Royal Cartibean Aussie Drinks thru the roof

Drinks package released for Ovation of the Seas Feb 2018 - deluxe is $86.97 aud per day each. This prices out at $2435.16 for a 14 day cruise. Most I know are priced out and horrified. Practically the price of another cruise. Heads up for anyone planning on RCI out of Australia. 2018. Ovation cruise leaving Dec 2017 is only 69.68aud by comparison. And yes I've checked with other cruisers on my cruise - that's the amount. We may be cancelling as a result. Hoping an error has been made.

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Sounds like it's nearing the US price. Given it's still discounted from full price, I doubt it's a mistake.

Dec 2017 Ovation prices are 69aud. That's a heck of a hike.

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Sounds like it's nearing the US price. Given it's still discounted from full price, I doubt it's a mistake.

Au to us comparison would be about $66.03 each (in us.). Is that what you guys pay usually?

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Just checked the drink package prices for our April 2018 cruise:

Deluxe

86.97 AUD Adult per day

Refreshment

41.11 AUD Adult per day

Classic soda package

13.44 AUD Adult per day

Cafe select coffee card

Indulge in your favorite brews with a card that entitles you to any 15 specialty…

From*

49.02 AUD Adult 49.02 AUD Child

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I'm hoping that they will have a "sale" on the packages prior to sailing

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Just noticed that Drinks Package has shown up on my Ovation Mar 18 cruise, at the prices above.

Considering I have just paid $72 per day for Deluxe plus Voom package for Ovation repositioning cruise this November, I got quite a shock. Really hoping the price will drop to something more reasonable!

Just checked our March 2018 cruise on Explorer, over $86 AUD for drink package.

We were considering cancelling anyway, we only booked the cruise at about $950p/p but when you factor in the drinks and exchange rate it isnt that cost effective.

I am wondering if the price of packages drop as time get closer?? Seems those that are cruising around December have cheaper package prices?

Dec 2017 Ovation prices are 69aud. That's a heck of a hike.

 

They've been running a special for a while, that's brought this price down.

No guarantee it will stay at this level.

Au to us comparison would be about $66.03 each (in us.). Is that what you guys pay usually?

 

The regular price of the package is $55 US + compulsory 18% tip brings it to ~ $65US.

Convert to AUD = ~$87 AU.

Currently $69.68 AUD for deluxe on our Dec 2017 Radiance cruise.

Deluxe & Voom is $83.08 AUD.

These prices include Gratuities.

Currently $69.68 AUD for deluxe on our Dec 2017 Radiance cruise.

Deluxe & Voom is $83.08 AUD.

 

These prices include Gratuities.

Thanks, looks like the price may reduce closer to time.

I have friends on your cruise so will let them know:)

Drink packages are not for everyone and at $86 AUD per day per person, perhaps the buying your drinks as you go would be best.

If you buy a package you will definitely drink more than you normally would if you just paid as you go, especially over two weeks.

Thanks, looks like the price may reduce closer to time.

I have friends on your cruise so will let them know:)

I certainly hope they do reduce.

Although I have noticed that for the newly released cruise program, the same room I normally book is $1000 more for the same cruise (I book Studio Balcony, cruise next year is $3100 vs 2019 cruise $4100). I am worried that RC is capitalizing on the popularity of cruising thus increasing prices.

I'm wondering if they will phase out the free non alcoholic drinks? Last time I just drank those and I was fine. Will be bringing my 2 bottles of wine on board.

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Drink packages are not for everyone and at $86 AUD per day per person, perhaps the buying your drinks as you go would be best.

If you buy a package you will definitely drink more than you normally would if you just paid as you go, especially over two weeks.

Agree.

We have ony had a drink package when it was included.

We rarely drink during the day, and find on Princess that the included mini bar setup, carrying our preferred wine on and $7.50 cocktails in Skywalker suits us fine and keeps the bill down, plus drinks are priced in AUD.

Our next cruise on Royal is a 50th Birthday, so we figured that as it is in USD and we will be "socialising" more than usual we would perhaps purchase a package, but not at those prices. Then when we cost what we would drink in a usual day and convert the USD it is very expensive, you are adding about a third on to your bill. And that is without specialty restaurants etc.

Some of the group have already cancelled due to the extras, we have a couple more months to decide.

Thankfully there are many other options out there.

The costs certainly add up and should be factored when picking a cruise.

There is a big difference between what some other cruise lines, like Fred.Olsen cruises, charge for alcohol.

There is a big difference between what some other cruise lines, like Fred.Olsen cruises, charge for alcohol.

Especially when currency conversion is costed in.

Drinks package released for Ovation of the Seas Feb 2018 - deluxe is $86.97 aud per day each.

That's crazy expensive! Especially when you compare it with the Princess package at $59 AUD per day.

Although I just checked back to the cruise we did two years ago on Rhapsody and it was around that price then. US $67 for the Ultimate, and US $57 for the Premium. The exchange rate at the time was 1.29 so the AU price came to $86.56.

This is one of the reasons we've decided not to cruise with RCI again.

That's crazy expensive! Especially when you compare it with the Princess package at $59 AUD per day.

 

Although I just checked back to the cruise we did two years ago on Rhapsody and it was around that price then. US $67 for the Ultimate, and US $57 for the Premium. The exchange rate at the time was 1.29 so the AU price came to $86.56.

 

This is one of the reasons we've decided not to cruise with RCI again.

The drinks are priced in AUD, before boarding, so possible those prices were what you paid in aud. that's about what prices have been until the 2018 hikes, it would seem? Such a shame. I think the person who surmised RCI is taking advantage of the surge in popularity in cruising to price hike. They will find they lose customers in droves to Princess and Carnival.

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It is what it is, the only way to avoid the high drinks costs on board is to not drink. I would rather just have a few and not shell out to get a package.

I am worried that RC is capitalizing on the popularity of cruising thus increasing prices.

No need to worry. That's a stated part of their financial strategy, to continue to increase financial returns as much as they can.

It is what it is, the only way to avoid the high drinks costs on board is to not drink.

Or as many do, to sail enough that you get some inclusions.

The drinks are priced in AUD, before boarding, so possible those prices were what you paid in aud. that's about what prices have been until the 2018 hikes, it would seem? Such a shame. I think the person who surmised RCI is taking advantage of the surge in popularity in cruising to price hike. They will find they lose customers in droves to Princess and Carnival.

We didn't buy the package before boarding as I thought they were overpriced then. However we boarded, went to the MDR and checked the wine prices, checked the other drinks prices at one of the bars, did some calculations and immediately bought the packages in USD. Ultimate for DH who likes his speciality coffees, and premium for me as I usually drink tea. After the cruise I noted the exchange rate on the credit card transaction, so I have both the USD price, what we actually paid in AUD, and the relevant exchange rate. As I said earlier - it's one of the reasons we won't cruise RCI again.