VASOXFANN Posted September 14, 2016 #51 Share Posted September 14, 2016 (edited) For us, it depends of the itinerary and what we plan to do in port. For our Grandeur cruise, it's been a couple of years since our last vacation, and we want to relax and enjoy ourselves! We have been to all of the ports, and we'll be in an inside cabin, and we don't have any plans for the port days. RC's drink package applies to their private island. We'll probably have a couple mimosas/coffees at breakfast, a couple glasses of wine plus coffees with desserts at lunch/dinner, some frozen drinks, beers and sodas throughout the day, a drink or 3 at night during shows or at a bar... :D We aren't lushes, we just want to relax....so it's definitely worth it to us for that cruise. For our Carnival cruise, in February, we haven't been to any of the ports, and we plan to be off the ship all day each port day. Even though there are 3 sea days, the loss of those port days renders their drink program not worth it to us. We do this type of analysis for each of our cruises. Edited September 14, 2016 by VASOXFANN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsKC08 Posted September 14, 2016 #52 Share Posted September 14, 2016 Someone did a drink calculator and if you put in what you anticipate drinking, it will tell you what you could save if you have the package. This is what we used and made the decision that it was worth it for us to get it for our upcoming Harmony cruise. If you consider bottled water to take off at ports, fresh juice in the morning and 4 drinks throughout the day, it will most likely save you some $$. Check out the thread below to find the calculator. This is also fairly new with accurate pricing. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2315750&highlight=drink+spreadsheet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtsbusiness Posted September 14, 2016 Author #53 Share Posted September 14, 2016 Thanks everyone for your helpful responses. I am virtually on the break even line so think I am going to go for it and then I know I can have what I want when I want it without worrying. It also helps spread the costs as I have to pay now. Hope it has also been helpful to others and perhaps those going in next couple of weeks can let us know how they get on - both for and against. I was interested in reading that someone was planning to bring their own wine on. I didn't think this was allowed for consumption on the ship. Again many thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsKC08 Posted September 14, 2016 #54 Share Posted September 14, 2016 I was interested in reading that someone was planning to bring their own wine on. I didn't think this was allowed for consumption on the ship. Again many thanks You can bring two bottles of wine per cabin. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightsFan Posted September 14, 2016 #55 Share Posted September 14, 2016 Thanks everyone for your helpful responses. I am virtually on the break even line so think I am going to go for it and then I know I can have what I want when I want it without worrying. It also helps spread the costs as I have to pay now. Hope it has also been helpful to others and perhaps those going in next couple of weeks can let us know how they get on - both for and against. I was interested in reading that someone was planning to bring their own wine on. I didn't think this was allowed for consumption on the ship. Again many thanks When figuring your break even you should remember that it's 5 drinks per day for the entire cruise, so if it's a 5 day cruise it's worth it if you'll drink 25 drinks over the entire voyage. This was something I hadn't realized when thinking about the drink package previously. I was worried about those days in port where I wouldn't start drinking until the afternoon, I would probably only have 2 or 3 drinks. But on sea days I could easily have 6 or 7 over the entire day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laney219 Posted September 14, 2016 #56 Share Posted September 14, 2016 After reading this thread I have concluded that I am a lush. Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimnbigd Posted September 14, 2016 #57 Share Posted September 14, 2016 Also the answer might depend if you are in a suite (or a Diamond or higher C&A member), and get free drinks each evening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gliles Posted September 14, 2016 #58 Share Posted September 14, 2016 As others said, it's not about alcohol either. When I price that I'm not including prem coffee (Starbucks girl here) bottled water, prem juice I can give to my kids etc. Can't wait :) Sent from my iPhone using Forums But you shouldn't be giving juice to your kids from your package :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie2703 Posted September 14, 2016 #59 Share Posted September 14, 2016 But you shouldn't be giving juice to your kids from your package :eek: Yea yea right. Did I say that out loud?? [emoji204][emoji85][emoji86][emoji87] Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinola Posted September 14, 2016 #60 Share Posted September 14, 2016 Hi, we are booked on Serenade of The Seas for a 10 day in March, 2017. The drink package cost for us is $1350.00 Canadian. Roughly $57.00/day plus the 18%. OUCH, Poleman! That hurts. Don't know what your "exchange" rate is, but it stings a little for Americans as well. I am thinking more and more and then most are going to be doing it. Basically it is a higher cost of cruising. I suppose it is just going to cost more...just like everything else in this world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
widallas Posted September 15, 2016 #61 Share Posted September 15, 2016 Does not make sense based on what's been released by the cruise line: http://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/General_Info/FAQs_Beverage_Package_Relaunch.pdf Thanks.:) Thanks again Clarea for the information on the new drinks package...super helpful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted September 15, 2016 #62 Share Posted September 15, 2016 Thanks again Clarea for the information on the new drinks package...super helpful! You're welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reedl Posted September 15, 2016 #63 Share Posted September 15, 2016 Since I do not drink alcohol at all, and my wife may drink two drinks the entire cruise, the higher end drinks packages are useless for me. OTOH, I drink a LOT of soda, so that package is well worth it for me. But of course that is what is personally good for me, not others of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan06 Posted September 15, 2016 #64 Share Posted September 15, 2016 (edited) Personally I have found the drinks