Sloop-JohnB Posted September 11, 2011 #101 Share Posted September 11, 2011 (edited) What exactly would the premium coffee be? Looking at purchasing the "Classic Package" since neither one of us are martini drinkers and it appears any and all of the alcohol we drink is included in this package. Also, I noticed the price of frozen drink is $6.50? So I guess this would fall under Classic as well (up to $8 per drink)? Thanks to any who can clarify for me. Marilyn Hi luvtacruise27, A PREMIUM COFFEE is one that isn't a regular coffee or decaf... but rather something like a Cappuccino, Espresso, Latte or Macchiato A SPECIALTY COFFEE (common used terminology in the Bar Business)... is a coffee based drink that includes Alcohol... such as an Irish Coffee (Irish Whiskey)... although there are many many others... one can almost add any liquer of one's choice (Bailey's - Amaretto - Tia Maria etc... are all popular) Cheers! Edited September 11, 2011 by Sloop-JohnB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagoffee Posted September 12, 2011 #102 Share Posted September 12, 2011 I believe there is another benefit to purchasing your package once on the ship and in international waters: No tax. Tax is added to the package if you purchase before your trip. So if you are thinking about it and not sure, don't fret, you may save a bit more money in the end. If Celebrity charged you a tax when you purchased the package in advance, you may wish to ask for a refund. They have never charged me tax when I purchased the package in advance just the service charge. Perhaps you have the two charges mixed up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kan't Wait Posted September 12, 2011 #103 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Has anyone ever bought one beverage package and share it with your husband or wife? Yes, and we share our drinks under a bridge in the cardboard box we live in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAWS Posted September 12, 2011 #104 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Yes' date=' and we share our drinks under a bridge in the cardboard box we live in.[/quote'] Gee whiz. That was pretty nasty. If you noted, that was that person's first post. Maybe they don't KNOW and that's why they are asking!! Snarky comments like that make sure that first posters are also never again posters. To alfrules27: No you cannot share a drink package. You can each buy one or else you can buy one type and your partner can buy another, but you're not supposed to share. They will put a sticker on your sign and sail pass to indicate to the servers and bartenders the type of package that you have purchased. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Cruise Raider Posted September 12, 2011 #105 Share Posted September 12, 2011 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! We've been debating on this as well....but will be up in Alaska and not sure we would drink as much if not sitting around the pool. This is helpful, though. thanks for putting so much time into this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheffip Posted September 12, 2011 #106 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Are the drink packages now well undrestood by all staff and hassle-free? I ask because I bought my one and only on Summit soon after they were introduced and was forever being charged and then I had to point out that I had the package which resulted in more paper to be signed to reverse the charges...even a few calls to customer service. It all balanced out in the end but it was a real headache. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheffip Posted September 12, 2011 #107 Share Posted September 12, 2011 (edited) Hi luvtacruise27, A PREMIUM COFFEE is one that isn't a regular coffee or decaf... but rather something like a Cappuccino, Espresso, Latte or Macchiato A SPECIALTY COFFEE (common used terminology in the Bar Business)... is a coffee based drink that includes Alcohol... such as an Irish Coffee (Irish Whiskey)... although there are many many others... one can almost add any liquer of one's choice (Bailey's - Amaretto - Tia Maria etc... are all popular) Cheers! So do I have this right? With a Classic package I get to order a latte but if I want a shot of Bailey's in it I have to have the Premium "Specialty" coffee package? Can I pay an upcharge to add the Bailey's or will I be charged for the full cost of the drink? Can I order a separate "Classic" shot of Bailey's on the side to add to my "Classic" latte and avoid a "Premium" drink by pouring it into the coffee myself?? Edited September 12, 2011 by cheffip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagoffee Posted September 12, 2011 #108 Share Posted September 12, 2011 So do I have this right? With a Classic package I get to order a latte but if I want a shot of Bailey's in it I have to have the Premium "Specialty" coffee package? Can I pay an upcharge to add the Bailey's or will I be charged for the full cost of the drink? Can I order a separate "Classic" shot of Bailey's on the side to add to my "Classic" latte and avoid a "Premium" drink by pouring it into the coffee myself?? It is my understanding that if you have the Classic alcohol package you will be able to order the premium coffee drinks as long as the cost is less than $8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kan't Wait Posted September 12, 2011 #109 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Gee whiz. That was pretty nasty. If you noted, that was that person's first post. Maybe they don't KNOW and that's why they are asking!! Snarky comments like that make sure that first posters are also never again posters. To alfrules27: No you