Monday, April 1, 2024

What to Expect on a Cruise: Drink Packages on Cruises

cruise beverage package

Note that some cruise lines discount drink packages if you buy them online in advance of sailing, and others offer periodic sales on their drink packages online. This package may be used onboard and during port visits to Great Stirrup Cay. Unlike mainstream all-inclusive drink packages, Margaritaville At Sea categorizes beverage packages by interest with a set number of beverages. The Boat Drinks package includes 10 alcoholic drinks ranging from beer, cocktails and wine.

Cruise Line Drink Package Calculator

Packages run the gamut from bottled water and soda packages to all-inclusive packages that cover cocktails, wine, beer, soda and coffee. Some lines offer coffee cards for a set number of drinks from the for-fee coffee bars, or wine packages that vary in number of bottles and vintages. Packages can either be a set number of drinks for a discounted price (for example, 12 bottles of water or five bottles of wine) or a set per-day fee for a range of drinks orders. Packages may be pre-purchased at least four days prior to boarding the vessel.

Celebrity Cruises Drink Packages

When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. We take wine seriously, so we’re proud to announce our onboard dining room received the prestigious Wine Spectator's 2023 Award of Excellence. Our expert Mixologist, Rob Floyd, has refreshed the cocktail menus across the entire Princess fleet using his unique blend of knowledge, technique and flair for storytelling. Exclusive cocktails from the master himself join guest favorites with locally inspired flavors to create moments remembered long beyond the last day of the voyage. Available for purchase on board or for booked guests in Cruise Personalizer.

Windstar Cruises drink package

The Captain's Exclusive Beverage Package includes the same beer and wine offerings with the addition of Champagne by the glass, cordials, cocktails and mini bar selections. When not bundled with an all-inclusive fare, Windstar offers two other beverage programs. The Topmast Discoveries Beer & Wine Package includes domestic and imported beer along with more than 30 varieties of wine by the glass.

What Drink Packages Does Princess Offer?

I recently found All Included upgrade prices as low as $35 per person, per night, which makes the drink package less than half price and Wi-Fi free. Once you have the Classic package in place through the All-In add-on, you can easily upgrade to the Premium drink package if you prefer. Here are the ranges of what a Celebrity drink package costs.

Holland America Line Drink Packages

The highest-end offering is the Premium Package, which gives you practically any drink you could want up to $17 per glass. The price starts $109 per day, with an additional 20% service charge, for a total of $130.80. In such cases, it often doesn't make sense to buy a cruise drink package unless everyone in your cabin is a significant drinker.

How Do I Purchase the Princess Drink Package?

Keep in mind that these are all estimates as drink prices vary by cruise line and what you specifically drink. If you are in the ballpark of the daily cost of the drink package, it is likely to be worth it for you. 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.

cruise beverage package

I've encountered many people who have called customer service and downgraded one or more non-drinking adults to a Refreshment Package. You can also order a glass of soda at any restaurant or bar on board. Some venues only serve fountain sodas, but others have cans. One big bonus of the package is that sodas on Royal Caribbean's private island destinations (Perfect Day at Coco Cay and Labadee) are included in the Soda Package. 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. The lower tier Princess Plus Beverage Package costs $64.99 per person, per day starting February 2023.

As the starting point for the Soda Package is just over $15 per person per day with the gratuity, you'll need to count on drinking a minimum of four sodas a day for it to be a good value. I've been known to take a couple of 16-ounce bottles of soda on board with me, but carrying on much more than that is a big hassle. It's also great for older kids and teens who might be roaming the ship with friends. For the Plus Beverage Package, it includes these beverages priced $15 per glass or less. For the Premier Beverage Package, it includes beverages up to $20 per glass, giving you more access to high-end drinks.

I’ve been on some cruises where I’ve looked at my onboard account statement and thought, “Jeez, I should have bought the drink package.” This wouldn’t be that cruise. Per Windstar Cruises' Alcohol Policy, during embarkation, passengers may also bring two personal bottles of wine or Champagne per cabin for seven-day cruises or three bottles for sailings of eight days or more. A corkage fee applies to personal bottles consumed in public areas of the ship. Most passengers will find the all-inclusive Deluxe Beverage Package a valuable option as it covers alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages alike. Debating visiting Labadee vs. CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private islands?

Drink packages generally make sense only for cruisers who typically order large numbers of drinks every day or particularly expensive drinks such as premium cocktails. For cruisers who only have one or two or three drinks a day, or order low-cost drinks such as beers, a cruise drink package generally doesn't make sense. Even if you think you'll use a drink package every day, remember that you might be spending a significant amount of time off your ship during port days on your cruise. On days when you're off the ship much of the time, you won't be ordering nearly as many drinks on board as on a sea day. Some cruise lines don't even allow you to use your drink packages on their private islands. In addition, some cruise lines do not offer package sales on select ships or sailings.

Some like to splurge on other aspects of their cruise by saving on drinks. Others prefer a more complete bill for their vacation paid upfront, including all the drinks they could imagine served at their every whim. My own experience on a recent cruise was that the Elite happy hour drinks, along with a drink now and then in the casino, were enough for me. My husband played Blackjack for long hours and had a steady stream of his favorite beverages each night at no charge. Celebrity supplies free drinks (alcoholic and non) for anyone actively playing in the casino.

While the listed upgrade price is $20 per person, per night, I've heard from multiple cruisers that the upgrade is sometimes offered as low as $6.99 per person, per night, making that a bargain as well. Don't forget the 20% gratuity per person, per night, that's tacked onto the price. But there is another benefit -- the option of trying new things without worrying about the cost. Head to a bar normally to try something new, and you pay out of pocket whether you love it or hate it. With the drink package, you can try drinks you normally wouldn't order without the risk. Princess does not specifically say that all passengers in a cabin have to purchase the drink package.

Royal Caribbean cruise line makes a huge beverage change - TheStreet

Royal Caribbean cruise line makes a huge beverage change.

Posted: Tue, 23 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

This package is available to use everywhere except signature venues. Package is not available until the second day of all sailings leaving from ports in New York and Texas. Applies to onboard beverages only; it cannot be used at Princess Cays or Half Moon Cay. The package must be booked for the entire duration of the voyage.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Hire Electronic Product Design Services & Freelance Product Designers

Table Of Content Electrical & Electronics Engineer Learn About Electronics Technology Solving the contact resistance challenge for 7nm a...