Sharing the Cruise Drink Package - Is that Stealing?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2024
- Is sharing the cruise drink package stealing? This is episode 2 of Is that Stealing where we look at the ethics of some decisions we face when cruising.
Check out Episode 1 here:
• Taking Pictures of Cru...
#isthatstealing
#cruiseshipdrinkpackage
#moraldilemma
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I’m counting on those 2 bottles of wine because I refuse to pay an extra $600 when neither of us would drink that much to reach the value.
I think they need to offer different type of drink packages.. For instance, Beer only, cocktail only, wine only. Also they need to have a package where there is like a 5 or 7 max limit. Not everyone are alcoholics ha ha ha... J/k people don't get your panties in a wad.. Im just saying if they would make different packages and if the hubby is a heavy drinker have him purchase that as that main price where the lady of the cabin may only have a few mixed drinks.. They should customize the drink packages a little.
Look around, there are certain cruise lines that have "lesser" drink packages. While I haven't seen a beer only, I have seen some lines that have a beer and wine package, which can be about $20-30 cheaper, per person per day.
selina holland this is the best idea I’ve heard yet! YES!!
I think it would be great if they offered a sea day only option
I agree
I don't know why special coffee's are not included in the soft drink package
How can you steal something you paid for? If I go to a bar and pay for a drink or if I buy a bottle and share it, is that stealing? Let's be REAL!
the real question is are the cruise lines stealing from use? they get you like fish in a barrel and take full advantage of it with their price gouging and tacticts
tell me about it......carnivals prices are worse than northern ontario bootlegger prices!!!
I don't think it's stealing because you've already paid for it and it's not unlimited. That's your drink your giving away.
there is no limit on Royal or celebrity. I personally only know if Carnival limiting.
Just off Princess and they did not make us both take the drink package
That’s a good point your limiting me to 15 so how is it stealing if I give one of my drinks to my mother who only drinks like one or two a day. I have paid for it. And your cap me at 15 so they should be my decision to spread those 15 as I see fit.
I hear you but they are counting on the fact that most people will not get anywhere near 15 drinks.
Not stealing. My justification: “I paid my money!” I already paid for those drinks and what I do with them is my business
Daniel Wallmark you paid for one person to drink them. If your rule applied, you could sit there and supply the entire cruise ship with beverages. You are the reason those rules are made. Get off your entitled horse.
Hahahaha 😂😂😂 how seriously people take these things literally makes me laugh out loud. I hope you Jazzykatt23 have a wonderful day!
Agreed the drink is paid for already what you do with it shouldn’t matter as long as you give it to someone 21 and over
@@Jazzykatt23 Huh,what? It doesn't work that way. Say, you paid for say 15 drinks a day, how you get issued those 15 drinks, should not matter to any one but you, you'r the one who brought them, the same as if you brought drinks/whatever at own your home.
@@Jazzykatt23 with your logic, you’re definitely apart of the problem.
The drink package is 15 drinks, so person bought those drinks, if you want to share 7 of your drinks then so be it.
You said hand them to everyone on the cruise ship, well the limit is 15 so you pretty much bought 15 people drinks.
This it the same concept of buying drinks for your home..
Obviously the cruise line has to make money which is why it’s in place.
On our cruise last year, our waiter offered my kids the frozen specialty drinks at dinner on my package, we just needed to wait between drinks for each to get what we wanted! We did NOT ask for this, it was offered to us, and yes, we accepted!
I would never buy the booze package but If I did for $60 bucks a day I would pass off a few bottles of water, virgin drinks, or coffee to my family.
LOL that's why they have the no sharing rule in place
I think the cruise lines are stealing from the cruisers by charging so much for duty free alcohol drinks.
I remember when you could buy a bottle from duty free store and take it to your room to consume.
Is it stealing i say NO..15 drinks is 15 drinks.
'15 drinks' is a punch card. Max of 15 drinks isn't.
I agree. I would like a smaller less expensive package. Or maybe a discounted coupon book for drinks.
We booked the drinkers (my husband and brother-n-law) in one cabin and sister-law and me in another cabin but we switch once we on board. So I won’t have to buy the drinking package because I don’t drink but my husband likes to drink.. work out pretty good for us
I honestly don’t think it’s stealing . The drinks are paid for through your package. If your not going to drink 15 drinks it’s no big deal to pass a drink off to a family member or someone else. A few people did it for me at the bar🤷🏾♀️
That’s not what Tony is explaining.
