Drink Prices Not That Bad

[Sitzmark]

Try buying a beer at an NFL game or a NASCAR Track!

 

 

Cruisers are the ultimate "captive audience/purchasers" and can expect higher prices.

 

 

The alternative to paying higher prices on a cruise ship is to stay home, pick up a cold 6-pack at your local 7-11, and drink it while sitting on the curb!

 

I certainly can't speak for all sport venues but I can assure you that drinks at Michigan International Speedway do not approach the lunatic prices seen on RCI.

Edited June 18, 2015 by Sitzmark

[ryano]

Ryan, I am not defending anyone, .

 

I know that :)

[kruzerci]

 

 

The alternative to paying higher prices on a cruise ship is to stay home, pick up a cold 6-pack at your local 7-11, and drink it while sitting on the curb!

 

 

I guess the same could be said when you stopped cruising because of the smoking rules...

[reallyitsmema]

I know that :)

 

Good.:) This whole bait and switch with the refreshment/replenishment packages might be enough to open my DH eyes to a cruise on another cruise line. He is blindly loyal because he doesn't like change :rolleyes: I am hoping that I can finally get him to branch out and try something else.

 

I still want to try Dynamic Dining and the new class of ships and get on an Oasis class ship after cancelling twice now, but I want to try Princess too.

[CruiseTobey]

The funny thing about it is a lot of us who can afford $14 drinks choose not to because it's just outrageous. Speaking personally and professionally, I can tell you that generally people with money don't acquire wealth by blowing it.

 

Like I said, I can understand people from places with a very high cost of living be content with paying (IMO) outrageous prices for drinks, but I can't understand people defending a massive corporation tooth and nail for jacking up prices 40% overnight. It's really comical. Last time I went to a bar I didn't think to myself "I'd really rather them be charging $15 for this $10 gin and tonic!"

 

Based on the long list of past cruises posted in your signature, I would think you are at least at Diamond status by now. You get three free drinks per day during happy hour - why should you care how "outrageous" (your word, not mine) the drink prices are? :confused:

[kruzerci]

Based on the long list of past cruises posted in your signature, I would think you are at least at Diamond status by now. You get three free drinks per day during happy hour - why should you care how "outrageous" (your word, not mine) the drink prices are? :confused:

 

 

Some people don't just drink after 5:30 on vacation....

[Amos83]

I am in the camp where I don't find the drink prices "outrages" but will admit they are high for the quality you get. Also I found on my cruise that when I ordered a shot of tequila it was a very generous poor (probably more like a double shot) and it cost $8. To me that is pretty fair.

 

To add a little humor to this... Last weekend I visited a brand new Mexican Restaurant with a few friends. It was an higher end place, where the food comes out dressed up on nice plates with fancy decorations so I knew it was going to cost me more than usual. It was blistering hot outside but we still elected to sit outside in the shade and people watch as we ate. Anyway, they didn't have a drink menu so I asked for a margarita, the server promptly brought it out, I drank it and ordered another one. Come time to pay my bill I nearly had a heart attack... each margarita was $20! Needless to say I raised a little hell about it. So in comparison $12-14 for a Margarita on RCL is now cheap to me :)

[tlatrice]

I am in the camp where I don't find the drink prices "outrages" but will admit they are high for the quality you get. Also I found on my cruise that when I ordered a shot of tequila it was a very generous poor (probably more like a double shot) and it cost $8. To me that is pretty fair.

 

To add a little humor to this... Last weekend I visited a brand new Mexican Restaurant with a few friends. It was an higher end place, where the food comes out dressed up on nice plates with fancy decorations so I knew it was going to cost me more than usual. It was blistering hot outside but we still elected to sit outside in the shade and people watch as we ate. Anyway, they didn't have a drink menu so I asked for a margarita, the server promptly brought it out, I drank it and ordered another one. Come time to pay my bill I nearly had a heart attack... each margarita was $20! Needless to say I raised a little hell about it. So in comparison $12-14 for a Margarita on RCL is now cheap to me :)

 

I think I would have passed out! :eek:

[The Sunset Glow]

Canadians! how can you NOT be complaining!? we're paying another 26% on top of these prices!

 

I know. I said this on another thread when the prices first went up. $8 to $20 for a beer/drink is not happening. I will drink my wine I bring on board and enjoy the free drinks in the lounge or on my sea pass card. That's it for on board. I will also enjoy a couple of drinks while in port.

