Cost of drinks on Ocenoa

[Mura]

Of course, I was nitpicking about the prices. And it's no surprise that bottles on a wine list on a ship or in a restaurant are always much more expensive than if you bought them in a liquor store.

 

For several years I was visiting my family in L.A. several times a year and was always impressed by the price difference for wine and liquor between there and NYC.

 

Mura

[Flatbush Flyer]

Of course, I was nitpicking about the prices. And it's no surprise that bottles on a wine list on a ship or in a restaurant are always much more expensive than if you bought them in a liquor store.

 

 

 

For several years I was visiting my family in L.A. several times a year and was always impressed by the price difference for wine and liquor between there and NYC.

 

 

 

Mura

 

 

We're surrounded by Northern California wineries. Though they often require regular purchase commitments, winery clubs are great ways to get reserve and other hard-to-find wines at discounted prices.

One of the best of these clubs is Navarro in Philo, CA (Mendocino County). It's my understanding that more than 80% of their business is club/mail order. And the selection of award winning yet affordable wines is terrific.

 

Though not a comprehensive collection, Safeway markets have very nice prices on readily available wines (generally better than BevMo or Total Wine).

 

At the same time, however, some of the best California wine prices can be found at Empire Wines in Albany NY (and online). They do ship to states that allow it.

 

As for the wine bottle pre-buy on O, one of the earliest lists shared here on CC had Grgich Chardonnay, which retails for about $35. Needless to say, that wine quickly disappeared off later lists.

[LHT28]

I tried to post the list but message denied by cc.

 

Here is a sample of bottles at $42.50 each with corresponding US retail price. Since cruise line buys in bulk it should be similar to all ships.

 

Asti Spumante $8

 

OMG

I would not pay $8 for Asti :eek:

do people actually drink that stuff

Edited February 9, 2015 by LHT28

[critics0001]

OMG

I would not pay $8 for Asti :eek:

do people actually drink that stuff

 

Maybe it tastes better at $42.50 a bottle from Oceania.

[LHT28]

Maybe it tastes better at $42.50 a bottle from Oceania.

 

or when I was underage ....that & Baby Duck

[Softball20]

I agree - most of the time - but on holiday one can exaggerate! Plus aside from the wine and the Calva we can't get most of these drinks here in Switzerland... and anyway as someone else pointed out the amount of alcohol in each drink is "minuscule".

 

And they do offer the wine package with meals. If you don't want the margaritas etc the get the cheaper package!!

 

I agree, we wouldn't drink that much on a daily basis at home, but we definitely tend to "exaggerate" on vacation :) For us, that package is so worth it.

[sho]

$11.50 is not cheap for a drink.

Does it include 15% service charge?

[StanandJim]

$11.50 is not cheap for a drink.

Does it include 15% service charge?

 

Nobody ever said it was "cheap", they said it was in line with what you would pay in similar quality bars and restaurants.

 

The Service charge is 18%.

[Travelcat2]

The reason that some of us purchase the premium alcohol package is so that we do not have to think about the cost of drinks. I drink martinis and are used to double shot martinis (that is what we were served in California and in Washington state). When you look at a double martini on Oceania and add 18%, you are looking at a drink that costs around $23.60. While I only have a couple per day (plus wine at dinner), it easily equals the price of the "package". We do not want to carry alcohol onto the ship, have to drink in our stateroom/suite, etc. We prefer going to a lounge to enjoy our drinks or having wine freely poured at dinner.

 

I was reading a thread last week where it was stated that, on mainstream cruise lines, they expect you to spend the cost of the cruise on "extras" (soft drinks, alcohol, etc.) thus doubling the cost of the cruise. On Oceania we add the cost of the alcohol package into the "fare" and know exactly what we will be spending. For this may not work for others, it works fine for us.

[Mura]

Travelcat, you almost convince me ...

 

But given that my husband doesn't drink (well, hardly at all), we don't go into the bars. Maybe once or twice on a cruise.

 

So we prefer having my tipple in the room and then buying a bottle at dinner that I can nurse over 2-3 meals.

 

It would be different, I think, if DH did have cocktails ... but since he doesn't ...

 

It does depend on passengers' preferences, I guess. There's no way the package is cost-effective for people like us. Obviously it IS for many others.

 

Mura

[bitob]

Which is why the non inclusive approach of Oceania works well for so many. You can buy a drink package, buy an occasional drink or single bottle, buy a bottle package or bring alcohol on board to drink in your stateroom. Everybody wins

[StanandJim]

Which is why the non inclusive approach of Oceania works well for so many. You can buy a drink package, buy an occasional drink or single bottle, buy a bottle package or bring alcohol on board to drink in your stateroom. Everybody wins

 

+1 Beautifully said. Why pay for options that you're not using?

[2910car]

What is the average price of a bottle of wine in the dining room without the package? Just wondering how much you are saving with the package.

[critics0001]

What is an average wine? Prices range from $40s to several hundred. Wine package does not get you the better wines. Best way is bring your own and pay corkage. Also they have a 2 for 1 happy hour every night and you get free drinks at the Captain's welcome party. If you cruised before you also get a second party with free drinks.

[Mura]

That's somewhat of an apples and oranges question.

 

On the package you are buying glasses of wine from a limited list. I don't mean you only have two or three choices, but you don't have that many. Maybe six or seven? That's the main reason the package doesn't appeal to me.

