Sip and Sail or $300 OBC for non-alcohol drinkers?

[ams cruiser]

Last summer I was thrilled to get the Sip and Sail promotion for our upcoming 7-day Ruby Alaska cruise, however, my DH's new medication means he must forgo alcohol.

 

The Soda and more alternative for me is a no-brainer, but my husband will only drink an occasional non-alcoholic ginger beer. (He's still trying to figure out a life without wine!) He doesn't care for sweet drinks (no virgin daiquiris), likes Perrier/Pelligrino water, loves good brewed coffee (Peet's), and enjoys the occasional latte.

 

On the Princess website, a soda and more package, 2 12-packs of bottled water, and a coffee card total $105.80. (If DH just buys coffee on a-la-carte basis, the total goes down to $70.15.)

 

It looks OBC is still a better value, but I am suffering from analysis paralysis over something I know isn't that big of a deal.

 

Is there anything I'm not thinking of? Are there any non-drinkers out there who still find the Sip and Sail a better option than $300 OBC?

 

I did try using the beverage calculator, which I'm sure is a great tool (and a lot of work on the part of whoever created it), but I was having trouble making it work for me, most likely due to my own technology limitations.

[skynight]

Last summer I was thrilled to get the Sip and Sail promotion for our upcoming 7-day Ruby Alaska cruise, however, my DH's new medication means he must forgo alcohol.

 

The Soda and more alternative for me is a no-brainer, but my husband will only drink an occasional non-alcoholic ginger beer. (He's still trying to figure out a life without wine!) He doesn't care for sweet drinks (no virgin daiquiris), likes Perrier/Pelligrino water, loves good brewed coffee (Peet's), and enjoys the occasional latte.

 

On the Princess website, a soda and more package, 2 12-packs of bottled water, and a coffee card total $105.80. (If DH just buys coffee on a-la-carte basis, the total goes down to $70.15.)

 

It looks OBC is still a better value, but I am suffering from analysis paralysis over something I know isn't that big of a deal.

 

Is there anything I'm not thinking of? Are there any non-drinkers out there who still find the Sip and Sail a better option than $300 OBC?

 

I did try using the beverage calculator, which I'm sure is a great tool (and a lot of work on the part of whoever created it), but I was having trouble making it work for me, most likely due to my own technology limitations.

I'm not sure exactly what you are asking. If you don't drink alcoholic beverages then the OBC is a better value. If you do drink alcoholic beverages then you have to consume about 30+/pp of them over the course of the cruise to make the beverage package pay off. Remember with the Sip & Sail promo both persons in the cabin must select the same option, either drink package or OBC. The cafe card is $35. Coffee is also available for free in any DR and at the buffet.

[MCC retired]

We do have a few drinks daily at sea and fewer on port days .

Not big drinkers .

We chose the OBC every time .

 

 

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[ams cruiser]

I'm not sure exactly what you are asking. If you don't drink alcoholic beverages then the OBC is a better value. If you do drink alcoholic beverages then you have to consume about 30+/pp of them over the course of the cruise to make the beverage package pay off. Remember with the Sip & Sail promo both persons in the cabin must select the same option, either drink package or OBC. The cafe card is $35. Coffee is also available for free in any DR and at the buffet.

 

Thanks for putting it so concisely. I'm over-thinking this. I've been planning this trip, and reading these boards off and on for months. I did well in the beginning of my planning in getting excursions lined up, etc., but am panicking over little things as the trip gets closer!

[ams cruiser]

We do have a few drinks daily at sea and fewer on port days .

Not big drinkers .

We chose the OBC every time .

 

 

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Thanks! It sounds like OBC is the way to go.

[4cats4me]

OBC is what we opted for for an upcoming cruise, and also it is combinable with other OBC from travel agent, FCDs, FCC's et cet. We love that we will have almost $500 OBC for a 7-day cruise, especially when we only drink around two drinks pp per day.

 

 

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[ams cruiser]

OBC is what we opted for for an upcoming cruise, and also it is combinable with other OBC from travel agent, FCDs, FCC's et cet. We love that we will have almost $500 OBC for a 7-day cruise, especially when we only drink around two drinks pp per day.

 

 

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Wonderful! We have some OBC from our TA as well. I think it is already spent!

[cactusrose]

Thanks! It sounds like OBC is the way to go.

 

Take the OBC and buy what you want. Sounds like you will still come out ahead.

[easyboy]

I am not a steady drinker and just drink occasionally. I go for the OBC and just pay as I order when I feel like it.

[Lucky TGO]

Take the OBC and buy what you want. Sounds like you will still come out ahead.

I totally agree with you.

Tony

[ams cruiser]

I appreciate everyone's advice!

[petefoss]

How do you switch to OBC? I might consider a lower cost drink package since we are not big drinkers. Can OBC be used to pay for shore excursions that are already booked and paid for?

 

Thanks,

Pete

[MCC retired]

How do you switch to OBC? I might consider a lower cost drink package since we are not big drinkers. Can OBC be used to pay for shore excursions that are already booked and paid for?

 

Thanks,

Pete

 

You must contact whomever you booked with to change your Rate Code "before" the S&S sale expires . After that the ability to change it is over.

Once the OBC is posted in your cruise personalizer , you then have to cancel the tours then "try" rebook them using OBC (if possible). Otherwise you will have to wait until onboard.

[petefoss]

We sail Saturday. I guess we can ask onboard.

 

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[ams cruiser]

Just called my big box travel agent and switched to OBC. We haven't paid for our one Princess excursion yet, so it will go either towards the excursion on our gratuities.

[petefoss]

We can't switch since our cruise next week was purchased last year. Oh well. Time to drink a lot of drinks, espresso, etc.

 

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[ams cruiser]

We can't switch since our cruise next week was purchased last year. Oh well. Time to drink a lot of drinks, espresso, etc.

 

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Is it because your cruise is next week? We put our deposit down last year (August, I think), but were able to switch to OBC yesterday.

[petefoss]

Yes

 

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[ams cruiser]

Yes

 

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Have a great cruise!

[petefoss]

We did. Even though we probably would have made money if we could have switched to OBC, it was gear to not even think about drink costs at all.

 

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