RCCL Pre buying OBC.

[Jatee]

We am leaving on voyager in 4 weeks and no dining or drinks options available online or via the telephone. Weird..

[jd07]

The legend of the seas cruises from Singapore and then from Hong Kong in November packages are on line now. Replenish is $13AUD a day for both. The ultimate package is $50AUD a day for the 10 day cruise but $28AUD a day for the 18 day cruise. For the b2b thats an average of $36AUD a day. Bargain. Apparently RCI has lower package costs on Asian cruises.

 

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

[Jatee]

Hey jd07

 

Thanks for that info. I will be on the Voyager of the Seas leaving from Singapore on the 15/4 to Toyko. I have no idea what prices the drinks package will be as we can't make a booking online yet. Hopefully the prices will be the same as you mentioned.

 

Just wondering how you could see the price for the drinks package for the cruises you mentioned. Where in the RCI webpage do I find that info when looking up the cruises.

 

Thanks

[jd07]

If you go into your reservation. Go to cruise planner and select the beverage and dinning tab. It lists what packages are available. Once you select the package it shows you the cost.

 

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

[OzKiwiJJ]

The ultimate package is $50AUD a day for the 10 day cruise but $28AUD a day for the 18 day cruise.

 

Bargain. Apparently RCI has lower package costs on Asian cruises.

 

 

***! That same package is AU $99 on my upcoming cruise. :eek:

 

Way too expensive for me, especually with 4 port days in a 9 night cruise, and bringing the two bottles of wine onboard.

 

If it was AU $50 per day I'd be tempted but AU $99, and then having to pay 80% of the price of any bottles of wine that we wish to try (if we don't like the wines by the glass) is just ridiculous.

 

Not happy RCI! :mad:

[jd07]

You need to take an Asian cruise. Packages are so cheap in AUD :)

 

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

[OzKiwiJJ]

I'll add them to my list. Would love to cruise Asia, especially Japan. However one has to get there and back and that adds to the cost.

[OzKiwiJJ]

Another problem is you don't get to see the price of the packages until after you've booked the cruise.

[Jatee]

Another problem is you don't get to see the price of the packages until after you've booked the cruise.

 

Even then you dont always get to see the price - I'm still waiting to see what the price is and we leave in less than 4 weeks.

[OzKiwiJJ]

Even then you dont always get to see the price - I'm still waiting to see what the price is and we leave in less than 4 weeks.

 

And the price may change as the cruise date gets closer.

 

The Ultimate package price was AU $84 on my cruise some weeks ago and that was close to USD price + 18% grats converted to AU dollars at current exchange rates. Two weeks from cruise date and the price jumped to AU $99, yet others who are cruising later still saw AU $84. :eek: :mad:

[Jatee]

I've just check RCI website again. Price for Royal Replenish is AUD $15.66 (includes 18%) and Ultimate is AUD $60.92 (includes 18%) so not bad prices really.

 

I was lucky enough to get the 1:1 on board credit so I dont know if I should wait and purchase on board in USD or purchase now which is in AUD? Any suggestions?

[woodyren]

Very strange. I have 3 legs of the Quantum repo booked. Decided to check on the beverage package price.

 

Leg 1 Barcelona Dubai 16 days. Ultimate pkg $77 USD (+18% grat) per day.

 

Leg 2 Dubai Singapore 14days Ultimate pkg $61 USD (+18% grat) per day.

 

Leg 3 Singapore Shanghai 9 days Ultimate pkg $41 USD (+18% grat) per day.

 

No idea why this difference. First 2 legs probably outside my budget but will consider the leg 3 at around $50 USD all up if the Aussie $ doesn't plummet any more.

 

As per the original thread topic I invested in a large amount of OBC at parity for my recent Rhapsody cruise. I cashed out 1K for 950 USD in the casino and the couple of K unspent was returned to my CC at the current conversion rate.

 

I will not be taking advantage of the money made from RCL on the transaction other than being able to reinvest all and more into our 39 days on Quantum. In effect it was just like we would have purchased our OBC for Quantum at parity so we are very happy.

[GUT2407]

Very strange. I have 3 legs of the Quantum repo booked. Decided to check on the beverage package price.

 

Leg 1 Barcelona Dubai 16 days. Ultimate pkg $77 USD (+18% grat) per day.

 

Leg 2 Dubai Singapore 14days Ultimate pkg $61 USD (+18% grat) per day.

 

Leg 3 Singapore Shanghai 9 days Ultimate pkg $41 USD (+18% grat) per day.

 

No idea why this difference. First 2 legs probably outside my budget but will consider the leg 3 at around $50 USD all up if the Aussie $ doesn't plummet any more.

 

As per the original thread topic I invested in a large amount of OBC at parity for my recent Rhapsody cruise. I cashed out 1K for 950 USD in the casino and the couple of K unspent was returned to my CC at the current conversion rate.

 

I will not be taking advantage of the money made from RCL on the transaction other than being able to reinvest all and more into our 39 days on Quantum. In effect it was just like we would have purchased our OBC for Quantum at parity so we are very happy.

 

 

I wonde4r if the pricing has anything to do with different drinking cultures or habits.

[wombat13]

I am on the Rhapsody of the Seas Syd - Singapore price for Ultimate $99. I checked the price with RC and they said it has to do with the ship. But that doesn't make sense when you are on the Quantum for 3 legs all different!!

Jean

[fairywren]

I wonde4r if the pricing has anything to do with different drinking cultures or habits.

 

I think so.

