Wonder - 10 drink card and drink package

[cusematt4]

Hi all,

 

For previous RCCL cruises, I've been able to purchase the drink package for about $60-$65/day.

 

For an upcoming holiday cruise on the Wonder of the Seas, the drink package has not gone below $84.99/day + gratuity.  The other person in the cabin does not drink but would have to buy the refreshment package at $27.99/day + gratuity.  This would come to $933 for 7 nights.

 

For a 7 night cruise, this would come to an average of 62 drinks over the cruise to just break even at $15 a drink average with gratuity, or 8.8 drinks a day.

 

This is the first cruise in awhile in which I am likely not going to purchase the drink package as it just doesn't seem worth it anymore.

 

Does anyone know if RCCL offers the 10 drink card punch card which would average out to about $10/drink based on prices I've seen?  Or is this only on certain cruises in which bar revenue is below average?

 

I may bring on 1 bottle of wine per person if we do not go the drink package route.

 

Thanks!

[Ourusualbeach]

12 minutes ago, cusematt4 said:

Does anyone know if RCCL offers the 10 drink card punch card which would average out to about $10/drink based on prices I've seen?  Or is this only on certain cruises in which bar revenue is below average?

Have not seen the 10 drink card offered in a long time

[GimmeOcean]

I don't get the logic behind the differing prices for the drink package. Aren't the drinks themselves the same price from ship to ship?

[Ourusualbeach]

Just now, GimmeOcean said:

I don't get the logic behind the differing prices for the drink package. Aren't the drinks themselves the same price from ship to ship?

It is called dynamic pricing.  Royal will charge the most that they can for it. 

[George C]

It’s been many years since they had ten drink card 

[steveru621]

Drink cards, if they are offered, are advertised late in the cruise.  It's difficult to use all 10 drinks.

 

I would not count on seeing them.

[Biker19]

20 minutes ago, steveru621 said:

Drink cards, if they are offered, are advertised late in the cruise. 

Some folks may have seen them in the Compass but with that being harder to get, asking a bartender is probably the best way to find out. 

[steveru621]

4 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Some folks may have seen them in the Compass but with that being harder to get, asking a bartender is probably the best way to find out. 

 

Agreed!

[not-enough-cruising]

2 hours ago, GimmeOcean said:

I don't get the logic behind the differing prices for the drink package. Aren't the drinks themselves the same price from ship to ship?

Same logic as to why a seat on a plane changes price from day to day. It is what the market will near at the moment. 

Edited October 2, 2023 by not-enough-cruising

[GimmeOcean]

2 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Sam logic as to why a seat on a plane changes price from day to day. It is what the market will near at the moment. 

I suppose... but the seat on the plane is only offered for one price. Drinks can be purchased individually and there's a point where the drink package can't make sense to all but the heaviest of drinkers. 

[nferr]

1 hour ago, GimmeOcean said:

I suppose... but the seat on the plane is only offered for one price. Drinks can be purchased individually and there's a point where the drink package can't make sense to all but the heaviest of drinkers. 

 Obviously they have a pretty good handle on the pricing and demand.

[smokeybandit]

4 hours ago, GimmeOcean said:

I don't get the logic behind the differing prices for the drink package. Aren't the drinks themselves the same price from ship to ship?

But demand for the drinks varies widely from ship to ship.

[GimmeOcean]

1 hour ago, nferr said:

 Obviously they have a pretty good handle on the pricing and demand.

Of that I have no doubt.

[Weluv2cruise2gether]

10 drink card was offered starting on day 4 of our September Liberty of seas cruise to Canada/NE. After gratuity was added, $116 for 10 drinks. Since we did t get drink package due to the ever rising cost of the package and DH gets free drinks in casino, we purchased a card on day 8. That was because the casino was closed all day on day 9 due to us sitting in Bayonne thanks to Hurricane Lee. So no free casino drinks. Card saved us approximately $50.

[bretts173]

10 hours ago, GimmeOcean said:

I suppose... but the seat on the plane is only offered for one price. Drinks can be purchased individually and there's a point where the drink package can't make sense to all but the heaviest of drinkers. 

There is always some kind of sale on drink package even on boarding day. The most one should ever pay is $80. I can't ever seeing it only being value to heavy drinkers at $15 a drink.