Going no drink package - dangerous?

[Clarea]

Just got off the Navigator on Sunday and I purchased the $55 a day package. Think one of the lost facts here is the soda package by itself is $20. So literally your paying an additional $35 a day for the liquor. I didn't keep track but usually tried 2 new drinks a day, picked up at least 3 bottle waters daily and kept in room fridge, then probably had 3-4 drinks a night while in the Cosmo club or casino or just walking around the ship. My drinks of choice usually was Bombay and Tonic or Crown and Coke. New drinks tried that ended up being pretty good were Wildberry Rita, Raspberry Ricky, London Lemonade, California Cooler. I usually have a 6 or 7 drinks a night on Friday and Saturday but generally don't drink Sun-Thurs. Felt I got my monies worth from the package without getting plastered everyday.

The soda package alone is $7.48 per day (including gratuity). The package that costs $20 per day includes soda, specialty coffee, fresh squeezed OJ, still and sparkling water, and non-alcoholic cocktails.

Edited May 7, 2014 by clarea

[Ladysilver]

I'm strictly an iced tea drinker myself. And maybe ONE drink of the day. The drink packages are very overrated in my opinion. :cool:

[bigque]

Is it $55 a day per person for a total of $110 per day???

 

Can anyone answer this???

[Clarea]

Can anyone answer this???

Yes, the drink packages are all charged per person.

[mjldvlks]

. . . . If gasoline is $4.00 a gallon, but someone tells you that you can get unlimited gas for a week for $400, you would have to use more than 100 gallons of gas in that week for it to be a dollar savings. You can certainly use 50 gallons of gas and justify this as "worth it" to yourself for any reason at all on the planet that you choose to use, but the facts are that you overpaid. You can also justify this as "worth it" because you didn't have to pay each time you stopped to fill the 10 gallon tank, but the facts are still that you overpaid.

To add to your gasoline analogy, if you drive extra miles [or in this case drink more juice/coffee/soda or whatever] than you otherwise would not have simply to reach that break even number -- you have overpaid.

[NJcruisenewbie]

I can't get over the fact that the OP only drinks about 36oz of liquid a day :eek:. That's pushing camel territory!

[BAV2005]

I can't get over the fact that the OP only drinks about 36oz of liquid a day :eek:. That's pushing camel territory!

 

 

This made me lol :D!

 

 

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[matj2000]

Somehow it is ironic that people are willing to pay over $400 for alcohol but drink $150 worth.

Just to "not worry about a bill at the end" or "not sign a slip".

But many of the same people will go wild over a silly 2 for 1 drink coupon that comes with your C&A benefit.

And when you question that, they will say "every little bit helps"...

[summersigh]

In order for me to make the package worthwhile ... the only activities I'd be doing on board is drink and then sleep it off before starting over again :D:D

 

We do drink moderately but have never had enough on a cruise to make the drink package a value for us. We "sign" as we go. :p

[drob2342]

Think you nailed it there, for a casual/moderate drinker a port intensive cruise is definitely not going to pay off, an "at sea" intensive cruise on the other hand is not hard to find 5-7 drinks a day on between a couple of beers at the pool, wine with dinner, etc.

 

We typically will not buy the package because we don't drink enough, we did on our Allure cruise because we had 3 days at Sea, 1 day at Labadee and were planning to stay onboard in Jamaica (so basically 5 out of 6 days "counted"). We bought morning of day 2 so embarkation day didn't count either.

 

I don't think we saved anything significant by having the package but it was convenient and fun to be able to try any drink and not worry about it.

 

Did you have to sign for the drinks?

Edited May 8, 2014 by drob2342

[bbiggar]

We could never drink that much a piece in one day to justify a drink package. I have always wondered if the people that buy the drink packages drink that much at home or on weekends or do you just drink that much when you are on a cruise?

 

On vacation I do drink that much. After all it is vacation. I sometimes have a drink or two a few times per week. Vacation I sometimes start in the morning if it's a day at sea. :eek:

[ccryder]

On vacation I do drink that much. After all it is vacation. I sometimes have a drink or two a few times per week. Vacation I sometimes start in the morning if it's a day at sea. :eek:

 

Nothing wrong with that, you are on vacation. Personally I like the drink package. I have already paid for it ahead of time and dont have sticker shock when it comes to the end of the cruise. Also like to try a new drink and if I dont like it, I dont drink it.

[Harooni]

Yes, but it still only costs $65 a day, including gratuity. I would estimate conservatively getting $100 worth of drinks for that. My DH on the other hand only really drinks soda, juice and water, so for him it would be better to get the $20 package and pay for any alcoholic drinks as he goes.

only $65 a day to drink. smh @ only , free water- kiwi flavored not bad too, unsweet tea and tea and coffee. ;) wine a little something snuck in and free champagne on a few nights.

Edited May 8, 2014 by Harooni

[burnsrod1]

Did you have to sign for the drinks?

 

No you don't have to sign for the drinks, and to answer an earlier question both people in the room do not have to purchase the package.

[Reader0108598]

The drink packages must not be selling well on my port intensive cruise,I get constant reminders to sign up for them from Royal.

 

I guess in case I did not see the last ten e-mails they sent!:rolleyes:

 

Reader

[mefinephotoman]

DW and I don't drink enough alcohol to justify those packages but on our last cruise ww purchased the soda package and ala cart for what little alcohol we had. When getting the breakdown of expenses specialty coffees topped the chart. Now they have the $20 per day plan that should work for us well.

