Cheers or Cruise Cash?

[aimcat]

I like to have a budget for things that can get out of hand like drinks. So I am wondering where I will come out ahead - we have a 4 day cruise in a week! We have 2 ports - Key West and Cozumel. I am just sort of thinking on the port days we may not drink quite as much on the ship. Therefore is Cheers really worth it? Now on the 1st day, and sea day I know we could do the 15 drinks easily. But after a day touring, or at a AI beach that includes food and drinks anyway, drinking 15 drinks by the time we get back on the ship seems like a feat even for us LOL - so just wondering if maybe I should maybe a lot like a certain amount of money on cruise cash and let that be our drink budget or just do the Cheers? We have 3 people that I would be paying to cover that can drink - so that puts us around $720 for 3 people for Cheers.

 

Thanks in advance for the wonderful help I get on here!

[Schoifmom]

I like to have a budget for things that can get out of hand like drinks. So I am wondering where I will come out ahead - we have a 4 day cruise in a week! We have 2 ports - Key West and Cozumel. I am just sort of thinking on the port days we may not drink quite as much on the ship. Therefore is Cheers really worth it? Now on the 1st day, and sea day I know we could do the 15 drinks easily. But after a day touring, or at a AI beach that includes food and drinks anyway, drinking 15 drinks by the time we get back on the ship seems like a feat even for us LOL - so just wondering if maybe I should maybe a lot like a certain amount of money on cruise cash and let that be our drink budget or just do the Cheers? We have 3 people that I would be paying to cover that can drink - so that puts us around $720 for 3 people for Cheers.

 

Thanks in advance for the wonderful help I get on here!

 

The break-even point is about 6-7 cocktails (higher for beer, lower for the more expensive wines), not including non-alcoholic drinks. It's up to you to decide if you would break even on Cheers or should pay ala carte for drinks.

[Kaszdad]

Don't think of it as on a daily basis, look at the possible total for the whole cruise. If you drink 15 on the 2 non-port days and are drinking $10 drinks that's $300 without any on your port days so 3 people times $300 is already $900 and I would think you will drink a few after the port days.

It's not the daily use, it's the total use.

Cheers

Ken

[sc4125]

I have purchased CHEERS for the last 3 - 4 cruises. I did love ordering whatever I wanted, but I never really break even. This Saturday I will be on the Miracle - 7 day cruise with 4 port days. It's also a Premier Casino cruise which means we will be getting free drinks while playing in the casino (we tend to spend a lot of time in there).

 

So, this cruise my sister and I decided rather than paying over $400 each for CHEERS, we would purchase Cruise Cash Bar - $200 for me & $300 for her - you can only purchase a total of $500 per cabin. I know that some people say you shouldn't get the Cash Bar because if you don't use it on drinks or specialty coffee, you lose it. I have no fear that we will make sure we use it, but even if we don't, I never break even on CHEERS either.

 

So, for us, at least for this cruise, we will try the Cash Bar. I will be interested to see how I like it.

[beckiann1377]

When you are comparing, keep in mind the Key West port is only a few hours, so you will still be 'cruising' for much of the day. We purchased Cheers for our last and upcoming cruises. For our last cruise, I believe we saved about $90 (two of us), on a 4 day. From what I've been reading, nonalcoholic beverages are included and do not count against your limit (Vitamin Waters, Coffee Shop, etc).

 

As a sidenote, your cruise is the same as the one I am taking in June. If it's not too much trouble....could you snap pics of your Fun Times? We sail June 14th, on the Sensation, out of Miami!

 

Have fun :)

[aimcat]

Thanks for the tips guys! Beckiann1377 - yes of course ill send pics and we are also doing video of this cruise! I will be sure to share with you and also do a review!

[auscgguysgirl]

The bigger question I think is how much do you both drink? Cheers has to be purchased for all over 21 persons in the stateroom. My DH is NOT a drinker. I mean, for him ... 1 drink per day is a stretch ... I usually drink MAYBE 2 or 3 ... so Cheers is worthless to us.

 

Now, my sister and her DH ... they drink their 15 drinks per person per day ... EVERY day ... they get their $$$'s worth.

[aimcat]

We will have my husband, our mutual friend (a guy) and myself. They can put away 15 over the course of a day I believe without an issue, I can do maybe 10 on a good day. At the same time I like a good evening of drinks and laughs but my plan is not never stay wasted the entire cruise. Lol.

[Joebucks]

It's different for everyone. $720 can be a lot of money even if you "break even".

 

I did the Key West and Cozumel itinerary last year. The Key West was 7:30-1, which is a joke. Cozumel was about 11-10 pm. On the Cozumel day, you probably won't get your moneys worth. Plus, you will probably buy drinks there.

 

Now it is a no-brainer if you were going to spend more than $720 in drinks anyway. It can also be nice to try new drinks. The alchemy bar is especially awesome for this.

 

Personally, I bring a bottle of wine, find a deal with OBC, and buy a few on the boat and land. I usually don't spend much more than $50 out of pocket on drinks when it is said and done. This is coming from someone who likes to drink. I also don't drink all of the energy drinks, coffee, vitamin water, etc though.

