Hey y'all -- the channel is almost to 80K subscribers. Would love to say this is the video that pushed it over that mark. If you like it, hitting subscribe would be awesome. Enjoy the video!
There is one tip for entree’s in the main dining room. When you have three choices for an entree, You can ask for one or two half size entree’s as appetizers. Then you can enjoy all of them at your meal.
Short or long cruise I cannot cruise without a balcony. I need to be able to just step outside in my personal space as often as I want. I like to get up in the middle of the night and go outside and listen to the sea.
lets not forget the non-alcohol drinks you get which I consider, like specialty coffee and bottled water or soda as a cost. I like having no bill at the end of the trip.
@@kayshabella2440 the small ship I was on had Lavazza coffee dark roast I believe it was pretty good. I think Starbucks is paying for the label/name of it, always tastes watered down when I get it
As some who doesn’t drink alcohol, but my cabin mate has the package, obv. I had to get it. That’s how I’ll be spending it (mock cocktails, pop, other specialty drinks at the coffee shop as I also don’t drink tea or coffee). 🤷♀️ What can ya do?
Don’t use the spa. They charge 3 times more than a massage at home before and after my cruise. Plus they high pressure you to buy things you don’t want. That ruined my massage having to say NO four times. I’m boycotting. I hate high pressure treatment.
I feel the same, especially when you price the cruise with or without the drink package and then add it back in. I usually get a better deal by having it included, but not always. I don't drink that much but I like to drink carbonated water throughout the day and that's included.
I'm an inside cabin cruiser. Can't justify paying 35%-50% more on a Balcony. I can use that money saved on other things on the cruise or excursions or even to go against another cruise. Drink Package for us is way overrated. We spend about $125 on alcoholic beverages on a 7 day cruise and we bring our own 12 pack sodas as we cruise Carnival and well it fits us just fine. Always enjoy your videos btw.
I think we cruise the exact same. A few drinks here and there, but never to a point where I'd come out ahead on a drink package even for a single day. And I love having a balcony, but realized I use it maybe 15 minutes a day just to step out and see what's going on. Much rather save the money.
We wanted a balcony for our Alaska cruise, but it was $1000 more for it. Needless to say, we don’t have a balcony room. The pricing is ridiculous! I would love a balcony fir that trip, but I’d rather save that money for other things on the trip (like 3 extra days in Vancouver & Victoria, BC).
Same. Regular 2 cruises 🚢 per year. Life is trade offs…..we put difference towards quality night stay prior to embarking, drinks, excursions. Everyone is different. I get enough “views” walking around the ship. The room is just to sleep, shower, and change clothes for us.
Agree with the cabin. We literally save 1000s. Drink package, we are a big advocate for. With gratuity per drink you have to pay without it, it averages out to 6 alcoholic drinks a day. We drink about that or more the entire cruise easily. Not to mention waters, coffee, juices and sodas included. We always come out way ahead.
I will always choose a balcony cabin. I think Covid proved how important it can be if you get confined to your cabin. If I feel bad or get sick, I want to get some fresh air.
On the drink package it should be pointed out that includes bottled water, soda, specialty coffees and shakes, etc and that should figure in to the analysis if it’s worth it or not.
I just did the math for our 12 night cruise. We could have saved about $200 per person to drop to Royals refreshment package. However, even limiting ourselves to 2 alcoholic drinks we would be spending more than for the deluxe package. There are technically only 2 port days since private island is only other stop.
What is included in the package varies by cruise line and some have different levels that include different things like premium beverages, bottled water, what wine is included, espresso…
This is true for carnival cruise lines that i know. As being someone who goes on a cruise regularly, having the drink package is worth the money when taking everything into account. It's not just for alcohol and yes take this into consideration
Not worth it if u don't drink a lot. You can bring a 12 pack of sodas/water and 1 bottle of wine/champagne on the cruise. What's free - coffee, tea, water, juice, and milk.
This confuses me. You eat breakfast in the mdr or buffet, lunch at whatever quick serve options the line has or the buffet, dinner in the main dining room, carnival has options for free specialty dining. You don’t pay for the shows. Don’t pay for a towel. What exactly isn’t included that you expect to be?
@@R32R38 Wi-Fi and a non alcoholic drink package aren’t used by everyone? Why would they up prices to include things people don’t use? And I would never expect shore excursions to be included. When you book a hotel you don’t get included catamaran trips or river tubing. You said everything costs extra, when it clearly doesn’t and you can 100% have a great vacation without buying packages. Or go on virgin, no up charging 🤷🏻♂️
We like early dining at 5:30 then hit the Windjammer around 8 pm. I like the balcony because my husband snores. If it is just me and our daughter, we get an inside or porthole cabin. There have been a few times when we book a last minute cruise (3 weeks before it sets sale) and we get a late embarkation time. We fly in a day early and most hotels have a noon checkout time. We may be able to find some where to spend an hour but then we head to the port. We never ask to board early. They see us sitting there and they always ask us our boarding time. We tell them 2:30 and they say just to go ahead and board. This is when we go out of Miami.
Yes, the only time I've had to wait was being about 10 minutes early when it was also early in boarding. There were still a lot of people around. Usually no one even asks.
Def not hard on a week long cruise for the drink package, you are forgetting it includes EVERYTHING. Specialty coffees, water bottles, energy drinks, smoothies, soda. Not to mention you have the ability to try something and if you dont like it, get something else for free.
The drink package that includes cocktails on our ship is $60/person/day. Can we plausibly buy 3 $15 cocktails + 3 $3 sodas + 2 $5 coffees per person in a day - absolutely. But if we are trying to save any money on our trip, there is no way we would spend $840/cabin/week on beverages! We can get a lot of mileage from the “free” beverages. The point of the video isn’t to say that it’s a scam, just that you may not get your money’s worth.
You still have to drink like 7+ specialty drinks a day to make it worth it at carnival prices. I've looked into it but I think, at least for me, paying for bottomless bubbles and purchasing specialty drinks a la carte is the better option.
Very informative and useful as usual! I wrote the same comment already some months ago: I really love the way you're able to stand out doing cruise videos that are different from those from the other "big names" (Emma, Don, Tony, J, ... ). Way to go!
We have never spent more than $150/week for drinks for the two of us on a cruise. Most of what we drink is free (coffee, teas, hot chocolate, mocha, milk, juice, flavored drinks, water and the occasional prosecco at events) on top of our 2 bottles of wine and dozen sodas. On a 2022 transpacific cruise the drink package would have cost us CAD $3600 (both need to get it plus mandatory "gratuities"). I realized that we were getting pretty close to enough cruise days for status. For CAD$2800 we booked a 9 night southern Caribbean cruise ($3100 including gratuities) which pushed us into diamond with 4 drinks each per day plus unlimited espresso (which we couldn't keep up with) for our transpacific. Saved $500 and got an extra cruise.
You should also count in the non-alcoholic drinks, and not just to calculations based on beer and cocktails. It's kind of stupid that almost all vloggers that talk about drink packages only take the alcohol in concideration.
@davidbrooks8809 most of the cruiselines also have drink packages that don't include alcoholic drinks. They are also a lot cheaper. Also you don't have to take any kind of package, just drink the complimentary stuff
@@MikaTyniwhat can you typically get complimentary in terms of drinks? I was surprised to see that bottled water isn’t included. I usually carry my water bottle with me to refill. Are there juices, etc?
The drink package was honestly the best part of the cruise. The freedom to drink nearly whatever and dislike it was something great. Morning mimosas will be missed.
