buying barcredit...saving or not?

[Erik (from Holland)]

Hi, here I'm again
I view the carnival site and saw that I can buy a barcredit which is good for 4 alcoholic drinks and costs 19,50.

Is this a good deal or not? And can you buy any four alcoholic drinks you want?

See link below.

Thanx!

http://www.carnival.com/BonVoyage/Ad...t.aspx?pid=BAR

[Erik (from Holland)]

Oh, I'wrote that this barcredit kind of thing only covers compatable prices...But can you tell me which drinks you can get for 5 dollars, en which drinks are more expensive? And when a drink is more expensive, can you still pay it with the barcredit + extra costs?

[SanDee]

Hallo Erik, I have thought the same thing. I believe beer is cheaper than $5.00 and Tropical drinks in those souvenier cups are $6.95 so does it cover any drinks and of course it is better to use them on the more expensive ones. Also what about the 15% gratuity? Is that added to the cost of the 4 drink coupons? Hopefully someone who has done this can answer. I know my daughter would like to prepay $100.00 worth and I understand they are delivered to your cabin. What cruise are you going on? If no answer to your question then just email or call carnival directly.

Erik where in Holland do you live? I have a son who lives in Soest. I worked in Breda and Rotterdam back in the mid to late 80s. I met my husband in Holland. I had an exchange student from 1994 who is from Eindhoven and we still keep in touch and visit. Oh how I miss frites met mayonaise. vaarwel Erik

[LHP]

Originally posted by Erik (from Holland):
Oh, I'wrote that this barcredit kind of thing only covers compatable prices...But can you tell me which drinks you can get for 5 dollars, en which drinks are more expensive? And when a drink is more expensive, can you still pay it with the barcredit + extra costs?

I have never used these (that I can remember) so what I am posting is based on second hand info.

It is my understanding that each "coupon" is worth $4.50. If you order a drink that costs more than that....they charge your Sail and Sign for the difference.

Now I have read that "sometimes" if the cost is just a little bit over...they let it go.

But I would expect to pay the difference every time.

I know a Jack Daniels and Coke is $6.05. (I kept the karaoke host supplied on the Miracle!)

But you can get some beers under $4.50.

[Jim C.]

LHP is correct. The bar credit books or coupons or whatever you want to call them are on the website for people to purchase as bon voyage gifts for friends that are sailing. You won't save any money by pre-paying for drinks in this manner. In fact it is probably a bigger hassle than its worth (you have to have the coupons with all the time, then you have to worry about the cost of the drink, etc etc... ) Don't waste your time buying them for yourself.

[Dave]

Yes, the idea behind the bar credits is for gifts from landlubbers and really not as a primary means for the guests to buy their drinks. I am in total agreement with Jim - it is really a needless hassle for the most part, having to carry a bunch of paper coupons around and so forth. I'm on vacation when I'm on a cruise and I like to simply hand them my cruise card and be done with it. Actually I've been known well enough by some bartenders that they soon know my folio number and don't even need to see my card!

[SanDee]

My daughters idea behind it was to prepay as much as she can. She wants to prepay her gratuities and thought prepaying her bar bill would cut down tremendously on her final bill since those two items are what runs the bill up the most.

[LHP]

Actually I've been known well enough by some bartenders that they soon know my folio number and don't even need to see my card!

You go Dave!!!

[Yankedog]

I thought the same way as your daughter, I just purchased 8 of them yesterday. I figure that way at least DH and I can get started on some drinks the first day.. I am used to carrying coupons! I agree, prepaying gratuities and prepaying bar tab will leave more spending money the week of the cruise. I wish I had kept my last bill to see how much drinks cost