Cheers! and it's value....

[dawnjam1]

I just got off of the Breeze on Sunday. I had never opted to buy an all you can drink package on any of my priors but with the enhancements, I decided to and highly encouraged all of my newby cruisers going with me to do the same. There was so much push back from them but they DID end up with it! Here are my thoughts:

 

1) First let me say that I never even came close to my 15 a day.

 

2) Many of my fellow travelers didn't come close either, but they DID get to try things they never would have before without thinking too hard on it!

 

3) The additional options of soda, water, coffees, milkshakes etc. were wonderful.

 

4) It did not matter one bit to me if I drank all of the drinks allotted, or even had one perk off of it each day (which I am sure I did!). What mattered was the amount of freedom it gave me to not have to make any hard choices while on vacation and not have to think about my spending too much! WELL WORTH THE MONEY! And this isn't my first rodeo and I do not always have the funds to go crazy! This way I could go a little out there and still remain in my comfort zone! I have had $1500 bills at the end!

 

5) The ONLY drawback is.....when you get your Drinks On Us card the 3rd day and you have both! LOL! But don't count on that!!!! And that has limitations!

 

Happy Cruising!

[mz-s]

I am so torn on cheers for me and my wife going forward. On one hand, it can be worth it for us. I do drink more if we get it, and my wife gets to try the mixed drinks she likes. She loved the milkshakes, bottled teas, etc., from the coffee bar on our last cruise. I hit my limit once on our last cruise and that was NOT a good night - I will spare you the details, however.

 

On the other hand, if we drank what we'd normally drink on a night out (3 drinks each maybe), we'd not come out ahead. It's only been worthwhile for us in the past because it encourages excess (we've already paid for the drinks, so let's have one more), which isn't really a good thing.

 

I will join the others on here calling for Carnival to introduce a Cheers Light program - 3-5 drinks a day for 50% less cost. Technically it's more expensive per drink than Cheers is. That would make the decision a no brainer for us, honestly.

[riffatsea]

We do not drink enough to warrant spending $50 per day per person. I don't worry about what I order on board but typically if I buy 1 coffee drink, 1 afternoon cocktail, 1 glass of wine with dinner and maybe 1 after dinner drink it does not come out to $50.

DH doesn't drink coffee and might get 1 drink during the day so it doesn't pay at all for him.

Everyone is different and not everyone will use the credits every day even with the addition of milkshakes and coffee.

[CraftyJGinSC]

Appreciate your feedback!

 

Argh! I don't know what to do... we've never gotten it, but DH brought it up over the weekend. I think he could definitely get his money's worth, but not sure I could, though maybe with coffees and bottled drinks plus the booze?!

 

It would be pretty costly for our 8-day trip, but I can see where the freedom would be nice! I'd just have to cut WAAAAY back on my photo purchases :p

 

Anybody notice a difference in crew service with Cheers vs. not having it?

[Asq73]

We have done most of our cruises with Cheers before the enhancements. Then, last trip we tried without Cheers just to see if we would spend chess. For us, the cost was the same either way even though we dont hit the limit each day. And now with the added coffees, teas, etc., we will definitely buy it again. We have always had wonderful bar/drink service and didn't notice a difference with or without the package.

 

 

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[mz-s]

 

Interesting you mention that. On our last cruise, I noticed that servers would ignore or give lighter pours to people who didn't tip extra. Tips are included with the Cheers purchase, and if you don't do Cheers you pay 15% on each drink, so in my mind there's no need to tip extra unless they really go above and beyond.

 

This may be specific to the Ecstasy, and it could definitely be my perception rather than reality, but that's how I felt. People who tipped extra got served faster than those who didn't. Some bartenders quickly got reputations among guests as being light pourers, while others got reputations as pouring stronger drinks.

[Computer Nerd]

I just got off of the Breeze on Sunday. I had never opted to buy an all you can drink package on any of my priors but with the enhancements, I decided to and highly encouraged all of my newby cruisers going with me to do the same. There was so much push back from them but they DID end up with it! Here are my thoughts:

 

1) First let me say that I never even came close to my 15 a day.

 

2) Many of my fellow travelers didn't come close either, but they DID get to try things they never would have before without thinking too hard on it!

 

3) The additional options of soda, water, coffees, milkshakes etc. were wonderful.

 

4) It did not matter one bit to me if I drank all of the drinks allotted, or even had one perk off of it each day (which I am sure I did!). What mattered was the amount of freedom it gave me to not have to make any hard choices while on vacation and not have to think about my spending too much! WELL WORTH THE MONEY! And this isn't my first rodeo and I do not always have the funds to go crazy! This way I could go a little out there and still remain in my comfort zone! I have had $1500 bills at the end!

 

5) The ONLY drawback is.....when you get your Drinks On Us card the 3rd day and you have both! LOL! But don't count on that!!!! And that has limitations!

