Never done Cheers, should I this time?

[crescami]

Ok so  I have never done Cheers before because my mother doesn't drink that much and it was never worth it when one person didn't drink much. We usually just get a bottle for the room and buy drinks at the bar sporadically. However with the recent drink price increases, I am wondering if it is worth it. My mother also has the casino free drinks this cruise as well. 2 of us, 6 day cruise out of Galveston with 3 port days. Any suggestions? ( ps I also bought the Chef's table as a surprise for my mother, so one night i'll also have plenty of wine with dinner)

[Stick93]

You would only be buying for 5 days as they don’t sell the first day from Texas. If your mom gets the drink card from casino does that mean you would only have to buy one cheers package???

If so  - it’s a 5x51.99 plus 18% for just you. Only you can answer but you seem to fine without it as you have a system and will be cheaper. But if you want to try it and you only have to buy one package it’s not going to set you back that much. 

 

 

[crescami]

35 minutes ago, Stick93 said:

You would only be buying for 5 days as they don’t sell the first day from Texas. If your mom gets the drink card from casino does that mean you would only have to buy one cheers package???

If so  - it’s a 5x51.99 plus 18% for just you. Only you can answer but you seem to fine without it as you have a system and will be cheaper. But if you want to try it and you only have to buy one package it’s not going to set you back that much. 

 

 

Would still have to buy for both since the free drinks are only in the casino with a Hot Streak promo. 

[FTLCruiseGal]

Even with drinks on us card, both need to purchase Cheers.  You would need to figure out which way would be best for you.  Do you both get drinks on us, or just your mom?  Remember that each of you can bring on one bottle of wine at boarding, so those two bottles plus chef’s table, Cheers might not be a good purchase for you.  Again, just my opinion; the decision would ultimately be up to you.

Edited September 5, 2019 by FTLCruiseGal

[Stick93]

Doesn’t seem like this is for you based on your question and they way you asked it. It’s $614 for the two of you and your mom can drink in the casino. Plus you have the wine. 

My advise - bring two more bottles of wine, but the bottle you always do and then get drinks as you want - you will surly be way ahead of the cheers package. 

[ishap]

It doesn't seem worth it in this case.

 

What is the drink price increase you are speaking of?

[crewsweeper]

On past cruises have you and your Mom ever drank enough to total over $500 on your S&S cards on a 4-5 day cruise,  with tips?

 

If not, then don't get Cheers.   

[CruisingViper]

It's probably not worth it if what you have now is working for you. Especially if your mother has the casino card and can get most of her drinking done there.

 

I think almost everyone should try cheers once though. You may have to book a cruise with more people, and have one be an under 21 relative. Then you share a room with them and your mom shares with the other and you can get cheers just for yourself. 

[RandomUser123]

Given what you are saying it is not worth it. 

[mom2tcdx2]

You mention recent drink price increases - does someone have current bar menus or pricing?  I am mostly interest in what kind of increase would have been at the Alchemy Bar?  I am kind of one the fence about the drink package for our 6 day cruise.  Though honestly my husband and I can both either drink or not drink.  We can certainly enjoy a cruise and only have 2-3 drinks a day, or we could have the drink package and order more.  Though honestly almost thinking of just using what the drink package would have cost and just ordering and seeing if we go over that or not.  I would just hate to find out that we would have gone over, though when I don't have the package I become more frugal of what I would order than when I have the package.  

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

7 hours ago, crescami said:

Ok so  I have never done Cheers before because my mother doesn't drink that much and it was never worth it when one person didn't drink much. We usually just get a bottle for the room and buy drinks at the bar sporadically. However with the recent drink price increases, I am wondering if it is worth it. My mother also has the casino free drinks this cruise as well. 2 of us, 6 day cruise out of Galveston with 3 port days. Any suggestions? ( ps I also bought the Chef's table as a surprise for my mother, so one night i'll also have plenty of wine with dinner)

I get the soda package and when they have specials for the 2oz shooters. I put one in my soda. Get OJ and put one in it. If you like frozen drinks. Just by one or two. My wife likes the coffee and buying 2 or three is far less expensive than any package. She might have a glass of wine during the trip. Nothing else.

[VentureMan_2000]

I believe Alchemy is about $11 plus 18% tip ($2) on average... so $13 a drink.  You would beed 5 drinks a day per person to break even.

[mom2tcdx2]

1 hour ago, VentureMan_2000 said:

I believe Alchemy is about $11 plus 18% tip ($2) on average... so $13 a drink.  You would beed 5 drinks a day per person to break even.

 I do believe $10.95 was the price on our cruise back in January, wasn't sure if they had gone up recently or not.  I know they periodically ran specials of $1 off sometimes depending on different things.  

