Each of the bar-drinks on the ship are not much more expensive than buying them in the pubs and restaurants on land. I expect the average heavy drinker would rather be 'pushing it' to spend as much as £119.00 on drink in only one week.

At £119.00 for a week, one would have to spend about £18.00 per day on drinks. One large fruit cocktail served on deck is about £2.00. A beer or lager is around the same. To 'break even' one would have to drink at least 8 - 10 drinks per day, which is a massive fluid intake. To really get *value* by drinking more then £119.00 worth, in terms of indidvidual prices per drink, one would have really down the drinks almost one after another while on the ship and spend virtually the whole time, always with a glass in hand. When you look at the normal stomach capacity and health considerations, enough drink to make this only 'break even' would be almost too much for the human body (in most case) to reasonably manage. Then, for it be pay as a 'bargain' that is to drink more than that flat-rate value's worth, one would be going to 'dangerous' levels on the stomach and health front. A pretty bad idea if you ask me.

Imagine getting really stoned drunk *every* night on the whole holiday just to make this pay. One would have a bad hang-over every morning and therefore not be well enough to enjoy going out on the shore visits. Not a very good holiday to spend every day being 'ill'. And after a whole week solid of this, one would go home taking rather bad 'holiday souvenir (a lot of sickness)' back home with them, which would probably lead to taking another week off work (sick) to recover.

As far as I know, my two weeks on Carousel (May 4th - May 18th 2002) was the first two weeks on this new scheme on Air Tours/My travel ships. Apparently the unlimited drinks package will cost a lot more next year at £159.00 per person, how true this is, I am not sure. One would really have to drink an awful lot to get any value out of that.

If you just buy each drink as you go along without this package, you normally have to sign a paper for each drink and be given a receipt. With this unlimited drinks package, each drink has to still be signed for with a receipt given. I find this puzzling, because the drink have allready *paid* for all in bulk on a flat-rate. I think all these slips being signed should not be nessesary when it is allready paid for. Also what makes it worse, is that not only is each drink being sighned for every time but each drink is sined on it's own *seperate* paper. That means, if there are four drinks on one order, there would be *four* seperate papers, each with only one drink on. If they still have to signed for, it would be better to have one paper with all the drinks together written on it to be signed. This amounts to quite a pile-up of papers. Does any know why this is?

Personally, I don't think this package is really worth buying, unless you are literally drinking non-stop even including soft drinks, it would take some 'getting through'. One would have to consume quite a *high* fluid intake in orderto get value for money out of £119.00 in only seven days.

I am interested in hearing from anyone else who has either done this themselves or known some body else who has. That couple on my table said that they thought it was worth it, but they did not strike me as heavy *boozers*.

[ 06-07-2002: Message edited by: shamstar ]

Sounds like a very, very high fee to me!

quote:

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Originally posted by WhiteStar:
While on the Infinity last year my girlfriend and I had a vodka martini at the pool bar. With the automatic 15% gratuity the tab was almost $16.00.

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They did it only for some Cruises, and then collect this offer because the massive Complains of the Non-Alcoholics on Board.

It was reportet, that some heavy Drinkers must have an Behaviour like Pigs.

In most pubs, bars and clubs in Btritan there are 'haapy hours'. A certain time -period in which drinks are a great lot cheaper. This is a bad idea because it encourage more heavy drinking and ever more drunkennes. There are arrests every weekend late at night because of violence and other very bad behaviour on the streets by drunken people. These cheap deals with drinks are bad inluding supermarkets and other retailers selling things like six-packs for only much less then a tenth of what would be paid in a bar for the same type and amount of drink. These unlimited deals on holidays are also bad.

It would be better if alcoholic drinks were sold only at their normal prices all the time and not sold on chaep deals like these. If these deals were stopped, there would be much less trouble through over-drinking. I can see how other travellers' holidays can be ruined by these drunks who drink too much in odrer to 'get their money's worth'.

Think of all the marriege break-ups and family problem, debt, health problems, violence, sexual harrassment, being over weight, road accidents, lost working time because of sickess due to hang-overs, to name but a few. Think of all these problems lees there would be in the world if people did not so much as to get absoluty drunk sensless beyond reason.

Amerikanis has a point here about a ship, the Astor, that has 'gone out of buisiness' because of the drink-deal. Too right that there was many complaints from the non-alcohol drinkers. Too darn right, heavy drinkers do behave like pigs. Thankyou Amerikanis, for pointing this one out here. This shows the potential 'disaster' these deals can lead to.

As CruiseNy said above, which I agree, the so-called 'cheap deal' fee is high. WhiteStar said that the shipping lines are making a profit out of these deals. Any shipping line would be on a winner with unlimited flat-rate drinks deals if they cater for mostly British travellers because too many British people drink too much.

Quite honestly, this make me ashamed to be British, to belong to what apparetly has an international reputation for being a 'nation of drunks'. Foolish people doo this harm to themselve and sadly others also in the process.

Well I am very glad to stand up here and say that I one Briton who is not a drunkard.

These cheap drink deals are a very bad idea, they are stupid.

[ 06-07-2002: Message edited by: shamstar ]

You come across drunken people in all walks of life/ places in the world. They need educating. A little of everything is good for you, too much of one thing and none of another is bad. 1/2 bottle of red wine a day is of benefit, too much and it's not.

If people want a drinks card for a week, then why not, let it be their choice. If it is beyond them to be sensible, it's also the right of the bar tender/steward to refuse to serve someone they think has had too much.

I would just like to point out though, that cases of public drunkeness actually increased during prohibition. You simply cannot legislate common sense. Morons will always be morons. If they want to get drunk and ruin their and everyone else's holiday, then they deserve to spend the night on the bathroom floor!

