Another is the drink package worth it topic....

[mplusj]

There have been numerous topics asking if the drink package is worth it. I know it's a very subjective question. My question is a little different.

Does the premium drink package offer any benefits outside of the unlimited booze?

I've done the math and I don't think I could or would drink $415(Canadian) on a bar bill in a week. However I am willing to pay if it offers faster service or some other benefit.

I think at most I've spent around $300-350 on drinks on past cruises.

 

With that in mind. Should I get the drink package?

[Clarea]

You also get a 20% discount on bottles of wine when you purchase the package.

Edited August 13, 2014 by clarea

[EatSleepCruise]

Which packages are you comparing?

 

The Premium drink package includes bottled water. On our last Independence of the Seas cruise, we easily drank 8 to 10 bottles of water, a day, each.

 

We actually had the Ultimate Drink package as we are big latte drinkers too and I found the package was worth it. Only service benefit was our bar staff at dinner always had our pre-dinner cocktails on the table when we arrived as he knew we had the package. He would also come by and ask if we wanted refills.

 

But, at the lounges and bars, having the package was no benefit. Occasionally, you got slower service as they would see the sticker on your sea pass card and attend to other patrons.

[Funbobby68]

Another bonus to consider if your a bit adventures ,the drink package allows you to try some new drinks without the worry of buying something you didn't like but choke it down because it was 10 buck , of course I don't condone blatant waste either but I found a few drinks I really like , but would not have tried if I didn't have the package

 

 

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[Volunton]

I've been doing the math (as I have on other occasions pre-cruise).

 

Speaking strictly about soda/pop, I can't even imagine being able to drink 5-6 16 - 20 oz. cups a day to justify the expense. I'm assuming drinking more than what would cost per purchase in order to not just break even.

 

I figure ... with the cost for a seven-day cruise being $120 U.S. (plus tax?) for the Royal replenish (not taking into account alcohol), I'm much better off buying 2-3 sodas/day at a cost of +/- $14 and saving $42 for a tour/casino/gift shop, etc.

[Clarea]

I've been doing the math (as I have on other occasions pre-cruise).

 

Speaking strictly about soda/pop, I can't even imagine being able to drink 5-6 16 - 20 oz. cups a day to justify the expense. I'm assuming drinking more than what would cost per purchase in order to not just break even.

 

I figure ... with the cost for a seven-day cruise being $120 U.S. (plus tax?) for the Royal replenish (not taking into account alcohol), I'm much better off buying 2-3 sodas/day at a cost of +/- $14 and saving $42 for a tour/casino/gift shop, etc.

Just to keep your numbers accurate, if you buy a soda singly, you get a 12oz can. They cost is $2.88 per can, including gratuity.

[amster65]

I ended up drinking more that I should have, just because I could. Not good when you are pushing 70, but hey, if your liver can take it..go for it.

 

My wife wont let me do this again............:(

[cb at sea]

a 12 oz. can yields 2 glasses of soda.....6oz. is a serving.

 

If you are on a cruise longer than 4 days, you can wait a day or so, and see what you're drinking...if it looks like you could use the package, you can buy it a day or two into the cruise, as long as there are 4 days left.

[Capella Black]

The biggest benefit to me is not ever denying myself the nicer drink because of the cost. If I don't have the package, my bar bill will be less than the cost of the package would have been. If I have the package, the cost of all the drinks I'm no longer paying for far exceeds the package cost.

 

The difference? When I have a package I have posh lattes, not generic coffee. I have fresh OJ, not lemonade. I have yummy non-alcoholic cocktails, not iced tea. I have champagne, not the house white.

 

For me, that makes a package worth it - the freedom to just have what looks nicest, not what's cheapest, because otherwise I know I'll hold back.

[Bailey & Sophie]

And it's so nice grabbing a bottle of water when leaving the ship. Fresh juice - YUM. We're not big coffee drinkers, but the tea selection makes it worth it for me. Lots of iced tea!! The packages are great for so much more than just alcohol.

[robin13]

The best part of the drink package is if you gamble you don't have to pay for your drinks in the casino. And as someone said it is a great way to try new drinks that you would never pay for in the real world. I loved the premium package and will do it again in a second as long as my cruise is not port intensive.

[delirious9876]

The biggest benefit to me is not ever denying myself the nicer drink because of the cost. If I don't have the package, my bar bill will be less than the cost of the package would have been. If I have the package, the cost of all the drinks I'm no longer paying for far exceeds the package cost.

 

The difference? When I have a package I have posh lattes, not generic coffee. I have fresh OJ, not lemonade. I have yummy non-alcoholic cocktails, not iced tea. I have champagne, not the house white.

 

For me, that makes a package worth it - the freedom to just have what looks nicest, not what's cheapest, because otherwise I know I'll hold back.

