JonMcIntosh
Jonathan McIntosh
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2016
I couldn't find a "should I or should I not buy a wine package" forum with updated prices, so I did the research and wanted to post this here for anyone else looking for these same answers. (Warning: there is a lot of info here.)
I'm listing current prices (9/2022) for 3,4,5, and 7 day packages for both "classic" and "premium" selections. I then broke down each package to the per bottle price. That number is important because the wine package in only "worth it" if you select wines at that price point or better.
Then you have to look at each package list to see which wines you might order from that list (note: with a package, you can only order from the package list, not the entire wine menu).
From the classic list available on most North America sailings, here are a few wines that would interest our family with the price per bottle if you were to order it on its own.
Baccorosa Zonin Rosé ($31)
Murphy-Goode Sauvignon Blanc ($36)
Honig Sauvignon Blanc ($31)
Robert Mondavi Merlot ($38)
Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon ($39)
Cune Crianza ($37)
Zolo Malbec ($36)
As you can see from the classic list, most of these are above the per bottle price (but only slightly) especially if you're buying a 5- or 7-bottle package.
Unfortunately for me, it's really other wines not on this list that interest me more, so let's take a look at the premium list.
Here are sample of wines from the premium list available on most North American sailings. This list has many more of the actual wines that we tend to drink at home.
Conundrum White ($58) (Marked up an insane amount, BTW.)
Domaine Chandon ($43)
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc ($46)
Sofia Rosé ($48)
Ferrari-Carano Fumé Blanc ($49) (Also marked up too high to be worth ordering on the ship, IMO.)
Craggy Range Te Muna Road Vineyard ($46)
Conundrum Red ($38)
Château Peymouten Saint-Emilion Grand Cru ($65)
Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Merlot ($41)
Terrazas de los Andes Malbec ($42)
Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon ($60)
Unfortunately, it appears that that there are more wines on the classic list that hit the per bottle break even point than on the premium. In fact, the premium package only becomes a "deal" if you just order the Château Peymouten and the Mondavi Cab Sav. (Unfortunately, in real life the Château Peymouten is a $12 bottle with only average ratings, so I would stay away from it.) Other wines we would order like the Conundrum Red Blend and the New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs are actually cheaper if purchased per bottle and not with the package.
What I might actually do for our 7-Night cruise is pre-order a 3 Bottle premium package and just get Mondavi's CS, saving roughly $10 a bottle. (Of course, you have to calculate the 15% gratuity on top for each package purchased, and at that point is there any value left at all?)
One last note about overall wine prices on DCL: some wines on the main list seem only to marked up a moderate amount and still feel like a good value. Most notably, the Heitz Cabernet in the real world retails for $60 - $70 and the fact that you can buy it on the ship for $63 is incredible (shhh... don't tell Disney). Other wines are marked up so much to be a complete waste of money, IMO. For example Conundrum white blend retails for $15. The fact that they sell it on the ship for $58 is insane to me.
This maybe more wine price research than the average cruiser needs, but for me it was helpful and hope this helps at least one other person.
What wines do you tend to buy on the ships? Have you ever pre-bought a package and did you feel like it was worth it?
Edit: The above prices are for purchasing the packages in advance via the website. According to this menu, if you wait till you're onboard to purchase, each package is $3-$4 more: https://disneycruiselineblog.com/menus/wine-dine-packages/#jp-carousel-55338
Both add an 18% gratuity.
I'm listing current prices (9/2022) for 3,4,5, and 7 day packages for both "classic" and "premium" selections. I then broke down each package to the per bottle price. That number is important because the wine package in only "worth it" if you select wines at that price point or better.
| 3 Bottle (Per Bottle) | 4 Bottle (Per Bottle) | 5 Bottle (Per Bottle) | 7 Bottle (Per Bottle) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | $98 ($32.66) | $128 ($32) | $153 ($30.60) | $206 ($29.43) |
| Premium | $148 ($49.33) | $196 ($49) | $240 ($48) | $316 ($45.14) |
Then you have to look at each package list to see which wines you might order from that list (note: with a package, you can only order from the package list, not the entire wine menu).
From the classic list available on most North America sailings, here are a few wines that would interest our family with the price per bottle if you were to order it on its own.
Baccorosa Zonin Rosé ($31)
Murphy-Goode Sauvignon Blanc ($36)
Honig Sauvignon Blanc ($31)
Robert Mondavi Merlot ($38)
Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon ($39)
Cune Crianza ($37)
Zolo Malbec ($36)
As you can see from the classic list, most of these are above the per bottle price (but only slightly) especially if you're buying a 5- or 7-bottle package.
Unfortunately for me, it's really other wines not on this list that interest me more, so let's take a look at the premium list.
Here are sample of wines from the premium list available on most North American sailings. This list has many more of the actual wines that we tend to drink at home.
Conundrum White ($58) (Marked up an insane amount, BTW.)
Domaine Chandon ($43)
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc ($46)
Sofia Rosé ($48)
Ferrari-Carano Fumé Blanc ($49) (Also marked up too high to be worth ordering on the ship, IMO.)
Craggy Range Te Muna Road Vineyard ($46)
Conundrum Red ($38)
Château Peymouten Saint-Emilion Grand Cru ($65)
Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Merlot ($41)
Terrazas de los Andes Malbec ($42)
Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon ($60)
Unfortunately, it appears that that there are more wines on the classic list that hit the per bottle break even point than on the premium. In fact, the premium package only becomes a "deal" if you just order the Château Peymouten and the Mondavi Cab Sav. (Unfortunately, in real life the Château Peymouten is a $12 bottle with only average ratings, so I would stay away from it.) Other wines we would order like the Conundrum Red Blend and the New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs are actually cheaper if purchased per bottle and not with the package.
What I might actually do for our 7-Night cruise is pre-order a 3 Bottle premium package and just get Mondavi's CS, saving roughly $10 a bottle. (Of course, you have to calculate the 15% gratuity on top for each package purchased, and at that point is there any value left at all?)
One last note about overall wine prices on DCL: some wines on the main list seem only to marked up a moderate amount and still feel like a good value. Most notably, the Heitz Cabernet in the real world retails for $60 - $70 and the fact that you can buy it on the ship for $63 is incredible (shhh... don't tell Disney). Other wines are marked up so much to be a complete waste of money, IMO. For example Conundrum white blend retails for $15. The fact that they sell it on the ship for $58 is insane to me.
This maybe more wine price research than the average cruiser needs, but for me it was helpful and hope this helps at least one other person.
What wines do you tend to buy on the ships? Have you ever pre-bought a package and did you feel like it was worth it?
Edit: The above prices are for purchasing the packages in advance via the website. According to this menu, if you wait till you're onboard to purchase, each package is $3-$4 more: https://disneycruiselineblog.com/menus/wine-dine-packages/#jp-carousel-55338
Both add an 18% gratuity.
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