Wine Package Questions

[Douvres Family]

I would like to purchase the Wine Package this time around...I called DCL and they explained that if we finish a bottle before we are done with dinner, we may ask for another, even if it exceeds 5 bottles during our stay. (I normally have 2 glasses and DH has 1)

Here's the "?"...DH cannot drink red wine but he does drink white. Would we be able to order a bottle of red and a bottle of white (not every night). We may ask our server to hold the bottles for the following night.

Another "?" Can we ask for one of the bottles of wine to accompany our dinner at Remy?

 

[vcjtx]

Are you going to purchase this package before your trip or do it on board? I'm thinking about it for our 6-day on the Magic in 2 weeks and was just curious.

Thanks

 

[BosMan]

Are you going to purchase this package before your trip or do it on board? I'm thinking about it for our 6-day on the Magic in 2 weeks and was just curious.

Thanks

Is there a real cost savings here? My wife and I would probably have 1 each dinner....

 

[Douvres Family]

Are you going to purchase this package before your trip or do it on board? I'm thinking about it for our 6-day on the Magic in 2 weeks and was just curious.

Thanks

I plan to purchase it on the first day...I hear it may be slightly less while on board but not sure...

Is there a real cost savings here? My wife and I would probably have 1 each dinner....

If you're having 1 glass each during dinner, it may not be the most cost effective. However, you can ask you server to send the bottle to your stateroom and have it throughout the night or next day.

Others have suggested to take your own bottles on board, however the corking fee ($20) doesn't appeal to me. Some suggest, if you're having just 1 glass during dinner, to bring aboard your own bottle, pour yourself each a glass and take it to dinner.

 

[OKW Lover]

Here's the "?"...DH cannot drink red wine but he does drink white. Would we be able to order a bottle of red and a bottle of white (not every night). We may ask our server to hold the bottles for the following night.

Another "?" Can we ask for one of the bottles of wine to accompany our dinner at Remy?

Yes - you can have two bottles open at one time. Your server will hold the partial bottles for the following night.

Yes, you can have one of the bottles at Remy (or Palo).

 

[Douvres Family]

Yes - you can have two bottles open at one time. Your server will hold the partial bottles for the following night.

Yes, you can have one of the bottles at Remy (or Palo).

Wonderful News!!! Thank you so much!

 

[mrp4352]

I would like to purchase the Wine Package this time around...I called DCL and they explained that if we finish a bottle before we are done with dinner, we may ask for another, even if it exceeds 5 bottles during our stay. (I normally have 2 glasses and DH has 1)

Sorry, but something about this sounds strange and I want to make sure everything is clear. When you purchase the 5-night wine package, it's for 5 bottles of wine. You will be charged for any bottles beyond the 5 in your package.

That said, we have learned that you can buy different packages than the cruise you're on. When Mom and I travel, we can finish 5 bottles of wine over the week, but not 7, so they allow us to purchase the 5-night package on a 7-night cruise.

Also, if you have unopened bottles at the end of your cruise, they can wrap them for duty-free as long as you are still within your allowance.

 

[Douvres Family]

Sorry, but something about this sounds strange and I want to make sure everything is clear. When you purchase the 5-night wine package, it's for 5 bottles of wine. You will be charged for any bottles beyond the 5 in your package.

That said, we have learned that you can buy different packages than the cruise you're on. When Mom and I travel, we can finish 5 bottles of wine over the week, but not 7, so they allow us to purchase the 5-night package on a 7-night cruise.

Also, if you have unopened bottles at the end of your cruise, they can wrap them for duty-free as long as you are still within your allowance.

We are cruising for 4 nights...I called DCL and they explained that we are not limited to 4 bottles with the package. Maybe something has changed?

 

[RMAMom]

I was wondering if this package would save a few dollars. What does the average glass of wine cost on the ship? I am assuming the prices are the same all over the ship.

 

[Douvres Family]

Sorry, but something about this sounds strange and I want to make sure everything is clear. When you purchase the 5-night wine package, it's for 5 bottles of wine. You will be charged for any bottles beyond the 5 in your package.

That said, we have learned that you can buy different packages than the cruise you're on. When Mom and I travel, we can finish 5 bottles of wine over the week, but not 7, so they allow us to purchase the 5-night package on a 7-night cruise.

Also, if you have unopened bottles at the end of your cruise, they can wrap them for duty-free as long as you are still within your allowance.

I called DCL again...you are absolutely correct...4 Night Package is limited to 4 bottles. Funny thing is the last CM I spoke with repeatedly mentioned there wasn't a limit or additional cost, which I found very odd.

In any case, I do appreciate your feedback and clarification...it helps us continue with our planning.

I was wondering if this package would save a few dollars. What does the average glass of wine cost on the ship? I am assuming the prices are the same all over the ship.

We did purchase a bottle during dinner the first night but I don't remember how much it was...

