I think they need to offer different type of drink packages.. For instance, Beer only, cocktail only, wine only. Also they need to have a package where there is like a 5 or 7 max limit. Not everyone are alcoholics ha ha ha... J/k people don't get your panties in a wad.. Im just saying if they would make different packages and if the hubby is a heavy drinker have him purchase that as that main price where the lady of the cabin may only have a few mixed drinks.. They should customize the drink packages a little.

I’m counting on those 2 bottles of wine because I refuse to pay an extra $600 when neither of us would drink that much to reach the value.

the real question is are the cruise lines stealing from use? they get you like fish in a barrel and take full advantage of it with their price gouging and tacticts

How can you steal something you paid for? If I go to a bar and pay for a drink or if I buy a bottle and share it, is that stealing? Let's be REAL!

I don't think it's stealing because you've already paid for it and it's not unlimited. That's your drink your giving away.

Not stealing. My justification: “I paid my money!” I already paid for those drinks and what I do with them is my business

I think the cruise lines are stealing from the cruisers by charging so much for duty free alcohol drinks. I remember when you could buy a bottle from duty free store and take it to your room to consume.

Is it stealing i say NO..15 drinks is 15 drinks.

I would never buy the booze package but If I did for $60 bucks a day I would pass off a few bottles of water, virgin drinks, or coffee to my family.

I honestly don’t think it’s stealing . The drinks are paid for through your package. If your not going to drink 15 drinks it’s no big deal to pass a drink off to a family member or someone else. A few people did it for me at the bar🤷🏾‍♀️

On our cruise last year, our waiter offered my kids the frozen specialty drinks at dinner on my package, we just needed to wait between drinks for each to get what we wanted! We did NOT ask for this, it was offered to us, and yes, we accepted!

On Allure of the Seas they were offering a 10-drink punch card that could be shared between guests and used over the course of the cruise. That was a nice option and could help eliminate the desire to guzzle liquor to get your money's worth. 😆 In my opinion the longer the cruise and the more ports, the less valuable the drink package is.

No it's not stealing...15 drinks is 15 drink no matter who drinks the drink

I think the drinks package policy is stealing, from the passengers by the cruise lines.

I agree. I would like a smaller less expensive package. Or maybe a discounted coupon book for drinks.

No I do not think its stealing ok I think it's crazy that if it's just my husband and I then we should be able to get one package and share it between us and no one else personally I think it's crazy for both of us to have to buy one separately

Is it stealing? Yes! But in this situation, I don't care. 🤷‍♀️

Would less folks smuggle if there were a "smaller" option - say 3 drinks a day for a given price?

We booked the drinkers (my husband and brother-n-law) in one cabin and sister-law and me in another cabin but we switch once we on board. So I won’t have to buy the drinking package because I don’t drink but my husband likes to drink.. work out pretty good for us

We aren't drinkers (maybe one or two a day) so the drinks pakage is too expensive for us. We never buy it. We LOVE the 15 coffee punch card that Royal Carribean offers. Now that is a great thing for us and we buy it every time. I wish there was a punch card deal for drinks/sodas/ etc. We would buy in for that in heartbeat.

We were on RC in Feb. There were 3 of us, and my husband has always wanted to get the drink package but I couldn't see spending that much money, especially for both of us, since there's no way I would drink enough to be worth the cost, and my sister in law, who was with us, only has like 1 alcoholic drink/day, so she didn't want the package either. But, the first night out, we were getting drinks in one of the bars and the bartender told my husband they were having a special on the drink package, BOGO half price and it was ok if we only got it for the 2 of us, so we went ahead and bought it. It included everything, booze, soda, water, coffee. They gave us the re-usable cups for the soda machine, and since neither of us drinks pop, we gave 1 of them to my husband's sister, who does. But the cruise line still made money off the deal, since we were in port most days which cut down on our drinking time on ship.

