Unsure about purchasing the drink package?

[boobear1]

This may be common knowledge, but for newbie's it might be helpful.  If you're unsure about purchasing the drink package because you're not sure you would "drink that much" here is an option that I'm using for my cruise next week.  I've been buying cruise cash, not the bar or photo, but the cruise cash.  We'll be boarding the ship knowing we already have "drink money" and we won't lose it because we can use it anywhere or cash it out in the casino.  

[IronScott]

If both of you drink and you both drink 5+ drinks per day it's probably worth the cost. That being said, keep in mind that you have port days when you will be off the ship and that wonderful drink package is useless. The costs can reach astronomical levels if you're not careful.

 

In my case, I drink but my wife doesn't. The drink package makes zero sense in this case. It's unfortunate that Carnival hasn't figured out a way to make this work. They would actually increase their income if they could do it.

Edited January 7, 2019 by IronScott

[smurfm69]

38 minutes ago, boobear1 said:

This may be common knowledge, but for newbie's it might be helpful.  If you're unsure about purchasing the drink package because you're not sure you would "drink that much" here is an option that I'm using for my cruise next week.  I've been buying cruise cash, not the bar or photo, but the cruise cash.  We'll be boarding the ship knowing we already have "drink money" and we won't lose it because we can use it anywhere or cash it out in the casino.  

 

 We always buy about $200 in cruise cash and it works out great for us!  Takes care of the one night we eat in the steakhouse, plus drinks, and gift shop purchases.  It helps keep the final sail & sign bill down too.

[Joebucks]

31 minutes ago, IronScott said:

In my case, I drink but my wife doesn't. The drink package makes zero sense in this case. It's unfortunate that Carnival hasn't figured out a way to make this work. They would actually increase their income if they could do it.

 

If they could just capture scenarios like yours, they would likely make out. However, as a whole, it would be subject to abuse. This is also a benefit to companies that the average consumer doesn't usually take into account. The person who consumes more is generally the one to make decisions on big inclusive packages, all you can eat, etc. It's rare that both parties consume that much.

 

To me, my advice for the drink package is it's not worth it for the average person. You can buy two, one-liter bottles, and quite a few a la carte wine glasses, alchemy cocktails, beers and still be 1/2 price of cheers. 2 liters of alcohol is a lot of alcohol that will go a longer way if it isn't diluted with a bunch of fillers, sugars, etc.

[ricew001]

Someone updated this because this is from August, but it's the only I seemed to have saved. Search and find the evaluator to really figure it out. 

Carnival Vista Cheers Evaluator 2018-08-02.xls

[Ameyers1988]

For us it isn't even that we are big drinkers (though we def drink A LOT more on cruises then we normally do) but the fact that coffee drinks, milkshakes, and soda are included really sold us on it 

[MikeMSD]

For me, Cheers is worth it. I've done the buying a bottle of liquor for the room thing, but I ended up not drinking all of it and still spending at the bar. When I'm sitting by the pool, or hanging out, I don't always want to walk all the way back to my room to re-mix my drink. I'd much rather just pay a fixed price, and know I can drink without having to worry about the bill at the end. It also lets me try drinks I wouldn't normally try because I don't want to spend that much. When I've just bought drinks at the bar, I usually go for well bourbon or beers. When I have Cheers, I'm not afraid to go for the nicer bourbons or for the pricier cocktails.

 

In the end, it's everyone's own vacation and their choice how they want to do it. To me, it's worth it to spend a little bit more on the package and just not feel guilty every time I order a drink.

[schazzy]

1 minute ago, Ameyers1988 said:

For us it isn't even that we are big drinkers (though we def drink A LOT more on cruises then we normally do) but the fact that coffee drinks, milkshakes, and soda are included really sold us on it 

 

This is us too, we drink way more on a cruise than any other time and we discovered that we adverage about 5 to 6 drinks a day, I drink mostly rum and ginger beer, DH likes a few daiquiris during the day and a couple of rum and cokes at night. We both liked having a drink at Alchemy before dinner and a boozy chocolate drink after. Couple that with our coffee addiction and that we prefer the bottled soft drinks and water over the included beverages and Cheers is a no brainer for us!

[pacruise804]

3 hours ago, IronScott said:

If both of you drink and you both drink 5+ drinks per day it's probably worth the cost. That being said, keep in mind that you have port days when you will be off the ship and that wonderful drink package is useless. The costs can reach astronomical levels if you're not careful.

 

In my case, I drink but my wife doesn't. The drink package makes zero sense in this case. It's unfortunate that Carnival hasn't figured out a way to make this work. They would actually increase their income if they could do it.

 

If one spouse drinks 10-12 drinks per day (some do), then the package still makes sense.

 

I'm not sure how they increase their income by having something work that saves light drinkers (cabin average) money.  If you spend $70/day on drinks and your wife spends $0, Carnival gets $70/day.  If you both purchase Cheers (current system), they get around $120/day.  If they let just one purchase, they would only get $60/day.

