Current charge to buy drink package and tip amounts

[EJL2023]

1 minute ago, ORV said:

This is us also, especially now with SM. I find we really don't need to upgrade. Some champagne with lunch, maybe a beer. A drink in the room or balcony late afternoon, then maybe or maybe not the 241 at HH. Then a couple of glasses of wine at dinner. Works great for us. 

Same here. And by the end of a cruise I think it would be especially hard to justify the upgrade as that alcohol and food fatigue begins to set in, at least for us. 

[Kay S]

So let's see if I get this right.  I can call O to add the premium drink package and the current SM regular package I have will be credited and amount to only a $30/day cost?  (I tried to do this on the website and it didn't work.)  If only my husband needs the premium package, I don't also need to get it?  We can wait until we are on the ship to decide?  (Gosh, that all seems so sensible compared to Princess, etc, where the draconean policies leave one little personal choice.)

 

I may be up to speed with all of this by the time we sail in October! 🙂  I thank all of you for your patient help.

[FetaCheese]

9 minutes ago, Kay S said:

So let's see if I get this right.  I can call O to add the premium drink package and the current SM regular package I have will be credited and amount to only a $30/day cost?  (I tried to do this on the website and it didn't work.)  If only my husband needs the premium package, I don't also need to get it?  We can wait until we are on the ship to decide?  (Gosh, that all seems so sensible compared to Princess, etc, where the draconean policies leave one little personal choice.)

 

I may be up to speed with all of this by the time we sail in October! 🙂  I thank all of you for your patient help.

1.  Yes

2.  Both do not have to buy it

3.  Yes

[1985rz1]

9 minutes ago, Kay S said:

So let's see if I get this right.  I can call O to add the premium drink package and the current SM regular package I have will be credited and amount to only a $30/day cost?  (I tried to do this on the website and it didn't work.)  If only my husband needs the premium package, I don't also need to get it?  We can wait until we are on the ship to decide?  (Gosh, that all seems so sensible compared to Princess, etc, where the draconean policies leave one little personal choice.)

 

I may be up to speed with all of this by the time we sail in October! 🙂  I thank all of you for your patient help.

You can't add the drink package on line.  You can do it on board.  You can wait to see how much you drink before buying it to see if it makes sense, and if it does, you can add it for the remainder of the trip...pro-rated.

 

Some folks have had success in buying it in advance through their TA.

 

Only one of you has to buy it, but O frowns sharing, even if only on an occasion or two.

[clo]

15 minutes ago, Kay S said:

I can call O to add the premium drink package and the current SM regular package I have will be credited and amount to only a $30/day cost? 

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. I was not aware that you could "return" the SM for some kind of credit. It's not a line item on your account but rather built into the fare. ( @Kay Sam I understanding what you're asking/saying? )

[AMHuntFerry]

16 minutes ago, clo said:

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. I was not aware that you could "return" the SM for some kind of credit. It's not a line item on your account but rather built into the fare. ( @Kay Sam I understanding what you're asking/saying? )

No, she's talking about the full cost of the full-drink package for OLife people (which is what shows online even if you have SM) vs. the "discounted" $30 upgrade for SM people (which can't be purchased online).

[Hlitner]

Thanks all for this thread 🙂  We have an upcoming 35 days on the Vista and have been discussing whether we want to upgrade our drink package.  Reading through the thread reminds me that if do upgrade it is not because we must, but because we want!  For us. socialization is a major part of cruising and much of that happens in bars/lounges and sometimes by sharing tables at meals.  Is it worth a couple of thousand dollars to socialize with a drink in hand?  That it the question :).  Not our normal style to sit by ourselves, in a cabin, sipping booze.  

 

 

Hank

[Mareblu]

7 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

Thanks all for this thread 🙂  We have an upcoming 35 days on the Vista and have been discussing whether we want to upgrade our drink package.  Reading through the thread reminds me that if do upgrade it is not because we must, but because we want!  For us. socialization is a major part of cruising and much of that happens in bars/lounges and sometimes by sharing tables at meals.  Is it worth a couple of thousand dollars to socialize with a drink in hand?  That it the question :).  Not our normal style to sit by ourselves, in a cabin, sipping booze.  

