Cheapest way for booze on POA

[Hockeygirl89]

Since I live in Hawaii and am going on a cruise around the neighboring islands I was thinking- what are my options for keeping my bar bill manageable? My thought was going to costco or the store on base and getting a bunch of bottles and just paying the corkage fee. Or are there deals that I do not know about since there is no unlimited package? Any ideas other than not drinking would be much appreciated! Thanks!

[triptolemus]

You can pay corkage for wine, but not booze (liquor, in my vernacular).

 

Establish a reasonable budget and stick to it. If you like to have some drinks and cut loose, figure that into your budget. Don't think you're going to get away with $20 day. Be realistic.

 

If you really are just a glass of wine or two with dinner kind of person, then perhaps bringing your own wine and paying the corkage on a few bottles is the right move.

[FranknBeans]

Booze is NOT cheap in Hawaii as everything is imported in.

[Hockeygirl89]

Understood. The added advantage is I have is that at the exchange on the military base I have access to the wine is not expensive at all and best of all tax free. I knew that I cannot bring liquor but love wine so it's a win win for me.

 

I heard something about a wine package on board though... any word on that?

[triptolemus]

There is a "Corks and Caps" package but it's not available on POA either.

[ColeThornton]

Booze is NOT cheap in Hawaii as everything is imported in.

 

I'm sure they know that since they live there. :confused:

[sanger727]

It sounds like bringing wine on would work well for you. There's also a drink of the day every day, believe the DOD is $7.95 (usually a $10-$11 cocktail). There are also tastings throughout the cruise. When I did one a few years back it was $20 and we got pretty close to 4 full size drinks so was a great deal. There's usually a margarita tasting, martini tasting, mojito tasting, etc... but the amount you get probably depends on the bartender doing it, pretty sure it's just supposed to be 4 small drinks.

[KeithJenner]

I thought they offered Viva Vino on the POA.

[pe4all]

There is a "Corks and Caps" package but it's not available on POA either.

 

I thought they offered Viva Vino on the POA.

They definitely do have Viva Vino on POA. Got it this past December.

[triptolemus]

nevermind... I'm stupid.

[dexddd]

Understood. The added advantage is I have is that at the exchange on the military base I have access to the wine is not expensive at all and best of all tax free. I knew that I cannot bring liquor but love wine so it's a win win for me.

 

I heard something about a wine package on board though... any word on that?

 

They have bucket of beer specials like the other ships - pay for 5 get 6. They do have wine bottle specials. It was varying number of bottles with increased savings the more you buy. I posted the details once before and will have to take a look.

[holidayhelen]

I have just returned - you cannot take liquids on to the ship - not even water. They go through your bags and you have to remove them.

 

There were 'wine deals' but expensive wines. And the beer buckets - buy 5 get one free. All drinks have 18% and tax on top - so the bill goes up quickly. We are in the UK and we were able to put some credit on our account before we cruised - we put $1000 on and we still owed more at the end of the week.

 

Even drinking off the ship in ports is not cheap

 

But the cruise is well worth it - stunning islands and scenery

[Cruiser Who Knows Nothing]

You can buy on board credits from your my NCL account, so you have some money in your account when you board, it's not a way to keep your bill down, but a way to make it easier to pay.

 

 

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[pe4all]

We used our $100 per cabin obc to purchase a 4-bottle wine package. Cost was $108. Came out cheaper to buy their package (also available in 6 and 8 bottles) than to purchase wine in Hawaii and pay the corkage fee.

[chengkp75]

Yes, you can get Viva Vino, since it is not an "unlimited for fixed price" deal. Suites can also get a 3 bottle of wine set up instead of the bar setup on other ships. Hawaii does not allow "unlimited" drink packages, nor is the POA licensed as a "bottle shop" so it cannot sell full bottles of spirits.

[dexddd]

The wording on the Daily said "...choose from a selection of wines....with savings up to 25%....three different packages to choose from....ask any bartender for details".

[BostonGal35]

back before the UBP, we'd budget $100 per day for 2 of us. we were usually able to stay within that. BUT, the drink prices were much cheaper then.

 

the drinks we prefer are now all $12.95 or $15.95 a piece. we'd be screwed. this honestly is a big part of why we have been hesitant to book POA (coupled with NO casino and consistent year round expensive fares in general - there is never a significant shoulder season on fares)