When does purchasing a Cheers package become economical?

[LatinaInTexas]

As a light drinker it was only worth it to me twice when it was almost free using the promo code offer.

It was fun at first trying new and different drinks and then it wasn't.

A lot of people say it's worth it not to get a big drink bill at the end but if your a light drinker you shouldn't have to worry about ever getting a big bill.

[bandjwayne]

I don't usually drink all that much, but my husband drinks more.  I guess I figure it's worth the price so I'm not concerned about how much his bar bill.  Plus I take the opportunity to try new drinks.  If I don't like a drink or just don't want it all, I feel just fine about not drinking it all.

[ctlyf]

1 hour ago, bandjwayne said:

I don't usually drink all that much, but my husband drinks more.  I guess I figure it's worth the price so I'm not concerned about how much his bar bill.  Plus I take the opportunity to try new drinks.  If I don't like a drink or just don't want it all, I feel just fine about not drinking it all.

That's me and my husband. Even if I don't break even one day (and honestly that's about all it would be), my husband is a night owl and and usually stays up later than me. He would make up for what I lacked 😁

[ProgRockCruiser]

14 hours ago, Joebucks said:

That math is off. Cheers is $70.74 per day with tip. A drink is $14.16. That is 5 (of the more expensive drinks mind you). 

No, their math is fine.  You left out the other drinks.  They said:

 

17 hours ago, ray98 said:

It is roughly 4 drinks a day for us to break even.  Most of our drinks fall on the upper end, many from the Alchemy which were $12 each on the last cruise.  We always start the day with coffee and have several bottled waters and the occasional soda or milkshake throughout the day. 

So ($12 x 4) + $6 (coffee) + ($1.50 x 3)("several waters") + $3.50 (one other N/A drink) = $62 before grats.  Cheers is $60 (before grats, purchase before boarding).

 

So that is indeed their break-even point.

 

I notice that Carnival has now made Cheers a single price (per day) regardless of cruise length.  I thought they slightly jacked it up in price for the shorter cruise lengths (5 days and under?)?

Edited December 2, 2022 by ProgRockCruiser

[BarbieGee]

The discussions here have caused me to think, there is more to this drink package then just alcoholic cocktails.

I am a water drinker and I am sure I'll go through at least 2 or 3 bottles per day. Cheers also covers juices, soda, tea and wine along with specialty coffee. (I checked the Carnival website and finally, after going through all the layers, found the information of what is included and NOT included - such as pitchers of drinks)  Having the option to relax with a cup of tea in the afternoon, gazing out to the sea, is very appealing. 😎 Wine with dinner? YES PLEASE! Coffee with desert after the meal is also on my list. (is there Cuban coffee on board?) And just for fun, how about a mocktail?

 

I am no longer able (nor wish) to consume large quantities of alcohol  but the other items will also be on my drinks list. Being able to experiment with unusual drinks is also part of the fun of a vacation such as this (I've seen some wonderful concoctions presented by those posting live on their cruises)

 

Reading all these discussions has been extremely helpful in making a decision to purchase Cheers.

When in doubt, ask! and this is the place to do just that.

 

Thanks to everyone! 🥰

[asalligo]

No way, not even with the most expensive cocktails. You have to drink 6 cocktails a day EVERY DAY of the cruise to break even. Unless you are one of those crazy people who likes to spend more money to not worry about how much money they are spending. 

[dltvermont]

We dont generally buy the package. I drink more than my wife, and on a past NCL cruise the package was included. I found that we wouldnt have broken even.

 

The other included beverages cant really be included in your price decision unless you normally drink them. If you dont have the package, you wouldnt be spending money on the water, coffees and shakes.

[ProgRockCruiser]

1 hour ago, asalligo said:

No way, not even with the most expensive cocktails. You have to drink 6 cocktails a day EVERY DAY of the cruise to break even. Unless you are one of those crazy people who likes to spend more money to not worry about how much money they are spending. 

For you, perhaps.

 

We've usually hit six easily by 3pm on sea days, and 6pm on port days.

 

So YMMV.

 

🤷‍♂️

[Riles34]

I still think the question is, $1000 for a 7 day cruise, are you going to buy a $1000 worth of drinks? You can still get your tea, wine, and special coffee.

