Are Cruise Drink Packages Still Worth It? Audio Only 🎧 - Cruise Cast Ep.21 With The Cruise Monkeys

Ready to navigate the world of cruise drinks packages? We sat down with Gavin and Luke, the dynamic duo known as the Cruise Monkeys, to explore whether these packages are just for heavy drinkers or if they offer real value for budget-savvy travelers. Our chat uncovers how P&O's selection, including the intriguing Kung Fu Girl wine, can enhance your cruising experience. Plus, we dive into how these packages might nudge passengers toward more onboard spending, from shopping sprees to a few rounds at the casino after a cocktail or two.

Our conversation sails through the sea of drink packages on Princess, MSC, and Cunard, comparing their value for money and the perks they offer beyond just drinks, like gratuities and Wi-Fi. Virgin's packages come under the spotlight for their generous yet sensible offerings. We share our gripes about Royal Caribbean and Celebrity with their fluctuating prices and limited perks, where even your favorite sparkling water might come at a cost. It's all about finding the right sip on the ship without falling overboard your budget.

We also tackle the often confusing and frustrating aspects of these packages, such as drink limits and the bewildering tier systems. Simplicity is key, and we advocate for clearer, more straightforward options to enhance your cruising pleasure. Alongside these discussions, enjoy Andrew's hilarious cruise confession, proving that some cocktail-making skills are best left to the experts. As the holiday season approaches, we also sprinkle in some festive cheer, imagining how cruise lines might deck their halls, adding enchantment to your holiday at sea. Join us for a journey that promises to leave you well-prepared for your next cruise adventure!

Chapters

• 0:01 Cruise Drinks Packages and Best Options
• 7:30 Comparing Value of Cruise Drinks
• 13:06 Cruise Line Drinks Package Frustrations
• 24:33 Cruise Drink Packages and Pet-Friendly Cruises
• 36:58 Christmas Entertainment on Cruise Ships

Transcript

Linzi: 0:01

Welcome to episode 21 of the Suite Nature Cruise Cast. Hi, I'm Linz. As always, I'm joined by Marky, hello, hello. And today we're talking cruise drinks packages and we're joined by some very, very, very special expert guests. But first a little mood music. Wow, I mean, are are our special guests actually dressed after that music? It sounds very he's suggesting.

Mark: 0:45

It's like a 70s adult music yeah it was called the martini bar. Okay, late night martini bar well that's appropriate, we'll take it, yeah I thought it worked for today lovely well, as you said in the introduction, today we're talking about cruise drinks packages and this is something we've wanted to talk about on the cruise cast since we started it.

Linzi: 1:07

Yes, but we needed some very special people to talk about.

Mark: 1:10

We knew that we couldn't do this without having Gavin and Luke, the cruise monkeys, on with us. Hi guys, Hello.

Linzi: 1:18

You all right, hello, and the thing is they're drinking coffee.

Gavin & Luke: 1:23

Yes.

Linzi: 1:25

That's been really good.

Mark: 1:27

Well, it's Monday evening on the recording. They're obviously sort of saving themselves till the next cruise, whereas we're preparing ourselves. It's just different approaches to how you get ready for the cruise drinks package what are we drinking?

Linzi: 1:42

Tequila and tonic on a Monday night?

Mark: 1:50

Yeah, and that's because we'd run out of both vodka and gin, so and we had tonic, so it's what else mixes with it, and that seemed to work.

Gavin & Luke: 1:54

Yes, okay, so we'll go with that, will you be on tequila shots by the end of it?

Mark: 1:58

by the end of this, I wouldn't be surprised there's every chance you've only got about a third of the drink left. I've still got most of mine. So either my drink will go missing halfway through this or Lindsay will just vanish just behind it outside there, just to get the tequila. So we're going to be talking about cruise drink packages in a second, yes. Then we've got a cruise confession and Gavin and Luke can give their thoughts as to whether they've figured this. And then we've got a cruise confession, uh-huh and uh, gavin and luke can give their thoughts as to where they're figured less. And then we're going to take a look at, as usual, three of the recent news stories. Okay, that might be of interest. Okay, but shall we kick off with cruise drinks package?

Mark: 2:35

yes, please I'm going to throw this straight over to gavin luke. Yes, who do you think that cruise drinks packages are aimed at? Are they just aimed at people who drink like a fish?

Gavin & Luke: 2:47

I wouldn't say so. I'd say they're not aimed at them. No, I'd say they don't want them. Yeah, yeah, because, especially with how they're limiting drinks, I don't think they aim them as much to the heavy drinkers. Yeah, I think it's either budget-conscious conscious people. So that's why we think, um, they're really good. You know, drinks packages are really good because you, you pay your bill before you go and that's it. You haven't got enough to bill at the end. Um, and maybe this is probably more for you, like from your retail background, is to try and get people to spend more on board, isn't it? Yeah, I'd say so. Yeah, because I think encouraging them to go shopping, if they've had a few drinks, they're more likely to make a more impulsive purchase, I suppose at the shop, because you know they do that in the shops anyway, don't they offer you free phasing things? Maybe that's the thought, I don't know could be.

Linzi: 3:38

I've never thought about that well, you start from zero again, don't you? When you've if you pay for your drinks package before you step on board? Yeah, you're not thinking about it. No, that budgeting thing is yeah but also it probably makes you more open because you know you're going to spend something.

Gavin & Luke: 3:55

Yeah.

