Would you travel on a cruise ship that didn't serve alcohol?

[iancal]

Absoluely not.

 

I like a beer by the pool on a hot day. I like a glass of wine on the balcony in the afternoon. I like a glass or two of wine with dinner. My spouse, on the other hand, does not drink alcohol.

 

Choice is a good thing. This is one of those options that we would not consider sailing without. Besides, I have no doubt that the revenue and profit from alcohol sales serve to keep the cruise fares lower than they might otherwise be.

[navybankerteacher]

Hi

 

...

 

 

For me what is remarkable is that in all those discussions I think I have never seen the word alcoholic mentioned. I can't believe that there are so many people who can discuss having 15 drinks a day and not be alcoholics. I just want to throw out the thought that alcoholism isn't good, for anyone.

 

Of course the word "alcoholic" is avoided - by both the cruise lines and their customers who go for the package. While 15 a day, if spread out, may not be "binge drinking", it surely is excessive (abusive) drinking. Continued for a week or more it is persistent excessive drinking. Cruise lines make too much money on sales, and passengers get too much comfort from their habits to want to apply negative terminology.

 

Sure, people build "tolerance" - which means they do not show signs of inebriation, but such tolerance is certainly a step towards dependence.

 

It's their business, of course, but it is amazing to see so many complaining about the 15 per day limit -- which the lines apply merely to save themselves money (but which unintentionally is actually a kindness towards their passengers - and their livers).

[lisiamc]

For those cruise lines with a 15 drink limit, does that include all chargeable drinks, and not just ones with alcohol? Because if so, I might have a problem with that too. If I have a couple of fancy coffees in the morning, and also after dinner, some bottles of water, and a few soft drinks during the day, I could easily use up the majority of my allowance before I even think about a couple of cocktails and a couple of glasses of wine.

[Sky616]

Even though the wife and I aren't big drinkers at all we enjoy the fruity drinks and other cocktails on cruises. I usually drink three a day and her two so no we wouldn't cruise on a ship without alcohol.

[pacruise804]

OP - We enjoy a moderate amount of drinking on a cruise (~5 per day average). For the right itinerary and price though we would gladly sail w/o alcohol (and not feel the need to smuggle it). I agree with others that I doubt that type of cruise would be likely without an increased cost.

 

Hi

 

Apart from the likely increased cost to have a cruise without an alcohol sales, I can't see enough demand for it to even be considered.

 

Of course, if such a cruise did happen, there would still be people smuggling alcohol, just as they do now.

 

If the intent of the question was to ask how many people would not consider going on any type of vacation if alcohol was not available, then I believe the answer would be that it would be overwhelmingly unpopular. Even people who consider themselves very moderate drinkers, still seem to enjoy a drink or two every day. There was the comment about how some people consider a 15 drink a day limit (for some lines) unfair. Even with the drink packages in place, people discuss how to get around (or cheat) the system in place. For me what is remarkable is that in all those discussions I think I have never seen the word alcoholic mentioned. I can't believe that there are so many people who can discuss having 15 drinks a day and not be alcoholics. I just want to throw out the thought that alcoholism isn't good, for anyone.

 

I must read different posts than you do, because I have certainly seen alcoholic thrown around in many posts discussing drinks containing alcohol. It is worth noting that on a cruise ship it can be reasonable to drink 15/day (probably not every day) w/o being an alcoholic. An alcoholic might only drink 5 drinks but still perceive the need for those drinks. There are lots of different types of drinkers and a light drinker can suffer from alcoholism while a heavy vacation drinker may be able to take it or leave it but still opts to have it for part of their enjoyment but not have a dependency.

 

For those cruise lines with a 15 drink limit, does that include all chargeable drinks, and not just ones with alcohol? Because if so, I might have a problem with that too. If I have a couple of fancy coffees in the morning, and also after dinner, some bottles of water, and a few soft drinks during the day, I could easily use up the majority of my allowance before I even think about a couple of cocktails and a couple of glasses of wine.

 

I can only speak for Carnival since that is whose package I'm familiar with, but the limit only applies to alcohol drinks. Servers can also (and are supposed to) stop serving those who are visibly intoxicated regardless of drink package. Unless they are spiked coffees, they should not count against the package, and I would think either it or water would be served to a non-belligerent drunk;)

[dkjretired]

Funny story that was on one of the boards a few years ago. Large very religious group came on board the ship, (partial charter) and demanded that all the bars and the casino be closed for the duration of the cruise. You can guess what they were told.

