Email to RCCL about drink packages

[Bobal]

Hey Trainman, I think those numbers are supposed to be the per day cost. The unlimited soda package is about $6-$7 per day, so beer is still more expensive than soda

 

But I think the cost quoted by the Army Wife are wrong... Here's the costs I've seen published in other places.

 

 

" The packages are available in three tiers. The Beer and Wine Package costs $29 per person per day and includes all beers, glasses of house wine, and a 25% discount on all other wines and liquor.

The Classic Package costs $39 per person per day and includes all beers, house wine by the glass, all liquor except for premium and specialty brands, cocktails and a 25% discount on all other wines and premium liquors.

And the Premium Package will set you back $49 a day and includes everything in the Classic Package plus glasses of wine that normally run up to $10, premium liquor brands, and a 25% discount on all glasses of wine over $10 and bottles of wine."

 

That's still a lot of beer/booze to drink everyday on the cruise

 

I believe these prices are out of date - They currently have only 2 packages on the 4 RC ships which offer a package - the beer/wine package and the premium package and the current prices are $45 per day for the beer package and $55 for the premium package. Or it could be that those prices quoted by dz9yvr are for Celebrity ships, as the names of the 3 packages equate to those offered on Celebrity.

[dz9yvr]

Hey Bob... thanks for the update on prices. I knew it was more than $19/day and requires a lot of drinking to break even

[armywifefisher]

Off topic - Army Wife Fisher - You have a very beautiful family. And I have tons of respect for you as an Army wife during these trying times. I had it easy as I was one during the lull between Vietnam and Desert Storm. Can not imagine how difficult it is during these last 11 years. God Bless you and your family.

 

Ty so much it is not easy but he is worth it lol. We have been lucky these last 2 yrs as he has been working with the Wounded Warriors still long hrs and a lot of midnight calls but at least he is home. Tell your hubby thank you for his service. No matter when the army is not an easy job!!

[shonandsuzie]

It's only offered on the Independence, Grandeur, Splendour and Legend.

 

I wish they would make the packages like the Celebrity package, i.e. also including coffees, soft drinks and water. We made great use of our Classic Package on Celebrity without all the drinks having to be alcoholic (although many of them were ;) )

I like that idea too. If we could order specialty coffee, soda, bottled water and alcohol in a package it would simplify things so much. The issue for us is the price point. We were going over our past few cruises and it's hard to justify a $50/pp per day type of cost. Although, we try to be cautious to keep our bill under control so many times skip a drink (or cappacino) when we actually would enjoy one. So we were trying to figure out if we relaxed and just enjoyed beverages whenever we wanted how much it would actually cost.

 

Another point we've discussed regarding drink packages is that All Inclusive resorts do this and we dont lose our minds so why not on cruises.

[co2stay]

While I don't object to RCCL offering packages, it is not available at this point on our Liberty cruise. We did research if it would be beneficial for US, if it were to be offered. We do not believe it would be. For the 7 day cruise, it would be over $800 for the 2 of us. We just don't drink that much every day of vacation. Also, our cruise is so port-intensive, it would not make sense to us. When you are on board maybe 5 hours of awake time each day, how could you not be stupid drunk every day?

[Debde]

When you are on board maybe 5 hours of awake time each day, how could you not be stupid drunk every day?

 

Have you ever been to an AI?? I have and many and have witnessed less drunks then on a cruise ship.

Now-I do understand- cruise ships are closer quarters compared to a huge resort where everyone is spread out.

So, yes, very easily you do not have to be stupid drunk as you so nicely put it-:rolleyes:

[curley23]

I would also love to see the package. If it hasn't increased the drunks on Celebrity, why would it increase the drunks on Royal?

 

If you have a mimosa in the a.m., 2 beers at the pool in the afternoon, a pre-dinner cocktail, a glass of wine at dinner, a drink at the show, and a drink at the dance lounge - a person of normal weight and who eats enough at meals will not be an out of control drunk. And who doesn't overeat on a cruise?

 

For me that would add the convience of having my daily multi diet coke habit included instead of the mimosa and at least one of the afternoon drinks. And I could order unlimited ginger-ale's in the evening between drinks without paying extra. Yeah - I do that because I like having a drink in hand during evening activities and don't want to get stupid drunk - espicially if I'm in the Casino. :rolleyes:

 

Honestly, most people out grew the "let me get wasted drunk" stage in our early 20's. We learned a long time ago about the hangovers, the porcelian goddess, and the even worse consequences of the out of your mind drunk. Saying that - I can agree with suspending the sell of the packages during Spring Break periods.

