Celebrity Cruises and Royal
Caribbean have become the
first lines to introduce drinks
packages, including alcohol, on
Australia-based ships.
AUSTRALIANS often miss out on the benefits
offered to American and European cruise
passengers, but this season has seen one
company bring all-inclusive deals down under.
Celebrity Cruises, which operates Celebrity
Solstice from Sydney, has quietly continued its
special beverage deals while based in local
waters.
At the top of the list is the premium package,
allowing access to the full range of beers,
spirits, cocktails, wines by the glass (priced up
to $12), as well as frozen drinks, soft drinks,
specialty coffees and teas, smoothies,
premium bottled water and Red Bull.
The cost is approximately AU$52 per night
(plus 15% service charge) and must be
purchased for every day of the cruise.
The classic package (AU$43 per night, plus
service charge) includes beers up to $5 per
serving, and spirits, cocktails, frozen drinks,
and wines by the glass up to $8 per serving.
Non-alcoholic plans are also offered,
including selected soft drinks, juices, coffees,
teas and bottled water, priced from
approximately AU$13 per night.
In December, Celebrity’s sister brand, Royal
Caribbean, unveiled two new alcohol packages
to be sold across its entire fleet, including the
Sydney-based Radiance of the Seas, Rhapsody
of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas.
While this perk is already available on 13
Royal Caribbean ships around the world, a
company spokesperson told Cruise Weekly it
would be rolled out in Australia by “early 2013”.
The packages will only be sold on sailings of
seven nights or longer and passengers must
make the purchase on the first day of the cruise.
If a guest buys a package, it must also be
purchased by each adult passenger staying in
the same cabin.
Previously, only wine packages were sold to
Australians on Radiance and Rhapsody.
Meanwhile, Carnival Cruise Lines, which is
trialling an all-you-can-drink program on
several of its ships, has confirmed that it will
not be offered on Carnival Spirit.
“At this point, Carnival Cruise Lines has no
plans to expand our alcoholic drinks package
to our Australia-based ship, Carnival Spirit,”
said Jennifer Vandekreeke, Director, Carnival
Cruise Lines Australia.
“However, our ‘bottomless bubbles’ nonalcoholic
drinks package has been available
since we started sailing from Sydney Harbour
in October.”
P&O and Princess also do not offer drinks
packages in Australia.
