Are drink packages worth the cost.

[CajunOyster]

53 minutes ago, BoozinCroozin said:

Unfortunately, Carnival does not do 50/50 pours. If they did, I would be fine without the drink package. The problem is their drinks are extremely light. Getting to 15 on a sea day is relatively easy and you will not really feel it unless you do it in a short period of time.

That's pretty much my point, exactly.  They're a lot stronger if people would stop diluting them with soda.

[CajunOyster]

43 minutes ago, quattrohead said:

That calculator is epic !!!

My situation is not so standard, me and 2 teenagers under drinking age, so I can get away with a single drinks package.

 

$59.95 per day per person plus 18% gratuity

How many of each do you think you’ll have a day?
Beer: Average price $7.50 plus tip    6
Wine: Average price $11.30 plus tip     0
Frozen Drinks: Average price $10.50 plus tip 2    
Cocktails: Average price $11.75 plus tip     2
Soda: Average price $2.75 plus tip     10
Gourmet Coffees: Average price $4.00 plus tip     2
Bottles of water: Average price $1.50 plus tip     6
Mocktails: Average price $7.00 plus tip     6

Cost paying per drink: $1038
Cost of drink package: $383

Buying a drink package would save you $655 compared to buying drinks individually.

You drink 10 drinks, 10 sodas, 2 coffees, 6 bottles of water and 6 more mocktails, every single day?  Where do you put it all?

[Eli_6]

This question is entirely dependent on how much you and your cabinmate drink. For my husband and I, it is not worth it. 

 

Furthermore, when I purchased the package, it made me feel the need to drink more to "get my money's worth" which is not good. 

[lazydayz]

 My husband doesn't drink alcohol and I am fine with a few drinks a day.  For us, it would make no sense to purchase the drink package.  I like it when the casino gives it to me, but no way would I buy it for us.  

 

For others who like to drink five or more drinks per day, I can see why it makes sense for them. 

[Joebucks]

On 6/10/2022 at 6:43 PM, cruiserbrianj said:

On our most recent cruise we didn't get it, utilized happy hour at the Red Frog Pub, bought a bucket of beer on the lido and we were fine. 

 

On my last cruise before COVID, I got the beer sampler in the Red Frog Pub, which isn't part of Cheers. Meanwhile, my friends with Cheers were trying to figure out what sugary cocktail to scarf down. I gotta tell you, I was very content with the beer sampler.

 

On my last cruise a few months ago, I pre-purchased a pack of beer for in my cabin. I really enjoyed having cold cans in my fridge. I would save those in the mornings. Getting to Cabo, seeing whales from my balcony, with a beer. Quality over quantity.

 

Then I can get a 1 liter bottle of bourbon for $110, bring my own wine, and buy a cocktail when I want. I seriously didn't feel like I was missing anything at all. Saved a boatload of money.

[LatinaInTexas]

Not worth it to me, the cost to my body or my cruise experience. Had it 2 times due to the RU codes, almost free. Missed out on going to favorite places for food because I always felt full. Only had Guys burgers and pizza once, didn't have cake everyday, didn't go to Blue Iguana, Serenity salad bar, Guys Pig and Anchor, and not one ice cream cone.

Didn't do the normal things we do because I felt lazy and tired a lot, and because of time spent sitting at bars. Didn't play golf, or do the rope course, didn't exercise, never made it to the piano bar, didn't go to any of the theme events or parties, only saw one show.

Prior cruises we carried on soda and wine, pre ordered water and averaged about 1 drink a day.

It was an interesting experience to see how the other half lived but it wasn't anything like I expected🤷

 

[mowogo]

I’m not a heavy drinker so the Cheers package made absolutely no sense when I ran the numbers.  And the thing to keep in mind is that the break even point assumes drinking the same minimum amount every day, even if you are spending it off ship.  And for many itineraries you only have one full sea day with the rest having a good amount of port time so you are often trying to get your break even point just in the evening.

