A very informative video Tom! We haven't changed out minds though, we would never take out a drink package with Cunard. The prices are absurd. We will always pay as we go with Cunard and P&O!
@@PostcardAndAPint as always thanks for supporting the channel and your kind words. It definitely is on the high side depends how much you’re going to consume I guess. Cheers 🍻 both
We're off on our first Cunard cruise very soon and we were thinking of the drinks package, but you've persuaded us against it. Thank you for saving us money. ❤
Thanks for the update on drink prices. Your analysis was well thought out and well done. We've sailed 5 times on Cunard, the most recent a Crossing 8 weeks ago, and you can actually bring unlimited wine and spirits onboard for cabin consumption. You can also bring your own bottles of wine to the MDR but there will be a $25 corkage fee per bottle. However, considering that Cunard branded bottles of wine (red, white and rose) are in the mid $30's, it really doesn't make much sense to do that. We consider ourselves to be moderate drinkers (wine/cocktails) but on cruises step that up a bit but even then we agree that the drinks package is not worth it for us on Cunard.
@@cruisingwiththe4bs We also enjoy opening the Cunard complementary Splits of sparkling wine when getting ready for the Gala Evenings. It just sets the tone for those "occasion" evenings.
So many mixed messages from Cunard about what can be carried onboard. I've been trying to find out about spirits. Did you carry yours in your hand luggage or main bags? Was anyone checking liquids at the port of departure? Cheers.
GREAT INFORMATIVE VIDEO!! THANKS!! We are not drinkers...occasional glass of wine....the non alcoholic pkg does it include specialty coffee like espesso ...cappuccino?
We have just come off Queen Anne and no we would never buy a drinks package with Cunard. There were 3 of us (husband, son and myself) in a cabin and we would ALL have to buy the same package . I do not drink much so it certainly would not be worth it. We also had a good OBC .
I did not get the package on Viking and came way out ahead. Remember that they offer beer and wine at meals which are included in the price of the cruise
Just enjoyed 4 nights on QA. Our 4th Cunard cruise but the first time we’ve taken the (full) drinks package. It cost £540 before we sailed. Our recorded drinks spend including 15% was £770 sterling!That sounds terrible but lots of tea, coffee, soft drinks and mocktails as well as alcohol. For instance, on the last evening in the Commodore Club we had 5 mocktails each.
So the top package includes alcohol, and all the benefits of the premium soft drinks package, which also includes hot drinks . Also it includes the 15 % service charge from what I’ve read online
Hi thank you for this video. Can I check, did you say the basic coffee and tea from the buffet are free during the day without a package? Or are they just included in the basic drinks package?
@@sally-annc1904 hi Sally thanks for watching and commenting much appreciated. Yes your basic tea and coffee available all day long in the buffet. Also you have a kettle in your cabin, no package required. For tea drinker like myself that’s perfect. Also included in afternoon tea and if fancy one after dinner. In the bars tea and coffee is payable. Have great cruise.
Hi thanks for watching. I can’t seem to find out the answer to this, you may have to contact Cunard directly to find out. Please let us know though as I have been getting into my non alcoholic beers recently.
Could you confirm please that Cunard adds a gratuity to drinks (each time you order a drink onboard) even if you purchase the drink package BEFORE you boarded?
@@GlobalAdventurer hi thanks for watching. No once you have purchased the drinks package nothing is added to drinks onboard it’s all included in the price of the package
£200 saved is £200 the cruise line won’t have 😂 The value of drinks packages is so varied. Cunard seen quite expensive so unless you’re a heavy drinker I can’t see it paying for itself. It’s probably for those who just want to know that everything is paid for before they sail.
