Do You Cruise?

[stevej37]

I've always heard that the 'daily drink packages' are the way to go instead of putting each drink on the tab.
$82.54 per day seems kinda high? Especially for Carnival

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/carnival-passengers-outraged-cruise-line-202412415.html

[GH85Carrera]

No way in hell can I drink $82 worth of beer in a day. Maybe when I was in my 20s, but no longer. And there is no mixed hard liquor I like.

We have done a few cruises. Alaska was great. We have not been on one in several decades.

[stevej37]

^^^ That's what I was thinking also.
The article in the link goes on to say "if one person in a cabin wants the drink package, all the others in the same cabin must take it also" (to avoid cheats)

[id10t]

When the wife and I cruised (Alaska 1999 for honeymoon) we didn't opt for it, having brought a bottle on board with us to let us pre-game a bit before heading out to dinner, etc. so we only had a couple of drinks each night. Additionally, the mixed drinks we were getting were nearly all liquor, I was always having to suck down a big gulp of near pure bourbon and ask nicely for a bit more coke or ginger ale

[Pazuzu]

Beer averages $8, cocktails are $12-13, wine when you can find it is $12-14

So, a mimosa at breakfast, 2 beers on the deck while sunbathing, 2 glasses of wine at dinner, 2 drinks at the club at the end of the evening, you're looking at $83. So, the $82 package is worth it if you'll drink like that. If you don't drink like that, why are you going on a Carnival bruise? The ONLY reason to step foot on a Carnival ship is if you plan on getting sloshed and sunburnt while staring at the sea, because there ain't much more to do than that.

[cabmandone]

I could put a hurt on them for $82 a day but my wife and my liver wouldn't be very happy with me for doing it.

[vash]

I seem to remember that you can add a bottle of wine at dinner that chips into the money?

I was recently on a cruise. wife wrongly forgot to remove the drink package. it was way more than $85. my liver is on crutches, so nope. no drinks. think I had one beer the entire time.

we found out it covered fresh squeezed juices from a a juice bar. my skin almost went orange from the carrots I was drinking. me and my FIL. haha.

[porsche tech]

Last cruise was on Oceana. No drink package for us. I couldn’t drink $80 worth of anything in one day. Plus I’d be spending the rest of my time in the bathroom.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by vash

I seem to remember that you can add a bottle of wine at dinner that chips into the money?

I was recently on a cruise. wife wrongly forgot to remove the drink package. it was way more than $85. my liver is on crutches, so nope. no drinks. think I had one beer the entire time.

we found out it covered fresh squeezed juices from a a juice bar. my skin almost went orange from the carrots I was drinking. me and my FIL. haha.

Never been on a cruise with a juice bar...but I would have thought the Juice Bar would be covered as part of the food bill.
Been on a couple of smaller cruises out of Acapulco, but that's it.

[MBAtarga]

We always opt for the liquor package on our Norwegian cruises. I can drink a LOT of rusty nails, white russians and whatever else I'm in the mood for during the day - and then we also get a bottle of wine at dinner.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

No way in hell I could drink 6+ cocktails and/or wine a day. Maybe day 1 but that's about it.

Reminds me of a seafood place in Rhode Island, all you can eat for $125. Time frame limited to 2 hours. Apparently all the lobster, scallops, shrimp, clams, oysters, you name it, plus prime rib etc. too you can eat in 2 hours and it's buffet style so you can go at your own pace.

I could easily make it worth my while but gf would be a $100 loss. We are still thinking of going some time for the fun and spectacle.

[stevej37]

Captain George's has an all you can eat seafood spread in Myrtle Beach. I've been there a few times and it's $50 per person. Crab legs are delicious there. Prime rib or lobster is an extra charge.

https://www.captaingeorges.com/



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[stevej37]

Carnival has more problems than drink prices....

https://www.yahoo.com/news/worlds-largest-cruise-line-under-103210334.html

"A report from last year also found that Carnival's fleet of 63 ships was responsible for more sulfur oxide pollution in 2022 than all of the cars in Europe combined."


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[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Carnival has more problems than drink prices....

https://www.yahoo.com/news/worlds-largest-cruise-line-under-103210334.html

"A report from last year also found that Carnival's fleet of 63 ships was responsible for more sulfur oxide pollution in 2022 than all of the cars in Europe combined."


.

lol.

Let’s heat up this super unrefined ship oil… instead of that ultra low sulfur diesel that is mandated in the states.


Who cares…

[Bill Douglas]

I've been on two cruises Voyager of the Seas which was really good. Loved every moment of it.

And Ovation of the Seas. Hated it. It was half like being in a geriatrics rest home and the other half being at a gluttons convention. At least I had the wave (surf) pool fairly much to myself.

I had the booze package on the second cruise. Good thing I did so I could just sit there boozing till the cruise ended.

[pavulon]

Incentivizing passengers to be continuously plastered seems pretty suspicious.

[KFC911]

I wouldn't be caught dead on a regular vruies .... to easy to blend in wif the crowd .... or so I hear

My liver won't let me go on a dedicated blues/jamband cruise .... a week long, non-stop "happy hour" at sea... drinkin' crowd.

Think Mardi Gras meets Woodstock ... all day ... most of the night.

90% of the passengers were veterans ... well stocked in the rooms ...

I just paid for my girl and I with a card at the end of the week....

I did not wanna know ... and didn't care

5 of 'em .... no mas!

[oldE]

The picture in the initial post is, to me an excellent depiction of one of the circles of hell.
No way, no how.
Friends have done the Alaska cruise and raved about the scenery.
Just not my thing.

Best
Les

[LEAKYSEALS951]

funny- I was watching this video the other day, confirming my non desire to cruise!



Edit- Although I'm not going on any cruises in my lifetime, this video/presenter gave so much good detail I watched it all, and some of his other stuff like where to eat on cruise ships, avoiding stomach bugs, staying/ disembarking on ports of call, room selection, etc...

- so much info my head exploded, and I needed a drink package after watching!

The devil's in the details.

[Arizona_928]

The security on cruise ships only use metal detectors and x ray for baggage.


I’ve carried a few plastic handles in my jacket and checked a flask…