Drinks Packages On Cruises – Love Em or Hate Em?

These days the concept of all inclusive on holidays is becoming more and more popular and cruising is no exception. We love the idea that we can pay up front and once we are on holiday, not have to worry about what we are spending and the dreaded bill on the last day.

All inclusive hotels have been popular for years especially in remote locations such as the Maldives, where you are stuck with paying the prices they charge as you have no other option, nowhere else to go to buy drinks etc. Well I guess cruising is the same, once you are on board and out of port, if you want a drink you have to pay the extortionate prices that most charge and at a rough average of $8-9 and easily $12 upwards for a cocktail per drink that can soon add up.

Some cruise lines offer all inclusive as part of the package, but of course nothing is for nothing so their prices do reflect this, NCL being a prime example. Royal Caribbean periodically have a free drinks campaign, but the fares go up substantially when they run this offer.

Others offer a drinks package as an extra purchase but they can vary a lot, anything from around £15 a day with Fred Olsen up to $65 plus with some of the bigger lines, and of course other than exceptional circumstances everybody in the cabin must have it, so for a couple on a 10 day cruise this can amount to another £900 on top of your cruise fare.

Britain’s favourite cruise line P&O have never gone down this path. They have offered pay as you go reasonably priced drinks across their fleet which has worked well for them until now! They have just announced that they will be trialling a drinks package from 21st July on Azura. It looks great value and if you purchase the package and have kids travelling with you they get free drinks on your package. Here is how it will work.

What’s included

• An incredible array of beers, single measure spirits,
cocktails and wines by the glass up to £6.95 as
listed on our menus
• Unlimited draft soft drinks, mocktails, primo
Costa coffees, teapigs teas, hot chocolates
and small bottled water (500ml only)
• Each adult assigned to the same cabin must
purchase the drinks package. Sharing of packages
is not permitted.
• Only available on cruises of five nights or more and
must be purchased for every day of the cruise
• Strictly non-refundable or transferable once
purchased on board
• 20% discount on the following items: drinks above
£6.95, bottles of wine, large bottles of water,
canned and bottled soft drinks, juices
and smoothies
• Travelling with children 16 or under? We’ll include
the Children’s drinks package at no extra cost!
• Alcoholic drinks are limited to 15 beverages
per 24-hour period (6am to 6am)
• Only one drink at a time may be ordered
(minimum 15 minute wait between orders)
• You must be over 18 (21 in USA waters)
• All bottles and cans will be served opened
Buy The Ultimate drinks package from any bar, but be quick!
These offers are only available for purchase until midnight on night 2 of your cruise.
Buy now and enjoy fantastic value that starts straight away. So, what’ll it be?
1 2 3

Not Included –
• Any drink over £6.95 as listed on our menus
• Bottles of wine, spirits, or any items from our
on-board shops.
• Large bottles of water (750ml & 1.5L),
canned and bottled premium soft drinks,
juices and smoothies
• Drinks from room service, mini-bar, self-service
or vending machines
• Any drinks featured in other programmes or
promotions (on-board specials, events such as
wine tastings, cocktail master classes, buckets
of beer, buy one get one free offers etc.)
• Double measures of spirits

Restrictions

• Each adult assigned to the same cabin must
purchase the drinks package. Sharing of packages
is not permitted.
• Only available on cruises of five nights or more and
must be purchased for every day of the cruise
• Strictly non-refundable or transferable once
purchased on board
• 20% discount on the following items: drinks above
£6.95, bottles of wine, large bottles of water,
canned and bottled soft drinks, juices
and smoothies
• Travelling with children 16 or under? We’ll include
the Children’s drinks package at no extra cost!
• Alcoholic drinks are limited to 15 beverages
per 24-hour period (6am to 6am)
• Only one drink at a time may be ordered
(minimum 15 minute wait between orders)
• You must be over 18 (21 in USA waters)
• All bottles and cans will be served opened

So what do you think about this? Good move or should they stick to being pay as you go? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Dee x