thoughts of the new all you can drink package?

[falkcor]

Is this offere on all ships?

 

no it started on the victory... and was apparently just added to splendor. hope this is a quick roll out. quick = 2 days on triumph lol :)

[firefly333]

Hello from the land of make believe ,NO where has it said 15 drinks is the MAX you can get for the day.

 

Please provide a accurate link or blog that confirms 15

 

So if a bunch of cruisers who were on Victory came back and reported there was a 15 day limit.. they are all lying if its not in writing to prove they saw it??

 

How is someone off a ship where it was introduced going to provide a link to prove they saw it. GEEZ people..

[Jackie81]

The only thing that worries me is that if the gratuity is 15% per drink and your average drink is 8(ish) dollars and you have an average of say 15 per day (Not saying that is the limit, just an example) then you times that by 2 (average person per cabin) That is going to come out to one hefty bill at the end just in gratuity. Not saying you shouldn't tip, but I would like to see the package include gratuity so I don't have to worry about it in the end.

[Cruise-Crazy]

no it started on the victory... and was apparently just added to splendor. hope this is a quick roll out. quick = 2 days on triumph lol :)

 

Yeah, figured that out about 30 sec after posting. Thanks

[Snead's Hat]

Bring it.

[Winterstale]

okay - so the 15 percent is added to each drink?? or to the per day total? It doesn't really make sense that they'd charge a 15% gratuity to your card for the price you WOULD have paid for the drink if you bought it normally - makes sense to charge 15% to the daily rate.

 

Time to go back and read what John posted....:confused:

[RainbowsMist]

Oh how I hope this goes fleet wide by next March!!

 

I read the 15% as added to the total cost per day..

 

"The cost for the program is $42.95 per person per day, plus a 15 percent gratuity".

 

....so $49.39 per day. I could get six fruity drinks per day! :p

[coops]

The only thing that worries me is that if the gratuity is 15% per drink and your average drink is 8(ish) dollars and you have an average of say 15 per day (Not saying that is the limit, just an example) then you times that by 2 (average person per cabin) That is going to come out to one hefty bill at the end just in gratuity. Not saying you shouldn't tip, but I would like to see the package include gratuity so I don't have to worry about it in the end.

 

The package does include gratuity. 42.95 plus 15 percent of that .

[am588]

Oh how I hope this goes fleet wide by next March!!

 

I read the 15% as added to the total cost per day..

 

"The cost for the program is $42.95 per person per day, plus a 15 percent gratuity".

 

....so $49.39 per day. I could get six fruity drinks per day! :p

 

I read as same way. Isn't that similar to how the bottomless bubbles is set up?

[Jilpo]

I hope this rolls out to all ships - my DH and I would surely benefit from it! I wonder does it include buckets of beer? That's what we usually get, but if there was a 15 drink limit, we'd have to take turns buying them.

 

Just noticed it under 400 days to my next cruise!:D

[jaddld]

I don't know... We've crunched the numbers based on our last 2 Carnival cruise's and it's just not showing any value to us (actually almost double what we spend now) I checked our 7 day Dream cruise in 2011 and we spent a total of $350 for the both of us (that included (2) 1 liter bottles from Bon Voyage, a few mixers purchased on board and some brought with us and several buckets of beer.)

 

Our 15 day Spirit Cruise in 2012, we spent $700 between the both of us. That included 4 BOTTLES from Bon Voyage ($213) and the purchase of a soda card ($96 plus) for the entire cruise plus $230 in drink coupons plus several beers (and buckets) in addition!

 

We hardly ever lacked to have a drink in our hands at one point or another and had all we could do to get "our money's worth".

 

We spent time in ports and we were already losing the first and last days as far as any concentrated drinking was concerned.

 

This package is of no savings to us. If you make all of your drink purchases strictly through the bars on board - I guess it would really be a great value... just not for us - just way, way too much money for the both of us.

[deborahjo]

I was considering getting this deal when I board the Victory. I am traveling with a group of 6, but in my cabin is me and DD who is 15. We set it up this way so DH and our other daughter could reserve a cabin too.

