50% off deluxe drink package

[Biker19]

2 minutes ago, LuCruise said:

Would Royal give you back your original price? 

No, that's why you should book and confirm the great price before cancelling the good price.

[LuCruise]

24 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

No, that's why you should book and confirm the great price before cancelling the good price.

Good to know.  I assumed the system made you cancel first.

[CruisingHogFan]

Pretty sure you would have to purchase it at current price. Risk you have to decide on....

I personally wouldn’t expect them to honor the old price if I canceled it. That goes for any business. 

[kokopelli-az]

On 8/26/2020 at 6:03 PM, CruisingHogFan said:

Just curious how many received the email this morning. Seems like it sold out within a hour on the offered sailings. I was lucky and got it for $44 dollars a day for a seven day in June 2021 on Symphony. 

 

We didn't get the drink package for $44 a day but purchased it for $46 a day in July 2020.   This was for the April 17 2021 Empress 8 day sailing.    And purchased the Internet package in July (1 device, Voom surf) for $9.49 a day.

 

I thought this was a great deal on both but I still check my account frequently just to see if the prices have gone down.  Right now they are up quite a bit.

 

So keep checking your account and repurchase if prices go down.   Also, watch for sales on holiday weekends, Black Friday, etc.

[molly361]

3 hours ago, LuCruise said:

We don't have Symphony or Navigator booked at the moment...but wondering what would happen if you had the package booked for a good price, you cancel and try rebooking at the great price, but then it's sold out (since limited number they are selling).  Would Royal give you back your original price?  Or you're out of luck?

Out of luck

[Tree_skier]

3 hours ago, twins_to_alaska said:

As a person who drinks almost exclusively water and pre-Covid 1 alcoholic drink a week (now none as we don't go out for Happy Hour i.e. cheap appetizer dinner on Sunday) I always wonder how much folk are drinking, alcoholic or non-alcoholic to think even $44 a day per person is a great deal. 🙂

 

I can get to $25 a day just in non-alcoholic drinks. One fresh squeezed OJ at breakfast, 3 soda's/gatorade's over the course of the day, 3 bottles of water and you are now at $25 plus tip.  Add 2 glasses of wine and you have now saved $a dollars a day. Everything after that is free.  Sub out the soda's for froofy cocktails the price goes way up fast.  It's not like you have to be stumbling around drunk all day to get your moneys worth. There was a great spread sheet that someone posted once that I used to calculate my drink expenses. If the original author would put his hand up we can give proper credit.I can't remember who it was. It is super handy I'll try and post it here because it really helped show me the value of the drink package.  YMMV, like if you're diamond and pick up free drinks in the diamond lounge or use your three drinks loaded on sea pass cards at happy hour or if you are prime in the casino and get free drinks while you are gambling. Just plug the current price of the drink package in at the bottom and then start adding a typical days beverages and if the number goes green on the bottom of the spread sheet buy the package.

1254301274_BeverageProgramCalculation.xls

[Tree_skier]

52 minutes ago, kokopelli-az said:

 

We didn't get the drink package for $44 a day but purchased it for $46 a day in July 2020.   This was for the April 17 2021 Empress 8 day sailing.    And purchased the Internet package in July (1 device, Voom surf) for $9.49 a day.

 

I thought this was a great deal on both but I still check my account frequently just to see if the prices have gone down.  Right now they are up quite a bit.

 

So keep checking your account and repurchase if prices go down.   Also, watch for sales on holiday weekends, Black Friday, etc.

I always watch long weekends.  They seem to be the best promotions.

[Tree_skier]

That being said, I'm not buying anything for cruises I think is possible to be cancelled. I have Empress booked for Feb. and that one is sitting on the bubble with all the speculation swirling around about Empress' fate. The first good deal I see on Serenade from Hawaii in May and I'm on it.  I had $48 a day a bit ago but its sitting at $54.  I know it'll go back down to at least $48 at the next promotion.  I'm suspecting even a little more.

[Iamcruzin]

29 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

  It's not like you have to be stumbling around drunk all day to get your moneys worth. 

