Wine Prices too high??

[hammybee]

I don't understand how they justify $28 for that $5 bottle...

 

Especially when we don't even get a brown paper bag, to hold it.:D

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Especially when we don't even get a brown paper bag, to hold it.:D

 

 

Here you go hammy:D

[babyher]

I can understand the increase in cost for a prepared meal, but I'm with the poster who says what's so hard about opening and pouring wine?

 

However, I also really don't mind paying for good wine. Especially on vacation.

 

That said, when I see Sutter Home White Zinfandel on HAL's wine list for $28, I have to cringe. I have never seen a bottle of that stuff cost as much as it seems to on HAL. I guess it's popular or something, but since I've never even seen it on a wine list here at home; I don't understand how they justify $28 for that $5 bottle...

 

I agree 100%

 

When I want a really premium product I have no qualms paying a premium price . I just can't stand it when you are getting gouged for something run of the mill that you know you can get at a fraction of the price someplace else. Whether it be on a cruise ship or anywhere else.

[hammybee]

Here you go hammy:D

 

You found my Yum-Yum hat. Thank you.

[Scrumpy]

For the first time, we took several bottles of wine onboard on our last cruise. I cannot possibly justify paying almost NINE times what my preferred, albeit cheap, wine costs - and more than twice what it costs in a restaurant locally. We found the wine card to be a good value and we'd go that route again. We used to buy the wine packages, but I think the wine card allowed more flexibility and was a relative bargain. We had a 20 glass card which worked out perfectly.

[JimVrhovac]

Ahcohol is a major profit center for the cruise line. If you want to keep cruise prices low we have to allow them to make up the profits in other areas. And there are not a lot of areas on the ships where profits are good except for alcohol and the casino.

 

They do make a profit on excursions but do not feel they are excessive when the gurantee the ship will wait if you are late getting back..

 

MHO

 

Ruth & Jim

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Unfortunately the high pricing of wines and champagnes on a cruise ship or any eating establshiment that serves liquor is going to be marked up drastically. It is just a fact of life that we really cannot change so why get upset about it? Fortunately with several of the cruise lines they do in fact allow us to bring on our own bottle and even with paying a corkage fee you come out way ahead. I admit we have done this several times ourselves including on our most recent cruise. Our tastes in champagnes and wines have changed over the last few years where at one time we preferred the sweeter, now we tend to like it not as sweet. One of our favorites is Veuve Cliquot which is quite pricey anywhere including the grocery store but the winery that makes Veuve also makes a Private label champagne for Traders Joes that tastes almost identical ( actually a bit better;) ) the bottle almost looks identical. The price for this is $8.99, it was no problem to bring on board a few bottles. I would venture to say that there is no other establishments other than a cruise ship that allows you to do this. So for this I thank Holland America for allowing to do this.

Life is just too short to keep looking for things to complain about. If our complaining would make a difference maybe but in this case it definitely will not, just like the Olive Garden is not going to change the price of their wine they probably only pay 10 cents on the dollar for.

[newfarmers]

Sure do!

 

Even worse than X and their prices surprised us! We still bought it, we were a captive audience of two who enjoy wine with our meals.

 

I have every intention of buying wine while we're ashore on our rapidly approaching Rotterdam cruise. We'll drink that at dinner. I'd rather pay the $15 corkage and have paid under 10 euros for something HAL would like to charge me 50 bucks. We'll still be way in front even with the corkage charge.

 

There truly is no justification, either onboard or (on shore in licensed restaurants) for the amount that is charged, no amount of transportation, storage, unscrewing that cap, or pullin that cork justifes hundreds of percent mark-up. None of the few bottles of Oz wine offered by HAL would cost more than $15 here at home.

[JimVrhovac]

Well Said

 

Jim & Ruth

 

PS

Thank you for the kind comments about our packing & road trip threads.

[bepsf]

Even worse than X and their prices surprised us!

 

You have to admit - X is far worse when it comes to cocktails:

$10 for a non-premium cocktail aboard X (+ 15%, + additional tip...) is just ridiculous IMO.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We were gone all morning and ended up eating lunch out. Then when we got home we sat ourside for several hours. I tried to use my laptop outside but couldn't see the screen so I gave up.

In PA we have state liquor stores - so everything nis high to begin with. You can not buy beer, wine or anything alcohol in any grocery store or anywhere else.

For our Sunday dinner we had Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling which cost $13 in our State Store (a few years ago it cost only $11). On the ship it costs $35 for a bottle on our recent Maasdam cruise. That is a 270% mark-up. A few years ago we were able to get it on the ship for under $20. In most of the restaurants here that same bottle costs $26.