My wife & I are like you Tony & Jenny, Casual drinkers. So the drink package is not worth it for us. Like you said Tony, what if the other partner or friend does not drink or have medical reasons. At least if they offer the package for one person at least they get some money and I would definitely share with my wife. Even if they sell a single drink package, you're still limited to 7 drinks per day. What's the big deal sharing anyways. You already paid for them anyways.

I don't see how they can require *NON DRINKERS* to buy the *BOOZE PACKAGE* if they are in a room with somebody who does drink

I don't drink... don't think it's fair for all adults in the same cabins be required to purchase a drink package.

Here is an idea. Have different levels to the drink package. I think Carnival charges $50 a day for 15 drinls, maybe have a 30 drink package for $100/day 15 drink package for $50/day or 7 drink package for $25/day. Something like that then you reach out to more and if there is a couple and one drinks and the other doesnt for instance husband is in AA and wife drinks socially????? I had to stop drinking due to physical constraints so I am a soda man but buy individually as I dont drink enough to make it a deal for me. Story time: I had a guy come up to me at the bar on the Carnival Liberty at noon begging for a drink because he blasted through his drinks. I believe now they put a timer (2 hours I think) between the time you can order another drink. To me I am on vacation and budget money for onboard expenses regardless of what it is. I dont bother with the packages I just go to have fun and not worry about pinching pennies. So many people get their knickers in a twist over this. Lets all remember that alcohol is a drug and I think worse than marijuana. Alcohol kills so many more people than marijuana. But its legal I just dont get it but that is our society today. Keep a great medicine away and call it illegal but flood people with alcohol just because its legal. HMMMMMMMM really gota think about that one.

Tony, we are not big drinkers. If I get the package free is the only time i would use it. We would use the coffee bar and the bottled water more than the alcohol drinks. I would rather have a drink package that allows me to say have say 3 or 4 drinks a day at a less amount for those who do not drink a lot. Thanks for the video.

I think the Cheers package IS a rip off and it is stealing on the part of the Cruise Lines. Even the Bottomless Bubbles is a rip off too. You're better off just buying a 12 pack of cans in a grocery store before getting on the ship.

You could be like me who just got off the Norwegian Sun where it was open bar for anyone over 21 🤷‍♂️ I wish all cruise lines had this all inclusive. Problem solved.

If everyone in your cabin paid for the drinks packages but they don't drink , and you have other friends on board , they can refrain from buying their own and just share yours, paying so much per day to you as you share out the drinks.

Great topic, love the channel.

This is our dilemma. My husband drinks faithfully. I may drink 3 times a year, if that. They should sell coupons, I still think if they did 15 coupons for a 7 day cruise, I still wouldn't utilize them, but it would make it easier for us as a couple. Now, he wants to do the package. I opted to have wine at dinner and try some mixed drinks. We are traveling with 2 adult sons in a different cabin that aren't getting the package. If I order a drink and do not like it, I will pass it along. I think it's a waste for us. I drink coffee, but not soda or shakes.

I think they should Sell drink packages in smaller quantities ! ex. (Buy a 5x drinks for reduced rate like $35-40 instead of cruisers spending a retail price of $50..) I think they would sell more

We just don’t drink that much to buy the drink package. Way to expensive. I totally agree with you Tony.

No. You paid for them. You can pour them down the drain and it would make no difference.

If they would have something like a punch card system, instead of forcing ppl to pay for 15 drinks upfront every day, they might make a little bit less. But it would reduce the numbers of passengers getting blind drunk. That can cause a lot of problems. In the worst case senario, people getting into fights, doing stupid things and maybe falling overboard.

Recently added the 'premium' package to an already all-inclusive package so I could have a certain couple of drinks as part of the package. Absolutely SMASHED the cost :D :D Also easily recouped the cost of my wives upgrade cost as well lmao. If you focus and start early every day you can win a fatty liver in no time...

My two cents is just about Carnival and HAL. If you make us all buy the package in the same cabin but limit the number of drinks, the total number allowed should be shareable. Especially HAL who consider specialty coffees, soft drinks, and water a part of the allowed 15 drinks. It’s actually a real pain to be constantly thinking “what number am I at!”

