Classic vs. Premium Drink Package on Celebrity

[Gears]

Under the category of 'I knew there had to be a catch!'

I found out Celebrity's Always Included program is 'somewhat included'.

Their new policy of Always Included includes 'a' drink package for all adults. BUT...said package is actually what they define as the 'Classic Package'.

Seems there is a separate drink package called the Premium Package that is not included.

OK...so does anyone know the upgrade cost to get the Premium Package? 

[twangster]

On board Millie the first few days of the cruise I heard a lot of bartenders telling guests "that's not included with your beverage package, but for $ you can upgrade".  

This resulted in "What kind of vodka/gin/whiskey/wine is included in my package?" and then the predictable... "Oh, that's all?".  

However those simple days of just upgrading the beverage package have been replaced with more much... interesting choices of upgrades to choose from.

 

https://www.celebritycruises.com/cruise-deals/always-included

The upgrade path options include "Elevate" and "Indulge".

https://www.celebritycruises.com/blog/ultimate-guide-celebrity-cruises-perks

• For just $30 a day per person, with Elevate you’ll enjoy premium drinks, prepaid tips, and shore excursion credits ranging from $100 to $200, depending on the length of your cruise. You and the second guest in your stateroom also have access to Unlimited Surf Wi-Fi throughout your sailing.
• Indulge, which is $60 a day per person, includes premium drinks, prepaid tips, unlimited Stream Wi-Fi for two guests, plus shore excursion credits ranging from $200 to $400, depending on the length of your vacation.

Note the per person requirement, and this is where Celebrity really proves how they discourage solo cruise travel.  If solo you have to pay the Elevate and Indulge upgrade costs for you and your ghost guest who isn't sailing with you.  The upgrade cost is based on double occupancy and like the 200% solo supplement for single cruisers, the Elevate and Indulge upgrades also have the 200% solo supplement applied to them.   

But wait... there's more.

Introducing PerksExtra and PerksUltra.

With the PerksExtra Package, you’ll enjoy the following:

• Shore excursion credit**
• Premium Beverage package for one guest (optional)
• Dinner in specialty restaurants of your choice
• Xcelerate Stream Wi-Fi (one device)
• Laundry service (one bag)

For a seven-night sailing, the PerksExtra package starts at $56 per day per person. If you bundle in a premium beverage package, the cost is $127 per day per person.

Here are all the available perks in the PerksUltra Package:

• Premium Beverage Package for one guest
• Dinner at a specialty restaurant of your choice
• Onboard credit for shore excursions
• Xcelerate Stream Wi-Fi on one device
• Complimentary laundry service on (1) bag during your sailing
• Unlimited digital photos. Stay in the moment and put your camera away; our photographers have you covered.

For a seven-night sailing, the price starts at $88 per day. For a ten-night sailing, the PerksUltra Package starts at $144 per day per person, with one Premium Beverage Package included.

 

Confused  Yeah.  It seems they haven't cleaned up the website.  It's really Elevate and Indulge you need to focus on.  $30 pppd or $60 pppd.

[JLMoran]

@twangster, I had read both on Celebrity's site and also on @monorailmedic's blog about this that individual passengers can still upgrade their drink package on board. Is that no longer the case? Hope it's still an option, since this would be a way around the double occupancy rate and having to pay for that Elevate upgrade for the entire room. Especially useful if you don't want/need the OBC or your cabin-mate doesn't drink or doesn't care about "the fancy stuff".

[twangster]

7 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

@twangster, I had read both on Celebrity's site and also on @monorailmedic's blog about this that individual passengers can still upgrade their drink package on board. Is that no longer the case? Hope it's still an option, since this would be a way around the double occupancy rate and having to pay for that Elevate upgrade for the entire room. Especially useful if you don't want/need the OBC or your cabin-mate doesn't drink or doesn't care about "the fancy stuff".

Without ships sailing we don't really know.  

[cruisellama]

9 hours ago, Gears said:

Under the category of 'I knew there had to be a catch!'

I found out Celebrity's Always Included program is 'somewhat included'.

Their new policy of Always Included includes 'a' drink package for all adults. BUT...said package is actually what they define as the 'Classic Package'.

Seems there is a separate drink package called the Premium Package that is not included.

OK...so does anyone know the upgrade cost to get the Premium Package? 

We found the most noticeable impact of the Classic package was at the Martini bar.  (Having top shelf over well drinks wasn't something we cared about)   Classic   limit cut you off at more than half of the drinks at the Martini bar.  As that is our favorite bar to utilize, we ended bumping up to premium.    Now we try to stay in Sky Suites, so the premium package is standard.  They also introduced a premium + for the highest end spirits and wines.    We haven't seen a need to do that yet (of course we haven't sailed in quite awhile). 

