Unlimited Drink Options Included with other lines: will you still book Carnival?

[Towel Critter]

Hi:

 

We are platinum on Carnival, but have taken a few years off from cruising. In the time we've been away, both NCL and MSC have started to offer fares with the Unlimited Drink Option included as a perk. Now that we are looking to book another cruise, I have to admit that these perks are very enticing and swaying us away from Carnival, whose drinks package is very expensive to book. I'm just wondering if others are feeling the same?

Will continue with Carnival. We drink very little if any and so have never purchased the drink package. I can't imagine choosing a vacation based on how much booze I can get. I like to remember my vacations. ;) But that's just me.

[tallnthensome]

I would never get the cheers package but I have been on several cruises that a package was included and I think carnival has the best package regarding what is included.

 

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It's good but MSC's package is the best. Includes gelato, sundaes, room service and everything (liquor and food) in your cabin mini bar. Best we have ever had. Cheers was $1200 more for it on the Carnival Panama Canal cruise versus $500 on the new NCL Bliss. Cheers is good but not $1200 more good ..... It's situational for sure.

[cruise4kicks]

Lipstick on a pig is still lipstick on a pig. Clever marketing where they raise fares and offer options for “free” are just that. There is no free lunch, not before not now not ever.

This.

 

Jimbo, I think we could be friends. :)

 

I am amazed that people don't run the numbers until they can approximate an apples-to-apples comparison.

[auburn77]

I hope Carnival never goes to an "all inclusive" fare. We have never been to an all inclusive resort because we are very moderate drinkers and would never get our money's worth. I don't believe our bar bill has ever been over $30 (we do bring 2 bottles of wine), even on a 12 day. I don't want to pay more to subsidize others' drinking. I think the Cheers program is great. You may even be subsidizing my cruise by purchasing it. I'm sure my rates would be higher if they didn't make so much profit on alcohol. Thanks!

[tallnthensome]

Why would you think Cheers is great? You pay top dollar for it. I've purchased Cheers and it had value to us but never as much as a drink package included in the fare of other cruises else ware. Like I said before, would you pay $1200 more for Cheers on a 14 day cruise then a free drink package included by NCL on a 15 day? I sure as heck wouldn't ..... The total was now $600 more on Carnival for the cruise over all.

[hftmrock]

FWIW - My wife and are drinkers and we are not big fans of the 15 drink limit. I know. What! 15 isn't enough in a day?? Well yes and no.

 

Number one issue, is having to keep count and planning the difference on sea and port days. As I have said before, from my experience 15 drinks (not beer) is 15 ounces of booze. I watched and if anything, they might short you. Most people when you go out, or especially make your own drinks at home, pour more than one ounce per drink.

 

But, if you are not big drinkers and are just looking to know your all-inclusive experience is covered and there will be no surprised at the end, go for it.

 

We're giving Celebrity a try in January.

 

if depends... Long Island Ice Tea, Wine, probably others... (especially at the alchemy bar) will be more than 1 ounce per drink

[hftmrock]

Why would you think Cheers is great? You pay top dollar for it. I've purchased Cheers and it had value to us but never as much as a drink package included in the fare of other cruises else ware. Like I said before, would you pay $1200 more for Cheers on a 14 day cruise then a free drink package included by NCL on a 15 day? I sure as heck wouldn't ..... The total was now $600 more on Carnival for the cruise over all.

 

 

dont you still have to pay for the tips for the NCL package up front... on a 14 day cruise that could well be hundreds of dollars

[sparks1093]

Hi:

 

We are platinum on Carnival, but have taken a few years off from cruising. In the time we've been away, both NCL and MSC have started to offer fares with the Unlimited Drink Option included as a perk. Now that we are looking to book another cruise, I have to admit that these perks are very enticing and swaying us away from Carnival, whose drinks package is very expensive to book. I'm just wondering if others are feeling the same?

 

I just booked our cruise for next April and the pricing out of a northeast port was as follows- Royal $1770, Carnival $2200, NCL $3600. Maybe if the price of the cruise was closer but I can buy my own drink package with Royal or Carnival and still save money over NCL's "free" promotion.

[sparks1093]

dont you still have to pay for the tips for the NCL package up front... on a 14 day cruise that could well be hundreds of dollars

 

Yes and it's 20% on an inflated price of $89pp/pd (the price was raised shortly after they started charging passengers the tips).

[momof3cruisers]

Yes and it's 20% on an inflated price of $89pp/pd (the price was raised shortly after they started charging passengers the tips).

