Bottomless Bubbles Question, How Much Soda?

[mjktg99]

So let me start by saying I haven't cruised in 3 years and the last time I did, it was called the Fountain Fun Card.

 

But to my question, all of the publication I read about the bottomless bubbles card is that you get 16oz of soda or juice. What I remeber from previous cruises was that the bartender would open a can of soda and fill my glass and save the rest of the can. Or i would get the bottom of another can and a new can would be opened to top off my glass. Now a can is only 12oz and I wasnt getting all of that. So, is it like the way I remeber and I get part of a can or will I actually get 16oz?

 

Here the "publication" I am referring to:

 

Carnival Cruise Lines will offer all guests the option to purchase a “Bottomless Bubbles” unlimited soda program which will allow the guest unlimited soft drinks and juices for the duration of the cruise at a one-time purchase price. Prices are as follows – a 15% gratuity will be added.

Child Rate Per Day $4.50 USD (17 years of age and younger)

Adult Rate Per Day $6.00 USD (18 years of age and older)

Upon purchasing the “Bottomless Bubbles” unlimited soda program, a sticker will be placed on the guest’s Sail & Sign card. “Bottomless Bubbles” can be purchased at the ship’s Casino Bar and Pool Bar.

 

In all areas where beverage service is offered, guests may show the “Bottomless Bubbles” sticker and receive a glass of the carbonated soft drink of their choice. Juices may also be requested. One 16 ounce glass will be served at a time and only to the guest whose name appears on the Sail & Sign card with the “Bottomless Bubbles” sticker attached.

• The “Bottomless Bubbles” unlimited soda program is non-transferable and may not be shared. Guests or family members who would like to enjoy soft drinks through this program must purchase their own sticker.
  
• One beverage serving, per sticker, will be served at a time.
  
• Soft drink is served by the glass (16 ounces); juice is served by the glass (10 ounces).
  
• The program cannot be used through room service or the Interactive TV system, where applicable, or the minibar, where applicable.
  

Note: The following beverages are available in the Lido Deck Restaurant, 24/7 and are complimentary: Coffee; Hot Tea; Hot Chocolate; Lemonade; Ice Tea.

*May be subject to sales tax if purchased prior to sailing.

[Redsfan]

pretty much bang on with what you are thinking and their policy...they will use an opened can to start your fill then open a new one to top off..now I will mention that I bought a souvenior cup and some nice barkeeps would fill it for me with more than 1 can but most crusty ones would not...I would have to bring my glass up to my suncot and go order another one to fill it. Some also would NOT even fill a can in the cup, they would only give a glass. So I sat there and poured it into my cup and dripped all over the place on purpose!

[SATXLady]

But to my question, all of the publication I read about the bottomless bubbles card is that you get 16oz of soda or juice. What I remeber from previous cruises was that the bartender would open a can of soda and fill my glass and save the rest of the can. Or i would get the bottom of another can and a new can would be opened to top off my glass. Now a can is only 12oz and I wasnt getting all of that. So, is it like the way I remeber and I get part of a can or will I actually get 16oz?

 

The 16 oz glass will be filled with ice so you will probably get around 8-10 oz of actual soda in it.

[Starlight Durban Cruising]

The 16 oz glass will be filled with ice so you will probably get around 8-10 oz of actual soda in it.

 

True, in December I found that they fill the glass to the brim with ice, then put the soda in. At best one is probably only getting about 1/3 liquid. I would sit there and suck that glass dry immediately and say "Fill up please", before moving off to do something else.

[serene56]

i am hard pressed to believe those "glasses" are 16oz.

 

cans are warm- poured over ice - a glass full of ice.

Now you have a mixture of flat warm soda into ice which is then melted from the warm soda-- and there ya have it.

 

you can get this --IF a bartender waits on your promptly.

getting a soda in the dining room is something completly different.

[Rowan555]

i am hard pressed to believe those "glasses" are 16oz.

 

cans are warm- poured over ice - a glass full of ice.

Now you have a mixture of flat warm soda into ice which is then melted from the warm soda-- and there ya have it.

 

you can get this --IF a bartender waits on your promptly.

getting a soda in the dining room is something completly different.

 

In the dining room, if you show your bar server your card the first evening, s/he will generally have a glass of soda ready for you each evening when you come to dinner. In the dining room they are served in pint glasses.

