BOWIEWHIST

a) We are considering the room package at $80 for a seven night trip - the web site seems to indicate that this is the fee for a single bottle of one branded item (for example a single bottle of Baileys). Is this correct. At home such a bottle would cost around $20 max.

Yes this is correct you get a single bottle. You are paying cruise/resort/bar type prices and, unfortunately, you can not compare these prices to what you pay in a retail store. Comparing to retail just makes you upset and feel overcharged. But the prices are reasonable in relation to bar/restaurant prices or what most resort or hotels would charge for room service.

 

b) Do we share that bottle between us?

The stateroom setup can be shared between anyone as you are buying the bottle to do whatever you'd like with. It is the unlimited drink packages for drinks at bars, lounges and dining areas which can not be shared as these are priced per person.

 

c) what is meant by adding mixers to it - we'd hardly want anything in our Baileys because it is nice on its own. Is that were the mark up comes from?

It includes a 6 pack of soda type mixers of your choice. I realize this might not make sense for Bailey's but it is geared towards other spirits (vodka, gin, whisky, etc)

 

d) Is it $80 again if we add a bottle of something else? Getting very very expensive compared with land prices.

Yes. But again you can not compare to retail land prices. For better or worse the sale of alcoholic beverages is a primary revenue and income source for the cruise ship which is why they price and control accordingly. This is standard practice for the cruise industry.

 

e) what happens if we also have an alcohol package? Does this mean we show some sort of chitty to the waiter/bar person and we get each drink for free all around the ship.

The Classic and Premium unlimited beverage packages are sold per person and tied to your ship account for each person's ship card (seapass). When you order a drink the card will be checked and there will be no additional charge if it is included in the package. You're not drinking for free you are paying a substantial fixed price in advance. You have the option of foregoing the package and paying as you go by the glass or bottle.

 

f) I've understood that the basics of tea/coffee/juice is free all day every day but I've seen someone post that they were charged for the glasses - what is that all about?

There is a large selection of no-extra charge non-alcoholic beverages included in your cruise price. (See posting on this by clicking here) There are a lot of upscale versions of these beverages available for an extra charge including more premium versions, bottled beverages and carbonated beverages. A given item is either no-extra-charge or an extra charge upscale/premium item.

 

h) We are relying on you experienced Celebrity cruisers to guide us - we're likely to have two drinks each evening in our cabin and maybe wine with dinner (2 glasses each) and a cocktail later (Pina Collada perhaps) - are we better paying as we go or getting a package?

If you are at all unsure then just wait until you are on board. There is no reason to decide and purchase in advance. You can check things out for a day, charging items ala carte to your ship account, and then if you feel you would be better off with a package you can purchase it on board and pay a price pro-rated for the remaining nights of the cruise. This way you can balance the prices with your actual consumption and also determine if the no-extra-charge non-alcoholic items are sufficient for you or not. I've looked extensively into the drink packages and evaluated them based on my past cruise spending and found that they don't work for me even through I thought my past bills were relatively large. Others feel the packages are perfect for them. BTW - when we first started cruising we were haveing evening before dinner drinks in our cabin and quickly discovered we much perferred the lounges around the ship for many different reasons including how easy it is to socialize with your fellow cruisers. These days we only rarely have a little wine in our cabin and the two bottles we bring on board covers that need for the most part.

 

i) Finally there also seems confusion on the threads about bringing your own drinks on board. Is that permitted and can you keep them in your cabin fridge?

You are allowed to bring any non-alcoholic beverages you'd like on board. The only alcoholic beverages allowed to be brought on are two bottles of wine per stateroom. Some people smuggle other alcoholic items on board but if caught the bottles will be confiscated and might be destroyed. There is a fridge type cooler (not as cold as a regular fridge) in your cabin used for the mini-bar but you can store a couple items in it and even ask your cabin steward to remove some items to make more room for your own.

Wow! This reply is wonderful - very clear and extremely helpful. It matches our muddled situation perfectly. So we will basically wait and see and in the meantime select two bottles of wine for our cabin! Thanks to the respondents on this, very much appreciated.

This thread has such a massive amount of information and some of it is contradictory - which for newbie cruisers adds to the fog of Celebrity's own scant information.

So apologies if this is covered elsewhere but I have hacked back through 15 of the 65 pages and can't follow what people are recommending!

a) We are considering the room package at $80 for a seven night trip - the web site seems to indicate that this is the fee for a single bottle of one branded item (for example a single bottle of Baileys). Is this correct. At home such a bottle would cost around $20 max.

b) Do we share that bottle between us?

c) what is meant by adding mixers to it - we'd hardly want anything in our Baileys because it is nice on its own. Is that were the mark up comes from?

d) Is it $80 again if we add a bottle of something else? Getting very very expensive compared with land prices.

e) what happens if we also have an alcohol package? Does this mean we show some sort of chitty to the waiter/bar person and we get each drink for free all around the ship.

f) I've understood that the basics of tea/coffee/juice is free all day every day but I've seen someone post that they were charged for the glasses - what is that all about?

g) There are lists on the site about drink prices by the glass (I presume) with beer about $4 but then there's some confusion over whether these lists are for Celebrity cruises or for some other shipping line

h) We are relying on you experienced Celebrity cruisers to guide us - we're likely to have two drinks each evening in our cabin and maybe wine with dinner (2 glasses each) and a cocktail later (Pina Collada perhaps) - are we better paying as we go or getting a package?

i) Finally there also seems confusion on the threads about bringing your own drinks on board. Is that permitted and can you keep them in your cabin fridge?

Thanks everyone for your indulgence and sorry if you feel you have addressed all this elsewhere.