Cheers Comparison Chart

[Rowan555]

You know, that is exactly what is making the Cheers program so interesting to me. I am not a heavy drinker, but if I had to pay for each drink, I might not even get one. I can be cheap with myself. Granted, yeah, with the Cheers program I would be putting out a hefty amount - but in my mind - it'll already have been allocated. Sort of like travel insurance and tips. It's just part of the cruise cost.

 

That way, I'd be likely to try things I wouldn't have before. Now if I knew I'd only do one or two drinks a day - then no, this would be a not smart move.

 

But I do like wine with dinner, I do like mimosas, and frozen margaritas. I'd like to try out a Appletini, or a Cosmopolitan. Add a shot of Patron to those frozen drinks (with appropriate 5 minute wait) then I've made it doable for me. Even if some days I'll never get the break even cost. So I am considering it.

 

These last several posts definitely fly in the face of those people who are claiming the Cheers program will result in people falling down drunk all over the ship.

[SNJCruisers]

These last several posts definitely fly in the face of those people who are claiming the Cheers program will result in people falling down drunk all over the ship.

Celebrity has had the program since 2010, and Carnival tested it on the Victory on a few port intensive sailings and it has now expanded to 13 ships in the fleet, primarily on sailings of 6 days or more. Norwegian has their own variation being tested on a few of their ships, while Royal has rolled it out fleet wide on all sailings 7 days or longer.

 

The program is optional, some people will buy it and get their monies worth, some will buy it and get piece of mind, while others will look down their noses and think it's going to result in a 24/7 frat party. It's been reported that less than 200 people are buying it per sailing, so even if 10% overindulge, that's only 20 out of 3,000 people on board.

[Rowan555]

even if 10% overindulge, that's only 20 out of 3,000 people on board.

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And those people would get drunk anyway.

 

I've been on a 5 day Carnival cruise where 180 people had the open bar card (part of a group cruise), and we saw no problems at all resulting from the open bar cards. And this was a world renowned group of drinkers (the hashers).

[Sfdtiller]

After reading all these posts I still think I am going to pack my normal suitcase...if it arrives great, if not I get the package. Even if my suitcase doesn't arrive in my room I can still take it back home so I am out nothing. Last 2 trips bar bills averaged 500 per person but those were guy trips. So we drank in ports and upon returning to the ship. :cool: Going on this one with the GF so it will be interesting to see what we spend. Thanks to everyone for posting, I will post when we return as to our experience on the Legend.

[guy&paula]

silly question, but can one order the towers of draught beer on this program to sit around the pool and drink at your leisure? I think it is about 3 litres per tower?

[finsupcruiser]

Not worth it to me...I could not drink that much.

 

Now would I want to. I want to remember my cruise:D

[carolinabeachcruiser]

You know, that is exactly what is making the Cheers program so interesting to me. I am not a heavy drinker, but if I had to pay for each drink, I might not even get one. I can be cheap with myself. Granted, yeah, with the Cheers program I would be putting out a hefty amount - but in my mind - it'll already have been allocated. Sort of like travel insurance and tips. It's just part of the cruise cost.

 

That way, I'd be likely to try things I wouldn't have before. Now if I knew I'd only do one or two drinks a day - then no, this would be a not smart move.

 

But I do like wine with dinner, I do like mimosas, and frozen margaritas. I'd like to try out a Appletini, or a Cosmopolitan. Add a shot of Patron to those frozen drinks (with appropriate 5 minute wait) then I've made it doable for me. Even if some days I'll never get the break even cost. So I am considering it.

 

This is ME exactly. I am going on the Dream next week and although neither my husband nor I are big drinkers we will be on vacation without children. I told him in our conversations that on our past cruises I always felt that the drinks were an extra that I did not need to spend. This way it will be paid for and I won't have to question or worry. Also we have always purchased the bottomless bubbles and we will still be able to have our soda's but I will not feel guilty with my wine at dinner or the drinks in the shows....come on Saturday.....I can't wait to board and go straight to the table selling this program!

[drosphot]

silly question, but can one order the towers of draught beer on this program to sit around the pool and drink at your leisure? I think it is about 3 litres per tower?

 

They are not included since they are over $10. Not sure if they qualify for the 25% off drinks over $10 under the Cheers program.

[LizzieTrowbridge]

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[NCTribeFan]

This is ME exactly. I am going on the Dream next week and although neither my husband nor I are big drinkers we will be on vacation without children. I told him in our conversations that on our past cruises I always felt that the drinks were an extra that I did not need to spend. This way it will be paid for and I won't have to question or worry. Also we have always purchased the bottomless bubbles and we will still be able to have our soda's but I will not feel guilty with my wine at dinner or the drinks in the shows....come on Saturday.....I can't wait to board and go straight to the table selling this program!

