Outrageous Cost of Alcohol Package

[Bobbylah]

I think we paid about $65 per day (prebooked) on a 7 day on Symphony a month or so ago. Made out like bandits. Would have been way more of we had paid as we go. 

[JMorris271]

On 5/28/2022 at 12:50 PM, mattnday said:

I knew it was expensive but the last time we did it for 7 night it cost like $850. 

 

This go round it it over $1200 for our 7 night Carribean trip on the Allure coming up in November. 

 

They have finally got me to the point where I just wont dot it. I was expecting $1000 but not $1200

 

The total BS part is this is the lower sales price of what I have seen as part of one of their sales.

The normal price was closer to $1400 through my portal. 

 

 

[JMorris271]

We brought this on board in our bags and still spent over $400 on ship liquor. This was on a 14 day cruise out of Miami.

[poocher]

17 hours ago, Pandamonia said:

Fresh orange at breakfast and a latte

2-3 ciders by the pool in the day maybe a cocktail

2- beers as the sun goes down in the sky bar

2 Prosseco in the champagne bar before meal or cocktails

2 red wines in chops grill. 

Espresso after meal

Vodka and lemonade in casino

3 G&T in Music bar

Shots in night club

bottles of water before bed

pass out.

 

Rinse & Repeat. 

 

add all that up!

 

Couldn’t, I’d be S#%#faced by then!

[Don'tNeedAName]

11 hours ago, Joebucks said:

 

Water is free. (Better) Pinot and Coke Zero can be brought on the ship. I'd give all of those things a value of $25.

 

I'm still trying to determine if this is parody.  I mean, you are responding to his lived experience, so it isn't your value to "give" in some theoretical sense.  He literally ordered those drinks.  They have a cost on board.

 

Not to mention, saying that you can bring something on board is not equivalent.  Many people fly to port and don't want the hassle of checking a bag in order to bring wine on the flight or to locate a grocery/liquor store to buy wine when they get in town.  On top of that, having a bottle of wine that I either drink in my room or have to go back to my room to get a refill is not the same as being able to get a new drink at any bar throughout the day--same with bringing on cans of pop, going back to the room throughout the day unless you plan on lugging the case around the ship with you.

 

As one of the posters in this thread pointed out earlier, there seems to be a contingent of folks who absolutely, no matter what, state that there is no possible way that the drink package is "worth it."  Furthermore, these same people appear to get some enjoyment out of trying to prove that they are somehow better/smarter consumers because they don't get "fooled" by the big bad corporate greed of Royal Caribbean.

 

Yet someone else posted that "pro drink plan people" meet any question about "is it worth it?" with: "Yes!  Definitely get it!"  As another poster asked: when has that ever happened?  As far as I can tell, no examples were given.

 

From people who regularly get/have gotten the drink package, I generally see helpful advice along the lines of "if you drink X amount of drinks, and can get it for about Y price, then yes it makes sense" or "it also includes drinks other than alcoholic drinks" etc.  Then, those examples are met with the above response from Joebucks that, no those experiences are not valid and are not actual value because.... ?  Because he says so, I guess?

[poocher]

My experience is very limited compared to many here but in my limited experience:

 

2018 5 day with DBP @ $48 each - totally worth it.  No question we drank more than that.

2020 4 day no DBP as we had our 10 year old grandson with us and I knew I wouldn’t drink much.  Gotta say I missed it and frankly could have enjoyed a few more than I had.

2022 7 day with DBP @ $72 each - hate to admit I struggled to keep up the pace.  Son filled in for me though!

2022 upcoming 8 day. DBP is $85+.  No way on God’s green earth.  There was a time but not now. (I miss those times!!)

after that we will be Diamond so even if we pay for a few more here & there, package doesn’t make sense.

I was firmly in the DBP camp.  Wish I still could be.  Sucks to get old!!!👵🏻

[Jimbo]

20 hours ago, mattb31 said:

I'm on Oasis now, figured I'd track for the first time since this ridiculous thread started the day before we left. Gonna assume water bottles are $3 and sodas are $3. I didn't differentiate between filling my soda cup and getting a can

 

Day 1:

3 Coke Zero

4 Water Bottles

Bud Light

1 Rum and Diet

1 Pinot Noir

 

$51.50

 

Day 2:

Iced Chai Latte

2 Coke Zero

8 Water Bottles

7 Rum and Coke Zero

Lava Flow

Spike Peach Tea from Portside

Margherita 

 

$137.50

 

Day 3:

L Espresso

2 Coke Zero

3 Water Bottles

Miami Vice

Miller Light

Sake

 

$53

 

Day 4 (CocoCay):

L Espresso

5 Water Bottles

2 Rum and Diet

Pina Colada

2 Pinot Noir

Old Fashioned

 

$91.50

 

Day 5 (In Progress):

L Espresso

Blue Hawaiian

2 Coke Zero

4 Water Bottles

 

$35.50

 

Was slightly buzzed by the pool on the second day, but never once felt drunk or sick or whatever.

