beccafries Posted November 14, 2016 #1 Share Posted November 14, 2016 Can someone explain the pros n cons.... Explain how its done.. is it a set amount each day? do you have to wait a certain amount time to order your next drink? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellybeth Posted November 14, 2016 #2 Share Posted November 14, 2016 Pros: fixed cost, includes just about everything (only a few drinks over the $10 limit); you can try different drinks without feeling guilty, more expensive bottles of wine at discount Cons: hangovers (joking); I'm sure others may think of some, but none for me. No limit. No wait time. There are quite a few threads on this topic if you search AIBP and a good one including a beverage calculator (post 205) here: Princess Beverage Package Evaluator http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2038576 Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill B Posted November 14, 2016 #3 Share Posted November 14, 2016 Con: If you drink enough to get your 'money's worth', you'll spend half the cruise in the head peeing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skynight Posted November 14, 2016 #4 Share Posted November 14, 2016 Can someone explain the pros n cons....Explain how its done.. is it a set amount each day? do you have to wait a certain amount time to order your next drink? Thanks! *The $10 limit per drink (menu price) covers about 95% of every beverage sold on the ship. *No limits per day, per hour, or anything like that. *All beverages including non-alcoholic, such as espresso drinks are included. *Must be purchased for ALL days of the cruise, no prorating and no sea days only. Pre-purchase or purchase on the first day right after boarding. You will see tables set up near the bar areas. *Price charged, $56.35/day includes the gratuity, extra tips not required. *No sharing. Anyone found sharing risks having the the package revoked. *Most mixed drinks are in the area of $8.95, so it takes about 5/6 of these a day to break even. *Straight spirits, liqueurs and beers are less so you would have to drink more of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennybenny Posted November 14, 2016 #5 Share Posted November 14, 2016 The biggest con I find is making sure I "get my money's worth". I think I would drink less if I didn't get the package, but we always get it. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easyboy Posted November 14, 2016 #6 Share Posted November 14, 2016 (edited) Pro: While you order all the booze you can drink ($10 limit), you don't get to worry about how much it will add up to your folio statement at the end of cruise. Edited November 14, 2016 by easyboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
land lover Posted November 14, 2016 #7 Share Posted November 14, 2016 (edited) DH and I both enjoyed it on our last cruise, Oct. 15. Last several I have only gotten the drink package...but this time DH had it too. A sticker is placed on your card, go to any bar or in the dining room, place your order. Alcohol and bottled H20 they generally have you sign, coffee and special teas generally not. 40% off bottled wine...nice Not all bars have everything that is on their menu, Wheel house keeps the most in stock, only one who has the ciders. Hot drinks can only be had on plaza and a bar on lido, the one under MUTS...they do not do as good of job as the main coffee bar on plaza, and that is my experience with hot chocolate/liqour mixes on more than one sailing. CON...........C A L O R I E S PRO...it is simply wonderful, I drink twice as much as my DH. So when he didn't want a drink I ordered two, one with each card. I swear I tried every drink on their list and more, except anything Gin, apologizes to my UK friends. This was a Mexican Rivera 7 day, 3 sea days. We never get our monies worth but it sure is S I M P L E and enjoyable knowing that if you don't like it you don't have to send it back, you just order something else from that bar tender. DH loves coffee so he was known as the triple espresso guy at the coffee bar. Nice not having to deal with a coffee card for him and the in consistency of 2 or 3 punches depending how each staff member charges it. We made sure to get a few champagne splits, beers and ciders(ask for them unopened) to keep in our fridge and plenty of bottled water also can buy your wine at 40% off and take it back to your room. Enjoy! Edited November 14, 2016 by land lover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host CJSKIDS Posted November 14, 2016 #8 Share Posted November 14, 2016 It's not just alcohol. Specialty and fresh coffees, bottles of water, sodas and gelatos on the Regal and Royal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasmith52 Posted November 14, 2016 #9 Share Posted November 14, 2016 (edited) The biggest con I find is making sure I "get my money's worth". Fun with Math... If the drink package costs $56.35 then for $10 drinks you'll need to drink 5 or 6 drinks to "break even" with $7 drinks you'll need to drink 8 drinks a day. with $6 beers you'' need to drink 9 drinks a day. Now - Who says that math can't be fun ? Are you up to the challenge ? Edited November 14, 2016 by jasmith52 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colo Cruiser Posted November 14, 2016 #10 Share Posted November 14, 2016 We have had it for several promos on cruises. It helped us decide that its not worth buying outright. We find ourselves drinking way more to justify. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrak Posted November 15, 2016 #11 Share Posted November 15, 2016 We've never felt it was worth the cost - and I do like to drink. I simply wouldn't spend that much for drinks. A coffee card works well for me. We have it on our next two (so far) booked cruises as we booked them under the sip and sail promo. On a 28 day cruise with 18 sea days I think it will be a nice thing to have. :D On the 14 day Circle Caribbean there are only 4 sea days but it will still be nice to have the package and I don't have an issue with the cost of the cruise - it will likely sell out well in advance of the March 2018 sailing date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beg3yrs Posted November 15, 2016 #12 Share Posted November 15, 2016 We had the package this year for over three months at sea. Absolutely loved it. Didn't necessarily drink more, just more expensive! Was able to try new drinks, especially all those martini combinations, and if I didn't like them, I just got something else. As another poster said, calories. I haven't yet lost the 15 pounds gained. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
