On Cruising

[finnime]

I mentioned in another thread that DH and I plan on taking a big(gish) vacation within the next 2 years. I'm thinking of flying over and then taking a cruise to the Baltic Sea countries, then end up in Paris for a few days. Cruising, because DH is not in great health. He has CKD and other conditions which leave him fatigued. He also has mobility issues, although he can walk, just not for far or for long. So cruising would let us take it easy some days and get on bus tours and the like at ports of call.

For research, if you've taken a cruise(s) before: what was critically important about the ship? What was nice to have but not essential? What didn't matter? What is the difference among cruise lines that some charge 50% more than others for similarly described accomodations? I'm looking at Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line. Do you have any experience with either or both?

We want to be able to enjoy the trip.

Thanks for your knowledge and wisdom.

[chiver78]

I have a fair amount of experience with both, actually. my annual music cruise started on Carnival, and is now run as a Wholly owned subsidiary of NCL since 2012ish. that said, what I consider important as a music festival participant is probably going to be slightly different than what you will as a regular cruiser. 😉

if you have any specific questions right out of the gate, please hit me up. the one thing I can say about NCL vs Carnival out of the gate is that the food on NCL is atrocious. Carnival isn't gourmet, but they managed to operate their kitchens safely. I never had an issue with allergic reactions on that line, whereas I've had multiple issues on NCL for things that shouldn't have ever been a concern. also, the salt content on NCL is astronomical.

[souldoubt]

We've done two Norwegian cruises out of Europe.  Historically we traveled in off season which meant fewer families with kids.  As far as your questions:

"what was critically important about the ship? What was nice to have but not essential? What didn't matter? What is the difference among cruise lines that some charge 50% more than others for similarly described accomodations?"

What's important to you that the ship has given you and more importantly your husbands needs?  What's essential for you and your husband to travel? The ships we were on were large carrying a few thousand people and getting to and from different eating spots on the ship involved walking.  Getting off and on the ship at each port involved walking.  I'm not sure how the cruises we were on accommodated people with limited mobility but I'm sure there's some way you can avoid or reduce the walking and standing in the lines getting off and back on the ship.  I'm sure you can also request a centrally located room but depending on what you want to do there's going to be some walking or moving about the ship. 

Given your husbands health issues unless you have very good insurance yourself that will air lift you from anywhere in the world if needed I would definitely be looking into the insurance add-on options the cruise offers, through a separate insurer just for your cruise or if one line has insurance included in the cost take that into account.  Some of the ports we stopped off at to be honest I wouldn't want to end up in one of their hospitals.  As far as different cruise lines before our daughter was born our plan was to do a Viking cruise which are 18+ and the cost includes shore excursions.  The Norwegian base fare didn't include shore excursions and we figured by the time we added those on we would have been just a well off going through Viking and they appear to be a step up quality wise.  Norwegian wasn't bad at all it's just more of a budget friendly cruise line which I believe is the case with Carnival as well.  I know you didn't mention Viking but if you're thinking of doing excursions I would compare the cost of Norwegian/Carnival with excursions added on vs. Viking and other cruise lines.   

I can't give you much more advice because we would get off and walk 5 miles or more at some ports.  We did excursions that included bus or van travel to get us to another city but ultimately we ended up walking.  Some parts of Europe like Venice aren't suited to individuals with mobility issues as the streets were at times narrow, cobble stone in many places and had bridges all over.  I think cruises are a great way for people with mobility issues to travel and get around but it all depends about your expectations or what you want to do when you get to port.               

[Opti]

Have not been on a cruise, but I'd also ask any line you are considering whether they have low sodium diets and other special diets.

Found this link, only one I skimmed -

cruiseline.com/advice/how-to-book/pick-a-line/the-food-lovers-guide-to-cruising

[finnime]

Thanks so much, souldoubt, that's very helpful. I made a mistake; it's not Carnival cruises, but Celebrity cruises that appear very interesting in their itineraries.

I need to look further into Viking cruises, definitely.

[justme]

Carnival and celebrity are two different animals!

