Getting Cheers for only one person in the room?

[hum4acruise]

I drink but my wife doesn't drink alcohol, never has wanted to and can't due to meds she is on. I have heard Carnival may allow exceptions in cases such as this by contacting customer support on the phone. Anyone ever accomplished this, or would i just be wasting my time on the phone?

[1kaper]

We called when I was pregnant. Was told we could with a doctors note. 
On board they would not allow only one. Even with the doctors note that I was pregnant.  
 

John Heald posted recently that they don’t give exemptions. I’ve seen maybe two people on here say they’ve gotten one. 
 

I wouldn’t bother calling. It’s going to come down to who you deal with on board. And I wouldn’t expect it. Good luck. 

[mz-s]

You have to weigh the cost of Cheers for two versus paying by the drink for just you. Cheers covers more than just alcohol. You and your wife can enjoy unlimited soda, energy drinks, specialty coffee, etc., as part of your Cheers purchase.

[kdr69]

13 minutes ago, hum4acruise said:

I have heard Carnival may allow exceptions in cases such as this by contacting customer support on the phone

You heard wrong unfortunately

[1025cruise]

There are no exceptions to the rule that everyone in the room must purchase Cheers.

[Elaine5715]

The ONLY Exception is when one person has been given a specific casino offer where the casino has purchased the CHEERS/Full Ship Drinks Everywhere for one person in the cabin.  Since one person already has CHEERS, the second person will be allowed to purchase CHEERS onboard.  This is not the Free Drinks in the Casino While Playing Offer.  If one person just has the Drinks on Us while playing offer and the other person wants CHEERS, both would be required to purchase CHEERS

[jakers]

When you ask if Carnival will make exceptions to a rule, every person who has been denied an exception will say they don't. Most people who have been granted an exception will keep quiet so they don't upset the apple cart. If you purchase Cheers online prior to your cruise, you are talking to a computer and it is programmed to only allow the drink package to be purchased by all adults in the room. Obviously, you will lose the pre-cruise discount if you wait until you are onboard. If you call prior to your cruise they will tell you "no exceptions". Why have a policy if you are not going to stick with it.

In our case we have obtained exceptions by going to customer service once we are onboard and asking them to speak with the beverage manager. My wife does not drink alcohol for religious and health reasons. She has ALWAYS been required to buy the next lower level drink package. If you don't want to do that then they will rightly assume that you just want to share.

[kdr69]

8 hours ago, jakers said:

She has ALWAYS been required to buy the next lower level drink package.

That would be Bubbles the soda package? As for exceptions ive never asked nor been granted one but when commenting i can only give the policy as its currently written.  If there are persons such as yourself that have gotten it changed then kudos to you.

[firefly333]

9 hours ago, jakers said:

When you ask if Carnival will make exceptions to a rule, every person who has been denied an exception will say they don't. Most people who have been granted an exception will keep quiet so they don't upset the apple cart. If you purchase Cheers online prior to your cruise, you are talking to a computer and it is programmed to only allow the drink package to be purchased by all adults in the room. Obviously, you will lose the pre-cruise discount if you wait until you are onboard. If you call prior to your cruise they will tell you "no exceptions". Why have a policy if you are not going to stick with it.

In our case we have obtained exceptions by going to customer service once we are onboard and asking them to speak with the beverage manager. My wife does not drink alcohol for religious and health reasons. She has ALWAYS been required to buy the next lower level drink package. If you don't want to do that then they will rightly assume that you just want to share.

That sounds like rcl not carnival. Rcl has  refreshment pkg for mock cocktails. Carnival doesnt.

[Schoifmom]

9 hours ago, jakers said:

She has ALWAYS been required to buy the next lower level drink package. If you don't want to do that then they will rightly assume that you just want to share.

 

Although I can see that you have sailed on Carnival, your answer here leads me to believe that you are talking about your experience on another line.  Carnival only offers 2 beverage packages, Cheers and Bottomless Bubbles.  BB is not considered a "lower level" drink package because it only includes soda and juice, whereas Cheers will include everything (in essence).  There is no "in-between" package on Carnival.  They don't allow exceptions because Cheers is the only package that will include all non-alcoholic drinks, not just soda/juice.

[jakers]

2 hours ago, Schoifmom said:

 

Although I can see that you have sailed on Carnival, your answer here leads me to believe that you are talking about your experience on another line.  Carnival only offers 2 beverage packages, Cheers and Bottomless Bubbles.  BB is not considered a "lower level" drink package because it only includes soda and juice, whereas Cheers will include everything (in essence).  There is no "in-between" package on Carnival.  They don't allow exceptions because Cheers is the only package that will include all non-alcoholic drinks, not just soda/juice.