 

Sorry, but X has a very different crowd. Most are older and know how to behave. We have on several occasions seen a few younger folks on X cut off that were on the package. X does not put up with any crap.

I doubt that RC will allow this on their family ships, let alone the 3 and 4 day booze cruises. Personally I would belive that RC would just be asking for more problems. After all they have adjusted the European cruises to make everyone in the cabin, who is of age, have to purchase the package, even if only one desires to participate.

[Johnnyb18328]

I didn't realize the backlash that would be created by just asking for the packages to be offered. In the examples of extreme behavior shown, first you cannot purchase a package if underage, the behavior discussed during Spring Break was an exteme example of how things can go wrong when rules are not followed. As I said earlier, we just like to prepay for the cruise, everything, shore excursions, a dinner at one of specialty restaurants, and a drink package. This all has to do with what you are comfortable with, I just want to relax, knowing it is all paid for. We are not and have not planned on "drinking to get our moneys worth" every day.

The package covers everything in the Premium Package, bottled water, sparkling water, lattes, espressos, fresh sqeezed oj, soda, and yes alcohol. Our day includes fresh oj at breakfast, a latte, 2 bottles of water for the day, a drink or two by the pool, predinner drink, a glass or two of wine with dinner, then a beverage or two later in the evening. If we break even fine, but we are not sitting there with calculators determining that we "need" to have 2 more beverages to break even. It is our mind set, I know not everyone thinks this way, but it is how we roll. You don't have to buy the package, it is there if you choose, if not, no worries, just let us have the option. :)

[dz9yvr]

Hey Johnny, no backlash here... It is a good idea for everyone to contact RCCL with their viewpoint. There are obviously some very different perspectives on an unlimited drink package, so it's good for RCCL to appeciate the fact that many of us don't think unlimited drink packages are a good idea.

[Johnnyb18328]

You are right dz9yvr, I sent my opinion and I hope others do too.

[JulieRose]

We're booking tomorrow and when I first saw this thread I thought there were no soda packages which would have been a deal breaker for us. However, RCI is not very forthcoming with the price on their website. Someone earlier said $7 per day, can anyone confirm that?

 

I'll buy my alcoholic drinks a la carte because some days we have a few drinks, some days we have none at all. An alcohol package probably wouldn't be worth it to us. I would, however, like the option of bringing on a special bottle of wine if I so choose. I wouldn't even mind paying a corking fee in the dining room for it. That is the letter I would write to RCI regarding their alcohol policies.

[Bobal]

I like that idea too. If we could order specialty coffee, soda, bottled water and alcohol in a package it would simplify things so much. The issue for us is the price point. We were going over our past few cruises and it's hard to justify a $50/pp per day type of cost. Although, we try to be cautious to keep our bill under control so many times skip a drink (or cappacino) when we actually would enjoy one. So we were trying to figure out if we relaxed and just enjoyed beverages whenever we wanted how much it would actually cost.

 

Another point we've discussed regarding drink packages is that All Inclusive resorts do this and we dont lose our minds so why not on cruises.

 

You've described exactly why we enjoyed the Classic Package on Celebrity. I tried different martinis before dinner (smaller size to fall within the under $7 level), cappuccinos mid-morning and after dinner, a bottle of water as we were getting off the ship, a port or a Baileys after dinner, as well as our usual lunchtime beer and wine with dinner. On RC we probably wouldn't have bought some of these as the costs do stack up. We found the convenience and the range of drinks available (non-alcoholic particularly) made the package worthwhile. Unfortunately the RC packages are all about alcohol.

[Whinney374]

Hey mech, it still doesn't make sense from a financial perspective. I've only seen prices for a beer package, I don't know if there is a drink anything you want package. But if we assume there is, you still only list 7 drinks for that day and that is the break even point. Just pay for whatever you want to drink and you'll still be ahead. I have no doubt you won't be a falling down drunk, but there will be plenty of others more than willing to assume that job. Please no unlimited alcohol.

