New Wine Package - Effective Nov 2018 (includes pics of previous packages)

[bvm49]

Thanks for the info - we're on the Sapphire Princess for 48 nights from 10th March. I often bring my own wine on-board but as we sail from Singapore this is very expensive.

Brian

[riley01]

Three questions::

 

Can the wine package be purchased in the specialty dining room or only in the MDR?

 

Can you get a bottle of wine using the package in the specialty dining room?

 

Since my husband doesn't drink, can I bring the bottle back to the room?  Or perhaps to a lounge and finish it there?

 

[Astro Flyer]

26 minutes ago, riley01 said:

Three questions::

 

Can the wine package be purchased in the specialty dining room or only in the MDR?

 

Can you get a bottle of wine using the package in the specialty dining room?

 

Since my husband doesn't drink, can I bring the bottle back to the room?  Or perhaps to a lounge and finish it there?

 

Never attempted to purchase it at a specialty restaurant but they’d probably gladly sell it to you.  I’ve also seen it sold outside the buffet by the aft elevators during the first couple of days.  We purchase it from our MDR servers because they can earn additional benefits such as extra time off in port.

 

I’ve been able get get wine using the package at a specialty restaurant...it’s valid at any dining room plus have read it’s possible to get wine in the buffet.

 

You can take any bottle of wine purchased from Princess anywhere on the ship which also applies to bottles brought onboard & have paid the $15/bottle fee.

 

On occasion our MDR servers have offered to have a bottle delivered to our cabin so we didn’t need to carry it out of the dining room.

 

 

Edited January 3, 2019 by Astro Flyer

[riley01]

Thank you so much Astro Flyer for your quick response.

[crawford]

18 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

Never attempted to purchase it at a specialty restaurant but they’d probably gladly sell it to you.  I’ve also seen it sold outside the buffet by the aft elevators during the first couple of days.  We purchase it from our MDR servers because they can earn additional benefits such as extra time off in port.

 

I’ve been able get get wine using the package at a specialty restaurant...it’s valid at any dining room plus have read it’s possible to get wine in the buffet.

 

You can take any bottle of wine purchased from Princess anywhere on the ship which also applies to bottles brought onboard & have paid the $15/bottle fee.

 

On occasion our MDR servers have offered to have a bottle delivered to our cabin so we didn’t need to carry it out of the dining room.

 

 

Got a bottle of wine last month in the Horizon during lunch (Sapphire), to take back to the cabin. The waiter wasn't sure how to handle it, so a supervisor did the transaction for us. Took about 20 minutes; probably not typical under normal circumstances.

[gma rae]

If we purchase the AIBP I think the drinks are limited to  $10 each. On past cruises there were several nice wines by the glass we could order in Vines and in the dinning room. It appears that there are very few wines by the glass on the DR menu and many are not at the $10. price. Anyone know how the change of wines and packages has affected what is available in Vines or at the bars?

 

 

[Astro Flyer]

27 minutes ago, gma rae said:

If we purchase the AIBP I think the drinks are limited to  $10 each. On past cruises there were several nice wines by the glass we could order in Vines and in the dinning room. It appears that there are very few wines by the glass on the DR menu and many are not at the $10. price. Anyone know how the change of wines and packages has affected what is available in Vines or at the bars?

 

 

I haven't seen a Vines wine list posted & those who checked were told during the transition to the new wine list they don't have one for Vines yet.

 

The Premier Beverage Package (PBP) is more expensive ($68.99/pp/pd) than the AIBP and you can read all of the T&Cs.  Drinks now have a $12 limit & are also limited to 15 alcoholic drinks per 24 hours.

Edited January 5, 2019 by Astro Flyer

[crawford]

11 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

I haven't seen a Vines wine list posted & those who checked were told during the transition to the new wine list they don't have one for Vines yet.

 

The Premier Beverage Package (PBP) is more expensive ($68.99/pp/pd) than the AIBP and you can read all of the T&Cs.  Drinks now have a $12 limit & are also limited to 15 alcoholic drinks per 24 hours.

Didn't realize it until our cruise last month but we could not purchase a bottle of wine in Vines, using the wine package. Not sure of this is particular to the Sapphire but it would be nice if a bottle could be obtained in Vines, in addition to the dining rooms and buffet.

Edited January 5, 2019 by crawford

[Astro Flyer]

4 hours ago, crawford said:

Didn't realize it until our cruise last month but we could not purchase a bottle of wine in Vines, using the wine package. Not sure of this is particular to the Sapphire but it would be nice if a bottle could be obtained in Vines, in addition to the dining rooms and buffet.

As shown in the photos in the first post it’s only valid at dining locations but not from bars or room service.  Each of my wine program cards contained that statement so it’s not limited to the Sapphire.  It would be good to be able to use it at Vines which has some wines that weren’t available in dining locations.

