“Alcohol packages require everyone in the cabin to buy them and my wife medically can’t drink “

Cruise Passenger readers always have plenty to say about what’s going on in Australian cruising. In Your Say, Cruise Passenger looks at the issues our readers are writing to us about on our blogs, posts and newsletters. 

One theme that keeps coming up amongst cruisers, is a dislike for a very common alcohol packages rules that nearly every cruise line has. This is when one adult member of a cabin gets a drink package, all other members of the cabin have to get one as well. 

This means that even if two people are travelling in a couple, and one loves to drink and the other doesn’t drink at all, they’re forced into the predicament of either getting two drink packages or zero. 

The reasoning from the cruise lines is obvious, they don’t want cruisers to share their drinks packages with partners, friends or family that don’t have a package themselves. 

However, many cruisers are fed up with this rule and would prefer stricter enforcement against sharing to having to continue with this system.

Royal Caribbean used to offer exceptions to this rule for those who called them up, but this exception was removed earlier this year.

Discontent is particularly high amongst Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruisers, as these lines have the most expensive alcohol packages, and generally, the highest number of drinkers. Furthermore, these lines don’t offer packaged options of drinks with wifi and other inclusions.

However, there are fans of all lines who are upset. 

Cruiser John Cook wrote: “Carnival are off my list of cruise lines as their alcohol packages require everyone in the cabin to buy them and my wife medically can’t drink alcohol. RCI are also now off my list because they have removed medical exemption from the both in a cabin rule.

“The only line I consider now is Princess. Princess Plus includes not just alcohol, but non-alcoholic drinks, specialty coffee and wifi, so at least my wife gets value out of the other stuff”.

Lisa Polson wrote: “As an Aussie who loves her coffee I refuse to buy any of the packages. They are very expensive to buy on top of fares.

“Also every person over 18 in the same cabin is forced to buy the alcohol cheers package if 1 person wants it. I only have a 2 or 3 drinks a day.”

Many Reddit users expressed displeasure when Royal Caribbean removed the exception.

One said: “This is a great example of a couple of people abusing a policy and therefore ruining it for everyone. I feel bad for all the pax who legitimately cannot drink for whatever reason because this policy change unanimously hurts them.”

Another wrote: ““This is disappointing. My husband likes to get the deluxe beverage package, but I don’t drink at all. I kinda even hated that I had to get the refreshment package because, honestly, I’m perfectly fine with buying a good coffee in the morning and drinking water the rest of the day.”

What do you think? Is it time for this rule to go?

Cruisers also continue to comment on where a new cruise terminal should go.

Gareth Boher wrote: “As a foreigner to Australia, we oppose moving the cruise port away from Sydney.

“We had a fantastic adventure in Sydney, before and after our cruise.

“Although we adore Sydney, we likely wouldn’t “go the extra mile” to get there if a new terminal was too far away.”

Tenneil Meyers said: “Port Kembla is ideal and easier to accommodate a terminal than what Newcastle is!

“Will be a great attraction boost for Illawarra, plus it’s ideal for cruise lovers like myself.”

Cruisers also plenty to say about speculation over what will happen to the new Carnival ships.

Charles Mato said “People don’t understand that when both ships transitioned from P&O to Carnival, they did a wet dock only to rebrand them.

“Both have dry docks coming and I am very positive they will add all the things the other ships in the fleet have.”

Gaye Johnson said: “I’m certainly looking forward to seeing what changes are done to the Carnival Encounter. Living near Brisbane, I’d love to give that ship another try, but the last time I was on a P&O ship it was very tired and in need of a lot of work. 

“I know that at this stage those two ships haven’t had a lot done but I’m hoping this dry dock will make substantial adjustments.”

Please keep those comments coming!

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