How does the "bottomless" alcohol beverage system work?

[scrapperluv]

I'm planning on buying the bottomless adult drink pass the first day of the cruise. I figure I can try all types of fluffy cocktails that way and not have to worry about disliking them and losing money. I have a couple questions about this and would love to hear your experiences...

 

Do you feel bartenders ignore you if you have that pass? I read on another thread that it takes forever to get service if you're not paying by the drink.

 

Do you tip in cash for each drink or is there a gratuity added to your bill at the end of the cruise for each drink? Maybe there's a gratuity added already when you buy the pass??

 

Where do I go to get it? Can I buy it right away when I board the ship?

 

Last (but not least) is there a limit to which drinks you can order? Can I get the import beers and nice cocktails or is it Budweiser and well drinks?

 

Thanks!

[Criticname]

Bottomless alcohol does not exist. Cheers package is limited to 15 daily beverages

[rsrmjs]

http://www.carnival.com/Core/FAQ.aspx?faq=beverage#q-1270134

[JLee1973]

Gratuity is included it will come to about 58 dollars a day with the 15% added. You will be treated just like any other cruiser regardless and yes you are limited to fifteen drinks a day.

 

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[scrapperluv]

Lol, there's no way possible I could consume 15 drinks per day. So that's good news! Thanks for info.

 

So if I only order 4 drinks a day do I get charged the gratuity for 4 drinks? Is that tacked onto the bill on the end of the trip or do I pay it each time I order?

[scrapperluv]

Gratuity is included it will come to about 58 dollars a day with the 15% added.

 

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

Ok, I think I understand what you're saying here. If I buy the cheers package it costs $58 per day and that includes gratuity? I'll tip on top of this, but I just wanted to know if I should expect gratuity added onto our bill at the end of the trip. I don't want to shock my husband with a huge bill : )

[hftmrock]

couple of things...

 

the tip will be included in the original price.

you cant get it unless everyone in the cabin gets it so if your husband is in your cabin, he needs to purchase it

you have to purchase it for the entire cruise. not just one or 2 days.

4 drinks will not be worth it. Usually about 6 is the break even point. that means you need to drink 6 drinks or more every day on the cruise to basically break even.

[scrapperluv]

couple of things...

 

the tip will be included in the original price.

you cant get it unless everyone in the cabin gets it so if your husband is in your cabin, he needs to purchase it

you have to purchase it for the entire cruise. not just one or 2 days.

4 drinks will not be worth it. Usually about 6 is the break even point. that means you need to drink 6 drinks or more every day on the cruise to basically break even.

 

Thanks so much! This is the info I needed.

 

Fortunately my husband is booked into the adjoining cabin with our son while I'm booked in the next room with our daughter. I didn't even know the cheers rules when I booked this so it worked out good for me. He doesn't drink and it would be such a waste to buy him the cheers package.

 

I think I'll get 6 drinks in on days we're on the ship. I'm thinking I can try a couple new cocktails (even if I don't finish them) and if I don't like them just discard! As funny as it sounds, I asked for the cheers package from my husband for my birthday last month. I thought it'd be fun to order unusual drinks without worrying about disliking them and wasting money.

[rsrmjs]

The way that you and your DH are booked is an ideal way to try the Cheers package.

 

One of these days I would like to try the drinks package, but I am probably too much of a lightweight when it comes to drinking.

 

Enjoy your cruise and all the yummy "froo-froo" drinks!

[Bobkat26]

May sound silly, but is it considered 6 or 7 day at $58.00 per day?

[p_mori7]

A beer is about $7 + 15% gratuity automatically added to the sales receipt.

 

A mixed drink is about $9 + 15% gratuity automatically added to the sales receipt.

 

So with the Cheers program, you are paying for about 7 drinks per day, but are allowed 15 on any given day...it's a deal...if you drink that much...on port days, typically you will only start drinking upon your return to the ship in the late afternoon.

Edited May 11, 2014 by p_mori7

[Rockypoint]

Not sure where you are sailing from, most ships you can purchase on 1st day, however, sailing out of Galveston you can not purchase until 2nd day because of the crazy Texas alcohol laws. Enjoy!

[pamwinn]

I've read this is so before, but is it still true that you can purchase the package on day 2 thus cutting the total by $116?

[WindsorFred]

May sound silly, but is it considered 6 or 7 day at $58.00 per day?

 

It's the # of "nights".

[hftmrock]

just so you have all the details

 

The "Cheers" Beverage Program (previously named the My Awesome Bar Program!) is flat-rate daily pricing for alcoholic drinks, non-alcoholic frozen drinks, wine by the glass and soda. The non-alcoholic drinks and sodas portion of the program are unlimited and do NOT count towards the program limit of 15 in a "day". Alcoholic drinks covered by the program are limited to 15 in a "day". The program "day" is a 24 hour period starting at 6:00AM and ending at 6:00AM the following day. See Restrictions below.

