Drink Package-how did you like it?

I'm debating about getting the $55 a day drink package. It sounds so convenient no signing, no hauling water & soda on board. Not sure if I would spend $55 a day. Would be interested in hearing about your experience. And can you use it on a coffee liquor after dinner drink?

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I'm debating about getting the $55 a day drink package. It sounds so convenient no signing, no hauling water & soda on board. Not sure if I would spend $55 a day. Would be interested in hearing about your experience. And can you use it on a coffee liquor after dinner drink?

 

 

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Think about it this way, if the average drink costs 8.50, tip would bring it up to around 10. Have a couple of cocktails over the course of the day, maybe throw in a beer and a couple sodas and you'll hit your $55.

It feels like a lot to me, but when I do the math I know I'll end up ahead by buying it.

I'm debating about getting the $55 a day drink package. It sounds so convenient no signing, no hauling water & soda on board. Not sure if I would spend $55 a day. Would be interested in hearing about your experience. And can you use it on a coffee liquor after dinner drink?

 

 

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We had it for the first time on Allure of the Seas a couple of weeks ago. I am not sure about coffee liquor as I didn't try it with that. I know it doesn't include premium coffees.

For us we think it was worth it. We usually bought the 7 bottle wine package, the soda package and the bottled water in the room. By the time we added up all that plus the other drinks we would have in shows, casino, etc., I think we came out ahead. Particularly if you aren't in a suite or a diamond status where you could get free drinks in one of those lounges. We were presented a ticket to sign most every time, probably more for the additional tip than anything else. I'm not sure how they would split the tip that is supposedly included in the $55 a day. They would have to keep track of every drink you had and every bartender. We probably had more drinks than we normally would since they were all included. Not sure if we got the $55 a day mark...depends on if you get off in ports and don't have drinks on those days. It was good for the bar in Labadee, too.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

I'm in and we 'll purchase the package on board.

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Looking at the packages, am I correct that the Ultimate is $10 more expensive that Premium and only adds Premium coffee and tea.

Looking at the packages, am I correct that the Ultimate is $10 more expensive that Premium and only adds Premium coffee and tea.

You would also get sparkling bottled water and fresh squeezed orange juice.

Thanks

Is the freshly squeezed organge juice freely available or only at certain locations. Would probably like it at breakfast time.

Dining venues, only....for breakfast in most cases.

Is the freshly squeezed organge juice freely available or only at certain locations. Would probably like it at breakfast time.

Windjammer and Main Dining Room at breakfast. Availability of fresh squeezed OJ at other venues depends on the particular ship.

Think about it this way, if the average drink costs 8.50, tip would bring it up to around 10. Have a couple of cocktails over the course of the day, maybe throw in a beer and a couple sodas and you'll hit your $55.

It feels like a lot to me, but when I do the math I know I'll end up ahead by buying it.

Well, it's 5-6 drinks each day, every day. Which can be harder to do on days when you're in port. And by the end of the cruise you may not want to look at another daiquiri for a while. I think for the average person it's difficult to justify financially, although I understand the whole "convenience" argument.

Also, I like to drink nice wines with dinner (say, $60-80 on average, but sometimes more). Sure, I can pay the difference on anything by the glass over the package limit, but there really isn't that much variety of good stuff by the glass. And if it's not served at the right temperature, it's difficult to do anything about it, other than order something different (though I would expect all reds are served at ship temperature). With a bottle, I can put it on ice as desired.

So for me, if I want to order some nice bottles of wine at dinner, even with the % discount you get being on the package, I'd still probably come away spending more money (and having ingested more empty calories!) than just going a la carte, and I'd be annoyed about having to drink warm red wines. :)

Not sure why people say your probably not get to the 5-6 drink daily to break even with port days.

Usually back on board in time to enjoy a couple of drinks before dinner, especially Martini's, then a couple with dinner, then at least a couple or more if you go to the shows.

Even port days I will have bailey's with my coffee at breakfast.

That's about $60-$65 without much effort or over indulging.

8 drinks in a 14 hour day IMHO is very doable.

Not sure why people say your probably not get to the 5-6 drink daily to break even with port days.

 

Usually back on board in time to enjoy a couple of drinks before dinner, especially Martini's, then a couple with dinner, then at least a couple or more if you go to the shows.

 

Even port days I will have bailey's with my coffee at breakfast.

 

That's about $60-$65 without much effort or over indulging.

 

8 drinks in a 14 hour day IMHO is very doable.

That's kind of where I'm at, plus it takes cost out of the equation. I don't have to worry about my 6 day bar tab toward the end of the week.

Not sure why people say your probably not get to the 5-6 drink daily to break even with port days.

