Price for Drink Package Goes Up

Yes it has happened!  The All Inclusive Drink Package has gone up.  Also a few changes have happened too.

• First the price has gone up to $59.99 US plus the tip making it a total of $68.99 US per day.  
• The name is now the Premier Beverage Package which makes me wonder if there is another drink package that is in the works.
• It includes cocktails that are at a price of $12 and under - use to be $11.
• It now only includes bottled water that is 500 ml, but if you are dining at a Specialty Restaurant you get a litre bottle.
• Canned sodas and bottled juices are no longer included.
• For the items that are not included in the Premier Beverage Package you will receive 25% discount on them (Canned soda, large bottles of water - use to be free.  Bottles of wine, which you previously got a 40% discount on).
• The package now will only be sold prior to the cruise and only on embarkation day.  Previously it was for sale on board the first and second day.
• There is also a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per day.  
• The package is a final sale once purchased on board, or 3 days prior to sailing if purchased online.
• Only one beverage is allowed per passenger per order, including non alcoholic drinks.
• Packages may not be shared and are non-transferable and non-refundable. 

I have to say I am really not surprised with the changes. Princess was late to the game for drink packages and it was the cheapest price for a beverage package from other comparable lines with comparable offerings.  (Celebrity is $65 for their premium which is closests to Princess,  Holland America is $64 a day).

For us we always enjoy the drink package but it is an expensive perk for us as we just drink too much and then the added price because of the exchange rate. One of the things we really enjoyed was the large sparkling water and even buying bottles of wine.  So since we now don't get the large bottles of water and the bottled wine discount is only 25% off it really just doesn't make sense to buy the package.

However booking a cruise that has a sip and sail promo may be more enticing.  Note we have the drink package for our 49 day South America trip in 2019 - YEAH.

Here are the details of Princess' new Premier Beverage Package from their website.

THE PREMIER BEVERAGE PACKAGE

Terms & Conditions 2017

The Premier Beverage Package is offered at $59.99 USD per day plus a 15% service charge (totaling $68.99 per day) for all itineraries except Australia. For all Australia-based vessels, the package is $86.99 AUD per day including the service charge. The full amount due for the complete voyage will be charged at the time of purchase. 

Your Premier Beverage Package includes:

• All beer, wine by the glass and cocktails $12.00 USD and under as listed on our menu(s) or $16.00 AUD and under for ships based in Australia
• Bottled water (500ml only)
• Fountain sodas, fresh juices ( if available), specialty coffees and teas, Red Bull energy drinks
• Gong Cha items (if available) 
• Frappe’s at Coffee & Cones
• Smoothies and milk shakes (if available) 
• Enjoy the convenience of your beverage package on our Private Islands and all food and beverage venues that offer beverage service
• The package includes an extra 25% discount on the following items that are otherwise excluded from the package:

All bottles of wine 

• One-liter bottles of water (if dining at a specialty venue, a large one-liter bottle of water, still or sparkling, is covered by the package)
• Canned soda, and bottled juices 
• Purchase information and package details and qualifications:
• Guests must purchase the Premier Beverage Package for every day of sailing. Partial or prorated packages or segments will not be accepted. 

The package may be pre-purchased up to 4 days prior to boarding the vessel. It is not available for pre-purchase within 3 days of sailing but is offered on board on embarkation day. It is not sold after embarkation day. 

Package sales are final within 3 days of sailing or once purchased on board.

The package is not available for voyages of fewer than 7 nights for Australia-based itineraries or fewer than 2 nights for all other itineraries. 

Please note that age restrictions will apply for purchases of the Premier Beverage Package. 

Terms and Conditions

Alcoholic drinks are limited to 15 beverages per 24-hour period (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.) Alcoholic drinks requested above the daily limits are at the discretion of the shipboard management and crew and charged at regular menu prices. Non-alcoholic drinks do NOT have this limitation, nor do they count towards this maximum. 

Only one beverage is allowed per passenger per order (alcoholic or non-alcoholic).

Items selected that exceed the $12.00 USD or $16.00 AUD price are charged at full menu price. Alcoholic drinks requested above the daily limits are at the discretion of the shipboard management and crew and charged at regular menu prices 

Packages may not be shared and are non-transferable and non-refundable. 

Guests that pre-purchased the All-Inclusive Beverage Package prior to September 19, 2017 or that took advantage of the 2017 Sip + Sail promotion will have terms and conditions of the Premier Beverage Package apply.