Linzi: 3:56

But it's not going to necessarily be on drinks, but those drinks might encourage you to buy things that you want necessarily. I've never thought about that from a retail point of view.

Gavin & Luke: 4:07

And just think, like, when you're looking at your app or whatever, and you're seeing that you've spent this much today, I think I'm not going to spend too much tomorrow. Then I won't do the speciality, I won't buy that because I've already spent this much. But as you, as you said, you start from zero. You're looking I'm spending this cruise, I'll go and buy that dress or that perfume, or yeah I think it encourages people to spend, yeah, or go to the casino and be a bit more risky.

Mark: 4:27

Let's say yeah yeah, I think the casino definitely, because we've both done that. You've had a company like let's go give it a go. And then, yeah, I go in there thinking I'm james bond and then come out about 10 minutes later having lost the money that I set aside, yeah, and go.

Linzi: 4:43

Okay, let's not bother doing that again tonight yes, which will happen, I'm sure, on our next cruise have we ever been into the casino on cunard?

Mark: 4:52

yes, I know tangent to what I'm talking about yes, we have, have we?

Linzi: 4:56

yes, and we lost and we were dressed up right. So yeah, but in respect of drinks packages, who does? Can we talk about who does the best drinks package as far as we are concerned?

Mark: 5:07

You absolutely can talk about whatever you want. I'm talking about that. Well, you've started it. You tell us what you think.

Linzi: 5:13

I actually. So, luke and Gavin, am I right in thinking that you don't mind the P&O drinks package because you're quite happy with the wine selection? Now, my favourite wine on there is Kung Fu Girl and I know you love that as well, but I don't know if I drink enough of it, because in respect of cocktails, I get I can, it's enough for me, but in respect of drinks packages, I like the Cunard one, but that's very pricey. Feel it covers everything.

Mark: 5:49

What is it? It still has the same limits. I know we've reviewed this and talked about it before, but you still have that bit that really annoys me that if you want to spend, have a drink that's more than the package, you don't just pay the difference. Do you not do that on q now? No, it's the full, it's the full price. Yeah, five slash 20, and I don't get that again.

Linzi: 6:14

Going back to the getting people to spend more money. I'd like to change my mind, please. I'd like to go with princess I think we'd agree.

Gavin & Luke: 6:20

Princess probably won the better ones. Um, yeah, the princess. Plus, you know, with the wi-Fi, the drinks and your daily gratuities all chucked in, that is a good value for money. Yes, definitely. I think the Pinot one is now hitting about £50 a day. Yeah, oh.

Gavin & Luke: 6:36

And that's just for the, is that the deluxe package we had last time, I mean on a basis of drinks? Actually the best value drinks package we've ever had would probably be msc, because there's no limit. You haven't got that 15 drink limit, even though the cocktails might not be as high quality as say you know, you know definitely they're still. You know you can enjoy a lot more of them and you don't have to worry about it because you know, I know you still get 15 drinks. But in the back of your head you're still sort of subconscious that there's a count going on somewhere. Yes, and they definitely do count. They definitely do count. Yeah, we maxed out the drinks package a couple of times on Britannia, wow.

Linzi: 7:15

What do you think of the Virgin bar tab in comparison to a drinks package? Yeah, because that's not a traditional drink. No, I can't pre-bate it. Yeah, do you package, not a traditional? No, yeah, do you find that you will drink things that you wouldn't normally drink because of the amount of bar tab.

Gavin & Luke: 7:30

It doesn't really affect our choice in what we drink as such. I mean, I'm not going to go and and really splidge, but if there's a cocktail I fancy, I will just drink that cocktail, won't I? I won't go out of my way to spend money if that makes sense, but it is a tough one really I think the first we did. We had to buy quite a few bar tabs to kind of cover our drinks and we worked out what we'd spend.

Linzi: 7:49

Yes.

Gavin & Luke: 7:50

And I don't think it kind of forced us to drink anymore or encouraged us to drink the expensive drinks the last one having that massive wedge of bar tab for free again. It was just about right what we needed.

Mark: 8:04

anyway, I don't think my liver could cope with anymore by the end of that no no, no, because we found we were drinking 39 shots of tequila, which we would not order if we hadn't been given that bar tab no, and the thing with virgin is they'll often have special deals where you get sort of like 600 bar tab on there, and whilst the drinks are probably on the more expensive side on virgin, they're also not sort of ungenerous with alcohol no, they're not.

Linzi: 8:36

The measures are very good.

Mark: 8:38

Yeah, the measures are very good. I don't feel that I need to drink as many as maybe if I want msc, yeah, yeah um, so I think you get more for your money on there, but it's not a traditional drinks package no going back to princesses, yes, um, premier m plus.

Mark: 9:01

I am with everyone else. I think they are by far the best value one. All right, I think they're coming up with about 80, at moment maybe even hitting 90, but then, when you sort of take into account that you've got speciality down there, you've got gratuities, you've got wi-fi, you've got all the other bits and pieces, those unlimited desserts that no one's ever going to eat unlimited of them uh, you've got all those extra bits and pieces and in fact you also have that Virgin Princess Prizes thing as well.

Mark: 9:29

So it's a lot more than that. Yet when you compare the price, the price for that one on Princess is about the same as Cunard's, just for the drinks, and your limit that you've got on Princess is higher. Your variety of cocktails is more yeah I would say, generally speaking, is more.

