Advantages to prepurchasing a Beverage Card

[TAD2005]

There is no such thing as a "Signature Beverage Card". It is a plain and simple "Beverage Card" of whatever denomination you choose to purchase. It is dollar for dollar, and no discounts. You can use the Beverage Card for whatever liquid refreshment you want, except the inroom fridge and HMC. Also, you can't use it for bottles of water at the gangway for a shore excursion.

The "Signature Beverage Package" (SBP) does provide considerable discounts, IF, and it's a BIG IF, you drink more than 5 or 6 beverages per day. For drinks in the $6.00 to $8.95 price range, when you add in the 15% service charge, you are drinking free after 5 or 6 drinks. If your normal cruise drink consumption is a glass or 2 of wine at dinner, go for the plain beverage card. If you think you may consume more than 5 or 6 drinks per day (maybe a cruise with lots of sea days), the you should consider the SBP. Also, purchasing the SBP is cheaper by $5 per day if you purchase it online, ahead of your cruise. If you wait to buy it onboard, maybe hoping to use some of your HAL provided free cabin credit, you pay $5 a day more, plus the usual 15% service charge.

[sandyss]

We will have 2 Beverage Cards from HAL that are "not redeemable for cash".  Can we apply the value of the Beverage Card to a more expensive Wine Bottle Package?  Thanks.

[TAD2005]

5 hours ago, sandyss said:

We will have 2 Beverage Cards from HAL that are "not redeemable for cash".  Can we apply the value of the Beverage Card to a more expensive Wine Bottle Package?  Thanks.

Yes, you can combine the value of the HAL provided beverage cards to purchase a bottle of wine.  You pay the difference on your cabin account or, if the wine is less than the value of the 2 combined cards,  the remaining value will be on one of the 2 cards. 

[joekerstef]

On 3/18/2018 at 10:02 AM, knittinggirl said:

 

And we didn't get a refund when we ran out of card. Each had about 60 cents left, and they didn't apply that 60 cents to the next card. They just charged the full drink amount on the new card.

 

 

Also, we had about $1.80 left over from all three cards at the end of the cruise, and they didn't credit half to our account.

 

I'm reluctant to buy a beverage card if they don't refund any amount left over.

I'm assuming you're talking about a soda card here since you were responding to someone asking about soda. If that is the case, that's why you weren't refunded. Because you get $50 worth of soda for $25, the soda card doesn't credit any unused balance to your account. The regular beverage cards do refund unused balance to your onboard account as there is no discount involved.

Curious though did you actually give them both cards for your purchase when your first card was low?; i.e. you get a soda for say $2.25, they take the 60 cents off your first card and the rest off the second. I've done this with regular beverage cards so I would assume they can do it with the soda card too.

[ricko999]

On 9/7/2018 at 6:37 PM, TAD2005 said:

There is no such thing as a "Signature Beverage Card". It is a plain and simple "Beverage Card" of whatever denomination you choose to purchase. It is dollar for dollar, and no discounts. You can use the Beverage Card for whatever liquid refreshment you want, except the inroom fridge and HMC. Also, you can't use it for bottles of water at the gangway for a shore excursion.

The "Signature Beverage Package" (SBP) does provide considerable discounts, IF, and it's a BIG IF, you drink more than 5 or 6 beverages per day. For drinks in the $6.00 to $8.95 price range, when you add in the 15% service charge, you are drinking free after 5 or 6 drinks. If your normal cruise drink consumption is a glass or 2 of wine at dinner, go for the plain beverage card. If you think you may consume more than 5 or 6 drinks per day (maybe a cruise with lots of sea days), the you should consider the SBP. Also, purchasing the SBP is cheaper by $5 per day if you purchase it online, ahead of your cruise. If you wait to buy it onboard, maybe hoping to use some of your HAL provided free cabin credit, you pay $5 a day more, plus the usual 15% service charge.

I'm a newbie, what's HMC?

[kazu]

1 hour ago, ricko999 said:

I'm a newbie, what's HMC?

 

Half Moon Cay - HAL’s private island in the Caribbean.

[clcemma]

What drinks are actually included on the $250 beverage card on Holland America?  Can bottles of wine be purchased?

[kangforpres]

Considering this right now for a 7 day Alaska next week. No beverage package included in my fare. So I think the $250 drink card will cover it. 3-4 drinks a day at between $9-11 bucks each = $30-$45 per day x 6 days =$190-$270 for the trip. Not drinking on last night. Plus you order any drink you want on the menu not limited to the Signature Price cut-off. 

 

 Signature package $49.95x7 =349.65....with drink pricing limitations. Obvious choice if you still love your liver is to get a beverage card since it gives you more choices and no price limit per drink.

 

-Paul

[DoggyDaddy]

On our last cruise on the Princendam in May, I pre-purchased a $50 Soda card for Mrs. DD for $25.  She could use it for both canned or fountain soda. It was something like $2.25 for a fountain soda  or $2.40 for a can of soda. Great bargain. 

