Drinks Package Yes or No--it depends

[Panda3]

We have a cruise coming up on July 22. We have sailed quite a bit and never get the packages (sometimes the drink cards but they are more trouble then they are worth) and it's been a coin toss whether we got our moneys worth. We also found we hate the feeling of trying to make sure we "beat them". It just causes extra friction on vacation so this time we did opt in for the delux for my husband. The TA said I had to get a package too. I opted in for the lower tier refreshment (non alcoholic) package. I want to be on vacation and not worry about things. I do get unlimited drinks in the casino which is nice. Like another poster said, you are so limited in your "free" drinks in the diamond lounge.

[sparks1093]

I have done that with little helpful response,I am trying to find a list of drinks available on board(both in bars & spirits delivered to the cabin) & their prices along with the prices of the various 'select' dining areas,to me it is difficult to decide if drinks packages are worth the money if I have no idea how much the drinks are.

 

I input "drink menu" into the search box and found this thread https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2584015&highlight=drink+menu and post #3 has an attachment for the drink package flyer that might be helpful. Since the upper limit of drinks covered by the package is $12/13 that is kind of the price I'm using for the break even point but I also know that on competing lines the frozen drinks are around $9, so I figure Royal won't be less than that. I also figure that we can each drink a glass of OJ and a couple of specialty coffees a day, which adds to the value.

[ramja96]

I get pretty drunk every day on a cruise, but also put back quite a few bottles of water, juice and coffee.

 

I guess I fall into both categories? ;)

 

You're not helping ... ;p:p

[Clarea]

I have done that with little helpful response,I am trying to find a list of drinks available on board(both in bars & spirits delivered to the cabin) & their prices along with the prices of the various 'select' dining areas,to me it is difficult to decide if drinks packages are worth the money if I have no idea how much the drinks are.

With regard to spirits delivered to the stateroom, these are only available pre-cruise, if they are available on your cruise, you can find those prices here: https://secure.royalcaribbean.com/royalgifts/onboard-delivery/packages/other-packages/.

[GEORGIEGIRL]

My wife and I are "Diamond Plus" (have been for a while now, still trying to cruise more often). We always get the "Beverage package"

before we cruise. We are not "Lushes" by any means. However for us, it is just easier to prepay for all of our drinks and not have to worry about always signing paper/receipts as well as being able try different drinks and not have to worry about possibly not liking them

and having paid full price by purchasing them individually. Like I said, this is what works for us.

[DrD]

I generally agree with you but not on this one. Drink package allows you to drink the alcohol of your choice. Not some of the garbage that is a Diamond Drink. Not to mention the water.

 

 

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True, but for me, I could probably get all the water/coffee and alcohol I would normally drink a la carte and pay less than the package, but when I get the package I'll drink like 4-6 drinks per day, plus water and coffee, so I come out ahead. But only because I drink more than I would if I had to pay each time.

[ryano]

Thanks for this post :) I am getting the drink package for the first time ever on my next cruise. I am not gonna worry myself with breaking even. I spent over 300.00 on just alcohol on my last Carnival cruise and their drinks are cheaper. Add in the other things you can get and Im sure it will be worth it for me. Plus I can buy it in advance, hopefully at a discount and not have to worry about a big bar tab all week.

[dplusd]

We tried the drink package when they were new. Did not come close to breaking even although we diligently tried! I should have know better since our normal bill for drinks on a 7 day cruise runs less than $200 for both of us. The packages are not for everyone.

[2Long2NxtCrz]

Had the drink package on our HoTS sailing and it was worth it to me. But then I live on sparkling water and specialty coffees without even counting the alcohol. The discount on a bottle of wine with dinner was an added benefit (since we were a party of eight and not everyone had the package).

 

Really, it is all about each person's preferences. I did love never having to sign for anything. Well, I say never, there were those who would give me a slip to sign so that I could tip them in addition to the 18% that was already factored in.

[snaefell]

With regard to spirits delivered to the stateroom, these are only available pre-cruise, if they are available on your cruise, you can find those prices here: https://secure.royalcaribbean.com/royalgifts/onboard-delivery/packages/other-packages/.

Thanks for that,just as I was thinking that this was going to be an expensive cruise,a half bottle Johnnie Walkers with coke @ $50 when on Britannia recently we could have a litre bottle of Jamesons Irish falling over water delivered to the cabin for £20,I noticed the list of ships that it is not available on including ours,so it is going to be a sober cruise(well soberish!!!).

[Iamcruzin]

I think it's a no brainer if the package drops to $45 for my 9 day Anthem cruise. We have 4 sea days, and Labadee. 5 full days to use the drink package. It's 5 1/2 if you count embarkation day. If I was sailing in Europe or any other port intensive itinerary I would either book a line that includes the package such as Celebrity or NCL or I would go A la Carte on Royal.

