Kizza Posted December 9, 2013 #1 Share Posted December 9, 2013 I spoke to RCCL today about the new drink packages and was told at this stage we are only getting a revised "classic" & "Premium" package. No $20 Replenish or Ultimate package. She did say the Premium was the same price $55 / day and would include specialty coffee's but not bottled water. Has anyone else heard this? Btw - she also said the new packages were already available online but they are not.....:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SydSailor Posted December 9, 2013 #2 Share Posted December 9, 2013 I spoke to RCCL today about the new drink packages and was told at this stage we are only getting a revised "classic" & "Premium" package. No $20 Replenish or Ultimate package. She did say the Premium was the same price $55 / day and would include specialty coffee's but not bottled water. Has anyone else heard this? Btw - she also said the new packages were already available online but they are not.....:rolleyes: Based on past experience, RCI are not good at disseminating information,esp to satellite markets like Aust. Heck, at the moment they can't even get accurate package info on the US site, so take anything they say over the phone with a grain of salt. If you expect not to know the true position until you are on board you won't be disappointed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbris Posted December 9, 2013 #3 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Their is another thread which shows the ultimate package and from what I can understand can be booked online from mid December. It also says in the q&a that aus will get upto $12 cocktails Sent from my GT-I9505 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbris Posted December 9, 2013 #4 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Sorry wouldve posted the link to other thread if I knew how. Im only new at this forum stuff Sent from my GT-I9505 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esilef Posted December 9, 2013 #5 Share Posted December 9, 2013 I spoke to RCCL today about the new drink packages and was told at this stage we are only getting a revised "classic" & "Premium" package. No $20 Replenish or Ultimate package. She did say the Premium was the same price $55 / day and would include specialty coffee's but not bottled water. Has anyone else heard this? Btw - she also said the new packages were already available online but they are not.....:rolleyes: I was told exactly the same thing. Hoping we can just bp book online from mid December Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishtaco Posted December 9, 2013 #6 Share Posted December 9, 2013 I spoke to RCCL today about the new drink packages and was told at this stage we are only getting a revised "classic" & "Premium" package. No $20 Replenish or Ultimate package. She did say the Premium was the same price $55 / day and would include specialty coffee's but not bottled water. Has anyone else heard this? Btw - she also said the new packages were already available online but they are not.....:rolleyes: They are USA ships just visiting Australia! Buy the drinks package onboard when you first arrive, there is no advantage in purchasing it online from RCI Australia unless the US dollar gets a lot stronger. Your onboard account will be in US Dollars anyway and the drinks packages are in US Dollars when bought onboard. I cant see USA cruisers cruising out of Australia being sold a different drinks package deal when they book from home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Big_M Posted December 9, 2013 #7 Share Posted December 9, 2013 They are USA ships just visiting Australia! Buy the drinks package onboard when you first arrive, there is no advantage in purchasing it online from RCI Australia unless the US dollar gets a lot stronger. Your onboard account will be in US Dollars anyway and the drinks packages are in US Dollars when bought onboard. I cant see USA cruisers cruising out of Australia being sold a different drinks package deal when they book from home. To be fair there are differences, e.g. they change the price in Aus waters to remove the gratuities separately and make them inclusive. Similarly some of the drinks packages then have the thresholds adjusted because the list price is different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisin-m Posted December 9, 2013 #8 Share Posted December 9, 2013 They are USA ships just visiting Australia! Buy the drinks package onboard when you first arrive, there is no advantage in purchasing it online from RCI Australia unless the US dollar gets a lot stronger. Your onboard account will be in US Dollars anyway and the drinks packages are in US Dollars when bought onboard. I cant see USA cruisers cruising out of Australia being sold a different drinks package deal when they book from home. Don't know if they've made the change yet but it wouldn't surprise me as they seem to have modelled the RCI drinks packages off the Celebrity packages, but Celebrity now charge you an extra $5 per day for the packages if you decide to purchase it onboard. So it is cheaper to book it online beforehand. Not sure if RCI have gone this way yet though :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justcruzin08 Posted December 13, 2013 #9 Share Posted December 13, 2013 To be fair there are differences, e.g. they change the price in Aus waters to remove the gratuities separately and make them inclusive. Similarly some of the drinks packages then have the thresholds adjusted because the list price is different. I cruised march 2013 with rci in Australia, and drinks menus were same as people had posted on forum from USA cruise. The drinks package was same price on board as online. and would have to agree with fish taco. The drinks package was great if you like a few drinks, especially cocktails. We cruised when weather was warm with lots of sea day, as yes we got our money's worth, but seriously reconsidering the package for Alaska next year. Just don't think I can drink 9 frozen cocktails in a cold climate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royalty X Posted December 13, 2013 #10 Share Posted December 13, 2013 The RCI rep came to see me at work a couple of weeks ago and gave me promo handouts which highlight the new drink packages. She said we're getting the lot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esilef Posted December 13, 2013 #11 Share Posted December 13, 2013 The RCI rep came to see me at work a couple of weeks ago and gave me promo handouts which highlight the new drink packages. She said we're getting the lot! Happy dance!