You are correct in your assertion. We have sailed on both HAL and Carnival since the restart. On Hal we are able to purchase the coffee package, but on Carnival we purchase BB.

[bsjcb2000]

We cruised Carnival December 2021.  My husband doesn't drink alcohol at all - medical reasons and personal reasons.  But there are true medical reasons. I tried calling (and "chatting") with Carnival support and never got an answer at all.  On boarding the ship, we went straight to customer service, asked and was told with a doctors note the would let me buy Cheers and him buy bubbles (or whatever the soda package is)   Unfortunately, we didn't have time before the ship left port and we lost service to get the letter.  We ended up not buying the cheers package for me (he still got the soda package) and just paid out of pocket for my drinks.   I drank as much as I wanted, and never came close to the cost of the cheers package.  Try being prepared w/ a Doctors note and at worst, plan to pay out of pocket for your drinks.

 

[Eli_6]

They allow an exception if the other cruiser is under 21.  We often book a kid with each adult so I can buy cheers because my husband isn't much of a drinker. However, I still don't know if Cheers is worth it even with just me buying it...

[mz-s]

52 minutes ago, Eli_6 said:

They allow an exception if the other cruiser is under 21.  We often book a kid with each adult so I can buy cheers because my husband isn't much of a drinker. However, I still don't know if Cheers is worth it even with just me buying it...

 

That's not an exception, guests under 21 cannot buy Cheers period.

[cruizergal70]

2 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

Guest Services are not politically correct Americans and they very might be Muslin 

The lies and offensive deceit of that earlier post has nothing to do with "political correctness. "

[Illbcruzn4life]

On 5/1/2022 at 11:53 PM, jakers said:

When you ask if Carnival will make exceptions to a rule, every person who has been denied an exception will say they don't. Most people who have been granted an exception will keep quiet so they don't upset the apple cart. If you purchase Cheers online prior to your cruise, you are talking to a computer and it is programmed to only allow the drink package to be purchased by all adults in the room. Obviously, you will lose the pre-cruise discount if you wait until you are onboard. If you call prior to your cruise they will tell you "no exceptions". Why have a policy if you are not going to stick with it.

In our case we have obtained exceptions by going to customer service once we are onboard and asking them to speak with the beverage manager. My wife does not drink alcohol for religious and health reasons. She has ALWAYS been required to buy the next lower level drink package. If you don't want to do that then they will rightly assume that you just want to share.

I've heard of this on Royal but never on Carnival. Kudos to you.🙂

[Ilovesailaway]

Why cruise with Carnival if you don't like their rules? If only one adult in the room wants open bar than book with a line that allows that.

I know that question is a bit rhetorical. I believe most people chose Carnival because it costs less. Saving money is also most likely the motivation behind cheers for one. 

If I needed to cruise with Carnival and I didn't want to spend for cheers I would carry on wine, order a bottle of booze or 2 for the cabin, and take advantage of the happy hours and drink specials on board.

[DisneyVegasDad]

So I have kind of a a few questions. But let me explain first.  My wife and I both booked separate casino offers and both have one of our kids in the room with us.  I was actually able to book at the same time and get our rooms connected just because those were both still open. Both are kids are young and under 21.

 

Since they are separated and under different names, can one of us get the drink package?  We would likely sign one kid up for bubbles too.  I know we would absolutely get our money's worth. 

 

Also, I know there is a 5 minute wait between each drink.  Is it going to be a pain trying to get both of us a drink? And what other issues will we have at certain locations making this happen? We aren't going to drink heavily, but enough to make it worthwhile.

 

If she wants her own drink at dinner and locations that are hard to get us both a drink, we are okay paying out of pocket for those circumstances.  I am not trying to be "cheap", but trying to know what to expect and get good value out of this.

[Hoosierpop]

6 minutes ago, DisneyVegasDad said:

So I have kind of a a few questions. But let me explain first.  My wife and I both booked separate casino offers and both have one of our kids in the room with us.  I was actually able to book at the same time and get our rooms connected just because those were both still open. Both are kids are young and under 21.

 

Since they are separated and under different names, can one of us get the drink package?  We would likely sign one kid up for bubbles too.  I know we would absolutely get our money's worth. 

 

Also, I know there is a 5 minute wait between each drink.  Is it going to be a pain trying to get both of us a drink? And what other issues will we have at certain locations making this happen? We aren't going to drink heavily, but enough to make it worthwhile.

