Royal Caribbean drinks.

What are the drinks prices like on the ship. Can you just pay cash like you do in a pub or do you need to use a Credit card. Is it worth getting a drinks package?

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

No cash needed for buying drinks - you use your ID (Sign and Sail) card to purchase items on the ship.

Ask about drink prices on the RCI Board at this link:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=83

No...anything you buy on the ship will go onto your account....it's not "pay as you go". You can settle your account with cash at the end of the cruise, if you want to.

Thanks.

You just use your SeaPass card when buying anything and everything on the cruise ship.

We didn't find it worthwhile to buy the drink package. We normally drink a decent amount when we go out, but usually don't drink as much on vacations so we didn't buy it. I think we spent maybe $75 the whole 7 days altogether for drinks for both of us.

..Is it worth getting a drinks package?

That's up to you and how much you drink. Here is a chart which gives the prices and "break even" point. I know this isn't the RCI board, but since you asked here, I can provide you with a place to start. Click on the link below; this information is courtesy of member "gambee". I found it to be helpful.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=42935835&postcount=4 <---click here

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Beer is like pub prices here or touch less while cocktails are a lot cheaper

You pay using your cruise card

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thanks for all the info guys.

The chart by gambee (posted above) is great. Just remember that when you have the many of the drink packages (RReplenish, Beer & Wine, Premium and Ultimate) you also get unlimited soda and bottled water and some include virgin frozen drinks. As many will tell you - those sodas and H2Os will add up quickly.

Deciding on a beverage package is a difficult decision (and HIGHLY contested on this website.) Think about:

A) how much you THINK you'll drink, both alcoholic and non alcoholic

B) if you want to worry about the bill at the end

C) and how much is "convenience" worth to you.

Can't say that will MAKE the decision for you - but it might make it easier.

Whatever you decide - I'm sure we all hope you have a wonderful cruise!

I'll respectfully disagree with the dancinman - but it depends which pub he drinks in. ;)

I find US & Italian ship prices compare to UK hotel price, not pub prices. And there's a mandatory 15% service charge on all drinks ( not applicable on ex-UK sailings).

Re payment by signing, as other posters have mentioned.

It's the same on ALL cruise lines. No cash other than (on some ships) for the casino, or for tips if you use room-service.

When you board, you register a credit card or debit card or hand over a cash "deposit". For reasons which I'll explain if you want me to over-exercise my typing finger ;), credit card is best.

All very flexible, you can split the charge between two or more credit/debit cards, you can pay some in cash, etc.

You'll be given a ship's card - seapass, boarding pass, sailcard, different names for the same thing. It's a charge-card for your on-board purchases, and on most ships it doubles as your cabin key & your ID card for boarding or going ashore. Anything you buy on the ship - drinks, dining up-grades, spa, ship's shop, ship's excursions etc etc you sign for using that card & it's charged to your on-board account. You get a copy. Much like credit/debit card purchases.

You can get printed statements whenever you want, or on many ships you can check your account via your cabin TV. Always worth checking - mistakes are rare but do happen.

At the end of the cruise, if you've registered a card you don't need to "check out", just let your card pay your on-board account in one lump-sum.

It's an excellent system, means the only thing you need to carry with you on the ship is that card.

All-you-can-drink packages. Depends on how much you drink, and of course if you buy a package you'll drink more.

RCI is unusual in that you can buy the package on-board at any time up til (3?) days before the end of the cruise & be charged pro-rata for the number of days you've had the package. You can't stop & start, delaying purchase is the only concession - but it means you can check your costs after a day or two & then decide whether to buy the package.

IMHO their wine package (a "discount" for purchasing a set number of bottles) is inflexible & poor value - the house wines bought by the bottle are cheaper, & the red at least is very drinkable.

You're a Brit on a US ship?

Ship's currency is US dollars. You'll be asked on a form whether "for your convenience" :rolleyes: you want the ship to convert your on-board account to sterling before charging your credit card

No. Not for your convenience. For their profits. :rolleyes: They give a poor rate of exchange.

So decline their kind offer to convert, leave your on-board account in dollars & allow your credit card supplier to convert, cos they'll give you a much better exchange rate.

Ditto any currency for spending ashore. Buy before you go from the usual suspects - M&S, Tesco, Sainsbury, Post Office, on-line etc. Or use a debit card in a hole-in-the-wall in the ports.

All just MHO as always.

All first cruises are great, have a good one.

JB :)

We just finished a 12 night Adriatic cruise on Serenade of the Seas. None of us is a huge drinker and our cruise was very port heavy. So none of us got a drink package and just added any drinks we wanted to our set sail card. We had pre paid gratuities so didn't add any tip to drinks ordered.

We are Kiwis so maybe used to high drink prices, but we were very happy with the prices. It was certainly comparable to what we pay at home in bars/clubs.

Cans of soda $2.50

Cocktails $8-$10 (cocktail of the day includes a free glass)

Wine - I only had 1 sort which was $9 per glass or $25 per bottle I think

Beer - ranged, I think DHs was around $7 a bottle.

(all US dollars)

Tea, ice water, basic coffee, lemonade (not sprite but actual lemon drink), iced tea and some flavoured water was available at thirst quencher stations around the windjammer, park cafe and pool deck, as well.