Exclusions and Limitations:

Please note that there are some exclusions from the Premier Beverage Package: Spirits or bottled wine or any items offered in retail venues or shops on board. Beverages offered via self-service or vending machines. Souvenir glassware is excluded but is available for the additional charge of the glass only. 

The Premier Beverage Package cannot be combined with other programs, promotions, onboard specials, or events, such as: group or charter events, room service items, minibar items, special or private events such as cocktail parties, wedding receptions or similar functions, wine tastings, chefs tables, buckets of beer, buy one get one type offers, specialty dining cover charges, food items for sale such as ice-cream etc. 

Pricing is subject to change without notice, and for vessels designated in a foreign currency (Australia as an example) packages purchased in advance may vary from onboard pricing due to timing and currency fluctuations. Guests will NOT incur additional charges, nor be issued any credits or refunds for such currency variances.

Not all exclusions or limitations can be foreseen or published here and may exist or be implemented without notice.

Shipboard management reserves the right to add additional restrictions, revoke or cancel the Premier Beverage Package at any point during a guest’s voyage for any reason with or without a prorated refund. Additional actions may be taken if guests:

• Become intoxicated 
• Provide beverages to the other guests or do not comply with the terms, conditions and limitations of the package
• Exhibit behavior that is inappropriate, a safety risk to themselves or others, or become offensive or disruptive to the other cruise guests or staff
• Exceed or attempt to circumvent the daily limits and service limitations outlined 

Flight - Embarkation in Los Angeles

We once again booked a pre hotel at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport with points as our flight the next morning is very early.

We are assigned a room on the 7th floor with a view of the mountains and the gates with planes arriving and leaving.

We head downstairs to the main terminal for dinner at the White Spot.

Back in the room I take advantage of the amazing tub and soak the day's stresses away.

The room is so comfortable and this bed is divine.

Our flight is at 6:35 am.  But with no checked bags we can just head to the security and then customs.

The line for security is very long.  I believe this is because the security just recently opened up.  Thankfully we have Nexus and we are able to bypass the long line and head to a dedicated line.  Two people ahead of us is much better than 100 ahead of us.  Best $50 we ever spent on Nexus (Global Entry).

Flight was easy and smooth.  Seemed like everyone around us was getting on the ship with us.  I sat next to two nice men who were sailing for the first time.  It was great to chat with them and enjoy their excitement.

We arrived in LA and I used Uber for the first time ever.  My friend Monika said it was easy, cost effective and so we decided to try it.  She was so right.  

We requested a car and we met our driver at the Ride Share pick up spot on the Arrival's area.  The final cost came in at $29 US.  Much cheaper than Primetime shuttle ($17 per person) and not having to deal with waiting for a van to fill and deal with others.  A taxi is usually around $70 US!  We will definately use Uber again.  

If you are interested in Uber click here to get a $15 credit on your first ride.  

We had the driver drop us off in San Pedro at the drug store to pick up some essentials and then we walked to the pier (about 20 min.).

We arrived at the pier around 11:30.  Probably one of the worst times to arrive but we knew we just had to go with the flow and enjoy the experience.

Of course we arrived and filled out the necessary health forms.  Up the escalator and a short queue for priority boarding (maybe 20 people).  This time the regular queue for non priority boarders was very very long (at least a 100).

After getting our cruise cards we went thru security -- no issues with us.  But if you do have liqour in your bag they will confuscate it, unless it is wine.  To learn more about bringing wine on board click here.  

They had already started boarding and we were directed to board the ship right away.  

In all it was about 20 minutes from sidewalk to ship.  Not bad considering we arrived at a very busy time.

After dropping our suitcase (we just brought carry on bags) in the cabin we headed to the dining room for lunch.  Boy it has been a long time since we have had lunch in the dining room on embarkation day but boy how nice it is too.

We confirmed a table for Daniel's section for 7:45 in Da Vinci Dining room.  He is the whole reason we booked this voyage -- to surprise him.

We had be discussing getting the drink package for a while and we decided to go with it.  On a shorter voyage like this we can justify it, but on a more port intensive longer voyage we just can't manage to continually drink that much.

After Muster Drill we head up for the sailaway.  Great weather, excellent music by the and Nexus and a chance to see Anna again.

At 5 pm we head to the elite lounge in Skywalkers.  We meet a lovely couple -- Arlene and Tim and we chat over a few drinks.  

All Inclusive Drink Package - My Thoughts

Recently Princess joined many of the other cruise line by introducing an All Inclusive Drink Package.

The cost for this package is $50 a day plus tip = $56.35 per day.  It is sold only on the first and second day of the cruise.  Note if you buy it the second day you will be charge for the entire voyage, including the first day, so buy it as soon as you can.  Note the price and details have changed as of September 2017 see this new blog for more details.

