Royal Caribbean -New Alcoholic Beverage Packages

[dispatcher726]

Great idea! I know if this happens on all the Royal Caribbean ships I can finally get my family to take there yearly cruise with them rather then Carnival!! I'm sure they will make a very nice profit also. I am not a big drinker but I would much rather pay for a package ahead of time rather then having to pay it at the end of a cruise. Plus it will free up more money for me to shop on board!! My husband gives me and on board limit.

[louwoz]

Interesting that the prices are quoted in U.S. dollars but not offered on cruises from the U.S.A.

 

I would definitely do the wine & beer package. Even if you have a couple glasses of wine with dinner and a couple beers by the pool, I think you might break even our come out ahead.

 

They already offer these packages on Celebrity and those ships definitely aren't known for the party crowd.

[Elizanessie]

Interesting that the prices are quoted in U.S. dollars but not offered on cruises from the U.S.A.

 

Prices are in dollars as all RCCL ship onboard accounts are in dollars..no matter where the sail from. :D

[TravelMadBrits]

Hello there

I see that a lot of folk have asked the following question but no one has answered YET!

We are on IOS 3 night break in April and as we are going to have a couple of child-free nights we will probably relax with a few extra drinks than normal (to go with the late nights!). We don't drink that much but I am trying to work out whether the package would be better for what our 'usual holiday consumption'. But before I decide, could anyone answer the following questions (that are unanswered to date) please:-

1. What wines are classified as 'house wines'?

2. What brands come under their cocktail range and their other drinks?

If someone could answer that would be really great! Thank you. :)

[joyoftravel]

I'd be more impressed if they would allow passengers to purchase wine (either in ports or in the ship's store) for consumption in our cabins!! Can you imagine a HOTEL telling you that you cannot take your purchased wine to your room to enjoy it there??

[beachbuddy]

I'd love it if they started the drink cards up again. I thought they worked great!!! Buy a 10 drink card and when it was used up, just buy another one. This way you have to sign TWO times instead of TWENTY and only have 2 receipts.

 

Having all those little receipts annoy the heck out of me.

[retiredonthesea]

I'd be more impressed if they would allow passengers to purchase wine (either in ports or in the ship's store) for consumption in our cabins!! Can you imagine a HOTEL telling you that you cannot take your purchased wine to your room to enjoy it there??

 

This is one reason I really like NCL with the bar set-ups. You can order the bottle or bottles ahead of time and have it waiting in your cabin when you arrive. Even the mixers if you need them.

[Elizanessie]

House wine brands are La Terre Chardonnay and La Terre Merlot.

[travelwithme]

I was over the moon about the thoughts of drink packages beyond the wine packages that really are not that much of a saving if you buy their house wine by the bottle. It is very inovative but time. For those of us that have cruised for years and remember when beer was cheaper out @ sea and you could bring wine on board which most of us just brought a couple of, you know how expensive it is to drink on board if you like to have a bottle of wine and 2 or 3 drinks on board per day. I usually have those drinks in port now as it is so reasonable. I was very disappointed to see it was only on the overseas cruises. One reason I sometimes have to settle for an all inclusive instead of a cruise is due to the added cost of airfare and drinks which is definately not an issue when you book an all inclusive. So to compete with this, would make my choice probably cruising every time. So if RCC is not going to give us a break in cruises out of North America, another cruise line should grab this by the horns and see how they sweep the competition. By the way, I am thinking the cost is per day, am I correct?

[Marge Clarke]

What does a beer or glass of house wine cost if you dont have a package?

