Outrageous Cost of Alcohol Package

[PhillyFan33579]

42 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

Don't know how many DBP people get only 3 alcoholic drinks in  a day, also don't know how many people are getting 2 specialty coffees, and 2 fresh squeezed OJ and  then getting 2 bottles of water and on top of that 2 more soda's in a single day. I would be in the bathroom half the day drinking all this. lol

 

Heck lets make this example even better lets say everyone has 3 of each of all you listed above. Then is really sounds like a great deal but  49 out of 50 people  aren't buying the DBP to drink coffee, OJ and Water.

 

But face it, the DBP is over priced..........don't act like I'm the first to say this on cruise critic. Why do  some people on here continue to say Royal can do no wrong. Their price structure for the DBP is fine.

How is it over priced? RCI wouldn’t be charging the current prices for the DBP if passengers weren’t buying it at these prices. This is simple supply and demand. 

[brillohead]

Why aren't there threads about how unreasonable the costs are for a day pass to an all-inclusive resort on a port day?  Those are often in the $100 range, and that's usually only for 7-8 hours, not the entire day and night.  

If the DBP is too expensive for your consumption level, then DON'T GET IT.  It's not rocket science, folks. 

Sheesh.

[Jimbo]

1 hour ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

How is it over priced? RCI wouldn’t be charging the current prices for the DBP if passengers weren’t buying it at these prices. This is simple supply and demand. 

That logic still doesn't mean it's not over priced just because SOME people are buying it at it's current price. I can guarantee if they would lower the price  of it, ALOT more people would buy the DBP where it was more reasonable and better value then it is now.

Edited May 29, 2022 by Jimbo

[Hammer61]

Another day, another PDP thread!!!! LOL

 

I can afford it, but it is a big up front cost especially as im on a 19 night cruise! And you have to take the package for the full period and to get value for money I would need to be drinking way more every day than is recommended, add in as my wife is a non drinker and doesn’t even drink Soda or Juice, getting the refreshment package is a waste of money but it’s a requirement everyone in the same room has to have a package of some sort, so wont be taking it up this time, espcially at current prices.

 

Just more disappointed there are no other options, a drinks card similar to the coffee card would be good or even as Princess did on my last cruise with them, buy a bucket of 5 beers for the price of 4, you can leave it at the bar they look after it, not like you have to drink all 5 on the same day or you can take back to your room, they also had a happy hour, think It was buy 1 get one free, only went for an hour but was well supported, also if you buy the PBP with Princess (unless its changed) then you can buy just for one, no requirement to buy anything else either.

 

After this 19 night, maybe the last with RCI, the next 2 bookings are with Princess and Holland America, both have the option to upgrade your fare to a package that includes PBP and WIFI (and some OBC and speciality dinning included), and at a reasonable cost that I don’t mind getting it for both of us even though I know the wife wont take that much advantage of it.

Edited May 29, 2022 by Hammer61

[deliver42]

I'm Diamond, but unless it's for a WOW ship or itinerary, I no longer look at Royal as my first choice. Celebrity, Princess, and to a lesser extent, MSC offer far better value than Royal when including any perks.

[FamilyCruiserUK]

I dont drink anymore, been there done that but i can see why people are annoyed at the costs of the DPs. When the drinks costs more then the cruise costs then you have to ask if its something your happy with. The cruise companies lost huge amounts of money during covid and know people have lots of credit vouchers to use up. So a % of the new money they are getting will only come from the extra spending onboard, drinks, casino, eating, spa, wifi etc. All companies are trying to claw back money and keep profit margins. 

 

Just down to what you are willing to pay i guess.

[matj2000]

13 hours ago, jcc1025 said:

What is the cruise price compared to Royal?

 

The pricing is a similar of typical cruise lines.

 

But they include tips, Wifi, soda, etc.

 

If you pay in full, get 20%off 

 

They don't seem to do the same voyage over & over or rotate Eastern/Western

 

If you look at one particular month,  every cruise is different.

