Drink Package

[WaterBaby]

Current deluxe drink package is $49

Is that a "good or bad price" 

This is my first cruise so I'm not sure what  a reasonable price would be

Thanks !

[rtread]

The $52.00 price on our Liberty Christmas cruise hasn't changed in the 3 months I've been watching it. My plan is to hold off until Black Friday then move on it. Besides our two packages, I'll be paying for two others so I'm looking hard for a bargain!

[Pima1988]

I don't think you will see it go under 49.  I got mine for 47, but that was 6 months ago on Black Friday.  I have not seen it below 49 since  that time.

[FManke]

8 hours ago, WaterBaby said:

Current deluxe drink package is $49

Is that a "good or bad price" 

This is my first cruise so I'm not sure what  a reasonable price would be

Thanks !

Buy it when you can and if it drops, you can always rebook. It's quick and easy.

[Bean79]

22 hours ago, FManke said:

Buy it when you can and if it drops, you can always rebook. It's quick and easy.

This is great advice.

[Weezie57]

Is the Black Friday sale the typical Friday before thanksgiving or some other Friday?

[WAAAYTOOO]

Yes, it is usually several days around that weekend after Thanksgiving. They will usually drive something for Cyber Monday too

[spiralqueen]

59 minutes ago, Weezie57 said:

Is the Black Friday sale the typical Friday before thanksgiving or some other Friday?

I distinctly remember that this past year (could have been the case in prior years too but I wasn’t looking), the Black Friday sales started on Thanksgiving the same way most big box stores have it. I remember bc I was super happy since I had a cruise starting Black Friday where I didn’t have the internet package, but I was able to get all the cruise planner sales on our travel day. 

[Pima1988]

For my cruise it actually showed up on Tuesday before Thanksgiving and went through Sunday.  I remember purchasing on Sunday night, and thinking that if Cyber Monday deal was better we'd just cancel and re-book.  It didn't go lower on Cyber Monday.

@Weezie57  do you live in the US?  I only ask because most Americans know Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving.  If you are not in the US, let's say you are in Canada, than RCL may not offer Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals in your country.  Just like right now we are coming up to Memorial Day, than Father's Day and in July, the 4th, followed by Labor Day in Sept.  Those days are big sales days in the US.

[JennyB]

If you know you want it, go ahead and buy it now.  Then if/when the price drops, you can cancel/rebook at the lower price.  Also, that locks you in to the price now, in case it goes up.

[Weezie57]

Thanks for the info.

[Vlgg]

Mine hasn't gone below $59 yet.  We are sailing on Allure of the Seas December 22nd.  Probably won't drop much because it is a holiday cruise.

[WAAAYTOOO]

1 hour ago, Vlgg said:

Mine hasn't gone below $59 yet. 

Yikes !!  That's high.  You're right though.  A holiday sailing is unlikely to put it on sale.  I was shocked when my NAV Thanksgiving cruise went from $56 to $52.

[leesam82]

Currently on my cruise planner for sailing on the Allure of the seas in Aug2019 out of Ft Lauderdale eastern Caribbean, I see it priced at $52 but every weekend i see RCL offering a discount of buy one get one 50% off. So prices wise if you have two adults in your state room goes down to $39 + gratuity.

I'm still debating on if my wife and I should get the drinks package or not even with the discount. Once you add on the gratuity and taxes its a lot of money.  

[tiny260]

19 minutes ago, leesam82 said:

I see it priced at $52 but every weekend i see RCL offering a discount of buy one get one 50% off.

$52 is already the discounted 50% off price, look for a little window on the page that will tell you, "price already reflects discount". So you don't get 1 at $52 and the other at $26, both are already discounted to $52 plus %18 gratuity. The 50% off is off of the "on board" price which is usually around $69 or higher.

You can buy now at $52 and cancel and re-buy if you see it lower. I'm expecting to see a Memorial day sale (Discount), but depending on the date and ship the lowest since Black Friday has been $47PP/PN.

[Yo2slick]

Mine just dropped to 46 PP/PN + 18% Gratuity on Liberty for our August cruise.

[WAAAYTOOO]

24 minutes ago, Yo2slick said:

Mine just dropped to 46 PP/PN + 18% Gratuity on Liberty for our August cruise.

Mine, too.  When are you going ?  We will be on August 25

[Yo2slick]

Just now, WAAAYTOOO said:

Mine, too.  When are you going ?  We will be on August 25

Us too!  August 25-Sep 1st  My wifes B-Day is the 26th and our 14th Anniversary is the 29th!

