Cheers Program Enhanced :)

[cruiseguys2009]

Sounds like we (wife and I) are like others that may be now considering the CHEERS! package for our upcoming cruise with these new changes, that have not considered it previously.

 

So this round of drink comment, we wondered...wife and I purchase CHEERS! as required...one of us heads up to a bar to grab a couple of drinks for just the 2 of us, would either of us need to bring both our S&S cards, or are they so strict that we'd both have to hit the bar and order individually?

 

Sounds sort of silly...but....

 

 

It has been OUR experience, when we have befriended certain Bartenders, I was able to get both mine, and my Partner's cocktail at the same time, and I presented both of our Cheers Validated S&S cards, thus retaining the right to be a gentleman and bringing the cocktail to my better half who was seated nearby. Some New-ish Bartenders, are not so nice, but I can't blame them for following rules, so it's the luck of the draw ..................

[RiotAct]

What good top shelf stuff?

 

 

You know, the Rumpleminze and Jager.

[bar1068]

For example, on The MSC Divina, in the Ultra Lux Cigar Bar, where the Ultimate Premium drink package covers these 1 and 1/2 ounce delights, along with Cuban Cigars, we have consumed the following:

 

Johnny Walker Blue $49, Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year $49, Glen Morangie 25 Year $48, MacAllan Rare Oak Cask $50, James Buchannan 25 Year $49, all available in unlimited quantities, as long as we had the Ultimate Beverage Package, and all were Smooth and fabulous.

 

Now what about on the new Vista in the Ultra Lux Havana Bar? I would imagine a similar menu, but even MORE fabulous, as Carnival's Got The Fun! So yes, $50 Rare Scotch and Bourbons are the norm on other cruise lines and I greatly hope that Carnival is preparing to offer these fantastic treats as well.

 

Now to be fair, Carnival restricts consumption to 15 drinks per day where MSC is fully unlimited. But still, I can not see me exceeding the Carnival daily limit anyway.

 

Count us IN and the NEW package is phenomenal!

 

Whoa dude(s) I think you just sold me on the MSC Divina!!

 

But thats pretty much what I wondered immediately after reading about the changes to the CHEERS! package. I don't recall anything served on any of the ships we've sailed on,that comes close to $50 per drink...not even the over inflated DOD rum vodka mixes in the Disco Ball "cup". But if Carnival adds some nice 18-20yr old single malts or high end bourbons.....I'm signing up.

[bar1068]

You know, the Rumpleminze and Jager.

 

Oh..yea...those...ugh.

[cruiseguys2009]

You know, the Rumpleminze and Jager.

 

 

Can we please "Class It Up" here................

 

Rumpleminze Martini's and Jager du' Bombe's :D

[pmoniz]

Okay I am a bit confused.

 

First: If you have Carnival Gift Cards or Visa/Mastercard/Amex Gift cards, you can purchase Cheers through Bon Voyage prior to your sailing on the Carnival Website.

 

Second. If you apply your Gift Cards to your S&S account while on board, any unused portion is giving back to you in the form of a New Carnival Gift card on the last night of the cruise.

 

I have personal experience on both just two months ago. Please help me understand the dilemma you are presenting.......

 

 

I called Carnival right before my posting and that's exactly what they told me!

 

Carnival gift cards can't be used to pre purchase cheers and aren't refundable if loaded on your S&S card and there's a balance.

 

So whose right?? You or them??

[pmoniz]

Pay for excursions (in advance now and very easy to do as well) and lots of other things as well.

 

 

We leave in a week they're already paid for. But thanks for the advice

[jmvideopro]

Is it still not available at Half Moon Cay?

[bar1068]

It has been OUR experience, when we have befriended certain Bartenders, I was able to get both mine, and my Partner's cocktail at the same time, and I presented both of our Cheers Validated S&S cards, thus retaining the right to be a gentleman and bringing the cocktail to my better half who was seated nearby. Some New-ish Bartenders, are not so nice, but I can't blame them for following rules, so it's the luck of the draw ..................

 

Hmmmmm....I think I may know that bartender-befriending technique...I may have used it a time or 2 to get a better pour for the few scotches they offer....I'll have to keep that in mind....but I am hoping we can maintain our gentlemanly status and bring our better half's their drink of choice...not to say we don't both belly up to the bar a time or two...or three or....

[Domergirl]

Is it still not available at Half Moon Cay?

 

It is not...I read through the FAQs on the Carnival website, and Half Moon Cay is definitely still excluded.

Edited February 25, 2016 by Domergirl

[cruiseguys2009]

I called Carnival right before my posting and that's exactly what they told me!

 

Carnival gift cards can't be used to pre purchase cheers and aren't refundable if loaded on your S&S card and there's a balance.

 

So whose right?? You or them??

 

 

Have you gone to the website and ordered the cheers package, then go on to the check out page?

 

There is a place for Credit Cards and Gift Cards.

 

Gift Cards are not RELOADABLE but if there is a balance, provided you placed the gift cards on your account on board at Guest Relations prior/during your cruise, you can purchase a Gift Card for the balance due you on the last day or they will issue you one and have it mailed to you in the form of a NEW gift card.

 

If you have already placed your gift cards on your S & S account as "Cruise Cash", then you have no option but to pay for CHEERS on board and there is no recourse.

