Alcohol Policy Change?

[ragdoll]

The other cruise lines have restrictions on alcohol but they also charge a lot less than DCL. That seems to be the biggest complaint of most on here. That DCL is starting to restrict/take away perks while still charging a premium.

Exactly! And that was the main point of my short email.

 

[GumbyO]

I have to say that I'm starting to get offended by the assumption that because I want to bring alcohol that I'm a drunk. We should be able to post our joys or grips without being judged.

Ah have a drink and it won't bother you anymore KIDDING!!!!

 

[gdulaney]

Ah have a drink and it won't bother you anymore KIDDING!!!!

Just finishing lunch at work.... I have a cola....but that's all.

 

[Christy323]

I too am truly amazed by the number of folks that are upset by this potential change. I just never figured that alcohol was so critical to having an enjoyable cruise with your children. But Who Knew??

It's important to note that plenty of folks sail on DCL without any children.

 

[gdulaney]

It's important to note that plenty of folks sail on DCL without any children.

That would be us!!

 

[patsal]

I too am truly amazed by the number of folks that are upset by this potential change. I just never figured that alcohol was so critical to having an enjoyable cruise with your children. But Who Knew??

I don't need alcohol to enjoy my cruise with my children, but it sure makes other people's kids more tolerable, lol

 

[declansdad]

Darcy,

Please feel free to read all of my posts. At no time did I state that I'd change to another line. I find no correlation between my post (that you felt the need to quote) and your comment.

Thank you,
Ginny

I ddin't say that you specifically would change but there are many comments posters on here that either say or imply that what they would do.

Yours post just seemed to summarize the issue for me.

 

[lvstitch]

It's important to note that plenty of folks sail on DCL without any children.

 

[NancyIL]

Wow.....and people accuse CARNIVAL of being nothing but a bunch of drunks!!


Pretty darn funny, if you ask me. DCL is sooooo wonderful....until they take away your liquor.

I too am truly amazed by the number of folks that are upset by this potential change. I just never figured that alcohol was so critical to having an enjoyable cruise with your children. But Who Knew??

As I said in an earlier post - it doesn't appear that folks on DCL drink any less than on other cruise lines. What's different on DCL is WHERE they do the majority of their drinking.

I don't drink, so this new policy doesn't affect me in any way. I thought it was a "loophole" that DCL would eventually close - as they have been losing money from alcohol sales onboard. I think expecting DCL to wait until 2013 to implement this is unreasonable, but I do think they ought to wait until the earliest date deposits become non-refundable (90 - 120 days from now) to enforce the policy - such as Jan. 1, 2012.

 

[gdulaney]

I don't need alcohol to enjoy my cruise with my children, but it sure makes other people's kids more tolerable, lol

Especially on the elevators.

Actually the kids on the Aug 16th sailing were pretty good. No pushing all the buttons... a few charged the elevators when we were getting off, but for the most part we saw very lovely children!

 

[justmestace]

I have to say that I'm starting to get offended by the assumption that because I want to bring alcohol that I'm a drunk. We should be able to post our joys or grips without being judged.

As a previous poster stated... take whatever "item" you really like (e.g. Disney quality entertainment, first run movies, free soda station, etc) and then attach either a limitation or cost to it.

Do you cruise "just to see first run movies"? No....but you might really enjoy it and if you were told you could only attend one free movie, you might get upset. Or if you were told movies would be $ 5.00 per person, you might get upset. Especially if you have 2 or 3 children that want to see the movie....and then they want to see another movie....

Now you know how all of the non-drinkers and families who cruise on Carnival feel.

 

[budbeerlady]

What I find funny is thaq amount of people who prefer DCL because of the family-friendly atmosphere and entertainment but yet complain about limitations about the amount of liquor they can bring on-board. Lots of liquor and family-friendly doesn't go together for me.

Sorry but saying that you are going to change to another line because of this seems kind of foolish to me. They all have the same restrictions on alcohol.

Its the idea that I can take a carnival cruise in Oct for $1205.26 or the Disney Cruise for $2834.40 for the same type of cabin, same dates, etc. For $1600+ I should be able to take a couple bottles of wine. I chose the Disney cruise and booked under the unlimited wine policy. I am not having a kegger by the pool or falling down the steps drunk on either cruise line. I want the guidelines to apply that I booked under.