cannot share a drink package. You can each buy one or else you can buy one type and your partner can buy another, but you're not supposed to share. They will put a sticker on your sign and sail pass to indicate to the servers and bartenders the type of package that you have purchased. Sorry to offend you or the OP but a simple search of these boards and the X website would have given the OP a clear answer to such a silly question. Despite the common thought that no question is stupid I disagree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheffip Posted September 12, 2011 #110 Share Posted September 12, 2011 (edited) It is my understanding that if you have the Classic alcohol package you will be able to order the premium coffee drinks as long as the cost is less than $8. The OP listed her coffee and Bailey's as costing $10 so it's a "Premium" drink that is more than $8. I was wondering if it would be possible to get it through the Classic package by ordering the two ingredients separately (coffee and liqueur) since individually they would cost less than $8 each. Edited September 12, 2011 by cheffip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TLCOhio Posted September 12, 2011 #111 Share Posted September 12, 2011 If Celebrity charged you a tax when you purchased the package in advance, you may wish to ask for a refund. They have never charged me tax when I purchased the package in advance just the service charge. Perhaps you have the two charges mixed up? When our ship was in port in Barcelona as we were getting ready to do the sail-away at 5 pm, YES, we were charged a sales tax on my beer purchase on the Sunset rear deck. It can happen, depending on the port/country rules. Open seas were totally different with no sales tax added. I would say such sales taxes are pretty rare, but it did and does happen while still in the Barcelona port. Questions have come up on beverages offered and the pricing during recent cruises. These are the detailed specifics from our mid-June 2011 cruise on the Solstice from a menu/pricing card that I borrowed from the Sunset/Oceanview area: BEERS: At $4.50 each (plus the added 15% service charge), it is Bud Light, Budweiser, Coors Light and Miller Lite; at $5.00 (which goes to $5.75 with tip), there is Amstel Light, Beck’s, Corona, Corona Light, Leffe Blonde, Heineken, Heineken Light, O’Doul’s (NA), Red Stripe and Samuel Adams; at $6.00 (which goes to $6.90 with tip), it is Bohemia, Grolsch, Guinness, Stella Artois, Newcastle Brown Ale and Peroni. RED WINES: At $5.50 each, Cabernet Sauvignon/Pinotage “Basket Pressed” Heron’s Nest, Stellenbosch; at $6.50 each, Tempranillo, Marques de la Concordia, Crianza, Rioja; at $7.50 each Cabernet Sauvignon “Heritage” Wente Estates, Livermore; at $8.00 each, Merlot, Rutherford Ranch, Napa Valley and Shiraz “The Barossa” Peter Lehmann, Barossa Valley; at $8.50 each, Chianti Classico Riserva Tenuta di Nozzole, Tuscany and Pinot Noir, Kendall Jackson, “Vintner’s Reserve”. WHITE WINES: At $5.50 each, Viognier, Maison Paul Jaboulet Aine, Rhone Valley; at $6.00 each, Riesling “Kabinett” Selbach-Oster, Mosel; at $6.50 each, Sauvignon Blanc, Southern Right, Walker Bay; at $7.50 each, Pino Grigio, Bollini, Trentino; at $8.00 each, Chardonnay, St. Francis, Sonoma; at $8.50 each, Pouilly Fume “La Moynerie” Michel Redde, Loire Valley. ROSE-BLUSH: At $5.50 each, White Zinfandel, Beringer, North Coast; at $6.50 each, Rose de Provence, Jean-Lux Colombo. The $8 glass of wine goes to $9.20 with tip added. A $6.50 wine goes to $7.48 with tip. NON-ALCOHOLIC: At $2.50 each, it is Evian, Pellegrino and Perrier smaller-sized; at $3.00 each, they offer Arizona Premium Iced Tea, Green Tea, Lemon Tea, Peach Tea and Diet Lemon; at $4.00 each, they had Strawberry Banana Soda, Peach Sangria, large Evian and Pellegrino, Sparkling Mint Lemonade and Watermelon Tropic; at $5.00 each, it is Red Bull, regular and sugar-free. They also offer various Coca-Cola soft drinks, but those prices were not listed on this card. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Recently back from a June 7-19 Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 38,632 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at: http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geenafeena Posted September 12, 2011 #112 Share Posted September 12, 2011 This was one of the best things about the premium drink package. It makes your cruise basically an all inclusive vacation. Feel like a specialty coffee, get one, craving a diet coke, no prob. All the bottled water you can drink and of course as much top shelf liquor as you want. I loved playing BJ and drinking single malt scotch. This package is perfect for folks that know they will be drinking some, like better brands and don't want to worry about blowing up a budget. Loved it, will do it on all of my X cruises..... i would say it doesn't make it an "all inclusive" vacation. for all inclusives the drinks are included in the price, not a separate one time charge. if that was the case i would get the drink package in a minute. when you think about how much extra you are paying just for drinks (in my case a 12 day cruise) it is ridiculous. my bf and i each drink about 5 drinks a day at the most. i Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbkb2 Posted September 12, 2011 #113 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Hi boyerd. Thanks for the information it has really helped us decide to go with the premium drinks package. Could you tell us if you can get the speciality coffes anywhere? Does this include cafe Baccio and Bistro on five or do you still have to pay the $5.00 charge? and do you know how much the Jack Daniels is a glass? Thanks