 

So, with that said, I won't be "forced" to purchase the package x2.

 

I would go with this package only if I could "share" my 15 drinks with the other adults in our group (not big drinkers, but we were going to get the wine package, bring wine on board, AND purchase a DOD here and there) ... I'm sure that all could add up to 15 drinks easy, and I won't have to purchase the wine package (we like to drink wine with dinner).

 

I am sure that all parties in a stateroom will have to purchase it and there will be no sharing. (Like the last one is enforced.)

[firefly333]

I hope this rolls out to all ships - my DH and I would surely benefit from it! I wonder does it include buckets of beer? That's what we usually get, but if there was a 15 drink limit, we'd have to take turns buying them.

 

Just noticed it under 400 days to my next cruise!:D

 

I dont get it.. why would you have to take turns. You both have to pay for it in the cabin.. so 15 beers each. Thats not enough per day or you share each beer and drink it together? Thats 30 beers a day per couple.

[mchatt92]

This is taken from travel usa:

 

http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2012/08/carnival-cruise-wine-beer-drink-package/828302/1

 

 

 

"Add industry giant Carnival to the list of lines offering "all-you-can-drink" alcohol packages.

 

The world's largest cruise company this month has begun testing a nearly $50 per day package on the Carnival Victory that gives buyers access to unlimited wine, beer and spirits as well as sodas and non-alcoholic frozen cocktails.

 

The "My Awesome Bar Program" package, as it's being called, costs $42.95 per person per day plus an automatic 15% gratuity of $6.44 and can be used to order all wines by the glass, beer and individual cocktails priced at $10 and lower. Full bottles of wine and champagne, as well as wines by the glass, beers and individual cocktails priced above $10, are available at a 25% discount.

 

 

A caveat: Each passenger ages 21 years and over in the same cabin must purchase the beverage package -- a rule presumably enacted to prevent cabin mates from "sharing" a package. Passengers under 21 cannot buy the package as passengers must be 21 years or older to consume alcohol on Carnival ships.

 

Passengers can sign up for the package at Carnival Victory's atrium and casino bars, as well as a bar within the main pool area.

 

Carnival's move comes a year after rival Royal Caribbean rolled out all-you-can-drink alcohol packages on three ships based overseas. Celebrity Cruises unveiled all-you-can-drink packages fleetwide in 2010.

 

A spokesperson for Carnival tells USA TODAY the line hasn't decided whether it will add the new alcohol package on its 23 other ships."

 

It includes water and sodas. We're in :)

[cruzn buckeye]

I think Carnival is counting on this.

That is why the trial on the Victory was a huge success . I wish they would let us buy it per day, our choice of days.. for instance.. a certain price for ship days, a certain price to include the whole week...

[katiel53]

I hope this rolls out to all ships - my DH and I would surely benefit from it! I wonder does it include buckets of beer? That's what we usually get, but if there was a 15 drink limit, we'd have to take turns buying them.

 

Just noticed it under 400 days to my next cruise!:D

 

My guess, and it's only a guess, is that it won't include buckets of beer. I say this because if you got a bucket you could share with others (non package people) and that defeats the purpose. I think it would include 15 beers but only 1 at a time if there is the 15 drink rule.

 

 

 

I know many feel it's unfair to have everyone 21 and over in a cabin have to purchase the package, but having seen so many people post how they shared a soda package or just take a sip or whatever, I think Carnival wants to be sure this doesn't happen.

 

I do think there should be some exceptions and there has to be a way to allow them. For example a pregnant woman shouldn't drink but if traveling with her husband he may want to use the package. Perhaps a letter from her MD would suffice. Also, what about people who are recovering alcoholics? They could be in a cabin with someone who drinks. I don't know what the proof would be that they wouldn't drink but there has to be something

 

For those who just don't drink but the spouse does, I don't see that there will be any way around purchasing the package for both or for none. I don't know how this works on other lines, but I am sure there must be exceptions.

