$12 Drinks? No thanks!

[cruiselvr04]

Off the Adventure yesterday. Drink prices are crazy. We drank much less due to pricing. A drink by the pool...$12.75 with auto gratuity. Mikes hard lemonade $6.50. Just too steep for us. No way will we get the package as our average used to be 2-3 drinks pp a day. Now maybe we will buy one a day. Very few wine by the glass available so again we just skipped it at dinner.

[icsys]

RCI's seem to be a psychological game, to convince people to pay for expensive drink packages that most passengers won't get the full value out of.

 

I would expect that most people would think the same.

 

As said earlier, no one would dispute that if you are a moderately heavy drinker of say seven drinks plus per day, the packages are great value, just as they were if you drank seven per day when individual drink prices were much cheaper.

Of course this will only continue to be the case if the drinks packages remain at the current prices and are not increased by the same high margin.

 

However, some people now think, (and have posted), 'oh, I only need to have around 5 drinks now to break even, so the drinks package is worth it'.

 

The psychology is, now you can drink much less than before but still pay the same price! ($57+ USD per day)

Edited April 20, 2015 by icsys

[bcarney]

Their psychology didn't work on me. After the shock of these outrageous prices, I slammed on the breaks on bar spending on my Jewel 4/4-4/11/15 cruise. The bar tab for my wife and I, plus a non-alcoholic one for the kids, came to $139.30 including tips - for the whole week. I'd normally spend $300-$400 for the two of us, but no flipping way at $12+tip a drink. NO WAY.To be honest, I got so peeved off I cut my onboard spending significantly. A typical cruise I may spend $800-$900 or so onboard, but on this one - only $268.94. Just Chops and Portofinos, a pair of coffees, $72 for transfers, and two photos. That's it.

 

 

 

I don't take well to being ripped off, and that's exactly how I felt after experiencing the prices onboard.

 

 

 

After booking 11 straight cruises with RCL, I'm now actively looking at other lines.

 

 

 

Carnival Fascination - Sept 1999 (Honeymoon)

 

Monarch of the Seas - Nov 2000

 

Adventure of the Seas - Nov 2002

 

Adventure of the Seas - Nov 2003

 

Adventure of the Seas - May 2004 (10 days!!)

 

Radiance of the Seas - Nov 2004

 

Empress of the Seas - Nov 2005

 

Adventure of the Seas - Jan 2010 (first cruise with kids)

 

Enchantment of the Seas - Nov 2011

 

Vision of the Seas - Nov. 2012 (11 days!!)

 

Oasis of the Seas - April 2014

 

Jewel of the Seas - April 2015

[grandgeezer]

This is the only way to get their attention. We took it further. We have been cruising Celebrity, RCL's sister line. Last October/November we did a 27 day B2B on Celebrity Equinox. It was a 13 day Med cruise followed by the transatlantic. Our gratuities were paid by our travel agent so our on board spending was $0. Tours we booked either through the internet or at the dock. I would have spent about $300 in drinks, $350 in the casino, $150 in extra tips, and $1200 in tours with Celebrity. We have two B2Bs scheduled on the Allure this fall/winter and expect the spend to be the same. After that, if things don't change, who knows?

[mr walker]

That's showing them :D Did you also put your thumbs in your ears and blow raspberries at the waiters & guest services staff.

 

I accept that you are annoyed about the new drinks pricing, but to then set-out to punish RC by modifying your on-board behaviour from what you would normally do in protest, is funny to me. RC still got your cruisefare & the gratuities! I trust you were still able to enjoy your cruise, and the ones you are still going on despite your outrage over drinks pricing :eek:

[BekkaW]

That's showing them :D Did you also put your thumbs in your ears and blow raspberries at the waiters & guest services staff.

 

I accept that you are annoyed about the new drinks pricing, but to then set-out to punish RC by modifying your on-board behaviour from what you would normally do in protest, is funny to me. RC still got your cruisefare & the gratuities! I trust you were still able to enjoy your cruise, and the ones you are still going on despite your outrage over drinks pricing :eek:

 

I don't think there actually make much profit off these though? I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I had always thought it was onboard spending that really drives profit so cutting back on that does send a message.

[mr walker]

I don't think there actually make much profit off these though? I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I had always thought it was onboard spending that really drives profit so cutting back on that does send a message.

 

Yes, it has been said that the cruisline breaks even on the fares & makes money on the onboard spend. I have heard the same about hotels, but I don't know if either are correct, except to say I read it on the internet so it must be true.