This is a great point regarding drink packages. It’s a chunk up front but def gives you the freedom to try different drinks and incur a bunch of individual charges and feel obligated to a drink you ordered that you didn’t care for.
never considered a drink package for a cruise longer than 8 days lol. tbh thats too long of a cruise but to each their own. i imagine they would have a deal for you @Gregory-Masovutch
I would definitely take your lifestyle & personality into account when choosing whether or not to get the balcony, regardless of trip length. As an introvert and outdoorsy person, it is an absolute necessity for me to have a private outdoor getaway spot on a longer trip! (I also enjoy being able to pop outside and check the weather & watch the docking process from my room on port days.) If you are more outgoing & prefer to hang out by the pool, in the bars, casinos or such, it's probably not going to be as important for you to have a balcony.
Don't get me wrong. I LOVE having a balcony. I'd sail with one every time. But I also realized that I use it literally minutes a day. Longer trips I find myself out there more. Shorter trips? It's typically just pop in and out occasionally.
Neither of us drink so a drinks package is a waste of time for us. We drink what is provided for free, tea coffee and water, glass of bubbly on formal night and maybe the very odd drink at the bar. We would never make a drinks package pay.
Fantastic tips!!! I'm actually going to try an interior on a 14 day transatlantic through RCI. I love the complete darkness at night in interior rooms and find I can always catch beautiful quiet views from a handful of places on any ship. I hope it's not a huge mistake! I completely agree about the drink packages. The only time I find a package worth it is those virtual coffee punch cards when I'm taking my daughters along with us on RCI. Thanks again, you've saved me a ton of money with your tips!!!
I've done one cruise in my life much of what he said makes sense. I did a 12 day Med island hopping cruise on Holland America on the Westerdam when it was new and on its second voyage. I loved that the gratuities were built in to the price and there was no tipping allowed. I loved that! We need more of that tipping is not allowed culture. Tipping has gone insanely out of control. We got a balcony and since it was our first cruise, I'm glad we did. However, even on days out at sea, which there were several, we really didn't spend much time out there. I'm an ex grunt, so I can sleep in mud in the pouring rain and an inside cabin probably would have been just fine. Me personally, I'll save the money and get an inside cabin. If you are out Greek Island hopping, we did an excursion at every stop. I love history. Some of the places are really incredible. However, by the third ancient ruins, you start to realize that looking at a bunch of old rocks...gets old. Do a couple must sees like Ephesus and Santorini. Do ones that are unique. Skip the rest. Ancient ruins tend to all look the same after a while. I love kids. I've been working with elementary kids the last two years. I was a very involved dad when my girls were little. But, I loved that Holland America was an older crowd and I was young at the time. It was such a calm chill experience. While I can handle the chaos of other people's kids going crazy, I'm glad that was one less stress to deal with if cruising without kids and wanting to get away. Honestly, if you make the cruise about the cruise, you can have a fantastic time. The ship has all kinds of stuff to do. It's great to eat a quiet meal wherever you like while everyone else is out on excursions.We had one such day and I loved it. Unless things have changed, there was no need to pay extra for a fancy meal. The main dining for us was already much fancier than any sit down restaurant we'd typically visit. The other included self serve eating places in lieu of the main dining were also pretty good, and at your own pace and time. Offshore excursions are so curated and limited in most cases. It's more like an intro to this fun place or that. An intro. You don't really get to fully immerse. If you like some place, go back and make that your exclusive destination. You'll get so much more out of it unless you do only touristy things. You can go off on your own, and that is fun, but your time is limited. If you only want to do touristy things, it's usually the same experience anywhere you go. Why would you pay extra for that? Go do something touristy near your home and save a ton on hotels and flights. Like I said, just enjoy the ship. That's what you're paying for and then people will pay thousands of dollars extra to do something else. What? If I do another cruise, and I probably will, for me, the ship is the destination.
P&O do pay attention to boarding times from Southampton. Plus you have no say in selecting your preferred boarding time. If you turn up early they make you wait outside the terminal. Only once they've finished processing those with earlier arrival times will they start letting those in the queue enter the terminal prior to their boarding time, but still in order of the passenger's boarding times. If you've 200 nights history of cruising with them you can rock up whenever you want.
We always turn up early at Southampton usually at midday even if our boarding time is 2.00 pm My husband is a wheelchair user and it takes ages to get out of the car, get it collected and then get the luggage loaded and him into the terminal. They have never sent us away yet and we get taken straight through.
@@cafsixtieslover We encountered the outdoor queue on our Christmas sailing. I think it's comparatively new. Any who could not stand or handle the cold were sent to the arrivals hall which was under cover and had seats, but you'd not know if your boarding time was being called early. You also go there if you need the loo. Passengers with sufficiently high Peninsular Club points had "Priority Boarding" on their boarding cards and could jump the queue. Same for suite guests.
I wish my wife was ok with interior rooms. I do have to admit though that she spends 3 or 4 hours each day on the balcony. She starts her day by spending at least 2 hours on the balcony and then we usually end the day with another hour on the balcony.
Yes, i have booked a shore excursion on Royal Caribbean and checked prices later. If a shore excursion drops in price, i ask for a refund, then rebook. Just make sure there are spaces available. I also check cruise prices and have called Royal and gotten a credit to my open account as you cannot have paid your cruise in full, then ask for a price adjustment.
Saw my cruise go up for sale this week so I went through all the steps to buy a similar cabin and the price was the same for a guaranteed cabin. When we booked, a guaranteed upgrade was part of the deal so I expect that to happen soon and more likely than not, whoever books a guaranteed cabin will wind up in my original choice. It's always good to watch the sales just to be sure but, you're likely to lose some of your benefits by rebooking just to save a very small amount of money
Great video! A few i already do and a few I will start to do! They was all amazing tips. I got my carnival FIRENZY this summer. Can’t wait. They adding lots of new ones to the lbc port. And I live by it so it’s nice.. I been on the radiance a few times and panorama last summer. Can’t wait to see this Italian style fun. I been watching vids on the east coast version the Venezia lol
I can say that Royal Caribbean seems to at least give the appearance of enforcement of their check-in time ranges. We are always asked to show our Set Sail Pass outside the terminal, and then we're directed to the line for our assigned time. Now we've never arrived terribly far outside our assigned time, but I suspect we'd get at least some pushback if we did. I'm not saying that they'd deny us boarding, but I wouldn't be surprised if we were required to wait. Also, we do try to arrive close to our assigned time as we don't like getting stuck in huge lines ourselves.
When the drink package is bundled in with other things, the value is far greater. For example, Princess Plus ($60/day) and Princess Premier ($80/day) also include gratuities, WiFi, some extra-cost dining, and a few other perks. I have calculated that it only takes a couple of alcoholic beverages or one alcoholic beverage plus a couple of specialty coffees/sodas/juices each day to break even. I believe HAL has a similar package.
Nowadays you can't find a good deal unless it's last minute and those are starting to go away too Black Friday Cyber Monday this year was not as great as the year before
This is great! I'll be in Amber Cove next month on my cruise and we don't have an excursion booked - we're just going to enjoy the beach if the weather is awesome. :) This makes me feel better about that decision!
Amber cove is beautiful but it’s not a private island owned by a cruise company so anything you do will cost money even to go to the beach because it’s not at the port! Lots to offer in DR though, enjoy!
I did the Eco tour in Amber Cove and helped a female Co-op plant Cacao seeds and learned both the old way and the new way to make chocolate. We filled assorted orders and were able to take home some chocolate. I had fun, but it is not for everyone. I did not find the beach there, but probably wasn't looking very hard for it. Amber jewelry can be expensive at the Port shops.
Best advice is know yourself and roommates. Some people it is better to pay as you go and some will spend more this way. Drink packages isn't just alcohol drinks.
@@angelofamillionyears4599 You can get good deals on Celebrity if you book a cabin in December between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Also, we sometimes book inside cabins, which are bigger on Celebrity- 170 - 200 square feet. The older ships are cheaper the. the newer ships. Some cruise lines are more expensive (like RCCL) because they have amusement parks on board. Celebrity does not have those features.
