Monday, April 1, 2024

Worth It? Celebrity Cruises Drink Packages Explained Prices, Whats Included, and More

are drink packages on a cruise worth it

If the ship departs South America, Europe, Asia, Australia or New Zealand, then the minimum age to purchase is 18 years old. Note that there will be a line on your drink receipt for additional gratuity if you are feeling generous, but it’s not required. Now that you know what you can drink with each package, let's break down the costs. The Premium Plus Beverage Package is available as an upgrade from the Unlimited Open Bar Package included with Free at Sea. The Unlimited Open Bar Package is included with your reservation if you book through Free at Sea. Then comes lunch with a soda, and a couple of craft beers to go with along with the burger you ordered.

are drink packages on a cruise worth it

You Want to Indulge in Mocktails and Zero-Proof Cocktails

In most cases, for instance, kids would need to opt for a nonalcoholic package if their parents are buying an alcoholic one. Some lines let you prepay for beverage packages ahead of your cruise, occasionally at a slight discount. You can book the packages in advance through the cruise line or get your travel agent to assist you. Soda packages average from $7.50 to $9 per adult, per day (usually with reduced rates for kids), and might include a souvenir cup. You’ve done the research on cruise lines, itineraries, and cabin types and found a great deal on a fabulous and much-needed vacation at sea. But, before you set sail, there’s one decision you have left to make.

Major Differences Between Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

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. The grayest area tends to be for those with Elite or Elite Plus status who also gamble.

Your cabin mate has different drinking patterns than you.

Two other packages offered by MSC are the Alcohol-Free and the Minors Package. The Alcohol-Free is $30 per day per person if booked before sailing. The Minors is $21 per day per person if booked before sailing.

And when you consider what’s included in the deal, it makes the math work strongly in favor of the drink package if you plan to drink even a moderate amount. First you can purchase the package you want before you sail through your online account or through calling the cruise line. In this case, you’ll have to pre-purchase at least four days of getting on the ship. So if you make a purchase from the bar with the drink package, it will not have an additional gratuity tacked on — your drink is no cost from the bar.

are drink packages on a cruise worth it

So if you’re wanting to get a drink for you and your spouse, you’ll both need to order something instead of just one person heading to the bar. What do you do if one person wants a drink package but another person doesn’t? In that case, Celebrity requires that if one person buys an alcoholic package, then all people in that cabin must buy one as well. This includes non-alcoholic packages for teens traveling with parents. If you're someone who must have Patron in your margarita or won't drink house wines, then you might want to examine drink packages to see if they are a better deal. Many drink packages will cover cocktails or wine up a certain amount; if your drink is more expensive, you either have to pay full price or simply make up the difference.

Your adult cabin mate does not want an alcohol package

Packages may not be shared, are non-transferable and non-refundable. Packages do not include room service, mini bar purchases, vending machines, or pre-cruise wine bottle purchases. Packages can be used in onboard restaurants, lounges, bars and Great Stirrup Cay, though not on Harvest Caye, nor sailings that are two days or less. Since gratuities are included within each of MSC's drink packages, many guests will find value in their preferred package choice. This is especially true since guests may save 15% by prepaying for a drink package before sailing. However, non-alcoholic beverages don’t count in this figure and there is no limit on how many you can have.

How much do drink packages cost?

More than ever, people are experimenting with a zero-proof life. As a result, cruise ship bars and lounges are getting creative with their mocktail menus, blending herbs, fruits, seltzers, and more into delicious non-alcoholic beverages. While the liquor is missing, the higher costs remain, with some zero-proof cocktails like a “nojito” costing nearly as much as an actual mojito.

Is a drink package worth it on MSC? I tried it to see whether it was worth the money. - Cruise Blog

Is a drink package worth it on MSC? I tried it to see whether it was worth the money..

Posted: Fri, 15 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

When an itinerary has several sea days, though, cruisers may prefer the flexibility of enjoying drinks anytime, anywhere with the Prestige Select package. The Beers, Wines, and Spirits Option includes a selection of beers, wines by the glass, spirits, liqueurs and cocktails in addition to the benefits of the Premium Soft Drinks Option. This package includes a discount on some bottles of wine, the Cunard Wine Academy and their Cocktail Master Class. Princess places a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per 24 hours, going from 6 a.m. If you try to exceed this limit, then the cruise line says it’s “at the discretion of shipboard management and crew” but will be charged the menu price. Instead of having to worry about paying for each drink — and keeping track of the bar tab — you can simply head up to the bar whenever you want something and order.

In addition, Costa's non-inclusive MYCRUISE fare is bare bones, with limited nonalcoholic beverages available throughout the day. 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. About 40% of cruise passengers spend at least $100 on alcoholic drinks and 89% spend some money on drinks, according to a study by Cruzely.

If one person in the stateroom doesn’t drink, the package might not be worth it for everyone else. Guests can purchase the Premier Beverage Package for $59.99 per person per day. Enter the quantity of drinks you expect to consume to help you decide if the drink package is right for you. Knowing the total cost of the cruise vacation before you set sail is a smart budgeting trick, so you won’t be surprised when you receive the bill at the end of your sailing.

But drink packages also cover a variety of non-alcoholic drinks and most include gratuities, which may tip the math in your favor. Passengers who purchase the drink package should be aware that there is a limit to the number of drinks you can order in 24 hours. Carnival has a 15-drink limit on alcoholic beverages purchased between 6 a.m. In our experience, the drink package on a cruise ship is not worth it unless you purchase more than six alcoholic beverages per day.

MSC's Ocean Cay also allows you to use your drink package in port. If you purchase the package, it is charged for every day you are on the ship. It doesn't matter if you are in port for a day, you are still charged.

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