Celebrity is an upscale main stream cruise line. It is a bit older of a cruise line because there's not a many kids but not quite as old as say Holland or princess.

I haven't been on one yet, but everything I've seen says they have better food than carnival royal or Norwegian.

Celebrity has cruise only pricing or all included pricing that's similar to Norwegians free at sea.

They're going to be more alike than not. Their demographics for a Baltic cruise actually might be similar.

A big difference is ncl has its entire product as freestyle vs it being an option on Celebrity (their main thing is still early or late dining and shows planned around it). The itinerary will really depend on how it shakes out. Ie if your all aboard times are 6, 8, 5, 7 then you won't be able to make the set dining times Celebrity has unless you get on the ship early so you'd need to select anytime or eat ashore or in the buffet. Whereas ncl has no set dining time you just show up when you want to eat so port time doesn't really matter.

Both cruise lines have a special needs department which you can contact if you have any special needs.

Both should also be able to arrange an electric wheelchair if that would be helpful. Not all tours can handle one, but it might be beneficial to use on the ship and when you can to save energy for when you really want it. It depends how active you are and what you want to do, but unless I'm having a lazy day by the pool I don't have to work to hit 10k steps on a ship.

[CCL]

We sailed to Alaska with Holland America. They were great. The ship was a mid-size, not too big, not too small. The boat was full, but never felt crowded. The food! I knew it was all-you-can-eat, but I figured it would be fried chicken and macaroni & cheese. We had prime rib and grilled seafood every night! The breads and desserts were Heavenly. It was all delicious!

We went with a large group and got a bit of special treatment. They let us exit the boat first, so we didn't have to wait in the lines. Unlimited drinks were included. It was really nice having our transfer vehicles waiting for us as soon as we exited the planes,hotel and boat. They also took care of all of our luggage handling. Definitely made things easier with the travel club handling everything.

We preferred eating on the main food deck, since it was nearly always open. We didn't want to worry about being back for meals at any particular time for the restaurants. It was very relaxing watching the whales swimming as the sun set.

One thing I found interesting was how lax the ladies were with their purses. I found 4 different purses just sitting on chairs in the dining room lol. From what we saw, most of the folks on the ship carried a lot of cash on them, too.

[tskeeter]

I think the most important consideration is to understand that each cruise line has a personality.  For example, Holland America passengers are typically senior retirees.  If you’re looking to dance and party till the sun comes up, Holland America probably isn’t a good fit for you.  Some cruise lines (think Disney) are more kid and family friendly.  

A traveler might also consider the size of ships a cruise line operates.  The cruise lines with the most recognizable names usually operate ships that accommodate several thousand passengers, whereas Crystal’s ships are much, much smaller.  Ship size can affect which ports the cruise can visit, whether the ship can tie up at a pier, or whether you might have to devote several hours of your port time tendering between the cruise ship and the dock in small boats.  Smaller ships also greatly simplifies and expedites the logistics of getting cruisers on port tours and back on the ship.  That means you spend fewer of your cruise hours waiting to get off and on the ship at each port of call.

[finnime]

So, I'll stay away from Norwegian but look for lines with smaller boats such as Viking. That makes a lot of sense to me. Thanks, tskeeter.

I hadn't thought much about the potential issues for DH just walking around the ship given that they can be enormous. If we do wind up on a larger ship I'll get a wheelchair for him. I may get one anyway. TY, justme.

Because I'm a bit of a foodie, meals will be important. Good points, chiver78, CCL and Opti, about the food.

[Opti]

Oct 10, 2022 4:12:07 GMT -5 finnime said:

So, I'll stay away from Norwegian but look for lines with smaller boats such as Viking. That makes a lot of sense to me. Thanks, tskeeter .

I hadn't thought much about the potential issues for DH just walking around the ship given that they can be enormous. If we do wind up on a larger ship I'll get a wheelchair for him. I may get one anyway. TY, justme .

Because I'm a bit of a foodie, meals will be important. Good points, chiver78 , CCL and Opti , about the food.

I am a foodie and I think even with Norwegian it depends where you choose to eat and what. I think Viking would be a fine choice if they are as good as the ads that show up when I watch Grantchester and other BBC shows.

