Ways to Save on Drinks without a Drink Package

[NorthStarStateCruiser]

I'll start this list and hopefully can chime in with other tips to save a buck when not purchasing a drink package.  This would only apply to people purchasing the cruise only fares.  Here it goes

 

1. Carry on 2 bottles of 750mL wine PER PERSON.  That would be 4 bottles total for 2 people staying in a stateroom.
2. For beer drinkers, purchase a pack of 6 beers at the pool bar.  You get 6 for the price of 4.
3. You can get a pitcher of a cocktail at the sunset bar.  Could be some savings there.
4. Drinks are free at the casino when actively playing, although YMMV.
5. Reserve a cabana (Edge class only).  Comes with 6 beers and a 1L bottle of Grey Goose that can be swapped with a bottle of your choice of equal or lesser value.
6. If you like simple mixed drinks, purchase a bottle of your favorite liquor from the Bon Voyage Gifts page.  The liquor bottles come with a 6 pack of soda.  You'll save some money versus purchasing the mixed drinks one at a time at the bar.
7. Select drinks are available complementary from 5-7 at bars and lounges for Elite and above Captain's Club members.

 

 

[canderson]

5.  E and S class.

 

[mac66]

On our last 3 X cruises we were allowed to bring back bottles to our cabin from port stops. Walked on board with a bag from the port liquor store fully expecting to have it taken. It wasn't. YMMV but we did it three cruises in a row.

Edited October 10, 2022 by mac66

[NorthStarStateCruiser]

40 minutes ago, canderson said:

5.  E and S class.

 

My apologies.  Yes, it looks like the Solstice class Alcoves also have the included bottle and beers.  Not well advertised though.

Edited October 10, 2022 by NorthStarStateCruiser

[miched]

Don’t purchase the bucket of beer in port at Ft Lauderdale.  I did it to have a beer for the sail away before there were the drink packages.  On the invoice they charged the Fl tax that wiped away any savings.  At that time it was 6 for the price of  5.   I have never seen 6 for 4.   
 

Haven’t seen it lately but at one time they had a HH drink menu at the Martini Bar.  A few select Martinis were at a reduced price for a few hours prior to dinner.  
 

Sometimes  various bars would advertise drink specials during designated times.   

 

Go to the Captains reception. 
 

The drink of the day is no bargain price or special price.  It is just a suggestion of what to drink that day

 

Go to all of the free sample tastings they have in the liquor shop.  Be at the martini bar when they do the Martini Show.  They give the drinks out for free  when done with the multipour.  

 

Go to the various promotions where they give out glasses of Sparkling wine.  

 

Follow me around as I leave more drinks than I consume because they didn’t make it right or I didn’t like the taste.  I asked for a Old Fashion not top off with water so soda as many BTs do on board.   When it is served it is topped off.   I think it is from habit .    One time instead of using orange peel a lemon peel was used.  I will try the different beers and to me many taste skunky.    One sip and I leave it 

 

I will try the various drinks from the drink menus.   Don’t like about 80% of them.  Take a sip and leave it.  It is nice to have the drink pack so I can do that.   I would have been disappointed if I paid by drink.

 

Many times you may be able to buy alcohol in the various ports  and slip it by.     Worst is they hold if for you until the end of the cruise 

 

Any liquor bought in a port will be deliver on the last night, if bought the duty free shop/ on the last night and you can take it with you and have a few drinks from it.    If doing a B2B you have it for the next cruise.  

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

 

 

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

1 hour ago, NorthStarStateCruiser said:

My apologies.  Yes, it looks like the Solstice class Alcoves also have the included bottle and beers.  Not well advertised though.

 

Not advertised at all. I've looked multiple times at the ones on Equinox and it says nothing about alcohol included.

[Georgia_Peaches]

Most of the OP's list is news to me.  I thought bringing wine on board was limited to 2 bottles per stateroom, not person.  The discounts on 6 packs of beers seems like a good deal.  Someone mentioned that liquor purchased in port was allowed to be carried back to the room.  In the past, it was collected and returned the evening before disembarkation.  Sounds like X has changed some of its policies.