 

If however, you are sitting pretty with those wonderful Gift Cards and they have not been applied to your account yet, well, Money is money. Go to the Carnival site and purchase what ever you will be enjoying on your upcoming trip, unless you sail within two days from now, whether it be excursions, Cheers, Unlimited Bubbles, Candy, Tee Shirts, Decorations. Gift Cards are just that. Money to be spent on Carnival.

 

But as I now understand it, you have had the Gift Cards already applied to your account and sadly there is nothing you can do except by the package on board, unless you want to pay for the package now, using a credit card, and going to the casino to get funds off your S&S account for reimbursement.

Edited February 25, 2016 by cruiseguys2009

[manmachine]

Wow, that stinks! I just booked 2 cabins on Saturday and if I knew about this I would have booked the guys together in 1 cabin so they could get this! They would prefer the nicer wines...

 

I wonder if Carnival would let me switch people around due to this change. We are booked Early Saver...

 

Sure!

[cruiseguys2009]

It is not...I read through the FAQs on the Carnival website, and Half Moon Cay is definitely still excluded.

 

 

That bites the big one.................................after all these years............Harumph!

[cruiserNC]

Question on the Cheers.

I recently booked a cruise 2 cabins with my dw in one cabin with grandma and child and me in another with a child. Done due to dw and I are Plat and wanted both cabins to have priority boarding

So if I understand correctly I can purchase just one Cheers package for me since my child is 9.

 

 

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[cuccicruisers]

Have you gone to the website and ordered the cheers package, then go on to the check out page?

 

There is a place for Credit Cards and Gift t.

 

I just tried it and no option for gift cards. Do you see it on your end? I'm using a kindle so sometimes the display is different.

[kona_wahine]

I called Carnival right before my posting and that's exactly what they told me!

 

Carnival gift cards can't be used to pre purchase cheers and aren't refundable if loaded on your S&S card and there's a balance.

 

So whose right?? You or them??

 

I just went and tried to purchase it thru Bon voyage. When I got to payment there was no where to use a gift card; only a credit card.

[lele100]

Yeah I like the changes but I was going to buy it on board with my on board credit I get through my MasterCard sucks that I now have to pay the higher amount. Oh well

[cruizinisthebest]

I just went and tried to purchase it thru Bon voyage. When I got to payment there was no where to use a gift card; only a credit card.

There is no question that you cannot use gift cards to purchase anything through the gift shops. I said that earlier but I know the thread is moving fast. That has always been the case. The answer the one poster got from Carnival was partially correct. However any unused portion of gift cards can be retrieved various ways onboard. But if you do nothing, then what you don't use you get back in the form of a new gift card.

 

Cruise cash is also fully refundable before your cruise - say if you have to cancel. But any unused portion of it once onboard you forfeit.

 

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Edited February 25, 2016 by cruizinisthebest

[hftmrock]

Question on the Cheers.

I recently booked a cruise 2 cabins with my dw in one cabin with grandma and child and me in another with a child. Done due to dw and I are Plat and wanted both cabins to have priority boarding

So if I understand correctly I can purchase just one Cheers package for me since my child is 9.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

you understand correctly

[LEXIpoo]

Soooo with the gratuities added, how much does it come up to per day? I never understood why they just don't post the price inclusive of the gratuities instead of making us have to do all the calculating...or am I also missing something?

 

 

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Does anyone have an answer??

 

 

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[Pesh]

So if soda, Gatorade, coffee, etc now count toward my 15 drink limit, I'm really at risk for being cut off way more easily. And since you can't buy outside of Cheers, there's no way around it. Right? That could actually make people not want to purchase Cheers.

[Rod in Az]

Does anyone have an answer??

 

 

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$63.20 per day.....

[Rod in Az]

So if soda, Gatorade, coffee, etc now count toward my 15 drink limit, I'm really at risk for being cut off way more easily. And since you can't buy outside of Cheers, there's no way around it. Right? That could actually make people not want to purchase Cheers.

 

The 15 drink limit only applies to "alcoholic drinks", any others don't count toward the limit.

 

From the drink program rules:

 

"Program allows for up to 15 alcoholic drinks per 24 hour period (6:00am-6:00am); once the limit is reached, the guest will not be served ANY additional alcoholic drinks."

Edited February 25, 2016 by Rod in Az

[skidawg79]

Nothing purchased through Bon voyage/gift shops can be paid for with gift cards in advance. You can load them onto your onboard account once you get on the ship or during check in at the port. But now with the higher pricing of cheers if you get it onboard, it's cheaper to use a credit card and get it in advance online.

 

 

 

 

 

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That kinda sucks. I have gift cards i was going to use for the cheers program for my cruise in May, granted i didn't pay for them, they were a gift from work, but now it looks like I'm using an extra $40 on the gift cards. Plus its going to cost my friend an extra $40 since she is paying with a credit card..... :-\

[Princess_K]

If they would only "enhance" the package to do a "staggered" liquor package like they've done in the ports with check-ins, I would consider cheers. I don't drink heavily enough to make the package as it is worth it. Set a $20 package with 5 alcoholic drinks a day... or better yet a total of 5 per day times the number of days you are on your cruise.

 

Example: $20 per day for a 5 day cruise would give you a total of 25 drinks to consume for the cruise... only 3 drinks on a port day? Have 7 on a sea day! Have all 25 drinks your first three days? Pay for the rest of the drinks you want the last two days... Almost too simple to make sense, right?