Deluxe Drink Packages

[Boston Babe]

1 hour ago, ellcee said:

YES!

FABULOUS!!!! Thank you ellcee!!!

[rjac]

1 hour ago, Boston Babe said:

FABULOUS!!!! Thank you ellcee!!!

There is one "catch", you have to redeem the points you accumulate on your RC credit card and the "catch" is fairly easy. Here's the link:https://www.managerewardsonline.com/RMSapp/Ctl/entry?pid=grprwd&mc=RCCL. 

It will take one credit card cycle (30 days) for the points to show up in your account and you do not want to have any on board credit posted greater than 180 days from your cruise date. If you do, they will expire. As I understand it, when you order/buy something (drink package) and you go to check out you will have an option to pay by credit card or use on board credit.  Also, any on board credit you receive from a 3rd party (travel agent promotion) will not show up until 2-3 days after you have embarked on your cruise. 

Perhaps someone else can chime in here if I'm incorrect on this and correct me if I'm wrong. 

[Boston Babe]

Thanks rjac, I'm going to check into that too.  I'm beginning to think you get screwed no matter what! LOL!

[Boston Babe]

Just checked my expiration for the current points and it says 9/2022 ???

[rjac]

20 minutes ago, Boston Babe said:

Just checked my expiration for the current points and it says 9/2022 ???

BB,

Not so much getting screwed, just have to know the rules. Points on the RC credit card will start to expire 5 years after they are accumulated (through purchases), but I do not know what the attrition rate is. So, if you cruise every couple of years and convert your RC credit card points to on board credit, no problem. I have a brother in law who got me into cruising in 2006. I told him about the RC credit card in 2007, he got one and now has over 200,000 points on the card....and losses some every month....and complains like hell! So I told him the answer is simple, go on a cruise with us and use your points....my wife and I would appreciate drink packages greatly! 

[jce2]

3 hours ago, Boston Babe said:

Just checked my expiration for the current points and it says 9/2022 ???

The points dont expire for quite a while, hence the 2022 date.  However, once you "redeem" them for various cruise rewards (OBC, upgrades etc. ) you must use that redemption within 180 days.  So if you convert your points to OBC and then you dont actually cruise and use them within 180 days you lose them

[Boston Babe]

OMG, 200K and losing them!! I'd be really unhappy with that!! LOL!

[Boston Babe]

Thank JCE2, that is helpful information.  I looked last night and I'm 209 days from sailing, so I will wait! Very very helpful! thank you!!!

[Rose City Cruiser]

It will not make sense for RCCL to require documentation to enforce their exemptions list.  It will make the check-in process less efficient.  Imagine the boarding process taking 20-30 secs longer per passenger for one of their Oasis/Quantum class ships.  

[Floski]

Well, despite my beeching and moaning about it, I opted for the package for the wife and me.

I hate that they have done this, but once I broke it down and weighed the issues, I decided to 

pay now instead of at the end of my cruise.  

 

This still doesn't mean I'm going to participate in the belly flop, regardless of how many drinks I've had.

[rjac]

6 minutes ago, Floski said:

This still doesn't mean I'm going to participate in the belly flop, regardless of how many drinks I've had.

Come on Floski, where's your sense of adventure??? You could be a real RC hero, the kind the staff would tell tales about and children would sing ballads .......

[katjoe]

For anyone cruising THIS calendar year, I believe it is still possible to book a drinks package for only one person - they do say you have to book it for both passengers in the cabin in the cruise planner, but in the various Q&As, they say that this goes for cruises starting on or after December 31, 2017 (I'll try to attach the screenshot I took). Also, I started a mock purchase in my cruise planner and that did let me add just the one Premium alcohol package...there's no way we'd get two of those as my husband doesn't drink enough to make it worthwhile! I do'nt really want to get it because a) I still find it expensive, even at 25% discount and b) I know myself; I'd drink WAYYY too much if I had an all incl drinks package...I'm hoping for RC to discount the Refresh package a little - it's currently at $26 and not discounted at all...but that's the one I'd like - water, coffees, sodas included and then we'd just buy bottles of wine with dinner (and drink locally on our outings).

As for the policy - I can understand both sides....I understand the honest people complaining about being forced to get two packages if one person doesn't drink as much, but I also understand the company because I'm sure a lot of people get drinks for others on their packages (even someone on here suggested doing that in this thread!!). It's hard to get this right...