1254301274_BeverageProgramCalculation.xls 38.5 kB · 1 download

That's what people don't grasp. Of course if you are fine with filling up a canteen or water bottle in the buffet, don't drink soft drinks and are happy with the included beverages then the drink package at any price isn't worth it. I'm addicted to those frozen coffee's. I can't afford the price or the calories at home so I take advantage of them on a cruise. 

[johnjen]

I couldn't see this at all on the RCL website.

[RFerrington]

For the Symphony sailings where they offered this $44 PP/PD, I noticed that they have eliminated the option for DBP + Voom.  I wonder if they will be phasing out the drinks + Voom options.

 

I was conflicted about cancelling the drinks + Voom packages that I had purchased in favor of the lower drinks only packages....but in the end, I did go ahead and cancel and rebuy.  So now I don't have any Voom....but I will just wait and purchase Voom onboard using the D+ discount.  I hope I didn't make a mistake.

[Ocean Boy]

5 hours ago, drsel said:

Just by the way, has anyone seen others sharing their package with friends?

How would you know if they have a package or if they are buying the drink? Either way, I would hardly spend my valuable vacation time watching. That is RCI's problem.

[rockmom]

7 minutes ago, RFerrington said:

For the Symphony sailings where they offered this $44 PP/PD, I noticed that they have eliminated the option for DBP + Voom.  I wonder if they will be phasing out the drinks + Voom options.

 

I was conflicted about cancelling the drinks + Voom packages that I had purchased in favor of the lower drinks only packages....but in the end, I did go ahead and cancel and rebuy.  So now I don't have any Voom....but I will just wait and purchase Voom onboard using the D+ discount.  I hope I didn't make a mistake.

We normally don't do Voom packaged up with drinks.  We have found it cheaper to watch for a sale on a two device package (or 3 or 4 depending on our group size).  We have an upcoming cruise where we bought one 4 device and one 3 device package to cover 7 of us and it was dirt cheap that way--like about $6 per day.  Watch for deals on that, especially around black Friday.  

Edited August 28, 2020 by rockmom

[Ocean Boy]

5 hours ago, Biker19 said:

No, that's why you should book and confirm the great price before cancelling the good price.

 

4 hours ago, LuCruise said:

Good to know.  I assumed the system made you cancel first.

I read a post from someone that they tried to book a package at a better price and the system would not let them saying they already purchased. They had to cancel the previously bought package first. I don't remember where I saw this.

 

Edit: It is in one of the posts in the thread called Beverage Package Sale

[Tree_skier]

1 hour ago, Iamcruzin said:

That's what people don't grasp. Of course if you are fine with filling up a canteen or water bottle in the buffet, don't drink soft drinks and are happy with the included beverages then the drink package at any price isn't worth it. I'm addicted to those frozen coffee's. I can't afford the price or the calories at home so I take advantage of them on a cruise. 

I'm the same way.  At home I live the low carb life... but once on a cruise ship I throw all restraint strait off my balcony as soon as I get on. We start with a Pina Colada and head strait to the Windjammer for a carbohydrate overdose.  Cruise Dave and real life Dave are two very different animals.  LOL

 

I'm sure that many people are quite content with drinking just the provided beverages.  I'm just not one of them.  My wife could probably do it but she does like a couple of Latte's and a couple of soda's so we get her the refreshment package, with the bottled water she about breaks even on that.  That allows me to get the DBP as a single.

Edited August 28, 2020 by Tree_skier

[Tree_skier]

duplicate

Edited August 28, 2020 by Tree_skier

[CTCruiser76]

Ours are still $61 for June 9 day and $71 for May 6 day....😞 - not buying until lower prices. 

Edited August 28, 2020 by CTCruiser76

[CruisingHogFan]

1 hour ago, Iamcruzin said:

That's what people don't grasp. Of course if you are fine with filling up a canteen or water bottle in the buffet, don't drink soft drinks and are happy with the included beverages then the drink package at any price isn't worth it. I'm addicted to those frozen coffee's. I can't afford the price or the calories at home so I take advantage of them on a cruise. 

