Bon Voyage liquor price increases

[BallFour4]

But why do we have to subsidize other people fare ? Why do I have to pay $90 for a bottle of liquor and some people cruise for $499 for the week and don't spend another penny onboard? Please enlighten me

 

From my economics education in the early 80's, so be patient with me.

 

A cruise aboard the Carnival Mardi Gras for 7 nights from Miami was more in actual dollars than the Carnival Magic for 7 nights with a balcony next February. This doesn't take in inflation, just raw numbers. But a cruise was not within reach of much of the population.

 

Disney did the same thing back in the mid 80's, they had premium priced rooms and wanted people staying on-site, or not needing a car to escape. They flooded the market with cheaper rooms and amassed a fortune.

 

I digress; cruise lines need x dollars for every passenger, for every cruise. That number varies on the dynamic cost of fuel, food, supplies, labor, port fees, etc. You get the picture.

 

So, the attraction of cruising for $499 is within reach of a big number of people. More ships, more cruise lines, more competition creates a "where can we make up for the loss" question, and so they went after the elective purchases versus the required.

 

Second, a comparison to prices on shore for alcohol remove the cost of storage, transport to blue water aboard our floating hotel and labor to serve or deliver to our cabins.

 

I'm rattling, but it's a long day sitting with my dad in the nursing home, so take the cost of a cruise vacation for any number of days and compare it to Disney, a trip to a resort city (for us like San Antonio) and the costs to sail are most often less expensive. Airfare is the kicker, but I just priced a vacation between after Christmas and I can take 4 people aboard the Triumph for $157 a day including taxes and tips.

 

I'm done. Just a opinion from someone that bought their first cruise in 1987 after enjoying the one in 76 my dad bought.

 

See you at sea.

 

.

[Josher61]

Mike, I have ONLY sailed Carnival. So obviously I like them too. I guess I heard all about the bad food on NCL back in the day and never really looked elsewhere. Plus I'm a creature of habit! I too like to gamble, buy BV, aft cabins, eat at the Steakhouse etc. In general...rack up my S&S card :) Then I started sailing solo and prices went to 100% supplement. That got costly. Then a few times as part of a group where we had "open bar" cards, and they always chose Carnival. So I guess for me it was simply what I was familiar with. But at least ten years ago I gave up on cruising as a "gambling junket" because they just didnt know what they were doing back then. And also like you, I am now wondering if looking around is not the right thing for me to do. Who knows, maybe we will run into each other on an NCL ship someday :) I guess it would be wise of me to investigate that possibilty at least. Old habits die hard (and I think you're right about this point as well)....once broken though....you don't go back.

[freagan]

But why do we have to subsidize other people fare ? Why do I have to pay $90 for a bottle of liquor and some people cruise for $499 for the week and don't spend another penny onboard? Please enlighten me

 

Why should I pay more for my cruise to subsidize the boozers on board?

 

Same question works both ways.

[Josher61]

Why should I pay more for my cruise to subsidize the boozers on board?

 

Same question works both ways.

 

Umm I'm sorry but the cost of alcohol is a money maker to the cruise line. Not a loss. A cabin at rock bottom prices is. So no cabin is ever subsidizing a "boozer" as you put it. If anything, be grateful to those "boozers" :) they help "lower" (for lack of a better word) the overall cost of a ships sailing. As do any and all of the extras, of which booze is just one.

[Can'tWait2SetSail]

I am glad I placed my order last week at the old price by phone when the website was not showing the liquor options. That being said, I would still buy the bottle of booze even at the new price. If you don't like the price, don't buy it. Carnival is still a business. Profit is the bottom line. Why some people find this surprising or annoying is beyond me.

[Josher61]

Blusry...I agree with your points (again lol). It may indeed be the case that cruising today is cheaper....so is flying in many cases. I used to average over $600-800 to get to Florida back in the day....now if its over $350 I grumble. And just like cruiselines, airlines went the way of reduced services, pay as you go for everything etc...to combat the falling bottom lines of continually lowering their price point. Sadly though, the airline industry doesnt offer as many choices that are "upmarket". Cruise lines do. And for some, that's what this comes down to eventually....choice.

 

I like your Disney old day analogy....its precisely what they did. They didn't want people leaving for the Super 8 or Days Inn off site. So they built their own :)

 

I too am rambling...dreary, rainy day. But I am also enjoying this pleasant dicourse amongst some of us who care :)

[ahottoddie]

Profit is the bottom line. Why some people find this surprising or annoying is beyond me.

 

Really? Can't understand surprise or annoyance? :confused:

What if you had just decided yesterday that you had finally saved enough to take your dream trip and went to sign up for your $500 cabin and found out that overnight that your price had gone up 20% and all of a sudden you weren't sure that you could afford it...but you also weren't sure if it was going to continue to rise every day for the next couple of months...would surprise (at the least) be reasonable using that example:cool:

[Josher61]

I am glad I placed my order last week at the old price by phone when the website was not showing the liquor options. That being said' date=' I would still buy the bottle of booze even at the new price. If you don't like the price, don't buy it. Carnival is still a business. Profit is the bottom line. Why some people find this surprising or annoying is beyond me.[/quote']

 

I think the point is that sure many will buy it (myself included) but the discussion is still an interesting one from a business point of view. A 25-30% price increase on any item, almost overnight is interesting to some. While the cabin prices continue to fall and the profit warnings earnings are out :) Just musing....

