Carnival Cruise ships may be rolling out an all-you-can drink alcohol program pretty soon. They are currently testing the idea on Carnival Victory.
Carnival is currently testing a program that gives guests the option of paying nearly $50 a day for unlimited beer, wine and spirits. The package also includes sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages like virgin cocktails.
The package is appropriately named "My Awesome Bar Program" package. For $42.95 per person per day, plus an automatic 15% gratuity charge of $6.44, passengers can get almost any beverage that costs less than $10 throughout the day. Those who want to order more expensive cocktails or bottles of wine and champagne can get a 25% discount if they pay for the package.
The only downside is that if one person over the age of 21 purchases the package, every other adult must also pay for the package to prevent passengers from sharing one package. According to Carnival's age restriction, only those 21 and over can purchase the package.
On Carnival Victory, passengers can sign up for the all-you-can-drink alcohol package at the ship's atrium, casino bars, or pool bars.
Carnival is trying out this program out of convenience to passengers and crew. It is not clear how long the program will be tested and if it will be added to all ships if it is successful.
The Carnival Victory is a 2,758 passenger ship that has home ports in Barbados, Miami, and San Juan.
Carnival isn't the only one to try this type of program. Royal Caribbean introduced an all-you-can drink alcohol program on three ships last year. Celebrity Cruises adopted the program on all of their ships in 2010. MSC also offers a similar package and they require all passengers in the same cabin to purchase it.
