Have they eliminated the soda only package?

I usually pre-purchase my DS's soda card and our coffee cards so they are waiting for us. When I looked at the pre-purchase beverage options for our upcoming cruise on the Regal, I only see a soda & more option that includes juice, mocktails & hot chocolate. Not interested in the "and more". Is the straight soda card no longer available? What is a fountain soda costing onboard these days if we decided to not get a card?

You cannot purchase the "soda only" package in advance. That much is certain.

Whether you can purchase it on the ship depends on which ship, but also on which crew member you talk to. I was on the Diamond in August and was told that it was no longer available...so I bought "Soda and More" for my daughter. About 15 minutes later, I saw a woman with her card out and commented that her sticker was different. She replied that it was the "soda only" sticker and that she'd had to be very insistent with the person doing the sales but eventually they got one for her.

Is the 'soda and more' unlimited, or is it only so many drinks? I've been used to paying for the soda package, getting a free Princess drink bottle each time, and they've just filled it up as often as I liked.

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Is the 'soda and more' unlimited, or is it only so many drinks? I've been used to paying for the soda package, getting a free Princess drink bottle each time, and they've just filled it up as often as I liked.

 

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I usually pre-purchase my DS's soda card and our coffee cards so they are waiting for us. When I looked at the pre-purchase beverage options for our upcoming cruise on the Regal, I only see a soda & more option that includes juice, mocktails & hot chocolate. Not interested in the "and more". Is the straight soda card no longer available? What is a fountain soda costing onboard these days if we decided to not get a card?

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I am debating as to what actually makes sense for me here...

I've been on 40+ cruises and I've never worried about this before...never bought any kind of drinks package...

Last couple of cruises, on Celebrity, they were doing a promotion with a "free" drinks package (of course, nothing is ever really free, but, it was bundled into the price of course and, considering the alternatives we took it). Ordinarily, I've decided, it NEVER pays for me to purchase an alcoholic drinks package at full price. Why? Because it takes around 6-7 drinks a day to just break even and I just don't drink that much! (and, besides, on Celebrity, as an Elite Plus cruiser, I get free pre-dinner drinks every night anyway).

OTOH, I did enjoy not having to concern myself with having Diet Coke at lunch or dinner and calling for multiple refills while running up the tab.

Figuring, on my next cruise-on Ruby Princess, 8 nights, if I drink my typical 2-3 alcoholic drinks per night, maximum, I am way ahead NOT buying the package...

BUT, then I thought about the Soft Drinks package. For most of my cruising life, I just opted to NOT drink soda...rather to ask for Iced Tea at every meal--which always means free refills...and, to me, iced tea is not a bad substitute for soda...But, I do remember all the Diet Coke I had on those last two Celebrity cruises--because, with my package, I wasn't charged--so, it was the same as if I'd ordered iced tea...

AND so, for the first time on Princess, I'm paying attention to that unlimited drinks package for sodas...$8.05 per night, so, for my 8 day cruise, $64.40. I'm thinking, 4 sodas per night and I'm ahead...BUT, it also includes "mocktails", etc. Since I've been diagnosed as Type 2 Diabetic, I'm avoiding, for the most part, any sugary drinks...So, all that mocktail stuff is worthless to me...

So, if all I would order would be diet soda, am I hearing correctly that there is a cheaper package? What is the deal on that? Is a gratuity added to the charge...or included? What all is covered? Bars/lounges AND MDR? Thanks...

The soda and more gives you a free cup with a lid and swirl straw. We just leave that in the cabin and just use the sticker on the card to get the drink.

As far as how many drinks, as many as you want in the day. My son likes to try the mocktails out.

Thanks. My son isn't interested in the mocktails or the juice so I'm not sure the "and more" is worth the extra cost. Guess we'll wait until we board. I may buy a couple of 2 liters at Publix before boarding for him to stick in his fridge to at least get him through the first few days. He likes diet Mountain Dew and they don't have that on the ship anyway.

Thanks. My son isn't interested in the mocktails or the juice so I'm not sure the "and more" is worth the extra cost. Guess we'll wait until we board. I may buy a couple of 2 liters at Publix before boarding for him to stick in his fridge to at least get him through the first few days. He likes diet Mountain Dew and they don't have that on the ship anyway.

Update...just spoke with Princess and they have eliminated the soda only option.

I was able to get the "Soda only" package onboard on the Royal in April. I don't drink mocktails or the other stuff so I'll be pretty unhappy if I can't get it on the Island in November. I don't care about the cup. On a 19-day cruise, the @ $3/price difference is significant.

Absolutely agree! On an 11 day times 2 people (DS & DH), it adds up.

I am debating as to what actually makes sense for me here...

I've been on 40+ cruises and I've never worried about this before...never bought any kind of drinks package...

Last couple of cruises, on Celebrity, they were doing a promotion with a "free" drinks package (of course, nothing is ever really free, but, it was bundled into the price of course and, considering the alternatives we took it). Ordinarily, I've decided, it NEVER pays for me to purchase an alcoholic drinks package at full price. Why? Because it takes around 6-7 drinks a day to just break even and I just don't drink that much! (and, besides, on Celebrity, as an Elite Plus cruiser, I get free pre-dinner drinks every night anyway).

