alcohol package.. is it worth it?

[pigfinn]

Going on Princess Ruby Alaska end of August.  I like my wine.  Is the alcohol package worth it?

[christinelee]

If you really like your wine

 

[voljeep]

1 minute ago, christinelee said:

If you really like your wine

you'll bring your own onboard, and pay the required corkage fee

[majortom10]

16 minutes ago, pigfinn said:

Going on Princess Ruby Alaska end of August.  I like my wine.  Is the alcohol package worth it?

Only you can answer that as you know how much you drink in a day and if you can guarantee exceeding the daily cost and doing it every day even on port days then it would be worth doing it.

[Colo Cruiser]

19 minutes ago, pigfinn said:

Going on Princess Ruby Alaska end of August.  I like my wine.  Is the alcohol package worth it?

As stated only you can answer that. If you like wine get a wine package onboard 

[Cruise Lover Kathy]

Remember, you won't be drinking onboard when you have a port day!

[Denmal]

We do not find it worth it.....as we like cocktails but usually only 2 a night...the package price, I think is 69 + tip per person per day .  So that comes to 483+ for a 7 day...which is 5+ drinks at 12$ per to get your money back....now if you get is as a perk sure with the sip and sail sale...

[XBGuy]

Let me recast the OP's question.

 

My wife and I do not drink beer, and she may have one cocktail per cruise.  We usually order wine by the bottle with dinner.  Often we have two bottles with dinner--I prefer red wines and she prefers white wines.  When we sail out of our local port, I do, in fact bring multiple bottles of my own wine.  If we have to fly to the port, that becomes more difficult. 

 

So. for the sake of discussion, let's assume that I buy a drinks package--or, more likely, let's assume that, as the previous poster mentions, I book under a Sip 'n' Sail program.  How does this affect the bottle price of wines purchased on the ship?  I can, then, figure out if it is "worth it" to me.  Others will, then, have to figure out if it is "worth it" for them..

[pigfinn]

1 minute ago, XBGuy said:

Let me recast the OP's question.

 

My wife and I do not drink beer, and she may have one cocktail per cruise.  We usually order wine by the bottle with dinner.  Often we have two bottles with dinner--I prefer red wines and she prefers white wines.  When we sail out of our local port, I do, in fact bring multiple bottles of my own wine.  If we have to fly to the port, that becomes more difficult. 

 

So. for the sake of discussion, let's assume that I buy a drinks package--or, more likely, let's assume that, as the previous poster mentions, I book under a Sip 'n' Sail program.  How does this affect the bottle price of wines purchased on the ship?  I can, then, figure out if it is "worth it" to me.  Others will, then, have to figure out if it is "worth it" for them..

 

so you can bring your own wine on the boat from the ports?

[Cruise Raider]

I am mostly a wine drinker myself, sooooo ... 

For us, if it is offered as a "free" perk during the Sip and Sail promo, I certainly wouldn't turn it down.  However, the wine offered through the package is only by the glass.  While Princess recently updated their wine list (very nicely done, btw), most of the wines I would want to order are not sold by the glass ... only by the bottle.   The wine they serve by the glass got to be very monotonous after day three.  If someone in your party does have the beverage package, they are given a 25% discount on a bottle of wine that they are allowed to share with others.  The beverage package itself prohibits sharing, though.  

We did well by ordering the wine bottle package on our last cruise on Princess.  We also had an old coffee card that had not yet expired and turned in our mini bar to all club soda and beer.  So, all my beverage needs were pretty much taken care of.  The only thing about the wine package is that they were not offering it on some sailings (10+ days)....or so I've read.   So, in that case, I guess you could purchase the wine bottle by bottle but I loved the package as it was really a great savings for us and we ordered some really delicious wines.  Personally, I liked the wine bottle package better because of the convenience.  But, if it is going to save me a few hundred dollars, I would rather just bring my own and pay the corkage ... that is, when I am sailing out of my home port of SF.  Flying with all the wine ... I'll pass.  

 

 

[kywildcatfanone]

34 minutes ago, voljeep said:

you'll bring your own onboard, and pay the required corkage fee

I'm not a wine drinker, but couldn't you just open it in your room and take it the DR yourself?

[Cruise Raider]

10 minutes ago, pigfinn said:

 

so you can bring your own wine on the boat from the ports?

 

It really depends ... some say it is no problem and others will hold it for you until you disembarkation.  Better to bring it with you when you board the ship.  And, if you try buying it in port, maybe find out if they will allow it before you stock up while you are in port and are not allowed to take it back onboard with you.  It's an inconsistent policy at best ... or should I say, inconsistently enforced.  

[pigfinn]

3 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

It really depends ... some say it is no problem and others will hold it for you until you disembarkation.  Better to bring it with you when you board the ship.  And, if you try buying it in port, maybe find out if they will allow it before you stock up while you are in port and are not allowed to take it back onboard with you.  It's an inconsistent policy at best ... or should I say, inconsistently enforced.  

Thank you!!

[Cruise Raider]

2 minutes ago, kywildcatfanone said:

I'm not a wine drinker, but couldn't you just open it in your room and take it the DR yourself?