 

[WAAAYTOOO]

15 hours ago, Yo2slick said:

Us too!  August 25-Sep 1st  My wifes B-Day is the 26th and our 14th Anniversary is the 29th!

 

YIPPEE !!!!  Congratulations and Happy Birthday to your wife !!

This is one of the last good deals that we got though Club Royale before they changed their comp upgrades rules.  I think there will be a lot of casino folks on this cruise b/c it has been listed on the comp cruise list for MONTHS.  So looking forward to it.  Hope to meet you onboard.

[KenCP]

My Ultimate Drink Package dropped, I rebooked it and saved $80.  My Unlimited Dining that I booked on Black Friday was still cheaper than the Memorial Day pricing. 

[cobra614]

On my upcoming July Symphony cruise I've seen a price as high as $59pp. I bought it at $52pp, then saw it drop to $49pp. I just canceled and rebooked. I did see it drop one other time to $48pp, but didn't bother. One thing I did learn tho was keep checking RC`s prices. I,'ve saved $1000.00 on our Jr. suite cabin price from our original booking thru 3 price changes!!!

[Lovetocruise2002]

1 hour ago, cobra614 said:

On my upcoming July Symphony cruise I've seen a price as high as $59pp. I bought it at $52pp, then saw it drop to $49pp. I just canceled and rebooked. I did see it drop one other time to $48pp, but didn't bother. One thing I did learn tho was keep checking RC`s prices. I,'ve saved $1000.00 on our Jr. suite cabin price from our original booking thru 3 price changes!!!

I also grabbed it at $49 a few weeks ago for SY. What week are you sailing? We’re on July 27th.

[cobra614]

7 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

I also grabbed it at $49 a few weeks ago for SY. What week are you sailing? We’re on July 27th.

We are on the same sailing.

[Lovetocruise2002]

4 hours ago, cobra614 said:

We are on the same sailing.

Awesome!  Not much longer!  I had this booked since November 2017...feels like forever!

[Jolly Ogre]

Nope...the drink package is still only 20% off for my Indy Dec sailing and it's still $56/day. The refreshment pkg is only 10% off and at $26/day.

Not going to happen at that price.

[KenCP]

1 hour ago, Jolly Ogre said:

Nope...the drink package is still only 20% off for my Indy Dec sailing and it's still $56/day. The refreshment pkg is only 10% off and at $26/day.

Not going to happen at that price.

@Jolly Ogre hang in there!  You will most likely get a sale at a later date.  My cruise is coming up in August and I have been booked since October and mine just came up on this last sale.

Keep an eye on the July 4th sale or in your case maybe Labour Day weekend.

[Jolly Ogre]

53 minutes ago, KenCP said:

@Jolly Ogre hang in there!  You will most likely get a sale at a later date.  My cruise is coming up in August and I have been booked since October and mine just came up on this last sale.

Keep an eye on the July 4th sale or in your case maybe Labour Day weekend.

Oh I will but $56 as a 20% off already is still steep. My Jan Allure sailing it was $49 on Black Friday. I am hoping it will drop more than that but it mostly likely won't.

[Pima1988]

@Jolly Ogre  I think maybe you will see it go to 52, but I doubt it will go down to 49.  

I got mine on Black Friday at 47 for my July sailing and have never ever seen that price again.  I have checked my planner almost everyday since we booked the cruise in late Sept.

Doing the math, I would think RCCL sees it as you only have to purchase on avg 2-3 alcohol bevs a day over the refreshment package since it is only a $30 difference.

To me the 26.99 for a refreshment package is more outrageous than the DBP.  Think about it.  A bottle of water, a specialty coffee, a soda, a milk shake, fresh OJ and mocktails, probably runs on avg $4 a pop.  You need to drink @ 7 to break even 

Now flip it for the 56 DPB.  3 alcoholic bevs = 36.  That means you only need 5 non-alcoholic to break even.  We always ask for a water bottle with every alcoholic drink.  

I hate how with every yr it appears they are increasing the cost by 10%.  However, I get it.  It is business, and until they find the equilibrium where people are not buying the DBP, they will keep pumping up the price.

