One of many good issues about cruising is that you already know you’ll by no means go hungry. Nevertheless, one factor I at all times surprise earlier than becoming a member of a cruise is whether or not to purchase the all inclusive drinks package deal – will it’s value it? Forward of our Caribbean cruise we had been significantly tempted by the P&O drinks package deal.
However did we go for it? On this submit, I check out whether or not the P&O drinks package deal is value it and provide you with some options you would possibly like to contemplate.
2024 replace: the worth of drinks on P&O cruises and the P&O drinks package deal included on this submit had been correct once we sailed. I’ve up to date this submit with details about P&O’s revamped drinks packages to make it related for 2024.
Up to date P&O drinks packages
In 2023 P&O scrapped the Final Drinks Bundle and gave their drinks packages a revamp, introducing 4 new choices for passengers onboard for 5 nights or extra:
- The Refresh drink package deal
- The Alcohol-free drink package deal
- The Traditional drink package deal
- The Deluxe drink package deal
However what’s included in every?
The Refresh Drink Bundle – beforehand recognized on the P&O Kids’s drink package deal
This very primary packages is greatest suited to children and adults who can’t be with no few primary mushy drinks. It consists of common and enormous mushy drinks (Pepsi, Papsi Max and Lemonade) on faucet and small glasses of juice or squash all through your cruise.
The Refresh drink package deal prices £10.95 per individual, per day.
If you’re crusing with kids aged 16 or below and purchase both the Traditional of Deluxe drink packages (see beneath) your kids will get the Refresh Drink Bundle without cost.
The Alcohol-Free Drink Bundle
This package deal is greatest fitted to adults who need free flowing non-alcoholic drinks. It consists of the identical mushy drinks and juices because the Refresh drink package deal, plus:
- 300ml bottles of water
- Mixers
- Bottled juices and soda together with sugar-free
- Non-alcoholic drinks (over 18s solely)
- Chosen Costa Espresso (small) and teapigs
- Non-alcoholic cocktails (over 18s solely)
This Alcohol-Free Drink Bundle prices £24.99 per individual, per day
The Traditional Drink Bundle
This packages works greatest if you wish to add alcohol to your drinks package deal. It consists of every little thing within the Alcohol-free package deal plus:
- Chosen cocktails like Piña Colada and Mai Tai
- Chosen 25ml measures of spirits like Marabelle Gin, Golden Tide Rum, Smirnoff Vodka, Bell’s Whisky
- Beers and ciders like Birra Moretti, Heineken, John Smith’s
- Chosen 175ml glasses of wine like Pinot Grigio, Rioja, Malbec
- Fortified and dessert wine like Graham’s Port
- 125ml glasses of Prosecco
If you wish to high up your spherical with premium drinks you will get 20% off on merchandise excluded from this drinks package deal like bottles Champagne, massive bottles of water, craft beers, the complete vary of Costa Espresso and premium wines, cocktails and spirits.
The Traditional Drink Bundle prices £44.95 per individual, per day.
Save extra: get 10% off the Traditional Drinks Bundle when bought on the time of reserving an Early Saver and Choose Value vacation of 5 nights or extra crusing from March 2024.
The Deluxe Drink Bundle
P&O’s high tipples drink package deal is for passengers who take pleasure in premium drinks. It consists of every little thing within the Traditional Drink Bundle plus:
- The complete vary of Costa Espresso drinks together with Frappés and Fruit Coolers
- Premium cocktails like Aperol Spritz and the Sundown Cooler
- 50ml spirits like Gray Goose, Salcombe Gin, The Tidal Rum and Johnnie Walker
- Craft beers like St Austell Brewery Tribute and Okell’s IPA
- 250ml glasses of wine like Côtes de Provence Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot
- Good serve vary of spirits like Gray Goose Vodka, Salcombe ‘Begin Level’ and The Tidal Rum
If you wish to high up your spherical with premium drinks you will get 20% off on merchandise excluded from this drinks package deal like bottles of wine and Champagne, massive bottles of water and signature spirits.
The Deluxe Drinks Bundle prices £54.95 per individual, per day.
How a lot is the P&O drink package deal?
I’ve included all the costs above however in abstract:
- The Refresh drink package deal – £10.95 per individual, per day
- The Alcohol-free drink package deal – £24.99 per individual, per day
- The Traditional drink package deal – £44.95 per individual, per day
- The Deluxe drink package deal – £54.95 per individual, per day
To double verify, you will discover the newest drinks package deal costs right here.
My evaluation about whether or not the P&O drinks package deal is worth for cash is unlikely to vary considerably yr to yr.
Is the P&O drinks package deal value it?
To chop to the chase, the P&O drinks package deal, and certainly any cruise drinks package deal, is simply value it if you will get worth from it.
It is advisable to ask your self:
- What number of drinks will you have got every day?
- Will you get worth from a P&O drinks package deal you probably have extra days ashore than at sea?
- How a lot do drinks value on P&O cruise ships and would shopping for individually work out higher?
