Is the Cheers package good value?

[minesawine]

Hi - I am new to cruising and this is my first post.

 

I am flying over from London to go on the Carnival Sunshine in August 2015. I am not a massive drinker but I do like to have a few extra on holiday and was thinking about the drinks package on Carnival Cruises, I think it is the Cheers package. I am on an 8 day cruise and it costs $37.50 plus tax and gratuity per day. Which covers up to 15 drinks per day. I suppose in hot weather, including soft drinks and water, I would drink 15 per day, but I am just not sure whether it is worth adding such a big expense onto my holiday.

 

Should I instead pay by the glass? But I have heard drinks are really expensive.

 

Can anyone give me their opinions on drinks packages. Are they good value?

 

Thanks

[runner15km]

Its up to you to do the math. Everyone in the cabin 21 and over must purchase the package. Soda is $2.00, beer is $6.00 and the average alcohol drink is $8.50 plus 15% tip for all.

 

Cheers !:)

Edited September 25, 2014 by runner15km

[JLee1973]

If you drink 4 drinks a day which isn't hard you break even anything over that and you are saving money. I feel it is a good program. You essentially know what your bar bill is if you are going to drink ahead of time. You can also get soda with the program that doesn't count towards your drink limit.

[k2excursion]

It depends on how much you drink. Sodas are only about $2 plus tip. The alcoholic mixed drinks are about $10 each including tip. Beers are a little bit cheaper. The non-alcoholic slushes are around $5.50 including tip. For me, it would never make sense to get the cheers program. It would be very rare for me to purchase 1 alcoholic drink a day, and maybe 1 soda a day. I usually end up buying 1 of each per cruise. But I have heard people tell me that 15 a day isn't nearly enough. WOW! How often are they using the restroom!?:) Non-bottled water, lemonade, tea, & coffee are free.

[bugsokc]

Here's a break-even chart I worked up. This is per day, so you can look at the kind of drink you would usually have and decide if you would break even or not. I would consider soda a bonus and not count it towards breaking even, primarily because the "$2.00 soda" is a 20 oz. bottle and what you get wit Cheers is a glass (from a bar tap) that is less than 20 oz. BTW: Soda does NOT count toward your 15 drinks per day limit - only alcoholic beverages.

 

Whatever you decide... Have a great cruise!

 

[Uncle Deane]

Also, don't forget to account for the days you will be in port that you will likely have less time to drink on the ship.

[pjhootch]

Definitely factor in port days. If you have 4 or 5 port days on an 8 day cruise, then the math may not add up for light drinkers.

 

If you plan to leave the ship early and spend the entire time in port, that usually leaves a only a short bit of time from dinner on to break even on your daily consumption quota. :D

[katiel53]

If you are talking about drinking bottled water, keep in mind that is NOT included in the Cheers package. We are not big drinkers, but felt it was a good idea to have the package as we knew in advance what it would cost us. We also knew if we wanted to order wine with dinner or some drinks during the day, it was covered.

 

I like frozen drinks so having 3-4 a day paid for the cost of the program. We will definitely use it again on our 7 day cruise.

[srlafleur]

I would contemplate it for a cruise with more sea days. Port-intensive cruises, which we aim for, make it not such a good deal. We bring the allowed wine on board, which covers us for wine with dinner for several days. (we get wine glasses from the steward or from a bar and carry our wine to the dining room. No one blinks an eye and no corkage fee).

My hubby drinks less on a cruise than at home, probably due to having to sign for each one. I know we'd both overindulge with the Cheers package - not drunken overindulging so much as caloric. I'd rather eat more and drink less.

Edited September 26, 2014 by srlafleur

[nissach]

Here's a break-even chart I worked up. This is per day, so you can look at the kind of drink you would usually have and decide if you would break even or not. I would consider soda a bonus and not count it towards breaking even, primarily because the "$2.00 soda" is a 20 oz. bottle and what you get wit Cheers is a glass (from a bar tap) that is less than 20 oz. BTW: Soda does NOT count toward your 15 drinks per day limit - only alcoholic beverages.

 

Whatever you decide... Have a great cruise!

 

 

Thanks for creating this chart and breaking it down. Very easy to see if it is worth it or not based on how much you think you will drink.

I always think that if you buy cheers program you are likely to drink a little more per day because it is already paid for. IMHO

[travler27]

I wonder why the per day price is higher on short cruises?

[ragethjj23]

You can still get it on the second day of a 7 day cruise, correct? Then you only pay for 6 days about $250 with gratuities...?

[jcearth]

I personally felt it was worth it to me. I averaged 10-11 drinks per day plus 3-4 sodas per day. I also managed to get between 50 and 60 match plays for the casino, where I won around $200. My brother maxed it out every day (he actually managed to get served 107 drinks on a 7 day cruise, in addition to the ones the casino manager bought for him).

[travler27]

I don't think I could have done that when I was in college. :eek:

[jcearth]

I don't think I could have done that when I was in college. :eek:

 

I have no desire to drink for a LONG time. The classic cocktails (which give you the match play) are what did me in -- too sweet and syrupy. I would have been fine sticking to beer and the occasional mixed drink. BTW, Thirsty Red Frog is a pretty good beer.

