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Check your cruise itinerary to see if your itinerary includes calls at any private islands or resorts. If you purchase the drink package, you must pay for every day you are on vacation, even when you spend the day in port. And if you are in a warm climate, such as the Mediterranean, Australia, or the Caribbean, bringing water with you as you explore the ports of call is a good idea.
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Both packages entitle the purchaser to 20 percent off wine-pairing dinners at La Reserve, available aboard Marina, Riviera and Vista. The package does not apply to drinks in souvenir glasses or via room service. Between your cruise fare, shore excursions, flights, hotel, and the drink package, spending thousands of dollars before stepping on the cruise ship can be painful. But once you are on board, the luxury of ordering drinks and restaurants without worrying about the final bar bill can be worth the price of the package. Many first-time cruisers are shocked that cruises aren’t all-inclusive.
Cons of Buying a Drinks Package on Your Cruise
Carnival requires that each adult in a stateroom purchase a drink package if one person does. So if a husband purchases the package but the wife doesn't drink, she must still purchase the drink package as well. While other cruise lines may not set explicit limits, if you are obviously intoxicated, then don't be surprised if you are cut off from ordering any more drinks.
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So don’t worry that having a bottle of water in between drinks is going to limit how many cocktails you can have. If you know you plan to purchase a drink package, then it’s a much better value to get it through the all-inclusive offers instead of purchasing it by itself at the current prices. As you can see, the price for these all-inclusive options is less than the cost of the drink package alone. In addition, you receive even more perks — such as daily gratuities and wi-fi — included.
This package is only valid for beverages and does not include Starbucks snacks or food items. NCL's Unlimited Starbucks Package is available fleetwide, including Pride of America sailings. My Drinks Plus includes all of the above, plus a wider selection of beers, premium cocktails and top-shelf liqueurs, unlimited bottled water and mini bar drinks. There are many factors to consider when deciding whether or not the drink package is worth it.
So instead of working from one price to figure out if you’ll drink enough to make the package worth it, you have to see the cost of the drink package for your specific cruise, plus any discounts you may get. To be honest, it’s tough to enforce unless you are glaringly obvious. Even so, you’re most likely to share with someone that’s in your cabin. In that case, they will have already bought the drink package as Royal Caribbean requires all adults in the cabin to buy the package if one person does.
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The only exception is souvenir cups are not included with the drink packages, so you need to request your drinks in a plastic cup if offered the souvenir option. Part of the rules of the drink packages is that you must purchase them for the entire trip. So if you are sailing on a 7-day cruise, then the package is sold only on the basis of seven days. If you have the drink package, you’ll get $14 off the price. For example, a $17 drink will see a $3 charge to your onboard account if you have the beverage package. Now, the package doesn’t include room service or mini-bar items.
Do I really get unlimited drinks?
Since Viking guests may also bring their own bottled beverages of choice onboard without a corkage fee, only those seeking greater variety throughout the sailing opt for the Silver Spirits package upgrade. An Alcohol-Free Package includes zero proof cocktails, fresh fruit and protein cocktails, energy drinks, sodas, hot drink selections and soft serve ice cream. The package is not applicable in specialty restaurants or signature venues. The package for children and teenagers aged 4 to 17 does not include alcoholic beverages. Top-shelf brands and cabin minibar items are excluded from the My Drinks package. So if you know you want the package, we suggest opting for one of Princess’ all-inclusive options as it’s less expensive.
You like knowing your bill ahead of time.
Either way, you'll find a wide range of drink options, both alcoholic and non, from morning to the wee hours of the night. These are part of what makes a cruise vacation fun, no matter how you choose to pay for them. If you go on a bender one night, it's easy to cut back your drink purchases the next night. Not having a package is a good choice for those who are either budgeting their money or dialing back their alcohol or calorie consumption. You can also bring one bottle of wine per person on board on embarkation day. There is a corkage fee for opening it in a restaurant, but none if you open it and keep it in your cabin.
You'll simply pay the difference between the $10 limit and the cost of the drink. Some cruisers on social media have said they found it necessary on some sailings to say the word "classic" when ordering drinks in order to avoid being served a premium drink and having an upcharge apply. For many people, a cruise vacation is a time to unwind completely, disconnect from the worries back on land, and indulge in the finer things in life. This may mean a few extra glasses of German riesling at dinnertime or leaning into a burgeoning Tennessee whiskey appreciation in the upscale lounges on board. A deluxe drinks package will allow you to experience all of this tasty enjoyment (usually up to a maximum price per drink). Maybe you're waiting for the price of your drinks package to drop, but don't wait too long because you may be forced to wait until you're onboard if you miss the cutoff date.
These packages often include a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. When considering the cost of a beverage package on Princess, be sure to account for any nonalcoholic drinks you will likely consume, including sodas and specialty coffees. With the unlimited offering of these beverages, many guests will find the Princess Plus Beverage Package provides excellent value for their voyage. Combining these two is the Premium Soft Drinks Option offering a range of soft drinks, juices, small bottled waters, nonalcoholic cocktails and specialty hot drinks. This package also includes a discount on any nonalcoholic beverages not already included in Cunard cruise deals.
It's usually better to book online ahead of time because there are often discounts for early purchases. For instance, we've seen discounts of 30-40% on some drink packages for booking early. If you want to purchase one of the drink packages for your cruise, the best way is to either call your cruise line or go online to book through your reservation. That's because most ports of call aren't affiliated with the cruise line.
Those purchasing a prepaid Bar Tab won't save money on individual beverages, though Virgin often offers a promotional onboard credit as a thank you to those selecting a Bar Tab. Less inclusive is the Classic Soda Package which is restricted to an unlimited offering of Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages and fountain sodas. For those only interested in bottled waters, the Water Package delivers six-, 12- or 24-packs of water to your stateroom.
Most cruise companies sell drinks packages at a fixed daily price. You can enjoy an ‘unlimited’ selection of beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks without worrying about running up a titanic bar bill. But in general, if you get a drink package then you'll get alcoholic drinks, including beer, wine, and cocktails up to a certain dollar limit per drink.
Celebrity's Zero Proof Package includes nonalcoholic drinks such as sodas, fresh juices, premium coffees and teas, premium bottled water, vitamin water and Red Bull editions, along with zero proof cocktails. The cost of the beverage package varies depending on the length of your cruise. If you’re looking to save money, purchasing the drink package before you set sail is best. That’s because the package price is $5 cheaper per person per day if purchased before embarkation day.
It pays to compare the non-upgrade price to the upgrade, then divide the difference by the number of nights and the number of people in the cabin. It’s important to understand that in addition to being an economic decision, choosing whether to purchase a cruise drinks package is also an emotional one. This is because having a drinks package on your cruise can significantly reduce the stress of tracking finances during your relaxing dream vacation.
