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Carnival "Cheers Program"

beaddreams25

By beaddreams25,
in First Time Cruisers

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beaddreams25

beaddreams25

Posted
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I am going on my first cruise with my husband in October. We are going with a bunch of friends including my best friend and her future husband who are actually getting married on the ship before we set sail.

I am trying to decide if we should purchase the "Cheers Program" or just buy as we go. For the both of us on an 8 day cruise the cost will be $790.00. I understand that the liquor bill really adds up, but I have no idea what drinks cost on a cruise. For instance what do they charge for a Bloody Mary or a Martini? For those of you who have cruised on Carnival, what brand of Vodka do they offer? Do they have Kettle One or Grey Goose? My husband is a beer drinker and I see that you can pre-order 4 pks of beer to be delivered to your stateroom. Doing it that way the beers cost $5.50/beer. Is this what most beers cost at the bars? Would appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

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beachbum53

beachbum53

Posted
Posted

There are two places you can go to find your answers. Zydecocruiser.com has information on drink costs on just about all of the cruise lines, including Carnival. Also, if you post your question on the Carnival board, you'll get far more response than here on the "First Time Cruisers" board.

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TheBigEarl

TheBigEarl

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I was on a cruise with a friend a couple months ago who utilized the Cheers program on Carnival. It worked out pretty well for him. He kept track of his spending vs. what it would have cost him if he paid per drink and he definitely came out ahead, but I would also say he probably got more drinks than he would have if he was paying per drink.

 

Bottled beer is 5.50 for a 16 oz bottle for domestics from the bars. Import brands of beers are about the same price but usually for a 12 oz size. If you get a bucket of 4 they knock a couple bucks off the price. For the ships that have upgraded to have draft beer, it ranges anywhere from 4.50 for a 16 oz glass all the way up to about 25 bucks for a 110 oz beer tube with a serving spout. Standard call drinks and basic frozen drinks range from 6 to 10 bucks, and they have almost all of the big name brands (in fact, I've never seen any "generic" liquors on any of our cruises. The fancy frozen and special drinks vary in price but are typically 12-15 dollars for a 16-20oz size drink with a keeper mug.

 

Now on the Cheers - it includes any standard beer or mixed drink up to 10 dollars. So you won't be able to get the fancy drink of the day types on it, or the beer tubes. You also can only get drinks one at a time, and have to be spaced out at least 10 minutes apart. Everytime you get a drink they run your card and give you a receipt to sign, the drink is put on your account, and then you are credited the cost of the drink back. So at the end of the cruise my friend had a 3-4 page sign and sail report of every drink and credit.

 

Originally I think they were going to do the cheers program on a day by day basis, but as of now you can only buy it during the first couple of days of the cruise, and you have to buy it for the full duration of the cruise. My friend got it the second day, and they charged him for all days including the first, but they also credited back the drinks he purchased before he bought the program. Also, if one person in a cabin gets the Cheers package, all persons in that cabin of drinking age have to buy it as well. It's unlimited drinks, but my friend also said they did track how many you have had per day and I suppose they could potentially cut you off it you get so many drinks that they think you might be sharing them or are dangerously drunk.

 

Anyway, hope that helps. I would definitely check with the program when you get on ship since its a pretty new thing and the above could change. Have fun!

 

TBE

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 3 months later...
Goofydust

Goofydust

Posted
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I was on a cruise with a friend a couple months ago who utilized the Cheers program on Carnival. It worked out pretty well for him. He kept track of his spending vs. what it would have cost him if he paid per drink and he definitely came out ahead, but I would also say he probably got more drinks than he would have if he was paying per drink.

 

Bottled beer is 5.50 for a 16 oz bottle for domestics from the bars. Import brands of beers are about the same price but usually for a 12 oz size. If you get a bucket of 4 they knock a couple bucks off the price. For the ships that have upgraded to have draft beer, it ranges anywhere from 4.50 for a 16 oz glass all the way up to about 25 bucks for a 110 oz beer tube with a serving spout. Standard call drinks and basic frozen drinks range from 6 to 10 bucks, and they have almost all of the big name brands (in fact, I've never seen any "generic" liquors on any of our cruises. The fancy frozen and special drinks vary in price but are typically 12-15 dollars for a 16-20oz size drink with a keeper mug.

 

Now on the Cheers - it includes any standard beer or mixed drink up to 10 dollars. So you won't be able to get the fancy drink of the day types on it, or the beer tubes. You also can only get drinks one at a time, and have to be spaced out at least 10 minutes apart. Everytime you get a drink they run your card and give you a receipt to sign, the drink is put on your account, and then you are credited the cost of the drink back. So at the end of the cruise my friend had a 3-4 page sign and sail report of every drink and credit.

 

Originally I think they were going to do the cheers program on a day by day basis, but as of now you can only buy it during the first couple of days of the cruise, and you have to buy it for the full duration of the cruise. My friend got it the second day, and they charged him for all days including the first, but they also credited back the drinks he purchased before he bought the program. Also, if one person in a cabin gets the Cheers package, all persons in that cabin of drinking age have to buy it as well. It's unlimited drinks, but my friend also said they did track how many you have had per day and I suppose they could potentially cut you off it you get so many drinks that they think you might be sharing them or are dangerously drunk.

 

Anyway, hope that helps. I would definitely check with the program when you get on ship since its a pretty new thing and the above could change. Have fun!