[Iamcruzin]

True, but for me, I could probably get all the water/coffee and alcohol I would normally drink a la carte and pay less than the package, but when I get the package I'll drink like 4-6 drinks per day, plus water and coffee, so I come out ahead. But only because I drink more than I would if I had to pay each time.

The question is do you enjoy yourself more or the same with or without the extra drinks? At home I rarely have a drink. Even when socializing at an occasion I'm the one who is the designated driver. However, when I'm on a cruise you would think that I'm a functioning alcoholic. In the morning I will have a Bloody Mary with breakfast or Irish cream in my coffee. I will have a few drinks on deck in the afternoon, A Martini or Manhattan before dinner, sparkling water and wine with dinner, a liquor with my coffee and a late evening cocktail or cordial. I will get a bottle of water to bring back to the room to take with my vitamins and medication as well as bringing a bottle with me on port days. I don't even know how, but I also mange to fit coffee into the schedule. I'm not trying to stick it to the man but it's nice to enjoy yourself by being able to order anything you want. The biggest attraction is the fact that it's severed to me and I don't have to make it. Smuggling booze was never my thing because it was just too much work. Even bringing on the two bottles of wine is an ordeal if you are flying to port.

[atonal1]

The question is do you enjoy yourself more or the same with or without the extra drinks? At home I rarely have a drink. Even when socializing at an occasion I'm the one who is the designated driver. However, when I'm on a cruise you would think that I'm a functioning alcoholic.

 

That's exactly how I feel when I buy the package. I drink because I have it, not because I want a drink. I really enjoyed myself more without it!

[grandgeezer]

If you want something you'll find a way to justify it no matter how trivial. Not having the 10 seconds it takes to sign the ticket, freedom to try other drinks at no extra charge, it includes coffees, soft drinks, and water, etc.

We don't take it because, we don't drink much and what we do drink is available in the Loyalty Lounge. We've been drinking for 50+ years, tried hundreds of different drinks and still fall back to our favorites. We refuse to change our habits to "get our monies worth", even though money is no problem.

[suesnake2002]

I drink alot of bottled water. And when I'm on vacation i splurge every morning for a "fancy" coffe from the promenade. And I enjoy real orange juice,not that tang crap they try to pass off as oj. And come afternoon pool side, some refreshing cocktails. With more bottled water as we get ready for dinner. Then maybe an irish coffee. And cocktails at the show if the evening. Did i mention the peroni with dinner.

All that being said, i get my moneys worth. And since my bill is pre paid no surprises at the end.

It doesnt matter to me how many sea days there are. I dont do all day excursions. I'm always back in time for an afternoon relax.

 

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[DrD]

The question is do you enjoy yourself more or the same with or without the extra drinks? .

 

 

More for sure. To be honest.

[lovescats5]

Being from a city where every place has a buffet, we stopped going to them because you always want to get what you pay for. We find that so far, 2 cruises down and 2 more to go, being in Star Class the drink packages are included and it is hard to not get those drinks because you want to get your money's worth. We will be on Liberty in a suite for 2 cruises, no drink packages included, so have decided to just pay as we go. It will be interesting to see how it works.

[Milwaukee Eight]

Being from a city where every place has a buffet, we stopped going to them because you always want to get what you pay for. We find that so far, 2 cruises down and 2 more to go, being in Star Class the drink packages are included and it is hard to not get those drinks because you want to get your money's worth. We will be on Liberty in a suite for 2 cruises, no drink packages included, so have decided to just pay as we go. It will be interesting to see how it works.

 

 

 

Yes. Come back and report to us. Star Class spoils you. We wouldn’t book the Oasis Class ships if it were not for the SL/CK.

 

 

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[lovescats5]

Yes, it really does spoil you. We were in the Sky Loft first time and then the A1 the second time. Sept. 2018 and March 2019 we will be in the Grand Loft on Anthem. Then we slum it and are in the Royal Suite on Liberty in Sept. 2019. We will certainly miss the genie. But to buy a drink package on Liberty would be a waste of money. My son drinks 1 beer a week in a good week. By the drink will be way cheaper, but if Liberty had Star Class there would be no decision on which suite we would book. Just saying'!!

[klove613]

I am Diamond, but the last two cruises I purchased the package. I really enjoy the freedom of stopping by any bar and grabbing a drink and a water bottle. I never thought a package was worth it until they raised the prices of mixed cocktails to $12-$14 each (which is why they did it, I am sure).

 

This last cruise on Radiance, I would normally have a specialty coffee/tea most mornings, a mixed drink with lunch or after an excursion, two glasses of wine with dinner, and a nightcap, grabbing water bottles/diet cokes here and there and I believe that it was well worth it. I didn't have to wait until a certain time and could order pretty much anything I wanted. Well worth the $42 per day to me.