Have you ditched the drink pkg?

[tinkr2]

7 hours ago, FrannyK said:

Whoops!  I neglected to say that the past 3 cruises we purchased the "10 drinks for $75 card" available at all the bars on day 2.  It's $88 including tax and gratuities and covers any drink up to $12.  Since our martini's and scotch are $12 a drink this saves us $4.50 per drink. We just got off the Indy on Thursday.  I also take advantage of the $2 Mimosas in the casino every day from 10am-12pm and my DH enjoyed the $5 bloody Mary's at the Windjammer bar from 10am-12pm every day.  Also tried the $8 drink of the day special each day.  So between the drink card, the drink specials and bringing on two bottles of wine we had more than enough drinks and spent way less than the drink package which would have been $500+ for our 5 night cruise.  Our bar bill this cruise was $250.

How are they available on 2nd day. I never see them before 4th day and seldom on any of my cruises/ What ships are you on? or whats your secret?

[Iamcruzin]

I have a limit. I will not pay more than $50 a day for the drink package. I decided to ditch one deluxe package this trip because I was able to buy one refreshment for $17 . The Deluxe was $49 and since there was a large price spread between the two I felt that I wouldn't drink enough alcohol to cover the spread. I can take it or leave it. 

[FrannyK]

1 hour ago, tinkr2 said:

How are they available on 2nd day. I never see them before 4th day and seldom on any of my cruises/ What ships are you on? or whats your secret?

We've bought them on the Indy in 2016 on the first day!  There was a sign on the bar in Schooner bar so we bought one.  On Indy in 2018 we didn't see the sign till day 2 and bought it.  This year on Indy it was advertized on Day 3 in the cruise compass but was available Day 2 in the Dog and Badger Pub.  I asked about it and they sold me one.  So do that!   They give you a card which is a punch card and they cross off each time you get a drink.  You don't need your sign and sail card at all to use the card.  Very simple.  Worked easy in the dining room too.

[tinkr2]

14 hours ago, FrannyK said:

We've bought them on the Indy in 2016 on the first day!  There was a sign on the bar in Schooner bar so we bought one.  On Indy in 2018 we didn't see the sign till day 2 and bought it.  This year on Indy it was advertized on Day 3 in the cruise compass but was available Day 2 in the Dog and Badger Pub.  I asked about it and they sold me one.  So do that!   They give you a card which is a punch card and they cross off each time you get a drink.  You don't need your sign and sail card at all to use the card.  Very simple.  Worked easy in the dining room too.

Oh I know what they are . I’ve just never seen them early in a cruise or very often. I guess Indy is different. Good for you!

[Tree_skier]

On 2/16/2019 at 1:49 AM, brillohead said:

If you don't drink that much, why would you want to spend that much?

I've never gotten an alcohol package.  I usually just get the soda package (diet Coke is my "coffee"), but I splurged on Refreshment when it was on sale for $17/day for my next couple cruises.  This way I can have bottles of water in the room fridge and for port days, and the occasional frozen drink treat.  

You may find that the Refreshment package is a nice middle ground for you -- covers your bottled waters and smoothies / shakes / frozen drinks without alcohol, and you can add a shot of something to a mocktail if you want.  

 

How does that work with the refreshment package? Do they discount the the cost of a frozen drink by the cost of the mocktail?  Or is there some sort of set amount for adding on a shot to a mocktail?

[2tall]

We did the drink package on a Christmas cruise that had a lot of sea days.  Frankly, I didn't get my money's worth because there were days I didn't drink at all.  We are considering buying it again for a transatlantic cruise...but for port intensive cruises, it's just not worth it to us.  I'll only do it again if I can convince myself not to worry about whether or not I'm breaking even.  

[E23NK1]

We cant justify the $800 + for the 2 of us.

We are going to purchase one or two of the "Alcohol packages" that are under Shop Royal Gifts

There are 4 bottle options (375 ml) that come with 4 cans of soda mixer for $43 - $50 each that will be delivered to our room.

Choices for my upcoming cruise is Absolut Vodka, Bacardi Rum, Bombay Sapphire Gin and Johnnie Walker.

I know its a smaller bottle size but for us its a good alternative to the full Drink Package.

We will still bring the 2 bottles of wine on board as well. and will just supplement with a couple of drinks at the various bars on board each night.

[E23NK1]

12 minutes ago, E23NK1 said:

We cant justify the $800 + for the 2 of us.

