Cruise Drink Calculators

[Jean C]

What a lot of work, thank you. Just seeing the spreadsheet pictures leaves me in awe. I'm a standard fare person as alcohol and all the bits and pieces that come with the packages aren't my thing. My daughters and their hubbies on the other hand have upgraded to the plus package, if they're socialising they know how to drink, one couple in particular! Also they'll need internet to keep in touch with work, and the ice-cream thingumy dessert will be passed to their kids who will do justice to it 😋 One couple didn't want the worry of a bar bill hanging over their heads, the other couple upgraded for FOMO 😄

Edited November 10, 2023 by Jean C

[mum and son]

I'm also a standard fare person generally, and have been on plenty of cruises where I have disembarked without spending any money onboard at all. I refer to myself as a "proud binge drinker" so I either drink for a night out, otherwise my drink of choice is water.

 

I've decided to upgrade to the Plus package for my upcoming 15 night cruise, which is booked in USD, so the upgrade is in USD 😱, but I have USD$360 of OBC to offset the cost. In the US the Plus package also covers the gratuities so that would've been an extra USD$240 for me without the package. All of this brings the true cost of the upgrade to the package to USD$300 for 15 nights, and well worth it at that price I believe.

 

I'll now plug my estimates into your calculator and see where I end up, but I'm confident this time the plus package will be the winner for me! 

Edited November 11, 2023 by mum and son

[arxcards]

16 hours ago, cruiselover53 said:

May I ask please exactly what are "casual dining meals"

 

Princess bought these in a few months ago.

For some ships, it is a nice addition. Those ships already had a "casual" dining venue with a pp charge - such as Salty Dog gastropub.

Other ships, such as Majestic, have Alfredo's pizzeria which you could dine at for no additional charge. That is no longer the case. If you don't have a package, you now have to pay to dine there. 

 

We walked past Alfredo's on Majestic many times last weekend - you could just about hear the crickets. What a shame.

[arxcards]

It breaks down differently for everyone, so it is really good to calculate if unsure.

 

For us, plus is purely Internet & drinks. Forget all the other bloat If you are elite, the internet part is worth $10 per day, or $20 if not. So I just work out if $55 covers a "normal" day of coffee, a bottle of water.

 

We have done 2x premier so far, and got value out of them. Two specialty meals & 3 photo prints each (if that part is of interest) applies equally whether you are doing a 3 night cruise or a 35 night cruise. On a sliding scale, there is value on a 3 night cruise, very expensive for anything over a week. Note that the Princess Prizes has recently disappeared from the Aussie Premier package with no fanfare.

 

One other to consider is OBC. What do you plan to spend it on? If your tours are covered and you already have a houseful of souvenirs, the OBC can become your bar tab. If elite, you also have a minibar. 

 

If you are in a suite, you will get heaps of bottled water included and a mini-bar (doubled if also elite). If you have a suite on the newer ships (Majestic, Royal, Discovery etc), you will also have gratis evening drinks in the concierge lounge.

 

OBC + minibar + BYO = a tipping point for many in buying a drink package. As a rule of thumb, unless you get an obvious benefit, pay as you go. Princess plus usually works in our favour, but these $100 per day packages on the other lines are way OTT.

[patch nine]

21 minutes ago, arxcards said:

It breaks down differently for everyone, so it is really good to calculate if unsure.

 

For us, plus is purely Internet & drinks. Forget all the other bloat If you are elite, the internet part is worth $10 per day, or $20 if not. So I just work out if $55 covers a "normal" day of coffee, a bottle of water.

 

We have done 2x premier so far, and got value out of them. Two specialty meals & 3 photo prints each (if that part is of interest) applies equally whether you are doing a 3 night cruise or a 35 night cruise. On a sliding scale, there is value on a 3 night cruise, very expensive for anything over a week. Note that the Princess Prizes has recently disappeared from the Aussie Premier package with no fanfare.

 

One other to consider is OBC. What do you plan to spend it on? If your tours are covered and you already have a houseful of souvenirs, the OBC can become your bar tab. If elite, you also have a minibar. 

 

If you are in a suite, you will get heaps of bottled water included and a mini-bar (doubled if also elite). If you have a suite on the newer ships (Majestic, Royal, Discovery etc), you will also have gratis evening drinks in the concierge lounge.

 

OBC + minibar + BYO = a tipping point for many in buying a drink package. As a rule of thumb, unless you get an obvious benefit, pay as you go. Princess plus usually works in our favour, but these $100 per day packages on the other lines are way OTT.

Yes we have OBC with nothing to spend it on apart from drinks so do not have the package as we are not big drinkers. We will take a couple of bottles of wine on board with us and then whatever we end up paying on top of the OBC will not be anything close to the extra for the package.  Had we not had any OBC we may have considered it although I think I would be tempted to drink more than I usually do just to get my money's worth!

[woodscruise]

Thanks John,

The dropbox did work.

