Inclusive Drink Package

[kbarnum]

The obvious question is, will I drink enough to justify the cost? Assuming this will be the case what are the other benefits or problems with the drink package? Does your service level suffer, avoiding you once they find out you have the package. We are doing a cabana on princess cay, would like the package for that alone. I understand the process is more streamlined and you don't have to keep signing receipts, is that true? Are the drinks more watered down? Does anyone have a current drink price menu?

[Pam in CA]

Most alcoholic drinks are $7-8. Whether it's worth paying @ $56/pp/day including tip is up to you. You'd need to average about seven alcoholic drinks every single day for it to pay. Princess and other cruise lines offer the package to make money, lots of money; not because they're being nice and want to save you money. :)

[Host CJSKIDS]

The obvious question is, will I drink enough to justify the cost? Assuming this will be the case what are the other benefits or problems with the drink package? Does your service level suffer, avoiding you once they find out you have the package. We are doing a cabana on princess cay, would like the package for that alone. I understand the process is more streamlined and you don't have to keep signing receipts, is that true? Are the drinks more watered down? Does anyone have a current drink price menu?

 

We didn't find that the service level suffered at all. You will still have to sign a receipt for your drinks. The drinks are the same as if you are paying for them.

 

You can also get bottled water, cans of soda, specialty coffees and teas and gelato.

[kbarnum]

I understand it is a business model. I just was hoping to get some feedback from people that may have used the package to see if the service level is constant, the drinks are equal to individual purchases and if it is just more convenient. Also in the realm of non-alcoholic does it include shakes, I understand it includes specialty coffee and tea.

[hawkeyetlse]

The obvious question is, will I drink enough to justify the cost? … Does anyone have a current drink price menu?

Check out this thread:

Princess Beverage Package Evaluator

Does your service level suffer, avoiding you once they find out you have the package. … Are the drinks more watered down?

They measure out the alcohol on Princess, so no, the drinks are not watered down. As for poor service, it's always a possibility, whether it's linked to the package or not, it would be hard to tell.

I understand the process is more streamlined and you don't have to keep signing receipts, is that true?

No, unless things have changed very recently, you still have to sign every time.

[kbarnum]

We didn't find that the service level suffered at all. You will still have to sign a receipt for your drinks. The drinks are the same as if you are paying for them.

 

You can also get bottled water, cans of soda, specialty coffees and teas and gelato.

 

Thank you! gelato too! awesome. Any idea on if it is good for Princess Cays?

[Elkhorn20fan]

Had great bartenders on the Crown Princess last year, even with the drink package. We always tip good bar service at the end of the cruise on top of the 15% added on.

[goofy559]

The obvious question is, will I drink enough to justify the cost? Assuming this will be the case what are the other benefits or problems with the drink package? Does your service level suffer, avoiding you once they find out you have the package. We are doing a cabana on princess cay, would like the package for that alone. I understand the process is more streamlined and you don't have to keep signing receipts, is that true? Are the drinks more watered down? Does anyone have a current drink price menu?

 

Just FYI, several on our recent Regal cruise reported that they couldnt use the drink psckage on princess cay. We spenr the day enjoying the nearly empty ship so cant personally confirm. If this is important to you I would confirm

 

 

 

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[Host CJSKIDS]

Thank you! gelato too! awesome. Any idea on if it is good for Princess Cays?

 

 

Yes it is!

[Host CJSKIDS]

Just FYI, several on our recent Regal cruise reported that they couldnt use the drink psckage on princess cay. We spenr the day enjoying the nearly empty ship so cant personally confirm. If this is important to you I would confirm

 

 

 

Sent from my SGP312 using Forums mobile app

 

Was it the full drink package or the soda/mocktail package?

 

We used the full drink package in September on our Caribbean Princess sailing and again in November on our Regal sailings without any issues.

 

The soda package isn't good there because they don't have anything but canned sodas and those aren't covered by the package.

[goofy559]

They had the full drink package. I was surprised - it didnt seem right to me! Perhaps a nee server or a misunderstanding.

[Gypsy2]

I had no issues getting drinks on Princess Cay. It was nice for cold bottled water in the beach.

[flyers1976]

I purchased the package on my Jan 4th Regal sailing. You are able to use it on Princess Cay. Just be warned that the bar runners stop right about when lunch is done so you will have to head to a bar. They ran out of a lot of items by 1:00 while I was there. They ran out of Carib beer by noon. I got my monies worth by my wife didn't.

 

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[scotslizzy]

We have been purchasing premium drinks packages on our cruises now for over 3/4 years and have never regretted it.

 

We are not raging alcoholics as most drink packages included freshly squeezed orange juice, bottled water and all manner of different coffee's and teas.

 

When working out if the drinks package is for you these drinks need to be included in your calculations.

 

So you do not need to start drinking alcohol at 8.30 a.m. to get your money's worth. What it does do is allow you to pay up front and then really enjoy your cruise without concerning yourself about the cost .

