Never Cruised Before HELP

We are going on our 1st Cruise on the 20th Dec we are 4 Adults 3 Kid well sort of kids 22yrs 17yrs and 15yrs really excited but really confused about the drinks packages we are not big drinkers but do like a bottle of beer at lunch and a glass of wine with dinner what are the drinks prices on the boat like if we do not buy a package??? Can anyone help us out and give us any good tips about cruising

Many thanks :)

Kay

We are going on our 1st Cruise on the 20th Dec we are 4 Adults 3 Kid well sort of kids 22yrs 17yrs and 15yrs really excited but really confused about the drinks packages we are not big drinkers but do like a bottle of beer at lunch and a glass of wine with dinner what are the drinks prices on the boat like if we do not buy a package??? Can anyone help us out and give us any good tips about cruising

Many thanks :)

Kay

Welcome to Cruise Critic! It would be helpful to know which line you are sailing on, but for most drink packages the break even point seems to be 7 to 8 drinks per day- drink less than that and it's less expensive to buy the drinks as you go. The cruise lines that I have been on drinks ranged from $5.50 USD to $10.95 USD plus 15% gratuity automatically added. Sodas are about $2 plus gratuity (and with the soda card package 3 sodas a day is the break even point). Gratuities are also automatically added to the cost of any drink package that you buy.

Hi we are cruising with Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Sea's leaving from New Orleans on the 20th December

Many thanks for all your tips

If you go over to the RCI board you can get all of your questions answered about the ship on that board.

Keith

People on the RCI board should be able to tell you the cost of a beer and a glass of wine. It is likely that the alcohol package will not be a good deal for you.

You do not need a package to get any drinks....everything is sold "a la carte". If you do plan on drinking more than 7-8 alcoholic drinks per person, per day, then the package makes sense. Less than that, just pay as you go! Wine runs around $9 per glass on average....could be more or a bit less. You are allowed to bring 2 bottles of wine onboard with you.

For the kids, there is a "soda package".....if each kid will drink more than the equivilent of 3 cans of soda per day, then the fountain soda package will make sense. A can of soda runs around $2.85 (includes tip).....the soda you get in the package is fountain soda, not cans.

Below is the link for the cruise critic Royal Caribbean board. You'll find plenty of useful information there.

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

The Royal Caribbean website will also have some info for you.