 

If you buy a bottle of wine, if it's on the list, you can buy it. I'm not sure about the prices these days since on our last few cruises we had the liquor set-up in our room and I don't recall buying an individual bottle. I may have! But my recollection is that prices start at around $35 a bottle. Perhaps it's somewhat more by now.

 

Of course, you can pay a lot more than that! Don't forget the 18% gratuity, but you don't pay a corkage fee on wines that you buy by the bottle.

 

Mura

 

P.S. I agree with Critics0001 about the best option being to bring your own. That is, if it's important to you to have better wines. I have found wines I like on the lower end of the pricing of the wine list, and while I'm not an oenophile I am fussy about my wines -- I like them dry and heavy in general. But you can buy your own for a more realistic price, and even with a corkage fee you probably are paying less than you would by buying on board. And, of course, you can pick what you really want.

Edited February 10, 2015 by Mura

[CintiPam]

+1 Beautifully said. Why pay for options that you're not using?

 

+2. Works well for us. I can drink my rum punches and husband can drink his Brunello.

Edited February 11, 2015 by CintiPam

[Hambagahle]

What is an average wine? Prices range from $40s to several hundred. Wine package does not get you the better wines. Best way is bring your own and pay corkage. Also they have a 2 for 1 happy hour every night and you get free drinks at the Captain's welcome party. If you cruised before you also get a second party with free drinks.

 

It is one thing to bring on board a bottle of Petrus (retailing at around $900 I think) and pay a corkage fee of $25 and another to bring on board a bottle of plonk costing $8 and pay the same corkage fee...

[azam71209]

A friend forwarded this to me from Oceania-

 

Greetings,

 

Thank you for contacting the Special Services Department.

 

Please note that Oceania does not allow that liquor and beer be brought onboard our vessels.

 

The maximum of 3 bottles of independent wine (per stateroom, per cruise) can be brought on-board for the duration of the cruise. This includes guests flying with their own wine, or purchasing it on shore. We ask that guests let us know they are bringing wine on-board so the ship can be advised.

 

Guests are welcome to enjoy their wine in the comfort and privacy of their stateroom or suite, or, if they prefer, may enjoy their wine in one of the ship’s dining rooms. Any wine consumed in the dining room or a public area will be subject to a corkage fee of $25.00 per bottle.

 

Thank you for choosing Oceania Cruises and we look forward to welcoming you on board!

 

Best regards,

Valerie Bazelais

Special Services Coordinator

Oceania Cruises

8300 NW 33rd Street | Suite 100 | Miami, FL 33122

Office 800 531 5658 | +1 305 514 2300 | Ext 2152 | Fax+1 305 514 2222

vbazelais@oceaniacruises.com

http://www.OceaniaCruises.com

 

Your World. Your Way.®

Award-Winning Mid-Size Ships | Destination Specialists | Finest Cuisine At Sea | Country Club Casual Ambiance | Extraordinary Value

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[LHT28]

Interesting AZAM

Will have to see if it is enforced

 

Maybe someone on upcoming cruise will test it out :D

 

I wonder why you need to advise them & how far in advance

I was hoping just to pick up a bottle or 2 along the route

 

Lyn

Edited February 12, 2015 by LHT28

[hypercafe]

This really is sort of silly, Oceania keeps saying one thing and seems to do another. This has been going on for a long time. They should make a policy that they are willing to live with. If they want to allow cases of booze to be taken on board but have the option to take it for whatever wright a policy that says just that. It really seems unfair that people that follow the written policy get just three bottles of wine while those who disregard it completely get cases of wine and booze.

 

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[critics0001]

It is one thing to bring on board a bottle of Petrus (retailing at around $900 I think) and pay a corkage fee of $25 and another to bring on board a bottle of plonk costing $8 and pay the same corkage fee...

 

I do not recognize plonk, is it a Swiss wine? Also would love to know where you get a good year Petrus for $900, going rate is $3000.

But you can get a very good Pomerol or other Bordeaux from great years; 2005, 2009 or 2010 for about $40-60. What O sells these for is $150+ for not so good years.

[corpkid]

Well I'm on marina right now with both spirits and wine. No problems at all. As usual. In fact in the daily program it even mentions somewhere that alcohol purchased ashore must be consumed in the stateroom. [emoji1]

[StanandJim]

This really is sort of silly, Oceania keeps saying one thing and seems to do another. This has been going on for a long time. They should make a policy that they are willing to live with. If they want to allow cases of booze to be taken on board but have the option to take it for whatever wright a policy that says just that. It really seems unfair that people that follow the written policy get just three bottles of wine while those who disregard it completely get cases of wine and booze.

 

Sent from my SM-T320 using Forums mobile app

 

Sad, mean spirited people, who make up the lowest common denominator, sometimes feel the need to crush the individuality out of a situation, so that they need never feel threatened by uncertainty.

We can't let this happen, because without some level of discernment being involved, the liquor policy, or any policy becomes nothing but the bland mush that the Mass market lines are dispensing.

[Paulchili]

Well I'm on marina right now with both spirits and wine. No problems at all. As usual. In fact in the daily program it even mentions somewhere that alcohol purchased ashore must be consumed in the stateroom. [emoji1]

 

May one ask how many bottles (total) you brought on the ship?

[corpkid]

1 liter of gin, 1 liter of rum, and 2 bottles of wine we found in Sydney that we really liked. That's for a 16 day cruise.