Happy about alcohol policy!!

[tinkerone]

Corkage fee:
DCL: $25
Carnival: $10
RCCL: $15
Princess: $15
NCL: $15

I wouldn't say that is a generous policy with regards to corkage fees.

i have been reading that rccl is $0 corkage fee. i checked again yesterday and that is what it still says. RCCL wins!

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/custo...336&faqSubjectName=Food+&+Beverage&faqId=5442

 

[NancyIL]

I've been out of the loop so I apologize, but what's the policy change on soda? I didn't know there was one?

No policy change on soda. Someone posted that DCL could start charging for soda -which also wouldn't affect me.

*edited because the comment about charging for soda was on this thread

 

[NancyIL]

Corkage fee:
DCL: $25
Carnival: $10
RCCL: $15
Princess: $15
NCL: $15

I wouldn't say that is a generous policy with regards to corkage fees.

DCL will allow you to bring the same amount of alcohol onboard at each port. Some cruise lines allow you to bring alcohol onboard only at the beginning of the cruise.

 

[TAK]

No policy change on soda. Someone on the other thread posted that DCL could start charging for soda -which also wouldn't affect me.

Oh, thanks. Confusing jumping in the middle of the convo. We don't drink much alcohol so that part isn't going to affect us, though I can imagine others will be disappointed. I do drink soda, so I wouldn't be happy with them "charging" for it since they already do in the cruise fare. ;-) But as it is I pay for ginger ale anyhow, as it's my fave.

 

[NancyIL]

i have been reading that rccl is $0 corkage fee. i checked again yesterday and that is what it still says. RCCL wins!

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&pnav=5&pnav=2&faqType=faq&faqSubjectId=336&faqSubjectName=Food+&+Beverage&faqId=5442

If you read that carefully - Royal Caribbean allows two 750 ml bottles per stateroom to be brought onboard - and only at the beginning of the cruise.

 

[tinkerone]

If you read that carefully - Royal Caribbean allows two 750 ml bottles per stateroom to be brought onboard - and only at the beginning of the cruise.

okay, but i was only referring to the corkage fee. i didn't say anything about what could be brought on board. did i miss something somewhere?

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

DCL will allow you to bring the same amount of alcohol onboard at each port. Some cruise lines allow you to bring alcohol onboard only at the beginning of the cruise.

And each time you open that bottle of wine that you bought in port is another $25. I don't think their goal is to reduce drinking. It's to get you to buy their booze at their markup. Other than European cruises, most ports are going to have a pretty low selection at inflated port prices. It becomes more convenient to just buy the bottle at dinner on the ship because by the time you pay up in port and add the $25, you're not really saving anything.

The other main tier cruise lines make a tremendous amount on casinos and drink packages. Disney isn't likely to add casinos anytime soon, but they could increase revenue by charging for drinks. IMO this is a decision to trot out higher profits to shareholders and has nothing to do with protecting the poor children from drinking.

 

[TifffanyD]

I don't see the issue with Disney trying to make more money they are a business and as I said above I think those that the policy affects should be able to opt out even if past paid in full date

Yes DCL is a business and wants to make money. OK so say all the drinkers pick up and leave. Most of them would have not only brought some drinks onboard but also spent money at the bars. Sometimes a pretty hefty bar tab. Now... since all of that revenue left... DCL has to charge you more to maintain their average revenue per passenger. Still happy?

 

[NancyIL]

okay, but i was only referring to the corkage fee. i didn't say anything about what could be brought on board. did i miss something somewhere?

You are right about RCI's corkage fee being $0. But with an allowance of only two bottles of wine or champagne per stateroom for the whole cruise, the corkage fees wouldn't add up to much - even if they charged.

 

[smiths02]

And each time you open that bottle of wine that you bought in port is another $25. I don't think their goal is to reduce drinking. It's to get you to buy their booze at their markup. Other than European cruises, most ports are going to have a pretty low selection at inflated port prices. It becomes more convenient to just buy the bottle at dinner on the ship because by the time you pay up in port and add the $25, you're not really saving anything.

The other main tier cruise lines make a tremendous amount on casinos and drink packages. Disney isn't likely to add casinos anytime soon, but they could increase revenue by charging for drinks. IMO this is a decision to trot out higher profits to shareholders and has nothing to do with protecting the poor children from drinking.