So - yes - I think that HAL's wines are too expensive.

There was a time when we also bought the Navigator's wine packages but we feel that they are also over priced.

I think the reason some people bring their own wine on board is that they don't have to pay HAL's high prices. If HAL stopped people from bringing wine and champagne onto the ship, they could and should lower the prices -- HAL may even sell more bottles. JMO

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I think the reason some people bring their own wine on board is that they don't have to pay HAL's high prices. If HAL stopped people from bringing wine and champagne onto the ship, they could and should lower the prices -- HAL may even sell more bottles. JMO

 

KK, do you honestly think any cruiseline would lower their price including HAL? If you do then I have this little magic coin I would love to sell you for a bargain price of $200,000.:D

 

 

[Golfette]

There is a difference between a more than reasonable mark-up and price gouging. From the examples of HAL's wine prices mentioned above, it looks more like gouging to me. I don't like to be taken advantage of and this type of thing makes me feel that way. I don't mind paying a "premium" markup, if it is within reason. Yes, I can lug my own wine aboard, but why should I have to?

[jhannah]

For our Sunday dinner we had Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling which cost $13 in our State Store (a few years ago it cost only $11). On the ship it costs $35 for a bottle on our recent Maasdam cruise.

That is a hefty markup. But look at it this way: If you purchased your own at $13 and brought it onboard, you'd have to pay the $15 corkage fee. That means that bottle cost you $28 ... just $7 cheaper than the cost of purchasing it outright on the ship. Is it not worth $7 to not have to schlep the bottle(s) with you?

[winemistress45]

Unfortunately the high pricing of wines and champagnes on a cruise ship or any eating establshiment that serves liquor is going to be marked up drastically. It is just a fact of life that we really cannot change so why get upset about it? Fortunately with several of the cruise lines they do in fact allow us to bring on our own bottle and even with paying a corkage fee you come out way ahead. I admit we have done this several times ourselves including on our most recent cruise. Our tastes in champagnes and wines have changed over the last few years where at one time we preferred the sweeter, now we tend to like it not as sweet. One of our favorites is Veuve Cliquot which is quite pricey anywhere including the grocery store but the winery that makes Veuve also makes a Private label champagne for Traders Joes that tastes almost identical ( actually a bit better;) ) the bottle almost looks identical. The price for this is $8.99, it was no problem to bring on board a few bottles. I would venture to say that there is no other establishments other than a cruise ship that allows you to do this. So for this I thank Holland America for allowing to do this.

Life is just too short to keep looking for things to complain about. If our complaining would make a difference maybe but in this case it definitely will not, just like the Olive Garden is not going to change the price of their wine they probably only pay 10 cents on the dollar for.

 

Interesting comment about the Trader Joe's champagne -- when you say Private Label -- does it say Trader Joe's on it? Or is it something else?

 

Veuve is being so mass marketed here -- the N.V. one -- that its cheap -- less than $30 a bottle retail (not in a restaurant) -- the real enchilada as far as I am concerned is the vintage Grande Dame -- simply divine and tastes nothing like the "drink me now" yellow or gold label N.V. Veuve.

 

Don't get me wrong -- I love the N.V. and there is always a few bottles in my fridge at home -- I've had it twice this week already --

 

I'd be interested too if there is a wine list that anyone has -- since I haven't been on a HAL cruise yet.

 

The way I look at it is that I will bring my own from my home cellar if they don't sell it on board. If they do, then I'll just buy it from them, but if its special and not available, then I feel really comfortable paying the corkage.

 

Does anyone have a list of what is available on board?

 

Thanks!

[Krazy Kruizers]

On one of our cruises, not the recent Maasdam ones, the bar staff were all called to a meeting concerning the lack of sales of wine and alcoholic beverages. They were chewed out royally. At dinner that night they were all trying their best to get people to buy bottles of wine - very little success. A man at a table across from us told the wine steward quite pluntly that he thought HAL's prices were way out of line.

[Krazy Kruizers]

jhannah

 

We never haul any alcohol onto a ship.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Laffnvegas

I did not bring up the subject of wine prices as a complaint. Just wanted to know what others thought.

You see -- we have not limited our travels to just a couple of areas. And we can remember when on some of our cruises, like South America, HAL would buy cases of the local wines and sold them in the dining room for reasonable prices. I know - those days are gone. But if HAL would stop some of you -- and yes I have read where you have lugged your own champagne on board ( we never have and never will), lowered the prices of the bottles wines, then the sales would increase.