[ 06-07-2002: Message edited by: Britanis ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Grant:
Not that many years ago, drink prices aboard ship were much lower than in hotels or at resorts. Over the last few years, the prices have climbed steeply, and from what I have seen, the number of folk in the bars has dropped off significantly. In fact I'm sure the bottom line for the cruise companies has been less revenue that when the drinks were much cheaper.
Cruise lines should realize that the fastest growth in land vacations, are "all inclusive" package holidays to beach resorts. Here in Canada, the number of holidayer who are booking such vacations has skyrocketed over the last few years. I know or work with more than a few couples that no longer cruise, but vacation every year at "all inclusive" resorts in Mexico, the Caribbean and other more exotic locals. The cruise lines should wake up, and either lower their prices, develope realistic all inclusive pricing, or lose customers to land based resorts.

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Green, I see your point, it is not very good being stricted to only certain brands. People want to have a real choice.

The all-inclusive price I qoted earlier is too high. That means a person has to drink 'stupidly' in order to get their money's worth. And the 'happy hours' cheap time I mentioned above. This is the kind of ecouragement to drink too much, that needs to stop.

Book an Ship of Minimum 3 Stars plus or better 4 or 5 Stars, the Prices of such Ships are to high, they did not have the cheapest all-inclusive-Drinkers.

All inclusive is always an Way to bring People, who are in Danger to uncontrolled Drinking.

It is not only an Problem of the Brits, we have this Problem too.

I am not for Prohibition, but did not drink myself, because i loose my Drivers Licence twice and was in Therapy in 1997 and 2001.

Now, i am an Member of Alcoholics Anonymus and stop to drink.

I think, it is o.k., if People are social Drinkers, this is an Part of our Culture, as is Cocain or Hash in other Cultures.

But - alas - there are a lot of People, who are ill and can not handle their Drinking proper. They can not stop, when they begin or need each Day their Level of Alcohol in Blood.

This is an Illness, and there is only one Way to come out: Stop the FIRST GLASS!!

High Prices for an all-inclusive-Deal means, a lot of People will drink more than is good for them, to make "an good Deal". The drink more, than the Drinks will cost, when they pay each Drink extra.

quote:

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Originally posted by shamstar:
The all-inclusive price I qoted earlier is too high.

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An iteresting debate.

The 'all-inclusive' deal obviously appeals to peoples greed and generates a nice profit for the cruise line. It like the 'all you can eat' buffet - most people of course DO NOT manage to eat more than the fee they pay, that's how they make a profit!

Some people will get 'legless' whatever the price or deal. At least if they opt for the deal, they will know their maximum expenditure on drink.

Generally nice, what we here would call from a blue collar working environment. To me this is not a slur or a slight on these friends.

They both had the drinks card. This became fairly obvious at dinner. Although apparently sober,they became progressively more heavy lidded and slow as the voyage progressed.

They freely admitted how the drinking hour became earlier each day to take advantage of the card.

As far as I am concerned, everything should be paid for or all-inclusive. SilverSeas I believe do AI with no problems, and Thomson do AI on the Topaz for a much smaller price. I personally have done AI in a hotel in Marbella, and it worked out great for me personally, but for those with no perception of moderation...let's just say it's no pleasure to drink all day and vomit all night. I imagine I would do Airtours' AI package if it was on better terms - but paying such a price and having to make yourself ill on inferior brands all day every day does not appeal.

I'm just saying the cost of drinks on a cruise ship have gotton out of hand. This includes soft drinks!$1.75 to $2.00 is a bit much, especially when children seem to live on the stuff, and some adults as well.

[ 06-09-2002: Message edited by: shamstar ]

I had met them on the first day, but by the end of the first night I realised I wanted nothing more to do with them. But every time they saw me around the ship, they made a beeline for me.

They really spoiled the holiday for me because I had to spend much of the time keeping out of their way.

Mike, I don't blame you for not wanting to be on Sunbird that night. You liked being on that ship as it is a nice ship and what a great shame that it has been spoiled like that.

[ 06-12-2002: Message edited by: shamstar ]

This is what they advocate, at least.

Has any deep-pocketed cruiser, thispagehereupon, been a position to evaluate the booze factor on such big-bucks cruises vs the liquor-card offerings on other lines?

[ 06-12-2002: Message edited by: Cambodge ]

We are sailing on the Sunbird this year and for a short while Sunquest Holidays (Canadian tour company) were giving (Yes, I said giving free) the all inclusive drink package to all bookings!! It was priced at $320.00 per person per week. Which is a value to us of $1,280.00. The package is as follows: Unlimited personal consumption of drinks in any of the bars, lounges and restaurants on board. Includes: House-brand whiskey, vodka,gin,rum,tequila and brandy, all with your choice of mix. Soft drinks and water by the glass, pepsi cola, diet pepsi,7 Up,Tango (whatever that is) all mixes and fruit juices. Regular tea and coffee. Draft beer (Stella & Boddington). Cocktail of the day. Coffee of the day. Special Cocktails: Gimlet, Manhattan, Martini and Old Fashioned. Red and white house wine by the glass. Port Wine, sherry and apertifs. All non-alcolholic cocktails. Any upgrades to special brands, frozen cocktails (other than special of the day)liquors, premium wines including sparkling, bottled and canned beer, cappuccino and espresso coffees are charged 0.75p each.

We will be probably be upgrading some of the drinks. But because the package is free you see, we certainly won't be trying to drink our way through the cost of it. We think it is great that we won't be coming home with a sizable bar bill. We are cruising for 14 days and if you have wine with most dinners and cocktails and after dinner drinks it can mount up. And Has!