[bletp2002]

After reading the post above. 1 thank you for the information. 2. I haven't cruised in a few years, can someone tell me what kind of beers or mixed drinks fall under 10 dollars and which ones are over 10 dollars. I would be ticked to get this package and then find out I drank a 10 dollar beer and was charged...lol..

 

That being said, if water and soda is included in that to me it make sense but if someone has recent prices it would be great to break down and figure out which way would be smarter.

[bajangoddess82]

I don't like the fact that everyone in the cabin must purchase the package. I like the idea because I do have a high tolerance level [i only drink beer] so this would be good for me; but only if it was not on a cruise intensive cruise. To each their own I guess :)

[sooner33]

This was posted by JH a few days ago

 

NOT INCLUDED IN PROGRAM :

Non-Alcoholic Beverages other than Soda

Drinks promoted and sold in souvenir glasses

Liquor, wine and Champagne sales by the bottle

Gangway Beverages while debarking

Cigars

Cookbooks/Bar books

Coffee and Food items from the “Coffee Shop” Cafe (where applicable)

Beverages ordered through Room Service

Mini Bars and/or other in-cabin beverage program

Enomatic machines (where applicable)

All items priced over $10.00

Gift Shop, Photo Gallery or any other retail store on board

 

Then he followed up by this , hope this helps

 

More on the all inclusive bar program which I hope will help answer questions.

All Frozen drinks are included (including Alcohol Free Frozen Drinks), so if a guest wants a Pina Colada, Kiss on the Lips or an Alcohol Free frozen drink it is no problem!

 

Premium spirits such as Grey Goose, Belvedere, Makers Mark, Johnnie Walker Black, Bombay Sapphire and Patron Silver are all included.

 

Classic Cocktails such as Mojitos, Long Island Ice teas, Margaritas and Mai Tai are also included.

 

Sodas are included- no need for a Bottomless Bubbles card if you are partake in the My Awesome Bar Program."

Cheers

[dms_cruisers04]

I am looking at the card I picked up on deck at the table they were selling the "My Awesome Bar Program" when we were on the Victory 8/12-8/19.

 

*Prices are per day; gratuities not included. is how it is listed on the card. We were told it would be $601.30 for the two of us. We took that to mean the gratuities would be charged per drink, based on the price of the drink.

 

Listed in the 12 points of "Beverages excluded":

Beverages in souvenir glasses

Bottles of liquor

Bottled water

Beverages offered at gangway while debarking

Beverages offered through room service

Coffee beverages and food items

 

25% is the discount amount for drinks above $10 as well as bottles of wine or champagne, not a gratuity percentage.

 

Nowhere on this card is there a limit listed. I did not see anything at the table that stated a limit, although I was not looking for one.

 

In addition the card states under excluded:

 

Sharing cocktails, floaters, pitchers, tubes and buckets.

 

I'll try to scan the card and post it tomorrow.

[thshhh]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1698426

 

this is a flyer on the program.

[Cruisegirl6]

I want it Carnival next month on the Dream please....

[Feelin' Nauti']

thoughts of the new all you can drink package?

whats your take?

I like the package since it covers basically every drink.

Wish it was on the Miracle. :D

 

I do not like the fact that everyone in the cabin has to order it.

One person might not be allowed to, due to medical reasons... etc...

[rickechambers1@aol.com]

no it started on the victory... and was apparently just added to splendor. hope this is a quick roll out. quick = 2 days on triumph lol :)

 

Hope you're correct about Splendor. Source of info? And I interpret gratuities as 15% per drink cost. Is this incorrect?

[pjhootch]

The package may save some cruisers money. I probably wouldn't lay out the cash for it, even though we may drink 5 or 6 drinks in a day. We certainly can, but probably not every single day for 7 days in a row. We also like to have a few drinks while in each port and try local beers or whatever. On port days, we aren't going to come back and load up with 6 drinks before and after dinner.

 

I do think the convenience will attract people. That is likely where Carnival makes up for the folks that drink more than the 42 dollar cost per day. On the other hand, if people are sharing their drinks Carnival will see profits reduced and the program will go away.