 

If you did buy it, I would like to hear your opinion after your cruise. This has always been the debate lol.

 

I will go the gambling route to get free drinks. And maybe win some money!

Edited December 2, 2022 by Riles34

[sparks1093]

11 minutes ago, Riles34 said:

I still think the question is, $1000 for a 7 day cruise, are you going to buy a $1000 worth of drinks? You can still get your tea, wine, and special coffee.

 

If you did buy it, I would like to hear your opinion after your cruise. This has always been the debate lol.

 

I will go the gambling route to get free drinks. And maybe win some money!

When we cruised in November when we wanted something we bought it. Our bar bill was $1300. It's Cheers from now on. 

[SCBarker]

I don't drink, but the wife does. And she may be in the range of 9-10 drinks a day to justify buying Cheers for both of us. But it's our free drinks in the casino that throws the whole calculation out of the water. Hell I don't even get my money's worth out of bottomless bubbles for diet Pepsi anymore, because half the ones I get are in the casino anyway.

[PortSideCruzan]

Hi @BarbieGee🍷

 

I have found the 'Drink Package Calulator' to be extremely helpful & accurate. Member opinions are very nice & may be somewhat helpful to a point, however everyone's drinking habits & reasoning for obtaining Cheers differ.

 

It's like food comparisons; very subjective. In the end, the only drinking habits & reasoning to obtain the Cheers package to take into consideration are yours & your traveling companion, unless you're solo.

 

(Question):

Have you put all of your information into the calculator yet? What were your results?

 

'Drink Package Calulator'

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

 

 

 

🌴

[cruisingguy007]

It's not hard if you're a drinker, you can get to the "value" that they have listed on the menus but it's hardly economical (I can easily  buy 60 bottles of alcohol per cheers package at home lol), even if you get 15 boozey drinks a day. If you are going to party up anyway, it sure beats retail prices per drink and allows flexibility in drink choice. I do find that I don't tend to drink much else when I have cheers as I'm generally too full/bloated to drink much of anything else besides water and I just typically drink the easiest avialable instead of waiting (which is the glass carafe at dinner or the dispensor for other eateries).

 

It also temps you to "get your moneys worth" since it costs so much and that can lead to a perpetual cycle of drinking, hangover, hair of the dog, drinking more (over and over) and not feeling 100% and ultimatly super lazy for much of the cruise. Don't get me wrong, booze cruises can be awsome if that is what you are out for, but if not, it can be exhausting dragging-arse all the time, especially on longer cruises than 3-4 days. There is a lot of downtime on cruises, it can be economical if you surpass $85.70 per day, for seven days staight. Easier to do on shorter cruises, harder on seven dayers and expoentially harder on longer voyages like 10-14days+.

Edited December 2, 2022 by cruisingguy007

[Robpuffdaddy]

Yes, if you purchase 6 alcoholic drinks in the day, you will get your money's worth. if you only drink 4, then if you have 1 or 2 specialty coffees, a few sodas or juice, and few bottles of water then you still will get your money's worth.  If you do not want to get the package, that is your decision, but I would love to hear honest comments from those that complain about the cost of the package and then they post on this board how much they actually did spend and what their bill was at the end of the week.  I bet there will be a higher percentage of people that will spend more than what the package cost and would have saved money, but will be afraid to comment that we told you so. I get it if your not in a financial position to purchase the package, but if you can, your on vacation have fun.  

[Colorado Cruzer]

The only way you will know is if you don't buy it and add up your bar, soda and coffee expense while onboard. We always buy it, day one we go hard on the party vibe as vacation starts so it pays for about 3 days of cheers "value". 4 cocktails from the alchemy bar and 1 coffee gets us to break even.

Have a great trip!

[sanmarcosman]

When does purchasing a Cheers package become economical? Only when you're too drunk to care. 🙂 It never works for us so we go a la carte.

[Theosprey247]

The most my wife and I have ever spent on drinks on a 7 day cruise was $300.  So I have never purchased the cheers package. I have however purchased the RCL equivalent, but it was for a 3 day and no wife! 

[asalligo]

4 hours ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

For you, perhaps.

 

We've usually hit six easily by 3pm on sea days, and 6pm on port days.

 

So YMMV.

