Is there a way to get an exception to the drink package rule?

[IslandDelight]

Carnival has a rule that if one adult in a stateroom orders a drink package, all adults in the stateroom must order the package.

I thought drink packages were optional. I don't want to pay for something that I don't want; it can be costly.

Perhaps, it's to prevent two or more people in the stateroom from sharing a single drink package?

Is there any way to be excluded from this rule?

[cacruisin]

Over the years you hear stories of exemptions from the rule for pregnant woman and AA members etc but I think those are only stories not necessarily facts.

[jiggs]

the only real work around that I've heard is if you're traveling with others, put all the cheers people in the same cabin then switch around when you board. 

 

 

[mz-s]

38 minutes ago, IslandDelight said:

Carnival has a rule that if one adult in a stateroom orders a drink package, all adults in the stateroom must order the package.

I thought drink packages were optional. I don't want to pay for something that I don't want; it can be costly.

Perhaps, it's to prevent two or more people in the stateroom from sharing a single drink package?

Is there any way to be excluded from this rule?

 

If you don't want it, then don't buy it. Nobody is being forced to buy Cheers. However yes as you said if one adult in the room buys it then the system automatically adds it to all other adults. There are no exceptions to this.

[1025cruise]

There are no exceptions to the rule that all adults in the cabin must purchase the package.

[Tink10]

Okay...I will share ours.

 

We're cruising next month on a bounceback offer after our cruise last September. Hubby isn't a big drinker, so we didn't get cheers and that we pretty much gor all drinks free in the casino after the first night.

 

However, since returning, I've had a ton of offers and the offers didn't apply to our February cruise. So, we removed me from the suite we were booked in and booked a separate balcony cabin in my name only that came with all the offers. Free drinks throughout the ship, onboard credit & free casino play)

 

It worked our well and if hubby snores too loud, I can send him to the other cabin 🙂

 

 

[1kaper]

11 hours ago, Tink10 said:

Okay...I will share ours.

 

We're cruising next month on a bounceback offer after our cruise last September. Hubby isn't a big drinker, so we didn't get cheers and that we pretty much gor all drinks free in the casino after the first night.

 

However, since returning, I've had a ton of offers and the offers didn't apply to our February cruise. So, we removed me from the suite we were booked in and booked a separate balcony cabin in my name only that came with all the offers. Free drinks throughout the ship, onboard credit & free casino play)

 

It worked our well and if hubby snores too loud, I can send him to the other cabin 🙂

 

 

 

I'm confused as to how that is an exception. 

 

To the OP - I've read maybe once or twice on here people claiming to get a medical exception successfully but the general consensus is if that happens it is an extremely rare occurrence and I believe in at least one case they went to the hotel manager on the ship. 

 

As for pregnancy - I sailed back when a letter was required from a doctor when you were pregnant and we still were not able to get an exception. 

[mz-s]

12 hours ago, Tink10 said:

Okay...I will share ours.

 

We're cruising next month on a bounceback offer after our cruise last September. Hubby isn't a big drinker, so we didn't get cheers and that we pretty much gor all drinks free in the casino after the first night.

 

However, since returning, I've had a ton of offers and the offers didn't apply to our February cruise. So, we removed me from the suite we were booked in and booked a separate balcony cabin in my name only that came with all the offers. Free drinks throughout the ship, onboard credit & free casino play)

 

It worked our well and if hubby snores too loud, I can send him to the other cabin 🙂

 

 

 

Booking two rooms isn't an exception. If booking two rooms with a single supplement is cheaper than Cheers, more power to you.

Edited January 25, 2023 by mz-s

[bmarts]

No. They made my wife who was pregnant get it because I wanted it. They wouldn't lower her to a soda package instead. Very strict on that which is annoying. There should be SOME exemptions

[sparks1093]

4 minutes ago, bmarts said:

No. They made my wife who was pregnant get it because I wanted it. They wouldn't lower her to a soda package instead. Very strict on that which is annoying. There should be SOME exemptions

From a consumer's point of view it makes sense, but Carnival sells these packages in order to make money, not to save the passenger money (although it is marketed that way). Obviously selling two packages makes them more money than selling only one. I would have foregone Cheers in your situation because there's no way I could drink enough to save money with buying two packages.

[nwcruiselover]

Unfortunately there are those who would take advantage of an exception and share a Cheers package.  It’s not that difficult to fake a doctor’s note.  That makes it difficult for people who truly have a medical condition that prohibits drinking alcohol.

[Saint Greg]

There is an option to buy individual drinks. I don't get why so many people are opposed to it when the drink package isn't best for them.

 

Edited January 25, 2023 by Saint Greg

[jandres12]

If you are with a family traveling with minors and booking more than one room, put the minor in the same room as the person wanting to get the cheers package. 

[sparks1093]

17 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

There is an option to buy individual drinks. I don't get why so many people are opposed to it when the drink package isn't best for them.

 

Very true, but even with only one person drinking alcohol it is still possible to save money with Cheers as long as the non-drinker has enough non-alcohol drinks. 8 alcohol drinks per day for the drinker, 2 each of specialty coffee, mocktails and sodas per day for the non-drinker would do it.  