[KarimaJ]

2 hours ago, ricew001 said:

Someone updated this because this is from August, but it's the only I seemed to have saved. Search and find the evaluator to really figure it out. 

Carnival Vista Cheers Evaluator 2018-08-02.xls

This tool was great. No matter how I filled it out the drink package wasn’t worth it for us.

[IronScott]

40 minutes ago, pacruise804 said:

 

If one spouse drinks 10-12 drinks per day (some do), then the package still makes sense.

 

I'm not sure how they increase their income by having something work that saves light drinkers (cabin average) money.  If you spend $70/day on drinks and your wife spends $0, Carnival gets $70/day.  If you both purchase Cheers (current system), they get around $120/day.  If they let just one purchase, they would only get $60/day.

 

Yeah, and instead of getting $60 a day they got about $20-30 from me, actually less on port days.

 

Edited January 7, 2019 by IronScott

[ricew001]

1 hour ago, KarimaJ said:

This tool was great. No matter how I filled it out the drink package wasn’t worth it for us.

Glad it was helpful.

We actually purchase the package prior to boarding at a discount and use the 10% off Carnival gift cards to purchase it. We drink a lot of bottled water and yes my hubby can drink quite a few Crown and Cokes. i like to try different drinks and I don't like drinking a frozen drink that's melted down. So with the package I don't feel "guilty/wasteful" if I I order something new that I don't really like or I replace a melting drink with a freshly frozen one. I also like the pre-paid feeling. I hate getting that bill under the door on the last day and freaking out! LOL!

[pacruise804]

I assumed you drank what you wanted regardless of having a package and that you drank more than the cost of Cheers for you.  If someone would only drink $30 per day then Cheers wouldn't make sense even if they did allow each person vs. every person.

 

 

[CMOTO]

how do you buy cruise cash?

Do you already have to have a cruise booked??

 

Does it go on your sail and ship card or how do you receive it?

[ProgRockCruiser]

1 hour ago, IronScott said:

 

Yeah, and instead of getting $60 a day they got about $20-30 from me, actually less on port days.

 

 

52 minutes ago, pacruise804 said:

I assumed you drank what you wanted regardless of having a package and that you drank more than the cost of Cheers for you.  If someone would only drink $30 per day then Cheers wouldn't make sense even if they did allow each person vs. every person.

 

 

 

For me, at least, if I was the only one drinking but I had a cabin mate of drinking age, I might skip Cheers, bring the allotted amount of wine on board, and look for drinks-of-the-day specials, fishbowls, etc, and drink more at the port (right now I stay sober at ports partly to keep my energy up as we walk around, but also knowing I have "free" drinks awaiting me back on board).  I bet I would still spend $50 a day, but not all of it would go to Carnival...

[pacruise804]

1 hour ago, CMOTO said:

how do you buy cruise cash?

Do you already have to have a cruise booked??

 

Does it go on your sail and ship card or how do you receive it?

My understanding is that you can buy it for anyone who has a cruise booked.  Some of the intent is that it can be bought as a gift at a smaller level ($25 increments) than a gift card.  It would be on the person's sail and sign card that it was purchased for.

 

I personally would load regular cash on my account and not mess with cruise cash and the potential casino trick, but I can understand the appeal too - especially if you are doing a little at a time or doing as a gift.

[cb at sea]

Just save your money...take it as cash, and pay off your charges!  That way, there is no problem get money back, no trekking to the casino and trying to "cash out'...no visiting customer service.

 

I, too, don't want to have to go back and forth to the cabin...drinking is only fun (for me) if I'm out and about.  I don't want to get wasted in my cabin!

[Joebucks]

9 hours ago, MikeMSD said:

For me, Cheers is worth it. I've done the buying a bottle of liquor for the room thing, but I ended up not drinking all of it and still spending at the bar. When I'm sitting by the pool, or hanging out, I don't always want to walk all the way back to my room to re-mix my drink. I'd much rather just pay a fixed price, and know I can drink without having to worry about the bill at the end. It also lets me try drinks I wouldn't normally try because I don't want to spend that much. When I've just bought drinks at the bar, I usually go for well bourbon or beers. When I have Cheers, I'm not afraid to go for the nicer bourbons or for the pricier cocktails.

 

In the end, it's everyone's own vacation and their choice how they want to do it. To me, it's worth it to spend a little bit more on the package and just not feel guilty every time I order a drink.

 

I can appreciate that. The last thing I want to do is run to the room when by the pool, bar, comedy club or other show, etc. I'm generally at my room at the start of the day, back again after breakfast to grab stuff, shower before dinner, and sometimes one last stop before heading back out. At one, or two of those, it's a perfect opportunity to make myself a drink in my tumbler (and maybe grab a cigar). I actually even find this more convenient because not all drinks are created equally. Then depending how the day is going, I will grab a beer and/or alchemy cocktail while out and about. How come some people say it's a pain to go to your room, but don't say a word about having to go to one side of the boat for Alchemy?

 

Don't forget guys, the 10% off gift cards also works for any alcohol purchase.