If you ever bought a wine package ...

[lopat08865]

... and you brought one of the bottles into the MDR, how would they know to not charge you a corkage fee on the bottle?

 

Is there a sticker or something they put on the bottle?

Do you keep your receipt & show it to them?

 

Thanks!

[rufflesmom]

We bought a wine package last year on our cruise. We bought it in the dining room, whatever we didn't drink they kept the bottles for us for another evening. We were not charged a corkage fee.

[NCTribeFan]

I usually purchase mine in Formalities after sailing. I take the coupons with me to the dining room and order from there. I've been known to take a partial bottle back to the cabin later in the week and then just order a "new" one in the dining room the next night.

 

I've never asked for a bottle in another venue, although I know you can get them from the bars, but I figure it could be a hassle for the bartender if they don't keep that particular bottle handy.

 

I carry on a bottle so I have one in the cabin from the beginning and just use the wine package bottles at dinner. I've also been known to refill a glass and take it with me when I leave the MDR and head to the casino, although I don't particularly like walking around with drinks. I just personally feel they should be consumed in your cabin, at a bar, or in the dining room.

 

I only do that if I'm getting toward the end of the cruise and a couple of coupons left.

 

I did come home with a couple coupons after my first solo cruise. It was 7-nights and I just couldn't quite manage to consume 6 bottles on my own. Lightweight, right? :p

 

I didn't sail Carnival for 1-1/2 years and they changed the wines in the packages, but the one I normally drink was still listed. I asked in Formalities if I could redeem the old coupons and the young lady told me I needed to ask the Maitre d'. Um, no. I simply took them to the dining room, told the waiter which I wanted, and got my bottles.

 

But they've changed it again and my favorite isn't listed now. I'll have to try something new and hope I like it!

[Georgiagolfer]

DW and I usually buy the wine package. They give coupons, so you don't actually get the wine until you redeem a coupon. No corkage fee, as you purchased thru the ship.

[cv322]

When you buy the wine package, regardless of whether you buy it at the display in the atrium upon boarding, or at one of the bars, or in the MDR...they're NOT going to give you your bottles of wine right there & then.

 

So they know, in the MDR, because they're the ones who brought you the bottle!

[texsailor]

My wife and I usually each bring a bottle of wine from home, then buy a wine package for the rest. For example, on the Triumph last month we brought two bottles and bought a three bottle package (three coupons). They did not show this package as available, but when I asked, the girl produced the poster for it from behind the display. We typically buy the middle level and have had good wines from it. You can get glasses from the room steward for your bottles and drink that in your room or when dining on the Lido. Actually, you can redeem your coupon at any bar that stocks those wines, and they will give you glasses as well. When we don't finish the bottle at dinner we just take it and our glasses back to the room and have a drink on the balcony.

[welovetocruise1234]

How much are the different packages?

[lopat08865]

When you buy the wine package, regardless of whether you buy it at the display in the atrium upon boarding, or at one of the bars, or in the MDR...they're NOT going to give you your bottles of wine right there & then.

 

So they know, in the MDR, because they're the ones who brought you the bottle!

 

Thanks for the responses, but I'm still confused. I guess what I'm asking is this: If I bought the package in the MDR, but then took the tickets with me. Now what if I use one the tickets to get a bottle from the bar? How would the MDR know that the bottle I brought in was from the wine package?

 

I guess I've understood this, so far: there is no sticker or anything put on the bottle to show that corkage shouldn't be charged?

[mizLORInj]

We had the wine package last week on Glory. We were given 3 small pieces of thick paper that were perforated into 3 parts that listed all the wines available for that package on each part. We checked off which we wanted and handed one part to the waiter at dinner. Tore off the next perforated one with a box checked off for the next night, etc.

[Kangapong]

Thanks for the responses, but I'm still confused. I guess what I'm asking is this: If I bought the package in the MDR, but then took the tickets with me. Now what if I use one the tickets to get a bottle from the bar? How would the MDR know that the bottle I brought in was from the wine package?

 

I guess I've understood this, so far: there is no sticker or anything put on the bottle to show that corkage shouldn't be charged?

 

You are correct - there is no sticker or anything put on the bottle to show that corkage shouldn't be charged.

 

Your team of servers in the MDR will simply recognize the bottle as one sold through the wine package and you will not be charged corkage.

[dburdan]

Thanks for the responses, but I'm still confused. I guess what I'm asking is this: If I bought the package in the MDR, but then took the tickets with me. Now what if I use one the tickets to get a bottle from the bar? How would the MDR know that the bottle I brought in was from the wine package?

 

I guess I've understood this, so far: there is no sticker or anything put on the bottle to show that corkage shouldn't be charged?

 

I guess my question would be, why would you buy a bottle at the bar only to carry it in to the MDR to drink it. Why not just get it at the MDR. Its all the same wine.

[lopat08865]

I guess my question would be, why would you buy a bottle at the bar only to carry it in to the MDR to drink it. Why not just get it at the MDR. Its all the same wine.

 

I've heard that MDR bar service is more than a little lacking in timeliness.

[NCTribeFan]

You don't get them from the bar server in the MDR. You tell your head waiter or assistant (I believe it's the assistant) that you have a wine package, hand him/her one of the coupons, tell him/her which bottle you want, and it is brought to your table.

 

I've often given them two on the first night, one red and one white, so I have one of each already at the table and ready to pour, depending on what I decide to order for dinner.