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowsmartcar Posted December 14, 2013 #12 Share Posted December 14, 2013 We are on Rhapsody now, no new drinks package...very dissapointing. The guy who sold us package when we got on board said I think maybe 19 Dec but that just seemed a date he pulled out of air. Vicky:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royalty X Posted December 14, 2013 #13 Share Posted December 14, 2013 We are on Rhapsody now, no new drinks package...very dissapointing.The guy who sold us package when we got on board said I think maybe 19 Dec but that just seemed a date he pulled out of air. Vicky:) I believe the new packages have already started in the U.S. and they start from January for everywhere else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Big_M Posted December 14, 2013 #14 Share Posted December 14, 2013 We are on Rhapsody now, no new drinks package...very dissapointing.The guy who sold us package when we got on board said I think maybe 19 Dec but that just seemed a date he pulled out of air. Vicky:) When the details were released RCL did say mid-December was the timeframe for international cruises, so that date fits. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timtam2 Posted December 15, 2013 #15 Share Posted December 15, 2013 New drink packages are showing in my pre cruise planner for Mariner in March BUT it wont let me purchase- it says to check back 2 months prior to sail date Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esilef Posted December 15, 2013 #16 Share Posted December 15, 2013 New drink packages are showing in my pre cruise planner for Mariner in March BUT it wont let me purchase- it says to check back 2 months prior to sail date Others seem to be having the same issue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timtam2 Posted December 15, 2013 #17 Share Posted December 15, 2013 I tried again. ..now I can purchase any of them EXCEPT the one I want - the Royal Replenish package. Another website wrinkle to be ironed out :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esilef Posted December 15, 2013 #18 Share Posted December 15, 2013 I tried again. ..now I can purchase any of them EXCEPT the one I want - the Royal Replenish package. Another website wrinkle to be ironed out :) I can also purchase other packages but the royal replenish! You can also not add more than one to your basket and then pay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SydSailor Posted December 15, 2013 #19 Share Posted December 15, 2013 I tried again. ..now I can purchase any of them EXCEPT the one I want - the Royal Replenish package. Another website wrinkle to be ironed out :) 2 of the 4 packages now appear to be available for online booking for Radiance 29 Dec sailing - Select and Premium. The Ultimate Package is also up on the website, but when clicked shows an "unavailable" script as follows. No Royal Replenish as noted above. "Online sales for Alcohol Packages are currently not available for your sailing. If your cruise vacation begins more than two months from today, please visit the website closer to your sail date. Please note that certain itineraries preclude online sales, but all packages can be purchased onboard ships for sailing's with 4 or more nights." This seems to be consistent with some earlier posts suggesting that only 2 of the 4 packages would be available on Aust cruises (though perhaps all are available on board). Seems a strange outcome though - what would the rationale be? Are we Aussies thought to over-consume juices and lattes? The good news is that the USD-AUD x rate at which they are offered appears to be quite favourable provided that your credit card provider does not slug you with a forex fee. With the AUD heading south it may be worth breaking my usual rule of only booking packages on board once all details are available, and booking online now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esilef Posted December 16, 2013 #20 Share Posted December 16, 2013 Yes Aussies are known the world over as loving their lattes not their beer....... I'm hoping its a computer issue which will be fixed ASAP. Wondering if you can buy all 4 packages by calling customer service? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SydSailor Posted December 16, 2013 #21 Share Posted December 16, 2013 Not sure if they take package bookings over the phone. Last time I called them, after a 40 min wait, a very friendly lady told me that all details would be as per website or I could purchase on board. When I asked about any details, she simple deferred to the website, so didnt inpsire a huge amount of confidence that they are on top of it. Anyway, i booked the Premium package online as the x-rate offered by RCI (USD55 = AUD 57.75) is about 5-6% better than the current wholesale rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowsmartcar Posted December 16, 2013 #22 Share Posted December 16, 2013 We get on Radiance on the 20 Dec so will see what we were told about the 19 Dec is correct. I'm sure it was just a date the guy said as it was the day our Rhapsody cruise ends. V:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kizza Posted December 16, 2013 Author #23 Share Posted December 16, 2013 We get on Radiance on the 20 Dec so will see what we were told about the 19 Dec is correct.I'm sure it was just a date the guy said as it was the day our Rhapsody cruise ends. V:) Looking forward to hearing if you were able to purchase the new packages on board or not. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susie2shoes Posted December 16, 2013 #24 Share Posted December 16, 2013 Looking forward to hearing if you were able to purchase the new packages on board or not. :) I just purchased the new premium drink package online for our Radiance cruises Jan 11 and 19th. So all is good for the new packages! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timtam2 Posted December 16, 2013 #25 Share Posted December 16, 2013 Yes! Got the Replenish package - I wanted to book it asap so I can use my Christmas bonus to pay for it...before I spend it on something else! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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