 

🤷‍♂️

I based that on the OP saying they only drink about 4 a night. I was not trying to tell people how much they should drink. Just that at even 5 a night, you are still better just buying your drinks. 

[Beachfrog]

4 hours ago, Riles34 said:

If you did buy it, I would like to hear your opinion after your cruise. This has always been the debate lol.

I would love to hear this, too. Cost of package vs. what was actually spent on beverages.

[Joebucks]

9 hours ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

No, their math is fine.  You left out the other drinks.  They said:

 

So ($12 x 4) + $6 (coffee) + ($1.50 x 3)("several waters") + $3.50 (one other N/A drink) = $62 before grats.  Cheers is $60 (before grats, purchase before boarding).

 

So that is indeed their break-even point.

 

I notice that Carnival has now made Cheers a single price (per day) regardless of cruise length.  I thought they slightly jacked it up in price for the shorter cruise lengths (5 days and under?)?

 

I get it, 4 of the most expensive cocktails and then maybe a coffee/milkshare/bottled water/soda. Huge value.

 

6 hours ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

For you, perhaps.

 

We've usually hit six easily by 3pm on sea days, and 6pm on port days.

 

So YMMV.

 

🤷‍♂️

 

Force down a bloody mary for breakfast. Get back on the ship early, drink drink drink 5 before dinner. Do you have anything at port? It's either drinking all day or not enjoying much at port to come back and "get them monies worth". None of this is practical.

[tweak89]

It's worth it for us since we are cruising on VIFP offer of FREE Cheers!  Would I ever buy it?  If they allowed one person to purchase it yes.  Wife and I aren't big drinkers, and she doesn't drink coffee or energy drinks so we'd never recoup the "value" of it if we paid for it.  By myself, between the drinks and specialty coffee I might make it worthwhile.

 

Edited December 2, 2022 by tweak89

[slavigne5577]

We always get Cheers. We always would have paid more if we had not purchased it. I get home and add everything up just to be sure. I have no problem admitting that we are drinkers. We work hard and we play hard. We do not drink off the ship on port days other than water. Plus we have found that we love the foofoo coffee when not having a spicy bloody mary. I drink a water between vodka and sprite zero or scotch on ice or old fashion. I usually hit 10 and never  regret the day before. Hubby can hit 15 nearly every night and no one even thinks he has had any. 

It completely depends on how and what you drink.

Edited December 2, 2022 by slavigne5577

[BarbieGee]

6 hours ago, asalligo said:

I based that on the OP saying they only drink about 4 a night. I was not trying to tell people how much they should drink. Just that at even 5 a night, you are still better just buying your drinks. 

That would be 4 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES per day. But I must factor in the other drinks I might wish to have. I KNOW I'd want bottled water. I KNOW I'd wish to have some specialty coffee or tea. Maybe some juice. If I did not purchase the Cheers package I'd be checking my account to see how much I'm spending and I really do NOT want to spoil my holiday with that sort of worry. so..... A Cheers package is in my plan.

[ctlyf]

4 hours ago, Joebucks said:

 

I get it, 4 of the most expensive cocktails and then maybe a coffee/milkshare/bottled water/soda. Huge value.

 

 

Force down a bloody mary for breakfast. Get back on the ship early, drink drink drink 5 before dinner. Do you have anything at port? It's either drinking all day or not enjoying much at port to come back and "get them monies worth". None of this is practical.

Perhaps not practical for you, but for me, I completely disagree. You don't need to drink 5 before dinner... 1 when you board following port day, 1 or 2 drinks/wine with dinner, then 2-3 over the course of 4+ hours after dinner. No hangover, and break even hit, even without bottled water (which I would have grabbed before going into port) without the latte/cappucino with breakfast. Oh, and have no fear, I fully enjoy the port days.

[Jasonsterling]

It's not hard for me to hit that "worth it" mark and yet not be drunk or over drink. I have a specialty coffee in the morning w/Baileys and that's 9, then a mimosa with breakfast 9, a bottled water tossed in there 4, a milkshake in the afternoon and a frozen drink on deck around 16, glass of champange before dinner and two drinks through the evening 36. So you know around 74 dollars easily. I also like an all inclusive feel and paying upfront. The shock of my bill at the end of a cruise took years off my life before the plan, lol.