Wine questions on board from a new Viking cruiser

[jmfdr]

Assuming we don't have a Silver Spirits drink package, is it possible to purchase other menu wine if we do not care for the included wine with lunch or dinner on any given day?  Can the Silver Spirit drink package be purchased on board if we decide we would prefer those wine options compared to the included wines?

Thanks. 

Edited September 25, 2022 by jmfdr

[deec]

yes to each question but the Silver SPirits will NOT be prorated for how many days are left on the the cruise.

[Haqdeluxe]

14 minutes ago, jmfdr said:

Assuming we don't have a Silver Spirits drink package, is it possible to purchase other menu wine if we do not care for the included wine with lunch or dinner on any given day?  Can the Silver Spirit drink package be purchased on board if we decide we would prefer those wine options compared to the included wines?

Thanks. 

There typically are wine offerings by the glass available and I recall them being priced around 6 - 8 dollars a glass (when youxdon'txhavecthe SSDP). Yes, the SSDP can be purchased once you reach the ship. 

[MSEm]

Also each person in a cabin must purchase the SSBP. We find that it is cheaper for us to purchase a glass or wine or beer from the menu than to cost of the SSBP.

Also you can bring any beverages on board to consume while sailing. We often will purchase wine or beer when in ports to enjoy at dinner or in the afternoon while cruising.

[Peregrina651]

However, if you each  drink three glasses or more of wine/beer per person per day and aren't planning on buying wine etc. in the various ports, you should consider buying the package. The package is $20 per person per day and also includes soft drinks and juices outside of meal times -- and as mentioned above must be bought for the entire cruise and by both people in the cabin. Some people buy the package for the savings and others buy it for the convenience (not even thinking about the savings).

[jmfdr]

Thanks, everyone, for your responses.  The SS package for our 3 week+ cruise is $518 pp, which I thought expensive considering we might like the included dinning wines just fine. I thought we should try out the included wines prior to buying the package.  We enjoy a glass prior to dinner so will just purchase that.  

 

Further question about purchasing wine on board without a SS package----will we be able to select wines to purchase that are included in the SS package or will only be offered the generic included wines?  We are not wine snobs but both have our likes and dislikes in different varietals.  

[Heidi13]

2 minutes ago, jmfdr said:

Thanks, everyone, for your responses.  The SS package for our 3 week+ cruise is $518 pp, which I thought expensive considering we might like the included dinning wines just fine. I thought we should try out the included wines prior to buying the package.  We enjoy a glass prior to dinner so will just purchase that.  

 

Further question about purchasing wine on board without a SS package----will we be able to select wines to purchase that are included in the SS package or will only be offered the generic included wines?  We are not wine snobs but both have our likes and dislikes in different varietals.  

 

Without the SSBP, you are NOT restricted in what you can order. The only difference is those without SSBP receive a charge for each glass of wine that is not one of the included wines at that meal.

[Twitchly]

On our cruise, all the non-included wines are running $8 a glass. Bottle prices vary.

 

 

[PlanoTim]

1 hour ago, jmfdr said:

Thanks, everyone, for your responses.  The SS package for our 3 week+ cruise is $518 pp, which I thought expensive considering we might like the included dinning wines just fine. I thought we should try out the included wines prior to buying the package.  We enjoy a glass prior to dinner so will just purchase that.  

 

Further question about purchasing wine on board without a SS package----will we be able to select wines to purchase that are included in the SS package or will only be offered the generic included wines?  We are not wine snobs but both have our likes and dislikes in different varietals.  

Depending on when you have your pre-dinner glass, it may be meal time already and the included wine would be available at no cost.

[CCWineLover]

For us, the big thing for SSP is that you can have drinks any time of day included.  Since we are wine and beer people, no worries on the expensive drinks that aren't included.

Thus, on a port intensive cruise, it sometimes does not pay for us to get SSP.  But on a cruise with sea days, it often does.  Keep that in mind as well.

[chaunceyb]

We always bring some nice bottles of wine on board and sometimes depending on ports buy some wine when we go ashore- Viking has a very liberal alcohol policy which is nice! Viking included selection of wines like most cruise lines that include wine are what one would call mid-priced "grocery store shelf" wines.

 

Here is from Viking FAQs:

 

Guests may bring alcohol and beverages with them, purchase alcohol ashore at destinations that sell alcohol, or purchase them from the onboard shop. Alcohol can be consumed in the guest’s stateroom or in public spaces, including the restaurants. There is no corkage fee.