 

I agree with those who say this will not happen.

[mom says]

Um, no.

[h_blond2]

Yes, I would. I drink maybe one or two drinks the whole cruise and that is just because I have a free drink coupon or OBC to use.

[sloopsailor]

agree

 

remember when Carn' tried a smoke free ship

 

they couldn't keep in cost effective .....

 

You are comparing apples to oranges.

 

Carnival tried a non-smoking ship decades ago when smoking was pretty much the norm everywhere, even in restaurants and bars. If it were tried today, they'd be fine since so few people smoke today, and the majority that doesn't smoke appreciate, and deliberately look for, a smoke free environment. I know of no cruise line that has had problems filling their ships after they implemented strict no smoking policies. Celebrity, the most restrictive, is doing quite well, with four new ships coming in the future.

 

When Carnival tried this, they didn't suffer from loss of on board revenue as much as they suffered from lack of booked passengers since so many people smoked in that era and the non-smokers hadn't yet mobilized to force anti-smoking ordinances to be implemented.

[sprint180]

yes I would

[marco]

No, I wouldn't. Has nothing to do whether I drink or not. Alcoholic beverages are such a revenue producer for the lines, if it was removed, the cost of the cruise would go up substantially.

[flyingv4me]

Simple answer: no.

[George C]

No, no, no, no, never, we both like to drink , always get drink package , normally do rccl which has no limit on amount of drinks. Also love sandals resorts and breakfast they ask coffee or tea , then Bloody Mary or champagne.

[paul929207]

To OP,

In your hypothetical example, would we be allowed to carryon alcohol? You specifically referred to a ship not serving alcohol.

[Hidden Minnie]

And as previously said, this would hurt cruise fare prices. I sat in a seminar once that said their biggest money maker was the casino. Perhaps that is partially why Disney cruises are so costly. Then I think was drinks. Then excursions.

 

This is, indeed one reason why Disney cruises cost more (not the only reason, but still...). They don't have the revenue stream from the casino. My husband was talking to a beverage manager onboard one of the Disney ships about this very topic and how important it was for him to meet his daily sales goals.

[sail7seas]

This is, indeed one reason why Disney cruises cost more (not the only reason, but still...). They don't have the revenue stream from the casino. My husband was talking to a beverage manager onboard one of the Disney ships about this very topic and how important it was for him to meet his daily sales goals.

 

I would not go out of my way to seek a 'sober' ship. buf if all else about the ship and particular cruise appealed to me, I would likely book it.

[jamessemaj]

In answer to the basic question, no I would not book a no alcohol cruise. But my question is what would be the advantage to such a cruise?

[cmdchiefthom]

no!

[navybankerteacher]

This is, indeed one reason why Disney cruises cost more (not the only reason, but still...). They don't have the revenue stream from the casino. My husband was talking to a beverage manager onboard one of the Disney ships about this very topic and how important it was for him to meet his daily sales goals.

 

This raises a question: how can it be that cruise lines enjoy a revenue stream from casinos when so many posters on these threads report winning money at shipboard casinos / and so few (if any) acknowledge losing.

[Sea Hag]

Sure I would. I don't drink it, so why wouldn't I?

[paul929207]

Must be some combination of under reporting by the losers and exaggerations by the winners.

[sail7seas]

OP< I'm curious,,,,,,,,,,,,, Why do you ask?

[davekathy]

We'd bring our own wine aboard.

[Bookish Angel]

Sure. Neither of us drinks much so it would have little impact on our cuise. We do not come close to our Diamond level free dinks allotment. The drinks are not made with premium brands and generally taste like mocktails so that freebie is a meh.

[lenquixote66]

I notice there are lots of posts about alcoholic drinks on cruises whether it is about consumption of drinks or what is the best deals and drink packages and it got me wondering:confused: is alcohol an integral part of the cruising experience? Do you have to have that glass of wine:wine-glass: with dinner and the cocktails:cocktail: by the pool to really enjoy a cruise? Or would a cruise be just as enjoyable if alcohol was not even an option:o?

 

Yes ,I have not had a sip of alcohol since 1990 . In my lifetime there will never be an alcohol free cruise but I truly wish there would be.

Alcohol is not a healthy beverage .I neither drink nor smoke .I eat as healthy as possible .I do not take any medications and have not had a cold in 3 years .