Any way around buying Cheers for EVERYONE?

[lennythenose]

Only way I got it to work was to have myself and my son in 1 room and my wife and daughter in another room. After the cruise started, we swapped rooms.

 

Did you actually swap rooms or just have a duplicate key made for each cabin? I have been told that swapping would result in the other adult having to add Cheers at that time but hadn't heard from anyone that had actually tried.

[sparks1093]

I don't think anyone is denying this? We get it. But somehow, other cruise lines are still making a great profit without this ristriction. It's possible that the statistics are are different than what we think. I don't think NCL would be selling this package to individuals if they weren't making profit and not having a problem with sharing.

 

That's the answer to those that say CCL would make just as much money if they allowed only one person to buy the package. Obviously they wouldn't. NCL's package costs $80 per day for those that buy it and is usually offered as a "free" choice when booking the cruise. With the fares other cruise line's charge they don't need to worry as much about bar sales for making a profit. I can sail with CCL and buy the Cheers package for the two of us and still pay less than I would on either NCL or RCCL (or even better, not buy the Cheers package and save even more).

[jimbo5544]

That's the answer to those that say CCL would make just as much money if they allowed only one person to buy the package. Obviously they wouldn't. NCL's package costs $80 per day for those that buy it and is usually offered as a "free" choice when booking the cruise. With the fares other cruise line's charge they don't need to worry as much about bar sales for making a profit. I can sail with CCL and buy the Cheers package for the two of us and still pay less than I would on either NCL or RCCL (or even better, not buy the Cheers package and save even more).

 

 

There is no such thing as free.......

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[sparks1093]

There is no such thing as free.......

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

Hence the quotes;)

[Tyme2Cruise]

Per Cruise Critic:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1470

 

Princess Cruise's package costs $56.35 per day, per day plus a 15-percent gratuity, and includes all drinks up to $10.

Kind of stinks for those who like top shelf brands.

 

Holland America's Signature Beverage package allows 15 beverages a day -- Each drink must cost less than $8. If one passenger in a cabin opts for the package, anyone who is 21-plus years old in the same cabin is required to purchase it as well... Different demographic.. Too many cheaters.

 

Other "cheater beater" cruise lines: MSC and Costa. All in the cabin have to purchase. Same demographic as Carnival?

 

Oops! I was wrong about Holland America. :eek: Their website was not clear that both had to purchase. However someone else also posted the details in another blog. Thanks

[mrak]

Just another perspective...I sailed on RC and got their drink package and when I wanted a drink, I got one. The price was on par with CHEERS for that package. However, the first time I did CHEERS, my consumer instincts kicked in and a LIMIT of 15 became a TARGET. I ended up drinking more with the 15 drink cap than I did on the package with no limit (and also felt like hell for two days after my cruise as a result). Carnival has sort of shown their hand that their break even point is likely somewhere around 15 drinks or slightly more. They do not allow the package on short cruises, as a person is likely to hit 15 drinks over less days. They have basically shown the math to us. That said, I agree the restrictions do make it hard for those who would consider it to pull the trigger. On RC they do nothing exceptional to prevent sharing, yet they are still making money. In fact, RC has been offering discounted drink packages quite a bit over the past 12 months. Carnival would probably sell more CHEERS packages, not less, if they would remove these restrictions.

[Jeffy294]

That's the answer to those that say CCL would make just as much money if they allowed only one person to buy the package. Obviously they wouldn't. NCL's package costs $80 per day for those that buy it and is usually offered as a "free" choice when booking the cruise. With the fares other cruise line's charge they don't need to worry as much about bar sales for making a profit. I can sail with CCL and buy the Cheers package for the two of us and still pay less than I would on either NCL or RCCL (or even better, not buy the Cheers package and save even more).

 

I don't think we can guess whether they are losing money or not by not offering that package to a single or not. Its very subjective because we truly will never know that data. We can only speculate. But again, when you compare to other cruise lines, their business models haven't changed that much based on the demographic they cater to. So it has to been something there to push them that direction. And we know that your cruise fare hardly covers the cost of food and fuel...etc.

 

We know alcohol and casino is where they actually make their profits. This is truly not a question that we can answer but I can see Carnival doing a pilot program eventually, they always do just to see if they can make money in other way. It will eventually happen, but who knows if it would ever go fleetwide.

Edited January 31, 2017 by Jeffy294

[crusinpsychRN]

Carnival doesn't even let really pregnant women off the hook. Everyone 21+ in the cabin must purchase Cheers if one purchases Cheers.

 

And that's really dumb.

[memoak]

Per Cruise Critic:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1470

 

Princess Cruise's package costs $56.35 per day, per day plus a 15-percent gratuity, and includes all drinks up to $10.

