Cheers and our costs and comparison!

[Scorchy725]

But I clearly wrote "they" in my original post you quoted, so obviously I didn't mean he or she drank that much individually.

 

I am just saying, assuming most of the drinking is done in the evening, and the fact that they look to be slender people, that is a good amount of alcohol to never have been drunk on the ship. So either they were and didn't know it, or they have a great tolerance.

 

I suppose if spread out over the entire day, from brunch on it wouldn't be that hard to do.

 

Very easy to do starting in the morning. Yes my tolerance is higher than someone who doesn't drink. Trust me, I know when I have either had to much or am getting to that point and need to back off. Yes I was a little shocked at the amount because at home I don't count, so on the cruise I wasn't counting but saved all receipts and counted at the end. We also drank premium alcohol and not many beers. Vodka and Sprite Zero for those worried about the calories :)

[mickide]

Vodka and Sprite Zero for those worried about the calories :)

 

I'll have to remember this ;)!

[Medtech2]

The Cheers price is going up on some 7 nighters but not all yet, according to John Heald. Now you can't use them at the private island any longer either. Seems to me like people cheating the system and using others cards when they reach their limits has increased the price for others.

I have not finished this thread but if you are allowed 15 drinks/day/person it should not matter who drinks them.

 

Not that I have any interest. It takes me 6 months to a year to drink 15 drinks...

[Medtech2]

...and even with all that drinking, my wife and I were still able to win 9 Ships on a Stick, 6 medals, a bottle of champagne during the contests and games and won $100 at bingo. :D

Sounds like you had fun!

 

I bet they cut you off because they are being sued by the woman who jumped overboard while drunk, amongst others...

[mikel24m]

I have not finished this thread but if you are allowed 15 drinks/day/person it should not matter who drinks them.

 

Not that I have any interest. It takes me 6 months to a year to drink 15 drinks...

 

No interest but comments on a thread

 

Must of had alittle interest

[Nightro191]

We were considering the cheers package mainly for the freedom of not watching our sail and sign. We knew we would probably not break even. My dh only drinks about 8 beers a day. But if we would still have charges from HMC it would take away our reason for doing the program.

 

Sorry but I don't understand this. So does your mind rest easier knowing you are donating money to carnival? If you are not fleecing carnival don't even think about cheers?

[Karysa]

Very easy to do starting in the morning. Yes my tolerance is higher than someone who doesn't drink. Trust me, I know when I have either had to much or am getting to that point and need to back off. Yes I was a little shocked at the amount because at home I don't count, so on the cruise I wasn't counting but saved all receipts and counted at the end. We also drank premium alcohol and not many beers. Vodka and Sprite Zero for those worried about the calories :)

 

Ha,ha,ha so I'm not the only one thinking about the calories here. Makes sense when I look at your picture. :)

[Gig103]

I wasn't blaming you for abuse, do you feel guilty about something? I'm just saying why Carnival is raising their prices.

 

I'm thinking that sharing isn't a big deal, especially with the cabin purchasing rules. Celebrity, for a contrasting position, doesn't require all passengers in a cabin to buy drink packages, nor do they have a cutoff.

 

I'm thinking that it just has to do with profits - I understand alcohol is a huge component of ship profits, and if the heavy drinkers are the only ones buying a "Cheers" package it might be a noticeable amount of red when comparing to last year's bar tabs (I'm not saying Carnival is losing money, just making less).

 

Same thing with the HMC decision (which stinks, I thought that was a great perk to "Cheers") - that spot probably has a fair amount of operating cost, and all of a sudden those thirsty patrons in the hot sun aren't paying $8 for a pina colada, they're paying $3.

 

Lastly, the bad press this year has GOT to be hurting, and if cabins are being sold at rock bottom prices to entice customers, they need to make it up with shore excursions, alcohol, and shopping. The alcohol package is an easy way to make up for this while testing the market's demand.

[girlscruise2011]

We just got off the Conquest yesterday and were very glad we purchased the Cheers program. It did go up to $49.95/day plus the 15% tax and gratuity, which put us at $804 for the week. We definitely saved on this program!