 

Before the days of drinks packages, I used to drag DH to the art auction for the free sparkling...

Edited October 10, 2022 by Georgia_Peaches

[mandream]

1 minute ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Most of the OP's list is news to me.  I thought bringing wine on board was limited to 2 bottles per stateroom, not person. 

 

It is, but there are often suggested ways around this limitation - if you choose.  

 

1 minute ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Someone mentioned that liquor purchased in port was allowed to be carried back to the room.  In the past, it was collected and returned the evening before disembarkation. 

 

It is supposed to be collected by policy - but the poster was suggesting this was not always enforced.  Hence the YMMV caveat.

 

4 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Sounds like X has changed some of its policies.

 

Not really with respect to the things mentioned here.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

You can bring has many bottles as you like , but be prepare to lose them in the  naughty room 😁

put 2 in each of you check bags , 2 in your carry on 😀

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

10 minutes ago, mandream said:

It is, but there are often suggested ways around this limitation - if you choose.  

 

Pretty sure the policy is now 2 per person.

[kwokpot]

2 hours ago, NorthStarStateCruiser said:

Reserve a cabana (Edge class only).  Comes with 6 beers and a 1L bottle of Grey Goose that can be swapped with a bottle of your choice of equal or lesser value.

I find this a strange suggestion; spending money on a cabana just to get free alcohol?  

[mandream]

Just now, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

 

Pretty sure the policy is now 2 per person.

 

Oh!  If so, my apologies,  I must have missed that.  There have been so many discussions on how to get 2 per person through, I thought this was just another.

 

Mike

[Ex-Airbalancer]

10 minutes ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

 

Pretty sure the policy is now 2 per person.

Correct , from Celebrity website 

Guests are only permitted to bring alcohol onboard under the following circumstances

1.) Embarkation day when each guest is permitted to bring onboard with them up to two (2) bottles of wine (which are subject to a corkage fee) per guest. A corkage fee does not apply to guests with the Classic Beverage Package or Premium Beverage Package. 

[Tigerfnan23]

We also bought liquor at a couple of ports on our last cruise and were allowed to bring it right on.  We were kind of surprised.  Wasn't the last day either.  First time we assumed it was an oversight as we weren't trying to hide it or anything, then it happened again the next day.  

[mandream]

37 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Correct , from Celebrity website 

Guests are only permitted to bring alcohol onboard under the following circumstances

1.) Embarkation day when each guest is permitted to bring onboard with them up to two (2) bottles of wine (which are subject to a corkage fee) per guest. A corkage fee does not apply to guests with the Classic Beverage Package or Premium Beverage Package. 

 

Thanks for confirming.

[MarinerAlex]

2 hours ago, NorthStarStateCruiser said:

My apologies.  Yes, it looks like the Solstice class Alcoves also have the included bottle and beers.  Not well advertised though.

Are we sure this applies to Solstice class as well? It’s not advertised at all.

 

Also, I’m kind of skeptical I would get all that alcohol included for my reservation during a port day of < $100. Maybe it’s just on sea days when you get free alcohol, where the alcove is around $250?

[NorthStarStateCruiser]

Just now, MarinerAlex said:

Are we sure this applies to Solstice class as well? It’s not advertised at all.

 

Also, I’m kind of skeptical I would get all that alcohol included for my reservation during a port day of < $100. Maybe it’s just on sea days when you get free alcohol, where the alcove is around $250?

Someone will have to chime in on that one as I'm also not convinced it's offered on the Solstice class. Last solid report was from 2019 from what I could find.

[drakes2]

3 hours ago, NorthStarStateCruiser said:

I'll start this list and hopefully can chime in with other tips to save a buck when not purchasing a drink package.  This would only apply to people purchasing the cruise only fares.  Here it goes

 

1. Carry on 2 bottles of 750mL wine PER PERSON.  That would be 4 bottles total for 2 people staying in a stateroom.
2. For beer drinkers, purchase a pack of 6 beers at the pool bar.  You get 6 for the price of 4.
3. You can get a pitcher of a cocktail at the sunset bar.  Could be some savings there.
4. Drinks are free at the casino when actively playing, although YMMV.
5. Reserve a cabana (Edge class only).  Comes with 6 beers and a 1L bottle of Grey Goose that can be swapped with a bottle of your choice of equal or lesser value.
6. If you like simple mixed drinks, purchase a bottle of your favorite liquor from the Bon Voyage Gifts page.  The liquor bottles come with a 6 pack of soda.  You'll save some money versus purchasing the mixed drinks one at a time at the bar.
7. Select drinks are available complementary from 5-7 at bars and lounges for Elite and above Captain's Club members.

