Evaluating a beverage package? Here is a beverage list with prices, as of mid-2010.

[jackdec]

Hi All,

 

Just got off the Eclipse this past Saturday. Fantastic Cruise! DH and I each purchased the Classic Drink Package and were more than satisfied. It covered everything we wanted to drink throughout the week and the convenience alone is worth the cost.

 

We were able to drink a variety of beverages including various brands of beer, wine and cocktails along with bottled water, soda, specialty coffees and teas and freshly squeezed juices. I had "small" martini's in the Martini Bar and enjoyed several frosty drinks as well. In the MDR, our sommelier just kept topping our wine glasses and although the wine choices were somewhat limited by the cost, we always found a wine we enjoyed.

 

Not sure if we spent every penny although if we didn't it was very close. Even on a port day, we would enjoy a couple of coffees, bottled water, wine with dinner and a drink or two before/after dinner.

 

Another point to note. We didn't notice any difference in bar service at all. In fact, I think the wait staff are happy when they didn't have to get signatures. Made it a bit easier for them as well.

 

All in all, I would highly recommend the classic drink package for anyone who enjoys a few cocktails throughout the day. If you prefer top shelf brands or more expensive wines, you would probably prefer the Premium package, but the classic was very good for us.

You have helped us make our mind up on the classic package. Do you have to pay any extra on taxes for the packages and how do you choose the wines for the dining rooms. can you use the classic package if you dine in the speciality dining rooms. We are not big drinkers and will probably take a classic and a non alcohol

[prim8keeper]

Do you have to pay a charge along with the drinks you get on the packages like a tax or tip. Or all all taxes included in the packages. This may seem stupid. Is the classic package just a cheaper drinks list compared to the premium package. Or is the quality of drinks better on the premium.

 

Declan

 

The package already includes a tip. You just order your drink they swipe your card and you are good. We did decide though to tip some servers more and did it in cash at the end of our cruise. There is no difference in the quality of the drinks, just a difference in what the package covers price wise. The classic only goes up to $8 a drink where as the premium covers up to $12. Keep in mind though that you can order a drink that cost more and they just charge you the difference. We also drank several wines that were wonderful and only $8 a glass.

 

You have helped us make our mind up on the classic package. Do you have to pay any extra on taxes for the packages and how do you choose the wines for the dining rooms. can you use the classic package if you dine in the speciality dining rooms. We are not big drinkers and will probably take a classic and a non alcohol

 

We choose our wines based on the sommeliers recommendations based on what we were having for dinner that night. She knew which package we had and then based her recommendations around that and made sure our glasses were always full. You can use your package all over the ship including in the specialty restaurants. Although I'll warn you, prepare yourself to go over your limit if you go to Murano, although its well worth it! I had the lobster and there wasn't a wine under $12 that would go with it. All and all though I found the packages to be wonderful. Another thing that is nice is that in the dinning room you can order multiple drinks at a time, say bottled water and wine, where as at the bars you can only order one drink at a time.

Edited December 22, 2011 by prim8keeper

[jackdec]

can you tell me if Jin and tonic are included in the classic or premier selection.

 

Declan

[jackdec]

The package already includes a tip. You just order your drink they swipe your card and you are good. We did decide though to tip some servers more and did it in cash at the end of our cruise. There is no difference in the quality of the drinks, just a difference in what the package covers price wise. The classic only goes up to $8 a drink where as the premium covers up to $12. Keep in mind though that you can order a drink that cost more and they just charge you the difference. We also drank several wines that were wonderful and only $8 a glass.

 

 

 

We choose our wines based on the sommeliers recommendations based on what we were having for dinner that night. She knew which package we had and then based her recommendations around that and made sure our glasses were always full. You can use your package all over the ship including in the specialty restaurants. Although I'll warn you, prepare yourself to go over your limit if you go to Murano, although its well worth it! I had the lobster and there wasn't a wine under $12 that would go with it. All and all though I found the packages to be wonderful. Another thing that is nice is that in the dinning room you can order multiple drinks at a time, say bottled water and wine, where as at the bars you can only order one drink at a time.

Thanks for the info. Do they allow you to take 2 glasses of wine at the diner table, and is Gin and Slim Line tonic included in the Classic package. I hope that our trip is as good as many people say. All good comments so far and very helpfull responses.

Happy Xams from IRELAND to you all.

Declan

[jimzgoldfinch]

Thanks for the info. Do they allow you to take 2 glasses of wine at the diner table, and is Gin and Slim Line tonic included in the Classic package. I hope that our trip is as good as many people say. All good comments so far and very helpfull responses.

