Teetotal cruiser

Various luxury cruise companies offer an all inclusive price including premium brand spirits and wines. And this is reflected in the price. But I am teetotal. Do companies like Seabourn offer a reduced fare for non drinkers. I just need orange juice at breakfast then copious quantities of tea.

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But I don’t drink orange juice, should I get a discount for that?

I don’t think it works that way. I use the gym heavily, others don’t. Some drink champagne at breakfast, I don’t.

I guess what I’m saying is that there are always things that some have and others don’t and vice-versa.

To the best of my knowledge, there is no discount for not having something such as wine or spirits.

I am pretty sure there isn't. You might better value travelling with a slightly less inclusive line, even though many of us do think Seabourn - and maybe a couple of the other all inclusives - are the nicest way to cruise.

Just wondering - if you did get a discount, how would the staff know if you should by chance turn up at the bar and order something alcoholic? I suppose they would have to have your photo displayed for a discreet check.;p

I think it means I will never cruise with some lines like Seabourn, Regent etc. Oceania will do for me. All soft drinks are free, even the mock tails.

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I think it means I will never cruise with some lines like Seabourn, Regent etc. Oceania will do for me. All soft drinks are free, even the mock tails.

 

 

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Nothing is "free" on board. You pay for everything on everything on board, separately on mainstream lines and similar and in the cruise fare for others that tout "free" everything. Included is the correct term.

I think that the first replier had it right. I rarely use the gym--should I get a discount for that? What about all the lectures I don't go to? Or that caviar that I don't like? They are maintaining all of those poolside loungers that I don't use!

I've done a bunch of all-inclusive cruises, i.e., including alcohol, and I would hesitate to do otherwise because I like the ambience. I'm not a teetotaller, but I drink very little these days. I still like to be sociable and get out and about in the bars and lounges. And I don't feel at all that I've been cheated because I don't drink much.

It isn't really about whether one drinks or not but rather it is the luxury of never having to sign for anything (except the shop and the SPA :) ).

I think that the first replier had it right. I rarely use the gym--should I get a discount for that? What about all the lectures I don't go to? Or that caviar that I don't like? They are maintaining all of those poolside loungers that I don't use!

 

 

 

I've done a bunch of all-inclusive cruises, i.e., including alcohol, and I would hesitate to do otherwise because I like the ambience. I'm not a teetotaller, but I drink very little these days. I still like to be sociable and get out and about in the bars and lounges. And I don't feel at all that I've been cheated because I don't drink much.

Wendy,

I like your post and attitude !

I hadn’t really looked at “all-inclusive” like that before ... actually, I don’t think I’ve given it much thought. But, I commonly run into people with this type of concern about cruising. From now on, I’m going to use your examples.

Thanks

— Don

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I think it means I will never cruise with some lines like Seabourn, Regent etc. Oceania will do for me. All soft drinks are free, even the mock tails.

 

 

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You might want to look at Windstar as an option. It is smaller with great service and is inclusive except alcohol.

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I have no idea if we drank enough alcohol on our cruise to justify the all inclusive price. And, like others, I never used the gym and I drank absolutely no champagne and ate no caviar. I only used a hot tub side lounger on one day. I never went to The Club. I never asked for a special meal to be prepared just for me. So, like others, I think it all evens out over the time of the cruise.

Various luxury cruise companies offer an all inclusive price including premium brand spirits and wines. And this is reflected in the price. But I am teetotal. Do companies like Seabourn offer a reduced fare for non drinkers. I just need orange juice at breakfast then copious quantities of tea.

 

 

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Recently on Seabourn and I asked what they offer to children (for the room refrig). No soda, no booze.

I was provided with apple juice, cranberry juice, and a couple of others that I didn’t ask for. You can also have mineral water. Room service will bring whatever you like....fresh orange juice every day if you prefer.

Be sure to attend afternoon tea. Real tea leaves and an amazing assortment from which to choose.

Here's another point to consider---alcohol is really not that expensive--and in restaurants is a huge profit center. So---including all alcohol in a rather expensive cruise price is not that big of a deal.

On another note....I learned from this thread how to properly spell “teetotaler”. I always thought it was “teatotaler”, referring to one only drinking tea. I don’t have that problem, so I never really paid attention to the spelling [emoji3]

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I think it means I will never cruise with some lines like Seabourn, Regent etc. Oceania will do for me. All soft drinks are free, even the mock tails.

You are looking at things through the wrong end of the binoculars.

Fresh fruit and other food stuffs are likely to cost far more than a cheap bottle of plonk. I also don't drink a great deal but the quality of food on board, the Thomas Keller stuff in particular made our cruise seem good value.

The numerous lobsters who gave up their lives for my consumption, a great range of fresh fruits, the much talked about caviar, wonderful service, an extensive range of mocktails - interestingly Brian Van Flandern, Seabourn's consultant mixologist is actually all about reducing alcohol content rather than trying to blow your ear drums out.

Access to a range of entertainers and enrichment specialists, the size of your accommodation and so on. These are what makes a good or bad cruise line. Anyone can pour cheap booze down your throat.

