Cruising has changed considerably over the years. No longer are cruises considered simply either the exclusive province of the “newly-weds and nearly-deads” or alternatively, a nonstop drinking party, fueled by duty-free liquor.
In fact, as cruise lines look for new sources of revenue at the same time they slash prices, alcohol prices onboard have now climbed to and above the levels of many land-based bars and restaurants. (Although fortunately not to the levels of the $15-$20 big-city martinis.) Which means, for passengers who like to imbibe, a potentially rude shock when they get their bar bills. Especially for those who can’t resist the lure of waiters walking around with trays of “Bahama Mamas.”
Now, a new collection of all-you-can-drink cruise options is being offered by some of the biggest cruise lines.
Some of the luxury cruise lines, Regent, Seabourn and Silversea, include liquor and many wines in their tariffs. Although they don’t exactly cater to party crowds.
Celebrity Cruise Lines, a line also not known for a party-boat atmosphere, is trying out an optional separate all-inclusive drink package of their own.
These all-you-can-drink options don’t come cheap. Frozen drinks, like pina coladas and perhaps those “Bahama Mamas” will be unlimited for $22 a day; beer – domestic and imported – $34 a day; regular liquors $51 a day; and premium liquors like Grey Goose, $76 a day.
The frozen-drinks package might be easily worth it for those who like to sip such concoctions by the pool. But for more standard adult beverages, the prices mean passengers will be knocking back at least six to seven drinks a day to make it worth it.
Interestingly enough, Celebrity Cruise Lines, along with Azamara Cruise Lines, is owned by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, a line with much more of a party reputation. It’s probably not an accident that Royal Caribbean is trying this experiment out on one of their more sedate brands.
Still, when awareness of alcohol related problems is at an all-time high, and one state (New Mexico) is even trying to ban alcohol sales on flights over the state, it seems like odd timing for this promotion.
Now, to be fair, on board a ship no one except the captain is driving, except presumably passengers who rent their own cars for shore excursions. And despite all the media attention anytime a passenger disappears, it really is very difficult to fall overboard.
But as anyone who has ever watched fellow passengers trying to “get their money’s worth” at an onboard buffet knows, some people definitely have this “I paid for this, I want to take full advantage” attitude.
Not to mention those who try to overindulge with the free drinks in first class, although at least on a plane, a confined space and limited servers mean a somewhat easier job in overseeing passengers.
And while I am a big fan of Oscar Wilde’s saying “Moderation in all things, including moderation,” I am not sure I would want a cabin next to people celebrating a birthday with an “all you can drink” package. For that matter, there’s also the issue of who, if anyone, decides when a passenger has had enough.
Cruise ship bartenders work largely for tips, and will probably be reluctant to annoy guests. And having watching security try ineffectually just to get sober passengers to remove their children from adults-only hot tubs, I can only imagine what luck they would have trying to cut off a group of drunk 20-somethings.
What do you think? Is the idea of a flat rate for onboard drinking your idea of a dream cruise, or a nightmare?
photo by smoosh21/flickr.com/creative commons
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Bad idea- even if it is a bit difficult to fall off a ship, drinking is the number one reason that happens (as mentioned in my previous article).
But its about more than the small chance you’ll go diving – its about the rudeness and boorish behavior of those that drink too much on cruises. (Who admittedly would spoil the opportunity for the thrifty and responsible drinkers). I witnessed a screaming lovers spat on one cruise that was definitely upped a few notches by the fact that both verbal combatants were blitzed. Another time I saw a room service tray shoved outside the door covered in vomit (not definitive, but I’m betting due to alcohol).
Although no one’s driving but the captain, ships are confining. I don’t want to get stuck onboard with hundreds of drunks. At home I can leave the bar, onboard I’m stuck.
Laura’s last line was my first thought when I saw the title of this article.
On our last cruise, we hung around the pool only once. The behavior of the drunks by 11am was tiring. It wasn’t funny when they were age 18 and it certainly isn’t funny at age 40 or 50 or 60 or…!