[RBRSKI]

As I have giving my opinion on this topic previously, Want to know how RCCL could have kept the policy the way it used to be, FOLLOW their own rules!!!  Sea Pass cards are required to show the bartender multiple things, if you can charge to stateroom, have the drink package and your age and photo to name a few.  They want to take the easy way out.

[Rose City Cruiser]

This probably won't make much of a difference, but I have cancelled my drink package on my upcoming cruise.  Will now order my drinks individually.  Not much a drinker anyways.  But I will be sure to express my opinion regarding this policy change when they send you that survey after you have completed the cruise.  Come on now..... at the end of the day, RCCL only cares about one thing, their shareholders.  This drink policy change was not to curb sharing of drink packages.  It is to benefit the shareholders and their bottom line.  By requiring the exempted passengers to purchase the replenish drink package proves this.  How is this still really going to stop the drink sharing?     

 

[rjac]

8 minutes ago, jurrjurr said:

This probably won't make much of a difference, but I have cancelled my drink package on my upcoming cruise.  Will now order my drinks individually.  Not much a drinker anyways.  But I will be sure to express my opinion regarding this policy change when they send you that survey after you have completed the cruise.  Come on now..... at the end of the day, RCCL only cares about one thing, their shareholders.  This drink policy change was not to curb sharing of drink packages.  It is to benefit the shareholders and their bottom line.  By requiring the exempted passengers to purchase the replenish drink package proves this.  How is this still really going to stop the drink sharing?     

 

Have you considered the amount of money RCCL is spending on getting the hurricane devastated islands back up and tourist worthy from which where these islands get the bulk of their income. I, sir, do not agree with you about "RCCL caring about one thing, their shareholders."  

Please, no need for you to reply to my post, it will be ignored. 

[Rose City Cruiser]

2 minutes ago, rjac said:

Have you considered the amount of money RCCL is spending on getting the hurricane devastated islands back up and tourist worthy from which where these islands get the bulk of their income. I, sir, do not agree with you about "RCCL caring about one thing, their shareholders."  

Please, no need for you to reply to my post, it will be ignored. 

Pure PR move.  They could have simply done it without advertising it.  Just like how millions of people around the world have done with their donations and volunteering.  

[bcarney]

It could be worse - on Norwegian it's $89.00 USD per person per day plus 18% gratuity and beverage service charge.  For for a seven day cruise, it's $105.02 per person per day,  for a total of $1470.28 per cabin.  OUCH!

 

[JLMoran]

@bcarney, I had heard about their crazy pricing as well. But it was also pointed out just last week or the one before on the Cruise Radio podcast that this price is a bit misleading, because Norwegian offers a free drink package as a selectable perk with a lot of their cabin offers (maybe all of them?). So while the price is astronomical relative to the other lines, most people don't actually pay that out of pocket (unless they're packing it into the price of the cabin somehow).

[rjac]

40 minutes ago, bcarney said:

It could be worse - on Norwegian it's $89.00 USD per person per day plus 18% gratuity and beverage service charge.  For for a seven day cruise, it's $105.02 per person per day,  for a total of $1470.28 per cabin.  OUCH!

 

 

33 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

@bcarney, I had heard about their crazy pricing as well. But it was also pointed out just last week or the one before on the Cruise Radio podcast that this price is a bit misleading, because Norwegian offers a free drink package as a selectable perk with a lot of their cabin offers (maybe all of them?). So while the price is astronomical relative to the other lines, most people don't actually pay that out of pocket (unless they're packing it into the price of the cabin somehow).

Here's a screenshot from Norwegian.

 

[twangster]

So a couple things...

RCI executives do have a fiduciary responsibility to the shareholders.  Duh!   Same goes for any publicly traded company.  

People were outright and blatantly violating the rules and sharing drink packages.  In one of Michael Poole's scopes recently he observed four people signing up one person for the DP for this purpose.  It's very difficult to place the enforcement onto front line employees.   Bartenders can't follow people to see if they hand off a drink.  An ugly confrontation would result in any attempt to place enforcement solely in the hands of front line employees and that leads to a potentially larger negative customer experience.   

The common trend in the industry is to require everyone over 21 to purchase a DP if anyone does.   In considering how to deal with this problem of theft they had to make a choice.  