 

As a CCL shareholder, I'd like to thank you for this! :p

 

You're willing to pay more for something you probably won't use, just so you won't feel quilty every time you order a drink? Seriously?

 

This is just incomprehensible to me. You spend the money for the drink program if it saves you money. That is the only sensible reason to purchase it. Really. Trust me. I'm an accountant. ;)

 

I mostly only drink wine while cruising. Beer doesn't leave enough room for al the food I want to eat, and I normally just purchase a wine package and bring on my one bottle. And I wouldn't want to feel compelled to drink more just to get my money's worth!

 

There's no way I would purchase this package unless I was positive it would save me money. I prefer to spend my money on other things. Every dollar I don't spend on something I don't need is another dollar that can go toward my next cruise. And, yes, I prefer to actually remember my cruise when I get home! :D

 

I'm surprised that those who want >15 drinks a day aren't more interested in spending their vacation dollars at an all-inclusive. That $100/day per couple that you're spending on these cards would go a long way toward paying for your room at an AI.

[Rowan555]

 

I'm surprised that those who want >15 drinks a day aren't more interested in spending their vacation dollars at an all-inclusive. That $100/day per couple that you're spending on these cards would go a long way toward paying for your room at an AI.

 

Well for us, it's a fifteen minute drive to the cruise versus a long, expensive flight for us AND our kids to an All Inclusive. I don't think we'll do the Cheers program more than once, but we're going to splurge this time and give it a try. If I drink 5 martinis b/t dinner and bedtime, I'll get my money's worth - and I'm not going to drink all day just to get more money out of it. My husband, on the other hand, probably will...but he can drink light beers all day and still have room for dinner - while I would do better sticking with tea :-)

[ItsAllAboutTheSass]

Would make sense for my but not my DW. Therefore, it doesn't work for us.

[dumbwaiterboy]

As a CCL shareholder, I'd like to thank you for this! :p

 

You're willing to pay more for something you probably won't use, just so you won't feel quilty every time you order a drink? Seriously?

 

This is just incomprehensible to me. You spend the money for the drink program if it saves you money. That is the only sensible reason to purchase it. Really. Trust me. I'm an accountant. ;)

 

I mostly only drink wine while cruising. Beer doesn't leave enough room for al the food I want to eat, and I normally just purchase a wine package and bring on my one bottle. And I wouldn't want to feel compelled to drink more just to get my money's worth!

 

There's no way I would purchase this package unless I was positive it would save me money. I prefer to spend my money on other things. Every dollar I don't spend on something I don't need is another dollar that can go toward my next cruise. And, yes, I prefer to actually remember my cruise when I get home! :D

 

I'm surprised that those who want >15 drinks a day aren't more interested in spending their vacation dollars at an all-inclusive. That $100/day per couple that you're spending on these cards would go a long way toward paying for your room at an AI.

 

While I agree with you that light drinkers probably don't need this program, I also agree with the PP that sometimes you think twice before buying a drink and with this program, the thought is gone.

 

I always did one excursion with open bar at a beach club and usually a CC meet and greet with open bar for 2 hours...those days I would tend not to drink anything else because I wanted to not 'waste money'. The meet and greets I always tend to drink too quickly and not enjoy it...with this program you can already plan on your expenses and get a drink when you wish and not have to think twice.

 

As for the AIs, I'll probably try one in the future, but also like cruising and being in a new place each day.

[jaddld]

This isn't for DH and me neither. I figured up what we spent (drink wise) on our 15 day cruise to Hawaii and it came to just a little over $750. This amount included drink coupons (covered DH's beer - DH loves his Budweiser:)), a few bottles from Bon Voyage, a soda card (which covered my mixers - I don't drink beer) & individual purchases from the bar. It would have been $1500 for us using the Cheers program.

 

For me personally, if I start mixing drinks just to sample new things, I would be hanging over a bucket most of the cruise:o

 

Great opportunity for some to save money, just not for us.

[gfy012]

It's just like any casino in Vegas or Atlantic City....you gamble and they comp your drinks.....now, if they gave you free drinks the rest of the day poolside or at the piano bar or comedy club at night, that would be really getting something, but in reality, you're paying for those drinks through your casino donations.

 

I would be paying for the drinks in the casino anyway every night so yes I am getting free drinks. I actually received the free drink card on their money which makes it even sweeter. That is the reality.

