Drink Voucher Question

[monn_a]

In another thread MSC_USA states that this has been withdrawn for the Carribbean cruise dates. Has anyone successfully booked and received the Allegrissimo Escape carnets on a Divina cruise out of Miami?

I was able to book it online (as were my traveling companions) for my upcoming March 15th cruise.

 

Just FYI,there is another thread that list the "new" packages for US sailings...and none of those were available for my sailing...

[sharkieswim]

We sailed on the Poesia last year, we bought beverage packages online, on the first evening of the cruise, just before supper the vouchers were delivered to our room.

[g8rfan94]

This is how we broke it down and why we are going with The Allegrissimo or AllYouCanDrinkissimo Premium Divina Package. Okay we are drinkers, but also never like to have a bar bill at the end of a cruise.

 

The Caribbean Divina Premium Package includes EVERYTHING. The Classic Package only gives only a minimum priced or what is called "well drinks", bottom of the barrel, cocktails.

 

Premium Everything means:

 

Wake up and have a Cappuccino with a shot of Baileys

Have a Mimosa with Fresh Squeezed OJ in The Spa (Fresh Squeezed Juice is in the Spa!!!!!) Better yet, just order a Fresh Squeezed OJ! It's included. Have one and add Vodka to it! Yes!

Have a Soda or Seven per day, like me, it's included

Have a mid morning Gelato then one later on, then one at midnight. It's included.

Have a Bloody Mary with Grey Goose, not cheap head ache laden, well vodka, then add Celery and Olives. I may make it two the second morning because it's included.

Have a Virgin Mary or Virgin anything all day and night, yep included as well.

Have a Single Malt Johnny Blue ($22.00 a shot), it's okay, it's included in the package, have two while we are at it.

Have a Top Shelf Martini, then another and perhaps one more like me.

Have a "Wine Flight" with Dinner. One different glass per course. Yes, The Sommilier will adore us! No limitations, just order and enjoy.

Have a Beer, Have another and another. Taste every beer on board like we did on the Celebrity Reflection. (We tasted 7 different beers a day and still could not drink all the 64 different varieties on board!)

Grab a $4.00 bottle of water for the pool from any bar, each! It's included so we won't pay a dime. Grab another as we get hot, hot, hot. Refresing!

Enjoy a Cocktail Mini or a Bottle of Sparkling Water from our Mini Bar in the cabin. Go ahead. It's included with the Premium Package and NOT with the Classic or coupons.

 

But what am I saving, JW? I don't drink.

 

Take two bottles of water back to the room for overnight thirst. (That's $8.00 per day times, seven days, equals $56.00 just in two waters per night)

If we each have a Coke or a Diet Soda each day, just one, that's $2.50 per soda, $5.00 per day times 7 days equals $35.00. But what if we have two or three per day?

If we were to both have just a plain not fancy Cappuccino each morning without the Baileys (because that is $6.50 per shot) each coffee runs us $5.00, so that is $70.00 for the week.

If we were to each have a Gelato per day, that is $3.50 each, $7.00 per day equals another $35.00 How can we resist just one per day?

 

Gelato, Soda, Bottled Sparkling Water, Specialty Espresso and Cappuccino Coffee is included in the Caribbean Premium Package....we can consume and drink all we care to experience with no hassles.

 

Then lets add the cocktails.

 

Only just One Martini top shelf $9.00 per day. $18.00 for two people. $126.00 total

Two Beers at 4.00 each, $8.00 per day, $56.00 total, but only two beers a day, really?????

Just a glass of wine each, Two Glasses of Wine at dinner, at $9.00 per glass (but the prices go all the way to over $12.00 per glass and beyond) is $18.00 per day, $126.00

One Drink of The Day each $6.50 per drink, $13.00 per day $91.00

Baileys shot for coffee per day $6.50 per shot, $13.00 per day $91.00

 

That is only a total of 5 drinks per day. Over $500.00

 

$700 total if we were to add in, for the non alcohol and alcoholic beverages.

 

Plus, we would now have to add the 15% gratuity service charge on each, as that is already included in the pre-ordered Premium Package bringing the total now to roughly $805.00

 

This outline is as real as it gets based upon our history. Our bar bills always have run over a thousand dollars and we have had sticker shock as it's nickel and dime, nickel and dime. I prefer not to have a bill at the end and know that I can have as much or as little as I want without skimping that extra what, maybe $50 bucks?

 

That is why the Premium drink package is so successful. Jerome drank 51 beers on our last trip. 51 times $5 equals $255.00. Not saying that you will consume that much, but it is nice to know that we don't have to deal with coupons, or drink chits, or are restricted on drinking a certain brand or well cocktails and domestic beers.

 

Heck, Jerome will probably have two Johnny Blue's per day, why? Because he can, because it's INCLUDED!

 

"Oh my gosh, I left my coupons in my cabin", or "Oh my gosh, they don't take the coupon for my drink", or "Oh my gosh, I ran out of coupons mid way thru the cruise"......heard that the most often.

 

Think. No gratuity needed on the advance order pre-pay Premium Package. Have everything at your beck and call whenever you want without restriction.