Not to mention that there is also a price limit. So, you aren't limited to number of drinks but their drinks are more expensive than Carnival so things like a chocolate martini and several others ar above the price point. We also found that service was dismally slow. Big lounge for dance party type stuff and they would have two or three servers and ONE bartender. There were times we were ready to leave but had to wait on the drinks we had ordered 20+ minutes before.

 

Even still, we go by price and itinerary. If another line has a comparable price and ship with a good itinerary that we like, we go on that. I have sailed the most on Carnival but have gone on NCL, Princess, Royal and DCL all twice or more.

[grandmarnnurse]

I've found that we don't need unlimited drink packages, I never come close to even the 15 so that's fine with me. Plus, Cheers! is optional and not included in the price of the cruise itself.

 

 

 

The price of the drink package is NOT included in the price on NCL. That is a misconception I’ve read several times on here, mostly by people who have never sailed NCL. I’ve sailed with them twice, and my cabin rate for cruise number one was $549pp for a 7 day cruise. I got to choose one of 5 perks, and I chose the drink package. Although their package only includes alcohol and soda, it is unlimited—-no 15 drink limit. On my second cruise with NCL, my cabin rate was $649pp, and I chose the drink package again. My daughter had a family ocean view that slept 5. A HUGE cabin with a large bathroom, double sink, tub and shower, 2 closets. She chose the drink package AND kids sailed free, as she got to choose 2 perks because of her cabin category. So, NO, THE PRICE OF THE DRINK PACKAGE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE CRUISE. I hope this clears that misconception up. I have 2 Carnival cruises booked, but not the Cheers, as we never drink enough to make the cost worthwhile. I will take it as a free perk, but I will not pay for it. Our whole bar bill for 2 people will never reach $300 for a 7 day cruise.

 

 

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[KarimaJ]

You definitely have to compare prices with whatever you want included. This Carnival Breeze Cruise is costing me $2230 for 3 of us in an ocean view room. No perks included. For about the same price I could have chosen RCL or NCL (including drinks) but Carnival had the itinerary I wanted. My point is like the previous poster said, compare all of it together and make a decision.

I like NCL because they have the best casino program and we usually get free balcony rooms except for taxes and fees. I just call and ask what I qualify for based on our last cruise play. Very nice.

 

 

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[bakersdozen12]

First of all, the perks are not free. They are worked into the cost of the cruise. It’s a sales gimmick. So no, I wouldn’t booked these fares because my husband doesn’t drink and I never have more than one, maybe two, drinks per day. So I don’t want to pay for something I’m not going to consume.

 

 

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[hftmrock]

The price of the drink package is NOT included in the price on NCL. That is a misconception I’ve read several times on here, mostly by people who have never sailed NCL. I’ve sailed with them twice, and my cabin rate for cruise number one was $549pp for a 7 day cruise. I got to choose one of 5 perks, and I chose the drink package. Although their package only includes alcohol and soda, it is unlimited—-no 15 drink limit. On my second cruise with NCL, my cabin rate was $649pp, and I chose the drink package again. My daughter had a family ocean view that slept 5. A HUGE cabin with a large bathroom, double sink, tub and shower, 2 closets. She chose the drink package AND kids sailed free, as she got to choose 2 perks because of her cabin category. So, NO, THE PRICE OF THE DRINK PACKAGE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE CRUISE. I hope this clears that misconception up. I have 2 Carnival cruises booked, but not the Cheers, as we never drink enough to make the cost worthwhile. I will take it as a free perk, but I will not pay for it. Our whole bar bill for 2 people will never reach $300 for a 7 day cruise.

 

 

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im a bit confused. How do you know the NCL model and what is built into their price? What evidence do you have that the bigwigs at NCL has not incorporated ALL of the perks in the price? do you have any link or evidence that shows they dont consider this at all?

[tallnthensome]

First of all, the perks are not free. They are worked into the cost of the cruise. It’s a sales gimmick. So no, I wouldn’t booked these fares because my husband doesn’t drink and I never have more than one, maybe two, drinks per day. So I don’t want to pay for something I’m not going to consume.

 

 

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Where does it say you have to pay for something you don't want? Are you confused? Have you sailed any other line besides Carnival? You are not forced to pay for a "free" drink package nor choose to have it. You are misinformed.

[grandmarnnurse]

im a bit confused. How do you know the NCL model and what is built into their price? What evidence do you have that the bigwigs at NCL has not incorporated ALL of the perks in the price? do you have any link or evidence that shows they dont consider this at all?

