Wine Permitted to Carry Onboard Now

[Starry Eyes]

As someone else has implied, if you are Diamond or higher, this is probably meaningless.

 

that is probably true for me...but other D or higher might find it worthwhile if it includes additional beverage options all day and night.

 

for example...start the day with a couple specialty coffees spiked with Bailey's, Kahlua, etc. A couple bottles of water or a couple sodas. A couple poolside cutesy drinks. Additional water or soft drinks. Cocktails or glasses of wine (other than LaTerre) before dinner. Red, white, and sparkling wines matched to the course at dinner. Desert drink or specialty coffee with desert. beverage of choice during show. for certain cruisers, it could really add up and add to the cruise. i do not care to drink that much, so probably not worth it to me...probably worth it to somebody. I am not a fan of the unlimited drink packages, though perhaps my concerns of overconsumption and bad behavior are unwarranted....time will tell.

[tim5055]

that is probably true for me...but other D or higher might find it worthwhile if it includes additional beverage options all day and night.

 

for example...start the day with a couple specialty coffees spiked with Bailey's, Kahlua, etc. A couple bottles of water or a couple sodas. A couple poolside cutesy drinks. Additional water or soft drinks. Cocktails or glasses of wine (other than LaTerre) before dinner. Red, white, and sparkling wines matched to the course at dinner. Desert drink or specialty coffee with desert. beverage of choice during show. for certain cruisers, it could really add up and add to the cruise. i do not care to drink that much, so probably not worth it to me...probably worth it to somebody. I am not a fan of the unlimited drink packages, though perhaps my concerns of overconsumption and bad behavior are unwarranted....time will tell.

I agree with your analysis of how it could work out for some passengers.

 

I have seen many talk about "concerns of overconsumption and bad behavior" many times. We hae visited several Sandals all inclusive resorts, and even with multiple bars/all you can drink of anything I have never seen anything close to bad behavior.

[Riggy84]

It would be a great idea if you could have a drinks package where you set a limit, like $100 and you get reduced priced drinks and when u get near or hit your limit they notify u. Then u could have the choice of either doing a top up, or just paying the standard drinks price (say, if you are on the final night and wouldn't need to drink much more)

I would go for that idea! But probably more hassle than it's worth for RCCL

[joeybutta]

I just talked to RC and they said its not true.

 

We just called also....they said it was in the works! We go in April on Adventure and I would grab that deal in a heartbeat! We go with my brother and his family and both husbands and wives enjoy relaxing with a cold drink by the pool, dinner, dancing, at midnight....we think it would be worth our while! Not that we are drunks but what they charge per drink.....I think we would come out ahead:)

[Wilda]

Even if our bar tab is never that high... to me the comfort of knowing exactly how much it's going to cost (and ideally paying before the cruise) is of value to me. I severly limit how much I would like to have due to not wanting to accidently run up a large bill and be surprised at the end. A drink or two at the pool, a cocktail before dinner, a glass of wine with my meal... it all adds up rather quickly and isn't a lot of alcohol when spread out over the course of a day. I also usually purchase the soda package would also be replaced by this.

 

Funny you should mention that because I was initially of the same mind set when I first read the thread. Then I got to thinking about a cruise on Explorer a few years ago where I got really sick and drank almost nothing the entire nine days. I wonder how that type of a situation would work; if you could go them them mid cruise and let them know you were ill and wanted out of the package (that of course opens up the whole quarantine conversation but let's save that for another thread;))... Lets face it- $55x2 for x number of days is significant if you are not feeling well. But since I'm not Diamond and have no access to those perks if I was feeling adventurous I might consider it!

Edited November 24, 2012 by Wilda

[trev71]

That would be super coolo, the wife and i usually get the sofa packages and I am always on edge on getting hooked on too many of them fancy drinks of the day. they are good ... 55$ a day per person is alot. i would have to get drunk just to know i got my moneys worth. i just looked last cruise we had about 12 drinks each.

[Kellie Poodle]

With the recent change allowing two bottles of wine per cabin to be brought on board and now the offer of an unlimited beverage package, I'm wondering if RCI fired some tea-totaling corporate lawyers.