[Deleted]

The short answer on price differences is that the ones with cheap sticker prices consider you an "income stream" once you get on the ship. Photos, spa treatments, casinos, selling discount coupon books for businesses at the ports, alcohol, excursions, "upcharges" for better restaurants on board... it's endless.

And yes, the ships can be huge. One couple I know must have gotten a room near the back of the ship but he said they had to walk the length of 6 football fields to get to the main dining room! My experience is exclusively with Uncruise, where ships are under 100 passengers, but I suspect most of the excursions would be too rigorous for DH even though they always offer something like a 2-mile walk over flat terrain along with "boulder bash" hikes, and he might be bored on the ship since they don't have the casinos, shops, etc. that the bigger ships do.

One highly-regarded evacuation plan is MedJetAssist- not cheap but if you land in the hospital anywhere they'll send a private plane with medical personnel to fly you to any hospital you choose- including one at home. This is big deal. BF's brother had a transient ischemic attack on a Caribbean cruise and was taken to a hospital in St. Kitts- where he pretty much got a bed and 3 meals a day and nothing else for 3 days. No phone, no TV, no Wi-Fi, no physical therapy (crucial in the first days after a stroke). BF had to go get him and accompany him home because he needed a wheel chair and had lost his ability to read. It is NOT health insurance, which you'll want to buy separately. Some Medicare supplements cover up to $50K outside of the US. Medicare does not cover at all outside of the US. Insuremytrip.com is a good comparison site.

Viking sounds like a good option for you- I haven't taken them but it's smaller ships and very well-regarded by friends who have used them.

Finally, check out the CruiseCritic.com boards. You can start with the "Ask a Cruise Question" section, where first-time cruisers ask for basic information. There are separate boards for each cruise line, reviews by people who have taken particular cruises and "Roll calls" for specific sailings where people "meet" in advance and sometimes book excursions independently. The caveat with those is that, while they're cheaper, the cruise line takes no responsibility of you get back to the port too late to return to the ship. I believe Viking includes all excursions in the cost.

[Deleted]

We have not done a Viking ocean cruise but have done 3 of their river cruises and recommend them highly. Great accommodations, wonderful shore excursions and great onboard educational and entertainment offerings too. The food was always amazing.

[chiver78]

Cruise Critic is an excellent resource, yes!

I've unexpectedly needed a wheelchair (for my cabinmate) on a recent NCL trip. I can't imagine the process is much different on other lines, but still. I called the management company from the Uber on my way to the hospital to go pick her up, to explain that my cabinmate was now on crutches but could we reserve a wheelchair onboard. no problem! we were met at the terminal with a wheelchair to zip past the lines - that was fantastic haha - and were able to keep that wheelchair up to actually boarding the ship. K only had to hobble into the atrium where I signed out and paid for a chair that she kept for the 4 days onboard. rinse and repeat on the way out, skipping lines again. 

also, in case she hasn't seen this thread yet - The Walk of the Penguin Mich has done a few of the smaller river cruises. maybe she has some tips. 

[finnime]

Thanks, chiver78. Yes, I've conversed with Walk of the Penguin.

The smaller ships are appealing. I've not found itineraries I like in Viking. I do see some in Oceania, but for 2024. Maybe we'll wait until then. It's just uncertain how long DH will be able to really travel at all.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I have done both river and ocean cruises….all with Viking.  The ocean cruises are better set up to handle disabled walkers, the cabins are much larger and more easier to get around.  The smallest cabin on an ocean cruise is 270 sq ft, and on a river is 135 or 165 sq ft.  You really need extra space to get around with walking devices.  Hallways and elevators are larger.

Last river cruise we were on, we were in a port every day.  Some ports were easier to get off of than others.  One port, we exited through the sun deck where the only way up was stairs.  That cruise, there was a husband pushing his wife in a wheelchair on an excursions, I don’t think the wife went on the excursion we exited via sun deck.  Most of the walkways in the cities were cobblestone, and I watched him struggle pushing her wheelchair.  She was using a walker on the ship.  