Happy Xams from IRELAND to you all.

Declan

 

Hi,

You can have as many glasses of wine as you like with dinner but only one at a time.

 

G&T will cost around $6/7 for standard brands, so will be included in classic package.

 

Jim

[nicunurse8277]

We are trying to determine what package to choose...Does anyone know what they charge for a Long Island Iced Tea? It's my husbands drink of choice and wanted to know if it would be covered under the classic package.

 

Thanks!

Jamie

[betsywsp]

Have been reading about buying items that are higher priced than what your drink package entitles you to. Just got off the phone with Celebrity. They said if you do you will be charged the full price, not the difference.

[ljandiernp]

Have been readingHi about buying items that are higher priced than what your drink package entitles you to. Just got off the phone with Celebrity. They said if you do you will be charged the full price, not the difference.

 

Hi, from all my reading there appears to a company "policy" and then there is a the "practice" that occurs on any given day on any given ship. By that I mean that individuals have reported success at paying the difference in price in some bars, on some days, on some ships and then having it be a different policy in the same bar on the same ship on another day. Good luck (seriously), as you experience yet another inconsistent approach to "policy" that I have observed on another cruise line as well, not just Celebrity. Happy new year, Laurie

[ljandiernp]

Hi,

I have subscribed to this thread and I think I have read the whole thing. I don't recall any discussion about this: if one pays for a drink package (I have a non alcohol package paid for at the moment) and then decides either before travel or once on the ship to upgrade their package, does one just pay the difference between the package that they have and the new one? Thanks in advance, Laurie

[jimzgoldfinch]

Hi,

 

I have subscribed to this thread and I think I have read the whole thing. I don't recall any discussion about this: if one pays for a drink package (I have a non alcohol package paid for at the moment) and then decides either before travel or once on the ship to upgrade their package, does one just pay the difference between the package that they have and the new one? Thanks in advance, Laurie

 

Hi,

Before you travel, you must cancel the original package and then re-book the new package.

 

On board you can upgrade the package by paying the difference.

 

If you have the premium alcohol beverage package you are permitted to pay the difference if the cost of the drink exceeds $12. Recent cruisers have confirmed that this is happening and I believe it is now official policy (read something on Celebrity website but can't point you to it!!).

 

Jim

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

... The classic only goes up to $8 a drink where as the premium covers up to $12. Keep in mind though that you can order a drink that cost more and they just charge you the difference. ....

 

I received an email back from Celebrity that indicated it's only the premium package where you can pay the difference for more expensive drinks, and if you have the classic package and purchase something over the $8 you then have to pay in full for the drink.

 

Has anybody experienced that?

 

Tom

[jagoffee]

Have been reading about buying items that are higher priced than what your drink package entitles you to. Just got off the phone with Celebrity. They said if you do you will be charged the full price, not the difference.

 

This would certainly be true for all the packages except the premium alcohol package. I am sure that I saw this documented, but I cannot find it. Perhaps it was something on the ship. I do know that I was on a Celebrity cruise in November and I only paid the difference. Perhaps the Celebrity person thought you were asking about all the packages.

 

If this is important in your decision, you can wait until you get on board, confirm the policy, and purchase the premium alcohol package once you confirm. You can be confident that it would apply to the other packages.

 

When is your next cruise? I am on another cruise in January and I can confirm again.

 

 

Enjoy our cruise.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I was reading a recent review of the Infinity, and came across their comments regarding the premium beverage package:

 

...

Beverage Package

--- When Celebrity changed the rules and it became possible to pay the surcharge for glasses priced over $12, we decided that we would both have the Premium Alcohol beverage package for this cruise. Although we calculated that we would not save a great deal, we thought that it would be worthwhile for the convenience. In reality, it was not convenient because we found we were incorrectly charged for drinks so often and it frequently took two or three attempts to have the charges removed from our account.

--- For a number of reasons, we also found that we were nowhere near getting our money’s worth from the packages. We found the choices of wine by the glass [especially French wines] far too limited – even those priced at more than $12. After we discussed this with the Bar Manager, the sommelier in the SS United States made a real effort to offer additional wines not usually available by the glass but these were extremely expensive compared with buying these by the bottle.

--- There were also far too many meals when we did not make use of the beverage package: the Wine Connoisseur’s Dinner, the Chef’s Table and a number of meals when had a bottle of wine. When we ate in Qsine, we did not drink wine – I would have just one cider and my husband one beer. The final straw was when my husband developed gout and had to stop drinking alcohol!

 

...

