Premium Drink Package - FAQ's Help Needed

[jkety19473]

Anyone with recent updates to share

[mamichelle]

CVS is a pharmacy/drugstore.

[mtgourmet]

Just off Jewel on Thursday. My husband and did purchase the premium drink package and I have few thoughts...

RCI made out well overall on us, as I know we didn't hit "break even". I did however like not having to worry about how much I was spending, and indulged in a morning mimosa because "what the heck", I'd paid for it.

 

As pointed out by others - you can't get champagne in the Champagne Bar, but we had great key lime martinis there.

 

The service at the pool bar seemed slower for drink package folks (others made that comment as well). No worries we weren't punching a time clock, and they had huge volumes of drinks to make.

 

We had wine each night with dinner, and it was fine - not great, but come on, this was a package. The house Pinot was better than the house Cab.

 

I made the mistake of ordering a Patron margarita for my husband at one of the nicer bars, and discovered it wasn't covered. The head bartender was very gracious. I didn't do that again.

 

Will I purchase it for my next cruise - the jury is still out. Peace of mind is a beautiful thing. It really is nice not to worry about what you're spending.

[mzk90]

I have heard that Chimay is not included as they are suggesting it is a speciality beer!

 

More worryingly for us Brits is a rumour that Guinness, Boddingtons and Murphy's may be excluded from the package, which I think will not go down very well at all! :mad:

[jakenashleysmom]

I am afraid you Brits may be disappointed then LOL. I would assume by my experience that those beers would indeed be excluded. :(

[mrhume]

Thanks for your input. I have been debating whether to get a wine package or the premium package and now I don't think the premium package is necessary. My wife likes to drink mostly wine, and while we intend to enjoy our vacation, we don't want to feel we have to drink to excess to "get our money's worth."

[noobcruiser]

I have heard that Chimay is not included as they are suggesting it is a speciality beer!

 

More worryingly for us Brits is a rumour that Guinness, Boddingtons and Murphy's may be excluded from the package, which I think will not go down very well at all! :mad:

 

When are you sailing?

 

I am on the EOS out of NJ to Bermuda, 4/27 - 5/2. If you are sailing after that, I'd be glad to research that for you and post the results in a Prem Bev Pckg review.

 

Cheers!

[beautiful.thing]

I have heard that Chimay is not included as they are suggesting it is a speciality beer!

 

More worryingly for us Brits is a rumour that Guinness, Boddingtons and Murphy's may be excluded from the package, which I think will not go down very well at all! :mad:

 

 

There is a beer menu I have seen on the boards. If you can find it (tried to attach but too small to read), there are asterisks next to some beers (many of the ones you are interested in) indicating which are not included in the drink packages.

[Baracing]

Just off Jewel on Thursday. My husband and did purchase the premium drink package and I have few thoughts...

RCI made out well overall on us, as I know we didn't hit "break even". I did however like not having to worry about how much I was spending, and indulged in a morning mimosa because "what the heck", I'd paid for it.

 

As pointed out by others - you can't get champagne in the Champagne Bar, but we had great key lime martinis there.

 

The service at the pool bar seemed slower for drink package folks (others made that comment as well). No worries we weren't punching a time clock, and they had huge volumes of drinks to make.

 

We had wine each night with dinner, and it was fine - not great, but come on, this was a package. The house Pinot was better than the house Cab.

 

I made the mistake of ordering a Patron margarita for my husband at one of the nicer bars, and discovered it wasn't covered. The head bartender was very gracious. I didn't do that again.

 

Will I purchase it for my next cruise - the jury is still out. Peace of mind is a beautiful thing. It really is nice not to worry about what you're spending.

 

So let me get this right...Cant order a Patron margarita, however I can order a shot of Patron? Why cant I order a non alcoholic margarita and my husband order a shot and mix them?

[mpdahmer]

Thank you kbun0304 that was really helpful. Could you tell me what CVS is please? Novice Brit here:(

 

WOW...CVS is a local drug store that sells everything from everyday medical needs to prescription drugs. They also sell small electronics and housewares to food/candy and greeting cards. (Walgreens; Duane Reed; Rite Aid...)

[akcruz]

So let me get this right...Cant order a Patron margarita, however I can order a shot of Patron? Why cant I order a non alcoholic margarita and my husband order a shot and mix them?

 

Pretty sure you cannot get a shot of Patron either. That is on the excluded alcohol list.

 

If they were to just order a regular margarita it would have been included, just not the Patron one.

[ParrotHeadCruiser1]

Any1 have any recent updates/input?? Leaving on Friday! Woohoo!

[morts]

Thank you kbun0304 that was really helpful. Could you tell me what CVS is please? Novice Brit here:(

 

Im the same. However, whilst not a wine expert I hate crap wines, which is what the package seems to offer:(

[Frankmac]

Im the same. However, whilst not a wine expert I hate crap wines, which is what the package seems to offer:(

 

I dont know why people make this assumption ( especially those who like me are not wine experts) without first finding out what the house wine on their cruise actually is.

 

As I have posted in several different "drinks package" threads, the house wine on Liberty in June was Clos du Bois, which most people seem to think is quite acceptable. I know there were other house wines, like La Terre and St Martin, on other cruises, that were generally frowned upon, to say the least, but it seems to vary from ship to ship.

