Your personal thoughts on the cheers package?

[Scotto97]

Couple of questions:

 

Can you ask for a bottled beer unopened so it can be taken back to your room and enjoyed at a later time?

 

I bring a Hydroflask (32 ounce thermos type container) that I enjoy for being spill-proof and insulated. How would I manage to have this filled with a couple of vodka shots and cranberry juice using Cheers?

[h_blond2]

As others have said, this a very subjective topic. For me, it is not even close to being worth it. I drink maybe 1 alcoholic drink per day. The rest of the time I am drinking the water from the Lido deck (or the bottles we pre-purchased) and I bring my own soda on board. I don't buy the specialty coffees, milkshakes or soda.

[Keys2Heaven]

You can buy 12 bottles of water for 4.50, 24 bottles for 9.00, etc and have delivered to your room, so including that in price comparison seems silly to me, but that is just my opinion lol

 

+1

 

This is what we do.

[peajay84]

For us it's a yes. But we've only done 4 and 5 day cruises. If we ever do a 7 day or longer cruise we probably wouldn't - depending on the ports of call.

We usually drink 3 adult beverages each weekend evening. When cruising we start happy hour a little earlier and/or have a glass of wine with dinner. I might have a Latte one or two mornings and my husband might have a malt one or two afternoons. I'm a huge tea drinker and am not a fan of lido tea so Honest Tea is preferable. We also like to have a couple bottles of water available in our room for when we are resting there.

 

So, for us we generally break even. Just like the Aft Extended Balcony room we book, Cheers! is a splurge. We only cruise once a year so we feel like we can spend on things like this.

[Eggfrmr]

There are no " work arounds". Carnival FAQs are very specific. All over 21 in a cabin need to purchase it.

 

Oh wait there is one, you each get seperate cabins , then you will be able to purchase cheers for 1 person.

I only ask because two people mentioned in this thread about work arounds for it. I know on another line, they will permit it if your cabin mate does not drink at all.

 

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[beerman2]

I only ask because two people mentioned in this thread about work arounds for it. I know on another line, they will permit it if your cabin mate does not drink at all.

 

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There are always those ( not saying you) that want/try to work the system.

 

Drinks on cruiselines are the money makers for them. Plus Casino. Yes it is high profit but they have us as a captive audience.

 

Might be something to think of being you can take a 12pk. Soda/juice on board is order a Bottle or 2 from bon voyage dept.

 

Yes you pay 80-90 a bottle for a 1 liter but depending on your pour your average drink cost comes out in the 3.00 range per drink.

 

Yes it's a hassle going back to cabin unless you take a yeti/Thermal mug.

[n6uqqq]

But, if you pay for Cheers, you won't have any "surprises" at the end of the cruise and won't have to "worry" during the cruise. Could be more like, oh crap, I paid over $800 (for 2 for 7 day cruise) for Cheers, but only had about $564.32 worth of drinks. Would that be a surprise, or a shock and would I now worry more or less?

 

:D If i had a dollar for every time the word " worry " is used on a cheers thread I would be retired and cruising!

[peajay84]

 

Might be something to think of being you can take a 12pk. Soda/juice on board is order a Bottle or 2 from bon voyage dept.

 

Yes you pay 80-90 a bottle for a 1 liter but depending on your pour your average drink cost comes out in the 3.00 range per drink.

 

Yes it's a hassle going back to cabin unless you take a yeti/Thermal mug.

 

If we drank simple drinks I'd order the booze/soda pkg from the Fun Shops and make my own as it's a much better value than Cheers. But none of my faves are jack/coke, captain/coke, gin/tonic, whiskey/sour, etc type of drinks. And I don't like drinking the same drink all the time. I like different things depending on my mood. And I'm never in the mood for beer!

[notyours75]

I like the convenience both on the ship and for budgeting purposes. We pre-purchase cheers using gift cards we get from Allstate Drivewise at a 10% discount and using a credit card we get cash back on so it lowers our overall cost. I will more than break even and DW may or may not drink much. We haven't cruised since they changed it up to include the coffees and other specialty drinks and I think she will use that even more.

 

Overall its budgeted and paid for, drink what you want when you want it, no counting the cost and it gives us the freedom to try new drinks and not feel bad if we don't like them. Really like this program with the Alchemy bar. Last cruise we sat down and drink ourselves through the menu. Would not have tried many of those drinks without Cheers.

[Eggfrmr]

If we drank simple drinks I'd order the booze/soda pkg from the Fun Shops and make my own as it's a much better value than Cheers. But none of my faves are jack/coke, captain/coke, gin/tonic, whiskey/sour, etc type of drinks. And I don't like drinking the same drink all the time. I like different things depending on my mood. And I'm never in the mood for beer!

Exactly! I love the slushy, fruity concoctions and the fancy martinis.

 

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[bar1068]

:D If i had a dollar for every time the word " worry " is used on a cheers thread I would be retired and cruising!

 

 

 

Lol!! Exactly!

 

 

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[peajay84]

Really like this program with the Alchemy bar. Last cruise we sat down and drink ourselves through the menu. Would not have tried many of those drinks without Cheers.

 

Yep, The Alchemy makes it worthwhile for us too!

[Kittybork]

I like Cheers since it now includes water, coffee, and other drinks. I don't argue with myself about the cost of ordering another drink or grabbing another water or coffee. I feel like a millionaire for a week. If I want it, I have it. Cost is no longer a concern. Silly? Yes, but it's just easy. No surprises at the end either.

[mcbridedori]

I personally enjoyed it - for the specialty coffees and S.Pellegrinos and wine at dinner. And to order drinks I have never tried - if I didnt like them, no big deal, I just got a different one. For me, its the worry free part I appreciated- I pre-purchased with a 10% discount gift card, so breaking "even" was easier.

