bubba2012

 

Is this true? I feel like there would have been more about this on this form. I was on the edge with cheers and this may push me over to the pro-buying side.

 

 

Feel the same way, and I sail in 4 days. The fun shop still has them listed 4 bud light 16 ounce aluminum bottles at $24. But with March being spring break maybe they “tweak” pricing. Although an .80 cent increase probably doesn’t push me towards Cheers.

I was on the Pride in Feb. and the 16 oz. were 6.75 incl. gratuity. (I saved my sign and sail) They went up 1.00 in a month.:([/

 

That’s about right, 5.95 plus 15%. Or was it 6.75 plus 15 gratuity?

I just got off the Pride 7 day and mostly all I drink is beer.

 

A 16 oz. Coor's Light was $7.75. I drank 88 beers in 7 days.

 

It would have been $682.00 if purchased separately. Cheers was $403.00 for 7 days and included other drinks as well.

 

Cheers works for beers...LOL

In your case, yes it worked. But 12 beers a day for 7 days is out of my league. Beer prices seem higher then usual. Typically domestic 16 ounce Bud Light, Miller Light, Coors etc are $5.95 plus 15% gratuity.

It's all a matter of perspective. For the casual beer drinker, which you and a few other recent posters are, then the program would not make much sense. Now, there are some who take advantage of the program all day long. Double espresso over ice and a fresh squeezed juice from the Havana Bar to start the day. Four beers spread over the course of the afternoon and maybe a milkshake around 300 pm. Three drinks at the Alchemy Bar during happy hour and another three after dinner. A large bottle of San Pellegrino with dinner. At this point I am over 100.00 for my tab for the day and I'm only at 10 alcoholic beverages.

So your 500.00 scenario would not work for me and others who know how to work the system and fully utilize Cheers to the fullest. And to make it even better, I prepurchase it to save the five bucks a day and also use Allstate or AARP gift cards to save another 10%. :D

I agree, there are those who know how to maximize the system to take full advantage of Cheers. And what works for one doesn’t work for others.

Could I do what you suggest? Yes, but not for 7 days in a row and probably by day 3 I wouldn’t want another milkshake....ha ha.

I am not a big beer drinker, but my beer drinking friends could easily drink 10+ in a day

Doing it for 7 days in a row is the key. Can I drink 10 beers in one day? Yes, but the subsequent days would be minimal.

It's not a contest. We don't count.

Your right, it’s not. But the countless Cheers threads breaking down cost of how many of this, how many of that, and is it worth it suggests each person looks at it differently.

I’ve been there. We did a 3 night and both got Cheers. Thought the price for that small of time was worth it. Two days of moderate drinking, day 3 neither of us had anything.

We still broke even based on cost, but day two we went against our norm of beer, and had drinks at Alchemy. So truly, that’s the only reason we “broke even”.

We leave in a few days for our 7 night cruise and neither getting Cheers. We figured based on 4 port stops, a couple of days of not drinking at all or a small amount wouldn’t justify cost of $840 for maybe 3 days of moderate drinking.

WHAT are you saying!?!?!? If I did as you suggest, I would spend the ENTIRE cruise fretting and worrying about that final "bar bill" at cruise end...checking every night to see what the current tally is..maybe have to decide part way through the cruise I may have to stop drinking rather than risk a huge bill at the end of the cruise!! And those drinks I don't like...ugh!! Money wasted!! So I'd have to stop trying new things and stick to rum and cokes!!! Nah, much better I throw $800-$1000 at the cruise line pre-cruise rather than deal with all the angst associated with the risks involved waiting for that bill at end of cruise, so much peace of mind doing so.

Everyone is different and if pre paying 800-1000 before your cruise to offer you peace of mind, that’s great. But what if you total all your drinks at the end of cruise and it’s only $600? And if it’s $1200, you win. It’s a risk.

Plus your committed when you buy it. If you get sick or need a day off from drinking you don’t get reimbursed. Our point is geared to beer drinkers only. It’s not a savings if you mainly drink beer, and even the other stuff doesn’t make it beneficial.

Like I said earlier, I don’t drink 6-7 beers a day at home. Why should I expect to do the same on a 7 day cruise just because it’s vacation. I go on vacation to relax, not worry about how can I maximize Cheers and spend each day adding up if I broke even. I’ve done that, and it’s not worth it to me.

Yep, and I think the draft red frog beer is even cheaper. at $56/day you would need 10-11 pints to break even. Not going to happen. As for the free coffee, powerade, etc... if you are drinking that you are not drinking beer, and that stuff is cheaper than beer.

Exactly, and even if you drink 1 specialty coffee, 2 powerades, and 2 waters that’s probably $14 pre gratuity per day. So over 7 days it’s $98. Add in 5 beers ($6 each) per day and that’s $210. So that’s still less then Cheers. And your right, if your drinking all this your not drinking beer.

The package works for some, based on preferred alcoholic drink, and allows flexibility. Cruise lines don’t have these packages and lose money. It’s a very small percent of people who actually make out verses those who don’t. And I don’t see breaking even as a deal. For that matter you can just add $500 on account and drink freely and see how far it takes you.

Keep in mind it also includes water, Gatorade, specialty coffees and most (if not all) non alcoholic beverages so they don't have to drink $60 worth of beer to make it worth it for each night.

