Have you ditched the drink pkg?

[twangster]

I mostly skip it now, only do it with family who really want it since every one over 21 in the cabin must get it.  

 

Between the BOGO beer/wine coupon I use on day one and Diamond drinks it's easy to go without.  Drinks are much cheaper in port so it's easy to save significantly by not getting it.  

[Big_G]

Remember when a small minority here would call the drink package buyers drunks and alcoholics. Good times.

[davekathy]

Just now, Big_G said:

Remember when a small minority here would call the drink package buyers drunks and alcoholics. Good times.

That's only because they are to cheap to purchase the BP. 😛

[sunlover12]

I’m on a cruise currently. This is my 5th on RC and the first time I’ve gotten the beverage  package. I like how it includes bottled water, specialty coffee, and how you don’t have to sign anything when you get your drink. Mainly I only drink wine, maybe once in a while a liqueur after -dinner drink, and no soda. I have access to the concierge club. I tried their wine and it’s a cheap house wine that, IMO, is almost undrinkable. I had 2 sips of it the first night and haven’t had it since. With the beverage package I can get what I want and get my moneys worth. 

[Virtopia]

I've never had the pakage yet. I'm debating it for my 4 night sailing in November but the price would need to drop significantly for me to consider it.

 

As a Diamond member, I will usually buy 1- 2 frozen drinks during the day, go to the Diamond Louge for 1 - 2 drinks and then enjoy the 3 drinks on my card. I also bring two bottles of wine on with me each sailing so I'm definely drinking plenty and staying well under what I would pay for two days on the pakage.

 

 

[shortyy2k00]

We have a 8 night cruise in 2 weeks and we are getting the drink package for us I will never get it at full price always buy on sale. We both like our coffee in the morning, and then I start drinking usually earlier but soda, water is a big plus for us as well. It also helps that we go with a bigger group so we all drink and hang out.

[CNickMN]

In the OP's case (Diamond and $500 OBC), I wouldn't think it would be worth it, even considering the nonalcoholic beverages. Just consider the OBC as your "drink money," and don't hesitate to draw on it.

As for us, we've gotten the drink package in the past, but not anymore. We're Diamond, but more importantly, I'm Prime and my husband is Signature in Club Royale, so we get free drinks anytime at the casino bar (not that I'm recommending gambling that much just to get the drinks...doesn't actually make sense economically lol). The only time I still miss having the drink package is when we are doing our post-day-in-port-afternoon-cool-down pool time. We have been known to swing through the casino before going to the pool to pick up a couple of mai tais, but I always feel a bit guilty for asking the casino bartenders to make me a complicated drink, as they are usually pretty busy.

[gsb]

1 hour ago, twangster said:

I mostly skip it now, only do it with family who really want it since every one over 21 in the cabin must get it.  

 

Between the BOGO beer/wine coupon I use on day one and Diamond drinks it's easy to go without.  Drinks are much cheaper in port so it's easy to save significantly by not getting it.  

What you said plus rum runners make it all good.

Edited February 16, 2019 by gsb
spelling

[tennislvr8]

3 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

Good to know, I was planning on grabbing bottles to stock up to take ashore with us and this will definitely help.

They will have some when you get off elevator right before you disembark selling water. 

[Gquie]

Does anyone know if soda water (club soda) is free? I always buy the coke package but found that on my most recent cruise I ordered soda water more than I did coke or the syrup drinks. 

 

I also went to the bar a couple times to order a club soda and they didn't even look at my card for the package. 

[VaTech8912]

For us, spending close to $900 or an additional 45% on our cruise is just not worth it.  I will save that and go on more cruises or take new excursions.  To each his own...but I know I am a cheapskate.

Edited February 16, 2019 by VaTech8912

[Clarea]

3 minutes ago, Gquie said:

Does anyone know if soda water (club soda) is free? I always buy the coke package but found that on my most recent cruise I ordered soda water more than I did coke or the syrup drinks. 