From Princess' page it is describe as 


Take advantage of our All-Inclusive Beverage Package which includes any individual beverage item, such as soda, water, cocktails, spirits, wines, beers, coffee and tea, up to $10 (retail value). Bottles of wine are NOT included in the package; however, when purchased in bars, dining rooms or specialty restaurants, will be available at 40% discount from the menu price. Applicable to all bottles below $100 retail. Note: This package is available for consumption at all bars, public areas and dining venues (not room service and excludes mini bar items). Terms and conditions may apply.

When you buy the package they will put a little sticker on your cruise card.  In the above picture you can see the small blue sticker with the Princess Logo.

When you order a drink the put in your portfolio number and order the drink.  The system knows you have the package and does keep track of how many drinks you are ordering.  

You should each order the drink package. You are not allowed to order and share with others.  Note people have been contacted by officers when issues arise of blatant abuse, ie. drink sharing.  I am not sure what the consequences are though.  If you have had an issue let me know, I am curious.

We have not gotten the drink package since it came into effect.  But we recently did a short three day cruise and thought since we had a good amount of on board credit it may be worth getting, to try it out.  I giggled and said "it is research for my blog".  

I did not buy it ahead of time.  If you buy ahead of time thru your cruise personalizer you will have to pay for it right then.  When you check in, your cruise card will already have the sticker on it.  For us this time we just went to one of the MANY tables set up all over the ship that was selling all the drink package options.

Drink prices are quite fair and comparable to many restaurants at home. Here is a link to the Martini Bar drink menu.  Vines Bar Menu.   And here is a link to pictures of many of the bar menus on board.  

Here is my experience with the drink package

The Positives:

• We loved the freedom the package brought.  No worries about the added costs of each drink.  No worries if we didn't care for the drink we felt free to just leave it. This happened when I ordered a special margarita that I thought I would try but it was way too sweet for me.
• I loved trying different drinks that I would never try and even fell in love with some new ones.
• Crew were so helpful with recommendations for us to try.
• We certainly drank more than the cost per day (oh that could be a negative too).
• Love the freshly squeezed orange juice every morning.
• We didn't hesitate to get bottled water or sparkling water when regular tap water.
• The Elite Mini Bar set up we usually get we were able to trade it in for two coffee cards for use on another cruise.

The Negatives:

• It made us drink more than we normally would.
• We always were aware of how much we had drank and whether we had reached the threshold of $50
• We drank bottled water or sparkling water when we could of just had regular tap water, so felt a little guilty about that.
• Drank more soda (usually at lunch) when normally I would of drank water.
• Certainly consumed more calories.
• Thought it was odd that some items were not included in the package.  ie. the small bottles of wine sold at Horizon Court for $5.  When I tried to get one they said sorry not included.
• The cost is high for us considering we rarely drink $50 each per day normally.  

The crew are not getting as much of the tip pool as they would if we just ordered the drink by drink.  Plus they are much much busier.

Certainly noticed a lot more intoxicated passengers (but there is no way to know whether this was because of the drink package).

So in the end would I get it again.  YOU BET, but it would probably have to be on a shorter cruise with many sea days. I don't think I could justify it on a ten day or longer unless I had a lot of on board credits.

The other night we discussed the drink package and we both agreed that if we just ordered whatever drink we wanted whenever we wanted one (instead of feeling the need to meet the threshold) we would probably still come out ahead.

I would certainly jump at the chance to get the drink package thrown in on a cruise booking if it was offered.  

In the end you yourself have to weigh out whether it is right for you.  It is great for some and not so great for others.

YEAH - All Inclusive Drink Package Deals

Many of you know we are sailing in the Fall on the Island to the Mediterranean.  

Yesterday we got an email with some Princess specials where they were offering things like All Inclusive Drink Packages as well as free tips and the likes.

After scanning the dates for this special I saw that the first leg of our Island cruise was part of the deals.

So this is how it worked out.

Sometime after we booked Princess had a special where we got more on board credits and Travel Agent Connie from Best Price Cruises got us $200 extra on board credit for the first leg.

Then when she checked into yesterday's special we would have to basically loose those on board credits (as this deal was for new bookings only) and the price of the cruise would of gone up by $75 per person or $150 total.  But we would get the All Inclusive Drink Package for basically $350 total for a 12 night cruise.  

That is a steal.