Cruising IS easier for me than independent travel, only because the hardest part for me is the packing up and hauling luggage from place to place.  The harder cruises tend to be the ones where we have a port day each day, because it doesn’t give me a chance to recover.  Last fall, when we went on the back to back to back (to see if we could do the world cruise without going nuts) the hardest part was when we were going from Athens to Barcelona.  We had a port every day for 2 weeks.  It was great, we saw sooo much (and I lived on ibuprofen), but the trans Atlantic part, from Barcelona to Buenos Aires was very much appreciated.  My favorite cruise I have done so far has been Buenos Aires to Santiago.  Other than utterly spectacular scenery, there are sea days nicely interspersed with port days which gives my hips a chance to recover.

[finnime]

TY, The Walk of the Penguin Mich. The info about traveling while handicapped is partiularly helpful. I'm sure DH will want rest periods between outings and we already know, from a trip we took years ago to Finland, that cobblestones are a real hardship for his feet and hips.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Oct 10, 2022 7:36:30 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

The short answer on price differences is that the ones with cheap sticker prices consider you an "income stream" once you get on the ship. Photos, spa treatments, casinos, selling discount coupon books for businesses at the ports, alcohol, excursions, "upcharges" for better restaurants on board... it's endless.

And yes, the ships can be huge. One couple I know must have gotten a room near the back of the ship but he said they had to walk the length of 6 football fields to get to the main dining room! My experience is exclusively with Uncruise, where ships are under 100 passengers, but I suspect most of the excursions would be too rigorous for DH even though they always offer something like a 2-mile walk over flat terrain along with "boulder bash" hikes, and he might be bored on the ship since they don't have the casinos, shops, etc. that the bigger ships do.

One highly-regarded evacuation plan is MedJetAssist- not cheap but if you land in the hospital anywhere they'll send a private plane with medical personnel to fly you to any hospital you choose- including one at home. This is big deal. BF's brother had a transient ischemic attack on a Caribbean cruise and was taken to a hospital in St. Kitts- where he pretty much got a bed and 3 meals a day and nothing else for 3 days. No phone, no TV, no Wi-Fi, no physical therapy (crucial in the first days after a stroke). BF had to go get him and accompany him home because he needed a wheel chair and had lost his ability to read. It is NOT health insurance, which you'll want to buy separately. Some Medicare supplements cover up to $50K outside of the US. Medicare does not cover at all outside of the US. Insuremytrip.com is a good comparison site.

Viking sounds like a good option for you- I haven't taken them but it's smaller ships and very well-regarded by friends who have used them.

Finally, check out the CruiseCritic.com boards. You can start with the "Ask a Cruise Question" section, where first-time cruisers ask for basic information. There are separate boards for each cruise line, reviews by people who have taken particular cruises and "Roll calls" for specific sailings where people "meet" in advance and sometimes book excursions independently. The caveat with those is that, while they're cheaper, the cruise line takes no responsibility of you get back to the port too late to return to the ship. I believe Viking includes all excursions in the cost.

Not all.  Viking includes an excursion in each port.  Usually it is a walking or bus tour, but in Komodo the included excursion is to meet the Komodo dragons!  We just booked all our excursions for the world cruise last week.  Our OBC took care of about half the cost, but for most of the cruises we have done, our excursions on a 2 week cruise run around $1500 and are usually a combination of included and optional.  

<grin> We do tend to hit all the wineries though!  I think we have a couple scheduled in New Zealand.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Oct 10, 2022 11:34:17 GMT -5 finnime said:

TY, The Walk of the Penguin Mich . The info about traveling while handicapped is partiularly helpful. I'm sure DH will want rest periods between outings and we already know, from a trip we took years ago to Finland, that cobblestones are a real hardship for his feet and hips.

Cobblestones are a bitch!  After I fell in Barcelona, I started taking hiking poles on excursions and am amazed as to how much it helped me.  I used the hiking poles that I used when I was relearning to walk, but they did not collapse short enough to fit in my carry on back.  So I took them in my backpack with the handles sticking out the zipper.  TD was afraid TSA would confiscate them, so I now have a set that collapses smaller.