 

What started as a trial in August on the Carnival Victory now includes numerous additional Carnival ships due to overwhelming popularity and very few reported issues. The program is now on most of Carnival's fleet offering cruises 7 days or longer and is expanding onto additional ships with shorter cruise lengths.

 

The cost for the "Cheers" Beverage Program now is $49.95 per person, per day ($42.95 on cruises in Europe), plus a 15% gratuity added on at the time of purchase (total of $57.45 per person per day). The program must be purchased on the embarkation day or the next day and for the remainder of the cruise. Beverages, including beers, cocktails, wines by the glass, and non-alcoholic frozen drinks all must have a $10.00 or lower menu price to qualify for inclusion in the program. For drinks with a menu price over $10.00 a 25% discount is offered, this includes wine and champagne by the bottle. Unlimited sodas are also included in the program. Bottled water is offered at a 25% discount. See complete details below.

 

Beverages Included In The Program:

 

 

• All spirits (including cocktails), as well as beer and wine by the glass with a $10.00 or lower menu price.
  
• Sodas and non-alcoholic frozen cocktails.
  
• 25% discount off the menu price for bottled water
  
• 25% discount off the menu price for spirits or wine above $10.00 per drink.
  
• 25% discount off the menu price wine and champagne by the bottle.
  

 

 

Beverages Excluded From The Program:

 

 

• Non-alcoholic beverages other than soda and non-alcoholic frozen cocktails.
  
• Beverages promoted and sold in souvenir glasses.
  
• Bottles of liquor.
  
• Bottled water (offered at a 25% discount).
  
• Beverages offered at gangway while debarking.
  
• Beverages offered through room service as well as mini bars and/or other in-stateroom beverage programs.
  
• The sharing of cocktails and floaters.
  
• Buckets of beer, pitchers of beer, and beer tubes.
  
• Wine and champagne by the bottle (offered at a 25% discount).
  
• All spirits or wine above $10.00 per drink (offered at a 25% discount).
  
• Beverages offered through enomatic wine machines.
  
• Coffee beverages and food items.
  
• All other beverage-related programs including cookbooks and bar books, beverage seminars and classes, as well as cigars.
  

 

 

Restrictions:

 

 

• Must be 21 or older to purchase and agree not to give to minors.
  
• Each adult (21 and over) assigned to the same stateroom must purchase the program. (see Note 1 below)
  
• Only one drink at a time may be ordered. No sharing is permitted.
  
• There is a 5 minute wait time between ordering drinks.
  
• Applicable state and local taxes will be charged to the guest folio when this program is used in US waters. (see Note 3 below)
  
• For ships sailing from Texas, due to state laws, the Cheers Program cannot be purchased on embarkation day but will be available for purchase on the 2nd day of the cruise.
  
• Program allows for up to 15 alcoholic drinks per 24 hour period (6AM-6AM). (see Note 4 below)
  
• Carnival reserves the right to refuse service for any reason.
  
• Program is non-refundable.
  
• Guests must purchase the program for the entire cruise. The Cheers Program is not offered on a per day basis.
  

 

 

How to Sign Up:

 

 

• On embarkation day or the next day: You can sign up at the Atrium Bar, Casino Bar or one of the Lido Deck bars.
  
• On embarkation day only: You can sign up at the temporary area set up on the Lido Deck where you previously could sign up for the "Bottomless Bubbles" Unlimited Soda Program.
  
• You currently CAN NOT sign up prior to boarding.
  

 

 

Notes:

 

 

• 1) There are absolutely NO EXCEPTIONS to the rule that everyone in the same cabin (21 years of age or older) most purchase the program. If they allowed one exception it would open the door to everything.
  
• 2) You still must sign all of your drink slips after getting a drink, just like you would if you weren't on the Cheers program.
  
• 3) You will not be charged tax when purchasing the Cheers Beverage Program, regardless of where/when you purchase it. You will be charged tax on the individual drinks you get while still in US waters. When this occurs the receipt, which would normally say $0.00, will have a small charge on it equivalent to the state and local tax rate for the drink just ordered.
  
• 4) Once you hit the program daily limit of 15 alcoholic drinks some cruisers have reported they were still able to purchase drinks at full price, others were not (seems to depend on the ship). Again, Carnival reserves the right to refuse service for any reason.
  
• 5) If you order a double it will count as 2 drinks against your program daily limit of 15 alcoholic drinks.
  