When Connie called me back she had even better news.  Princess will honour our original pricing and would not raise the cost of the cruise to reflect current prices, but we would loose the $200 on board credit.  So now the package is costing us basically the $200 obc we forfeited.  That works out to $8 per day for 12 days each person. 

Consider the All Inclusive Drink Package includes beverages that are $10 or less.  Includes bottled water, espresso drinks, sodas, mocktails, beer, wine, cocktails and even 40% of a bottle of wine if you choose.  

So for us all we need to drink is one drink a day to recoup the money we are loosing from the on board credit.  I am pretty sure that can be accomplished.

Normally the All Inclusive Drink Package costs $49 per person per day plus gratuity.  So we got it for a steal for $200.

Moral of the story, sign up for your Travel Agent's email sales promotions.  Sign up for cruise line email sales promotions.  Follow your Cruise Critic Roll call cause often price reductions and special are posted by others.  Join my facebook fan page cause I often share sales there too.

Happy Sailing Everyone.  

Fort Lauderdale February 7, 2015 Beginning of Next Leg

We wake early.  Almost always impossible to sleep in on turn around day.  We toss and turn a bit and we agree we should get the wash in early and done early.

The laundry is located close to our cabin and it is quick and easy to get tokens for the machines since you can scan your cruise card and then charge it to your account. 

With the laundry in we head up to Horizon Court for a small bite to eat.  The place is busy, but because of the better layout it flows so much better and seating is not really a problem today.  Staff quickly ask if we need juice, coffee or tea and replenish the glasses too.

We know there are a lot of in transit passengers today (in transit means passengers are staying on for the next leg too).  I have been told it is just under 400 passengers.   

Today we have the option of heading off at any time and going ashore but if we head off any time we need to wait until around noon when all aboard is made open to come back.  Oh course we can stay out longer as long as we are back before sail away.

Today we also need to change cabins.  We booked a guarantee so we were lucky enough to get the same cabin for the first twenty days, but have to move two cabins down for the next ten days.  We still have the same steward and the layout is the same.  It is also an obstructed balcony view but this really has no obstruction at all, in fact we can see the water quite clearly.  Very nice and no complaints about the cabin.

One thing we noticed is the light just above the bed that comes on when you also turn on the closet area light.  In our old cabin the light above the bed shone bright and we thought that was odd since if someone wanted to discreetly get dressed the light would wake the person in bed.  The new cabin has a light that comes on in the cabin too, but it is by the balcony door and doesn’t disrupt the person sleeping so much.  Then it dawned on me, the other cabin had an upper berth so it could not put the light by the door where the berth was in the ceiling.  The new cabin light layout is much better.

We clean up the old cabin, pack up things on shelves into bags and then when the new cabin is available (Jenny cleaned that cabin right away, she is a dear) we move items by going back and forth.  We are able to just remove the drawers and exchange them with the empty ones with no problem.  Jenny’s manager comes down to help us move, he moves all the items on the hangers to the other room and we thank him but we are able to move everything.  In total the change took about a half hour and it was helpful to do some cleaning up too.  Things got packed away that we don’t need any more or haven’t used.

I decorate the cabin door with a Valentine’s Day theme and finish off the laundry.

As in transit we need to meet in the Princess Theater at 10:30.  Today with more ships in port (six) it is going to be slower than last turn around.  Last turn around we were the only ship in port and it was quick, in fact they called us to the lounge early to go off.  Today when we make our way to the Princess Theater there are still passengers on board in some of the lounges. 

We take a seat in the theater and wait for about a half hour.  At 11 we are led out to the gangway where we bing out on our old card.  The staff (aka Golden Girls) he chants “single file, hold on to the railing” as we head down the escalator (I think it is the same guy who has been manning that escalator for the past ten years).  In fact whenever we use an escalator at home Bernie chats the same thing now.

We are filed into rows of seats and we wait.  The ship needs to arrive at a count of zero passengers before we can go back on.  Also they need to get a custom agent to look at our passports and there are still lines for customs for passengers coming off.  Normally we go thru the customs agent’s booth but today a single agent comes to us and we are asked to open our passports to our picture page and all we do is show him and we are led back on.  Very easy process but today it is long.  In total it was just under 1.5 hours, but this is because of the number of people staying on and the busy day in Port Everglades.

Originally we were going to walk into Fort Lauderdale and pick up some items but I really don’t feel like it.  I don’t need anything important.  Bernie needs a new toothbrush but I tell him for just that we can pick one up in Calypso Cove.  

