H
Henry009
Guest
Sorry, but since I was #20 on the first BYOB Wine thread, I thought I'd post my findings separately again as follows:
I reviewed a wine list with prices posted for the Galaxy on cruiseclues.com...I believe the wine list is recent from its contents.
I checked about a dozen wines against prices at Total Wine (wineaccess.com)...a national retail chain in states not dictated to by a LCB.
On average, wines costing up to about $40 on Celebrity were based approximately on the following formula:
Retail cost + corkage fee ($12) + $7.00
For example, compare a bottle of 1999 Beringer Founders Estate Merlot
Celebrity $26
Retail $8 + Corkage $12 = $20
Celebrity makes an extra $6
Another, 1999 Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon:
Celebrity $44
Retail $22 + Corkage $12 = $34
Celebrity makes $10
2000 St. Francis Chardonnay
Celebrity $29
Retail $10 + $12 = $22
Celebrity makes $7
It's that simple and it held true for 12 different wines.
In addition, there is a 15% gratuity placed on wines purchased on board which increases the price even further.
The gouging comes for higer priced wines when the additional celebrity profit over retail and corkage goes to $16 to $25 before gratuity. So if you buy a wine costing $30 retail, you will likely be paying upwards to $75 for that wine on board when it would cost you $42 when you add on the corkage fee and no gratuity.
Furthermore, the wine list is not impressive. It is geared to cost about $30 on average per bottle, however, they are really serving inferior wines at that price as noted above with an $8 merlot priced at $26 before gratuity which brings it $30. They are in effect charging the corkage fee on the bottle of wine AND making an additional $6 and then you have to pay the gratuity when the corkage fee already covers the gratuity.
People would fare better buying premium wines for about $20 - $30 a bottle retail then paying the corkage fee. This would either approximate or be slightly more expensive than selections from the ship's wine list, however, the wine experience would be greatly enhanced.
Or bring your own inexpensive wines and save about $7 per bottle on average and save the gratuity.
While this is lengthy, I hope it helps. I will purchase better wines and pay the corkage.
Post Edited (04-19-04 06:08)
I reviewed a wine list with prices posted for the Galaxy on cruiseclues.com...I believe the wine list is recent from its contents.
I checked about a dozen wines against prices at Total Wine (wineaccess.com)...a national retail chain in states not dictated to by a LCB.
On average, wines costing up to about $40 on Celebrity were based approximately on the following formula:
Retail cost + corkage fee ($12) + $7.00
For example, compare a bottle of 1999 Beringer Founders Estate Merlot
Celebrity $26
Retail $8 + Corkage $12 = $20
Celebrity makes an extra $6
Another, 1999 Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon:
Celebrity $44
Retail $22 + Corkage $12 = $34
Celebrity makes $10
2000 St. Francis Chardonnay
Celebrity $29
Retail $10 + $12 = $22
Celebrity makes $7
It's that simple and it held true for 12 different wines.
In addition, there is a 15% gratuity placed on wines purchased on board which increases the price even further.
The gouging comes for higer priced wines when the additional celebrity profit over retail and corkage goes to $16 to $25 before gratuity. So if you buy a wine costing $30 retail, you will likely be paying upwards to $75 for that wine on board when it would cost you $42 when you add on the corkage fee and no gratuity.
Furthermore, the wine list is not impressive. It is geared to cost about $30 on average per bottle, however, they are really serving inferior wines at that price as noted above with an $8 merlot priced at $26 before gratuity which brings it $30. They are in effect charging the corkage fee on the bottle of wine AND making an additional $6 and then you have to pay the gratuity when the corkage fee already covers the gratuity.
People would fare better buying premium wines for about $20 - $30 a bottle retail then paying the corkage fee. This would either approximate or be slightly more expensive than selections from the ship's wine list, however, the wine experience would be greatly enhanced.
Or bring your own inexpensive wines and save about $7 per bottle on average and save the gratuity.
While this is lengthy, I hope it helps. I will purchase better wines and pay the corkage.
Post Edited (04-19-04 06:08)