 

Now, on my upcoming Alaska Cruise I am definitely doing bottomless bubbles because there really is only one “long” port day so the amount of time I will be out at activities on the ship makes it worth it.  On a 3-4 day itinerary I would probably just carry on my 12 pack of Coke and be fine with paying supplemental costs to purchase any more sodas individually.  

[southbayer]

I think it's worth it, if not for the  peace of mind, and knowing at the end of your cruise your not going to be seeing the two page statement full of drink charges you will have to  pay for on your credit card when you get home that you mostly likely will carry a balance on for some months anyway... and don't you love my run on sentences! 

[quattrohead]

16 hours ago, CajunOyster said:

You drink 10 drinks, 10 sodas, 2 coffees, 6 bottles of water and 6 more mocktails, every single day?  Where do you put it all?

2 teenagers too.

[BoozinCroozin]

11 hours ago, mowogo said:

 And for many itineraries you only have one full sea day with the rest having a good amount of port time so you are often trying to get your break even point just in the evening.

Our next cruise is Embarkation day, 4 sea days, and 3 port days (ABCs). I am looking at the $1,100 price tag for our cruise and thinking hard about it. I get free drinks in the casino, so that is playing a factor. We may choose to forego the drink package, use our OBC for any drinks we order, and I will just get my drinks in the casino. The $1,100 spent on the drink package I would just use in the casino instead.

 

I am typically all for the drink package, but now I am debating it a little bit for our specific situation.

[CajunOyster]

2 hours ago, quattrohead said:

2 teenagers too.

 

Yeah, but you still have to pay for all of their drinks, so you can't really include that as savings.

[jsglow]

13 hours ago, LatinaInTexas said:

Not worth it to me, the cost to my body or my cruise experience. Had it 2 times due to the RU codes, almost free. Missed out on going to favorite places for food because I always felt full. Only had Guys burgers and pizza once, didn't have cake everyday, didn't go to Blue Iguana, Serenity salad bar, Guys Pig and Anchor, and not one ice cream cone.

Didn't do the normal things we do because I felt lazy and tired a lot, and because of time spent sitting at bars. Didn't play golf, or do the rope course, didn't exercise, never made it to the piano bar, didn't go to any of the theme events or parties, only saw one show.

Prior cruises we carried on soda and wine, pre ordered water and averaged about 1 drink a day.

It was an interesting experience to see how the other half lived but it wasn't anything like I expected🤷

 

An interesting response that sort of echos our feelings.  Don't get me wrong.  We like to drink as much as the next couple.  But in our case getting the drink package is reserved for those relatively short cruises to ports we've been to many times.  We certainly won't be getting it for Europe or Iceland or for any 14 day trip.  Four nighter to Cozumel?  Fine. 

[DnD CruiserZ]

I have to admit, after reading through this topic, I am torn. It is a catch 22 situation alluded to by Eli_6

I know if we had to pay as we go, we would drink less than if we have the package. Not saying we will over indulge just because we "already paid for it" either. I do know, in the back of my mind, I will think about it on every purchase.

18 hours ago, Eli_6 said:

Furthermore, when I purchased the package, it made me feel the need to drink more to "get my money's worth" which is not good. 

 

My wife is not a big drinker and I am usually a whisky or bourbon drinker, neat or one ice cube.

I also enjoy Guiness or other dark(ish) beers.

We have tried to enjoy a nice glass of wine with dinner etc but just haven't found what we like. I guess one way to get your money's worth is to use the package and it's 15 drink a day limit to test/explore other beverages. I don't like waste but there is nothing saying you have to drink to excess and get drunk every day with 15 adult beverages.

I know we can break even with fewer than the 15 drink limit so why not use the extra to try several different glasses of wine? Maybe revisit gin martinis instead of vodka? Scotch instead of Irish whisky?

If ya don't like it, no harm, you don't have to finish it because it cost ya bux 12.50 or such.

 

We had just about talked ourselves out of the package for our upcoming cruise but now we are leaning back towards getting it just for the experimental possibilities it will allow. Flights with full glasses!