Mark: 9:49

Certainly that's included in the package, but for me it's that if you want to have a more expensive drink or a more expensive spirit yeah, you want a fancy brandy after a meal one evening then you just pay that difference and it's the difference, isn't that for me? Another that loads of times you can get a Princess Cruise where Princess Plus is thrown in, and then you can get an upgrade about this time of year Black Friday or Wave season and you can upgrade to the full premium one for like $5 a night. So it just becomes. I think when we went on ruby princess in june this year and we paid 45 per person per night for premium, that's amazing which that's then less than pnos yeah, that's a bargain really yeah, yeah, yeah it'd be crazy not to tech it.

Mark: 10:42

You're definitely going to spend more than that on things. Yeah, and you've touched on value for money there as well, because a lot of people, when they're thinking about the drinks package, are just thinking about alcohol yes obviously that with, not with. Not all drink packages are equal, but you'll generally have access to soft drinks, sparkling water, yeah, speciality coffees, teas, etc. What are those sort of added on value bits? Are the bits that you think are really worth it and which are the ones you don't care about?

Linzi: 11:17

I like a speciality coffee or tea sitting, sitting in whichever nice cafe they have, people watching with a nice coffee. That's an activity, probably to nurse a hangover, but just something that I can. Just that's a nice activity for me.

Mark: 11:40

Is there any that you're not bothered about?

Linzi: 11:43

I mean, I know I'm supposed to drink the nice juices, but I always find them hard work, so I'm not bothered about them. I like a bottle of sparkling water.

Mark: 11:53

Yeah, absolutely. But again, not all drinks packages. No Bottles of sparkling water when you're in the restaurant, switch, I find weird.

Linzi: 12:01

Or they don't want to serve you it. You can't order it the same time as you order a drink, because you're ordering something off the off the. You know the drinks package and like, yes, but it's well, that's a great one that you just touched on.

Mark: 12:16

That I'll throw over to gavin luke. What are the things about drinks packages as a whole, as opposed to any individual or very specific ones that you find annoying? Apart from some have a hard limit not.

Gavin & Luke: 12:34

Uh, I'm gonna say I really dislike the royal caribbean and celebrity drinks packages, but that's kind of been specific, isn't it?

Mark: 12:41

because because their prices fluctuate.

Gavin & Luke: 12:43

Yeah, because their prices fluctuate so much, um that that really does annoy me and we we cancelled the cruise because, uh, the icon of the sea's drinks package was coming in at over 100 pounds per person per day. Yeah, wow, yeah, and I could drop down. Do you mean? We were watching the prices for a while? It fluctuates so much, but was coming in at over £100 per person per day? Wow, yeah, and I could drop down. I mean, we were watching the prices for a while. It fluctuates so much. But what I generally don't like, I hate that they do count them the package. I hate that there is a 15 limit cap because, as we were saying, we think it's aimed more for people who just want that peace of mind.

Gavin & Luke: 13:12

You've got that upfront cost and that's it, that upfront cost, and that's it. You're on your holiday, it's. It's that subconscious counting because, admitted again, like when you do hit, hit your limit, you can buy a drink. We've had that and I, as you were saying, I think it should be. You know you should get something for it. You shouldn't have to. Yeah, it's annoying. Um, and cunard is another one. Like they do, if you have a large glass of wine, they take two of your drinks out of your package, don't they as well? Yeah, they'll offer it to you, they'll let you have it, but I suppose that it's an annoyance. But then it's also a nice thing, because then I suppose you have had a large glass of wine, because sometimes it's not always about what you're drinking, it's just having that convenience we never hit 15 on q nerd no, not yet?

Gavin & Luke: 13:54

oh, we've never been told we have anyway.

Mark: 13:57

I'm not sure how much they actually do clamp down on it. I think they'll use a bit of judgment. If you're worse for wear, they'll go. Okay, that's enough. If you look like you're fine, then they're not bothered as much.

Gavin & Luke: 14:10

We're seeing it more and more now, though, aren't we Like P&O used to be very good at? Just well? We say very good, they didn't really count. I'm sure they weren't counting them as such, but there seems to be things in place now that are actually tallying it and counting it. Uh, princess, have always, always done it. They were one of the ones. I think if a drinks package didn't have water on, I'd be very disappointed, because we, we do drink. We that's one of the things we use a drinks package for quite often is bottles of water.

Mark: 14:33

we'll go through probably about three, four of them each day yeah, yeah am I right in thinking that when princess just revised their princess premiere, that they took off the cap on it?

Gavin & Luke: 14:44

I think they made it unlimited drinks now I've got a feeling on the premiere they have the air possibly yeah that's another thing. They now seem to be doing this. They used to have that. You know this is the drinks package. It was, say at the time, 39.95. Now they've got this, that package, or they've now got a deluxe package and they have you noticed how they're all sort of increasing the price and throwing an extra package? I've noticed that's creeping yes that's kind of annoying.

Gavin & Luke: 15:09

It would be nice to have one blanket yeah, alcohol package, soft drinks package, coffee package and that's it. Yeah, it's simple, because it does get very confusing. I mean, if you look at a p&o menu these days, there's like a little key on it and you've got all these drinks and it'll tell you if it's in a package or not, with just a little symbol letters by the side of it, don't they? It's? It's gets really frustrating and really confusing and you've got to concentrate, haven't you?

Mark: 15:32

yeah yeah, well, you said, when we last went on p&o which was that I don't know the last one we went on, I think so which would have been about 18 months ago, so maybe two years now actually you felt that you were doing a test every time you went to read a menu to figure out whether you can get it or not.

