BarbieGee

Excellent. I always like to tip in addition to any imposed gratuity but this allows me to show my gratitude.

Is the gratuity any which I wish to give or is an 18% automatically charged?

We sail on the Paradise in February. We'd like to have coffee in our room first thing. Is there a room service fee for this?

I booked through 3rd party. They sent me an email with an attachment showing 'Cruise Credit'. We paid this 3rd party for the trip, not directly to Carnival.

So, that would be the evening before disembarkation when we settle the bill? Apply the gift cards then?

Having booked through a third party, I received OBC as a reward and I was emailed a voucher. I also purchased 2 $100 Carnival gift cards through AARP website and printed out their paper coupons. Can these be added on to my S&S card upon checkin, then connect my account to my CC? I'd like to avoid Customer Services after boarding as I've heard it can become quite crowded during embarkation.

Cost paying per drink: $543 Cost of drink package: $383 Buying a drink package would save you $160 compared to buying drinks individually.

As I peruse these boards, reading posts about "live" cruisers (very informative AND fun!) the Cheers package comes into the light. The amount of theme bars on board the ships are many and the inventiveness of the drinks are phenomenal. Which leads me to the conclusion: Booze is a money maker. Well, that's a given. But then there are the other drinks; coffees, juice and water. From what I've read here in CC, the coffee served on the buffet and in the MDR is marginal in it's quality. Is this planned? I've read where some cruisers bring their own instant coffee! Is Carnival steering its passengers towards the Cheers package by making anything (free) you drink marginal? Would one drink water from the tap in ones bathroom? What drinks are without a coast in the Lido buffet? Hot water? Coffee? It does disturb me that WATER is for sale. That's a basic need. On some of the larger ships I've counted up to 8 bars!

Same here. I do a 5 day cruise in Feb. I like coffee and am hoping to find some good Cuban coffees. But I also want to try some specialty drinks too. Just for fun! I'm not planning on departing the ship at any ports so I will most likely have at least 3 or 4 specialty drinks, maybe 2 glasses of wine, coffees and bottles of water, per day. I'll use the drinks calculator to see if Cheers is right for me.

After reading several LIVE topics, it is sort of true, this statement. "Heavy pours" will happen! A cash tip of one dollar gets you good service in addition, remembering the name of your bar tender will get you GREAT service!

I've been 'lurking' through this cruise with you @MeganGC1983. I've not yet seen you have your usual "French Kiss" libation! 😉😁 Looking forward to your Paradise cruise review if you are doing one, cause I'll be a first timer on Paradise Feb 6.

This topic has gone slightly sideways in its discussion of personal consumption of ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. One must inject the cost of other beverages into the Cheers equation, which is what I am trying to do. My first cruise, back in 2003 on RCL, I don't remember special coffees and juices being a charge (not sure fun coffees were around then) but now that seems to be a new 'revenue enhancement' item on cruise lines. I also remember curbing myself in ordering any sort of drink (alcohol) because I knew it would show up on my bill (Blue Sapphire martini was $9 bucks which was an eye opener for me at that time) Had I purchased a drinks package (don't remember if that was offered on RCL back in 2003) I might have gone for that. Why? Because part of a vacation is trying new things. New foods both on the ship and at port AND new and different drinks. NOT trying to get blotto. So, my original question still remains - 'When does purchasing a Cheers package become economical'. and it has been answered with the inclusion of ALL drinking selections.... Coffees, waters, Mocktails, sodas AND a few alcoholic beverages. That being said, if one is NOT a drinker of alcohol or the consumption of special coffees, and Mocktails then Cheers may not be for you. 👏

Yes, Cruisemapper is the one I use and is a lot of fun to view. You can select a ship to watch or just 'mouse' over one of the colored markers to see its name. Selecting a ship will give you its location and speed. Fun!

Well, that poses another question unrelated to drinking... how could I make a change in cabin occupants? (64 days till cruising) And if I listed my cousin's hubby as my roomy, well, she could still sleep in my cabin, right? HA! This is getting complex! 😂 All this just so we can get the Cheers package!

My cousin/roomy on this trip is not much of a drinker but she does like her coffee and perhaps a Mocktail or two. Her hubby (and son) is going to be in the next cabin and he IS a drinker. She could give her S&S card to him so he could order what he wished, is what I'm thinking.

Another thought.... how are the staff in policing who is sharing cocktails? CHEERS! EXCLUDES: Beverages promoted and sold in souvenir glasses Bottles of liquor Beverages offered at gangway Beverages offered through room service, mini bars and/or in-stateroom beverage programs Sharing cocktails, floaters, pitchers, tubes and buckets

Now, my new question is: what is deemed above menu price? If I want Patron in my Margarita, is that higher then the menu price? Liquor prices are not posted on the website. How about a glass of Dom Pérignon? 😏 I do like to 'call' what I'd like in my drink but 20 bucks for something??? I realize Carnival needs to make money but the drink prices do tend to be a little more then the usual. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHEERS! INCLUDES: All spirits (including cocktails), as well as beer and wine by the glass with a $20.00 or lower menu price Sodas, Zero-Proof frozen cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffee, hot tea, 500ml bottled water and other non-alcoholic bottled beverages Packaged water in the Dining Room and Specialty Restaurants 25% discount off the menu price for any spirit or wine by the glass above $20.00 25% discount off the menu price for wine and champagne by the bottle 25% discount off beverage seminars and classes --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'll be on one of Carnival's small ships, The Paradise. I've never sailed on Carnival. Hopefully there are SOME of the amenities of the other ships.

That would be 4 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES per day. But I must factor in the other drinks I might wish to have. I KNOW I'd want bottled water. I KNOW I'd wish to have some specialty coffee or tea. Maybe some juice. If I did not purchase the Cheers package I'd be checking my account to see how much I'm spending and I really do NOT want to spoil my holiday with that sort of worry. so..... A Cheers package is in my plan.

Ok, I'll remember to pack some. Four bucks, eh?

good selection! Late night watching perhaps?

No snow yet to traverse? Living in Montreal, we had snow by end of October! 😉

My favorite time of day!

The discussions here have caused me to think, there is more to this drink package then just alcoholic cocktails. I am a water drinker and I am sure I'll go through at least 2 or 3 bottles per day. Cheers also covers juices, soda, tea and wine along with specialty coffee. (I checked the Carnival website and finally, after going through all the layers, found the information of what is included and NOT included - such as pitchers of drinks) Having the option to relax with a cup of tea in the afternoon, gazing out to the sea, is very appealing. 😎 Wine with dinner? YES PLEASE! Coffee with desert after the meal is also on my list. (is there Cuban coffee on board?) And just for fun, how about a mocktail? I am no longer able (nor wish) to consume large quantities of alcohol but the other items will also be on my drinks list. Being able to experiment with unusual drinks is also part of the fun of a vacation such as this (I've seen some wonderful concoctions presented by those posting live on their cruises) Reading all these discussions has been extremely helpful in making a decision to purchase Cheers. When in doubt, ask! and this is the place to do just that. Thanks to everyone! 🥰