I also have to say I live in No Virginia.  Go to even chain restaurants like BJ Brewhouse and you are paying 13 for a margarita, and 9 for their house wine.    Thus,  I really see it as 3 drinks over the refreshment.  Heck we went out with our kids in Arkansas (DS is AF) to a hole in a wall restaurant.  Their signature margarita was 11,  and it did not include a tip,  nor the state tax...11.77 with tax, add in 18% and it was closer to 14 a pop.  Just saying people forget how much a glass of wine at Olive Garden or Red Robin costs.  I don't think they are insane when you think about sea days.   ~~~~ I have made it clear if our cruise is everyday at a new port we don't buy it.  That becomes alcohol fatigue.    Our July cruise is 8 nights, and only 3 ports, the alcohol package is worth the price impo.

I do use it to every level I can.  I no longer get ice cream on the pool deck.  I hit JRs for a milk shake....it's part of my package and I don't need to eat there.  I get fresh squeezed OJ every a.m..  I only get specialty coffee.  I get a jack and ginger ale on the pool deck.  Get a glass of wine to take to the room while I get ready.  Glass at dinner.  Amaretto  with my cappuccino during dessert.  And throw in bottles of water they I herd to take with me on port days.    RCL loses money everyday with me.

They also lose $$$ with my husband.  He is not a big drinker, but he has the philosophy, if I don't like it, I will toss it.  He orders every foo foo blended drink they offer.  Lava Flow is his favorite (this is a guy that drinks Bourbon and Coke ---Bulleit bourbon).  Pina Colada is his 2nd favorite.  For him this is the time to try out everything.  Last cruise while we were in Schooners for trivia on the 1st night he tried out a Manhattan (how can you not when you sail out of NJ).  That was his nightly drink at dinner.  

[KenCP]

I just rebooked mine the Wednesday  on the Memorial Day weekend sale.  I had saved 25% on the black Friday sale and now the new package was 30% off for memorial day.  It probably will not get any cheaper but I will keep an eye out as I get closer to sailing date.

[WAAAYTOOO]

2 hours ago, Pima1988 said:

Amaretto  with my cappuccino during dessert.

I am also in NOVA.  

If you like Amaretto (me too !) try getting a pina colada made with amaretto instead of rum.  It is liquid candy !

[Pima1988]

@WAAAYTOOO  Actually try a creamsicle.  Amaretto, Vodka, OJ and heavy cream (shaken) strained over ice.  If you remember those ice cream treats you will be in heaven.  

My other favorite drink when I cruise is a Georgia Peach.  Vodka and OJ with a splash of cranberry juice.  It should have that ripe peach color.  It is tart and sweet at the exact same time.

[WAAAYTOOO]

5 hours ago, Pima1988 said:

@WAAAYTOOO  Actually try a creamsicle.  Amaretto, Vodka, OJ and heavy cream (shaken) strained over ice.  If you remember those ice cream treats you will be in heaven.  

My other favorite drink when I cruise is a Georgia Peach.  Vodka and OJ with a splash of cranberry juice.  It should have that ripe peach color.  It is tart and sweet at the exact same time.

I will !  Thanks

[Jolly Ogre]

On 5/24/2019 at 12:25 PM, Pima1988 said:

@Jolly Ogre  I think maybe you will see it go to 52, but I doubt it will go down to 49.  

I got mine on Black Friday at 47 for my July sailing and have never ever seen that price again.  I have checked my planner almost everyday since we booked the cruise in late Sept.

Doing the math, I would think RCCL sees it as you only have to purchase on avg 2-3 alcohol bevs a day over the refreshment package since it is only a $30 difference.

To me the 26.99 for a refreshment package is more outrageous than the DBP.  Think about it.  A bottle of water, a specialty coffee, a soda, a milk shake, fresh OJ and mocktails, probably runs on avg $4 a pop.  You need to drink @ 7 to break even 

 

Oh it's even worse as I have to pay for a drink pkg for me and my wife and she only drinks black coffee, tea and water. So i get to pay for 2 pkgs but only use 1.

It almost ends up costing the same as the cruise fair.

[AshleyDillo]

3 minutes ago, Jolly Ogre said:

Oh it's even worse as I have to pay for a drink pkg for me and my wife and she only drinks black coffee, tea and water. So i get to pay for 2 pkgs but only use 1.

It almost ends up costing the same as the cruise fair.

If you call up Royal to purchase the package you can sometimes talk them into allowing you to order the water package for her instead.  The standard default when you call is to book the non-drinker the Refreshment package, but we've had luck with insistence talking them into the water order.  It ends up being 12 1L bottles of Evian that are delivered to the room, but still ends up cheaper than the Refreshment package at $20-$27/day.