@@dalesyangExactly 😂
On Allure of the Seas they were offering a 10-drink punch card that could be shared between guests and used over the course of the cruise. That was a nice option and could help eliminate the desire to guzzle liquor to get your money's worth. 😆
In my opinion the longer the cruise and the more ports, the less valuable the drink package is.
That’s a nice option. I would opt more for that. - Tony
I agree that is a drink package that fits more to our enjoyment. We would not be upset to each buy that deal.
Yes it was $80 bucks for ten drinks on the Oasis last year. Didn’t find out about it till day four. But not a bad option
SoTweetie HAL has a card like that for soda. We were encouraged to share the card.
Im doing royal next year and that 10 punch card will be what i will buy
We were on RC in Feb. There were 3 of us, and my husband has always wanted to get the drink package but I couldn't see spending that much money, especially for both of us, since there's no way I would drink enough to be worth the cost, and my sister in law, who was with us, only has like 1 alcoholic drink/day, so she didn't want the package either. But, the first night out, we were getting drinks in one of the bars and the bartender told my husband they were having a special on the drink package, BOGO half price and it was ok if we only got it for the 2 of us, so we went ahead and bought it. It included everything, booze, soda, water, coffee. They gave us the re-usable cups for the soda machine, and since neither of us drinks pop, we gave 1 of them to my husband's sister, who does. But the cruise line still made money off the deal, since we were in port most days which cut down on our drinking time on ship.
We aren't drinkers (maybe one or two a day) so the drinks pakage is too expensive for us. We never buy it. We LOVE the 15 coffee punch card that Royal Carribean offers. Now that is a great thing for us and we buy it every time. I wish there was a punch card deal for drinks/sodas/ etc. We would buy in for that in heartbeat.
Martha Fletcher for carnival the soda package is called bottomless bubbles
My wife & I are like you Tony & Jenny, Casual drinkers. So the drink package is not worth it for us. Like you said Tony, what if the other partner or friend does not drink or have medical reasons. At least if they offer the package for one person at least they get some money and I would definitely share with my wife. Even if they sell a single drink package, you're still limited to 7 drinks per day. What's the big deal sharing anyways. You already paid for them anyways.
If you have a medical reason you can't drink, you just need a doctor' s note and you won't be forced to buy the package. Don't let them catch you drinking tho!
Would less folks smuggle if there were a "smaller" option - say 3 drinks a day for a given price?
I think the drinks package policy is stealing, from the passengers by the cruise lines.
No it's not stealing...15 drinks is 15 drink no matter who drinks the drink
Tammara Cooper agreed!
And those drinks are paid for too, so it's the buyer's choice if they want to give their drink away.
Is it stealing? Yes! But in this situation, I don't care. 🤷♀️
My thoughts EXACTLY 💯
Tony, we are not big drinkers. If I get the package free is the only time i would use it. We would use the coffee bar and the bottled water more than the alcohol drinks. I would rather have a drink package that allows me to say have say 3 or 4 drinks a day at a less amount for those who do not drink a lot. Thanks for the video.
Here is an idea. Have different levels to the drink package. I think Carnival charges $50 a day for 15 drinls, maybe have a 30 drink package for $100/day 15 drink package for $50/day or 7 drink package for $25/day. Something like that then you reach out to more and if there is a couple and one drinks and the other doesnt for instance husband is in AA and wife drinks socially????? I had to stop drinking due to physical constraints so I am a soda man but buy individually as I dont drink enough to make it a deal for me. Story time: I had a guy come up to me at the bar on the Carnival Liberty at noon begging for a drink because he blasted through his drinks. I believe now they put a timer (2 hours I think) between the time you can order another drink. To me I am on vacation and budget money for onboard expenses regardless of what it is. I dont bother with the packages I just go to have fun and not worry about pinching pennies. So many people get their knickers in a twist over this. Lets all remember that alcohol is a drug and I think worse than marijuana. Alcohol kills so many more people than marijuana. But its legal I just dont get it but that is our society today. Keep a great medicine away and call it illegal but flood people with alcohol just because its legal. HMMMMMMMM really gota think about that one.
