CARNIVAL VS DCL: The discussion and comparison thread!

[RedSox68]

On the Sunshine it's not branded as Pig & Anchor - It's served at the Taste Bar and only one day 1 (embarkation).

Thanks, but I couldn't find the Taste Bar listed for the Sunshine either -- but their deck plans are hard to configure!

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Thanks, but I couldn't find the Taste Bar listed for the Sunshine either -- but their deck plans are hard to configure!

Deck 5 between the Ocean Plaza and the Java Spot.

The ship is very compact - it doesn't feel far from one thing to the next.

 

[RedSox68]

Deck 5 between the Ocean Plaza and the Java Spot.

The ship is very compact - it doesn't feel far from one thing to the next.

Thank you so much! I'm putting this in my trip notes.

 

[tmarie]

Hi. I have a question for those of you that have cruised Carnival. Did you purchase the Cheers beverage program? I was told this is required - is this true? We did purchase the Bottomless Bubbles package but we are undecided on the Cheers package as we don't drink much. Thanks in advance for your help and advice.

 

[cruiser21]

Hi. I have a question for those of you that have cruised Carnival. Did you purchase the Cheers beverage program? I was told this is required - is this true? We did purchase the Bottomless Bubbles package but we are undecided on the Cheers package as we don't drink much. Thanks in advance for your help and advice.

No you don't have to purchase it. If you do purchase it every adult in the room must purchase it.

 

[RedSox68]

Hi. I have a question for those of you that have cruised Carnival. Did you purchase the Cheers beverage program? I was told this is required - is this true? We did purchase the Bottomless Bubbles package but we are undecided on the Cheers package as we don't drink much. Thanks in advance for your help and advice.

We never purchase these drink packages. The cost per day, and by the time they add the auto gratuity, we would never drink enough to make it feasible.

 

[mevelandry]

Never purchased it because I don't drink much.

You have to drink at least 6 alcoholic drinks a day if you want the purchase to be worth it.

 

[tmarie]

No you don't have to purchase it. If you do purchase it every adult in the room must purchase it.

Thanks so much for your help

 

[cruiser21]

I believe the cheers package includes soda, specialty coffees, milkshakes, bottled water, vitamin water and energy drinks. It may be possible to get your money out of it without drinking 6 adult beverages. I don't drink enough alcohol, and I don't think I need the calories from all the other stuff so I haven't bought it.

 

[tmarie]

We never purchase these drink packages. The cost per day, and by the time they add the auto gratuity, we would never drink enough to make it feasible.

I agree! I would never be able to drink that much! Thank you

 

[tmarie]

I believe the cheers package includes soda, specialty coffees, milkshakes, bottled water, vitamin water and energy drinks. It may be possible to get your money out of it without drinking 6 adult beverages. I don't drink enough alcohol, and I don't think I need the calories from all the other stuff so I haven't bought it.

I agree. Even with all of the other beverage options, there is no way I could drink that much...I would rather eat the yummy food!

 

[tmarie]

Never purchased it because I don't drink much.

You have to drink at least 6 alcoholic drinks a day if you want the purchase to be worth it.

Thank you

 

[RedSox68]

The last time I inquired, none of their drink packages includes bottled water.

 

[cruiser21]

It does include the 1.5 liter bottles of water in the MDR and the 500ml at the bars. That is according to the website.

 

[RedSox68]

It does include the 1.5 liter bottles of water in the MDR and the 500ml at the bars. That is according to the website.

Oh, they have upped their game since last time we sailed with them. Good to know (but still not worth $49.95/per day plus tax and tip LOL). I pre-ordered two cases of water and it was so nice to only pay $4.50 each!

 

[cruiser21]

I won't say I haven't considered the drink package, and I won't say I won't buy it in the future. I can easily drink 4-5 vitamin water zeros a day(I'm an addict) which I'm sure cost 3-4$ on a ship, but I can just as easily drink plain water. I love good coffee, and non-fat lattes, but I can get by with the bad coffee. I love milkshakes, but don't like the calories. I could buy one have a few sips and slip it to my kid. As far as alcohol goes I usually drink a martini before dinner which tend to be expensive. At dinner 1-2 glasses of wine so 3 drinks max. I could find a way to get my money out of it without being hungover for 7 days straight.