Like you said, the house always wins. My husband, daughter and I cruised Carnival last month and bought the package which was $981 for 8 days including 18% gratuity. I bought my daughter ONE milkshake which I know is not allowed. Using the app I kept a running total of what we ordered each day and found that we “saved” $180 by buying the plan. I do wonder though how much less I would’ve drank overall if I didn’t have the plan.

Once you pay for it, it is your property. If I share a soda from the gas station with my daughter is that stealing?

If only the cruise lines would just make everything all inclusive and solve the whole situation

Princess does not require everyone in the cabin need to purchase the drink package.

I don’t think it’s stealing because. Technically you are paying for a set amount of drinks(carnival 15) what I do with them is my business as I paid for them used or not. Yes they make that a rule. But it’s not ethical of them to sell you something and then frame how you can use/distribute the things you purchased. It’s not stealing because the moment they hand you the purchased items they no longer have say over what happens to it. You now own it. And their rules no longer applies.

They could have offered prepaid drinks. Like number of drinks you choose and prepaid in a discount.

**Unpopular Opinion - so please be nice😁* Yes. It is "stealing". (Relating to Carnival as I don't know details on other cruise lines.) I can easily drink my drink package worth in NON ALCOHOLIC drinks alone to make the package worth it. Plus I have the bonus of 15 alcoholic drinks if I want. But the question from Tony is "is it stealing if I give another person one of my drinks" and to me, yes. The cruise lines are a business. They need to make a profit. Selling drink packages is one way they do it. BUT! I am not a fan of the "everyone over the age of 21 MUST buy a package if they are in the same cabin". I think there are better options out there that can please both the drinker and the non drinker. But until then - I will not give someone a drink from my drink package. I PAID MY MONEY! Get your own darn drink!! Haha

Because of Carnival's current policy on their drink package, I now see why people try to sneak alcohol onto the ship! For a 7 day cruise I have to pay over $700?!? That is insane.

I wish they would sell a drink package where you get say...50 drinks over the course of the cruise and you're done - no matter who actually drank them. Kinda like a specialty dining package.

Thanks Tony. Great video. 😁

I’m going on my first cruise soon, on RC. I am traveling with a group of people from my community, so I’m sharing a room with another single lady. This lady is 75 yrs old, and I know her from a club I belong to. She is an acquaintance. I like to drink, so I tried to purchase a drink package but they wouldn’t let me unless my roommate does also. Well, she doesn’t drink at all, not even soda. RC said if I have her write to them and explain why she doesn’t drink AND purchase a Refreshment Package for herself, then I could buy the drink package. I can tell you for sure that she won’t do that, she’s a senior on a budget, and why should she have to??? I think this is really unfair to single people who want to cruise. I see that Norwegian now has single cabin rates and special perks; my next cruise may be with them instead. RC is really missing an untapped market!

I see the drink package and giving some a drink the same as if I bought them a drink at the bar. Kinda like hey put it on MY tab. And honestly I was on a cruise and the guys tapped out at 10 drinks . Waste not want not 😂

If they would have many different packages I would feel bad for something. But they don't offer a package for everyone, only for the people that drink a lot. I don't feel bad if someone gives me a drink here or there. and until they change how they charge people oh well.

It might be considered breach of contract to share a drink, but definitely not stealing. You paid for and are entitled to that beverage and once ownership of it has passed from the cruise line to yourself, it is yours to do with as you please. First sale doctrine.

I have noticed they check less for smugglers since introducing the drink package, I drink whatever and whenever and some days I can drink $100, but never can I do it the next day, this makes the drink package not worth it for me. Our last cruise I pre purchased a bottle of vodka to my room on 7/24 and it remained unopened upon departure 8/7. Now I have an $80 souvenir. If you are broke then smuggle, If you are a functioning alcoholic buy the drink package, if money isn't a concern just buy whatever you want when you want it.

To play devil's advocate, the more drink packages and options there are, the more debate/confusion an average cruiser will have. I can imagine a staff member trying to explain that to a cruiser standing in front of them. It will definitely slow down the buying process.

