No drink package for us.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

1 hour ago, hazeleyes46 said:

It all depends on how much you drink. I find if makes more financial sense for me because it is an opportunity for me to try different drinks and if I don't like them, I can get something else. It is so easy to drink a few by the pool in the hot sun which cost $12 and $13/piece.

Yea, because if you buy by drink, you HAVE to finish everything you purchase.  People keep bringing this up as a concern, and I'm sorry, I don't think it flies.  First, what would happen if you order a drink, before you leave the bar, try it, and if you don't like it, tell the bartender and ask for something else?

 

Second, I get not wanting to "waste" money by ordering a second drink.  But if you don't drink enough to break even on the package, you're "wasting money" (because you paid for more than you got).  

 

The one time I got the drink package, I was so worried about "getting my monies worth", that I drank more than I would have without the package.  Then again, I don't care about getting buzzed, much less drunk (cue all those who say "I don't get drunk"), so I *HIGHLY* doubt we'd spend extra for an alcohol package in the future.  

[Starry Eyes]

1 hour ago, gumshoe958 said:

It would be interesting to know how the introduction of the C&A drink vouchers has impacted on package sales. I never buy a package any more, whereas I often did before. 

The vouchers are enough for us.  But even before the vouchers, the Diamond happy hour kept us from buying drink packages when they were introduced.  As we rarely drink alcohol before happy hour, the math  did not make sense for us.  If we were knocking back fruity drinks or beers  by the pool all day, the drink package might make sense.

[hazeleyes46]

1 minute ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

Yea, because if you buy by drink, you HAVE to finish everything you purchase.  People keep bringing this up as a concern, and I'm sorry, I don't think it flies.  First, what would happen if you order a drink, before you leave the bar, try it, and if you don't like it, tell the bartender and ask for something else?

 

Second, I get not wanting to "waste" money by ordering a second drink.  But if you don't drink enough to break even on the package, you're "wasting money" (because you paid for more than you got).  

 

The one time I got the drink package, I was so worried about "getting my monies worth", that I drank more than I would have without the package.  Then again, I don't care about getting buzzed, much less drunk (cue all those who say "I don't get drunk"), so I *HIGHLY* doubt we'd spend extra for an alcohol package in the future.  

Yes, it all depends on how much you think you will drink and if you are just drinking to make it worth it. For me it is worth it but for my husband who might just have a few all week, it is not. 

[AeroBaldness]

18 minutes ago, Broons77 said:

 

Just make sure when you do the math, you're not just including the booze.  It's all the other stuff like juice at breakfast, couple of bottled waters, etc, that probably pushes most folks over the break even line.

Indeed.  Incredibly excited how the math ginned out for our upcoming Alaska cruise in late May. I don't recall the specifics, but we were able to stack  a BoGo 1/2 Off with a % off that landed us at $66 per/person/per/day inclusive of tips.  Total no-brainer.

[hannibal54]

7 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Not suite lounge happy hour 

 

I read about this on another thread after I had posted.

[Intent2smile]

11 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

I'd be curious how many people do the math after the fact to see if the drink package actually ended up making financial sense.

We took into account all the drinks we had on our last cruise not only alcohol but also soda, fresh squeezed OJ an specialty coffee and it equaled out for us.

 

The main reason we purchase the DBP is honestly the ability to prepay and not having to keep track of what we are spending while we are on vacation.  That to me is worth it even if we did not even out.

[RFerrington]

1 hour ago, Intent2smile said:

 

The main reason we purchase the DBP is honestly the ability to prepay and not having to keep track of what we are spending while we are on vacation.  That to me is worth it even if we did not even out.

This has always been our philosophy as well….but honestly, at these prices I think I will have to reconsider.  Between D+ vouchers and free drinks in the casino, we’re just going to have to pay-as-we-go unless the prices come back to earth.

[vjmatty]

I tried to get my money's worth out of the drink package in October on Oasis, and ended up getting wicked heartburn halfway through the 7-day sailing.  Hubby could probably still use it, between his espressos, water bottles, G&T's and the wine we both have at meals, but since they don't sell them singly it won't be worth it for us.  I'll probably just get him a couple of the Bombay packages from the gift site and some of the bottles of wine for both of us from the Cruise Planner.

[Itchy&Scratchy]

21 hours ago, Broons77 said:

 

Just make sure when you do the math, you're not just including the booze.  It's all the other stuff like juice at breakfast, couple of bottled waters, etc, that probably pushes most folks over the break even line.

or into a diabetic coma. 🙂

[BND]

As I've said many times, the UDP is about RCI making money, not cruisers saving money. First, most people end up not drinking enough to make up for the retail cost.  Second, RCI's profit is based on the price of the package minus their "wholesale" cost, so they always, always make money on the packages.

 

Most people find by day 3 or 4 it can be hard to get the retail value. We don't even use all our D+ drinks everyday and one is usually coffee. When we paid for drinks when we wanted one, we never spent anywhere near what packages cost.  I can't wrap my head around buying it so you don't have to "keep track" when you're spending so much more ahead of time.  Of course, this is why RCI offers the packages.  Believe me, if they didn't make a nice profit, they wouldn't offer them. They're not selling them for the passengers benefit.