[Desert Kitty]

On 12/15/2018 at 9:05 PM, idocdlw said:

If you bring your own & pay corkage fee, do you check as baggage or carry on. When is corkage fee assessed?

On our last several cruises (Sept-Dec 2018) we flew, so at the airport removed our wine and put it (4 bottles) in a carrier. At check in after getting our cruise cards we stopped at a table to pay for 2 corkage fees ($15 ea) and they put a sticker on them. This will show up on your account as from either a bar or dining room, don't remember exactly. The other 2 bottles were for our room (part of the allowance 1/p). The ones with a sticker we could take to the MDR. If you pack it in your luggage, you will get a call if it's over the allowed 1 bottle/person to report to the bowels of the ship to pay up! Sometimes folks get away with it, but not worth the embarrassment for me.

HTH,

Penny

[Desert Kitty]

On 12/24/2018 at 4:40 AM, flamomo said:

Very sorry to see that my favorite, but relatively inexpensive, Chardonnay, Clos Du Bois,  does not appear to be on that list. It's always been what I ordered when using my wine packages. Maybe it's too inexpensive, as compared to what I see on this new list, to qualify anymore!! Not that the Princess markup made it seem inexpensive! When I purchase it locally, it's $9-10/bottle, Princess has been charging $32!!

We were able to purchase it by the glass in Wheelhouse and Crooners on our last 2 cruises on Emerald.

Penny

[happy cruzer]

On 1/5/2019 at 6:34 AM, crawford said:

Didn't realize it until our cruise last month but we could not purchase a bottle of wine in Vines, using the wine package. Not sure of this is particular to the Sapphire but it would be nice if a bottle could be obtained in Vines, in addition to the dining rooms and buffet.

Can you use the Bev Package bottle discount in Vines to get one of their bottles to carry to the dining room?

[luv2cruisin]

On 1/5/2019 at 4:34 AM, crawford said:

Didn't realize it until our cruise last month but we could not purchase a bottle of wine in Vines, using the wine package. Not sure of this is particular to the Sapphire but it would be nice if a bottle could be obtained in Vines, in addition to the dining rooms and buffet.

This is our experience pre/post wine package changes (mentioned in post #1 above)....

 

*VINES* - Wine package - Yup, you can drink and store your Wine Package bottle at Vines.  Caveat - you get it yourself from MDR and hand carry to Vines  🙂

 

 

From our first wine package several years ago, up through the wine package change back in late November, Vines will hold onto any bottle of wine you select from wine package in MDR, but, 99% of the time, you will carry the bottle yourself to Vines, as Vines doesn't have the room to store any wines from the MDR wine list' (wines included in the Wine Package).  So, if you would like to keep a bottle from your wine package in Vines, you must pick it up yourself from MDR, and take it to Vines.  You may then enjoy your bottle of wine in Vines during the hours they are serving wine.

 

If you would like to enjoy your wine in the buffet, you simply let one of the servers know.  Each time we did this, the buffet's asst head waiter came to verify our request (which MDR you use, your cabin number, folio number, etc).  Then one of the wait staff goes down to collect your opened bottle from your MDR wine storage area.   OR, if you wish to order an unopened bottle, the server would go down to MDR and get the bottle of your choice.  Same with the pizzeria.  Same with the specialty dining venues.  

 

With specialty restaurants, just let your server know the day before your reservation, and they will send the bottle there so it is ready to enjoy as soon as you are seated.

 

Hope this helps  🙂

 

When enjoying your  

[luv2cruisin]

5 hours ago, happy cruzer said:

Can you use the Bev Package bottle discount in Vines to get one of their bottles to carry to the dining room?

 Pre-Nov 2019 Wine Package changes...

 

Yes, our friends purchased their wine with the "Bev Package" bottle discount in Vines.  They took their bottle to MDR for dinner, and let the dining staff 'store' the opened bottle, of which the server had out and ready when they arrived back to MDR the next night.  

 

🙂

 

[happy cruzer]

On 12/24/2018 at 6:40 AM, flamomo said:

Very sorry to see that my favorite, but relatively inexpensive, Chardonnay, Clos Du Bois,  does not appear to be on that list. It's always been what I ordered when using my wine packages. Maybe it's too inexpensive, as compared to what I see on this new list, to qualify anymore!! Not that the Princess markup made it seem inexpensive! When I purchase it locally, it's $9-10/bottle, Princess has been charging $32!!

https://www.princess.com/downloads/pdf/ships-and-experience/ships/products/menus/Slice-Menu.pdf

 

It is listed on the menu for Slice as shown in the above link.  I wounder if the Slice Menu has changed when the wines changed?

