Carnival Cruise Lines Defends Itself Against Beverage Program Complaint

[cruisinlarge]

15 drinks a day? And people are complaining it's not enough? Take a look at the chart below

 

http://www.brad21.org/bac_charts.html

 

we just got back and 6 of us bought the program , we are all pretty avid drinkers and ooly one in the group hit the limit on one day out of 7 . they keep you from buying for others by limiting the purchase time between drinks to no sooner than 5 minutes apart . in the steakhouse they just serve you and take your card at the end adding all the drinks at one time

 

my wife and i actually came up just short of break even , you have to take into account it is for port days as well . we tracked what we would have spent vs what the program cost . we would probably would do it again just to have a known fixed cost of alcohol . most drinks I had in a day is 14 on a sea day

[MrPete]

But what if you don't like walking around with a drink in your hand;

it is 8 am and you go to breakfast, and start off with champain what ever with breakfast (1) you get done eating and have only drank 1/2 of it, now you go to sit outside and get some sun, you get a frozen what ever drink (2) and drink most of it, then fall asleep, you wake at 10:30 and decide to go down to the game/contest in the lobby on deck 3 and get a drink of the day (3) and because it was good you get a second one, but after being there for about an hour and a half it is warm and you only drank 1/2 of it (4) now it is time for lunch and you leave the balance of that drink and head up to get lunch, you go to the buffet and get a frozen drink to enjoy while you eat (5) Lunch is over and you go back to sit in the sun or in the pool when out there for 3 hours you have 2 more drinks (6, 7) it is now 4ish and you go in to see the shopping show in the main showroom and have another drink there while planning the next days excursion and shopping, (8) it is now time to go get ready for dinner and at dinner you have 2 glasses of wine, and one of the special after dinner drinks they push on you (9, 10, 11) now it is only 8 pm, so you go to the show and have 2 drinks during the show, but again you don't finish the second one, (12, 13) after the show you go to the casino to make your required "deposit" in the slots and have 3 beers in 2 hours, but unfortanately you forgot to pick up 2 of them when changing games/machines and had only drank all of 1 and 1/2 of the other 2 so you are not at (14, 15, 16) Oh you cant have had the 3rd one because you are at the limit of 15 even though you only drank 11 of them in the 19 hours of your day at sea, seams like a problem, and not fair, if it is unlimited, it should be unlimited, and if you do drink to much, and get in trouble, accept the results of your actions. but don't limit me for ordering 15 drinks, and only drinking all of 10 of them in a day. Maybe the limit should be 1 per hour or 3 per 2 hours, that way if you are drinking to much/quickly they can help limit you, but if you are forgetful you can have one.

 

The limit should be EXACTLY as whatever the limit is now when you purchase drinks. No change.

[cruisinlarge]

Thank you. No matter how you spin it, fifteen alcoholic beverages in a day is binge drinking.

 

that is your opinion . I personally never saw anyone wasted . except in port . where by the way they were paying EXTRA for their drinks .

[sparks1093]

But what if you don't like walking around with a drink in your hand;

it is 8 am and you go to breakfast, and start off with champain what ever with breakfast (1) you get done eating and have only drank 1/2 of it, now you go to sit outside and get some sun, you get a frozen what ever drink (2) and drink most of it, then fall asleep, you wake at 10:30 and decide to go down to the game/contest in the lobby on deck 3 and get a drink of the day (3) and because it was good you get a second one, but after being there for about an hour and a half it is warm and you only drank 1/2 of it (4) now it is time for lunch and you leave the balance of that drink and head up to get lunch, you go to the buffet and get a frozen drink to enjoy while you eat (5) Lunch is over and you go back to sit in the sun or in the pool when out there for 3 hours you have 2 more drinks (6, 7) it is now 4ish and you go in to see the shopping show in the main showroom and have another drink there while planning the next days excursion and shopping, (8) it is now time to go get ready for dinner and at dinner you have 2 glasses of wine, and one of the special after dinner drinks they push on you (9, 10, 11) now it is only 8 pm, so you go to the show and have 2 drinks during the show, but again you don't finish the second one, (12, 13) after the show you go to the casino to make your required "deposit" in the slots and have 3 beers in 2 hours, but unfortanately you forgot to pick up 2 of them when changing games/machines and had only drank all of 1 and 1/2 of the other 2 so you are not at (14, 15, 16) Oh you cant have had the 3rd one because you are at the limit of 15 even though you only drank 11 of them in the 19 hours of your day at sea, seams like a problem, and not fair, if it is unlimited, it should be unlimited, and if you do drink to much, and get in trouble, accept the results of your actions. but don't limit me for ordering 15 drinks, and only drinking all of 10 of them in a day. Maybe the limit should be 1 per hour or 3 per 2 hours, that way if you are drinking to much/quickly they can help limit you, but if you are forgetful you can have one.