 

I was on the lido deck by 8:00 AM daily and would have a morning mimosa by 9:00 AM. I would then start drinking my fruity, tropical drinks by around 11:00 and have 3-4 by 3:00 PM. So, that's about 5 drinks on average. I then would have a glass or two of wine or a glass or two of The Cruiser before dinner, and another glass or two with dinner. That means by the time we went to the casino and comedy shows, I'd already had around 7-8 drinks. I was nowhere near drunk, especially considering it was over a 12 hour period. After dinner we also had drinks. I hit 15 twice and not once would I have considered myself drunk. Tipsy? Yes. Having a good time with friends? Yes.

 

We did however see a drunk girl in the casino yelling at people to buy a performer's cd and then she came to the nightclub, fell off a stool, broke a glass, and nobody cut her off. And she didn't have the cheers program. The drinking policy should be inforced all around, not just to the people who are labeled as drinking too much because they hit 15 drinks.

 

I agree that the drinking policy should be inforced for everyone. I think it stinks just because you are on the Cheers program that your drinks are limited and you are cut off after 15 drinks but when someone who isn't on the programs is obviously intoxicated they continue to serve them just because they are "paying" for the drinks.

 

I was on the Victory a few weeks ago and the cheers program was already $49.95 per day. I thought about buying it but we still had some drink coupons that we had to use up. I'm on the Valor in January and will have to look at it then. I like the idea of just paying up front and not worrying about it but not sure with a 5 port intensive cruise if it will be worth it.

 

To the original OP, sounds like you had a great time. Glad you enjoyed your cruise :)

[Medtech2]

No interest but comments on a thread

 

Must of had alittle interest

No interest in the package but interest in getting what you pay for AND in people's saying it is somehow cheating if someone else drinks one of the 15.

 

So glad you found my post interesting enough to comment yourself.

[Hanzo]

No interest in the package but interest in getting what you pay for AND in people's saying it is somehow cheating if someone else drinks one of the 15.

 

So glad you found my post interesting enough to comment yourself.

 

Why is it so difficult to understand how it is cheating.

 

Let's say you go to a buffet and you pay $10 for two trips and are handed two plates. You then hand off your second plate to a friend....the restaurant has lost $10 in revenue from you giving your plate away since now your friend doesn't have to pay to eat.

 

It's really simple....

[Karysa]

I'm thinking that sharing isn't a big deal, especially with the cabin purchasing rules. Celebrity, for a contrasting position, doesn't require all passengers in a cabin to buy drink packages, nor do they have a cutoff.

 

I'm thinking that it just has to do with profits - I understand alcohol is a huge component of ship profits, and if the heavy drinkers are the only ones buying a "Cheers" package it might be a noticeable amount of red when comparing to last year's bar tabs (I'm not saying Carnival is losing money, just making less).

 

Same thing with the HMC decision (which stinks, I thought that was a great perk to "Cheers") - that spot probably has a fair amount of operating cost, and all of a sudden those thirsty patrons in the hot sun aren't paying $8 for a pina colada, they're paying $3.

 

Lastly, the bad press this year has GOT to be hurting, and if cabins are being sold at rock bottom prices to entice customers, they need to make it up with shore excursions, alcohol, and shopping. The alcohol package is an easy way to make up for this while testing the market's demand.

 

I agree that Carnival has been hit hard this past year and needs some good PR but I'm not sure they want to go down the route of "The Party Ships" after years of working tires sly to lose that stigma. I think the cheers program the way it stands is fine but ALLOWING people to share will get the crowd and reputation that they so dearly want to shed.

[irishnyc]

I have not finished this thread but if you are allowed 15 drinks/day/person it should not matter who drinks them.

 

Not that I have any interest. It takes me 6 months to a year to drink 15 drinks...

 

So you understand that it is PER PERSON, yet think it should not matter who drinks them? Got it.

[Gig103]

I agree that Carnival has been hit hard this past year and needs some good PR but I'm not sure they want to go down the route of "The Party Ships" after years of working tires sly to lose that stigma. I think the cheers program the way it stands is fine but ALLOWING people to share will get the crowd and reputation that they so dearly want to shed.

