First world "problem" but here is the Elite drinks question....

[Aldeya]

We have Elite complimentary drinks from 5-7 pm. 

Usually we have a dining time around 8 pm but this upcoming Summit cruise we have  a dining time set at 5:45. Can't use this in the dining room (which makes no sense ). We plan to get two glasses of wine at the bar before going to dinner but would like to get a cocktail or two as well. 

Can I get  another drink in a nearest bar and bring to the dining room after we start our dinner? We are not big drinkers at all but would like to use this Elite perk more than just once.

 

I know..first world problem but would like to know if it's possible or it's  a big no during the dinner....

Edited May 14, 2023 by Aldeya

[DaKahuna]

1 minute ago, Aldeya said:

 

Can I get  another drink in a nearest bar and bring to the dining room after we start our dinner? We are not big drinkers at all but would like to use this Elite perk more than just once.

 

 

Yes, you can leave the restaurant any time up to 7 PM, go to the nearest bar, and get your Elite drink and take it back to the dining room with you.  

 

[basenji56]

I agree that Celebrity's Elite perk rules are absurd.  You need to walk back and forth to the nearest bar while you are eating dinner.  Royal's Diamond drinks system makes so much more sense--four drinks a day.  All day long.  Anywhere including the MDR and specialty restaurants.

 

[PTC DAWG]

4 minutes ago, basenji56 said:

I agree that Celebrity's Elite perk rules are absurd.  You need to walk back and forth to the nearest bar while you are eating dinner.  Royal's Diamond drinks system makes so much more sense--four drinks a day.  All day long.  Anywhere including the MDR and specialty restaurants.

 

What do you have after lunch? 🙂

[Aldeya]

2 minutes ago, basenji56 said:

I agree that Celebrity's Elite perk rules are absurd.  You need to walk back and forth to the nearest bar while you are eating dinner.  Royal's Diamond drinks system makes so much more sense--four drinks a day.  All day long.  Anywhere including the MDR and specialty restaurants.

 

Agree completely! Much better at Royal. At Celebrity it would feel like you are sneaking a drink in against the rules!  Ridiculous rule for grown ups who earned this perk by cruising with this line...

[basenji56]

1 minute ago, PTC DAWG said:

What do you have after lunch? 🙂

Heineken Zero.  Hence I don't need a drinks package and rely on the four free Diamond drinks on Royal.  

[Georgia_Peaches]

Don't forget that Elite cocktail hour is not available on embarkation day.  To your point about dinner, we were assigned a 6 pm dining time (which is too early for us anyway) and there's no way I'm going back and forth to the nearest bar during dinner.  I called and had our time changed to Anytime so that we could enjoy the 5-7 window at the bar of our choosing and still grab a glass of wine to take with us to the MDR.

[basenji56]

3 minutes ago, Aldeya said:

Agree completely! Much better at Royal. At Celebrity it would feel like you are sneaking a drink in against the rules!  Ridiculous rule for grown ups who earned this perk by cruising with this line...

Some people say that Celebrity's system is better because you can drink more than four free drinks during the two-hour period.  That is true.  But if you are interested in drinking more than four alcoholic (or other chargable) drinks in a two-hour period, I suspect you are purchasing the drink package.  The free drinks perk is only a perk if you don't buy a drink package.

 

[basenji56]

6 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Don't forget that Elite cocktail hour is not available on embarkation day.  

Nor is it available on disembarkation date.  The Royal perk is available on both of those days.

 

[Georgia_Peaches]

2 minutes ago, basenji56 said:

Some people say that Celebrity's system is better because you can drink more than four free drinks during the two-hour period.  That is true.  But if you are interested in drinking more than four alcoholic (or other chargable) drinks in a two-hour period, I suspect you are purchasing the drink package.  The free drinks perk is only a perk if you don't buy a drink package.

 

We experienced our first drinks package in 2015 when we booked an AQ that had the package included.  Before that, we embraced the dreaded bill at the end of the cruise.  Soon after, it seems that all the lines were offering drinks packages as perks to booking and we got spoiled.  Coming up, we are going back to being on a cruise without an included drinks package.  We are going to test the Elite breakfast and 5-7 cocktail hour (oh and the casino) to see how much that really offsets our dreaded bill at the end.

[cruisestitch]

44 minutes ago, Aldeya said:

Agree completely! Much better at Royal. At Celebrity it would feel like you are sneaking a drink in against the rules!  Ridiculous rule for grown ups who earned this perk by cruising with this line...

I hope no one made you feel like you are sneaking a drink in. It is perfectly fine to take a drink into the dining room. If you are feeling guilty, it’s all on you

[TeeRick]

54 minutes ago, Aldeya said:

We have Elite complimentary drinks from 5-7 pm. 

Usually we have a dining time around 8 pm but this upcoming Summit cruise we have  a dining time set at 5:45. Can't use this in the dining room (which makes no sense ). We plan to get two glasses of wine at the bar before going to dinner but would like to get a cocktail or two as well. 

Can I get  another drink in a nearest bar and bring to the dining room after we start our dinner? We are not big drinkers at all but would like to use this Elite perk more than just once.

 

I know..first world problem but would like to know if it's possible or it's  a big no during the dinner....

Do you drink at other times (outside 5-7) on the ship?  If so, without any beverage package you would just pay for your drinks, right?  If you want a drink or glass of wine in the MDR, and if you don't want to carry drinks in or go get them after you are seated, you could just pay for the drinks at dinner too.  It is just a suggestion.