@@angelofamillionyears4599 I have found some really good value cruises, but on the older ships (Not the EDGE class ships) the buffet was very good on Millennium on our Japan cruise last month. Check Cruise Plum to search by price per night.
I RECOMMEND getting the cheers package. Its a wonderful feeling not having to budget yourself! it's nice to just walk up to any bar (even at dinner) to have someone to MIX YOUR DRINK! LOL... ALSO please remember ! CHEERS PACKAGE includes other non- alcohol drinks!!! only problem I have purchasing the cheers package when you are traveling with others -why does everyone in your cabin that is 21 and over need to purchase the package - I DISAGEE with these policy -for example what if someone is pregnant, in recovery, or just doesn't drink! - it would be great if they could purchase the bubbly package in these cases... stamp on their VIFP card if they are CHEERs or BUBBLES Packages. Just a thought...
Royal Caribbean, today, July 2024, the Drink Package (w/alcohol), including 18% gratuity, is $99 and change per person per day. That's more than what they charge for the interior state room. Strangely enough, they don't advertise the price on their web-site.
Anytime dining is mandatory for us. Definitely planning on ordering the extra entree. As a rule I try the “rare finds” so I can experience new things. Would be nice to have a backup in case I were unable to eat it lol.
These are great tips! Especially the boarding call times and dining times. I was always afraid they were super strict about that stuff! Glad to know there is flexibility if we need it 👍
Fixed dining is only for those who really want the same table and waiter each evening. The disadvantage of not choosing fixed dining or NCL without any fixed dining option is you sometimes will be waiting over half an hour for a table.
Since we usually have several people, fixed dining suits us. Like the efficiency,and getting to know dining staff and they know our preferences. If we had to decide where and when to eat every day, we could starve before we all agree! Also love sailing past all those waiting in the "anytime" dining line!
We got a good deal on our Royal Caribbean cruise. We got $50 a day for the Alcohol drink package AND internet. Also remember that specialty coffees, juice and soda are part of that also. Not all your drinks need to be alcoholic. I know my package was worth it, especially when you add the no worries about price once you're on board. I admit I am a bit of a lush, especially when it comes to my Guinness, but being able to add a shot of Baileys to my morning iced coffee is gold.
Thing with the sales is they can be complete BS. We recently got tickets for a cruise to Iceland and Greenland. On sale. Week or so later they had a 50% off sale. We checked that out in case it was better than what we purchased, nope. They cranked the base price so that even with 50% off, our cruise was still cheaper. We regularly check to see if there are deals or specials we can get. Definitely a good idea to get something at a good price, then change it later if a better deal comes along.
My bff and I are going on our first cruise together in the near future. We are both the type who don't like crowds. We're getting a balcony cabin and I'm pretty sure that we'll be pn it a lot.
Based on your post, I think you'll love the balcony room. Sometimes, a break from the other cruisers is needed and welcome. If you haven't already started a pack list, I would HIGHLY suggest doing so. There are so many tips you'll probably want to follow, but don't forget to bring EMPTY refillable water bottles and/or coffee/tea travel mugs, ziploc bags and a few plastic containers in case you want to keep a few snacks from the buffet in the room. The cooler in the room keep items cool but not ultra cold. Plus check your cruise line's policy to bring drinks on board. For example with Carnival, each person can bring a 12 pack of CANNED drinks (keep in carton) AND 1 bottle of wine or champagne per adult. You just have to carry it on. Dont forget COMFORTABLE shoes. If you and bff aren't already in shape, I would suggest start walking now because it'll help you have a more pleasurable time. All in all, have fun!!🎉
Balconies are a must for me, especially on sea days when everywhere is crowded. I love to eat on my balcony and relax. I had an ocean view but prefer my balcony!
Thanks a lot for these tips. Some confirmed what I already knew, while others taught me something new. Re. the private islands, yes, I've noticed that many cruise lines are padding their itineraries with these stops. Sometimes even two in one sailing! I'm so annoyed when I see these itineraries with stops at private islands, because: 1) I already live on an island and am not even a huge beach fan, and 2) I believe that it deprives 'real islands' of tourism earnings. So, I'm seeking a Caribbean itinerary that'll allow me to explore the history and culture of other islands.
Carnival did a sale where they are giving 200 dollars on board credit and $99 deposit per person. You have to book before june 30th. The last deal was no discount deposit and only 50 bucks per cabin obc
One comment about the drinks package on Carnival. It isn’t just alcohol. Specialty coffee, bottled juice and bottled water are some of the other things included. So for someone who has maybe 2 cocktails during the day, three during the evening plus waters, lattes, etc. the math does work. I do agree to buy before you cruise and take advantage of the advanced purchase discount is a must.
Please do not tell people to show up outside of their scheduled time. They schedule them for a reason and it causes back ups for people who are actually following the process. Absolutely do not follow this tip and show up when you’re supposed to. If you want an early boarding time, pay for priority boarding or stay up until midnight and make sure you get it. Don’t make other peoples day harder because you aren’t responsible.
I don't know what cruise line you are sailing, but they should probably have a non-alcoholic drink package of some kind (with things like soda) that you can choose to buy instead. But there will always be some drinks (water, perhaps tea, lemonade, etc.) which are free, so you might find you don't need to pay extra for drinks at all. When we sailed Royal Caribbean recently, we didn't purchase a drink package at all, but just paid individually for the occasional extra-cost drinks we did have. It worked out way cheaper for us!
there are many other drink packages that don't include alcohol, if you enjoy coffee or teas, juices, etc, you could get those. But if you really don't mind, just forget the packages and order as you go. A tip: you can check the prices of beverages from your cruise and do an estimate of how many drinks you and your fiance could order (realistically) per day and check if the drink packages are worth it. Also consider how many ports you´ll visit (since you will be out of the ship for many hours, you won't be able to drink as much as you would on sea days)
I agree with the other comments. If you are big drinkers, don't do it. Me and my other half will just pay as we go or get a few pitchers but since the policy is we would both have to get it, I sincerely doubt we'll spend $700 on just drinks (the price it would be for our upcoming). Even during staycations, we MIGHT each have 2 or 3 before we're tapping out. Put that extra money on something else 😊
I whole heartedly disagree with your drink package opinion. It’s includes specialty coffees, smoothies, etc. 80 is 8-10 drinks. It’s vacation. Better than getting a 6-700 bill at the end.
As they say, your mileage may vary. I have been cruising 44 years, and 8:30 pm dining time is our preference. My first cruise only had one seating, at 6 pm, and another cruise we had Any Time dining, which in realty was, wait 90 minutes for a table, NEVER EVER EVER again. Always late seating 830 pm. But, full disclosure, we are people who favor to dine at a slower pace. We don't want to be rushed out of early seating dinner so they can set up for late seating. Oh, and on that first cruise with one seating, dinner was a 3 1/2 hour, 12 course production.
Things have changed drastically. Cruising used to be top shelf all inclusive. Not main dinning room is Glorified nursing home food. That is why they have so many resturants. If you’re paying to go on a cruise ship. Usually the food and entertainment is why you’re going. In my opinion of course.
But if you arrive before your boarding time and are not allowed on at the time you arrive please don’t complain on line or otherwise ….as it is really your own issue since you were assigned a time!
It's worth noting that the balcony cabins are more spacious inside than the ones without. So even when you are not using the balcony that much, your room will still be nicer and feel less claustrophobic.
I am pretty sure the premium Royal Caribbean drink package also includes sodas and coffee’s made with espresso so it’s not just alcohol-especially if you like cappuccino’s or latte’s!
