Yet Another RCCL Drink Package Thought - Don't Forget Water, Coffee, Juice & Soda

[SunshineTravel3]

I know this is one of those much talked about topics, but just a little added side spin. For our needs, the RCCL alcohol package would be breakeven at best. While others often speak of the inclusion of non-alcoholic beverages, few put them into their calculations when determining breakeven.

 

Most posts say 5-8 alcoholic drinks a day, but if you have a couple bottles of water each day, and a morning cappuccino with fresh juice at breakfast your already at $10-$15 a day. Throw in a soda and after dinner espresso and your at $20.

 

We'll typically have a pre-dinner cocktail, a glass or two of wine with dinner, and a night-cap at a show or bar. On sea days, we'll often add a couple of poolside margaritas. Even when discounted, we sometimes wouldn't breakeven. But we typically add several waters, at least one specialty coffee and an occasional fresh squeezed juice or soda each day. With that we normally end up on the plus side of breakeven.

 

In addition to the convenience, the fun comes in for us when we "try drinks". Without the beverage package, paying $12-$13 for something that sounds delicious, but in reality isn't after trying it can be painful. With the beverage package try as many different drinks as you want without the register continuing to ring! Who knows, you might even find your own new "drink of the day" to make when you get home. Even going to Vintages becomes more palatable when you pay $8 for a $20 glass of wine you don't like. There's also no guilt felt in leaving that warm 1/2 beer at the pool without finishing it.

 

It isn't cheap, but for us more convenient - even if not "heavy" drinkers. It does help make it more of a vacation without needing to count bar receipts each night.

[carnival03]

We're still debating on a package for our cruise next year... Can someone help out with the prices I've compiled?

 

Water - $3

Soda - $4

Beer - $6 - $8

 

Are the above correct? I'm still unsure about the below...

 

Wine by glass (white and sparkling) - ?

Mimosa - ?

Cocktails - ?

Bionic Bar Drinks - ?

[caszos]

We're still debating on a package for our cruise next year... Can someone help out with the prices I've compiled?

 

Water - $3

Soda - $4

Beer - $6 - $8

 

Are the above correct? I'm still unsure about the below...

 

Wine by glass (white and sparkling) - ?

Mimosa - ?

Cocktails - ?

Bionic Bar Drinks - ?

 

I dont know how to attach, but this thread has a spreadsheet with all prices. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2634718&highlight=drink+spreadsheet

[Clarea]

We're still debating on a package for our cruise next year... Can someone help out with the prices I've compiled?

 

Water - $3

Soda - $4

Beer - $6 - $8

 

Are the above correct? I'm still unsure about the below...

 

Wine by glass (white and sparkling) - ?

Mimosa - ?

Cocktails - ?

Bionic Bar Drinks - ?

Wine by the glass starts at $8 and goes way up.

 

Basic cocktails around $9, anything frozen or blended around $12.

[apc0204]

Can you purchase smoothies with the drink package?

[TexasCruiser84]

On Harmony last November we were not charged extra for the protein shakes we ordered from the Vitality Cafe in the spa area. That might not be the norm though, as I've hard they should be excluded?

[Clarea]

Can you purchase smoothies with the drink package?

Depends on the ship, some ships don't offer smoothies. On Oasis, they told us that smoothies without protein poweder were included.

[SunshineTravel3]

Your prices are close enough and the list provided should help. The key is what do you drink. If you're a beer drinker, it takes more to breakeven, if your drinking call cocktails and frozen drinks the tab runs up faster. Do you like to try new drinks or do you stick with the same thing?

 

We're still debating on a package for our cruise next year... Can someone help out with the prices I've compiled?

 

Water - $3

Soda - $4

Beer - $6 - $8

 

Are the above correct? I'm still unsure about the below...

 

Wine by glass (white and sparkling) - ?

Mimosa - ?

Cocktails - ?

Bionic Bar Drinks - ?

[SunshineTravel3]

Don't know about smoothies - not my thing. Thanks to others for replying

[geomancer]

Yes, if you drink *everything* every single day (including the days you spend almost all of it in port and thus off the ship) you can 'break even' easily.