land lover Posted November 15, 2016 #13 Share Posted November 15, 2016 (edited) We have had it for several promos on cruises. It helped us decide that its not worth buying outright. We find ourselves drinking way more to justify. Keith, we cruise together about 4 years ago out of SP....and at that time I swear you had 54 cruises ...when r you gong to change your number of cruises or am I imagining things:o:):D:eek:maybe it was 32..... Edited November 15, 2016 by land lover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
courtney98 Posted November 15, 2016 #14 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Maybe a dumb question...do they charge you for ALL days? Even the last day when you're leaving early? Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
land lover Posted November 15, 2016 #15 Share Posted November 15, 2016 We've never felt it was worth the cost - and I do like to drink. I simply wouldn't spend that much for drinks. A coffee card works well for me. We have it on our next two (so far) booked cruises as we booked them under the sip and sail promo. On a 28 day cruise with 18 sea days I think it will be a nice thing to have. :D On the 14 day Circle Caribbean there are only 4 sea days but it will still be nice to have the package and I don't have an issue with the cost of the cruise - it will likely sell out well in advance of the March 2018 sailing date. Okay Thrak...u r another one I am going to talk off subject to.. when r you going to make elite?..... again you post alot so I swear you must already be there. but if not, I bet with this 28 day cruise you will be there...or if it doesn't put you over then you need to get off the boards and do a little more cruising.....enjoy...L:)ri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
land lover Posted November 15, 2016 #16 Share Posted November 15, 2016 (edited) Maybe a dumb question...do they charge you for ALL days? Even the last day when you're leaving early? Sent from my iPhone using Forums They charge you by the length of your cruise the same way they charge for grats. Edited November 15, 2016 by land lover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colo Cruiser Posted November 15, 2016 #17 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Keith, we cruise together about 4 years ago out of SP....and at that time I swear you had 54 cruises ...when r you gong to change your number of cruises or am I imagining things:o:):D:eek:maybe it was 32..... Ha! It was a tad less then. :D We are due for more though. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krozulo Posted November 15, 2016 #18 Share Posted November 15, 2016 What I plan on doing is buying $56.35/day in OBC. I probably won't drink it all, so it'll be there for other stuff. But I'll still drink as if I had the AIBP because it costs the same either way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill B Posted November 15, 2016 #19 Share Posted November 15, 2016 What I plan on doing is buying $56.35/day in OBC. I probably won't drink it all, so it'll be there for other stuff. But I'll still drink as if I had the AIBP because it costs the same either way. If you're sure you won't drink $56.35 worth of beverages, that makes more sense than buying the AIBP. Plus, if you buy on board credit, I believe any unused amount is refundable... so you don't have to spend it on other stuff. What doesn't make sense to me is those who know and admit they will/do not get their 'money's worth', but justify buying the AIBP with: "it's convenient" or "I don't have to worry about my bar bill". Why wouldn't they forego the package and drink whatever they want - secure in the knowledge their final bill will be less than what they pay for the package??? Crazy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skynight Posted November 15, 2016 #20 Share Posted November 15, 2016 (edited) Maybe a dumb question...do they charge you for ALL days? Even the last day when you're leaving early? Sent from my iPhone using Forums 7 night cruise you get charged $56.35 x 7 = $394.45. Count nights not days. On a 7 day cruise you board around 1pm on boarding day and disembark around 9am on disembarkation day. You are on board for right around 164 hours, 4 hours short of a full 7 days. So what you call a 7 day cruise is really very close to 7 full days. The AIBP is still valid on the morning of disembarkation day. So get your bloody mary or espresso drink if you wish. Edited November 15, 2016 by sknight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
land lover Posted November 15, 2016 #21 Share Posted November 15, 2016 What I plan on doing is buying $56.35/day in OBC. I probably won't drink it all, so it'll be there for other stuff. But I'll still drink as if I had the AIBP because it costs the same either way. At first glance I think great idea...but then you miss out on that 40% wine discount which can be pretty nice. One thing I really liked about the package is that it was so easy to grab a bottled water. I probably used 6 or 7 a day and i still drank the ships water at meals and sometimes at bars when I had them bring me a glass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hop2it Posted November 15, 2016 #22 Share Posted November 15, 2016 << What I plan on doing is buying $56.35/day in OBC. I probably won't drink it all, so it'll be there for other stuff. But I'll still drink as if I had the AIBP because it costs the same either way.>> This strategy is brilliant in its simplicity. I hope I might eventually have come to the same conclusion, but maybe not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chunder Worthy Posted November 15, 2016 #23 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Pros: Maybe a modicum of extra convenience. Cons: You pretty much have to be a borderline alcoholic if you want to get your money's worth. I'm a moderately-heavy drinker myself (I could drink say, 3-4 adult beverages a day onboard), but even if I did, it would still be a much better value for one to purchase them as you go or as you need them. Summary: Unless you're financially well off and/or just don't care, the all-inclusive beverage package (AIBP) is a sucker bet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mncruizr Posted November 15, 2016 #24 Share Posted November 15, 2016 I usually don't chime in on these discussions because it's really personal preference, $, and lifestyle that dictate who chooses what. When we went on the CB back in January we had a sale and declined the package even at discount rates because I don't want something like that dictating how much I drink. We found we drank way less than we planned mostly because there is so much to do and drinking makes me take more naps etc. If I purchased it I would make sure I got my moneys worth each day which is not a good way to enjoy a cocktail in my mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill B Posted November 15, 2016 #25 Share Posted November 15, 2016 How does the package offer any convenience? One still has to sign the bar chit... right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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