 

[Ozwoody]

2 hours ago, mum and son said:

I'm also a standard fare person generally, and have been on plenty of cruises where I have disembarked without spending any money onboard at all. I refer to myself as a "proud binge drinker" so I either drink for a night out, otherwise my drink of choice is water.

 

I've decided to upgrade to the Plus package for my upcoming 15 night cruise, which is booked in USD, so the upgrade is in USD 😱, but I have USD$360 of OBC to offset the cost. In the US the Plus package also covers the gratuities so that would've been an extra USD$240 for me without the package. All of this brings the true cost of the upgrade to the package to USD$300 for 15 nights, and well worth it at that price I believe.

 

I'll now plug my estimates into your calculator and see where I end up, but I'm confident this time the plus package will be the winner for me! 

Hi Libby

Yes the US situation is quite different to here in OZ because of the Gratuities.

I did not want to travel down that road.😆

 

Thank

John

[2022cruisey]

Thanks Ozwoody, that looks great.  I have got plus the last couple of times on Princess despite being a non drinker and it has been worth it with the lower price, not so sure now.  This will help.  I’m also going on P&O for the first time next year and haven’t decided whether to get a soft drink package yet so will use this to make my decision.  Much appreciated.

[Ozwoody]

3 minutes ago, 2022cruisey said:

Thanks Ozwoody, that looks great.  I have got plus the last couple of times on Princess despite being a non drinker and it has been worth it with the lower price, not so sure now.  This will help.  I’m also going on P&O for the first time next year and haven’t decided whether to get a soft drink package yet so will use this to make my decision.  Much appreciated.

Your welcome.

For me for our 7 day P&O cruise the calculator indicated it was touch and go for the non-alcoholic drink package, so skipped it.

Turn out that BAYG was as the calculator predicted for me.

But if I had bought the package, I'm sure I probably would have more than enjoyed it, simply because it was there to use willy-nilly.😆

 

[MMDown Under]

At times like this, I'm glad I don't drink.  If they ever charge for water, i'll be in trouble as my doctor says I should be drinking three litres a day.  

[arxcards]

2 hours ago, mum and son said:

I'm also a standard fare person generally, and have been on plenty of cruises where I have disembarked without spending any money onboard at all. I refer to myself as a "proud binge drinker" so I either drink for a night out, otherwise my drink of choice is water.

 

I've decided to upgrade to the Plus package for my upcoming 15 night cruise, which is booked in USD, so the upgrade is in USD 😱, but I have USD$360 of OBC to offset the cost. In the US the Plus package also covers the gratuities so that would've been an extra USD$240 for me without the package. All of this brings the true cost of the upgrade to the package to USD$300 for 15 nights, and well worth it at that price I believe.

 

I'll now plug my estimates into your calculator and see where I end up, but I'm confident this time the plus package will be the winner for me! 

Value is much of a muchness between the US version & the Aussie version, depending on the dollar value of the day. We pay $AU65

After the value of "crew appreciation" is removed, those in the US are paying $44, the equivalent of $AU69.

 

As strange as it seems, with all else being equal, you are $4 per day better off with a plus package if you booked in Australia and added paid the tips each day. Of course though, not all things are equal.

[mum and son]

3 minutes ago, arxcards said:

As strange as it seems, with all else being equal, you are $4 per day better off with a plus package if you booked in Australia and added paid the tips each day. Of course though, not all things are equal.

Yes, agree completely, but the cost of the base package was much cheaper in USD and as I'm travelling solo, doubling that cost benefit made it an easy decision. Cruising is a complicated business. After all this maths I'll need a cruise to relax!

[MMDown Under]

9 minutes ago, mum and son said:

Yes, agree completely, but the cost of the base package was much cheaper in USD and as I'm travelling solo, doubling that cost benefit made it an easy decision. Cruising is a complicated business. After all this maths I'll need a cruise to relax!

I think the cruiselines make it difficult to compare the benefits on purpose.  Extras seem to be widespread everywhere.  My daughter paid for her accommodation in full in Times Square in Manhattan. The fine print shows they charge $20US per night extra  for use of facilities   Belvedere Hotel. (No tea or coffee in room.  You have to go downstairs and join a queue. Microwave with no plates or cups, etc.  You get the drift.  Great location for theatre lovers.)  She also is staying at Leo House on 23rd Street.  I love that place, but they have limits on how long you can stay.)

[cruiselover53]

5 hours ago, arxcards said:

Princess bought these in a few months ago.

For some ships, it is a nice addition. Those ships already had a "casual" dining venue with a pp charge - such as Salty Dog gastropub.

Other ships, such as Majestic, have Alfredo's pizzeria which you could dine at for no additional charge. That is no longer the case. If you don't have a package, you now have to pay to dine there. 

 

We walked past Alfredo's on Majestic many times last weekend - you could just about hear the crickets. What a shame.

Thanks

[Cbtours]

1 minute ago, Ozwoody said:

Yes they always seem so far off, while itching to go.

Should be a good sail that time of year.