 

I agree that (excessive) sharing shouldn't be allowed, I think you misunderstood. I was saying that I don't think sharing is the reason behind the price increase, especially since most people are not playing booking games.

 

Celebrity ran a promo where they offered drink packages for free on cruises (I scored that deal, very excited), and people were afraid it would turn =X= into a "Party Ship". I'm pretty sure that it isn't affecting most people though, based on their forums.

[alpal1993]

If both people in the room are required to by the Cheers package,why would it be cheating to share drinks.You have legitimately paid for the package.If one only drinks 5 drinks and the other drinks all 15 what is the crime in letting someone share the rest of your drinks.They were paid for.How is Carnival loosing any money on that?

We will be buying the Cheers package for our June Med cruise.I prefer more expensive drinks then DH so even if I dont get anywhere near the 15 drink limit it will be worth it for us.They would make a better profit from my DH drinking all 15,then my 10 or 11 Martinins .pinot grigio and Proseco/Champagne.

[Hanzo]

If both people in the room are required to by the Cheers package,why would it be cheating to share drinks.You have legitimately paid for the package.If one only drinks 5 drinks and the other drinks all 15 what is the crime in letting someone share the rest of your drinks.They were paid for.How is Carnival loosing any money on that?

We will be buying the Cheers package for our June Med cruise.I prefer more expensive drinks then DH so even if I dont get anywhere near the 15 drink limit it will be worth it for us.They would make a better profit from my DH drinking all 15,then my 10 or 11 Martinins .pinot grigio and Proseco/Champagne.

 

No one is talking about sharing between Cheers members (at least I don't think they are). They are talking about using some of your 15 that you weren't going to use yourself to buy other non Cheers people drinks.

[alpal1993]

Why is it so difficult to understand how it is cheating.

 

Let's say you go to a buffet and you pay $10 for two trips and are handed two plates. You then hand off your second plate to a friend....the restaurant has lost $10 in revenue from you giving your plate away since now your friend doesn't have to pay to eat.

 

It's really simple....

 

Not the same as the drink package is paid by both people.If the friend eats one plate and you eat 1 plate it is equal.

[irishnyc]

No one is talking about sharing between Cheers members (at least I don't think they are). They are talking about using some of your 15 that you weren't going to use yourself to buy other non Cheers people drinks.

 

As I said above, there have been post by people who are manupilating their booking to share. One person boasted that he was in one room with a child, the wife was in another with their other child. He bought Cheers to share with his wife AND to get sodas for his kids. That's just one specific example I can think of, but similar switcheroos have been suggested.

[alpal1993]

No one is talking about sharing between Cheers members (at least I don't think they are). They are talking about using some of your 15 that you weren't going to use yourself to buy other non Cheers people drinks.

 

You still paid for 15 drinks anyway you look at it. Carnival would make a larger profit if one only drank 8 and wasted the other 7,but they are not loosing any money.The purchaser would be the one wasting money if the total # of drinks were not used.

[Karysa]

If both people in the room are required to by the Cheers package,why would it be cheating to share drinks.You have legitimately paid for the package.If one only drinks 5 drinks and the other drinks all 15 what is the crime in letting someone share the rest of your drinks.They were paid for.How is Carnival loosing any money on that?

We will be buying the Cheers package for our June Med cruise.I prefer more expensive drinks then DH so even if I dont get anywhere near the 15 drink limit it will be worth it for us.They would make a better profit from my DH drinking all 15,then my 10 or 11 Martinins .pinot grigio and Proseco/Champagne.

 

I don't think that these are the people that Carnival wants to keep an eye on, although they don't want to advertise the program as 30 drinks per couple together per day maximum as the lawyers will go crazy with this.

 

What some people don't seem to understand is that the Cheers program is not the same as buying 15 tickets (30 per couple in same cabin) per day for the length of the cruise. It is a program that allows said person to have up to 15 drinks per day for each day of their cruise.

