All Inclusive Drink Package available on Star Princess NOW

[chamima]

This article is over two years old but gives a comparison of drink packages on the various lines:

 

http://www.frommers.com/articles/7316.html

 

Here's a link with photos of a number of Celebrity drink menus. A martini is $10; on Princess, it's $7-8, depending on the vodka. Mixed drinks are $8-8.50; on Princess, they start at $5.50. I often order a Long Island Iced Tea which is $5.50.

 

http://cruisewithgambee.com/celebrity-drink-lists/

 

Here's a copy of one of the bar menus from the Crown earlier this year. Compare prices to those on Celebrity:

 

[ATTACH]295254[/ATTACH]

 

 

 

Pam

I agree that the drinks (all the drinks, including Specialty coffees and teas) are more expensive on Celebrity.

[CruiseUtopia]

Pam

I agree that the drinks (all the drinks, including Specialty coffees and teas) are more expensive on Celebrity.

 

We have cruised numerous times on Princess, and just completed our first cruise on Celebrity. We had the Classic package on the cruise.

 

Celebrity may have higher drink prices -- that may be due to the increased cost from the fact that they include alcohol in the beverages. My first sip from my first drink on Celebrity provoked an involuntary "WHOA!". I have never tasted any alcohol at all in any Princess drink.

 

In our particular case, the drink package was a perk that was included. We could have the drink package for both of us OR a $300/cabin OBC on a 14 night cruise. No-brainer, even for very light drinkers. It was fun to try new drinks, great hot chocolate (not coffee drinkers, either), bottled water, smoothies, etc.

 

Did we come out ahead? Ahead of the $300 that we opted out of -- absolutely. Would we have paid $1260 for it? No way.

[Pam in CA]

FYI, the package is now available on the Sapphire, according to CC.

 

FYI, I'd take the OBC. Between the soda card and a $5-$5.50 drink per day, I spend $12-13/day, including gratuity.

Edited December 10, 2013 by Pam in CA

[Dori Saltzman]

Please take a look at this article for a much more up-to-date comparison of cruise line beverage packages. The Princess package has not been added yet, but other lines are represented.

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1470

Edited December 10, 2013 by Dori Saltzman

[Loreni]

FYI, the package is now available on the Sapphire, according to CC.

 

FYI, I'd take the OBC. Between the soda card and a $5-$5.50 drink per day, I spend $12-13/day, including gratuity.

 

This is very similar to our spending, so we would never bother with a drink package. I believe what's going on here could be more complicated. Perhaps Princess's trying to shift the passenger demographics. Drinking, smoking, and gambling tend to be linked behaviors...sometimes all three behaviors are linked, sometimes only two of the three. Since Princess is now less friendly to smokers, they may have lost casino revenue. So, having a package that attracts non-smoking gamblers who drink may increase onboard revenue. Also, older people often don't drink as much as younger due to medications. So this package may attract younger, less experienced cruisers who spend more onboard (photos, excursions). And this package makes it easier to poach Celebrity passengers.

 

I don't think this package will do any harm, and if it makes Princess more profitable, maybe they will stop cutting the food and entertainment budgets.

[Pamster]

Well, this was posted on CC, and is about the most official thing I've seen. http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=5643

 

It covers a lot for even non-drinkers - "Also, all nonalcoholic drinks served in cans or bottles, as well as mocktails and shakes or included, as are all coffee, tea, espresso and specialty drinks and any food items such as crepes and gelato included with the coffee card. Each purchaser of the package also receives a 40 discount on all bottled wine less than $100." The non-alcoholic options don't seem worth $49/day, for those who don't partake.

 

Unfortunately it says that both cruisers in the cabin must purchase it. "Princess cruisers may purchase the package on seven-night or longer cruises on board Star Princess or Sapphire Princess. All passengers traveling in the same stateroom must purchase the package, and any children over 6 years old traveling with adults who purchase the package must also purchase the $8.05 per person/per day Unlimited Soda & More package. "

 

I'm on the Sapphire Princess in 12/22/13, so will be interested in checking things out, but will probably not be purchasing if both travelers in the cabin must buy it.

[Happy2cruise]

 

FYI, I'd take the OBC. Between the soda card and a $5-$5.50 drink per day, I spend $12-13/day, including gratuity.