 

 

Hank

Thank you, Hank, you mirror our sentiments.  We have already purchased the upgraded drink package through our TA, several months ago in fact.  We've done the same for every Oceania voyage we've sailed, with the exception of the first one many years ago.  We soon realised the difference, and upgraded whilst on board in that instance.  We love meeting fellow guests and socialising, while sipping a martini in Martinis, or enjoying a single malt in Horizons.  Would we ever use the full value of our expenditure in $ terms?  Probably not, but for us, there is no price to be levied on enjoyment and convenience, and we consider the cost of upgrading so that we may enjoy ordering a drink without having to sign every time and worry about the added tax, part of the cost of an enjoyable sailing experience.  It's that simple.

[Hlitner]

Here is a question for O veterans.  What time are the normal Happy Hours and how do they work (i.e. 2 for 1, discount, etc)?

 

Hank

[AMHuntFerry]

Just now, Hlitner said:

Here is a question for O veterans.  What time are the normal Happy Hours and how do they work (i.e. 2 for 1, discount, etc)?

 

Hank

(Picture horshak from Welcome Back Kotter..."oo, oo, oo!"). 5-6 pm in Horizons and Martinis, and 10:30-11:30 pm in Horizons on my last cruise. Sometimes Martinis only if Horizons has a function. Two of the same drink are charged the single price.

[Janet-]

7 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Thanks all for this thread 🙂 

socialization is a major part of cruising and much of that happens in bars/lounges and sometimes by sharing tables at meals.  Is it worth a couple of thousand dollars to socialize with a drink in hand? 

 

 

Hank

Does that drink in hand have to be alcoholic? All soft drinks are included and there will be no problem getting them served in any bar.

[Mareblu]

8 hours ago, AMHuntFerry said:

(Picture horshak from Welcome Back Kotter..."oo, oo, oo!"). 5-6 pm in Horizons and Martinis, and 10:30-11:30 pm in Horizons on my last cruise. Sometimes Martinis only if Horizons has a function. Two of the same drink are charged the single price.

Yes, correct unless there’s been a major change

[iowananny]

I too like the social aspect of having a drink in the bar with other people.  But I also like the fact that I can have some special drinks that I can't fix in the cabin or even at home.  Martinis and Horizons fixes some pretty good drinks that aren't something you get all the time.  It just makes it a vacation and more fun.  The Founders Bar on Vista had some really nice drinks that were fun to try.  We cruise to have fun.

[LaZ-Day]

On 3/4/2024 at 8:16 PM, Jim_Iain said:

 

That is really good to hear, should be less of a problem.  I can't drink for medical reasons and all lines I've sailed make exception for Medical or those in Recovery.

I recently tried to upgrade drink package for just my husband and, unfortunately, found out they changed their policy on Feb 28 this year. They now state that both people in cabin have to upgrade the drink package if doing so prior to the cruise. But they also state that one person in the cabin may upgrade once on board. Makes no sense, but that’s how they state it in the FAQs.

[LaZ-Day]

On 3/4/2024 at 5:18 PM, EJL2023 said:

Also, keep in mind that both people in the stateroom, if applicable, are not required to upgrade. 

I recently tried to upgrade drink package for just my husband and, unfortunately, found out they changed their policy on Feb 28 this year. They now state that both people in cabin have to upgrade the drink package if doing so prior to the cruise. But they also state that one person in the cabin may upgrade once on board. Makes no sense, but that’s how they state it in the FAQs.

[iowananny]

Then do it when you get onboard.  On our January cruise it took about five minutes for me to upgrade.  It isn't hard to do.

[EJL2023]

5 minutes ago, LaZ-Day said:

I recently tried to upgrade drink package for just my husband and, unfortunately, found out they changed their policy on Feb 28 this year. They now state that both people in cabin have to upgrade the drink package if doing so prior to the cruise. But they also state that one person in the cabin may upgrade once on board. Makes no sense, but that’s how they state it in the FAQs.

