Question about Drinks Package on Cruise

poisongodmachine on 05/04/2023 - 20:31
Last edited 06/04/2023 - 10:25 by 1 other user

Hey guys, I'm about to book a cruise with P&O and I've got a question:

Are essential drinks like water and soft drinks not included in the base price? Because you can purchase different levels of beverage packages, and the most basic one covers soft drinks. Is that not free at one of the 4 free restaurants?

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Comments

  • coffeeinmyveins on 05/04/2023 - 20:38
    +16

    Are essential drinks like water and soft drinks

    Soft drink is never an "essential".

    Water will be free anywhere that alcohol is served, or just in general. Soft drinks, check the fine print?

  • brendanm on 05/04/2023 - 20:38
    +16

    I can't say I would ever classify soft drinks as "essential".

    • mskeggs on 05/04/2023 - 21:48
      +9

      If you are choking down a Zinger box with water I don’t want to know ya!

      • brendanm on 05/04/2023 - 22:08
        +3

        For me, it's boneless zinger fillets.

      • EightImmortals on 06/04/2023 - 09:06

        If you are choking down a Zinger box I don’t want to know ya!

  • Bafranz on 05/04/2023 - 20:40
    +1

    Coffee, tea, water?

    Edit: part of a package from their website

  • Seraphin7 on 05/04/2023 - 20:48
    +4

    Yeah, not sure why you would assume soft drinks to be free … most hotels (effectively what a cruise ship is) don't provide free soft drink, or anything else beyond tap water, instant coffee and the most basic tea bags.

  • pao2x on 05/04/2023 - 20:53
    +8

    Softdrinks is not free -its about 3.50 a can if you do not have a package
    Basic coffee tea and water, milk always available at the pantry/buffet - apple and orange juice available at breakfast
    Water available in bars and restaurants as well.

    My advice just buy what you want to drink at the time, unless you are a raving alcoholic then buy a drinks package, or soda monster buy a soft drinks package.

    • jv on 05/04/2023 - 21:03

      My advice just buy what you want to drink at the time

      It's only $99 per day though if you just want beer.

      • ozbs25 on 05/04/2023 - 21:23
        +6

        only

      • brendanm on 05/04/2023 - 22:10
        -1

        How many cocktails do I have to neck per day to get $99 of value?

        • pao2x on 05/04/2023 - 23:22

          7-9

        • Bafranz on 05/04/2023 - 23:22
          +6

          7am-9pm

        • resubaehtgnolhcs on 06/04/2023 - 00:14
          +1

          How many cocktails do I have to neck per day to get $99 of value?

          According to their website alcohol is limited to 15 drinks in a 24 hour period.

        • Lichen6420 on 06/04/2023 - 08:49
          +2

          Recent cruise this year,

          approx. $17 for a cocktail

          spirit + mixer is about $10-12

          Barista coffee $4.50 - $5.00

          Softdrink Cans approx. $4 - Pepsi range

          Chilled tap water and ice available at all bars. Free (crappy) coffee, tea bags etc available 24/7 at buffet.

          Juice on the buffet in the mornings is incredibly bad, 'orange juice' is more like a cordial.

          • brendanm on 06/04/2023 - 10:24
            +2

            @Lichen6420: $305 if I sink 15 cocktails and balance it out with 10 coffees, nice.

            • pao2x on 06/04/2023 - 11:33

              @brendanm: Thats ok with them, you probably wont eat too much of the food if you keep at that

              • brendanm on 06/04/2023 - 16:24
                +2

                @pao2x: I'll be pretty hungry after that much caffeine.

  • Xetrok on 05/04/2023 - 21:04

    https://www.pocruises.com.au/plan/how-to-book/booking-your-e…
    The different packages and what's included

    https://wealthofgeeks.com/australia-cruise-drink-package/
    "You will scan the cruise card whenever you purchase something onboard, including drinks. If you have a package, you won't be charged for the drinks as long as you follow the package's guidelines, but you still need to scan your cruise card so they can track how many and what drinks you have ordered each day."

  • Clear on 05/04/2023 - 21:08

    When I did P&O 6 years ago you'd never get the full can of soft drink. You'd always get a glass with ice and people found out the hard way that if you ask for the full can you might be charged. Seeing a Coca-Cola can was extremely rare too. Always pepsi.

    You'll get access to the instant coffee machines in the buffet areas if you don't want to pay more for the barista coffee under the refreshment package.

  • mskeggs on 05/04/2023 - 21:52
    +3

    I have only been on inclusive drinks accommodation a few times.
    On the one hand, it is great to not have to think twice about asking for a drink.
    On the other, I have travelled with people who sought to get their money’s worth of included alcohol, and it was a bit tedious.
    And if you have “free” drinks, you feel dumb if you want something not on the free list so have to pay for it.

    TL:DR, probably depends on your personality and circumstances.

    • AustriaBargain on 06/04/2023 - 09:52

      What else is there to do on a cruise ship other than drink and stare at fat old people?

      • Clear on 06/04/2023 - 10:11

        Grindr parties 😏

        • orangetrain on 06/04/2023 - 10:48

          Then there's plenty of old ladies waiting

  • elgrande on 05/04/2023 - 23:20
    +2

    I normally just drink the sea water.

    • Bafranz on 05/04/2023 - 23:21
      +2

      Sounds fishy

      • elgrande on 06/04/2023 - 07:47
        +2

        Don't be salty

        • eug on 06/04/2023 - 08:18

          You probably still are.

  • djkelly69 on 05/04/2023 - 23:58

    Haven't been on P&O, but others have something like cordial/watered down juice and maybe tap water which is free, and usually tea and filter/urn coffee.

    • Taro Milk Tea on 06/04/2023 - 11:33

      tap water which is free

      I wonder why the tap water still called tap water in cruise ship?

      Isn't it supposed to be tank water?

  • inherentchoice on 06/04/2023 - 13:21

    Drink responsibly.

    If you go sober that's the cheapest bargain. Savings FTW.

  • sa-ozzie on 06/04/2023 - 20:39
    +2

    Just got back from p & o cruise and drink package was $25 per day
    Includes soft drink, bottles of water, tea , coffee, cappuccinos ets and mocktails
    Only drink free is water and basic tea and coffee and lemon water in the pantry

  • macfudd on 06/04/2023 - 20:56

    I know they scan your luggage so you can't smuggle on alcohol and mixers. But I reckon you could bring in a dozen pouches of those powdered orange juice flavour sachets. That'd be the ozbargain way.

  • poisongodmachine on 11/04/2023 - 08:03

    Thanks guys!

    Follow-up question: I know they scan your bags for bottles and stuff when embarking, but I don't suppose they do it again when returning from a stop, right?

    Like, technically I can go to a bottle shop in Airlie Beach (which will be my only stop) and bring a bit o' booze, as long as it's well hidden in my beach bag?

    • MELso on 11/04/2023 - 08:34

      Cruise lines scan bags at each port.

    • pao2x on 11/04/2023 - 08:39

      Water bottle

  • shortgum on 11/04/2023 - 21:58

    did a carnival cruise when they have self serve stations for juice, coffee machines, and hot water or tea. they're good enough for free instead of buying pricey drink package imho

  • wudsapp on 15/08/2024 - 12:08

    Don't want to get hammered on this question.

    Can I buy a drinks package and share drinks with my partner? How does the package work, are they attached to your card?

    how badly do they check if we are sharing drinks bought from a package

    • MELso on 17/08/2024 - 11:25

      Usually, drinks packages need to be purchased by every adult in the stateroom.

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