Alcohol package on transatlantic?

We had it added to our 2013 eclipse April transatlantic cruise for free and we already had a great price on the cruise so couldn't believe we got it for free...

I haven't been so lucky since but after having it that time we now wouldn't cruise without it, so I guess celebrity did a job on us... and have now purchased it in full for 2 further transatlantic's...

Even though we are not huge drinkers we do still get good value out of it as we use it to the max with all the non-alcohol options throughout the day... It soon adds up and by the night time it only takes a couple of cocktails to be ahead 😊

There are options to get free drinks (coffee & water/juices) around the ship but to be honest we are on holiday so would rather have the good stuff and don't worry about the cost while on holiday... We both work very hard to be able to cruise and a few extra quid here & there isn't going to break the bank.. 😁

I had a drinks package on a TA October 2013, but it was booked via Celebrity UK, who have different offers.

We've got the Classic as part of our TA next month on Eclipse. We had orignally booked it on our last cruise and told it wasn't available, then there was a promotion offering it a couple of months later so we switched our booking to include it.

We had a complimentary beverage package when we sailed from sydney to hawaii last year

Apologies - us Brits have a different definition of Soda ! I meant the machine provided fruit punch, orange, iced tea etc at the Mast grill and Oceanviw.

Our room bill for 14 days was just over $1000 which included two meals in Murano ( one with a matching wine flight).

Apologies - us Brits have a different definition of Soda ! I meant the machine provided fruit punch, orange, iced tea etc at the Mast grill and Oceanviw.

 

Our room bill for 14 days was just over $1000 which included two meals in Murano ( one with a matching wine flight).

Thanks for the follow up.

BOTTOM LINE IS:

IF YOUR HELD CAPTIVE FOR 10 DAYS...... Get a Trans-Atlantic LIQUOR PACKAGE FROM A Major Cruise Line Other Than CELEBRITY. :D:cool::D

We were on the April, 2015 TA on the Constellation. We do not drink specialty coffees or bottled waters. We sometimes have a bottle of wine with dinner. My wife does drink two or three 12 oz. cans of Coke Zero every day.

Before we left Fort Lauderdale we stopped at Winn Dixie and purchased two six packs of 16 oz. Coke Zero, two bottles of wine, and several bags of chips, peanuts, some limes, and a six pack of tonic water. When we got on board I bought an in room bar set up of a bottle of gin. Total cost for the gin $86 and included some mixers and mixed nuts. The Coke Zero took us to Funchal where we bought another six pack, plus one more in Alicante. Our onboard beverage purchases totaled $360. No special beverage packages other than the regular packages were offered. We choose not to buy a beverage package, and thought we made the right decision for our drinking pattern.

I rarely drink alcohol in my normal day to day life; however, I do enjoy my drinks on vacation. My other half purchased a drink package on our Hawaii cruise a few years back when the packages were still in the testing phase. It was a great deal for him. I never purchased a drink package until our 10 night cruise out of Panama last April. After that cruise we decided we wouldn't cruise without one. Although I find I drink more than I ever would without it, I also try all kinds of drinks that I would never experience if I had to purchase by the drink. I've found I like all kinds of spirits I just assumed I'd not like. But having said that, including the part about not cruising without a package, I wouldn't purchase it for a transatlantic. We've been on one TA (15 nights), and I'd never be able to drink that much to come anywhere close to breaking even. I barely made on the 10 night cruise...lol. On our TA, a bartender told us that only about 30-40 people on the entire ship had a package.

On our TA, a bartender told us that only about 30-40 people on the entire ship had a package.

I suspect that has a lot to do with the fact that TAs are often excluded from comp. package deals.

 

Before we left Fort Lauderdale we stopped at Winn Dixie and purchased two six packs of 16 oz. Coke Zero, two bottles of wine, and several bags of chips, peanuts, some limes, and a six pack of tonic water. When we got on board I bought an in room bar set up of a bottle of gin. Total cost for the gin $86 and included some mixers and mixed nuts. The Coke Zero took us to Funchal where we bought another six pack, plus one more in Alicante. Our onboard beverage purchases totaled $360. No special beverage packages other than the regular packages were offered. We choose not to buy a beverage package, and thought we made the right decision for our drinking pattern.

