Drinks Packages

[Javert1969]

Hi, we are looking at a cruise in the next few months.  We really enjoyed RC a few years ago, but my memory is that their drinks packages are very expensive whereas some of the other cruise lines we've travelled, the drinks package prices are much lower or even sometimes included in the price.

 

Is this still the case?

[Casino Comp Chick]

1 minute ago, Javert1969 said:

Hi, we are looking at a cruise in the next few months.  We really enjoyed RC a few years ago, but my memory is that their drinks packages are very expensive whereas some of the other cruise lines we've travelled, the drinks package prices are much lower or even sometimes included in the price.

 

Is this still the case?

It is expensive, around the $500 mark per person on my Anthem & Oasis sailings. I got lucky and paid $149 during the glitch a few months back.

[Clarea]

1 hour ago, Javert1969 said:

Hi, we are looking at a cruise in the next few months.  We really enjoyed RC a few years ago, but my memory is that their drinks packages are very expensive whereas some of the other cruise lines we've travelled, the drinks package prices are much lower or even sometimes included in the price.

 

Is this still the case?

 

Around $60 per day, plus 18%.  If you watch the Cruise Planner, you might catch a somewhat lower price.

[icsys]

Currently the 'UK' price varies between £40 to £47 per day per person plus 18%   

 

Taking the average price of £44 pp, for a weeks cruise it would be around £360 pp inclusive of gratuity.

 

[dogs4fun]

We don't purchase the beverage packages - we don't drink enough to justify the cost. 

[cruisegirl1976]

It all depends how much you drink if it is worth it.. every person is different.. , for me and my hubby it is a must .. but we like to drink .. 😂

[dogs4fun]

1 hour ago, cruisegirl1976 said:

It all depends how much you drink if it is worth it.. every person is different

Agree and I would add that it also depends on your cruise itinerary. If you are on a Caribbean cruise or a TA or TP cruise, there would be more of an opportunity to enjoy cocktails. As we cruise almost exclusively on ships that with Europe itineraries, our cruise itineraries are very port intensive - very little time is spent aboard ship except on the occasional sea day. Thus, very little time to enjoy cocktails and make a beverage package a justifiable expenditure.

[cruisegirl1976]

9 minutes ago, dogs4fun said:

Agree and I would add that it also depends on your cruise itinerary. If you are on a Caribbean cruise or a TA or TP cruise, there would be more of an opportunity to enjoy cocktails. As we cruise almost exclusively on ships that with Europe itineraries, our cruise itineraries are very port intensive - very little time is spent aboard ship except on the occasional sea day. Thus, very little time to enjoy cocktails and make a beverage package a justifiable expenditure.

I have never had the opportunity to go on a European cruise.. to long of a flight..lol.. so I stick to the caribbean ones.. and yes it all depends on the itineraries 🙂

[MiniChunks]

We got the drink package for our March sailing for $45/pp/day + 18% grats. That's the cheapest ive seen it(not including the $18 glitch) in the past few years. I'm sure there are exceptions to this, but this is what i've seen. 

[Gr123]

4 hours ago, Casino Comp Chick said:

It is expensive, around the $500 mark per person on my Anthem & Oasis sailings. I got lucky and paid $149 during the glitch a few months back.

Did you find that the cocktails etc were covered on your anthem cruise. 

I keep seeing that the package covers up to $12 a drink but the cocktails and wine glasses are showing in pictures of the menu as above this mark? 

[MainerRN92]

8 hours ago, Gr123 said:

Did you find that the cocktails etc were covered on your anthem cruise. 

I keep seeing that the package covers up to $12 a drink but the cocktails and wine glasses are showing in pictures of the menu as above this mark? 

I can't answer for Anthem, but on Harmony my husband and I would frequently order the specialty $13 drinks figuring paying the difference would not be a big deal, and we were never charged anything extra, the expense on our onboard accounts would show $0.00 at each card swipe. And this was in different bars with different bartenders. This was just our experience, YMMV based on the staff you get. We did find "our bar" by the 2nd day that we would frequent most, and made friends with the bartenders there, and it paid off. Once they knew us we would get alcohol upgrades, like from house tequila to Patron silver, this one guy who was a mixing master would just see my husband as we walked in and start making him some fun drink off menu because he knew he was adventurous. This was in Boleros and the bartender was Silviu. We tried all the bars but it pays to find one and stick to it. And we don't tip until the end of the cruise, so this was all done for no incentive. He got a very nice reward on the last night 😉

[Casino Comp Chick]

I also did not have any upcharges and I asked for better brands but I stuck to mojitos, bloody Mary’s, bottled beers and canned soda. 

[snaefell]

For our recent repo cruise on Quantum we would have paid over £1100 for the 12 nights,we decided against as it just seemed way too much,given that every other day was a port day made it seem even less good value for money,in the end we bought drinks as & when we wanted & ended up with a bill for around $200 each,as has been said the time spent ashore can make a big difference.