 

You are allowed to take 2 bottles onboard without corkage fee (to be consumed in your stateroom) and beyond that, all bottles incur a $15 corkage fee, regardless of where it is consumed.  The fee is paid up front when you go through security.  The bottles are then stickered and you can consume them anywhere on the ship.  If you pack them in your checked luggage, you will need to visit the naughty room and pay for the corkage at that point.  

 

[pigfinn]

Thanks everyone for your replies!!  Guess I have some homework to do until I sail out!!

[pigfinn]

Just now, Cruise Raider said:

 

You are allowed to take 2 bottles onboard without corkage fee (to be consumed in your stateroom) and beyond that, all bottles incur a $15 corkage fee, regardless of where it is consumed.  The fee is paid up front when you go through security.  The bottles are then stickered and you can consume them anywhere on the ship.  If you pack them in your checked luggage, you will need to visit the naughty room and pay for the corkage at that point.  

 

thanks!!

[kywildcatfanone]

Nevermind

Edited June 14, 2019 by kywildcatfanone

[Cruise Raider]

Just now, kywildcatfanone said:

If you open your wine, in your own room, you still pay a corkage fee?  Wow.

 

Anything beyond the 2 bottle limit ... yes, you do.  Princess's policy on bringing wine onboard is probably one of the most liberal ones throughout the mainstream cruiselines.  Most only allow two bottles period!!  

[happy cruzer]

So if you are a wine drinker, I agree carryon will be your best bet.  Rollon/carryon a few bottles and pay the corkage for those over the 2 for the cabin.  You get the wine you know you like at a price you know up front.  We have done it for almost all our Princess cruises.  Second best would be the wine by the bottle package.

 

However, if you want one cocktail, maybe a mocktail like virgin mary etc, bottled water, premium coffees, beers, etc each day and don't mind paying a bit extra for convenience then the Sip and Sail is good deal.  However, not sure about ever paying full price for the PVP if you only want the wine. 

[Fairfield Nana]

How do you order the wine by the bottle package, and what is the price range or how can I access a sample price list?

[Ombud]

You buy it the 1st day BUT you're over the bridge from me so my 2c. Bevmo 5c sale is ON.  If you buy 2 reds (Donovan-Parke Pinot Noir (750 ML) and 2 whites (Challis Lane Pinot Grigio (750 ML) total cost with tax is $28 + corkage of $30. If you buy onboard its $160. Once they get their sticker you can bring them to the dining room. Just my 2c

 

I'm taking Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and a dessert Moscato on 🥂

[JimmyVWine]

As noted, if you really love wine, bring your own. If you bring 10 bottles, 2 come on board for free. Drink those in your cabin. You pay corkage up front for 8 bottles. That is $120. So for the price of a single day of the beverage package (x 2 people), you have wine that you know you will enjoy for the entire cruise. 

Edited June 14, 2019 by JimmyVWine

[Thrak]

I love the beverage package. When it's included it's fantastic. However, when it's not included there is no way I'll pay for it.

[crystalspin]

@pigfinn

Here's a few things to consider.

 

(1) Gold wine packages: 12 bottles priced to $45 is $336+60.48= $396.48

10 bottles $290+52.20= $342.20

7 bottles $217+39.06= $256.06

Depending on the price of wine you might bring on and pay corkage on, this could be equivalent, without the heavy lifting.

 

(2) If you do get the PBP, it includes 25% off bottles of wine (not limited to $45 ones). Should you be bored by the included ones or want to splurge!

 

(3) If espresso drinks figure in your day, coffee cards are $31+grats or $36.58 for 15 specialty beverages (which can be shared) plus unlimited brewed coffee/premium tea/hot chocolate.

 

(4) Just for example, a pina colada is $8.25 +grats = $9.74.

 

This all compares with $70.79pppd, every day, whether you are on board or in port.

 

Looking at our 28-day So.Pacific with 18 seadays (!) -- our projected expenses using a combination of these factors calculated to HALF of the PBP! (that includes daily one latte, two rum drinks, and copious wine with dinner).

 

On the other hand, the fare increase for our 14-day Alaska cruise made Sip-n-Sail a better offer. So you just have to do the math.

Edited June 15, 2019 by crystalspin

[Huddler]

The Premier beverage package is definitely worth it for me, especially on a cruise with a lot of sea days .  I dont drink wine, but I like beer by the pool and liquor around dinner, in the casino, sitting out on deck, at the lovely bars onboard.  So, for instance, during our 15 day cruise to Hawaii in December,  I will probably have 3-4 beers by the pool during the day, a cocktail or 2 before dinner, a cocktail with dinner, and maybe a drink or 2 at night at the casino/bars etc.  I would spend well over the $1061 it will cost me buying the package, and did so many times before the cruise lines offered these packages.   My wife, on the other hand, doesnt drink beer or liquor, but she loves wine in the evening.  We will try to bring on a couple bottles of her favorite on board and maybe buy a couple bottles at 1 or more ports.  But she will order a glass or two of wine with dinner at night each night and probably a glass at the bars/casino/MUTS etc.  So, the alcohol package doesnt  really make much sense for her at all for her.  I ordered the Unlimited Soda & More Package for her at $123.90, and for each of my 2 teenage kids. Luckily, I paid for it before they changed the package!

I dont see any Wine packages on the website that I can order but getting 25% off all bottles with dinner, as long as they let my wife drink those, I think we will be ok.

Edited June 15, 2019 by Huddler