 

The 15 is only the number of alcoholic drinks included in the package- you can buy drinks over and above that if the bartender thinks you are handling things okay.

[sparks1093]

The limit should be EXACTLY as whatever the limit is now when you purchase drinks. No change.

 

The limit has bupkiss to do with sobriety and everything to do with profit. 15 is what is included in the program and anything above that you buy.

[MrPete]

The limit has bupkiss to do with sobriety and everything to do with profit. 15 is what is included in the program and anything above that you buy.

 

LOL. Can you say that on here? :eek: באָבקעס מיט קודוצ׳ה

 

I never once thought it had to do with sobriety. In fact, even before the limit, I always thought the opposite. I f you were still standing at 15, you were shorely cheating the system.

[sparks1093]

LOL. Can you say that on here? :eek: באָבקעס מיט קודוצ׳ה

 

I never once thought it had to do with sobriety. In fact, even before the limit, I always thought the opposite. I f you were still standing at 15, you were shorely cheating the system.

 

ROFL, I've used the term for years without being aware of the origins, but yeah, it fits:D. As for cheating the system I am sure that there are some that see it only as a different form of alcohol smuggling.

[Jimmy Geegitz]

we just got back and 6 of us bought the program , we are all pretty avid drinkers and ooly one in the group hit the limit on one day out of 7 . they keep you from buying for others by limiting the purchase time between drinks to no sooner than 5 minutes apart . in the steakhouse they just serve you and take your card at the end adding all the drinks at one time

 

my wife and i actually came up just short of break even , you have to take into account it is for port days as well . we tracked what we would have spent vs what the program cost . we would probably would do it again just to have a known fixed cost of alcohol . most drinks I had in a day is 14 on a sea day

 

What was the least amount of drinks you purchased in 1 day?

[mikel24m]

15 drinks a day? And people are complaining it's not enough? Take a look at the chart below

 

http://www.brad21.org/bac_charts.html

 

I have been a bartender for over 20 years and this chart is based on a person sitting on a bar stool and just drinking and drinking and drinking.I can easily drink 15 drinks in a day and be pretty sober.A bloody mary or two at breakfast ,a few beers at the pool,a drink before/during dinner and maybe a few in the club or piano bar and theirs your 15 drinks.Why not just call it what it is a limited drink package?

[halos]

The limit should be EXACTLY as whatever the limit is now when you purchase drinks. No change.

DING DING DING!! You win :)

The limit has bupkiss to do with sobriety and everything to do with profit. 15 is what is included in the program and anything above that you buy.

 

You win too

;)

[funfamilyfun]

I have been to several all inclusives and have never seen anyone "drunk." At an all inclusive, they do not keep track of your drinks.

 

Carnival should allow someone to just show their drink package and hand them a drink....However, since everyone doesn't participate, I would imagine they do this so people aren't "sharing" their drink package.

(Which I have to say makes sense on Carnival's side.)

[frayedend]

I love to drink, and drink a lot. I drink every night on a cruise but 15 would be a lot to do each day. Maybe 1 night I may get that much but not usually. I don't drink all day long. Maybe one frozen drink in the afternoon. But too much makes me worn out and tired for the evening.

 

Personally I think 15 is a high enough number that most won't need to worry about it. I'm willing to bet the limit is more to keep people from sharing. Overall I just don't think the package is worth it because I think people will lose money more days than they end up ahead. Especially since there are very few times that both adults in a cabin are big drinkers.

[RWolver672]

Are you saying that the "perceptions" are not true?

 

We have sailed on four different cruise lines and Carnival does seem to have more heavy drinkers. Remember also that the company fosters this perception with the "fun ship" image.

 

I didn't read all four pages so this may have been mentioned before. Where does it say that to have "fun" you have to be drunk?

 

I may be dead wrong but with people going ashore on most days of their cruise, they would have to be real heavy drinkers to consume 15 drinks after they get back onboard. Granted, some stay onboard.

[MrPete]

I didn't read all four pages so this may have been mentioned before. Where does it say that to have "fun" you have to be drunk?

