Drink Package was best cruise deal ever!

[ljandiernp]

Trying to decide between the classic or premium alcohol package. Does anyone know if I could order the classic, try it for a day, then upgrade for the remainder of the cruise if I decide the premium is a better fit?

 

Thanks

 

Hi,

 

I spoke to someone at Celebrity on 9/21/11 and asked the questions that I needed answered; although these may not be all your questions, I recommend calling the Celebrity consultants at 1-800-722-5941, option 2. The person with whom I spoke was very helpful! If you are primarily a wine drinker I'd recommend asking about the Taste of the Vineyards packages. These are divided into the Captain's Package and the Sommelier's Package; it was reported to me that the first is a "higher end" choice of wines. These can be purchased for 3, 5 or 7 bottles of wine for the cruise, and range in price from $150.00- 345.00 PP (lower end is 3 bottles and higher end is 7 bottles for each package) for the Captains selection, and $114.00-264.00 PP for the Sommelier's package.

I was given a price of $50.60/day/PP (354.20 PP for 7 days) for a classic alcohol package and $62.10/day/PP (434.70 PP for 7 days) for a Premium package and these prices included gratuity. The price limit for wine on these packages was $8.00 for Classic and $12.00 for the Premium packages. They confirmed that:

1. You CAN pay the difference between the upper limit of your package drink price and the cost of an ordered drink with the Premium package but NOT with the Classic.

2. You CAN upgrade a package purchase during the cruise for the duration of that voyage, and in fact if you are on the fence they recommend that you do this in order to see what a typical day or two will be like for expenditures before deciding and thus you won't spend money needlessly (although of course you will if you immediately excede the package price per day).

 

I was actually more interested in the costs of the non-alcohol packages and learned that the only real difference between the Classic and Premium packages was whether or not you got Evian water, Red Bull, and frozen concoctions without alcohol. Believe you me, if I am wasting calories on frozen concoctions then they will have alcohol in them for me, LOL! Since I am likely to drink 2 drinks per day on average (at most 3 based on experience), I have decided to buy a classic non-alcohol package so I can have the teas and coffees included in these packages, and then I'll get my alcohol al la carte. If this turns out to be too expensive I'll add the appropriate alcohol package on during the cruise.

I hope this is helpful to someone, Laurie

[hillbillybob]

Pardon my ignorance if this has been answered,but if you order a drink package ,does this allow your package to be used in the casino while gambling?

 

Also,what are the current prices? Newbie to celebrity.

[ljandiernp]

Pardon my ignorance if this has been answered,but if you order a drink package ,does this allow your package to be used in the casino while gambling?

 

Also,what are the current prices? Newbie to celebrity.

 

Hi,

The package is applied anywhere on the ship; it is noted on your ship board account card. If you use the search thread box and put in drink prices you'll find your second answer because it's been posted before a number of times. Have a grest cruise! Laurie

[kitkat9438]

interesting.When carryon bags are being screened how would they know that 2 bags with 2 bottle of wine each in them are going to the same cabin?

 

If you go on separately, they wouldn't know, or they might ask you. If you are bringing the two bags yourself, they will know.

 

Back before they had the packages, my friend would bring on her alcohol in rum runners and she got called to the naughty room one time. Very stressful and not worth it in my opinion. We were really glad when Celebrity came out with the packages.

[yvonneh]

Hi,

 

I spoke to someone at Celebrity on 9/21/11 and asked the questions that I needed answered; although these may not be all your questions, I recommend calling the Celebrity consultants at 1-800-722-5941, option 2. The person with whom I spoke was very helpful! If you are primarily a wine drinker I'd recommend asking about the Taste of the Vineyards packages. These are divided into the Captain's Package and the Sommelier's Package; it was reported to me that the first is a "higher end" choice of wines. These can be purchased for 3, 5 or 7 bottles of wine for the cruise, and range in price from $150.00- 345.00 PP (lower end is 3 bottles and higher end is 7 bottles for each package) for the Captains selection, and $114.00-264.00 PP for the Sommelier's package.

 

I was given a price of $50.60/day/PP (354.20 PP for 7 days) for a classic alcohol package and $62.10/day/PP (434.70 PP for 7 days) for a Premium package and these prices included gratuity. The price limit for wine on these packages was $8.00 for Classic and $12.00 for the Premium packages. They confirmed that:

1. You CAN pay the difference between the upper limit of your package drink price and the cost of an ordered drink with the Premium package but NOT with the Classic.