Trying to enforce it on the ship with front line employees would likely lead to inconsistencies and awkward situations where customers come up with excuses like "I'm not sharing my drinks, he's just holding my drink while I stretch".   There would be YouTube videos and social media moments creating a negative impact to the brand like "They suspended my DP for no reason, I did nothing wrong, bad company!" even though this person is lying through their teeth.  

On the other hand by following the industry trend it makes it a consistent policy applied across the fleet without placing the burden on front line employees.  Customers will know it when they attempt to purchase a DP just like other lines.  I completely understand why they went this way.  

I've contacted them and have direct knowledge of the exemptions and how those work.  I honestly believe those are a reasonable approach to dealing with the relatively few individuals who truly need one.  The vast majority do not require and should not be eligible for an exemption but for the small number of folks that properly do there is process to recognize it.  Is it perfect? Maybe not but it does address most customer use cases.  

If the masses start to abuse the exemptions, they'll likely have to adapt to that too.  Blame the abusers who attempt to circumvent policy and rules to benefit themselves.  

[JLMoran]

And let's not forget that one of the allowed exceptions is "does not drink as personal preference". That is a huge open door to let pretty much anyone who doesn't want to buy a package have an out, whether it's true for them or not. As long as people know they can call to request the exceptions, and they're willing to make the effort, it's easy enough (although I'd still prefer a way to opt out via the Cruise Planner site, or at least a way to get notified better of this option).

Personally, I like that they have this particular exception as an option. I had a good friend in college who truly didn't drink simply out of personal preference and life choice, so it's not a bogus or cop-out reason by any stretch.

[WAAAYTOOO]

1 hour ago, JLMoran said:

And let's not forget that one of the allowed exceptions is "does not drink as personal preference".

Yes, but I have been reading that they are no longer accepting these “generic” types of exceptions as of last week.  I think it’s going to be very difficult, indeed, to get an exception from now on.

[twangster]

I can see the exemptions being abused and they'll have to make them tougher.  In this day and age of social media word will get out how to get around the policy.  I've contributed to that by sharing my email on exemptions. 

I can honestly report I've never shared a drink from my drink package. When I've sailed all over 21 in the cabin did buy the package,  but I wonder how many upset people fall into the category of "My SO only drinks 1 or 2 glasses of wine at dinner so its okay, those rules don't apply to us, its just 1 or 2 drinks".

Ten glasses of wine over a 7 day cruise at $10-12 per glass plus gratuity is $120-$140 in stolen drinks and lost revenue.  

 

[Lovetocruise2002]

1 minute ago, twangster said:

I can see the exemptions being abused and they'll have to make them tougher.  In this day and age of social media word will get out how to get around the policy.  I've contributed to that by sharing my email on exemptions. 

I can honestly report I've never shared a drink from my drink package. When I've sailed all over 21 in the cabin did buy the package,  but I wonder how many upset people fall into the category of "My SO only drinks 1 or 2 glasses of wine at dinner so its okay, those rules don't apply to us, its just 1 or 2 drinks".

Ten glasses of wine over a 7 day cruise at $10-12 per glass plus gratuity is $120-$140 in stolen drinks and lost revenue.  

 

I can honestly see that over time the solid rule will be purchase the deluxe and if exempted then you must purchase the refreshment package.  Because you really can't argue your way out of that one and they are still making money off of you.

[rjac]

My gripe with this whole drink package deal is thier math. I have no problem buying them for my wife & myself, however, get the damn math correct. Here's a screen shot from my Allure cruise next March. The banner says "buy one get one 50% off". But then just above the "add to cart" button it says 

From*$45.00USD Adult per day

Price Shown Reflects Your Discount

According to the customer service reps I have spoken with, it's actually 25% off of the regular price of $55.00 of each package, hence the 50%. Of course 18% gratuity on top of that. What is mathematically incorrect here is 25% x $55 is $41.25 NOT $45.00 as above "Price Shown Reflects Your Discount". $41.25 + 18% = $48.68. So, I am confused about this discounted "price" of $45.00. 

Am I wrong here or does RC have a super golly wampus high speed low drag hand held computer integrated calculator to perform simple (?) math calculations on their packages? I'm almost afraid to look at excursions and dining "deals".

 

[twangster]

1 minute ago, rjac said:

My gripe with this whole drink package deal is their math....

Am I wrong here or does RC have a super golly wampus high speed low drag hand held computer integrated calculator to perform simple (?) math calculations on their packages? I'm almost afraid to look at excursions and dining "deals".

 

 

Yeah, agree with you.  No consistency across the fleet either.  Freedom is $44, Anthem $46.  Grandeur back in August was $41.  Then there is the "free Voom" with deluxe bundle, except that is measured against the on board price, not the pre-cruise deluxe only price.  Confusing marketing.  My Anthem Voom/Deluxe bundle went from $54 one day to $56 the next day.  

I also think longer cruises should have lower prices.  12 nights on Anthem the combo Voom/Deluxe is almost $800 per person.  I think not.   

[Lovetocruise2002]

41 minutes ago, rjac said:

My gripe with this whole drink package deal is thier math. I have no problem buying them for my wife & myself, however, get the damn math correct. Here's a screen shot from my Allure cruise next March. The banner says "buy one get one 50% off". But then just above the "add to cart" button it says 

From*$45.00USD Adult per day

Price Shown Reflects Your Discount

According to the customer service reps I have spoken with, it's actually 25% off of the regular price of $55.00 of each package, hence the 50%. Of course 18% gratuity on top of that. What is mathematically incorrect here is 25% x $55 is $41.25 NOT $45.00 as above "Price Shown Reflects Your Discount". $41.25 + 18% = $48.68. So, I am confused about this discounted "price" of $45.00. 

Am I wrong here or does RC have a super golly wampus high speed low drag hand held computer integrated calculator to perform simple (?) math calculations on their packages? I'm almost afraid to look at excursions and dining "deals".

 

 

@rjac I am still so confused about this too.  Have you called them out on their calculations?? And if so, I am so curious as to what their response was. Or is their regular price not $55? It is very confusing since prices are different depending on what ship you are on.

[mom2mybugs]

I'm finding it interesting that many people who are claiming "personal preference not to drink" are also saying that they will buy  a drink or two.  Its not that there aren't some that don't drink at all,  but i see people that are just going to buy one or two drinks a day and are trying to claim the exemption.   That to me is cheating as much as the sharing.   It's ok to do this because royal is making you buy a 2nd drink pkg?  I hope people either step up and buy the 2nd drink pkg or don't buy either pkg, but don't claim the exemption simply because royal is going to make money off of you.   Hope this makes sense.   I wasn't a fan of the switch but people were abusing like crazy so I get the decision for rc to align with the industry.   

Please understand I am NOT accusing people that don't legitimately drink of being stupid for claiming the exemption.   I just would like people to think about why they're claiming the exemption... because abuse of rules is partly why the original rule changed! Jane

[rjac]

13 minutes ago, Sabrinaklai said:

@rjac I am still so confused about this too.  Have you called them out on their calculations?? And if so, I am so curious as to what their response was. Or is their regular price not $55? It is very confusing since prices are different depending on what ship you are on.

Sabrina,

Yes I have spoken to a few cust. service reps about the math which for which they do not have an answer. So, I get transferred to a supervisor who also can't explain the math. I'm going to sit on this for a few weeks and see if they "wake up", if not a letter and email will be sent in by myself. 

[mom2mybugs]

14 minutes ago, rjac said:

Sabrina,

Yes I have spoken to a few cust. service reps about the math which for which they do not have an answer. So, I get transferred to a supervisor who also can't explain the math. I'm going to sit on this for a few weeks and see if they "wake up", if not a letter and email will be sent in by myself. 

I have yet to figure out their calculations on sales!  I'm now going with "the odds favor the house" mentality like I did with casinos!   Hope you get some answers.   Jane

[rjac]

15 minutes ago, mom2mybugs said:

Hope you get some answers

Thanks, me too!

[Lovetocruise2002]

1 hour ago, rjac said:

Thanks, me too!

Keep us posted...will be interesting to see how this turns out.  It is actually quite unacceptable that even a supervisor does not have a solid answer for you.

[Rose City Cruiser]

2 hours ago, rjac said:

My gripe with this whole drink package deal is thier math. I have no problem buying them for my wife & myself, however, get the damn math correct. Here's a screen shot from my Allure cruise next March. The banner says "buy one get one 50% off". But then just above the "add to cart" button it says 

From*$45.00USD Adult per day

Price Shown Reflects Your Discount

According to the customer service reps I have spoken with, it's actually 25% off of the regular price of $55.00 of each package, hence the 50%. Of course 18% gratuity on top of that. What is mathematically incorrect here is 25% x $55 is $41.25 NOT $45.00 as above "Price Shown Reflects Your Discount". $41.25 + 18% = $48.68. So, I am confused about this discounted "price" of $45.00. 