I agree totally with your post for me as well :-)

[dacsmom]

The biggest benefit to me is not ever denying myself the nicer drink because of the cost. If I don't have the package, my bar bill will be less than the cost of the package would have been. If I have the package, the cost of all the drinks I'm no longer paying for far exceeds the package cost.

 

The difference? When I have a package I have posh lattes, not generic coffee. I have fresh OJ, not lemonade. I have yummy non-alcoholic cocktails, not iced tea. I have champagne, not the house white.

 

For me, that makes a package worth it - the freedom to just have what looks nicest, not what's cheapest, because otherwise I know I'll hold back.

 

It is the same for me. With the drink package I don't even think about it. I have what I want. I have been surprised by the bill at the end of the cruise before, those coffees and drinks add up fast. I get the ultimate package and don't worry any more about it, everything I like to drink is included

[sweetlove13]

The biggest benefit to me is not ever denying myself the nicer drink because of the cost. If I don't have the package, my bar bill will be less than the cost of the package would have been. If I have the package, the cost of all the drinks I'm no longer paying for far exceeds the package cost.

 

The difference? When I have a package I have posh lattes, not generic coffee. I have fresh OJ, not lemonade. I have yummy non-alcoholic cocktails, not iced tea. I have champagne, not the house white.

 

For me, that makes a package worth it - the freedom to just have what looks nicest, not what's cheapest, because otherwise I know I'll hold back.

 

Capella Black, I like the way you think!!! ;)

[mollyeilis]

I've been doing the math (as I have on other occasions pre-cruise).

 

Speaking strictly about soda/pop, I can't even imagine being able to drink 5-6 16 - 20 oz. cups a day to justify the expense. I'm assuming drinking more than what would cost per purchase in order to not just break even.

 

I figure ... with the cost for a seven-day cruise being $120 U.S. (plus tax?) for the Royal replenish (not taking into account alcohol), I'm much better off buying 2-3 sodas/day at a cost of +/- $14 and saving $42 for a tour/casino/gift shop, etc.

 

 

Since you are strictly speaking about soda, I just want to make sure you know that you actually want to compare the Refreshment package to buying sodas individually.

 

Replenish includes still water, sparking water, fresh squeezed OJ in the mornings, specialty coffees and teas (like mochas and Tazo tea)... AND it includes the soda cup.

 

But Refreshment is just sodas, and is US $6.50/day/adult. (4.50/day for 17 and under)

[rummenroman]

I'm a cheapskate. When looking at a menu on the ship, I look at the price first. Or many times I would say to myself - my bill is going to be outrageous, I don't need that drink.

 

I get the package now so I can enjoy myself and not worry about the bar bill at the end of the cruise. For me, the ability to let loose a little is so worth the price of the drink package even if I don't hit the "break even" point.

[Irishwhiskey]

We never purchase the drink packages when we cruise.We have our usual few cocktails and couple of beers throughout the day and that's about it.When we in a port we will have a few of the local drinks during the day but a package would only make us keep ordering more drinks that we normally wouldn't want.It would be more of a convenience than a savings package for us.I know that it is probably sacrilegious but we like to keep hydrated during the day with water.

[lucysmommy1]

i really liked the premium drinks package - i would say its easy to rack up a tab! plus i could try lots of different wines etc and not worry about it - even if i didnt get my monies worth i would still do it for the freedom

[TheInnocentAge]

There have been numerous topics asking if the drink package is worth it. I know it's a very subjective question. My question is a little different.

Does the premium drink package offer any benefits outside of the unlimited booze?

I've done the math and I don't think I could or would drink $415(Canadian) on a bar bill in a week. However I am willing to pay if it offers faster service or some other benefit.

I think at most I've spent around $300-350 on drinks on past cruises.

 

With that in mind. Should I get the drink package?

 

You're right, it is very subjective, as the many other threads have shown us. Lots of opinions out there, so here's mine...

 

Having an idea of which types of drinks I would probably be ordering, I did the math before our last cruise and figured if we could have 5-6 per day, we would be getting our money's worth. Aside from being able to experiment with new drinks, which was great, here are a couple of benefits that I didn't see mentioned earlier...

 

1 - If you've ordered a frozen drink by the pool and it's starting to get a little warm or melting, you don't feel forced to finish it like you might if you had just paid $10 for it. Just order a fresh one.

 

2 - Speaking of frozen drinks, we found that these are a lot tastier when you order a rum floater on top. This would cost you extra if you were buying them individually, but all the bartenders we had were quick to do this for us with the drink package.

 

Of course we always tip extra for good service, which helps.

 

Stay thirsty, my friend!

[anthonyw1980]

To be able to go on board and not worry about budgeting drinks is the way I like to roll! Premium drink package it is!

[1 Buffett Fan]

To be able to go on board and not worry about budgeting drinks is the way I like to roll! Premium drink package it is!

 

I echo that thought. Premium package was just right for me. Definitely met and surpassed the "break even" quota for drinks per day, even on the port days.

Edited August 14, 2014 by 1 Buffett Fan