What % of people on the ship have drink packages?

[stlouistravelers]

I don't for short cruises (7 days or less) but I do purchase them for the longer cruises. I have in the past purchased a bottle of alcohol and brought soda onboard (different line) and that served me well.

[thegima]

We just purchased them for the first time for our upcoming FOS eastern route. Figured we'd give it a try and worry about one less thing, we'll know after if it was worth it to us and that will influence future trips. :D

[MsJaydee]

My Hubby is teetotal so I get him Royal Replenish, I pay as I go as maybe have 2-3 drinks a day tops.

If we both drank alcohol I would probably drink more so would go for a package.

doesn't make you a lush - just economics :)

[casinostreer]

Enjoy!

Edited August 22, 2015 by casinostreer

[casinostreer]

We just purchased them for the first time for our upcoming FOS eastern route. Figured we'd give it a try and worry about one less thing, we'll know after if it was worth it to us and that will influence future trips. :D

 

When is your FOS cruise? Let us know how you like it (or dislike it.) Hope you enjoy having a drink package. :-) Have a great cruise!

[wolfganghowell]

Too many it seems people can't have a good time unless they get drunk every night

.

 

"Too many it seems people" have forgotten the "judge not lest ye be judged". Oh wait, I was drunk when I wrote that. It SHOULD say too many people it SEEMS.

 

out....

[karena1]

If I has to guess I would say around 65-75%. We always get it, so much easier.

[thegima]

When is your FOS cruise? Let us know how you like it (or dislike it.) Hope you enjoy having a drink package. :-) Have a great cruise!

 

We are heading out Sept 20th, and have been on FOS 3 times.. Never a disappointing time! You'll have a blast, no worries :D

[Paul65]

If I has to guess I would say around 65-75%. We always get it, so much easier.

 

I suspect that's a very high guess. It may be 75% of the people who spend a lot of time in the bars, but probably not anywhere near that high a percentage of the total number of adult passengers.

[Paulette3028]

Regardless of what percentage of people are getting the drink packages, one thing I have noticed.....as cruiser who doesn't drink much, I have to answer a circulating bar attendant less, "No Thank you"...and that I do very much appreciate.

 

So what I am saying it that on board they have less bar staff circulating around the pool and throughout other areas, trying to sell a 'pina colada' or the drink of the day to me. Those that have the drink packages, may be annoyed at fewer bar servers mingling around, and they have to go to the bar to get their drinks more often -- but I do seem to feel that this is what has happened.

[Domino D]

Especially the premium or ultimate?

 

Is it fairly rare? Or is it a significant percentage?

 

Take a WAG if you have experiences.

 

Not sure if you still care about your original question. As you say, it is not really something we can know for sure, but you can check out Royals annual report and filings.

 

The annual filing describes "On Board and Other Revenue" as everything besides ticketing. So it would include drinks, specialty restaurants, shore excursions, casino spending, shopping, transportation fees, revenue from related businesses, etc.

 

From the 2014 Royal Caribbean Annual Report

 

5,149,952 passengers in 2014 (with an average cruise length of 7.1 days).

 

Total "On Board and Other Revenue" was $2,180,008 (noted as in thousands).

 

So "On Board and Other Revenue" per passenger averages $59.38 per day.

 

If half the passengers are spending $49 - 55 per day on a beverage package, they are not doing much else, and neither is anyone else.

 

It is not mathematically reasonable to believe that 50% or more of ALL cruise passengers buy drink packages, especially premium or ultimate. (At least not last year). In order to believe the number that high, would mean more people buy drink packages than purchase excursions. I don't think that is the case.

 

Maybe half the passengers on Cruise Critic get beverage packages. I could see that.

[GUT2407]

Not sure if you still care about your original question. As you say, it is not really something we can know for sure, but you can check out Royals annual report and filings.

 

The annual filing describes "On Board and Other Revenue" as everything besides ticketing. So it would include drinks, specialty restaurants, shore excursions, casino spending, shopping, transportation fees, revenue from related businesses, etc.