again lbkb2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagoffee Posted September 13, 2011 #114 Share Posted September 13, 2011 The OP listed her coffee and Bailey's as costing $10 so it's a "Premium" drink that is more than $8. I was wondering if it would be possible to get it through the Classic package by ordering the two ingredients separately (coffee and liqueur) since individually they would cost less than $8 each. Good point. I forget to review the original posting. Now, I see the wisdom of your question. From my experience you could order a shot of Bailey's at one bar and then add it to a latte that you purchase at the Cafe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagoffee Posted September 13, 2011 #115 Share Posted September 13, 2011 When our ship was in port in Barcelona as we were getting ready to do the sail-away at 5 pm, YES, we were charged a sales tax on my beer purchase on the Sunset rear deck. It can happen, depending on the port/country rules. Open seas were totally different with no sales tax added. I would say such sales taxes are pretty rare, but it did and does happen while still in the Barcelona port. [/url][/b] I have not purchased a package in Barcelona, so I obviously do not know. I have read that if you purchase a package that they will actually charge you after you leave the port, but I do not actually know from experience as I have always purchased mine in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise Junky Posted September 13, 2011 #116 Share Posted September 13, 2011 The OP listed her coffee and Bailey's as costing $10 so it's a "Premium" drink that is more than $8. I was wondering if it would be possible to get it through the Classic package by ordering the two ingredients separately (coffee and liqueur) since individually they would cost less than $8 each. I thought it said a shot and 1/2..so a single shot might be $8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anniegb Posted September 13, 2011 #117 Share Posted September 13, 2011 (edited) I am unsure of how much alcohol I will drink. I will purchase the premium non-alcoholic package. I understand that you can purchase any drinks package on board mid-cruise. 2 questions: Is there a min no of days you can purchase the premium alcoholic package? Is the cost of the premium non-alcoholic package, pro-rata, offset against the cost of the pro-ratra premium alcohol package. Thanks Annie Edited September 13, 2011 by anniegb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retiredgranny Posted September 13, 2011 #118 Share Posted September 13, 2011 A big thank you to all who posted on this topic, after much debating we have purchased the package for our next cruise and after reading all the post feel we have made a good choice will let you know when we return. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sloop-JohnB Posted September 13, 2011 #119 Share Posted September 13, 2011 (edited) i would say it doesn't make it an "all inclusive" vacation. for all inclusives the drinks are included in the price, not a separate one time charge. if that was the case i would get the drink package in a minute. when you think about how much extra you are paying just for drinks (in my case a 12 day cruise) it is ridiculous. my bf and i each drink about 5 drinks a day at the most. i Hi Geenafeena, Your post brings up two separate thoughts for me… ONE – IF Celebrity was to offer all-inclusive cruising that covered the cost of alcohol (for one & all whether they drank or not) then the prices would have to increase across the board to cover that… so as to build in the costing that they are now charging for these Alcohol Packages… so essentially everyone on board would say be paying say $ 25 to $ 50 more per day per person (so on a 12 Day Cruise that would add up to an extra $ 300 to $ 600) Which is what makes these two featured Drink Packages so nice… one can customize them to their own preferences by choosing either the Classic or the Premium. Or as you say not signing up for one at all… and just paying as you go. Obviously these Drink Packages though have become a hit with Cruisers… as it sounds from the many posts I’ve read that people choosing them are very pleased with the ease of use and cost savings. And even folks who thought they might not be candidates for a drink package savings are finding out quite differently. Agree though that each person has to weigh it out for themselves to see if they’d benefit… and length of a cruise itineraries can make a difference. Which brings me to the following… TWO – You say you and your BF drink about 5 drinks a day at the most… I assume here you are talking about alcohol. What many don’t take into consideration is that there are many other beverages on the ship that have a charge associated with them as well (the most basic being bottled water, pop, premium coffees, etc). Items that some cruisers in the past have complained is just a way for the cruise lines to nickel and dime them to death. If you take a look at the STICKY at the top of this Forum that has comprehensive info on the Beverage Packages’ Pricing… you’ll find that it doesn’t take very long with a calculator to determine that one could easily drink their way thru to the price of the Classic Package in any day without consuming hardly any alcohol at all. Which is what is seems from my readings here on the Celebrity Boards, many seem to be discovering. Hope this is helpful, PS… BTW, many have found that they don’t actually make up their minds until they are on-board and see the actual prices of their daily account coming in… and then they decide to purchase a Drink Package… and by accounts the Ship will then pro-rate out the