Linzi: 15:50

Also, if I go out without my glasses on as well, it proves even more difficult because I then have to. I'm, like this, trying to read. So yeah, um yeah, it should be easy. You should just know, that it's covered and that you can.

Mark: 16:10

You don't have to scrutinize it and yeah, it just wants to be easy and feel that I'm getting good value for money again, without sounding like a princess fanboy which I'm aware I could sound, you are a princess fanboy they put them into separate things on there and it'll say like princess plus and it'll have all these ones in there, it'll have princess premier and it'll have all these. So you know which cocktails that you can get. But basically then everything else it'll be like yeah, if it's in this section, you can have it, there's not an issue. Yeah, they make it a lot more straightforward. Yeah, and I'd like to see all the cruise lines that offer the packages doing that, because I do think that they've made it, generally speaking in the industry, more complicated now with all these different levels of packages, especially if you don't go on cruises often or if it's your first time.

Mark: 17:03

It's levels of packages, especially if you don't go on cruises often or if it's your first time. It very, very confusing when you try to work out which one should I take. Should I take one, all? Yeah, um, and then which one do I need to take? And then one of the bits where we get asked it a lot and I'm sure you guys will get asked it as well is do you still pay gratuities on top when you've got the drinks package, because they don't make that clear, because it's included within the packages. When you buy it you don't pay it, but because you're buying it in advance. But when you buy them at the counter it's the drinks cost plus the gratuity on top, which, yeah, and really speaking, is about 18 percent yeah, that's what a lot of people when you, you know you obviously that question on facebook is the drinks package worth it?

Gavin & Luke: 17:36

yeah, and the response is always you have to be an alcoholic to hit me. Add on that 15, 18, 20, depending on the cruise line. It can add up like the cumulon drinks. They are quite pricey. Then you add on your 15 and I think it's well. Two gin and tonics probably haven't got any change from 20. 20 dollars of email, no, no, I think it's well. Two gin and tonics probably haven't got any change from $20, have you? No? The thing is that you said, though, just during the day you start off with your coffee, you might have a Pepsi by the pool. You might not even have a proper cocktail, you might have just a mocktail. You might have some water because you've been to the gym, and you add these little things that they add up.

Gavin & Luke: 18:12

You know, they do, jim. Yeah, you know what I'm saying.

Linzi: 18:17

I know what you're saying. Yeah, yeah.

Mark: 18:19

Well, I mean at the time we were recording on this. Both of us are going on Q&A to Queen Victoria in a few days and we sat about a week ago and really debated whether we were going to get the drinks packaged Because it's more expensive for a mini cruise.

Mark: 18:34

Yeah, they have sort of that dynamic pricing, don't they? If it's five days or less, it's this price, it's there. But then when we went through, we did what you guys just talked about. Then, where you go, right, well, we're definitely going to have probably a couple of coffees during the day, yeah, and sit and chill. I'll probably get a juice, you might get one, you might not. You might get one, you might not.

Linzi: 18:58

We'll definitely get some water with a meal. We'll definitely have a glass of wine with a meal. We'll definitely get a water to take back to our cabin at night, because and then?

Mark: 19:03

just by the time we'd finished doing that bit, before we got on to any of the alcohol, we'd covered nearly two-thirds of the cost of the package. Yeah, so then you're like well, of course we're gonna have some other cocktails or something else during the day. Yeah, or two yeah I suspect we might not be quite as full on as on on virgins, um. But having said that, it's a package this time, not not the bathtub. So who can say, and I suppose don't sorry.

Gavin & Luke: 19:29

Going back to what we're saying around about there being annoyances with drinks packages, I kind of find it a bit annoying that like, say, you book or pay for your drinks package now before we go on like queen victoria, it's cheaper, yeah, you go on the ship and you're being charged more oh, I know you're doing it on the ship.

Gavin & Luke: 19:43

And it's a frustration is for people who will have a lot of on-board credit because they're thinking, well, I'll do it when I get on the ship, because they won't let them use that on-board credit until they're on board. So then they're sort of being conned they're getting the onboard credit but they're losing out on the benefit of it. Yeah, because they're having to use more of it to pay for the drinks. But another thing, like now as well, we've got black friday deals. So luckily in our instance now we can actually get a further discount on the drinks package, because we were looking to book ours today tonight, a job. It was paid today, so we're gonna get the discount on top because it is slightly cheaper. So that's what we're aiming to do with, like that one is.

Mark: 20:23

I don't and we've talked about this before about sort of onboard credit and, to be honest, we ain't got any onboard credit on this one anyway. No, it don't matter as much. But I don't get why all cruise lines don't let you spend it in advance. Because Because again, by the time you get on the ship, you might have spent all the onboard credit. That doesn't mean you're still not going to spend more money, exactly, whereas if you get on there and you've got onboard credit, you're looking at that first and then you go. I don't really want to spend all over and above Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. Let you do it within the app in advance you can book?

Mark: 20:56

yeah, I could you get the benefit of those discounts in advance as well? And then you get on the ship and you've no credit and you'll just spend more money. It's not stopping you spending when you get on there no and I just don't get why they don't all do that.

Gavin & Luke: 21:08

I find it so bizarre yeah, yeah, because that's actually, before they start, really doesn't make it a bad taste. They just get a bit miffed from the weird go and then it makes them less likely, I'd say, to want to spend any more money, because they're going to have a bit of a gratitude.

Linzi: 21:22

Well, I know, if I had the onboard credit and that that's what I was intending on using it for yeah, and one thing I would do is, um, I would have a little pop-up bar that just serves water in an evening, because the amount of times you and people just go to the bar to get water to take back to the cabin with them.