 

 

 

Did you see my price? If it was incorporated into my cruise price, my cruise rate would have been a lot higher. I was cruising a newer ship of theirs, not an old one, and for 7 days. It’s as plain as day. Where on Carnival can you pay $549pp AND have a drink package included? You can’t. I just paid over $600pp for my Carnival inside cabin with NO drink package.

 

 

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[tallnthensome]

dont you still have to pay for the tips for the NCL package up front... on a 14 day cruise that could well be hundreds of dollars

Yes, you do ...... You also have to pay the full price for Cheers up front as well. $500 is less than $1800 in our cruising case.

[tallnthensome]

Did you see my price? If it was incorporated into my cruise price, my cruise rate would have been a lot higher. I was cruising a newer ship of theirs, not an old one, and for 7 days. It’s as plain as day. Where on Carnival can you pay $549pp AND have a drink package included? You can’t. I just paid over $600pp for my Carnival inside cabin with NO drink package.

 

 

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Correct, you'll never get a complimentary drink package on Carnival. I'll never understand why and how some feel that paying full price for Cheers is somehow a better deal than paying 1/3 less for a free package with a service charge. I've had drink packages on just aboouy every line and the free ones are best and haven't pushed the cruise cost past a Carnival when purchasing Cheers.

[sparks1093]

Yes, deals can be found on NCL depending on when one can sail and how far ahead of time one can book. Our last few cruises when we booked I did a price comparison with NCL (I always price shop) and I could book a cruise with Carnival, buy Cheers and still be several hundred ahead of the game. For next April we booked Royal for half of what NCL was asking. Overall though it only stands to reason that the perks are rolled into the price somewhere overall or the line would go broke (and for what it's worth the Sky sailings tripled in price when she went all inclusive).

[riclop]

Hi:

 

We are platinum on Carnival, but have taken a few years off from cruising. In the time we've been away, both NCL and MSC have started to offer fares with the Unlimited Drink Option included as a perk. Now that we are looking to book another cruise, I have to admit that these perks are very enticing and swaying us away from Carnival, whose drinks package is very expensive to book. I'm just wondering if others are feeling the same?

Those free drinks are very misleading, they are actually charging you for them in the cruise price. ie. we are not drinkers so i booked a Princess cruise yesterday without the drink package Sip N sail and it was $800 dollars less.

[bibbysnow]

I am interested in getting the Cheers package and was wondering if it takes a long time to get a drink. Sometime the bartenders are slow and if I’m paying all that money I want to be able to get a drink when I want one.

[katibug]

Will continue with Carnival. We drink very little if any and so have never purchased the drink package. I can't imagine choosing a vacation based on how much booze I can get. I like to remember my vacations. ;) But that's just me.

 

This is how I feel about drinking at concerts. :) If I've paid 140 bucks for a ticket, I want to remember the show!

[bibbysnow]

this is how i feel about drinking at concerts. :) if i've paid 140 bucks for a ticket, i want to remember the show!

love it!!!

[hftmrock]

Yes, deals can be found on NCL depending on when one can sail and how far ahead of time one can book. Our last few cruises when we booked I did a price comparison with NCL (I always price shop) and I could book a cruise with Carnival, buy Cheers and still be several hundred ahead of the game. For next April we booked Royal for half of what NCL was asking. Overall though it only stands to reason that the perks are rolled into the price somewhere overall or the line would go broke (and for what it's worth the Sky sailings tripled in price when she went all inclusive).

 

100% agree. It stands to reason only if you're a reasonable person :D

[NYcruzzer]

I just booked our cruise for next April and the pricing out of a northeast port was as follows- Royal $1770, Carnival $2200, NCL $3600. Maybe if the price of the cruise was closer but I can buy my own drink package with Royal or Carnival and still save money over NCL's "free" promotion.

 

I see from your signature that you booked the Anthem of the seas for 4/6/19 That is a 7 day Bahama cruise from NJ. Looks like the $1770.00 rate is an interior NCL escape leaves the next day from NYC to Bahamas..Interior on NCL escape with included ultimate drink package is $2605 including port and beverage service charge. I agree that adding a 7 day drink package to the Anthem will bring those two fares to about equal. Carnival doesn't sail from NYC in April so I assume your $2200.00 quote is on the Pride out of Baltimore..Add 7 night drink package to Carnivals $2200.00 fare and NCL would still come out on top. For me Carnival with an added drink package or NCL with included drink package end up about the same. I like both lines. Usually sail NCL in the Winter and Carnival in the Summer out of NYC as I do not like to fly !!