Re: 'Mass brawl' breaks out on P&O cruise ship Britannia
Here's the detail of the P&O Ultimate Drinks Package
It costs £39.95 per person per day
What is Included
• The Ultimate drinks package is £39.95 per person, per day and includes an incredible array of beers, spirits, cocktails, liqueurs and wines by the glass retailing up to £6.95 per serving as listed on our menus, subject to availability. Spirits will be served in single measures only with a draught soda or long life juice mixer.
• The package includes bottled water (500ml only), draught soft drinks, long life juices, primo Costa coffees, teas, hot chocolates, nonalcoholic cocktails.
• In addition, the Ultimate drinks package provides a 20% discount on the following excluded items: any drinks retailing above £6.95, all bottles of wine, large bottles of water, canned or bottled premium soft drinks or juices and smoothies.
• Loyalty discount will be applied when purchasing the Ultimate drinks package.
Package Details and Qualifications
• Each adult assigned to the same cabin must purchase the Ultimate drinks package. Sharing is not permitted.
• The Ultimate drinks package applies to every day a guest is sailing other than day of disembarkation and is not offered on a per day basis. Partial / pro-rated packages or purchase for segments of a guest’s cruise are NOT accepted. For avoidance of doubt if the cruise is advertised as a seven night cruise, then seven shall be applied as the multiplier to the price of the package.
• The package is purchased on board on the first two days of your cruise. If you opt to purchase your package on day two, you pay only for the remaining nights of the cruise.
• The package is STRICTLY NOT refundable or transferable once purchased on board.
• Only one drink at a time may be ordered. There is a minimum 15 minute wait time between ordering drinks. Sharing is not permitted
• Items selected that exceed the £6.95 are charged at full menu price minus a 20% discount (the difference cannot be paid).
• The Ultimate drinks package is not available for Charter Cruises. Age restrictions apply for purchases of the Ultimate drinks package. Anyone under the age of 18 (under 21 when in USA and UAE waters) may not purchase the Ultimate drinks package.
Exclusions and Limitations
• The Ultimate drinks package excludes any drinks retailing above £6.95, all bottles of wine, large bottles of water (750ml/1.5L), canned or bottled premium soft drinks or juices and smoothies.
• The package does not apply to bottled spirits, bottled wine or any items offered in shops on board.
• The package cannot be used for Room Service or Mini-Bar items. Additionally, the package cannot offset the cost of, or be a substitution for, special or private events such as cocktail parties, wedding receptions or similar.
• The Ultimate drinks package excludes beverages offered via self-service or vending machines.
• The package excludes and is not combinable with other Programs, Promotions, On-board Specials, or Events such as Wine Tastings, Cocktail Masterclasses, Buckets of Beer, Buy One Get One free or multi-buy offers, Specialty Dining cover charges, or food items for sale in all food and beverage venues.
• The package may be used at all food and beverage venues and other areas such as public spaces that offer beverage service. Selections and service are limited to each venue’s menu offering and operating hours.
• P&O Cruises reserves the right to introduce exclusions or limitations without prior notice.
• The package is only available on cruises of five nights or more. For avoidance of doubt, the cruise element must be advertised as at least a five night cruise.
• Pricing is subject to change without prior notice and price adjustments (up or down) implemented on the day of sailing will replace any previously advertised price. Packages purchased in advance may vary from on-board pricing due to timing, currency fluctuations and other factors. Guests will NOT incur additional charges, nor be issued any credits or refunds for such variances.
• Local tax may apply for certain ports or itineraries.
• Alcoholic drinks are limited to 15 beverages per 24-hour period (6 am to 6 am). Alcoholic drinks requested above the daily limits are at the discretion of the shipboard management and crew and charged at regular menu prices. The programme is subject to our Responsible Service of Alcohol Policy which requires bar staff not to serve those they believe to be over a reasonable level of inebriation.
• Ordering a double shot or a large glass of wine is not permitted under the programme as it counts as two drinks.
• All bottles and cans will be served opened.
• Guests may purchase a round of drinks for themselves and friends. One drink will count towards the Ultimate drinks package and the remaining drinks will be charged to the guest’s account at full price.
• Shipboard management reserves the right to refuse the service of alcohol at any time in accordance with our policy for the Responsible Service of Alcohol.
• Shipboard management also reserves the right to add additional restrictions and revoke or cancel the Ultimate drinks package at any point during a guest’s cruise for any reason without a refund, as appropriate. A guest’s beverage package may be forfeited if they:
- Provide beverages to other guests or do NOT comply with the terms, conditions and limitations of the package
- Exhibit behaviour that is inappropriate, a safety risk to themselves or others, or become offensive or disruptive to other cruise guests or staff
- Exceed, or attempt to circumvent, the daily limits and service limitations outlined
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So, you have essentially £40 to burn through every day to get your money's worth. So most people will be looking to get probably £50 to £70 worth of drinks in for that £40 cost.
One can see how insipid this whole idea is.
It leads to unruly people, it then puts immense pressure on bar staff to try and manage pasenger drinking and then it falls to on board security teams to mop up the outfall.
This is essentially the blatant money making business BS that we see in every major city in the UK. The laws permit the pubs and clubs to keep serving alcohol even though they know it fuels mass abuse resulting in daily unruly behaviours, fights, brawls, property damage etc etc which the police then have to try and manage.
Cruises have for a long time been a wonderful place to enjoy a break and not have to worry about city centre drunken yobs. Now things appear to be changing for the worse.
It's all about the money.