Are there cruises without inclusive drinks and meals?

[clausetrophobe]

Are there any cruises where alcoholic drinks and meals are not included, but paid as you go? We do not drink or eat much, and would rather eat on land for mid-day meal.

[Essiesmom]

Including drinks is not standard on any cruise line except perhaps the high end ones. And even if it is included, you do not have to ask for it or drink it. Meals are included on every line except cruise ferries (Europe). But food is not a large part of the fare. EM

[spookwife]

Almost no lines include alcohol. As for meals. What do you plan on eating for lunch on sea days? Your fare is not going to change if you do not eat on board

[sparks1093]

Including drinks is not standard on any cruise line except perhaps the high end ones. And even if it is included, you do not have to ask for it or drink it. Meals are included on every line except cruise ferries (Europe). But food is not a large part of the fare. EM

 

This.

 

Almost no lines include alcohol. As for meals. What do you plan on eating for lunch on sea days? Your fare is not going to change if you do not eat on board

 

And this.

 

NCL offers a beverage package as part of your fare but you do not have to take it and the remaining lines offer a package for sale that you of course do not have to purchase. You don't get a discount for not eating onboard.:)

Edited March 9, 2016 by sparks1093

[John Bull]

As other replies and unlike most all-inclusive resorts, alcohol is included on only a small proportion of cruise ships - on most you can either buy a package or pay (more accurately sign) as you go.

 

But like in resort hotels, food is included, I can't think of a cruise line that doesn't.

The cooking & serving facilities are in place, as are the utilities.

And if you and others choose not to dine at every meal, they can't send some of the kitchen or serving staff home for the evening ;)

So the only saving created by your small appetites is on the cost of the raw ingredients that you don't eat.

 

JB :)

[cb at sea]

You are describing ALL the mainstream cruise lines! You can either eat in the included venues, or pay for "specialty" restaurants. You can either pay for each drink as you go...or buy a package.

 

 

The luxury lines include eating venues and booze..unless you must have some sort of expensive liquor or meal...then, they will gladly charge you more (on top of the premium you've paid) to eat or drink "something special"!

[AdGuyMG]

NCL offers a beverage package as part of your fare but you do not have to take it and the remaining lines offer a package for sale that you of course do not have to purchase.

 

Only on the short 3/4 day NCL Sky is the beverage package 100% included in the cruse fare.

 

On the other ships a UBP beverage package is available for purchase or included as one of the choice options of NCL's Free At Sea promotion and you pay an 18% service charge based on the price of the package.

 

The UBP Beverage package is not offered as a Free at Sea promo option for the Pride Of America Hawaii cruises.

Edited March 10, 2016 by AdGuyMG

[sparks1093]

Only on the day 3/4 NCL Sky is the beverage package 100% included in the cruse fare.

 

On the other ships a UBP beverage package is available for purchase or included as one of the choice options of NCL's Free At Sea promotion and you pay an 18% service charge based on the price of the package.

 

The UBP Beverage package is not offered as a Free at Sea promo option for the Pride Of America Hawaii cruises.

 

I was referring to the choices offered by "Free" at sea.

[SPacificbound]

There are pretty much always going to be sea days where your mid day meal is going to be at sea.

 

I noticed your CC name "claustrophobic". Are you concerned about that?

[Dayenu]

We sailed with PCL, NCL, HAL, RCL - on each ship we had food included plus pay restaurants, or ice-cream, or fancy coffee for additional price.

 

Don't remember alcohol being ever included, nor soda.

[Keith1010]

I am afraid that some of the mainstream lines are going in a direction that eventually you will have to pay for everything such as food. I hope that doesn't happen.

 

In the end when you choose to cruise with others you do pay for some things that you might not use but that is likely offset in that they pay for things that you use and they don't.

 

Keith

[donaldsc]

You could do a cruise in Alaska on the Alaska Marine Highway ferries. Everything there is al la carte. You can even save the price of a cabin and camp on the deck if you wish.

 

DON

[jocap]

You could do a cruise in Alaska on the Alaska Marine Highway ferries. Everything there is al la carte. You can even save the price of a cabin and camp on the deck if you wish.

 

DON

Oh, memories of student travels on ferries which provided sleeping chairs, or curtained dormitories.. and the two nighter from Hull to Sweden where the only queasiness I've ever felt at sea came from a 2-day old packed lunch of cheese slices... :eek:

[GUT2407]

Not sure where you're going to get food from.

 

Sounds like a gee up to me.

[donaldsc]

Not sure where you're going to get food from.

 

Sounds like a gee up to me.

 

If you are talking about the AK Marine Highway ferries, they do have a cafeteria on board. You pay for what you eat. Food isn't really that bad and it is fairly priced.

 

DON