Drink packages are such a well-liked cruise add-on, however they’ve additionally by no means been costlier. This has result in a rising pattern of cruisers opting out of them and in search of different choices.
You possibly can count on to pay at the very least $100 per individual, per day for a Royal Caribbean drink package deal if you happen to purchase it in your ship. And whereas there are reductions off that worth if you happen to purchase it earlier than the crusing begins, it nonetheless represents a significant upfront value.
For a 7-night cruise on the world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, the Deluxe Beverage prices $85.99 per individual, per day if bought on the Cruise Planner web site. That comes out to $601.93 per individual or $1,420.44 for a pair after including gratuities, as all adults in a cabin want to purchase a drink package deal if one does.
“Worth of the deluxe package deal is totally uncontrolled,” wrote Stuart Etheridge on a Fb submit discussing the drink packages.
Brian Levor added, “With the package deal round $700 per individual for per week, or single measured photographs on the rocks $14+20%, it is simply not value it to me.”
With such a excessive value, some cruisers are in search of different methods for having fun with drinks on board with out overspending.
This is what people who cruise loads are doing as an alternative of shopping for a pricey beverage package deal.
Counting on rewards drinks
These fortunate sufficient to have cruised loads already fall again on their day by day drink vouchers.
In case you attain Diamond stage in Crown and Anchor Society, Royal Caribbean provides you 4 drink vouchers per day to make use of at any bar, lounge, or restaurant.
In case you do the maths and assume you will use every of the vouchers for a drink value $13 every, you will save about $50 per day on drinks by counting on them completely.
Tony Diaz posted within the Royal Caribbean Eating Fb group, “Use my 5 diamond drinks,” and it echoed what quite a lot of different individuals mentioned.
Ron Williams wrote, “I’m Diamond Plus, so I don’t get a drink package deal.”
Michalena Vitucci additionally would not see a necessity to purchase a drink package deal due to the vouchers, “Diamond factors so by no means wanted a drink package deal .. between my husband and I that’s 8 free drinks a day so we by no means wanted to look into different choices.”
Whereas the Diamond drink vouchers are certainly a improbable profit, the draw back to this technique is it will not assist new cruisers in any respect.
To be able to make it to Diamond, it is advisable to have at the very least 80 cruise factors.
Drink without cost within the on line casino
A rising pattern amongst cruisers is qualifying for the Prime standing in Royal Caribbean’s on line casino loyalty program.
To achieve prime, you will must accumulate 2500 factors between April 1 and March 31. When you do, you’ll be able to get pleasure from limitless drinks on the on line casino bar on any Royal Caribbean ship. It even comes with a free cruise too.
Whilst you can solely get free drinks at one bar, it offers an incredible value financial savings alternative contemplating it’s going to work on any cruise you are taking whilst you nonetheless have Prime standing.
Veteran cruisers which can be additionally Diamond members love to mix the on line casino drinks with their aforementioned Diamond drinks to really get the very best worth from their loyalty.
The draw back to the free drinks within the on line casino is you first must gamble sufficient to qualify. Every on line casino level is equal to about $5 wagered, so there is a greater barrier to entry. Plus, playing is addictive and regardless of the foundations, the on line casino on Royal Caribbean ships tends to turn into a defacto smoker’s lounge.
Pay as you go
As a substitute of a pricey drink package deal, many cruisers are opting to pay as they go.
Drinks may be bought on a Royal Caribbean cruise a la carte, and it is what everybody did previous to the introduction of drink packages.
The benefit of paying for every particular person drink is if you happen to’re not a lot of a drinker. Charging two or three drinks per day to your SeaPass card goes to be cheaper total than a beverage package deal.
Plus, you’ll be able to make the most of drink specials and even the occasional free drink across the ship.
“I solely have 1 drink per day sometimes. I’m not a giant drinker and like water or iced tea,” wrote Jeannie Grant.
Kevin Lewis added, “If I actually need to have a pair drinks it isn’t gonna add up as a lot because the drink package deal.” He additionally identified consuming at bars within the ports of name the ship visits is cheaper.
There’s additionally a psychological impact of not having a drink package deal, as defined by Ken Kerby, “[I’ll] drink much less since I gained’t be attempting to profit from what I already paid for.”
The issue with paying as you go as an alternative of a drink package deal is that your bar tab can shortly develop uncontrolled if you happen to get carried away.
Hope for a drink card to be provided
On some sailings, Royal Caribbean will supply a drink card that may solely be bought onboard the ship.
The drink card is a punch card which you can purchase for a flat payment and it contains 10 drinks per card. It has the identical allowances as a drink package deal, with drinks as much as $13/$14 worth on beer, wine, soda, or cocktails.
Plus, you’ll be able to share the drink card with different friends (in contrast to the drink package deal).
“On the Surprise final week you possibly can get a card for 10 alcohol drinks for $90 or $106 with gratuities,” wrote Amy Greive.
The issue with a drink card is there isn’t a option to know if it is going to be provided in your cruise in any respect. That is as a result of the ship’s income division will supply it if alcohol gross sales usually are not assembly the aim for that voyage.
Whether it is provided, it is often in direction of the tip of the cruise. This makes it unattainable to plan or funds for previous to it displaying up.
BYOB drinks
A sensible thought for any cruiser is to convey non-alcoholic drinks with them onboard, as Royal Caribbean permits as much as 12 bottles/cans of water, juice, or delicate drinks.
Not solely are you able to convey your individual drinks, you possibly can additionally convey water drink mixes to reinforce the flavour of the water included together with your cruise fare. (Accommodates an affiliate hyperlink, which prices you nothing further to make use of).
Amy Burch wrote, “I convey these Mio taste water enhancers so as to add to each faucet water and lemonade on the ship.”
You are additionally allowed to convey one bottle of wine per grownup on the ship, offering an awesome different for gentle drinkers.
Guide a set
Royal Caribbean contains beer, wine, and cocktails throughout sure hours whereas within the Suite Lounge.
In case you’re booked in a Grand Suite or greater, Royal Caribbean contains admission to the Suite Lounge, the place you’ll be able to get pleasure from a cheerful hour number of drinks, on daily basis of the cruise.
Relying on the Royal Caribbean ship class you sail on, the hours fluctuate for when you will get free drinks within the lounge.
- Icon & Oasis Class ships: Beer and wine accessible 11am to 11pm; Glad hour with all drinks for 3 hours within the night
- All different ships: Glad hour with all drinks for 3 hours within the night. Hours fluctuate by ship.
The issue with this technique is it is solely accessible for a number of hours every night, and solely within the Suite Lounge. It isn’t handy if you happen to’re elsewhere on the ship and/or exterior of the time window.