expenditures… and sell it to you for whatever days are left on the cruise... which is also why many new reports are coming in to this Forum that there are those who have discovered that although they weren’t sold on the idea before cruising… (thought they’d never spend say $ 30 to $ 50 a day on Beverages)… they discovered they were anyways when all was taken into account (Fresh OJ – Bottled Water – Premium Coffees – a Martini – a Glass of Wine etc). So now many are coming back and reporting that they’ve seen the benefits of the Packages in action, and gained the savings by signing up for one when they were aboard. Something to consider. Cheers! Edited September 13, 2011 by Sloop-JohnB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen Posted September 13, 2011 #120 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I've purchased the premium liquor package for my November cruise and I'm an avid cruiser. I could see right away that I'd save money. Like you, I'm not a heavy drinker day in and day out, but when I'm on a cruise I often find myself wanting a beer by the pool or a glass of wine with each course, and backing off because I hated the bill at the end. The purchase of the package was a gift to myself of not having to look a big bill in the face at the end of the cruise. My consumption will probably fall into the average category (and was pleased they had Diet Sprite on board) One cannot ignore the medicinal need for the package either. In an attempt to stay healthy I will probably end up with a bloody mary late in the morning (for the anti-oxident and anti-scurvy properties) as well as a couple of gin and tonics in the evening (to ward off malaria) And of course wine with dinner as the best digestif' available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julia Posted September 13, 2011 #121 Share Posted September 13, 2011 (edited) i would say it doesn't make it an "all inclusive" vacation. for all inclusives the drinks are included in the price, not a separate one time charge. if that was the case i would get the drink package in a minute. when you think about how much extra you are paying just for drinks (in my case a 12 day cruise) it is ridiculous. my bf and i each drink about 5 drinks a day at the most. i Geena: I suggest you price out an all-inclusive anywhere for 12 days, and then compare it to your cruise WITH an alcohol package. The all-inclusive will be MUCH higher! Just be sure to compare "apples-to-oranges" on the cabin/room types. I compared my exact 13 night cruise dates: Nov20 - Dec 3rd Sandals Resort Jamaica - Oceanview room = $5,523.70 Constellation Balcony cabin (2B) w/ two Classic Alcohol Packages = $3,305.00 Edited September 13, 2011 by julia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhuntington3 Posted September 13, 2011 #122 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I am unsure of how much alcohol I will drink. I will purchase the premium non-alcoholic package. I understand that you can purchase any drinks package on board mid-cruise. 2 questions: Is there a min no of days you can purchase the premium alcoholic package? Is the cost of the premium non-alcoholic package, pro-rata, offset against the cost of the pro-ratra premium alcohol package. Thanks Annie From Celebrity's web site: Can I purchase a beverage package for a portion of my cruise? Subject: Beverage Packages No, it must be purchased for the entire voyage. It can be purchased on board up until there are 2 nights left in the cruise and must be purchased for the remainder of the voyage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barwick Cruiser Posted September 13, 2011 #123 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Very interested in purchasing beverage packages for DH and myself but wondering about a post I saw that encouraged people to wait until the ship was at sea to purchase to avoid paying tax on the package. When I check the Celebrity site it doesn't say anything about charging tax, just the standard 15% service charge which is added automatically....is there also a tax added on? Cathy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ariawoman Posted September 14, 2011 #124 Share Posted September 14, 2011 Has anyone ever purchased a beverage package, say the soda package which is the lowest level package, knowing that more than likely it might not be the most economical choice, but it would lessen the hassle of keeping track to make sure you weren't erroneously charged? I really don't think I'd drink enough to make it a financial benefit, however from an ease standpoint I just feel like I'd worry less about saving anything or tracking anything or whatever. What does everyone think? Is convenience worth the money? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julia Posted September 14, 2011 #125 Share Posted September 14, 2011 Has anyone ever purchased a beverage package, say the soda package which is the lowest level package, knowing that more than likely it might not be the most economical choice, but it would lessen the hassle of keeping track to make sure you weren't erroneously charged? I really don't think I'd drink enough to make it a financial benefit, however from an ease standpoint I just feel like I'd worry less about saving anything or tracking anything or whatever. What does everyone think? Is convenience worth the money? WORTH is a relative term (that only YOU can define). Is a balcony WORTH the extra money? Are the specialty restaurants WORTH the extra money? Is flying first class WORTH the extra money? Everything depends on your perspective and what it's worth to you.... :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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