Help - stewards and drinks!

[ajn1982]

So, our (first) cruise, on Celebrity Mercury, just about a week away, and trying not to get caught out by anything ...

 

I've not yet got my head around the steward/drinks combo. I'm pretty nervous about asking the steward (or other staff) to do something, then getting hit by a big bill at the end because I didn't know what I asked for is chargeable. If I've got this right:

 

- if we have an alcoholic drink, either from a bar, by asking the steward or from the mini-bar in our room, that's chargeable

 

- if we get a coffee from the specialist coffee bar (Cova Cafe Milano I think it is), either ourselves or by asking the steward, that's chargeable

 

- but what about other drinks? For example, if we ask the steward for a soft drink or fruit juice, is that chargeable? If we just for "a coffee", is that? Will there be a list somewhere that tells me what I'm expected to pay for and what I don't? And how about other stuff I might ask the steward, eg. for fruit - do I pay for this? It's not necessarily that I mind paying, I'd just like to know beforehand!

 

Thanks in advance, fellow cruisers ...

[Great Sky Girl]

oh, yea, if you ask the steward for soft drinks you will be charged on your ship account. Everything chargeable will show up on your account...later. Our first cruise was in 2007. The first night we ate in the dinning hall and asked for water to drink. We were brought two large bottles of water to choose from, then it was poured and was left for us to take with us. Ha! It was quite expensive. I have since learned you may ask for tap water and it will not be charged.

[ostrich2]

On the Diamond Princess they had an option where you could purchase unlimited soft drinks for a flat rate (it was something like $6/day). They also had another drink option which allowed free hot chocolate and some other stuff for $9/day (good for kids). I don't know if Celebrity has anything similar.

[ajn1982]

So ... what drinks options AREN'T chargeable??!!

[cruzn single]

I can only answer this for HAL, since that is where most of our cruising has been. Coffee, tea, water anyplace; lemondade and juices in the Lido. Specialty coffees are charged, sodas, and bottled water are charged. Wine, beer, and mixed drinks are charged.

 

If I were you, I would pose this question directly on the Celebrity section of the board where you could get a more definitive answer.

[ajn1982]

I can only answer this for HAL' date=' since that is where most of our cruising has been. Coffee, tea, water anyplace; lemondade and juices in the Lido. Specialty coffees are charged, sodas, and bottled water are charged. Wine, beer, and mixed drinks are charged.

 

If I were you, I would pose this question directly on the Celebrity section of the board where you could get a more definitive answer.[/quote']

 

Thanks for that tip, Cruz'n Couple, I've done that now

[Budget Queen]

So ... what drinks options AREN'T chargeable??!!

 

For clarification, your "steward" is linked to your cabin and cabin service. You are not likely to asking them for any drinks?? If your reference is meal service then it is the wait staff and bar tenders.

 

Juice (not the fresh pay option) is available, free in the morning. Water, tea Coffee, is available from the buffet at lunch. Same for the dining room- can also usually get milk.

 

Drinks are available from room service, you are expected to tip in cash, however.

 

As mentioned a soda card will be available for fountain sodas.

 

You can get your own fruit at the breakfast buffet and bring it back to your room. Otherwise, you "May" be able to request it from your room steward, or get it through room service (with another tip, upon delivery)

[vbmom87]

I know things keep changing, so it is best to ask once you get on board. You could stop at Customer Relations and ask.

 

On our 2008 HAL cruise, our room steward kept a bowl of fruit in our cabin stocked. We just had an OV cabin. Nothing fancy and on the bottom deck. With the economy, who knows if this is still an option.

 

From my experience, if something is charged to you, you will be asked to sign a receipt. At least that is how I remember it.

[Eaglecw]

You've got some good advice here. My brother just got back and he took 6 bottles of wine on board when they boarded in Seattle. The last time we went I took a bottle of Crown Royal and a half a rack of mixer. Every port we stopped at I bought a 6 pack of beer back on board with me. No one said a word.