Buying Drink Package Online vs Onboard

[Artemus]

It sounds like it might be simpler to buy an alcohol drink package onboard than buying it online and having to take printed proof with me and and standing in line at customer service. Is this true? Should I just wait and buy it at a bar once I'm onboard?

Edited January 2, 2016 by Artemus

[Clarea]

It sounds like it might be simpler to buy an alcohol drink package onboard than buying it online and having to take printed proof with me and and standing in line at customer service. Is this true? Should I just wait and buy it at a bar once I'm onboard?

Very easy to buy a package onboard. You will be approached by a crewmember to purchase a package before you even get to a bar.

[PhilNDebbieAtSea]

We've never had to present printed proof when buying online prior to the cruise. The drink package sticker has always been on our seapass card.

 

 

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[Desert Cruizers]

Last cruise, I bought my husbands beer package which saved our on board cost since it was already paid for before we left. In the past we paid for it when we boarded.

[KiwiFunCruiser]

We buy all our packages including excursions online weather we save or not, at least it is sorted.

[cruise1804]

This is a good question....we have always bought package before we go but wondering what benefit is? Suppose you get cost out of way before you go so one less thing to think about?

 

There is a thread about Cown&Anchor members receiving a discount on drinks package but there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer....maybe something that was only offered in November when you read thread seems only cruises in that time period that received it?

 

I would defiantly wait to purchase if I was going to get a % off!

 

Would love to hear more about pros and cons of taking package before or after getting on board.

[Clarea]

This is a good question....we have always bought package before we go but wondering what benefit is? Suppose you get cost out of way before you go so one less thing to think about?

 

There is a thread about Cown&Anchor members receiving a discount on drinks package but there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer....maybe something that was only offered in November when you read thread seems only cruises in that time period that received it?

 

I would defiantly wait to purchase if I was going to get a % off!

 

Would love to hear more about pros and cons of taking package before or after getting on board.

I cannot think of any reasons to purchase pre-cruise (beyond the psychological) if one is purchasing in US dollars. However, some have mentioned that if you are purchasing in non-USD, the changing exchange rate may come into play.

[casinostreer]

I'm struggling with this now too. I always get the drink packages, but this upcoming cruise I have a large amount of OBC. I thought I would wait and purchase drink packages with OBC and hope for a special or a discount, but I'm thinking I'd rather just use the OBC in the casino. :-)

[Lionesss]

Last summer on the Oasis we pre-purchased the drink package months in advance.

 

Upon check-in where you get your sea pass card.............the sticker was not on either mine or DH pass (this was a first and the attendant said we had to go to customer service to get it):confused:

 

So upon boarding which we were lucky being in a suite we went to customer service as many others did, and the line got longer by the minute showed proof of purchasing drink package (always take receipts for any purchase) got sticker.

 

Like I said this was a first, never happened on Allure (2 sailings)

 

Hope it was a fluke and not a new thing.

 

Safe travels

[Shekim]

I cannot think of any reasons to purchase pre-cruise (beyond the psychological) if one is purchasing in US dollars. However, some have mentioned that if you are purchasing in non-USD, the changing exchange rate may come into play.

Some of us prefer to spread out the payments; I don't want to be hit with a huge bill when I get home from a cruise. I pay out my cruise, I pay for as much up front as possible. In USD.

[Clarea]

Some of us prefer to spread out the payments; I don't want to be hit with a huge bill when I get home from a cruise. I pay out my cruise, I pay for as much up front as possible. In USD.

Exactly. That's why I mentioned the psychological reasons.

[moopetguy]

If you know you want a drink package, in my experience it's best to buy it online, ahead of time. And as early as possible, as well. My friends and I haven't had an issue with the ship not knowing about a pre-purchased beverage package, but I'd have a copy of my purchase confirmation e-mail just in case (screw-ups can happen).

 

The price creeps up over time prior to the sail date, and could be even slightly higher once aboard. This can be true whether you made your original booking in CAD or USD -- I have seen this with both booking currencies. Caveat: my experience is limited to the Royal Refreshment (pop-only) package, but I think it's a fair assumption that this would apply to the other beverage packages as well.

 

For example, on my recent Enchantment sailing during November 2015 (4-night), the advance price was $30.68 USD at one point. I decided to pay onboard (without knowing exactly what it would cost, but surely was in the same price range), because I had hard U.S. currency that was previously exchanged at a much lower rate than the rate I would have gotten on my credit card at the time. On board, it was $32 USD. So I gambled a little due to not knowing the onboard cost in advance, but saved about $6 CAD this way.

