Booze prices exorbitant

[rrraydon]

It's a splash of "coke" not soda. You also forgot the sweet and sour mix.....:rolleyes:

 

Last I looked "coke" was soda...I prefer pepsi..though..:rolleyes:

[MMMD]

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:

 

You live in NY and don't know how expensive bar prices are in the area?

 

I've paid far above $8 for a gin & tonic, and close to $25 for a martini in a Manhattan bar or restaurant.

 

I believe the most I paid on my cruise for a drink was $8.95 for the Ultimate Mojito. The drink was very well made and quite large. I would have paid closer to $12 or $14 anywhere else.

[John&John]

Here - try this bar menu:

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

[salty dingo]

I agree the booze prices are out of line. Especially considering the drinks (while sailing) qualify for duty-free pricing. Taxes make up a huge portion of alcohol costs, and when you remove that, one would expect to see that passed on to the customer.

 

Not so. We just don't patronize the alcohol sales on board because of this.

[richstowe]

that would definitely depend upon the individual bartender... they don't all just read / mix off a list of ingredients, ya know ;)

 

Not sure if you are kidding. I would think that on a Carnival ship the bartenders are reguired to

do just that, namely "read / mix off a list of ingredients".

Spoke to a bartender on the Pride.

She said mgmt is VERY serious about bar staff not improvising. Maybe it was just her supervisor but

I don't think so.

[SANDYJABS]

i bring my own...

 

 

it's an insulated tumbler, with flip top built in straw and everything - very convenient to carry around and keeps the drink cold with some ice. something like 30 oz, too, so it holds quite a bit more than the standard glass.

 

i bring it to the bars, also, and even if they just serve in the normal glasses - i'll order 2 of whatever, and just pour them in. the one in the picture specifically was filled at the pride's piano bar, by a particularly nice bartender :D

 

I use this same container, LOL. I Love it! Bought it in Red and Lime Green from WallyWorld something like $5 bucks and it sure does keep your beverage cooler for longer :D

[silverridge]

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

 

Agreed. Last year at this time, I could buy a 16 oz. Miller Lite or Coors Light for $4.95 (plus auto-tip). Apparently, that was not a high enough margin for Carnival. We just got off the Miracle last week, and now that same beer is $5.75 (plus auto-tip). It is getting a bit obnoxious. Carnival better sit on these prices for 5-6 years, although I'm not holding my breath. They do nothing but encourage alcohol smuggling with this gouging.

[JohnSpo]

You can get beer for as low as $3.95, a mixed drink $5.95 and a glass of wine $6.00. The prices are not cheap but certainly not exorbitant. These prices were from my Liberty trip on 1/15/11. You can't get these prices at a hotel/resort bar. Hotels/resorts are usually much more expensive.

[SANDYJABS]

can you explain this more? thanks! :-)

 

At the bar they have a little stand up menu with the drinks listed on it as "Classic Cocktails" or something similar. Some of them that I remember are: Long Island Ice Tea, Kiss on the Lips, Fuzzy Navel, Sex on the Beach, Goombay Smash...more but can't remember all of them. They do not come in a souviner cup. When you pay they usually tell you to take your receipt to the Casino to get a $5 play chip. I don't ever use mine because I have no idea what this means -I do not gamble, never been in the Casino except to walk through to get to the other side of the ship :) but for ppl who do I think this may be a good thing for them

[dclark]

Yes, the Princess special is great!! You can have a beer or Pina Colada without feeling like you're emptying your wallet!

 

Last summer, I had an Alaskan Summer ale on the Golden Princess and it was only $3.27 with tip, a good beer for much less than what CCL charges for Bud (as if it were "liquid gold").

CCL needs to lower their drink prices, create more sales. We used to buy CCL drinks, but when they started marking them up, we stopped. Haven't bought a bottle of wine in maybe the last 5 years, haven't bought a drink in the last 3 years. No purchases from us means they are not making any booze off of us.

I think others agree. On the last day when the sail and sign bills go out, I used to see lots that had a staple in them. Staple means extra pages= extra long bill. The past four cruises, that staple is rare.

[silverridge]

You can get beer for as low as $3.95, a mixed drink $5.95 and a glass of wine $6.00. The prices are not cheap but certainly not exorbitant. These prices were from my Liberty trip on 1/15/11. You can't get these prices at a hotel/resort bar. Hotels/resorts are usually much more expensive.

 

The $3.95 beer is ONLY for Bud or BudLight. EVERY other 12 oz. beer onboard is $4.95 or higher, and that is BEFORE tip. If you are not a Bud drinker, and I am not, there is no $3.95 beer.

[mcwebber]

I had read that on a post somewhere and thought I'd try it..problem was, I ordered a frozen drink in a reg glass. Charged me a dollar less than the DOD (frozen drink) for the short hard plastic cup..like half a drink.

 

I learned not to try that when ordering frozen drinks.

 

I thought you could get a refill in the souvenir cup at a discount. I've only bought them on a couple of cruises so I can't recall.

[mcwebber]

went to a Washington Nationals game against the Phillies last summer. Beers were $8 a pop.