Drink package is worth it but you gotta pace yourself. Here my schedule port days wake 6 am 4-5 mixed drinks before getting off the boat. Then hammer them when I get back on board. Remember you got 10 to drink before bedtime. At sea drink in hand from the time you wake up until you go to bed. Live like a true alcoholic for a week and see how the other half lives.
IMHO, short cruises are a waste. By the time I pay the airfare to get to the port and go thru the hassle of flying, I may as well stay awhile. Also, long cruises can often be more cost effective, especially if they are repositioning cruises. Very funny....when I am booking a cruise, my cruise partner finds a balcony to be essential....but when her fiance's family invites her, an inside is just fine. One place I do feel a balcony is essential is on Virgin Voyages. Sorry, but that hammock is glorious and I do spend time on the balcony.
I think each person is different. When we first started sailing , I thought , an inside cabin is perfect for me, because I hate the sun coming in when I have a migraine. But last time we got a free upgrade to a balcony and it was wonderful and I won’t cruise without it. I spent most of my time there. I like having an early set time for dinner. Everything is customized to you.
Never would get my full worth for the drink package. On an 8 day cruise, I typically spend under $100. I have been told that I could drop my bags early, but would need to come back 15 mins before my check-in time.
We never get the big drink packages and always come out ahead. Last cruise we spent $700 on drinks for 3 of us. We drank whatever we wanted. The drink package was going to be $1300 for 2!! Insane.
I was on 20dy didn't get drink pkg, found 2/1 every night in 2 bars, carried 2drink to dining. Or was served 2nd later in eve. Purchase others as i wanted. O/v is fine for most cruises, inside i did 1x. Tv bow camera would give day sight
The food in the pay specialty restaurants on the newer cruise ships is the same quality as the main dinning room and thus the specialty restaurant is a waste of money
one supplier, one storeroom, one prep kitchen where everything is mised before it is sent around to the various venues. Specialty restaurants on ONE ship are the biggest conm
The drink package: getting your "money's worth" by drinking 10 beers a day also requires you to value those beers at EIGHT dollars a bottle! The real way to value the drink package is to take a step back and ask if you can drink $75 worth of beer in a day... every day for several days (or a week?) in a row. If I'm going to drink beer on a cruise, I wait until I'm in port. A bottle of beer in any Carib port is around ONE dollar a bottle, which is a more reasonable value.
We do not purchase a drink package: promotes over consumption mentality which is not healthy IMO! Getting your monies worth vs healthy enjoyment is a no brainer for us! I purchase bevies as I like and find my bill is not outrageous. I agree on the boarding time indifference….we’ve not had a problem on-boarding at all. I like the portion sizes in the dining room…you can always find food! Thanks Tanner! 😊
Well really anytime dying in the main dining room on Royal Caribbean is still a signed dining time. Maybe 5:306:30 it is still an assigned time it is not it is not like on Norwegian where it is come when you want to eat
Incorrect about the drink package…. They charge gratuity for EVERY drink you buy…averages $2 a drink. So a $14 drink is over $16 and beers are close to $10. Plus bottles water, coffees, sodas, juices are all included.
Don't like drink packages. Not a big drinker. Maybe two drinks a day. Sometimes even a third, but, not often. Prefer the aft section of the ship. Cruise lines would like me. Big eater. Not a RCCL fan. Do like Celebrity though, or at least, used to. Bring a small pharmacy with me too. Like older ships myself. This is true. Not that much time is actually spent on the balcony. Not a fan of private islands. Some are okay. Crime is a big problem in Nassau. Yes, did learn a few things. Already subscribed and hit the like button.
@@tanyakrumsky6887 Celebrity Cruise Line has better food than does RCCL. Celebrity Cruise Line has better service than does RCCL. When my wife wanted to go to the Johnny Rockets restaurant the wait staff wanted my room key. They held onto it for more than 30 minutes. When I asked for it back the waitress had a fit. I thought she would quit when I asked for steak sauce. They brought my wife's food and not mine, then they brought mine when my wife was finished with hers. The only time I saw someone so drunk they couldn't sit in their seat in the MDR was on a RCCL ship.
Hey y'all -- the channel is almost to 80K subscribers. Would love to say this is the video that pushed it over that mark. If you like it, hitting subscribe would be awesome. Enjoy the video!
I don't drink much in my everyday life, but when cruising, I like to sip on a drink whenever I want. Drink package for me.
Facts cruises are now expensive than a resort
There is one tip for entree’s in the main dining room. When you have three choices for an entree, You can ask for one or two half size entree’s as appetizers. Then you can enjoy all of them at your meal.
i order multiple courses
Short or long cruise I cannot cruise without a balcony. I need to be able to just step outside in my personal space as often as I want. I like to get up in the middle of the night and go outside and listen to the sea.
This!
Same
I am too cheap for the balcony but the absolute darkness of the inside room is odd. When we go on the Alaskan cruise I will spring for the balcony.
How I wish there were a dark area on ships so you could see the Milky Way
I completely agree with you.
lets not forget the non-alcohol drinks you get which I consider, like specialty coffee and bottled water or soda as a cost. I like having no bill at the end of the trip.
Yeah most of this guy's tips are bogus.
The ships got coffee free.
@@megastormy497trashy coffee…. it’s not Starbucks
@@kayshabella2440 the small ship I was on had Lavazza coffee dark roast I believe it was pretty good. I think Starbucks is paying for the label/name of it, always tastes watered down when I get it
As some who doesn’t drink alcohol, but my cabin mate has the package, obv. I had to get it. That’s how I’ll be spending it (mock cocktails, pop, other specialty drinks at the coffee shop as I also don’t drink tea or coffee). 🤷♀️ What can ya do?
Don’t use the spa. They charge 3 times more than a massage at home before and after my cruise. Plus they high pressure you to buy things you don’t want. That ruined my massage having to say NO four times. I’m boycotting. I hate high pressure treatment.
The massage is so wack I told her to stop after 10 minutes. Just rubbing me with oil
Agree.
Massage is insanely overpriced
We fell for this haha didn’t know any better, but it was my first massage and I enjoyed it
A balcony is a “must have” for me no matter how long my cruise is. I had one on my very first 4 day Disney cruise and I can’t do without it.
Drink package for me is just about the convenience of not having to keep track of drink expenses not about getting the money back I paid for it .
I feel the same, especially when you price the cruise with or without the drink package and then add it back in. I usually get a better deal by having it included, but not always. I don't drink that much but I like to drink carbonated water throughout the day and that's included.
We have always found value with the drink package because we are coffee snobs and like all the other non alcoholic options.
I would also add the convenience of not having to sign each and every time. That was a game changer!
Agree. It is vacation so I don’t want to nickel & dime myself.😹
@kuriusly23 huh? I had to every single time. Even if I got a soda because they want a tip!
I'm an inside cabin cruiser. Can't justify paying 35%-50% more on a Balcony. I can use that money saved on other things on the cruise or excursions or even to go against another cruise.
Drink Package for us is way overrated. We spend about $125 on alcoholic beverages on a 7 day cruise and we bring our own 12 pack sodas as we cruise Carnival and well it fits us just fine.
Always enjoy your videos btw.
I think we cruise the exact same. A few drinks here and there, but never to a point where I'd come out ahead on a drink package even for a single day. And I love having a balcony, but realized I use it maybe 15 minutes a day just to step out and see what's going on. Much rather save the money.
We wanted a balcony for our Alaska cruise, but it was $1000 more for it. Needless to say, we don’t have a balcony room. The pricing is ridiculous! I would love a balcony fir that trip, but I’d rather save that money for other things on the trip (like 3 extra days in Vancouver & Victoria, BC).
Same. Regular 2 cruises 🚢 per year. Life is trade offs…..we put difference towards quality night stay prior to embarking, drinks, excursions. Everyone is different. I get enough “views” walking around the ship. The room is just to sleep, shower, and change clothes for us.