 

I don't know, we have until End of August to decide and I'm sure I'll waffle (mmm waffle's) between now and then. 

[mdin]

FWIW,

 

On our 8 day cruise in March, my wife and I did not buy the drink package but decided to get a drink anytime we wanted, not hold back. It was our way to see if the drink package would be worth it to us in the future. We averaged 5-6 drinks each on sea days, however only 2-4 drinks on board on port days (4 ports). The end result was we saved $150 by not buying the drink package.

[crewsweeper]

On 6/9/2022 at 3:04 PM, 51st FMS said:

Are drink packages worth the cost.  Looking at $60.00/day but have no idea what a beer, glass of wine or mixed drink cost on board.

If you've cruised before, how much alcohol did you drink?  A good rule of thumb is to simply take your past cruise statement and total the cost of all your drinks.  If less than 70% of the total cost for CHEERS for the length of your voyage, then Cheers probably isn't for you.  If over 70 and definitely over 80% of the cost of Cheers, then Cheers could work as you can try more expensive cocktails and wine than you normally would.

Similarly if you typically drink 6-8 drinks a day when on vacation, cruise or land, then Cheers can work, especially if you drink coffee and bottled water .

[matymil]

On 6/11/2022 at 8:43 AM, cruiserbrianj said:

Magic in November 2021 and Sunshine in March and May. 2 hours on embarkation and then another day or two throughout the cruise....not highly advertised but we asked.

Im going on the Magic next month. Very good to know thank you

[matymil]

On 6/11/2022 at 8:40 AM, cruiserbrianj said:

Nope, Magic in November 2021 and Sunshine both March/May 2022

We are doing our sailaway in the red frog. Do you by any chance remember the specials?

[ray98]

These topics always get cluttered by the 'I have one drink a day" people.  Of course Cheer's isn't for you, we get that.

[Joebucks]

3 hours ago, ray98 said:

These topics always get cluttered by the 'I have one drink a day" people.  Of course Cheer's isn't for you, we get that.

 

It also gets cluttered by the "I have one drink a day a few days per cruise" Cheers people. Rather than admitting it, here is a schedule of what I might want on the first sea day. 

[quattrohead]

22 hours ago, CajunOyster said:

 

Yeah, but you still have to pay for all of their drinks, so you can't really include that as savings.

Nah we will work around that.

[CajunOyster]

1 hour ago, quattrohead said:

Nah we will work around that.

 

Oh I hear ya.  After all, the formative teenage years are the best time to teach that rules (and morals) are for other people, and that deceit and treachery are life skills that will get you much farther than integrity.  That's some fine parenting right there.  Make those kids proud, yes indeed.

 

[CajunOyster]

5 hours ago, ray98 said:

These topics always get cluttered by the 'I have one drink a day" people.  Of course Cheer's isn't for you, we get that.

That, and the "I use my Cheers to buy my entire family drinks all week long crowd" on the other end of the spectrum.

[quattrohead]

3 hours ago, CajunOyster said:

 

Oh I hear ya.  After all, the formative teenage years are the best time to teach that rules (and morals) are for other people, and that deceit and treachery are life skills that will get you much farther than integrity.  That's some fine parenting right there.  Make those kids proud, yes indeed.

 

You are making us sound like politicians LOL. How about you MYOB.

[cruiserbrianj]

14 hours ago, matymil said:

We are doing our sailaway in the red frog. Do you by any chance remember the specials?

1/2 price pitchers...ie, caribbean tea, jamaican sunrise, etc and then 1/2 off carnival beer...caribbean wheat, 50th anniv beer, etc...you can get 1/2 off those buckets too.  Bud light and non carnival beers aren't included.

[Retiredmedic]

15 minutes ago, cruiserbrianj said:

1/2 price pitchers...ie, caribbean tea, jamaican sunrise, etc and then 1/2 off carnival beer...caribbean wheat, 50th anniv beer, etc...you can get 1/2 off those buckets too.  Bud light and non carnival beers aren't included.

Any beer with Lite or Light in the name is not really a beer. It's beer flavored water.