ULTIMATE Premium & Ultimate Drink Package Thread

[Clarea]

I'm sorry if this sounds like a stupid question, but what is the difference between the Diamond Lounge and the Nightly Diamond Event??

The Nightly Diamond Event is held on ships without a dedicated Diamond lounge. Within a few years this will be gone as Royal is retrofitting all ships with a Diamond Lounge except Majesty which will leave the fleet soon. This event offers free soda, house wine, and house champagne. Other drinks are 25% off.

 

The Diamond Lounge has free soda, house wine, house champagne, selected beer, basic mixed drinks, and hot/cold snacks. No blender drinks.

Edited February 17, 2014 by clarea

[reney313]

I was wondering if anyone knows if Red Bull is part of any of the drinking packages? I have seen some people say it is, but I called RCCL today and they said it wasn't. Can anyone help clarify this for me. We are going on the Liberty of the Seas.

 

I don't think just a can of Red Bull is included. However, I know you can get a drink with red bull (example: Vodka/Red Bull). There might be some confusion on how that is worded.

[smelly]

Does anyone know if that only one can purchase the drinks package work in Europe as well as the US?

[fireemt502]

Ok thank you, I was hoping the can was include. I guess I will just have to buy them.

[Clarea]

Does anyone know if that only one can purchase the drinks package work in Europe as well as the US?

Yes, here's the UK brochure:

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/_images/Royal%20Alcohol%20Beverage%20FAQ%20All%20Ships%20Web%20Nov%2013_tcm16-27947.pdf

 

See the Q&A section under "How does the guest buy the package?".

Edited February 17, 2014 by clarea

[smelly]

That's great thanks. It won't let me at mine through manage my booking as its too far in advance

[wezie]

Just curious...if you purchase the soda card ahead of time, when do you get the cup and the sticker?

[lgonquin]

Just curious...if you purchase the soda card ahead of time, when do you get the cup and the sticker?

 

 

When you check in, your card will be marked and your cups waiting for you in your staeroom.

 

 

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[lovn2liv]

I research the heck out of everything and deciding on going with one of the drink packages is what I've been looking into. There have been some great threads and links posted lately. To help me keep track, I thought I'd set up a master thread of sorts with the links and links to recent threads about the packages. Hope this proves helpful.

 

RCCLs latest PDF doc on the packages: http://media.royalcaribbean.com/content/shared_assets/pdf/menus/beverage_packages.pdf

 

Highlights: no longer need everyone in a cabin over 21 to purchase packages, bottled water (up to 500ML) included, Coke free style cups are provided for unlimited fountain soda.

 

List of drinks and current (early 2014) pricing: http://www.shipcruise.org/royal-caribbean-alcohol-policy-drink-prices/

 

Awesome photos of many drink menus, most with prices that match the link above: http://cruisewithgambee.com/royal-caribbean-drink/

 

Fodor's Article on Cruise Line Pacakges: http://www.fodors.com/news/cruise-ship-drink-packages-are-they-worth-it-7380.html

 

TripAdvisor Thread on the Packages: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i10703-k6487686-Royal_Caribbean_Drinking_Pass-Cruises.html

 

Recent CC Threads on the Pacakges:

 

Are Packages Worth the $$$: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1987370

 

Are These Prices Accurate: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1987115

 

Ultimate vs Premium Package: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1982305

 

Drink Package Price Change (exchange rates): http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1986851

 

(Poor) Experience With Drink Package: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1985407

 

phenomenal information and simplifying all of this. I'm totally going for the ultimate package...trying different drinks sold me. plus I love my capps and latte's....

[masscaper]

This is such a great thread! Thank you for all the information. We'll be on the Explorer in a couple weeks and have one cruiser who loves sparkling water. Does anyone know what type of bottled, sparkling water is served? I'm thinking we'll have at least one of each package with all the travelers in our group.

[Clarea]

This is such a great thread! Thank you for all the information. We'll be on the Explorer in a couple weeks and have one cruiser who loves sparkling water. Does anyone know what type of bottled, sparkling water is served? I'm thinking we'll have at least one of each package with all the travelers in our group.

Pellegrino.

[AeroBaldness]

A couple of longer new threads have started that I thought I'd link here:

 

Can 4 people in 2 cabins share a drink package (SPOILER ALERT, you can't :D ):

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1993535

 

Newer Is It Worth It? http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974848

 

Less than 60 days out until my wife and I will get to apply all that I've learned about the package. My hope is to post a review from both mine and my wife's perspective upon our return and answer as many of the lingering questions as possible. My end goal is to be The Bob of Booze :cool:

[slyster]

Thanks for putting all of this together!

[AeroBaldness]

A couple of new ones to add:

 

When does the drink package end?:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1995634

 

Best drink for your buck: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1995468

 

Drink Package and Bottle Water: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1995172

 

Can you change your drink package mid cruise:

Edited February 23, 2014 by AeroBaldness

[surmy555]

Do the prices for the packages include gratuities ar do they add 15% to cover the tips?

[AeroBaldness]

Do the prices for the packages include gratuities ar do they add 15% to cover the tips?