2. You CAN upgrade a package purchase during the cruise for the duration of that voyage, and in fact if you are on the fence they recommend that you do this in order to see what a typical day or two will be like for expenditures before deciding and thus you won't spend money needlessly (although of course you will if you immediately excede the package price per day).

 

I was actually more interested in the costs of the non-alcohol packages and learned that the only real difference between the Classic and Premium packages was whether or not you got Evian water, Red Bull, and frozen concoctions without alcohol. Believe you me, if I am wasting calories on frozen concoctions then they will have alcohol in them for me, LOL! Since I am likely to drink 2 drinks per day on average (at most 3 based on experience), I have decided to buy a classic non-alcohol package so I can have the teas and coffees included in these packages, and then I'll get my alcohol al la carte. If this turns out to be too expensive I'll add the appropriate alcohol package on during the cruise.

 

I hope this is helpful to someone, Laurie

 

That was so helpful! Thank you so much!

[gosport11]

Weve just returned from a 16 nite cruise on the Eclipse,we had the classic package and found it meet our needs,espically when you take all the coffes and teas in in fact we had 1 coffe at the buffet the rest of the time we ordered from the bars,even in the MDR also had approx 4 waters a day and a few cans,thats with out the beers etc and JB and lemonades so a real good deal its will cost us nearly £1000 :(:):)

[anniegb]

Weve just returned from a 16 nite cruise on the Eclipse,we had the classic package and found it meet our needs,espically when you take all the coffes and teas in in fact we had 1 coffe at the buffet the rest of the time we ordered from the bars,even in the MDR also had approx 4 waters a day and a few cans,thats with out the beers etc and JB and lemonades so a real good deal its will cost us nearly £1000 :(:):)

 

Very helpful post.

 

Can I ask - are you referring to the Classic non-alcohol package? What brand of water?

 

Thanks

 

Annie

[gosport11]

it was the classic alchol package,the water is whatever the bars have european stock mineral water the naive:),sorry evian water is in the more expensive package

[anniegb]

it was the classic alchol package,the water is whatever the bars have european stock mineral water the naive:),sorry evian water is in the more expensive package

 

Thanks very much.

 

Annie

[upwarduk]

The following link compare soft drinks packages on a variety of cruise ships.

It shows that Celebrity are one of the most expensive!

 

http://www.cruises.co.uk/697-drinks_prices/23094-soft_drinks_package_prices_cruiseline_comparison_2011_a.html

[sazzinfredericton]

Hi:

 

I have tried a search on the forum related to this in a number of ways and I am sure it has been answered numerous times but I cannot find the answer to the following.....

 

I have purchased the Premium Alcohol Pkg:

 

1. Does it apply to room service? ie mimosas at brekkkie and wine pre dinner and maybe a nightcap?

2. Conflicting info re specialty dining - can we have wine refills with our pkg.

 

Not Premium Pkg related...but if someone can answer this question (great)!

Reserved online 3 specialty dinners.....not able to do the wine and dine pkg online....will they make the adjustment once on board?

 

Thank you.

 

Nancy

[rhuntington3]

Hi:

 

I have tried a search on the forum related to this in a number of ways and I am sure it has been answered numerous times but I cannot find the answer to the following.....

 

I have purchased the Premium Alcohol Pkg:

 

1. Does it apply to room service? ie mimosas at brekkkie and wine pre dinner and maybe a nightcap?

2. Conflicting info re specialty dining - can we have wine refills with our pkg.

 

Not Premium Pkg related...but if someone can answer this question (great)!

Reserved online 3 specialty dinners.....not able to do the wine and dine pkg online....will they make the adjustment once on board?

 

Thank you.

 

Nancy

 

I don't think you can use a Beverage Package with room service.

[dzcruisers]

Thanks for putting together such a comprehensive list. We have booked the premium package for our upcoming Silhouette and after reading your post I know we have made the right decision. :D

 

Just one question though.... where do you get the at 8.30 in the morning. Sounds delicious. I am presuming it must be Cafe al Bacio?