 

 

We were on Celebrity last year and got the Premium Drink Package - by the time you have an espresso or Latte in the am, bottled waters (including sparkling) plus a few drinks (some of the Martinis were 12 dollars), you would be surprised how quickly it pays to have the package. To assume that people will be falling down drunk because of a package instead of just falling down drunk because they are falling down drunks is a bit presumptious and naive. You are basically assuming only people that can't afford to pay more will drink more. My wife and I travelled with another couple and had an amazing time on our cruise, and there wasn't one time when one of us was falling down drunk.

[nomad098]

Hi all

as a newbie travelling on the IOTS in October I came on the CC site to find out information and get some ideas for the cruise for my family and I. This is when I came accross alot of misinformation in regards to the alcoholic drink packages and sterotyping of the people that purchase them. Here is what I have managed to gleen from previous passengers and RCI,

 

 

RCI website package prices $45 and $55 this includes virgin cocktails, the soda package and gratuities

 

The packages cannot be prebooked

 

if an adult in a cabin wishes to purchase an alcohol package every other adult in that cabin must purchase an alcohol package, but this does not have to be the same package.

 

Exceptions to this rule can be made ( for medical, ethical, religeous and any other grounds that the cruise staff deem fit)

 

You may only order one drink at a time with your sea pass but I am led to believe that you may use your partners pass to get them a drink.

 

It is a myth that you need to consume 7 drinks a day to "break even" (standard 500ml bottle of beer london pride $6.95 plus 15% that cannot be right but thats how it's being reported)

 

If you drink the lowest priced alcoholic drink then yes it would take quite a few drinks to make the purchase economically viable

 

But I believe a few of the scumptious looking virgin cocktails through the day, a couple of glasses of wine with my evening meal and a few of the delicious looking cocktails in the evening with a nice port to finish the night I am sure I will more than "break even" and if not fine at least the kids college fund is safe because I know exactly how much I have spent $55 no more no less. Then up at 7am with the kids to see what the new day brings.

 

It is widely rumoured that the price of drinks on the IOTS are inflated above what the RCI's prices are in the Caribbean making it so much easier to break even without getting drunk and they no longer put out cocktail menus with the prices clearly stated but just a menu with the cocktails available.

 

I understand peoples concerns in regards to all you can drink alcohol packages and they have every right to petition RCI to stop them being introduced company wide.

 

BUT I am a family man who wants to take his family on a family friendly ship on a fantastic holiday that they will never forget. Please don't sterotype me as some beer monster because I want to budget not only for the cruise, the gratuities and those lovely looking concoctions, I budget because I have 3 kids to send to college and unless RCI open a trade school I need to make sure I know what I am spending and menus with no prices do not help.

 

if anybody else has any infomation I have missed or have gotten wrong please correct me for to err is human to forgive is devine (just checked I knew I spelt divine wrong)

 

regards

 

Damon and family

 

p.s. I wish they would add coffee's to the package

[Bobal]

Well said Damon :)

[Dawgfan6291]

[quote name='dz9yvr']Hey mech, it still doesn't make sense from a financial perspective. I've only seen prices for a beer package, I don't know if there is a drink anything you want package. But if we assume there is, you still only list 7 drinks for that day and that is the break even point. Just pay for whatever you want to drink and you'll still be ahead. I have no doubt you won't be a falling down drunk, but there will be plenty of others more than willing to assume that job. Please no unlimited alcohol.[/QUOTE]

OK so X and the Royal Euro cruise should have nothing but drunks on them right? ;)

Is it possible that maybe not everyone who drinks is a sorry drunk and most can handle themselves? Why do you have to push your views on the rest of us? And if Royal's crew does their job they wouldn't have fall over drunks anyways. (but why would we let logic into this conversation.) :mad:

Oh and not sure about beer, but if you use X prices your looking at $54 per day, which is somewhere around 6 drinks(ie liquor) a day. Over 12 hours, thats a drink every two hours. Not sure about you but that wont even give me a good buzz much less falling over drunk. :rolleyes:

I bet you HATE flying in first class on airlines too? Most of them have unlimited drinking so they must all be full of drunks yes? Or, just like what should be done on cruises, airlines have the F/As cut PAXs off that drink to much. Proper staff will prevent what your worried about, and RCI already has a company that does this(and very well I must add) :rolleyes: