Free Drinks Package?

This is a question I am asked on a regular basis. With a huge amount of cruiselines offering various different packages are they really worth it?

Only you can answer that!!

With Fred Olsen offering a package for £10 per person per day this is the most reasonable would I take it? Yes by the time you have had a couple of coffees or soft drinks a couple of glasses of wine with dinner and a drink whilst watching the show I think you will find £10 a pretty good deal.

Now what about the others Royal Caribbean & Celebrity offer a classic drinks package for $50 per person per day much more expensive but much more choice of drinks offered compared with Fred Olsen. If you book at the right time though they are known for offering FREE drinks packages but there are several terms & conditions and in my opinion it is not always FREE as the cabin type you have to book is sometimes £300 per person more than the cheaper cabin without the drinks package!!

Also BEWARE ….. The Royal Caribbean All Inclusive package is not all that it sounds! In most cases it is the select drinks package that only includes wine, beer & soft drinks. No good if like me you are partial to the odd vodka or cocktail. Although you can upgrade the package on board.

Personally I love the celebrity Classic drinks package. I had it on my last cruise and we found it great. We did save money by having it. I also drank far more than I normally would and I blame the extra lbs I put on with all the afternoon Pina Coladas around the pool!

NCL offer a package again for $50 per person per day this is well worth it if cruising out of Spain as you then dont have to pay all the extra taxes they charge on your drinks!

P&O are one of the few that doesnt offer any kind of all inclusive package, any reason why? I have to say the reason they dont is they dont have to! The drinks prices with P&O are some of the most reasonable around and you dont get any extra charges applied when you order a drink like some of cruise lines.

What kind of effect is this going to have on cruises?? Do you think it might attract the wrong crowd? What do you think?