 

I have not tried it, but seriously considering ..

[ULCajunCruiser]

11 hours ago, BND said:

Except drinks on RCI aren't $22 each.

Completely missed (or ignored) my point

[BND]

3 minutes ago, ULCajunCruiser said:

Completely missed (or ignored) my point

You're comparing apples to oranges, but okay.  As I said, buying the packages are a choice.

[BND]

12 hours ago, jackhall226 said:

Take $1200 cash and apply to ur account as needed.  At the end of ur cruise I bet you end up with cash left over…

That makes more sense than buying the package.  

[vjmatty]

10 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

How is it over priced? RCI wouldn’t be charging the current prices for the DBP if passengers weren’t buying it at these prices. This is simple supply and demand. 

But will enough people buy it? Obviously if a lot of passengers are balking and complaining, there will be a dramatic drop in demand for DBP purchases. Eventually they’re going to price themselves out of profitability. I mean when a price literally evokes a laughing out loud response upon reading, like with the Cocoa cay cabanas and beach club prices, they’re losing potential buyers. Maybe RC has miscalculated the elasticity of their offerings. The cabanas were mostly empty this past October, yet RC responded by pricing them even higher. Doesn’t sound like they’re paying attention to true demand. 

[vjmatty]

10 hours ago, brillohead said:

Why aren't there threads about how unreasonable the costs are for a day pass to an all-inclusive resort on a port day?  Those are often in the $100 range, and that's usually only for 7-8 hours, not the entire day and night. 

Probably because 1) those wouldn’t be on the RC forum, you’d have to go to the ports of call board, 2) there are a lot more options for shorex than there are RC drink packages (unlike other cruise lines who offer multi-tiered packages) and 3) $100 is still less than half the cost of the Cocoa cay beach club, which makes it look like a bargain. 

[ULCajunCruiser]

1 minute ago, BND said:

You're comparing apples to oranges, but okay.  As I said, buying the packages are a choice.

I wasn't making a comparison.  I was stating a fact.   I was fretting over spending $72 a day for as much as I want, then calmly paid $44 for 2 drinks.   Not comparing the 2.   Just made me realize it wasn't about the money, its about what I wanted.   Would I love to see the cost come down to $60, sure, but I'm just happy I bought it cause now it's over and done, paid for and I can just enjoy

[ULCajunCruiser]

6 minutes ago, BND said:

That makes more sense than buying the package.  

It only makes sense if you stay under $1200

[PTC DAWG]

19 hours ago, matj2000 said:

 

You should try the new Virgin Cruise line.

 

Beers are $5 - $6, mix drinks are $9, Wine under &10...

 

 

I’d rather have a drink package myself..

[matj2000]

10 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

I’d rather have a drink package myself..

 

Do whatever you want.

 

I was referring to the folks that only want a few drinks

 

But don't want to pay "Strip Club" prices for each drink.

[bonsai3s]

10 minutes ago, matj2000 said:

 

Do whatever you want.

 

I was referring to the folks that only want a few drinks

 

But don't want to pay "Strip Club" prices for each drink.

matj2000...got me laughing with the Strip Club comparison...our bank teller used it when we requested for a stack of dollar bills before our cruise.  Our bank teller asked with smile, "Going to a strip club?" 

[PTC DAWG]

25 minutes ago, matj2000 said:

 

Do whatever you want.

 

I was referring to the folks that only want a few drinks

 

But don't want to pay "Strip Club" prices for each drink.

Fair enough..I may board a Virgin one day, but honestly, the lack of a drink package holds me back…

[matj2000]

10 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

Fair enough..I may board a Virgin one day, but honestly, the lack of a drink package holds me back…

Give them some time 

 

They will probably offer it eventually.