Agree with the cabin.
We literally save 1000s.
Drink package, we are a big advocate for.
With gratuity per drink you have to pay without it, it averages out to 6 alcoholic drinks a day.
We drink about that or more the entire cruise easily.
Not to mention waters, coffee, juices and sodas included.
We always come out way ahead.
Great 411! Wife and I are cruising in 27 days. I love your work.
The light from the balcony is good for anyone who suffers from depression, even if you dont use it at all.
I will always choose a balcony cabin. I think Covid proved how important it can be if you get confined to your cabin. If I feel bad or get sick, I want to get some fresh air.
On the drink package it should be pointed out that includes bottled water, soda, specialty coffees and shakes, etc and that should figure in to the analysis if it’s worth it or not.
I just did the math for our 12 night cruise. We could have saved about $200 per person to drop to Royals refreshment package. However, even limiting ourselves to 2 alcoholic drinks we would be spending more than for the deluxe package. There are technically only 2 port days since private island is only other stop.
What is included in the package varies by cruise line and some have different levels that include different things like premium beverages, bottled water, what wine is included, espresso…
This is true for carnival cruise lines that i know. As being someone who goes on a cruise regularly, having the drink package is worth the money when taking everything into account. It's not just for alcohol and yes take this into consideration
Worth it !!!
Not worth it if u don't drink a lot. You can bring a 12 pack of sodas/water and 1 bottle of wine/champagne on the cruise. What's free - coffee, tea, water, juice, and milk.
I just don't like the way *everything* is extra cost.
That’s the biggest reason I prefer land based all-inclusives.
This confuses me. You eat breakfast in the mdr or buffet, lunch at whatever quick serve options the line has or the buffet, dinner in the main dining room, carnival has options for free specialty dining. You don’t pay for the shows. Don’t pay for a towel. What exactly isn’t included that you expect to be?
@@DEPUTYGETSOME Drink packages (even nonalcoholic ones), Wifi, shore excursions, specialty dining,
@@R32R38 Wi-Fi and a non alcoholic drink package aren’t used by everyone? Why would they up prices to include things people don’t use? And I would never expect shore excursions to be included. When you book a hotel you don’t get included catamaran trips or river tubing.
You said everything costs extra, when it clearly doesn’t and you can 100% have a great vacation without buying packages. Or go on virgin, no up charging 🤷🏻♂️
Then pay more and go on a luxury line. You can’t expect from a budget line to pay for your tours 😂😂
We like early dining at 5:30 then hit the Windjammer around 8 pm.
I like the balcony because my husband snores. If it is just me and our daughter, we get an inside or porthole cabin.
There have been a few times when we book a last minute cruise (3 weeks before it sets sale) and we get a late embarkation time. We fly in a day early and most hotels have a noon checkout time. We may be able to find some where to spend an hour but then we head to the port. We never ask to board early. They see us sitting there and they always ask us our boarding time. We tell them 2:30 and they say just to go ahead and board. This is when we go out of Miami.
Yes, the only time I've had to wait was being about 10 minutes early when it was also early in boarding. There were still a lot of people around. Usually no one even asks.
Def not hard on a week long cruise for the drink package, you are forgetting it includes EVERYTHING. Specialty coffees, water bottles, energy drinks, smoothies, soda. Not to mention you have the ability to try something and if you dont like it, get something else for free.
Not all cruise lines have every type of drink included.
If you're a bit of a klutz,like me, you don't even feel bad about spilling one. Other than for the crew needing to clean up your mess.
Our drink package also gave us the basic WiFi package and our drink package is usable on coco cay! Well worth it to us!
The drink package that includes cocktails on our ship is $60/person/day. Can we plausibly buy 3 $15 cocktails + 3 $3 sodas + 2 $5 coffees per person in a day - absolutely. But if we are trying to save any money on our trip, there is no way we would spend $840/cabin/week on beverages! We can get a lot of mileage from the “free” beverages. The point of the video isn’t to say that it’s a scam, just that you may not get your money’s worth.
You still have to drink like 7+ specialty drinks a day to make it worth it at carnival prices. I've looked into it but I think, at least for me, paying for bottomless bubbles and purchasing specialty drinks a la carte is the better option.
Very informative and useful as usual! I wrote the same comment already some months ago: I really love the way you're able to stand out doing cruise videos that are different from those from the other "big names" (Emma, Don, Tony, J, ... ). Way to go!
I really love your videos, fresh information that you're not going to see elsewhere
We have never spent more than $150/week for drinks for the two of us on a cruise. Most of what we drink is free (coffee, teas, hot chocolate, mocha, milk, juice, flavored drinks, water and the occasional prosecco at events) on top of our 2 bottles of wine and dozen sodas. On a 2022 transpacific cruise the drink package would have cost us CAD $3600 (both need to get it plus mandatory "gratuities"). I realized that we were getting pretty close to enough cruise days for status. For CAD$2800 we booked a 9 night southern Caribbean cruise ($3100 including gratuities) which pushed us into diamond with 4 drinks each per day plus unlimited espresso (which we couldn't keep up with) for our transpacific. Saved $500 and got an extra cruise.
💯
You should also count in the non-alcoholic drinks, and not just to calculations based on beer and cocktails. It's kind of stupid that almost all vloggers that talk about drink packages only take the alcohol in concideration.
Exactly! It usually includes fancy coffee drinks too which - for people like me- it really adds up!
Me and my wife is not an alcoholic Drinker what should we do!!??😢
@davidbrooks8809 most of the cruiselines also have drink packages that don't include alcoholic drinks. They are also a lot cheaper. Also you don't have to take any kind of package, just drink the complimentary stuff
@@MikaTyniwhat can you typically get complimentary in terms of drinks? I was surprised to see that bottled water isn’t included. I usually carry my water bottle with me to refill. Are there juices, etc?
yes water, juice, coffee, tea @@blair7484
The drink package was honestly the best part of the cruise. The freedom to drink nearly whatever and dislike it was something great. Morning mimosas will be missed.
This is a great point regarding drink packages. It’s a chunk up front but def gives you the freedom to try different drinks and incur a bunch of individual charges and feel obligated to a drink you ordered that you didn’t care for.
If one wants to throw money away on drinks and hangovers.
@cockerspaniel4706 If you're too weak to handle some drinks, then that's on you. Hangovers are for chumps.
@@ashleynicholegibbs $59.95 per person per day. So for a couple on an 18 day cruise, $2,158. Lol waste.
never considered a drink package for a cruise longer than 8 days lol. tbh thats too long of a cruise but to each their own. i imagine they would have a deal for you @Gregory-Masovutch
I would definitely take your lifestyle & personality into account when choosing whether or not to get the balcony, regardless of trip length. As an introvert and outdoorsy person, it is an absolute necessity for me to have a private outdoor getaway spot on a longer trip! (I also enjoy being able to pop outside and check the weather & watch the docking process from my room on port days.)
If you are more outgoing & prefer to hang out by the pool, in the bars, casinos or such, it's probably not going to be as important for you to have a balcony.
Don't get me wrong. I LOVE having a balcony. I'd sail with one every time. But I also realized that I use it literally minutes a day. Longer trips I find myself out there more. Shorter trips? It's typically just pop in and out occasionally.
Neither of us drink so a drinks package is a waste of time for us. We drink what is provided for free, tea coffee and water, glass of bubbly on formal night and maybe the very odd drink at the bar. We would never make a drinks package pay.
Fantastic tips!!! I'm actually going to try an interior on a 14 day transatlantic through RCI. I love the complete darkness at night in interior rooms and find I can always catch beautiful quiet views from a handful of places on any ship. I hope it's not a huge mistake! I completely agree about the drink packages. The only time I find a package worth it is those virtual coffee punch cards when I'm taking my daughters along with us on RCI. Thanks again, you've saved me a ton of money with your tips!!!
