How Rigid is the Drink Package?

[travis0806]

Cruising with the family in a few weeks and me and my DW both purchased the premium drink package. Just curious how strongly they monitor passengers? My concern is if I grab a drink for my DW and bring it back to our lounge chairs and hand it to her will I be approached by a crew member who may think we are sharing when we actually are not as we will both have the package? I have heard stories about them watching people on the packages very closely. Wondering how true that is and does it become a hassle?

[ksuds]

The staff are smart and know what is going on. Within a very short time, if you go to the same person, they will remember you have the drink package. If you bring your wife, who has a package a drink, they don't have an issue. You can gather 20 cards with the package and get all the drinks yourself and bring them back.

[Clarea]

Cruising with the family in a few weeks and me and my DW both purchased the premium drink package. Just curious how strongly they monitor passengers? My concern is if I grab a drink for my DW and bring it back to our lounge chairs and hand it to her will I be approached by a crew member who may think we are sharing when we actually are not as we will both have the package? I have heard stories about them watching people on the packages very closely. Wondering how true that is and does it become a hassle?

Not a problem if you use your wife's SeaPass card. However, if they see you sharing with someone who does not have a package, you can lose your package privs without a refund.

[jamesr3939]

It won't be a problem. In fact after visiting the same bar a few times getting drinks for both of us I forgot DW card. No problem he just gave me both drinks.

[BNBR]

Cruising with the family in a few weeks and me and my DW both purchased the premium drink package. Just curious how strongly they monitor passengers? My concern is if I grab a drink for my DW and bring it back to our lounge chairs and hand it to her will I be approached by a crew member who may think we are sharing when we actually are not as we will both have the package? I have heard stories about them watching people on the packages very closely. Wondering how true that is and does it become a hassle?

 

It's not to say something can't happen, based on a rule or condition I'm unaware of..... but they were VERY relaxed with the drink packages.

 

"Can I get a double?" - "Well, sure...." -- Can I grab for my wife as well? "Sure, no problem sir".

 

I just brought my wifes seapass card with me, and they swipe them both. If you are legit sharing a single drink on a single package, then you would deserve to get in trouble, but really, they didn't care when I went up and got 2 drinks... heck, one time I was walking back with 4.

 

The feeling of "being watched closely" was not evident at any point and I found them surprisingly lax. Sometimes bartenders didn't even give me a receipt to sign (which is stupid since I add tip to every drink, even with included grat).

[travis0806]

OK, the title of the thread should really say "How Generous is the Drink Package". I love love love the drink package. Multiple times I would get a round for the group of guys I was with and they would always put 2 of the drinks on the package. They were so nice, I wasn't even asking them to do it. Needless to say I tipped well for this. Lol.

 

The drink package is wonderful and you never have the feeling that they are counting your drinks. They even would let me get soda for my kids at dining time. They really are very generous and you don't even have to ask, they just do. Truly added to the value of the whole vacation.

[Havingfun2010]

Cruising with the family in a few weeks and me and my DW both purchased the premium drink package. Just curious how strongly they monitor passengers? My concern is if I grab a drink for my DW and bring it back to our lounge chairs and hand it to her will I be approached by a crew member who may think we are sharing when we actually are not as we will both have the package? I have heard stories about them watching people on the packages very closely. Wondering how true that is and does it become a hassle?

 

I'm slightly confused. Your question implies you both have a package. Is it a hassle to bring both cards to the bar, or server and ask for two drinks? Yes, they watch, but why the question? You have two cards, you bought both to swipe, and that's it. Even if someone asks, all you need is to show the card.

[KiwiGal117]

My guess is OP didn't realize you bring both seapasses up to swipe. If you've not done the packages before, or hang out here on CC, that's a detail that you might not be aware of until embarkation.

[kvosu1]

I was wondering, is it possible to do a shot & get a drink at the same time? We will both have the package & enjoy an occasional shot!

[Clarea]

I was wondering, is it possible to do a shot & get a drink at the same time? We will both have the package & enjoy an occasional shot!

If you mean two drinks for one person, the rule is one drink at a time.

[matj2000]

They don't monitor who is drinking what.

 

[Jarmo]

If you mean two drinks for one person, the rule is one drink at a time.

I have seen flexibility when it comes to shots. Maybe they let it slide if you are at the bar and doing the shot right there, so they know there is no sharing? There is also likely the getting to know the bartender thing in play.