• 6) The Cheers Program is NOT available on:
  
  • a) 2-Day Cruises
    
  • b) Charter Cruises
    
  • c) Ships on a 3-day/4-day cycle: Carnival Imagination, Carnival Inspiration, Carnival Sensation and Carnival Ecstasy (sailing from Miami); The program IS offered on ships that sail on a 4-day/5-day cycle.
    
  • d) Ships sailing from Australia: Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend
    
  • e) Port calls in Half Moon Cay, The Bahamas and Little Stirrup Cay, The Bahamas. The program CAN be used for Unlimited Soda on Half Moon Cay and Little Stirrup Cay. (This is the latest as of Sept 2013)
    

 

[kona_wahine]

There is no way I could average 7 or more drinks per day for 7 days. I just buy as I go and don't come close to what the cheers package would cost. Buying the cheers package may not be your best option, even if you try different drinks.

[dljones]

Definite waste of money IMHO.

[hftmrock]

Definite waste of money IMHO.

 

are you saying its a waste of money in general or just to the OP?

[Oz_Steve]

How much is a Margarita or a Cosmopolitan on the ship?

[FaithfulRaider]

I will be going on my first cruise in August and have been debating on whether I should be getting this. So been doing a little research and trying to decide.

 

I asked my GF how much she spent on her last 7 day cruise on drinks. She believes it was $200 on her 7 day trip. She's not a big drinker and neither am I. I could never do 15 in a day!

 

However there are a few things I'm using to make my decision.

 

First of all we will be sailing from TX so it's only good for 6 day, not seven. So that saves us $50 each, and since we can each bring some soda, water and a bottle of wine each, we should be covered for day one. Means cost is $300+$45 (15% for tips) each.

 

Next I added in the value of the unlimited soda card which I would be getting regardless (need my diet coke) but which is included in the Cheers program. So I subtract $345-42=$303. So that's my "break even" drink tab amount. For the 6 days I would have the plan I would have to average $50 a day including gratuity for my non-soda drinks.

 

Since I am really only a margarita, mojito, and occasional wine drinker I will use those costs. These are $8-$9 a drink (plan covers drinks up to $10). Because menu prices don't include tips, actual costs of these are closer to $10-$11 each. Therefore 5 of these a day would again be the break even point (4 would be very close, 5 actually saves a little).

 

So I got to thinking how likely would I be to have 5 drinks a day. Well a glass of wine at dinner would be a given (along with a diet coke of course). 2 glasses wouldn't be out of the question though especially since my girl wants to eat dinner at the MDR every night. Leaves me 3-4 drinks for the rest of the day. Next, it'll be August in the Caribbean..... Hot and perfect weather for frozen margaritas. I am sure one with lunch and one between lunch and dinner would be perfect for me. Even on excursion days I would probably still have 2 margaritas. I would buy them with or without this plan likely. So at this point I'm at 3-4 a day total. Then comes nightlife! A mojito while I'm at the club or at the casino would be my plan. That puts my estimation of 4-5 a day easy which is exactly my break even spot.

 

So I asked myself, since this is where I am pretty much breaking even... Why bother with the Cheers plan? Well I came up with a few reasons why I am leaning towards buying the Cheers package.

 

1) because my planned drinks have me right at the break even point, each drink I get above that would essentially be "free". If I want an extra margarita or mojito it's essentially on the house at that point. If I want 4 extra a few nights its no worries!

 

2) some drinks have the option to "upgrade" to a more top shelf option for $1-$2. As I have read this is allowed on the Cheers plan as long as the total stays under $10. Means better quality and more value on drinks with this option. Also I would be more likely to choose a "cheaper" wine option with dinner if not on the Cheers plan, but on the plan I'd take the more expensive wines that are closer to $10.

 

3) the plan includes unlimited non-alcoholic frozen cocktails. Usually $5 a pop, I could grab these whenever I want to cool down without the alcohol. I love virgin piña coladas!

 

4) the option to try the dozens of other drinks available on the Cheers plan! If I don't like it I don't feel bad that I spent $10 for it! Because I'm already planning on 4-5 drinks a day, I could try another 10 different drinks a day essentially free! I can try a chocolate martini, a ting, or one of the many other drinks I wouldn't usually order, and if its gross.... Oh well!

 

5) the option to get a little tipsy without breaking the bank! It takes me a few drinks to even feel any effects.... About the 4th margarita I've found. 6 to get me feeling real good. That's nearly $60 after tips. If there is a night or two where I want to do this I won't have to worry about the cost.

 

I understand every situation is different. Like I say I'm not a big drinker at all. But on this trip for me, I plan on 4-5 drinks + sodas + some non-alcoholic frozens regardless. For me the freedom to have a few extra when I want them combined with the guilt-free trying of different drinks makes it a win for me.

 

It also helps that since booking our cruise has dropped $240 in price. We are using any price drops to apply to the cost of the Cheers plan.