Princess more expensive than Celebrity for drinks

[SeaCBear]

This has been a topic of some debate here, with some (like me) believing Celebrity is no more expensive than Princess for drinks, and others believing the opposite.

 

This article may add more fuel to the fire ;)

 

Which Cruise Line Charges the Most for Drinks? Which One's Cheapest?

 

And after my last cruise, I'm REALLY hoping Princess brings in the liquor package for all ships soon! After sailing on Celebrity, I really missed the freedom of not having to sign wet, soggy receipts, feel I had to finish a drink even if I didn't like it, not have a nice tea because it would just be one more charge on my bill, etc.

Edited January 24, 2014 by SeaCBear

[fishywood]

Wow. I cannot remember having seen a more useless chart.

 

Absolutely no idea which product is used for each comparison:

 

Does every ship use the same size pour for their wine and mixed drinks? (European generally smaller than American)

What maker of house wine does each ship use? Unless all the same, total apples-and-oranges comparison.

"Bottle of Beer?" Useless comparison: whichever brand is least expensive certainly will vary seasonally on each ship, let alone between cruiselines. Price of draught beer certainly would be more valid.

Are mixed drinks from the well or call brands?

Are these prices the absolute lowest found over the course of the cruise (including limited happy hours or one-time promos) or the best price available at all times from all bars?

 

I will firmly stand by my experience that (1) specialty drinks such as Long Island Ice Tea, Mai Tai, frozen banana et al were all $2-3 dollars higher on Celebrity than Princess (or Cunard); (2) at certain bars and especially the Dining Room at dinner on Celebrity it is impossible to order house wine or well brand drinks--they will agressively upsell you and failing that will then say they are "out" of what you want. I have never experienced such blatant refusal of service for "cheap" drinks on Princess, HAL, Cunard or any other line.

Edited January 24, 2014 by fishywood

[lovevacadays]

Interesting. I have a friend who is a regular Princess cruiser who sailed Celebrity. Her feedback was that while it seems Celebrity's drinks are cheaper because of the drink packages Celebrity's drink sizes were actually smaller than Princess.

[Casey12]

A few years ago when I sailed both, Celebrity was more expensive. This was not for packages but for a fruity cocktail. Times change.

Edited January 24, 2014 by Casey12

[riclop]

This has been a topic of some debate here, with some (like me) believing Celebrity is no more expensive than Princess for drinks, and others believing the opposite.

 

This article may add more fuel to the fire ;)

 

Which Cruise Line Charges the Most for Drinks? Which One's Cheapest?

 

And after my last cruise, I'm REALLY hoping Princess brings in the liquor package for all ships soon! After sailing on Celebrity, I really missed the freedom of not having to sign wet, soggy receipts, feel I had to finish a drink even if I didn't like it, not have a nice tea because it would just be one more charge on my bill, etc.

Thanks

[rdsqrl]

The price given for Princess's bottled water was for the large size; who knows what sizes they used for the other lines but given the wide disparities, it sure seems like an apples-to-oranges comparison there. I have a hard time believing that Carnival charges only a buck-fifty for a 1L bottle.

[mla925]

We got off the Grand on Sunday, and we felt both the wine and drink prices were less on Princess than Celebrity. Princess had some mid-$30 wine choices we really enjoyed, and by the glass, a number of choices under $8. "Plain" cocktails such as well Rum and tonic, or a Negroni, were $5.50. The more "exotic" martinis and margaritas were $7.95.

 

We were on the Sillouette in 2012 and had the premium drink package, and enjoyed the Molecular Bar with their creations at $12.50. We could have wine up to, as I remember, $12 per glass, and it was a good. Since we were on the package, I don't really know the exact price of mixed drinks, but I do believe it was higher.

[dorisis]

I would like to thank all the drinkers and gamblers who help pay for my cruises.

 

THANK YOU !

[alexspepa]

I would like to thank all the drinkers and gamblers who help pay for my cruises.

 

THANK YOU !

 

you are most welcome!

 

long island teas at $5.50 are a bargain on Princess...

[baldercash]

 

We were on the Sillouette in 2012 and had the premium drink package, and enjoyed the Molecular Bar with their creations at $12.50. We could have wine up to, as I remember, $12 per glass, and it was a good. Since we were on the package, I don't really know the exact price of mixed drinks, but I do believe it was higher.

 

Depends what bar you are at on X, Molecular is the most expensive place to have a martini on the ship they offer something like 50 different vodka's and the same with gin and the brands like Grey Goose and pour size make a difference.

The same goes with the wine offered in the different venues about the ship and size of the pour. Some area's offer 3 different pour sizes for wine.

 

As stated apples to oranges.

[Hlitner]

The article is just wrong! Like many travel articles we have read, the author has not done their homework. I would love to meet the writer on a HAL cruise and have him buy me a $4.50 cocktail. It does not really exist and hasn't for years. It is possible to get a cocktail and that type of price during Happy Hour if you purchase 2 cocktails (with the 2nd being $1) but other cruise lines also have Happy Hours. And for those who are "Elite" with RCI and/or Celebrity there are free cocktails offered every evening.

 

As to wine prices per glass, there is a lot not said that is very relevant. For example, one line might give you a 4 ounce pour while another line will give you a 6 ounce pour. And then there is the issue of quality where some lines use box wines that cost them no more then $1 a bottle while other lines use pretty decent house wines.