I agree, it’s well worth it. I’m already spending thousands of dollars on a cruise, excursions, flights, etc. 

 

I always a get a good laugh watching people trying to carry around a couple 12 packs of soda or water to save a few dollars on embarkation day 😂  

 

I wish cruise lines would stop letting people bring any drinks onboard including wine. They also should have tips in the cruise fare so people can’t opt out. It’s embarrassing seeing the line at guest services for this each cruise....   

Edited August 28, 2020 by CruisingHogFan

[Ocean Boy]

26 minutes ago, CruisingHogFan said:

I agree, it’s well worth it. I’m already spending thousands of dollars on a cruise, excursions, flights, etc. 

 

I always a get a good laugh watching people trying to carry around a couple 12 packs of soda or water to save a few dollars on embarkation day 😂  

 

I wish cruise lines would stop letting people bring any drinks onboard including wine. They also should have tips in the cruise fare so people can’t opt out. It’s embarrassing seeing the line at guest services for this each cruise....   

I don't really understand either why you care if people are allowed to bring drinks or wine aboard or why you would be embarrassed about a line at guest services. I have visited guest services on the ships many times. It has never been for what you assume everyone in line is there for but I guess someone must be looking at me and assume that is why I'm in line. Fortunately, I guess, I don't really care what they think.

[firefly333]

12 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

I don't really understand either why you care if people are allowed to bring drinks or wine aboard or why you would be embarrassed about a line at guest services. I have visited guest services o the ships many times. It has never been for what you assume everyone in line is here for but I guess someone must be looking at me and assume that is why I'm in line.

I havent seen it on rcl, more so on carnival, but a whole trolley of drinks for the family. Beverly Hillbilies came to mind with their overflowing truck. Was more back in the olden days when there was no limit I've seen some go to extremes. I shrugged it off. I guess if I had a large family made sense. People used to just slap on a luggage tag and expect stewards to deal with it. Having had my luggage lost/misdelivered, I'm kinda glad now there are limits and you have to carry it on.

 

 

 

 

[Baowen]

I purchased the drink package a few weeks ago for my April 2021 TA for $40 a day. It's now back up to $65 a day. I buy the package because I don't want to worry about my bill at the end. I think it is absolutely worth it once you add in water bottles and fresh squeezed orange juice.

[drsel]

I purchased the drink package a few weeks ago for my April 2021 TA for $40 a day. It's now back up to $65 a day. I buy the package because I don't want to worry about my bill at the end. I think it is absolutely worth it once you add in water bottles and fresh squeezed orange juice.

You got a steal at $40 a day! And what a beautiful photo you have!

[Iamcruzin]

3 hours ago, CruisingHogFan said:

 

I always a get a good laugh watching people trying to carry around a couple 12 packs of soda or water to save a few dollars on embarkation day 😂  

 

I never thought about that. That’s where the convenience comment applies. I’m not about refill a personal container either. I’m not on a camping trip. They have limited the carry on beverages to 12. That’s a two day supply at best for us. I’m not about to go shopping in port to restock either. I won’t sail with anything less than a refreshment package. 

[PigsCanFly]

Not sure about others, but I always bring 12 bottles of Pepsi products when boarding.  If RCI offered Pepsi on board, I would not carry it on.  I do get the soda package for each cruise (most of my alcohol imbibing happens in the casino with $0 tier cost), but my caffeine intake does not include Coffee, my morning drink is a Pepsi Zero. 

[kokopelli-az]

On 8/28/2020 at 9:54 AM, rockmom said:

We normally don't do Voom packaged up with drinks.  We have found it cheaper to watch for a sale on a two device package (or 3 or 4 depending on our group size).  We have an upcoming cruise where we bought one 4 device and one 3 device package to cover 7 of us and it was dirt cheap that way--like about $6 per day.  Watch for deals on that, especially around black Friday.  

 

I agree.    Keep the drink and Internet packages separate.   Just keep checking the Internet prices on line.   

 

Also check the pricing on holiday weekends.