Why Is Wine on Cruise Ships So Expensive?

[LauraS]

Cruise Critic has just posted the following news:

Why Is Wine on Cruise Ships So Expensive?

Read the entire news article...

[Cuizer2]

The wine is expensive because it all has to be transported by ship.

It has been my experience that when someone has a captive audience (sporting events, amusement parks, inside the security area of an airport ...) they tend to take advantage of it. Of course if you don't like the prices on the ship, you can always go somewhere else - not.

[amunhbuu]

Personally, I think that the markup on wine is so extreme because not a lot of people "know" wine.

Everyone knows what a shot of Jack Daniels costs retail.

Everyone knows what a bottle of Bud Light costs retail.

Most people do not know what some random bottle of wine costs retail.

I priced some out on my last cruise and some of those bottles were going at 400% retail. In other words, they were selling a $10 bottle for $40 + 15% gratuity.

Just my observation.

[Cruising Golfer]

Have you people ever been to Las Vegas and bough a drink? I think not! Booze is just as costly in Vegas or at a Hockey game or Football game...
The fact that you spent thousands of dollars on a cruise and you don't want to kick down 6 or 7 bucks for a drink is just plain wrong... The cost of booze is how the cruise lines make most of their profits, that's why a cruise is still the best vacation in the world!!! Pay the money, have a good time and quit crying the blues!!!

[mpbmark]

I just get tired of people complaining about the cost of wine on board ship. Try and compare the ship's price with a good restaurant has been my constant refrain. I just spent a few minutes checking on line menus at several local eateries and this is what I found.

2006 Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay, California (Glass $14.95; Bottle $47.95)
2009 Chardonnay, Snoqualmie Columbia Valley (Glass $11; Bottle $44)
2008 Chardonnay, Orogeny Green Valley (Glass $15; Bottle $60)
2008 Chardonnay, Kistler “Les Noisetiers” Sonoma Coast (Glass $21; Bottle $84)
2007 Chardonnay, NiPA Cellars, Santa Barbara County (Glass $10)
2008 Chardonnay, Fritz, Russian River (Glass $12)
2008 Chardonnay, Ramey, Russian River Valley (Glass $15)

Ships prices don't look so bad now.

[Roses2]

The price of wine on cruise ships is the same or many times LESS than it is at even a mid-level restaurant.

You should not compare with what you pay at WalMart or your local liquor store, but instead with the price at a restaurant.

[G'ma]

Wine on cruise ships are expensive for the same reason wine in a restaurant is expensive.

If you want it, you'll pay the price.

It's called "business" and "bottome line" and "profit".

The best way to bring down the price on any commodity is to stop buying it.

[FlaParrotHead]

Originally Posted by LauraS

Cruise Critic has just posted the following news:

Why Is Wine on Cruise Ships So Expensive?

Read the entire news article...

Why would anyone buy wine-by-the-glass? Always get the bottle and take what you don't finish back to your cabin (never happens to us). We generally build our bar bill into our cruise planning so there are no shocks - or they are numbed by the wine consumption.

As mentioned, cruise ships are like most restaurants with 200-300% markup on many wines.

B&B

[Canusa02]

I enjoy a glass or two of wine, but not at the ship's prices. Thankfully, the last line we sailed allowed us to carry one bottle per person on the ship.
As for the wine prices being the same or better than a fine restaurant, we rarely could afford to go to one. We save up to go on a cruise. Not crying, just stating the facts. I'll drink less wine on board, and I'll still enjoy the cruise.

[mpbmark]

Originally Posted by Roses2

The price of wine on cruise ships is the same or many times LESS than it is at even a mid-level restaurant.

You should not compare with what you pay at WalMart or your local liquor store, but instead with the price at a restaurant.

Thank you. I've been saying this on these boards for the last couple of years. Yet about every month, up comes a new thread.

I sense from reading the comments, that most people do seem to compare ship wine prices with not only Walmart (call me a snob, but I'm not convinced the wine at Walmart is worth comparing ), but also Beverages and More and Costco. Totally different cost of doing business.

[mickey557]

I was pleasantly surprised by the wine prices on my cruises. My problem with the wine is not the prices but I have favorites that are not offered because they are from this little backyard winery I love. I am not a voyager and find the wine lists scary. It took me a long time to find what I like and I like wine but still learning what kind so buying a bottle and not being sure I will like it is tough on me. ( I love tough problems like this though)

[JeansGene]

Thanks for the research, Mark, but most of those wines are fairly rare, only one appearing on the Total Wines (wine superstore) stock search, a bottle of Ramey Wine Cellars Chardonnay Russian River Valley, $33.99. It's easy to pluck some rare wines, unfamiliar to public, and overprice them, but I don't believe the cited comparisons justify the cruise lines avoidance of main-line brands and subsequent price-gouging of the customers. The lines compete somewhat reasonably on other merchandise (clothing, toiletries), but unreasonably restrict carry-on beverages and gouge their clientele on alcohol prices.

[themadaustrian]

on msc poesia a carafe of housewine white or red containing 2 plus good glasses was $9.20 including service charge in the mdr.the red was really good!
back to back caribean out of fll second half of january.
if that is not very reasonable i dont know what is!!

