Booze prices exorbitant

[Boatingmom]

My DH just spoke to somebody that came back from a cruise- $8.00 for a Vodka and Tonic.:eek::eek::eek: Not sure what line.

 

Can this be true? Sure fru fru drinks are expensive , but juist a simple V&T? What about beer?

 

I'm not uasually that frugal, but maybe I better consider rum runners:confused:

[pbmsmile]

The drink of the day (fru fru drink) is usually around $6 and the beer is $5 each. You can bring on board a bottle of wine for each legal age person going as well as a 12 pk of soda. I don't do this bc I am not much of a drinker but my friends always bring a Rum Runner of Rum or vodka to mix with their soda or with the free juice on board. The cruiseline has really cracked down on the smuggled booze though so you always run the risk (and embarrassment) of being caught. Enjoy your trip whatever you decide to do because cruising on Carnival is the best!!!

[norcal2]

You can pre-order the Vodka from Bon Voyage at about $40 and bring the tonic with you and that will save a little. That way you have it available in your cabin as well.

[rrraydon]

Last month on the Pride my friend and I were in the piano bar and she ordered a can beer from the drink menu..there was one for $3 and some change. Apparantly, she wasn't specific enough bacause they brought her the same brand but in the bottle, it was like $6.

So, when I ordered our drink refills, I pointed to the specific beer on the menu and said the one that's $3 and some change..whatever it was..and that's what she got the second time around. Now, I got the Mai Tai's that are the classic drinks for like $9 or something after the added gratuity so that I could take the receipt to the casino cashier and get a free match and play ticket for the casino. Those you can only get by ordering the Carnival Classic drinks.

[Frank12]

The drink of the day (fru fru drink) is usually around $6 and the beer is $5 each. You can bring on board a bottle of wine for each legal age person going as well as a 12 pk of soda. I don't do this bc I am not much of a drinker but my friends always bring a Rum Runner of Rum or vodka to mix with their soda or with the free juice on board. The cruiseline has really cracked down on the smuggled booze though so you always run the risk (and embarrassment) of being caught. Enjoy your trip whatever you decide to do because cruising on Carnival is the best!!!

Most of the beers are $5.75 plus gratuity. IMO that is a little steep.

[RD64]

If you are ordering vodka, gin, etc. be sure to specify that you want the HOUSE brand. Otherwise you will more than likely get one of their premium brands at a higher cost.

 

Also check your receipt, as I have found on more than one occasion (especially by the pools) even if you ask for house brand, they will bring you the premium brand. If it is not what you ordered, send it back.

 

Cheers

[firefly333]

If you are ordering vodka, gin, etc. be sure to specify that you want the HOUSE brand. Otherwise you will more than likely get one of their premium brands at a higher cost.

 

Also check your receipt, as I have found on more than one occasion (especially by the pools) even if you ask for house brand, they will bring you the premium brand. If it is not what you ordered, send it back.

 

Cheers

 

This is what I was thinking, the person got a call liquor .. even if they didnt request it.

[rrraydon]

Last month on the Pride my friend and I were in the piano bar and she ordered a can beer from the drink menu..there was one for $3 and some change. Apparantly, she wasn't specific enough bacause they brought her the same brand but in the bottle, it was like $6.

 

So, when I ordered our drink refills, I pointed to the specific beer on the menu and said the one that's $3 and some change..whatever it was..and that's what she got the second time around. Now, I got the Mai Tai's that are the classic drinks for like $9 or something after the added gratuity so that I could take the receipt to the casino cashier and get a free match and play ticket for the casino. Those you can only get by ordering the Carnival Classic drinks.

 

 

Also, if you order the Classic Long Island Iced Tea, those things are soooo strong that if you order it with no ice, you could pour half in another glass and add some soda and get 2 drinks for the price of one!

[addicted to cruising]

Im a smuggler but we always end up buying drinks on board also. We had a few one night at the comedy show and I was a bit shocked that the prices have gone up. If I recall I used to get a strawberry daquari for 5.75, most drinks on the menu were $8-9. Really what I would pay at home if at a bar

[Sargent_Schultz]

The Bar Menu

 

http://www.zydecocruiser.com/Carnival-Bar-Menu/CarnivalCruiseBarMenu.htm

[runner15km]

My DH just spoke to somebody that came back from a cruise- $8.00 for a Vodka and Tonic.:eek::eek::eek: Not sure what line.

 

Can this be true? Sure fru fru drinks are expensive , but juist a simple V&T? What about beer?

 

I'm not uasually that frugal, but maybe I better consider rum runners:confused:

When you go out to a restaurant on L.I. don't you paid about the same price or more?

[going2cruz]

Last month on the Pride my friend and I were in the piano bar and she ordered a can beer from the drink menu..there was one for $3 and some change. Apparantly, she wasn't specific enough bacause they brought her the same brand but in the bottle, it was like $6.