[indygirl76]

3 hours ago, mom2tcdx2 said:

You mention recent drink price increases - does someone have current bar menus or pricing?  I am mostly interest in what kind of increase would have been at the Alchemy Bar?  I am kind of one the fence about the drink package for our 6 day cruise.  Though honestly my husband and I can both either drink or not drink.  We can certainly enjoy a cruise and only have 2-3 drinks a day, or we could have the drink package and order more.  Though honestly almost thinking of just using what the drink package would have cost and just ordering and seeing if we go over that or not.  I would just hate to find out that we would have gone over, though when I don't have the package I become more frugal of what I would order than when I have the package.  

Check out @Saint Greg's "Live From" review from last week (ish). He's got all the menus. 🙂

[Saint Greg]

32 minutes ago, indygirl76 said:

Check out @Saint Greg's "Live From" review from last week (ish). He's got all the menus. 🙂

 

Actually the menus would be easier to find here:

 

https://saintgregtravel.com/menus/

 

 

[PhillyFan33579]

2 hours ago, mom2tcdx2 said:

 I do believe $10.95 was the price on our cruise back in January, wasn't sure if they had gone up recently or not.  I know they periodically ran specials of $1 off sometimes depending on different things.  

 

We got off Liberty today. Alchemy drinks are still $10.95 ($12.92 with tip). I know the $12.92 price well because I was charged it multiple times on the 4th day of the cruise. We had Cheers, but there was a software issue that lasted most of the day/night that resulted in passengers with Cheers getting charged for drinks. The problem was corrected by early the next day, with all the charged drinks reversed. 

[indygirl76]

56 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

 

We got off Liberty today. Alchemy drinks are still $10.95 ($12.92 with tip). I know the $12.92 price well because I was charged it multiple times on the 4th day of the cruise. We had Cheers, but there was a software issue that lasted most of the day/night that resulted in passengers with Cheers getting charged for drinks. The problem was corrected by early the next day, with all the charged drinks reversed. 

That was the first day of the "extended cruise," right? That makes sense - the packages are probably keyed to end on XX date for the regular cruise. (NCL is even worse; that board has a bunch of posts from people on the extended Breakaway cruise. Apparently, their CABIN KEYS stopped working - they had room stewards posted in every hallway to open doors for guests. Oy.)

[JQTravels]

Also if you are doing any shore excursions factor any time you will be off the boat, you lose money by leaving the boat for an extended period of time.

[crescami]

That St. Gregs website was super helpful! Thanks!. Since I would be drinking for 2 basically, on port days that would be like 10 drinks just by myself just to break even. Even with the price hikes, I think I will stick with my plan. 

[Joebucks]

Nope

 

Never worry about the individual charges. Just what your end result would be either way.

[Ellusionz]

As everyones said make sure you can drink the minimum OR be on a ship that has every bar option/drink option possible and make the use of that plan to the max and try every drink available (not just alcoholic but cuban sodas, coffees, etc) 🙂

[ed01106]

I don’t view this as a math question, but a what makes my cruise more enjoyable.

 

Downside of not buying:  Every time I buy a drink I will notice and feel slightly guilty about the price.  Odds are I will drink less than what I would hanging out by the pool at home, where make your own strawberry daiquiri or beer bought by the case from grocery store is a tenth the price. This price consciousness does slightly negatively impact my vacation. 

 

Downside  of buy:  I will be determined not only to get my money’s worth but to absolutely maximize the value.  This mean I will be dinking considerably more than I would drink at home.  This will result in horrendous hangovers, and will severely negatively impact my vacation.  

 

So both have downsides for me.  But the downside of buying is worse.

[Joe817]

We did not do the cheers package, We could not justify the cost. We did the 5 day on the Dream back in July. Wife & I had as much as we wanted every day. And the total of what we spent, according to our settlement sheet, was $197.60. Honestly, I could have another drink or even 2, every day, but that would still not even come close to breaking even had we purchased the Cheers pkg.

[Stick93]

38 minutes ago, Joe817 said:

We did not do the cheers package, We could not justify the cost. We did the 5 day on the Dream back in July. Wife & I had as much as we wanted every day. And the total of what we spent, according to our settlement sheet, was $197.60. Honestly, I could have another drink or even 2, every day, but that would still not even come close to breaking even had we purchased the Cheers pkg.

If you had as much as you wanted and spent under $200 - cheers was for sure not for you. Hope you had a great trip! 

[pohlerbear]

We only get Cheers on 3-4 day cruises.  Anything like her then that, we got sick of drinking and feeling like we had to get our money's worth. Just our preference