 

I paid $60.99 a day pre cruise which is $426.93 before gratuities. Had I bought these drinks without the package I'd be up to $369 with 2.5 days to go.

 

Easy value for me. Only got off the ship at Cococay.

You need to find a way to get a few drinks to you served to you in the restrooms, just imagine how many more drinks you can get in you and really get your value for the package.

The bottles of water you drink is crazy !

19 hours ago, Pandamonia said:

Fresh orange at breakfast and a latte

2-3 ciders by the pool in the day maybe a cocktail

2- beers as the sun goes down in the sky bar

2 Prosseco in the champagne bar before meal or cocktails

2 red wines in chops grill. 

Espresso after meal

Vodka and lemonade in casino

3 G&T in Music bar

Shots in night club

bottles of water before bed

pass out.

 

Rinse & Repeat. 

 

add all that up!

 

Yes, but can you keep that up for 7 straight days and feel okay? or by that time you just don't feel anything? so you don't care?

[mattb31]

12 hours ago, Joebucks said:

 

Water is free. (Better) Pinot and Coke Zero can be brought on the ship. I'd give all of those things a value of $25. Then you hide the gratuities cost. You're looking at $500. Day 2 you got some good use out of it, and barely got a buzz. My first thought wouldn't be easy value.

Lol. I didn't hide gratuities. I didn't add them to the drink costs on board or my total package price so it's a wash.

 

I don't feel like lugging an entire pack of coke zero on the ship nor do I feel like constantly returning to my cabin for a glass of wine. And you still have to pay a $15 corkage fee at the restaurants.

 

It sounds like it isn't a good value for you. You can nitpick the package all you want. At 60.99 a day it's still a really good value for most people including myself.

[C cruise]

21 hours ago, ALWAYS CRUZIN said:

Yup! I buy a bottle of rum on the ship get the unlimited soda package. No need to buy for two. Price ends up low compared to the drink package you need to purchase for all adults in the state room. Run out. Just buy another bottle of alcohol. 

can you buy a bottle and take it to your room? on a different cruiseline, you can buy a bottle but they hold it until the end of the cruise and then give it to you - you can't drink it on the ship... what about wine? can you bring it on the ship?

 

[mattb31]

11 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

You need to find a way to get a few drinks to you served to you in the restrooms, just imagine how many more drinks you can get in you and really get your value for the package

 

I think so too! I actually heard Royal is working on a new program for Icon where you just tap your card while you're standing at the urinal and it dispenses a shot right into your mouth! Can't miss a beat!!!

[J0Y0US]

On 5/29/2022 at 2:49 PM, brillohead said:

 

I just picked an October date at random:

 

 

 

I mean hardly comparable when you consider how long Freedom has been around. Its like comparing Wonder to some old NCL ship and saying how NCL is cheaper.

 

Then outline that Virgin includes any restaurant on board (many say its to specialty dining level) so that's another like $150/person on Royal (Freedom doesn't even really have variety), plus you can pay upfront for 20% off (so that drops Virgin $110), then your tips are included so that another $50 higher on Royal?

 

It comes out to like:

Virgin - $462.40

Royal - $429

 

Haven't cruised on Virgin but have watched content about it and it looks intriguing especially the suite suite level.

 

I was honestly surprised on how reasonable Virgin was for what you get in the Rock Star suite room area.

[Jerseygirl1416]

22 minutes ago, mattb31 said:

Lol. I didn't hide gratuities. I didn't add them to the drink costs on board or my total package price so it's a wash.

 

I don't feel like lugging an entire pack of coke zero on the ship nor do I feel like constantly returning to my cabin for a glass of wine. And you still have to pay a $15 corkage fee at the restaurants.

 

It sounds like it isn't a good value for you. You can nitpick the package all you want. At 60.99 a day it's still a really good value for most people including myself.

Unfortunately I don’t think you’re going to see $61 again going forward. From what I’ve seen it’s more like $72 and up from there. My September Oasis is at $78. 
 

When you’re used to buying this same pkg for $38-$48pp then yes almost double the price seems ridiculous to me.

[mattb31]

3 minutes ago, Jerseygirl1416 said:

Unfortunately I don’t think you’re going to see $61 again going forward. From what I’ve seen it’s more like $72 and up from there. My September Oasis is at $78. 
 

When you’re used to buying this same pkg for $38-$48pp then yes almost double the price seems ridiculous to me.

Yeah I agree. This sailing hit $60.99 once and I snagged it. Otherwise it was $75-$85 a day. At that price I wouldn't be buying anymore either.

[doppelganger2621]

18 minutes ago, C cruise said:

can you buy a bottle and take it to your room? on a different cruiseline, you can buy a bottle but they hold it until the end of the cruise and then give it to you - you can't drink it on the ship... what about wine? can you bring it on the ship?

 

You can’t buy liquor from the duty free shop and then drink it, you can bottle 375 ml bottles from Royal directly for delivery to the room. Obviously at a high markup too.

