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All-You-Can-Drink Alcohol Packages, A Popular Cruise Option
Norwegian is testing an unlimited beverage package on just three ships, Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Jade for $49 per person per day. Included are alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Obviously, heavy drinkers would come out ahead but in the end, it appears that cruise lines will be the big winners. Apparently, cruise travelers drink heavily at the beginning of the sailing, tapering off as the voyage continues.
Those who simply don't want to have to pay every time they have a beverage will enjoy the convenience but not everyone is happy about the program, now on a number of cruise lines.
"As we have argued in prior articles, we have found that there is a direct correlation between excess booze and passengers going overboard," says maritime attorney James Walker on his blog Cruise Law News, adding that there is also a risk of "sexual assault, and brawls between passengers, plus drunken passengers doing insanely dangerous and stupid stunts."
Royal Caribbean International has offered the all-you-can-drink program on Independence of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas and Legend of the Seas since 2011. The Royal Caribbean program features three levels of packages – Beer, Classic and Premium – that range from $29 per person per day to $49 per person per day including gratuities.
Sister cruise line Celebrity Cruises has had a variety of packages on all their ships since 2009, boasting a wide variety of beverage choices, including cocktails, premium coffees, wine by the glass, endless refills of sodas and unlimited bottled water. On their website, Celebrity says of the program: "Our beverage packages allow you the freedom to try something new or stick with your tried-and-true favorites."
Carnival Cruise Line started testing their version in August. Those enrolled in the My Awesome Bar Program pay $42.95 plus $6.44 gratuity and can be used to order any alcoholic drinks $10 and under.
All the programs have similar restrictions that are closely monitored. Passengers must buy the program for the entire sailing (not available on a daily basis), everyone 21 and older in a stateroom must buy it and users can order one beverage at a time (to avoid sharing) and the program is non-refundable.
Oceania and UK-based Thomson Cruises also offer some version of an all-you-can-drink package.
So, about $50 per person per day, right? What would one have to drink to come out ahead? At $6 to $9 each for a bottle of beer, specialty cocktail or glass of wine, not all that much. Throw in a coffee drink or a few bottles of water and you're there.
[Photo credit- Flickr user digger_90_tristar]
Sister cruise line Celebrity Cruises has had a variety of packages on all their ships since 2009, boasting a wide variety of beverage choices, including cocktails, premium coffees, wine by the glass, endless refills of sodas and unlimited bottled water. On their website, Celebrity says of the program: "Our beverage packages allow you the freedom to try something new or stick with your tried-and-true favorites."
Carnival Cruise Line started testing their version in August. Those enrolled in the My Awesome Bar Program pay $42.95 plus $6.44 gratuity and can be used to order any alcoholic drinks $10 and under.
All the programs have similar restrictions that are closely monitored. Passengers must buy the program for the entire sailing (not available on a daily basis), everyone 21 and older in a stateroom must buy it and users can order one beverage at a time (to avoid sharing) and the program is non-refundable.
Oceania and UK-based Thomson Cruises also offer some version of an all-you-can-drink package.
So, about $50 per person per day, right? What would one have to drink to come out ahead? At $6 to $9 each for a bottle of beer, specialty cocktail or glass of wine, not all that much. Throw in a coffee drink or a few bottles of water and you're there.
[Photo credit- Flickr user digger_90_tristar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Latti & Anderson LLP Dec 10th 2012 4:49PM
Brawls, sexual assaults and passengers going overboard in connection with these all-you-can-drink cruise packages are valid concerns. While you say that these programs “have similar restrictions that are closely monitored,” requiring that the packages be purchased for the entire voyage encourages many individuals to drink to excess. Numerous investigative programs have shown that cruise lines not only emphasize sales of booze, but they also fail to provide the security necessary to prevent physical or sexual assaults that often involve intoxicated passengers.