 

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[AdamKnows]

I only drink that much while cruising. If I drank this much on land my liver would be upset with me. :eek:

 

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[BAV2005]

I don't drink heavily, I have a few drinks MAYBE 3-4 times a year. Mostly because I do not drink in front of my kids (not passing any judgment whatsoever, my husband has a beer now and then in front of them. I'm just not comfortable with not being in my completely right mind when I need to be watching my kids). That being said, I do plan on getting the drink package. My kids won't be with me and I plan to take advantage of that fact! ;) my husband doesn't plan on drinking that much so he won't be getting one. It truly is to each his own. I really find it odd that people get their panties in a wad so much over what others decide to do! If you want to get it, go for it! If you don't, then don't! It really is that simple :D

 

 

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[poncho1973]

It truly is to each his own. I really find it odd that people get their panties in a wad so much over what others decide to do! If you want to get it, go for it! If you don't, then don't! It really is that simple :D

 

I think most people aren't condemning someone for wanting to or not wanting to. They are just trying to point out that the real question is whether it's worth it or not from a financial standpoint. Someone who drinks quite casually probably wouldn't drink enough to equal the cost. The house wins on them every time.

 

I don't drink heavily, I have a few drinks MAYBE 3-4 times a year.

That being said, I do plan on getting the drink package. My kids won't be with me and I plan to take advantage of that fact! ;)

These statements make you a prime candidate for a little game my wife and I call "MOMMIES GONE WILD!"

 

The first day of the cruise we usually walk around the ship and do a bit of exploring. We visit a lot more public venues on this day than the rest of the cruise. We'll wander up to the pool deck, scope out the bars, etc.

 

We try and spot the MOMMIES GONE WILD! in advance. The woman who is obviously and blatantly a respectable, wonderful, loving mom at home who took this trip without her kids. You can tell this woman has got it together at home. She's not used to partying like she was in her pre-kid days. She's in bed at a reasonable hour. She's making lunches and bathing rug rats. She's responsible and reformed from her debauched youth! HEHEHE

 

We try to pick out the ones that we'll see a few days later who has completely lost her drinking skills and who we will see wind up flat on her butt in the club calling out to someone no one can see or being helped back to her room propped up and dragged along by Dad.

 

It happens to the best of us in different ways. I went and played ball with some teenagers a few months ago thinking I still had it. Oh, I had it! Where "it" was that I could barely walk for 2-3 days after.

 

We aren't being mean at all, the moms are definitely enjoying themselves. It's just fun to try and guess if someone will become the MGW.

 

I correctly got 2 last cruise. One we found dead asleep in the hot tub (her husband was with her) with a plastic cup tucked into her chest cup holder (hehe) and the other one the husband was carrying her in a fireman carry down the corridor while she was saying "Baby, I'm good. I swearrrrrrrrr ammmmm goooooodddd."

Edited May 8, 2014 by poncho1973
speeeeeeeling issues

[BAV2005]

That's why my hubby will not be intoxicated! ;) I'm not outgoing enough (even drunk) to raise (or fall!) to that level, however I do get a little silly! I'm ok with that, I will probably never see these people again and as long as I'm not ruining anyone else's fun then I'll have no regrets about having a few! I do get hangovers so I never drink enough to get thoroughly drunk, I just keep a nice buzz going :D I did enough drinking in my misguided youth to know my limits.

 

 

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[beshears]

This is MY "2 cents" in regard to the drink package. My friend bought it, and it is a good deal, IF you do a lot of drinking. There is more than one package to buy. She took the soda package, but.........can get drinks, ONLY the "virgin" ones. I would also recommend that you carry your container at ALL times to get your money's worth. My freind forgot hers quite a few times, so I really don't think she got her money's worth.

[dacsmom]

I don't drink heavily, I have a few drinks MAYBE 3-4 times a year. Mostly because I do not drink in front of my kids (not passing any judgment whatsoever, my husband has a beer now and then in front of them. I'm just not comfortable with not being in my completely right mind when I need to be watching my kids). That being said, I do plan on getting the drink package. My kids won't be with me and I plan to take advantage of that fact! ;) my husband doesn't plan on drinking that much so he won't be getting one. It truly is to each his own. I really find it odd that people get their panties in a wad so much over what others decide to do! If you want to get it, go for it! If you don't, then don't! It really is that simple :D

 

 

I was the same way but my children are adults now and although I do not drink much at home, I do let loose on a cruise. It is so true, do your own thing and buy the package if you find it worth it or don't, it is really no one elses concern how much I drink (alcoholic or not). I could probably justify the amount based on the specialty coffees alone.

[debbs0723]

I do not think it is dangerous at all. I think it is probably a better idea for you not to get the drink package. If you are drinking sodas you might consider the soda package just because one soda a day can add up.

 

I find I can't drink for 7 days straight on a cruise. I would hit the wall. Plus you will have your port days as well. You will come out way ahead not getting the package if that is all you think you will drink.

 

Debbie

[Harooni]

On vacation I do drink that much. After all it is vacation. I sometimes have a drink or two a few times per week. Vacation I sometimes start in the morning if it's a day at sea. :eek:

 

hey its your vacation, i gree, i dont think the issue is drinking, its , is the package worth it., i just cant imagine a hangover from trying to get my moneys worth or ahead and then 10am i need to start all over and do this for 6-7 days in a row . lol

[Missbrightstar]

Roughly how much is a g&t on board?