 

If you look at my upcoming cruises in my sig, the Sin - Sin has the ultimate package at US$22.40 (booked with a US agent so I suppose thats why it shows in USD)

 

The SIN - PER leg for ultimate is priced at A$52 (booked direct with RCI Aus)

 

Discrimination against Aussie drinkers?:p

 

I have prepaid for the 1st one but will wait and see if the other one comes down or buy onboard with my 1=1 OBC that I bought. :D

[OzKiwiJJ]

Discrimination against Aussie drinkers?:p

 

 

Highly likely. The packages do encourage over-drinking, especially among certain types of passengers. :eek: So they are probably protecting themselves. Unfortunately this may be another case of the actions of a few spoiling things for the majority.

 

No way am I going to be paying AU $99 per person per day for drinks on our cruise. We only paid an average of AU $84 per day on Princess for drinks for both of us and we were drinking some seriously good wines.

 

Unfortunately it appears that individual drink prices and wine by the bottle prices are also high on RCI. This will probably mean we will spend more than we want to on drinks but hopefully not as much as RCI want us to. And we may never come back regardless of how much we like the ship. We like to feel that we have been given value for money as opposed to being ripped off.

Edited March 16, 2015 by OzKiwiJJ

[wombat13]

This is my first time with RCI it may be my last. I don't think I will drink at all take some bottle water onboard and sip my 2 bottles of wine very s l o w l y 😮

[jd07]

Well the drink packages are cheaper on Asian cruises. My legend of the seas cruise hong Kong to Brisbane in November now as ultimate at $23AUD per day .

 

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

[wombat13]

I believe you. But unfortunately not the cruise I am on.😢

[marquisite]

Well the drink packages are cheaper on Asian cruises. My legend of the seas cruise hong Kong to Brisbane in November now as ultimate at $23AUD per day .

 

Very cheap ultimate package on the reverse Legend sailing Brisbane - Hong Kong April 2016, as well! The beverage options were just recently loaded, and this is what I see from the cruise planner at this time:

 

Royal Refreshment (ex Fountain Soda) package:

8.13 AUD /day [add $1.46 AUD / day gratuity]

 

Royal Replenish (non-alcoholic e.g. sodas, juice, mocktails, premium tea/coffee) package:

11.25 AUD /day [add $2.03 AUD /day gratuity]

 

Ultimate (alcoholic drinks + replenish offering) package:

23.75 AUD /day [add $4.28 AUD /day gratuity]

 

I am no drinker but at that price it seems like a deal relatively speaking for those who do, compared to the other prices I've previously seen posted by others!

[jd07]

You're right there. In not a drinker so i snagged the $13AUD per day replenish package. Even on port days I can easily cover that :)

 

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

[OzKiwiJJ]

I wonder how many cruisers are put off cruising again with RCI because of such inconsistent pricing. Imagine doing an Asian cruise - wow, really enjoy it, very good drinks deals, so a very affordable crusie - then deciding to do a South Pacific cruise where suddenly the whole affordability issue changes because the prices of drink packages are at least three times dearer eg AU $28.03 (from below) against $99 (the price for my cruise) is 3.51 times dearer.

 

I must say that everything else on our cruise will have to be 100% perfect to counteract those expensive drink prices or else we won't be cruising RCI again.

[cheznandy]

For comparison this is what is showing on my cruise planner for upcoming Royal cruises:

 

Radiance of the Seas March 2015:

Ultimate Package - $67USD

Premium Package - $57USD

Select Package - $42USD

Royal Replenish Package - $22USD

Royal refreshment - $$8USD

 

Voyager of the Seas November 2015

Prices unavailable

 

Explorer of the Seas December 2015 (Xmas/New Year)

Ultimate Package - $84AUD

Premium Package $71AUD

Select Package - $52AUD

Royal Replenish Package - $28AUD

Royal Refreshment - $10AUD

 

Not sure why Voyager is not showing, it's a cruise to Tassie, maybe they think it will be an older crowd and not many packages purchased....whereas Explorer is over the festive season:rolleyes:

I am at a loss to all these different prices for different cruises and where you are departing from, shouldn't it all be the same?

I have pre paid my gratuities as we do Mytime dining, so they already have some of my money upfront:(

I called head office to ask what OBC was selling for, AUD$1.28 buys USD$1 I am better of using my credit card for this next cruise, 28Degrees was a better rate yesterday.

 

Chez

[soak01]

Very cheap ultimate package on the reverse Legend sailing Brisbane - Hong Kong April 2016, as well! The beverage options were just recently loaded, and this is what I see from the cruise planner at this time:

 

Royal Refreshment (ex Fountain Soda) package:

8.13 AUD /day [add $1.46 AUD / day gratuity]

 

Royal Replenish (non-alcoholic e.g. sodas, juice, mocktails, premium tea/coffee) package:

11.25 AUD /day [add $2.03 AUD /day gratuity]

 

Ultimate (alcoholic drinks + replenish offering) package:

23.75 AUD /day [add $4.28 AUD /day gratuity]

 

I am no drinker but at that price it seems like a deal relatively speaking for those who do, compared to the other prices I've previously seen posted by others!

 

Wow.... I think I'll definitely have to consider an Asian cruise next time. Just have to try and get a flight for a decent price.

[Lyneham1]

Wow.... I think I'll definitely have to consider an Asian cruise next time. Just have to try and get a flight for a decent price.

 

There is some cruises currently available on the Legend at the moment that include flights. Haven't really looked to see if the prices are higher because of that though.