I agree completely. We are drinkers, and drink a lot on holiday, but on our 12 day Canaries on QV last November, a package would have cost us £1200 and our bill came to £1050. We had plenty of the high end drinks too which would only have attracted a 20% discount with the package. We spent quite a bit on the sea days but were happy to hit the bars in our various Canary Island ports of call and spent far less on the ship. Also by the end of a couple of weeks the novelty of an ‘open bar’ wears thin with a lot of people and many seem obliged to carry on drinking to get their ‘money’s worth’. Bottom line for me is unless you drink like Oliver Reed, on a longer cruise I’d advise ‘pay as you go’
@ yes but you didn’t have a drinks package. So when you said the cost of your drinks for the cruise was XXX did that total include the gratuity or was that on top again?
Whilst describing the soft drink package you show cans of Coke products. Those are NOT included in the package. Only draught soft drinks are, and those are, unfortunately for my taste, Pepsi products. To get the canned Coke products one has to purchase the Premium Non-Alcoholic Option.
@@jerseyinsd hi apologies for the slightly misleading pictures I was just trying to demonstrate soft drinks but agreed on that package it’s just draught.
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A very informative video Tom! We haven't changed out minds though, we would never take out a drink package with Cunard. The prices are absurd. We will always pay as we go with Cunard and P&O!
@@sailawaymag as always thanks for watching gentleman. I agree pay as you go for both those lines
We love videos like this. They're so useful. We think those lives are high! We wouldn't get a drinks package on Cunard for sure. Great Vlog guys 🍻
@@PostcardAndAPint as always thanks for supporting the channel and your kind words.
It definitely is on the high side depends how much you’re going to consume I guess.
Cheers 🍻 both
We're off on our first Cunard cruise very soon and we were thinking of the drinks package, but you've persuaded us against it. Thank you for saving us money. ❤
@@JulieH2 hi, thank-you for watching and commenting. We love it when these guides are helpful. Have a great cruise
Thank you for the info - very useful
@@robp4682 thank-you. Happy cruising
Thanks for the update on drink prices. Your analysis was well thought out and well done. We've sailed 5 times on Cunard, the most recent a Crossing 8 weeks ago, and you can actually bring unlimited wine and spirits onboard for cabin consumption. You can also bring your own bottles of wine to the MDR but there will be a $25 corkage fee per bottle. However, considering that Cunard branded bottles of wine (red, white and rose) are in the mid $30's, it really doesn't make much sense to do that. We consider ourselves to be moderate drinkers (wine/cocktails) but on cruises step that up a bit but even then we agree that the drinks package is not worth it for us on Cunard.
@@haroldalex2254 hi Harold thanks for watching and your detailed response. Agreed on corkage it’s not worth. With a balcony we love an evening drink.
@@cruisingwiththe4bs We also enjoy opening the Cunard complementary Splits of sparkling wine when getting ready for the Gala Evenings. It just sets the tone for those "occasion" evenings.
@@haroldalex2254 💯, we love the whole sense of occasion on Cunard especially the evenings I hope this is not ever lost
So many mixed messages from Cunard about what can be carried onboard. I've been trying to find out about spirits. Did you carry yours in your hand luggage or main bags? Was anyone checking liquids at the port of departure? Cheers.
Amazing content!
@@NasimulHasanShawon thanks much appreciated
Great blog
@@stevensimms6214 thanks for watching steve
GREAT INFORMATIVE VIDEO!! THANKS!! We are not drinkers...occasional glass of wine....the non alcoholic pkg does it include specialty coffee like espesso ...cappuccino?
@@frankpicillo9527 yes I believe it does include all varieties of coffee. Thank you for watching.
THANKS❤
We have just come off Queen Anne and no we would never buy a drinks package with Cunard. There were 3 of us (husband, son and myself) in a cabin and we would ALL have to buy the same package . I do not drink much so it certainly would not be worth it. We also had a good OBC .
@@Linda-w3o3s thanks for watching and your detailed response. Hope you had a great cruise.
