Celebrity Drink packages

[Rangerblp]

Booked a cruise for my wife and I. I hadnt been on a cruise in a couple decades and didnt know drink packages are a thing. I do not drink but she does. Is there any advice for drink packages and anything I can do to not pay 1k for one? The drink packages are more than the cost of the cruise. 

[CruiserBruce]

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

 

1k for a drink package is definitely high, but we don't know how long a cruise you are asking about. If 1k is for the drink package,  and more than the cost of the cruise, we need far more details on the length of the cruise,  the cabin level, and so much more. 

 

Cruise lines may require both parties in the cabin to buy the drink package. However,  they usually don't REQUIRE  the drink package to be purchased. 

 

This will be moved to the Celebrity board, to be sure.

[Rangerblp]

Our cruise is dec 2-7 and require both of us to purchase. One option is 860 and the other is 1,071. 
 

it looked like there is a package to even drink coke or pepsi. If someone doesnt purchase a package are we confined to water? 

[CruiserBruce]

21 minutes ago, Rangerblp said:

Our cruise is dec 2-7 and require both of us to purchase. One option is 860 and the other is 1,071. 
 

it looked like there is a package to even drink coke or pepsi. If someone doesnt purchase a package are we confined to water? 

Soft drink packages are another topic...I don't know Celebrity's packages  (benefits of asking on the Celebrity board), but soft drink packages will be cheaper. 

 

You should be able to buy drinks of any type, individually,  and pay for them on your room account as you go.  Just like you did decades ago.

[Host Kat]

1 hour ago, Rangerblp said:

Booked a cruise for my wife and I. I hadnt been on a cruise in a couple decades and didnt know drink packages are a thing. I do not drink but she does. Is there any advice for drink packages and anything I can do to not pay 1k for one? The drink packages are more than the cost of the cruise. 

 

Hello @Rangerblp and welcome to the Cruise Critic message board!

 

Thank you for your new topic on the Ask a Cruise Question forum! However, it is the forum for general questions regarding cruising. Your inquiry concerns a specific cruise line and is off topic there.

 

To help you out I have moved your new topic to the Celebrity Cruises forum where it will be on topic. The majority of your fellow Cruise Critic members that have sailed Celebrity frequent this forum and provide feedback here. Browse through the thread titles on this forum looking for threads of interest. You will probably find your fellow Cruise Critic members have already posted questions and received answers that may be of interest to you.

 

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Happy sails,

 

Host Kat

[Rangerblp]

36 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

Soft drink packages are another topic...I don't know Celebrity's packages  (benefits of asking on the Celebrity board), but soft drink packages will be cheaper. 

 

You should be able to buy drinks of any type, individually,  and pay for them on your room account as you go.  Just like you did decades ago.

What drinks will be free on the cruise? Do you have any idea? What is typical on most and not just celebrity? 

[Cruisin4ABruisen]

4 minutes ago, Rangerblp said:

What drinks will be free on the cruise? Do you have any idea? What is typical on most and not just celebrity? 

Water, tea, coffee, various juices are free -- Soda, smoothies, alcohol will cost you money (either ala cart or package).

[mrgabriel]

10 hours ago, Rangerblp said:

What drinks will be free on the cruise? Do you have any idea? What is typical on most and not just celebrity? 

 

As already mentioned, water,

regular coffee and tea, iced tea, some basic juices are included for free.

 

You can buy soft drinks for about $3 each. There are also coffees and teas (Cappuccino, Americano, better quality of Tea) available in dining rooms and Cafe Al Baccia for about $3-$4 plus gratuity. 

Watch for a sale on the packages. 
 

Cocktails and wine start at $9. The classic drinks package includes drinks up to $10, and the Premium package goes up to $17. If you have a package the tips are included so you pay nothing. Both of those packages include soft drinks and coffees. 

 

Depending on how much you drink, it may be more cost effective to buy individual drinks. I just calculated that my husband and I would spend about $800 for drinks on a week long cruise. He doesn’t drink alcohol but does drink coffee, cokes and non-alcoholic beers. I drink cocktails and wine and my calculation included 5 drinks a day for me. 

Edited October 15, 2023 by mrgabriel

[1025cruise]

If you don't have a drinks package, you can still buy drinks individually. 

[jelayne]

Drinks are free in the casino if you are gambling. 
 

Download the Celebrity app and add your reservation. 
You can then go to Dining, select Bars and Lounges and see some of the drink menus and wine lists.

Soda is $4, espresso and cappuccino $5, Evian $4 energy drinks $5 all beverages have a 20% gratuity add to the price.

 

 

Edited October 15, 2023 by jelayne

[Rangerblp]

Thank you for all the suggestions. Since I dont drink alcohol or soda for that matter I think we’ll just buy them individually. I cant imagine my wife being able to drink 800-1000 in drinks on a 5 night cruise lol

[Nachosdelux]

Drink packages only make sense if both occupants of a room are "heavy" drinkers, and inclined to get their money's worth.

 

In your case, definitely buy drinks a-la-carte and save a grand. (or more)

[Szt]

Also figure, when in port, you won’t be drinking on board. We just paid for a zero proof package on Celebrity for a 6 night. It was around $600 for both, including gratuities. We drink at

most, 1 alcohol drink each a day. And if in port, we are likely to do it there. But we always have a bottle of water with us and I love smoothies, and virgin cocktails. The numbers may not  make it worth it. But being able to order what we want, without thinking about the bill at the end makes it worth it to us. You can get 1 zero proof and one alcohol package in the same cabin. We had to do that when my son was 21 and my daughter 19 shared a cabin. 
But a few hacks if you don’t have a package- juice, soda, water and bad coffee are free at the buffet, which is only closed for short periods of time between meals. If you have a water bottle you can go there to fill up. Just be sure to check if that’s ok and don’t touch anything with your bottle ( for health of you and others). For your wife, it may make sense to buy a bottle of wine, or check rules on bringing a few of your own. Because we are concierge class we get a bottle of champagne. We plan to add a little champagne to some virgin drinks. It should last us the whole cruise. Most importantly, enjoy your cruise whatever you decide. 

[Arizona Wildcat]

Bring a couple bottles of wine and a corkscrew in your carryon bag.  

[prmssk]

My husband doesn't drink at all.  The only time we ever get a drink packages is if there is a good deal on an always included rate.  With Celebrity's current AI structure, it doesn't make sense for us.  I pay a la carte for the drinks I want and because I enjoy wine, I generally buy wine by the bottle instead of by the glass (it's cheaper by the bottle).  (If you don't finish the bottle, they will hold the bottle for you in the dining room for the next night or you can take it back to enjoy on your balcony or in a lounge later.)

[Szt]

6 hours ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

Bring a couple bottles of wine and a corkscrew in your carryon bag.  

I don’t think you can bring either in a carryon on the plane. 

[Literary Lynne]

5 hours ago, Szt said:

I don’t think you can bring either in a carryon on the plane. 

From the UK for certain, if you buy the wine in the Duty Free shop at the airport, after going through security, you can carry it onto the plane. Or you could buy the wine after you arrive in the departure port, before embarking.

[Woody14]

14 hours ago, Szt said:

I don’t think you can bring either in a carryon on the plane. 

I believe they were meaning carryon for the boat not necessarily for the plane (definitely different rules.)