Kind of stinks for those who like top shelf brands.

 

Holland America's Signature Beverage package allows 15 beverages a day -- Each drink must cost less than $8. If one passenger in a cabin opts for the package, anyone who is 21-plus years old in the same cabin is required to purchase it as well... Different demographic.. Too many cheaters.

 

Other "cheater beater" cruise lines: MSC and Costa. All in the cabin have to purchase. Same demographic as Carnival?

 

Note that on Princess very few drinks are over $10 - I can have Bulleit Manhattans all day long and they are all covered.

[sparks1093]

I don't think we can guess whether they are losing money or not by not offering that package to a single or not. Its very subjective because we truly will never know that data. We can only speculate. But again, when you compare to other cruise lines, their business models haven't changed that much based on the demographic they cater to. So it has to been something there to push them that direction. And we know that your cruise fare hardly covers the cost of food and fuel...etc.

 

We know alcohol and casino is where they actually make their profits. This is truly not a question that we can answer but I can see Carnival doing a pilot program eventually, they always do just to see if they can make money in other way. It will eventually happen, but who knows if it would ever go fleetwide.

 

It really isn't hard to guess that if they allowed only one person to buy the package that they would lose money because the second person wouldn't be buying a package (I am talking about the Cheers program itself, not alcohol sales total).

[originalgeek]

It really isn't hard to guess that if they allowed only one person to buy the package that they would lose money because the second person wouldn't be buying a package (I am talking about the Cheers program itself, not alcohol sales total).

 

But I wonder how much it would even out. Surely I'm not the only person who will never buy 2 but would buy 1.

 

Yes they would definitely lose some 2s to just 1s but how many 1's from nothings would they pick up?

 

and then there's the professionals who laugh at 15 drinks a day so they get two anyway lol. If it was chocolate instead of booze we'd have to buy 2 because I ain't sharing that. :D

[jma624]

I think the reason for this rule (all in cabin must purchase) is more than to prevent sharing. Before the program, large groups could get an alcohol package if EVERYONE in the group participated. Otherwise, only the heavy drinkers would purchase it and they would lose money. I think that is part of the reason for the rule with the cheers program. This way, they are more likely to get some not-so-heavy drinkers in the pool of passengers who purchase the card. The pricing assumes that not everyone will drink 15 per day.

 

Also, it does make sense to impose a 15 drink limit on the program to mitigate liability even though there is no such limit on those purchasing by the drink. A person is much more likely to over-imbibe when the drinks are "free".

[sparks1093]

But I wonder how much it would even out. Surely I'm not the only person who will never buy 2 but would buy 1.

 

Yes they would definitely lose some 2s to just 1s but how many 1's from nothings would they pick up?

 

and then there's the professionals who laugh at 15 drinks a day so they get two anyway lol. If it was chocolate instead of booze we'd have to buy 2 because I ain't sharing that. :D

 

Since CCL has imposed the rule I think we can figure out which side of the equation their bean counters settled on :).

[Jeffy294]

Since CCL has imposed the rule I think we can figure out which side of the equation their bean counters settled on :).

This rule has been in place since Carnival has been offering package. In fact, when they Cheers didn't exist, they sold an AI drinks package to groups 25 cabins or more and everybody in those 25 cabins that was 21 had to buy the package. The rules just carried over to the cheers.

 

Still, if you consider that a huge majority of the people that buy the package don't think 15 will be enough. So with them, they buy a package for both either way. That was the complaint when this program started. The question still remains, would the amount of single purchases balance out to the ones that didn't buy two. Carnival is notorious for launching pilot programs in these situations. But still, the end of the day, 15 drinks and the 15% in tips is still paid for. Seems to me, the bar staff are the real winners because Carnival is buying alcohol wholesale, they aren't really, NOT selling $10 drinks, they are keeping probably less than $10 per day in actual inventory cost by you not drinking your allotment.

[sanger727]

How do other cruiselines prevent sharing? Just wondering...

 

I'm a little astonished at this thread. I browse several cruise line forums when I'm bored at work and this issue of "sharing" doesn't come up anywhere to close to this much. I think Carnival has created this issue of the expectation in peoples mind that they are pre-purchasing 15 drinks a day to do what they like with so they have added the "everyone" must purchase clause because of that mindset. On all the other lines you purchase the "all you can drink" package, and it' just that, all YOU can drink. And for the most part people respect that it's a one person deal with no sharing. I just had the UBP on NCL (as a booking perk, not purchased), and along with no limit, you can walk up to any bar and walk away with two drinks. Now, because they "give" the drink package away, I've heard that something like 75% of their cruisers have the package so maybe they are just more relaxed about it. But if someone pipes up about sharing a package on those forums, they get smashed down in a hurry about how it's unethical, possibly illegal, and will ruin all the good things about that line's package (two drinks at a time, no limit, not everyone has to purchase it, etc). Think Carnival has created a monster with how they phrased their package that doesn't exist on other lines so it's less of a concern for them.