 

Usually back on board in time to enjoy a couple of drinks before dinner, especially Martini's, then a couple with dinner, then at least a couple or more if you go to the shows.

 

Even port days I will have bailey's with my coffee at breakfast.

 

That's about $60-$65 without much effort or over indulging.

 

8 drinks in a 14 hour day IMHO is very doable.

I agree. The evening is when most people drink more, IMO. I might have a daicquiri or 2 by the pool in the afternoon, but I'm more likely to have a drink at the show, some wine with dinner and a few drinks in the casino afterwards, so even on a port day I don't think I would feel short changed. Especially if I took a bottle or 2 of water into port with me :)

i loved it, so worth the money...even on port days...its also nice to just get all the extra charges our of the way before the cruise....even redbull is included as long as you get it poured in a glass

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I agree. The evening is when most people drink more, IMO. I might have a daicquiri or 2 by the pool in the afternoon, but I'm more likely to have a drink at the show, some wine with dinner and a few drinks in the casino afterwards, so even on a port day I don't think I would feel short changed. Especially if I took a bottle or 2 of water into port with me :)

Excellent point, last cruise I spent 15 bucks leaving the ship on bottled water for our excursion.

Excellent point, last cruise I spent 15 bucks leaving the ship on bottled water for our excursion.

tip about the bottled water...the first two days, go bar to bar for about 20-30 minutes to different bars getting bottled water, then take it allllllll back to your room in you newly cleaned out fridge (ask your room steward to clean it out for you). then when its a port day or your back in your room the morning after drinking and REALLY need some water, you have a good supply

i found the morning of a port day, getting ready to leave and being like "Oh shoot, I have to go to bars to get bottled water" made my morning more hectic...plus its likely you will need more than 2 on each port day

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It was 100% worth it to us. The after dinner coffee drinks with liquor were included with the premium package, we never had a problem ordering them at no charge. Also the best was the Chandon champagne as well as the 12.00 glass of wine at dinner. We drank the Charles Krug Merlot at chops at 12.00 per glass and the waiter never let us glass go empty, between 4 of us we drank 4 bottles all included in the package. The water bottles were very convenient, boleros was right on the way back to cabin and my last stop to get a bottle. We also ate at Giovanni's and the solarium bistro and never had a problem with the per glass wine. Pleasssssse enjoy!!!!

Another cool thing we were able to do was purchase the royal Caribbean insulated cooler for 9.99 from one of the pool bars. She gave me two beers, one for me and one for my wife, we each had the package do I had to present each card. She told me to come back every 10 min and get new beers to put on ice in my new cooler:) it worked awesome as our pool chairs were close to the bar anyways. It's the small things ya know??? :)

Terrific information SkyKing! Do you know if it's the same price to purchase the package on the ship? I can use my OBC if I do it then.

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Terrific information SkyKing! Do you know if it's the same price to purchase the package on the ship? I can use my OBC if I do it then.

 

 

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It's is 100% the same price to purchase on the ship right after u board:)

Wonderful to hear!! Thanks so much.

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It was 100% worth it to us. The after dinner coffee drinks with liquor were included with the premium package, we never had a problem ordering them at no charge. Also the best was the Chandon champagne as well as the 12.00 glass of wine at dinner. We drank the Charles Krug Merlot at chops at 12.00 per glass and the waiter never let us glass go empty, between 4 of us we drank 4 bottles all included in the package. The water bottles were very convenient, boleros was right on the way back to cabin and my last stop to get a bottle. We also ate at Giovanni's and the solarium bistro and never had a problem with the per glass wine. Pleasssssse enjoy!!!!

Good to know, I was already sold, but this makes it more worthwhile.

Just off Liberty. For me, the drink package was not worth it. We were in bed every night by 10:30 (our dd couldn't last any later). I was SO full from food every day that I barely had room for drinks. Also, the drinks were very strong so I couldn't drink too many at one sitting! I did make sure to drink 'my money's worth' every day but some days I was dreading it! I usually had a BBC, a couple of martinis, a nightcap or 2, couple bottled waters, a mojito or margarita, etc. I was really looking forward to the drink package before the trip, but next time I think I'll skip it. If I had been able to stay up later and drink, dance and party it might have been better for me!!! Just my personal experience.

tip about the bottled water...the first two days, go bar to bar for about 20-30 minutes to different bars getting bottled water, then take it allllllll back to your room in you newly cleaned out fridge (ask your room steward to clean it out for you). then when its a port day or your back in your room the morning after drinking and REALLY need some water, you have a good supply

 

i found the morning of a port day, getting ready to leave and being like "Oh shoot, I have to go to bars to get bottled water" made my morning more hectic...plus its likely you will need more than 2 on each port day

 

 

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Great idea. Thank you.

DrB