To Drink or Not to Drink, That is the Question

Those of you who follow us know we went on our first cruise in May. It was a 10 day eastern Caribbean cruise that our friends Jerry and Shannon invited us to go on since they each won a free cruise. That being said, it was more of a “free” cruise than a free-free cruise, because there were extra costs that can’t be avoided like port fees and taxes. And then there are extras to consider – like excursions and whether or not to get “the drink package”. To drink or not to drink, that is the question we will explore this week.

Offer to Upgrade…for a Small Fee

With it being our first cruise we upgraded to a balcony suite. The only other thing we had to consider was whether to get the drink package or not. Our initial thought was “No dealing way!” At a cost of $60 per day that would come to $1200 for the both of us for the duration of the cruise.

Unpacking the Package

More than just alcoholic

After doing a little research we discovered that there was much more included in the package besides just alcohol. In addition to cocktails, beer, and wine (up to 15 drinks per day) we would also get unlimited bottled water, specialty coffees, a juice bar, and a wide selection of non-alcoholic soft drinks. Ok, now we are starting to see the value in it.

But wait…there’s more!!

The non-beverage perks

I know this is starting to sound like a late night infomercial but there really was more. Okay, we were starting to see the value. We also got WiFi for the duration of the cruise, pre-paid tips for the crew, two premium desserts per day, and unlimited room service. It was obvious at this point that for $60 a day this was actually a pretty good deal. We found out how good it was once we got on board and discovered how much we would have spent had we not gotten the package.

Would 15 Drinks a Day REALLY be Enough?

Days 1 and 2

We boarded the ship around 10:30 am and had our first drink in hand by 11:30. I was wondering if 15 drinks per day were going to be enough considering we’d start with a Bloody Mary at breakfast and end up with late night cocktails whilst enjoying the casino and nightly entertainment.

The first couple of days we made sure to get our requisite 15 drinks to make sure we were getting our monies worth. In order to do so that meant at the end of the day if we didn’t use all our drinks we would just order room service before midnight and have beers delivered to the room for the following day.

Days 3 and 4

By day three, it became quite obvious that there was no way we were going to go thru all of our drinks each day. In addition to waking up with bonus beers in the fridge from the day before (nothing like an ice cold Red Stripe first thing in the morning to get you going), our friend Jerry taught us a little trick. If we ordered Foster’s beer, they brought us a 24 ounce can. So essentially we were getting two beers for the price of one!!

The Bar Tender / Waiter Conspiracy

If that weren’t enough, once we got to know the bartenders at the various bars and venues and our waiter for dinner, we were often getting drinks that were off book. I’d go almost all day drinking and when I checked to see how many beverages I’d consumed that day, most of my allotted drinks had not been used yet.

Quest Ended – Day 5

By day 5 I had given up my quest to make sure I consumed all the drinks I could to maximize my drink package. A loftier goal had taken its place and I switched over to making sure I tried as many different and new drinks. Each night at we settled in at Crooner’s Bar before dinner I would try one or two things that I have never had before. Since I could just get something else if I don’t like it, there was no risk.

Was it Worth It?

Because it seems like all we did for ten days was eat and drink we never got around to having any specialty desserts. We did make sure to consume copious amounts of water and coffee. Not sure how it is with other cruise lines but if you are going on a Princess Cruise we highly recommend getting the drink package. When we go on our next one we know we certainly will!!

Join Us for the Rest of the Journey!

In the weeks ahead, we’ll share our time in the Bahamas, St. Thomas, Dominica, St. Lucia, Martinique and Antigua. Which island was most beautiful? What did we do all day when we were at sea? Did Jill ever throw up?? We know you’re curious to find out. If you haven’t subscribed yet, what are you waiting for. It’s totally free and everyone is doing it. (You wouldn’t want to miss out, right?) And you can see what we’re up to in real time on Instagram at The__Travel__Oracle. This coming weekend, we’re going to prison. No really!