Happy Hour and other ways to save $ on drinks

[cherbear4000]

I just don't think I would get my money's worth on the Cheers package and am looking for ways to save money on drinks.  I have no intention of smuggling alcohol.    I know each adult can bring on a bottle of wine. I know you can purchase bottles of liquor through the Fun Shop to be delivered to your cabin.  I know you get a free bottle of wine the first night in the steakhouse.  I also know there is a drink of the day for $1 off.  What other ways can I save money on drinks on-board.  I have heard about happy hour specials for 1/2 drinks.  I have actually never seen this on-board.  Can any one give me more details about when and where these happy hour specials take place?  Also any other tips for saving money on rinks would be helpful.  Thanks

 

[ShakyBeef]

If you're a beer drinker, how about buckets of beer.  I don't know what the current price is, but in the past, the price of a bucket has always worked out to a lower per-can price than buying them individually.

[ShakyBeef]

Some wine drinkers like the wine package.  It doesn't work for me (I'm a wine and cocktail drinker and definitely not a beer drinker), because the specific wines I like are not offered on it, but others have said good things about it.

 

ETA: It's called "Cruise the Vineyards"

Here's a thread about it:

 

E(again)T(also)A: Here's a thread that includes a picture of the included wines and prices:

 

 

Edited January 26, 2019 by ShakyBeef

[ray98]

Good luck.  I rarely see any sorts of discounts.  They have a captive audience, they don't have to lure people to their bar like the land based places do.

[ShakyBeef]

Again, I don't know if this is still current, or the actual price, but at the RedFrog Rum Bar there used to be this special printed on their regular menu board:

 

"Souvenir Glass -

  purchase your own fun souvenir glass and get 16oz. frozen favorites all cruise

long at the regular 12oz. price"

 

[coevan]

39 minutes ago, cherbear4000 said:

I just don't think I would get my money's worth on the Cheers package

 

 

why not, without a doubt the cheapest way to go

[ShakyBeef]

2 minutes ago, coevan said:

 

 

why not, without a doubt the cheapest way to go

 

Without a doubt, huh?🙄

 

Not for everyone it isn't.  It depends on one's drinking habits, itinerary, and other factors.  But you have the all-encompassing, not-to-be-doubted answer for everyone.

[PhillyFan33579]

How much are you planning to drink?  Unless you are only a beer drinker, it only takes 4-6 drinks a day to benefit from Cheers, and that doesn’t include all the non-alcoholic drinks included with Cheers. 

[crzndeb]

If they have the art auctions, free champagne. I have also seen on other threads, that there are a few drinks at reduced prices in the casino on embarkation day.

Edited January 26, 2019 by crzndeb

[Shaded Lady]

25 minutes ago, coevan said:

 

 

why not, without a doubt the cheapest way to go

I wish it was... but hubby doesn't drink, and I definitely couldn't drink enough to justify the cost of that many drinks per day!

[mpcaruth]

I don't know if this is still available, but they offered a free $5 match and play token in the casino if you purchased a "classic cocktail". I would just turn in my receipt to the casino cashier and get my match token. I typically played them on roulette.

 

Can anyone confirm if this promo still exists? It's been almost two years since I have sailed Carnival.

[30scruiser]

I wish they had more of these kinds of specials. On our RCL cruise the margarita bar had 2 for 1 happy hour every night. 

[pjhootch]

Depending on what you drink, it is cheaper to order a "double" than a single serving drink.  A double costs $3 more than a single drink.    

[cherbear4000]

1 hour ago, coevan said:

 

 

why not, without a doubt the cheapest way to go

 

1 hour ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

How much are you planning to drink?  Unless you are only a beer drinker, it only takes 4-6 drinks a day to benefit from Cheers, and that doesn’t include all the non-alcoholic drinks included with Cheers. 

 

I have actually purchased Cheers in the past.  I did love the freedom to order anything I wanted any time I wanted. I found myself drinking way more, both alcohol and non-alcohol drinks, than I typically would just to get my money's worth.  That is way too many unnecessary calories.  Six drinks a day for 7 days straight is a lot for me.