[musicgal]

Because they make money on the markup. Pure and simple. We will bring one bottle per person for our five day cruise and order bon voyage or enjoy our MDR leftover wine for more good vibrations. No different than outraageously priced popcorn at the movies. What's cheaper than homemade popcorn???? To quote my kids- "it is what it is".

[mpbmark]

Originally Posted by JeansGene

Thanks for the research, Mark, but most of those wines are fairly rare, only one appearing on the Total Wines (wine superstore) stock search, a bottle of Ramey Wine Cellars Chardonnay Russian River Valley, $33.99. It's easy to pluck some rare wines, unfamiliar to public, and overprice them, but I don't believe the cited comparisons justify the cruise lines avoidance of main-line brands and subsequent price-gouging of the customers. The lines compete somewhat reasonably on other merchandise (clothing, toiletries), but unreasonably restrict carry-on beverages and gouge their clientele on alcohol prices.

Well, you may be right that some of them are rare. I copied a list of Chards from a local wine bar that I frequent. Their prices range from $20 - $59 with the average being $35. In my opinion, most of these wines are readily available here. Don't believe any would be considered rare.

Chardonnay
Four Vines “Naked”
$20 – Santa Barbara, 2009
Babcock
$21 – Santa Barbara, 2007
Edna Valley
$21 – San Luis Obispo County, 2008
Gloria Ferrer
$22 – Carneros, 2007
Picket Fence
$22 – Russian River Valley, 2007
Coppola Director’s Cut
$25 – Russian River Valley, 2008
Bighorn Cellars
$27 – Carneros, 2007
Benziger “Sangiacomo”
$27 – Carneros, 2008
Sonoma Cutrer “Ranches”
$28 – Russian River Valley, 2008
Cht. Ste. Michelle “Canoe Ridge”
$32 – Horse Heaven Hills, Washington, 2007
CrossBarn by Paul Hobbs
$32 – Sonoma Coast, 2009
Flora Springs
$32 – Napa Valley, 2008
Simi Winery Reserve
$32 – Russian River Valley, 2006
Sbragia “Home Ranch”
$34 – Dry Creek Valley, 2007
Beringer Private Reserve
$35 – Napa Valley, 2008
Jordan
$36 – Russian River Valley, 2007
La Crema Single Vineyard
$36 – Russian River, 2008
Salexis
$38 – Carneros, 2006
Frank Family
$39 – Napa Valley, 2008
Mer Soleil
$39 – Santa Lucia Highlands, 2007
Nickel & Nickel “Medina”
$39 – Carneros, 2008
Rombauer
$45 – Carneros, 2009
Ramey
$48 – Russian River Valley, 2008
Cakebread
$55 – Napa Valley, 2009
Kistler “Les Noisetiers”
$55 – Sonoma Mountain, 2008
Plumpjack Reserve
$55 – Napa Valley, 2008
Pahlmeyer
$59 – Napa Valley, 2008

I've not been to your state so maybe prices are less there. And with all due respect, I don't recall ever thinking the other items on board were ever a bargain except when the cruise line was leaving an area and wanted to get rid of excess stock.

In sum, we may just have to agree to disagree on this point. As others have said, you're on vacation. If you find that a certain item is more then what you want to spend, don't buy it. But it shouldn't spoil your trip.

[5waldos]

I do find that a bottle of wine that I would pay $12 for in the shop seems to cost nearly 4 times that on board, as compared to about 2 times that in local restaurants. I expect 100-150% markup as normal. I do not expect a 400%. And you have to consider that cruise ships do not pay the retail price for their wines. But as someone noted- you can't go elsewhere. The more expensive wines however seem to be a slightly better deal- the markup is not as extreme.

And by the way- not everyone knows what a shot of Jim Beam costs- haven't a clue. Nor a bottle of Bud, for that matter. Guiness- yep. B&B-yep.

[donaldsc]

Originally Posted by LauraS

Cruise Critic has just posted the following news:

Why Is Wine on Cruise Ships So Expensive?

Read the entire news article...

You have 2 choices - pay the price because they are the only game in town or go with a cruise company such as HAL or Princess that lets you take as much wine as you want on board. I guess that there is also a 3d choice - stay home and drink wine.

In general, I pick the cruise based on itinerary and price and then on the ability to bring our own wine. On our last cruise, we took 2 cases. We like wine.

DON

[5waldos]

Originally Posted by donaldsc

You have 2 choices - pay the price because they are the only game in town or go with a cruise company such as HAL or Princess that lets you take as much wine as you want on board. I guess that there is also a 3d choice - stay home and drink wine.

In general, I pick the cruise based on itinerary and price and then on the ability to bring our own wine. On our last cruise, we took 2 cases. We like wine.

DON

Are you sure about HAL and Princess letting you take as much as you want? We sailed Princess last May and I thought I remember it being 1 bottle per adult. But I could certainly be mistaken.

[thied]

Originally Posted by 5waldos

Are you sure about HAL and Princess letting you take as much as you want? We sailed Princess last May and I thought I remember it being 1 bottle per adult. But I could certainly be mistaken.

sorry I had to Quote you but I wanted to post and it was the only way I could post, so what I am posting has nothing to do with what you said


WINE and beer prices should be cheaper as in Australia the cruise lines pay no TAX on what they put on there ships and we pay top price as well on the cruise ships. I do not know if it the same in the states.

[talosian]

It is so expensive because people will pay the price.

Don't buy at high prices and the prices will come down.

Yes as said: Captive audience.