 

I also went to the bar a couple times to order a club soda and they didn't even look at my card for the package. 

 

Soda water is not free, however it is included as part of the beverage packages.

[sparks1093]

2 hours ago, tennislvr8 said:

They will have some when you get off elevator right before you disembark selling water. 

How many bottles can you get with the drink package at one time?

[davekathy]

7 minutes ago, sparks1093 said:

How many bottles can you get with the drink package at one time?

We have when in the theater before the entertainment. One each for the show and one each to take back to our cabin. 

[tennislvr8]

39 minutes ago, davekathy said:

We have when in the theater before the entertainment. One each for the show and one each to take back to our cabin. 

2

 

48 minutes ago, sparks1093 said:

How many bottles can you get with the drink package at one time?

You can get two each time, sometimes they do it automatically if not just ask. 

[FrannyK]

Not worth it for us.  We cruised many times before the inception of the drink packages so we know what we spend on the average for drinks on our cruises.  The price of the drink package is well over what we would spend on our own.  We bring two bottles of wine at embarkation and don't deny ourselves any drinks and still come out way ahead.  Plus we aren't on the ship when in port.  I don't like feeling I have to drink a certain amount of drinks a day to get my money's worth.

[constable145]

23 hours ago, RCCL Fan said:

I'm going back and forth on whether to get it for our upcoming cruise...

 

We've got the pkg every year since it's been offered.  Typically I find we never drink what it costs.

This year I'm thinking of ditching it.

 

We have a 500 OBC  and the free drinks from diamond lounge.  I'm thinking --- that should be enough to cover our drinking. 

 

Typical drinks

 

Day 1   Welcome aboard Drink or 2 --  something after dinner or 2

 

First Sea Day:   3 by the pool  --- 2-3 more over coarse of the day/night

 

By Day 4 -- I feel my age and say I can't drink this much anymore and cut back dramatically  2 a day at best

 

Port days  even less.

My wife is about the same as me --- she'll hang a little longer.

 

Only reason I would get it ----  Bottled Water &  everyones excuse "Its nice to not have to worry about what you're spending"

 

I don't drink coffee or soda  --- so no advantage there. but we do love to grab the bottles of water everywhere.... especially when heading into port. 

 

It's a tough one ---- has anyone ditched it and relied on your OBC  ---- how did it play out for you?

No I haven't. 

 

Nor will I. It's a money saver for me.

[tinkr2]

9 hours ago, Big_G said:

Remember when a small minority here would call the drink package buyers drunks and alcoholics. Good times.

I just got called that in my fb group. He said it was impossible for a couple to drink 800 worth of alcohol in a week. I accept that challenge.😄

 

4 hours ago, FrannyK said:

Not worth it for us.  We cruised many times before the inception of the drink packages so we know what we spend on the average for drinks on our cruises.  The price of the drink package is well over what we would spend on our own.  We bring two bottles of wine at embarkation and don't deny ourselves any drinks and still come out way ahead.  Plus we aren't on the ship when in port.  I don't like feeling I have to drink a certain amount of drinks a day to get my money's worth.

 

There is some truth to that. I felt like I should drink more...to get my moneys worth. We were beat up by the 6th day.

Back when one person could get a drinks package, we did the experiment, I got one and my hubby did not but drank as usual. We came out about the same but he probably had a few of mine.

Now we base it on port days, if we have a bunch we do not get it. Lots of sea days and private islands, we get it. We are also diamond but thats not a great time for us. But we use it more when we do not have a package.

All that being said, I would not buy it given your stats.

[snaefell]

From what I have seen of drink prices on board RCI it would take less than half a dozen drinks a day to go past the cost of the drink package & thus make it worthwhile,in a way I am surprised that so many posters seem to not drink much at all on a cruise but I am also well aware that thousands cruise RCI & the number of posters on here is a very small percentage,perhaps those who do drink quite a bit are not inclined to own up!