Interesting comparison for us was that at an all inclusive in Costa Rica, we never saw this behavior. What does a cruise do to make people act like idiots?
Yes, this is a horrible, horrible idea. With a separate charge for the all-you-can-drink, people will certainly be over-indulging to get their money’s worth. The charge is too high to discourage over-drinking, but lowering it would cause it to be a money-loser.
Including in the cruise price makes sense, a separate all-you-can-drink fee does not. I hope they change their minds.
SirWired
Bad idea if you ask me. You said it best – I can guarantee that if I pay $51 for a day’s worth of drinks, you better believe I’m going to be doing the math to make sure I get my money’s worth. On the flip side, there’s going to be lots of people getting ripped off; they think they’re getting a deal by paying $51 a day for unlimited liquor, without realizing that for a moderate drinker who might have 2-3 throughout the day, you’re getting royally screwed at that price. It’s kind of like the prepaid fuel option at the rental car counter – the price looks great, until you realize, how many times do you actually bring the car back with exactly zero gas left in the tank?
Honestly, I’m OK with it. It seems that any time I’ve been in a “drinks inclusive” environment, there are fewer bad drunks. Some weird reverse psychology thing perhaps? People more aware of pacing themselves knowing there is no “limit” or financial constraint.
There is a big difrference between an all-inclisuve resort or even a line like Regent that includes drinks in their fares and a separate all-you-can-drink charge. In the former cases it’s part of the deal but with no real indication of what it may cost. In the latter case you know exactly what you are paying and therefore the temptation (incentive?) to get what you paid for is, in my opinion, too great. This is a BAD idea.
Awful idea. There are enough “drunks” on board the ship when they have to pay high prices for their drinks. Unlimited for a price would even make matters worse. RCCI is my favorite cruise line and we cruise very often and are up there in our C&A society. This is just not a swift idea. Can you imagine how many people will fall overboard/get into fights etc. UGH!!!
The high prices will ensure that the partaker will want to get his money’s worth.
“beer – domestic and imported – $34 a day;” @ $6 a beer, any drinker would consider he’s has an obligation to drink at least six beers to benefit. And if he missed his minimum quota, make up for it the next day.
I’ll pay $10 to $1 that each price quoted does not include a mandatory 15% gratuity, so add that to your final total of your account.
Celebrity is a good candidate for this experiment. They have the most restrictive policy of smuggling beer/liquor on board, even in checked luggage: kicking you off the ship. Inspecting/xraying all carry-ons for contraband at each port has eliminated smuggling duty-free. Celebrity DOES now let you bring on two bottles of wine once, only at the port of departure, to drink in the privacy of your stateroom. I haven’t been able to talk the cruiseline provided shuttle from the airport to stop at a wine store on the way to the ship. This may be a benefit for those who are not boarding straight from the airport, if they are aware of the policy.
A very good program I’ve used on Holland Amrerica: Wine by the glass punch cards, available in ten or 20 glass increments. Got the house brands (very tasty) down to around $5/ glass, cards were usable through the entire cruise, and not tied to a single person (if you lost it–you lost it like a $100 bill) where it was scanned. You may have guessed it, you pay a mandatory 15% gratuity on the card when you buy it. Now how the person who sells the cards divies up the gratuities with all the waiters who serve you….
Memorial to the tourist
Lost at sea
Slipped on the vomit from
Cruise binge fraternity
RIP
Nobody was faster
All of you “Nanny State” controllers should sail on Seabourn, Silverseas or Regent as I have (12 voyages on these lines) and see that you are incorrect about acohol abuse. They are NOT “party” ships and the level of the drinking varies, but I have yet to see or experience the kind of behavior cited here.
Some people, whether the booze if inclusive or not, will behave in a boorish fashion, but it’s usually hardly ever done on the higher priced cruise lines. Perhaps it’s because the cruise staff would quietly take an offender aside and let them know that their behavior is unbecoming. Book and find out!