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Very unhappy with RCL beverage package policy

Eastern flygirl
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Eastern flygirl

Eastern flygirl

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Posted

My husband and I are sailing on OAS, Feb 10, 2019.  We are flying our adult daughter from Ct. to join us to celebrate her birthday.  Both my husband and I are Diamond members and prime in the casino.  Having those bennefits, we do not need a beverage package.  RCL will not let us purchase the Deluxe Bev Package for our daughter without purchasing them for ourselves.  I understand RCl policy, and I talked to the Resolutions Dept, but they would not make the exception.  I am truly frustrated and wish to know if anyone has a suggestion.  

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Clarea

Clarea

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They will normally let you get by with buying the Refreshment package for those to don't want the alcohol package.  They may also let you get by with the soda package onboard.

 

Failing that, give your daughter some OBC to cover her drinks.

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DirtyDawg

DirtyDawg

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19 minutes ago, PhoenixCruiser said:

 

Nope same policy.  

 

Don't blame Royal. The blame goes the those who have cheated in the past.

 

Nope. The blame comes back around to Royal for marketing itself to the demographic that cheats on drinks packages.

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Iamcruzin

Iamcruzin

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2 hours ago, DirtyDawg said:

 

Nope. The blame comes back around to Royal for marketing itself to the demographic that cheats on drinks packages.

 

You can add Carnival and NCL to that list. Celebrity and Princess still allow you to purchase one package.

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Clarea

Clarea

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3 hours ago, Eastern flygirl said:

Do you think they would sell her the package on the ship?

You can give it a shot, but they best they would do for us was offer us the soda package for the guest that didn't want the alcoholic package.

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taglovestocruise

taglovestocruise

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3 hours ago, Eastern flygirl said:

Do you think they would sell her the package on the ship?

She would need to drink 6 -8 cocktails a day for the package to be breakeven.  You and your husband  together also get 6 cocktails on your sea pass card each night.  Sharing of voucher cocktails seems to be common among Diamonds.  Not sure if your O is Oasis or Ovation.  On our last few Oasis class cruises we have gone over the 3 drink limit with no bar tender or waiter telling us we are over the limit. 

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Merion_Mom

Merion_Mom

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8 hours ago, Eastern flygirl said:

My husband and I are sailing on OAS, Feb 10, 2019.  We are flying our adult daughter from Ct. to join us to celebrate her birthday.  Both my husband and I are Diamond members and prime in the casino.  Having those bennefits, we do not need a beverage package.  RCL will not let us purchase the Deluxe Bev Package for our daughter without purchasing them for ourselves.  I understand RCl policy, and I talked to the Resolutions Dept, but they would not make the exception.  I am truly frustrated and wish to know if anyone has a suggestion.  

 

In your particular situation, I think that the best answer is for her to buy her drinks individually, either on her own "dime" or yours, if you wish.

 

Cheaper than one deluxe beverage package + two refreshment packages.  It may even be cheaper than one deluxe beverage package + two soda packages.

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sparks1093 Great Review Rare

sparks1093

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Posted (edited)
9 hours ago, DirtyDawg said:

 

Nope. The blame comes back around to Royal for marketing itself to the demographic that cheats on drinks packages.

Nope, the blame falls squarely on those who cheat the system and it has nothing to do with demographics.

 

OP, it would probably cost less to just pay by drink as others have mentioned.

Edited by sparks1093
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Tony O

Tony O

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7 hours ago, Host Clarea said:

You can give it a shot, but they best they would do for us was offer us the soda package for the guest that didn't want the alcoholic package.

Since my wife drinks and I do not. I was told I must buy the refreshment package. I even pointed out you can look at all of our past cruises and see that it was always the alcohol and soda packages purchased. Needless to say they were unmoved. I even called back a couple of times seeing if I can get an exception. The answer was the same  Royal Refreshment is the minimum  I could buy. Which I chose to do.

Yes I understand there are those who have a true exemption and are granted one but through my choice I will not try to scam the system and this is why the system was chsnged.

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Biker19

Biker19

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Posted (edited)
13 hours ago, mugtech said:

Put her in her own cabin, let her get double C & A points, she will be that much closer to diamond.

No, put one of the parents in a cabin solo to get to D+ faster and share the D drinks with DD.

Edited by Biker19
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Joseph2017China

Joseph2017China

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12 hours ago, matj2000 said:

Why are you sharing a cabin with your adult daughter??

 

Because cabins hold 4 people.  Family members share cabins all the time.  It is normal thing to do.  I can't think a single reason, why this would not be OK? Please explain.

 

As far as the packages.  The change in policy happened when the rules were not being followed.  The amount of theft, required the change to be made.  It was an unfortunate outcome of the sharing.  Once on the ship, and if you can show medical reasons, you can get away from buying packages.  When I say medical, I mean real medical that can show even drinking Soda is bad. 

 

For a young female, buying a la carte adult beverages, it would take a lot of beverages to max out the daily amounts.  Of course she could be one of the exemptions, that can drink 10 drinks without falling over, but if she isn't, than it shouldn't be a complaint or an issue.  Just give her the equal amount of cash, and see if she spends it out.

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cruisegirl1

cruisegirl1

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Posted

It is reported the rules are in place because passengers would get one beverage package and share it with others.  So, RCCL had to make the change.  Lots of comments to share Diamond  Drinks!  :classic_mellow:    Info in some welcome letters ( recent Brilliance cruise)   specifically states that the drink vouchers may not be shared with family and friends.   For those who suggested sharing the D drinks, I hope you don't complain when the program  ends because of abuse. 

 

Sharing won't work If the daughter wants a drink during the day or a drink not offered to D's.

 

OP -.  Some ships offer a 10 drink card mid cruise.  It runs less than $100.  Perhaps your daughter can pay as she drinks for the first few days, and then if the drink card of offered, that might be a good solution.  Or,  take a look at putting your daughter ( just on paper)  in the cheapest inside cabin.  If you want her to share your cabin, she can still do so.

 

Hope if works out.

 

M

 

 

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orville99 "Live from...." Rare

orville99

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Even with the current pre-cruise discount, a Deluxe Beverage Package on Oasis (at least the January 27 cruise) comes out to ~$62/day (including the 18% gratuity). That's equivalent to ~10 beers/day; 4-5 foo-foo cocktails/day; or ~ 6-7 glasses of wine/day. If your daughter is not that heavy of a drinker, you're further ahead by just covering her bar tab a la carte.

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