 

If everything is above board, the cruiseline should not be making money on T&G's as these go to the waiters & attendents.

 

I just have a picture in my mind of the above posters & their families sitting there on their cruise with their sad faces on refusing to spend a cent to punish the terrible cruiselines. "That'll punish 'em!"

[Booth44]

I accept that you are annoyed about the new drinks pricing, but to then set-out to punish RC by modifying your on-board behaviour from what you would normally do in protest, is funny to me.

 

Seems perfectly reasonable to me. No one wants to feel like they're being gouged while on vacation. For a whole lot of us occasional drinkers who know we'll never get even close to reasonable value out of the packages the individual drink pricing is a huge turn-off.

[Wilson]

I emailed all the top brass and Crown & Anchor in regards to the absurd individual drink prices. Several days have gone by with not a single response from the executives. Not surprised. I did get an auto reply from C&A and eventually a real email, but they apologized for my disappointment in the drink package prices. I never said anything about drink packages.

[mr walker]

I emailed all the top brass and Crown & Anchor in regards to the absurd individual drink prices.

 

Sounds sensible to me. Please let us know their response. Hopefully there will be a good outcome.

[grandgeezer]

That's showing them :D Did you also put your thumbs in your ears and blow raspberries at the waiters & guest services staff.

 

I accept that you are annoyed about the new drinks pricing, but to then set-out to punish RC by modifying your on-board behaviour from what you would normally do in protest, is funny to me. RC still got your cruisefare & the gratuities! I trust you were still able to enjoy your cruise, and the ones you are still going on despite your outrage over drinks pricing :eek:

 

As a matter of fact I did. They didn't get the gratuities from me, they got them from my travel agent. We have a great cruise. All it is to us is transportation, average meals, and a place to sleep. The real treat is going to all the different ports while only having to unpack and pack once, not getting all liquored up on over priced drinks.

[Pesseh0729]

Personally, I think the percentage of people that are upset with the current individual drink prices is too small for RC to want to make a change. No one wants prices to go up, but that's the way the world works. At one point, gas was almost $4 a gallon and I paid with a frown of course. Yea I could've taken the bus, train, speedboat but my car is more convenient.

 

The prices don't really effect myself or my wife since we get the drink packages anyway. Are the individual prices reasonable? I think so compared to most sporting events, concerts etc it's right on par with those.

[Paulette3028]

Personally, I think the percentage of people that are upset with the current individual drink prices is too small for RC to want to make a change. No one wants prices to go up, but that's the way the world works. At one point, gas was almost $4 a gallon and I paid with a frown of course. Yea I could've taken the bus, train, speedboat but my car is more convenient.

 

The prices don't really effect myself or my wife since we get the drink packages anyway. Are the individual prices reasonable? I think so compared to most sporting events, concerts etc it's right on par with those.

 

DH and I are not heavy drinkers....so the drink packages would never work out for us....they allow us to bring two bottles of wine, and that is fine especially since we have use of the Diamond Lounge and the 3 vouchers on our seapass.

 

But I think it isn't right to compare the drink costs at a sporting event or concert or any event that you will be spending 3-5 hours or even 1 day at to a cruise where you will be onboard for multiple days at a time. I might want a beer at a baseball game and spend $9, but if I want a beer everyday on a cruise now that is excessive (IMO) spending. BTW, lots of people that I know don't go to as many baseball games as they used to, simply because food and beverage have gone sky high....yes attendance is up at MLB, new fans are found everyday.....and that is what goes on in the cruise industry, new people get on board everyday.

 

But long time cruisers have in many cases changed their spending habits on board accordingly.

[dcgrumpy]

I know I've said this a million times. But, for me the issue isn't that prices went up. It's the fact that some drinks went up as much as 40-50% overnight.

[Ocean Boy]

That's showing them :D Did you also put your thumbs in your ears and blow raspberries at the waiters & guest services staff.

 

I accept that you are annoyed about the new drinks pricing, but to then set-out to punish RC by modifying your on-board behaviour from what you would normally do in protest, is funny to me. RC still got your cruisefare & the gratuities! I trust you were still able to enjoy your cruise, and the ones you are still going on despite your outrage over drinks pricing :eek:

 

So what is your suggestion, just shrug your shoulders and take what they throw at you? People took a stand and didn't buy what they felt was a poor value. I applaud them for that. And for many people alcohol is not so important that they would sit around with sad faces if they didn't have any nor would no alcohol make for an unenjoyable cruise. I can take it or leave it. And mostly I leave it.