Thanks for that update! Certainly makes it even more appealing for those under those circumstances to wait until onboard. 

[LaZ-Day]

2 minutes ago, iowananny said:

Then do it when you get onboard.  On our January cruise it took about five minutes for me to upgrade.  It isn't hard to do.

Haven’t sailed Oceania before. We had booked a May cruise that was canceled due to issues getting the ship to the Med from Asia (Red Sea conflicts). On that cruise, we had purchased the beverage upgrade for my husband only. So I was surprised when my TA said that could not be done when booking our replacement cruise. The guest services desk will be our first stop once we get on board.

[iowananny]

I always wait to upgrade once onboard.  To be honest it is probably faster than waiting on hold to get it done via the phone.  The only time I had to wait is one time when they were having problems with their computer system.  On the afternoon of embarkation they might have a table set up for people to upgrade and there might be a short line.  In January I was going to wait until the next day to upgrade but had a drink and wanted another so decided the drink package was best for me.  I went down to guest services in the evening and bought the package in less than five minutes at the reception desk and the drink I'd already had was included in the package and I didn't have to pay extra for it.  I love my fancy drinks and I really enjoy the prestige package..  

[dirtydan]

On Vista in January, upgraded immediately when I boarded the ship, took 3 minutes and was able to do it only for myself (not DW) without issue.

There were tables set up near the main staircase (right where you board) and by the entrance to Terrace.

[WildWanderers]

Hi All,

 

Be careful about planning to book onboard an upgrade or full drinks package if you are at the Oceania credit silver level or higher.

 

I raise this only in light of the preceding discussion in which it is suggested to book the upgrade to the drinks package onboard rather than in advance.

 

On our last three cruises we were told (onboard at Reception) that we were not eligible for the 10% discount (available to silver + folk) as we had not booked and paid in advance.  We were able to prove in all three cases that we had paid in advance.  Unfortunately on the first of the three, the book and pay in advance was on an immediately preceding of a back-to-back combo, and this was deemed to be enough to make us not eligible.  We were told at reception that we had to be on land when we booked the upgrade.  (Which sounded at the time as arbitrary as saying that we had to be wearing a red shirt when we booked.)

 

I haven't found this rule written (book-in-advance rule, not wear-red-shirt rule), and would not be surprised to hear that others had different experiences.  Nonetheless, just to be safe, if you are silver or higher, or becoming silver, I would recommend booking and paying in advance for the drinks package upgrade (or the full drinks package if you have a legacy OLife booking in which you did not OLife-choose the basic drinks package), just to ensure that you get the 10% discount.

 

When you do book in advance the key card is already set up to recognize the upgrade on embarkation day, which saves you a step (no need to get a new card at Reception) on day one.

 

Hope this is useful,

 

Cheers,

Greg from the WildWanderers.

 

[ORV]

On my recent Marina cruise there were tables set up in various locations pushing the Beverage package for multiple days at the start of the cruise. 

[WildWanderers]

12 minutes ago, ORV said:

On my recent Marina cruise there were tables set up in various locations pushing the Beverage package for multiple days at the start of the cruise. 

 

As I am sure you saw, they are selling the full drinks package, the upgrade, the buy a bunch of bottles deal, the wine tastings and the spirits tastings.  We purchased a whisky tasting and a wine tasting on our last cruise from one of these booths and the young man who sold it to us was pleased as punch, as he got a commission from it.

[GrammieK]

About the silver level discount on the beverage package…..

I was told it only applies if you purchase the full package, and not if Upgrading from the basic package included with SM or OLife. 
k🛳

[Vallesan]

57 minutes ago, GrammieK said:

About the silver level discount on the beverage package…..

I was told it only applies if you purchase the full package, and not if Upgrading from the basic package included with SM or OLife. 
k🛳

The discount is only $3 a day. The upgrade costs $30 so on a 10 night cruise if you book the day after you board works out the same price! 
Longer cruises different story!