Signature Beverage Package - paying the difference?

[bandp407]

We are sailing on the NA in a few weeks and have the beverage package under the Explore 4 promo. We are mainly wine drinkers & remember the selection last year on our Eurodam sailing was not great. Any chance they will let us pay the difference for a better glass of wine? Are they still serving the house wine, Santa Carolina? My only other thought ( and I doubt it will work) will guest services maybe give us an OBC for the package so we can drink what we like? The rate for our VD cabin has dropped to $500pp less than we paid so not using the package would be quite upsetting at this point.

 

Many thanks for any suggestions!

[ithaca gal]

They definitely will not let you pay the difference on any drinks. If the drink costs most than $8, it will not be covered at all by the SBP.

 

As for letting you have the amount in OBC, I think that would be out of the question but I certainly can't speak to that.

[SilvertoGold]

You could have your TA call HAL and ask if there is any way to bargain this price drop and the Explore4 package into something that works for you.

 

Never know.

 

Next time, given your wine drniking situation possibly consider not booking with the Explore4 promo.

 

Have a good cruise anyways!

[Krazy Kruizers]

No -- you can not get shipboard credit for the Explore4 drink package.

And if you order a wine that costs more than $8 a glass, they will automatically charge the entire price onto your shipboard account.

There is no dealing here.

[bandp407]

Thanks all - pretty much what I thought . TA had no luck - we tried that earlier. Anyway we are in countdown & can't wait!!

[Crew News]

We are sailing on the NA in a few weeks and have the beverage package under the Explore 4 promo. We are mainly wine drinkers & remember the selection last year on our Eurodam sailing was not great. Any chance they will let us pay the difference for a better glass of wine? Are they still serving the house wine, Santa Carolina? My only other thought ( and I doubt it will work) will guest services maybe give us an OBC for the package so we can drink what we like? The rate for our VD cabin has dropped to $500pp less than we paid so not using the package would be quite upsetting at this point.

 

Many thanks for any suggestions!

 

According to the MDR Wine List that I scanned Nov 2015, Santa Carolina is still on the following list:

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/here/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Dining-Room-Wine-by-the-Glass.pdf

[bandp407]

Thank you for the list Crew News - good to have! Unfortunately for us Santa Carolina is still the "house wine" and basically the only one offered on the SBP. Amazing how they add some other options in at $8.50 - 50cents over the allowed limit!!! We had heard they were changing/adding more options but guess not. We will make the best of it given our cruise rate with the Explore 4 was so high we actually paid for the SBP.

[2ptu/000]

The Prosecco isn't bad. We had that on the Gala nights. Check the Canaletto wine list and see if there is a wine under 8 on that. If there is, ask your wine steward to have it available to you in the MDR.

[SC_GAY_Cruiser]

So just thinking about liquor and wine purchases on board:

 

- is there a bar on the ship that is less busy and the bartender pours a "little better"? I'm thinking the bar next to the Tamarind.

 

- have you found that using the same bartender during the cruise results a little better pour?

 

- i assume no matter what bar/club - the prices are all exactly the same?

 

dave

[SilvertoGold]

So just thinking about liquor and wine purchases on board:

 

- is there a bar on the ship that is less busy and the bartender pours a "little better"? I'm thinking the bar next to the Tamarind.

 

- have you found that using the same bartender during the cruise results a little better pour?

 

- i assume no matter what bar/club - the prices are all exactly the same?

 

dave

 

Pricing is the same everywhere.

 

I don't know about "better pour", but we like a couple of drinks made "our way" and getting the same bartender makes it easy: after a while he knows us!

They do move around and have short shifts, so we find going at the same time to the same lounge works well.

[SilvertoGold]

The Prosecco isn't bad. We had that on the Gala nights. Check the Canaletto wine list and see if there is a wine under 8 on that. If there is, ask your wine steward to have it available to you in the MDR.

 

We found most of the Canaletto wines are much better than the House Wines elsewhere and well priced.

 

Unfortunately, we're not huge fans of the food, but at half price and decent wine.........it works once in a while!

Edited March 3, 2016 by SilvertoGold