Wine Question

[odd man out]

Planning first ever cruise - Ryndam - Vancouver to Anchorage - July

 

Having read the previous posts I know that I know that you can bring your own wine on board and have it served in the MDR for and $18 corkage fee. There is also a wine card I can buy. Here are some questions I couldn't find an answer to:

 

How much would I expect to pay for a wine by the glass or a bottle in the MDR or a bar (let's assume I am happy with wine that would retail for 8-10$)? I would need to know in order to figure out if bringing our own or buying a wine card would be cost effective.

 

Can a wine card be shared by two people? Or is it limited to one person?

 

Thanks

 

todd

[Pettifogger]

A wine card can be shared.

[jtl513]

As I recall, wines by the glass start at about $6, plus the 15% service charge, making them $6.90.

 

House wines on the wine card are either $4.14 (10 glass card) or $3.88 (20 glass card) including the 15% service charge

Here is the bottle wine list currently on the HAL site On Board Gifts, which is probably about the same as on the ship:

 

Bon Voyage Red Wine $21.85

Bon Voyage White Wine $21.85

Bon Voyage Champagne $21.85

Kosher Fortant Cabernet Sauvignon $27.60

Kosher Fortant Chardonnay $27.60

HAL Commemorative Chardonnay 2005 $33.35

HAL Commemorative Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 $33.35

White Zinfandel, Beringer, CA $33.35

Cline Cellars Zinfandel $40.25

Sauvignon Blanc, Blackstone, CA $40.25

Robert Mondavi Private Selection Merlot $42.55

Ruffino Pinot Grigio $44.85

Beringer Founder's Estate Cabernet Sauvignon $44.85

Rosemount Estate Shiraz $44.85

Beringer Napa Valley Chardonnay $51.75

Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough $51.75

Mumm Cordon Rouge, Brut, France $67.85

Ferrari-Carano Alexander Valley Chardonnay $79.35

Sokol Blosser Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $79.35

Silverado Cabernet Sauvignon $90.85

Merlot, Northstar, Walla Walla, WA $102.35

Champagne, Veuve Cliquot Yellow Label $102.35

Banfi Brunello di Montalcino $124.20

Cuvee Dom Perignon, Brut, France $228.85

[odd man out]

And a follow up question

 

If you bring wine or champange to drink in your cabin, can you get wine glasses and ice bucket?

[mudscraper]

And a follow up question

 

If you bring wine or champange to drink in your cabin, can you get wine glasses and ice bucket?

Yes indeed.

 

 

Rich

[Sprocket]

There will be wine glasses in the cabin, and our steward has always replenished them as needed. There is a small ice bucket but for chilling champagne just ask your cabin steward for a larger one and I'm sure it will be no problem.

We always take a few bottles of wine on board with us for formal nights, plus we buy and share a wine card. My DH likes cabs and I like Zinfandel and that way we both get what we enjoy.

[jtl513]

And a follow up question

 

If you bring wine or champange to drink in your cabin, can you get wine glasses and ice bucket?

Wine glasses should be in the cabin, and if they're not, or you need more, just ask your steward. Same deal for a corkscrew. There will be a small ice bucket that is filled at least once per day, and I think you could get another for chilling a bottle. If you're in a cabin with a balcony on the Ryndam (BC or higher) you will have a refrigerator (really a cooler).

 

In my post above I should have mentioned that all the prices of wine by the bottle have the 15% service charge included.

[PattiG]

What if you brought wine on board, opened it in your cabin and then brought the bottle to the dinner table. Do you still have to pay the corkage fee?

[pris993]

We regularly buy wine from $7-$12 or so a bottle at home.

 

We looked at the wine line on board the Eurodam and really did not find any wine we wanted to buy for the price charged, plus 15%.

 

We gladly paid the $18 corking fee to drink a bottle of wine we purchased ashore in Ft. Lauderdale before boarding.

 

I did buy one glass of a Mondavi Merlot for about $9.50 including the 15% one night, knowing it was overpriced.

 

REcommend buy wine you like and pay the corking fee. It is worth it.