No I do not think its stealing ok I think it's crazy that if it's just my husband and I then we should be able to get one package and share it between us and no one else personally I think it's crazy for both of us to have to buy one separately
I totally agree
So when you go to a buffet you only pay for one?
@Andrew hill if I am alone then yes. But i do think that there should be some type of drink package that couples can share per room
This is our dilemma. My husband drinks faithfully. I may drink 3 times a year, if that. They should sell coupons, I still think if they did 15 coupons for a 7 day cruise, I still wouldn't utilize them, but it would make it easier for us as a couple. Now, he wants to do the package. I opted to have wine at dinner and try some mixed drinks. We are traveling with 2 adult sons in a different cabin that aren't getting the package. If I order a drink and do not like it, I will pass it along. I think it's a waste for us. I drink coffee, but not soda or shakes.
Machelle Anderson this is what I would do.
Put your husband and your son in one room.
And you and the other son in another. One room. Husband and son A get the package in room 1. When you arrive you switch keys with son A and now the boys can use the drinks you won’t. And your husband gets his.
@@clearlyclaire5825 I thought about that but we've paid and sail in August, can we still make the change? I used a TA
I don't see how they can require *NON DRINKERS* to buy the *BOOZE PACKAGE* if they are in a room with somebody who does drink
Exactly that's stealing by the cruise line if you ask me.
Precisely! I don't drink ... at all, but I'm cabinmate does, so she's going to either pay to cover the entire expense of us both or simply pay per drink.
You have the freedom not to buy the drink package, so how would that be stealing by the cruise line?
I don't either, especially when one person drinks no alcohol.
@@danieces.7262 some lines will let one person buy the alcohol package as long as the other buys a soda package
If everyone in your cabin paid for the drinks packages but they don't drink , and you have other friends on board , they can refrain from buying their own and just share yours, paying so much per day to you as you share out the drinks.
I think they should Sell drink packages in smaller quantities ! ex. (Buy a 5x drinks for reduced rate like $35-40 instead of cruisers spending a retail price of $50..) I think they would sell more
I mean if you're supposed to get 15 drinks a day from this package...and you only want 5..it makes no sense buying. Even when I was a drinker, I couldn't see drinking that much. But alas...I do feel that there should be a punch card. Name of person and photo ID they get a punch each time a premium drink is gotten. If they want to give that drink away fine, but they only get those 15 drinks. The soda or other premium beverages should be on a separate package all together..as a non-alcoholic drink package. Then those expensive drinks like the espresso or whatever are limited...I think the prices should be fair and decrease based on them still making a profit but not gouging the consumer.
I don't drink... don't think it's fair for all adults in the same cabins be required to purchase a drink package.
Carol Frank totally agree
I agree!
Agreeed !
I think the Cheers package IS a rip off and it is stealing on the part of the Cruise Lines. Even the Bottomless Bubbles is a rip off too. You're better off just buying a 12 pack of cans in a grocery store before getting on the ship.
Recently added the 'premium' package to an already all-inclusive package so I could have a certain couple of drinks as part of the package. Absolutely SMASHED the cost :D :D Also easily recouped the cost of my wives upgrade cost as well lmao. If you focus and start early every day you can win a fatty liver in no time...
We just don’t drink that much to buy the drink package. Way to expensive. I totally agree with you Tony.
So many people complaining about the rule that most cruise lines have that if one person buys the drink package then all others over 21 in the same cabin must buy the drink package as well. Obviously that's to prevent sharing, but I know for a fact that both Norwegian and Royal Caribbean allow exceptions to this, particularly when a person in the cabin simply cannot drink, for whatever reason. My wife has to take a LOT of opiate drugs like morphine for chronic pain, so she cannot drink alcohol on top of that. I simply called customer service and explained the situation and asked if under the circumstances I could still get the drink package while she got the non-alcoholic one. They were happy to allow that, and even gave me a better price than the on line prices at the time. Now, we did have to buy the more expensive of the non-alcoholic options, which was not just sodas, but also specialty coffees, fresh squeezed juices, etc., but it was less than half the cost of a second drink package. All you have to do is call and ask. I think all cruise lines allow exceptions to be made. Now, if caught sharing drinks, I suspect they may immediately either revoke the drink package for the person who shared, with no refund, or perhaps charge a drink package to the account of the person who was allowed to get the non-alcohol package instead. Don't know how that's handled. For us, we don't plan to share because it's just too dangerous to mix alcohol with that level of opiates.
