briehon Posted January 13, 2015 #1 Share Posted January 13, 2015 Can anyone tell me what where snd how many alcoholic beverages I could expect as a suite guest? I have heard about free bottles of champagne and free happy hours. What else and what are your experiences? May skip a drink package if it's enough.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted January 13, 2015 #2 Share Posted January 13, 2015 Can anyone tell me what where snd how many alcoholic beverages I could expect as a suite guest? I have heard about free bottles of champagne and free happy hours. What else and what are your experiences? May skip a drink package if it's enough.... These are the types of drinks available during the evening cocktail hour from about 5pm to 8:30pm: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=44235491&postcount=12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merion_Mom Posted January 13, 2015 #3 Share Posted January 13, 2015 These are the types of drinks available during the evening cocktail hour from about 5pm to 8:30pm: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=44235491&postcount=12 Hey, that's my picture! ;) :D Brihon, it's only NOT enough if you drink at least five drinks a day outside of the three and a half hours of Lounge drinks every evening, or you refuse to drink what's on the list. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseKeeper Posted January 13, 2015 #4 Share Posted January 13, 2015 Can anyone tell me what where snd how many alcoholic beverages I could expect as a suite guest? I have heard about free bottles of champagne and free happy hours. What else and what are your experiences? May skip a drink package if it's enough.... Just came back from a b2b on the Allure in full suites. . . there was no free bottle of champagne. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted January 13, 2015 #5 Share Posted January 13, 2015 Hey, that's my picture! ;) :D I can't help it if you have the best pictures!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerif Posted January 13, 2015 #6 Share Posted January 13, 2015 Just came back from a b2b on the Allure in full suites. . . there was no free bottle of champagne. Never got one either - glad it's not just us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spookwife Posted January 13, 2015 #7 Share Posted January 13, 2015 Can anyone tell me what where snd how many alcoholic beverages I could expect as a suite guest? I have heard about free bottles of champagne and free happy hours. What else and what are your experiences? May skip a drink package if it's enough.... where did you hear champagne bottles?! not so. the happy hour is free flowing for the 3 is hours it runs but you are only going o get basic mixed drinks, wine and maybe one or 2 beer choices. no blender drinks or anything terribly complicated. we usually managed 2 before dinner and one after, depending on timing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briehon Posted January 13, 2015 Author #8 Share Posted January 13, 2015 In reading a few reviews and watching a few videos on YouTube of tours of owners suites, I had heard free bottles of champagne as well as open bar at Barefoot. These may have been specific to cruises or people as they weren't mentioned specifically as suite perks, just mentioned. Thanks for the info! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merion_Mom Posted January 13, 2015 #9 Share Posted January 13, 2015 In reading a few reviews and watching a few videos on YouTube of tours of owners suites, I had heard free bottles of champagne as well as open bar at Barefoot. These may have been specific to cruises or people as they weren't mentioned specifically as suite perks, just mentioned. Thanks for the info! No open bar at Barefoot Beach. Where did you read this????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yolanda1 Posted January 13, 2015 #10 Share Posted January 13, 2015 where did you hear champagne bottles?! not so. the happy hour is free flowing for the 3 is hours it runs but you are only going o get basic mixed drinks, wine and maybe one or 2 beer choices. no blender drinks or anything terribly complicated. we usually managed 2 before dinner and one after, depending on timing. I'm sure I read on the boards somewhere recently that suite guests on Oasis (or Allure?) were being given complimentary drinks from 11am to 11pm now instead of the 3 hour Happy Hour, but I'm not sure if this was on a specific sailing or maybe just a time limited offer. I can't find them now! :D . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merion_Mom Posted January 13, 2015 #11 Share Posted January 13, 2015 I'm sure I read on the boards somewhere recently that suite guests on Oasis (or Allure?) were being given complimentary drinks from 11am to 11pm now instead of the 3 hour Happy Hour, but I'm not sure if this was on a specific sailing or maybe just a time limited offer. I can't find them now! :D . It was Oasis only, and for a very limited time. Seems to be Gone With The Wind. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spookwife Posted January 13, 2015 #12 Share Posted January 13, 2015 I'm sure I read on the boards somewhere recently that suite guests on Oasis (or Allure?) were being given complimentary drinks from 11am to 11pm now instead of the 3 hour Happy Hour, but I'm not sure if this was on a specific sailing or maybe just a time limited offer. I can't find them now! :D . the CL on those two ships is different and did serve wine at lunch with a limited menu. however, there have been changes to their amenities since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted January 13, 2015 #13 Share Posted January 13, 2015 No open bar at Barefoot Beach. Where did you read this????? If there was an open bar at Barefoot, we cetainly missed it last month!:eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseKeeper Posted January 13, 2015 #14 Share Posted January 13, 2015 In reading a few reviews and watching a few videos on YouTube of tours of owners suites, I had heard free bottles of champagne as well as open bar at Barefoot. These may have been specific to cruises or people as they weren't mentioned specifically as suite perks, just mentioned. Thanks for the info! It is still up in the air whether suite guests get to use a $16 floatie mat so I think if your are expecting an open bar on Barefoot Beach, you are not going to have a good time. :rolleyes: Seriously though, dont expect to see that open bar. We did have a nice champagne sail away from the helipad though. All in all, you will enjoy a suite. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicben Posted January 13, 2015 #15 Share Posted January 13, 2015 On grandeur over Christmas in cl there is a full drinks menu . you will be surprised what drinks are one it if someone one grandeur at the moment can photo and post you be quite pleased. Roy &ann Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sauvichick Posted January 13, 2015 #16 Share Posted January 13, 2015 As a suite guest we had to pay for renting the mat on Labadee.. The only way we would have gotten it free is if we were in a cabana. