Drink or not to drink ?

It is with interest I now watch for the new campaigns due to start in March, and and sure as there is daylight this will happen ! there are so many offers and different variations of what you can get, most of my customers are just confused.

With certain cabin grades there are “guarantees” available, and on may of these staterooms promotions will not apply, this is very common with Royal Caribbean for example. There is a fantastic offer on 12th July on board The Rhapsody of the Seas, an ocean view cabin without flights for £599 pp
As this is on a “Y” Guarantee you will not be eligible for any further promotions, so no on board credit or drinks package. When you take this on the “promotions” rate it becomes over £900 pp, this is when a bit of calculating needs to be done.

Here is a small snippet of the terms and conditions :-

The All Inclusive (Select Drinks Package, Soda Package & Gratuities) promotion is applicable to bookings made in all stateroom categories, excluding
Z, Y, X, XN & W GTYs, for all sailings on the following product, within the given date ranges.
Sailings from the UK on Anthem, Explorer & Brilliance of the Seas, with a duration of 3 Nights & above: 22-April 2015 – 24-October 2015
Sailings from Europe on Allure, Rhapsody, Splendour, Serenade & Vision of the Seas, with a duration of 3 Night & above: 26-April 2015 – 21-
November 2015
Sailings from Alaska, Asia, Australia, Canada, Dubai, Hawaii, Panama, South America, South Pacific, Transatlantic & Repositional itineraries on Allure,
Anthem, Brilliance, Explorer, Grandeur, Jewel, Liberty, Legend, Mariner, Quantum, Radiance, Rhapsody, Splendour, Serenade, Vision & Voyager of
the Seas, with a duration of 6 Nights & above: 01-January 2015 – 31-December 2015

So it really is up to you and what is the most value for money, this is where we come in and hopefully advise you which would be the best option.

Not all doom and gloom, as with many things in the past if one person wanted something, everyone had to have it, this was frustrating if for instance you have a partner who really does not drink at all, see below ! And, if you are on a 14 night cruise and did not take a package, thinking in most cases you would not do the cost justice, see the new rule for that, that a really good one for me as first time cruisers really do not know what to expect, now at least after day three if you realise the package will pay, you can still buy it !! Great news.

• Previously if one guest wanted to purchase a Beverage package all guests over the legal
age limit, in the same stateroom, were also required to purchase the same package.
This is no longer a requirement.
• Beverage Packages will be available for purchase throughout the cruise as long as there
are four (4) remaining days left on the sailing. Guests will only be charged according to the
number of days remaining on the sailing.

I suppose the final statement has to be, look at each offer carefully and see if it really suits your needs !