[kernow]

I was over the moon about the thoughts of drink packages beyond the wine packages that really are not that much of a saving if you buy their house wine by the bottle. It is very inovative but time. For those of us that have cruised for years and remember when beer was cheaper out @ sea and you could bring wine on board which most of us just brought a couple of, you know how expensive it is to drink on board if you like to have a bottle of wine and 2 or 3 drinks on board per day. I usually have those drinks in port now as it is so reasonable. I was very disappointed to see it was only on the overseas cruises. One reason I sometimes have to settle for an all inclusive instead of a cruise is due to the added cost of airfare and drinks which is definately not an issue when you book an all inclusive. So to compete with this, would make my choice probably cruising every time. So if RCC is not going to give us a break in cruises out of North America, another cruise line should grab this by the horns and see how they sweep the competition. By the way, I am thinking the cost is per day, am I correct?

 

Both Celebrity and Costa already offer all inclusive packages on all their ships.

 

Julie

[speedlady]

I doubt you can treat your friends without sneaking it. Which frankly can't be that difficult. The crews tend to look the other way when their guests do something kind of questionable, unless it affects other guests. I think the prices are kind of high. I'd like to see a discounted rate that includes a couple of beers/drinks on deck and wine with dinner. Unlimited booze will be an issue with some people.

[station93]

I feel the drink packages are a fantastic idea, just got off sailing on Celebrity Eclipse had the premium package, was nice not having to sign slips all day long. More than made out on the $49/per day. One reason i chose Celebrity was the drink packages they offer. I would cruise RCI ships if they offered the packages on the vessels sailing from US ports

[Marge Clarke]

Does anyone have the drinks menu so we can see hwat the drinks cost normally?

[Albert Ross]

Does anyone have the drinks menu so we can see hwat the drinks cost normally?

 

This is a drinks menu

http://www.scribd.com/full/33759184?access_key=key-bkjmazztxk8nbrcj108

 

This is a menu from Boleros

[louhun88]

This is a drinks menu

http://www.scribd.com/full/33759184?access_key=key-bkjmazztxk8nbrcj108

 

This is a menu from Boleros

 

Is the Boleros menu only on certain ships, i love the sound of the mojitos but i don't think the Grandeur has a Boleros :(

[tabithajade]

My friends and I are on Celebrity Summit in two weeks and opted to try out their premium package.

 

Giving it a road test and will advise! :p

[badgerjeanne]

We cruised on 3 cruise lines and loved Princess. In February we went on Celebrity because of the itinerary and one of our friends wanted to try it. We did the all you can drink package and it was AWESOME! I didn't know if they would be kind of stingy with the booze, but they absolutely were not. We didn't have to sign a slip each time either. We just showed a card. We never got overly intoxicated. We did start with the bloody mary's around 10:00 and continued to the after dinner drink at the show, but it was not a problem. It was so nice just to order a drink anytime and not worry about the price. I hate to say it, they didn't make money on us.

[MAShep]

Just returned from IOS yesterday and we took advantage of the drinks package.

 

We found it was excellent and according to my source on board over 400 took up the packages, however it did encourage some to drink too much.

 

Also they were running out of certain drinks and ran out altogether with others totally underestimating the demand from the UK cruisers looking for a bargain and making sure they used it too.

 

From what I saw it was mainly guys going for the beer package and with the large fosters cans i could certainly see lots drinking them.

 

I went for the Premium package as I like Belvedere and Grey goose Vodka and cocktails on there and i felt i got my monies worth and more important could budget for the cruise too as once I had paid did not have to worry.

 

I too liked the 10 drink coctail packages that they used to offer as this was more flexible and would be a better option or even a sea day only option when you are more likely to drink onboard.

 

I have a feeling that they will be changing the programme soon seeing the demand on our cruise and the fact they underestimated the take up.

 

I was suprised that they did not put the drinks through the till to monitor the use and avoid abuse but all you did was show your card with a sticker like the soda packages.

 

Would definately do it again thats if it is still available.

[Elizanessie]

Just returned from IOS yesterday and we took advantage of the drinks package.

 

We found it was excellent and according to my source on board over 400 took up the packages, however it did encourage some to drink too much.

 

Also they were running out of certain drinks and ran out altogether with others totally underestimating the demand from the UK cruisers looking for a bargain and making sure they used it too.

