Stuck on the ocean, but Quantum of the Seas guests biggest worry: What happens if the drinks run out?

• Quantum of the Seas, Carnival Luminosa and Pacific Encounter have all been impacted by Cyclone Alfred.
• Passengers aboard Quantum of the Seas were set to return on March 7 and Carnival Luminosa the day before.
• Pacific Encounter guests are still unsure when they’ll return to port.
• Footage from onboard Quantum shows guests putting thoughts of the cyclone on hold as tey enjoy their unexpected break

As worried residents of northern New South Wales and Queensland prepare for the wrath of the weather, Cyclone Alfred cruisers aboard Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas continue to enjoy an extra three-day break on their favourite ship.

Royal Caribbean’s generous compensation package has turned concerns about tropical cyclones into a new dilemma: What if the drinks run out?

Don’t be surprised if a ship mixologist has already invented a cocktail called Cyclone Alfred. It’s an opportunity too good to miss. And guests are keenly praising cruise lines on social media – itself highly unusual in an event such as this.

Passenger Matt Buckley wrote “We having a ball” as he shared a video of a crew member in Australian-flag budgie smugglers dancing around the deck, as the sun shines and happy cruisers watch on.

Cyclone Alfred looks a million miles away. Here’s one Facebook post on the subject:

Passengers on Carnival Luminosa are sharing this sentiment. One passenger wrote “The seas are calm, everyone around the ship are in good spirits and the crew are amazing at looking after us in the circumstances”.

Jealous cruisers who have had their cruise cancelled due to the cyclone watch on as the two ships go head-to-head on who’s got the best extended deal.

Currently on Luminosa, Nathan Fisher wrote of Quantum “I’m surprised they’re making people pay to extend beverage and internet packages. I’m on the Luminosa right now and they’ve given everyone free wifi and are extending drink packages at no extra cost.”

Quantum’s passengers don’t seem to mind too much about this. Their drink package extension will cost $35 per person, per day, or they can be charged à la carte for drinks, with a 50% discount applied to those purchases. Cruisers seem satisfied with this deal, and passenger Donna Kelly proclaims “This is why I’m loyal to royal”.

But it’s not all good for every ship at sea. Passengers on Pacific Encounter were left battling the swell departing Brisbane. Passenger Rebekah Childs said “It was very rough after leaving Brisbane Tuesday night, very large swells. I wasn’t too scared, but it definitely made me queasy. Thank goodness for sealegs.”

When asked if she’s received any updates today, she said, “No new update on arrival back, just last night’s announcement that the earliest we could come into port would be Sunday night.”

Although Rebekah isn’t too worried herself about getting home, she is unsure if Pacific Encounter made the right decision heading to Airlie Beach. 

“I think ours should have headed to Cairns, then the people that need to get home could fly from there. And for the rest of us, another shore day. The slowing down of Alfred may have us out longer.”

The cruise app itinerary for Pacific Encounter is currently saying that she will return to Brisbane port at 2pm on March 9, but cruisers are still left uncertain at whether that will be possible.