Making the Premier package worth it - top shelf cocktails

[CrazyTrain2]

I'm onboard the Discovery Princess in April.  I signed up for the Premier package and I usually don't drink that much.  What top shelf (at least on board) cocktails/brands should be on the list to sip and toss overboard (I know overboard is a No-No)?

 

If Princess would offer an alcohol free package, I would have chosen it. The basic package makes no sense for anybody unless you are stiffing the crew, it's simply being used as marketing eye candy.

Edited January 24 by CrazyTrain2
Package selection logic

[kstrittm]

Other than Tito's (my favorite vodka), I'm not sure about top-shelf brands to recommend.  I agree that it makes financial sense to buy the package (tips, multi-device wi-fi, etc.).  I'm not a big drinker, either, but I use these cruises as a time to experiment.  I try drinks that I've never had before but am curious about.  That way I don't feel guilty if I take a sip and leave the rest.  I also have port wine with cheese for dessert (don't normally do) or get dessert drinks (also out of the norm).  Just my two cents worth...

 

[Wonders By Wallis]

31 minutes ago, CrazyTrain2 said:

I'm onboard the Discovery Princess in April.  I signed up for the Premier package and I usually don't drink that much.  What top shelf (at least on board) cocktails/brands should be on the list to sip and toss overboard (I know overboard is a No-No)?

 

If Princess would offer an alcohol free package, I would have chosen it. The basic package makes no sense for anybody unless you are stiffing the crew, it's simply being used as marketing eye candy.

Just look on the top shelf, start on one end and work your way to the other. 🙂

[CrazyTrain2]

24 minutes ago, Wonders By Wallis said:

Just look on the top shelf, start on one end and work your way to the other. 🙂

With my eyes, I'm gonna need to zoom in on the phone and snap a picture.

[sonomaphil]

Look at a menu at any bar and see what's the most expensive under $20.  That's top shelf.  They will list by category, gin, bourbon, etc.  You can even see these in the app onboard. 

[Wonders By Wallis]

13 minutes ago, sonomaphil said:

Look at a menu at any bar and see what's the most expensive under $20.

Or go for broke and pick something over $20; they will charge you for the excess (and add 18% for the tip automatically). 

[voljeep]

1 minute ago, Wonders By Wallis said:

Or go for broke and pick something over $20; they will charge you for the excess (and add 18% for the tip automatically). 

more than a few $1.18 charges from Vines on our last cruise

[sonomaphil]

7 minutes ago, Wonders By Wallis said:

Or go for broke and pick something over $20; they will charge you for the excess (and add 18% for the tip automatically). 

There is actually not much over $20, some scotch and brandy, maybe a high end gin and a few wines at Vines if the ship has one. 

Edited January 24 by sonomaphil

[BigWaveDave87]

Here are some screenshots of the 2024 alcohol beverages being offered. 

Happy Trails 

 

 

[mtnesterz]

When you say basic package, do you mean Standard?

Perhaps you are not aware, Crew Appreciation (tipping) is automatic. While Packages purchasers prepay gratuities, Standard purchasers may adjust or remove, but the default is to accrue them as a daily charge. To post that anyone buying Standard is stiffing the crew is untrue. 

A few years ago Princess said that they were working to increase package buyers from about 50% at that time. I can't offer a current number, probably more, doesn't matter. The same report stated about 10% opt out of tipping. Quite a difference in numbers to make a generalized statement.

Edited January 24 by mtnesterz

[CrazyTrain2]

4 hours ago, mtnesterz said:

When you say basic package, do you mean Standard?

Perhaps you are not aware, Crew Appreciation (tipping) is automatic. While Packages purchasers prepay gratuities, Standard purchasers may adjust or remove, but the default is to accrue them as a daily charge. To post that anyone buying Standard is stiffing the crew is untrue. 

A few years ago Princess said that they were working to increase package buyers from about 50% at that time. I can't offer a current number, probably more, doesn't matter. The same report stated about 10% opt out of tipping. Quite a difference in numbers to make a generalized statement.