 

[Gigi22]

OP, in your place I would take a close look at the Remy wine list before deciding to use one of the bottles in your wine package. The wines available at Remy are different from those on offer elsewhere on the ship. And, the quality is much higher too.

 

[Douvres Family]

OP, in your place I would take a close look at the Remy wine list before deciding to use one of the bottles in your wine package. The wines available at Remy are different from those on offer elsewhere on the ship. And, the quality is much higher too.

Thank you...I figured as much...I'll keep that in mind, it will play a roll on whether we purchase the Wine Package or not...we are considering the Premium Package...

 

[OKW Lover]

OP, in your place I would take a close look at the Remy wine list before deciding to use one of the bottles in your wine package. The wines available at Remy are different from those on offer elsewhere on the ship. And, the quality is much higher too.

Just be prepared for a corresponding increase in the price. We spent $120 on a bottle of wine a Remy in December, which was towards the low end of their range. Yes, it was wonderful.

 

[tvguy]

We opted for ala carte. We ended up only drinking 4 bottles over 7 nights, so 4 full price bottles was less money than 7 discounted.

 

[Douvres Family]

Thank you all for your feedback...it's been very helpful. I spoke with DH last night and we are getting the premium wine package. While at Remy we will probably request a wine from our package...

Thanks again!

 

[owensamo]

We opted for ala carte. We ended up only drinking 4 bottles over 7 nights, so 4 full price bottles was less money than 7 discounted.

You don't have to purchase a 7 night package on a 7 night cruise - you could have gotten a 4 night discounted package on those 4 bottles of wine. But you may not have been able to get the same wines.

And that is a benefit to a la carte - you can purchase any bottle of wine you want. The packages are limited - you can only pick a bottle from the list of the package you choose. If you like some bottles on the classic and some on the premium, you're stuck with one or the other if you purchase a package - and can't get a special bottle that's not on either package unless you pay for it separately.

That said - we tend to go for a 7 bottle premium package when we cruise 7+ nights. We also usually have 4 adults to share the bottles, so finishing them isn't a problem. We did do the 7 bottle package on a 14 night cruise, and that worked out just fine as well - there are plenty of other great drinks on the menus!

 

[pillow]

I know this isn't the question being asked, but I have to comment on something we did differently this cruise . . . we brought our own wine. I was on the fence about doing this, but I'm so so so glad I did. We had glasses and a corkscrew sent to our room every day from room service. We would open the bottle before dinner. Sometimes we would have a glass in our room with appetizers, but sometimes, we would just pour a glass and walk to dinner with it. We did end up ordering more wine at dinner, but the wine I brought onboard was BY FAR the best of our trip. My only regret is that we didn't bring more onboard with us. A bottle a day would have been perfect!

Jodie

 

[GoHabsGo]

DW and I bought a 7 bottle package before our 4 day cruise since she only drinks white and I only drink red (and we probably drink too much).

Except for special occasions, we drink wines in the $11-15 range from LCBO (Ontario's liquor monopoly) and those same wines run about $35 in local restaurants...about the same as the DCL package prices.

If we brought those on board, it wouldn't have saved us much and would have been a hassle.

If you drink more expensive wines ($40-60), the $20 corkage would be well worth it as I would imagine you'll pay in the area of $120 on the ship. If I ever decide to book Remy, I'd probably look at the menus and bring appropriate wines to accompany my most likely choices.

PS I *had* to buy a few drinks at dinner on the last night since we had run through our allotment

 

[pillow]

DW and I bought a 7 bottle package before our 4 day cruise since she only drinks white and I only drink red (and we probably drink too much).

Except for special occasions, we drink wines in the $11-15 range from LCBO (Ontario's liquor monopoly) and those same wines run about $35 in local restaurants...about the same as the DCL package prices.

If we brought those on board, it wouldn't have saved us much and would have been a hassle.

If you drink more expensive wines ($40-60), the $20 corkage would be well worth it as I would imagine you'll pay in the area of $120 on the ship. If I ever decide to book Remy, I'd probably look at the menus and bring appropriate wines to accompany my most likely choices.

PS I *had* to buy a few drinks at dinner on the last night since we had run through our allotment

Thats probably our range too - $11-$15ish - sometimes even $10/bottle. The bottles we purchased onboard ran in the $45ish range. Retail I'm guessing was $15 or so? (there was a bottle of Bogle Pinot Noir selling for $30 something. I can purchase that at home for $10). So, I'm figuring I probably save about $25-$30 per bottle by bringing my own x 7 days = $175-$210. We don't pay a corkage fee since we open the bottle in our room. Not a huge sum of money, but its nice to choose what you want to bring onboard.

We drove down, so it was easy to pack the wine in a carry-on to put through the scanners.

Jodie

 

[cinmouse]

Is there a copy of the wine lists for the main dinning rooms, Palo & Remy for the Dream. i saw the lists for the packages & was not impressed...I guess my recent trip to Napa has made me a bit more interested in what I am drinking. Just trying to see if I should brong my own since I will have a few days before the cruise in FL.