 

Has anyone else had (such frequent) issues with being incorrectly charged for drinks when using this plan?

 

Also, even prior to reading this review, I too had concerns regarding the limited selection of wine by the glass. Input from anyone else along this line?

 

Thanks,

 

Tom

[Roxymax]

Let's say you get on the ship on Thursday and don't buy the 54.00 package...but on Friday you decide to buy the package will you get charged for 4 days Thur, Fri, Sat, and Sun or just for the remaining days Friday, Saturday and Sunday?

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Let's say you get on the ship on Thursday and don't buy the 54.00 package...but on Friday you decide to buy the package will you get charged for 4 days Thur, Fri, Sat, and Sun or just for the remaining days Friday, Saturday and Sunday?

 

As I recall, it is based on the number of days remaining.

 

12:01 AM on the first night.. when that rolls around, are there only six days left (on a 7 night cruise)? Many people, being tired from all that leads up to embarkation, might not be able to take full advantage of the beverage package on the first afternoon/evening. Hmmmm

 

 

Tom

[Lsimon]

Let's say you get on the ship on Thursday and don't buy the 54.00 package...but on Friday you decide to buy the package will you get charged for 4 days Thur, Fri, Sat, and Sun or just for the remaining days Friday, Saturday and Sunday?

 

It's based on the number of remaining nights.

[lovestx]

I have just read all the posts since May 2011 and have learned a great deal! And there are definitely a lot of details to learn before picking (or not picking) a package.

 

I had planned to get the Premium package for DH and I and premium non-alcohol for kids (those son will be 18 at the time of the cruise.....don't want to give him carte blanche to buy beer!).

 

But now I'm wondering if we should wait and see. We are in Aqua Class so get free bottled water. And generally we are not premium coffee types (think Dunkin Donuts coffee not Starbucks!). So if the coffee in Blu is quite good, we might not use the non-alcoholic portion of the premium package.

 

But we will definitely drink quite a bit of alcohol (pre and post dinner cocktails and 2 glasses of wine at dinner).

 

Does the addition of the Aqua wrinkle cause anyone to pause about buying a package?

Edited January 4, 2012 by lovestx

[gymjudge55]

Yes, after finding out what I get in Aqua Class I am not going to purchase the package. Bottled Water, fresh squeezed juice included, don't drink pop or fancy coffees.

Even on my wildest days I figure:

2 martinis @ $10

Wine with dinner @ $10

One drink during the day and at the casino $8 each = $16

 

That's $46 and plenty for me to drink in one day.

 

We are also in port 4 full days bringing the daily down to one or two glasses of wine.

[wjb1969]

Just got off the Eclipse, and ended up buying the premium non-alcoholic package. Never been so hydrated in my life! Probably drank 6-7 liters of Evian a day, plus Pelligrino at meals, plus really enjoyed the teas in il Bacio. Could have run back and forth to the cabin for the small Evians they stocked there, but this was easier. We both felt like it was a decent deal - enjoyed a couple "mocktails" by the pool as well, and had some specialty coffees -- probably would have just paid for them anyway, but was nice to feel guilt-free.

 

Glad we didn't do the alcohol package -- we didn't really care for the general wines on the by the glass list anyway, and purchased bottles that we moved from restaurant to restaurant as the cruise went on.

 

Some updated prices for you all:

 

fresh juice -- $2.5

Beer --$5-7

Martinis -- $8-12

Mixed drinks -- $7-10

Soda - -$2

Specialty Coffees and Teas -- $4.5-6.50

[sarafinadh]

we didn't really care for the general wines on the by the glass list anyway, and purchased bottles that we moved from restaurant to restaurant as the cruise went on.

 

Does this mean if you purchase a bottle of wine and do not finish it that evening they will rack it and re-serve it the next night where ever you are dining?

[deckofficer]

Sara,

 

You could always brown bag it.

[sarafinadh]

Oh please... I could do something cooler than a brown bag... maybe run up a tote bag from an unwanted burgee ; -)

[deckofficer]

Sara,

 

Off topic, but what brought me here in the first place, SamandSally, I posted to their thread 3 times but no reply from them. Their thread over at Cruiser's has gone to what, 8 pages? We are sure a friendly lot aren't we?

[sarafinadh]

Well, to give them the benefit of the doubt they ARE sailing in a few days for a 3 months trip.

 

That would be a busy time for anyone ; -)

[deckofficer]

4 months, and she has been active today on that thread, but it's cool, as I shouldn't even be hanging out on a "roll call" thread for a vessel I won't be sailing on. I just wanted her to see how friendly we all were with her post going near-viral.