[majorjan]

32 minutes ago, snaefell said:

From what I have seen of drink prices on board RCI it would take less than half a dozen drinks a day to go past the cost of the drink package & thus make it worthwhile,in a way I am surprised that so many posters seem to not drink much at all on a cruise but I am also well aware that thousands cruise RCI & the number of posters on here is a very small percentage,perhaps those who do drink quite a bit are not inclined to own up!

Exactly! Snaefell!  The price of one frozen Pina colada was $14 on my last RCL cruise, and I can see how a few drinks at that price exceeds the drink pkg. The diamond lounge and slow service for a couple of drinks does not make up for it. I have decided to get a drink pkg on my upcoming April Rhapsody cruise, and enjoy coffee, water, specialty drinks, wine, and not be shocked by the high prices ala carte.  

[sparks1093]

11 hours ago, davekathy said:

We have when in the theater before the entertainment. One each for the show and one each to take back to our cabin. 

 

11 hours ago, tennislvr8 said:

2

 

You can get two each time, sometimes they do it automatically if not just ask. 

Thanks, we like to take 6 or so with us for the day, depending on what we are doing so if we need to grab a couple as we leave that would be convenient.

[sparks1093]

6 hours ago, tinkr2 said:

I just got called that in my fb group. He said it was impossible for a couple to drink 800 worth of alcohol in a week. I accept that challenge.😄

 

 

There is some truth to that. I felt like I should drink more...to get my moneys worth. We were beat up by the 6th day.

Back when one person could get a drinks package, we did the experiment, I got one and my hubby did not but drank as usual. We came out about the same but he probably had a few of mine.

Now we base it on port days, if we have a bunch we do not get it. Lots of sea days and private islands, we get it. We are also diamond but thats not a great time for us. But we use it more when we do not have a package.

All that being said, I would not buy it given your stats.

For me it's not even can I drink enough alcohol to justify it. Two specialty coffees is as I understand it $10 and I can easily do two of those a day. That leaves $36 (we purchased the package at $46). That's three specialty drinks as I understand it. A fresh squeezed OJ and a milkshake here and there, yeah, I can do all that, even on a port day.

[BND]

We have only had a drink package one time and that was on Celebrity because it was "included".  The problem with that is that almost everyone on the cruise had the package and getting a drink at certain times (like sail away) was virtually impossible and we certainly didn't drink enough to make up for the actual cost.  But, we have never actually bought one and never will.  We have never spent anywhere near what the package costs and being D+, we have the evening happy hour.  I typically have maybe 1 drink during the day and we drink a "Starbucks" every morning.  If I feel like a soda, which is rare, I'll just pay for one.  As a result our on board bill has never been close to what the package for two would cost.  We also have at least 6 bottles of water provided to us in our cabin as one of our D+ amenities, and we drink the ships water and free drinks.  RCI makes a ton of money off of the packages since I would say most people don't drink as much as the package costs.  Some do, of course, but most don't.  The reason they offer it is because it does make them a lot of money.

Edited February 17, 2019 by BND

[Jasukkie]

It depends on the cruise for me. My next is a 14 nighter, the current package price comes to the same as the cost of the cruise including tax and grats so we are passing on the package. Yes, I can drink that much, easily. But I can also be very happy with a free afternoon cup of tea, and using my refillable water bottle. Hopefully, the 10 drink card will be available or the drink of the day is something we want to drink. 

 

In numbers terms, instead of $1500 on the package, planning on $500 for excursions/port cash, $500 bar tab (1 drink each per day+), and $500 saved.

[FrannyK]

12 hours ago, FrannyK said:

Not worth it for us.  We cruised many times before the inception of the drink packages so we know what we spend on the average for drinks on our cruises.  The price of the drink package is well over what we would spend on our own.  We bring two bottles of wine at embarkation and don't deny ourselves any drinks and still come out way ahead.  Plus we aren't on the ship when in port.  I don't like feeling I have to drink a certain amount of drinks a day to get my money's worth.

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.