How to cut your bar bill. (or how to be Miserable)

[mstrc1]

What's a Rum-Runner?

 

Go to http://www.rumrunnerflasks.com and everything is there for you to order yours. They are great and work well. Fast delivery as well.

[Aussiegrlfl]

We have been on 20+ cruises and I still think they are the best vacation $$ package out there....we live close enough to drive to the ports so we save air/hotel costs, but we like to enjoy ourselves...so we spend at the bar, casino, spa, excursions etc....this next cruise is only $419.00 pp for 7 days....there is no way the cruise line could support this if we did not spend more money....the prices would have to go up.....I am proud of all of you who don't spend money....but I am happier with those that do because it keeps the initial cost down...and I bring water and booze onboard and still have a huge bill...so I don't feel guilty at all....I just don't always want to leave my cabin....I enjoy balcony time......the majority of the time I tip above the daily asked for amount.....

 

I guess some can always gripe about something, but here is the bottom line..... LIFE IS SHORT....so get out there, and enjoy yourselves....and remember you can't take it with you and Uncle Sam is going to get a huge chunk before your kids do....so why shouldn't you enjoy it...after all you earned it.....

[Rick-cruiser]

last night we went to a restaurant. it was empty. they were charging $6.00 for a bottle of beer. $6.00. nobody was drinking beers.

 

they just don't get it. no wonder restaurants are going out of business.

 

it's like the hardware store owner who was charging $20 for a $3 flashlight when there was a hurricane coming. I have not been back to that store since.

 

people don't like to be taken advantage of.

[danabobbyt]

Just curious..What were Carnival's year end profits last year? Does anyone know?

[PureVida]

I watched a really interesting show on the travel channel called cruise inc. I believe they were on a r.c boat as well as a carnival one. In any case they said that even sailing at full capacity for the cruise they filmed they just barely broke even. they showed how much people would have to spend for them to make more.It was all mostly in booze sales. The price just to leave the dock in gas was amazing.Plus salary,insurance,tax,entertainment,ect.They would not give a exact number but the man said it was barely breaking even.Check your local listings if you can catch it.Very informative. I will be smuggling booze like a pirate.I am so sorry that this HUGE mega company cant break even , hard times ect. But i choose to pay for my entire family (parents-inlaws ect) to come with us for our wedding cruise instead of having a big wedding.SO i think they have enough of my money.

[debbymark]

can someone tell me how much the wine packages are on RCI.

my sister is going soon and would like to know. Thanks

[briandama]

ORIGINALLY POSTED BY SACOMOCHI::::

 

...reading some of the comments and thoughts!

 

Our bar bill on the Radiance South America to San Diego last month (15 days) was $1,738. By comparison our Jr Suite was $3,000. The bar bill would have been more but we received alot of free drinks. We are trying out a Grand Suite in Nov so that we can use the concierge happy hour for a few hours and maybe that will help reduce the cost, but the savings probably won't pay for the upgrade!

 

We have brought wine on thru the checked bags method a few times. Funny thing was, we ended up taking it home anyway (it was from other lands not available in the US). And yes, the TSA found it right away and left a nice note in our luggage telling us so.

 

People try to smuggle in liquor all the time after a shore excursion. They ALWAYS get caught by the airport style scanner when they come in and they complain, etc. The cruise line puts the booze in the duty free hold, gives the owner a claim ticket and returns the booze to the passenger the night before disembarkation. I suppose you could then chug down a quart of Jack Daniels and "really show 'em"!!

 

I've met people who try to take bottled water on the ship to save money. I think that this is a sign of illness - you know these people - they are the ones that leave a quarter for a tip, always know exactly what they ordered in a group meal and have a little change purse to get it exactly right. You know them alright.

 

I really enjoyed reading from peole that seem to know how much it costs to run a cruise line - that really cracks me up! Yeah, these same folks question the hospital bill after having surgery because they KNOW that gauze doesn't cost $18.73!!!! After all, its just cotton!!! And they can get the same thing from Wally Whirrled for $1.79!! Next time they're gonna bring their own, by God!!

 

Why does a dive bar charge $2.75 for a can of beer when you can "go to the supermaket and buy it for $0.52"???? A cruise ship couldn't possibly have a greater overhead than a dive bar, could it?

 

To be serious: RCI increased the beer price from $4.54 to $5.25 from last November to this April. That's a big change. They dropped the fuel surcharge at the same time. Co-incidence?

 

If you can't afford to go on a cruise and enjoy yourself - don't! It's kind of like joining a ritzy country club and then complaining that the green fees are too high. You don't belong there if that's the case.

__________________

...not our 1st cruise...

 

 

Sakamochi,

 

I have 2 words for you........."WELL SAID"

[crs8803]

Good rule of thumb. eat on the boat , Drink in the ports.