 

Second example, on my Oasis sailing during November 2014 (7-night), the advance price was $53.61 CAD during March 2014, but it later jumped to $56.51 CAD (September 2014). I'm not sure what the onboard price was but a fair assumption would be a bit higher after the USD->CAD exchange -- I doubt it would have been cheaper.

 

With the Royal Refreshment package purchased prior to sailing, you get a "Coca-Cola" logo permanently printed on your SeaPass card. If you purchase onboard, then you get a Coca-Cola sticker with a serial number that is affixed to your SeaPass card.

Edited January 3, 2016 by moopetguy
Added info about SeaPass card and other minor edits

[JuliaMS]

We learned the hard way to buy on board. We had a delay in Galveston and boarding did not BEGIN until 10:30 PM so we got on board at 1am the next day. It was very hard to get that first day reimbursed and could only be done after the cruise, not on board. Consider that also if you will be boarding in the late afternoon, it it worth the cost for the boarding day?

 

Also, leaving from Texas the alcohol selection is limited so budweiser beer (and a couple similar) and small selection of standard alcohol only until out of Texas. Probably not worth it to pay drink package price for the first day at all if leaving from Texas. Get it the second day onboard.

[LuCruise]

We were thinking of waiting until being onboard. This is because we are Canadian and we can use our OBC , which we purchased USD at the special rate.

 

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[Retired LEO]

The packages might be slightly less onboard than if you got it online.

[Lionesss]

The packages might be slightly less onboard than if you got it online.

 

 

 

 

MMMMMMMMM

 

How so?

 

Curious minds want to know.

 

If thats the case I will wait till we cruise.

 

 

Thanks

[khm1]

I have read on CC before that when you buy on board, you may have to pay taxes on the package. When you buy online, no tax is charged. I'm not sure if this is true or if maybe it varies by port.

[Clarea]

I have read on CC before that when you buy on board, you may have to pay taxes on the package. When you buy online, no tax is charged. I'm not sure if this is true or if maybe it varies by port.

No taxes are charged on package purchases on board in US ports.

[Retired LEO]

MMMMMMMMM

 

How so?

 

Curious minds want to know.

 

If thats the case I will wait till we cruise.

 

 

Thanks

 

Just off the Independence this morning. The packages onboard were $2.00 less per day. Not much, but a little savings. Other ships may be more or no savings at all. There's no telling until you board.

[Mjoellnir]

I cannot think of any reasons to purchase pre-cruise (beyond the psychological) if one is purchasing in US dollars. However, some have mentioned that if you are purchasing in non-USD, the changing exchange rate may come into play.

 

Yep. The dollar is 30% more expensive now than when i bought the package. Thus saving that amount.

[tonkie]

I bought mine online for our cruise last September and when I got my sea pass there was no sticker on it, so I went to the desk that was selling the drinks package and my name was not on the list what the lady had, she even made a call, but still could not find any information.

 

Anyhow she put a sticker on my card and said she would look into it and get back to me.

When we checked into our room I had the mug that goes with the package and the paper work that said I had the package, so something failed some were.

 

The lady did call our room that evening to confirm that I did have the package;)

 

I will still but my package online well before we travel as it will be paid for in advance

Edited January 3, 2016 by tonkie

[LuCruise]

I cannot think of any reasons to purchase pre-cruise (beyond the psychological) if one is purchasing in US dollars. However, some have mentioned that if you are purchasing in non-USD, the changing exchange rate may come into play.

 

For the soda package (simplest one), I think it's $8.50 USD (pp per day)? Someone correct me if I'm wrong since I only see the Canadian amount in my "My Cruises".

 

For Canadians, it's currently $10.64 CAD (pp per day)...

(And last time I checked it was $10.50 CAD so it just went up)

 

Royal let's you purchase USD at 1.1%. If I'm doing the math right, this means that the $8 USD = $9.35 CAD.

 

So for Canadians its much better to use our OBC...even purchased OBC.

Edited January 3, 2016 by LuCruise

[Lionesss]

Just off the Independence this morning. The packages onboard were $2.00 less per day. Not much, but a little savings. Other ships may be more or no savings at all. There's no telling until you board.

 

 

 

Thank you.

 

Appreciate you getting back on this savings.

 

Enjoy

[countess5]

Very easy to buy a package onboard. You will be approached by a crewmember to purchase a package before you even get to a bar.

 

Just another obstacle to my first drink!

 

Buy on line and move on!:D

[denatravels]

Just another obstacle to my first drink!

 

 

 

Buy on line and move on!:D

 

 

I ALWAYS come across the drink tables the second I step onboard-- way before I see a bar!