 

Agree with you Pam, we'd take the OBC too. Our alternative to purchasing a drink package is to buy an OBC in the amount we figure will be used for all our drinks both alcohol and non alcohol. If we use it all great, if not we get back the remainder of what we did not us;)....better in our pocket than the company's.

[Cruise Junky]

Well, this was posted on CC, and is about the most official thing I've seen. http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=5643

 

It covers a lot for even non-drinkers - "Also, all nonalcoholic drinks served in cans or bottles, as well as mocktails and shakes or included, as are all coffee, tea, espresso and specialty drinks and any food items such as crepes and gelato included with the coffee card. Each purchaser of the package also receives a 40 discount on all bottled wine less than $100." The non-alcoholic options don't seem worth $49/day, for those who don't partake.

 

Unfortunately it says that both cruisers in the cabin must purchase it. "Princess cruisers may purchase the package on seven-night or longer cruises on board Star Princess or Sapphire Princess. All passengers traveling in the same stateroom must purchase the package, and any children over 6 years old traveling with adults who purchase the package must also purchase the $8.05 per person/per day Unlimited Soda & More package. "

 

I'm on the Sapphire Princess in 12/22/13, so will be interested in checking things out, but will probably not be purchasing if both travelers in the cabin must buy it.

 

It's an interesting package. I'm not sure there's many out there that force a 6 year old to buy a drink package and includes food.

Edited December 11, 2013 by Cruise Junky

[brentlym]

I'm excited. Luckily, I'm one of the ones that will totally pay for the convenience. I may not break even, but I'm not worried about that. I'm more concerned about my end of cruise booze bill, and I'd rather have a set amount. Trust me, I've paid a helluva lot more than the package price plus gratuity on multiple cruises. Roll it out, Princess! :D

[kaebuckeyelake]

We would do it on our upcoming trip on Emerald in January if for no other reason than to stop me from worrying day to day how much my husband's affinity for the drink of the day will cost us by the end. I don't like surprises and never bother to stop and check on the "damage" during from the kiosk by passenger services. I sometimes get so preoccupied with the dreaded envelope at end it dampens my fun and this way, I know exactly what the cost would be! Yeah Princess!!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Clutterlady]

I'm excited. Luckily, I'm one of the ones that will totally pay for the convenience. I may not break even, but I'm not worried about that. I'm more concerned about my end of cruise booze bill, and I'd rather have a set amount. Trust me, I've paid a helluva lot more than the package price plus gratuity on multiple cruises. Roll it out, Princess! :D

 

Agree!!!

[UpcountryTravelers]

.... I think the Martini bar was the only place they sold the $10 and $12 drinks......

 

Drinks at the Molecular Bar (our favorite) were mostly $12 each.

[Feelin' Nauti']

I absolutely LOVE the way Princess has included bottled water, soda AND the premium spirits and cocktails together! Celebrity doesn't do that and their price JUST on the bottled water is crazy high!

I beg to differ..... With X's package you can get premium coffees, juices, and bottle water

[Feelin' Nauti']

Children over 6 years old traveling with adults who purchase the package must also purchase the $8.05 per person/per day Unlimited Soda & More package.

 

:cool:

This I don't like!

 

Young children shouldn't be drinking soda

 

[alexm1987]

I wish they were trying this on the diamond princess for my December 23 cruise.

[lfk60]

I think the Carnival limit is 15. RCL changed their packages about a month ago. Not everyone in the cabin needs to purchase them now.

 

Good for Princess, hope it goes fleet wide

 

My friends sailed with RCCL on 11/27 and everyone 21 or older in a cabin had to buy the package.

[Cruise Junky]

My friends sailed with RCCL on 11/27 and everyone 21 or older in a cabin had to buy the package.

 

It was a very recent change...

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=5619

[notentirelynormal]

Children over 6 years old traveling with adults who purchase the package must also purchase the $8.05 per person/per day Unlimited Soda & More package.:cool:

This I don't like!

 

Young children shouldn't be drinking soda

 

We got this package for my then 5 YO grandson. He loves his hot chocolate (not from a package) and juices. He also likes to drink strawberry margaritas. So we broke even at 3 drinks a day. He started and ended his day with hot chocolate. He never drank soda at that age - ever. Why does everyone assume soda is involved?

[caribill]

He loves his hot chocolate (not from a package)

 

Sure about that about not from a package?

 

Everytime I have watched them prepare hot chocolate, they used a packet of Carnation hot chocolate mix.

