Virgin Voyages is known for being 18+, but among those that have sailed, many also know them for extraordinary quality cocktails, and higher-quality spirits than are often found on cruise ships. Unlike many lines that offer add-ons to your cruise which allow for unlimited (or practically unlimited) drinks during your voyage, each drink on Virgin is paid for a la carte - until now...
Drink packages can be a great way to lower your beverage costs or at least make them more predictable on your cruise. For us, the decision to purchase them has been easy, because between coffee and whisky, it has just made sense for us. On a recent Odyssey of the Seas cruise, however, we decided to pay for drinks a la carte and see how it worked out. So how did we fair?
Most cruise lines permit guests to bring a bottle or two of wine on board to enjoy during their cruise. While these policies vary among cruise lines, guests may be charged what is known as a corkage fee. What that fee is for, and when it’s assessed, however, are often misunderstood...
Almost anyone who has cruised before will tout the value of cruising when compared to land vacations. Most cruises include your meals, entertainment, transportation (to various ports of call), and your accommodations. Nevertheless, cruises are a big expense, so it's important to know about any expenses that aren't immediately apparent. While the industry tends to stay pretty transparent about the costs guests may incur, if you're looking at your first cruise, there may be some expenses which, while we'd not call them "hidden," may not be clear when shopping around.
Wondering how much to budget for the bar on your next cruise? Prices for beer, wine, and spirits vary wildly, but we put together some data to make comparing alcohol prices at sea a bit easier. Keep in mind, cruise lines adjust pricing frequently. The same drink on the same cruise line can be priced differently between ships or even different sailings on the same ship. Some of the price differences may surprise you...
Whether sipping a fruity drink by the pool or enjoying a pint at a pub, alcoholic beverages are ubiquitous with cruising. The cost of those drinks can certainly add up, but in the past 10-15 years, some cruise lines have started serving up unlimited drink packages and other options which allow you to better manage your bar tabs and even coffee expenses. The cost, benefits, and restrictions can vary by cruise line, so let’s explore the overall concept of beverages packages, and some of the things unique to the offerings on each cruise line...
We all want lower cruise fares, but getting charged for odds and ends may not be very relaxing either, so some guests prefer cruising where everything they want to do or purchase is included. While all inclusive cruises are nothing new, there are more options than ever, and ways of packaging certain amenities for a flat cost, or even bundling some things in with your cruise fare on lines that aren't typically thought of as all inclusive. Let's look at what it means to be an all inclusive cruise, what some cruise lines offer, and how to budget your next cruise including things you'd otherwise pay a la carte.
While cruising is different things for different people, it's no secret that especially when it comes to Caribbean cruises, people like to kick back, party a bit, and drink. Even on Baltic or Alaska sailings it's a safe bet that the bars are among the most popular spots - and why not? It's vacation! For most of us though, there comes a time in our cruise planning that we start thinking about how to control our bar tabs. Some purchase drink packages (a topic for later discussion), others 'pre-load' their on-board account with cash to contain the damage, but frequently people resort to smuggling booze on their cruise.
What's the best way to sneak alcohol on a ship? Well, I'll tell you...
Celebrity Cruises has for several years has given guests the option of building drinks and other add-ons into cruise fares - most recently with Sail Your Way. Now every sailing will include WiFi, drinks, gratuities, and potentially more...
Some like paying as you go, others swear by drink packages and other pre-paid amenities. While Virgin Voyages works a bit differently, you may be able to have a few drinks (or more) without breaking the bank. Here's how...