I did not get the package on Viking and came way out ahead. Remember that they offer beer and wine at meals which are included in the price of the cruise
@@barbaralazier8352 thanks for watching and commenting, great perk to have the drink with the meals
Just enjoyed 4 nights on QA. Our 4th Cunard cruise but the first time we’ve taken the (full) drinks package. It cost £540 before we sailed. Our recorded drinks spend including 15% was £770 sterling!That sounds terrible but lots of tea, coffee, soft drinks and mocktails as well as alcohol. For instance, on the last evening in the Commodore Club we had 5 mocktails each.
@@brianyates-le115 Hi Brian thanks for watching and commenting, hope you had a great cruise. It seems the package was well worth it for you!
So the top package includes alcohol, and all the benefits of the premium soft drinks package, which also includes hot drinks . Also it includes the 15 % service charge from what I’ve read online
Thank you: my husband doesn’t imbibe, but I like wine with dinner. This was helpful! I’ll not purchase the pkg.
@@rdgreeley glad it was helpful thanks for watching
Hi thank you for this video. Can I check, did you say the basic coffee and tea from the buffet are free during the day without a package? Or are they just included in the basic drinks package?
@@sally-annc1904 hi Sally thanks for watching and commenting much appreciated.
Yes your basic tea and coffee available all day long in the buffet. Also you have a kettle in your cabin, no package required. For tea drinker like myself that’s perfect. Also included in afternoon tea and if fancy one after dinner.
In the bars tea and coffee is payable.
Have great cruise.
Are the alcohol free beers included in any of the non alcoholic packages?
Hi thanks for watching. I can’t seem to find out the answer to this, you may have to contact Cunard directly to find out. Please let us know though as I have been getting into my non alcoholic beers recently.
Could you confirm please that Cunard adds a gratuity to drinks (each time you order a drink onboard) even if you purchase the drink package BEFORE you boarded?
@@GlobalAdventurer hi thanks for watching. No once you have purchased the drinks package nothing is added to drinks onboard it’s all included in the price of the package
@@cruisingwiththe4bs Whew!😅 Thank you!
£200 saved is £200 the cruise line won’t have 😂
The value of drinks packages is so varied.
Cunard seen quite expensive so unless you’re a heavy drinker I can’t see it paying for itself.
It’s probably for those who just want to know that everything is paid for before they sail.
@@ALifeintheParks hey as always thanks for watching. I know £200 💥
I agreed it is so varied these days I think ‘we need a degree in it!
@@cruisingwiththe4bs Yes and it’s ever changing too, it’s next to impossible to keep up 😂
I agree completely. We are drinkers, and drink a lot on holiday, but on our 12 day Canaries on QV last November, a package would have cost us £1200 and our bill came to £1050. We had plenty of the high end drinks too which would only have attracted a 20% discount with the package. We spent quite a bit on the sea days but were happy to hit the bars in our various Canary Island ports of call and spent far less on the ship. Also by the end of a couple of weeks the novelty of an ‘open bar’ wears thin with a lot of people and many seem obliged to carry on drinking to get their ‘money’s worth’. Bottom line for me is unless you drink like Oliver Reed, on a longer cruise I’d advise ‘pay as you go’
Does you total drink bill in the 15% gratuity?
15% gratuity is included in the drinks package price
@ yes but you didn’t have a drinks package. So when you said the cost of your drinks for the cruise was XXX did that total include the gratuity or was that on top again?
@@richardparmenter188 oh aplogies yes the total included the 15% as it’s added to every drink.
@ great, thank you. I think that’s finally made up our mind for us. No drinks package. We’re on QM2 in April for the first time.
Whilst describing the soft drink package you show cans of Coke products. Those are NOT included in the package. Only draught soft drinks are, and those are, unfortunately for my taste, Pepsi products. To get the canned Coke products one has to purchase the Premium Non-Alcoholic Option.
@@jerseyinsd hi apologies for the slightly misleading pictures I was just trying to demonstrate soft drinks but agreed on that package it’s just draught.
Not keen on the script less conversation and more info prefered
@@PatrickJohn-m2t hi Patrick, cheers for the feedback we like to mix up so hopefully next one your prefer