 

Happy Cruising!

 

soda was included before and is not a new offering.

[evandbob]

For some cruisers, buying a Cheers package almost doubles their cruise fare.

 

With so many free drink promotions on other lines like Celebrity or NCL, I don't think there is much value to Carnival's Cheers.

[Bookbug53]

For some cruisers, buying a Cheers package almost doubles their cruise fare.

 

With so many free drink promotions on other lines like Celebrity or NCL, I don't think there is much value to Carnival's Cheers.

 

I can assure you that the price of the Cheers package for myself does not come close to doubling my cruise price. However cruising on Celebrity would. :rolleyes:

Edited June 14, 2016 by Bookbug53

[erinmarie424]

Interesting you mention that. On our last cruise, I noticed that servers would ignore or give lighter pours to people who didn't tip extra. Tips are included with the Cheers purchase, and if you don't do Cheers you pay 15% on each drink, so in my mind there's no need to tip extra unless they really go above and beyond.

 

This may be specific to the Ecstasy, and it could definitely be my perception rather than reality, but that's how I felt. People who tipped extra got served faster than those who didn't. Some bartenders quickly got reputations among guests as being light pourers, while others got reputations as pouring stronger drinks.

 

With Cheers once you go over the $50 mark your server/bartender's share of the tips starts going below 15% since the gratuity is locked in at $7.50 per day whether you have one drink or 15. I typically gave an extra dollar in cash when I got a drink on Cheers.

[Computer Nerd]

For some cruisers, buying a Cheers package almost doubles their cruise fare.

 

With so many free drink promotions on other lines like Celebrity or NCL, I don't think there is much value to Carnival's Cheers.

 

'free' drink package on ncl isn't so free.

[Greggy_D]

It's easily worth it for us. We had an $1100 a la carte drink bill on our last 6 night cruise. We ran the gamut of what we drank. Beer, wine, mixed drinks. My wife also tried a lot of the fufu drinks on the menu, but those are usually too sweet for me.

 

With Cheers it's $800 for our 7 night cruise next week. And we don't have to worry about ordering expensive bottles of wine to accompany our dinner. We'll just go by the glass.

[dacsmom]

Thanks for your review of Cheers. I know I will also not reach the drink limit, but it is worth it for me because of the coffees and milkshakes. I did a cost breakdown and figured I will be about even. It is worth it for me not to have a bill at the end too.

[TxChick]

Cruising out of Galveston and 3 port days means I really only get my money's worth on the 3 sea days so we are opting against. It's not a bad deal but if I were staying on the ship everyday (and I have before) it is worth it.

[Retired_to_Cruise]

I am so torn on cheers for me and my wife going forward. On one hand, it can be worth it for us. I do drink more if we get it, and my wife gets to try the mixed drinks she likes. She loved the milkshakes, bottled teas, etc., from the coffee bar on our last cruise. I hit my limit once on our last cruise and that was NOT a good night - I will spare you the details, however.

 

On the other hand, if we drank what we'd normally drink on a night out (3 drinks each maybe), we'd not come out ahead. It's only been worthwhile for us in the past because it encourages excess (we've already paid for the drinks, so let's have one more), which isn't really a good thing.

 

I will join the others on here calling for Carnival to introduce a Cheers Light program - 3-5 drinks a day for 50% less cost. Technically it's more expensive per drink than Cheers is. That would make the decision a no brainer for us, honestly.

 

With the new additions to the program. 3 to 5 drinks a day can be the break-even point. Why would they sell the same thing for half the price?

[cmecruise1962]

Although my next cruise is VERY port intensive, and my daughter is turning 21 the week before we leave and is not a big drinker, I am seriously considering it, as you say...for the freedom. I am an accountant and I know without it I would be adding up the price of every drink we drank, checking my bill on-line, etc, etc.

 

With Cheers, we will, at best, break even, but I can order a mimosa, glass of champagne or martini before dinner without even thinking "How much is it?" because it will already be paid for. Kat (my daughter) likes the teas, milkshakes, water and sodas (It was awesome when she was under 21!) but will probably have a foo-foo drink or two. She told me she really wants to try lemoncello! :)

 

I am still undecided, in case you can't tell...but leaning towards getting it!

[cb at sea]

I like to pick a drink, and stick with it....I don't mix too much....might have a beer or frozen drink in the afternoon, but hard-core drinking...it will be the same thing over and over and over...no hangover that way!

[crzndeb]

Although my next cruise is VERY port intensive, and my daughter is turning 21 the week before we leave and is not a big drinker, I am seriously considering it, as you say...for the freedom. I am an accountant and I know without it I would be adding up the price of every drink we drank, checking my bill on-line, etc, etc.