[Krazy Kruizers]

These is a list of the current wines offered in the dining room -- they could change at any time:

White Wines:

Kreusch Piersporter Riesling Spatlese, Germany - $25

Beringer Pinot Grigio, CA - $25

Ruffino Pinot Grigio, Italy - $39

Blackstone Sauvignon Blanc, CA - $35

Silverado Sauvignon Blanc, CA - $49

Kenwood Sauvignon Blanc, CA - $37

Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand - $45

Michel Redde Pouilly Fume, France - $59

Hedges CMS White, WA State - $39

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc & Viognier, CA - $45

Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling, WA State - $29

Robert Mondavi Sauvignon Blanc, CA - $35

Caliterra Sauvignon Blanc, Chile - $25

Laboure-Roi Pouilly Fuisse, France - $54

Santa Carolina Chardonnay, Chile - $22

Alice White Chardonnay, Australia - $27

Georges Duboeuf Macon-Villages, France - $35

Footprint Chardonnay, South Africa - $29

Monkey Bay Chardonnay, New Zealand - $37

Rosemont Estate Chardonnay, Australia - $35

Caliterra Chardonnay, Chile - $29

Domaine Laroche Chablis ier ccru, France - $49

Louis Jadot Puligny-Montrachet, France - $89

Beringer Chardonnay, CA - $45

Horse Heaven Sauvignon Blanc, WA - $55

Franciscan Chardonnay, CA - $47

Merryvale Starmont Chardonnay, CA - $59

Lanzerac Chardonnay, South Africa - $65

Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay, CA - $69

Canoe Ridge Estate Chardonnay, WA - $69

Apex Chardonnay, WA - $75

Conundrum, CA - $39

________________________________________________________________________________________

Red Wines

castle Rock Cuvee Pinot Noir, CA - $37

Meridian Pinot Noir, CA - $37

Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir, Oregan - $69

Laboure'- Roi Pommard, France - $69

Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Villages, France - $25

Villa Fiorita Barbera D'Asti Superiore, Italy - $54

Antinori Santa Cristina Sangiovese, Italy - $29

Perrin Reserve Cotes-Du-Rhone, France - $39

Les Closiers Chateauneuf-Du-pope, France - $59

Marques de Caceres Rioja, Spain - $29

Arboleda Camenere, Chile - $49

Domaine de la Serre Cailboux, france - $65

Niebaum-Coppola Claret, CA - $49

Rosemont Estate Shiraz, Australia - $39

Marques Shiraz, Australia - $54

Footprint Shiraz, South Africa - $29

Alice White Shiraz, Australia - $27

Cline Cellars Zinfandel, CA - $35

Trentadue Old Patch, CA - $49

Columbia Crest Grand Estates merlot, WA - $45

Beringer Stone cellars Merlot, CA - $27

Robert Mondavi, CA - $37

Hedges Red Mountain Three Vineyards, WA - $69

Columbia crest Estates Cabernet Sauvignon, WA - $45

Twin Oaks Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon, CA - $27

Spellbound Petite Sirah, CA - $45

Beringer Founders' Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, CA - $39

Guenoc Cabernet Sauvignon, CA - $35

Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia - $42

Meritage Franciscan Magnificat, CA - $79

Silverado Cabernet Sauvignon, CA - $79

Northstar Merlot, WA - $89

Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino, Italy - $108

________________________________________________________________________________________

Champagnes & Sparkling Wines by the Bottle

Domaine St Michelle Brut, WA - $39

Domaine Chandon Brut, CA - $47

Nicolas Feuillate Brut, France - $59

Moet & Chandon brut Imperial, France - $89

Taittinger Prestive Rose, France - $99

Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon Brut, France - $199

[Krazy Kruizers]

Wines by the Glass (which can be ordered anywhere on the ship):

Champagne & Sparkling Wines

Domaine Ste Michelle Brut, WA - $8

Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut, France - $14.50

Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial, france - $14.50

White Wines

Twin Oaks Woodbridge White Zinfandel, CA - $5.50

Alice White Cahrdonnay, Australia - $6

Robert Mondavi Riesling, CA - $8

Rosemont Estate Chardonnay, Australia - $7

Pinot Grigio Rufino, Italy - $8

Blackstone Sauvignon Blanc, CA - $7

Kenwood Sauvignon Blanc, CA - $7.50

Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc, new Zealand - $9.50

Red Wines

Twin Oaks Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon, CA - $6

Alice White Shiraz, Australia - $6

Rosemont Estate Shiraz, Australia - $8

Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia - $9

Guenoc Cabernet Sauvignon, CA - $7

Meridian Pinot Noir, CA - $7.50

Beringer Founders' Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, CA - $8

Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot, WA - $9.50

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Cellar Master's Reserve Wines by the Bottle

