Desert Cruizers Posted March 17, 2015 #476 Share Posted March 17, 2015 If I was reading correctly Bob the Wine, Beer package read $49 yesterday. You are showing a price of $41.30, could I have been looking at the wrong package or could the $49 include the 18 %. My husband drinks only Beer and during our cruises last March from Sydney, he paid $40 Gay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted March 17, 2015 #477 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Are these the same price as regular cocktails? I've looked everywhere for a price sheet and I can't find it. Thank you! :) Non-alcoholic cocktails have been priced less than regular cocktails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restless24 Posted March 17, 2015 #478 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Are these the same price as regular cocktails? I've looked everywhere for a price sheet and I can't find it. Thank you! :) The menu pic posted here and other places shows $4 for non-alcoholic cocktails. I'm not sure if this price is across the board or if it varies for different ingredients. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2182750&page=3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bert64 Posted March 17, 2015 #479 Share Posted March 17, 2015 If I was reading correctly Bob the Wine, Beer package read $49 yesterday. You are showing a price of $41.30, could I have been looking at the wrong package or could the $49 include the 18 %. My husband drinks only Beer and during our cruises last March from Sydney, he paid $40 Gay I have $41.30 as the price with gratuity for the "Select" package. If they're pouring the drinks weak, I think that's really pushed me into the Select package. I was going to go with the Premium (even though I'm primarily a beer drinker) because I do like a frozen cocktail or two by the pool. But I'll just have to get my fix the non-alcoholic route. Nothing's worse than a drink where all you can taste is the mixer. And, I don't have to depend on a pour for a bottle of beer! You break even at 6 beers. Assuming they aren't going to raise the package prices anytime soon... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Cruizers Posted March 17, 2015 #480 Share Posted March 17, 2015 (edited) I rechecked the packages, and was looking at a differant package, the Beer & Soda is $35 + 18 % ir $41.30. If DH is correct and he paid $40 with gratuity then the beer package for him hasn't increased that much and still far better for him. An example, during our 13 NZ cruise he didn't take the package although I recommended it to him, in 5 days he had a $303 bar bill just in beer and we still had 8 more days of cruising. Edited March 17, 2015 by Desert Cruizers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitnee1 Posted March 17, 2015 #481 Share Posted March 17, 2015 By all accounts those robots spill quite a bit.Maybe the price rise is to cover the wastage :D Wastage???:D:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare orville99 Posted March 17, 2015 #482 Share Posted March 17, 2015 (edited) What does the robot do with the 18% gratuity? Since tips are often described as a way to lube the bartender, I imagine they use the 18% to get a lube job:D Edited March 17, 2015 by orville99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grand isle joe Posted March 17, 2015 #483 Share Posted March 17, 2015 What does the robot do with the 18% gratuity? ...supports his / her family......kids: gigga, byte, kilo and watt of course......;):D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seabeew Posted March 17, 2015 #484 Share Posted March 17, 2015 I hear the robot is no longer working for tips as it has been promoted to VP of IT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ocean Boy Posted March 17, 2015 #485 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Since tips are often described as a way to lube the bartender, I imagine they use the 18% to get a lube job:D I have mental picture of the robot ending up like the tin man in the Wizard of Oz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattwright Posted March 17, 2015 #486 Share Posted March 17, 2015 (edited) I hear the robot is no longer working for tips as it has been promoted to VP of IT. This has to be the post of the day, right here. Somebody reward seebeew with a drink. Maybe if we take a collection and everybody pitches in, we might be able to afford one. Edited March 17, 2015 by mattwright Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary loves to travel Posted March 17, 2015 #487 Share Posted March 17, 2015 the point I was making in my post was relatively simple in that I think these price increases would motivate more people to attempt to smuggle alcohol as the value is just not there to purchase drinks on board. maybe i should have made that point more explicit.. whatever. yes, I called it extortion, maybe I should have said highway robbery instead. Of course people have a choice not to buy the liquor on board seems or sail with royal Caribbean to be a bit of a strawman argument to me. I live in what I generally consider economic reality. the reality is this.. you put 2000 to 3000 people on board a vessel and tell them something that some people consider a part of having a good time on vacation is going up 40% in price some people will scoff at the notion others will continue to pay the exorbitant price. obviously Royal has taken a calculated risk. and maybe they will come out on top in terms of the numbers. but it doesn't change the fact that they raised the prices 40% with no real increase in the cost basis of the product. at the very least I would call that unconscionable. while i will agree with your notion that my use of the word extortion was loose I would still consider these price increases to be gouging the customer out of their hard earned money. I agree with you - but I think RCCL has calculated this out pretty well: what they are really doing is transitioning to a fully all-inclusive model: Step 1, offer "free" drink packages during some sales. Step 2, jack up drink prices on the ship, to make the packages more attractive. (During this phase there will certainly be more alcohol smuggling, as you point out). Step 3, raise the cruise base price, but during a "sale" include the drink package Step 4, always include the drink package at the new higher base price, and you are now offering a fully all-inclusive experience. Mary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seabeew Posted March 17, 2015 #488 Share Posted March 17, 2015 (edited) Thanks, Mattwright. A free beer is all I probably can afford. Edited March 17, 2015 by seabeew Because I'm hopeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tunkhannock Posted March 18, 2015 #489 Share Posted March 18, 2015 By all accounts those robots spill quite a bit.Maybe the price rise is to cover the wastage :D Okay, I have to admit that at first glance I thought you said "wattage". "You like some more?