 

With Cheers, we will, at best, break even, but I can order a mimosa, glass of champagne or martini before dinner without even thinking "How much is it?" because it will already be paid for. Kat (my daughter) likes the teas, milkshakes, water and sodas (It was awesome when she was under 21!) but will probably have a foo-foo drink or two. She told me she really wants to try lemoncello! :)

 

I am still undecided, in case you can't tell...but leaning towards getting it!

 

Will you spend over $114 every day for drinks (of any kind)? You said it is port intensive, and will you be just drinking more to make sure you are getting your money's worth.

 

Most of the more expensive drinks like martinis, run in the $10 plus tip range. They usually run a special in the morning for things like Mimosas and Bloody Mary's.

[gfountain1]

Been there, done that with the $1500 tab on a 7 day. I see cheers as final bill insurance now.

[Rh2458]

'free' drink package on ncl isn't so free.

 

My co-worker back in February had a "free" drink package on NCL and he said his particular free package at the time of his booking didn't include taxes and tip. What they normally spend on liquor is normally less than what they had to pay to get the "free" drink package.

[gfountain1]

It was obvious to me when looking at an NCL cruise on the Getaway that the "free" drink perk is factored into the fare.

[AK Wife]

1. The limit placed on the program are for those that can't limit their alcohol input OR those who like to do a LOT of shots! ;)

2. Had Cheers! before they changed it. I am not a big drinker BUT I was on vacation. 1 drink before lunch, a couple to three in the afternoon, one or two with dinner, a couple after dinner and I was already at my "break even point" of minimum 6 (for the price point of less than $10 at the time). Spaced far enough apart that it didn't bother me too much.

3. Now that Cheers! has increased the drink price to "under $50" & allows the inclusion of coffee, shakes, & numerous other items, it is going to be much easier to meet my "break even point". :D

4. I NEVER had an issue with a server while using Cheers! as I hung out on the deck. I would lounge in the same vicinity every day and the servers in that area would use my name & remember my "go to" drink! It was heaven! I didn't have to look for a server when my glass was empty. By the last sea day they were arriving with my next drink before I took my last sip. I did not think to tip more at the time (per drink) but I did give an extra tip on that last day.

5. This time I will definitely be tipping extra for each drink as posters have suggested. Especially if I have gone over the "break even point". It makes so much sense. :cool:

6. LOVE having the package prepaid. Don't have to worry about that extra expense. For what I drink or purchase as extra, this package gives me that feeling of "all-inclusive". I have Bottomless Bubbles for the kids for the same reason. No surprise expenses. The only bill I will have is steakhouse, shopping, & pictures! :p

[sc4125]

I've purchased CHEERS on the last 2 cruises. I don't know if I ever hit the break even point - but for sure I didn't hit it more than two or three. However, I am purchasing it again on this next cruise for 3 reasons:

 

1) I love having specialty coffees included - I had at least 2 cappacinos on each of the 8 days on the Breeze. Though they aren't expensive, it was nice to not worry about spending $$ on coffee.

 

2) The Magic cruise is going to be port-intensive (only 2 sea days), but this is going to be a relaxing cruise for my sister & I - we've been to the western ports numerous times - so we will be spending at least 2 of the port days lounging onboard at the pool and having drinks.

 

3) I will have the DOU card as soon as I board (it's a bounce back casino cruise), so you'd think I wouldn't need the CHEERS. But, I don't like waiting around for a waiter to take my order & then the LONG wait, especially when the casino is busy at night, for the drink to get to me. It's like, okay do I stay on this machine and lose more $$ or how long will it take the waiter to find me if I move. On these nights, a quick trip to the casino bar using CHEERS is wonderful.

 

Overall, if I wasn't getting such a great deal on the cruise price, I probably wouldn't order CHEERS, but I do like the freedom and I don't spend much onboard other than drinks. This is the nice thing about having been on so many cruises - don't need to buy pictures or spend money in the shops, so what the heck, right?

[schlimazel_traveler]

I gather Carnival doesn't offer a non-alcohol package that covers coffees, milkshakes, bottled water, etc?

[rene194215]

Appreciate your feedback!

 

Argh! I don't know what to do... we've never gotten it, but DH brought it up over the weekend. I think he could definitely get his money's worth, but not sure I could, though maybe with coffees and bottled drinks plus the booze?!

 

It would be pretty costly for our 8-day trip, but I can see where the freedom would be nice! I'd just have to cut WAAAAY back on my photo purchases :p

 

Anybody notice a difference in crew service with Cheers vs. not having it?

 

 

To answer your question about crew service, I had a fantastic experience with Cheers on the Breeze in Nov last year. I would go to many of the bars and never did I feel that the service was lacking, In fact I made friends with the bartenders in the lobby/atrium and they would encourage me to get to my 15 a day lol. I pretty much drank wine. 6oz a glass so spread out I was good for the day. I remember at night before heading to my cabin that the bartender would actually give me a "double" (12oz) to take back to the room with me. I will be getting the program again on my next cruise in Nov.