Drink Package was best cruise deal ever!

[jill1970]

We had the AQ class last November on the Equinox and the Premium drink package. Not only did we have to two waters in our cabin, we could get a bottle just about anywhere on board. When we were in port we would grab the 2 from our room then 2 more on our way out. When we got back from port we would grab 2 more on our way in, just in case they had not replenished the 2 in our cabin. Couple of times we took Pellegrino along with us in port or had it by the pool on sea days.

I just saw all these posts as i am sitting here trying to decide wheter to get the prem drink pckg. it is for one person right? i don't drink much but would like the coffees/ and we have the aqua class, so sounds like we have tea and can't decide if this is a deal or not. hubby would have a few drinks a day, and i would maybe do a special coffee, does it include maybe a mai tai or mojito? thaks for any info anyone can give me.

jill

[Lsimon]

I just saw all these posts as i am sitting here trying to decide wheter to get the prem drink pckg. it is for one person right? i don't drink much but would like the coffees/ and we have the aqua class, so sounds like we have tea and can't decide if this is a deal or not. hubby would have a few drinks a day, and i would maybe do a special coffee, does it include maybe a mai tai or mojito? thaks for any info anyone can give me.

jill

 

The packages are for one person and there is no sharing allowed. The prices are high for those that "don't drink much". They are designed as an alternative to paying individually for each drink for those who do consume above average quantities of the included beverages and/or are willing to pay extra for an all inclusive beverage experience. If you are unsure then wait until you are on board and check out the selection, prices and what you really end up drinking for a day or more, then if you feel the package would be good you can purchase it on board with the price pro-rated for the remaining nights of your cruise.

 

Remember there is a fair assortment of no-extra charge beverages. They only charge for alcoholic beverages, carbonated beverages and bottled beverages. There is a good assortment of non-alcoholic beverages included in your cruise fare although many of these have premium versions which they do charge for which are included in the packages. For example they have free regular coffee but charge for espresso based coffee. They have basic tea bags for tea but charge for a high end organic tea sold at the coffee bar and so on.

Edited January 14, 2012 by Lsimon

[raudacruise]

Our premium package experience was on the Solstice TA Nov/Dec 2011.

We didn't bother the first week. We had so many tours lined up getting back in the afternoon it didn't make a lot of sense. We did sign up (at the last moment) for the second week.

We gradually figured it out. The first night at dinner that we had it we asked for Chardonnay and got the pretty sub-premium Celebrity branded wine. After that, we did a better job of pairing a good wine with dinner (and each of us had a glass that went with our entrees). We also had Irish Coffees with our desserts.

Then down to the Molecular Bar for drinks. Favorite by far was "Coming Up Roses". Those are regularly $12 each - but most nights it would seem it was buy one and 50% off second after 10pm (and we were getting that extra hour of sleep on the TA by that time). Only complaint was the bartender's choice of music, do you really want to hear "Edmund Fitzgerald" on a cruise ship :eek:. Just kidding, the bartendar was really good.

There were also various "bucket" discounts on beer. Plus we are Elite so could have gone to the Happy Hour(s).

So did we save money, probably not. But we probably wouldn't have tried "Coming Up Roses" - which I now have version of - without making the plunge.

Its also very convinient, except having to from the balcony to a bar for a Red Stripe refill when it was sunny out :rolleyes:. Late at night sometimes you could get a couple bottles to go.

But without a lot sea days like we had during the crossing I doubt we would do it again.

[mike x ftc]

TO MIKE X FTC,

 

Based on previous postings... ALL of Celebrity's dining venues should be selling wine by the glass... with the Classic Alcohol Package you'd be looking for ones that are $ 8 are less.

 

Thanks very much - that was what I was hoping top hear, hopefully there will be a couple of half decent ones that are less than $8. I'm not fussy!!

[librarylady19]

There are quite a few wines in that price range. Here are a couple of examples from Eclipse:

 

 

 

Edited January 14, 2012 by librarylady19

[mike x ftc]

Lovely! Thanks very much for those.:)

[librarylady19]

Lovely! Thanks very much for those.:)

 

No problem. If you are interested, I have lots of bar and drink photos in my Eclipse review.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1533757

 

We decided to try the premium packages after reading all the comments on CC and it was fantastic!

From what some people were saying, I thought we'd have to be wasted half the time to get "our money's worth.". Not at all. We enjoyed a great variety of drinks throughout the day (and managed to visit every bar onboard) and really the only time I even felt it was after the equivalent of a bottle of sparkling wine in Qsine (during a fantastic 3 hour meal). I can't say enough about the great variety, service and convenience of the beverage package!

Edited January 14, 2012 by librarylady19

[i guide the sky]

I have really struggled with this for our upcoming 13 night cruise. For my wife it would not be worth it that much is clear. My problem is that one night I'll rack up a 100 dollar bill the. Ext two maybe 30. And so on. My consumption is hardly predictable and I have no way of knowing how I will feel. Also I really enjoy Trappist ales and belgian ales which are now available at the new Michael's Club beer bar. Problem is, many of those bottles are not available per glass and only as a 750ml bottle for like 24 dollars a fair price. But I'm assuming with a drink package would leave me to come up with the other half. Can anyone comment on this?

 

Thanks

[librarylady19]

I have really struggled with this for our upcoming 13 night cruise. For my wife it would not be worth it that much is clear. My problem is that one night I'll rack up a 100 dollar bill the. Ext two maybe 30. And so on. My consumption is hardly predictable and I have no way of knowing how I will feel. Also I really enjoy Trappist ales and belgian ales which are now available at the new Michael's Club beer bar. Problem is, many of those bottles are not available per glass and only as a 750ml bottle for like 24 dollars a fair price. But I'm assuming with a drink package would leave me to come up with the other half. Can anyone comment on this?

