Cheers program cost and pre-purchased OBC questions (8 Day cruise)

[Avril]

My boyfriend and I are planning on buying the Cheers program on our 8 day cruise on the Sunshine next year. It'll be his 1st ever cruise, I can't wait to introduce him to how wonderful cruising (and Carnival) is!! :D I was thinking of buying enough OBC (cruise cash?) before we sail to cover the program for both of us (one less thing to worry about, love it). A couple of questions. First, which is the type that you get any money you don't use back at the end of the cruise (or a week or 2 later)? I know there's one that if you don't use it, you lose it and I don't want that one. Second, how much would I need to add to our onboard account(s) to cover the Cheers program for 2 people for an 8 day cruise? Oh, and one more question that I just thought of. Would it be cheaper if we bought it on Day 2 of the cruise (a sea day on our itinerary)? Andthing else I should know about the Cheers program and/or OBC?

 

Thanks so much!! :D

[Catrin]

You can purchase it on embarkation day or the first full day. The cost is PER DAY, so buying it the second day will save you money (minus the cost of whatever drinks you may buy the first day!).

 

Another option is to purchase Carnival Gift Cards at your local supermarket while you plan your vacation. You can have these applied to your Sail and Sign account once you board the ship. We did this with some on our last cruise and it made our final bill a bit less painful!

 

Catrin

[Avril]

You can purchase it on embarkation day or the first full day. The cost is PER DAY, so buying it the second day will save you money (minus the cost of whatever drinks you may buy the first day!).

 

Another option is to purchase Carnival Gift Cards at your local supermarket while you plan your vacation. You can have these applied to your Sail and Sign account once you board the ship. We did this with some on our last cruise and it made our final bill a bit less painful!

 

Catrin

 

Yes, I know you buy it on the 1st or 2nd day, at any bar onboard right? Good to know it is cheaper on the 2nd day!! :D I always thought is was the same price wether you buy it on day 1 or 2. How much is it per day (x8 for an 8 day cruise then that cost x2, huh, seems confusing when put that way, lol)?

 

I've heard of the gift cards and they sound great but we're from Canada. I'm 99.99% sure they don't sell Carnival (or any other cruise line) Gift Cards here (in a supermarket/grocery store or anywhere else). :( We also can't get the Carnival's (or any other cruise line's) credit card. :( Is there any other way to pre load OBC (or the equivalent) onto our onboard account?

 

I know there's some OBC that's non-refundable. Is there some way to get money back if we don't use it all. I've heard something about going to the casino but not sure how that works. We're not gamblers, at all. Ever, not even a little bit.

[MaraBerk]

$920 for two 8 days

$805 for two 7 days

[rufflesmom]

You can get the gift cards on Carnival website. We did that for our last cruise. You can apply them to your account at any time during the cruise.

[flipflopfun]

Holy crap Carnival's drink package is expensive ! $50 per person per day!!!!!

That is CRAZY talk!

[pmoniz]

Holy crap Carnival's drink package is expensive ! $50 per person per day!!!!!

That is CRAZY talk!

 

Not really!!

[Laplayaperson]

I think someone once broke it down to xyz amount of drinks per day...and if you can drink at least 5 per day, you may break even...even if you don't drink 5 per day, one day you may drink 7 drinks, and not drink the next day, but drink 3 on the next day. It all averages out, and think it's a pretty good deal. We did it on our last cruise, and will be doing it again this October. I also like the fact you know how much your bill will be, and gives you the freedom to maybe try a drink you may not have tried before b/c you've already paid for it. CHEERS!

[lazygal]

I think those prices are crazy as well. I get drunk in port.

Any thing you have paid toward credit, or onboard credit from your travel agent and have not used - you will get credited to your CC.

Any credit given to you by the cruise line as a bonus incentive for booking- you will not get back. It can be applied to tips though.

We have often had a big chunk of our credits refunded, primarily before they went to automatic tipping. I remember the days of stuffing cash in envelopes for the last night.

I recently bought coke cards and credit to be applied to my son's cruise. The coke card prices were less than what they charge on the ship and no 15% gratuity added. You can but the liquor packages that way also to save some money. To pre-buy, the link is on the website.

[Heartkrazy]

Holy crap Carnival's drink package is expensive ! $50 per person per day!!!!!

That is CRAZY talk!

 

$57.44 per person per day to be exact ($49.95 PLUS 15% gratuity)...... 😁.

[45014]

Hubby and I bought the Cheers deal and it did not pay for us. When you go ashore and are not on the ship (excursions or whatever) you aren't on the ship drinking your 5-8 drinks that you already paid for.

JMHO

[pmoniz]

Everyone has their own opinions on this topic! I don't go on a cruise or any other vacation and bank on credits I get back from agents, etc.! I also don't go on vacation to use my cellphone, tablet, ipad, etc. So I think buying a data plan or whatever it is they sell now onboard isn't worth the money. Others think it's great!!

