OBC vs. Drink Package - 5 Day Cruise

[bertram182]

Hello, booked on a 5 day Ruby Princess cruise and received $400 total onboard credit. I'm just wondering what the Drink Package costs (for 1 person), and would it make sense to purchase the drink package or just use the OBC for alcohol. What, if any booze, does Princess allow you to bring on board. Thank you all, first time Princess cruiser and looking forward to it.

[Thrak]

You can take one 750ml bottle of wine per adult onboard for free. Any wine in excess of that will incur a $15 per bottle corkage fee regardless of where it is consumed. You can't take any other kind of alcoholic beverage onboard.

 

The all-inclusive beverage package has a cost of $49 per day plus 15% gratuity for a total daily cost of $56.35. It includes all beverages of any type up to $10 and a 40% discount on purchases of bottled wine.

Edited October 6, 2014 by Thrak

[AtlantaCruiser72]

Bear in mind that Princess includes ALL beverages under $10/serving in their package -spirits, wines, beers, specialty coffees, fresh squeezed juice, milkshakes, canned and fountain sodas, bottled still and sparkling water, etc. You can go to any food or beverage outlet and order any type of drink you want and it's yours for the asking (as long as it's under $10, which is around 99% of drinks). The freedom and flexibility it affords is priceless. The total package price for a 5 night cruise is $281.75. Assuming by your post hat you are sailing solo and have all $400 OBC to yourself. If so that still gives yo $118.25 of OBC which you can put torwards the gratuities ($11.50 pp/day), specialty dining, spa treatments, shore excursions, casino, etc.

 

Should you choose to bring a bottle of wine onboard for in room consumption your cabin stead will provide a wine glass and corkscrew upon request. I'm not sure if they allow a solo traveler to bring 2 bottles as those sharing a room get one per person (two per room).

[Working 2 Cruise]

You are not allowed to bring booze onboard, other than one bottle of wine, so the drinks package makes the most sense.

[bertram182]

Thanks. No, I am traveling with my wife, so we have $400 total OBC. I'm just tossing around that one of us get the drink package

[Working 2 Cruise]

Thanks. No, I am traveling with my wife, so we have $400 total OBC. I'm just tossing around that one of us get the drink package

 

If only one of you gets the package, keep in mind that the other can't use it...

[lfk60]

When we were onboard CB in August, if one from the cabin wanted it, both of us were required to buy the drink package.

 

Sure makes for a fun cruise! :D

 

Just don't ask me about muster...:confused:

[Working 2 Cruise]

When we were onboard CB in August, if one from the cabin wanted it, both of us were required to buy the drink package.

 

Sure makes for a fun cruise! :D

 

Just don't ask me about muster...:confused:

 

You got wrong information. It used to be that way, but this hasn't been required for months.

[bertram182]

When we were onboard CB in August, if one from the cabin wanted it, both of us were required to buy the drink package.

 

Sure makes for a fun cruise! :D

 

Just don't ask me about muster...:confused:

 

I don't understand how they can make you do that, what if one person does not drink at all, just water or iced tea, they're not going to make that person spend the $56 a day, that's not right.

Edited October 6, 2014 by bertram182

[Pam in CA]

When we were onboard CB in August, if one from the cabin wanted it, both of us were required to buy the drink package.

That was the case only on the Star and Sapphire early this year during testing. Once the package was released in late February, that wasn't the case. You can purchase the package individually. If you were required to both get it, I would complain to Princess since that is contrary to Princess policy.

[OCruisers]

When we were onboard CB in August, if one from the cabin wanted it, both of us were required to buy the drink package.

 

Just wondering .... Who on the ship told you that? :confused:

LuLu

[lfk60]

Just wondering .... Who on the ship told you that? :confused:

LuLu

 

We were told this by the gentleman who signed us up at the table near the Horizon court. It was also printed on the paperwork we were given, and also confirmed by a bartender at the Outrigger Bar.

 

In our case it didn't matter, as we were both getting it anyway. :D

[OCruisers]

We were told this by the gentleman who signed us up at the table near the Horizon court. It was also printed on the paperwork we were given, and also confirmed by a bartender at the Outrigger Bar.

 

In our case it didn't matter, as we were both getting it anyway. :D

 

Seems Princess keeps changing the rules on the All Inclusive Beverage Sticker!

Doesn't matter to us either since we both get one. :D

LuLu

[hawkeyetlse]

Seems Princess keeps changing the rules on the All Inclusive Beverage Sticker!

It's still a relatively new package, so maybe they are still occasionally testing different options on different ships.

 

It's a nice idea for them to allow just one person to buy the package, and trust couples not to share, but who knows, perhaps after a few months of monitoring they have discovered that this trust was misplaced…

[nanwel]

any problem getting water/juice and taking it off in ports?

[Working 2 Cruise]

any problem getting water/juice and taking it off in ports?

 

You can get bottled water, no juice since they don't have bottled juices.

Edited October 7, 2014 by Working 2 Cruise

[Todd5pt0]

My wife and I will be first time cruisers on a Princess cruise. Is regular coffee and tea free in the dining rooms? The cost of the daily all inclusive beverage package seems high to me. What are avg cost for cocktails and beers without the package?

 

Thanks

[Working 2 Cruise]

My wife and I will be first time cruisers on a Princess cruise. Is regular coffee and tea free in the dining rooms? The cost of the daily all inclusive beverage package seems high to me. What are avg cost for cocktails and beers without the package?

 

Thanks

 

Coffee and tea free in the dining room. Specially coffees about $3... Good mixed drinks about $8.95 per drink... about $8 for wine... if you drink 3 cocktails, drink water, coffee, juices and wine, it makes sense to buy the package.

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

any problem getting water/juice and taking it off in ports?

 

Just refill an old water bottle with juice from the Horizon buffet in the morning & keep if the refrigerator for any excursions.

[hawkeyetlse]

The cost of the daily all inclusive beverage package seems high to me. What are avg cost for cocktails and beers without the package?

See this thread for plenty of info:

Princess Beverage Package Evaluator

 

The cost of the package is high, so it's not for everyone. But many people save money with it compared to paying by the drink.

[Mrs.Gosse]

DH wanted to think about it and we decided not to because of the cost for a 7 day cruise. We are SO glad we didn't get it. He would have had to drink 10 beers a day to make it worth it and he drinks stella! ($5.25 each). I was drinking margaritas mostly at $8.95, so I would have had to drink 6. EVERY DAY! And that's just about breaking even. If we wanted to really make it worth it you are talking 14 beers or 9 margaritas a day. With as many activities as were doing we might not have even been able to find the time to drink that many.

 

Even though those numbers could be doable if you start early(mimosas or boozy coffee) on a sea day...... we would not have even come close! And we are pretty big drinkers if we are not driving somewhere. We really would have lost a ton if we had BOTH had to buy one. I count calories so I knew I wouldn't drink enough so we were going to try and just get one.