Mark: 21:41

You mean, like when you're getting off for an excursion, just to have a trolley.

Linzi: 21:44

Yeah, like they do, like the excursion trolley, but a night-time, sleepy-time water station that you just go back to your room.

Gavin & Luke: 21:56

I suppose that is one frustration, though, really, because, like with Virgin as a prime example now, they just provide water in your room every day fresh carafe and that's why cruise lines just can't offer that. That's so basic. It doesn't have to be in a fancy bottle. That water's nice, it's fresh, it's nice. As long as it's not on the tank, it's happy, probably from the sink in your. Yeah, it just tastes different. When it's not on the tank, you're happy, probably. No, no, no, as in like from the sink in your yeah.

Gavin & Luke: 22:19

No, it just tastes different when it's in those glass bottles for some reason. But why water's even on a package, really on a ship? I just think it's dull.

Linzi: 22:26

Yeah, I know what you're saying. I know you do.

Gavin & Luke: 22:28

We will be carrying on water on the Queen Victoria cruise. That's because we haven't got a carath in our room like virgin.

Gavin & Luke: 22:35

So it's convenient for us because there's nothing worse when you wake up first thing in the morning and it's almost like these cruise lines tease you because, like we were saying, yes, you go into bed and you might get your last drink and, in fairness, the staff will sometimes say to you. You'll say, can I have water for the room? They're not going to say, oh no, you know, you've had your drink, you've got to wait 15 minutes. They won't do all of that. They will sometimes give you the water, but you get this little bottle, don't you? And you took it to your room. You wake up in the morning your head's thumping, your mouth's as dry as I know what you think. I need water and that bottle's gone. Anything I could do with a lot more. You always feel like I feel like it's more of an issue with water than actual. I mean, we always try and ask for a bigger bottle of water. Yeah, and yes, we collect them throughout the day and put them in the fridge, but yeah this, this will bring it.

Gavin & Luke: 23:16

I'd say most times they will give you a larger bottle of water before going to bed. They might not do it in the day, but if you say you can have a large bottle of water before going to bed, they tend to kind of do that I've walked to our restaurants with it.

Linzi: 23:26

I've ordered it like one of the last things we've done in the restaurant ordered a big bottle of water and then carried it out because, we know it's easier than yeah just get it later on. Yeah, yeah.

Mark: 23:38

So, in conclusion, is there any sort of tips that you would like to give anyone thinking about sort of getting a drinks package for the first time, or or whether or not they're not sure of it? What?

Linzi: 23:52

for me. For me, it's it's budgeting and peace of mind that I don't feel I can try a new drink that I want to try. I don't. If I don't like it, then I don't like it big things. Yeah, I love doing yeah, I like doing that and, um, I think that's it. If you like to, you know, if to mix things up a bit, then and and you like to know that it's taken care of, then brilliant.

Mark: 24:17

Yeah, the budgeting is a massive thing for me and I'm with you. The number of new cocktails that we've tried, our drinks that we wouldn't have tried normally, no. And then you're like oh, this is one of my new favourite things now. Yeah, what about you guys? Any tips for anyone?

Gavin & Luke: 24:33

I'd say, if you're thinking about the drinks package, try and find some recent menus and work out what you drink on the day, whether you're in port or not. If you've got a sea day, you can drink a bit more than you are when you're in port all day, and that's the advice we always give people. Look at what you drink on a normal day, work out your bill and that's how you'll know whether a drinks package is good value for you. And if you are worried about a big bill at the end, go for the drinks package because it gets rid of that. But definitely because you know. He was saying about looking at the menu. Pno, prime example, what we're saying. There's about 10 pound difference between the classic and the 10 to 15 pound. Yeah, but we quickly work out. When you get the deluxe, you're getting double gin because you can get the more premium gin cocktails, can you? So we quickly worked out and the large glasses of wine for that small amount, we're getting double for our drinks package, if that makes sense, yeah, so that's what we.

Gavin & Luke: 25:28

So looking at the menu does definitely pay off and I definitely say paying for it in advance, if you can, before your cruise check, check, yeah, obviously, which cruise line you're sailing with, but definitely with like cunard and pno. Definitely book it in advance because it does save you before you get on board yes, I definitely recommend that yeah and have a look.

Mark: 25:45

If you've got any loyalty status with any of the cruise lines, have a look, because sometimes you can get a discount off the drinks packages as well, but other times, for instance on royal, depending what level you are, you'll get x many number of drinks per day included in there. So if you're, only going to have maybe four alcoholic drinks and you're at diamond level on Royal, then you're going to get four included anywhere and you can get them at any point from anywhere.

Mark: 26:09

You've got to have been cruising for a while to do that, you've got to work out the maths, and as often people will do when they talk about drinks packages, go to a site like cruise mummy. Yeah, it's got an amazing calculator. Yeah, figure out whether you're going to break even. I'll be up on it yeah and you'll be surprised how quickly you go. Oh yeah, I don't need to be alcoholic or drink like a fish.

Gavin & Luke: 26:35

I mean, we worked out on one of ours before now. It was something like four or five alcoholic drinks, three or four bottles of water, a cup of coffee and you'd broken even. It's very easy to drink.

Linzi: 26:47

You don't have to be up Breaking even's good.

