I do think it's customary for the guest to pay for meal ashore so the real question is about the invitation. Seems like a miscommunication somewhere since you haven't seen other complaints in their reviews. I guess if other guests mostly do full board they wouldn't have this experience. I'd guess the miscommunication started back with the initial booking and the half/full board conversation. Just guessing....
No comment on the alcohol topic as I don't even drink when I run my own boat.
They told us when we booked that most of their guests book full board. But their sample itinerary included several recommended off shore restaurants. Having done this before as half board and enjoyed a few meals off the charter, we requested half board because we felt it would be silly to pay full board knowing we wanted to have several lunches and dinners on shore. And our contract specifies half board with the exact number of on shore meals we’d have. But from the reviews it sounds like all others have done full.
