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Celebrity's "Always Included" offers are ideal when booking eligible cruise fares, as the Classic Package is already included and will serve most travelers best. Purchased packages may be modified up to four days prior to sailing by canceling and reordering the package. Cancellations or refunds will not be issued onboard the vessel after embarkation day. You must be at least 21 years of age to purchase any alcoholic package and to consume alcohol. The package does not apply to drinks in souvenir glasses or via room service.
Where can you use a cruise ship drink package?
If you want to step onto your ship without any worry about how much you're drinking and the cost of it, then purchasing your drinks package prior to your cruise is your best choice. Everything will already be in place for you, so all you have to do is get on your ship, relax and immediately order that piña colada. This strategy can help cruisers better budget and manage costs once onboard, too, as the drink package will already have been paid for in advance during the booking phase. One thing to keep in mind is that lines generally sell drink packages by the cruise, not by the day.
You like knowing your bill ahead of time.
As with the other cruise lines on the list, you will usually get a better deal if you purchase the drink package before you set sail rather than on the ship. Finally, luxury cruise lines such as Celebrity Cruises, Viking Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Silversea Cruises, and Princess Cruises Princess Plus already include a beverage package with your cruise fare. The other side of the equation is to factor the price of the drink package into the total vacation cost to make the cruise more of an all-inclusive vacation experience. Think about it like you would an all-inclusive land-based resort. When you vacation at one of those, you not only wouldn't know the price of the drinks you consume, but you also would not care. With the Classic Package, choose from an incredible array of beers, spirits, cocktails, liqueurs, frozen drinks, and wines by the glass up to $10 per serving.
When is the best time to buy a cruise drink package? - Cruise Blog
When is the best time to buy a cruise drink package?.
Posted: Thu, 28 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Worth It? Complete Guide to MSC Cruises Drink Packages
It is popular with adults as well as older children and those that like having juices, coffee and teas. Its wallet-draining fine wine package costs £240 and gets you just six bottles to savour over the course of your cruise. If your drinks are already paid for, you have no incentive to order cheap well drinks when you can get name-brand liquor for the same price.
Princess Cruises Drinks Packages
As mentioned above, some people enjoy that they can get the package and not have to worry about the bill. Instead of keeping a tally of what they've spent, they can just relax and know exactly what they are paying each day. There is one benefit to consider, even if you don't come out ahead financially.
Plus, with the Refreshment Package, you've solved the problem of needing water to take off the ship with you for excursions and what to drink while on the private islands. Royal Caribbean's Soda Package is for the serious soda drinker. On select ships, the package comes with a souvenir Coca-Cola cup with a chip on the bottom to allow the holder to use the Freestyle soda dispensing machines throughout the ship.
That comes to a total of $702.02 for a person on a 7-day cruise. Order a gin and tonic, and the bartender is likely to pour you the cheapest house brand of gin he's got on hand. Get the most from your beverage package by asking for your tonic with Tanqueray or Bombay Sapphire.
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. 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? For those without the promotional fare, a drinks package on Norwegian Cruise Line is still a great idea when planning to drink more than a handful of alcoholic beverages each day.
Can You Use the Drink Package in Port?
The bars on certain cruise line private islands — Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay, Norwegian's Great Stirrup Cay and MSC Cruises' Ocean Cay — let you use your drink package ashore. (Half Moon Cay and Harvest Caye do not.) That pina colada set against a palm tree backdrop will jazz up your social media feed and is a great choice for making your beverage package worthwhile. For people who plan to spend a lot of time in port (off the ship) or simply don’t drink every day, it can be difficult to get the value from the package. But if you’re someone who likes to have drinks each night, then you’ll often find it can work in your favor. This seems to be the case on shorter cruises where it’s easier to keep the party going versus week-long trips. Keep this in mind when you’re deciding if it’s worth it for you to buy.
So when you purchase the package, you'll see an additional gratuity charge tacked on to the total (typically around 18%, depending on the cruise line). So a $60 package, for example, will end up costing around $71 per day. Most drink packages also have limits on the cost of the drink they will cover.
Even better news is that Elite members and up drink free at most bars between 5 and 7 p.m., the official Captain's Club cocktail hour. You aren't limited to sitting at one bar, but you are limited to the choices on a special menu. It's possible to grab a glass of wine or a cocktail on your way to dinner and another on your way to a show. The $35 per person, per night upgrade to All Included to get the Classic drink package in my example above was during the Black Friday Kickoff sale, a full two weeks before actual Black Friday. The gratuity is 20% and is added when you purchase the package.
Welcome to High Seas Cruising, your resource for exploring the exciting world of cruise ship travel. We provide expert advice, insightful reviews, and comprehensive guides to help seasoned and novice cruisers create their ideal sea journeys. Whether you desire adventure, luxury, or exploration, High Seas Cruising is your compass to unforgettable cruise vacations. Virgin Voyages tops up the amount when guests pre-purchase the Bar Tab before sailing.
Specialty coffees average around $6 but can run as much as $10 each. Sodas are $3; water is $3-$5, depending on the brand; mocktails and smoothies are $9. 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.