It’s additionally value noting that P&O don’t cost gratuities or a service cost on high of the worth of your drinks, so there’s no further value to paying as you go.
Right here’s what we determined
On our 15 evening Caribbean cruise on P&O Azura we determined to not get the drinks package deal. Let me clarify why…
Don’t get me mistaken. We take pleasure in a drink and might simply sink a bottle of wine with dinner and some bevies afterwards. We additionally like a drink by the pool through the day.
Add to {that a} very competitively priced P&O drink package deal (it was £39.95 per grownup in a cabin on the time we sailed) and it’d appear to be a no brainer.
Caffeine followers may also have as many primo speciality coffees as they need from Costa Espresso onboard. Add to that bottles of water in your cabin.
Pub costs
Nevertheless, once we sailed in December 2019 we discovered the drink costs on P&O had been no dearer than what you’d discover in a fairly priced pub within the UK.
So until you may spend £44 down your native all day, on a regular basis (or almost £90 for a pair) then you definitely’re going to be falling in need of getting good worth from the highest drinks package deal.
Once we did the maths and factored in days ashore and days once we wished to present our livers a break, the P&O drinks package deal wasn’t value it for us.
What about with children?
Had we been cruising with our two kids we’d have thought once more.
It’s because in the event you purchase the P&O Traditional or Deluxe Drinks Bundle for the adults in your cabin the children robotically get the P&O Refresh drinks package deal included. That is value £10.95 per youngster, per day.
In case your children can get via various mushy drinks, juices and fruit cordials every day then that’s value fairly a bit to you.
So, as I’ve already talked about, the P&O drinks package deal could also be worth for cash for some folks.
If you’re travelling with children (the extra you have got the higher worth it turns into) or intend to completely chill out and spend your days by the pool, then who wouldn’t need a piña colada by their facet all through the day?
Plus, the package deal consists of gratuities and is quite a bit cheaper than the packages I’ve seen marketed by different cruise strains.
Details concerning the P&O Drinks Packages
As with all cruise drinks offers there are T&Cs. These might have an effect on the worth you get out of your P&O drinks package deal.
Right here’s a few of the essential questions answered:
When can you purchase the drinks package deal?
Your P&O drinks package deal might be purchased once you e book your cruise proper via to midnight on the second evening of your cruise. It’s not obtainable after day two and have to be purchased for daily of your cruise from that time.
Is it cheaper to purchase a drinks package deal on board?
No, P&O don’t supply reductions for drinks packages purchased onboard.
You would possibly truly discover it cheaper to purchase upfront relying on presents obtainable at time you e book.
What does the P&O Cruises drinks package deal embrace?
Every of the 4 drinks packages have an in depth checklist of what’s included. See my clarification above or go to the P&O web site for the hottest info.
If you happen to by the Traditional or Deluxe packages you get a 20% low cost off drinks that aren’t included.
Is there a restrict on the variety of drinks you’ll be able to have?
Sure. You’ll be able to ‘solely’ have as much as 15 drinks every day and there have to be quarter-hour between your orders.
Your every day allowance resets at 6am every day.
You can’t order doubles or bigger spirit measures, or glasses of wine bigger than your package deal permits.
Are you able to share your drinks with different folks?
No. You’ll be able to’t give drinks to different folks.
You’ll be able to solely order one drink at a time and in case you are seated the workers will take your glass away earlier than bringing you one other.
Does everybody in you cabin should have a drinks package deal?
Everybody aged 18 or over in your cabin will need to have the identical drinks package deal.
If you’re in the identical cabin as kids aged 16 and below they are going to obtain a complimentary Refresh Drinks Bundle the place all adults have bought a Traditional or Deluxe Drinks Bundle.
Any visitors aged 17 years should buy both a Refresh or Alcohol-Free Drinks Bundle when any adults in the identical cabin buy a Traditional or Deluxe Drinks Bundle.
Bear in mind that the Traditional and Deluxe Drinks Packages can solely be bought by visitors over the age of 18 on UK, European and Asian cruises, or these aged over 21 in case your cruise visits USA or UAE waters.
Does P&O supply a non-alcoholic drink package deal for adults?
Sure. The P&O non-alcoholic drinks package deal prices £24.95 and consists of bottled water (500ml solely), draught mushy drinks, juices, sodas, primo Costa coffees, chosen pigteas, and non-alcoholic cocktails.
Different non-alcoholic drinks, resembling canned drinks, might be purchased at a 20% low cost.
Is your cabin’s mini bar included within the package deal?
No. Mini bar and room service drinks will not be included in any P&O drinks package deal.
Are you able to get a P&O drinks package deal on a mini-cruise?
No, sadly not.
This could be a kind of events when you may get worth for cash however drinks packages are solely obtainable on cruises of 5 nights or over.
Different P&O cruises drinks package deal choices
So, we didn’t go for the P&O Drinks Bundle.
However we did get different drinks packages whereas onboard and know we acquired worth for cash verses paying as we drank.