We are going to purchase one or two of the "Alcohol packages" that are under Shop Royal Gifts

There are 4 bottle options (375 ml) that come with 4 cans of soda mixer for $43 - $50 each that will be delivered to our room.

Choices for my upcoming cruise is Absolut Vodka, Bacardi Rum, Bombay Sapphire Gin and Johnnie Walker.

I know its a smaller bottle size but for us its a good alternative to the full Drink Package.

We will still bring the 2 bottles of wine on board as well. and will just supplement with a couple of drinks at the various bars on board each night.

 

I should have noted that it is says not available on all ships...so you will need to check your particular cruise/ship.

 

[JayTee1]

I had to look into the prices to get some perspective on what you guys were talking about. For my next cruise they want $69 CAD for the deluxe package and $35 CAD for the refreshment package. Yikes!

 

And if there are two people in the stateroom, both have to get it? 

[VaTech8912]

3 minutes ago, JayTee1 said:

I had to look into the prices to get some perspective on what you guys were talking about. For my next cruise they want $69 CAD for the deluxe package and $35 CAD for the refreshment package. Yikes!

 

And if there are two people in the stateroom, both have to get it? 

 

Yes, if purchasing the deluxe package, both people, if over 21,  must purchase. Some people have been able to purchase the refreshment package for one of the people based on medical reasons instead of the the deluxe package.  Also, double ck cost, as most times the listed prices per day is before the automatic 18% gratuity, but UK/Canada website might be different. I do not believe if purchasing the refreshment package, both must purchase however....others will know about that.

[sixesandeights]

Not a chance.  The drink package is the best money spent on the ship.  I paid $47 a day/pp for both of our upcoming cruises.  Mixed drinks are $10-$13 each.  Beers are ~$8.  Add in soda, water, etc and it is unbelievably easy to break even with even minor drinking.  Most days I will "break even" by Lunch, and I do not drink in my everyday life.  It is vacation, not thinking about what I order makes it even more relaxing.  I would never sail without it.

[vacationlover_mn]

I should be able to see prices for my next year’s cruise, and am curious to see how high they are.  I’m thinking that we’re willing to do $55 usd at the most... an average, non sea day for me is a fancy coffee and 3 water (approx $15), 2 wines ($26) and 2 mixed drinks ($24).  But, without the drink package, I would bring wine and water onboard and do 2 mixed drinks...

[dandtgeddes]

Gidday :-)

 

Has anyone seen the 10 drinks for $75 on Australia, New Zealand or South Pacific cruises?

 

Drinks package is on special at $80 daily, for a 12 day trip I could almost get another cruise...

 

Thank you.

 

TraceyG :-)

[brillohead]

18 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

How does that work with the refreshment package? Do they discount the the cost of a frozen drink by the cost of the mocktail?  Or is there some sort of set amount for adding on a shot to a mocktail?

The mocktail frozen drink is included with the refreshment package, and then you just pay for a shot of liquor, just like if you were "doing shots" at the bar. 

 

That's actually how the "real" frozen alcoholic drinks are made, now, too -- they don't put the booze in the blender with the ice and the mixer, they blend the ice and mixer, then add booze to the cup after pouring in the blended drink.  You have to stir it in yourself, if you want the booze dispersed evenly throughout the icy mixture.

[mattb31]

It's still worth it to me, especially since it works on CocoCay.

 

We easily break even. Sitting by the pool from like 10am to 4pm we can easily knock back 3 frozen drinks and 2 beers. That's ~$55 right there. Also doesn't factor in the soda and bottled water we're able to stockpile.

 

We'll use rum runners on shorter cruises but on a 7-nighter the convenience of pre-paying and not having to worry about it on board is unmatched. I think once it goes north of $55 a day then we'll do some reconsidering.

[GetToLivin]

We've never purchased it because we just don't drink what you'd need to in order to justify the cost. DH always gets the soda package and sometimes I'll get the bottled water package delivered to our room, but other than that, we have 1-2 alcoholic drinks a day and that's about it. We spend on specialty dining packages instead 😁

Edited February 19, 2019 by GetToLivin

[maranelloboy05]

Doing it for the first time actually, got it for $49. One reason being that we have only 2 port days, 3 with Labadee but can use it there. I drink diet coke like a fish so that's already almost half paid with the refreshment pkg. With my math I'll probably just break even, but it'll be nice not to have to worry.