Mark: 26:49

Yeah, absolutely. Do you have a cruise confession? Do you have a cruise confession? Yes, well, this one, I've been saving until we did this one. I've been saving, okay, until we did this one. Okay, because it's a cocktail-based confession, okay, so this is from Andrew.

Linzi: 27:04

Do we know Andrew?

Mark: 27:06

It's a real name.

Mark: 27:07

Okay, we'll give him his surname, won't we? Okay, sometimes people give us the real names and sometimes people ask me to change them. This person's real name is andrew, okay, lindsey and mark, and special guests if you have any with you, we do. I have a cruise confession that makes uh to make. That involves a cocktail making competition. Wow, a healthy dose of competitive spirit. Okay, a rather unfortunate misunderstanding of the word flair. Okay, you see, I've been watching the bartenders at the pool all week, mesmerized by their impressive cocktail shaking skills and gravity defying bottle flips. Not on me when we're on, okay, okay, okay I was determined to give it a try myself.

Mark: 27:49

So when the cruise director announced a passenger cocktail making competition with free drinks as a prize, I jumped at the chance. Okay, I envisaged myself wowing the crowd with my mixology magic, nice Shaking and stirring my way to victory. However, in my eagerness to impress, I may have taken the concept of flair a bit too far. Okay, instead of simply shaking the cocktail shaker, I attempted a dramatic over-the-shoulder toss Uh-oh A la Tom Cruise in Cocktail. The result was less smooth operator and more chaotic. Disaster. The shaker slipped from my grasp, flew across the bar and landed right in front of an innocent onlooking passenger. The top of the shaker flew off and covered the passenger in my bright blue concoction. Flicker flew off and covered the passenger in my bright blue concoction, along with all the ice. The passenger let out a loud scream, and I have to confess I did too.

Mark: 28:45

After the initial few seconds of shock, the other onlookers burst into fits of laughter and I wanted a hole to appear and swallow me up. The cruise director immediately jumped in and arranged for clothing to be cleaned free of charge. Oh my goodness. Needless to say, I didn't win the competition. No, in fact, I was politely asked to step away from the bar area while they cleaned up. Please forgive my cocktail catastrophe. I promise to leave the fancy bartending to the professionals from now on and just concentrate on drinking the cocktails instead. Yes, so so what do you reckon? Are we going to forgive them?

Linzi: 29:20

I think. So I'm forgiving because and I mean it wasn't their fault that it was the cruise line that put the competition on. They didn't just decide to do it willy-nilly.

Mark: 29:35

No, they didn't just suddenly start throwing a shaker.

Linzi: 29:37

No no.

Mark: 29:38

And that person decided to sit near the front when it's amateurs throwing cocktails around. So if anything, I think it's the passengers.

Gavin & Luke: 29:46

But they claim that anyway. As they say, it come out in the war I was thinking that, as you reading out. I was thinking if I went to a cocktail kind of um competition, I probably wouldn't be sat on the bus. I'd probably be quite, quite distance away andrew's obviously very enthused and really got into it. He was inspired by it. So you know yeah, know yeah.

Mark: 30:07

It's the fact they were bright blue. Yeah, that doesn't help. We didn't get the detail on what colour top the passenger was wearing, but I like to think it was very blue afterwards. Seth, are you guys going to forgive as well?

Gavin & Luke: 30:21

then? Yeah, definitely, I think it's an easy forgive. Oh, that's a nice one to forgive.

Mark: 30:26

Okay, let's have some cruise news stories, okay, okay and easy, for, yeah, that's, that's a nice one to forgive. Okay, let's have some cruise news story, okay, okay. So I'll put this one in. It's not something that we would normally be interested in, okay, but I'm fairly sure gavin will have some better say on it. Okay, the cruise line margarita villet sea not necessarily the fanciest of ones, but is making a step forward in the pet friendly world.

Mark: 30:46

Oh, offering the first ever dog-friendly cruise. Coming in November next year, they're allowing 250 dogs to accompany their owners on board. The cruise will offer full schedules of activities, contests and more for all canine cruisers and their travel companions. These, their customers, are inaugural ambassadors, will enjoy costume contests, so doggy dress up, guest speakers, parades, dog shows, training, advice, special gifts and much more. Then, on top of that, puppy massages, dog friendly splash stations, grooming sessions are also on the schedule for the special voyage. Oh, now we don't have a dog, no, so I'm really curious to know what you guys think that would that. Would you be tempted to go on that sort of cruise and take honey honey?

Gavin & Luke: 31:39

we've always said why doesn't a cruise line allow dogs? It would be nice, but 250 of them I mean even the best behaved dogs don't always get on with each other you get some really excitable dogs. Our biggest fear with our dog is she can really jump. She's got a bit of greyhound in her, she's some sort of mix, and if she sees something she'll jump. So I'm always a bit conscious. If she saw a seagull flying past the railing of the ship, would she clear it? I'd love to take her on the ship, but I think we'd be very worried about Honey. Yeah, but if you're going to have these little toy dogs which I'm starting to imagine this might be- yes.

Gavin & Luke: 32:17

It'll be a bit different. It'll be quite nice. Our old two dogs would have been totally fine. We wouldn't have even stressed, but she'd be hard with you, wouldn't be able to go to the buffet with it. I also wonder how smelly it's going to be. Oh, I think they could. And well, you're going to have dogs kind of marking their territory constantly, aren't you? Yeah, it could get a bit yeah, a bit yucky.

Gavin & Luke: 32:44

But then maybe they'll only be allowed in certain areas of the ship, and maybe those areas will have been prepared for it, so they'll make sure they're easy to clean. I don't know. I've seen a bit of the story, but I think it's the whole ship, isn't it? Yeah, it is.

