New cruiser confused about perks and packages

I am a first time Celebrity cruiser, but a long time Royal Caribbean cruiser. I am trying to understand the Two Perks promotion, in particular, the Classic Beverage package and its benefit to someone who does not drink alcohol. In this case, I drink some, but wife does not consume any alcohol at all.

So what happens in this case? Can they downgrade the Classic Beverage package into the Premium Non-alcohol Package? Or does it stay the Classic Beverage package, but the passenger merely uses only the non-alcoholic offerings in that package?

It is a bit complicated because my wife would prefer to have the Premium Non-alcohol Package in order to get premium bottled waters, and I think the Classic Package does not include those. Correct?

Couple of other questions:

If a I have the Classic Package and I order a beer that is over the limit, do I pay only the difference (that is how it is Royal Caribbean)?

If my wife has the Classic Package and she orders a virgin Pina Colada, that is covered right?

Any advice or help would be appreciated.

Welcome to X :)

There have been some people who have had success going to guest relations and getting their Classic Alcohol Package "reduced" to the Premium Non-Alcoholic Package. Not guaranteed, but worth asking. Make sure to ask about it BEFORE either of you get a beverage at a bar!

Regarding the overages, the Classic makes you pay the full amount. Example, a $10 beer costs you $10 + 18% gratuity ($11.80, the same as if you had no package). With the Premium Alcohol Package, you pay the difference. Example, a $15 glass of wine costs you $15-$13 = $2 + $18% gratuity ($2.36). Hope that helps.

With the Classic Package you will pay the entire price of a drink over the price limit. Only the Premium package people pays the difference when a drink is over the price limit. Sorry, but I don't know how successful passengers have been in exchanging from Classic to Premium Non-Alcoholic Package. We've only had the Classic and the only water I've ever bought extra has been sparkling like Pellogrino. Your DW will be fine with any virgin frozen drink.

Per the Classic package,,,is there a dollar amount per drink that you must stay within? I am also confused about this package. Will Celebrity supply us with any info regarding what we can and cannot drink that is included? Thanks

Yes there is a $ amount limit that is covered. The X website lists it. It's a different amount for beer, wine and liquor. The easiest way to deal with the $ limits is to tell the bartender when you order what level Package you have and he'll tell you if it's covered. If you are not looking for the higher brands of liquor most any mixed drink is covered. And even on the Classic the brands used are pretty good.

Here are a couple of links that may help regarding the beverage packages... as previously stated, just let the bartender know you have the classic and ask if "xyz drink" is included. Most drinks are included (mojito, bloody mary, etc.), they just use different brands. The exception has been the Martini Bar and the World Class Bar where most beverages are "premium priced". As always, each ship is slightly different, so it's not pure science.

https://secure.celebritycruises.com/celebrity/media/celebrity/shared_assets/pdf/Classic-Premium-Bev-Pckgs.pdf

http://www.celebritycruises.com/onboard-celebrity/onboard-beverage-packages#onboard_beverage_packages_premium_classic_tab/onboard/asrPanel?pagename=onboard_beverage_packages_premium_classic

Thanks for the info :)

Wow. I am grateful for the helpful answers to my questions. I am starting to understand.

If we opt for the Classic package, I would probably upgrade it to Premium (for $10/day extra, I think). It is not that I drink that much, but for me it is more about quality than quantity.

As for my wife, she would probably attempt to downgrade to the Premium Non-alcohol package, and if not permitted, then try to make due with non-alcohol parts of the Classic. She can probably due without Sam Pellogrino. She does like sparkling water, club soda, and she is very fond of specialty teas. Are those included in the Classic package? Some ships seem to have smoothies. Are those included?

Astro1861. We've discovered that one drink over the package limit is the same as upgrading to Premium ($11.80 per day). We've not had any problem changing a Classic package to a Premium & other to a Premium non-alcoholic. That way you get the Premium waters on both as well

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If you are getting a "mixed" drink, you do NOT need "top shelf" liquor....it's mixed and you can't really tell the difference....All of their "bar" liquor is good stuff...they don't use crappy booze.

