Diamond and drinks package

[LisaAtlCruiser]

I didn't call anyone an alcoholic - I even said that it was definition found by Google. If it was not for the "free" nature of the drinks on the package, it is very unlikely anyone would drink 10 drinks a day. Basically, someone who gets the drink package, has to turn into the Google's definition of an alcoholic (4+ drinks in a stretch) to make it "worth it" financially. Think about it for a sec - at home, not in a vacation situation, if someone told you they drink 10 drinks a day every day, would you not maybe think they have a drinking problem?

 

Perhaps you are not only googled challenged (I did a google search before posting my original reply and no such definition!) but you may be math challenged as well. 14 drinks in a week is only 2 drinks a day! So your sudden leap here to 10 drinks does not fit with your earlier comment.

[LisaAtlCruiser]

So to be crystal clear (yeah, this one hit a nerve) the definition of someone with LOW risk of being an alcoholic (not the definition of being an alcoholic).

 

Low Risk for Developing an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD):

 

As defined by NIAAA, for women, low-risk drinking is no more than 3 drinks on any single day and no more than 7 drinks per week. For men, it is defined as no more than 4 drinks on any single day and no more than 14 drinks per week. NIAAA research shows that only about 2 in 100 people who drink within these limits have an AUD. Even within these limits, you can have problems if you drink too quickly or have other health issues.

 

See how easy it is for someone to scan instead of READ the internet to misquote something?

[grapau27]

We rarely drink alcohol at home but on a cruise a lot revolves around drink in bars,diamond lounge, restaurants and entertainment lounges and really the bar staff are amazed if you don't want an alcoholic drink.

 

Sent from my Kestrel using Forums mobile app

[Biker19]

See how easy it is for someone to scan instead of READ the internet to misquote something?

 

You are right, the number was right but my definition was a bit off. To be clear, if one gets a drink package, to make it financially viable, one may develop Alcohol Use Disorder.

[Biker19]

So your sudden leap here to 10 drinks does not fit with your earlier comment.

No leap, someone mentioned that they have 10 drinks a day on a cruise - I was merely putting it in context.

[njmomof2]

You are right, the number was right but my definition was a bit off. To be clear, if one gets a drink package, to make it financially viable, one may develop Alcohol Use Disorder.

 

And again, you're leaving out the specialty coffees, fresh squeezed OJ and frozen drinks (with or without alcohol) that many people enjoy.

 

On our Anthem trip during Christmas 2015, the fresh squeezed OJ went up in price each day of our trip. I think by the end, it was over $6. So if someone wants 2 of those with breakfast, and a few specialty coffees during the day, along with a few alcoholic beverages, they'd perhaps do well on the package. Yet by your definition, because you're lumping all drinks covered together, they'd have an AUD. Wow, nice.

[grapau27]

As long as people are not troublesome and upsetting other people drink to your hearts content and enjoy your cruise.

 

Sent from my Kestrel using Forums mobile app

[sellwingri]

Great thread (with the exception of the alcoholic talk). I too am diamond and a member of casino royale so I get free drinks in the casino. I'm cruising next week with 2 cruise rookies and my best friends of over 35 years who bought the drink package and who I'll probably spend a lot of time. Usually I spend almost all of my free time in the casino but I won't on this one. I anticipate we'll spend a lot of time in bars and will start with drinks at breakfast.

 

Still not sure if I'll buy the package or not. My biggest dilemma but I only have a few days to decide🍸🍸🍸🍸🍸

[Biker19]

Still not sure if I'll buy the package or not. My biggest dilemma but I only have a few days to decide🍸🍸🍸🍸🍸

 

Try it the first couple of days without it - you can buy the package at any time on board.

[klove613]

I am a Diamond and sailing in a Suite on Harmony in April. I have never bought the drink package although I considered it several times. I am not a big drinker, even on vacation, but with the discounted price (20% off), it made sense because of what I like to drink. I prefer those frozen concoctions that are not offered with Diamond or Suite privileges. I don't drink beer at all and not a huge wine drinker (although I will drink a glass offered at the SL outside of cocktail hours).

 

The way I did the math was this (includes 18%):

 

$30 - Two frozen cocktails per day

$ 9 - Three bottled waters per day

$13 - Wine or cocktail at dinner

$ 5 - Specialty Coffee

 

This totals up to the $56 per day that I paid for the package and is totally not a stretch or putting me in alcoholic range. I found that on my last two cruises, I would feel pressed to get up to the SL to get a cocktail (which is out of the way if you are not staying on the 17th floor or eating at the Coastal Kitchen). I travel with my teenage daughter, so going to the DL was usually not an option. Even with the 3 drinks loaded, I was settling for drinks. For example, a drink that is not fruity that I do enjoy is a Diet and Rum. I will drink it with Bacardi's, but asked for Capt. Morgans one night and found it not included.

 

The above totals do not even include a Diet Coke with lunch or a drink at the theater. I want to be able to get the drinks I want, where I want them and have more freedom to try new drinks. Since Royal has jacked the drink prices so much, one does not have to drink 5-6 alcoholic drinks a day to break even, if you like coffee, water, soda, juice.

 

Just to add, I am not overly worried about "breaking even." If I don't feel like a drink, I won't have a drink, but obviously it is good to analyze one's drinking patterns to determine if a package might work.