 

Thanks

 

dH can't wait to use the package at Michaels. Right now if a drink is over $12 then you pay the difference. We did this for both wine and port on Eclipse. Sometimes they didn't charge us, if the difference was a $1 or $2. Not sire if this would work with a $24 bottle of beer, but I sure hope so. There are still a lot of great options in the $9 - $15 range.

[Fla Mike]

Wow, what a great post!

This made up my mind for sure.

 

I was trying to get package prices for our 5/25 Alaska cruise, and nothing was coming up until last last week, and I was kinda torn.

 

A no-brainer now.

 

Thanks again!

[mitttocs]

Just back off the Solstice -- what a wonderful vacation all the way around. With regards to the drink package, we really are torn....my partner and I feel like we got our monies worth, no doubt about it, but we have to say that there were a couple of days where we felt like we kept having "one more" just because we felt compelled to "make the package worthwhile". I think it's important for each person to look at both sides of the issue before deciding. The convenience factor is a definite plus, but you need to ask yourself if you are really going to have 7 or 8 drinks each and every day without getting into the mode we got into. Often times, we didn't need "one more", but damn it, we were "going to get our monies worth." Have a wonderful time on whichever ship you've selected -- we are already researching our next cruise and we've only been home for 24 hours!

[Ronin23]

I too have been thinking about the package for our upcoming 12 night cruise on the Silhouette.

We have actually decided to go the premium non alcohol package. Reason being I don't want to feel like I have to get my monies worth each day. I figure I would spend more time on this than enjoying the cruise.

I also felt that with the non alcohol package,drinking $20 worth a day would be easy and it's also an incentive to drink less alcohol.

By the time I have some bottled water, soda,smoothies etc I will be covered.

[upwarduk]

Celebrity are offering 10% off their drinks packages, must be booked from 16th Jan- 30 Jan, but can be used up until Dec.

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/onboard/tabLanding.do?pagename=onboard_beverage_packages&cS=SIDENAV

 

Quench Your Thirst Savings

 

"Until January 30, get 10% off almost every beverage package we offer. With a wide variety of choices, you'll find one that suits your needs, quenches your thirst and offers great value.

Book online now, have it ready when you sail

 

It's convenient and smart to book your beverage package right now. Pay one set price and enjoy all your favorite beverages, including cocktails, premium coffees, wine by the glass, endless sodas—featuring Coca-Cola® products—and unlimited bottled water.

*10% Savings Offer applies to regular price of classic non-alcoholic, premium non-alcoholic, classic, premium, soda and premium bottle water beverage packages on Celebrity cruises departing Jan. 20-Dec. 31, 2012. Beverage packages must be booked Jan. 16-30, 2012."

Edited January 17, 2012 by upwarduk

[librarylady19]

Wow, thanks for posting this info. Was this an email offer.?

Wasnt planning to buy DHs birthday beverage package yet (we sail in Sept. ) but might as well save a few bucks!

FYI, There is no mention of the 10% off on the web page but when you go to book, the price charged IS 10% less

Edited January 17, 2012 by librarylady19

[upwarduk]

Was this an email offer

 

No, I saw it on a roll call, post 911.

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1360804&page=46

 

Not sure that we ( in UK) will be allowed this offer, I went into the site & couldn't see the 10% off in GBP.

 

I am still undecided, as we have an intensive 7 days in the Hawaiian islands, then 6 days at sea.

 

I don't think we would make best use of the package when we are off the ship in port, but I do think we will benefit during the days at sea, so I think I might wait to book once we are on our sea days.

[tillybilly]

Hi All

Booked our premium beverage package from UK yesterday. Including tips it went down from £391.23 to £352.11 per person for ten nights.

Mick and Deb.

[upwarduk]

Including tips it went down from £391.23 to £352.11 per person

 

Many thanks tillybilly.

[CruiserFromMaine]

I got an email about the 10% savings today. I took advantage of it--great deal! :D

[hulamoon]

Does anyone know if there are packages not included? I read the wine was not on another thread. We are light weights in the drinks department, 3 bottles a week is a lot for us, but we share.:)

[Montemoo]

Looks like I've missed out o the 10%. Are they likely to have a similar saving before mid Feb?

[Ronin23]

Looks like I've missed out o the 10%. Are they likely to have a similar saving before mid Feb?

 

 

Short answer, no.

[High_Seas_Sun_n_Fun]

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!

 

 

 

I wouldn't think you were heavy drinkers that is lite compared to what some in the group I cruise with drink. Thanks for the break down

[RedInLove]

I agree that your example of a day's comsumption sounds just fine for someone on vacation, and DH and I plan to do the same!

 

We decided to go with the package as well. It will be our first cruise, and while it was a bit of a splurge, I want to try many new things and this will help me not hesitate to take one sip of something and just order something else if I don't like the first drink. DH wants to try a lot of new beers as well. Where else would we have the chance to even try some of these new drinks that we otherwise can't find here in the US? We're completely taking advantage of the opportunity, and are glad we won't have to deal with counting drinks and budgeting over a 12 day cruise that has 6 full days at sea.

 

Thank you for your rundown of a typical day, it reinforces that we made the right choice to go with the package!

[Esk]

I think everyone is different --- we were glad we cancelled --- we are sure that for some people it saves a fortune! Must admit. if we'd kept the package I think we would have felt pressurised to drink more to make sure we got our money's worth !!!

 

I can't wait to feel pressurized!! Looking forward to our premium package on Silhouette:D

[dfishner]

I did the math and for us it just is not worth it we do not drink $80 a day to make it worthwhile We are in the $60 range with wine for some of the dinners and a drink or two during the day. We would have a heck of a good time trying to spend it