 

DD

[TAD2005]

19 hours ago, kangforpres said:

Considering this right now for a 7 day Alaska next week. No beverage package included in my fare. So I think the $250 drink card will cover it. 3-4 drinks a day at between $9-11 bucks each = $30-$45 per day x 6 days =$190-$270 for the trip. Not drinking on last night. Plus you order any drink you want on the menu not limited to the Signature Price cut-off. 

 

 Signature package $49.95x7 =349.65....with drink pricing limitations. Obvious choice if you still love your liver is to get a beverage card since it gives you more choices and no price limit per drink.

 

-Paul

The SBP right now is still $44.95 per day, -plus 15% SC or $51.70 per cruise day.   If you wait to buy it onboard, the price is now $54.95 per day plus 15%.   If you buy it online, before the cruise, based on the average menu drink price of $8.95 plus 15% (if you are paying as you go), your break-even point is 5 drinks per day.   It's even better if you choose more expensive drinks, not exceeding $11 menu price.   After 5 drinks, you are drinking free.   Everybody is different, and their beverage consumption is totally different when you are on vacation and you don;t have to drive home from a restaurant.   Only you can judge if the SBP is worth the expense.

[kangforpres]

On 7/29/2019 at 3:24 PM, TAD2005 said:

The SBP right now is still $44.95 per day, -plus 15% SC or $51.70 per cruise day.   If you wait to buy it onboard, the price is now $54.95 per day plus 15%.   If you buy it online, before the cruise, based on the average menu drink price of $8.95 plus 15% (if you are paying as you go), your break-even point is 5 drinks per day.   It's even better if you choose more expensive drinks, not exceeding $11 menu price.   After 5 drinks, you are drinking free.   Everybody is different, and their beverage consumption is totally different when you are on vacation and you don;t have to drive home from a restaurant.   Only you can judge if the SBP is worth the expense.

I went for the $250 card, really like the fact that if I don't drink $250 worth in 7 days I get credit back. I've only had beverage packages as part of an Explore 4 deal, and once on Princess also part of the fare price.

[boze9999]

On 7/29/2019 at 12:11 PM, DoggyDaddy said:

On our last cruise on the Princendam in May, I pre-purchased a $50 Soda card for Mrs. DD for $25.  She could use it for both canned or fountain soda. It was something like $2.25 for a fountain soda  or $2.40 for a can of soda. Great bargain. 

 

DD

I've been on ships where they strictly enforce that the soda card is ONLY for sodas in a glass and not the can. So you didn't have any problem with getting cans of soda?

 

[metairiegal]

I read on another thread regarding beverage cards, that they cannot be purchased on-board - only on-line prior to the sailing.  But, this thread says they can be purchased on board.  I'm confused!  Any confirmation from anyone who has cruised recently?

 

 

[highscar]

The soda card has not been available for a few years.  I miss it.  

[auntmeg]

12 hours ago, highscar said:

The soda card has not been available for a few years.  I miss it.  

I see a non-alcoholic beverage card available for purchase when I log into my account on the HAL website.

[highscar]

@auntmegthe advantage with the soda card, $50.00 soda for $25.00. Yes it was fountain soda but it lasted on my trans pacific cruise. Last year I purchased beverage card and the soda charged to the card was 6 small SMALL cans $20.00.   Ridiculous.   

[bbodb1]

We are on an upcoming HAL cruise in November and in trying to control our costs, we believe a drink package will not work for us BUT a drink card might make sense for us.  It seems a lot of the info in this thread is quite old so I am wondering if any of the following is correct (please note info on the beverage card is definitely harder to find than on beverage packages and even the HAL website has very little on the beverage card...) :

 

• The beverage card can be purchased prior to a sailing on the HAL website.  There does not appear to be any discount given on a beverage card purchase (meaning a $50 beverage card costs $50 and allows the holder the use of $50 while on board).  
• It appears to be the case this same card could be purchased once on board - and with OBC if one has it.  This would seem to be a better purchase option in that one does NOT have to pay more funds out of pocket [b]prior to boarding[/b] than they already have plus it is a way to use OBC (if one needs to do so). 
•  I cannot find anything on the HAL website about what happens to any remaining card balance NOT spent - is it refunded?  Is it forfeited?  Might the card be good on a future cruise?
• It appears canned Coke is $2.75 per can but I did not find any mention of the cost of Coke by the glass (or how big the glass is..how many ounces) - might anyone know how large a glass is served when ordering by the glass? 

 

Thanks!