Edited June 18, 2015 by The Sunset Glow

[bouhunter]

Based on the long list of past cruises posted in your signature, I would think you are at least at Diamond status by now. You get three free drinks per day during happy hour - why should you care how "outrageous" (your word, not mine) the drink prices are? :confused:

 

Maybe because someone might want a drink other than during the happy your and the prices still affect them..............:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

[jakenashleysmom]

Poor, poor RCCL. They were offering drinks at a loss for so many years as a public service and now they're finally getting it back. I feel so much better for them. Uhh, yeah hello the price of drinks DOES affect the bottom line..... People skipping drinks DOES affect the bottom line.... What loser business school did you go to, the socialist non-profit university? :D:rolleyes: And re-think your posts, the last few lines make no sense whatsoever........... Your odd comments about a "captive audience" and "full ships", what do they have to do with anything or drink pricing????? But no worry, RCCL loves guests like you who gladly pay for over-priced drinks and feel they are doing their civic duty to support the corporation :)

 

Never said they were offering drinks at a loss, the mark-up on liquor is high enough that even with lower prices they were still making money...that's why they are still in business I imagine:rolleyes: I did not go to business school, but have been serving "high priced" (aren't they all?) drinks for over 30 years. If you don't think cruisers are a captive audience and that Royal isn't sailing with full ships, maybe you should give the shipyard a jingle and tell them to stop building the newest RC ship. The few people boycotting drink prices probably didn't drink that much to begin with therefore not much of a loss to Royal...but have at it if it makes you feel better.

 

 

 

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[orlandodolly]

Sailed on Allure in mid April. A ketel one martini and a draft beer was $21. For me, that is high.

[Clarea]

Maybe because someone might want a drink other than during the happy your and the prices still affect them..............:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Or they might want a drink that's not included in the lounges or with the vouchers, like a frozen mojito.

[whitshel]

I don't like paying $8-$10 for a beer at sporting events, nor do I like spending $10-$12 for a mixed drink at dinner. However, I am only having 1 or 2 during my short time at these location.

 

When I am on a cruise I am on vacation and don't have to drive. We tend to consume a lot more alcohol than we normally would. I think the prices are ridiculous when you consider you are drinking several a day for 7 nights. The increase in individual drink prices have forced us to buy the packages.

 

Is that what they want? Maybe, maybe not. We order another beer if they get slightly warm or if the foo foo drink was not to our liking we toss it out and order something different. We have tried many new drinks as a result of having the package. Some we liked and even if we didn't, it too got tossed out and we tried something else.

 

I understand what your saying about the sporting events etc. Now that sounds like you are defending the sporting venues or of the professional teams, its ok to charge that since they are only here for a short time. When you think about it, they have 65k people there in one day, so they actually have more revenue in one day than one ship has in 3 weeks so I'm not sure it's ok to let them off the hook either.

 

I was just on the NOS, and yes prices were high (but I still dont think any higher than a bar or nice restaurant around here), did it curb some of my drinking? Absolutely, did I have a great vacation anyway? Absolutely!

[CruiseTobey]

I was just on the NOS, and yes prices were high (but I still dont think any higher than a bar or nice restaurant around here), did it curb some of my drinking? Absolutely, did I have a great vacation anyway? Absolutely!

 

A most reasonable view. I do exactly the same. But I don't cruise everyday, so if I want a drink I'll get it. What's 10 bucks when you've spend thousands for the cruise? Let's use a little common sense here people.

[setsail]

http://www.market17.net/menus/cocktailmenu.pdf

 

http://biminiboatyard.com/liquor.cfm

 

http://www3.hilton.com/resources/media/hi/FLLGRHH/en_US/pdf/en_FLLGRHH_Nanking_Cocktail_Menu_Oct_2013.pdf

 

http://embassysuites3.hilton.com/resources/media/es/FLLSOES/en_US/pdf/en_FLLSOES_ESpot_MartiniBar_Menu_Dec_2012.pdf

 

http://www.donshula.com/users/pdfMenus/otb/SOTBNewMenu.pdf

Edited June 18, 2015 by setsail

[whitshel]

http://www.market17.net/menus/cocktailmenu.pdf

 

http://biminiboatyard.com/liquor.cfm

 

http://www3.hilton.com/resources/media/hi/FLLGRHH/en_US/pdf/en_FLLGRHH_Nanking_Cocktail_Menu_Oct_2013.pdf

 

http://embassysuites3.hilton.com/resources/media/es/FLLSOES/en_US/pdf/en_FLLSOES_ESpot_MartiniBar_Menu_Dec_2012.pdf

 

http://www.donshula.com/users/pdfMenus/otb/SOTBNewMenu.pdf

 

Thanks for that. Puts it in a little more perspective, I guess rccl is just trying to keep up with the jones'!

 

I guess some will say you're only going in that Establishment for a couple so it doesn't seem so bad.