 

But to directly answer your point of if you dont like it dont buy it...I think thats what others have pointed out....will it not just induce more smuggling for those that are inclined to do so? Or those who were simply tempted to before? What does the overall bottom line of the BV liquor sales look like in a few months or a years time?

[Can'tWait2SetSail]

Really? Can't understand surprise or annoyance? :confused:

What if you had just decided yesterday that you had finally saved enough to take your dream trip and went to sign up for your $500 cabin and found out that overnight that your price had gone up 20% and all of a sudden you weren't sure that you could afford it...but you also weren't sure if it was going to continue to rise every day for the next couple of months...would surprise (at the least) be reasonable using that example:cool:

 

I guess I would have to find a new dream trip, because obviously it did not fit my definition of "dream trip" if I could not afford it.

[Yogiandbooboo]

Bought two buckets of beer a few weeks ago and wanted to buy a bottle a grey goose today. When I tried to get the goose today I got a message that said Carnival only allows two Bon Voyage purchases. That sucks because I would have bought the goose over a bucket of Bud Light! Anybody know a way around this?

[Can'tWait2SetSail]

I think the point is that sure many will buy it (myself included) but the discussion is still an interesting one from a business point of view. A 25-30% price increase on any item, almost overnight is interesting to some. While the cabin prices continue to fall and the profit warnings earnings are out :) Just musing....

 

But to directly answer your point of if you dont like it dont buy it...I think thats what others have pointed out....will it not just induce more smuggling for those that are inclined to do so? Or those who were simply tempted to before? What does the overall bottom line of the BV liquor sales look like in a few months or a years time?

 

I got a C in econ in college, and it was a LONG time ago, but the little I remember is that prices will continue to rise as long as consumers are willing to pay them. When they are no longer willing to pay, eventually the prices will go down. I do not judge smugglers, I even bought rum rummers for my cruise is 2008, I just forgot to pack them LOL. I think smugglers will smuggle regardless of the price of the booze in bon voyage and the cost of drinks on the ship.

[sjcruiser]

Pushing people into the Cheers program is just stupid. I had bottles ordered already, and will be bringing wine and mixers, but I don't drink enough to buy the Cheers program, and will endulge in other drinks after this cruise.

[BallFour4]

I got a C in econ in college...

 

I did too. My diploma says Thank The Laude instead of Magna or Suma.

 

.

[Can'tWait2SetSail]

i did too. My diploma says thank the laude instead of magna or suma.

 

.

 

lol!

[Ms. Fun Bunch]

Bought two buckets of beer a few weeks ago and wanted to buy a bottle a grey goose today. When I tried to get the goose today I got a message that said Carnival only allows two Bon Voyage purchases. That sucks because I would have bought the goose over a bucket of Bud Light! Anybody know a way around this?

 

Is anyone you know in a different cabin sailing at the same time? If they are and they are not ordering when you order use their cabin info .

[Can'tWait2SetSail]

Bought two buckets of beer a few weeks ago and wanted to buy a bottle a grey goose today. When I tried to get the goose today I got a message that said Carnival only allows two Bon Voyage purchases. That sucks because I would have bought the goose over a bucket of Bud Light! Anybody know a way around this?

 

I am not sure of the cancellation policy, but maybe you can call and cancel your original order and place a new one?

[wmowan8485]

I did too. My diploma says Thank The Laude instead of Magna or Suma.

 

.

 

Too Funny!

[aggiejade]

I went to order the other day and only 32 brands were showing. I kept checking and still showed the same. Wasn't sure what I wanted to order without seeing the choices so I didn't call Bon Voyage. I asked on the Carnival website and was told it was just a glitch and it should be fixed by end of day. When I checked back I saw that all the brands were showing but with increased prices. Just a little mad :(.

[mikel24m]

Mike, I have ONLY sailed Carnival. So obviously I like them too. I guess I heard all about the bad food on NCL back in the day and never really looked elsewhere. Plus I'm a creature of habit! I too like to gamble, buy BV, aft cabins, eat at the Steakhouse etc. In general...rack up my S&S card :) Then I started sailing solo and prices went to 100% supplement. That got costly. Then a few times as part of a group where we had "open bar" cards, and they always chose Carnival. So I guess for me it was simply what I was familiar with. But at least ten years ago I gave up on cruising as a "gambling junket" because they just didnt know what they were doing back then. And also like you, I am now wondering if looking around is not the right thing for me to do. Who knows, maybe we will run into each other on an NCL ship someday :) I guess it would be wise of me to investigate that possibilty at least. Old habits die hard (and I think you're right about this point as well)....once broken though....you don't go back.

 

Old habits do die hard ,but it seems loyalty doesn't have much value sad to say .NCL is owned partially by a casino company so I think they may have a clue :) check this out when you have a minute

 

http://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/casinos-at-sea/overview

[mikel24m]

Why should I pay more for my cruise to subsidize the boozers on board?