 

There seems to be, forgive me, a sea change in their alcohol philosophy lately.

[Debde]

As someone else has implied, if you are Diamond or higher, this is probably meaningless.

 

:confused:

Currently-if the perks stay the same, it's only a few hours a night of limited beverage choice.

If Royal puts forth the same as Celebrity with coffee, juice, smoothies seems to me if you enjoy that stuff it would be worth it.

Something tells me with the amount of Diamonds, Diamond plus and Pinnacles even growing, things could change. Also now that you can bring 2 bottles of wine on board and now, an alcohol package being introduced, one might think the free drinks may not always be flowing as they have in years past.

Edited November 24, 2012 by Debde

[yogimax]

Let's hope Royal Caribbean does not become another Carnival!

[rubrrick]

Having just been aboard Celebrity, one of the nice things about their program, is that you can purchase a package of a bottle of liquor (1 litre), which comes with a 6 pack of sodas of your choice, and a mixed tray of nuts.

 

It's not inexpensive, I paid $100.00 for a Ketel One package. The Absolute pakage was $80.00.

 

We are not going to pay $55.00 per person per day to have a few drinks in the evening. During our 16 day Panama Canal trip, we ordered an alcoholic drink during the day twice.

 

Celebrity has an evening cocktail hour for suites and Elites. It does not run as long a time as RCL's do, but we found the 5PM to 7PM a very nice period of time to have a couple of drinks, before dinner.

 

With the new allowance of 2 bottles of wine to be carried aboard, and the new premium alcohol program, Royal Caribbean is beginning to get back into the game.

 

We will hear more about this next weekend when we board the Brilliance of the Seas. Thanks for the heads up!!;)

 

Rick

[Yorkvillain]

:confused:

Currently-if the perks stay the same, it's only a few hours a night of limited beverage choice.

If Royal puts forth the same as Celebrity with coffee, juice, smoothies seems to me if you enjoy that stuff it would be worth it.

Something tells me with the amount of Diamonds, Diamond plus and Pinnacles even growing, things could change. Also now that you can bring 2 bottles of wine on board and now, an alcohol package being introduced, one might think the free drinks may not always be flowing as they have in years past.

 

I was thinking the same thing.

[mimipearl]

I guess we just don't drink enough to make it worth while.

 

Our usual is maybe one drink int he early afternoon, 2 before dinner in the Diamond Lounge and maybe one after dinner in the Casino or Schooner. Sometimes we will have a glass of wine with dinner.

 

I am with you. That is about what we drink!

[luvscruising2007]

Not worth it for us. As many old fogies, like me know, as you get older you may take meds that discourage the use of alcohol. So, for DH and I we wouldn't get the use of it.

I think the alcohol package is too expensive. Seems like they might make out better to have separate packages for wine, beer and hard liquor. Just a thought.

[yogimax]

I was thinking the same thing.

 

I wasn't and I tend not to appreciate posts which say they expect cutbacks. All that does is put the possibility into the minds of the decision makers. Carnival is a great example. People were posting about how they expected cutbacks but would still be loyal to Carnival. Guess what happened? That's why I tend to discourage this sort of speculation.

 

In addition, I keep reading about the growing number of elites. Well guess what... the existing elites are growing older, becoming unable to cruise and sorrowfully dying. So yes, there are new elites every day, but also many, many leaving the elite ranks!

[Debde]

I wasn't and I tend not to appreciate posts which say they expect cutbacks. All that does is put the possibility into the minds of the decision makers. Carnival is a great example. People were posting about how they expected cutbacks but would still be loyal to Carnival. Guess what happened? That's why I tend to discourage this sort of speculation.

 

In addition, I keep reading about the growing number of elites. Well guess what... the existing elites are growing older, becoming unable to cruise and sorrowfully dying. So yes, there are new elites every day, but also many, many leaving the elite ranks!

 

First- I really don't think that CC gives the decision makers any ideas. most cutbacks for any company are in the planning stages long before the customer actually experiences them. And we all could be silly to think all this free drinking in over-crowded lounges is always going to continue.