I have a list of cruises on my radar that I want to do.  For river cruises, TD loooooved the Grand European (Amsterdam to Budapest) and wants to do it again.  I suggested that if we do, we extend it to Bucharest instead…..and go back to Turkey since we are so close!  Strongly suggest you do river cruises in spring and fall.  The river cruise in Bordeaux is also on my radar.  
We have a few ocean cruises scheduled after the world cruise.  One to see the northern lights, another Bangkok to Vancouver (Yay!  Only one long haul flight!).  It is usually cheaper to book another cruise while onboard, so that’s what I did.

[justme]

Oct 9, 2022 20:55:28 GMT -5 CCL said:

One thing I found interesting was how lax the ladies were with their purses. I found 4 different purses just sitting on chairs in the dining room lol. From what we saw, most of the folks on the ship carried a lot of cash on them, too.

I've been on around 20 cruises and never had anything stolen. My kindle, smart phone, headphones, and cash to tip have all been left alone. I might have jinxed myself now lol, but I've never really worried about anything on a ship. Though when I'm talking cash it's usually only $10 maybe $20.

[azucena]

Oct 10, 2022 10:39:05 GMT -5 finnime said:

Thanks, chiver78 . Yes, I've conversed with Walk of the Penguin.

The smaller ships are appealing. I've not found itineraries I like in Viking. I do see some in Oceania, but for 2024. Maybe we'll wait until then. It's just uncertain how long DH will be able to really travel at all.

Don't wait.

FWIW, when DH was sick, we went to Mall of America and took along a wheelchair.  It was so great to be out.  He hesitated on going bc he hated using wheelchairs at the store, but we still talk about that trip.  I joked that I got to eat more because I worked it off pushing him LOL.

We took our elderly neighbor friend on a Disney cruise 15 yrs ago.  We got to board and disembark first since she brought her wheelchair.  She napped in the afternoons to keep up.  Great memories!

[bookkeeper]

DH and I have taken several cruises.  We have sailed on Royal Caribbean and Holland America.  Holland America is a much older crowd.  Not many people awake after 9 pm on that boat.  Royal Caribbean seemed like a mix of families, retirees, and young people.

The cruise lines all like to upsell products and services once you are on the ship.  Just practice saying no and you will be fine.  I personally don't bite on the upsell much.  We have purchased the drink package in the past.  I purchased several excursions on the Panama Canal cruise because I may never get that way again.

We eat in the dining room for most meals.  I have never paid to eat in a different on board restaurant.  The dining room is better food that I can find within 100 miles of where I live, so good by me.

I do try to book the smaller ships, less than 3000 passengers.  The larger ships can be crowded from what I hear.  Cruisecritic.com is a great resource for whichever cruise you would choose.  First hand accounts from recent passengers and good advice from people who cruise a LOT!

[happyhoix]

Generally the smaller ships cost more. My son’s in laws are big cruisers and only ever take Carnival because they enjoy the night clubs, dancing, casinos, shows, etc. In fact they’ve cruised so much they no longer bother getting off at the ports anymore, or squeeze in a weekend sale where there is no port at all, just a big swing out into the ocean and then back to the dock - because they’re both party animals who love the nightlight. 

DH and I, on the other hand, are introverts who need a lot of quiet time. We’ve been on two cruises, one in the Caribbean and one leaving from Boston, going up the cost past Halifax and Prince Edward Island, and up the St Lawrence to Quebec, then Montreal. Both were Windstar, which are smaller (about 800 to 1000 passengers) and they cater to an older, more sedate set of clients. (DH and I were often among the youngest on board, and we’re not spring chickens). The focus is not on night life (although they have music, small shows, a tiny casino) but what you can do in the ports. Because it’s a smaller ship it can get to ports that are too small to allow the big ships in, or up rivers too shallow for one of the big ships. Each stop had a variety of activities you could pay to go on, or you could just get off the boat and wander around on your own (like we did in  Quebec). 