[JimmyVWine]

I may not break even, but I'm not worried about that. I'm more concerned about my end of cruise booze bill, and I'd rather have a set amount.

 

I guess this truly is a "to each his own" situation. But personally, I will never understand why someone would "worry" about or be "concerned" with five individual line items of $8 each on their final statement but wouldn't have the same concern for a single line item of $49. What is it about individual charges that is so upsetting especially if they total up to less than the amount of the single "convenient" charge? Is being presented with a bill to sign for each drink order really a vacation buzz kill for so many people? Perhaps car dealerships should grab ahold of this idea. "Come in to our Chevy showroom and pay $100,000 up front and pick out any vehicle you want. This is really convenient and you won't have to worry about or be concerned with the price of any of the cars or trucks." Sounds silly in that context. But buying a drink package for the sake of convenience knowing that you likely won't break even is not. Fascinating study in human behavior.

[Iamcruzin]

We got this package for my then 5 YO grandson. He loves his hot chocolate (not from a package) and juices. He also likes to drink strawberry margaritas. So we broke even at 3 drinks a day. He started and ended his day with hot chocolate. He never drank soda at that age - ever. Why does everyone assume soda is involved?

 

 

For the same reason they think alcohol is always involved.

[Iamcruzin]

**I hope you will refrain from posting any dietary guidelines regarding food.

 

We all know that the government knows what is best for us. ;)

 

 

[Cauzneffct]

I guess this truly is a "to each his own" situation. But personally, I will never understand why someone would "worry" about or be "concerned" with five individual line items of $8 each on their final statement but wouldn't have the same concern for a single line item of $49. What is it about individual charges that is so upsetting especially if they total up to less than the amount of the single "convenient" charge? Is being presented with a bill to sign for each drink order really a vacation buzz kill for so many people? Perhaps car dealerships should grab ahold of this idea. "Come in to our Chevy showroom and pay $100,000 up front and pick out any vehicle you want. This is really convenient and you won't have to worry about or be concerned with the price of any of the cars or trucks." Sounds silly in that context. But buying a drink package for the sake of convenience knowing that you likely won't break even is not. Fascinating study in human behavior.

 

Agreed.

 

Also, it's interesting that the package is only available for sailings of 7 days or more. I would have figured the opposite. The longer the cruise, the less likely I'd want to/be able to drink $50 each day, even factoring in non-alcoholic drinks. But to each his own.

[Cruise Junky]

I guess this truly is a "to each his own" situation. But personally, I will never understand why someone would "worry" about or be "concerned" with five individual line items of $8 each on their final statement but wouldn't have the same concern for a single line item of $49. What is it about individual charges that is so upsetting especially if they total up to less than the amount of the single "convenient" charge? Is being presented with a bill to sign for each drink order really a vacation buzz kill for so many people? Perhaps car dealerships should grab ahold of this idea. "Come in to our Chevy showroom and pay $100,000 up front and pick out any vehicle you want. This is really convenient and you won't have to worry about or be concerned with the price of any of the cars or trucks." Sounds silly in that context. But buying a drink package for the sake of convenience knowing that you likely won't break even is not. Fascinating study in human behavior.

 

I used to think the exact same thing when this came up over and over on the Celebrity board. I'm now coming around to understanding it. I'll decide for myself in April when we have a package on a 10 day cruise if it makes a difference or is worth it to us to buy it next time.

[JimmyVWine]

I used to think the exact same thing when this came up over and over on the Celebrity board. I'm now coming around to understanding it. I'll decide for myself in April when we have a package on a 10 day cruise if it makes a difference or is worth it to us to buy it next time.

It really is an interesting study. I know that when the night is winding down and I'm sitting in a bar or lounge and the server asks if we want another round, two things factor into my decision: The effect on my brain cells and the effect on my wallet. With a pre-paid plan, one of those two disappears. So I would have a hard time making an "apples to apples" comparison because I know that I would drink more on the plan, and getting my money's worth would become a self-fulfilling prophecy. I'm just not certain if this is a good or bad thing.:D So I imagine that lots of people will start reporting back that the plan was worthwhile and that they got their money's worth but I wonder how many of them will have had exactly the same drinking pattern had they not purchased the plan. I can see how having a pre-paid plan will cause a drop in inhibitions when in comes to ordering "just one more". Whether or not that is a good thng is an individual's choice. For me, the impact on my wallet of that extra drink helps save me from myself.;)