To Buy Cheers or Not?

[Shipbound]

Some people can handle 15 drinks/day me I could not do it on my best day even when I was in my twenties let alone now so Cheers!!!!!

 

Gary

[Cruisegirl6]

crzndeb but then you have to carry it with you?

 

The package works out perfectly for us as we like our cocktails when we are away, we get up at 9am and go to sleep around 2:30 am, we find that we average 11-13 drinks in an entire day. Once I made 14 drinks...and no we not even buzzed we are drinking these drinks within 16 hours....don't want to get drunk neverless feel drunk, we never are.

 

One can also have non alcoholic drinks they very tasty too!

[PGCRUISERS]

Thanks everyone you defiantly brought up some points we didn't think of. My husband decided we should buy the Cheers program. I am so excited I can hardly wait.

 

Thank you!!!

[notyours75]

We are also considering it for our upcoming 6d/5n cruise out of Galveston in January. The total cost for us with gratuity would be $459. I would make a go of it no doubt but DW might drink 2 or 3 drinks a day. But we do tend to favor the more expensive drinks and its appealing to not worry about how much a drink costs or what the bar tab is currently. It would be nice to sit a bar and just keep trying new drinks, who knows might discover a new favorite.

 

Also technically you can buy Verizon/AARP/Citibank gift cards to apply to your S&S at a 10% discount and drive the costs down a bit as well.

[sg4crzn]

Are those gift cards purchased specifically with those groups...?

[UtahCruiser1230]

I've gotten the Cheers package the last two cruises we've been on. We've had our three children with us and had two cabins. I was booked in a room with my 17yo son and was able to buy Cheers by myself. I'd be lying if I said we didn't cheat, I got a few drinks for my wife throughout the cruise.

 

Our first cruise with Cheers I tried to "get my money's worth" and probably overdid it a bit. I managed to hit the cut off one day but felt pretty blue the next day and definitely lost money on that day, heh. Last cruise I used it to try different drinks and never counted or even checked to see if I broke even, I enjoyed it a lot more that time.

[sg4crzn]

What is the cost for a beer, soda and a cocktail like Maitai or mixed drinks? Thanks

[nurseamanda]

Soda is like $2 a can. Beers run 5-7 each. Straight booze 5-10 each depending on the brand. Cocktails like martinis/frozen drinks $7-9. plus gratuity.

[2PinaColadas]

We usually can do 5-7 drinks pretty easily on port days so we know we at least break even on those. Most port days after a nap we'll have a few drinks while watching pier runners and sailaway, then a couple of glasses of wine with dinner and at least a couple of drinks with Comedy or in the Piano Bar.

 

Mix that with the good value we get on sea days, and we come out on top.

 

We don't really buy it wondering if we'll get a return on it though. Our reason for purchasing Cheers is to make the cruise feel more all inclusive and minimizing the sticker shock at the end of the trip. We budget it in as part of the cost and know we are going to spend that money one way or another.

 

Love the way y'all think. Drinks add up quicker than most people think.

[patrice1]

We've figured out on the last 3 cruises that it was available that we break even at 6-7 drinks a day and we definitely do that whether it's a port day or not. It's nice to be able to buy it up front and not worry about a sign & sail balance when we leave. Our goal is to have everything paid for in advance! It works for us.:D

[hermitstyle]

I just got off the Sunshine and got the Cheers program with my friend. I averaged about 9 drinks a day, and unfortunately never got drunk! Guess I spaced everything out really well, lol. I personally don't think I would get it again, as I don't think I would have drank as much as I did if I didn't have the Cheers package. I do have to say that it was nice to order a drink and not "worry" about how much it was going to cost. It's a great program in theory, but not for me.

[cruisinpips]

Depends on how many ports you are going to. Costs less to drink in port. Does he want to remember the trip? Cheers equals amnesia

 

1. It depends on where you drink in port as to whether it costs less....

2. We had the package on our last 8 day cruise, and I remember every day!

3. If you typically drink more than 6,7,8 drinks a day you will definitely come out on top.

4. With a few $'s given to the right bartenders, you will NEVER hit your 15 in a day! Several days I was told I was at 13, when in fact I probably had 16-18 at least. One morning I had been at the bar for an hour, and had about 4-5 already, and when my wife strolled over and asked our bartender friend how many I had had, he laughed and said, "he's only had two".... Just treat 'em right and make a friend!!! :D:D

 

In closing, Cheers was worth every penny, and no worries about the final bill!! :D:D

[flips7]

It made my DW and myself drink more. We always kept trying to get to 15, but we never could (good servers).I know there were some sea days when we had at least 12 drinks each around the pool and we still did not get to 15 by the end of the night. When we did the drink package on RCCL (they do not have a limit) we did not drink as much. I think we saw the 15 as a challenge.

[sternfanla]

It cracks me up when I read on so many posts that people will not purchase the Cheers package because they will not hit the 15 limit mark.

It only takes about 6 to 8 drinks to break even. And you can try drinks you would never want to buy if you did not have the package.

Just my 2 cents.

[path145]

Depending on if you gamble, it might not be worth it. We usually get the Drinks on Us card from the casino by the 2nd or 3rd day so our drinks are free in the casino. Since they started including this total in with the Cheers card we don't think it will be worth it for us to purchase the card since we are gambling anyway. We'd spend the same amount in the casino regardless and I don't think we'll spend $50 per day at the other bars. Also thinking of ordering a bottle from Bon Voyage to have in the cabin and enjoy on the balcony.