 

I also love the fact that you can try some drinks that perhaps your not too sure of. If you don't like them well leave it and try something different and no worries about cost.

 

Scotslizzy

[wowzz]

We have a promotional $750 onboard credit for our forthcoming cruise. Can we use that to purchase a drinks package?

Also, without wanting to appear to be a real tight wad, what happens if I buy a package for myself, and not one for my wife. How do Princess ensure that the drinks I get on the package are consumed by me and not by my wife?

[kbarnum]

We have a promotional $750 onboard credit for our forthcoming cruise. Can we use that to purchase a drinks package?

Also, without wanting to appear to be a real tight wad, what happens if I buy a package for myself, and not one for my wife. How do Princess ensure that the drinks I get on the package are consumed by me and not by my wife?

 

I was reading that if you are in the same cabin, you both have to purchase the package. Further more if you have children older then 6 in your cabin you have to get them the soda package. I understand the adult requirement, but the kids one seems pretty petty.

 

We actually booked two cabins, one adult, one child in each. I am thinking about getting the drink package for my room, mostly for the 40% off wine seeing how they for some reason don't have a wine package. I am thinking because we are booked in different rooms I may be able to get away with the one package...we will see!

[SwissDave]

I was reading that if you are in the same cabin, you both have to purchase the package. Further more if you have children older then 6 in your cabin you have to get them the soda package. I understand the adult requirement, but the kids one seems pretty petty.

 

We actually booked two cabins, one adult, one child in each. I am thinking about getting the drink package for my room, mostly for the 40% off wine seeing how they for some reason don't have a wine package. I am thinking because we are booked in different rooms I may be able to get away with the one package...we will see!

 

Thre is no longer the requirement for everyone in the cabin to have to purchase the package, it was only during the trial stages they did that - unless it has changed again (nothing would surprise me).

 

As for the question from the previous poster, it is down to honesty. You will only be able to get one drink at a time anyway - if you try to get 2 they will ask to see the other card. If you are caught sharing the package then I would imagine there is some penalty to pay, I have seen mentioned that they will cancel the package and charge you for all the drinks up to that point - maybe that is why they still ask for the receipts to be signed.

 

The only item you can honestly share is bottles of wine, you get a 40% discount on those and the bottle can be shared with whomever you want.

[SwissDave]

We have a promotional $750 onboard credit for our forthcoming cruise. Can we use that to purchase a drinks package?

Also, without wanting to appear to be a real tight wad, what happens if I buy a package for myself, and not one for my wife. How do Princess ensure that the drinks I get on the package are consumed by me and not by my wife?

 

when you board, go to the table setup with the drinks in the Piazza or on deck. They will put a sticker on your card and ask you to sign a receipt. The charge goes to your on board account, so if you start with $750 credit that will simply be reduced by the relevent amount. That goes for all charges until it is used up, then your outstanding balance will start to go up.

(see my last post for your other question)

[wowzz]

Swiss Dave - that seems fair enough. As my wife is more of a wine drinker than a beer swiller, it seems sensible to buy just the one package and keep on buying bottles of wine.

[AmberCascades]

We purchased the beverage package for our recent Grand Princess cruise. We didn't think we'd drink our money's worth, but we wanted the convenience of not signing slips all the time (on Celebrity we never had to sign anything when we had the package).

 

Unfortunately, we did have to sign every time we ordered a drink. And we each used our own cards so we each had to fuss with those stupid slips every time. I think after a while our regular bar tender didn't make us sign for water, and we didn't have to sign for cappucino's etc. at the coffee bar.

 

They will make you wait if you try to order two things too close together (to prevent card-sharing, I guess). Also, if we wanted a specialty coffee we had to order our coffee from the coffee place and then go to the bar and order whatever liquor we wanted in it.

 

Bottom line for us - we didn't drink our money's worth and it wasn't worth the hassle. If we ever sail Princess again, I wouldn't buy it.

[mommy5]

Can you use the all inclusive card and have drinks delivered with room service?

[SwissDave]

On Emerald last year we took it in turns to go to the bar, taking both cards at same time. They put both drinks on one receipt so only one signature needed. Bar staff did write 'AIR X2' on it to indicate 2 cards were seen, but there seemed no restriction on number of drinks put on a single card at same time.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone. Please excuse tryping orrers.

[SwissDave]

Can you use the all inclusive card and have drinks delivered with room service?

 

 

Room service drinks are not included with the AI package.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone. Please excuse tryping orrers.

[memoak]

We both had the drink package on our December sailing on the Star - great deal - we each had 4-7 drinks a day, 2 coffee drinks a day, large water for the cabin, small waters for the gym - wine/beer with lunch and dinner. Saved us money in the long run and the bar service (especially in the casino) was excellent. Loved signing slips that said $0.00.