 

From the 2014 Royal Caribbean Annual Report

 

5,149,952 passengers in 2014 (with an average cruise length of 7.1 days).

 

Total "On Board and Other Revenue" was $2,180,008 (noted as in thousands).

 

So "On Board and Other Revenue" per passenger averages $59.38 per day.

 

If half the passengers are spending $49 - 55 per day on a beverage package, they are not doing much else, and neither is anyone else.

 

It is not mathematically reasonable to believe that 50% or more of ALL cruise passengers buy drink packages, especially premium or ultimate. (At least not last year). In order to believe the number that high, would mean more people buy drink packages than purchase excursions. I don't think that is the case.

 

Maybe half the passengers on Cruise Critic get beverage packages. I could see that.

 

But is a ore paid drinks package counted as on board revenue?

[Domino D]

But is a ore paid drinks package counted as on board revenue?

 

According to what I read in the report, it seems yes even pre-paid purchases go into onboard and other. I would assume this is to keep ticket revenue clean, as it is a major reporting item for them.

[GUT2407]

But is a ore paid drinks package counted as on board revenue?

 

 

In fact are even those bought on board or are they separate or in beverage spend.

[Domino D]

In fact are even those bought on board or are they separate or in beverage spend.

 

That is why we can't really answer the question. The public filing does not break revenue down into that type of detail. When you read through the commentary you can get a sense of the breakdown, but nothing detailed.

 

In the commentary they talked about a 45 million dollar increase in revenue from things like beverage packages and specialty dining. They then later mentioned that there had been a 110 million dollar increase from shore excursions and such. So you you can read a little into that.

 

(I am paraphrasing from memory. Feel free to read the annual report if you are curious)

[readyk]

with my group of 10 going on the cruise. 3 of us will get the drink package. me and my 2 friend have know each other 40 plus years and are celebrating turning 50 this year. we got a lot of (drinking) talking to do.

[mark22mac]

But is a ore paid drinks package counted as on board revenue?

 

 

I don't think it is when you buy the package on your cruise planner or anything else you buy pre cruise it shows up as your final cruise total that you paid not as buying it on board. So if I paid $3000 for my cruise than buy 2 drink packages and a dinner it'll show I paid $3900 for my cruise not $3000.

[GUT2407]

I don't think it is when you buy the package on your cruise planner or anything else you buy pre cruise it shows up as your final cruise total that you paid not as buying it on board. So if I paid $3000 for my cruise than buy 2 drink packages and a dinner it'll show I paid $3900 for my cruise not $3000.

 

And if that's right it throws the figures above out.

 

If they are simply counted as beverage sales (and I expect those sold on the ship are)?it still makes trying to irk it out pretty much impossible.

 

To be honest even the $45 pp onboard spend seems crazy low. Unless that's per day.

[Flamencacha]

And if that's right it throws the figures above out.

 

 

 

If they are simply counted as beverage sales (and I expect those sold on the ship are)?it still makes trying to irk it out pretty much impossible.

 

 

 

To be honest even the $45 pp onboard spend seems crazy low. Unless that's per day.

 

 

The 45$ fee is per day and doesnt include the15% to 18% service fee per day. It will be added. To purchase or not to depends on many factors. For some its a cost saver others its not. If you will getting off the ship often needs to be taken into account. Your drinking style etc. I am going on a transatlantic for 13 nights and when I add ot up the total scares me. Yoy can find different reviews, prices etc. Another point if you like premiun labels most are not included in the classic packages. For me I am doing a bar settup in my cabin . Some wine packages for dinner and the rest ala carte.

 

Good luck.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[h20skibum]

According to a published report on average spending for all cruise lines worldwide, this was the breakdown.

 

A financial breakdown of typical cruiser (worldwide, across all cruise lines)

 

Ticket $1,350

Onboard Spending. $429

-Casino and bar. $236

-Shore excursions (cruise line portion). $86

-Spa $43

-All other onboard spending. $64

Total spending. $1,779

 

The average cruise length was 8 days with a median of 7 days. So breaking down casino and bar by 8 days would be around $30 per day per passenger.