[lgonquin]

17 hours ago, vjmatty said:

Last cruise I figured out that hubby and I together drink about the cost of one single DBP, so I purchased enough OBC to cover the cost of one drink package.  We ended up using about $50 less of the OBC, so we spent it on lunch at Jamies on the last day.  Given the ridiculous increase in price for the DBP in the past six months, I probably wouldn't even put in for that much OBC, but it will be nice getting a refund for what we don't use.

What a great idea!  OBC never occurred to me as an alternative.  

[mattb31]

I got it at 60.99 per day which is still decent. Anything above that and my bottle of wine allowance will become a bottle of wine filled with vodka allowance

[Mum2Mercury]

For our upcoming cruise, a drink package for a single person would cost almost as much as the cruise ticket for the two of us.  That's outrageous.  Specific thoughts: 

 

- I accept that drinks must be expensive on ships.  It's not the same as me buying a 12-pack of beer down at my local grocery store for $15-20:  when I buy a beer on a cruise ship, I'm also paying someone to order /maintain a supply of many brands, someone else to transport it to the ship, pay for a place to store it and keep it cold, and finally a bartender to serve it, clean up the bottle afterward, return the bottles to recycling on land.  But these prices should cover all that ... and more.  

- Royal Caribbean, like many other cruise lines, has adopted a low-then-high price model.  They want you to see the LOW price and emotionally commit yourself:  "Yes, sailing in September!"  By the time you add in -- at the minimum -- port taxes, other taxes, tips, insurance and more ... well, you're probably at 3Xs the low price that brought you in.  

- After cruise tickets themselves, alcohol is the #1 money maker for cruise lines.  They're trying to make money ... but these prices feel avaricious. 

- Buying OBC for yourself ahead of time seems like an ideal solution:  it means you can have the convenience of "paying ahead" and no sticker shock later.  You could even make yourself a little punch card to keep yourself "on plan". 

Edited May 29, 2022 by Mum2Mercury

[Mapleleafforever]

1 minute ago, Mum2Mercury said:

For our upcoming cruise, a drink package for a single person would cost almost as much as the cruise ticket for the two of us.  That's outrageous.  Specific thoughts: 

 

- I accept that drinks must be expensive on ships.  It's not the same as me buying a 12-pack of beer down at my local grocery store for $15-20:  when I buy a beer on a cruise ship, I'm also paying someone to order /maintain a supply of many brands, someone else to transport it to the ship, pay for a place to store it and keep it cold, and finally a bartender to serve it, clean up the bottle afterward, return the bottles to recycling on land.  But these prices should cover all that ... and more.  

- Royal Caribbean, like many other cruise lines, has adopted a low-then-high price model.  They want you to see the LOW price and emotionally commit yourself:  "Yes, sailing in September!"  By the time you add in -- at the minimum -- port taxes, other taxes, tips, insurance and more ... well, you're probably at 3Xs the low price that brought you in.  

- After cruise tickets themselves, alcohol is the #1 money maker for cruise lines.  They're trying to make money ... but these prices feel avaricious. 

Who says CC isn't educational? I legit learned a new word today, so thank you. 

[Booking It]

We finally bit the bullet and paid $72/pp for my solo and cruise with the hubby. I watched every single day for it to at least go back to the $65/pp when we first booked, but no dice. It still works out well for us, as I drink at least 3 freshly squeezed orange juices each day, more Cokes than I care to admit, 7-8 bottled waters, speciality tea, and lots of cocktails. 
 

On our last cruise, his bar bill alone showed 133 drinks, sooo…. 🤣.

[grandgeezer]

26 minutes ago, Booking It said:

We finally bit the bullet and paid $72/pp for my solo and cruise with the hubby. I watched every single day for it to at least go back to the $65/pp when we first booked, but no dice. It still works out well for us, as I drink at least 3 freshly squeezed orange juices each day, more Cokes than I care to admit, 7-8 bottled waters, speciality tea, and lots of cocktails. 
 

On our last cruise, his bar bill alone showed 133 drinks, sooo…. 🤣.

That’s something to be proud about. What would it have been if he paid by the drink, still 133? I think not.