 

Don't forget you can get sodas in the can and fresh juices and bottles of water with dinner or to take back to your cabin. He left out a lot of extras besides alcohol that it includes. We always got big bottles of water to take when we went ashore.

[startrek77]

Hi:

 

I have tried a search on the forum related to this in a number of ways and I am sure it has been answered numerous times but I cannot find the answer to the following.....

 

I have purchased the Premium Alcohol Pkg:

 

1. Does it apply to room service? ie mimosas at brekkkie and wine pre dinner and maybe a nightcap?

2. Conflicting info re specialty dining - can we have wine refills with our pkg.

 

Not Premium Pkg related...but if someone can answer this question (great)!

Reserved online 3 specialty dinners.....not able to do the wine and dine pkg online....will they make the adjustment once on board?

Thank you.

 

Nancy

 

Hello Nancy,

 

The Premium pkg does not cover room service.:eek: Yes you can mimosas at brekkkie and wine pre dinner (by the glass with refills) and all the nightcaps you like but not in your room.:(

 

If you have the Premium pkg why would you want to pay again for the wine and dinner pkg?:confused: Once again you can order all the wine you want by the glass up to $12 and if you want a wine that is over the $12 you only pay the difference in price (example- wine $16 a glass you pay $4 for it because it's $4 over your $12 limit).:rolleyes:

 

If you still want to buy into the dinner and wine pkg, then yes they will make the adjustment once on board?

 

 

Hope this helps and have a great cruise.:D

 

Linda

[sazzinfredericton]

Especially Linda/Startrek.....for answering all my questions.

 

Re wine & dine pkg ....cheaper when purchasing 3 speciality dinners and a bottle of wine (a superior quality I am guessing) is included.

[lais]

Let me start by saying we are not big drinkers per say, however on a cruise, we do like to enjoy ourselves, after all it is a carribbean vacation! We were on the Connie last January and purchased the Premium Drink package prior to boarding. Initially we were concerned that with so many port days we might not get our money's worth.

 

Not only did we get our money's worth and more, there were other perks that we didn't anticipate. Aside from no slips to sign etc, often around the pool when a frozen drink started melting often the staff would ask if they could just make a new one. We tried many different types of drinks esp Martinis that we might not have bought otherwise. If we tried a new drink and didn't like it it was replaced with another drink of our choice without question.

 

In order to show you why we felt this was a great deal I will describe a typical day. Disclaimer... based on this, some may think that we are heavy drinkers...if that is the case , while we appreciate your perspective and opinion please do not comment on our consumption ( this is our first post and we have seen some petty unnecessary replies). The purpose of this information is not to expose our consumption for review and/or public scrutiny, but to demonstrate to those who like to let their hair down a little and are wondering from a ecocnmic standpoint is it worth purchasing a package.

 

0830-Latte with one and half shots of Bailys..........$10.00

1100-large water...............................................$ 3.50

1230- Frozen drink..............................................$6.50

1430- Beer........................................................$5.00

1600- Frozen drink..............................................$6.50

1800- Glass of wine while dressing for dinner............$10.00

1930- Martini and dancing prior to dinner.................$12.00

2030- Dinner ( 4 different types of wine by the glass as suggested with each course by sommommlier-not all entirely consumed)..$ 40.00

2215- Specialty Coffee..........................................$ 8.00

2300- Dancing/Bar/Show/Casino Cocktail.............................$10.00

2400- Nightcap.(wearever..maybe brought back to balcony) $10.00

 

Total...$121.50 ( Drink prices are approx by memory-please don't bust me for not remembering exact price..probably cause I drank too much..Ha ha)

 

Cost per day...$55.00

Remenber this is for one person double the savings when we each bought one!

 

Only difference on port days was that we had two beers when back on ship as compared to 3 poolside drinks. Many nights we actually stayed out dancing etc later and maybe had another one...or if really hot day at the pool and having fun with poolside neighbors maybe snuck in an extra beer!

 

If you think this might come even close to a typical carribbean vacation day for you, then you can see what a true value it is. The other convieniences were no slips to sign, bar servers, waiters and sommoliers knowing your preferences and offering drink suggestions and special cocktails that we had never tried before. We told our assit waiter the first night about the specialty coffee and we had it served with our dessert every night...no hassles. It really added to the vacation atmosphere that we enjoy!