Thanks!

This may be a little off topic, but we're going out of Ft Lauderdale and were thinking of doing something similar. Did you rent a car there or did you stay somewhere where you could walk/taxi to Winn Dixie?

 

But having said that, including the part about not cruising without a package, I wouldn't purchase it for a transatlantic. We've been on one TA (15 nights), and I'd never be able to drink that much to come anywhere close to breaking even. I barely made on the 10 night cruise...lol. On our TA, a bartender told us that only about 30-40 people on the entire ship had a package.

I find it to be the other way around... With all the sea days on a transatlantic cruse I find it very easy to get up to the package limit & most days before sunset... [emoji16] and I never drink normally unless on a cruise...

We do use it for everything it includes so lots of water, soft drinks, coffees & pool drinks etc so with a couple of cocktails/martinis pre/post dinner and we are quids (dollars) in...

Each to their own but we wouldn't cruise without it and most definitely would buy the premium package for our TAs [emoji483][emoji41]

I find it to be the other way around... With all the sea days on a transatlantic cruse I find it very easy to get up to the package limit & most days before sunset... [emoji16] and I never drink normally unless on a cruise...

 

We do use it for everything it includes so lots of water, soft drinks, coffees & pool drinks etc so with a couple of cocktails/martinis pre/post dinner and we are quids (dollars) in...

 

Each to their own but we wouldn't cruise without it and most definitely would buy the premium package for our TAs [emoji483][emoji41]

Us too :) We got the classic package free - cost us only £101 each to upgrade to premium - looking forward to those nice martinis- we love TA cruises.

Maybe we UK cruisers could have a thread to let fellow cruisers know when the TA is available with free drinks package. I only found out totally by accident when I called to price our cruise - I asked if the drinks pack was available as Celebrity were offering 123 at the time. I was offered one of the "123". So - any UKers up for this? I for sure will do it. Anyone checking future TA cruises and finds free drinks - post it up for UK cruisers ? I am in! Fingers crossed!

Unfortunately no free classic package on our 19 night Tahitian Treasure Cruise next Sept but just off a 1 week NCL Getaway cruise where it was. We kept all our bar receipts and we certainly got good use out of it.

But having said that, including the part about not cruising without a package, I wouldn't purchase it for a transatlantic. We've been on one TA (15 nights), and I'd never be able to drink that much to come anywhere close to breaking even. I barely made on the 10 night cruise...lol. On our TA, a bartender told us that only about 30-40 people on the entire ship had a package.

Agree.... on our Eclipse TA this spring we did not have one and we drank what we wanted when we wanted and we weren't even close to what even the classic package would have cost for those 16 nights.... those are long cruises and there are just some days that you don't consume that much...especially towards the end when you are at a port nearly every day...busy and too tired at the end of the day to imbibe that much when the next day is another port to experience....

But to each his own...that's why we have choices!!:)

Us too :) We got the classic package free - cost us only £101 each to upgrade to premium - looking forward to those nice martinis- we love TA cruises.

 

 

 

Maybe we UK cruisers could have a thread to let fellow cruisers know when the TA is available with free drinks package. I only found out totally by accident when I called to price our cruise - I asked if the drinks pack was available as Celebrity were offering 123 at the time. I was offered one of the "123". So - any UKers up for this? I for sure will do it. Anyone checking future TA cruises and finds free drinks - post it up for UK cruisers ? I am in! Fingers crossed!

Great find... Which ship & date is this on? [emoji4]

Great find... Which ship & date is this on? [emoji4]

We are on Equinox ex Barcelona 27th october

I find it to be the other way around... With all the sea days on a transatlantic cruse I find it very easy to get up to the package limit & most days before sunset... [emoji16] and I never drink normally unless on a cruise...

 

We do use it for everything it includes so lots of water, soft drinks, coffees & pool drinks etc so with a couple of cocktails/martinis pre/post dinner and we are quids (dollars) in...

 

Each to their own but we wouldn't cruise without it and most definitely would buy the premium package for our TAs [emoji483][emoji41]

Exactly, everyone's different. i just run out of steam being able to drink that many consecutive days. Now my other half...no problem. He'd get his money's worth on a world cruise...lol.

we normally look at what country is giving the best deal so for example on last years t/a and our forthcoming t/a we booked in the u.k. as normally about october/november time they offer a drinks package with a t/a....then for cruises which are not a t/a we book with a u.s. travel agent as we find the cost is lower than booking in the uk and you can secure the drinks package through 123 go or bigger best ................