Veuve Clicquot La Grand Dame Rose, France - $362

Louis Roederer Cristal, Reims, France - $244

Cloudt Bay Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand - $78

Vega Sicilia "Unico", Ribera Del Duero, Spain - $622

Antinori Solaia, Ruscany, Italy - $189

Chateau Figeac, St Emilion, France - $205

Chateau Haut Brion, Pessac Leognan, France - $422

Niebaum Coppola, Rubicon Estate, CA - $168

Caymus Special Selection, CA - $195

Opus One Napa, CA - $249

Chateau D'Yquem, Grand Vin, Bordeaux, France - $296

[jtl513]

None of the prices Krazy Kruizers just quoted include the 15% service charge.

[tidenik]

I bought a 20 pour wine card on the Eurodam last fall.

 

I feel it was a fine value.

 

In that I am not a wine sophisticate (I will not spend more than 4 bucks for a bottle of wine thanks to Trader Joe's n Rite Aid with some palatable cabs and merlots) it was very satisfying in knowing that the wine card comes out to 3 dollars and change per glass including the 15% gratuity and the wines were good.

 

I used the wine card in the MDR and and the lounges.

 

Another HAL value is the 2 for 1 happy hour cocktails but you have read the daily shnohze to know when and in which lounges to find em.

[iamaqt2]

One other thing to remember is that the corkage fee applies to any size bottle. My DH and I enjoy a wine that is sold in 750 and 1500 ml sizes. So if you bring a large bottle, you would only pay the corkage fee once, but enjoy the equivalent of 2 bottles.

[catl331]

What if you brought wine on board, opened it in your cabin and then brought the bottle to the dinner table. Do you still have to pay the corkage fee?

Yes. Also if you take it to any bar/lounge.

[odd man out]

I bought a 20 pour wine card on the Eurodam last fall. I feel it was a fine value. ...

 

One other question. What wines are available with the wine card. Does that list overlap with the wines by the glass list already posted?

[CowPrincess]

OP -- you don't say where you are from. There can be an order of magnitude difference in a wine you pay $10 for in the US, and one you pay $10 for in Canada. Example: We bought some Beringer Founders' Estate Cab in San Diego at Rite Aid for $10.99/bottle. For comparison, that wine was "featured" by HAL one night for $41 (around that, anyway). The same wine here in Canada is $22/bottle.

 

If you are planning on stocking up on wine in Vancouver before boarding, be aware that $10 won't get you what you can get in the US for $10ish :)

 

We get the wine card, and use it to have a glass of wine in the MDR with dinner, and find the wines acceptable. We do not have sophisticated palates.

 

We take a few bottles of wine in DH's backpack, wrapped in clothing, and enjoy those in the cabin.

[catl331]

One other question. What wines are available with the wine card. Does that list overlap with the wines by the glass list already posted?

No, the wines on the card are a lower grade house wine. The selections are Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, White Zinfandel, and "sparkling".

[garydm]

HAL wines are priced about 3.5-4 times what you would pay retail. They have the highest prices for mediocre wines of any cruise line. They are about 30% higher than Crystal for example.

 

Also, mention was made of asking your cabin steward for a corkscrew. On our recent Oosterdam cruise we were told that was a thing of the past because they were losing about 800 of them per cruise. You had to call room service and have someone come to your cabin and open your wine if you did not have your own corkscrew. They do not sell them onboard either.

 

Gary

[fann1sh]

Just to add to CowPrincess's comments: I you do buy wine in Vancouver, and boggle at the price of familiar U.S. brands, consider asking the staff of B.C. Liquor Stores (government near monopoly) for recommendations.

 

One generally available basic French table wine is Kressman red (SKU: #3715) or Kressman white ( SKU: #1164) C$12 a litre (38 ounces) or $17.50 for a litre and a half magnum (and just one corkage :D; red SKU: #30254 or white SKU: #11718). Nothing special, a bit bland, but IMO smoother than any of the HAL house wines.

 

If you drink red wines, there will be relatively cheap Chilean and Australian choices you won't see most places in the U.S., very much worth trying.

 

If you like whites, you might be surprised at the quality of some Canadian offerings.

 

If you're a sparkling wine fan, check out the Spanish cava (WAAAY more and better choices than Frexinet!)

[Krazy Kruizers]

One other question. What wines are available with the wine card. Does that list overlap with the wines by the glass list already posted?

 

The wine card is good for only the House Wines which is Coastal Vintners.