 

I know the big issue here is not that the prices are high but that they went up so quickly. Prices on everything are on their way up, something we all have to live with or move on. That's the nice thing, we all have choices. Choose to pay, choose not to go or choose a different line to save $50 over a week.

 

Your choice folks.....

[reallyitsmema]

Thanks for that. Puts it in a little more perspective, I guess rccl is just trying to keep up with the jones'!

 

I guess some will say you're only going in that Establishment for a couple so it doesn't seem so bad.

 

I know the big issue here is not that the prices are high but that they went up so quickly. Prices on everything are on their way up, something we all have to live with or move on. That's the nice thing, we all have choices. Choose to pay, choose not to go or choose a different line to save $50 over a week.

 

Your choice folks.....

 

Where is the $50 figure coming from?

[George C]

Anybody who thinks drinks on RCCL are high should never consider visiting NYC, I wish I could have gotten the drink package there on my trip last month

[Goodtime Cruizin]

Who said anything about affording it? It's about value and 6 bucks for a bud light isn't value.

 

Of course it is based on affordability! The value you establish on all things determine what is and isn't affordable to your budget & lifestyle.

 

If you can afford it, then drink up!

[Sitzmark]

Thanks for that. Puts it in a little more perspective, I guess rccl is just trying to keep up with the jones'!

 

It is a pretty limited perspective though. For a different perspective there is nothing near here that approaches those prices. Why should I pay more for a drink on this boat than I do at a baseball game? Or with a nice dinner? There isn't a valid reason to do so and so I simply won't do it. I'm sure I'm not alone since as I travel around I don't run into these ridiculous prices everywhere. I ran into extremely high bar prices once when I had the misfortune to be in NYC and had a 7 dollar miller light at the Hotel bar, since it didn't taste any better than the $1.50 miller light I used to get, I stopped at the one. I suspect that the places where these prices are the norm are far outnumbered by places that are half or less the cost.

[Sitzmark]

Of course it is based on affordability! The value you establish on all things determine what is and isn't affordable to your budget & lifestyle.

 

If you can afford it, then drink up!

 

Nope, not the same thing at all, there are many things I can afford that I choose not to buy. Some are because they are priced beyond what they are worth, others because they simply are not worth having.

 

Just because I desire something, and can afford it, that means I should have it? That would suggest a lack of self control. If the value of something exceeds the cost that has been placed on it and I can afford it, then I might purchase it. But these don't look to be worth it.

[Goodtime Cruizin]

There's alot of complaining about the prices of drinks but few if any discuss the discounting of the Premium Bev Pkg. I booked a cruise on BOGO50 and was able to purchase two unlimited drink pkgs for $600. That's $85/day for myself & DW each day of the cruise. She doesn't drink as much as I do, but I figure between the both of us we'll drink an avg of 12 drinks per day.

 

That's $7 per drink for beer, wine, shots, mixed, and foo foo drinks.

 

I'm all good with that as we're going to be on a Cruise Ship in the middle of the Caribbean. Hell, the Chili's down the street serves Margaritas for $11.

 

My point is some will fuss up a storm over little to nothing. Example, some say, "I only drink a couple of drinks a day." So two drinks/day in 2014 at $8 ea or $16/day or $112/week. Now in 2015, those same drinks could be as high as $14, $28/day, or $196/week. So what we're really talking about here is about an $85 difference for the cruise. There's alot fussing and complaining over $85.

 

Stop whining and start wining. :D

[kruzerci]

 

 

 

My point is some will fuss up a storm over little to nothing. Example, some say, "I only drink a couple of drinks a day." So two drinks/day in 2014 at $8 ea or $16/day or $112/week. Now in 2015, those same drinks could be as high as $14, $28/day, or $196/week. So what we're really talking about here is about an $85 difference for the cruise. There's alot fussing and complaining over $85.

 

 

 

Stop whining and start wining. :D

 

 

First off, that point is ridiculous because they very rarely ever offer a half price beverage package promo. Second off, $85 plus tip is the onboard deposit for another cruise.

 

I guess you can say it's ridiculous that I will spend $5,000 for a week in a suite and fuss over another $200 (assuming four a day) of drinks, I don't care. I'm the also type of person that goes one block down if gas is 30 cents a gallon cheaper. That is logical...

 

I'm not going to buy something that is obscenely overpriced and if you want to try and justify and act like they're doing the customer a favor by raising prices 40% overnight, I don't really know what to say I'm just going to roll my eyes.

[Peachy59]

Ok I can understand somebody not complaining about drink prices but I don't understand those of you defending and supporting the outrageous drink prices. You're literally campaigning against yourselves.

 

I could not agree more.