 

Each stateroom can bring in two bottles of wine 

[doppelganger2621]

3 minutes ago, mattb31 said:

Yeah I agree. This sailing hit $60.99 once and I snagged it. Otherwise it was $75-$85 a day. At that price I wouldn't be buying anymore either.

Same for me on an Allure sailing. I checked EVERY DAY since October and the best it ever got was $60.99. I snagged that right before what seems to be a large price increase. 
 

With only one true port day on a 6 night sailing (other stops being CocoCay which we can use the DBP and then Nassau which we probably will just briefly get off the boat and then get back on), we’ll have no problem getting our money’s worth

Edited June 3, 2022 by doppelganger2621

[cram33]

18 minutes ago, C cruise said:

can you buy a bottle and take it to your room? on a different cruiseline, you can buy a bottle but they hold it until the end of the cruise and then give it to you - you can't drink it on the ship... what about wine? can you bring it on the ship?

 

I once bought a bottle of something on the ship 1000 years ago and paid a corking fee to bring it to my room.  Did it again on a subsequent cruise and they kept the bottle until the end of the cruise.
When I mixed a drink in my room to go I still purchased from the bar as I wasn't walking back to my cabin to make another.

[dcgrumpy]

19 minutes ago, J0Y0US said:

 

I mean hardly comparable when you consider how long Freedom has been around. Its like comparing Wonder to some old NCL ship and saying how NCL is cheaper.

 

Then outline that Virgin includes any restaurant on board (many say its to specialty dining level) so that's another like $150/person on Royal (Freedom doesn't even really have variety), plus you can pay upfront for 20% off (so that drops Virgin $110), then your tips are included so that another $50 higher on Royal?

 

It comes out to like:

Virgin - $462.40

Royal - $429

 

Haven't cruised on Virgin but have watched content about it and it looks intriguing especially the suite suite level.

 

I was honestly surprised on how reasonable Virgin was for what you get in the Rock Star suite room area.

 

We sailed on Scarlet Lady and are planning to sail again. I didn't find the prices bad considering like you said it's a brand new ship, it includes gratuities, all restaurants are included, soda and sparkling water is included. My husband absolutely loved having a carafe of sparkling water in the room twice a day. LOL. Drink prices are pretty reasonable and there are no gratuities added on. We had $400 in "bar tab" money and it lasted for a 5 night cruise.  We only paid $300 for the bar tab, the $100 was a bonus.

 

Edited June 3, 2022 by dcgrumpy

[Don'tNeedAName]

43 minutes ago, mattb31 said:

I think so too! I actually heard Royal is working on a new program for Icon where you just tap your card while you're standing at the urinal and it dispenses a shot right into your mouth! Can't miss a beat!!!

 

NOW we're talking efficiency!

[vjmatty]

1 hour ago, Don'tNeedAName said:

 

Yet someone else posted that "pro drink plan people" meet any question about "is it worth it?" with: "Yes!  Definitely get it!"  As another poster asked: when has that ever happened?  As far as I can tell, no examples were given.

 

From people who regularly get/have gotten the drink package, I generally see helpful advice along the lines of "if you drink X amount of drinks, and can get it for about Y price, then yes it makes sense" or "it also includes drinks other than alcoholic drinks" etc.  Then, those examples are met with the above response from Joebucks that, no those experiences are not valid and are not actual value because.... ?  Because he says so, I guess?

 

I've never seen anyone say "get it".  I've never seen anyone say "don't get it"

 

It's ok to give examples and advice on why it IS worth it.  It is ok to give examples and advice on why it is NOT worth it.

[BND]

2 hours ago, poocher said:

Couldn’t, I’d be S#%#faced by then!

Pretty much everyone would, assuming this is all true.

 

Because like I said on another thread some people make things up just to bait people or stir the pot.  

Edited June 3, 2022 by BND

[LGW59]

On 5/28/2022 at 12:50 PM, mattnday said:

I knew it was expensive but the last time we did it for 7 night it cost like $850. 

 

This go round it it over $1200 for our 7 night Carribean trip on the Allure coming up in November. 

 

They have finally got me to the point where I just wont dot it. I was expecting $1000 but not $1200

 

The total BS part is this is the lower sales price of what I have seen as part of one of their sales.

The normal price was closer to $1400 through my portal. 

 

 

Get over it, it is what it is.  Simple to do the per drink cost v package cost then decide.

[C cruise]

1 hour ago, doppelganger2621 said:

 

 

Each stateroom can bring in two bottles of wine 

is there a fee for bringing wine onboard?

[Biker19]

1 minute ago, C cruise said:

is there a fee for bringing wine onboard?

No.

[The Scurvy Pirate]

You can always try this drink calculator to see the where the "break even" point is.

 

https://cruisespotlight.com/drink-package-calculator

[Jimbo]

2 hours ago, mattb31 said:

I think so too! I actually heard Royal is working on a new program for Icon where you just tap your card while you're standing at the urinal and it dispenses a shot right into your mouth! Can't miss a beat!!!

I just think you need to wear one of these when you aren't carrying a beverage in both hands.