[coco pants]

The booze smuggling argument is hilarious!!

 

People who do it are booze hounds who want a drink the second they get on the boat and have a mimosa at their disembarkation breakfast (if they can get up for breakfast on the last day). I should know, i'm the champion of these freedom fighters!

 

I always smuggle booze but I also ALWAYS have a bar tab. It's a moot point. It's fun to get the ship deals - pitcher in the afternoon even though there's a bottle in my cabin. Who cares? We all just want to have fun. Don't stress about us and where our alcohol is stashed, cause we're still throwing down in the casino, raging karaoke, and buying you a shot at the bar. No one is getting slighted. In fact, we're contributing selflessly to the joviality and excitement of your vacation. No need to repay us, it's a gift!

 

In fact, on my next cruise, heaven smiled down on my friends and I and we don't have to stash a single bottle. My travel agent hooked us up with an ALCOHOL PACKAGE!!! That's right! All we can drink! So find me at the bar and you're covered!

 

Party on, vacationers!

[Tucker in Texas]

I read a while back on another posting from a woman who wondered why at one bar she was charged one price for her drink and another bar a different price. I think the higher price drink was at the ice show. So she asked at the Purser's Desk when she was down on another matter. She was told sales tax on the ice show drink. Huh? She asked what government agency was the tax being paid? They were in the ocean. No answer just told that it was sales tax.

 

I have heard more than once that different prices have been charged at different bars for the same drink.

 

And the poster who thinks he is going to get a 2-fer from the coupon book on RCL? Dream on. They have revamped the book and it is essentially worthless now. I think that is one of the coupons that has gone bye-bye.

 

Last night we went to a very reasonably priced Italian restaurant. Meals ran around $12 average. I don't know what possessed my husband but when the waitress asked what we wanted to drink he asked how much was a coke? $2.29. How much is a beer? $2.59. He said he would have the beer, thank you. Have you ever noticed how they very seldom list how much drinks are on the menu? Oh yes, you get refills. How often do they come around and ask you if you want another one? Maybe 50% of the time. A lot of times my margaritas during happy hour are cheaper than a coke.

 

Which reminds me of when I was a kid. We would go to the corner drug store and ask for a small coke without any ice--5 cents. Then ask for a large glass of ice--free. Pour the "neat" coke in the large glass. A large coke was a dime. They let us get away with it.

 

Tucker in Texas

[MrsPete]

. . . In any case they said that even sailing at full capacity for the cruise they filmed they just barely broke even . . . Plus salary,insurance,tax,entertainment,ect.They would not give a exact number but the man said it was barely breaking even.

I'd like to see that show, but my first reaction is disbelief. It's not too hard to skew statistics so that they show what you want them to show. A couple things that come to mind: They're getting kickbacks from stores and other venues on shore to "promote" their wares. They're not paying all those salaries -- many of them are paid through tips. Without having seen it, I'm just skeptical.

 

And keep in mind that the cruise line doesn't want to say, "And we're making money hand over fist! Goody for us!"

[MrsPete]

People try to smuggle in liquor all the time after a shore excursion. They ALWAYS get caught by the airport style scanner when they come in and they complain, etc.

Nope, people DON'T ALWAYS get caught bringing alcohol back in from shore trips. :)

Why does a dive bar charge $2.75 for a can of beer when you can "go to the supermaket and buy it for $0.52"???? A cruise ship couldn't possibly have a greater overhead than a dive bar, could it?

I agree that the ship has to cover its overhead. They're transporting the products to a rather unique location, they're storing them, cooling them, and serving them -- that's not free.

 

On the other hand, they're buying them by the pallet, so they're probably paying 30% of what you and I pay at the grocery store. So their per-beer cost is probably something like .50 (even for the good stuff), and they're selling it for $5 or so -- plus tip -- it's a guess, but it'that's something like a 900% mark-up. I'd venture to guess that mixed drinks have even a greater mark-up. That sounds an awful lot like usury.

[MrsPete]

Another tip for lowering your bar bill:

 

Some cruiselines are now offering specials such as, buy a "bucket" of 4 bottles of beer.... and the 5th beer is free.

This deal has gone the way of the dinosaur; well, at least it has on Royal Caribbean. You can still buy a bucket, but you'll pay for each beer. So if a single beer is $5, a five-pack bucket would cost $25. There's really little point. It makes sense to get them individually and have them straight-from the real-ice-bucket cold.

[MrsPete]

Beverage sales is the #1 source of revenue on board a cruise ship. It's NOT the casino, or the shore excursions, or the gift shop. Many people think it's the casino, but only 30% of passengers actually go to the casino whereas nearly everyone spends money on drinks every day. After all, alcohol and cruising are such a great combination.

I would've guessed drinks. Keep in mind that it's not JUST alcohol. Most everyone buys the soda package, which is a huge money-maker for the ship.