 

Remember they are counting on people drinking more on the first few days and then drinking less on the remainder of the cruise. They have done their homework and know this to be true.

 

The cruise line will be more worried about 1 couple purchasing and sharing the drinks and the cost with another couple. This is not the way the program is designed and this is not in their best interest when it comes to profit. Profit is the bottom line here, make no mistake about it.

 

At first I was skeptical of such a program on a cruiseship but I was on a cruise that had this and it wasn't an issue. I would never buy it. I do however think that it is something that could affect my cruise so I am interested in how it's working.

 

The program states the rules of the game so take it or leave it but don't ruin it for others by cheating and getting it scrapped.

[alpal1993]

No one is talking about sharing between Cheers members (at least I don't think they are). They are talking about using some of your 15 that you weren't going to use yourself to buy other non Cheers people drinks.

 

Carnival is not loosing money on the deal.The purchaser would be the one to loose money if they only drank 8 and they paid for 15.Giving the other 7 away just cuts into any profit Carnival would have made by you throwing away your money; just because you were made to purchase the cheers program due to other person in room buying

[Hanzo]

You still paid for 15 drinks anyway you look at it. Carnival would make a larger profit if one only drank 8 and wasted the other 7,but they are not loosing any money.The purchaser would be the one wasting money if the total # of drinks were not used.

 

:confused:

 

YOU are entitled 15 drinks for the money you pay into the program. Past that every drink you give to someone not in the cheers program equates to $8-$10 loss of a sale since instead of walking up and buying a drink they are getting it from you.

 

Seriously people, it is almost scary that it is that hard to understand this. When they price the program they do so with the understanding that some will max it out while others won't....but with sharing you can see how most would certainly max the program out.

[alpal1993]

:confused:

 

YOU are entitled 15 drinks for the money you pay into the program. Past that every drink you give to someone not in the cheers program equates to $8-$10 loss of a sale since instead of walking up and buying a drink they are getting it from you.

 

Seriously people, it is almost scary that it is that hard to understand this. When they price the program they do so with the understanding that some will max it out while others won't....but with sharing you can see how most would certainly max the program out.

 

I agree to disagree nough said!

[tgmtgm]

:confused:

 

YOU are entitled 15 drinks for the money you pay into the program. Past that every drink you give to someone not in the cheers program equates to $8-$10 loss of a sale since instead of walking up and buying a drink they are getting it from you.

 

Seriously people, it is almost scary that it is that hard to understand this. When they price the program they do so with the understanding that some will max it out while others won't....but with sharing you can see how most would certainly max the program out.

 

 

I purchased the Cheers program on my 05/05 Breeze cruise. Not once did I reach the 15 drink limit- usually 10-11 max. I did the Key West pub crawl excursion through the ship on day 2. Started at 11 a.m., and had a fantastic time in addition to enjoying all the adult beverages found throughout Key West.

 

That same day, I had my first drink on the Cheers package right before dinner, and another drink in the Piano Bar afterwards. Two drinks total. You bet I gave a few drinks away to friends I met on board!(4-5) I paid for 15 max, and utilized only 2 for myself. I could give a rat's behind if Carnival missed out on the additional revenue on those "give away" drinks- I paid for them, thank you very much.

 

Tony

[Hanzo]

I purchased the Cheers program on my 05/05 Breeze cruise. Not once did I reach the 15 drink limit- usually 10-11 max. I did the Key West pub crawl excursion through the ship on day 2. Started at 11 a.m., and had a fantastic time in addition to enjoying all the adult beverages found throughout Key West.

 

That same day, I had my first drink on the Cheers package right before dinner, and another drink in the Piano Bar afterwards. Two drinks total. You bet I gave a few drinks away to friends I met on board!(4-5) I paid for 15 max, and utilized only 2 for myself. I could give a rat's behind if Carnival missed out on the additional revenue on those "give away" drinks- I paid for them, thank you very much.

 

Tony

 

I'm not the moral police, if you want to cheat the system that's your business, but don't for one second think you are actually in the right. You are breaching the programs rules plain and simple. Tell yourself whatever you want to justify it I don't really care.