[electricblue]

Just wondering if buying a drink package is cheaper than just purchasing drinks onboard? Is it worth the money?

[biker1]

It depends on how many drinks per day you want to consume.

Originally Posted by electricblue

Just wondering if buying a drink package is cheaper than just purchasing drinks onboard? Is it worth the money?

[npwalters]

yep, If you drink 5 or 6 per day (including wine at dinner) it is worth it. Drinks bought individually are usually 6 or 7 bucks. Beer is 5 or 6.

[Hancle704]

Read the fine print on deal. How many are allowed per day, what brands are provided, timing between drinks etc. Don't think cruise lines offer these packages to lose money.

[daverobertson2000]

Used the drink package from NCL last year and it was great. No restrictions at all. You don't realize how the drinks really rack up by the end of the week. It's nice to get off the shop and not worry about how much you owe

[gomoho]

I kept checking the Princess Cruise website before our trip to Alaska and scored a free drink package and dinner in one the pay restaurants. It is definitely a deal - limited restrictions - and if you enjoy cocktails it is well worth the money. Also included bottled water and coffee.

[looneycat]

yes

[Bonny]

Hubby & I always get the drink package. So worth it for us!!
Bloddy Mary in the morning, a couple of drinks during the day, a few wines before & during dinner, a couple of martinis after dinner, maybe a nice 12 year scotch before bed, bottled water throughout the day.
Hmmmmm..... just made myself thirsty.

[NYGUY]

I recently found a spreadsheet designed by someone that allows you to input what drinks/sodas/coffees/etc you think you might drink per day on a Princess cruise (using Princess drink prices) and compares that to the Princess package price of $56.35 per day for however long your cruise is. It came out to break even for me.

[keithwand]

I'd be asleep too early Bonny!

[Trayderjoe]

We don't get the drink package and it really comes down to how much, when, and what you drink. My wife doesn't drink and I like to have a glass of wine with dinner, so it doesn't pay for us. If you are basing your decision on drinking both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, you really need to understand what is offered for free to drink (non-alcoholic) and when. For example, some cruise lines give you soda for free at dinner, others charge you. Our experience is that usually water, iced tea, and or lemonade is available for free (unless you ask for it from a server outside of the dining room or if you ask for it at the bar). The cruise lines offer different drink packages (possibly top shelf versus non-top shelf).

Another thought, check with your cruise line to see if you can bring wine on board at your departure port, and note that many let you bring your own bottled water now. You can't bring other types of alcohol on board, so if you are more interested in liquor and/or beer versus wine, this may not be of interest to you.

[Hancle704]

Congratulations, everyone stayed on topic.

[pklein9747]

Keep in mind that the All Inclusive Beverage Package, particularly on Princess, not only includes alcoholic drinks, but sodas, bottles of water, specialty coffees such as cappuccinos, macchiatos, etc and, on several ships, - gelato! We always try to book when the AIBP is offered as a perk for booking.

Also, keep in mind, how many ports you will be stopping in. If your cruise is port intensive and you'll likely be spending lots of time off the ship, it may not pay to purchase the beverage package.

[Sandtrap328]

We cruise almost exclusively on Celebrity. We get the Premium Beverage package included as a perk from our travel agent for being loyal customers. She also tosses in the gratuties as well. The ship will give us unlimited internet and onboard credits.

Celebrity lets you bring 2 bottles of wine per cabin at embarcation. You can also bring soda or bottled water aboard.

We sailed recently on Holland America and did not have a drink package. They had a one hour happy hour at 2 for 1 prices. It was decent but not as much fun as the unlimited package. I like the wine at dinner and a drink at the show as well as one or two during the day.

[chuckinca]

Me 2

I'll bring in the 2 bottles of wine for free and get a couple beers during the day.

Tried bringing in vodka in mouth wash bottles but had to toss it cause it tasted like mouth wash- a waste of good vodka.

.