- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
Comments (1)
Print
Save/Share
When you go on a typical cruise ship you pay a standard fare that includes your accommodations, meals and entertainment, but not extras like soda and booze.
Nearly every line now has a soda package providing unlimited soda from about $42 for adults/$28 for kids (though prices vary by line) for a weeklong sailing.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., which includes Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, has taken a lead in expanding the prepaid concept to alcoholic beverages.
RCCL Chairman Richard Fain tells Budget Travel the packaging has been "hugely successful."
"It's very dramatic how much people like buying the drinks package, for example, and not have to worry about that," Fain says. The idea, he adds, is to give the passenger "a more customized all-inclusive experience."
On Celebrity, up to four days before your trip, you can pay for an unlimited drinks plan such as the Classic Package, from $308 per person for a weeklong cruise. A package that includes premium brands adds another $70. Your savings depends on how much you drink.
On both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships you can pre-book wine packages. On Celebrity, these start at $99 for three bottles you choose from a set menu, for a 5 percent savings off regular rates. Competitor Carnival sells wine packages too, but you have to purchase them onboard.
Celebrity has also done programs in Alaska and Europe where you prepay for shore excursions at every port or book a package combining wine and nights at an alternative restaurant (shipboard venues that charge a fee), both for a savings.
Fain hints there's more packaging to come.
Would you prefer to pay upfront for cruise costs including booze?
MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL
Your Top Five Money-Saving Cruise Questions Answered
Confessions of a Cruise Ship Musician
User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.
I wouldn't want to buy an all-inclusive alcoholic beverage package, and I'm not sure I'd want to travel on a cruise line that offered that feature. I'm not sure that I want to be on a ship around a bunch of people who are "trying to get their full money's worth" out of an all-you-can-drink deal.
Posted By Keith McGregor on October 6, 2011, 1:02 PM