 

TBE

 

DH and I usually purchase the Cruise the Vineyards package on embarkation and it lasts us the length of the cruise... we purchase TWO. Does this count against the Cheers package? Not that we are huge drinkers, so much, but wondering about the "savings" or balance of it all.

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trish1c

trish1c

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Posted

You need to read the fine print on the Carnival website to decide if the program works for you. I don't know anything about it but my knowledge of similar programs tells me Kettle One & Grey Goose will not be included. They are considered premium spirits which are always outside these programs. You will be lucky if you get Smirnoff.

DH & I like to have a good time but we have never gotten the packages because they just don't work for us. I like high end bottles of wine & he drinks imported beer. The stuff we prefer is not included in the packages. I'd rather drink less of something that tastes good then more of a lot of cheap booze. In my 20s that may have been a different story. :D

Cheers.

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Kenlinmarie

Kenlinmarie

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My DH and I purchased this package on last years cruise. It was well worth the money. We requested and were served top shelf liquor, as well as the drink special of the day. The keepsake glasses were not included, however, the drinks could be ordered in a regular glass. We are cruising again this year and we will purchase the Cheers Package again as our bar tab was higher than the package price. :D

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jlindemer

jlindemer

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A) DH and I will only sail ships that offer this program. It is a huge savings. We do not drink a lot. However, we play cards I the afternoon --2 drinks. Dinner - 1 drink. At a show - 1 drink. At the late comedy shows - 1 per show/ 2 total

 

That is 6 drinks (and I may decide to have a shot or two at the comedy show or a mimosa at brunch). My drinks would be about $9 plus tip per drink. 6 drinks would be $54 plus 15% is more than $49 plus 15%.

 

I have already saved and have not even come close to the 15 drinks. To us it is a real bargain.

 

B). Sharing would be a huge inconvenience and easily caught on to be staff. You have to wait 5 min in between drinks. So you would always be drinking alone. Then waiting i the other person. Plus if you are in the same cabin Carnival will make you both purchase the plan.

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Spidermurphy

Spidermurphy

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Posted
A) DH and I will only sail ships that offer this program. It is a huge savings. We do not drink a lot. However, we play cards I the afternoon --2 drinks. Dinner - 1 drink. At a show - 1 drink. At the late comedy shows - 1 per show/ 2 total

 

That is 6 drinks (and I may decide to have a shot or two at the comedy show or a mimosa at brunch). My drinks would be about $9 plus tip per drink. 6 drinks would be $54 plus 15% is more than $49 plus 15%.

 

I have already saved and have not even come close to the 15 drinks. To us it is a real bargain.

 

B). Sharing would be a huge inconvenience and easily caught on to be staff. You have to wait 5 min in between drinks. So you would always be drinking alone. Then waiting i the other person. Plus if you are in the same cabin Carnival will make you both purchase the plan.

 

Do all cruise lines make both people in the room buy the drinks plan. I can no longer drink alcohol due to health reasons but my travelling companion can. That is not fair that she couldn't buy the plan if she wanted to.

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crystalspin

crystalspin

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Posted

As far as I know they all do, if they even have a drink plan.

 

Because you can carry your drink anywhere, incl. behind closed doors, it has to be that way. If there are minors in the same room they have to have the soda plan as well because I guess you can get soft drinks on the UBP. Or just because they make the rules!

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bunnyfoofoo82

bunnyfoofoo82

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You can get Grey Goose on Carnival, the upcharge is only $1, for most drinks that puts it under the $10 charge for a mixed drink. If you drink a martini $8.95, upgrade to Grey Goose $9.95. You breakeven with ~5 drinks a day. The program also includes soda and non-alcoholic drinks (not the coffee bar).

 

Have a great time on your first cruise!

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YungCruzVet

YungCruzVet

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Posted
Do all cruise lines make both people in the room buy the drinks plan. I can no longer drink alcohol due to health reasons but my travelling companion can. That is not fair that she couldn't buy the plan if she wanted to.

 

I read somewhere that if you have a letter from you doctor or something alone those lines that they will wave this rule. I'd contact you PVP and ask.

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Toesinthewater728

Toesinthewater728

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I did this and the only problem that I had was getting cut off at 15 the very first day on the ship. Here are some of my observations:

 

1. Sailing with more 2 ore more cabins: If all 4 people are not BIG drinkers then it makes sense to have one room buy the package and split it.

2. Buckets of beer only count as 1 drink to your 15 (the other 3 are paid for a la carte), COMP drinks in the casino, and bottles of wine at Dinner DO NOT count towards your 15 drink limit.

3. Espresso/Cappuccino are not included.

4. One or two nights of the week my girlfriend only had 12 or so drinks and I was able to use her card for the extra drinks IF it was with a bartender that recognized me or if we were together.

5. Did I mention that you are limited to 15 drinks? :-(

 

I priced out the program... I had 15 drink a day for 7 days the vast majority of which are vodka or tequilla based drinks. My girlfriend had the same... we saved HUNDREDs of dollars.

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sparks1093 Great Review Rare

sparks1093

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Posted
Do all cruise lines make both people in the room buy the drinks plan. I can no longer drink alcohol due to health reasons but my travelling companion can. That is not fair that she couldn't buy the plan if she wanted to.

 

I know that CCL and NCL both require every adult in the cabin to buy the program. Remember, the program is designed to make the cruise line money, fairness has nothing to do with it.

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