[karena1]

On 4/25/2022 at 6:52 AM, forgotmyCCname said:

Yup. The 4 drinks plus the happy hour are more than we needed. The "sale" for our upcoming Allure 6 night in May , same one we took in Februaury, is 12 dollars more per day than it was 2 months ago. Crazy.

your 4 drink a day are used at happy hour now.  No more "free" drinks in the D Lounge.  You get a drink, it goes against your vouchers.

 

[karena1]

12 minutes ago, BND said:

As I've said many times, the UDP is about RCI making money, not cruisers saving money. First, most people end up not drinking enough to make up for the retail cost.  Second, RCI's profit is based on the price of the package minus their "wholesale" cost, so they always, always make money on the packages.

 

Most people find by day 3 or 4 it can be hard to get the retail value. We don't even use all our D+ drinks everyday and one is usually coffee. When we paid for drinks when we wanted one, we never spent anywhere near what packages cost.  I can't wrap my head around buying it so you don't have to "keep track" when you're spending so much more ahead of time.  Of course, this is why RCI offers the packages.  Believe me, if they didn't make a nice profit, they wouldn't offer them. They're not selling them for the passengers benefit.

We are D+, almost Pinnacle, and still get the package.  Just part of the cruise for us.  Love the convenience and between 2 or 3 specialty coffees in the morning, lots of bottled water, soda each morning and drinks throughout the day, we more than make the package pay for itself.  Nice for us though, is right now we get 30% off, but when june comes and we hit Pinnacle, we get 40% off, so makes it much more affordable.

 

[Starry Eyes]

2 minutes ago, karena1 said:

your 4 drink a day are used at happy hour now.  No more "free" drinks in the D Lounge.  You get a drink, it goes against your vouchers.

 

Some of these folks specified that they are staying in suites on these cruises, so you need to know which happy hour they will be attending… The one you quoted was, I believe, referring to the SL happy hour.  While vouchers are used for DL, they are not used for suite guests in the SL.

[karena1]

1 minute ago, Starry Eyes said:

Some of these folks specified that they are staying in suites on these cruises, so you need to know which happy hour they will be attending… The one you quoted was, I believe, referring to the SL happy hour.  While vouchers are used for DL, they are not used for suite guests in the SL.

yeah I knew that, but just wanted to clarify that for D Lounge they are used.

[RKHOOKER]

At $110 AUD per person per night over 14 nights it’s a no for us.  Even the UDP is over $52 AUD per person per night, so, another no.

[SRF]

23 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

I'd be curious how many people do the math after the fact to see if the drink package actually ended up making financial sense.

 

We have cruised with and without a package.  We did spend less without the package, but also drank less.  Each time we ordered a drink, we considered whether we wanted it or not.  It is supposed be a holiday, not making decisions. 😄

 

Plus, it was annoying to have to wait for the receipt and sign it every time.

[sgmn]

Luckily everyone's different.

I'm happy with ships free iced water, have my own refillable bottle. Happy with free coffee, tea, hot chocolate, herb tea during the day.  Maybe a beer or two in port. Then a few diamond drinks in the evening, and if I go over I'll pay as I go, got to be cheaper than the drink package. 

Generally I prefer wine or gin and tonic over sweet cocktails 

The all inclusive model like Celebrity is all well and good if you're a drinker but why should you pay for something you don't use if you're not.

[Jasukkie]

I liked the way Virgin Voyages does it, purchase a bar tab amount ahead of time with an added bonus for pre-paying. I don't remember the specifics, but something like pay $350 for a $400 tab. Go crazy on one or two nights, don't drink another day, whatever works for you. Much higher beverage quality over there too. Royal's unlimited package does seem popular though, and seeing just how high they can go is just business. 

 

 

[CruisingSince1982]

I will bring 2 bottles of wine and go back to smuggling the rest. 

[smplybcause]

On 4/25/2022 at 12:53 AM, little britain said:

Usually a BOGOHP offer on first day onboard $78+$39

 

The regular price has been $88 on board on my last two cruises. FYI so it's $88+$44.

[mattb31]

When I booked our Oasis cruise (in like Feb) it was $74.99 per day. Royal ran a sale two weeks ago where it was down to $60.99 per person per day which wasn't too bad.

[Jasukkie]

9 minutes ago, CruisingSince1982 said:

I will bring 2 bottles of wine and go back to smuggling the rest. 

It's really a great deal when the mixer, umm refreshment, package is on sale. 

[Itchy&Scratchy]

1 hour ago, SRF said:

Each time we ordered a drink, we considered whether we wanted it or not. 

isn't it how it's supposed to work? Do you usually order drinks you don't want? 🙂

[Scoobydobe7]

On 4/25/2022 at 7:04 AM, hannibal54 said:

 

I have read on other CC threads that those happy hour drinks now count against your 4 drinks.

Not if you are in a suite, BUT I have also read "pinnacles" in the suite lounge (not in a suite) have had to use their vouchers....

[rudeney]

47 minutes ago, smplybcause said:

 

The regular price has been $88 on board on my last two cruises. FYI so it's $88+$44.

That's better than the current BOGO for our next cruise - it's $70/pp after the discount, so $140, compared to $132.  Not a huge difference, but almost $60 for a 7-night cruise.