[1992cruiser]

I've noticed the casino is a lot more strict with getting a shot and a drink at the same time while sit down bars seem to be more 'friendly' with the rules. Pool bars are usually so busy, it just depends on the bartender.

 

It never hurts to ask and if they say no, just order your dink first and then come back a minute later and order your shot.

[George C]

They tend to be less rigid when you tip some extra cash

[travis0806]

I'm slightly confused. Your question implies you both have a package. Is it a hassle to bring both cards to the bar, or server and ask for two drinks? Yes, they watch, but why the question? You have two cards, you bought both to swipe, and that's it. Even if someone asks, all you need is to show the card.

 

No, my DW ended up only getting the coffee and water package. So when I would buy a round for me and a few friends they would put more than one drink on my package. I would always tell them to put 1 on my package and I'd pay for the others but when they would come back with the slip they would put 2 on the package and give me a ;).

Edited August 15, 2016 by travis0806

[packercruising]

If you mean two drinks for one person, the rule is one drink at a time.

 

In Wisconsin a shot and a beer is called a boiler maker and counts as 1 drink.:D:D:rolleyes::rolleyes::cool::cool:

[packercruising]

No, my DW ended up only getting the coffee and water package. So when I would buy a round for me and a few friends they would put more than one drink on my package. I would always tell them to put 1 on my package and I'd pay for the others but when they would come back with the slip they would put 2 on the package and give me a ;).

 

Sounds like you want to know if you can get away with one package and sneak drinks to your DW. That is not the same as a bartender offering you a free drink for your friend. Did I misinterpret?

[packercruising]

They don't monitor who is drinking what.

 

 

I thought of that possibility too. Maybe OP wants to get a drink for his DW when he isn't drinking. They won't check that, probably.

[Tommy3putts]

No, my DW ended up only getting the coffee and water package. So when I would buy a round for me and a few friends they would put more than one drink on my package. I would always tell them to put 1 on my package and I'd pay for the others but when they would come back with the slip they would put 2 on the package and give me a ;).

 

 

 

Now I'm confused. As stated above if you both have same drink package not a problem. But if you're trying to get your wife an occasional free drink on your package, I think you'll be unsuccessful, and risk like losing your card/package. Why not get a drink package for her also or pay for just pay for her drink?

Edited August 15, 2016 by Tommy3putts

[travis0806]

Now I'm confused. As stated above if you both have same drink package not a problem. But if you're trying to get your wife an occasional free drink on your package, I think you'll be unsuccessful, and risk like losing your card/package. Why not get a drink package for her also or pay for just pay for her drink?

 

That's my point, she decided to not get the alcohol package because she wasn't planning on drink a ton. So when I would order us both a drink they would still put both drinks on one package most of the time. The cruise line was very generous. I had all intentions of paying for her drinks but they wouldn't let me. lol

[mom2tcdx2]

On our short cruise in February, we noticed the bartenders put drinks on the card of the person with the package. Even one lady only had her husband with the package and the bartender was letting her use his card to order drinks for herself. She did not have the drink package. We also found they didn't ring all the drinks up either, even though we had the package. Out off Carnival, Princess, NCL and Royal - I would say Royal was the most lax in verifying the card and the card owner.

[RD64]

On the Vision two weeks ago. - only one alcoholic drink every ten minutes. Even when I tripped and spilt two glasses of wine directly in front of the pool deck bartender I had to wait the ten minutes to get a replacement.

[Clarea]

On the Vision two weeks ago. - only one alcoholic drink every ten minutes. Even when I tripped and spilt two glasses of wine directly in front of the pool deck bartender I had to wait the ten minutes to get a replacement.

Interesting, that was not the case on Vision in October and January. Curious if this will spread to other ships.

[packercruising]

Interesting, that was not the case on Vision in October and January. Curious if this will spread to other ships.

 

Probably depends on the sailing and bartender. It wasn't like that when we were on the Vision either. But we have run into specific bars and/or bartenders on a ship that are like that.

[Big_G]

On the Vision two weeks ago. - only one alcoholic drink every ten minutes. Even when I tripped and spilt two glasses of wine directly in front of the pool deck bartender I had to wait the ten minutes to get a replacement.

 

Maybe he was just punishing you for being a clutz. :D