 

Something to remember though is Royal pushes the drink packages really hard. Do they do it because they are concerned for their cruisers financial wellbeing and want to ensure they save as much money as possible? Or are they driven by a desire to maximize profits any way possible?

 

My bet is on the latter, but I'm sure the casino will not take my bet...

 

They count on people being scared of running up a large bill when in reality they drink less than it would have individually. The majority of people fall into that category, and thus how they maximize profits.

[Honeyroastedmelnut]

Yes, if you drink *everything* every single day (including the days you spend almost all of it in port and thus off the ship) you can 'break even' easily.

 

Something to remember though is Royal pushes the drink packages really hard. Do they do it because they are concerned for their cruisers financial wellbeing and want to ensure they save as much money as possible? Or are they driven by a desire to maximize profits any way possible?

 

My bet is on the latter, but I'm sure the casino will not take my bet...

 

They count on people being scared of running up a large bill when in reality they drink less than it would have individually. The majority of people fall into that category, and thus how they maximize profits.

 

I don’t remember where I saw it to provide a link but RCI officials said something along the lines that folks spend a lot more on board when they have prepaid more. Basically the stuff prepaid in advance (tips, drinking packages, internet packages) are not competing with “spending $$” as folks already paid for them and sometimes don’t think about them anymore. Then they still bring and spend the same amount of $$$$ on the vacation but now instead of going towards booze they are spending it elsewhere on board thus increasing revenue.

[SteelCityCruiser10]

I’ve posted many of the drink menus from explorer in the link below. Bobs reply sums it up pretty well though for the short version. [emoji482]

 

Explorer - ALASKA 6/8/18

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2643411

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[riri13]

I had the everything but alcohol package at $18/day and very much enjoyed it. The specialty coffees and fresh squeezed OJ were definitely a nice upgrade from the standard coffee and flavored waters. It was nice to grab the bottled waters as we were leaving the ship. I only used the freestyle machine twice I think, not a big soda drinker. My go to in the lounges was seltzer with a twist of lime and a splash of cranberry juice. I tried a few mocktails, my favorite was the virgin mojitos, very refreshing and I didn't miss the alcohol. Definitely was worth the $18/day.

[carnival03]

I dont know how to attach, but this thread has a spreadsheet with all prices. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2634718&highlight=drink+spreadsheet

 

Wine by the glass starts at $8 and goes way up.

 

Basic cocktails around $9, anything frozen or blended around $12.

 

Thank you! I think we'll do without the deluxe package, but maybe consider the refreshment. We're not heavy drinkers, but go through plenty of bottled water.

[Guindalf]

We're not big drinkers but I do like a nice Grey Goose Bloody Mary or a Sapphire and tonic. Wife does not drink at all. Is it possible, once on board, to buy the drinks package for one person? I know it has to be for all in the cabin if booked in advance, but does this still apply once on the ship?

 

 

I know it can be done on Celebrity.

[SunshineTravel3]

RCCL now requires all passengers "of age" to buy the package. I have heard that if you call RCCL and explain, they might sell a non-alcohol package to the second person.

[SunshineTravel3]

If not big drinkers, and she doesn't drink at all - consider paying as you go as the package price likely exceeds what your drink prices would total.

[tortoisegirl]

Yes it is much easier on paper to break even once adding in bottled water, fresh squeezed juice, lattes, etc. However, I think the bigger question is whether you would actually be buying all those items without the drink package. Probably not.

[SunshineTravel3]

Everyone is different. We'll each drink 3 or more water bottles each day (we like sparkling and each drink 2L+ each day at home compliments of Soda Stream so we don't waste bottles). We're also more likely to have a good morning coffee before breakfast as we are often up before the sun. Juice and soda will be hit or miss. We've also decided to try at least one new drink each day this trip. Finally, we won't have to think about it - and that's worth a few bucks to us as well. Again to each their own - with the initial thought of my post being to consider all drink options, not just the alcoholic ones, when considering a package. When you put it all together if it doesn't make sense - don't do it. For us - it works.