It's economics 101 - ban wine and champagne from being brought onto the ship -- lower the prices and sales will increase.

Why do stores have sales?? Why do car dealers have rebates?? It's to increase sales!!! I'll bet if HAL lowered the prices of wines and champagne, sales would increase.

[billfish]

Help me understand a couple of things

 

Banning bringing wine on board will lower prices . How ???

 

 

You are correct that lowering prices may in fact increase sales But it may not increase sales enough to offset the loss of profit. Bottom line always wins when you have a captive audience Yes?

[Krazy Kruizers]

When HAL started to allow passengers to bring wine and champagne on board, people began to order fewer bottles in the dining room thus the prices were raised. We have watched many a wine steward in the dining room standing around with little to do.

I didn't say that banning the wine would lower the prices -- I said that HAL could lower the prices.

[m steve]

Living in Florida and moving from DC I am used to discount wine prices as well as liquor. A mark up of 2-2 1/2 times retail for wine on the ship is reasonable but not 3-4X. Same for drinks. As someone pointed out a mixed drink at a local restaurant could vary by 50-100%. In most cases the more expensive drink is usually a good pour up to 2 oz vs. a thick shot glass that holds 1/2-3/4 oz. Many good restaurants charge more for a glass of mediocre wine than a strong mixed drink. A martini on board is usually 3+ oz of liquor so they charge more.

Duty free on board is usually a good buy as prices are competitive to Caribbean shops even if you are in Australia or Europe. Duty free at an airport is based not on the cost but what local prices are. Igot cheaper df in Costa Rica airport than in Orlando. In Europe df was no bargain at any airport. Running the df gaunlet at Heathrow I saw only a few $ savings, nothing as good as shipboard.

I agree if the onboard prices at the bars and dining room were a bit less the volume of sales would increase. The real rip off is buying on board from room service for your cabin. 2X the DFS would be fair and the ship doubles their money. I have never bought a mini from the cabin and bring my own for in room/balcony drinks before dinner.

[babyher]

KK

 

I agree with you all the way here.

 

Like you, we bever lug any beverage onboard, we just don't drink enough of ANY beverage to make it worth the hassle.

 

I don't doubt there are many passengers who pick up a wine list, see their favorite wine that they know only costs $8-10, They see $28-32 and say "No Thanks" or else maybe order it one night instead of every night like they would want to.

 

Let them be able to order that bottle at a resonable price (even if the cruiseline adds a few bucks on to it). And they won't hav to need to lug their own on board , and just order from the ship.

 

Say that reisling wine you mentioned that costs you $13. Ok, So let Hal charge $15 for it. I am sure you would have no problem with that and order it everynight.

 

I am sure plenty of people would be Ok with that and feel $2-3 over is no big deal and eliminates the need to lug their own from home.

 

Hennce, HAL will make its money.

 

When people say no thanks in the dining rooms now and then go back to their verandas and drink what they brought from home, HAL isn't seeing a dime. So what do they have to lose?

[terrydtx]

We bring aboard our own wine and take it to the dining room and pay the $15 corkage fee which makes the wine cost very reasonable. I have even had some waiters in the dining room not charge the corkage fee.:D

 

I do not think HAL’s liquor prices are out of line with 4 or 5 star hotels in the States. Last year stayed at a 4 star hotel in San Francisco and in their bar, martinis with bar vodka were $12.50 and Grey Goose was $18.50. Dinner in their fine steak restaurant cost $35-55 per entrée and wine started at $50 per bottle for lower end Calif. Cabernet. A continental breakfast room service was $18 plus 18% tip. My only complaint with HAL’s bars is that they sometime are very skimpy with the alcohol in the drink. Too many times a gin and tonic seems to be all tonic, which is why I stared drinking martinis, you can definitely taste the booze.

[Odd Ball]

Hal's prices are way over the top. The mark up on wine is ridiculous and they should lower the prices. I believe more people would buy a bottle of wine with dinner if the prices were more reasonable.

[bepsf]

On one of our cruises, not the recent Maasdam ones, the bar staff were all called to a meeting concerning the lack of sales of wine and alcoholic beverages. They were chewed out royally. At dinner that night they were all trying their best to get people to buy bottles of wine - very little success.

 

How typically Corporate America:

Someone in the home office decides on a goofy policy, & when it doesn't produce the intended results, blame the little guys on the front line...