TravisP

Beverage Program Calculation.xlsx

This is a spreadsheet I got from a carnival cruise years ago and modified it for RCI to help see if the drink package was worth it or not. I am sure the drink prices have changed some from the last time this was updated. So one could modify this with up-to-date costs if needed. But chances are the new prices would be higher, so if you can justify it with this one, it should be well worth it. 

It is more than with it for my wife and I. Even more so when you add in the non-alcoholic drinks included. 

26 minutes ago, KsucAts said:

 

So does that mean I can no longer get good bourbon without a slight upcharge if I buy the package?  It has been since 2018 since I cruised and I remember there being a very good selection of bourbons that were included in the package with no upcharge.  

Depends on the price. If the drink price is over the limit, you pay the difference, is at or under the limit, it is covered. As others have said, I am pretty sure the per-drink limit is $14. 

Several years back when I was on HOS and stayed in a Boardwalk Balcony, we received a complimentary meal for Johhny Rockets, is that something that is done anymore? This was in 2019. 

On 2/15/2024 at 6:12 PM, Jam0610 said:

Just got off the Voyager today. Took $ 500.00 for me, wife had $ 250.00. Mine is down to $ 87.00. She somehow still has her entire amount. How does that work???

 

 

That sounds like how it works with my wife and I also. lol

Has anyone ever used a portable USB-powered ceiling fan in their room? Like the one in the picture below.

I was thinking about getting this from Amazon and hanging it over our bed using a magnetic hook. 

The only thing I did not like about Harmony was not having a pool in the Solarium. Other than that, I loved the ship. I have not been on Wonder yet, will be on that one the first week of March. 

I would go ahead and set up your phone for wifi calling now just to make sure there are no issues. Then just leave it enabled. It actually comes in handy at times when you have a weak or no cell signal but a good wifi signal. Like a lot of times in stores you can get little to no cell service. More so when it is a metal building. But if they have wifi available in the store as most stores do these days, you still will have cell service. This really comes in handy at our local Lowes. I have no at&t signal in that place so I just make sure I am connected to their wifi and then everything works just fine. 

6 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Correct, though you may still get notifications of inbound messages without a Voom package. 

That is what I thought. All my crew has voom, so we will be fine. 

Thanks for the review. We will be on Wonder the first week of March. Can't wait. 

I thought I read on some other threads that they fixed the free wifi so that you can't use iMessage with it anymore. You need a real internet package to be able to use iMessage. 

I am a minimalist packer but my wife makes up for it. She takes up almost a whole suitcase with just shoes. 

18 hours ago, ARandomTraveler said:

This math is assuming you'd use up the whole cost of your refreshment package every day first. I'm one of those refreshment package people too. I don't drink enough alcohol on a cruise to justify the $73-$80 price tags I usually see. 
 

But I also don't get my money out of the refreshment package. I buy it for convenience, and some days I do use it to its full daily cost, and other days I don't. So for me, assuming that the upgrade to the deluxe package is simply the difference between the 2 packages doesn't work out, because I'm already under water on the refreshment package. 
 

 

If you use up the whole cost of the refreshment package is not really relevant if you are going to purchase that at a minimum regardless. If you know for a fact you are going to get at minimum the refreshment package, you only need to compare the price difference between the refreshment package and DBP to see if you would spend that much on beverages not applicable to the refreshment package.

On 3/11/2023 at 3:02 PM, Gentryj said:

Well on our Last cruise with Carnival, I was on a Roll in the Casino, and I made the big mistake of having a few too many Long Island Ice Teas.  hahaha.....   I normally do very well playing Roulette and this mistake cost me some money.  Not too much because I don't bet really large amounts.  

But with that being said, I ended up ordering around 10 drinks (and I'm around a 220# guy) and that was way more than enough.  My friend, who was gambling with wasn't feeling very well either.  His wife had to aid him in his recovery and both of our wives go a good laugh out of it.  

 

Therefore, I am glad there is a limit (even though we didn't hit it) because it will help us out from being too stupid.  

 

You might want to just order stronger drinks and make sure to tip your server well and you will find out that most likely if you hit 15, you will be "under the table and inside the throne"......

 

Jim 

I am mainly a beer drinker. And 15 beers in a day is not a huge task for me. And even more so when I am on vacation. I know not everyone is like me on this but for me, the 15 drink limit is enough of a reason to keep me from booking a carnival cruise. 

Absolutely, My wife and I love taking our naps. 