 

 

 

April 2017 S Pellegrino was not a part of cheers at dinner in main dinning room. Customer service told me every ship is different. Always ask if something is included in cheers package

 

 

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[Ralphinsc]

We purchased the Cheers program on our last 7 day cruise. We will probably not purchase on our next. Leaving from Galveston (and some other ports) you are unable to use the program until the second day, meaning no "free" drinks at departure, the first evening or dinner. On port days you are not on the ship very long. At dinner the most we could usually drink was one glass of wine before dinner and one with dinner, the drink stewards are scarce. We are moderate drinkers, my husband heavier, but we were unable to make the program "pay" for us, even with "fancy" drinks on board. The mini bar and in stateroom drinks are not included.

Best advice, research and figure what you will drink and go from there. Do keep in mind if you plan to drink in the dinning room, it will take awhile to get a drink ordered, and received.

 

We just grab a drink from the bar right before we go to sit down to dinner. Saves the hassle of that.

[gigem_aggies]

We’ve bought it on both a 4 day and a 7 day. Definitely worth it for us. 1 specialty coffee every morning, a Bloody Mary mid morning, 2-3 drinks around the pool in the afternoon, a drink before dinner, glass of wine at dinner, and 2 drinks after dinner and we are already making money. On port days, the coffee in the morning plus pre-dinner and post dinner drinks still keeps us ahead. And, I’ve only been actually intoxicated once on board!

[originalgeek]

But, if you pay for Cheers, you won't have any "surprises" at the end of the cruise and won't have to "worry" during the cruise. Could be more like, oh crap, I paid over $800 (for 2 for 7 day cruise) for Cheers, but only had about $564.32 worth of drinks. Would that be a surprise, or a shock and would I now worry more or less?

 

I just don't get this. I'd rather be surprised that I spent far less than Cheers price. Of course, you get to cruise the way that's most comfortable for you and I can't criticize you for enjoying a cruise your way.

 

But since OP asked, MY opinion is it isn't worth it until they allow one package and sharing between a couple in a cabin. My wife drinks very little and I mostly drink beer but I never worry about what my bar bill will be. I drink whenever I want and I get the drinks I like and my bar bill on both cruises so far (a 7-day and a 4-day) have been less than half of what Cheers would have cost us. And that's including some specialty cocktails and a bottle of wine at the steakhouse one time. Still way less than cheers money.

 

We'll see how it pans out in April on our first 8-day.

 

We buy the 12 packs of water and put them in the fridge and we don't drink specialty coffee (I like mine black and that's free) or energy drinks.

 

If someone GAVE me a Cheers package I would probably use it and drink more than I would have if I was buying but I'm not sure that's a good thing. Like I said, I already drink all I want so I with Cheers I'd be drinking more than I want (or maybe just more than I should lol)

 

I'd happily pay full price for a single Cheers and even pay a (reasonable - TBD) sharing fee and even let them exclude or limit the coffees and special waters but until they do that the free stuff and à la cart drinks is fine with me.

[mumofsons]

If I was just getting it for myself it would absolutely be worth it, while cruising I do enjoy at least three or four drinks during the day, at least one specialty coffee and then another or two in the evening, DH doesn't...so it really doesn't add up for us. I really wish one person in the cabin could get it.

[jallison8378]

Cruising with 4 people and we aren't huge drinkers. We might each have 2-3 drinks per night. However, we read an article that said you really need 5 drinks to break even and of course it includes more than just alcohol. We'll probably buy 3-4 bottles of water pe rday and I personally love specialty coffee so it seems it might be worth it. What to do you think?

 

What are you person thoughts on the cheers package?

 

I'm typically a pretty big drinker and I still don't think it's worth it, for many reasons already given. Additionally, I would much rather go a la carte and not feel like I've wasted money if I don't feel like drinking one day due to particularly rough seas, or a hangover, or whatever.

[Eggfrmr]

Me too. This is my first cruise with someone besides my hubby (also first Carnival cruise). Hubby and I always get the package.

 

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[sgttami]

I always buy Cheers (pre-pay)...Mostly drink Coor's Light. Between 6-7 I've broken even. (A 16 oz is close to $7.00)

 

Sometimes I'll do a Bloody Mary, wine, martini, or a frozen drink in between. Don't really drink coffees, milk shakes and waters.

 

First Carnival cruise I did pay as you go and after tallying the results....I would have saved $150 had I done Cheers!

 

Always Cheers from then on....:)

[beerman2]

If we drank simple drinks I'd order the booze/soda pkg from the Fun Shops and make my own as it's a much better value than Cheers. But none of my faves are jack/coke, captain/coke, gin/tonic, whiskey/sour, etc type of drinks. And I don't like drinking the same drink all the time. I like different things depending on my mood. And I'm never in the mood for beer!

Ooohh I agree the person I quoted was looking to work the system. 2 in cabin 1 doesn't drink.

 

I'm one who will bounce around with drinks with an occasional beer. That's why Cheers works for me/us.

 

I can go from Vodka, Scotch, Martini's ( Chocolate, AppleTin) , an Occasional whiskey 🥃 to frozen.

 

Oooh and gotta have Bailey's with my coffee.🤣🤣🤣

[cruizergal70]

Can someone explain why bottled water is considered a perk? Buying the 12 pack for $5 is probably cheaper for those that don't drink much alcohol.

[Kittybork]

Can someone explain why bottled water is considered a perk? Buying the 12 pack for $5 is probably cheaper for those that don't drink much alcohol.

 

Those who do drink alcohol now get water included.

[Keys2Heaven]

If they had a Cheers! Lite or half the daily drinks for half the cost, that would be more in line with our drinking habits (including coffees, etc.) and budget.