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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