 

So, when I ordered our drink refills, I pointed to the specific beer on the menu and said the one that's $3 and some change..whatever it was..and that's what she got the second time around. Now, I got the Mai Tai's that are the classic drinks for like $9 or something after the added gratuity so that I could take the receipt to the casino cashier and get a free match and play ticket for the casino. Those you can only get by ordering the Carnival Classic drinks.

 

They had a drink menu and $3 beers......which bar did you do this at.

[klmorg]

One tip regarding beer... is to order a bucket (4 beers). You save 50 cents per beer, or $2.00 total. You can take the bucket anywhere on the ship, back to your room or whatever. Saves a little $$. The other (besides smuggling:eek:) is to pre-order a bottle from the Bon Voyage dept. May seem pricey, but quite a bit of overall savings compared to buying individual drinks, and you can bring your own mixers on board. Alcohol (along with picture sales, gambing & bingo) is where they make their moola. Just gotta figure the costs in to your cruise budget & be prepared. :)

[RD64]

Last year on the Liberty...at Paparazzis...the server...if only I could remember her name would make the strongest Martini's (regular James Bond kind) ever. Think they were about $7 or $8, but we called them the two-hour Martinis, because it took that long to finish one.

[mebecindi]

Most of the beers are $5.75 plus gratuity. IMO that is a little steep.

 

Yes it is steep when I buy a six pack for that much. This is why we have never cruised. BUT.....we are next April....We are saving money, and I plan to buy drink tickets and stuff like that. Atleast it wont be one huge bill all at once.

 

I still say that Carnival could sell beers for $3.00 and drinks for $5.00 and still make a fortune.

[rrraydon]

They had a drink menu and $3 beers......which bar did you do this at.

 

$3 and some change..the change was .95...so, $3.95...the piano bar. :D

[mcwebber]

we called them the two-hour Martinis, because it took that long to finish one.

 

Wimp. ;)

[Haoie]

That's how the cruise lines make their money - Of course it'll be pricey.

[victoryred]

$3 and some change..the change was .95...so, $3.95...the piano bar. :D

 

I am a platinum Carnival cruise beer drinker and have not seen a beer that cheap in a couple years now.....sure it wasn't a 12 oz bud/bud light in the can for $4.95? They still have them if you ask (although they don't advertise) on several ships but not all.......

[rrraydon]

I am a platinum Carnival cruise beer drinker and have not seen a beer that cheap in a couple years now.....sure it wasn't a 12 oz bud/bud light in the can for $4.95? They still have them if you ask (although they don't advertise) on several ships but not all.......

 

 

Nope..it was $3.95...it's here on this menu:

 

 

http://www.zydecocruiser.com/Carnival-Bar-Menu/CarnivalCruiseBarMenu.htm

[soccersharon]

We ordered a bottle of vodka from Bon Voyage on our last cruise...and saved us quite a bit of money. We also brought a bottle of wine each. Instead of buying mix (gingerale) on the ship, we bought it in port to save a few extra bucks. We loved having a few drinks on our balcony!

[angel24_ga]

Just got back from Valor cruise 1/16-1/23. Alchol was outragoeuos! A bucket of beer (which is 4) was $22.00.

Classic cocktails: $8.25 (mai tai, margarita, mojitos, sex on beach)

Capt and coke: $9.00

 

Drink of day $7.50

 

plus 15% grats on each one of those!

[G'ma]

My DH just spoke to somebody that came back from a cruise- $8.00 for a Vodka and Tonic.:eek::eek::eek: Not sure what line.

 

Can this be true? Sure fru fru drinks are expensive , but juist a simple V&T? What about beer?

 

I'm not uasually that frugal, but maybe I better consider rum runners:confused:

 

What you pay depends upon what you order....

 

Here is a link to the bar menu on the Carnival Fleet"

 

http://www.unofficialcarnivalwiki.com/wiki/Bar_Menu

 

I usually drink a couple of Campari and soda during the evening. 4.95 plus tax.

 

Once in a while, I order a very dry Grey Goose Martini...that's 9.00 plus tax.

[Cruisin Christi]

We are just saving up for our bar tab. Since I drink wine, we are going to take 4 bottles(one per person in our group) and I am the only one who will drink it. It will save us a ton seeing that I can rack up just as much as DH. 4 bottles will last me 2 days(remember it is vacation ;) ).

 

And I will drink a DOD or a beer, or whatever I want...We are saving for it anyway.

[crzndeb]

I am a martini person...if you order a true martini, it is straight alcohol, with a bit of vermouth (depending on if you want it dry (less vermouth) or wet (more vermouth). I have never considered these martinis to stronger or weaker since it is straight alcohol. A Dirty could cut the alcohol taste a bit. I love Dirty Gin martinis.

 

If you order a flavored martini (apple, pom, etc), they may add more of the alcohol than the flavor, which is also alcohol, but these could have a tendency to taste stronger, depending on the ratios used.

 

OP,

 

I have found that if you order well alcohol, which Carnival has pretty good ones, a simple mixed drink (vodka/tonic, rum/coke), will run you about $6 and some change with the 15% gratuity. But if you don't specify the alcohol, they will pour you top shelf and you pay for it.