Have alcoholic drink prices gone up in the past year?

[Shop and Cruise]

Hi Cruising in October and read recently that alcoholic drink prices have gone up significantly. Does anyone out there have any knowledge of this? Also do anyone know the prices of beer and "drink of the day" or what I refer to as "fancy drinks"? I am trying to figure out if drink package is an option but my husband and I don't really drink a lot. We start off good for the first few days and then settle down in the last half when we start running out of steam :D

[LMaxwell]

Cocktails are basically $10+ now. You may find a DoD for less. Beers are in the $5 - $6 range.

 

This is before 18% gratuity.

[Clarea]

Hi Cruising in October and read recently that alcoholic drink prices have gone up significantly. Does anyone out there have any knowledge of this? Also do anyone know the prices of beer and "drink of the day" or what I refer to as "fancy drinks"? I am trying to figure out if drink package is an option but my husband and I don't really drink a lot. We start off good for the first few days and then settle down in the last half when we start running out of steam :D

You would have to average around 4-5 cocktails a day for the Premium package to make economic sense.

Edited July 26, 2015 by clarea

[Shop and Cruise]

It appears that drinks haven't gone up much if any then. I have read that 4 to 5 drinks a day to warrant the beverage package is what people advise. If I purchased a beverage package myself, do my husband have to purchase one too?

[dacsmom]

No both of you do not have to purchase a drink package. You could also buy different drink packages. Yes, drink prices have increased by a good bit. Some of the drinks I enjoyed in the $8 range are more than $10 now.

[Ren1216]

See now, I read just the other day (here) that there was a recent raise in price of about 20%. And that DoD's and such were now around $12 ($14 with tip).

 

Anyway, still 5+ alcoholic drinks to make the Premium pkg worth it. Don't forget to consider the amount of time you plan to spend OFF the ship (in port).

[casinostreer]

You would have to average around 4-5 cocktails a day for the Premium package to make economic sense.

 

Our Vacation:

 

1 Bloody Mary or Screwdriver with Breakfast

1 Pineapple Mojito at the Squeeze bar by the pool mid-morning

1 Rum and Coke with lunch

1 Pre-dinner Espresso Martini at the (former) Champagne Bar pre-dinner

1 glass of wine with my meal AT dinner

1 celebratory drink in the casino for winning big

 

6 drinks per day! EASY!! And no one is even CLOSE to drunk. That math made the package worth it (for us - we know, we know - not for everyone.) But sometimes people don't think about what they'll drink on a given day.

[Wilson]

It appears that drinks haven't gone up much if any then. I have read that 4 to 5 drinks a day to warrant the beverage package is what people advise. If I purchased a beverage package myself, do my husband have to purchase one too?

 

No, they have gone up significantly.

 

Our Pina Coladas, BBC's, Mudslide's, etc. went frosm $8 in January to $12 in May. That's 50%! :eek:

[crusin okie]

WilsonFamilyNRH is absolutely correct. We experienced the same price increases on the Navigator OTS in April 2015. RCCL refuses to admit their drink prices have increased, however, we were on the Navigator with the same group of friends in April 2014. We all agreed the prices had increased significantly.

[Itsbeentoolong]

has the Cocktail list got smaller too? when I was looking to book I was impressed by the number of Cocktails avalible, now some of the posted Cocktail lists look pretty small :(

 

Have the Shooters gone too?

 

Drinks package is a must for us, 1 we'll drink more than that anyway but 2, not having to worry about a big bill at the end is more important....I still can't believe we got our Premium package free :)

 

Thanks

[ryano]

See now, I read just the other day (here) that there was a recent raise in price of about 20%.

 

Its more like 40-50% :eek:

[John&LaLa]

Enchantment was having a promo to buy one ultimate get a refreshment pkg

[NATOuk]

We're not long off Independence of the Seas and we noticed a big change in the beverages offered since we last sailed on it in October 2014.

 

It seems to us that the baseline price for cocktails seems to have gone up to $10, but $10 seems to be a more standard price across the board (ie, some cocktails seem to have gone down a little to $10, most have gone up to the $10 price).