I usually only give drinks away that I don’t like. I would feel like was stealing to let people order what they want on my package. But I don’t think it’s stealing to give someone a drink that I would throw away or leave on the bar.

Carnival even makes pregnant women purchase the drink package if someone else in the cabin does

I agree about the backdrop. If it is not manned then it is part of the scenery

I was offered a free drink package on a cruise. I am a very light drinker but I thought what the heck..it’s free..,then i saw that they were going to charge me $400 dollars for the drinks tips...tips for a drink package for a 14 day cruise was a almost $400. I did the math and found that i will save money just buying my one or two drinks here and there and decided to delete the drink package.so...free wasn’t really free

That is us!! My husband has never had a drop of alcohol. Why would we want to get him the drink package? So not worth it if they make us both get it, so we get ZERO alcohol on a cruise and I just get the smaller drink package.

Last cruise we went on we had the soft drink package and each time we got off we brought a bottle of wine each back on board. Worked for us nicely. If we'd have both took the alcohol package it would have cost us $120 a day between us and that's a ton of money for the 2 week cruise. We just had a few beers through the day as and when we wanted as well.

Did the terms say I can’t give my drinks to someone else? If not, then it’s my business, not stealing.

I think the only exception they make is when one cabin mate is pregnant or brings a certified letter from AA. Its really hard to get an exception if you don't drink and your partner does. I don't drink at all but my SO drinks like a fish. :(

I have a question for you. My thoughts on the matter are that the cruise lines are legally allowed to write whatever rules they want to (this goes not only for the drink package, but also the photos discussed last video and I'm sure several of the future topics in this series) while the consumer is forced to either accept the terms or decline the package. If someone finds a spot they missed, is it wrong to take advantage of that especially when they had no opportunity to actually negotiate the terms?

Kudos to Princess They don’t have the requirement that if one person in a cabin buys the package all have to buy. They also cater to the frugal drinkers by offering happy hour drink specials at most venues. On my last cruise they automatically brought you two drinks for the price of one. There were no issues with sharing the second drink. RCL seems the strictest of the bunch.

What about implementing the Drink package into a drink card, just like Princesses coffee card we bought? One price for a set amount of drinks any days you like. You use them up at your leisure or loose them? They make money in advance and you can prepay for a set amount!

What you're forgetting is that they don't allow you to take beer or liquor on board. If they allowed us to have that option then maybe there could be grounds for a moral argument. Also, I worked with a cruise line and I'm here to tell you the volume at which they would buy beer it equated to less than $1 / per beer cost to the company. So even with a discounted drinks package, they're still making hand over fist profits.

Last December I met a few ladies on my Christmas cruise. Both were traveling solo and got the drink package. By 10pm they’d both usually have 6 or 7 drinks left. I always ended up getting 2 or 3 free drinks per night from them!! Probably saved me about $175 on cocktail expenses just because they didn’t want them going to waste.

Can you please make a video for the new cruisers about travel insurance? it's very confusing.

They should discount for multiple people in Cabin or have package tiers

Yes, it is, BUT so is making every person in the cabin buy the package when some may be VERY light drinkers, or not drinkers at all. It's as broad as it is long.

Question I’m going on a cruise in August...carnival sunshine. It’s my first cruise...so I’m a little confused. I didn’t want to buy the drink package because I’m rooming with 2 other people and 1 doesn’t drink at all. I may have 2-3 drinks per day. But I don’t the cheers package is beneficial to me. Plus I will bring a bottle of wine. On the carnival app I see liquor can Be purchased but will it be there for me to drink in my stateroom? It’s in the app under gifts....in stateroom beverage.

I don't share my package. I just smuggle my booze 😉

The nickel and diming cruise lines do to us is ridiculous. I say if occasionally you can pull one over like giving a drink to your chick, go for it.