 

Hank

[texast518]

i would like to thank all the drinkers and gamblers who help pay for my cruises.

 

Thank you !

 

and i would like to thank you [shoppers, photos, excursions, speciality resturants, suites, wifi, laundry, etc] who pay for mine when the casino is not comping my room & paying for my drinks!!

[tgmtgm]

Interesting. I have a friend who is a regular Princess cruiser who sailed Celebrity. Her feedback was that while it seems Celebrity's drinks are cheaper because of the drink packages Celebrity's drink sizes were actually smaller than Princess.

 

Drinks are generally a bit costlier on Celebrity, but much stronger. On my last three Celebrity cruises each and every Jack Daniels/Maker's Mark and Coke I had was free poured and quite strong. On my last Princess cruise each and every one of the same drinks were measured using a jigger. Disappointing to say the least. Seemed like I was drinking plain soda most of the time.

 

Tony

[Aussie Gal]

We were on Celebrity last March, Princess in June and HAL in October and I can definitely say that the drinks on Celebrity were the most expensive. We didn't take out the drink package on Celebrity as we knew we couldn't drink around $80 of wine each day (the cost of the package) in the 12 days we were on board so we paid by the glass or bottle. On Princess we have to buy our wine as we haven't found a ship with the package as yet but on HAL we were able to buy a package.

 

We also bought a cappuccino or latte every day on Celebrity and we were paying over $5US each time. We were able to buy a coffee card on both Princess and HAL which brought the coffee's down to around $2. Even here in Melbourne which has wonderful cafes and coffee is part of our way of life, a good coffee is only $3.50AUD which converts to about $3 US.

 

Jennie

Edited January 24, 2014 by Aussie Gal

[gingera]

Dorisis, You are welcome!!

Edited January 24, 2014 by gingera

[SeaCBear]

Well, that's partly why we felt we got our money's worth when we purchased the Premium Beverage package on Celebrity - because it included all our alcohol drinks, but also our morning cappuccino's, my husbands espressos, my premium afternoon teas, unlimited bottles of water and sparkling water, etc. It's not just about the liquor.

 

We were on Celebrity last March, Princess in June and HAL in October and I can definitely say that the drinks on Celebrity were the most expensive. We didn't take out the drink package on Celebrity as we knew we couldn't drink around $80 of wine each day (the cost of the package) in the 12 days we were on board so we paid by the glass or bottle. On Princess we have to buy our wine as we haven't found a ship with the package as yet but on HAL we were able to buy a package.

 

We also bought a cappuccino or latte every day on Celebrity and we were paying over $5US each time. We were able to buy a coffee card on both Princess and HAL which brought the coffee's down to around $2. Even here in Melbourne which has wonderful cafes and coffee is part of our way of life, a good coffee is only $3.50AUD which converts to about $3 US.

 

Jennie

[SeaCBear]

Just a clarification - The Martini Bar on Celebrity offers dozens of vodkas - the Molecular Bar offers 'mixology' cocktails featuring fresh fruits, herbs, juices, etc. All of the delicious concoctions at the Molecular Bar were covered under the Premium Package, include the 20 Year Martini - yum :)

 

Depends what bar you are at on X, Molecular is the most expensive place to have a martini on the ship they offer something like 50 different vodka's and the same with gin and the brands like Grey Goose and pour size make a difference.

The same goes with the wine offered in the different venues about the ship and size of the pour. Some area's offer 3 different pour sizes for wine.

 

As stated apples to oranges.

[SBGbrady]

In the last few years I have found that the drinks on Princess were weak, all filled with fruit mix or soda. Did not see that on Celebrity.

[baldercash]

Just a clarification - The Martini Bar on Celebrity offers dozens of vodkas - the Molecular Bar offers 'mixology' cocktails featuring fresh fruits, herbs, juices, etc. All of the delicious concoctions at the Molecular Bar were covered under the Premium Package, include the 20 Year Martini - yum :)

 

I have a problem remembering were I have been drinking for some reason : )

Cheers

[lovevacadays]

Drinks are generally a bit costlier on Celebrity, but much stronger. On my last three Celebrity cruises each and every Jack Daniels/Maker's Mark and Coke I had was free poured and quite strong. On my last Princess cruise each and every one of the same drinks were measured using a jigger. Disappointing to say the least. Seemed like I was drinking plain soda most of the time.

 

Tony

 

I'm sorry to hear that was your experience on Princess. I was just relaying information I had from a friend. I don't know how strong Celebrity drinks are but I have never felt like Princess drinks were weak. But, we all have different views.:)

[aaerobear]

I have to laugh at the people that say the Princess drinks are "watered down" or "Less liquor" that Celebrity. Simply NOT TRUE!! Having sailed three times on Princess last year and three times on Celebrity as well, there is hardly any difference in the potency of the mixed drinks. Of, course sticking to Martinis which are 100% liquor there is no problem. I will say that Princess pours a bit larger Martini than Celebrity.

 

As to saying the "premium beverage package costs $80 dollars and you can't drink that much alcohol", you obviously do not understand the concept of the package. It includes all your soft drinks all day, all your bottled water all day, all your specialty coffees all day plus your wines and cocktails. You can also get bottled water to take off the ship with you for your day trips. So it is quite a bargain when it is all taken into consideration.