  

[Lido deck main]

3 hours ago, bbodb1 said:

We are on an upcoming HAL cruise in November and in trying to control our costs, we believe a drink package will not work for us BUT a drink card might make sense for us.  It seems a lot of the info in this thread is quite old so I am wondering if any of the following is correct (please note info on the beverage card is definitely harder to find than on beverage packages and even the HAL website has very little on the beverage card...) :

 

• The beverage card can be purchased prior to a sailing on the HAL website.  There does not appear to be any discount given on a beverage card purchase (meaning a $50 beverage card costs $50 and allows the holder the use of $50 while on board).  
• It appears to be the case this same card could be purchased once on board - and with OBC if one has it.  This would seem to be a better purchase option in that one does NOT have to pay more funds out of pocket [b]prior to boarding[/b] than they already have plus it is a way to use OBC (if one needs to do so). 
•  I cannot find anything on the HAL website about what happens to any remaining card balance NOT spent - is it refunded?  Is it forfeited?  Might the card be good on a future cruise?
• It appears canned Coke is $2.75 per can but I did not find any mention of the cost of Coke by the glass (or how big the glass is..how many ounces) - might anyone know how large a glass is served when ordering by the glass? 

 

Thanks!

  

Remember to purchase your canned coke during happy hour 50% off. I buy four at a time during happy hour for in cabin consumption.

[bbodb1]

10 hours ago, Lido deck main said:

Remember to purchase your canned coke during happy hour 50% off. I buy four at a time during happy hour for in cabin consumption.

 

Thanks for that idea @Lido deck main - using your idea, I browsed around the forums here a bit more to confirm the daily program should be consulted to know what locations (bars, etc) offer HH pricing and at what times.  It appears HH may be at different locations on ships throughout the HAL fleet.  

 

There also appears to be different experiences on whether or not a beverage card can be used for HH purchases.  I'll definitely report back after cruise on this.

[bennybear]

18 hours ago, bbodb1 said:

We are on an upcoming HAL cruise in November and in trying to control our costs, we believe a drink package will not work for us BUT a drink card might make sense for us.  It seems a lot of the info in this thread is quite old so I am wondering if any of the following is correct (please note info on the beverage card is definitely harder to find than on beverage packages and even the HAL website has very little on the beverage card...) :

 

• The beverage card can be purchased prior to a sailing on the HAL website.  There does not appear to be any discount given on a beverage card purchase (meaning a $50 beverage card costs $50 and allows the holder the use of $50 while on board).  
• It appears to be the case this same card could be purchased once on board - and with OBC if one has it.  This would seem to be a better purchase option in that one does NOT have to pay more funds out of pocket [b]prior to boarding[/b] than they already have plus it is a way to use OBC (if one needs to do so). 
•  I cannot find anything on the HAL website about what happens to any remaining card balance NOT spent - is it refunded?  Is it forfeited?  Might the card be good on a future cruise?
• It appears canned Coke is $2.75 per can but I did not find any mention of the cost of Coke by the glass (or how big the glass is..how many ounces) - might anyone know how large a glass is served when ordering by the glass? 

 

Thanks!

  

My understanding in the past was that they did not expire or the remainder could be used towards onboard tipping.  Currently,  I am not sure and hope someone can perhaps clarify.  @LAFFNVEGAS

[LAFFNVEGAS]

31 minutes ago, bennybear said:

My understanding in the past was that they did not expire or the remainder could be used towards onboard tipping.  Currently,  I am not sure and hope someone can perhaps clarify.  @LAFFNVEGAS

My understanding is also if you have the purchased Beverage Card it is almost like buying a gift card and that what you do not use can be refunded but I am not sure about expiring. I think it can only be used for the cruise you purchased it for and if there is money left on it at the end of the cruise you need to go to the Front desk to get that refunded.

[bbodb1]

On 8/18/2024 at 12:12 PM, LAFFNVEGAS said:

My understanding is also if you have the purchased Beverage Card it is almost like buying a gift card and that what you do not use can be refunded but I am not sure about expiring. I think it can only be used for the cruise you purchased it for and if there is money left on it at the end of the cruise you need to go to the Front desk to get that refunded.

@LAFFNVEGAS - after a chat session with HAL, I was directed to call (800) 541-1576 with my questions and according to the HAL rep I spoke with, they confirmed there are no discounts on beverage card purchases through HAL (either before or during the cruise), the beverage cards can be used during Happy Hour and that any remaining funds on the Beverage Card would be refunded at the end of a cruise (I assume back to the CC used for the purchase of a Beverage Card).   I will report back after the cruise with my actual experiences. 

[kacurl]

I always buy the beverage cards before our cruise and have always been credited if there is any money left on it. Last January on the Eurodam  the bartenders insisted it could not be used at happy hour as drinks were already discounted, and the computer wouldn't take it.  I tried to explain this was not a discounted card, that the 100 dollar card cost me 100 but they wouldn't take it. I thought maybe they changed policy so I went to ask at guest services. They told me I should have been allowed to use it, and gave me 2 free drink coupons for my trouble. After that I would go to the other happy hour bar and had no problem. That was only cruise I ever had a problem using it.