 

[eva]

I have to say that I'm starting to get offended by the assumption that because I want to bring alcohol that I'm a drunk. We should be able to post our joys or grips without being judged.

As a previous poster stated... take whatever "item" you really like (e.g. Disney quality entertainment, first run movies, free soda station, etc) and then attach either a limitation or cost to it.

Do you cruise "just to see first run movies"? No....but you might really enjoy it and if you were told you could only attend one free movie, you might get upset. Or if you were told movies would be $ 5.00 per person, you might get upset. Especially if you have 2 or 3 children that want to see the movie....and then they want to see another movie....

Good observation. And just because you want to see more than one movie for free doesn't mean that you watch way too many movies and you must be an addict or a zombie. But want a couple glasses of fine wine at a reasonable rate and people start talking about having an alcohol problem.

 

[gdulaney]

Now you know how all of the non-drinkers and families who cruise on Carnival feel.

Not really. I have several co-workers who have cruised on Carnival and I don't think any of them are drunks nor do I assume they are crusing on Carnival so they can drink 24/7. I think it's because they want to cruise and are looking for reasonably prices sailings.

 

[declansdad]

Not sure where you got the impression that anyone wanted to bring "lots of liquor." The change in policy stated NO liquor; only ONE bottle of wine or 6 beers is allowed. I would like to be able to bring one bottle of my preferred premium liquor, but under the policy change, that isn't allowed.

In any case, it appears that the policy change may have been retracted.

I got the impression from the posters that responded to an earlier post about the amount of alcohol brought on-board; and from the fact that people have posted that this was one of their justifications for paying for a more expensive cruise.

 

[gdulaney]

Good observation. And just because you want to see more than one movie for free doesn't mean that you watch way too many movies and you must be an addict or a zombie. But want a couple glasses of fine wine at a reasonable rate and people start talking about having an alcohol problem.

Actually, my husband might have a problem.... he stayed up to watch the midnight showing of Fright Night PremiEar at Sea. But he's not smelly and he hasn't tried to eat my brains, so I think I'm safe on the zombie front.

 

[makaylee]

.

The other cruise lines have restrictions on alcohol but they also charge a lot less than DCL. That seems to be the biggest complaint of most on here. That DCL is starting to restrict/take away perks while still charging a premium.

It doesn't help matters that their drink prices seem to keep going up. IF they are going to do this, they need to lower them back down. I got a mojito in June and it was $10! It wasn't even that great.

I also really worry my DH will not want to keep sailing with DCl because of this, this is one of the ways I justify the HIGHER cost to him.

 

[declansdad]

Its the idea that I can take a carnival cruise in Oct for $1205.26 or the Disney Cruise for $2834.40 for the same type of cabin, same dates, etc. For $1600+ I should be able to take a couple bottles of wine. I chose the Disney cruise and booked under the unlimited wine policy. I am not having a kegger by the pool or falling down the steps drunk on either cruise line. I want the guidelines to apply that I booked under.

So would you change cruise lines because of it? Is a couple bottles of wine or scotch worth that $1600 to you? It certainly seems to be for some posters on this thread.

 

[tinkerbell2181]

I too am truly amazed by the number of folks that are upset by this potential change. I just never figured that alcohol was so critical to having an enjoyable cruise with your children. But Who Knew??

I really just don't agree with your post at all. I stated before this change wouldn't effect us as we were only bringing 2 bottles of wine with us. That being said, it's the fact that they are changing policies 'maybe' so close to our cruise date for us without any notification. That makes me nervous. You buy a service and they start changing the details of it a few weeks before you use it, well who wouldn't be concerned about what else could change?

Not everyone cruising has children so it's not a good assumption to say that. We have a toddler and after she goes to sleep we have a couple drinks and relax on all our vacations. Being almost 30 (eeks!) I don't believe I am a bad parent for wanting to unwind on our vacation. I'm not a drinker normally, but it's vacation so it's nice to have that option and not pay outrageous prices for it. I'm not getting drunk, lol, and it's not like we are driving as others have pointed out.

 

[herbg]

Now that Disney Cruise Lines alcohol/soda policy is no different than the other cruiselines I wonder how Disney Cruise Line will be able to justify their exhorbitant fares as opposed to other mainstream cruiselines ie... Royal Caribbean, Princess, Holland America etc...