I've done one cruise in my life much of what he said makes sense. I did a 12 day Med island hopping cruise on Holland America on the Westerdam when it was new and on its second voyage. I loved that the gratuities were built in to the price and there was no tipping allowed. I loved that! We need more of that tipping is not allowed culture. Tipping has gone insanely out of control.
We got a balcony and since it was our first cruise, I'm glad we did. However, even on days out at sea, which there were several, we really didn't spend much time out there. I'm an ex grunt, so I can sleep in mud in the pouring rain and an inside cabin probably would have been just fine. Me personally, I'll save the money and get an inside cabin.
If you are out Greek Island hopping, we did an excursion at every stop. I love history. Some of the places are really incredible. However, by the third ancient ruins, you start to realize that looking at a bunch of old rocks...gets old. Do a couple must sees like Ephesus and Santorini. Do ones that are unique. Skip the rest. Ancient ruins tend to all look the same after a while.
I love kids. I've been working with elementary kids the last two years. I was a very involved dad when my girls were little. But, I loved that Holland America was an older crowd and I was young at the time. It was such a calm chill experience. While I can handle the chaos of other people's kids going crazy, I'm glad that was one less stress to deal with if cruising without kids and wanting to get away.
Honestly, if you make the cruise about the cruise, you can have a fantastic time. The ship has all kinds of stuff to do. It's great to eat a quiet meal wherever you like while everyone else is out on excursions.We had one such day and I loved it.
Unless things have changed, there was no need to pay extra for a fancy meal. The main dining for us was already much fancier than any sit down restaurant we'd typically visit. The other included self serve eating places in lieu of the main dining were also pretty good, and at your own pace and time.
Offshore excursions are so curated and limited in most cases. It's more like an intro to this fun place or that. An intro. You don't really get to fully immerse. If you like some place, go back and make that your exclusive destination. You'll get so much more out of it unless you do only touristy things. You can go off on your own, and that is fun, but your time is limited.
If you only want to do touristy things, it's usually the same experience anywhere you go. Why would you pay extra for that? Go do something touristy near your home and save a ton on hotels and flights. Like I said, just enjoy the ship. That's what you're paying for and then people will pay thousands of dollars extra to do something else. What?
If I do another cruise, and I probably will, for me, the ship is the destination.
Well spoken and good comments!
P&O do pay attention to boarding times from Southampton. Plus you have no say in selecting your preferred boarding time. If you turn up early they make you wait outside the terminal. Only once they've finished processing those with earlier arrival times will they start letting those in the queue enter the terminal prior to their boarding time, but still in order of the passenger's boarding times.
If you've 200 nights history of cruising with them you can rock up whenever you want.
We always turn up early at Southampton usually at midday even if our boarding time is 2.00 pm My husband is a wheelchair user and it takes ages to get out of the car, get it collected and then get the luggage loaded and him into the terminal. They have never sent us away yet and we get taken straight through.
@@cafsixtieslover We encountered the outdoor queue on our Christmas sailing. I think it's comparatively new. Any who could not stand or handle the cold were sent to the arrivals hall which was under cover and had seats, but you'd not know if your boarding time was being called early. You also go there if you need the loo.
Passengers with sufficiently high Peninsular Club points had "Priority Boarding" on their boarding cards and could jump the queue. Same for suite guests.
"Growing food" does not increase carbon emissions. Transport, yes, not the growing.
I wish my wife was ok with interior rooms. I do have to admit though that she spends 3 or 4 hours each day on the balcony. She starts her day by spending at least 2 hours on the balcony and then we usually end the day with another hour on the balcony.
I spend a lot of time on the balcony as well. I usually end up napping. But I don’t need one. My husband rarely sits on the balcony with me
I like to go out there if the sun is on the opposite side. I read, drink coffee and nap.
Yes, i have booked a shore excursion on Royal Caribbean and checked prices later. If a shore excursion drops in price, i ask for a refund, then rebook. Just make sure there are spaces available.
I also check cruise prices and have called Royal and gotten a credit to my open account as you cannot have paid your cruise in full, then ask for a price adjustment.
Boarding times are not really followed because the check in process has gotten much faster and therefore it just does not matter anymore
I quit the spa for good. Big heavy sale pressure. They had my sea pass and I couldn’t leave without it. Massage at home before and after the cruise.
Please explain. This makes no sense.
Saw my cruise go up for sale this week so I went through all the steps to buy a similar cabin and the price was the same for a guaranteed cabin. When we booked, a guaranteed upgrade was part of the deal so I expect that to happen soon and more likely than not, whoever books a guaranteed cabin will wind up in my original choice. It's always good to watch the sales just to be sure but, you're likely to lose some of your benefits by rebooking just to save a very small amount of money
Great video! A few i already do and a few I will start to do! They was all amazing tips. I got my carnival FIRENZY this summer. Can’t wait. They adding lots of new ones to the lbc port. And I live by it so it’s nice.. I been on the radiance a few times and panorama last summer. Can’t wait to see this Italian style fun. I been watching vids on the east coast version the Venezia lol
I can say that Royal Caribbean seems to at least give the appearance of enforcement of their check-in time ranges. We are always asked to show our Set Sail Pass outside the terminal, and then we're directed to the line for our assigned time. Now we've never arrived terribly far outside our assigned time, but I suspect we'd get at least some pushback if we did. I'm not saying that they'd deny us boarding, but I wouldn't be surprised if we were required to wait. Also, we do try to arrive close to our assigned time as we don't like getting stuck in huge lines ourselves.
Great info on the back of the ship pollution. Didn't know this.
When the drink package is bundled in with other things, the value is far greater. For example, Princess Plus ($60/day) and Princess Premier ($80/day) also include gratuities, WiFi, some extra-cost dining, and a few other perks. I have calculated that it only takes a couple of alcoholic beverages or one alcoholic beverage plus a couple of specialty coffees/sodas/juices each day to break even. I believe HAL has a similar package.
That Princess offer is a great one. I booked it last year even though I don't drink much. It was still a good deal.
That princess plus is a fantastic deal.
Nowadays you can't find a good deal unless it's last minute and those are starting to go away too Black Friday Cyber Monday this year was not as great as the year before
Thanks for the dinner any time. I dont like assigned times definitely gonna use this tip.
This is great! I'll be in Amber Cove next month on my cruise and we don't have an excursion booked - we're just going to enjoy the beach if the weather is awesome. :) This makes me feel better about that decision!
Amber cove is beautiful but it’s not a private island owned by a cruise company so anything you do will cost money even to go to the beach because it’s not at the port! Lots to offer in DR though, enjoy!
I did the Eco tour in Amber Cove and helped a female Co-op plant Cacao seeds and learned both the old way and the new way to make chocolate.
We filled assorted orders and were able to take home some chocolate.
I had fun, but it is not for everyone. I did not find the beach there, but probably wasn't looking very hard for it.
Amber jewelry can be expensive at the Port shops.
Just pay as you go on drinks.
Best advice is know yourself and roommates. Some people it is better to pay as you go and some will spend more this way. Drink packages isn't just alcohol drinks.
Chris, of the lines you have been on, which one do you think has the best daily buffet? thanks
I’m not Chris, but i would say that Celebrity has the best buffet, especially on the Edge class ships.
@@davidhurwitz2291 Thanks, Can you get good deals on Celebrity or is it always expensive?
@@angelofamillionyears4599 You can get good deals on Celebrity if you book a cabin in December between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Also, we sometimes book inside cabins, which are bigger on Celebrity- 170 - 200 square feet. The older ships are cheaper the. the newer ships. Some cruise lines are more expensive (like RCCL) because they have amusement parks on board. Celebrity does not have those features.