If I ever buy it it would be as a fun splurge. I wouldn't buy it with the goal set of getting my money's worth out of it. I could try different martinis without worrying about the cost. I tossed out two 14.00 drinks on the Dream last month that I didn't like. It would be fun to try some more expensive wines and liquors. I could have some fun with it. It would be similar to the time we bought the deluxe dining plan at Disney world. I didn't buy it with the intent of eating myself to death. Cost wise it was more then if I would have paid out of pocket, but it sure was FUN. We ate at every signature restaurant, ordered the most expensive things on the menu, tried all the fancy desserts, ordered weird appetizers that we wouldn't normally spend money on all without giving a second thought to cost. I could find value in the drink package, but maybe not for the same reason other people find value in it. As we all know from hanging out on this board value is very subjective.

 

[Dug720]

I won't say I haven't considered the drink package, and I won't say I won't buy it in the future. I can easily drink 4-5 vitamin water zeros a day(I'm an addict) which I'm sure cost 3-4$ on a ship, but I can just as easily drink plain water. I love good coffee, and non-fat lattes, but I can get by with the bad coffee. I love milkshakes, but don't like the calories. I could buy one have a few sips and slip it to my kid. As far as alcohol goes I usually drink a martini before dinner which tend to be expensive. At dinner 1-2 glasses of wine so 3 drinks max. I could find a way to get my money out of it without being hungover for 7 days straight.

If I ever buy it it would be as a fun splurge. I wouldn't buy it with the goal set of getting my money's worth out of it. I could try different martinis without worrying about the cost. I tossed out two 14.00 drinks on the Dream last month that I didn't like. It would be fun to try some more expensive wines and liquors. I could have some fun with it. It would be similar to the time we bought the deluxe dining plan at Disney world. I didn't buy it with the intent of eating myself to death. Cost wise it was more then if I would have paid out of pocket, but it sure was FUN. We ate at every signature restaurant, ordered the most expensive things on the menu, tried all the fancy desserts, ordered weird appetizers that we wouldn't normally spend money on all without giving a second thought to cost. I could find value in the drink package, but maybe not for the same reason other people find value in it. As we all know from hanging out on this board value is very subjective.

We actually agree on something here!! I'm planning to get the drink package on my upcoming Princess, RCCL, and Celebrity cruises simply for the "I don't have to worry about the final bill" factor. When I'm on vacation, I like to relax and having to do math like "Do I have enough left from what I put down/my OBC to buy that glass of wine?" so I'm certainly not going to keep a spreadsheet with the cost per day of the package and then deduct each drink from it to make sure I'm "even". The package value for me is knowing I don't have to do that.

 

[mevelandry]

I generally buy enough OBC (or in the case of Carnival Cruise Cash Bar) to cover two to three drinks per day. (Three drinks a day would be me saying "let's go nuts!" as I don't drink much and usually stick to water and tea... and orange -passion-guava juice on a cruise)... It generally cost me half the price of a package or less and I don't need to care about the money.

I usually put more money in OBC than I think I really need and I usually get a refund.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

We've had the "free" drink packages on Celebrity and did enjoy them - more for the specialty coffees, sodas and water (and a few alcoholic beverages).
On Royal we had the specialty non alcoholic beverage package and enjoyed it (though it may have been less to just buy as we went - it was convenient and freeing to have the package).

On Carnival we just pay as we go (I order cans of soda and water for the cabin); my mom enjoys the unsweetened iced tea and my dad likes the lemonade (though he can't drink too much of it because it is very sweet and makes his blood sugar go crazy), I tend to drink mostly ice water when we're out and about.

On our 5 night cruise I purchased 1 alcoholic beverage (it was a spiked shake with pineapple, coconut and rum) and then had maybe 3 drinks in the casino (I earned the drinks on us card). We're not big drinkers so purchasing the package isn't really something that would provide sufficient value for us.

I do wish that Carnival offered a non-alcoholic drink package (other than the bubbles package) which included bottled water, specialty coffees, vitamin water, bottles of honest ice tea, milkshakes, smoothies, etc. We would definitely buy that.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

I generally buy enough OBC (or in the case of Carnival Cruise Cash Bar) to cover two to three drinks per day. (Three drinks a day would be me saying "let's go nuts!" as I don't drink much and usually stick to water and tea... and orange -passion-guava juice on a cruise)... It generally cost me half the price of a package or less and I don't need to care about the money.

I usually put more money in OBC than I think I really need and I usually get a refund.

That stuff is amazing! I usually try to remember a refillable bottle to grab some of that stuff from the breakfast buffet area the for later in the day.

Orange juice, apple juice, ice tea and lemonade are also available no charge from room service.