We are needing to head to the cabin and relax and enjoy the calmness of the ship before everyone gets on.  When I suggest to Bernie that we go to Alfredos for lunch I barely have the words out of my mouth when he is saying “yes”.  He loves Alfredos especially the Royal Pizza.  Of course I got the Sangria and Bernie got the Blue Moon Beer.

It is getting busier on board and there are a few places I want to check out that we normally can’t see.  

Oh I forgot to mention that before we got off this morning I went around and took pictures of quite a few different cabins, including the ones that my Facebook fans from my page requested.  I really like the layout of the inside sideways cabins.  Also loved the full suites forward too. Here is the link to the pictures of the cabins.

Will post all the pics on my fan page when I get home.

So back to our day after lunch.  I want to see the Spa and the Enclave and oh my yes it is beautiful and I wish I could justify the cost of a pass but at $200 for the ten days I just can’t afford it.  I would rather do something else.  In fact we signed up for the Ultimate Ship’s Tour that is $150 each and is more our style. 

I head up to the kids club to see that area.  On the first day before sail away you can check it out.  Gee I wish I could be a kid again.  They have really done an excellent job with this area.  Again I took a ton of pictures but will have to wait to post until I get home.

Up on the top decks I tour the Sanctuary and the Cabanas they have up there.  I think the Sanctuary is a great idea and it does look relaxing up there.  We use to go to the Sanctuary all the time but have stopped when they raised the price.  Cost is $20 for half a day or $40 for a full day.  You can buy a whole cruise pass for a discounted price of $300 for ten days. 

Okay we are both hitting the wall now… we need a nap desperately and the Muster Drill is about to happen so we crawl into bed and try to nap.  But we are woken by announcements in the cabin by Captain Dino.  Now as handsome as he is, being woken by him thru a P.A. is not how I dreamed it would happen.  Don’t tell Bernie.

We enjoy a lovely sail away from the port in our cabin.  The horn blasting the beginning of the Love Boat. We are happy we are on for another leg.

Bernie grabs the coffee card and we head down to the International Café for a tea and see Trevor Cole is playing his Steel Pan in the Atrium.  What a lovely way to begin a Caribbean holiday.  Trevor says hi to us and we shake our booty to the tunes for a second.  What a great ambassador to Princess Trevor is.  In fact after his set he joins us in Vines for a chat.  He shares pictures of his beautiful wife, his home and his son.  It is always great to connect with the crew, their friendship to us is always a pleasure and we treasure them. 

We dress for dinner and head to our “regular” table.  Daniel and Inna are there to greet us but they are packed.  For the life of me I can’t figure out how they assign the tables.  Seems he gets all the tables.  The section behind us and the one behind Bernie are not even half full but Daniel’s section keeps getting filled. 

Inna and Daniel can handle it but they are so busy.  It is nice to see the head waiters helping out and Franco comes by to say hi and he fills our water glasses and we ask if he could get the white wine to top up my glass.  I feel bad for Daniel, he is so busy he is not able to give the service that he would like to the tables.  But he does shine and once first course and drinks are set on all the tables he regroups and the flow is better. 

After dinner the band New Deal is performing in the Atrium.  There is a large group of dancers on board and the Atrium dance floor is busy with dancers.  The dance floor is large (certainly bigger than the Wheelhouse bar on the Crown Class ships) for dancers.  I grab Bernie’s hand and we dance a bit but boy we are nowhere as good as these dancers around us.  Our friend Rick would love this voyage.

We take a seat in Vines to chat with Ryan and enjoy a glass of wine.  It is late and we are ready for bed. 

Although sleep does not come well for us.  The mattress in this cabin is bad.  It is hard like a rock and you can see that it has seen better days or many larger passengers.  I wake every hour or so in pain on the side that I am sleeping.  I roll over and wake again in agony from this bed.  In the morning I am tired, grumpy and when I look at the mattress I see that mattress is sagging and they have added a pillow top padding to it but something needs to be done I can not handle nine more nights on it. 

I get dressed and drop something to help my aches from the bed and Bernie informs our Cabin Steward that we need a new mattress.  I will keep you informed as to our request.

Movies this voyage are:  Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day; Edge of Tomorrow; Get on Up; Guardians of the Galaxy; Saving Mr. Banks; The Giver; The Hundred-Foot Journey; The Maze Runner.

Princess Theater is showing the same production shows; Spectacular; What the World Needs Now and Colors of the World.  We still haven’t seen What the World Needs Now so will get it in this cruise.

The All Inclusive Drink Package is very popular with many people getting it.  For $49 per day plus gratuity you can get unlimited beverages that are under $10 and includes coffee drinks, water, soda and wine/beer, oh and of course cocktails.