[Elaine5715]

On short weekend cruises, young people will put 4 in an interior cabin to cruise as cheap as possible. If only one was required to purchase Cheers then all would share.

[Jeffy294]

On short weekend cruises, young people will put 4 in an interior cabin to cruise as cheap as possible. If only one was required to purchase Cheers then all would share.

 

15 drinks in a cabin with 4 "young" people wouldn't last an hour sharing.

Edited January 31, 2017 by Jeffy294

[cruise pup]

Since CCL has imposed the rule I think we can figure out which side of the equation their bean counters settled on :).

 

Exactly. They make the income projections and know what the right formula should be. So telling them that they will lose your $400. has already been considered and I guess they couldn't care less.

Edited January 31, 2017 by cruise pup

[cccer]

15 drinks in a cabin with 4 "young" people wouldn't last an hour sharing.

 

Exactly what I thought. That is not going to happen. I guess the others could buy drinks for the one with the package but 15 drinks for 4 youngsters is pretty funny.

[john91498]

Did you actually swap rooms or just have a duplicate key made for each cabin? I have been told that swapping would result in the other adult having to add Cheers at that time but hadn't heard from anyone that had actually tried.

 

We swapped rooms and my wife took my son's key.

[Computer Nerd]

Look, until they figure out a way to prevent "sharing" with say your spouse or other people in your cabin (or a person of age person sharing with an underage person), they will not change the cheers program.

 

DH and I could easily do the cheers program if we could "share" one package, I hardly drink at all (a glass of wine or foofoo drink once or twice a day). Would never be worth us getting the package for both of us at $800 - $900 for the week. Not even sure it would be worth it for one of us BUT I could def add a couple specialty coffees to the tab a day and then one package would be good for us.

 

We totally understand why they do not allow this as they lose way too much money if everyone shares and lets face it, everyone would share ;)...

 

No cruise line allows sharing of the alcohol package. Other cruise lines that allow only a single person in the cabin to purchase the package simply hope, IMO, that their travelers are the caliber of people who wouldn't break the rules. Carnival has no such delusional thoughts and created a policy to hopefully minimize the loss of revenue.

[Computer Nerd]

Carnival insists that everyone in the cabin MUST PURCHASE CHEERS....THEN THEY HAVE THE THE AUDACITY...to limit the number of drinks you can have...REALLY??? ROYAL CARIBBEAN does not have these rules....ANYONE (EVEN 1 IN A CABIN CAN PURCHASE) AND UNLIMITED DRINKS....GET WITH THE PROGRAM CARNIVAL....

 

.......or sail RCCL if the only thing you worry about is how much alcohol you are allowed to consume on a cruise.

[firemanbobswife]

We swapped rooms and my wife took my son's key.

 

 

Why? Then they can't charge things or get a soda if they have BB package. They also need to make sure to switch back when getting on and off the ship. Just get duplicate keys. It doesn't get any easier than that. They will be blue and say "Key only".

[mcgore83]

I really would like for Carnival to offer a program where the first person pays the full price and the second person could have the option to pay a price of half off. In my situation it would work perfectly. We both drink, and possibly more on a sea day, so even if we "shared", 22 drinks between the two of us would work well. If you are really talking about sharing, a couple should share everything, including a bed. Should we be charged for sharing it?

[Computer Nerd]

I really would like for Carnival to offer a program where the first person pays the full price and the second person could have the option to pay a price of half off. In my situation it would work perfectly. We both drink, and possibly more on a sea day, so even if we "shared", 22 drinks between the two of us would work well. If you are really talking about sharing, a couple should share everything, including a bed. Should we be charged for sharing it?

 

This is just beyond silly. Here is how it works. Let's say Carnival's daily Cheers package usage is 6.2 drinks (this is completely an arbitrary number). The see how many drinks they sell each day under the Cheers package. So at 6.2 drinks per day @ $49.95 they make a profit. If they allowed people to share it would go to say 9.5 drinks per day and they would not make profit. So if they allowed sharing they would have to raise the price to make a profit. People taut how other lines allow only one person in a cabin to buy Cheers but at least on NCL, that price if you buy it is $79.95 a day, not $49.95 a day.

 

Carnival does not care about your particular situation, or mine, or anyone else's. They go by the average and they are going to set the price based on that average to ensure they make money which is the entire reason for them being in business in the first place!