 

They are included. There are quite a few posts in the linked threads about additional tipping (as well as a few stand-alone threads). Additional tipping tends to be one of those polarizing topics.

[Peacemkr59]

Can you buy a package on a 3-night cruise?

 

 

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[AeroBaldness]

No, cruises of 4 days or longer: http://media.royalcaribbean.com/content/shared_assets/pdf/menus/beverage_packages.pdf

 

Consensus is that 4 days within a cruise can be bought as well.

[wezie]

If you buy the beer package, can you get a beer and bring it back to your cabin to have at a later time on your balcony? Kinda like stock pile your fridge?

[cage keeper]

Do the prices for the packages include gratuities ar do they add 15% to cover the tips?

 

Included. So my calculations are 47 $ a day for the package and 8 $ gratuity.

[AeroBaldness]

If you buy the beer package, can you get a beer and bring it back to your cabin to have at a later time on your balcony? Kinda like stock pile your fridge?

 

This was debated in one of the drink threads re buckets of beer. I'd say it went 60/40 to the possible side and you'd need to ask the bartender to not open the beer.

[LetsGetWet!]

Some related things I've seen a lot of conflicting information about in the various threads:

 

• The printed single-page "brochure" from RCI says all cocktails up to $10 are included, as well as wines up to $12/glass. Cocktails price lists that we've seen in the threads indicate that a "Patron Perfect Margarita" is $10 or less. Yet on another thread a list of "included liquor brands" was provided, and Patron was not on the list. So... can you order a "Patron Perfect Margarita" without substituting for the Patron - as the price and the drink package would seem to indicate - or will they put a cheaper tequila in it?
  
• Related - cocktails up to $10 and wines up to $12/glass. A printed FAQ on the RCI site makes it clear that if the cocktail is priced over $10, you can order it and pay only the difference between the listed price and your $10 package limit. There's no such info published regarding the $12 wine limit and wines which cost more. Cruisers have asked and received emails from RCI customer service saying the wines are meant to work the same way - that if you order a glass of wine for more than $12, you should only be charged the difference. But multiple reports have been that various venues on various ships have refused to provide more expensive glasses of wine without charging the FULL price.
  

Probably wishful thinking on my part, would sure be nice to get these inconsistencies and vague interpretations cleared up once and for all, in writing, that we could print out and take with us for backup if we run into the refusals onboard as others have.

[AeroBaldness]

Some related things I've seen a lot of conflicting information about in the various threads:

 

• The printed single-page "brochure" from RCI says all cocktails up to $10 are included, as well as wines up to $12/glass. Cocktails price lists that we've seen in the threads indicate that a "Patron Perfect Margarita" is $10 or less. Yet on another thread a list of "included liquor brands" was provided, and Patron was not on the list. So... can you order a "Patron Perfect Margarita" without substituting for the Patron - as the price and the drink package would seem to indicate - or will they put a cheaper tequila in it?
  
• Related - cocktails up to $10 and wines up to $12/glass. A printed FAQ on the RCI site makes it clear that if the cocktail is priced over $10, you can order it and pay only the difference between the listed price and your $10 package limit. There's no such info published regarding the $12 wine limit and wines which cost more. Cruisers have asked and received emails from RCI customer service saying the wines are meant to work the same way - that if you order a glass of wine for more than $12, you should only be charged the difference. But multiple reports have been that various venues on various ships have refused to provide more expensive glasses of wine without charging the FULL price.
  

Probably wishful thinking on my part, would sure be nice to get these inconsistencies and vague interpretations cleared up once and for all, in writing, that we could print out and take with us for backup if we run into the refusals onboard as others have.

 

I was thinking the same things. I shot a list of questions to customer service via the website, many matching what you listed; including the ability to pay an upcharge for drinks more than $10/wine more than $12 a glass, possibility of doubles (which I doubt) and inquiring if ALL drinks and liquors are part of the package if under $10 (and asked if specialty bars, like the R-Bar are included). Finally, I asked about off menu drinks we've seen on other ships that do not appear on the drink menu (make your own drink). It'll be interesting to see the content of the reply.

[thebigrooster]

The whole "included liquor brands" relates to the old drink packages. All cocktails $10 and under are included with these new packages, including the patron margarita. Also, many pictures of beer menus from the pubs that have been posted show several beers with an * indicating they are excluded from all packages. Apparently several of those (like Guinness) are now included.

[LetsGetWet!]

I was thinking the same things. I shot a list of questions to customer service via the website, many matching what you listed; including the ability to pay an upcharge for drinks more than $10/wine more than $12 a glass, possibility of doubles (which I doubt) and inquiring if ALL drinks and liquors are part of the package if under $10 (and asked if specialty bars, like the R-Bar are included). Finally, I asked about off menu drinks we've seen on other ships that do not appear on the drink menu (make your own drink). It'll be interesting to see the content of the reply.

Yes, please let us know what reply you receive.

 

Meanwhile, here's the FAQ which I plan to print and have to show regarding cocktails costing more than $10. Wish they had a similar FAQ to print regarding wines over $12, but they do not.

 

Q: If I buy the premium package and want a $12 cocktail, will i pay $2 or be charged the full amount?