Signature bev package vs elite?

I'm debating puchasing a be package for my cruise that starts tomorrow. I know the elite is better for wine drinkers, but I don't know if it's worth the extra cost for me, since I'm primarily a cocktail drinker and am generally okay with well drinks. Is there really that much of a difference in the drinks that each package covers?

I'm debating puchasing a be package for my cruise that starts tomorrow. I know the elite is better for wine drinkers, but I don't know if it's worth the extra cost for me, since I'm primarily a cocktail drinker and am generally okay with well drinks. Is there really that much of a difference in the drinks that each package covers?

Obviously the Elite package gives you more choices especially in the Wine area as you mention and some choices in the high end liquors but if your focus is on Cocktails and well drinks are not an issue for you then in my opinion the Signature Package is best for you. Drinks $9 and less for a max of 15 per day is a lot to drink, cost break even is around 5-7 drinks, enjoy!

By the way love the "lewis" name [emoji12]

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Just get the regular signature package, if you are prepared to consume 15 drinks per day. The premium package seems more like a cash grab than anything else. Also, people who drink wine get a wine package anyway especially if it's discounted due to mariner status.

I no longer get the drinks packages myself unless it is free.

Obviously the Elite package gives you more choices especially in the Wine area as you mention and some choices in the high end liquors but if your focus is on Cocktails and well drinks are not an issue for you then in my opinion the Signature Package is best for you. Drinks $9 and less for a max of 15 per day is a lot to drink, cost break even is around 5-7 drinks, enjoy!

 

By the way love the "lewis" name [emoji12]

 

 

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Thanks! Now to decide if I'm likely to hit the break-even point, lol.

Useful info. Thanks.

I don't know if this will help or not, but here's some information I compiled from the most recent pricing I could find, via Roger Jett (Crew News) from his recent Alaska cruise. Sorry about the formatting. You can't do a table in a CruiseCritic post.

Beverage - HAL Price - HAL SBP - HAL EBP

DAILY PRICE - - $51.69 - $63.19

PROMO COST/DAY - Explore 4 - Free - $11.50

Non-Alcoholic Beverages - HAL Price - HAL SBP - HAL EBP

Mineral Water 1.5L - $3.95 - Yes - Yes

Mineral Water 0.5L - $1.95 - Yes - Yes

San Pelligrino 1.0L - $4.50 - Yes - Yes

Perrier 750ml - $3.25 - Yes - Yes

Juices - All - $2.75 - Yes - Yes

Soda - All - $2.25 - Yes - Yes

Red Bull - $4.50 - Yes - Yes

Red Bull Sugar Free - $4.50 - Yes - Yes

Please note that both plans include mocktails and smoothies.

WINE - HAL Price - HAL SBP # - HAL EBP #

This is just the number of wines available of each type under each plan. If you really need the wines in detail, I've posted them before. If you can't find them, let me know.