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragen Posted March 18, 2015 #490 Share Posted March 18, 2015 I agree with you - but I think RCCL has calculated this out pretty well: what they are really doing is transitioning to a fully all-inclusive model: Step 1, offer "free" drink packages during some sales. Step 2, jack up drink prices on the ship, to make the packages more attractive. (During this phase there will certainly be more alcohol smuggling, as you point out). Step 3, raise the cruise base price, but during a "sale" include the drink package Step 4, always include the drink package at the new higher base price, and you are now offering a fully all-inclusive experience. Mary Step 5, after a year or two, when people are used to the Higher All Inclusive "deals",... lower Indavidual Drink Prices, Slightly Lower Drink Package Prices, stop offering the BOGO deals and drinks included deals......But keep the Higher Cruise fairs in place (because by now people are used to them.) effectavly rasing the Basic cruise fares in a back-handed way so not allinating the public with a drastic overnite "Basic fare hike." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icsys Posted March 19, 2015 Author #491 Share Posted March 19, 2015 I agree with you - but I think RCCL has calculated this out pretty well: what they are really doing is transitioning to a fully all-inclusive model: Step 1, offer "free" drink packages during some sales. Step 2, jack up drink prices on the ship, to make the packages more attractive. (During this phase there will certainly be more alcohol smuggling, as you point out). Step 3, raise the cruise base price, but during a "sale" include the drink package Step 4, always include the drink package at the new higher base price, and you are now offering a fully all-inclusive experience. Mary Step 5, after a year or two, when people are used to the Higher All Inclusive "deals",... lower Indavidual Drink Prices, Slightly Lower Drink Package Prices, stop offering the BOGO deals and drinks included deals......But keep the Higher Cruise fairs in place (because by now people are used to them.) effectavly rasing the Basic cruise fares in a back-handed way so not allinating the public with a drastic overnite "Basic fare hike." In the UK, we are already getting 'all inclusive' offers being pushed for 2016. Some could argue that the basic cruise fare has already been 'hiked'. Just look at some of the recent threads suggesting high prices. (There are still some good deals to be found though). This could be more pricing gimmicks rather than actual price rises. Time will tell if the recent bar price increase results in less onboard revenue, though if you look at the section in the annual report on accounts relating to onboard revenue, they are not doing too bad: • a $45.5 million increase in onboard revenue attributable to higher spending on a per passenger basis primarily due to our ship upgrade programs and other revenue enhancing initiatives, including various beverage initiatives, the addition and promotion of specialty restaurants, the increased revenue associated with internet and other telecommunication services and other onboard activities Source:http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=45969010&postcount=16[/I] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
American Bear Posted March 19, 2015 #492 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Wow, was on Princess last week and their drink prices are very reasonable.Keeps me sailing with them;) You are correct, Princess and parent Carnival are abt. 10% less! MSC has the lowest prices abt. 25% less, and their voucher books are 48% less!!!:eek: The RCL brand is getting expensive!:eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sugcarol Posted March 19, 2015 #493 Share Posted March 19, 2015 30 years ago we took our first cruise, it was Hawaii 7 night. The drink of the day cost 50 cents, HOWEVER, our inside cabin was 1695.00 per person!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poncho1973 Posted March 19, 2015 #494 Share Posted March 19, 2015 You are correct, Princess and parent Carnival are abt. 10% less! MSC has the lowest prices abt. 25% less, and their voucher books are 48% less!!!:eek: The RCL brand is getting expensive!:eek: Vote with your wallet! That will show them how is boss. Seriously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pesseh0729 Posted March 19, 2015 #495 Share Posted March 19, 2015 30 years ago we took our first cruise, it was Hawaii 7 night. The drink of the day cost 50 cents, HOWEVER, our inside cabin was 1695.00 per person!! Wow that's insane! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robandana Posted March 19, 2015 #496 Share Posted March 19, 2015 I once asked the F&B Manager on a Royal ship why they charged so much for drinks, my argument was that if prices were cheaper people would spend more in the bars....his reply was we keep the prices high so we don't get too many drunks....its for the passengers protection. :eek: Wonder how many drunks they get now with the All Inclusive Packages....:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robandana Posted March 19, 2015 #497 Share Posted March 19, 2015 30 years ago we took our first cruise, it was Hawaii 7 night. The drink of the day cost 50 cents, HOWEVER, our inside cabin was 1695.00 per person!! Our first cruise was on the Legend of the Seas back in 1999 and it cost us $1500 each for a port hole cabin and at that time specialty drinks were $3.95 including the take home glass... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snclopez Posted March 19, 2015 #498 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Just got off the brilliance and was shocked at drink prices. Ordered a bloody Mary at breakfast and it was $14. Margaritas were $16, ridiculous!! We do not drink enough for the drink package to be affordable but yet I do not want to pay $15 a drink. We always tip the bartenders extra on top of the 18%, but with prices like this I don't think I will, but this only hurts the bartenders. :( I'm very disappointed with the rise in drink prices, and even though we are one cruise away from becoming diamond, I will have to shop other options when booking future cruises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saraet4464 Posted March 19, 2015 #499 Share Posted March 19, 2015 I am leaving on the Vision OTS in a little over a week. I noticed that the drink packages are more per day (about $9 more per day) for each package than they were a few months ago. The Premium package is now $58 per person. It was around $49 per day just a little bit ago. I still haven't bought one because I know I won't even come close to breaking even, but I was surprised to see the price hike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired LEO Posted March 19, 2015 #500 Share Posted March 19, 2015 I am leaving on the Vision OTS in a little over a week. I noticed that the drink packages are more per day (about $9 more per day) for each package than they were a few months ago. The Premium package is now $58 per person. It was around $49 per day just a little bit ago. I still haven't bought one because I know I won't even come close to breaking even, but I was surprised to see the price hike. It's now $57.82+18%=$68.22 per day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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