[aimcat]

We drink nothing but water - our friend likes soda and vitamin waters and tea. However my husband and I is purely water and maybe some juice. So we really would not have much advantage to the extra drinks.

[auscgguysgirl]

We will have my husband, our mutual friend (a guy) and myself. They can put away 15 over the course of a day I believe without an issue, I can do maybe 10 on a good day. At the same time I like a good evening of drinks and laughs but my plan is not never stay wasted the entire cruise. Lol.

 

This may work well for you then. My sis & her DH cruise 2/3 times a year. They have a habit of getting on the ship and then immediately finding a bartender that they like, that is fun. They get their schedule (they do change bars) and then they follow that bartender. Their experience is when you tip extra to the bartender they tend to give you a little extra along the way. Our last cruise in November ... the bartender gave them upgrades and allowed them to use their drinks to give to others in the group to reach their 15 limit toward the end of the day.

[beerman2]

I have purchased CHEERS for the last 3 - 4 cruises. I did love ordering whatever I wanted, but I never really break even. This Saturday I will be on the Miracle - 7 day cruise with 4 port days. It's also a Premier Casino cruise which means we will be getting free drinks while playing in the casino (we tend to spend a lot of time in there).

 

So, this cruise my sister and I decided rather than paying over $400 each for CHEERS, we would purchase Cruise Cash Bar - $200 for me & $300 for her - you can only purchase a total of $500 per cabin. I know that some people say you shouldn't get the Cash Bar because if you don't use it on drinks or specialty coffee, you lose it. I have no fear that we will make sure we use it, but even if we don't, I never break even on CHEERS either.

 

So, for us, at least for this cruise, we will try the Cash Bar. I will be interested to see how I like it.

Can't you just buy " cruise cash" and not Bar cruise cash?

 

That way at least you can cash out balance of cruise cash.

[beckiann1377]

Thanks for the tips guys! Beckiann1377 - yes of course ill send pics and we are also doing video of this cruise! I will be sure to share with you and also do a review!

 

 

Wonderful! Thanks so much!!

[Keys2Heaven]

I would only consider Cheers! for shorter sailings such as the one you are going to take.

[dorchrislen]

I know that some people say you shouldn't get the Cash Bar because if you don't use it on drinks or specialty coffee, you lose it. I have no fear that we will make sure we use it, but even if we don't, I never break even on CHEERS either.

 

So, for us, at least for this cruise, we will try the Cash Bar. I will be interested to see how I like it.

 

I'm just wondering why you wouldn't just purchase the cruise cash instead of cash bar, that way you could use it on whatever and not feel like you have to drink the credit.

[dorchrislen]

Can't you just buy " cruise cash" and not Bar cruise cash?

 

That way at least you can cash out balance of cruise cash.

 

The T&C for cruise cash says you forteit what you don't use, but at least it wouldn't be restricted to bar purchases.

[beerman2]

The T&C for cruise cash says you forteit what you don't use, but at least it wouldn't be restricted to bar purchases.

Yes but if you have cruise cash left and go to casino and put full amount left on S&S into machine, play a few dollars , then cash out, isn't the money ( cash) going into your pocket???

 

Bar Cash ( No) for sure.

[cmichael1279]

You can also just add cash to your account once onboard instead of buying the cruise cash or bar cash. Easiest way to get your money back if you don't use it all for whatever reason

[aimcat]

If I go ahead and check in online - can I still purchase Cheers after I have checked in online?

[sc4125]

I'm just wondering why you wouldn't just purchase the cruise cash instead of cash bar, that way you could use it on whatever and not feel like you have to drink the credit.

 

I did buy $500 in cruise cash that I will use in the casino. Unfortunately, you're only allowed $500 in cruise cash and $500 in cash bar per cabin. Since there are two of us in the cabin, that restricted the use to $250 each. The only reason I purchased the $500 cruise cash was because I had some extra $$ that I wasn't expecting, so rather than spend a little here and there, I decided to buy the cruise cash.

 

Also, truth be told, my sister tends to over-do it in the casino during the first few days - buying cash bar restricts the use, so if she runs out of $$ in the casino, she can at least keep drinking for the last couple of days of the cruise.

[Joecruiser62]

We just finished a 5 day with the Cheers package. Both of us drink, but not serious drinkers. We came in about 150-200 short, so we lost money. That being said, it was nice not to have to worry about it. I doubt if I get it for our next cruise and see how that works out.

[sw33twif3]

I always opt for Cruise Cash. My wife doesn't drink alcohol, so Cheers doesn't work for us.

[aimcat]

If I go ahead and check in online - can I still purchase Cheers after I have checked in online?

[d12j28]

If I go ahead and check in online - can I still purchase Cheers after I have checked in online?

Yes. As late as 10PM the night prior to cruising.

[aimcat]

Ive been thinking and doing the math on realistically what we will drink. I think our friend maybe def needs Cheers because he likes soda and all that as well. For my husband and I, I came out to spending around 240-280 each which is just over the cost of the Cheers package. Soooooo, I am still undecided! Lol