I was only marginally happy with it because I was hoping it might help keep the price increases from being so ridiculous if the cruises could make more revenue from alcohol sales. If we go on a Disney cruise, we are probably not going to drink at all due to going with my ILs, who frown on the practice. So it wasn't a personal benefit to bring alcohol on board. So my first hope was that some revenue is made here and they can stop the ridiculous price increases. But that is probably doubtful, and we probably won't even be able to afford a 3 day cruise by June 2018 (when we want to go).

 

[jetskigrl]

But you don't seem to get that everyone isn't you. You not caring that they are taking something from other people might bite you later when they take something away from you. Do you drink soda? What if I hoped they start charging for it?

And some people like both; they like some alcohol and they like their families.

Or like me, they want to bring their craft beer on board, which is bottled in 22oz bottles, not 12. This is a problem with the new policy. And I can't go tell my fave breweries to change the bottle for me.

Not much of a family vacation if the adults can't have an adult beverage if they wish to. And I've never once seen a bored kid at a bar. MY kid at a bar is chomping at the bit to get out, as it's not legal in WA for kids to be right *at* the bar, and it freaks him out that in FL it's OK. Other kids are playing, spinning on the chairs, having a grand time. Never seen a bored one.

I agree on both points. If a Disney cruise was supposed to be so kid-centric, then there would not be adult only areas of the ship and pool waiters walking around with alcoholic drinks for purchase. I don't agree with the term "family vacation" when it means cater only to the children. That is a kids vacation. A family vacation means adults get to enjoy it also and for some, that means having an alcoholic beverage on the verandah after the kids go to sleep or while they are in the kids club, etc. Or even at dinner (gasp) in front of the kids. The previous policy allowed those of us that don't drink wine and beer to bring on the alcohol of our choice too. Now we can no longer do that.

The point people are making is not that they want to get sloppy drunk on the ship. The point is that DCL has changed another policy to further restrict the benefits that were previously offered (and for us, that was done after our cruise was already paid in full and inside the cancellation penalty period).

For those that want the kid-centric vacation, how will you feel when those special meet and greet with Anna and Elsa or the Princesses are changed to a $25 ticketed event? Or when they start charging an hourly fee for the kid's clubs? Guess what, neither of those two things will affect me or my family but I'll be right there with you showing my disappointment with yet another benefit that has been removed with no reduction in the already premium price that is paid to be on a DCL ship.

 

[NancyIL]

And each time you open that bottle of wine that you bought in port is another $25. I don't think their goal is to reduce drinking. It's to get you to buy their booze at their markup. Other than European cruises, most ports are going to have a pretty low selection at inflated port prices. It becomes more convenient to just buy the bottle at dinner on the ship because by the time you pay up in port and add the $25, you're not really saving anything.

The other main tier cruise lines make a tremendous amount on casinos and drink packages. Disney isn't likely to add casinos anytime soon, but they could increase revenue by charging for drinks. IMO this is a decision to trot out higher profits to shareholders and has nothing to do with protecting the poor children from drinking.

Corkage fees apply only to bottles brought to the dining room. Drink your onboard-purchased wine in your cabin, just as you did all the liquor you were previously allowed to bring onboard.

 

[tinkerone]

You are right about RCI's corkage fee being $0. But with an allowance of only two bottles of wine or champagne per stateroom for the whole cruise, the corkage fees wouldn't add up to much - even if they charged.

BUT….they still don't charge and that was the point i was making.
if you want to go your route then 2 bottles with dcl = $50 where as 2 bottles with rccl = $0. i'll take the $0 dollars please. i don't think $50 is anything to sneeze at.

this wasn't my point anyways, sorry if the original post made it sound that way. i was only correcting a previous post that said rccl charged. its always nice to have the correct information.

 

[jjgarv]

... The previous policy allowed those of us that don't drink wine and beer to bring on the alcohol of our choice too. Now we can no longer do that.

The point people are making is not that they want to get sloppy drunk on the ship. The point is that DCL has changed another policy to further restrict the benefits that were previously offered (and for us, that was done after our cruise was already paid in full and inside the cancellation penalty period).

For those that want the kid-centric vacation, how will you feel when those special meet and greet with Anna and Elsa or the Princesses are changed to a $25 ticketed event? Or when they start charging an hourly fee for the kid's clubs? Guess what, neither of those two things will affect me or my family but I'll be right there with you showing my disappointment with yet another benefit that has been removed with no reduction in the already premium price that is paid to be on a DCL ship.