That’s true, but realistically how much water, coffee and Powerade can one person drink? I agree with the post, beer drinkers don’t make out on Cheers. I’ve done the math and it doesn’t add up for me. I don’t drink 6-7 beers a day at home. Why would I think I can do it on vacation?

Yep this exactly. I am getting my kid bottomless bubbles this upcoming cruise, me and wife are getting cheers, but she also likes powerades and other stuff they have and doesn't just want soda the whole time. I would buy her a better plan if they had one. So she will 100% be getting some powerades and vitamin waters from me cause I always get one or the other while the wife stops to get coffee.

I agree, it would be nice if bottomless bubbles offered more then just soda and juice. It would also be nice if they had the Coke freestyle machines like RC. I’m sure people would pay more for a better plan.

Realistically, Carnival knows sharing exists and it’s up to them to enforce it. To me, what you describe is fairly common, getting a water or Powerade to stock in room and if your kid drinks it what are you gonna do.

I didn't even ask, and she even had them brought to them at our table in a lounge listening to a band. Chocolate, cherries, banana muslides. Goes to show you how far some cash tips will take you. I also was worried about 0.00% about losing my Cheers over it. She asked for my cards at the Alchemy bar on Vista and said she'd make something nice for the kids.

It was a nice gesture for her do it. Cash always works over the course of a cruise. That’s a completely different scenario and most would accept it if happened to them.

You will benefit more with Cheers when you have kids. Bartenders will be cool and make virgin mudslides for them on your Cheers as well.

I’ve never had a “cool” bartender make a virgin drink for my kids on my Cheers. I don’t think that’s the norm, and wouldn’t say this applies to all bartenders.

Thank you for the menu. I may have to re-think my potential Cheers purchase (I was assuming I'd be doing 2 drinks @ $9, 2 @10 and 2@11), but looks like $8.75 is about the max for the drinks I like.

If you plan on drinking 6 alcoholic drinks per day, even at 8.75 each puts you at a breakeven cost. Plus you’ll have the freedom with other beverages included in package.

The key is will you do this everyday of your cruise? It all sounds great, but some days you may not want to drink otherwise known as drink fatigue.

On carnival, if you are going to a terminal that has check in times, you not be allowed inside until its your check in time. Unless you are platinum, diamond or FTTF.

 

I have witnessed many people who do not understand this and are angrily waiting outside until their check in time. There will be a line of them.

Again, only speaking to my most recent experience. I didn’t have to wait outside and didn’t see anyone either. Perhaps certain times of year it’s more lenient.

Nice! I can’t remember if Magic has gone to them in the mailboxes or not. I would have to go back and look through some previous threads. Have a great time!!!

I read they were still handing out at check in, but doesn’t mean it can’t change. Doesn’t really matter to me anyway. Thanks, and enjoy your cruise as well.

Yes. They are staring to convert the ships to the cards in the mailboxes. What ship are you cruising on in 2 weeks? 4 more for me.

Magic, leaving on March 17th. First time on Magic, so we’re excited.

The times I have sailed they have been firm with check in times. There is a separate line for those who get there outside their appointment arrival time and it’s outside. If you are Diamond/Platinum/FTTF, or have a Suite then you don’t have to follow your time. Otherwise good chance you will be waiting in the elements. There were a whole bunch of people in that line in October. Someday people will learn to follow the rules.

 

You also don’t receive your S&S card at check in anymore. They will be outside your cabin in the mailbox at the appropriate time depending on the ship.

I was on Liberty, Oct 2017 and giving my experience. I received S&S at check in, so I guess it depends on the ship.

That’s not the way it is in Miami for Glory or Vista.

Just my experience and honestly in all my cruises, various lines, never been denied access to a terminal being an hour early.

I’ll find out in less then 2 weeks when we sail again. I have same check in time 1130-1200, and will probably arrive at 1030, park and go from there.

Last cruise I went on this past October our check in time was 1130-1200. We arrived at 1015ish, dropped off luggage, parked (at port) and went through all security check points and checked in and received our S&S cards and given boarding zone 6. We sat down and waited our turn for for boarding.

I love BBQ no matter what state it’s from, they all have unique flavors. I don’t argue it, just eat it. Nice review, we’ll be on Magic in 2 weeks.

Did a 3 night on Liberty a several months ago with two kids 13,7 and no issues.

My experience is soda is poured into a glass, water and powerades are not opened when received. Individual beer is typically opened and twist cap thrown out.

If you order buckets of beer that may be different if they open all of them at once. I’ve had both experiences. But simply ask for them not to, in case you want the remaining taken to room.

With Cheers there’s a $50 max limit on any alcohol drink, from what I recall reading. If so, are there any drinks or shots that are even close to that price?

I like scotch, but I never saw anything over $15 a shot. I’ve always wanted to try Johnny Walker Blue label, but it wasn’t at any bars.

I guess anyone thinks seeing an 800.00-1,200.00 Bar bill after you've experienced a good time, isn't kind of a downer, so be it.

 

I would much rather have everything paid for before hand. Yes it is to each his own, I can see how some think the other way.

 

It's like the argument is the glass 1/2 empty or 1/2 full.

I understand people like to pay in advance for budgeting reasons, like prepaying gratuities or excursions. Perhaps I misinterpret ones comment when I see that used as rationale for getting Cheers.