 

And-you really think elite members are dying off faster then they are becoming members??:eek:

[mrsfecura]

This would be great for my husband and I. A couple of drinks at the pool, then a few glasses of wine or martinis at dinner and possibly a nightcap later in the evening would definitely make it worth it for us!

[yogimax]

First- I really don't think that CC gives the decision makers any ideas.

 

I do believe that CC is being monitored by folks from RCCL to check out reactions and trends

[rubrrick]

I do believe that CC is being monitored by folks from RCCL to check out reactions and trends

 

I have a tendency to believe you yogi. However, contrary to popular opinion, there are going to be some things taking place on the Celebrity front that will be changing the way that some Celebrity Elites think today.

 

First, and Mr. Bayley was upfront when he talked about a new tier level at Celebrity, something that would make a difference for those that had quite a few sailings with Celebrity, with some receprocity to Royal Caribbean, that will thin down the ranks, while still offering the benefits to those that have continued to be loyal. We all remember what happened to the Diamonds on RCCL.

 

And now, they have their own lounge on so many of the Royal Caribbean ships. Give Mr. Bayley a bit of time to get his feet wet over at Celebrity, and I think that there will be some new and wonderful changes being made.

 

Some of the changes that we are seeing being implemented at Royal Caribbean, were sitting in his lap, when the powers that be, elevated him to a new post, with Celebrity.

 

There were some things about Celebrity, on our last outing that we disembarked from just a couple of weeks ago, that I believe will be changed. The first thing is the food menu in the cafe...the same menu every day. It was deplorable compared to what is served in the Windjammer.

 

Six months to a year is going to bring on some new trends for both companies.:)

 

Rick

[maitlandmom]

I have had the premium package on Celebrity on a 7 night cruise and it was great. Not only does it include the alcholic drinks but it included specialty coffees and teas and bottled water. On a subsequent 12 night port intensive cruise I just got the premium non alcohol package. A few of the really big bottles of water, a specialty tea, a few sodas with dinner and you are quickly getting your money's worth. I am crossing my fingers that it is truely rolling out on RCL.

 

I was on one of the first cruises when Celebrity rolled out their package and the staff REALLY needed to be trained on how to use the package. I really had to watch my account for drinks that should not have been charged to my account. The subsequent cruise (on the same ship) there was absolutely no problem with wayward charges.

[PhoenixCruiser]

This is awesome news for us :D

 

Thanks for sharing OP!!

 

###

[Arrow Fan]

Should make an interesting last day of a cruise.Those who somehow fell behind in their drinking trying to get their money's worth before disembarking.

[MonDreamr1]

The package on X makes it easy to do dinner wine pairings. If you and your travel companion are getting different meals you don't have to pick a bottle of wine that fits both, you pick what you like. You can change things up with different courses followed up with after dinner drink/coffee.

[Az's Cruising Nana]

If bottled water and some specialty coffees are included, that would make it worth more to many people. I doubt I will buy it, especially since I'll soon have D+ perks, but more power to those who do purchase it.

 

If it is patterned after Celebrity yes water and specialty coffee included. We found after drinking 4 bottles of water a day per person/coffee or two in the AM and a DOD with wine at dinner it was a great savings. Totally not having to smuggle or haul water onboard.:cool: Congrats on your diamond+ !

 

Two tiers of package offered in addition. Of course the most expensive was an all included with top shelf anything for the most part.

 

Sue

[Kellie Poodle]

The package on X makes it easy to do dinner wine pairings. If you and your travel companion are getting different meals you don't have to pick a bottle of wine that fits both, you pick what you like.

 

 

We do that with the regular wine package. Always have a bottle of red and a bottle of white open. You don't have to finish a bottle of wine to order another from the package.

[riandei]

We did a TA on Celebrity where they offered this pkg. You have to drink an awful lot to make it pay.

 

Plus both pax have to buy the pkg. So if one doesn't drink or drinks only a little it is not worth it.

 

Same goes for Diamond, Diamond + and Pinnacle and suite guests. With the special lounges offering complimentary cocktails from 5 to 8:30 it just doesn't make sense.

 

Maybe if they priced them more reasonably they would be more attractive.

 

You do not BOTH have to purchase....only if you BOTH wa t to drink

 

Dh had it....i did pay as you go