[Gamecock_Cruiser]

I would always stop by a bar a grab a glass of soda to take and ask for another once I got into the dining room I would ask for another. It would be there about the time that I finished the first one.

[navybaby1113]

I would be so much more likely to purchase this if they just gave you a cold can or had a soda fountain. Warm soda over ice is not tasty.

[mjktg99]

True, in December I found that they fill the glass to the brim with ice, then put the soda in. At best one is probably only getting about 1/3 liquid. I would sit there and suck that glass dry immediately and say "Fill up please", before moving off to do something else.

 

I think I might go that route! Thanks for confirming that you dont actually get 16oz of soda....

[Starlight Durban Cruising]

I think I might go that route! Thanks for confirming that you dont actually get 16oz of soda....

If I had them do a refill with the same glass then I did tell them "no more ice thanks" if there was still ice in the glass. And usually it was the same server so they would not even bother to swipe my card the second/third time ...

[bguppies]

I think I might go that route! Thanks for confirming that you dont actually get 16oz of soda....

 

I found on my last two cruises, a couple of bartenders who wouldn't fill the souvenir cup or glass, completely with ice, before pouring the soda.

 

I would then keep going back to them and tip them a buck the first soda I would get and the last I would get for the time I spent in that area.

 

1) they kept, just putting enough ice in, to keep my soda cool.

 

2) they would see me coming over and unless busy at that moment, walked right over, took the souvenir cup and would refill, without me saying a word. (other than thanks )

 

I know gratuities are included in the cost, but I understand bartenders, taking care of alcohol drinkers, because there is a better chance of a tip, than an adult or kid, getting their sodas refilled from a pre-paid card.

 

Bill

[serene56]

I would always stop by a bar a grab a glass of soda to take and ask for another once I got into the dining room I would ask for another. It would be there about the time that I finished the first one.

 

soda in the main dining room is done by a bar waiter not your dining service people. There are so few of the dining room waiters that many people complain they can not get a drink and they go to a bar before heading to the dining room.

 

I say- good luck with finding that bar waiter for a soda in the dining room.

[bguppies]

soda in the main dining room is done by a bar waiter not your dining service people. There are so few of the dining room waiters that many people complain they can not get a drink and they go to a bar before heading to the dining room.

 

I say- good luck with finding that bar waiter for a soda in the dining room.

 

I've only done the soda card on our last two cruises on Paradise and the Dream and had zero problem getting a soda each night in the dining room, all cruise, on either. (this is in YTD not assigned, maybe that makes a difference. Food service has always been quicker)

 

The only night there was any delay was formal night on both was a bit slower, but I'm sure alot more people splurging on drinks that night.

 

On the Dream last month, our server would have my coke coming, as soon as she saw us seated.

Then as soon as she saw my drink low, she would't even ask, just have another coming.

I got 3-4 cokes each night for dinner and dessert.

 

Bill

[waldocruiser1]

So let me start by saying I haven't cruised in 3 years and the last time I did, it was called the Fountain Fun Card.

 

But to my question, all of the publication I read about the bottomless bubbles card is that you get 16oz of soda or juice. What I remeber from previous cruises was that the bartender would open a can of soda and fill my glass and save the rest of the can. Or i would get the bottom of another can and a new can would be opened to top off my glass. Now a can is only 12oz and I wasnt getting all of that. So, is it like the way I remeber and I get part of a can or will I actually get 16oz?

 

Here the "publication" I am referring to:

 

If you ask "nice" for a new can, they will do it if not busy.

 

Also if you ask for the rest of the can, they will give it to you also, all you have to do is ask.

 

I have also done what others have and drink a little and they will poor the remander in your glass.

[Pellaz]

On the Dream last month, our server would have my coke coming, as soon as she saw us seated.

Then as soon as she saw my drink low, she would't even ask, just have another coming.

I got 3-4 cokes each night for dinner and dessert.

 

Consider yourself lucky indeed. Back in October on Liberty I think we got a refill ONCE. Wrong soda flavors on two occasions, and the drinks-lady ignored one gent at our table who had ordered alcohol the night before and wanted to again...and then argued with him about it. :eek:

Our service in the MDR on that sailing STUNK. I know Carnival can do better -- they did last January -- but their poor servers are wayy too overworked.