House Sparkling - $6.50 - 1 - 1

Prosecco - $6.75 - 1 - 1

Other Sparkling - $9.50 - 0 - 1

Champagne - $12.50 - 0 - 1

Pinot Grigio - $6.50-$11.00 - 1 - 2

Chablis - $13.50 - 0 - 1

Chardonnay - $6.50-$9.75 - 2 - 4

Riesling - $7.25-8.50 - 2 - 2

Moscato - $8.50 - 1 - 1

Sauv Blanc - $8.50-$9.75 - 1 - 2

Barbera - $9.75 - 0 - 1

Claret - $13.50 - 0 - 1

Malbec - $8.50 - 1 - 1

Merlot - $6.50-$12.25 - 1 - 2

Cabernet Sauv - $6.50-$9.75 - 3 - 5

Shiraz/Syrah - $7.25-$14.75 - 2 - 3

Pinot Noir - $9.75 - 0 - 2

Zinfandel - $6.50 - 1 - 1

White Zin - $6.50 - 1 - 1

Dessert Wine - $7.95 - 1 - 1

Number Wines Available - - 19 - 34

BEER 12 oz - HAL Price - HAL SBP - HAL EBP

Amstel Light - $5.95 - Yes - Yes

Beck's - $5.95 - Yes - Yes

Blue Moon - $5.95 - Yes - Yes

Corona - $5.95 - Yes - Yes

Guinness Stout - $6.25 - Yes - Yes

Heineken - $5.95 - Yes - Yes

Molson - $5.95 - Yes - Yes

Sam Adams Boston Lager - $5.95 - Yes - Yes

Stella Artois - $5.95 - Yes - Yes

BEER 16 oz - HAL Price - HAL SBP - HAL EBP

Boddington's - $6.25 - Yes - Yes

Bud - $6.25 - Yes - Yes

Bud Light - $6.25 - Yes - Yes

Bud Light Lime - $6.25 - Yes - Yes

Coors Light - $6.25 - Yes - Yes

Grolsch - $7.25 - Yes - Yes

Michelob Ultra - $6.25 - Yes - Yes

Miller Genuine Draft - $6.25 - Yes - Yes

Miller Lite - $6.25 - Yes - Yes

CIDERS/OTHER - HAL Price - HAL SBP - HAL EBP

Crispin Cider - $5.75 - Yes - Yes

NA Beer - $4.25 - Yes - Yes

Rekordling Pear - $6.50 - Yes - Yes

Rekordling Strawberry/Lime - $6.50 - Yes - Yes

Smirnoff Ice - $5.25 - Yes - Yes

Strongbow Cider - $5.75 - Yes - Yes

VODKA - HAL Price - HAL SBP - HAL EBP

Absolut - $7.25 - Yes - Yes

Absolut Citron - $7.25 - Yes - Yes

Absolut Mandarin - $7.25 - Yes - Yes

Absolut Vanilla - $7.25 - Yes - Yes

Belvedere - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Chopin - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Finlandia - $6.25 - Yes - Yes

Grey Goose - $7.95 - Yes - Yes

Grey Goose Citron - $7.95 - Yes - Yes

Grey Goose 'Orange - $7.95 - Yes - Yes

Grey Goose La Poire - $7.95 - Yes - Yes

Ketel One - $7.50 - Yes - Yes

New Amsterdam - $6.95 - Yes - Yes

Skyy - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Skyy Pineapple - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Smirnoff - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Stolichnaya - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Tito's - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Vox - $6.95 - Yes - Yes

RUM - HAL Price - HAL SBP - HAL EBP

Appleton - $7.25 - Yes - Yes

Bacardi - $7.00 - Yes - Yes

Bacardi 8 - $7.00 - Yes - Yes

Bacardi Gold - $7.00 - Yes - Yes

Bacardi Limon - $7.00 - Yes - Yes

Bacardi Oakheart - $7.00 - Yes - Yes

Bacardi Razz - $7.00 - Yes - Yes

Brugal - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Captain Morgan - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Cruzan - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Gosling's Black Seal - $7.25 - Yes - Yes

Malibu - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Myer's Dark - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Pyrat XO - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

BOURBON - HAL Price - HAL SBP - HAL EBP

Buffalo Trace - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Jack Daniels - $7.50 - Yes - Yes

Jack Daniels Honey - $7.50 - Yes - Yes

Jim Beam - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Jim Beam Red Stag - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Knob Creek - $7.95 - Yes - Yes

Maker's Mark - $7.95 - Yes - Yes

Tatoosh - $7.95 - Yes - Yes

Wild Turkey 101 - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

RYE/IRISH WHISKY - HAL Price - HAL SBP - HAL EBP

Canadian Club - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Crown Royal - $7.00 - Yes - Yes

Jameson Irish - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Seagram's 7 Crown - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Seagram's VO - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Tatoosh Rye - $7.95 - Yes - Yes

SCOTCH - HAL Price - HAL SBP - HAL EBP

Aberfeldy - $7.75 - Yes - Yes

Ballentine's - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Chivas Regal - $7.25 - Yes - Yes

Cutty Sark - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Dalmore - $10.25 - Excluded - Yes