 

Whatever...different strokes for different folks!

[Kkate]

$57.44 per person per day to be exact ($49.95 PLUS 15% gratuity)...... .

 

Don't forget she is Canadian so at today's exchange rate it would be $72.50 CDN per day. 8 days = $580.00 each or $1,160.00 for two. Ridiculous amount, which is why I changed to NCL even though I am Platinum on Carnival. Ultimate Drink Package is included as a promo and they will charge you in CDN dollars at a rate well below current bank rate.

[mabones]

I agree with you! I go on Vacation to get away from everything. My phone goes off & into the safe once we get on board. (Unless, before sail-away, I just have to send a picture to someone at home who is freezing their butt off):) We thought about that package but my DH usually buys his buckets-o-beer when on deck which are not included. We do have UBP on the NCL Escape for next year with gratuities & service charges already included. Can't wait for that!

[Avril]

$920 for two 8 days

 

Awesome, thanks!! :D That's $920 for 2 people right (not $920 per person)? Just making sure.

 

You can get the gift cards on Carnival website. We did that for our last cruise. You can apply them to your account at any time during the cruise.

 

Where on Carnival's website do you go to buy the gift cards? At the Fun SHops under My Cruise Manager? Good to know they can be applied at any time, not sure I want to wait in a huge line at Guest Services on either embarkation day or the last night of the cruise!! :eek:

[calicruz]

I believe that unless you are departing from Texas, you must pay for the Cheers program for the total number of days of your cruise, even if you buy it on the second day.

[Avril]

I believe that unless you are departing from Texas, you must pay for the Cheers program for the total number of days of your cruise, even if you buy it on the second day.

 

We sail from Port Canaveral so if that's true (and I have no reason to doubt you), I guess we might as well buy it as soon as we board the ship. :D I've never gotten the Cheers Package before so not really sure how it works. Can you buy it at any bar onboard? Do they give you another card to carry around or is it programmed onto your S&S Card somehow? Why is it different in Texas?

[cajunfla]

From Carnival website:

CHEERS! BEVERAGE PROGRAM

 

Using the CHEERS! beverage program, guests can enjoy a wide variety of wine, beer and spirits (including cocktails and frozen drinks), along with sodas and non-alcoholic frozen cocktails throughout the voyage at one convenient flat rate plus a 15% gratuity added at the time of purchase of the program. The CHEERS! beverage program is optional however, if guests choose to purchase it, all guests 21 years of age and older in the same stateroom must also purchase it.

 

The cost of CHEERS! is $49.95 per person/per day. Applicable gratuities are additional. Price adjustments (up or down) implemented on the day of sailing will replace any previously advertised price.

 

Please Note:

 

Due to Texas State laws, we cannot sell CHEERS! until the second day of the cruise for voyages departing from our Texas home ports.

CHEERS! is not offered on 2 day cruises, charter cruises, on ships sailing from Australia (Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend) and beverage purchases made at Half Moon Cay and Little Stirrup Cay in The Bahamas.

Guests can sign up for CHEERS! on board at the Atrium Bar, Casino Bar or at the mid ship pool area bar. CHEERS! cannot be purchased prior to the cruise.

[katiel53]

I believe that unless you are departing from Texas, you must pay for the Cheers program for the total number of days of your cruise, even if you buy it on the second day.

 

My understanding is that if you buy it the 2nd day, you only pay for it from the 2nd day on. How can Carnival charge you for the drinks you drank on day 1 and also charge for the Cheers package?

[Leasmanjr]

We are firm believers in the cheers program! Being from Texas we can tell you that the Texas sales tax along with regulations on what they can and can't sell while in the channel prevent carnival from selling the first day. However, you WILL NOT have to pay for the full length of the cruise on the second day. It will be prorated and also will not include the morning of debarkation as they will not be selling anything that morning... On all other sailings DW and I have always purchased CHEERS imediately upon arrival, we learned our lesson leaving out of galveston, we decided to drink drink by drink that first night and decide in cheers for the next morning... 6 drinks a piece later between embarkation and bedtime including tip and we had paid for CHEERS for one of us (on a 5 day cruise). Cheers pays for itself if you deinks 5-6 drinks a person per day that may seem like a lot but I like a Bloody Mary or mimosa and the DW likes a mimosa with breakfast, something fruity on the deck in the after noon, cocktail before dinner and wine with dinner, drinks at a show and a drink or 2 in the casino and you have made you limit for the day! ALSO IF YOUR SHIP HAS A STEAK HOUSE consider dining on the first night of the cruise as you will be treated to a free bottle of wine! It will not be the highest quality wine but a decent wine none the less and so not have to open it immediately and you can take back to your cabin to open at your leisure!!

 

Magic Feb2015 (sailed)

Elation Jul2015 (sailed)

Dream Nov2015 (booked)

Triumph Jan2016 (planned)

Legend Jun2016 (planned)

Vista Oct2016 (planned)