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yolanda1 Posted January 13, 2015 #17 Share Posted January 13, 2015 It was Oasis only, and for a very limited time. Seems to be Gone With The Wind. ;) Really? :eek: That's ridiculous. No wonder people are complaining so much and jumping ship, so to speak. The suite perks seem to change by the day and nobody knows what to expect. I'm afraid the inconsistency of RCI is just too much for me now. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merion_Mom Posted January 13, 2015 #18 Share Posted January 13, 2015 Really? :eek: That's ridiculous. No wonder people are complaining so much and jumping ship, so to speak. The suite perks seem to change by the day and nobody knows what to expect. I'm afraid the inconsistency of RCI is just too much for me now. . That's a bit of an extreme reaction. There had never been free drinks before for such an extended period of time. The fact that they did it for a while, but have ceased to do it, is hardly a reason to whine. (pun intended) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yolanda1 Posted January 13, 2015 #19 Share Posted January 13, 2015 That's a bit of an extreme reaction. There had never been free drinks before for such an extended period of time. The fact that they did it for a while, but have ceased to do it, is hardly a reason to whine. (pun intended) Not an extreme reaction at all in my opinion, and certainly not "whining" as you put it. As a customer, I am simply expressing my dismay at the constant inconsistency of a company who expect people to pay many thousands of dollars for a suite and expect them to be content with whatever benefits they decide to provide on a whim for as many hours, days, weeks or months as they see fit. It's chaotic and unprofessional, and if people don't "whine" about it, it will continue. Perhaps you think it's reasonable for the customer to accept the ever changing terms applied to overpriced suite accommodation without notice of a start date or an end date. I don't think it's good practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted January 14, 2015 #20 Share Posted January 14, 2015 The "cocktail hour" is about 2 1/2 hours nightly.....other than those times, you'll pay for whatever drinks you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelCMTX Posted January 14, 2015 #21 Share Posted January 14, 2015 I just do sparking wine in the CL and have not been disappointed. Have learned that tipping your bartender can have the side effect of them scraping up some off-the-menu ingredients to widen the selection for you, plus they may catch an additional shift tending bar elsewhere, remember you from the CL, and make up for some of the lost variety. Our best bartender was in Mariner's CL. He couldn't make DW a Lemon Drop or Cosmo with what was available, but she was WELL taken care of during his shifts in the Casino. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karen s Posted January 14, 2015 #22 Share Posted January 14, 2015 Not an extreme reaction at all in my opinion, and certainly not "whining" as you put it. As a customer, I am simply expressing my dismay at the constant inconsistency of a company who expect people to pay many thousands of dollars for a suite and expect them to be content with whatever benefits they decide to provide on a whim for as many hours, days, weeks or months as they see fit. It's chaotic and unprofessional, and if people don't "whine" about it, it will continue. Perhaps you think it's reasonable for the customer to accept the ever changing terms applied to overpriced suite accommodation without notice of a start date or an end date. I don't think it's good practice. I have always sailed in a suite on RCI and other than no more chocolates and now the 3 drink coupon on the sea pass card during the CL "happy hours", it's always been consistent...except, where are the slippers??:p I haven't been on Oasis/Allure, but on my visit to Labadee last month, we were offered the floating mat for free at Barefoot Beach without having a cabana, and no, no open bar. And there was no open bar with our cabana on our visit in 2012. The only time we ever got a (single) bottle of champagne in a suite was on Voyager during our Med cruise in the Royal Suite in 2006 on the first day. And I've been in 8 suites (OS, GS) in the following 8 yrs since, and no champagne. Oasis class ships may have different/evolving suite perks in the CL with the changes going on during dry dock...but on the class of ships I've sailed on, they've remained relatively the same. The addition of gold sea pass cards years ago have actually improved suite perks overall - preferred seating in the theater, ice show, pool deck, WJ for breakfast/lunch on some ships, etc. IMHO :o Just be sure to do your research on your specific ship, because from what I've experienced, even same class ships have some different ship nuances for gold pass bearers, i.e. on Brilliance the WJ Verandah was reserved seating for gold pass bearers during breakfast/lunch, but on Radiance, the WJ Verandah was the 24 hr coffee station due to the addition of the hot dog stand on the other side of the pool deck outside the WJ. Did any of these differences detract from my cruise experience? Heck no. Loved each and every minute of each one and can't wait for the next... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackamama Posted January 14, 2015 #23 Share Posted January 14, 2015 (edited) It depends on a number of things - one being how much you think you will drink, and at what times. If you are likely to be ashore much, a drink package probably wouldn't be worth it. We have never taken the drink package when we are in a suite, because we don't drink much during the day, and we have a few complimentary drinks in the CL in the evening. Anything else, we just pay as we go. Much cheaper than a drink package! :) It also depends on the ship. Oasis class were doing all day complimentary drinks for suite guests, but I don't think it applies to smaller ships. It might be worth checking about the specific ship you will be on. We have had different perks on different ships, including free wine, ship tours etc., but not champagne. . Edited January 14, 2015 by Jackamama Typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun07 Posted January 15, 2015 #24 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Is non- Alcoholic beer included ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spookwife Posted January 16, 2015 #25 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Is non- Alcoholic beer included ? there should be one brand available( don't ask me which one though) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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