1 hour ago, Dayman9966 said:

You need 9 beers a day to break even.  $7.99 + 1.44 (Tax) = $9.43 per beer.    But if that works for you, cheers!

The price for a domestic beer from my research, and it could have changed since then was $7.49, $8.49 with tip. 7 a day comes out to $61.87 with tip. In my comparison, I also include the cost of the refreshment package since if I was not to get the deluxe beverage package, I would get the refreshment package. That package with tax at this time on my cruise is $33.99, $40.11 with tax. So the daily total on that comes out to $101.98 should I not get the DBP. The current cost for the deluxe beverage package on my cruise is $83.99, $99.11 with tip. So without the DBP and getting the RP, drinking 7 beers comes out to $2.87 per day more than getting the DBP. 

1 minute ago, BK79 said:

I am cruising on Harmony in April 2024. They just released the Deluxe Bev package at $83.99 per day. Hopefully, I will see a lower price but if I lock it in now do I have to pay now or at the time of my cruise? I'm trying to decide if I should just lock in now with nothing to lose, and rebuying once it goes down.

You would pay now. It would be $83.99 plus an 18% gratuity. That would be $99.11 per guest per day. The total with the tip for a 7-day cruise would be $693.70 per guest. 

If you ever see it for a cheaper price, just call them up and get it reduced to the cheaper price and they will refund you the difference. 

9 minutes ago, ShillyShally said:

Where are your numbers from?  I don't see straight vodka as cheaply as you have it in yours - I see Absolut/Belvedere/Grey Goose at $10.99/$12.99/$13.99 respectively in my current app for an upcoming sailing.  If Tito's is $7 I'd be very surprised.  I'm craft beer at home but not on ship so then I switch to vodka/water.  But I expect most of the shots are higher than the spreadsheet #s.  Most domestic beer is $7.49 but a few craft domestic are $7.99.  I don't rely on beer on board because when I have found the rare IPA source they tend to run out on board.  

I search for pictures of recent menus. So the prices on my sheet might not be all up to date since things change all the time. It has been several months since I did a price update on it and I tried to find the most up-to-date prices I could at that time. If you find a more updated price, you can change the pre-tip amount on the sheet and one with the tip amount will automatically update.  You would need to unprotect the sheet to do so. There is no password on the protection. 

9 hours ago, grandgeezer said:

Beers are $12 each now? $12 x 7 = $84. Does the $83.99 include the tip?

I am redoing my post since it had an error in it. I mistakingly referred to the gratuity as tax. 

The information I found shows domestic beers are $7.49 without gratuity and $8.84 with gratuity. So 7 beers come out to $61.87. If I were not getting the DBP, I would be getting the RP and which is currently $33.99 on my cruise. $40.11 with gratuity. So 7 beers plus RP cost $101.98. The DBP for my cruise is currently $83.99 pre-gratuity, and $99.11 with gratuity. I attached my spreadsheet to see if the package is worth it or not. 

Beverage Program Calculation.xlsx

In my calculations, I find that just 7 beers a day pay for the package at the current price of $83.99 a day for my upcoming cruise. It just became available to purchase recently. In my calculations, I used the price difference between the refreshment package and the deluxe beverage package. Because if I did not get the DBP, I would at least get the RP. 7 beers in a day are nothing for me. Plus one or two other adult beverages a day would be the norm for us also. 

They have yet to offer the DBP with Internet. That is what we plan to get when it becomes available. 

On 2/20/2023 at 7:06 PM, resetjet said:

They should probably go to a 15 drink max like carnival.  So many people get others drinks which drives up costs.  But they are adjusting accordingly and raking in the cash.  

I sure hope not. That is the main reason I do not go on Carnival cruises. 

My main issue with Carnival is the limit they have on drinks in a day. 

37 minutes ago, geko29 said:

 

This works, but I have never been able to watch a news recording while the broadcast was still in process, when I was out of market.   Shortly after the showing ended, I was able to view the recording.

Strange. I have done that lot of times when I am traveling out of town. 

10 hours ago, SG65CB said:

 

Even on land YouTube TV will not let you watch local programming if you are not physically in your local viewing area. A VPN will not help unless the VPN has an option to simulate your local area, but I have never seen a VPN with an Alabama server. 

 

If your goal is to watch whatever football team is your home team you won't be able to do it if it is a local broadcast. 

If you record a local program you can then watch it outside of your home area. I do this with our local news broadcasts. Even when it is live, it is recording to your DVR so you can watch it then also. 

Not a fan of the bar. 

Hopefully, they will drop the vaccination requirements soon.