Greetings Tony! I tend to agree with the consensus here in that it is not stealing. As many have said, 15 drinks are made available to you each day. Giving one or two (or more) a day simply reduces you allotment for that day - which in turn increases the odds of the cruise line making a greater profit off of the consumer. It should be up to said consumer regarding how they choose to utilize their drink package purchase. I also tend to agree with Dale Melson. It is the cruise lines who are stealing from the consumers by forcing them to purchase a package for someone who may or may not be an alcohol drinker.

LOL, the "house always wins". Yep, I have commented on this in other VLOGs. 20 drinks a day (Royal) they will still make money and they are as you say maximizing profit.

I enjoyed this video!!!!

Hahaha 🤣 I totally thought sharing the soda drink package with my niece cause I won't drink enough to buy one. I don't have a problem taking a fountain drink lol

I am sailing with my sister-in-law in January. She drinks very little. I drink more. But our drink package was $836 (divided by 2). She'll most definitely save $ by not drinking much at all. But, at the price of this drink package (11 nights) I suspect that IF I go over what I saved by not buying the package, I don't think it'll be by that much. So I'm okay with that. I just won't buy top shelf.

I agree 100% with you Tony.

Seriously considering buying a package for the first time for our next cruise (with Carnival). My husband loves milk shakes and I know they offer these on some of the ships but I can't find if Carnival Breeze has milk shakes that would be included in the drink package. Does anyone know for sure?

People seem to think they have a right to buy the drink package. They do not! They have the privilege to buy it, if they follow the rules. It is breaking the contract if they break the rules. Breaking the rules is a breach of contract and thus stealing.

After watching many videos and practicing the wine bottle smuggle. I came back to this video to contemplate just sharing my package. I feel like it's the lesser of the two bads. Smuggle on and the cruise gets no money. Buy the package and split and the cruise gets money and even at 10 drinks a day they'll still make money on me so that makes it better, right? 🙂

My husband says it's basically like buying someone a drink... you just pre paid for their drink at the start of the cruise

What about the in-room alcohol I'm going on a cruise at the end of July and I have purchased two fifths of alcohol to be delivered to my stateroom in that I had to sign an agreement saying that my alcohol would not leave my stateroom now I do not plan on leaving my alcohol in my stateroom I plan on making mixed drinks and taking them out of the stateroom on the ship and enjoying my time is that stealing?

No drink limit on Royal Caribbean like the Carnival limit, and Royal Caribbean will split the packages in the cabin if you call in. Everyone has to have, at minimum, the refreshment package. No, it won't let you book it online. My wife doesn't drink and takes medicines that she can't drink with. In February for our April 28 Liberty of the Seas cruise we had both purchased the refreshment package. A Royal Caribbean rep said "Call in and they will split the package. If the person won't, call back. Someone will." My guess is that it's a commission issue and reps. have abilities to help them make the sale. We didn't even mention my wife taking medicine. We just said, honestly, she doesn't drink. Rep said...'Ok.' We changed mine to deluxe package (not 'upgrade'. Had to purchase deluxe and cancel my refreshment. It only took a couple of days for the credit back). We did the same thing a couple of weeks ago for our September cruise on the same ship, but we bought the split right away by calling in. Before the cruise was paid for we bought the drink packages. We did that because 30% off is the best sale percentage for drink packages I see on RC. They were both at that discount so we grabbed it.

When Princess added the drink package (water, special coffee, soda, cocktails) and said that all in a cabin had to purchase it if one passenger wanted it. Well all hell broke loose and they changed it to individual purchases. Is sharing drinks stealing? Yes. So is changing the gratuity percentage and raising the prices about 12 percent. Hubby usually get the soda package as he is not a drinker (except wine with dinner occasionally) and I have maybe one cocktail in the afternoon but not a soda drinker. I love my coffee so I get a coffee card. Once in a while if I am in the casino the hubby will find me and get me a soda off of his package. Other than that we do not share. On our next cruise we are getting a lot of OBC and I will not be getting drink packages this time. We will get the coffee cards though. I am curious how much we will spend without the package. Thanks for the topic Tony!!