Dewar's 12 Year Old - $7.25 - Yes - Yes

Dewar's White - $7.00 - Yes - Yes

Glen Deveron - $8.50 - Yes - Yes

Glenfiddich - $10.25 - Excluded - Yes

Glenlivet - $8.95 - Yes - Yes

Glenmorangie - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Highland Park - $11.95 - Excluded - Yes

J&B - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Johnnie Walker - Black - $7.75 - Yes - Yes

Johnnie Walker - Red - $7.00 - Yes - Yes

Laphroaig - $8.95 - Yes - Yes

Macallan Select Oak - $11.95 - Excluded - Yes

GIN - HAL Price - HAL SBP - HAL EBP

Bols Dutch Jenever - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Bombay - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Bombay Sapphire - $7.50 - Yes - Yes

Hendricks - $8.00 - Yes - Yes

Tanqueray - $7.50 - Yes - Yes

Tanqueray 10 - $7.50 - Yes - Yes

TEQUILA - HAL Price - HAL SBP - HAL EBP

Cabo Wabo Blanco - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Cazadores Anejo - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

El Jimador Silver - $7.75 - Yes - Yes

Herradura Reposado - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Herradura Silver - $9.75 - Excluded - Yes

Jose Cuervo 1800 - $7.75 - Yes - Yes

Jose Cuervo Gold - $6.95 - Yes - Yes

Patron Anejo - $13.95 - Excluded - Yes

Patron Reposado - $11.95 - Excluded - Yes

Patron Silver - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

APERITIF - HAL Price - HAL SBP - HAL EBP

Aperol - $6.50 - Yes - Yes

Campari - $6.50 - Yes - Yes

Dubonnet - $6.00 - Yes - Yes

Pernod - $6.25 - Yes - Yes

Vermouth - $6.00 - Yes - Yes

COGNAC/ARMAGNAC - HAL Price - HAL SBP - HAL EBP

Armagnac - $8.95 - Yes - Yes

Courvoisier Napoleon - $10.95 - Excluded - Yes

Courvoisier VS - $7.50 - Yes - Yes

Courvoisier VSOP - $8.50 - Yes - Yes

Hennessey VS - $7.95 - Yes - Yes

Hennessey VSOP - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Hennessey XO - $19.95 - Excluded - Excluded

Remy Martin VSOP - $10.95 - Excluded - Yes

Remy Martin XO - $18.95 - Excluded - Excluded

DIGESTIF - HAL Price - HAL SBP - HAL EBP

Aquavit - $5.95 - Yes - Yes

Grappa di Alexander - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Grappa di Cabernet - $6.50 - Yes - Yes

Grappa di Prosecco - $6.25 - Yes - Yes

Limoncello - $6.50 - Yes - Yes

Villa Massa Limoncello PGI - $7.00 - Yes - Yes

LIQUEUR - HAL Price - HAL SBP - HAL EBP

Amaretto Disaronno - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Baileys Irish Cream - $6.95 - Yes - Yes

Chambord - $6.25 - Yes - Yes

Cointreau - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Crème de Menthe - $6.25 - Yes - Yes

D.O.M. Benedictine - $6.50 - Yes - Yes

Drambuie - $6.95 - Yes - Yes

Frangelico - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Galliano - $6.25 - Yes - Yes

Grand Marnier - $6.95 - Yes - Yes

Jagermeister - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Kahlua - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Patron Cafe XO - $11.95 - Excluded - Yes

Patron Citronage - $6.25 - Yes - Yes

Sambuca - $6.95 - Yes - Yes

Southern Comfort - $6.95 - Yes - Yes

Tia Maria - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

PORT/SHERRY - HAL Price - HAL SBP - HAL EBP

Dow's LBV - $7.95 - Yes - Yes

f-larvey Bristol Cream Sherry - $6.00 - Yes - Yes

Graham's Six Grapes - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Sandeman - $6.50 - Yes - Yes

Smith Woodhouse Reserve LBV - $6.50 - Yes - Yes

Tio Pepe Sherry - $6.25 - Yes - Yes

Warre's Otima - $6.50 - Yes - Yes

Warre's Warrior Tawny - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Thanks! Now to decide if I'm likely to hit the break-even point, lol.

