Beverage Packages

JSinapijr · September 26, 2018

So as we all know alcohol is not included in the price of your cruise (most of the time). As we are getting into the 2019 cruise season, most cruise lines are bumping up the prices on these packages. Norwegian is seeking to bump their beverage packages to $100 U.S.D. per person per day, Royal Caribbean is going into the $60 U.S.D. per person per day, and most people are adding $1,000 to their cruise in addition to the money already spent on the cruise.

Now we have NCL that is consistently offering the unlimited beverage package as a perk in, what seems to be a never-ending promotion, and have overall increased the prices of their cruises. Additionally, NCL is offering "all-inclusive" cruises now as well. They are the only cruise line bold enough to offer a beverage package as a perk, and I believe that is a primary reason some younger cruises are switching to NCL.

I do want to share with you my opinion on the beverage package. When I purchase the unlimited beverage package, I have paid no more than $450 for alcohol and internet, and I feel that I get more of a use of the internet and specialty coffee perk. Please let me know if you agree, but I feel that I force myself to drink more to get my money's worth.

So I have some question for everyone whether you are a new cruiser or have been cruising for years:

Do you think the prices of beverage packages are getting out of control?

Would you leave the cruise line you are loyal to if another cruise line offered you an "all-inclusive" option?

(For new cruisers) Would you choose a cruise solely based on how much the alcohol packages cost?

(For seasoned cruisers) What is your overall opinion on the change from when beverage packages were not a thing to now? Would you rather pay for each drink or would you rather a package?

Shari2 · September 26, 2018

One hundred dollars a day? Per person? Wow! Who drinks that much...LOL In my younger days I probably overdid it a couple of times while having fun, but now I limit myself to one drink and only a few times a week. No fun to be hungover and going on tours...LOL My husband would be the one using it mostly. I think we both would like to just pay for each drink separately. Would not leave a favorite cruise line...just pay for alcohol separately. And yes...I can see that it would make us feel like we need to drink more to use the money spent.

Edited September 26, 2018 by Shari2

JSinapijr · September 26, 2018

@Shari2 Thanks for responding Shari! I think that my next cruise will just be a refreshment package so I can get specialty coffee and freshly squeezed juices! Rather go on another cruise rather than spend it all on alcohol, it will make me feel better the whole time too! ?

AndiD · September 27, 2018

Jsinapijr - thanks for wording this posting in the nonjudgmental, neutral way that you did. There are some who do drink enough to make a package worthwhile, and there are some who would rather just pay up front for everything and not worry about added expenses during the cruise. I have bought the drink package a time or two when they offered a discount on it, and I have taken advantage of it when it has been a free perk. But I did tend to drink more than I normally would with the package, which could be a not-so-good consequence, ha. Having said that....

I do think beverage package prices are getting out of control.

I would not choose my cruise line based on an included drink package, however, if more than one of my favored cruise lines are offering the itinerary I want, a plus might be the one offering a free drink package!

If prices were comparable to, or even just a tad higher than what I would drink anyway, then I would definitely rather get a package; I can budget for it, pay it, and forget it.

Jan115 · September 27, 2018

Joe - thanks for a great discussion topic!

Yes, prices for beverage packages are getting out of control, and as long as guests want them and are willing to pay for them, the cruise lines will sell them at their inflated prices.

I'm not particularly loyal to any one cruise line, but have found myself cruising a lot recently on NCL - due to my husband's Twin River Casino cruise perks ? - not because of any love for the drink package, but because I have grown to like "freestyle" cruising and their ships.

Would I leave a favorite cruise line for a more-inclusive option? I used to think not, but I have been eyeing Viking Ocean lately, not because of their inclusive beer and wine at lunch and dinner, but because of the other inclusive amenities as well (excursions, internet, specialty dining, etc). There is a lot of nickel and diming with the major lines, and it's getting worse.

Like Andi, I generally only get a beverage package when it's a free perk. However, there was a time - as late as 2017 - when Princess gave you the option of taking cash in the form of onboard credit in lieu of the beverage package, and I would chose the OBC in a heartbeat. I don't drink enough to warrant the cost, especially on a port-intensive cruise. I chose the free package as one of my two perks on NCL Epic 7-day Mediterranean in June, and may have had 2 drinks a day, if that. I am mostly a water drinker (from my own reusable container to be environmentally friendly), don't drink soda and might have a specialty coffee afternoon jolt. Other than that, a drink package is wasted on me. Now if it's a cruise with a lot of sea days, there will be more frozen drinks and beers by the pool, but still not enough to validate paying for a drink package.

Now for big drinkers - or for those who don't want to keep tabs on how much they are spending on booze, I can see why it's attractive. Alcohol has been budgeted in before the cruise, so no pressure to hold back.

As a seasoned cruiser, I have no problem with lines offering a drink package for those who can use them, but they should offer an "in-lieu-of" onboard credit option or maybe a "light-drinker" package at half the price.

JSinapijr · September 27, 2018

@AndiD No judgment here at Cruise Ship Crayz we completely understand the need to unwind in any way you wish while at sea. We also very strongly believe in "What happens at sea, stays at sea." I am happy to hear your thoughts on this, and that you wouldn't change cruise lines based off of the package! I am happy that Royal is now offering three complimentary drinks to diamond members I take advantage of them even when I have the package!

I think I am going to try one of NCL's all-inclusive cruises to experience it first hand and see how it is! We will see what 2019 brings looking at the prices of the beverage package onboard Symphony for January I might be skipping it! ?

JSinapijr · September 27, 2018

@Jan115 You are right if people buy them the cruise line will sell them! I noticed onboard Harmony 2 weeks ago that the bartenders now assume you have the package with many saying " you have the package?" Very rarely did I hear someone answer no, and now very few cocktail menus onboard list prices because most do not have to worry about it! Now don't get me wrong I got my $458.00 out of the unlimited internet and beverages but the internet I no longer think of as an expense because I am there to bring the onboard experience to all the wonderful viewers such as yourself but I can do without the alcohol. I agree that I would love to see a package sold beforehand that allows you a drink or two per night. Now I have to say I think there are two significant flaws in NCL's promotion of the drink package. One, there is no other perk you can choose that equals up to the amount of money someone can save by the beverage package. Second, after a certain hour onboard some NCL ships I have noticed that the entire ship gets a little too crazy and mostly younger passengers are out after a certain hour after the first night. I do know that NCL is completely redesigning their pricing structure so we will see exactly how that impacts the beverage package perk!

AndiD · September 29, 2018

On 9/27/2018 at 1:40 PM, JSinapijr said:

@AndiD No judgment here at Cruise Ship Crayz we completely understand the need to unwind in any way you wish while at sea. We also very strongly believe in "What happens at sea, stays at sea." I am happy to hear your thoughts on this, and that you wouldn't change cruise lines based off of the package! I am happy that Royal is now offering three complimentary drinks to diamond members I take advantage of them even when I have the package!

I think I am going to try one of NCL's all-inclusive cruises to experience it first hand and see how it is! We will see what 2019 brings looking at the prices of the beverage package onboard Symphony for January I might be skipping it! ?

I will be Diamond on Royal after my March cruise - three complimentary drinks here I come! ?

lasalmi · October 2, 2018

We cruise often and we figured out that we are better off paying for drinks as we order them. We don't drink to excess that way.

JSinapijr · October 2, 2018

@lasalmi I think that might be something I start doing! Seeing I cruise mostly for work now I do not drink until after 5 P.M. on the weekdays so I really don't drink much. Maybe I will save that as a "splurge" on a vacation cruise!