2Xayear Posted February 11, 2018 #1 Share Posted February 11, 2018 As a 3 Star Mariner, we get a 25% discount on Wine Packages. I remember from past HAL cruises, they offered some sort of a Wine Package Special at the start of the cruise? Can anyone tell me if it might be advantageous to not pre-purchase and instead just wait until we board and check out the "special"? I don't remember if the "special" was even anything different that the pre-purchase options. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising-along Posted February 11, 2018 #2 Share Posted February 11, 2018 I don't recall ever seeing any "deals" on wine packages other than the Mariner discount (we purchase at least one for each cruise). But if someone has, I would be interested in knowing. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epicureangirl Posted February 11, 2018 #3 Share Posted February 11, 2018 I had not pre-purchased a wine package, and was not offered one on my January Volendam cruise (despite taking my meals in the dining room right from the start). Maybe someone else can chime in what their experience was on their ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 3rdGenCunarder Posted February 11, 2018 #4 Share Posted February 11, 2018 In my experience, the price for a wine package is the same whenever you buy it. The online advance price is different because it includes the service charge. On board, that's added to the published price rather than included, but it comes out to be the same. I always want to check to see if the list on the glossy brochure is what they've actually got. If I see a wine steward as I leave the embarkation lunch, I'll ask about it there. Most often, I wait until the first dinner and buy the package then after talking to our wine steward. I believe I've read that bar waiter tips are in their own pool. What about the wine servers in the MDR? Are they in the same pool? Does anyone track how well they do at selling wines? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted February 11, 2018 #5 Share Posted February 11, 2018 I see no benefit to pre purchasing the wine package. We did it once years ago. What is on the website may not be what is available on the ship so, we prefer to wait until we are onboard to order. I think the wine stewards benefit more from ordering on board but am not 100% sure on that. Also, when you pre purchase you are charged the full amount and have to wait until you are onboard to be credited your discount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Vict0riann Posted February 11, 2018 #6 Share Posted February 11, 2018 Jacqui, we were told (on Prinsendam in 2016 I think) that it is the wine steward who opens each individual bottle who gets the commission, not the one who sells you the package. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising-along Posted February 11, 2018 #7 Share Posted February 11, 2018 Jacqui, we were told (on Prinsendam in 2016 I think) that it is the wine steward who opens each individual bottle who gets the commission, not the one who sells you the package. NOT doubting this information at all, but wouldn't the steward who sells the package get something?? Otherwise why the push to sell them? At least in my experience, we're asked several times/day early in the cruise if we want to buy a package. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Vict0riann Posted February 11, 2018 #8 Share Posted February 11, 2018 It would make sense, we'll have to ask again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sofietucker Posted February 11, 2018 #9 Share Posted February 11, 2018 We don't do it any more. It turns out not to be that much of a deal (regardless of stars) when the wines they list are out of stock and you have to turn to the non-package wines, as happened to us pretty consistently over the last couple of cruises...and nope, they don't compensate you with a better discount on the non-listed wine for not being able to use your package. Not to mention that they are very reluctant to go get a bottle that's in inventory at a far away bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Vict0riann Posted February 11, 2018 #10 Share Posted February 11, 2018 We don't do it any more. It turns out not to be that much of a deal (regardless of stars) when the wines they list are out of stock and you have to turn to the non-package wines, as happened to us pretty consistently over the last couple of cruises...and nope, they don't compensate you with a better discount on the non-listed wine for not being able to use your package. Not to mention that they are very reluctant to go get a bottle that's in inventory at a far away bar. Ooh, not good. That has never happened to us asfar as I can remember. If they have run out of a wine we ordered, they have always brought us something better, not made us pick another wine from our package list. And we have used wines from our package in all the restaurants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted February 11, 2018 #11 Share Posted February 11, 2018 We don't do it any more. It turns out not to be that much of a deal (regardless of stars) when the wines they list are out of stock and you have to turn to the non-package wines, as happened to us pretty consistently over the last couple of cruises...and nope, they don't compensate you with a better discount on the non-listed wine for not being able to use your package. Not to mention that they are very reluctant to go get a bottle that's in inventory at a far away bar. My experience differs from yours. Rarely have they run out of a wine that is on the package list. Once, they did. The wine that was offered as a substitute was a better quality, more expensive/bottle wine than what was out of stock. As far as going to another bar to obtain a wine, I have been pleased when a lounge bartender told me that he "would be happy" to go to another bar to get my desired bottle of wine. (I had not asked for that to be done and indicated that I would go get the wine.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Vict0riann Posted February 11, 2018 #12 Share Posted February 11, 2018 And our last cruise on Koningsdam, we had a partial bottle of wine left in the Pinnacle; the next night in the Tamarind, the bottle was there waiting for us.:D We've never had that happen before, but someone had done their checking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising-along Posted February 11, 2018 #13 Share Posted February 11, 2018 I've had the same good experiences that VictOriann and rkacruiser have had. In fact on the Koningsdam last January our MDR wine steward offered to track down our missing bottle of wine that the Pinnacle had misplaced the night before! He went above and beyond and was rewarded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted February 11, 2018 #14 Share Posted February 11, 2018 I've had the same good experiences that VictOriann and rkacruiser have had. In fact on the Koningsdam last January our MDR wine steward offered to track down our missing bottle of wine that the Pinnacle had misplaced the night before! He went above and beyond and was rewarded. Same experience that I had on the Zaandam after my previous night's PG dinner. The wine did not make it to the MDR the next night and my Wine Steward found it "somewhere". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted February 11, 2018 #15 Share Posted February 11, 2018 Jacqui, we were told (on Prinsendam in 2016 I think) that it is the wine steward who opens each individual bottle who gets the commission, not the one who sells you the package. Interesting. I thought that the wine steward who took the order got something but who knows? Not for me to worry about. I just order it on board at dinner. ;). That's the wine steward who will be taking care of us so that is where I place the order. Ooh, not good. That has never happened to us asfar as I can remember. If they have run out of a wine we ordered, they have always brought us something better, not made us pick another wine from our package list. And we have used wines from our package in all the restaurants. We've had the same experience Ann. If a wine is not available (and it has happened), we are offered a different bottle not in the package that is usually pricier. Never had a problem using the wine package in any of the specialty restuarants. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted February 11, 2018 #16 Share Posted February 11, 2018 Usually, I try to order my wine package once on board. I have found that there is a Wine Steward stationed at the forward end of the Lido Deck in front of the mid-ship pool. He has a display with all of the information one might require. Rarely, is he/she busy and has the time to speak with me and answer questions. I have a feeling that this "duty" is just part of their job without any extra compensation. Just like those of the hotel staff who have gangway duty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kftw Posted February 12, 2018 #17 Share Posted February 12, 2018 Can you have some of the wine purchased in a package delivered to your cabin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising-along Posted February 12, 2018 #18 Share Posted February 12, 2018 Can you have some of the wine purchased in a package delivered to your cabin? Yes you can. You can have all of it delivered to your cabin too. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kftw Posted February 12, 2018 #19 Share Posted February 12, 2018 Yes you can. You can have all of it delivered to your cabin too. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising-along Posted February 12, 2018 #20 Share Posted February 12, 2018 Thank you! You're welcome. On one cruise we purchased two wine packages. We had one delivered to our cabin and the other was left for the MDR and other dining areas. :):) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tv24 Posted February 12, 2018 #21 Share Posted February 12, 2018 We bought our wine package on board in order to use our OBC. We chose the middle package of the 3 offered because it gave us a good selection of the wines we like. Saved a few dollars per bottle over what we would have paid per bottle in the MDR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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