Are drinks really not included??

bumbershoot · Mar 23, 2015

sam_gordon said:
If they serve Starbucks coffee as part of the Cafe Promenade, then it IS included.

And all ships have a Lattetudes or CP place with espresso, so there's always a place to get an espresso type of drink included in Replenish or Ultimate packages.

Might be Starbucks brand beans, might be Illy brand beans, might be Seattle's Best espresso etc...but it's a caffeine-delivery system which is what counts for me.

Trekker · Mar 23, 2015

This is awesome!

bumbershoot said:
And all ships have a Lattetudes or CP place with espresso, so there's always a place to get an espresso type of drink included in Replenish or Ultimate packages

bumbershoot · Mar 24, 2015

I realized I missed some words, so I clarified above. It's not "a Starbucks", but "a place that might use Starbucks beans or Illy beans etc etc". It's more generic.

Only Oasis and Allure have The Starbucks places onboard, but O and A *also* have the generic places as well. And the generic places are where you can use the beverage packages (Replenish and Ultimate for the espresso drinks).

Ned Land · Mar 31, 2015

So it sounds like most folks are here are fans of the packages. I'm surprised because the prices seem absolutely outrageous to me. For my 8-day cruise, my family of three would be charged $456 (plus tax I assume) for unlimited soda and bottled water. Where we live, we can regularly buy a 2-liter of coke/pepsi for $1. Our family goes through an above average amount of soda per week. We probably consume 2 bottles per week.

If I pay al la carte, my family would need to drink 76 cokes each on this cruise (assuming the price is $2 each) to make the package worth it. That is 9.5 cokes per day. I think that would kill me.

bumbershoot · Mar 31, 2015

What package are you looking at? There is no package that is only bottled water and sodas.

bumbershoot · Mar 31, 2015

OK I'm on the computer now instead of my phone.

You're looking at Replenish. That's soda, bottled water (not Evian for the drinks packages), sparkling water, espresso and fancy tea drinks from the espresso stands onboard (including fancy hot chocolates, frappucinos, etc), fresh squeezed OJ at breakfast, and non-alcoholic cocktails (so frozen virgin drinks and things like that). You can see why that package is 19/night plus 18% tip (the tip is plunked right onto your purchase price of any of the drinks/water packages...no extra tip at the time of ordering a drink is needed).

If all you want is soda, look at the Refreshment package, which is 4.50/night for those 17 and under, and 6.50/night for those 18 and up.

If you want bottled water, you can buy a water package, which gives you 1L bottles of Evian, delivered to your room. $39 for 12 bottles and $69 for 24 bottles.

If you're on Vision class, and not in a suite or panoramic oceanview rooms, you will NOT have a fridge, however, so that water will need to be consumed at room temperature.

The water packages can be shared (the case or two is/are delivered to your room and stays there), so if everyone is big into Evian, go for one of those, if the other packages don't work for you!

SevenWonkas · Mar 31, 2015

E ticket rider said:
If you compare the price difference between RCCL (factoring in purchasing soda packages for your whole party) and DCL for similar itineraries, you'll find that DCL's soda isn't as "free" as you think it is... Also, DCL charges for sodas ordered at a bar, from a deck/theater server or from room service. The soda included in your cruise fare is from the self service stations on the pool deck, in Cabanas or in the MDRs.

I'm sorry, "included" would have been a better term.

and you're right, there are places on DCL that you still have to pay for soda. I also realize that you are paying quite a premium on DCL for the included sodas. We've sailed Royal nine times, and know it's still cheaper to get the soda package on Royal than to get the soda with DCL. For what it's worth, we never do the beverage packages on Royal. It's just not a big deal to us. I'm fine with water and lemonade and DH might purchase one or two sodas the whole week.

tinkerone · Apr 3, 2015

if you get the soda package do you have to tote the cup around with you? how does that work?

bumbershoot · Apr 3, 2015

tinkerone said:
if you get the soda package do you have to tote the cup around with you? how does that work?

If you are on a ship with the Freestyle machines and you want to use those machines, you do need the cup. If you just want a coke or something simple, go to any bar and show your sea pass card to get a fountain soda from the bartender.

Ciandella915 · Apr 4, 2015

Soft drinks aren't included, but RCL has something similar to the Disney refillable resort mugs. You purchase the chipped cup for the duration of your trip, and they have CocaCola freestyle machines on board for refills. I actually really loved my cup... they were pretty fun looking!

Ciandella915 · Apr 4, 2015

tinkerone said:
if you get the soda package do you have to tote the cup around with you? how does that work?

If you have the cup, they put a sticker on your SeaPass card that denotes that. You can show that card at dinner, etc to tell them you have the package, so you're not bringing your big ol' cup to formal dinner night.

Maleficent Dragon · Apr 18, 2015

Just an FYI, the tea tastes horrible. Like fishy water.

Kenny1113 · Apr 19, 2015

Ned Land said:
So it sounds like most folks are here are fans of the packages. I'm surprised because the prices seem absolutely outrageous to me. For my 8-day cruise, my family of three would be charged $456 (plus tax I assume) for unlimited soda and bottled water. Where we live, we can regularly buy a 2-liter of coke/pepsi for $1. Our family goes through an above average amount of soda per week. We probably consume 2 bottles per week.