Like you said, the house always wins. My husband, daughter and I cruised Carnival last month and bought the package which was $981 for 8 days including 18% gratuity. I bought my daughter ONE milkshake which I know is not allowed. Using the app I kept a running total of what we ordered each day and found that we “saved” $180 by buying the plan. I do wonder though how much less I would’ve drank overall if I didn’t have the plan.
Greetings Tony! I tend to agree with the consensus here in that it is not stealing. As many have said, 15 drinks are made available to you each day. Giving one or two (or more) a day simply reduces you allotment for that day - which in turn increases the odds of the cruise line making a greater profit off of the consumer. It should be up to said consumer regarding how they choose to utilize their drink package purchase. I also tend to agree with Dale Melson. It is the cruise lines who are stealing from the consumers by forcing them to purchase a package for someone who may or may not be an alcohol drinker.
You could be like me who just got off the Norwegian Sun where it was open bar for anyone over 21 🤷♂️ I wish all cruise lines had this all inclusive. Problem solved.
Then non drinkers are subsidizing the cost
My two cents is just about Carnival and HAL. If you make us all buy the package in the same cabin but limit the number of drinks, the total number allowed should be shareable. Especially HAL who consider specialty coffees, soft drinks, and water a part of the allowed 15 drinks. It’s actually a real pain to be constantly thinking “what number am I at!”
I don't drink, my husband is a heavy drinker. They make both adults get the drink package. I also have limited sugar and Carnival doesn't have any sugar free concoctions. It is literally stealing from me to make me get the drink package when I won't use it except to get water bottles, which I can get from Bubbles much cheaper. Since medically I cannot drink I bring a note from my doctor and get excluded. My husband drinks every single one of his 15. When I bought one before I knew I could get a medical exclusion my husband attempted to drink mine and his. He got throwing up sick and the next day didn't drink anything. So we are better off with only having 15 drinks so my husband doesn't end up in the hospital, since he clearly cannot stop when they are dangling in front of him.
If only the cruise lines would just make everything all inclusive and solve the whole situation
Some are, at least as far as drinking and specialty dining. I believe Virgin is going that route... whether that works for them in the long term remains to be seen.
But why shouls I, a non-drinker, pay for you alcohol as well as rhe cost of an employee to clean up when you puke, higher insurance for selling alcohol, etc. You are not required to purchase an alcohol package and if you believe you would not get value from purchasing one for each person in room, pay for each drink.
I have noticed they check less for smugglers since introducing the drink package, I drink whatever and whenever and some days I can drink $100, but never can I do it the next day, this makes the drink package not worth it for me. Our last cruise I pre purchased a bottle of vodka to my room on 7/24 and it remained unopened upon departure 8/7. Now I have an $80 souvenir. If you are broke then smuggle, If you are a functioning alcoholic buy the drink package, if money isn't a concern just buy whatever you want when you want it.
Once you pay for it, it is your property. If I share a soda from the gas station with my daughter is that stealing?
Depends on what the terms of the soda transaction is. If you guy under the terms of not sharing it then who knows. :) - Tony
People seem to think they have a right to buy the drink package. They do not! They have the privilege to buy it, if they follow the rules. It is breaking the contract if they break the rules. Breaking the rules is a breach of contract and thus stealing.
I agree about the backdrop. If it is not manned then it is part of the scenery
Is it stealing when make you buy a drink package and everyone in the cabin doesn’t drink? By your argument Tony, yes, the cruise lines are stealing, good point guy.
No one is making you buy a drink package and sadly the reason everyone has to but the drink package is because of stealing.
If they would have something like a punch card system, instead of forcing ppl to pay for 15 drinks upfront every day, they might make a little bit less. But it would reduce the numbers of passengers getting blind drunk. That can cause a lot of problems. In the worst case senario, people getting into fights, doing stupid things and maybe falling overboard.
I wish they would sell a drink package where you get say...50 drinks over the course of the cruise and you're done - no matter who actually drank them. Kinda like a specialty dining package.