 

My favourite is the Long Island Ice Tea because it's hugely strong and you can sit and take your time over it, whereas a lot of the more fruity ones tend to disappear quickly.

 

That and the auto gratuity is now 18%!

[John&LaLa]

I think they charge by the ingredient

[icsys]

No, they have gone up significantly.

 

Our Pina Coladas, BBC's, Mudslide's, etc. went frosm $8 in January to $12 in May. That's 50%! :eek:

 

I'm afraid that 'WilsonFamilyNRH;47246442' is more accurate.

Prices across the board went up on March 1st 2015 on average 40-50%. Some prices came down but the vast majority went up.

It would appear that the packages are being heavily promoted (most drinks menus are without prices), so if you intend to drink the cost of the beverage package daily charge then it would be worth it for you to buy it.

 

But there's more to cruising than alcohol... Unfortunately I can't justify spending upwards of $400 a week per person for it. We'd rather put that money towards our next cruise, but that is our personal choice.

Edited July 27, 2015 by icsys

[akcruz]

Our Vacation:

 

1 Bloody Mary or Screwdriver with Breakfast

1 Pineapple Mojito at the Squeeze bar by the pool mid-morning

1 Rum and Coke with lunch

1 Pre-dinner Espresso Martini at the (former) Champagne Bar pre-dinner

1 glass of wine with my meal AT dinner

1 celebratory drink in the casino for winning big

 

6 drinks per day! EASY!! And no one is even CLOSE to drunk. That math made the package worth it (for us - we know, we know - not for everyone.) But sometimes people don't think about what they'll drink on a given day.

 

and add onto that an occasional soda or bottle of water throughout the day and you are way ahead. We found that the bottled water is what put us over the top, a nice bonus.

[icsys]

Our Vacation:

 

1 Bloody Mary or Screwdriver with Breakfast

1 Pineapple Mojito at the Squeeze bar by the pool mid-morning

1 Rum and Coke with lunch

1 Pre-dinner Espresso Martini at the (former) Champagne Bar pre-dinner

1 glass of wine with my meal AT dinner

1 celebratory drink in the casino for winning big

 

6 drinks per day! EASY!! And no one is even CLOSE to drunk. That math made the package worth it (for us - we know, we know - not for everyone.) But sometimes people don't think about what they'll drink on a given day.

and add onto that an occasional soda or bottle of water throughout the day and you are way ahead. We found that the bottled water is what put us over the top, a nice bonus.

 

Six drinks prior to 1st March 2015 would have cost me about $42. Now, with the price increase, depending on the drink, it is over $60.

With the beverage package it is still a 33% increase ($57 per day) unless I drink even more.

But as you (and I) say... not for everyone.

[sjb317]

I have decided not to complain about the increase in drink prices since our trip to Epcot last week where a margarita was $14.50, a beer was $8.50 and a very small glass of wine was $9.00, all plus additional tax.:eek:

 

Sherri:D

[cb at sea]

The prices are ridiculous....it's not like there's a shortage of booze. You know and understand that at a sporting event you'll pay more for booze...but it's a 3 hour thing...but for an entire week...it's highway robbery.

[ryano]

Something I FINALLY agree wholeheartedly with cb at sea on :eek:

[casinostreer]

and add onto that an occasional soda or bottle of water throughout the day and you are way ahead. We found that the bottled water is what put us over the top, a nice bonus.

 

That's true. We certainly tried many more alcoholic drinks than my 6 drinks per day example, but I can't even count the bottles of water and the refills on the diet coke.

 

No one is going to be happy when the prices are raised. And - trust me - I'm not jazzed. But I will say that my cruise on the same ship (different itinerary) is costing me LESS this year than last. So - the increase in drink prices is a LITTLE easier to take.

 

When you look at drink prices in other vacation destinations like Disney, Las Vegas, etc. these prices are quite average. (That doesn't make them any less palatable for some.)

 

Could you imagine an "all you can drink" package in Las Vegas. THAT would be a sight (and quite DANGEROUS!)