[MrsPete]

Sorry, but I have to call BS on this one.

 

I just don't believe you . . . Unless they had a schedule I, II, or III narcotic on board and you didn't know about that.

Yeah, it's a pretty fishy story. IF the people in question caused a scene and were disturbing the peace or disrupting the check-in process for others, one of the many security guards would've quickly taken them behind closed doors. IF perhaps then they assaulted a security guard, they might have been arrested for that . . . but for having alcohol? No. This story is too far-fetched to be believable.

[Rick-cruiser]

Tonight, CNBC is airing at 9:00 PM EST the show "Cruise Inc: Big Money On The High Seas". Many people missed it the first time, so I'm getting the word out in case you want to watch it, TIVO it, DVR, VCR, etc...

 

It gives very good insight as to how cruiselines make most of their profit... they do it once they have you as a captive passenger on board the ship.

 

How are they able to offer such low rates on their basic fares? $399 for a 7-day cruise? $599 for a 14-day cruise? Well, they "get ya" once you're on board.... charging exorbitant prices for drinks, shore excursions, and expanding the opportunities for you to make a donation to their casino (navagating crowds to pass through the casino between venues - on the way to/out of the theater, etc).

 

It provides an interesting behind-the-scenes investigative report regarding this aspect of the cruise industry.

 

- Rick

[kiki4444]

To quote Sakamochi,

"If you can't afford to go on a cruise and enjoy yourself - don't! It's kind of like joining a ritzy country club and then complaining that the green fees are too high. You don't belong there if that's the case."

__________________

 

I guess our idea of "affording a cruise" will have to differ. Not everyone can "afford" a 1700$$ bar bill. So smuggle away!

[simplelife]

So how do you know when you are out of US waters?

You can ask. Another clue is that they open the shops and casino.

[simplelife]

We have been on 20+ cruises and I still think they are the best vacation $$ package out there....we live close enough to drive to the ports so we save air/hotel costs, but we like to enjoy ourselves...so we spend at the bar, casino, spa, excursions etc....this next cruise is only $419.00 pp for 7 days....there is no way the cruise line could support this if we did not spend more money....the prices would have to go up.....I am proud of all of you who don't spend money....but I am happier with those that do because it keeps the initial cost down...and I bring water and booze onboard and still have a huge bill...so I don't feel guilty at all....I just don't always want to leave my cabin....I enjoy balcony time......the majority of the time I tip above the daily asked for amount.....

 

I guess some can always gripe about something, but here is the bottom line..... LIFE IS SHORT....so get out there, and enjoy yourselves....and remember you can't take it with you and Uncle Sam is going to get a huge chunk before your kids do....so why shouldn't you enjoy it...after all you earned it.....

 

You make a good point. It would probably be a worthwhile exercise to add up what one spends on a land vacation - hotel, equivalent restaurants (3 meals a day plus snacks), drinks, entertainment, tips. I believe it would be significantly higher than your total cruise fare plus on-board charges.

This is from my own experiences with land trips. They always end up costing significantly more than the same number of days on a cruise (And that's with even scaling back more on the land vacation).

[dragonswordkata]

The booze smuggling argument is hilarious!!

 

People who do it are booze hounds who want a drink the second they get on the boat and have a mimosa at their disembarkation breakfast (if they can get up for breakfast on the last day). I should know, i'm the champion of these freedom fighters!

 

We all just want to have fun. Don't stress about us and where our alcohol is stashed, cause we're still throwing down in the casino, raging karaoke, and buying you a shot at the bar. No one is getting slighted. In fact, we're contributing selflessly to the joviality and excitement of your vacation. No need to repay us, it's a gift!

 

In fact, on my next cruise, heaven smiled down on my friends and I and we don't have to stash a single bottle. My travel agent hooked us up with an ALCOHOL PACKAGE!!! That's right! All we can drink! So find me at the bar and you're covered!

 

Party on, vacationers!

 

I tip my Sam Adams brew to you Sir, a true patriot!

[Paul+3kids]

Im with you Rick!

 

I generally dont buy drinks when I go out to restaraunts, pubs and clubs. I am happy to just drink free tap water rather than give in to rediculously inflated prices. Last time I went on a cruise was about 4 years ago in Australia and the drink prices were actually quite reasonable ($3 beer, $6 cocktails) but after reading this im guessing the prices have gone up a fair bit since then! Another thing that makes me laugh is hotels that serve food. If you buy a meal from the resteraunt section it will cost you double what exactly the same meal from the same kitchen costs if you order it at the sports bar, and everytime I go in there the resteraunt is packed out full of noisy familys, and the tables are sticky and the staff are rude, but you go into the sportsbar and its nice a quiet, the people are friendly and relaxed, and you can watch the footy while you eat!

 

Great post.... and very applicable. I just came off the Celebrity Solstice and observed exactly the same thing in regard to drink prices.