You will want to verify if these can be found in your cruise once you board as they can’t be purchased upfront.
The P&O wine packages
Two wine packages had been obtainable on P&O Azura once we sailed. These got here in packages of six or 12 bottles.
Purchase one in every of these and you can also make a saving on buying a bottle every evening with dinner.
Once we sailed, we purchased the Captain’s wine package deal of 12 bottles for £230, which labored out at £19.16 a bottle. It’s not grocery store costs however it’s nonetheless a saving to purchase in bulk.
There have been purple, white, rose and glowing wines (not champagne) included on the package deal wine checklist.
If you’re joyful to pay a bit extra then there’s the Commodore’s wine package deal (£270 for 12 bottles on the time we sailed), however we loved each bottle within the Captain’s checklist.
You should purchase a wine package deal at any time throughout your cruise and get a booklet of vouchers to present at hand over in the principle restaurant.
Take excellent care of this little booklet as it’s paper and will simply get misplaced.
We had a panic one evening once we thought Mr Tin Field had put it via the wash in one in every of his shirt pockets.
Draught beer package deal
On Azura, there was additionally a draught beer package deal that labored in the same technique to the wine packages.
They don’t seen to promote this off the ship however we noticed details about it onboard. We had been capable of get a e book of 10 or 20 vouchers and saved 15% on shopping for pints individually.
You’ll have to verify if that is obtainable in your P&O ship.
You’ll find out extra about most of P&O’s drink packages on their web site.
What concerning the P&O Kids’s drink package deal?
That is now the Refresher Drinks Bundle and prices £10.95 per youngster and consists of draught mushy drinks (Pepsi, Pepsi Max and Lemonade), chosen juices and fruit cordial by the glass.
Every youngster in your cabin has to have the package deal and it may’t be shared.
The excellent news for any mums and dads who purchase the Traditional and Deluxe Drinks Bundle is that your children get the Refresher Drinks Bundle without cost.
That is helpful for households with kids who eat a number of mushy drinks every day and provides quite a bit worth of the grownup drinks package deal.
Nevertheless, in case you are cruising with a child or younger kids you received’t get the profit.
How a lot do P&O mini bar drinks value?
In your cabin you have got a collection of mini bar drinks together with lager, gin in a tin and mushy drinks. You’ll be able to ask your steward to take these away to make room on your personal drinks.
The mini bar is barely dearer than the ship’s bars, however no extra so than a resort mini bar.
You’ll additionally discover a big bottle of nonetheless water in your cabin quickly after boarding. That is complimentary and comes with a kind connected to enroll to get six extra bottles for a set worth.
The water in your cabin has a chemical style however is drinkable.
If the style will hassle you then get the water package deal or convey some cordial. We at all times journey with a mini Robinson Sauash’d tremendous concentrated cordial bottle.
What drinks are included in your cruise?
You may get faucet water, tea and low within the buffets and in your cabin on P&O cruise ships.
Some juices are additionally obtainable within the buffets. So that you don’t want to purchase drinks in any respect in case you are pleased with these primary drinks.
High tip: for a free glass of bubbly, be sure to attend the Captain’s drinks reception. Wine will also be on supply at buying and gallery occasions throughout your cruise.
Value of drinks on P&O Azura
If you happen to’re questioning how a lot it prices to purchase drinks on a P&O cruise right here’s a couple of of the drinks menus from onboard in December 2019 to January 2020.
Costs could have been up to date since then so take these as indicators of what you would possibly count on plus inflation.
Right here’s the menu from the Terrace Bar, Aqua Bar and The Retreat.
P&O lounge and bar drinks menu
Right here’s the menu for the Planet Bar, Mala Bar and Brodie’s Bar.
What number of bottles of alcohol are you able to convey onboard P&O cruise ships?
Don’t neglect that you could convey alcohol onboard once you embark your P&O cruise.
We every introduced a litre bottle of spirits that we’d purchased in responsibility free on the airport on our technique to the Caribbean.
You would use your allowance to convey a litre of wine, Champagne, or beer as an alternative. We opted to convey our personal pre-dinner drinks.
If you happen to purchase anything in port throughout your cruise this shall be taken away once you board the ship.
It isn’t gone endlessly although. You might be given a ticket and can get your booze again on the finish of your cruise.
Concentrate on private allowances for spirits in case you are flying again to the UK.
So, is the P&O drinks package deal value it?
It wasn’t for us, however that doesn’t imply different folks wouldn’t get worth.
If you happen to like a number of alcoholic or premium drinks whereas on vacation then it’s value wanting into, particularly you probably have a number of sea days.
It’s additionally one thing to contemplate in the event you don’t need to convey your individual one litre bottle allowance onboard.
What do you consider cruise drink packages? Do you assume they provide worth for cash or do you favor to pay as you go?
Extra cruise studying
Right here’s some extra posts I’ve written about cruising:
Want extra assist planning your subsequent cruise?
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