 

I may be dead wrong but with people going ashore on most days of their cruise, they would have to be real heavy drinkers to consume 15 drinks after they get back onboard. Granted, some stay onboard.

 

Actually, I always had a problem with people thinking FUN meant PARTY which meant DRUNKS.

 

Fun was just the way Carnival did everything is all aspects. It didn't involve drinking but was layered on it. It was also layered on top of eating, gaming, spaing, lounging, and even cleaning.

 

It was what made that community feel on all the ships.

 

And when you ventured out to the other lines, it was the first thing you saw that was missing.

[Fla Senior]

I pity the liver of the fool that drinks 15/day for a 7-day cruise. Some counseling would be the next order. I drink my share, but 15/day is just insane.

[waldocruiser1]

I pity the liver of the fool that drinks 15/day for a 7-day cruise. Some counseling would be the next order. I drink my share, but 15/day is just insane.

 

So, if you drink your 15 per day for 7 days that is 105 for the week, then use your Carnival credit card to pay for the counseling so you get more reward points to pay for the package on the next cruise,

 

This is the circle of life, on a Carnival cruise ship,

 

the more I drink

the more I need counseling

the more counseling I get

the more I drink on my next Cruise

the more I cruise

the more I drink

the more I need counseling

........

[kece4]

Was on the Breeze 1/27/13 - 2/2/13 sailing with about 10 friends, all on cheers program. We all hit our 15 drink limit each day of the cruise and were informed that we had our limit under the program. We did find certain bartenders that would serve over 15(free) but most would not. The ones that would not still gave us drinks but charged us regular price.

[yogimax]

Do a simple google search for reputable health services and will find that more than 4 drinks a day for men and less for women will cause either repairable or irrepairable liver damage as well as other health problems.

 

To be promoting 15 drinks a day is simply irresponsible.

[marshhawk]

HI my name is Marshhawk and I am a recovoring alcoholic. On my 19th birthday, I drank 21 tequila sunrises. smoked a joint, and had one harvey walbanger. I came too three days later. Brain damage reports are still not in-and that was 40 years ago. 15 drinks is a lot of drinks. But after cruising with Carnival 5 times, all I see on the Lido are bar keeps and waiters pushing drinks. I would think that the Cheers plan would actually cost Carnival money. Carnival did offer a drink coupon, which was great for those who drink (i've been sober 23 years now) they also made a great gift so that you didn't have to worry about pulling out your card each time you wanted a drink-for a family line cruise ship, it irks me no end for the cruise line to continuously push booze. that's just me. I hope the Cheers program is long gone by the time of my next cruise.

[bartrise]

Do a simple google search for reputable health services and will find that more than 4 drinks a day for men and less for women will cause either repairable or irrepairable liver damage as well as other health problems.

 

To be promoting 15 drinks a day is simply irresponsible.

 

Just because I want to drink more than 4 drinks on my vacation days doesn't make me irresponsible or an alcoholic. When I am home I am a hard worker who is very disaplined. Vacation I gamble I drink I sleep I eat then repeat. No one should judge anyone on how they close to vacation.:)

[alimo84]

The plan pays for itself even if you buy 5-6 DOD's, so please, before you judge anybody on the Cheers program, do the math and see that some of us are just trying to save money and have a good time! Maybe some of y'all could take a few pointers :)

[Cruise4Music]

Actually, I always had a problem with people thinking FUN meant PARTY which meant DRUNKS.

 

Fun was just the way Carnival did everything is all aspects. It didn't involve drinking but was layered on it. It was also layered on top of eating, gaming, spaing, lounging, and even cleaning.

 

It was what made that community feel on all the ships.

 

And when you ventured out to the other lines, it was the first thing you saw that was missing.

 

Of course not having cruised on Carnival for over 5 years you really have no idea what things are like onboard a Carnival ship today.

 

All you know is what you read on the boards and that never tells the full story.

[Cruise4Music]

The plan pays for itself even if you buy 5-6 DOD's, so please, before you judge anybody on the Cheers program, do the math and see that some of us are just trying to save money and have a good time! Maybe some of y'all could take a few pointers :)

 

Well said:D

[sonicbuffalo]

what's a 'fairly responsible drinker"? lol

[sonicbuffalo]

I love to drink, and drink a lot. I drink every night on a cruise but 15 would be a lot to do each day.

 

too much drinking going on.....IMHO