I’m going on my first cruise soon, on RC. I am traveling with a group of people from my community, so I’m sharing a room with another single lady. This lady is 75 yrs old, and I know her from a club I belong to. She is an acquaintance. I like to drink, so I tried to purchase a drink package but they wouldn’t let me unless my roommate does also. Well, she doesn’t drink at all, not even soda. RC said if I have her write to them and explain why she doesn’t drink AND purchase a Refreshment Package for herself, then I could buy the drink package. I can tell you for sure that she won’t do that, she’s a senior on a budget, and why should she have to??? I think this is really unfair to single people who want to cruise. I see that Norwegian now has single cabin rates and special perks; my next cruise may be with them instead. RC is really missing an untapped market!
The one who was arranging who was sharing with who in double cabins, should have taken this into account. If possible. You haven't even started the cruise yet, and the first irritation between yourself and your cabin mate has already cropped up. Quite frankly, I would never want to share a cabin with an almost stranger. You see way too much of each other and if you turn out really not to get along, you are stuck with them. Success.
Emma Jones well actually I know this lady a little bit from a trivia club I belong to and we are going as a group. We both needed a roommate so we worked this out between us.
I totally understand. I will be cruising with a recovering alcoholic in September, I don't drink soda and the other two cruise mates may or may not want to drink. Perhaps the cruise lines will change their policy or persons will cruise with all-inclusive lines.
I am sailing with my sister-in-law in January. She drinks very little. I drink more. But our drink package was $836 (divided by 2). She'll most definitely save $ by not drinking much at all. But, at the price of this drink package (11 nights) I suspect that IF I go over what I saved by not buying the package, I don't think it'll be by that much. So I'm okay with that. I just won't buy top shelf.
**Unpopular Opinion - so please be nice😁*
Yes. It is "stealing". (Relating to Carnival as I don't know details on other cruise lines.)
I can easily drink my drink package worth in NON ALCOHOLIC drinks alone to make the package worth it. Plus I have the bonus of 15 alcoholic drinks if I want. But the question from Tony is "is it stealing if I give another person one of my drinks" and to me, yes. The cruise lines are a business. They need to make a profit. Selling drink packages is one way they do it.
BUT! I am not a fan of the "everyone over the age of 21 MUST buy a package if they are in the same cabin". I think there are better options out there that can please both the drinker and the non drinker. But until then - I will not give someone a drink from my drink package. I PAID MY MONEY! Get your own darn drink!! Haha
Excellent!!! Few consider the REAL cost of ALL the drinks to get to a break-even point. They just focus on this stupid '15' number. Royal Caribbean is unlimited and, although they won't tell you this, if you call in they can split the package in a room. For us it was $20/day for my wife's refreshment package and $44/day for my deluxe package. If people must do a calculation, two of the higher priced mixed drinks and the difference is made up. But that's nothing compared to the relaxing attribute of not having to look at receipts, a budget, or an envelope of money throughout the cruise to see if i had enough left for a drink.
There are TWO difference drink packages (1) $500 for the whole week unlimited drink, one drink every 15 minutes. (2) $100 for 15 drinks. If you share the drink while having package (1) is stealing, for package (2) is not.
Princess does not require everyone in the cabin need to purchase the drink package.
To play devil's advocate, the more drink packages and options there are, the more debate/confusion an average cruiser will have. I can imagine a staff member trying to explain that to a cruiser standing in front of them. It will definitely slow down the buying process.
I don’t think it’s stealing because. Technically you are paying for a set amount of drinks(carnival 15) what I do with them is my business as I paid for them used or not. Yes they make that a rule. But it’s not ethical of them to sell you something and then frame how you can use/distribute the things you purchased.
It’s not stealing because the moment they hand you the purchased items they no longer have say over what happens to it. You now own it. And their rules no longer applies.
No I don't think it's stealing. To me it's like buying someone a drink. You did pay for it. 15 drinks a day is 15 drinks a day.
You did pay - but you knew the rules when you paid.
Stealing?? Nah.
Breaking a contract?? Something like that.
It might be considered breach of contract to share a drink, but definitely not stealing. You paid for and are entitled to that beverage and once ownership of it has passed from the cruise line to yourself, it is yours to do with as you please. First sale doctrine.
I was offered a free drink package on a cruise. I am a very light drinker but I thought what the heck..it’s free..,then i saw that they were going to charge me $400 dollars for the drinks tips...tips for a drink package for a 14 day cruise was a almost $400. I did the math and found that i will save money just buying my one or two drinks here and there and decided to delete the drink package.so...free wasn’t really free
A good way is to buy the refreshing package and get unlimited amount of non alcohol cocktail. If you want some alcohol just buy a shot here and there along with the cocktail.