 

If she wants her own drink at dinner and locations that are hard to get us both a drink, we are okay paying out of pocket for those circumstances.  I am not trying to be "cheap", but trying to know what to expect and get good value out of this.

I would think if you are in different rooms with people under 21, yes, one of you could get the package. How hard will it be to get you both drinks on that one packages? Hard if you are both there and want it at the same time. I’m not going to say I’ve never shared a drink with someone. But I wouldn’t try and do that for an entire cruise. Pain in the butt and, to be totally honest, you are 100% being cheap if you go that route. Not judging. But it is cheating the system.

Edited May 4, 2022 by Hoosierpop

[1kaper]

4 minutes ago, DisneyVegasDad said:

So I have kind of a a few questions. But let me explain first.  My wife and I both booked separate casino offers and both have one of our kids in the room with us.  I was actually able to book at the same time and get our rooms connected just because those were both still open. Both are kids are young and under 21.

 

Since they are separated and under different names, can one of us get the drink package?  We would likely sign one kid up for bubbles too.  I know we would absolutely get our money's worth. 

 

Also, I know there is a 5 minute wait between each drink.  Is it going to be a pain trying to get both of us a drink? And what other issues will we have at certain locations making this happen? We aren't going to drink heavily, but enough to make it worthwhile.

 

If she wants her own drink at dinner and locations that are hard to get us both a drink, we are okay paying out of pocket for those circumstances.  I am not trying to be "cheap", but trying to know what to expect and get good value out of this.

If you and your wife are in different rooms, you can buy just one drink package.  In my experience they have been strict on the 5 minute wait (we both had Cheers so sometimes I would try to grab my husband a drink without his card). 
To be clear, no sharing is allowed and if they catch you, I would expect they would suspend the package. 

[cheer25mom]

1 hour ago, DisneyVegasDad said:

So I have kind of a a few questions. But let me explain first.  My wife and I both booked separate casino offers and both have one of our kids in the room with us.  I was actually able to book at the same time and get our rooms connected just because those were both still open. Both are kids are young and under 21.

 

Since they are separated and under different names, can one of us get the drink package?  We would likely sign one kid up for bubbles too.  I know we would absolutely get our money's worth. 

 

Also, I know there is a 5 minute wait between each drink.  Is it going to be a pain trying to get both of us a drink? And what other issues will we have at certain locations making this happen? We aren't going to drink heavily, but enough to make it worthwhile.

 

If she wants her own drink at dinner and locations that are hard to get us both a drink, we are okay paying out of pocket for those circumstances.  I am not trying to be "cheap", but trying to know what to expect and get good value out of this.

you cannot share the packages like this. If you get caught they will cancel your package with no refunds, and the DO watch for this. You won't be able to get away with paying for one package and both using it.  

[DisneyVegasDad]

49 minutes ago, cheer25mom said:

you cannot share the packages like this. If you get caught they will cancel your package with no refunds, and the DO watch for this. You won't be able to get away with paying for one package and both using it.  

 

1 hour ago, 1kaper said:

If you and your wife are in different rooms, you can buy just one drink package.  In my experience they have been strict on the 5 minute wait (we both had Cheers so sometimes I would try to grab my husband a drink without his card). 
To be clear, no sharing is allowed and if they catch you, I would expect they would suspend the package. 

 

1 hour ago, Hoosierpop said:

I would think if you are in different rooms with people under 21, yes, one of you could get the package. How hard will it be to get you both drinks on that one packages? Hard if you are both there and want it at the same time. I’m not going to say I’ve never shared a drink with someone. But I wouldn’t try and do that for an entire cruise. Pain in the butt and, to be totally honest, you are 100% being cheap if you go that route. Not judging. But it is cheating the system.

Thanks everyone!  I was worried about it too.  Does not sound like it's worth the risk of it.  We will just pay as we go.

[Eli_6]

On 5/2/2022 at 6:39 PM, mz-s said:

 

That's not an exception, guests under 21 cannot buy Cheers period.

That's true. Just my thought in sharing was that it is a way to get around the requirement (so to speak) if you are traveling with children and in more than one room.  

[csoud68]

21 hours ago, cheer25mom said:

you cannot share the packages like this. If you get caught they will cancel your package with no refunds, and the DO watch for this. You won't be able to get away with paying for one package and both using it.  

Agreed..most of the time i have the same server in my area when im lounging on the ship..

 

They know what drinks are being ordered.

 

If they see someone with a drink that wasnt ordered...you are likely toast.