[KathyC]

No more $10 a day to upgrade just the drink package, huh?   I'm hoping it's something they still offer once onboard or a perk for Elite and above. 

[twangster]

The upgrade was $10 per day before Always In.  It will be curious to see how hard they push or desire to motivate guests to Elevate.

[cruisellama]

1 hour ago, twangster said:

The upgrade was $10 per day before Always In.  It will be curious to see how hard they push or desire to motivate guests to Elevate.

They’ve been persistent in the past - wondering if they get a commision on how many they sell.

[AnnetteJackson]

On 2/11/2021 at 9:20 AM, JLMoran said:

@twangster, I had read both on Celebrity's site and also on @monorailmedic's blog about this that individual passengers can still upgrade their drink package on board. Is that no longer the case? Hope it's still an option, since this would be a way around the double occupancy rate and having to pay for that Elevate upgrade for the entire room. Especially useful if you don't want/need the OBC or your cabin-mate doesn't drink or doesn't care about "the fancy stuff".

Yes, Celebrity has said that if you have the Classic package and want a better liquor you will only pay the difference.  I have been pricing this for clients and if you prefer better liquor or lots of blended drinks, you may want to consider the Elevate package so these will be included.  NOT ONLY do you get the better drinks but you also get an OBC that you can use toward your charges on the ship, excursions, or gratuities.  Once you look at the small charge to upgrade with the OBC - it does not take too many drinks to make this is a WIN.

[KathyC]

28 minutes ago, AnnetteJackson said:

Yes, Celebrity has said that if you have the Classic package and want a better liquor you will only pay the difference.  I have been pricing this for clients and if you prefer better liquor or lots of blended drinks, you may want to consider the Elevate package so these will be included.  NOT ONLY do you get the better drinks but you also get an OBC that you can use toward your charges on the ship, excursions, or gratuities.  Once you look at the small charge to upgrade with the OBC - it does not take too many drinks to make this is a WIN.

I finally emailed Stephanie yesterday and she's working on our reservation.   I'll ask for a quote on Elevate - we don't usually do excursions, especially in those ports but if the ship actually goes to Key West maybe we will there.  Aren't gratuities included with Always?  Trying to think what I would use the OBC on...other than in the casino.   

[AnnetteJackson]

2 hours ago, KathyC said:

I finally emailed Stephanie yesterday and she's working on our reservation.   I'll ask for a quote on Elevate - we don't usually do excursions, especially in those ports but if the ship actually goes to Key West maybe we will there.  Aren't gratuities included with Always?  Trying to think what I would use the OBC on...other than in the casino. 

Sorry... I should have explained that better.  I was meaning if you wanted to tip the crew more you could using this OBC.  You would just add to the gratuities onboard.

[KathyC]

Maybe specialty dining...forgot about that...

[cruisellama]

On 2/12/2021 at 10:07 AM, AnnetteJackson said:

Sorry... I should have explained that better.  I was meaning if you wanted to tip the crew more you could using this OBC.  You would just add to the gratuities onboard.

You can also add to gratuities through your account access or use cash.    We always carry cash to provide additional recognition to those who really went the extra mile.  Typically our room steward, and the waitstaff/bartenders we get to know during the trip.    We'll give them a thank you card and some cash in addition to the pre-paid gratuities.   They're able to show their supervisors the cards and it can help at promotion time.

[KathyC]

On 2/12/2021 at 11:07 AM, AnnetteJackson said:

Sorry... I should have explained that better.  I was meaning if you wanted to tip the crew more you could using this OBC.  You would just add to the gratuities onboard.

I always carry cash for tipping, I didn't really think about using OBC for it.

[Gears]

I am now finding some TAs are quoting with the Classic Package included and other TAs are quoting the Premium Package included.

[KathyC]

22 hours ago, Gears said:

I am now finding some TAs are quoting with the Classic Package included and other TAs are quoting the Premium Package included.

If the TA is quoting with Elevate or Indulge, that makes sense.  If they are making a mistake because they are not reading the information correctly, well that is another story.  LOL 

[cruisellama]

On 2/16/2021 at 8:28 AM, KathyC said:

If the TA is quoting with Elevate or Indulge, that makes sense.  If they are making a mistake because they are not reading the information correctly, well that is another story.  LOL 

I just look for "Go Best" and that's my happy place.