mildly buzzed than stupidly drunk; so I have 1-4 per day depending on my mood and what I feel like drinking. Runs from cider to whatever is on sale to what looks/sounds appeasing (cost doesn't really matter); not much of a beer drinker. My tab normal goes to $100 - $250 per vacation.

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  • 3 weeks later...

I am very fond of a drink or two (well, five. Ok, six. Oh, dammit, seven!), whilst my wife doesn't drink much at all.

 

I can't remember what our bar bill was on either of our past two cruises but generally, on a sea day I'd have a couple of pints of beer during the afternoon while my wife would stick to soft drinks. Then, whilst we were getting changed for dinner, I'd have a glass or two of wine or a gin and tonic from the stash I'd brought on board with me (:D). My wife might have a vodka and coke from the same stash. Then we'd probably get a cocktail (Long Island Iced Teas are my major weakness) before dinner. With dinner in the MDR, I generally have half a bottle of wine, saving the other half for the next night whilst my wife is happy just having water. Depending on my mood, I may have a Disarrono or a glass of Port with my after-dinner coffee. Then, whilst we are enjoying the evening's entertainment, we'll have three of four G&Ts or V&Cs each.

 

Port days generally follow the same pattern, but I'll find a nice little bar to spend an hour or so enjoying a cold beer and people watching, one of my favourite past-times whilst on holiday.

 

I sound like a right old soak, don't I? But oddly, I have never woken up with a hangover whilst on a cruise. I guess it's because the booze is consumed slowly and steadily throughout the day.

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  • 2 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...

We're drinkers. Used to have about $1500 bar bill by the end of a 1 week cruise (for two of us). We're VERY happy about drink packages these days!

 

Usually mimosa or Bloody Mary in the morning, wine with lunch, something frozen/tropical during the afternoon if it's warm, martini's before dinner, white wine with soup/salad, bottle of red with dinner, after dinner drinks...

 

It's lovely not to have to drive!

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  • 2 weeks later...

 

I sound like a right old soak, don't I? But oddly, I have never woken up with a hangover whilst on a cruise. I guess it's because the booze is consumed slowly and steadily throughout the day.

 

You can't get a hangover if you never sober up.;)

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  • 2 weeks later...

I would not consider myself a big drinker, normally 3-4 cocktails per week at home, but on a cruise I will easily have 10-12 per day! When you factor maybe a mimosa in the morning, a frozen coffee drink or 2 with alcohol in them, 4-6 drinks around the pool, a couple with dinner, and a few more after dinner, it does not take much to add up! We always purchase the upgrade drink package then enjoy ourselves with no worrys!

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  • 3 months later...

If I have a drink in the day maybe a iced cocktail or one cold beer then before dinner we start with Chandon sparkly ( equivalent to champagne) maybe have two, then around 3 martinis,wine with dinner around four glasses, after dinner liquor then back to a bar where I have several cocktails, we also have the premium package, back home I only have wine at weekends, it's the social scene with friends on board and that is why we consume this amount per day and trying out new cocktails.

Edited by Lyndaharve
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Just back from NCL Jade TA. 420$ was my booze bill for 16 days. Did 1/2 bottle of wine each evening (they cork and save it for you) ...so 7 x 40$...and then 1 or 2 drinks a day. Next TA I have the unlimited plan...but expect that my habits won't change. I guess I'm old enough to finally realize that an additional drink at no cost, is not necessarily a benefit. Perhaps I should carry a flask and a funnel and order whisky neat...and build up a supply. HA...to much work for this guy!

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