If you are getting a "mixed" drink, you do NOT need "top shelf" liquor....it's mixed and you can't really tell the difference....All of their "bar" liquor is good stuff...they don't use crappy booze.

It depends on the drink. Most of them you would need a pretty spectacular palate to tell the difference. Others you certainly can tell. It depends what your go to drinks are. With a lot of the "classics" many folks will be able to tell if they are made with low end liquor. A Manhattan for instance can taste very different depending on the whiskey used. If it's a fruity drink, pina colada, margarita, mojito I doubt anyone can tell. But if you like Martini style drinks or high end cocktails then upgrade (world class bar). I always do, my wife does not. She is quite happy with the drinks available in the classic package, and she hates the Evian water in the premium. When ever I go get us water I have to tell the bartenders to give me the water from the classic package.

We are regulars on Eclipse. The classic package includes some speciality teas (only inCafe Al Bacio) & coffee, sodas, frozen drinks & juices.

Do not understand comment from killsport as we use Martini bar every night when on board and drinks such as Jack Daniels, Canadian Club, Johnnie Walker Red, Beefeater, Absolut, Bacardi etc. etc. are all on Classic package.

It is true it does not stock "unbranded" spirits as some of the other bars, pool & Sunset for example which are carried for the standard package or cruisers with no package.

One small tip, if you are in a bar which stocks unbranded watch out the bartender does not reach for one of those bottles. Ask for a brand by name. They are all on display.

Do not understand comment from killsport as we use Martini bar every night when on board and drinks such as Jack Daniels, Canadian Club, Johnnie Walker Red, Beefeater, Absolut, Bacardi etc. etc. are all on Classic package.

The martinis at the Martini Bar are special menu concoctions that cost more than the Classic package allowance. If you have the Classic package, you'd pay the full price for one of those drinks. If you order another type of drink and it's under the dollar limit, then your package could work. I have seen Martini Bar bartenders send people to the casino bar when they're busy, though, so this doesn't always work.

On some cruises, the martini bar will offer classic package holders one of four basic martinis and they will serve them in the regular size martini glasses (the martini glasses at the martini bar are larger than the other bars). On some cruises, they will have some other, non martini liquors that they will serve to classic package folks (or anyone). However the key word in both of those previous sentences is SOME.....It really seems to depend on the bartenders, the officers and I suspect one's rapport with the bartenders.

I am a first time Celebrity cruiser, but a long time Royal Caribbean cruiser. I am trying to understand the Two Perks promotion, in particular, the Classic Beverage package and its benefit to someone who does not drink alcohol. In this case, I drink some, but wife does not consume any alcohol at all.

 

So what happens in this case? Can they downgrade the Classic Beverage package into the Premium Non-alcohol Package? Or does it stay the Classic Beverage package, but the passenger merely uses only the non-alcoholic offerings in that package?

 

It is a bit complicated because my wife would prefer to have the Premium Non-alcohol Package in order to get premium bottled waters, and I think the Classic Package does not include those. Correct?

 

Couple of other questions:

If a I have the Classic Package and I order a beer that is over the limit, do I pay only the difference (that is how it is Royal Caribbean)?

If my wife has the Classic Package and she orders a virgin Pina Colada, that is covered right?

 

Any advice or help would be appreciated.

IMHO it sounds like you would be better served (pun intended) to select two other perks such as the OBC or the free gratuities or the free internet.

Several people have reported being able to downgrade the classic drink package to the premium non-alcohol package. There's no logical reason it wouldn't be allowed since it's a lower priced package but think it may be based on who you ask when you get on board. I don't think there's a specific policy that allows it.

So comes down to whether a classic package (plus possible a paid upgrade) and a classic package (hopefully able to downgrade to premium non alcoholic) will be worth more or less than $300 OBC/prepaid grats/internet. It's harder to which one you'd pick in place of it without knowing how long your cruise is.

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As for my wife, she does like sparkling water, club soda, and she is very fond of specialty teas. Are those included in the Classic package? Some ships seem to have smoothies. Are those included?

Yes, all of these are included in the Classic