 

I live my life according principles and, based on that, I cannot - and never will - allow myself to buy ONE beer for $7.38 when I can buy a case (24)for 13.99 at any supermarket (that's about .56 cents each). It's that simple.

 

I don't care that "I'm out to sea so I have no choice..." or "I'm on vacation...so what the hell..." or "this is how it is, so waddaya gonna do?..." whatever... I DO have a choice and I'm VERY aware where my money goes, at all times.

 

I don't mind paying certain mark-ups for things, but $7.38 for something that costs the cruiseline probably .30 wholesale is absolutely ridiculous. I would never support and encourage that.

 

- Rick

[lnorland]

I have owned a bar,restaurant and a golf course and you are paying for the experience of drinking a beer on the ship enjoying the scenery, paying for the service of somebody keeping it cold and then delivering it as well as cleaning up after you. Paying $7 for a beer seems a little high,but if it was just about the money I would not leave the house!

[simplelife]

I read a while back on another posting from a woman who wondered why at one bar she was charged one price for her drink and another bar a different price. I think the higher price drink was at the ice show. So she asked at the Purser's Desk when she was down on another matter. She was told sales tax on the ice show drink. Huh? She asked what government agency was the tax being paid? They were in the ocean. No answer just told that it was sales tax.

 

I have heard more than once that different prices have been charged at different bars for the same drink.

 

And the poster who thinks he is going to get a 2-fer from the coupon book on RCL? Dream on. They have revamped the book and it is essentially worthless now. I think that is one of the coupons that has gone bye-bye.

 

Last night we went to a very reasonably priced Italian restaurant. Meals ran around $12 average. I don't know what possessed my husband but when the waitress asked what we wanted to drink he asked how much was a coke? $2.29. How much is a beer? $2.59. He said he would have the beer, thank you. Have you ever noticed how they very seldom list how much drinks are on the menu? Oh yes, you get refills. How often do they come around and ask you if you want another one? Maybe 50% of the time. A lot of times my margaritas during happy hour are cheaper than a coke.

 

Which reminds me of when I was a kid. We would go to the corner drug store and ask for a small coke without any ice--5 cents. Then ask for a large glass of ice--free. Pour the "neat" coke in the large glass. A large coke was a dime. They let us get away with it.

 

Tucker in Texas

One of the quickest ways for a server to reduce the amount of his/her tip is to fail to monitor the need for refills on soda, tea, or coffee. I don't mean that they need to hover, but they shoud come by and offer at least once for soda and teas,and shoudl frequently offer "warmups" on coffee. OR they can provide carafe on beverage on the table so we can help ourselves.

[Rick-cruiser]

Im with you Rick!

 

I generally dont buy drinks when I go out to restaraunts, pubs and clubs. I am happy to just drink free tap water rather than give in to rediculously inflated prices. Last time I went on a cruise was about 4 years ago in Australia and the drink prices were actually quite reasonable ($3 beer, $6 cocktails) but after reading this im guessing the prices have gone up a fair bit since then! Another thing that makes me laugh is hotels that serve food. If you buy a meal from the resteraunt section it will cost you double what exactly the same meal from the same kitchen costs if you order it at the sports bar, and everytime I go in there the resteraunt is packed out full of noisy familys, and the tables are sticky and the staff are rude, but you go into the sportsbar and its nice a quiet, the people are friendly and relaxed, and you can watch the footy while you eat!

 

Isn't it great when you discover a nice little secret, like you did about the sports bar?... where you can have a nice, quiet, friendly, leisurely meal - AND pay half the amount??... I love discovering things like that.. AWAY from the crowded, mainstream areas.. where they take advantage and charge you top-dollar for everything....

 

- Rick

[Pirateskigirl]

Tonight, CNBC is airing at 9:00 PM EST the show "Cruise Inc: Big Money On The High Seas". Many people missed it the first time, so I'm getting the word out in case you want to watch it, TIVO it, DVR, VCR, etc...

 

It gives very good insight as to how cruiselines make most of their profit... they do it once they have you as a captive passenger on board the ship.

 

How are they able to offer such low rates on their basic fares? $399 for a 7-day cruise? $599 for a 14-day cruise? Well, they "get ya" once you're on board.... charging exorbitant prices for drinks, shore excursions, and expanding the opportunities for you to make a donation to their casino (navagating crowds to pass through the casino between venues - on the way to/out of the theater, etc).

 

It provides an interesting behind-the-scenes investigative report regarding this aspect of the cruise industry.

 

- Rick

 

According to this show. Cruise lines make most of their money from alcohol sales and ship excursions. Each dept is given a quota they must meet for each cruise. The NCL ship in the show barely broke even and made it because of alcohol sales. The ship had bad weather which caused excursion cancellations and it was only 92% full.