[DallasGuy75219]

18 hours ago, Gr123 said:

Did you find that the cocktails etc were covered on your anthem cruise. 

I keep seeing that the package covers up to $12 a drink but the cocktails and wine glasses are showing in pictures of the menu as above this mark? 

It's $13 on some ships (at least Harmony in October and Oasis in November).  

 

If ordering cocktails off the menu, you also have to watch to make sure the bartenders don't use rail (cheap) liquor instead of the more expensive brands that the $12 and $13 drinks are supposed to be made with per the cocktail menu.

[lesley74]

We're doing a 5 day out of Singapore on Quantum. The drink package is £41pppd just now, so comes out as nearly £500 for both of us for 5 days. We have only one sea day. Considering taking on 2 bottles of wine, and some water, and buying the soda package. Any thoughts? 

 

I'm conscious that we could easily drink over the amount, but I think I'd be making sure I drank just to get my money's worth. Makes more sense to make sure we have soft drinks, as we would generally have 3 of those per day (at least) and I could always have one in the evening after dinner etc too. But do they make you carry the cup around and do you have to sit with the big cup at dinner for example?

[icsys]

No, you don't have to carry the cup around, unless you want to.  They are primarily for the freestyle self serve machines.

 

Any bar will give you soda by the glass.

 

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, lesley74 said:

Any thoughts?

Skip the package on board and have some drinks in the ports.

[Norwich Cruiser]

2 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Skip the package on board and have some drinks in the ports.

Great advice

[SandiLynn]

First time in twenty years Royal cruiser here. I thought most drinks were included in Unlimited Drink package. I just bought it for Majesty at $48 pp. If I have to still pay for drinks  that seems to much. Will I have to pay additional  charge for Titos and diet sprite or frozen drinks?

[lovemylab]

My experience has been that most cruiselines that include the drink price in the fare are often charging a hire price for the cabins.

 

If you login to your cruise planner you can see what the price is for your particular sailing.  We booked the drink packages during the Black Friday sale which allowed us to save some money.  The breakeven point for the price we paid is 4 alcoholic drinks per day.  When we factor in coffee, freshly squeezed juice and bottled water we'll definitely come out ahead.   This is for a European cruise but the sailaway for most of the ports is 6pm.

[clubbs]

I have only been in one cruise and that was 15 yrs ago. They did not offer a drink package then. Do both people in the cabin have to get the package?  My wife drinks but not enough to justify the package. 

[pattak619]

Does the d+ discount on board still exist

[icsys]

39 minutes ago, SandiLynn said:

First time in twenty years Royal cruiser here. I thought most drinks were included in Unlimited Drink package. I just bought it for Majesty at $48 pp. If I have to still pay for drinks  that seems to much. Will I have to pay additional  charge for Titos and diet sprite or frozen drinks?

 

The UDP includes all non alcoholic drinks and alcoholic / frozen alcoholic drinks up to a set price, usually $12 or $14 dependent on ship.

Any drink above that price, you are required to pay the difference.

 

21 minutes ago, clubbs said:

I have only been in one cruise and that was 15 yrs ago. They did not offer a drink package then. Do both people in the cabin have to get the package?  My wife drinks but not enough to justify the package. 

 

Ahh... back in the day when drink prices were reasonable.

Yes... all adults in cabin must purchase

 

16 minutes ago, pattak619 said:

Does the d+ discount on board still exist

 

Yes... 30%

Edited January 4, 2020 by icsys

[Nunagoras]

11 minutes ago, lovemylab said:

My experience has been that most cruiselines that include the drink price in the fare are often charging a hire price for the cabins.

 

If you login to your cruise planner you can see what the price is for your particular sailing.  We booked the drink packages during the Black Friday sale which allowed us to save some money.  The breakeven point for the price we paid is 4 alcoholic drinks per day.  When we factor in coffee, freshly squeezed juice and bottled water we'll definitely come out ahead.   This is for a European cruise but the sailaway for most of the ports is 6pm.

That's it, exactly. If one factors in coffee, freshly squeezed juice and bottled water, one doesn't need 5 or more alcoholic drinks to make it valuable. I don't know for sure the current values, perhaps someone on those boards might to make those accounts with the current prices, but something similar to my own daily driver that goes on the likes of 1 freshly squeezed juice + 1 large specialty coffee + 2 small specialty coffees + 1 non alcoholic cocktail + 2 or 3 bottles of water + the odd soda for dinner, that alone might to justify the non alcoholic package alone and even for the alcoholic drinkers it might to give some value to the account.

 

Have a nice day!... 🙂 

[fdthird]

Multiple back to backs on Royal...have never had to pay any additional charge unless we order drinks in pineapples, etc.  drink Grey Goose martinis, Captain and coke, wines, etc.