WOW - bar drinks prices increased by up to 40%

[OzKiwiJJ]

Right there with ya!

 

Especially since I'm Canadian. $10 drink plus 18% tip is over $15 CDN:eek::eek: No thanks:(

 

Ditto for us Australians in AUD :eek:

Edited March 11, 2015 by OzKiwiJJ

[peteukmcr]

I've followed this thread with interest, especially as 'cocktails' to us in the UK normally reference things like a Mojito or Cosmopolitan. What about a standard 'mixed' drink such as Gin & Tonic or Jack Daniels & Coke? Are these now $10 plus 18% gratuity?

 

If that's the case, then I'm going teetotal because there is no way I'm paying $23.60 for 2 drinks that last cost me around $15 on our last cruise in Oct 2014.

 

Taking into consideration the addition of 10% tax when sailing out of Barcelona that'll now be $25.60 for 2 'cocktails'. That's £17, £8.50 per drink. No thanks.

Edited March 11, 2015 by peteukmcr

[The_Big_M]

ALL cocktails priced at $10 +18%

American premium beers all $6.00 +18%

Beers of the world $5.50 +18%

 

 

REports from local cruisers are that the cocktails are even more expensive: $14USD inclusive.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=45858502&postcount=365

[A&L_Ont]

Just read this thread quickly as a roll caller on our cruise next week asked about the price increase. We don't drink, but we don't mind helping out with info. Heck we don't even use our 3 free diamond vouchers, let alone consume our "free" suite drinks in the CL.

 

Anyhow, last night on the way into the Aqua Theatre I saw a first. There was a gentleman with his scooter pulled up to a table at the tent like bar just as you are about to enter. He was pouring his little airplane bottles of booze into his glass of clear fluid. Might have been water or soda, I wasn't sure. Right on the table were 2 little bottles, and not a care in the world as they were in plain sight for everyone to see. I just smiled to myself as it takes all types to make the world we live in. There is nothing wrong with rum running I guess. This old dude just raised the bar and jumped it Dukes of Hazzard style on this scooter.

 

What will it come too? Will someone set up a still onboard? Will there be professional run runners? Worse yet, possible running track and Prominade deck black market sales of free diamond drinks? I can see it now, the seedy underground world of the black market liquor sales. :D

 

Hopefully they will see the light and reprice to a lower more appropriate level. At these current prices I will be sure to use my freebies, well before paying for a drink.

Edited March 11, 2015 by A&L_Ont

[Flafun888]

I was also going to make the observation that drinks in bars and restaurants in our city (Las Vegas and suburbs...and I am NOT talking about touristy places on the Strip where prices are even more ridiculous!!) are generally way over $10. It's gotten to the point that on occasion, when my husband and I go out to dinner, our 2 drinks a piece will be more costly than our food.

 

We're in a major Fla metro area and most nicer restaurants and most nightclubs charge 10-15 for a regular cocktail - right in line with what the cruises are charging. The fast casual chains like chilis, applebees, etc charge 6-8 for a decent well brand. Obviously, this varies tremendously by market...in North GA or northern Michigan, I'd imagine drinks are much cheaper.

Edited March 11, 2015 by Flafun888

[Ocean Boy]

We'll take a couple free cocktails as Diamond and call it good, don't need to get crocked and drunk and pay RCCL a fortune to do so whether it's up front on a package or by the drink.......

 

Of course the cheer leaders will say that the onboard prices are similar to those on land. I was just at a local bar and had 1.00 bottles. Will NEVER see that on RCCL.....ever........ they want 5-6.00 for a BEER! Oh and don't forget the 18% "service charge"......

 

They are making a fortune on booze. And people will still say the rules about bringing liquor onboard are just about liability, not profit. Too funny.

 

I've also never had to pay a few thousand dollars in cover charge to get into the bar in the first place before even having a drink.

[Ocean Boy]

Not a local bar. Most compare to local "resorts" bars or hotels or even sports stadiums. Haven't you ever bought a $10 draft beer at a football game or baseball game? I have.

 

I haven't and I won't either.

 

I happen to think that $10.00 plus 18% drinks of the day is ridiculous. What used to be sort of the special of the day in pricing is now nothing special at all.

Edited March 11, 2015 by Ocean Boy

[runningtide]

I know RCI watches many of these post, and I would assume they are monitoring this one. I have seen them comment on other post. I'd really like to hear their rational for this increase.

 

Hiding from a controversial subject isn't smart . Just ask Hillary :roll eyes:

 

oh BTW..On each cruise, there is a question and answer session in the theater with the Captain, Chief Engineer, and Hotel Manager. Boy.... do I have my question for the Hotel Manager :-)

Edited March 11, 2015 by runningtide

[setsail]

Before buying a drink on any rci ship we always check cc to see if posters think the prices are too high or they are refusing to purchase drinks:rolleyes:

[Whitnee1]

Me too. My husband and I have no more than one drink each per day. We don't need the extra sugar and calories, and he is a bit limited by the medication he takes. A package would never work for us.

 

We already stopped going to the casino because of the smoke in there. While it's not a huge loss for the cruise line, there are others like us, and the loss mounts. We will simply not buy any drinks at all if the price keeps going up, and will consider another cruise line if the price of the cruise rises to include all the alcohol one can consume. If the price rises but includes EVERYTHING (soda, premium tea/coffee/etc.), then we might not be so irritated.

 

Beth

 

Glad to see I am not the only one. On our last 14 day Explorer cruise we did not spend a dime in the casino. I refuse to when they don't even offer a single smoke free night. When I asked I was told it ws because they have no other indoor option for smokers on the ship since eliminating the balconies. Well hope you can survive on their money. And with the alcohol agree too. We are a drink here or there drinkers. At these prices no more so hope they can survive on the package drinkers. Just what we need is more package drinkers making sure they get their moneys worth.