 

Same question works both ways.

 

Its a pretty simple answer , some of us boozers are buying things ;)

 

Most people (not all so don't get your feathers ruffled people) who cruise cheap do it to have a cheap vacation .I understand this and its not a bad thing but when do people who spend money get recognized .Before the new 2 bottle rule a few cruises ago I spent over $400 on BV liquor, we usually cruise with friends or family and I like to be able to make us some drinks. Our honeymoon cruise I bought $500 in pictures, that should matter!!

[Blurgh]

They're going to push the price of BV up as close to ship bar retail as they can. Obviously they have pretty good demand now, if they bothered to put it up on the website, which a couple of years ago, they didn't.

 

They gotcha, basically. You can do it this way, or you can smuggle. Most people that were buying a *formerly* $90 bottle of vodka or tequila aren't the smuggling type.

 

And really, even if they started a "no deadbeat" policy on board, it would still be the same way.

[frayedend]

I'm one who has no problem with smuggling but I was torn for my upcoming cruise. The Captain Morgan was $65. Being that it is a full liter and not 750 ml, I reasoned that it was only about double what I'd pay in a non-discount liquor store. So I was contemplating just going BV and not worrying about the booze in my luggage.

 

I think they prices now are easily 3X what you can pay in any store. That is a deal breaker for me. I will smuggle with rum runners and if that doesn't work I'll try to get some in at the first port, etc. I will still have a big bar tab as I have a budget and I spend it all when I cruise.

 

My biggest concern now, I mentioned this to John Heald on his Facebook page. He didn't know about the increases. I also mentioned how this would make people more apt to smuggle. He thanked me and asked me to send my cabin number a day before I cruise. Now, is he going to give me a free gift, or ensure that they check my luggage for booze? :D

[MsMot]

Wow, I can not believe the big price hike:eek:. Does anyone know if the Breeze has the cheers program and if so, what is the new cost?

[ALEX122495]

We usually buy a bottle of Jim Bean or Jack Daniels for dh before the cruise, Had a copy of the prices back in Feb of 2010-- Jack went from 65 to 75 today but the Jim Beam almost doubled from 38 to 70. A lot for 2 1/2 years.

 

 

 

BonVoyage – 800-522-7648

Price List as of 2/22/10

__________________________________________________ __

Rums:

Capt Morgan Spiced, Gosling, Appleton VX, Bacardi $40.

Malibu $55

__________________________

Vodkas:

Absolute Citron, Stoli , Skye and Finlandia $40

Grey Goose, and 3 olives $60

__________________________

Gin:

Beefeater $40

Slow Gin $40

Bombay Sapphire $55

__________________________

Canadian Whiskeys:

Canadian Club and Seagram’s 7 $38

Crown Royal and Jamison $55

___________________________

Scotch:

Dewar’s $60

Chivas Regal $60

Johnny Walker/Black $70

___________________________

Bourbon:

Jack Daniels $65

Maker’s Mark $60

Jim Beam $38

___________________________

Tequila:

1800 - $55

Margaritaville $40

Salsa Hornitas (Sp) $60

Patron Silver $70

___________________________

After Dinner:

Raspberry Liquor $40

Frangelico $45

Jagermeister $60

Chambord $60

Limoncello $60

___________________________

Amaretto:

Disaronna $45

___________________________

Brandy

Courvoisier $55

Apricot, Blackberry, and Cherry $40

___________________________

 

Smirnoff Ice - Citrus $5.75

[MsMot]

We usually buy a bottle of Jim Bean or Jack Daniels for dh before the cruise, Had a copy of the prices back in Feb of 2010-- Jack went from 65 to 75 today but the Jim Beam almost doubled from 38 to 70. A lot for 2 1/2 years.

 

 

 

BonVoyage – 800-522-7648

Price List as of 2/22/10

__________________________________________________ __

Rums:

Capt Morgan Spiced, Gosling, Appleton VX, Bacardi $40.

Malibu $55

__________________________

Vodkas:

Absolute Citron, Stoli , Skye and Finlandia $40

Grey Goose, and 3 olives $60

__________________________

Gin:

Beefeater $40

Slow Gin $40

Bombay Sapphire $55

__________________________

Canadian Whiskeys:

Canadian Club and Seagram’s 7 $38

Crown Royal and Jamison $55

___________________________

Scotch:

Dewar’s $60

Chivas Regal $60

Johnny Walker/Black $70

___________________________

Bourbon:

Jack Daniels $65

Maker’s Mark $60

Jim Beam $38

___________________________

Tequila:

1800 - $55

Margaritaville $40

Salsa Hornitas (Sp) $60

Patron Silver $70

___________________________

After Dinner:

Raspberry Liquor $40

Frangelico $45

Jagermeister $60

Chambord $60

Limoncello $60

___________________________

Amaretto:

Disaronna $45

___________________________

Brandy

Courvoisier $55

Apricot, Blackberry, and Cherry $40

___________________________

 

Smirnoff Ice - Citrus $5.75

 

1800 is now $90 and Patron is $100!!!! Wow!!!