Just remember bottled water is included!

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If your are a wine drinker or a Tequila drinker, the elite is a better deal.. I like Tequila and don't think Jose Cuervo is tequila, but that is all that is covered by the SBP. So in order to save $, I'm drinking gin :)

Thank you! I drink Grey Goose and wanted to be sure she ok with Signature for my Jan cruise.

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I get the Signature package since I don't need the premium spirits and I put ice in my wine (no hangovers!). I do enjoy the non-alcoholic coffees also. If you enjoy sitting and talking with people in the bars and lounges go with a package. Breakeven is about five per day (alcohols) easy to do at lunch, cocktails, and with a glass or three of wine at dinner!

Cheers

If you have the Signature Package included with Explore 4 can you pay the difference for an upgrade to Elite?

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Just off the Eurodam.. had the signature beverage package and you are allowed to upgrade to elite. The cost is approximately 11.50 per person per day. I paid corkage on extra wine and was happy with the signature package.

Have been told by several servers that soft drinks and water do not count toward the 15 drink limit. Have also seen same on here but no solid verification that it is true.

We have done a lot of HAL cruising (like many others here on CC) and know about what we spend on beverages over a long cruise. For DW and I it is about $60-$70 a day (total cost for two) which includes our half bottle of wine at dinner (purchased at 50% off via the wine packages), cocktails, softdrinks, etc. So when there is a HAL promo with the drink package, we figure if it costs more then about $40 per passenger day it is a very bad deal. And we have never been on a cruise where we could get the package that cheap...when we compared prices to the prices we can get after the promotions.

So my only message to the OP...is to consider how much you would normally spend on drinks over an entire cruise (including long port days)? And compare that cost to how much extra you pay for these promotions. We once saved around $11,000 (on a 40 day cruise) by rebooking our cabin (which we had booked under the drink promo) after the promotion ended. Yes, we did lose our drink package....but our bar bill on that cruise was about $3000! So we saved $8000 by not buying the package.

Hank

Thanks blues player

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Is a drink that is served in a souvenir glass included in the signature package if is less than $9?

Yes the souvenir glass is included in the signature package. Seems like you may have to ask for the souvenir glass. I believe soft drinks and bottled water do count toward your 15 drinks as they were always "rang up" on our package. We drank what we wanted and did not come go over the 15.. doubt we ever went over 10 including the soft drinks, water and coffees.

Are the nonalcoholic special coffees included in the beverage package?

Are the nonalcoholic special coffees included in the beverage package?

If they cost less than the $9/$15 limit, then yes, they are included.

Thank you!

Just off the Eurodam.. had the signature beverage package and you are allowed to upgrade to elite. The cost is approximately 11.50 per person per day. I paid corkage on extra wine and was happy with the signature package.

Thanks, Bluesplayer. We board the Rotterdam in June and have a Signature package included. We will probably upgrade to the Elite level.

Do they do shooters at the bars? I love B52's!

Any idea if they would be included in a package or what the cost might be?

We did get 2 $50 drink cards so might have to use them

Hello POA1

Can you repost the actual Elite wine list?  I could not locate your previous post.  thank you.

Please note that the Signature Beverage Package pricing limit  is now “up to 11 US$” and in reality, non alcoholic drinks are unlimited, as confirmed in writing by the Seattle Head Office.

if onboard you are told otherwise, be very assertive about this.

oh, and Milkshakes are beverages!

3 hours ago, julie.stanton.bell said:

Hello POA1

Can you repost the actual Elite wine list?  I could not locate your previous post.  thank you.

POA1's post to which you are referring was made in 2017, and the lists that he had posted before that are no longer valid. There has been a fairly recent change in the wine offerings, with a number of related threads on this board mentioning discussing it, but I don't know if anyone has posted a comprehensive list of the currently available wines and their prices. I'm also not sure that the change has been implemented fleet wide as yet.