[DotComMom]

Exactly what sodas do they have available to drink through this program? (Brand names and diet or caffeine free)

[SadieN]

Coke Products--

Coke, Diet Coke, Barq's Root Beer, Sprite, Orange (Fanta?)

I know there are others. There's also a ginger ale.

[rjackieb]

Exactly what sodas do they have available to drink through this program? (Brand names and diet or caffeine free)

Carnival ships serve Coca-Cola products, so regular and diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite, ginger ale (I believe was Schwepps). I can't say for the caff free ones, because I stick to Sprite and ginger ale.

[maggieworkman]

In the dining room, if you show your bar server your card the first evening, s/he will generally have a glass of soda ready for you each evening when you come to dinner. In the dining room they are served in pint glasses.

 

This may have been true at one time but not any more. Consider yourself lucky if you get even ONE soda in the dining room. And if you do, it will arrive around dessert time! Be warned and bring a soda in with you from the lobby bar if you want soda with your meal.

 

Maggie

[Kethry88]

Carnival ships serve Coca-Cola products, so regular and diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite, ginger ale (I believe was Schwepps). I can't say for the caff free ones, because I stick to Sprite and ginger ale.

 

They also have Sprite Zero.

[jsfromsc]

My experience with the soda card has been that the bartenders will wait on everyone else around before those waiting their with their soda cards because they think they are not getting as much in tips when you purchase the card. Agree with everyone that said you don't even get 12 oz of soda and there is too much ice. I began asking for little or no ice. And besides bartenders not wanting to wait on us, when we'd order a soda in the lounge before or during a show, often the waiter wouldn't even return. Somehow the bar staff thinks that it's not worth their while to bring a soda when that tip isn't added to the drink on the spot. I'm sure the charge for the soda card includes tips, but the bar staff doesn't see it that way. If I ordered a drink containing alcohol that would go on my S&S card, the waiter would bring it. If I ordered a soda, I'd never see him again. I complained to Carnival after my last cruise and they said that the bar staff should have waited on me wherever I was onboard when I ordered a soda, but, of course, they didn't. All I got from Carnival was an apology. I wasn't looking for any kind of compensation, but I did not feel their acknowledging my situation was going to change anything. I wish Carnival would get those automatic soda machines I've seen that they have on Royal Caribbean where you get your own soda but the machine will only work with your card. I know it won't be worth our while to purchase soda cards on our upcoming cruise because it's really port intensive. We'll be off the ship some days for over 12 hours. Unfortunately, soda is really expensive in Europe so I don't know if we'll purchase our own to bring onboard. It's not as if I can't go without it, but I do like to have a diet cola in the evening.

[skittl1321]

all of the publication I read about the bottomless bubbles card is that you get 16oz of soda or juice.

 

It doesn't say you get 16 ounces of soda or juice- it says a 16 ounce glass will be served. No glass is ever filled all the way to the brim, and ice takes up room too.

 

However, you can get as many refills as you want.

 

 

Personally, Carnival lets each person bring on a 12-pack of soda. I've always found that to be enough for our cruises, my room steward has always kept my ice bucket refreshed, so I can keep my own cans cooled. The soda program, and the individual sodas on the ship seem too expensive for me. (And the free lemonade on the Lido is excellent.)

[gelo7]

The 16 oz glass will be filled with ice so you will probably get around 8-10 oz of actual soda in it.

I concur.

[jtdlmc]

If you purchase the souvenier cup do they fill it full? What about with juice, will they fill the cup or just give 10 ounces?

[arpie05]

On our Dream cruise my son had a soda card and drank 3 at dinner. The waiter always had one waiting at the table for him. He would bring the can and even leave the can if it all didn't fit when he refilled.

 

On the Fantasy my son figured out which bar used the bigger glasses and always went to that bar for his soda. (or maybe it was for the cute girl :rolleyes: and if you tip them a buck they take care of you.)

 

I always had him give a $1 or 2 after he had frequented a bartender muliple times.

 

We don't do the Bottomless Bubbles anymore because he gained about 5 pounds on the Dream from all the soda. :rolleyes: LOL (and the milkshakes he made out of mixing soft serve ice cream and hot chocolate late at night)