packages always been great value proposition for me. I have purchased them on Celebrity and Princess and have found them excellent value. This will be my first Royal Caribbean drinks package but I presume I will also have no complaints this time around also. We prefer longer cruises with more sea days, this too should be factored into your decision making process. If your cruise has plenty of port days you may be of the ship and then the package may not be as good value to you personally. Bottom line is you need to work out how many drinks you think you may have a day (All Days) and calculate the value that way. I give drink packages the thumbs up for value. Have a nice cruise whatever you decide to do. Alan Edited September 15, 2016 by alan06 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newbieflorida Posted September 15, 2016 #65 Share Posted September 15, 2016 On the fence abt the drink package, as I would have to buy 6 of them! Even at 20% off, $2250 sounds like ALOT of money for drinks. Does anyone know how long the 20% special will last? Also, one of our ports is Labadee. Anyone know if you can use the drink package on the island? Thanks! P.S. Feeling like a lush here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted September 15, 2016 #66 Share Posted September 15, 2016 On the fence abt the drink package, as I would have to buy 6 of them! Even at 20% off, $2250 sounds like ALOT of money for drinks. Does anyone know how long the 20% special will last? Also, one of our ports is Labadee. Anyone know if you can use the drink package on the island? Thanks! P.S. Feeling like a lush here. Unknown how long the 20% off will last. You can use the packages oin Labadee and Coco Cay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tray Posted September 15, 2016 #67 Share Posted September 15, 2016 Newbieflorida: That is my problem and I only have to buy four!!! It's a lot of money upfront when you are saving to pay off the cruise as well! Plus...one of our excursions required payment upfront which was not cheap! I ended up purchasing two of the drink packages now and will pray they continue to have the sale on and off over the next several months! I know we'll spend it on drinks anyway while on the ship, but we will have the cruise and excursions paid off by then! Whatever the case, I plan on the attitude 'drink and be merry' regardless of what we end up doing on the last two packages! [emoji485][emoji898][emoji482][emoji41] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smmountaingal Posted September 15, 2016 #68 Share Posted September 15, 2016 Will someone point me to the posting where I can find the actual menu of the beverages in the Deluxe Beverage package? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted September 15, 2016 #69 Share Posted September 15, 2016 Will someone point me to the posting where I can find the actual menu of the beverages in the Deluxe Beverage package? http://www.cruisingpoweruk.co.uk/uploads/news-product_19_256722736.pdf Not all cocktails are available on all sailings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erby2283 Posted September 15, 2016 #70 Share Posted September 15, 2016 (edited) As a non-drinker, I can tell you that I cannot justify the new $26 price for the Refreshment package. Kicking myself for not buying it at $19 (was on vacation and away from the boards and unaware they were getting ready to increase). At $19, I would totally buy the package but not at $26. Heck, with the 20% off discount, the alcohol package is only $20 more per day. Edited September 15, 2016 by erby2283 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smmountaingal Posted September 15, 2016 #71 Share Posted September 15, 2016 http://www.cruisingpoweruk.co.uk/uploads/news-product_19_256722736.pdf Not all cocktails are available on all sailings. Thanks for the fast reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColoradoGurl Posted September 15, 2016 #72 Share Posted September 15, 2016 (edited) On the fence abt the drink package, as I would have to buy 6 of them! Even at 20% off, $2250 sounds like ALOT of money for drinks. Does anyone know how long the 20% special will last? Also, one of our ports is Labadee. Anyone know if you can use the drink package on the island? Thanks! P.S. Feeling like a lush here. That is a lot of money. Also very generous of you to even consider buying drinks packages for 5 other adults (or 4, I guess if one is your significant other and part of your personal expenses already); maybe they can pay for part of it themselves and you could still pay a portion of it as a gift. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Edited September 15, 2016 by ColoradoGurl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reallyitsmema Posted September 15, 2016 #73 Share Posted September 15, 2016 As a non-drinker, I can tell you that I cannot justify the new $26 price for the Refreshment package. Kicking myself for not buying it at $19 (was on vacation and away from the boards and unaware they were getting ready to increase). At $19, I would totally buy the package but not at $26. Heck, with the 20% off discount, the alcohol package is only $20 more per day. I agree! We were on a cruise when they introduced the new packages. We have been buying the $19 Replenish package on our last couple of cruises, but doubt we will buy the new $26 Refreshment. It was hard to justify the cost before, adding almost $100 for two a week, makes paying as we go seem like a better option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erby2283 Posted September 15, 2016 #74 Share Posted September 15, 2016 I agree! We were on a cruise when they introduced the new packages. We have been buying the $19 Replenish package on our last couple of cruises, but doubt we will buy the new $26 Refreshment. It was hard to justify the cost before, adding almost $100 for two a week, makes paying as we go seem like a better option. Exactly! Mine is a 9-day cruise so the difference is $75.60! Do you remember what the average price is nowadays for a virgin drink? Maybe I can skip the first couple of days and then buy the package a few days in and save some $? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaGuy44 Posted September 15, 2016 #75 Share Posted September 15, 2016 At 3 drinks per day, it will be less expensive to buy drinks one at a time. At 5 drinks per day, it will be break even to less expensive to have a package. Note that for the numbers to work with a package, it's every day, including port days. This is really all anyone needs to know to make this decision. People make this WAY more complicated than it actually is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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