I did notice several older/ frail people, one wheelchair bound, both men who appeared to be traveling with their wives. I never saw them on any of the excursions we went on, don’t know if they stayed on the ship the whole time, or if they attended one of the bus tour type excursions that required minimal walking. 

Wind star has very good food, but my only complaint was that the two ships we were on had only two evening restaurants, the main dining room with three course meals, or a fancier dining room with an extra fee. After 8 a few days I would have preferred the option of just getting a burger or a big salad. Room service was available but only what was being served in the dining room that night was available on the menu. However, since then, I heard they’ve expanded their ships and included other evening dining venues like pasta and hamburgers. 

Cruise critic is good - before we picked windstar we saw a horrible review of it by a younger woman who complained the night life was dull and the fellow passengers older and quieter than she liked and that made us think we’d probably like that cruise line LOL. Right now we’d like to go to Alaska but Windstar cruises there are very expensive, thinking of taking a slightly larger (say 2000 person) cruise ship there. Cheaper. 

[finnime]

TY, happyhoix, that's very helpful.

[minnesotapaintlady]

I'm only just planning my second cruise, so don't have any advice to give.  I must say though, I'm already missing the free drink package that came with NCL.  This having to pick a drink package for 3 people (or choosing to go without) is stressing me out. 

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

The drink package on Viking is a running discussion on CruiseCritic.  It is VERY reasonable, $20pp/per day and both in the cabin must get the package.  Viking also includes sodas, wine and beer at lunch and dinner as standard, no charge.  For all but the lowest level, there is soda that is refilled daily in the mini fridge in the cabin.  Specialty coffees are free all day long.

We do not deny ourselves anything, but as the prices are so reasonable, we have yet to make taking the package financially worthwhile.  On our 54 day cruise last year, there were only a handful of days where both of us drank over $20/day.  Calculating back, our booze tab tends to run 1/3-1/2 of what the package would cost us.  Our 15 day river cruise, our alcohol tab was $88 (the house wines were much better on the river cruises IMO).  The drink package would have cost us $600.

I don’t like the idea of needing to feel like I must drink something, or I am wasting my money.  

[finnime]

That's very useful, TY. Neither of us is a big drinker of spirits; wine, occasionally and rarely a cocktail. We do drink a lot of soda, coffee and juices as well as water.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Oct 13, 2022 13:13:17 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

The drink package on Viking is a running discussion on CruiseCritic.  It is VERY reasonable, $20pp/per day and both in the cabin must get the package.  Viking also includes sodas, wine and beer at lunch and dinner as standard, no charge.  For all but the lowest level, there is soda that is refilled daily in the mini fridge in the cabin.  Specialty coffees are free all day long.

We do not deny ourselves anything, but as the prices are so reasonable, we have yet to make taking the package financially worthwhile.  On our 54 day cruise last year, there were only a handful of days where both of us drank over $20/day.  Calculating back, our booze tab tends to run 1/3-1/2 of what the package would cost us.  Our 15 day river cruise, our alcohol tab was $88 (the house wines were much better on the river cruises IMO).  The drink package would have cost us $600.

I don’t like the idea of needing to feel like I must drink something, or I am wasting my money.  

How much are the drinks to buy though?  With Royal Caribbean it's like $14 a drink.  I'm not a heavy drinker but was downing several a day at least on the cruise.  Especially when you could get something new and if you didn't like it not feel guilty about finishing it.  I would pay a $20/package in a heartbeat.

But, the all alcohol package is more like $60/day with RC.

[chiver78]

Oct 13, 2022 13:45:16 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Oct 13, 2022 13:13:17 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

The drink package on Viking is a running discussion on CruiseCritic.  It is VERY reasonable, $20pp/per day and both in the cabin must get the package.  Viking also includes sodas, wine and beer at lunch and dinner as standard, no charge.  For all but the lowest level, there is soda that is refilled daily in the mini fridge in the cabin.  Specialty coffees are free all day long.