True Seabourn moments rarely involve alcohol.

Henry :)

I totally agree with Henry. A Seabourn cruise is not about included alcohol (and did anyone mention included gratuities). I think people are missing the mark when they think inclusive is only including alcohol. Instead, cruise lines like Oceania are putting a HUGE markup on alcohol and using it as a profit center, which is probably why they are not including it. I've never seen anyone over served on a all inclusive cruise.

For me it is about the whole experience and not just one aspect of it. What do we like about Seabourn? The size of the suites, the quality of the service, the choice and quality of dining, not having to sign every few minutes, no queues, the size of the ships, the other passengers, the general ambience, etc. etc..

As with anything, there are things we like less. We dislike caviar, we are not big on sushi, we can take or leave most of the shows, we would like a proper walking track, etc. etc..

There are things about other cruise lines that we hate which is why we ended up choosing Seabourn. On Royal Caribbean it was the queues, the crowds, the annoying announcements in multiple languages, signing for everything and the fixed dining times. On Regent we found the service to be poor, the food to be average and smoking to be a problem. And we haven't the slightest desire to have a butler.

With Seabourn it isn't about one thing but about the overall experience which works for us. The idea that one should get a discount because there is an aspect that you don't take advantage of is ridiculous.

Imagine booking a cruise ......

No alcohol, take $1,000 off the list price.

No caviar, take $500 off the list price.

No sushi, take $500 off the list price.

No shows, take $250 off the list price.

I think it means I will never cruise with some lines like Seabourn, Regent etc. Oceania will do for me. All soft drinks are free, even the mock tails.

 

 

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You'll be surprised what you'll notice when you start comparing costs per night. Quite often the "luxury" cruise lines can offer an equal or better value than the "premium" cruise lines. We also like to factor itinerary and size of ship into our equation. We used this method to determine that the Seabourn 14 Day Greek Odyssey Cruise was a better value for us than the Windstar 11 Day Greek Islands Cruise. This will be our first Seabourn cruise and we are pretty jazzed about it. Now we just have to wait for June.

Btw- We don't drink alcohol either. We also refuse to eat caviar. Seriously, that stuff is just fish bait.

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It's interesting to see how little obviously drunken behaviour we've seen over several Seabourn cruises. One might imagine that with limitless "free" booze some pax might overdo it, but in general they don't. There were a handful of people on our last cruise (Caribbean) who went over the top on the first night but they were first timers on Seabourn and couldn't grasp the fact that they didn't have to sign for anything or that the "open bar" didn't have a time limit. They soon got used to it.

If you factor in all the items included in the Seabourn price - alcohol, tips, cabin size, food, service, etc - then we think it represents remarkable value for money. Try getting a similar deal for a similar price in a good land-based hotel/resort.

You are so right. I never even saw anyone who had too much too drink. Nor did I see anyone having caviar nonstop day after day. What I DID see was many very relaxed passengers who were enjoying their vacation with very few cares.

Simonpjd as you seem to be considering Seabourn what is it that you are looking for in a cruise to suit you? If it is other than on a ship where all the guests are teetotallers and your is wish a wonderful experience, seriously look at what Seabourn offers.

Without exception every angle of cruising with Seabourn is more value for money. Quality and quantity in every respect is tangible on every Seabourn cruise. The amount we drink a shrimp could swim in. We enjoy our tiple. Seabournians are true travellers and explorers it is the experience of doing so with great service, comfort, exceptional cuisine that we enjoy immensley. You can never discount these attributes as this is where the difference is with Seabourn cruising.

I don't think OP's issue is with whether or not other pax drink, it's whether he should pay for something he won't be using or at least be able to "opt out". But as others have said, I doubt any of us use ALL the things we've technically paid for.

If that's what he's looking for, go with a cheap mass market company where you have to pay extra for absolutely everything.

Seabourn's marketing strategy is "all inclusive". The person who drinks 1 drink will be the same price as the person who orders caviar and champagne every hour.

There are other premium/luxury cruise liners that price and package accordingly. I'm unaware they make any arrangements for people who don't drink alcohol other than including soft drinks/juices/water. And to be fair, that's probably nicer and more expensive than the Penfolds Koonunga Hill wine I saw on their complimentary wine-list!

If you choose not to utilise your breakfast credit at a hotel or decline the meal service on your flight, you don't get a discounted fare either!

I totally agree with Henry. A Seabourn cruise is not about included alcohol (and did anyone mention included gratuities). I think people are missing the mark when they think inclusive is only including alcohol. Instead, cruise lines like Oceania are putting a HUGE markup on alcohol and using it as a profit center, which is probably why they are not including it. I've never seen anyone over served on a all inclusive cruise.

I think the OP must,by now, be sorry he asked!!!

I've heard a number of people (in person) say that they opt for Oceania (or something similar) because they do not want to pay for other peoples' alcohol. I think the discussion in this tread is a valid one in that it explains all the issues involved in inclusive fares. Some people probably had not considered not having to pay for tips separately (as it is included) and so on.