Edited January 6, 2013 by gfy012

[gfy012]

Yea....to each his or her own....but I would rather spend 50 bucks a day on an open bar package than buy overpriced liquor in the ports and make nightly donations at the casino. Between the bar tabs in the ports and the money dropped at the casino, I would have to wager that you dropped over 350.00 over the course of the week.

But of course, that's why they make vanilla and chocolate, different people have different tastes.

 

Yes to each his own. We don't pay for overpriced drinks in port we can do that on the ship. What I save on the drink package would be a wash in the casino. I like vanilla :)

[SNJCruisers]

silly question, but can one order the towers of draught beer on this program to sit around the pool and drink at your leisure? I think it is about 3 litres per tower?

No, the beer towers are only available at the Pub, since they could possible break poolside. If you want a beer to consume at the pool, it is either in an aluminum bottle or a glass bottle that has been poured into a specially designed funnel like plastic bottle. But, of course you can consume as many beer as you could possibly drink all day long pool side.

[gfy012]

As a CCL shareholder, I'd like to thank you for this! :p

 

You're willing to pay more for something you probably won't use, just so you won't feel quilty every time you order a drink? Seriously?

 

This is just incomprehensible to me. You spend the money for the drink program if it saves you money. That is the only sensible reason to purchase it. Really. Trust me. I'm an accountant. ;)

 

I mostly only drink wine while cruising. Beer doesn't leave enough room for al the food I want to eat, and I normally just purchase a wine package and bring on my one bottle. And I wouldn't want to feel compelled to drink more just to get my money's worth!

 

There's no way I would purchase this package unless I was positive it would save me money. I prefer to spend my money on other things. Every dollar I don't spend on something I don't need is another dollar that can go toward my next cruise. And, yes, I prefer to actually remember my cruise when I get home! :D

 

I'm surprised that those who want >15 drinks a day aren't more interested in spending their vacation dollars at an all-inclusive. That $100/day per couple that you're spending on these cards would go a long way toward paying for your room at an AI.

 

Makes perfect sense to me!

[iheartpoco]

Just off Freedom, I guarantee there is a 15 drink limit, at least on this ship. The system gives a warning at drink #14, and shuts you out completely at 15. You can't even BUY any more drinks after 15. I met a guy who hit the limit every sea day, wasn't drunk, the bartenders let him have drinks off other peoples cards, because they literally could NOT ring up another drink on his.

 

When we first bought the program, the girl selling it insisted there was no set limit. Luckily we never hit 15 drinks ourselves.

[Blazley]

What a Stupid Thing ... You can not buy after they 15 more Drinks ? So that means if you are at 5pm on the Limit ( Soda, Cocktails etc ) you can drink NOTHING at the rest of the Day ? How stupid is That ? Idk if i will buy this packege if that is true. Also, if they say " There is no Drink Limit " at the reception an they is one, there we have a big problem .. Another Question "which is Offtopic from this Thread". if you arrive at the Port, will the Staff from Carnival take your baggage and put it on the Ship, or is it on you to take your baggage through the customs ? Hand-bagage YES, but the Big baggage ?

Edited January 6, 2013 by Blazley

[dumbwaiterboy]

What a Stupid Thing ... You can not buy after they 15 more Drinks ? So that means if you are at 5pm on the Limit ( Soda, Cocktails etc ) you can drink NOTHING at the rest of the Day ? How stupid is That ? Idk if i will buy this packege if that is true. Also, if they say " There is no Drink Limit " at the reception an they is one, there we have a big problem ..

 

When you get to port, there will be guys with big cages to bring luggage to ship (customary to tip these porters)....hand bags and carryon (must fit through a X-ray machine like airport) can be carried on and you will go through metal detector and bag through X-ray machine...they can search the bag if they see liquids (booze bottles and cans). Later in the afternoon your big bags will be left outside your cabin door

[Blazley]

Okay. So you have the right to take a Champagne to the Ship. Will they check this at you baggage ? The procedure which the X-ray and Scann i already know. Thank you

[LuckyZ]

I think I am now understanding why they decided not to call it an "All Inclusive Beverage Package"

[dumbwaiterboy]

Okay. So you have the right to take a Champagne to the Ship. Will they check this at you baggage ? The procedure which the X-ray and Scann i already know. Thank you

 

Yes, you may bring one bottle of wine or champagne per adult in cabin as well as 12 soda/water

 

Must be in carry on luggage...and they will just look at it to make sure that you don't have more than allowed (or cans of beer in soda cases)

Edited January 7, 2013 by dumbwaiterboy

[Blazley]

But if you give they your big baggage, and they bring it after a few hours directly at your room, how they will check that ??