Totally agree! Carrying on alcohol does not mean that someone is a raging drunk. I don't drink beer and only a little wine...I enjoy a little Rumchata on the veranda. What are the odds that DCL will carry that or other 'specialty' liquors? Pretty slim...

and we were also past our paid in full date when this change was announced.

I'm really surprised at the number of folks who don't drink or have never carried on any alcohol and are 'celebrating' this change. In my opinion, this just comes across as mean-spirited.

 

[tltay2005]

jpeppers, you can still enjoy your beer on your veranda, beer is still allowed, 6 per person.

 

[cheermom2four]

Honestly, this policy doesnt affect me one bit. Am I happy about it? Really a mute point when it comes to me since DH and I dont drink. BUT it does affect future bookings (so no, I'm not too thrilled with this new policy). We were thinking about including our two older kids (and soon to be spouse of one of said kids). They are responsible drinkers but hate beer and wine. Because we have a wide spread of kids in age, we were trying to appease to everyone (youngest just loves disney) by choosing disney. The older ones were looking to bring their own liquor on so that way they arent spending gobs of money when they can just make their own drinks and sit on their verandah.

I have to agree with a previous poster, this is a FAMILY vacation, not just the younger kids (younger than drinking age that is). Just seems for the price of a cruise on Disney compared to others, the others are looking more appeasing with the drink plans they have and still coming out less than a Disney cruise.

 

[sambycat]

it doesn't affect me because only once did i want/try to bring on alcohol (read about it in passport ere) and i found i had all the alcohol left because i didn't want drinks in my room or to be running back and forth to my room. what we drink, we figure into our cruise costs. what there people do is their own deal, but in my limited experience, the acting out inappropriate people we've seen on a cruise have been the ones pouring it out from a personal stash. it seems like such a huge hassle that i can't fathom why people do that in the first place! but it always is a bummer when things change? but at this juncture it seems like the revised policy still allows quite a bit of alcohol.

 

[sambycat]

it doesn't affect me because only once did i want/try to bring on alcohol (read about it in passporters) and i found i had all the alcohol left because i didn't want drinks in my room or to be running back and forth to my room. what we drink, we figure into our cruise costs. what there people do is their own deal, but in my limited experience, the acting out inappropriate people we've seen on a cruise have been the ones pouring it out from a personal stash. it seems like such a huge hassle that i can't fathom why people do that in the first place! but it always is a bummer when things change? but at this juncture it seems like the revised policy still allows quite a bit of alcohol.

 

[TestingH2O]

I've never really understood drinking in front of my child.

You think parents should never have a glass of wine in front of their kids? You understand that there is a difference between having a drink and getting drunk, right?

Should I also not have the occasional piece of cake? I mean, I would prefer my child eat healthy all the time, but I also think an occasional treat is ok. The same logic applies here: I would prefer my child only drink in moderation when she is old enough, so should I refuse to expose her to the temptation until she is at least old enough?

 

[turtle27]

I agree on both points. If a Disney cruise was supposed to be so kid-centric, then there would not be adult only areas of the ship and pool waiters walking around with alcoholic drinks for purchase. I don't agree with the term "family vacation" when it means cater only to the children. That is a kids vacation. A family vacation means adults get to enjoy it also and for some, that means having an alcoholic beverage on the verandah after the kids go to sleep or while they are in the kids club, etc. Or even at dinner (gasp) in front of the kids. The previous policy allowed those of us that don't drink wine and beer to bring on the alcohol of our choice too. Now we can no longer do that.

The point people are making is not that they want to get sloppy drunk on the ship. The point is that DCL has changed another policy to further restrict the benefits that were previously offered (and for us, that was done after our cruise was already paid in full and inside the cancellation penalty period).

For those that want the kid-centric vacation, how will you feel when those special meet and greet with Anna and Elsa or the Princesses are changed to a $25 ticketed event? Or when they start charging an hourly fee for the kid's clubs? Guess what, neither of those two things will affect me or my family but I'll be right there with you showing my disappointment with yet another benefit that has been removed with no reduction in the already premium price that is paid to be on a DCL ship.

Thank you! This is what I am talking about. And I do not think this new policy has anything to do with people getting drunk on the cruise, there are enough tastings to help you get there pretty cheaply. This is about $$. I am still most disappointed because it is after my PIF date and I feel like this is the same as them stating that nursery charges are going up by x $$ every hour even for a cruise that has been PIF and is not refundable at this point. It is now costing me more than what I had budgeted for. This is my main beef with the policy, well, that and no liquor. So I will keep writing until I get a decent, non form, well though out response that actually addresses my concerns.