 

If you are interested in their expenses, here is the link.

 

http://www.cruisemarketwatch.com/home/financial-breakdown-of-typical-cruiser/

Edited August 23, 2015 by h20skibum
Added link

[RenaeG]

I do like a wine and a good cocktail but the thought of spending $1,100 Aussie for a 12 day cruise on a drinks .... Well I find that criminal!!!! I did a 7 day cruise a few years ago and spent $300 so I'll take my chance and not get the package and we'll see how I go.

[ConnecticutFlamingo]

Husband and I are doing a 13 day cruise from Boston to Tampa and both buying the drink package at $700+ (tips included) each and we will be saving money. On 7 night cruises our bill would be over $1000. And no we are not "lushes" falling down drunks but we enjoy our drinks. So for some spending this much money is not for you, fine but it is "worth it" for many of us.

[Flamencacha]

Husband and I are doing a 13 day cruise from Boston to Tampa and both buying the drink package at $700+ (tips included) each and we will be saving money. On 7 night cruises our bill would be over $1000. And no we are not "lushes" falling down drunks but we enjoy our drinks. So for some spending this much money is not for you, fine but it is "worth it" for many of us.

 

 

What. Cruise line thats execellent.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Domino D]

If you are interested in their expenses, here is the link.

 

http://www.cruisemarketwatch.com/home/financial-breakdown-of-typical-cruiser/

 

Thanks skibum, that site has some really interesting information on it.

[mollyeilis]

I have no idea how any of us can figure out who has a package unless we're chatting with the person or are close enough to see the sticker/imprint on the card.

 

 

Not all packages contain alcohol!

 

We'll have a water package in March and DH will have Replenish (he doesn't drink; can't handle it). DS and I will share the water and will buy my lattes and his OJ out of pocket, along with my occasional drink. In December next year on our Southern it will probably be the same.

 

:)

 

 

For me I don't even know how mixed drink prices compare; I don't drink mixed drinks while out! That gets saved for very special; a local rum drink place cost a bit (rum, other rum, different rum, splash of juice), and Trader Sam's at Disneyland and DisneyWorld can take my mixed drinks money, but nowhere else.

 

 

This is what I'm wondering... How many people only buy 1 drink package and "share" ?

 

Not us! And they watch for people sharing.

 

 

Is this what you would drink, even if you were paying by the drink, or what you drink to get your moneys worth out of the drink package?

 

Since they later said that that amount of drinking won't get them drunk or cause problems in the morning, it sounds like they are used to it. therefore it's what they would normally drink. So the Ultimate makes total sense for them!

 

(bolding to make sure no one reads anything into my post...I'm saying what it is for me with no judgment whatsoever on people whose bodies are different than mine!)

 

If I drank that I'd be on the floor by dinner on day 1 and my belly would be so full of liquid I'd be miserable. It was hard enough for me to just make Replenish worth it along with, I think, 3 drinks in 7 days, let alone trying to make Ultimate worth it. As much as I'd love to drink a whole bunch of wine and Boddington's, I do have to eat, and the calories compete, LOL.

 

 

 

And anyone who can't have 5 or 6 drinks over the course of the day without getting drunk shouldn't drink at all.

 

Say what, now? How do you get there? For a small woman that's a decent amount of alcohol and a good amount of calories. For someone not used to much alcohol in a day, that's a good amount of alcohol. Just because I would gain unwanted weight by the end of the cruise and wouldn't feel well with that much a day, I shouldn't have one a day?

 

And given my own family situation and background, if I tried to make that an "every night of my vacation with no consequences or drunkenness" thing, I *would* end up with a problem. Just me. Not others. Well, unless you're in my family of birth; if you're in my family you might end up with a problem. But other-others I'm sure would be just fine.

 

 

Gonna have to disagree with the concept that b/c I can't have 6 I can't have 1. :)