I am a diabetic who has battled liver and kidney problems. My husband would absolutely buy the drink package but for me I would prefer not to buy the drink package. Now if the top level drink package that includes booze but also includes other specialty drinks that lesser drink packages did not I might be interested depending on what was offered. I need decaf coffee fancy drinks or non booze fancy drinks (although things like virgin daiquiris are not good for me either) then maybe.
Yes, it is, BUT so is making every person in the cabin buy the package when some may be VERY light drinkers, or not drinkers at all. It's as broad as it is long.
I usually only give drinks away that I don’t like. I would feel like was stealing to let people order what they want on my package. But I don’t think it’s stealing to give someone a drink that I would throw away or leave on the bar.
I got married during a Royal Caribbean cruise... my brother was the only 1 that got the drink package and he shared it with all of us and I still don't feel bad.
More power to you lol
What a cheapskate
I see the drink package and giving some a drink the same as if I bought them a drink at the bar. Kinda like hey put it on MY tab. And honestly I was on a cruise and the guys tapped out at 10 drinks . Waste not want not 😂
Totally agree!
Did the terms say I can’t give my drinks to someone else? If not, then it’s my business, not stealing.
They could have offered prepaid drinks. Like number of drinks you choose and prepaid in a discount.
Carnival even makes pregnant women purchase the drink package if someone else in the cabin does
Oh wow. I hadn’t heard of that. That’s kinda crazy. - Tony
@@LaLidoLoca I talked to them on the phone. They said everyone 21 and over were required to purchase cheers if one does. NO EXCEPTIONS! It's not really a big deal we are still going to purchase it. So my question would be... In my situation, would it be considered stealing if I were to drink her 15 and my 15 alcoholic drinks?
No drink limit on Royal Caribbean like the Carnival limit, and Royal Caribbean will split the packages in the cabin if you call in. Everyone has to have, at minimum, the refreshment package. No, it won't let you book it online. My wife doesn't drink and takes medicines that she can't drink with. In February for our April 28 Liberty of the Seas cruise we had both purchased the refreshment package. A Royal Caribbean rep said "Call in and they will split the package. If the person won't, call back. Someone will." My guess is that it's a commission issue and reps. have abilities to help them make the sale. We didn't even mention my wife taking medicine. We just said, honestly, she doesn't drink. Rep said...'Ok.' We changed mine to deluxe package (not 'upgrade'. Had to purchase deluxe and cancel my refreshment. It only took a couple of days for the credit back). We did the same thing a couple of weeks ago for our September cruise on the same ship, but we bought the split right away by calling in. Before the cruise was paid for we bought the drink packages. We did that because 30% off is the best sale percentage for drink packages I see on RC. They were both at that discount so we grabbed it.
LOL, the "house always wins". Yep, I have commented on this in other VLOGs. 20 drinks a day (Royal) they will still make money and they are as you say maximizing profit.
Last cruise we went on we had the soft drink package and each time we got off we brought a bottle of wine each back on board. Worked for us nicely. If we'd have both took the alcohol package it would have cost us $120 a day between us and that's a ton of money for the 2 week cruise. We just had a few beers through the day as and when we wanted as well.
We didn't purchase it because the price was insane. No way would we drink $600 worth of drinks in 5 days.
This is for sure stealing. Even if you think it’s the big bad cruise line ripping you off it’s still stealing. Also we are talking about an optional add on, just buy your drinks if you don’t like the package. They wouldn’t charge the prices they do if no one bought them.
If they would have many different packages I would feel bad for something. But they don't offer a package for everyone, only for the people that drink a lot. I don't feel bad if someone gives me a drink here or there. and until they change how they charge people oh well.
Catching a sale, the difference in the higher priced package that includes alcohol and the refreshment package that includes everything but alcohol is 2 to 3 alcoholic drinks. We drank some premium Starbucks-type coffees. $5+ dollars each. Non-alcoholic smoothies. Diet Coke through the day. When you add up all of the different drinks we had (wife with non-alcohol package) starting with... Leave the cabin and immediately find a bar to fill up our soda cups to the occasional drink throughout the day as we wandered around...etc. we far exceeded what it would have cost if we had purchased drinks. But we are people who, as we go out to run errands, will say 'It's happy hour at Sonic. 44oz.' Then go to Sam's...get a soda. It's summer. Half price Shakes after 8. Etc. We drink a lot in a normal day anyway.
