Drinks Packages included or are they?

Drinks packages on cruise lines this is a big discussion topic.  Many cruise lines are now advertising ‘All Inclusive’ or ‘Includes drinks package’. But what was the price of the same sailing when they weren’t offering any packages?

I truly believe that the cruise lines inflate the prices of their sailings and then include a ‘free’ drinks package.  Mind you this is the way that many cruise lines are now promoting their voyages.

As you may know i have just come back from our office in Brisbane and P&O Australia have just started to introduce drinks packages on their sailing.  Mind you at the moment UK passengers cant book on these in £ sterling only AUS $.

The Legend of the Seas started to port in Brisbane when I was there and she had just relocated from Asia where apparently the majority of passengers don’t really drink a huge amount.  Royal Caribbean were warned that Aussies like a tipple or two and to stock up behind the bar.  See the picture below to see, Aussies even have billboards in the City advertising their favorite past time.

The two night sailing on Legend of the Seas was great.  Myself and Mr Hunter who is running our Australian office were on board and we got chatting to one of the high ranking RCCL Australian Office bosses and we asked how much ‘grog’ was on board.  ‘Enough’ was the answer.  Boy was he wrong, the ship ran out of half of the local spirits, 4 different beers and Bundaberg, Australians favorite rum in the first day. The boss was amazed, we warned him how much the Aussies drink.  Needless to say at the moment Royal Caribbean are not offering drinks packages included in their fares down under at the moment.