Topic: Royal Caribbean cancel drinks deal on Independence of the Seas

Royal Caribbean has announced the cancellation of plans for an all-you-can-drink alcohol deal that was offered aboard the Independence of the Seas.



According to the cruise holiday company's blog, the change will come into place from November 2012, when the ship begins sailing from the US.



The Independence of the Seas is currently based in Southampton as part of a transatlantic package and the drinks deal is set to remain available to those on the UK package.



However once the vessel docks in Florida later this year for its Autumn and winter sailings, the deal will no longer be in place.



At present, the Royal Carribean offers all-you-can-drink packages on the Grandeur of the Seas, and Legend of the Seas.



Speaking about the change, spokesperson Harrison Liu said: "Independence of the Seas [from] Southampton was primarily a British product.



"When the ship sails in the Caribbean, the onboard offering will be adjusted to cater to a more North American and international clientele."

Do you think this change should be introduced on British trips too?

What is your opinion of all-you-can-drink cruise deals?

We have just come back on the christmas cruise on IOTS, which would traditionally be a good time for a drinks package. It works out about $1000 for a couple over 2 weeks so the cost is fairly high. We saw no evidence of drunkeness at all whether people had packages or not. For us (and we did enquire) being on shore for 5 hours a day, eating all day and having full evening dinners, it would not be value for money. I would say leave it to the individuals. Perhaps there is more bad behaviour on the US cruises.

The pleasure of being on a cruise with a genuine all inclusive policy like Regent or Seabourn is that there is never any need to sign for anything and you if you are in a large group everyone just asks for what they want as they need it without worrying who will have to pay the bill. The problem with a package like this would be that it would still be necessary to sign each time, produce something to say you are in a package and no doubt only relate to the one person who had bought it, then knowing what Royal Caribbean is like you would probably be given the chance to tip each time too!

It's not so difficult to spend $1000.00 per couple in two weeks as we found many times on resort ships so it probably represents good value as long as it covers top shelf spirits too and isn't limited to house spirits and single measures?

When I traveled Royal Caribbean their policy's resulted in one of my lightest bar bills ever as I actually resented spending any money on board after being treated like a criminal for trying to take a bottle on board to drink in my cabin and they would not sell us a bottle to have in the room either! It took 45 mins to get a couple of drinks delivered by room service so that was no real alternative. I wonder if the package would cover room service? At least you could line them up then to save waiting 45 mins for your next one.

I have just returned from the IOTS Cruise over the New Year. One of my fellow travellers worked out that he paid $588 for the Classic package......Up to but not including the final night, he had managed to use $1700 worth of drinks.

One of the barstaff told me that the package was to be stopped for the current trip (leaving Southampton on 10.1.2012) and would be readjusted to just the basic beer package (ie up to $6.50) or the Premium Package and the costs would rise substantially - this waas because RCI was losing cash hand over fist with the 3 packages.........If you look at Magners Cider - one btl costs $7.99 - so all you need to have is say 6 over the course of the day, and you have broken even - add the odd glass of wine or cocktail and the gain to you is even more......

QUOTE:

I have just returned from the IOTS Cruise over the New Year. One of my fellow travellers worked out that he paid $588 for the Classic package......Up to but not including the final night, he had managed to use $1700 worth of drinks.

One of the barstaff told me that the package was to be stopped for the current trip (leaving Southampton on 10.1.2012) and would be readjusted to just the basic beer package (ie up to $6.50) or the Premium Package and the costs would rise substantially - this waas because RCI was losing cash hand over fist with the 3 packages.........If you look at Magners Cider - one btl costs $7.99 - so all you need to have is say 6 over the course of the day, and you have broken even - add the odd glass of wine or cocktail and the gain to you is even more......

Never in a million years are RCI losing money hand over fist on these packages, what he really means is they are not making as much money as they thought they might. On the beer package alone you can buy a dozen bottles of beer in you local supermarket for the price of 1 on the ship, considering they will be purchasing thousands of bottles per cruise at an even lower price than that, then its hard to believe they are losing out.

I was unfortunately captive on the Brilliance of the Seas last year for two weeks and they were charging $15. 50c for a pint and a half of weak Carling lager. All the drinks on board were similarly greedily overcharged.

All drinks brought back on board are confiscated.

I'd never cruise with this rip-off Royal Caribbean ever again.

QUOTE:

I was unfortunately captive on the Brilliance of the Seas last year for two weeks and they were charging $15. 50c for a pint and a half of weak Carling lager. All the drinks on board were similarly greedily overcharged.

All drinks brought back on board are confiscated.

I'd never cruise with this rip-off Royal Caribbean ever again.

What a shame that you holiday has to revolve around drink

QUOTE:

What a shame that you holiday has to revolve around drink

Just because someone likes a beer or two and objects to being ripped off does not mean that their holiday revolves around drink.

Im fairly new to cruising , but have done 7 in the last 3 years. All have been a fly cruise, mainly USA, Carribean and the Med. Funny, i have yet to depart from Southampton UK, where i live. Re all inclusive, i have not done one on a cruise, only shore based destinations in Cuba and Mexico. I will not purchase drinks on the American or MSC ships as the prices are a rip off, and then 15% service charge. It does take the edge of the holiday a bit, but i go for the destinations mainly. I have done Costa and Thompson and the larger US ships, Thompson are really sensible, Pub prices lager and bitter, and duty free to your room if you want it. I dont go stupid but get a decent drink, and most of all dont feel ripped off. Looking at some of the drink deal prices, i would rather put the money towards another cruise. I appreciate the cruise lines have to make a profit, but sorry not from me. We already get screwed on the gratuity bit, you can mostly make a stand on this and we allocate probably more funds to the staff that went the extra mile for us, than allow the ship to take from our credit card. Im not interested in the Maitre De, just the hard working table and cabin staff. Bon Voyage

I am going on IOS in may to the Med am undecided on what to do about the drinks packages as i do like a glass or two of wine, can anyone out there give me a true insight into the the value of these packages as it does get a bit confusing.......