[Ocean Boy]

Before buying a drink on any rci ship we always check cc to see if posters think the prices are too high or they are refusing to purchase drinks:rolleyes:

 

Good. Keep racking up those internet charges. RCI needs the income.:rolleyes:

[icsys]

Before buying a drink on any rci ship we always check cc to see if posters think the prices are too high or they are refusing to purchase drinks:rolleyes:

 

Now that you mention it, on our cruise last week it was noticeable that the bars were empty. On previous cruises the schooner bar, pub and sports bar were packed, you were unable to get a seat. This time there were maybe a dozen or so people in each every night. Even less in the sports bar.

 

Most of the people at the pool bars appeared to be on a package.

[SJS]

I love RCI ships and since I've retired part of my budget is saving for a yearly cruise. I'm going in June with my dd family and celebrating high school graduation with them. Of course the cruise is much more expensive in June than in May or October when I usually cruise. But it will be with family and it's on the Freedom which I haven't been on before so excited and very much looking forward to it. I know a lot of cruisers have the income to afford whatever the price is and spending $10 to $15 for a drink is no big deal. But for those of us who budget and do without extras on a monthly basis to save for a cruise these higher drink prices hurt! I have only so much available for drinks so I guess I only get to have two drinks a day instead of four. Will it ruin my vacation, of course not but I'm disappointed to hear of these higher prices and maybe next year I will be on Carnival instead of RCI.

[ryano]

Good. Keep racking up those internet charges. RCI needs the income.:rolleyes:

 

I think they are one of those I was talking about earlier in this thread that would fully support 25.00 Margaritas and Chops charging 100.00 pp :rolleyes::D:p

 

Anytime anything gets brought up about prices, thats their standard response.

Edited March 11, 2015 by ryano

[Tunkhannock]

It really does seem like they are pushing the packages hard. They probably realize that there are many moderate drinkers out there who are on the fence about buying a package and this is the best way to nudge them forward. I know some occasional drinkers will boycott drinking on board due to the higher prices

 

This will be us. Neither the wife nor I really drink all that much, maybe the rare social drink. We've already decided that the alcohol drink packages would be a waste of money, since there's no way we would drink enough to make it worth it. So we were planning on getting the soda package and buying a cocktail or two a day.

 

At $11.20 per cocktail... yeah, that won't be happening. We'll just forgo on alcoholic beverages during the cruise.

[laedw]

The drink coupons from my C&A set sail pass and two bottles of wine I'm carrying onboard will limit the amount of money I spend on alcoholic beverages. I have a Starbucks card and I will use that for my specialty coffees. I hope RCCL reps are paying attention to the gripes. :(

 

My family and I are planning a Thanksgiving cruise and have decided to give NCL a try. The cabin prices and promotional offers are much better than RCCL. :)

[CruisinDawn]

The new President and CEO sure seems willing to put the squeeze on left and right for the benefit of short term gain and keeping share prices high while the company takes on a lot more debt.

 

I think some of these changes and increases are short sighted and may back fire. I think they are big increases and will really test brand loyalty. NCL's pricing and promotions are easy to understand and they are pumping out new ships too with new entertainment and experiences. And the prices just blow RCI away. Royal's pricing themselves away from a lot of very loyal members. Loyalty and liking the brand though doesn't mean paying more on RCI for an oceanview with no beverage package than getting a balcony for 3 with beverage packages on NCL. They've got a lot of beds to fill and if they fleece all the newcomers they may not be back for more.

 

Two cocktails with 18% on top gets kind of crowded on $25. If we're walking past a bar to a show I'll definitely think twice now about grabbing two drinks for $25. :eek:

Well said!

 

BonVoyage

Dawna

[amster65]

Dont know what all the bitching is about, they are not making you go on a cruise. I think its voluntary.

[Whitnee1]

The point is people are trying to stay loyal to the brand but they are making it very difficult in a very competetive market.

[happysinglemom]

The plan is to follow the lead of Celebrity and include the drinks package as part of a sale with the cabin. The over inflated cabin prices may look better if you include an inflated drinks package.

 

I rarely drink. On my last cruise I think I ordered a total of 2 drinks. I would NOT be happy if my cabin price was required to include the cost of booze.

[LMaxwell]

Dont know what all the bitching is about, they are not making you go on a cruise. I think its voluntary.

 

You really don't understand? :confused:

 

What's the last time something you purchased went up 40% overnight and you felt fine about it?

[Big_G]

Glad to see the OP woke the pitchfork and torches crowd but those drinks on his menu are premium. Tell me what a Captain & Coke costs and maybe I'll take up the cause.

[CruisinDawn]

Glad to see the OP woke the pitchfork and torches crowd but those drinks on his menu are premium. Tell me what a Captain & Coke costs and maybe I'll take up the cause.

Would also like to know what a simple Captain & Coke cost now?

 

BonVoyage

Dawna

[Ocean Boy]

Now that you mention it, on our cruise last week it was noticeable that the bars were empty. On previous cruises the schooner bar, pub and sports bar were packed, you were unable to get a seat. This time there were maybe a dozen or so people in each every night. Even less in the sports bar.

 

Most of the people at the pool bars appeared to be on a package.

 

The bars were empty because everyone was on computer terminals finding out what people on CC thought of the pricing.;)

[Restless24]

Glad to see the OP woke the pitchfork and torches crowd but those drinks on his menu are premium. Tell me what a Captain & Coke costs and maybe I'll take up the cause.

 

Would also like to know what a simple Captain & Coke cost now?

 

BonVoyage

Dawna

 

Not sure if it's been confirmed by others but OP has reiterated that the bar staff said ALL cocktails start at $10 which includes basic cocktails not on the menu.