[Cruisegirl6]

We think the opposite its not worth getting or using the drinks on us card, the drinks are not as good as our favorite bartenders who we do tip extra each drink, so we will not use these cards and remain to use the Cheers Program. I also don't want to be sitting at a loosing machine waiting for my drink to come.

[cruzelover55]

We think the opposite its not worth getting or using the drinks on us card, the drinks are not as good as our favorite bartenders who we do tip extra each drink, so we will not use these cards and remain to use the Cheers Program. I also don't want to be sitting at a loosing machine waiting for my drink to come.

 

This is a good point. My parents just came back from a 21 day BTB that they only paid port charges for a balcony room. All their cruises are that way. That's how much they gamble. They never will get the Cheers program but then are always complaining it is so hard to get a drink while gambling. And, yes, they do tip. So, they still end with a mega bar bill as never sit down without purchasing a drink 1st, and he holds her seat while she goes to the bar and buys a drink. Said she has sat 2 hours at a machine and never had anyone come by. He has better luck as mostly plays craps and just like in land based casinos servers seem to favor the tables, guess they think bigger tippers? They make me crazy as (and I am not insinuating this is the case for you or any other posters) they take a cruise and do nothing but the casino. Rarely go to MDR, no shows, just room service and casino. We love to go to casinos, LAND based, but if I spend $100. in the casino on a 7 day cruise it is rare. We do the cheers program and always save money. I never understand their reasoning. We go, and they could also, to Coushatta for 5 nights here and there and rooms, food, drink, husband's golf fees and even cash to cover gas are comped. So, why would I spend money at a ship casino? We love the cruise experience for the activities and relaxation. One OP said Cheers made them drink more, there is a point to that, too. The 1st time we bought Cheers we spent too much time trying to make sure we got our limit. Now, we don't over think it. We know even if we don't hit the 15, we will still come out ahead. As I have said before I try drinks I would not otherwise, plus get wine with dinner, which I normally would not. Cheers may not be for everyone but it is great for us.

[drmom423]

We did an 8 day on the Breeze a couple of years ago and bought the Cheers packages as soon as we got on the boat. I thought my husband's head would explode when he saw the almost $1000 he was putting on our S and S account 5 minutes into the trip (first cruise for him). At the end of the cruise I showed him the bill - we would have spent $1800 had we not had Cheers. AND, we were never really drunk. I like trying all the different drinks and they are expensive!

[pmoniz]

depends on how many ports you are going to. Costs less to drink in port. Does he want to remember the trip? Cheers equals amnesia

 

really???

[coevan]

someone mentioned soda, is soda included and does it count against your 15 drink limit?

[pmoniz]

someone mentioned soda, is soda included and does it count against your 15 drink limit?

 

Soda is included and it doesn't count against your 15 limit!

[MsSoloTravel]

someone mentioned soda, is soda included and does it count against your 15 drink limit?

 

Fountain sodas from the bars do not count towards your 15. The cans cost somewhere around $2. Another poster said they got cans of soda and unopened beers at the end of the day to get up to their 15.

[Cruisegirl6]

Cruzlover55- My other half is the one that plays max in slots, well we could as for me I cheap hahaha....I just play to have fun, I know I won't win although he does all the time and usually a good amount of money but I just play to have fun, I set a limit of$100 per day and if I come home with half of it I am happy lol.

That is terrible sitting all that time and not getting a drink, my other half about every half hour or so will find me (we don't play same area in casino generally) and hold my machine so I can use the rest room haha and get myself a drink, now he won't even use the drinks on us card as it goes towards the number of drinks in the Cheers program, the casino's drinks aren't as good as going to the bar/bartender plus if he wants to change machines he can do so any time just get his drink at the bar.

 

Thats something how they order room service very surprised lol, guess they want to eat fast and head to the casino. LOL We also always purchase the Cheers program, I know I won't get to the 15th but sometimes do count my drinks in case lol...but it doesn't make me drink more I do drink when I am away on any vacation, like to have my mimosa in the am, a bloody mary during breakfast brunch, a few here and there in the daytime, some wine for dinner and martini or so late at night...they do add up and the Cheers is a wonderful program for us also I agree, and we don't have to look at our stateroom bill and make sure we didn' get bar charges that weren't ours, thats the best part and the fact we know upfront how much the drinks will cost us instead of getting that bill that shocks us at the end of the cruise like it used to be once upon a time. :D

 

Drmom423- Your correct, if you think about the time you actually get up and the time that you go to sleep and the drink maximum no way can you get drunk that is if we pace ourselves which it sounds like we all do.

 

Coven yes soda is included and I have gotten juice also and no it doesn't count towards your 15 drink max that is only for alcoholic drinks.

[Beeslilmama]

Here's my feelings about it. I don't think that it should be mandatory for all in the cabin if one person wants it. I would like to get it, because I think I would be drinking enough that it would be monetarily better for me. However, my sister will be sharing a cabin and she will not be consuming enough that she wants to pay the premium price of the package.

[bankofdad]

It really is a personal decision based on your own situation, and you're the one most qualified to make it.

 

Totally agree!! It works for many but not appealing for others. In my case, too many rules for me (no beer buckets, daily limits, etc) so I don't desire to sign up. But for others it can be a perfect bargain:)!