 

We haven't book our next one yet, will be  soon.

it was so much cheaper to go Syd to NZ than to go Melbourne (where we live) to Queensland. So we booked our flights using points, snagged a front cabin on Deck 16 right over bridge deluxe obstructed balcony (that has sofa etc like mini suite) for $400 each LESS than an inside cabin on Mel to Qld! Foe us its as much about the cruise as the destination 

[Ozwoody]

44 minutes ago, Cbtours said:

it was so much cheaper to go Syd to NZ than to go Melbourne (where we live) to Queensland. So we booked our flights using points, snagged a front cabin on Deck 16 right over bridge deluxe obstructed balcony (that has sofa etc like mini suite) for $400 each LESS than an inside cabin on Mel to Qld! Foe us its as much about the cruise as the destination 

Absolutely

[newcruisers121]

Hi, thank you for the spreadsheet - definitely helpful for our very first cruise with Princess in January! I thought if there were two people in the same cabin, they were both required to purchase/upgrade to Princess Plus? Is that not the case and only a single person can purchase the drinks package? We're on a 13 day sailing so trying to figure out the math and if we might be better off paying as we go. Thanks!

[MMDown Under]

17 hours ago, Cbtours said:

it was so much cheaper to go Syd to NZ than to go Melbourne (where we live) to Queensland. So we booked our flights using points, snagged a front cabin on Deck 16 right over bridge deluxe obstructed balcony (that has sofa etc like mini suite) for $400 each LESS than an inside cabin on Mel to Qld! Foe us its as much about the cruise as the destination 

Well done!  Bon Voyage for your cruise to NZ in your deluxe obstructed balcony cabin. 

[arxcards]

27 minutes ago, newcruisers121 said:

Hi, thank you for the spreadsheet - definitely helpful for our very first cruise with Princess in January! I thought if there were two people in the same cabin, they were both required to purchase/upgrade to Princess Plus? Is that not the case and only a single person can purchase the drinks package? We're on a 13 day sailing so trying to figure out the math and if we might be better off paying as we go. Thanks!

You can split your fares between standard/plus/premier. You can't book that way when booking direct over the internet, but you can over the phone with Princess or via a knowledgeable agent.

[Ozwoody]

1 hour ago, newcruisers121 said:

Hi, thank you for the spreadsheet - definitely helpful for our very first cruise with Princess in January! I thought if there were two people in the same cabin, they were both required to purchase/upgrade to Princess Plus? Is that not the case and only a single person can purchase the drinks package? We're on a 13 day sailing so trying to figure out the math and if we might be better off paying as we go. Thanks!

Hi newcruisers121

Geoff has answered your question, as says yes but you have to book personally not on the net.

The net is very rigid in handling things.😄

 

Enjoy playing with the calculators.

 

Thanks for your comments

John

 

[Jean C]

18 hours ago, Cbtours said:

it was so much cheaper to go Syd to NZ than to go Melbourne (where we live) to Queensland. So we booked our flights using points, snagged a front cabin on Deck 16 right over bridge deluxe obstructed balcony (that has sofa etc like mini suite) for $400 each LESS than an inside cabin on Mel to Qld! Foe us its as much about the cruise as the destination 

Hi, have you looked at the deck plans and pics of the side of the ship to figure out where your cabin is? Often "obstructions" can be very minor and hardly noticeable so that's even more of an added bonus - I hope that's the case for you 🤞

[Ozwoody]

19 hours ago, Cbtours said:

it was so much cheaper to go Syd to NZ than to go Melbourne (where we live) to Queensland. So we booked our flights using points, snagged a front cabin on Deck 16 right over bridge deluxe obstructed balcony (that has sofa etc like mini suite) for $400 each LESS than an inside cabin on Mel to Qld! Foe us its as much about the cruise as the destination 

Just had a look at the deck plan, noted it said you could only access the balcony when ship docked?

Is this right?

Why?

 

John

 

[Cbtours]

1 hour ago, Jean C said:

Hi, have you looked at the deck plans and pics of the side of the ship to figure out where your cabin is? Often "obstructions" can be very minor and hardly noticeable so that's even more of an added bonus - I hope that's the case for you 🤞

this is the cabin next door. We’re L103

[Cbtours]

5 minutes ago, Ozwoody said:

Just had a look at the deck plan, noted it said you could only access the balcony when ship docked?

Is this right?

Why?

 

John

 

I checked all that out. There are plenty of reviews asking that and replies saying unless its exceptionally windy it was never a problem and they used it regularly.

others said when they were laying on loungers wind didn’t affect them. I thought it was worth the chance for the price.

 

 

[Ozwoody]

1 hour ago, Jean C said:

Hi, have you looked at the deck plans and pics of the side of the ship to figure out where your cabin is? Often "obstructions" can be very minor and hardly noticeable so that's even more of an added bonus - I hope that's the case for you 🤞

I believe the obstruction is the fact that the balustrade is solid not glass.

So slightly restricted view.