Thursday, March 10, 2016

Cruise Prep 101 - "CHEERS" Program

Carnival offers two prepaid beverage programs aboard each ship:  
"CHEERS"  for guests over the age of 21;
BOTTOMLESS BUBBLES" for guests of any age.


Introduced several years ago to meet competition from other cruise lines that either a) included alcoholic beverages in the cruise fare (all-inclusive); or 2) offered guests access to alcoholic beverages for one set price per day, Carnival recently modified the program to allow for a wider variety of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
"Cheers" 1) is only available to guests over 21 years of age (photo identification may be required to obtain alcoholic beverages);
2) has two-tiered pricing: $49.95 plus 15% gratuity when purchased pre-cruise ($57.44 per day/per person); $54.95 plus  15% gratuity if purchased aboard ship ($63.19 per day/per person). 
 
See "Requirements" below for the reason why "per person" is emphasized.


Under changes to the program the prior maximum amount per serving of alcoholic beverages was raised from $10.00 per serving to $50.00 per serving.  It also provides 25% discounts on certain specified products and events.

For full details on the "Cheers" Program click on the following link:  "Cheers" Program.

Modified "Cheers" - The Buzz

As posts began appearing in many of the social media pages related to Carnival cruising, group members commented on the improvements made to the program and many indicated they would reconsider purchasing the program on future cruises.

"Cheers" does have appeal in many ways; however, it is important to consider the requirements and restrictions that apply specifically to "Cheers"; as well as the more general Carnival Liquor and Beverage Policy.
  • Requirements
  1. Minimum age of 21; agreement not to provide alcohol to minors
  2. ALL guests over 21 sharing the same stateroom MUST ALSO PURCHASE "CHEERS" PROGRAM
  3. Purchase is required for the entire length of the cruise (EXCEPT AS PROVIDED FOR WHEN CRUISES DEPART CERTAIN HOME PORTS - see Applicable to Texas, Alabama, New York  at this ,link or in "Restrictions" below for details).
Based on the requirements shown above not all guests over 21 will be able to take advantage of the program.
Consider this: 
  1. You and a friend are sharing a cabin.  
  2. You want to purchase the "Cheers" program for yourself.   
  3. Your friend is a light, social drinker who may have one drink before dinner and a glass of wine with his/her meal and does not want to spend money on "Cheers".  
  4. Because one person in the cabin elects not to purchase "Cheers", no one staying in that stateroom can purchase the program.
That scenario can apply equally well to a husband/wife when one consumes alcoholic beverages rarely, if at all.

The following restrictions apply:
  1. Guests must be 21 years or older to purchase and must agree not to give alcoholic beverages to minors.
  2. Each adult assigned to the same stateroom must purchase the program. 
  3. Guests must purchase the program for the entire cruise - this program is not offered on a per day basis.
  4. Program is non-refundable. 
  5. Price adjustments (up or down) implemented on the day of sailing will replace any previously advertised price.
  6. Only one alcoholic drink at a time may be ordered using CHEERS! - sharing is not permitted.
  7. Program allows for unlimited Zero-Proof beverages but only one beverage at a time may be ordered using CHEERS! - sharing is not permitted.
  8. There is a 5 minute wait time between ordering drinks.
  9. Guests may purchase a round of drinks for themselves and friends. One drink will count towards the CHEERS! program and the remaining drinks will be charged to the guest's Sail and Sign account.
  10. Program allows for up to 15 alcoholic drinks per 24 hour period (6:00am-6:00am); once the limit is reached, the guest will not be served ANY additional alcoholic drinks.  
  11. Program only applicable for onboard purchases during regular operating hours.
  12. All bottles and cans will be served opened 
  • Carnival reserves the right to refuse service for any reason.
  1. Applicable state and local taxes will be charged to the guest folio when this program is used within US waters. The tax is based on the state's tax structure and the cost of the individual drink purchased (not the daily program rate). For example: if the drink price is $5 and the tax is 10%, the guest's Sail & Sign card will be charged $0.50 for tax. This applies to all US ports (embarkation home ports and ports-of-call).  
  2. Due to state laws, we cannot sell CHEERS! until the second day of the cruise for voyages departing from our Texas, Alabama and New York home ports. Drinks purchased on the first day of the cruise will be charged to the guest's Sail & Sign card in the usual manner. When purchased on the second day of the cruise, guests are charged for the remaining days only (cruise duration less one day).
  3. For those guests who pre-purchase CHEERS!, it will be activated upon boarding the ship (except for ships sailing from Galveston, Mobile and New York). Guests will receive a note in their stateroom advising them to go the bar to receive their sticker which is placed on their Sail & Sign card. In the event guests do not go to their stateroom, once the Sail & Sign card is swiped,  it is flagged and the bartender will provide the sticker. 
  4. Group bookings (consisting of a minimum of 30 adults) can purchase CHEERS! prior to the cruise by contacting Group Event Planning (all adult guests in the group must purchase the program; all minors in the group must purchase Bottomless Bubbles program).
  5. For pre-purchase orders, a message card will be placed in guests' staterooms on embarkation day with the following notation: "Please bring your Sail & Sign Card to the Casino Bar to activate this program". A sticker will be placed on the card for the use of the CHEERS! program. In the event guests do not go to their stateroom, once the Sail & Sign card is swiped, it is flagged and the bar staff will provide the sticker.
  • CHEERS! is not offered on the following:
  • 2-day cruises
  • Charter cruises 
  • Ships sailing from Australia (Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend)
  • Beverage purchases made at Half Moon Cay, The Bahamas

"CHEERS"

The cost:
With two adults over 21 in the same stateroom, "Cheers" amounts to $804.16 (if prepaid); $884.66 (if bought onboard) for a 7-night cruise before the first drink is even poured. Adjust those numbers up or down depending on the length of the cruise.

There Are Limits:  15 Drinks Per Day Does Not Necessarily Mean You Will Be Served All 15!


There is always a "Catch-all" phrase somewhere in laws, regulations, and policies.  In the case of the "Cheers"  program there are actually two:
  • Carnival reserves the right to refuse service for any reason. Within the restrictions above; and,

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