They should discount for multiple people in Cabin or have package tiers
Janice Krako Royal had a buy one, get the second 50% off on Spectrum last month.
That is us!! My husband has never had a drop of alcohol. Why would we want to get him the drink package? So not worth it if they make us both get it, so we get ZERO alcohol on a cruise and I just get the smaller drink package.
A good question is; in a 5 day trip x 15 drink at day = 75 prepaid drinks. But you only consumed 40. Do I get the rest of the money back?
Answer is NO. Use it or lose it!
Since all drink packages are prepaid the less you drink the more money they make.
I hate when people are mad at the cruise lines for making a profit. They only way they exist is because they make profits. If the company stopped making profits they would cease to exist and we couldn’t cruise. If you don’t like how they make their profit, don’t purchase their product. But “sticking it to the man” by cheating the system is unethical.
The goal of the cruise line is get the most money out of you for the least product. The goal of the cruiser should be get the most product for least money
What about implementing the Drink package into a drink card, just like Princesses coffee card we bought? One price for a set amount of drinks any days you like. You use them up at your leisure or loose them? They make money in advance and you can prepay for a set amount!
I think that approach. Pay for a certain amount and use them as you will. - Tony
The Princess coffee card you could use on your next cruise if you did not use it all.But they stopped that.Shame Princess!!
No. You paid for them. You can pour them down the drain and it would make no difference.
Snoman that’s my thoughts. If I ordered 15 and pored put 6 of them then that’s my business. I paid for the 15.
Because of Carnival's current policy on their drink package, I now see why people try to sneak alcohol onto the ship! For a 7 day cruise I have to pay over $700?!? That is insane.
Just priced it for my upcoming 7 night Carnival cruise with 2 adults in the room--$858 for the cabin!!! That's almost $1k just to have drinks on the ship. Then there's the 4 ports!!! it's robbery.
Is that per person or for two packages?
@@bstaton67 On Carnival, that's for 2 packages.
855$ now
My first week long cruise when I was 22, our bar bill at the end was 800! And that was 30 years ago! Lol the good ol days, haha. And those were the days you could buy bottles on the islands and consume in your room. We would ask the cabin guy for 10 orange juices! Lol ps. I don’t drink now so none of it applies to me anymore.
Kudos to Princess
They don’t have the requirement that if one person in a cabin buys the package all have to buy. They also cater to the frugal drinkers by offering happy hour drink specials at most venues.
On my last cruise they automatically brought you two drinks for the price of one. There were no issues with sharing the second drink.
RCL seems the strictest of the bunch.
Last December I met a few ladies on my Christmas cruise. Both were traveling solo and got the drink package. By 10pm they’d both usually have 6 or 7 drinks left. I always ended up getting 2 or 3 free drinks per night from them!! Probably saved me about $175 on cocktail expenses just because they didn’t want them going to waste.
Deff not stealing in board... the “spirit of the agreement” is an unfair one especially when there is no benefit to the consumer except less paperwork... the drink limit is just as much for profit margins as it is for consumer safety
I completely understand that Cruise ships are in business to make money, but they are ripping people off with their beer and cocktail prices. I have and will continue to smuggle alcohol onboard any ship I sail on. I still buy some drinks after my stash runs out, so they do get some of my cash, just not all of it.
I think to share the alcohol drinks that have a limit is ok. You have purchased 15 per day and do with them as you will. The unlimited non-alcoholic drinks shouldn't be shared because in theory you could give them to the entire ship. Just my opinion
Going on a family cruise in September. My sons will be 22 and 20 respectively. Their drinking age in Canada is 19. IMO, they are both legal. If I have a drinks package, my wife and oldest are _required_ to have one. *_But my wife is a lightweight and my oldest doesn't drink at all_* Basically, I think we are being robbed. The 20 year old however, drinks minimally, and we can fill out a form where he has consent from us to _buy and consume_ alcohol. So, the boys acquiring beverages with their own package and then each drinking the other's, is legal and IMO reasonable.
We only drank alcohol during happy hours when drinks were 1/2 price.