We do not deny ourselves anything, but as the prices are so reasonable, we have yet to make taking the package financially worthwhile.  On our 54 day cruise last year, there were only a handful of days where both of us drank over $20/day.  Calculating back, our booze tab tends to run 1/3-1/2 of what the package would cost us.  Our 15 day river cruise, our alcohol tab was $88 (the house wines were much better on the river cruises IMO).  The drink package would have cost us $600.

I don’t like the idea of needing to feel like I must drink something, or I am wasting my money.  

How much are the drinks to buy though?  With Royal Caribbean it's like $14 a drink.  I'm not a heavy drinker but was downing several a day at least on the cruise.  Especially when you could get something new and if you didn't like it not feel guilty about finishing it.  I would pay a $20/package in a heartbeat.

But, the all alcohol package is more like $60/day with RC.

it's like $109/day on NCL, and that's not even premium stuff. it's capped at $15, you pay the overage as you go. of course, if you're not going over $15, you're fine. if you want top shelf, that package is $138/day (I just looked it up, this is a new thing). 

I'm with MPL about not feeling guilty about leaving a drink if I'm trying something new and don't like it. and, it's nice to be able to add a little BAM! to a Starbucks iced tea without having to stop and sign two different checks. 

[minnesotapaintlady]

Oct 13, 2022 14:02:00 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Oct 13, 2022 13:45:16 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

How much are the drinks to buy though?  With Royal Caribbean it's like $14 a drink.  I'm not a heavy drinker but was downing several a day at least on the cruise.  Especially when you could get something new and if you didn't like it not feel guilty about finishing it.  I would pay a $20/package in a heartbeat.

But, the all alcohol package is more like $60/day with RC.

it's like $109/day on NCL, and that's not even premium stuff. it's capped at $15, you pay the overage as you go. of course, if you're not going over $15, you're fine. if you want top shelf, that package is $138/day (I just looked it up, this is a new thing). 

I'm with MPL about not feeling guilty about leaving a drink if I'm trying something new and don't like it. and, it's nice to be able to add a little BAM! to a Starbucks iced tea without having to stop and sign two different checks. 

It must vary by cruise/ship because ours was $60/day yesterday, today it's $71/day but the sales change constantly, I was told to wait for Black Friday because it's often 30-40% off for that.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Oct 13, 2022 13:45:16 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Oct 13, 2022 13:13:17 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

The drink package on Viking is a running discussion on CruiseCritic.  It is VERY reasonable, $20pp/per day and both in the cabin must get the package.  Viking also includes sodas, wine and beer at lunch and dinner as standard, no charge.  For all but the lowest level, there is soda that is refilled daily in the mini fridge in the cabin.  Specialty coffees are free all day long.

We do not deny ourselves anything, but as the prices are so reasonable, we have yet to make taking the package financially worthwhile.  On our 54 day cruise last year, there were only a handful of days where both of us drank over $20/day.  Calculating back, our booze tab tends to run 1/3-1/2 of what the package would cost us.  Our 15 day river cruise, our alcohol tab was $88 (the house wines were much better on the river cruises IMO).  The drink package would have cost us $600.

I don’t like the idea of needing to feel like I must drink something, or I am wasting my money.  

How much are the drinks to buy though?  With Royal Caribbean it's like $14 a drink.  I'm not a heavy drinker but was downing several a day at least on the cruise.  Especially when you could get something new and if you didn't like it not feel guilty about finishing it.  I would pay a $20/package in a heartbeat.

But, the all alcohol package is more like $60/day with RC.

Glass of wine $6, mixed drink (vodka and tonic, lemon drop) $7.50, TD’s high end single malts $10-15, my occasional GM $8.  When you leave dinner, you can get a glass of wine to go.  Same with sodas.  

Realize, $20/package is for everyone in the room.  If one person drinks soda, they’d have to drink 7 soda (on top of what they could get at lunch and dinner PLUS is in the mini fridge) to break even.  

For some, undoubtedly the package is a good deal.  But if I have a glass of wine in the lounge before dinner, go to dinner and drink wine, then have a GM while watching the show, I am pushing my limit and have only spent $14 in alcohol for the day.  I rarely if ever buy froufrou drinks.  Too many calories for drink, I’d prefer to eat them.