Do you know what one of the major differences between a cruise ship that sails from the Port of Miami and a cruise ship that sails from the Port of New Orleans is? I will give you a hint, it's related to Louisiana's joie de vivre outlook on living, and the mindset of people from New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Shreveport who love to party.

Phil Abroms via YouTube
Phil Abroms via YouTube
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I have it on good authority that a cruise ship sailing out of New Orleans will actually stock more booze on board than most other ocean-going ships. I have a factual first-hand account of how a Royal Caribbean ship sailing from New Orleans to Cozumel actually ran out of beer and most other alcoholic beverages before they crossed the halfway point in the Gulf of Mexico.

I think it's no secret that one of the pastimes of a cruise guest from the Gulf South is to drink while on vacation. The problem with drinking on a cruise ship is the cost. Those drinks can get expensive and if you like to drink a lot of them, well that can add up quickly.

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That's why cruise lines offer drink packages to their guests. Guests pay one price and enjoy as much as their liver can handle while onboard. For a normal person, a drink package is a bad investment. Unless you plan on being stinky drunk the entire time you're on vacation you won't get your money's worth, or will you?

It would be nice if others in your party could take advantage of your "drink package" but alas the cruise lines make a lot of money on booze and they aren't about to let anybody circumvent the system. But wait, some Louisiana cruisers already have and at least one cruise line is on to them.

Fred Moon via Unsplash
Fred Moon via Unsplash
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On the cruise ship's social media sites, it's called "Buy Me a Drink". Here is how it works. You purchase an unlimited drink package for your cruise. Your friend wants a drink but they don't have the package. You offer to "buy them a drink" using your drink package and they Cash App or Venmo you the agreed-upon price.

So that $15.00 drink of the day that is served at no charge to the drink package holder could be turned into $10, $5, $2, or whatever the agreed-upon price is. It's great for cruisers, it sucks for cruise lines.

Mariia Shalabaieva via Unsplash.com
Mariia Shalabaieva via Unsplash.com
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Hence, the announcement by Carnival Cruise Lines that the practice is not allowed on their ships. From what we understand the cruise line is actually encouraging guests to rat out other guests who participate in the practice.

A Carnival spokesman stopped short of saying those caught participating in "Buy Me A Drink" will be thrown off the ship but let's just say any serious violation of cruise line policies and protocols will get you in a lot of hot water and that could include an early debarkation.

Koldunov
Koldunov
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So, now you know and to be truthful, there are so many other great ways to make your cruise vacation less expensive, here are some of our favorites that could put more than $1,000 back into your pocket.

5 Easy Ways to Save More Than $1,000 on Your Next Cruise

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