 

My advice is to find out when you board what the house wines are and then make your decision. If you find that you like it, and believe that you will consume an average of 5/6 drinks per day then the package will probably be good value for you.

[rG Cowboy]

I sent an email regarding this a while back and got this response(May 29, 2013).

 

Thank you for your email. We apologize for the delay in our response.

 

Royal Caribbean International is proud to offer two alcoholic beverage package options on select ships sailing on 4-night or longer cruises, giving guests a no-hassle way to enjoy an all-inclusive beverage experience during their cruise vacation. Below is an overview of the brands included:

 

The Classic Package, at $45.00 per guest per day, includes:

 

American Premium Beers in Aluminum 16oz Bottles:

 

Budweiser®, Bud Light®, and Bud Select®

Michelob Ultra®

Blue Moon®

Coors Light®

Miller Lite®

Samuel Adams®

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale®

Smirnoff Ice®

Mike’s Hard Lemonade®

 

Beers of the World:

 

Amstel Light®

Beck’s®

Corona Extra®

Dos Equis®

Heineken® and Heineken Light®

Kirin Light®

Peroni®

Pilsner Urquell®

Red Stripe®

Stella Artois®

 

Select House Wines:

Merlot (La Terre, California, USA)

Chardonay (La Terre, California, USA)

Pino Grigio (La Terre, California, USA)

 

The Premium Package, at $55.00 per guest per day, includes everything in the Classic package, plus a selection of premium spirits:

 

VODKAS

Absolut®

Belvedere®

Finlandia®

Grey Goose®

Ketel One®

Russian Standard®

Smirnoff®

Stolichnaya®

 

GINS

Beefeater®

Bombay Sapphire®

Hendrick’s®

Tanqueray®

 

RUMS

Appleton® V/X

Bacardi®

Blackwell Fine Jamaican®

Captain Morgan® Spiced

Cruzan®

Mt. Gay Eclipse® Silver

Malibu®

Myer’s® Original Dark

Gosling’s® Black Seal

Leblon Cachaca®

 

TEQUILAS

Corazon®

Cuervo®

Sauza®

 

SCOTCH

The Balvenie® 12 year

Chivas Regal® 12 year

Cutty Sark®

Dewar’s®

Glennfiddich®

J&B®

Johnnie Walker® Black

Johnnie Walker® Red

The Glenlivet®

The Macallan® Select Oak

 

WHISKIES

Canadian Club®

Crown Royal®

Jack Daniel’s®

Jameson®

Seagram’s® VO

 

BOURBON

Baker’s®

Blanton’s®

Gentleman Jack®

Jim Beam®

Knob Creek®

Maker’s Mark®

 

BRANDY & COGNAC

 

Carlos® I

Courvoisier® VS

 

CORDIALS

Baileys®

Chambord®

Cointreau®

Disaronno®

Drambuie®

Frangelico®

Grand Mariner®

Jagermeister®

Kahlua®

Southern Comfort®

Tia Maria®

 

Please note that the following items are not included in either package:

 

- Full bottles of wine or liquor

- Minibar products

- Specialty coffees

- Cans of soda

- Bottled water

- Freshly squeezed juices

- Use of the Coca-Cola® freestyle machine*

- Souvenir glassware*

- Room service or in-stateroom purchases

- Specialty beers as listed on bar menus

- Super premium category beverages

- Wine Pairings in the 150 Central Park restaurant, where available

 

Packages are available for purchase prior to cruise at http://www.royalcaribbean.com/beforeyouboard/cruiseEnhancements.do, or by calling our pre-cruise planning specialists at 1-800-398-9819. Additionally, guests may purchase either package on the day of embarkation, at any of our bars, lounges, or Guest Services. Prices are subject to change without notice and include a 15% gratuity. Package prices do not include Value Added Tax (VAT), which may be required on some European sailings. All guests over the age of 21 in a stateroom must purchase a package; they are not available on a per-person basis. Guests with medical or other needs should speak with Guest Services onboard if an exception is required. Multiple beverages may not be ordered at the same time. Neither package can be shared or transferred to another guest.

 

*The Coca-Cola® freestyle machine requires the souvenir cup provided with the purchase of our Unlimited Fountain Soda package; fountain sodas are provided in cups or glasses based on the venue. The drink of the day is available as part of the package, if served in a normal cup or glass. Guests may purchase the souvenir glass, and drink, at current bar pricing.

 

The all inclusive beverage packages are honored at any of our bars or lounges, Windjammer Café, Main Dining Room, and Specialty Restaurants and our private destinations, such as CocoCay, during normal business hours. Room service and minibar are not included.

 

*note that almost everyone has indicated a house champagne is available

 

hope this helps some people

[dfgf]

There were a few premium beers on the pub's menu that weren't included. They were clearly marked as not being part of the drink package. This is from a Freedom sailing in May of this year. Click on these pictures to view them in their original size.

Shots, by the way, were included. I know because we had a lot of them. :)

Echoing what other people have said - if you're a beer and/or alcohol drinker you can certainly get your money's worth. If you're a wine drinker I wouldn't recommend the packages at all. (On Celebrity, the premium package includes all wines under $12 a glass which is 95% of their menu. Royal Caribbean - no such luck!)

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