 

 

I just returned on Thursday from a 10 night sailing on the Equinox. Solo in my cabin so brought onboard 2 bottles of cabernet. In my stateroom there was an additional 2 bottles of cabernet  a Freemark Abbey and a Jordan from the Alexander Valley although the card stated Caymus. I called the extention number on the card and found out that they had not carried Caymus for 3 months. I asked if I could exchange and was told keep the Jordan and we will give you another bottle. So now I have 5 bottles of cab.  Took advantage of the Elite HH and had martinis and the cab served was CK Mondavi the one that's included in the basic package at a value of $10.80 per glass.  Actually pretty good cab. Also had free mimosas in the morning being an  Elite member.  Was invited to 2 sailaways on the Helipad as I had a concierge cabin so more free drinks there.  Plus a mixology event and another event that served appetizers (all free drinks) and the captains club wine tasting. Oh and someone bought me an Aspen coffee from Cafe El Bacio.  I brought the 2 Freemark Abbey home to enjoy with a nice steak.  It was a great cruise met some wonderful people at the martini bar during Happy Hour. 

[Georgia_Peaches]

1 hour ago, mandream said:

Hence the YMMV caveat.

I only recently learned what ROFL means.  I thought it meant the person was sick...as in rolfing their brains out...my DD helped me see the light...I feel certain it would have been next to never before I learned the meaning of YMMV...  Anyway...all good things to now.

Edited October 10, 2022 by Georgia_Peaches

[AnnaNicole]

1 hour ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Correct , from Celebrity website 

Guests are only permitted to bring alcohol onboard under the following circumstances

1.) Embarkation day when each guest is permitted to bring onboard with them up to two (2) bottles of wine (which are subject to a corkage fee) per guest. A corkage fee does not apply to guests with the Classic Beverage Package or Premium Beverage Package. 

Do you know if this is true for cruises of 5 nights too?

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

47 minutes ago, drakes2 said:

In my stateroom there was an additional 2 bottles of cabernet  a Freemark Abbey and a Jordan from the Alexander Valley

 

Had you ordered those? Or were they a gift from your TA? Or how did 2 bottles just show up?

[drakes2]

8 minutes ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

 

Had you ordered those? Or were they a gift from your TA? Or how did 2 bottles just show up?

They were from Celebrity was told they came from shoreside so I guess Miami office. I also had a bottle of sparkling wine since I had a CC but used that to mix with my orange juice when I had breakfast on my balcony. I live in Canada and the Freemark abbey sells for $80 each here. 

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

12 minutes ago, drakes2 said:

They were from Celebrity was told they came from shoreside so I guess Miami office. I also had a bottle of sparkling wine since I had a CC but used that to mix with my orange juice when I had breakfast on my balcony. I live in Canada and the Freemark abbey sells for $80 each here. 

 

Wow! Impressive!

[drakes2]

3 minutes ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

 

Wow! Impressive!

Had I known I would not have brought 2 bottles from home. Was surprised to see Freemark abbey did not know they had it onboard. I was on the Eclipse in May with the premium package and their wine selection was terrible.  They state supply chain issues but I've heard people say they are contracting lower end wines. 

[DaKahuna]

23 minutes ago, drakes2 said:

They were from Celebrity was told they came from shoreside so I guess Miami office. I also had a bottle of sparkling wine since I had a CC but used that to mix with my orange juice when I had breakfast on my balcony. I live in Canada and the Freemark abbey sells for $80 each here. 

 

 I need to have your friends in the Miami office 🙂  I like Freemark Abbey cabernet. 

 I also found the advertised selection on Silhouette uninteresting

March-April.  I simply told the Sommelier to surprise me.