The standard package is a marketing gimmick for the brochures and data aggregators to make Princess cruises look cheaper by comparison.  I was not trying to infer that standard package selectors all did not tip, but it does make it makes it POSSIBLE.  After you add gratuities into the standard fare it makes the plus more palatable - and perhaps more drinkable.  Ultimately, I'm still miffed that Princess does not offer a package without alcohol.  The a la carte pricing + gratuities quickly gets you into a Plus or Premier.

[lisacdmartin]

On 1/24/2024 at 12:36 PM, BigWaveDave87 said:

Here are some screenshots of the 2024 alcohol beverages being offered. 

Happy Trails 

 

 

Thanks for posting this. We are on the discovery in May and trying to decide between Plus and Premier. I have a question if the plus package is up to $15.00 why are some of the spirits listed under premier less then $15.00, for example Old Forrester Original Batch is listed under Premier but it is $14.00? Also for Plus wines are there name brands or is it just generic Pinot, Shiraz.....? Thanks 🙂 

[Thrak]

Here are a couple of "Top Shelf" offerings that will set you back quite a bit even with the Premier package. You won't see them sitting on the shelf - you have to ask for them.

 

 

Edited February 15 by Thrak

[karatemom2]

On 1/24/2024 at 8:12 AM, CrazyTrain2 said:

I'm onboard the Discovery Princess in April.  I signed up for the Premier package and I usually don't drink that much.  What top shelf (at least on board) cocktails/brands should be on the list to sip and toss overboard (I know overboard is a No-No)?

 

If Princess would offer an alcohol free package, I would have chosen it. The basic package makes no sense for anybody unless you are stiffing the crew, it's simply being used as marketing eye candy.

 

Are you seriously implying that people who don't buy a package are "stiffing the crew"? Last I checked at $44 more per day than gratuity for Plus, or $64 more per day for Premier, there are many, like myself who don't find it cost effective and that has nothing to do with not paying gratuities, something I and most other non-package partakers would never consider and it is quite presumptuous to assume otherwise. In fact, with the money I save by not throwing extra money away on package perks I don't use or want, I'm happy to tip extra!

 

I have at most one glass of wine per day - maybe an occasional $8 cocktail in the Elite lounge. DH gets complimentary drinks in the casino, and usually for him that is a bottled water. We buy WiFi at half price as Elite for one device. We have significant onboard credit with casino perks and stockholder benefits, and always get comped at least one, usually two meals in specialty restaurants, again thanks to our casino host. Why on earth would I pay MORE for a package then I use to increase my onboard charges over what I would pay just buying what I want as I go because Princess is aching to get more money in the coffers up front and take advantage of those who really don't end up using all the "benefits".

 

I am the first to say that the packages are great for those who are able to fully enjoy the benefits and I hope you drink as much top shelf liquor as you can get your hands on to stick it to Princess and make up for those poor folks who are getting shafted. But please do not assume that those of us who don't fall for this particular money making scheme are somehow stiffing the hard working crew that most of us appreciate so much!

[DallasGuy75219]

On 1/24/2024 at 4:35 PM, CrazyTrain2 said:

The standard package is a marketing gimmick for the brochures and data aggregators to make Princess cruises look cheaper by comparison.  

All the mass market lines exclude gratuities from their advertised fares.  Unless they simultaneously all decide to include them in advertised fares, the first line to blink and include them loses because their prices are now relatively higher than competitors who exclude them.

[BlerkOne]

On 2/15/2024 at 1:11 PM, Thrak said:

Here are a couple of "Top Shelf" offerings that will set you back quite a bit even with the Premier package. You won't see them sitting on the shelf - you have to ask for them.

 

 

Yep. They don't bother listing the good stuff on the menus for the proletariat.

[lahlah57]

23 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

Yep. They don't bother listing the good stuff on the menus for the proletariat.