Mark: 32:59

The first thing that went through my head is that's going to take a lot of cleaning of the cabins afterwards. Yeah, and like you say, you're not going to stop dogs being dogs. You know if they need to go, they're going to cock the leg and I'll squat, and you know it's going to happen. And 250 of them is a lot so I think there's. I'll be really fascinated to see how this goes next year, and I'm sure there'll be plenty of coverage online about it I'm sure it'll sell out as well.

Gavin & Luke: 33:26

I bet that'll that will sell really quick, yeah there's demand for that thing is they'll try it, they'll experiment with it, they'll work out what's working, what's not. Maybe maybe you know we're seeing things like um yacht club or the grills with you know, you might see like a perfect kind of doggy section which is then catered just for that permanently, because that would make more sense than to allow three roaming, because you're going to have people that might not necessarily like dogs or, like we said, there might be certain dogs that don't get on. You might think they do, but they might fight. I mean, they're not like people, really, aren't they? So what's the itinerary? Because I'm guessing it's probably. I don't know what the rules would be over there, but I don't even know if we've published it yet.

Mark: 34:10

Well, Magaritaville just normally does the Bahamas and back, don't they? It's like a two-night thing three-night, so in which case I can't imagine that would be an issue because it's US.

Linzi: 34:22

To US, to US, isn't it?

Gavin & Luke: 34:25

Unless you have to start getting doggy passports and things as well.

Mark: 34:28

I yeah, you're right, unless you have to start getting like doggy passports and things as well.

Gavin & Luke: 34:30

If you went like, I think, even like uh, assistant dogs or guide dogs, I think they've got to have like passports and stuff and certain vaccinations and stuff. They'll have to have vets on them soon, as well as medical.

Mark: 34:39

Yeah funny there's all these things. Yeah, the directors, the directors on board at margaritaville, will be like we haven't thought about that, we haven't thought about that. They're going to be taking notes afterwards and going okay, we might need to reconsider this based on what Kevin Luke have just said.

Gavin & Luke: 34:59

I'm not sure how much money they can make off the vet fees, That'd be quite. That'd be a bit of an earner for them.

Linzi: 35:02

Oh my goodness yeah.

Mark: 35:05

Well, it'll be fascinating to see, yes, yeah, well, it'll be fascinating to see, yes, a new story. And we can't have a week go by without there being a princess news story. Okay, and this is all about some princess and it doing a special holiday event one, because we saw the advert the other day with hannah waddingham, we did um and you're like, okay, that was kind of cool. So, on some princess and I would guess, if this is successful, we'll probably take this on star princess when she comes out they're gonna have a series of unique events over and above what you would see on, for instance, cunard or any of the other cruise lines where they just put the decorations up. So one of the first things that they go go do on each of the festive cruises is you'll have a guest selected at random, to light the tree in a tree line.

Mark: 35:49

So you would love that um, then um, and the promise is going to be the largest tree ever to grace one of its ships. Okay, the piazza will also be the location of the santa tracker nice, and I'm wondering if it's going to be that globe that we can normally see where all the other ships are. So I'm guessing it's going to be that where guests can follow santa on christmas eve as he travels towards some princess unless they're just going to put it on the big screens and use the norad one they might do, but he's then going to board the ship, yeah, on christmas Eve and interact with the guests.

Mark: 36:32

And on top of that, the other entertainment includes Princess's Orchestra doing a jazz era holiday tribute oh lovely. A holly jolly sweater party, nice, and a silent disco with old Christmas tunes in there, oh God. And from tying it into this one, they've done a series of unique christmas cocktails, all of which are included in either the plus or the premium package. Um, so I thought that was like kind of cool, and can we imagine, if it's as successful, as I'm sure it will be, other cruise lines doing similar? And what would you like to see the other cruise lines do?

Gavin & Luke: 37:13

It sounds awesome. It really really does. I mean, I do like a Christmas or festive-themed cruise. You'd be irrelevant, I wouldn't be, I'm sold.

Linzi: 37:23

I'll be looking at the list when I'm finished. Yeah, if they did that on Cunard this weekend and you could volunteer to switch the tree.

Gavin & Luke: 37:31

I mean Cunard do Christmas. Very well, though. I mean, we've only ever been on a Cunard ship, haven't we Like for festive.

Linzi: 37:40

Yeah.

Gavin & Luke: 37:40

But they've always done it really, really well. I mean, last year when we were on Queen Victoria, they did have a choir. We went into the Queen's Room on board and all the entertainment with like the violinists and all playing like christmas carols and the ship was all dressed and they do like gingerbread villages and all that kind of thing.

Gavin & Luke: 37:54

Um, I wouldn't say would you? I wouldn't say they do any light tuning on there or anything like that. That sounds really cool. Yeah, I mean I've seen santa's before, like on. I think some of the pno facebook groups have seen santa on christmas eve by the funnel and all. They've had him up there waving and things for the kiddies. I've seen bits and bobs. But I mean this does sound like it does sound a cut above the others at the moment. It really does. I wonder when the fights will break out and who turns lights on. Will people get jealous? I'd love that. It does sound awesome.

Mark: 38:24

But I thought it was just quite quite a cool thing. They're trying a lot of new stuff with some princess, yes. Yeah, they're accepting that some of what they've tried doesn't work and then they're changing it on the ship um, I can imagine this works incredibly well and then they roll it out across the fleet, yeah, the next couple of years, yeah, and it becomes a princess at christmas, yeah, kind of thing, and then we'll see others copying it, I'm sure.