 

Hope this helps!

Do you work for Celebrity?? This really sounds like an advertisment to me.

[librarylady19]

According to a recent Celebrity Today someone posted, there is the option of purchasing specialty dinners without wine at a discounted price.

 

The cost for 3 dinners was listed at $79 pp.

 

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B9zsEeMk2GPCMDlhMjM0M2EtMjM0NC00Nzc1LThiNmEtZGJlOGQyMDFlY2Ji&hl=en_GB&pli=1

[nursiepooh]

Thanks I was wondering if it was worth it. Looks like it is well worth the money.

[golfgal22153]

We bought the premium package for an Alaskan Cruise and are looking forward to doing the same for our upcoming Caribbean Cruise. We appreciated the fresh orange juice in the morning instead of the "juice drinks" that are generally offered. I think we tried all the specialty coffees through the week, typically in the afternoon, although I'm thinking the time might change in warmer climates. It was nice to try different martinis, that I might otherwise not try when a cost is involved and if I don't like it, I can try a different one. The Sommelier was very helpful with our wine for dinner, and we drank more sparkling or specialty waters. Even if you don't drink a lot of alcoholic beverages, you save on sodas and bottled waters. We get the Premium package because we prefer better wines and martinis when we do drink. We feel that we at least broke even on our week without ever feeling tipsy. It was incredibly convenient to not have to sign for every drink and not have a surprise at the end of the week.

[winsal]

Looking forward to our first Mediterranean cruise (MSC Musica) in the spring. I've just started looking into the available drink packages but there is nothing posted on the MSC website yet. Would anyone have any recommendations or experience with the packages that MSC offers? We're not heavy drinkers but we definitely plan to be enjoying a drink on our balcony (frequently).

Thanks for your help - Winsal

[vingtm]

Question for the OP, is this what you would normally drink on a cruise, or did you just go all out because you had the drink package?

 

I know if I put my mind to it, I could certainly make any drink package pay off but that's not my normal routine on a cruise and that's what I've been comparing the drink package prices to. I buy what I want to drink when I want to drink it with no real concern for cost and it's far below the package cost per day.

 

I agree. We will bring 2 bottles of good wine on board, $25 to have opened at dinner, not happy about that but way ahead in wine quality for atleast 2 nights. Get a bottle of liquor set up for our cabin, like to have drinks on balcony before going to dinner or mid day etc. Then get what we want when we want it aboard ship and come out just fine. Our OBC helps curb the costs as well. Also get our share of drinks while off ship so it works out just fine for us.:)

[GigiAnn]

I agree. We will bring 2 bottles of good wine on board, $25 to have opened at dinner, not happy about that but way ahead in wine quality for atleast 2 nights. Get a bottle of liquor set up for our cabin, like to have drinks on balcony before going to dinner or mid day etc. Then get what we want when we want it aboard ship and come out just fine. Our OBC helps curb the costs as well. Also get our share of drinks while off ship so it works out just fine for us.:)

 

This is exactly what we did on our 11-day Caribbean cruise last March and it worked out well.

 

But we are doing a short 7-day cruise this May to Alaska. We will be at sea for two days and cruising the inside passage for two days. So, we are going to try the Premium Alcohol package.

 

GiGiAnn

[GigiAnn]

We will be on the Infinity in May and the Summit in September. They are both being "solticized." Does that mean that the Infinity will no longer have the SS United States restaurant? Will either of them have Murano. We were on the Equinox last March and Murano was fantastic.

 

Also, could someone please tell me, what is the Molecular bar and which ships is it on? I think I have missed something.

 

Thank you so much.

 

GiGiAnn

[njaloha]

I did some research because I didn't know either. Gallery Tastings is near the Gallery on Deck 5. It has food and wine tastings as well as the molecular bar which is basically this:

"Molecular Mixology

Celebrity’s one-of-a-kind Molecular Bar allows guests to experience libations with all of their senses.

The Molecular Bar is a unique experience that blends delicious juices, fresh produce and the highest quality

spirits with science, gastronomy and art. And like a chef, each cocktail is made to elegantly showcase every

ingredient without masking the flavor of the spirit or other cocktail enhancements."

[dennbr9]

Hope your liver feels it was a good deal too:-)