I don't drink, my husband is a heavy drinker. They make both adults get the drink package. I also have limited sugar and Carnival doesn't have any sugar free concoctions. It is literally stealing from me to make me get the drink package when I won't use it except to get water bottles, which I can get from Bubbles much cheaper. Since medically I cannot drink I bring a note from my doctor and get excluded. My husband drinks every single one of his 15. When I bought one before I knew I could get a medical exclusion my husband attempted to drink mine and his. He got throwing up sick and the next day didn't drink anything. So we are better off with only having 15 drinks so my husband doesn't end up in the hospital, since he clearly cannot stop when they are dangling in front of him.

This is for sure stealing. Even if you think it’s the big bad cruise line ripping you off it’s still stealing. Also we are talking about an optional add on, just buy your drinks if you don’t like the package. They wouldn’t charge the prices they do if no one bought them.

There are TWO difference drink packages (1) $500 for the whole week unlimited drink, one drink every 15 minutes. (2) $100 for 15 drinks. If you share the drink while having package (1) is stealing, for package (2) is not.

I mean if you're supposed to get 15 drinks a day from this package...and you only want 5..it makes no sense buying. Even when I was a drinker, I couldn't see drinking that much. But alas...I do feel that there should be a punch card. Name of person and photo ID they get a punch each time a premium drink is gotten. If they want to give that drink away fine, but they only get those 15 drinks. The soda or other premium beverages should be on a separate package all together..as a non-alcoholic drink package. Then those expensive drinks like the espresso or whatever are limited...I think the prices should be fair and decrease based on them still making a profit but not gouging the consumer.

I am allergic to alcohol and can not drink. It is not fair to have to purchase a drink package so my spouse can drink. Is there anything that I can do to have the package rduceds

Keep in mind that the cost of alchohol and mixers is very low. Best way to try to get value (real cost) is milkshakes. People don't see it that way though, cruisers are trying to get lowest cost per drink over all. The moral question (as always) comes back to motive. Are you getting a free drink IN ORDER to no pay for a drink? That's wrong. Did someone get a drink on the package, decide not to drink it and then give me a drink I would not have purchased? No problem ethically, but not sure ship staff would care about the distinction.

Another video suggested putting same amount in cash on your account then getting back what you dont spend to avoid a bill at the end. How much of a discount is factored into a drink package than paying for each drink at a time?

Deff not stealing in board... the “spirit of the agreement” is an unfair one especially when there is no benefit to the consumer except less paperwork... the drink limit is just as much for profit margins as it is for consumer safety

Can you still buy a drink card from the bartenders? They usually available from the 3rd day on. Price was $50.00 for 10 drink coupon.

I hate when people are mad at the cruise lines for making a profit. They only way they exist is because they make profits. If the company stopped making profits they would cease to exist and we couldn’t cruise. If you don’t like how they make their profit, don’t purchase their product. But “sticking it to the man” by cheating the system is unethical.

Agree with you on everything! It is stealing to share the package for sure. For us, the drink package is super expensive and just not an option when I only drink a couple mixed drinks on the entire cruise. We order cases of water ahead of time to save a little money on that. I would rather just buy the drink package and not have to worry with storing cases of water in the room and have the luxury of just getting a cold water or fancy coffee when out and about. They just need to have different options for those of us who are not heavy alcohol drinkers but I understand the cruiselines trying to protect themselves from those who would steal and share the packages no matter what they do. Guess we aren't going to solve this here, huh? Lol

Team Tony on this one. I agree with how you feel about it 100%. I would still probably take a drink if "bought" for me on the drink package in a heartbeat.

The drink package has never worked out to be even close for me. The disappointment was when Princess dropped their 2 for 1 happy hours. My wife rarely drinks more than a glass of wine at dinner so it would not be worth it for me to buy any drink package. We always do a coffee card with Princess. We also book ahead for bottled water thru cruise personalizer.

I got married during a Royal Caribbean cruise... my brother was the only 1 that got the drink package and he shared it with all of us and I still don't feel bad.

We only drank alcohol during happy hours when drinks were 1/2 price.