 

You don't need to get a bottle from the bar, go to your cabin, have a glass, then take that bottle to the MDR. You simply leave that bottle in your cabin and get bottle #2 at dinner.

 

I have no idea how people do it if they only eat in the buffet. Never had dinner there.

[novinha]

I've heard that MDR bar service is more than a little lacking in timeliness.

I've heard that too. But we got the five bottle package and never had to wait long for a bottle, not at all. We were very happy with the package. In the Pride steakhouse we even got a little bump up from the bottle we chose as the somalier (sp) wanted us to have a better wine with our lovely steak. Wish I could remember her name. She was great!

[novinha]

You don't get them from the bar server in the MDR. You tell your head waiter or assistant (I believe it's the assistant) that you have a wine package, hand him/her one of the coupons, tell him/her which bottle you want, and it is brought to your table.

 

I've often given them two on the first night, one red and one white, so I have one of each already at the table and ready to pour, depending on what I decide to order for dinner.

 

You don't need to get a bottle from the bar, go to your cabin, have a glass, then take that bottle to the MDR. You simply leave that bottle in your cabin and get bottle #2 at dinner.

 

I have no idea how people do it if they only eat in the buffet. Never had dinner there.

We actually did that, had our wine at the buffet. But now I can't remember how we accomplished that. We never brought a bottle back to the room. But we did have to drink up bottle number five of our package the last night by ourselves as the other couple in our party didn't join us for dinner. My DH isn't a big drinker...so I had to do my part! Not that I'm a big drinker either. Okay, I do like my red with dinner.

[texsailor]

Thanks for the responses, but I'm still confused. I guess what I'm asking is this: If I bought the package in the MDR, but then took the tickets with me. Now what if I use one the tickets to get a bottle from the bar? How would the MDR know that the bottle I brought in was from the wine package?

 

I guess I've understood this, so far: there is no sticker or anything put on the bottle to show that corkage shouldn't be charged?

 

I don't know if your question has been fully answered or not, but let me try.

 

No matter where you buy the package, the MDR has your information and they know what you have. If you are eating in the MDR, you simply present one of your coupons and they bring you your wine. If you don't want to cash your coupon, but rather use a wine you brought, the waiter will open and pour it for you, and charge you corkage fee. My guess is you will be charged the fee whether you open it yourself or not. The wines on the package are fairly limited, so they will recognize one of theirs, and not charge you a corkage fee, but there is no advantage to picking up a wine from your package at another bar if you are going to drink it in the MDR. But this is only in the MDR. If you drink your bottle elsewhere, such as in the Lido buffet area, there is no fee regardless of the source of your wine. We often eat at the Lido because the service in the MDR can be slow and I personally hate the singing and dancing waiters. The menu at the buffet is more or less the same as the MDR each night, not quite as extensive, and the food is good. Just no chocolate melting cake.

 

If you want to drink your bottle of wine somewhere other than the MDR, you just open it yourself. You can get glasses from your room steward or from any bar. We sat in the Sports Bar watching the US Open and drinking one of our bottles. If you want to drink one of your package wines somewhere other than the dining room, just redeem your coupon at any bar that stocks that wine (not all of them do).

 

I hope that helps.

[Wolfie48]

We always order a wine package. We have gotten bottles from the bar and taken them to the MDR with no corkage. The waitstaff knows the wines they have so no worry there. They never even charged us corkage for wine we brought from home.

[lopat08865]

I don't know if your question has been fully answered or not, but let me try.

 

No matter where you buy the package, the MDR has your information and they know what you have. If you are eating in the MDR, you simply present one of your coupons and they bring you your wine. If you don't want to cash your coupon, but rather use a wine you brought, the waiter will open and pour it for you, and charge you corkage fee. My guess is you will be charged the fee whether you open it yourself or not. The wines on the package are fairly limited, so they will recognize one of theirs, and not charge you a corkage fee, but there is no advantage to picking up a wine from your package at another bar if you are going to drink it in the MDR. But this is only in the MDR. If you drink your bottle elsewhere, such as in the Lido buffet area, there is no fee regardless of the source of your wine. We often eat at the Lido because the service in the MDR can be slow and I personally hate the singing and dancing waiters. The menu at the buffet is more or less the same as the MDR each night, not quite as extensive, and the food is good. Just no chocolate melting cake.

 

If you want to drink your bottle of wine somewhere other than the MDR, you just open it yourself. You can get glasses from your room steward or from any bar. We sat in the Sports Bar watching the US Open and drinking one of our bottles. If you want to drink one of your package wines somewhere other than the dining room, just redeem your coupon at any bar that stocks that wine (not all of them do).

 

I hope that helps.

 

Very interesting about the Lido and Sports Bar. Learn so much here ... Thanks!

[lopat08865]

We always order a wine package. We have gotten bottles from the bar and taken them to the MDR with no corkage. The waitstaff knows the wines they have so no worry there. They never even charged us corkage for wine we brought from home.

 

So it seems like the waitstaff just recognize "their" wine. And also that they may be more inclined to overlook corkage on one of "your" bottles if you buy "their" package.

 

Here's to hoping that "my" bottles are "their" bottles:D:D:D

[rh3]

I've done this several times because wine service was terribly slow in the mdr. Never had a problem. Just tell your hw where you obtained it and no issues.