ScarlettMLB:

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on 17th Street in FLL. We walked to the Winn Dixie (5-10 minutes), made our purchases, walked back. We took a cab to the cruise ship. The drinks fit in a big canvas zippered tote bag which we checked with our other luggage.

We have just returned from a TP from Vancouver to Shanghai. We bought the Classic package which worked out c$55 pppd. We didn't think the Premium package made enough difference. When you take into account specialist coffe, water, soft drinks and alcoholic drinks it was excellent value. You can order a Martini at any bar except the Martini bar but we spent most evenings there drinking G&T as we are not keen on Martini's. One thing to be aware of is the "happy hours" around the ship and complementary drinks you can get if you are prepared to work hard at it! I would suggest thinking what you might drink per day, average $5 per drink + gratuity and see what you think. You can always buy the package after a few days if you think it's worth it.

celebrity should offer a basic package for couples it would be cheaper for cruisers and the celebrity would probably have more takers

I've seen a lot of threads about alcohol packages, but none geared specifically to Transatlantic cruises. (Sorry if I missed them.)

 

My fiance and I are booked on a TA in 6 months for our honeymoon. We've cruised together several times and, even though we enjoy our fancy drinks, have never booked a package and always felt we came out ahead buying by the drinks individually. Our thought, though, was to get a drink package for our honeymoon so we could just enjoy ourselves and not think about it.

 

I just looked at the price - it comes out to $77/night per person (which is over $1000/person for a 14 night cruise). That seems outrageous to me - that's 6 of the priciest drinks per day. I know fresh squeezed juices and bottled water and sodas and everything are included as well, but I'm having a hard time picturing using that much - especially since the 2nd week is fairly port intensive and we won't be drinking as much on ship. Plus you can usually come by free alcohol onboard without too much trouble randomly through the cruise (bottle of wine in stateroom first night, champagne at art auction, etc).

 

I've been of the impression that many people who get the alcohol packages got the basic package as part of 123 Go and then upgrade for a reasonable price (or stick with basic) - but 123 Go doesn't include TA's.

 

Are there ever drink package sales or offers that include TA's? Is there a way to get a drink package for just the sea days (I'm assuming no)? Does the price for the package go down at any point (ie: after final payment)? If not, is it really worth paying full price for a drink package on a TA? Has anyone here done so and are glad they did?

 

We'd definitely need the premium package and not the basic drink package, as my fiance loves his craft beer and I love my nice cocktails.

Just asked this question while booking a TA-- no "perks"... captive audience. We'll be buying 2 bev packages...

celebrity should offer a basic package for couples it would be cheaper for cruisers and the celebrity would probably have more takers

Welcome to Cruise Critic; but in the future, instead of resurrecting a three-year old thread, just start a new thread :)

To your point, Celebrity already offers three levels of alcoholic beverage packages: Standard, Classic & Premium. So I doubt they would ever consider adding a fourth!

We did a TA this past November. A few weeks beforehand the cruise, Celebrity offered a 50% on the classic package. We did purchase that as we like fresh OJ in the morning and speciality coffees as well as drinks. We are not big drinkers but this worked out well for us. I can't remember if someone on our roll called mentioned it but it was on our cruise planner on Celebrity website. It was only there briefly but maybe worth checking everyday as you get closer to your cruise. Oh we just paid the difference for drinks above the classic price but you can upgrade on the ship.

Welcome to Cruise Critic; but in the future, instead of resurrecting a three-year old thread, just start a new thread :)

 

To your point, Celebrity already offers three levels of alcoholic beverage packages: Standard, Classic & Premium. So I doubt they would ever consider adding a fourth!

There are no specials for free beverage packages because of two reasons. Lots of sea days. You are almost always on board. Also the fares are often less than a comparable 7 day cruise. Can't have it both ways. Either get a cheap fare or free drinks. In reality you pay for the perks.

Also TAs are very popular and sell out. Often cheaper to cruise to or from Europe than fly. Most cruisers are older.