I too am only a casual drinker. My wife does NOT drink at all. So because I have to buy 2 drink packages, it now cost me upwards of $700 to $800 to have a few drinks per day. NO THANK YOU. I end up smuggling my favorite Bourbon on board and I still buy a few drinks on an individual basis. IF they would make it more beneficial for me to not smuggle my Bourbon through better /fairer pricing I'd do that. They have set themselves up for this from their customers.
Keep in mind that the cost of alchohol and mixers is very low. Best way to try to get value (real cost) is milkshakes. People don't see it that way though, cruisers are trying to get lowest cost per drink over all. The moral question (as always) comes back to motive. Are you getting a free drink IN ORDER to no pay for a drink? That's wrong. Did someone get a drink on the package, decide not to drink it and then give me a drink I would not have purchased? No problem ethically, but not sure ship staff would care about the distinction.
So Tony....just got to watching this.shame on me for being late to the party. 6 pack of 20oz Pepsi $2.50. 6 pack of Bud light $7.49. Gallon of Florida orange juice $4. 24 pack of bottled water. $4. Thats as much pop as I would drink in a day, beer in 2 days, and water for my wife for a week. Even if we drank that a day, thats $126 for the week - my wife doesnt dronk alcohol or pop. $726 for Carnival drink package. At most $150 in drinks. Thats a $600 profit. No. Just no.
Can you please make a video for the new cruisers about travel insurance? it's very confusing.
Travel Insurance typically covers the vacationers if they can't make their due to unforeseen "extreme" circumstances such as death of immediate family or some type natural disaster. Another very good benefit of travel insurance is if person on a ship becomes ill, the insurance covers excavation off the ship via medivac if neccessary. There may be other small benefits also.
the only theft is the cost of drinks on a cruise.......they could take 30% off and still make LOTS money......
Can you still buy a drink card from the bartenders? They usually available from the 3rd day on. Price was $50.00 for 10 drink coupon.
I don't like the drink policy on most cruise ships but I buy the drink package anyway. Whatever I can't finish for the day, I use it all up by buying people at the bar free drinks up to my limit. I paid for the drinks so I am entitled to use it to buy strangers drink. On some cruises, we share the drink packages with another couple, they pay me half the cost of the package in cash and I put the full amount to the stateroom account. We go to the bar and I buy the other couple drinks. I've asked bartenders on Holland America, they told it's OK to do that. So I don't see any problems doing so, after all I paid for the drinks.
The problem I have with the cost of the packages is that on port days I'm drinking off ship and not getting the benefit.
I just wish they would come up with a smaller package. I rarely drink more than 3 alcoholic drinks a day. If they had a modified package for half price for a max of 7 drinks per day, I might consider it. I also see it as encouraging over drinking... there seems to be a few on every cruise that take up the challenge to drink that 15 drinks every day and they become that obnoxious, beligerant drinker. The one that is plastered before we even set sail
What you're forgetting is that they don't allow you to take beer or liquor on board. If they allowed us to have that option then maybe there could be grounds for a moral argument. Also, I worked with a cruise line and I'm here to tell you the volume at which they would buy beer it equated to less than $1 / per beer cost to the company. So even with a discounted drinks package, they're still making hand over fist profits.
I think it should be sold by the credit. Let's say you will only have one drink a day, so you can buy 7 drink credits and every time you swipe the card one credit is removed... Want more, buy more credits! This way you can buy only for yourself or buy enough for two people.
Not stealing if your not a drinker but a friend is using what you paid for
Here's how I'm gonna save. I'll get my drink package and let my daughter have my soda cup so I don't have to buy THAT package too.
When Princess added the drink package (water, special coffee, soda, cocktails) and said that all in a cabin had to purchase it if one passenger wanted it. Well all hell broke loose and they changed it to individual purchases. Is sharing drinks stealing? Yes. So is changing the gratuity percentage and raising the prices about 12 percent. Hubby usually get the soda package as he is not a drinker (except wine with dinner occasionally) and I have maybe one cocktail in the afternoon but not a soda drinker. I love my coffee so I get a coffee card. Once in a while if I am in the casino the hubby will find me and get me a soda off of his package. Other than that we do not share. On our next cruise we are getting a lot of OBC and I will not be getting drink packages this time. We will get the coffee cards though. I am curious how much we will spend without the package. Thanks for the topic Tony!!