UkuleleCruiser Posted November 14, 2016 Report Share Posted November 14, 2016 Did a detailed spreadsheet comparing buying drinks individually versus the package, and gave RCCL the benefit in the spreadsheet of not including the 18% gratuity per day. So, if the wife and I bring on 2 bottles of wine, and we drink about 3 drinks per day (6 total, 3 per person), we came out about $100 ahead buying our own drinks. I used a $10 price per drink as an estimate -- House wine is about 8 bucks a glass, as i recall. It all has to do with how much you drink to determine if it's a good value for you. Katelynnhab and WHStoneman 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bsbrady Posted November 14, 2016 Report Share Posted November 14, 2016 I was chatting with a buddy of mine, who cruises often and here is how he justifies it to his wife: Sea Day: Maybe you have a bloody Mary or Mimosa with breakfast Then you spend most of the day by the pool. You will almost certainly have a few pina colada's, miami vice or some other frozen concoction. Now you go back and get ready for dinner, so you go have a martini or other pre-dinner cocktail. Then with dinner maybe a glass or two of wine After Dinner you get to the theater to see the show and you grab a drink at the bar in the theater. So 7 or 8 drinks on a sea day does not really seem so far fetched. Obviously not everyone drinks this much, but at average $10-$11 per drink, that package can save you money. Sweety 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jticarruthers Posted November 15, 2016 Report Share Posted November 15, 2016 It is easy to see/justify the value on a sea day, the tricky part is the port days and then weighing the mix of the two to determine the value over the whole cruise. For me on most itineraries it isn't worth the extra expense for the convenience factor of not worrying about what I am ordering. bcarney and coneyraven 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMark Posted November 16, 2016 Report Share Posted November 16, 2016 I just checked our Feb. 2017 cruise on Serenade and the premium package was still available for 20% off (US $44/day + 18% grats). Maybe it is just a UK increase? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMark Posted November 16, 2016 Report Share Posted November 16, 2016 Do you live in the U.K.? I ask because I'm needing the Serenade ship model and am trying to find someone willing to get one for me. I'll pay for the ship and shipping costs - so that's why I was wondering if you were in the U.K. Might be a substantial shipping fee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
widallas Posted November 16, 2016 Report Share Posted November 16, 2016 It has been a steady 20% off (US$44/day) for our cruise although I didn't check this week. I know personally, if we have relatives visiting and have drinks Friday through Monday, I am ready to call it quits by Monday. I think I'll enjoy myself a few days but save myself the drink package...I would never be able to let it go and not drink my quota every day! I really think my liver (and head!) will thank me... But on a side note, I am also hoping those drink cards make an appearance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bsbrady Posted November 16, 2016 Report Share Posted November 16, 2016 If someone is on the fence a good strategy is to dont buy the package and see how much you drink on Day 1 & 2. If you see you might benefit from the package you can buy it for the remainder of the voyage. One of my factors is, I will drink at least 5 bottles of water per day. So it makes the package a great deal DocLC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneyraven Posted November 16, 2016 Report Share Posted November 16, 2016 It is easy to see/justify the value on a sea day, the tricky part is the port days and then weighing the mix of the two to determine the value over the whole cruise. For me on most itineraries it isn't worth the extra expense for the convenience factor of not worrying about what I am ordering. Exactly --- As Matt has said numerous times in the past ..... it's easy to justify the drink package based only on the math of "Can you drink 5 - 6 drinks per day, every day" But then you factor in the other things ..... Length of cruise.....Can you keep up the pace and avoid "Drink Fatigue"? ----- Number of ports, remember, you can't use the package off the ship (unless in Labadee or Coco Cay) so that's time wasted. My wife and I were just discussing this ..... it would seem the shorter the cruise, the drink package makes sense because the likelihood of having Drink Fatigue goes down -- and -- if it's a short cruise WITH 1 or 2 seas days -- that's the perfect storm of why to buy the package. For example, the 4-nighters out of Canaveral/Miami (short cruise plus 1 sea day AND Coco Cay) or the 5-nighters to Bermuda out of Baltimore or Bayonne -- 2 Sea Days thrown in there and you're back on the ship over night.... then the drink packages become a really good deal .... and then you're back to simple math of "Can you drink 5-6 per day each day?" --- YES WE CAN!!! lol Matt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnUK Posted November 16, 2016 Report Share Posted November 16, 2016 Now the Select package has been discontinued, does anyone know what will happen to bookings where that had been included as a promotion? We sail on Grandeur in November 2017 with the Select package included. I know the Ultimate package would have been replaced with the Deluxe version, but the only reference I could find concerning the Select package was that it would be honoured whilst stocks last. That is a bit enigmatic to say the least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted November 16, 2016 Report Share Posted November 16, 2016 Now the Select package has been discontinued, does anyone know what will happen to bookings where that had been included as a promotion? Select package drink packages will be honored as-is. So you will get exactly what the select package promised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clmsnskr Posted November 17, 2016 Report Share Posted November 17, 2016 On my last cruise I had no less than 12 drinks per day, even on port days. This does not include all the bottled water I also consumed. The drink package price was well worth it for me. cougar310 and bcarney 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnUK Posted November 17, 2016 Report Share Posted November 17, 2016 Select package drink packages will be honored as-is. So you will get exactly what the select package promised. Good to know - thanks Matt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cougar310 Posted January 19, 2017 Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 Anyone know what they charge for a good bottle of Merlot in the store for purchase to take to the room? Say a sterling or Rodney