[miched]

1 hour ago, TeeRick said:

Do you drink at other times (outside 5-7) on the ship?  If so, without any beverage package you would just pay for your drinks, right?  If you want a drink or glass of wine in the MDR, and if you don't want to carry drinks in or go get them after you are seated, you could just pay for the drinks at dinner too.  It is just a suggestion.

They could also use the elite 20% discount on a bottle of wine 

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

[Georgia_Peaches]

18 minutes ago, miched said:

They could also use the elite 20% discount on a bottle of wine 

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

Excellent idea!  I've read a few reports of slow bar service in the MDR.  Wonder how/if this applies to the wine sommelier.  I suppose it will vary by ship but if I order a bottle of wine to drink with dinner, I'd like it to arrive prior to the starter.  Maybe this is where I'd be sure I had a glass of wine in hand when entering the MDR...just some keyboard musings...

[davekathy]

24 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Excellent idea!  I've read a few reports of slow bar service in the MDR.  Wonder how/if this applies to the wine sommelier.  I suppose it will vary by ship but if I order a bottle of wine to drink with dinner, I'd like it to arrive prior to the starter.  Maybe this is where I'd be sure I had a glass of wine in hand when entering the MDR...just some keyboard musings...

Our experiences with the sommeliers in the MDR with the CBP has always been good. Even after the start up. Our glasses are never empty and we always have to tell her/him we are done. My wife taps out before me. 😉

[jelayne]

2 hours ago, basenji56 said:

Heineken Zero.  Hence I don't need a drinks package and rely on the four free Diamond drinks on Royal.  

Haven’t been on Royal in about 7 or 8 years, what about  cans of soda and bottled water?  Do you have to use your 4 free drinks for those or are they included in your cruise price?

[davekathy]

2 hours ago, Aldeya said:

Agree completely! Much better at Royal. At Celebrity it would feel like you are sneaking a drink in against the rules!  Ridiculous rule for grown ups who earned this perk by cruising with this line...

Not at all. Whether its CC HH drinks, CBP or PBP or just buying a drink at a bar and walking into the MDR. No one (staff) cares. 

Edited May 14, 2023 by davekathy

[davekathy]

2 minutes ago, jelayne said:

Haven’t been on Royal in about 7 or 8 years, what about  cans of soda and bottled water?  Do you have to use your 4 free drinks for those or are they included in your cruise price?

Yes. Even in the DL. Not included in the cruise fare. 

Edited May 14, 2023 by davekathy

[jelayne]

1 minute ago, davekathy said:

Yes. Even in the DL. 

Clarify please- yes you have to use the 4 free drinks

or yes they are included in cruise price if you get them in DL.

[sdnich]

Georgia_peaches We did a cruise in March without the package and our bill at the end of our 10 day cruise for beverages was $200 . We do enjoy our cocktails.We brought on 4 bottles of wine also bought a 2 of bottles of wine in Eden with 20%off. We also booked a cabana and received a bottle of vodka and mixers also 6 beers. Most of the vodka and a couple beers went back to our room to enjoy!! At HH we enjoyed a martini(or 2) then brought a glass of wine to dinner.A couple nights when we we went back to the martini bar we would have another glass .A few nights the did not charge us for our nightcap.Maybe because we always sat at the bar and got to know the bartender and we always tipped.?

Also enjoyed many cappuccinos that are included as elite plus .

Our next cruise next year we have the bev package booked before we did our BCC cruise but would not have a problem going without the bev package in the future.

also if you drink beer the sell them by the bucket and is much cheaper!

We also had one bottle of our 4 bottles brought on left that we enjoyed in our last night at the hotel!

Edited May 14, 2023 by sdnich

[davekathy]

18 minutes ago, jelayne said:

Clarify please- yes you have to use the 4 free drinks

or yes they are included in cruise price if you get them in DL.

Looks like you replied after I edited. But yes soda, bottled water goes against your CAS allotted drinks unless you tell the server different. Not included in the cruise fare. 

Edited May 14, 2023 by davekathy

[basenji56]

21 minutes ago, jelayne said:

Haven’t been on Royal in about 7 or 8 years, what about  cans of soda and bottled water?  Do you have to use your 4 free drinks for those or are they included in your cruise price?

You must pay for soda and bottled water. Unless you have a drink package or Elite perks. And you can only get the free soda and bottled water as a perk during the two hour cocktail hour. 

[davekathy]

1 minute ago, basenji56 said:

You must pay for soda and bottled water. Unless you have a drink package or Elite perks. And you can only get the free soda and bottled water as a perk during the two hour cocktail hour. 

@jelayne was asking about RCs CAS HH drinks. 

[basenji56]

3 minutes ago, davekathy said:

@jelayne was asking about RCs CAS HH drinks. 

Well, on Royal you can use your four free drinks for sodas and bottled water.  Even San Pelligrino.

[davekathy]

3 minutes ago, basenji56 said:

Well, on Royal you can use your four free drinks for sodas and bottled water.  Even San Pelligrino.

Yep, that's what I said in a prior post. Even in the DL in the evening during the CAS HH (5 to 8 PM). We use our 5 CAS drinks thru out the ship but mainly in the evening. Usually 1 bottle of water each and the rest for alcoholic type drinks. We don't drink soda.