[kona_wahine]

If you google "carnival bar menu" you can see the costs of single drinks and all the different types they have. Remember, each person over 21 in the cabin has to purchase cheers program. No exceptions.

Edited September 26, 2014 by kona_wahine

[Tinkerbell1166]

We have done the cheers program every cruise we have gone on since they started it, and we noticed are onboard expenses are lower... If you like to drink on vacation, you figure a Bloody Mary or Mimosa at breakfast, fruity drinks during the day, wine or cocktail with dinner, then cocktails at the shows or club, and it is a wash!! Enjoy your Cruise!!!

 

 

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[andy.capitan]

I wonder why the per day price is higher on short cruises?

 

Short cruises are more likely to be booze cruises.

 

Sage worked up a nice chart with lots of info

 

http://sagetronics.net/images/Cheers%20Savings%20as%20of%20Aug%208%202014.jpg

[Warm Breezes]

Hi - I am new to cruising and this is my first post.

 

I am flying over from London to go on the Carnival Sunshine in August 2015. I am not a massive drinker but I do like to have a few extra on holiday and was thinking about the drinks package on Carnival Cruises, I think it is the Cheers package. I am on an 8 day cruise and it costs $37.50 plus tax and gratuity per day. Which covers up to 15 drinks per day. I suppose in hot weather, including soft drinks and water, I would drink 15 per day, but I am just not sure whether it is worth adding such a big expense onto my holiday.

 

Should I instead pay by the glass? But I have heard drinks are really expensive.

 

Can anyone give me their opinions on drinks packages. Are they good value?

 

Thanks

 

The value depends on the person. We only drink about 5 alcoholic drinks total between the 2 of us. We are happy enough with our 2 bottles of champagne and couple of sodas we bring on, lemonade, tea, coffee, juice, milk, and water. For us it would not be a value. YMMV.

[sgttami]

Cheers is worth it to me and since they lowered the price, even more so!

 

Lately I've been staying on the ship when we are in port so I really do get my money's worth..

[amcjeep4life]

I'm normally not much of a drinker. However, on vacation I do tend to indulge a bit more, knowing I don't have to work/ drive/ clean/ yadda yadda. I know we all (there are 8 of us cruising together) plan on purchasing the Cheers program for one reason: The Damn Alchemy Bar. I have never before spent more than $200 on alcohol until we cruised on the Liberty and that Damn Alchemy Bar was so awesome and amazing. For the first time ever, my alcohol purchases exceeded $275. The Cheers is the next logical purchase, especially since it includes soda. Means I don't have to lug a 12 pack on. I know our cruise is scheduled for 4 ports in 4 days, but one is only until 2 pm, and one is Grand Turk, which to me is basically a parked Sea Day. I'm pretty sure I can do 5 drinks a day with no problems.

[jnwinos]

For us it is a no brainer, this is our normal cruise drinking activity a day;

1-2 Bloody Mary's for breakfast, 4-5 beers or cocktails during the day, champagne with used to be sushi (how I miss the sushi bar), drink getting ready for dinner, martini before dinner, couple of glasses of wine with dinner, drink at any show, martini at end of evening. 10-12 drinks

Even port days 2 Bloody Mary's waiting to get off ship, 1-2 drinks after getting back on the ship, champagne and so on with the rest of the evening. 8-10 drinks

And we will be bringing on good wine to start dinner with.

 

So excited to try cheers for the first time and save a bunch of money!! January can't come soon enough

[OHSHIPIloveyou]

Are all the prices the same on each Carnival ship. Do they have a package that you can buy so many drinks period ?. That can be shared between the two of you. We have been on other cruises and used the voucher system and they worked great we purchased so many voucher booklets that we thought we needed. This way we did not need to each purchase for our room. As we are not big drinkers and the voucher could be used for any choice of drink/ bar beverage/ dining room.

[hdowney]

Did I read right that the cheers package price is different on short cruises than long? What are the different prices please.

 

I think I would EASILY drink the 15 alcoholic drinks per day, especially on a sea intensive cruise

 

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[preacher]

Hi - I am new to cruising and this is my first post.

 

 

 

I am flying over from London to go on the Carnival Sunshine in August 2015. I am not a massive drinker but I do like to have a few extra on holiday and was thinking about the drinks package on Carnival Cruises, I think it is the Cheers package. I am on an 8 day cruise and it costs $37.50 plus tax and gratuity per day. Which covers up to 15 drinks per day. I suppose in hot weather, including soft drinks and water, I would drink 15 per day, but I am just not sure whether it is worth adding such a big expense onto my holiday.

 

 

 

Should I instead pay by the glass? But I have heard drinks are really expensive.

 

 

 

Can anyone give me their opinions on drinks packages. Are they good value?

 

 

 

Thanks

 

 

I read that you can have unlimited soda pop if your purchase Cheers.

 

 

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