Strong. rjac 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjac Posted January 19, 2017 Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 Anyone know what they charge for a good bottle of Merlot in the store for purchase to take to the room? Say a sterling or Rodney Strong. I like your Pride & Joy. Been many years since I've seen that one! cougar310 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monctonguy Posted January 19, 2017 Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 I didn't think you could buy from the store to bring to the room..seeing as RCI charges you $40 for a 375ml bottle of rum to have in your room.....you would be stupid to do that if you could go buy a 40oz of rum for $25 in the store... Am I missing something here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted January 19, 2017 Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 I didn't think you could buy from the store to bring to the room..seeing as RCI charges you $40 for a 375ml bottle of rum to have in your room.....you would be stupid to do that if you could go buy a 40oz of rum for $25 in the store... Am I missing something here? You're not missing anything. Any alcohol bought in the onboard shops is held and delivered on the last night. And outside of the bottle purchase you mentioned, wine abd champagne seen to be the only bottles you can purchase for onboard consumption. cougar310 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cougar310 Posted January 19, 2017 Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 Thanks for the info, I did see on the web site, where you can purchase wine by the bottle and have it delivered to your room or table, also the rum, which I think is our choice because we don't want to drink all the time . maybe getting a few drinks here and there, won't add up to over $355 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted January 19, 2017 Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 What you can do is order a bottle of wine from a bar and take it wherever, just like a glass of any beverage. cougar310 and RestingBird 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie10* Posted February 3, 2017 Report Share Posted February 3, 2017 Anyone know what they charge for a good bottle of Merlot in the store for purchase to take to the room? Say a sterling or Rodney Strong. On oasis $54 for a Clos de.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J_Keeble Posted March 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2017 Do you think they will ever bring back the beer/wine package? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted March 2, 2017 Report Share Posted March 2, 2017 Do you think they will ever bring back the beer/wine package? If enough people ask for it, I could see it happening. RC definitely listens to their guest feedback. Just not sure that many people are clamoring for it J_Keeble and Katelynnhab 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jce2 Posted March 2, 2017 Report Share Posted March 2, 2017 Two thoughts: I see a lot of folks trying to determine of the drink package is worth it by simply aksing can I frink xx number of drinks per day. But they seem to be counting only alcohol. Assuming you are also drinking coffee with breakfast, a few waters and maybe a soda or two, you really shouldn't need to drink that many alcoholic drinks per day to reach the target I would think....Second; How do they handle alcohol you buy in ports? Do you simply turn those bottles over when you re-board? I am thinking I might want to buy a bottle of tequila in Mexico and a bottle of rum in Jamaica. Though part of me asks, "Why bother?" Except for saving a little bit on "duty", I am pretty sure anything worth drinking I could have just bought at my local liquor store..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted March 2, 2017 Report Share Posted March 2, 2017 Second; How do they handle alcohol you buy in ports? Do you simply turn those bottles over when you re-board? What is supposed to happen is security will take it from you and return it to you on the last night of the cruise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcarney Posted March 2, 2017 Report Share Posted March 2, 2017 Second; How do they handle alcohol you buy in ports? Do you simply turn those bottles over when you re-board? I am thinking I might want to buy a bottle of tequila in Mexico and a bottle of rum in Jamaica. Though part of me asks, "Why bother?" Except for saving a little bit on "duty", I am pretty sure anything worth drinking I could have just bought at my local liquor store..... As the resident drunkard here (I'm a 'consumer judge' at the Miami Rum Festival this April http://www.rumxp.com/RumJury.html ), I'd suggest buying a bottle of your favorite spirit from a distiller that isn't available in your area, or getting something that is expensive that you can drink as a "treat" like http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20170210/jwn-pay-homage-joy-spence-appleton-estate-joy-rum When I first started becoming a rummy, I enjoyed drinking from a certain set of distillers. As I was exposed to other expressions of the spirit i learned I really enjoyed rums from a specific geographic area and distilling method, and I wouldn't have learned that if I didn't buy those oddball bottles when on vacation. Step out of your comfort zone and try something new. RestingBird 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jce2 Posted March 2, 2017 Report Share Posted March 2, 2017 It's funny you say that because Appleton was precisely what I was thinking of!Fortunately, the finest liquor on the planet is made right here in the U.S. or A. (Jack Danials!) but would be fun to grab some local flavors as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjac Posted March 3, 2017 Report Share Posted March 3, 2017 It's funny you say that because Appleton was precisely what I was thinking of! Fortunately, the finest liquor on the planet is made right here in the U.S. or A. (Jack Danials!) but would be fun to grab some local flavors as well. Ahem, Jack Daniel's.....http://www.jackdaniels.com/en-us DocLC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jce2 Posted March 3, 2017 Report Share Posted March 3, 2017 Yea, I knew I misspelled it, just didn't bother to go back and fix it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orange Crush Posted March 15, 2017 Report Share Posted March 15, 2017 Yeah, you probably won't save any money buying a bottle of something available stateside in a port shop, besides the ship probably has a supply you can have as much as you want of with your drink package. Get something the locals make. The Mexican shops have some really nice blue agave tequilas you can't get here. Floski 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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