When it comes to drinking on board a cruise ship, there are often issues surrounding the purchase of drink packages that leave travelers frustrated. The most common type of drink package is one that covers the cost of alcoholic drinks at bars and restaurants on board. The catch, however, is that if one person in a stateroom wants to purchase the drink package, everyone else in the same stateroom must do so as well. This rule even applies to packages charged per person, per day and strictly not allowed to be shared, leading to situations where individuals who don’t drink are forced to pay for something they won’t use.
For Australian couple Christine and Dave Russell, who have been avid cruisers for the past decade, this rule became a nuisance when Ms. Russell decided to stop drinking. Mr. Russell was then unable to purchase the drinks package on three Carnival cruises because Ms. Russell would have been forced to pay for it as well. Many travelers have found themselves in similar situations, feeling that the rule is frustrating and unfair, as it doesn’t make sense for non-drinkers to be required to pay for an expensive drink package.
Cruise lines such as Carnival, P & O, Cunard, Princess, Celebrity, and Royal Caribbean, among others, all have similar policies regarding the purchase of drink packages. While these policies align with general industry standards, some travelers and consumer advocates feel that they are unreasonable and profit-driven. Consumer Champion, Adam Glezer, argues that drink packages should be optional per individual, as pressuring people into purchasing them goes against the principles of fairness and personal choice.
Certain cruise lines, such as Virgin Voyages and Disney Cruise Line, have opted to do away with traditional drink packages and offer alternative options instead. Virgin Voyages allows guests to pre-pay a “Bar Tab” and receive bonus on-board credit, emphasizing that they have no restrictive drink packages with unreasonable rules. Disney’s offerings include packages of bottled wine and a refillable beer mug. Royal Caribbean offers both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink packages, with slightly more flexibility in terms of what must be purchased for guests sharing a stateroom.
Overall, the debate over the mandatory purchase of drink packages on cruises continues, with travelers sharing mixed reactions online. Some feel that the packages are not worth it, while others find ways to get their money’s worth. While the rule may apply across major cruise lines in Australia, there is hope that with consumer advocacy and changing trends in the industry, cruise companies may choose to revamp their policies to make drink packages optional per individual, thereby providing a better experience for all guests.
