06/08/2021
Does Cheers make sense for you? This is a long post, but I give a couple of examples to help you decide. Here are the most recent Carnival Cruise drink prices I could find:
Most Beer: apx $6-$8 ea (16oz)
Foster’s Beer: $7 (25oz)
Most Wine: $7-$9 (some higher)
Most Hard liquors: $6.50-$8.50 (some higher)
Most Mixed drinks: $8-10 (some higher)
Sodas: $2.50 (12oz)
Energy drinks: $5
Bottled water .5 liter $1.50
Bottled water 1.5 liter: $4
Milk shake: $4
Spiked milk shake: $8
Specialty coffee/Capp/Espresso: $4.50
Cheers costs $51.95 per day + 18% gratuity = $61.30 per day. For a seven day cruise, that is $429.10. (On cruises from NY and TX, you can’t buy Cheers on first day, so you would have six days of cost.)
Basically, if you know you’ll probably drink at least 4-5 mixed drinks, or 6-7 beers per day, plus have a few coffees/sodas/energy drinks/bottled waters/milkshakes, then it’s worth it. If you’re only going to use Cheers for the booze, then the break-even point is about 6-7 mixed drinks or 8-9 beers. Carnival limits Cheers to 15 alcoholic drinks per day. The water/other non-alcohol drinks DO NOT count toward your booze limit.
Example 1 – Light drinker: You don’t drink alcohol during the day, but do have a coffee drink or two, grab a big bottled water on your way around the ship, have a milk shake, and a couple sodas during the day. In the evening you have a glass of wine with dinner, then two mixed drinks on deck, at the dance club, or at a show, where you also grab a couple small bottles of water from the bar. (Pricing for above would be apx $50, depending on specifics. So perhaps not worth it, but add a lunch cocktail and it might be.)
Example 2 – Medium drinker: No booze for breakfast, lol, but you want your cappuccino/etc, and maybe an energy drink. Then perhaps a couple drinks on the deck during the sunny weather, along with a couple of small bottles of water. Then maybe a soda or milkshake during the day, another water (good to stay hydrated), then in the evening, a couple glasses of wine, then a couple drinks during an entertainment show. Then a drink in the casino. (Pricing for this would be apx $80, so Cheers would likely be worth it. But remember, many people don’t drink as much on-board on port days.)
Example 3 – Carnival Partier: You know who you are and you’ve already done the math, lol.
Cheers includes all of the alcoholic and non-boozy drinks above, including drinks with an individual cost of up to $20 each. So the cruise might be a chance for you to try out some new tastes like top shelf tequilas, rums or single malts.
Drink responsibly but have fun: You’re not driving, and you don’t have to wake up early in the morning.
https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3525/~/cheers%21-beverage-program-q%26as
What is the price for individual drinks on board? Sample of beverage prices - prices and product availability are subject to change without notice.