OTOH, I did enjoy not having to concern myself with having Diet Coke at lunch or dinner and calling for multiple refills while running up the tab.

 

Figuring, on my next cruise-on Ruby Princess, 8 nights, if I drink my typical 2-3 alcoholic drinks per night, maximum, I am way ahead NOT buying the package...

 

BUT, then I thought about the Soft Drinks package. For most of my cruising life, I just opted to NOT drink soda...rather to ask for Iced Tea at every meal--which always means free refills...and, to me, iced tea is not a bad substitute for soda...But, I do remember all the Diet Coke I had on those last two Celebrity cruises--because, with my package, I wasn't charged--so, it was the same as if I'd ordered iced tea...

 

AND so, for the first time on Princess, I'm paying attention to that unlimited drinks package for sodas...$8.05 per night, so, for my 8 day cruise, $64.40. I'm thinking, 4 sodas per night and I'm ahead...BUT, it also includes "mocktails", etc. Since I've been diagnosed as Type 2 Diabetic, I'm avoiding, for the most part, any sugary drinks...So, all that mocktail stuff is worthless to me...

 

So, if all I would order would be diet soda, am I hearing correctly that there is a cheaper package? What is the deal on that? Is a gratuity added to the charge...or included? What all is covered? Bars/lounges AND MDR? Thanks...

All drink packages include gratuity so you do not need to tip. If you frequent one bar and waitstaff it doesn't hurt to give them a small cash tip.

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We loved the soda and more package while in Alaska last year on the Coral Princess.

We got premium hot chocolate with whipped cream on it. It tasted really good.

Loved being able to have juices also. Just not all about the soda.

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If the person you ask refuses to sell you the soda only only package ask for a supervisor. Tell them as a diabetic you can't drink any suger mocktails. They will sell you the soda only package which is only $5 per day plus 18% gratuity.

If the person you ask refuses to sell you the soda only only package ask for a supervisor. Tell them as a diabetic you can't drink any suger mocktails. They will sell you the soda only package which is only $5 per day plus 18% gratuity.

We were able to buy the soda only sticker on the Ruby in August.............we just asked for the soda only & got it.

Sharon

If the person you ask refuses to sell you the soda only only package ask for a supervisor. They will sell you the soda only package which is only $5 per day plus 18% gratuity.

Good point. As I said above, I was denied it and told it didn't exist but then found that others on the ship had purchased it. So irritating. But I did not escalate the discussion to a supervisor.

I usually pre-purchase my DS's soda card and our coffee cards so they are waiting for us. When I looked at the pre-purchase beverage options for our upcoming cruise on the Regal, I only see a soda & more option that includes juice, mocktails & hot chocolate. Not interested in the "and more". Is the straight soda card no longer available? What is a fountain soda costing onboard these days if we decided to not get a card?

Yes it being phased out and only sometimes available onboard.

If the person you ask refuses to sell you the soda only only package ask for a supervisor. Tell them as a diabetic you can't drink any suger mocktails. They will sell you the soda only package which is only $5 per day plus 18% gratuity.

I think we will give this a try. Thank you.

Tony

I usually pre-purchase my DS's soda card and our coffee cards so they are waiting for us. When I looked at the pre-purchase beverage options for our upcoming cruise on the Regal, I only see a soda & more option that includes juice, mocktails & hot chocolate. Not interested in the "and more". Is the straight soda card no longer available? What is a fountain soda costing onboard these days if we decided to not get a card?

That is old news.

I have pre purchased the soda package for our Panama Canal cruise on the Coral in Feb 2017 .

Shows up in my personalizer !

We have 3 cruises coming up: one on the Ruby and 2 on the Coral. We cannot buy just the soda package on any of them.

Surprised that you were able to on your Coral cruise.

I have pre purchased the soda package for our Panama Canal cruise on the Coral in Feb 2017 .

 

Shows up in my personalizer !

We have 3 cruises coming up: one on the Ruby and 2 on the Coral. We cannot buy just the soda package on any of them.

 

Surprised that you were able to on your Coral cruise.

Neither of our future cruises on the Star & Royal show the soda only package...another example of Princess inconsistency. :(

You cannot purchase the "soda only" package in advance. That much is certain.

 

Whether you can purchase it on the ship depends on which ship' date=' but also on which crew member you talk to. I was on the Diamond in August and was told that it was no longer available...so I bought "Soda and More" for my daughter. About 15 minutes later, I saw a woman with her card out and commented that her sticker was different. She replied that it was the "soda only" sticker and that she'd had to be very insistent with the person doing the sales but eventually they got one for her.[/quote']

 

You CAN purchased the soda only package in advance I did for our upcoming October cruise, it's 8.05 a day It's well worth the price. You can use it in all the dinning room and casinos.

You CAN purchased the soda only package in advance I did for our upcoming October cruise, it's 8.05 a day It's well worth the price. You can use it in all the dinning room and casinos.

You got the soda and more package at $8.05 a day, the soda ONLY package is $5.18.