If I pay al la carte, my family would need to drink 76 cokes each on this cruise (assuming the price is $2 each) to make the package worth it. That is 9.5 cokes per day. I think that would kill me.

I'm with you-$40 for 12 pack of water?? :eek:

I bought a 24 pack at publix and brought it on my dCL for less than $4!

IndyRnRfan · Apr 19, 2015

Ned Land said:
So it sounds like most folks are here are fans of the packages. I'm surprised because the prices seem absolutely outrageous to me. For my 8-day cruise, my family of three would be charged $456 (plus tax I assume) for unlimited soda and bottled water. Where we live, we can regularly buy a 2-liter of coke/pepsi for $1. Our family goes through an above average amount of soda per week. We probably consume 2 bottles per week.

If I pay al la carte, my family would need to drink 76 cokes each on this cruise (assuming the price is $2 each) to make the package worth it. That is 9.5 cokes per day. I think that would kill me.

I believe the cost is $2.50 per coke. I think that is what my wife paid on FoTS in feb. don't forget the other drinks you get with that $20 as well. Unless you drink tap water all day, you'll spend $20 in a heartbeat drinking on a ship. I'll go through 3-4 glasses of whatever I'm drinking just at dinner.

IndyRnRfan · Apr 19, 2015

Kenny1113 said:
I'm with you-$40 for 12 pack of water?? I bought a 24 pack at publix and brought it on my dCL for less than $4!

I'm with you on that high price of water. I think that is ridiculous. However, when you take into consideration the price you pay for a Disney cruise vs. Rccl I'd pay $40 for a 12 pack and save 2 grand on the cruise.

bumbershoot · Apr 20, 2015

Kenny1113 said:
I'm with you-$40 for 12 pack of water?? I bought a 24 pack at publix and brought it on my dCL for less than $4!

Did you know that Disney has water packages as well? Same Evian. About the same price. Not everyone has the time to grab water, can grab enough water (we ran out inside of 2 days on our last 4 nighter on Dream), wants to carry all that water on, etc. We have purchased Evian packages on both Disney and Royal, and the prices are not far apart.

IndyRnRfan said:
I believe the cost is $2.50 per coke. I think that is what my wife paid on FoTS in feb. don't forget the other drinks you get with that $20 as well. Unless you drink tap water all day, you'll spend $20 in a heartbeat drinking on a ship. I'll go through 3-4 glasses of whatever I'm drinking just at dinner.

I tried to spell that out for ned land before, but I think he's gone from the thread. Anyone going from the math in his post is going from a wrong basis, as there is NO package with just water and soda.

Water package yes.

Soda package yes.

Bottled water, sparkling water, soda, espresso drinks and Tazo tea, fresh-squeezed OJ...yes. THAT is the package ned's pricing breakdown was from.

Then Select, Premium, and Ultimate.

bumbershoot · Apr 20, 2015

IndyRnRfan said:
when you take into consideration the price you pay for a Disney cruise vs. Rccl I'd pay $40 for a 12 pack and save 2 grand on the cruise.

Yep.

Even if you're saving $500 it's great.

Ned Land · Apr 20, 2015

I'm being quoted some, so I feel the need to explain my comments. I get that a package of soda and water would also include real juice (as opposed to Kool-Aid or Tang or whatever they serve at breakfast), and non-alcoholic beverages. I failed to mention it because it just would not be much of a benefit to my family. We would not really drink much beyond soda and water. For others, this may be a huge benefit. My wife and I don't drink alcohol so no matter what they serve us, we would never come close to getting a $456 benefit. If we were going some place warm like the Caribbean, we would be drinking quite a bit more to stay hydrated and maybe a package would be something to consider. However, we are going to Norway.

I guess we all should be glad they have these packages as they are ultimately keeping the cruise prices low and making a fortune off the profit.

Dug720 · Apr 20, 2015

I've decided I'm getting a package for my Alaska cruise this summer (debating between the Premium and the Ultimate...it would be nice if you could see which liquors are included on each as the coffee is negligible for me, but I would hate to get the Premium only to find out that what I want is only covered on the Ultimate) for the simple reason of it allows me to budget in advance AND have the freedom to get what I want. Last year I opted not to get the package on HAL, and it was constant maths as the cruise got closer to the end - the running group did a lot of socializing in the bars, so I spent more than I'd anticipated, and I knew I had a full day in Seattle before a red-eye back - as to what I could or couldn't get. This year I'd rather go ahead and pay up front and not have to worry about it.

bumbershoot · Apr 21, 2015

Ned Land said:
I'm being quoted some, so I feel the need to explain my comments. I get that a package of soda and water would also include real juice (as opposed to Kool-Aid or Tang or whatever they serve at breakfast), and non-alcoholic beverages. I failed to mention it because it just would not be much of a benefit to my family. We would not really drink much beyond soda and water.

So then the Replenish package is NOT for you.

There's the Refreshment package, which is soda. And then there are water packages, which are 12 or 24 packs of one liter bottles of water that are delivered to your stateroom on the first day and are then yours to do what you wish with.

Get the soda package for each, get a water package or two (and bring some reusable water bottles so you can decant the liter bottles), be happy. Don't worry about the package that isn't good for your family.

Select, Premium, and Ultimate, and also Refreshment, are totally inappropriate for my family. I don't worry about them or think much more about them, I just don't get them.

Are drinks really not included??

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