 

Or, play with coupons, and perhaps will have to buy more on board the ship, at a higher price, lower quantity, plus the added 15% gratuity. And then maybe waste a coupon on a soda or water or coffee or gelato. Oh wait! Coupons are not good for Soda, Water, Gelato or Specialty Coffees. They are included free, Only if you have the Premium Beverage Package.

 

There is nothing worse than sticker shock at the end of the vacation when we get our final bill and realize our alcohol consumption and feel ripped off. I have already budgeted $1,000 for beverages for this cruise, I feel with the Allyoucandrinkissimo Package, which is $798.00 total I am $202.00 ahead of the game that I can drop in the Casino.

 

We are Ultimate believers in The Allegrisimo Premium Drink Package. We live it!

 

I value my peace of mind and contentment knowing that I can have it all if I want, with just the nod of my head instead of thinking, "Oh crap, there goes another coupon" or "There goes another $30.00".

 

It works for us and makes total sense. Less stress, more cocktails, more fun, more vacation.

 

I've read several of your posts since I've been looking at taking this MSC cruise over the past few weeks. They are always informative. This one is probably the most informative. I appreciate the work put into it. It is very helpful as I cannot decide what the best package is for us. We really don't drink, but to be honest, the children's premium package would be ideal if they would sell it to us. In absence of that, we were thinking about combining 2 different voucher packages, which we still may do. But that being said, your analysis may have me rethinking that.

Since we're not cruising until January, we have plenty of time to decide. And MSC might change it two or three times between now and then anyway.

[cruiseguys2009]

I've read several of your posts since I've been looking at taking this MSC cruise over the past few weeks. They are always informative. This one is probably the most informative. I appreciate the work put into it. It is very helpful as I cannot decide what the best package is for us. We really don't drink, but to be honest, the children's premium package would be ideal if they would sell it to us. In absence of that, we were thinking about combining 2 different voucher packages, which we still may do. But that being said, your analysis may have me rethinking that.

Since we're not cruising until January, we have plenty of time to decide. And MSC might change it two or three times between now and then anyway.

 

 

Thank you for you kind remarks.

 

Now, to help you, this is what I do.

 

Having cruised before, I know my behavior on board the ship and know each day what I think I will expect to drink (be it alcohol or not). I make a daily list, then, I add a couple of extra splurges as I can't guarantee that I will stick to my list, and frankly, I am on vacation so I don't want to deny myself anything as I have earned it! I did this, because before the All You Can Drink packages were in vogue, I was always trying to budget myself for my "shocker of a bar bill" when it came on the last day of the cruise. I reference my old bills from over the years to compare and know that my patterns are relatively the same.

 

I then add all the items up per day, including a couple of extras, like Gelato, (Lots of Gelato) another soda at the pool, an extra bottle of water and look at the total for the two of us.

 

If it's not adding up to $399 a piece, then I probably would purchase the drink coupons or smaller package combinations.

 

For us, we like the convenience and the opportunity to drink what ever we want, when ever we want, and where ever we want.....oh my goodness, now I sound like NCL on the MSC Boards....no pun intended!:D

 

Which ever package you choose that is right for you, ultimately, you are on a cruise! Have a blast! You are on Vacation!

[g8rfan94]

I then add all the items up per day, including a couple of extras, like Gelato, (Lots of Gelato) another soda at the pool, an extra bottle of water and look at the total for the two of us.

 

If it's not adding up to $399 a piece, then I probably would purchase the drink coupons or smaller package combinations.

 

For us, we like the convenience and the opportunity to drink what ever we want, when ever we want, and where ever we want.....oh my goodness, now I sound like NCL on the MSC Boards....no pun intended!:D

 

I think this is great advice right here. And may be exactly what people are looking for in all of these threads.

 

We took the drink packages on both previous Celebrity cruises and I felt that we benefited both times, just in cappuccino and virgin cocktail consumption. Then toss in the bottles of water each day as we were leaving the ship or sitting by the pool, and I think we did OK.

Plus, as you mentioned, it was very nice not to have to sign anything everytime we wanted a beverage, whatever it was. Sometimes it's about more than the money.

[urkidn]

I have always booked the premium beverage package on Celebrity but unfortunately I am traveling with a teen who only drinks soda. Having to buy a $200 package for him, kills the deal. I will stick with coupons, dinner wine and buy whatever suits me, a la carte.

[American Bear]

As in everything in life there are pluses and minuses to everything!

It all comes down to what's right for you!

You may want the least expensive!

You may want the most convenient!

You may not want to think about your bill!

No one else's way is the right way, its the way that's right for you!

Maybe the 2 of you in your cabin can drink $800. or more!:eek:

Maybe the 2 people in your cabin can't drink $800., but like the convenience, or being stress free about the bill at the end!:confused:

Maybe you want that $800. for excursions, and will buy vouchers that bring the cost of a drink to $4.80, or a beer to $3.72, gratuity included if bought online!;)

No one knows what you want better then you do, and your decision will be right for you!

Have fun!