 

Also thanks to luv for the very helpful info about Vines.

 

Great info in this thread.

[GottaLuvCruising]

We always bought the wine package on board.  But during our Sept 2017 15 day transatlantic, they ran out of my favorite wine the 2nd day and my back up choice the 4th day.  They always had something my husband enjoys, but I found it particularly annoying.  

 

So for our cruise last month, we simply paid corkage and brought our own wine on board.  We'll do the same on the Regal in March as well as the Grand to Hawaii in April.  It's a little inconvenient, but we have the wines we prefer and we actually spend less.  

[CruzeQueen2]

wondering about when they add the 15% gratuity? when you buy the package at the outset? or as you purchase each bottle? Are you charged 15% on the cost of the package, or the posted price of the wine you purchase? 

[RMM34667]

I had the wine package a few years ago. Mom got sick for the last 3 or 4 days of the cruise and we didn't go to dinner. Last night I went to Horizon Court and ordered the last 4 bottles of wine. No problem.  I took those bottles to the casino and gave them to the host for the staff to enjoy. 

[Astro Flyer]

1 hour ago, CruzeQueen2 said:

wondering about when they add the 15% gratuity? when you buy the package at the outset? or as you purchase each bottle? Are you charged 15% on the cost of the package, or the posted price of the wine you purchase? 

The 15% gratuity is added when purchasing the wine package & is based on the package’s cost & not on the individual cost of each bottle of wine. 

 

For example the 7 bottle gold package costs $217 & the gratuity added when purchasing the package would be $32.55.

 

Edited January 31, 2019 by Astro Flyer

[Aulanis]

On 1/21/2019 at 12:49 PM, GottaLuvCruising said:

We always bought the wine package on board.  But during our Sept 2017 15 day transatlantic, they ran out of my favorite wine the 2nd day and my back up choice the 4th day.

 

Is that how they do it? we have been on Princess a few times but never considered a wine package. On a  recent cruise on Oceania  they had 7 10 12 bottle packages but you had to say at the outset which wines you wanted, and they reserved them for you.  Obviously it was better to buy it on day one as some of the wines were stock ends and might not be available later in the voyage. ( or even after day one if popular)

I can see that might not suit a wine buff who might choose a wine to go with a particular dish

but it seems better than looking forward to something and it not being available.

[GottaLuvCruising]

6 hours ago, Aulanis said:

 

Is that how they do it? we have been on Princess a few times but never considered a wine package. On a  recent cruise on Oceania  they had 7 10 12 bottle packages but you had to say at the outset which wines you wanted, and they reserved them for you.  Obviously it was better to buy it on day one as some of the wines were stock ends and might not be available later in the voyage. ( or even after day one if popular)

I can see that might not suit a wine buff who might choose a wine to go with a particular dish

but it seems better than looking forward to something and it not being available.

What further frustrated me is that they would not allow me to use the rest of our wine package on another cruise.  SO...I carried my preferred wines on board in December and paid corkage.  Just today (by coincidence) we went shopping for our wines for our upcoming March 17th cruise and will pay corkage.

[hobbyfarmer2]

Do the prices include the gratuity or is it extra?

[Astro Flyer]

35 minutes ago, hobbyfarmer2 said:

Do the prices include the gratuity or is it extra?

The prices in post #44 do not include the 15% gratuity.

[Astro Flyer]

7 hours ago, Aulanis said:

 

Is that how they do it? we have been on Princess a few times but never considered a wine package. On a  recent cruise on Oceania  they had 7 10 12 bottle packages but you had to say at the outset which wines you wanted, and they reserved them for you.  Obviously it was better to buy it on day one as some of the wines were stock ends and might not be available later in the voyage. ( or even after day one if popular)

I can see that might not suit a wine buff who might choose a wine to go with a particular dish

but it seems better than looking forward to something and it not being available.

You choose your wine daily or can order it all at once but think you’d have to take them to your cabin & then back to the dining room when ordering multiple bottles at the same time.

 

I’ve enjoyed several wine packages & had only one of my preferred wines unavailable.  I know that in September 2017 the Royal cruise in the Med before our TA missed a container of wine to resupply ships.  That’s possibly why GLC had a bad experience but on my October 2017 TA the Royal was resupplied in Barcelona before the crossing.

 

Princess is in the process of implementing a new wine list & there have been several posts about a lack of wine inventory during the transition.

[CruzeQueen2]

3 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

The prices in post #44 do not include the 15% gratuity.

The package that you purchase will add the 15 % gratuity at the outset.  No extra gratuities will be added, even when you purchase bottles that exceed 45 dollars. In my opinion, the wine packages of 7,10 or 12 bottles, are very good value for wine lovers. Purchases must be made in the dining room, but bottles may be taken to different venues.