[Hoosierpop]

44 minutes ago, bmarts said:

No. They made my wife who was pregnant get it because I wanted it. They wouldn't lower her to a soda package instead. Very strict on that which is annoying. There should be SOME exemptions

I get why it’s annoying but the logistics of coming up with exceptions would be hard. What qualifies? How do you document it?

 

To me, it’s not just about the money. It’s also how to implement exceptions. I wouldn’t want the headache. 

[Saint Greg]

6 minutes ago, sparks1093 said:

Very true, but even with only one person drinking alcohol it is still possible to save money with Cheers as long as the non-drinker has enough non-alcohol drinks. 8 alcohol drinks per day for the drinker, 2 each of specialty coffee, mocktails and sodas per day for the non-drinker would do it.  

 

Yeah but you're talking port days as well. Getting two coffees in before an early excursion and eight drinks that night can be challenging. And you're talking about just trying to break even. So why even bother trying to force it? Just buy what you want.

 

Edited January 25, 2023 by Saint Greg

[CruizinSusan70]

19 hours ago, IslandDelight said:

 

Is there any way to be excluded from this rule?

On Carnival, no.  On other lines, yes, under certain conditions.

[sparks1093]

20 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

 

Yeah but you're talking port days as well. Getting two coffees in before an early excursion and eight drinks that night can be challenging. And you're talking about just trying to break even. So why even bother trying to force it? Just buy what you want.

 

That is all very true, but the fact remains that one can make it work. Everyone needs to do the analysis for themselves using their own drinking patterns.

[CeleBrat]

I really don't understand the reasoning behind this rule.  They are assuming that ONLY people sharing a cabin would be so bold as to try and "share" CHEERS?  What's to stop someone from sharing their CHEERS package with another party member who is traveling in an alternate cabin.

 

It's a frustrating rule.

[mz-s]

1 minute ago, CeleBrat said:

I really don't understand the reasoning behind this rule.  They are assuming that ONLY people sharing a cabin would be so bold as to try and "share" CHEERS?  What's to stop someone from sharing their CHEERS package with another party member who is traveling in an alternate cabin.

 

It's a frustrating rule.

 

It cuts down on a lot of sharing because most people aren't going to book multiple rooms just to skirt the rule.

 

It is what it is. If guests don't like it, they can switch to other lines that do allow mixed packages (like Royal) or buy drinks a la carte.

 

Carnival doesn't actually follow a lot of their rules, but this is one they are very strict about.

[StephPS79]

I don't know, I understand RCI's reasoning with this, with no drink cap, but with the 15 drink limit, not many people buying the drink package are sharing.  I know I'm hoarding mine!  And there's only so much sharing that can happen before the 15.  I can't imagine it was really running up Carnival's bar tab.  

 

(I know lots of people will say they never hit the 15 limit, and then I question if the drink package is even the best option for those people.)

 

Edited January 25, 2023 by StephPS79

[CeleBrat]

11 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

It cuts down on a lot of sharing because most people aren't going to book multiple rooms just to skirt the rule.

 

It is what it is. If guests don't like it, they can switch to other lines that do allow mixed packages (like Royal) or buy drinks a la carte.

 

Carnival doesn't actually follow a lot of their rules, but this is one they are very strict about.

I get that most people won't book an additional cabin to skirt the rule.  My point is that this rule is punitive for no reason, as many parties travel with several cabins (extended family/friends), and certainly there is CHEERS sharing going on amongst cabins.  So why penalize a pregnant spouse?

[Tryingtocruise]

3 minutes ago, CeleBrat said:

I get that most people won't book an additional cabin to skirt the rule.  My point is that this rule is punitive for no reason, as many parties travel with several cabins (extended family/friends), and certainly there is CHEERS sharing going on amongst cabins.  So why penalize a pregnant spouse?

Unfortunately, just because someone is pregnant doesn't mean they are not going to drink.  One would hope so, but I'm sure lots of us baby boomers had drinking and smoking mothers (I certainly did).  I'm sure some people look at that and say, "I can have a drink or two or a glass of wine while I'm on vacation." 

[sparks1093]

8 minutes ago, CeleBrat said:

I get that most people won't book an additional cabin to skirt the rule.  My point is that this rule is punitive for no reason, as many parties travel with several cabins (extended family/friends), and certainly there is CHEERS sharing going on amongst cabins.  So why penalize a pregnant spouse?

It's a choice. It isn't punitive at all.

[mz-s]

8 minutes ago, CeleBrat said:

I get that most people won't book an additional cabin to skirt the rule.  My point is that this rule is punitive for no reason, as many parties travel with several cabins (extended family/friends), and certainly there is CHEERS sharing going on amongst cabins.  So why penalize a pregnant spouse?

 

Nobody is forced to buy Cheers, so it's kind of ridiculous that people keep saying it's punitive. If you don't agree to the terms of the program, you don't have to participate at all.

 

How many more women would suddenly be pregnant when they're told that both people in the room have to buy Cheers unless you're pregnant?