@@angelofamillionyears4599 I have found some really good value cruises, but on the older ships (Not the EDGE class ships) the buffet was very good on Millennium on our Japan cruise last month. Check Cruise Plum to search by price per night.
I RECOMMEND getting the cheers package. Its a wonderful feeling not having to budget yourself! it's nice to just walk up to any bar (even at dinner) to have someone to MIX YOUR DRINK! LOL... ALSO please remember ! CHEERS PACKAGE includes other non- alcohol drinks!!! only problem I have purchasing the cheers package when you are traveling with others -why does everyone in your cabin that is 21 and over need to purchase the package - I DISAGEE with these policy -for example what if someone is pregnant, in recovery, or just doesn't drink! - it would be great if they could purchase the bubbly package in these cases... stamp on their VIFP card if they are CHEERs or BUBBLES Packages. Just a thought...
I think they can be excused for those reasons
Royal Caribbean, today, July 2024, the Drink Package (w/alcohol), including 18% gratuity, is $99 and change per person per day.
That's more than what they charge for the interior state room.
Strangely enough, they don't advertise the price on their web-site.
We got sick last 2 cruises. How can we avoid getting sick?
Anytime dining is mandatory for us. Definitely planning on ordering the extra entree. As a rule I try the “rare finds” so I can experience new things. Would be nice to have a backup in case I were unable to eat it lol.
Very informative thank you I’m a first time cruiser
Glad it was helpful!
These are great tips! Especially the boarding call times and dining times. I was always afraid they were super strict about that stuff! Glad to know there is flexibility if we need it 👍
Fixed dining is only for those who really want the same table and waiter each evening. The disadvantage of not choosing fixed dining or NCL without any fixed dining option is you sometimes will be waiting over half an hour for a table.
Since we usually have several people, fixed dining suits us. Like the efficiency,and getting to know dining staff and they know our preferences. If we had to decide where and when to eat every day, we could starve before we all agree! Also love sailing past all those waiting in the "anytime" dining line!
We got a good deal on our Royal Caribbean cruise. We got $50 a day for the Alcohol drink package AND internet. Also remember that specialty coffees, juice and soda are part of that also. Not all your drinks need to be alcoholic. I know my package was worth it, especially when you add the no worries about price once you're on board. I admit I am a bit of a lush, especially when it comes to my Guinness, but being able to add a shot of Baileys to my morning iced coffee is gold.
What? When? How? That's a killer deal.
We got ours for a 12 night transatlanticin October on Adventure on Black Friday for $48 or $56 once gratuities were added.
Oh that Black Friday sail is legit. I got a jet ski drive and Thrill waterpark for about $100 for both combined.
My friend got it for us on a 16 day sailing during the Black Friday sale. Still cost $800 but the math works out.
How did you do that?
How long was your cruise?
Thing with the sales is they can be complete BS. We recently got tickets for a cruise to Iceland and Greenland. On sale. Week or so later they had a 50% off sale. We checked that out in case it was better than what we purchased, nope. They cranked the base price so that even with 50% off, our cruise was still cheaper.
We regularly check to see if there are deals or specials we can get. Definitely a good idea to get something at a good price, then change it later if a better deal comes along.
My bff and I are going on our first cruise together in the near future. We are both the type who don't like crowds. We're getting a balcony cabin and I'm pretty sure that we'll be pn it a lot.
Based on your post, I think you'll love the balcony room. Sometimes, a break from the other cruisers is needed and welcome. If you haven't already started a pack list, I would HIGHLY suggest doing so. There are so many tips you'll probably want to follow, but don't forget to bring EMPTY refillable water bottles and/or coffee/tea travel mugs, ziploc bags and a few plastic containers in case you want to keep a few snacks from the buffet in the room. The cooler in the room keep items cool but not ultra cold. Plus check your cruise line's policy to bring drinks on board. For example with Carnival, each person can bring a 12 pack of CANNED drinks (keep in carton) AND 1 bottle of wine or champagne per adult. You just have to carry it on. Dont forget COMFORTABLE shoes. If you and bff aren't already in shape, I would suggest start walking now because it'll help you have a more pleasurable time. All in all, have fun!!🎉
Mile marker 0. Been to Key West several times but never been there on a cruise ship.
Balconies are a must for me, especially on sea days when everywhere is crowded. I love to eat on my balcony and relax. I had an ocean view but prefer my balcony!
Thanks a lot for these tips. Some confirmed what I already knew, while others taught me something new. Re. the private islands, yes, I've noticed that many cruise lines are padding their itineraries with these stops. Sometimes even two in one sailing! I'm so annoyed when I see these itineraries with stops at private islands, because: 1) I already live on an island and am not even a huge beach fan, and 2) I believe that it deprives 'real islands' of tourism earnings. So, I'm seeking a Caribbean itinerary that'll allow me to explore the history and culture of other islands.
It made no sense to arrive when boarding opens before they started scheduling times. I always targeted after 1:00
Regarding the drink packet ; I was told it included specialty coffees, sodas and water bottles. Is that true?
When drinks are included with other costs - such as gratuities and Wi-Fi - then the cost of the package can make more sense.
Great looking tile for a newb!! Can't wait to see what y'all build up there!!
Watch the book and cancel option if youre not from the US. You need to consider coversion rates and fees because it is charged in USD
Carnival did a sale where they are giving 200 dollars on board credit and $99 deposit per person. You have to book before june 30th. The last deal was no discount deposit and only 50 bucks per cabin obc
What do you think of the Royal Caribbean VIP The Key Pass. I just purchased it and it does include internet
We've had the Key and enjoyed most of the benefits. We only buy it if not much more per day than the internet alone.
Waste of money.
One comment about the drinks package on Carnival. It isn’t just alcohol. Specialty coffee, bottled juice and bottled water are some of the other things included. So for someone who has maybe 2 cocktails during the day, three during the evening plus waters, lattes, etc. the math does work. I do agree to buy before you cruise and take advantage of the advanced purchase discount is a must.
Not true. Depends on the oine
Please do not tell people to show up outside of their scheduled time. They schedule them for a reason and it causes back ups for people who are actually following the process. Absolutely do not follow this tip and show up when you’re supposed to. If you want an early boarding time, pay for priority boarding or stay up until midnight and make sure you get it. Don’t make other peoples day harder because you aren’t responsible.
Exactly!
I definitely bring my own everything.
Good video. Learn a few things thx so much
Can we get a drink card for unlimited specialty teas and coffees for non drinkers? thanks
GREAT INFORMATION THANKS FOR SHARING.
My fiance and I really don't drink should we buy the package anyway??.. taking a cruise in August
I don't know what cruise line you are sailing, but they should probably have a non-alcoholic drink package of some kind (with things like soda) that you can choose to buy instead. But there will always be some drinks (water, perhaps tea, lemonade, etc.) which are free, so you might find you don't need to pay extra for drinks at all.
When we sailed Royal Caribbean recently, we didn't purchase a drink package at all, but just paid individually for the occasional extra-cost drinks we did have. It worked out way cheaper for us!
i would not if you don't drink heavy . waste of money
there are many other drink packages that don't include alcohol, if you enjoy coffee or teas, juices, etc, you could get those. But if you really don't mind, just forget the packages and order as you go. A tip: you can check the prices of beverages from your cruise and do an estimate of how many drinks you and your fiance could order (realistically) per day and check if the drink packages are worth it. Also consider how many ports you´ll visit (since you will be out of the ship for many hours, you won't be able to drink as much as you would on sea days)
I agree with the other comments. If you are big drinkers, don't do it. Me and my other half will just pay as we go or get a few pitchers but since the policy is we would both have to get it, I sincerely doubt we'll spend $700 on just drinks (the price it would be for our upcoming). Even during staycations, we MIGHT each have 2 or 3 before we're tapping out. Put that extra money on something else 😊
Carnival Venezia, restaurant employees are very generous. They do not charge an extra fee for food.