Am I wrong here or does RC have a super golly wampus high speed low drag hand held computer integrated calculator to perform simple (?) math calculations on their packages? I'm almost afraid to look at excursions and dining "deals".

 

Can you show a SS of what the final price is for two DP with the gratuities amounts?  I am trying to figure out what their "base" price is and make sense of this math.  This is becoming like going to a car dealership with "invoice" pricing sales tactics.

[rjac]

17 minutes ago, jurrjurr said:

Can you show a SS of what the final price is for two DP with the gratuities amounts?  I am trying to figure out what their "base" price is and make sense of this math.  This is becoming like going to a car dealership with "invoice" pricing sales tactics.

I've been dealing with this for a couple of weeks now.  These figures are Royals. The "base price" is $55.00 with 25% discount. When you add this to your basket the "price shown that reflect your discount" (their words) is $45.00. So, $45.00 + 18%(gratuities) = $53.10 per person per day. For a couple that's $106.20 per day or $743.4. for a couple on a seven day cruise on the Allure next March. 

[Rose City Cruiser]

26 minutes ago, rjac said:

I've been dealing with this for a couple of weeks now.  These figures are Royals. The "base price" is $55.00 with 25% discount. When you add this to your basket the "price shown that reflect your discount" (their words) is $45.00. So, $45.00 + 18%(gratuities) = $53.10 per person per day. For a couple that's $106.20 per day or $743.4. for a couple on a seven day cruise on the Allure next March. 

Below should be what the calculations for a BOGO50.  Not sure if it is worth to challenge RCCL's interpretation of BOGO50.

Drink Package #1:

$55 * 7 days = $385.00
$385 * 18% gratuity = $69.30
$385.00 + $69.30 = $454.30

Drink Package #2:

$55 * 50% off = $27.50/day
$27.50 * 7 days = $192.50
$192.50 + $69.30 = $261.80 (Used gratuities on $55 base price)

Drink Package #1 + Drink Package #2 = $716.10

[twangster]

39 minutes ago, jurrjurr said:

 Not sure if it is worth to challenge RCCL's interpretation of BOGO50.

Drink Package #1 + Drink Package #2 = $716.10

Your math looks good to me too.  However the BOGO concept with RCI uses fuzzy logic.  I learned this with my 1st booking when a few days later they offer 50% off 2nd guest.  Cool!  I thought, that should save me a bunch.  Turns out the 1st guest price increased so when the 2nd guest 50% was applied it ended up 2% higher compared to what I paid without the BOGO.  I suspect the same fuzzy logic is at play with this BOGO.  

[Lovetocruise2002]

Fuzzy logic or false advertisement...??  Either way, it is very dishonest.

[Katiel53]

On 10/4/2017 at 6:12 PM, JLMoran said:

Yes, your wife would use her SeaPass card to purchase her individual drink, and it would be charged to your account.

Technically, you could buy that glass of wine on your card under the package, give it to her, and then get your own drink when the timer they use to govern how often you can get a drink runs out. Probably best, if she'd be having that with dinner, to sit down at your table and then go out to the bar as others here have said they do (because beverage service is so slow in the MDR). Then just give it to her when you get back; as far as anyone else knows, you used her card to buy that glass of wine.

i know my opinion won't set well, but doing that is one of the reasons, I believe, that all over 21 need to purchase the package.  There were too many sharing packages. We are all being penalized for the cheaters.

[Rose City Cruiser]

20 hours ago, Katiel53 said:

i know my opinion won't set well, but doing that is one of the reasons, I believe, that all over 21 need to purchase the package.  There were too many sharing packages. We are all being penalized for the cheaters.

They could just follow what all-inclusive resorts do.  Everyone pays for the deluxe drink package regardless of age or whether you are ordering alcoholic beverages or not.  In theory, this should drive costs lower as the minors and non-alcoholic drinkers are subsidizing for everyone else.    

[rjac]

21 hours ago, Katiel53 said:

get your own drink when the timer they use to govern how often you can get a drink runs out.

So, does anyone here know how much time that is? And, is it the same for beer, wine, liquor, fancy drinks, etc.?