[Elaine5715]

2 hours ago, cherbear4000 said:

I just don't think I would get my money's worth on the Cheers package and am looking for ways to save money on drinks.  I have no intention of smuggling alcohol.    I know each adult can bring on a bottle of wine. I know you can purchase bottles of liquor through the Fun Shop to be delivered to your cabin.  I know you get a free bottle of wine the first night in the steakhouse.  I also know there is a drink of the day for $1 off.  What other ways can I save money on drinks on-board.  I have heard about happy hour specials for 1/2 drinks.  I have actually never seen this on-board.  Can any one give me more details about when and where these happy hour specials take place?  Also any other tips for saving money on rinks would be helpful.  Thanks

 

Getting a free bottle of wine after paying $38 a head to eat in the steakhouse doesn't strike me as a way of saving money

[Jamesatgsu]

Happy hour was on my most recent cruise. Casino bar only on embarkation day and only 4 drinks were available for the half off deal. It ran like 2-4 or something like that. 

 

Best on board option without sneaking is to win liquor which they give to you immediately. Buying on board you will get delivered on the last night, so a great option for your last evening.

 

I find cheers is close to a break even for me, but I did like the not worrying about it, though I still felt obligated to tip my bartenders, because I wanted them to not forget me when they were busy and they knew they were getting money from those without the package.

[cherbear4000]

3 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

Getting a free bottle of wine after paying $38 a head to eat in the steakhouse doesn't strike me as a way of saving money

 

True, but if you are planning on visiting the steakhouse anyways, which I am, it makes sense to do it on the first night for the free bottle of wine.  

[coevan]

9 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

Getting a free bottle of wine after paying $38 a head to eat in the steakhouse doesn't strike me as a way of saving money

 

 

 

I don't get your logic, $38 is a bargain the a 5 course dinner. To get a $15 bottle of free wine makes it a great deal

[bahacca]

I just did a 5 day on Imagination without Cheers. I knew that since I was with friends who also had their kids with them and I was sans hubby, I wouldn't be drinking heavily as I had to be "responsible". I did the following to save $- #1-I used my OBC of $50 for part of my drink budget. #2- I purchased some of my cruise with Carnival gift cards I got for 10% off through AARP (You do not need to be 55+ to join their rewards program) I had about $80 left on one gift card after paying for tips, so I just added that to my account once on board. If you have some idea of what you want to spend on drinks, I'd highly suggest getting the discounted gift cards. I did see Ladies night specials at several bars, including Alchemy. If you participate in games, you often win champagne. If you participate in the mixology contest that are on longer cruises, you get the drink you make and drink tickets, at least I did 2 years ago. I brought on a bottle of wine and never touched it. I opted to get wonderful cocktails each night at Alchemy. They were loaded with flavor, but not all the sugar of a pina colada. I found I sipped them because of the flavor vs downing them quickly. Yes, with additional tip(my choice), I was spending $14-15/drink, but they were drinks I couldn't make at home.

[Elaine5715]

1 minute ago, coevan said:

 

 

 

I don't get your logic, $38 is a bargain the a 5 course dinner. To get a $15 bottle of free wine makes it a great deal

Only if you were planning to go to the steakhouse already, and it would be $76 for two...

 

[coevan]

your right, very inexpensive for a fine dining Steakhouse

[Butterbean1000]

1 hour ago, mpcaruth said:

I don't know if this is still available, but they offered a free $5 match and play token in the casino if you purchased a "classic cocktail". I would just turn in my receipt to the casino cashier and get my match token. I typically played them on roulette.

 

Can anyone confirm if this promo still exists? It's been almost two years since I have sailed Carnival.

I can remember playing electronic black jack a few cruises ago and after a few plays, I would get a free drink.  I bet I had 4 to 5 bloody mary's.  Is this what you are talking about?

[summersigh]

46 minutes ago, pjhootch said:

Depending on what you drink, it is cheaper to order a "double" than a single serving drink.  A double costs $3 more than a single drink.    

This was the case on the Breeze in December.  We drink doubles of Scotch (me) and Crown (he) as nightcaps and all the different bars were the same🥃

[lyannea]

Research what ports you’ll be going to and find a place with reaonble drinks .

 

[Joebucks]

Usually, the discounted happy hour drinks are when everyone is in the port, and in the casino from 2-4. Bucket of beer will get you $2 off.

 

My favorite is the bottle. A 1 liter will go a long way for about $110. Then buy a few a la carte. You'd be surprised what ~$200 gets you. People always talk about the quantity of drinks in Cheers like it is the be all end all. Pour yourself a little stronger of a drink, and save all of the unnecessary sugary fillers.