The cognac my husband drank straight up was Remy Martin XO or Hennessey XO, I can't remember. It was not listed and we had the premier package onboard the Discovery last november.

It was well worth it for him because that's all he will drink. 

[CRLess]

On the Premier package you can ask for a double of any of the non-top shelf liquors and it only counts as one drink.  I'm a Beefeater guy and got doubles on our voyage on the Ruby last month with no upcharge.

[kiwimum]

Visit Take Five Bar and sample some of their upscale, different, not available at any other bar.  Definitely worth a visit.

Edited February 17 by kiwimum

[Thrak]

1 hour ago, BlerkOne said:

Yep. They don't bother listing the good stuff on the menus for the proletariat.

 

Actually, both of those pics are taken directly from the menu on the phone so they are definitely shown for everybody. I checked out the Woodford Baccarat online and it seems the huge cost is due to the bottle!  Apparently it takes 5 days (don't ask me why) to make the Baccarat bottle. I sincerely doubt the liquor in the bottle is vastly superior to any other high end Woodford. Really stupid. I spoke with a bartender on Grand who said he had a passenger who had a shot of that every evening. The bartender told me he kept the bottle as a souvenir. When I looked up the stuff later I realized the bartender had snagged a quite valuable item. I still say it's idiotic. I'd love to try that Macallan Oscuro but will never do so as the price is crazy.

 

From a quick Google search:

======================

Why is Woodford Baccarat so expensive?

 

 

 

It is bottled in a handmade crystal decanter that took five days to create in Baccarat, France. As has been done in the scotch and cognac world for years, it's this piece of Baccarat glass that is very valuable thus driving up the price.Nov 18, 2020

Edited February 17 by Thrak

[BlerkOne]

1 minute ago, Thrak said:

 

Actually, both of those pics are taken directly from the menu on the phone so they are definitely shown for everybody. I checked out the Woodford online and it seems the huge cost is due to the bottle!  Apparently it takes 3 years (don't ask me why) to make the bottle. I sincerely doubt the liquor in the bottle is vastly superior to any other high end Woodford. Really stupid. I spoke with a bartender on Grand who said he had a passenger who had a shot of that every evening. The bartender told me he kept the bottle as a souvenir. When I looked up the stuff later I realized the bartender had snagged a quite valuable item. I still say it's idiotic. I'd love to try that Macallan Oscuro but will never do so as the price is crazy.

Yes. I wonder what kind of barrel the bottle is aged in? 🙂

 

I think I have seen it on display on a ship once or twice. 

 

I think the best I will do is try the special Woodford Princess variety. Whatever that is.

[Wonders By Wallis]

22 hours ago, Thrak said:

it's this piece of Baccarat glass that is very valuable thus driving up the price.

As a friend of mine says, "You don't drink the bottle."

[BlerkOne]

On 2/16/2024 at 9:49 PM, Thrak said:

 

 

It is bottled in a handmade crystal decanter that took five days to create in Baccarat, France. As has been done in the scotch and cognac world for years, it's this piece of Baccarat glass that is very valuable thus driving up the price.Nov 18, 2020

I'm really surprised by the price this went for - I thought it would be worth more.

 

https://bid.lionandunicorn.com/lots/view/4-563X3F/woodford-reserve-baccarat-edition-whiskey-bottle

 

 

[BamaVol]

On 1/24/2024 at 12:29 PM, voljeep said:

more than a few $1.18 charges from Vines on our last cruise

A few from the Wheelhouse on mine.  $16 whiskeys.

[Guest Snaxmuppet]

On 1/24/2024 at 10:35 PM, CrazyTrain2 said:

The standard package is a marketing gimmick for the brochures and data aggregators to make Princess cruises look cheaper by comparison.

That is just so not true. It might be your opinion and that is perfectly fine... you are entitled to that... but what you said there is not my opinion and I know it isn't that of many here.

 

Many people choose the standard fare... they probably don't drink alcohol, don't use the internet and want to choose how much to add for gratuities. Yes, the packages are great for many but not everyone.