Gavin & Luke: 38:48

Yeah, being inspired by it yeah, yeah final news already this year, aren't we christmas decorations and be going up early on the ships? This year? They're all trying to. They're all trying out or out decorate each other. Well, you're trying to get the christmas market crowds yeah, I'm thinking that, but I'm also thinking what they're catching towards is more like hotels on land and shops and retail. It's all dressed around here and you're also going to get your corporate, your events, like they do, work parties, don't they? You know, some businesses will actually send their teams off for christmas mini cruise, especially like the one we're going on. Yeah, we've seen it last year, didn't we? We've seen a lot of those. I mean for that. They want to theme it, don't't they? It's only right to really yeah, yeah.

Mark: 39:29

I'm really looking forward to seeing it all dressed up. I know you are, I know you are, we haven't got. I know you guys have got all your decorations up already. We were like, right, we'll wait until the weekend that we come back off there, because we had the festive mood at that point. Yeah, I didn't. When I come home christmas has officially began. Oh yeah, I kind of like that logic as well. Yeah, yeah, but it's too late and I would promise, if we're doing it, yeah, yeah, didn't they say?

Gavin & Luke: 39:55

isn't it called, uh, happy sat? What do they say? Happy saturday or something? Saturday is this week saturday. It's the day everyone goes out and buys their christmas tree and puts it up.

Mark: 40:06

It's actually got a term like a name now saturday, I think when I went to the supermarket earlier today, the just hundreds of trees outside like a forest yeah, yeah yeah, be interested to see how many of them when I go next week.

Mark: 40:21

Yeah, right, final news story okay, um, there was an incident on Harmony of the Seas.

Mark: 40:28

Oh, yeah, but not necessarily in the bad way, more in a kind of amusing, but probably not if you want it were, yeah, passengers enjoying the last night of a round trip cruise to Honduras, cozumel, mexico. Oh nice, harmony of the Sea. Yeah, oh nice, harmony of the Sea. Yeah, got a little bit of a jolt there in the evening when in the main restaurant and entertainment area so I'm assuming promenade type thing, I just didn't say specifically all the sprinklers suddenly went off, oh dear, and sent people running for cover, like diving into the restaurants and everywhere, because it caused a proper indoor downpour, and sent people running for cover like diving into the restaurants and everywhere Because it caused a proper indoor downpour. So eyewitness accounts and there were apparently a lot on social media said very quickly on there that this is a new upcharge attraction that creates a rainy Italian street and you'll see this reflected in your room. Bill, this is awful. That creates a rainy Italian street and you'll see this reflected in your room.

Mark: 41:29

Bill, and they had to stop all service in the restaurants and all the bars while all the crew dealt with it Because, as you can imagine, there were war everywhere. But it's also it's on the last night of the cruise, so you probably already put your clothes away into your suitcase and put your suitcase out. So what you've got on is now soaked, and you've all your clothes away into your suitcase and put your suitcase out, so what you've got on is now soaked and you've got your clothes for the following morning. Oh, yes, or maybe you were just getting off on them. Yeah, so there's not been an official comment from um wildcard being on it. Um, but it was believed that it was the smoke detectors that had picked up some burning from Sorrento's pizza, which, yeah, that's a mouthful. I'm surprised it hasn't happened before. It has happened before. Oh, no, so when I was looking into it, I had that exact thing. I'm like I can't believe that's never happened before. Yeah, it happened a couple of years ago.

Mark: 42:30

So yeah, there's a lesson to be learned Don't burn your pizzas.

Linzi: 42:33

And also keep a spare outfit in case you get drowned.

Gavin & Luke: 42:37

This is why we never put our cases out right until the end of the night, you say.

Mark: 42:43

We've started walking ours off now, yeah, a couple of cruises. We've walked off with them just so that, because otherwise you end up having to start packing. It's all at five, six o'clock in an evening, so you can put it out before you go out for the evening and you're then starting thinking about getting off the ship halfway through your last day. It's like forget it, I'll just pack when I get up in morning and literally just throw everything in there. And we've done that on the last two cruises and we'll probably do it on this one as well. I think it's a bit different if you need to be off really early and you've got a flight and stuff, but if you can get away with it, it's the carpets.

Linzi: 43:16

It's the carpets that get you.

Mark: 43:19

Oh for wheeling the truck. No idea where you were going with that for a few seconds. Then why are the carpets in my? You can, can, I'm just, yeah, I'm going to shun.

Gavin & Luke: 43:30

they make it harder yeah, they do they are nice to get up and sink you down they are and that brings us to the end of the cruise cast well.

Linzi: 43:42

Thank you guys. I'm sure we've helped people when we've talked about drinks packages.

Gavin & Luke: 43:47

I hope so yeah, I hope so. Or we've helped people when we've talked about drinks packages. I hope so. Yeah, I hope so.

Mark: 43:52

Or we've confused one of the two, we've confused even more. In summary, get a cruise drinks package or don't.

Linzi: 43:59

You do, you, yeah, whatever works, it's fine, we like them.

Mark: 44:06

Gavin will like them, maybe you will. Maybe will like them. Yeah, maybe you will. Maybe you won't. Okay With that, I will play us out with.

Linzi: 44:14

Thank you guys, thank you, here's some lovely, more music.

Gavin & Luke: 44:16

Thank you See you soon. Bye.