Edited April 21, 2015 by Ocean Boy

[dcgrumpy]

So what is your suggestion, just shrug your shoulders and take what they throw at you? People took a stand and didn't buy what they felt was a poor value. I applaud them for that. And for many people alcohol is not so important that they would sit around with sad faces if they didn't have any. I can take it or leave it. And mostly I leave it.

 

I agree.

 

What should they have done to make their point?

[Pesseh0729]

DH and I are not heavy drinkers....so the drink packages would never work out for us....they allow us to bring two bottles of wine, and that is fine especially since we have use of the Diamond Lounge and the 3 vouchers on our seapass.

 

 

 

But I think it isn't right to compare the drink costs at a sporting event or concert or any event that you will be spending 3-5 hours or even 1 day at to a cruise where you will be onboard for multiple days at a time. I might want a beer at a baseball game and spend $9, but if I want a beer everyday on a cruise now that is excessive (IMO) spending. BTW, lots of people that I know don't go to as many baseball games as they used to, simply because food and beverage have gone sky high....yes attendance is up at MLB, new fans are found everyday.....and that is what goes on in the cruise industry, new people get on board everyday.

 

 

 

But long time cruisers have in many cases changed their spending habits on board accordingly.

 

 

I was just comparing prices to show that it's not just RC that has "high" drink prices. I'm not a "heavy" drinker either and I'm not even sure what a "heavy" drinker is exactly. My wife gets the refreshment package and I get the premium. It works for us, but I can see how it can frustrate others. I still think the percentage of people complaining is way too small for RC to change, but good luck!

[marci22]

Posters are always saying 'if you don't like it just don't buy it!' then someone goes and actually does that and someone says they're ruining their family's fun.

[marci22]

I still think the percentage of people complaining is way too small for RC to change, but good luck!

 

Maybe but cruise critic is the most successful cruise board I know about and if people are talking about something here, RC is at the very least taking notes. In the end, depends on what people decide to spend their money on.

[Pesseh0729]

Maybe but cruise critic is the most successful cruise board I know about and if people are talking about something here, RC is at the very least taking notes. In the end, depends on what people decide to spend their money on.

 

 

I'm not sure if it is or if it isn't, but the prices are still up so RC isnt taking much notice. You can't have a thread about having high drink prices then threads about smuggling alcohol (even prior to the increase of the individual drinks) and expect RC to change. I just don't see it happening.

[Ocean Boy]

Posters are always saying 'if you don't like it just don't buy it!' then someone goes and actually does that and someone says they're ruining their family's fun.

 

Yeah, sometimes you just can't win around here no matter what.

[Paul65]

Posters are always saying 'if you don't like it just don't buy it!' then someone goes and actually does that and someone says they're ruining their family's fun.

 

Did someone actually say that, or are you just making things up for the sake of argument?

 

Of course, it wouldn't be too surprising if different people said such different things. We're not all robots programmed to have the same opinions on everything. Perhaps you'd like it better if we were? ;)

[American Bear]

That's showing them :D Did you also put your thumbs in your ears and blow raspberries at the waiters & guest services staff.

 

I accept that you are annoyed about the new drinks pricing, but to then set-out to punish RC by modifying your on-board behaviour from what you would normally do in protest, is funny to me. RC still got your cruisefare & the gratuities! I trust you were still able to enjoy your cruise, and the ones you are still going on despite your outrage over drinks pricing :eek:

 

 

A very childish comment.

If this cruiser wants to do what he stated, and honestly, I most likely would have done the same, as drinking isn't that important to us!

Edited April 21, 2015 by American Bear

[LuckiStac13*Majesty*]

So what is your suggestion, just shrug your shoulders and take what they throw at you? People took a stand and didn't buy what they felt was a poor value. I applaud them for that. And for many people alcohol is not so important that they would sit around with sad faces if they didn't have any nor would no alcohol make for an unenjoyable cruise. I can take it or leave it. And mostly I leave it.

 

Exactly. I find it strange that some people still are completely okay with being ripped off, which I guess is okay if that works for them - but don't ridicule others for taking a stand on something and standing up for themselves.

[Pesseh0729]

Exactly. I find it strange that some people still are completely okay with being ripped off, which I guess is okay if that works for them - but don't ridicule others for taking a stand on something and standing up for themselves.

 

 

It's even stranger that people who are getting "ripped off" continue to book future cruises with RC