Thank you, very helpful.
I whole heartedly disagree with your drink package opinion. It’s includes specialty coffees, smoothies, etc. 80 is 8-10 drinks. It’s vacation. Better than getting a 6-700 bill at the end.
As they say, your mileage may vary. I have been cruising 44 years, and 8:30 pm dining time is our preference. My first cruise only had one seating, at 6 pm, and another cruise we had Any Time dining, which in realty was, wait 90 minutes for a table, NEVER EVER EVER again. Always late seating 830 pm. But, full disclosure, we are people who favor to dine at a slower pace. We don't want to be rushed out of early seating dinner so they can set up for late seating. Oh, and on that first cruise with one seating, dinner was a 3 1/2 hour, 12 course production.
Things have changed drastically. Cruising used to be top shelf all inclusive. Not main dinning room is Glorified nursing home food. That is why they have so many resturants. If you’re paying to go on a cruise ship. Usually the food and entertainment is why you’re going. In my opinion of course.
But if you arrive before your boarding time and are not allowed on at the time you arrive please don’t complain on line or otherwise ….as it is really your own issue since you were assigned a time!
It's worth noting that the balcony cabins are more spacious inside than the ones without. So even when you are not using the balcony that much, your room will still be nicer and feel less claustrophobic.
Are last minute cruise deals worth the wait? Thanks
I am pretty sure the premium Royal Caribbean drink package also includes sodas and coffee’s made with espresso so it’s not just alcohol-especially if you like cappuccino’s or latte’s!
Drink package is worth it but you gotta pace yourself. Here my schedule port days wake 6 am 4-5 mixed drinks before getting off the boat. Then hammer them when I get back on board. Remember you got 10 to drink before bedtime. At sea drink in hand from the time you wake up until you go to bed. Live like a true alcoholic for a week and see how the other half lives.
😂my goal: you can't be an all day drinker if you don't start first thing in the morning 🌄
4-5 mix drinks and you're almost break even 😂
dpkt forget the old "shower 🍺 🍻 🍺!" omg soooo good in the early morning 🌄 👌 lol
IMHO, short cruises are a waste. By the time I pay the airfare to get to the port and go thru the hassle of flying, I may as well stay awhile. Also, long cruises can often be more cost effective, especially if they are repositioning cruises. Very funny....when I am booking a cruise, my cruise partner finds a balcony to be essential....but when her fiance's family invites her, an inside is just fine. One place I do feel a balcony is essential is on Virgin Voyages. Sorry, but that hammock is glorious and I do spend time on the balcony.
Are there hairdryers in our cabins on the ships?
Yes, built in so you don't have to bring one.
I think each person is different. When we first started sailing , I thought , an inside cabin is perfect for me, because I hate the sun coming in when I have a migraine. But last time we got a free upgrade to a balcony and it was wonderful and I won’t cruise without it. I spent most of my time there. I like having an early set time for dinner. Everything is customized to you.
Never would get my full worth for the drink package. On an 8 day cruise, I typically spend under $100. I have been told that I could drop my bags early, but would need to come back 15 mins before my check-in time.
totally worth it for a short 3 or 4 day cruise if you enjoy top shelf liquor and expensive mixers like energy drinks.
Have you a vid on how to finance , 'lay away,' something to hold a Cruise? Newbie.
We never get the big drink packages and always come out ahead. Last cruise we spent $700 on drinks for 3 of us. We drank whatever we wanted. The drink package was going to be $1300 for 2!! Insane.
On Carnival cruise the 2nd entrée is free. Passengers are charged for the 3rd entrée.
On drink package, if traveling with a non drinker you can buy a solo package, you just need to call them and explain travel mate doesn't drink.
On which cruise line did u do this on ? Please? I have my senior mom and adult kids 21 and they don’t drink but we are all in same cabin 😮? Thanks
@@ab2396 royal carribean honored the request jan 2024.
very helpful !
6 cocktails in a day? 6 can easily be done in 2 hours.
I was on 20dy didn't get drink pkg, found 2/1 every night in 2 bars, carried 2drink to dining. Or was served 2nd later in eve. Purchase others as i wanted. O/v is fine for most cruises, inside i did 1x. Tv bow camera would give day sight
The food in the pay specialty restaurants on the newer cruise ships is the same quality as the main dinning room and thus the specialty restaurant is a waste of money
one supplier, one storeroom, one prep kitchen where everything is mised before it is sent around to the various venues. Specialty restaurants on ONE ship are the biggest conm
The drink package: getting your "money's worth" by drinking 10 beers a day also requires you to value those beers at EIGHT dollars a bottle! The real way to value the drink package is to take a step back and ask if you can drink $75 worth of beer in a day... every day for several days (or a week?) in a row.
If I'm going to drink beer on a cruise, I wait until I'm in port. A bottle of beer in any Carib port is around ONE dollar a bottle, which is a more reasonable value.
Yes, the sales are always happening.
We do not purchase a drink package: promotes over consumption mentality which is not healthy IMO! Getting your monies worth vs healthy enjoyment is a no brainer for us! I purchase bevies as I like and find my bill is not outrageous. I agree on the boarding time indifference….we’ve not had a problem on-boarding at all. I like the portion sizes in the dining room…you can always find food! Thanks Tanner! 😊
You're welcome! And yes, there's always something to eat somewhere.
Well really anytime dying in the main dining room on Royal Caribbean is still a signed dining time. Maybe 5:30 6:30 it is still an assigned time it is not it is not like on Norwegian where it is come when you want to eat
Can you bring your own bottle water. What drinks are free
How much are domestic beers on Carnival's Sunshine?? Thanks!!
About $6-8
The carnival ecstacy! That was my first cruise!
Man I live on the balcony. I could sit there for hours.
Incorrect about the drink package….
They charge gratuity for EVERY drink you buy…averages $2 a drink.
So a $14 drink is over $16 and beers are close to $10.
Plus bottles water, coffees, sodas, juices are all included.
Great Info To Know. Thanks For Sharing 🎉😮
Don't like drink packages. Not a big drinker. Maybe two drinks a day. Sometimes even a third, but, not often. Prefer the aft section of the ship. Cruise lines would like me. Big eater. Not a RCCL fan. Do like Celebrity though, or at least, used to. Bring a small pharmacy with me too. Like older ships myself. This is true. Not that much time is actually spent on the balcony. Not a fan of private islands. Some are okay. Crime is a big problem in Nassau. Yes, did learn a few things. Already subscribed and hit the like button.
Do you mind sharing why you prefer Celebrity over RCC?
@@tanyakrumsky6887 Celebrity Cruise Line has better food than does RCCL. Celebrity Cruise Line has better service than does RCCL. When my wife wanted to go to the Johnny Rockets restaurant the wait staff wanted my room key. They held onto it for more than 30 minutes. When I asked for it back the waitress had a fit. I thought she would quit when I asked for steak sauce. They brought my wife's food and not mine, then they brought mine when my wife was finished with hers. The only time I saw someone so drunk they couldn't sit in their seat in the MDR was on a RCCL ship.
I don't drink.. should I get the drink package or not.. all I drink is soda..iced tea and O.J...and regular water..😮
@@davidbrooks8809 You could always ask the cruise line what is included in the drink package. On Princess Cruises I like the specialty coffees.
@@davidbrooks8809 No
Do cruise Lines cater towards food allergies? If Deathly Allergic to tomatoes For example? In all seriousness?
no
All ships' drink packages are not priced the same. Ours was on the cheaper end. Four cocktails per day makes it worth it.