P&O Cruises has told its passengers that the price of drinks packages bought onboard will be going up from late April.
The price for the P&O premium beverage package will rise by $10 to $89 per person per day if it is purchased on the ship. Packages pre-booked and bought will stay at $79.
The package was launched in September 2015 at $69, and has increased by  29% in just over six months.
The in-room bottled water package is also going up from $15 to $19.80. The soft drink package will stay at $7 per day.
P&O told Cruise Passenger: “Purchasing the package pre-cruise means guests will be able to use the package as soon as they board  – and will also enable crew to focus on serving guests rather than selling and setting the packages up onboard.”
This price rise makes P&O’s packages some of the most expensive in the business. Royal Caribbean’s premium package is US$55 (or around A$71) per day. Princess Cruises’ all-inclusive package is $59 per day. Celebrity Cruises’ premium package is slightly more expensive, at $91 per day, though it does include some pricier drinks. See our full rundown of onboard drink packages here.
Cruiselings who have a current booking have received an email advising them of the price change that affects cruises departing after April 26th.
What do you think? Is $89 per person per day still good value? On a seven-night cruise that’s $623 per person spent at the bar. Â Tell us below!
I’m going on a 10 night cruise which only cost me $600,. There’s no way id spend more on drinking than on the trip, not for me
I’d buy before I got onboard, it’s still great value…….it’s a holiday, let your hair down , who wouldn’t get value out of that…..a wowser!!!!
We are booked to go in August. Thought about the drinks package but decided against it. Those prices are ridiculous. Di
A rip off!. The cruise companies buy their grog duty and tax free.They mark it up massively and and nail you with a service charge. And they won’t let you bring grog on board. The solution: when you cruise do it grog free.
p&o greed knows no bounds just jump ship and cruise with the other lines they will get the drift
soon enough when we all bail out .
I think get rid of the alcohol packages. Seen too many people drinking way too many. If you want the booze then pay for it. RSOA needs to be upheld. Keep the soft drinks package.
Well that’s a smack in the chops! What are they thinking? Our September cruise is booked and I was looking forward to meeting up with mates coming along too, i guess we’ll be enjoying a cool sip of bilge water together instead.
P & O need to do something to attract passengers, by putting up their drinks package will ensure I won’t sail with them again. I have been on 12 cruises and need value for money, this isn’t it! I cruise on certain dates (for holidays and special occasions) so if P & O come up in future in those dates I will be looking for another cruise line.
No way the price is over the top a drink in hand all day NO THANKS
well I was going to have one 14 nights to png but not now
p & o continue to go in the wrong direction. i think the people making the decisions should go undercover on a princess cruise and see how the best cruise ships are runner
Our last 14 night cruise to New Zealand would have cost an extra $2,670 that is almost the cost of our cruise fares – I would rather give alcohol a big pass and afford another cruise. Are P&O just trying to grab back the money they lose from discounting fares and no tipping or are they out to kill their Party Ship image and encourage healthier and more mature customers ?
All I can suggest is to travel with Regent Seven Seas and all your drinks are included, or for that matter Scenic or APT River cruise.
Are you kidding The standards of P&O has gone down over the years and now they want to put prices to a ridiculous amount. Get real
Its only going up in price for onboard purchase. It stays at 79 dollars a night if you book it online before you cruise. Misleading story.
Sooner give grog a miss and stay healthy if I need an alcoholic drink I can get it ashore at the many ports
Cruising in July. Wouldn’t even consider the drinks package. The price is ludicrous.
In one word:
No!
Their lost me will not buy
No way I though p@o would be trying keep passengers then pushing them away, they will never get them back.