 

From what I saw it was mainly guys going for the beer package and with the large fosters cans i could certainly see lots drinking them.

 

I went for the Premium package as I like Belvedere and Grey goose Vodka and cocktails on there and i felt i got my monies worth and more important could budget for the cruise too as once I had paid did not have to worry.

 

I too liked the 10 drink coctail packages that they used to offer as this was more flexible and would be a better option or even a sea day only option when you are more likely to drink onboard.

 

I have a feeling that they will be changing the programme soon seeing the demand on our cruise and the fact they underestimated the take up.

 

I was suprised that they did not put the drinks through the till to monitor the use and avoid abuse but all you did was show your card with a sticker like the soda packages.

 

Would definately do it again thats if it is still available.

 

 

Thank you MAShep for your first hand post with regards to the Packages :D

 

Hope you enjoyed your sailing on the Indy :D

[Reebok]

Excellent Idea ! . Pioneered on the British Market with ' Thomson ' . Who also leave the Tipping to the Clients Discretion. Which is another Bone of Contention on other Vessels. Cheers !! :cool:

[sidari]

"however it did encourage some to drink too much"

 

How long i wonder before passengers are put off an RCI ship for fighting ? just like the Ventura some time back!

[Da Marlin]

I just got off the Emerald Princess and between Excursions, Limited Gambling and Spa Charges and the Crown Grill my Amex was left with a big dent in it. I enjoy beer, Princess has always had decent beer deals, 5 for $ 23.00 and the wife enjoys a fruity/umbrella assault ($ 8.00 to $ 10.00) so, $ 39.00 a day, in my book that's a win win ! I have friends that love wine, 2 or 3 bottles with dinner is an after thought, having a $ 700.00 Liquor Bill at the end of a week long cruise, again a win win. I hope the other major cruise lines follow suit and implement the same policy.

 

As for the Nay Sayers, 1. Try to have a good time and stop worrying what others are doing. Our last cruise was amazing, the entertainment was pretty sad, but the comedians and the ventriloquists made us laugh. Then you get the "Professional Cruiser Review"(50 cruises under their belt) and all they do is complain, from the minute the cab picked them up at their house, to their flight home that was delayed for a week, ahh, stop already 2. With the new All you can drink policy, cruise lines are making it affordable and giving you the opportunity to have a Fruity/Umbrella assault. Have one or ten, go on an excursion, rumor has it that some of them are fun, get a massage, great stress reliever. Remember, it's a vacation, have fun ! nobody really enjoys reading your nasty blog about a cruise they are going on in a month or two. 3. Maybe cruising isn't for you.

 

We had a hurricane chase us down a few years ago while on the Caribbean Princess, we made it to St. Thomas with a few bumps in the night, then spent a beautiful day in St. John Snorkeling. I'll meet you at the pool bar, casino bar or specialty restaurant bar. Enjoy and Happy Sailing !!!!!

[sidari]

Personally i do not care what others are doing as long as they are not annoying me or my other half! if you like to drink plenty then so be it, but most Sensible people drink in moderation and spend on Alcohol what they consider to be reasonable. People have the right to have their say on anything to do with their holiday after all they have paid for it.

 

If they wish to complain then so be it just because it does not affect you does not mean it is not a problem to them !

 

As for reading someones Nasty blog/review if you do not want to then ignore it and stop being a bigot to other cruisers.

[Burgmeister]

"however it did encourage some to drink too much"

 

How long i wonder before passengers are put off an RCI ship for fighting ? just like the Ventura some time back!

 

I have also just returned from the same cruise as MAShep and can honestly say that I only saw 1 person who I would consider drunk. Even then I probably wouldn't have noticed him had he not been chosen as a team captain for one of the trivia games! I must add, in case it is relevant, that we were late dining and didn't hang around any bars after dinner, unless you include the Pyramid Lounge as a bar - which I suppose it is!