 

now thats steep!

 

Bill

 

$8 at a Rays game down here but they sell 24oz cans. I get a cup along with it so it's really only $4 a beer.

[mcwebber]

You are joking right ? Fosters is an Autralian export larger that even the Ozzies dont drink "as it's weak as p**s"

 

Ozzie Smith or Ozzie and Harriet?

[mcwebber]

Not sure if you are kidding. I would think that on a Carnival ship the bartenders are reguired to

do just that, namely "read / mix off a list of ingredients".

Spoke to a bartender on the Pride.

She said mgmt is VERY serious about bar staff not improvising. Maybe it was just her supervisor but

I don't think so.

 

They learn the list. They don't have to read it each time. If you count the seconds the bottle is inverted you will see that you are getting small amounts of each liquor in an ice tea, not full shots of each. Although, tipping helps.

[Brizzygirl]

You are joking right ? Fosters is an Autralian export larger that even the Ozzies dont drink "as it's weak as p**s"

 

Fosters is ANYTHING but a "good beer"

You took the words right out of my mouth.

[silverridge]

You took the words right out of my mouth.

 

Ditto, Fosters is just Kangaroo Pizz...wouldn't drink it for free.

[victoryred]

The $3.95 beer is ONLY for Bud or BudLight. EVERY other 12 oz. beer onboard is $4.95 or higher, and that is BEFORE tip. If you are not a Bud drinker, and I am not, there is no $3.95 beer.

 

And the 12 oz $3.95 buds are not available on all ships.

[mcwebber]

I spend quite a bit of time on South Beach throughout the year and you're absolutely right! But I love those huge 30 dollar drinks! And they usually have them half off. For 15 bucks its a pretty good deal to me.

 

I have no issue with the drink prices on Carnival...I feel they are in line with drink prices everywhere else. I'm curious as to how much some of you who think the prices are high pay for drinks in your hometown? No flames, I'm genuinely curious.

 

Depends on what you drink. My sports local bar has $1.50 16oz Bud Select drafts as their house beer. The only time I'll drink more alcohol is at a neighborhood party or in Vegas or on a cruise when I'm not driving. Then it's Goose L'Orange and soda.

[rpclmc]

Thanks for all the replys and good info. I'm really not sure of local drink prices here on Long Island. I usually drink wine with dinner and with 2 kids, I have not been to the bars lately:rolleyes:. Luckily we'll be going to Nachi in Cozemel where the drinks are included. We'll also attend the Chef's table with wine included. We'll bring two other bottles or wine for dinner. DH usually drinks beer with the occassional martinio or V & T. On a cruise I might have an occasional margarita or yellow bird or early morning bloody mary. I guess will just have to budget for them. BTW....Where do you get the drink coupons mentioned on this thread?

 

I don't drink wine, so you might check into this, but I think I read somewhere that wine is NOT included with the Chef's table.

 

I think you can find the drink coupons on the carnival website under the gifts.

[John&John]

Agreed. Last year at this time, I could buy a 16 oz. Miller Lite or Coors Light for $4.95 (plus auto-tip). Apparently, that was not a high enough margin for Carnival. We just got off the Miracle last week, and now that same beer is $5.75 (plus auto-tip). It is getting a bit obnoxious. Carnival better sit on these prices for 5-6 years, although I'm not holding my breath. They do nothing but encourage alcohol smuggling with this gouging.

The prices went up right after you cruised last year. We were on the Glory in February and there were still a few of the old bar menus floating around.

[mcwebber]

I don't drink wine, so you might check into this, but I think I read somewhere that wine is NOT included with the Chef's table.

 

Unlimited wine is included with the Chef's Table.

[WeBeCruisin']

You are joking right ? Fosters is an Autralian export larger that even the Ozzies dont drink "as it's weak as p**s"

 

Fosters is ANYTHING but a "good beer"

 

Apparently we have us a British beer snob here. :D Foster's is a good beer. It is not a great beer. Their amber beer is even better. But, compared to what most Americans drink ---- Budweiser, Bud Lite, Miller, Miller Lite, Coors and Coors Lite, Foster's is pretty good. Americans of course have different tastes from those of you in the United Kingdom. It's part of each country's culture and nationality. Americans also like our beer, ales, porters and stouts cold.

 

My favorite Caribbean beers are Dragon Stout from Jamaica and Royal Extra Stout from Trinidad. They are not available on the ships, so I order from what's available. And enjoy it and don't feel the need to insult people of other cultures for their preferences. :p

 

So lighten up. Your protests make you sound like the kind of person who thinks that anything which is different from what he or she is used to automatically doth sucketh. :)

 

And we call beers such as Foster's "lagers", rather than "largers". I know... we wacky Americans.

[John&John]

$8 at a Rays game down here but they sell 24oz cans. I get a cup along with it so it's really only $4 a beer.

 

Carnival has Foster's 750 ml can (~25 ounces) for $6.75 (works out to $3.38 per 12 oz).

 

My personal favorite is the 16 oz. Guinness for $5.95! :D

[blindrid]

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!

 

????? why would one add soda to a LI tea?