Booze!

[Gybson]

Hi All!

 

First-time cruiser here going on the Pride for a 7-day cruise of the Bahamas for me and my buddy's 30th birthdays. :)

 

I've got pretty much all my ducks in a row aside from one...alcohol.

 

So, I was discussing drinking plans with my buddies (there are four of us) and we're trying to decide the best course of action...

 

We were looking at the cheers program, but at $58/day and a limit of 15 drinks a day without rollover...I don't think it's worth it... Seeing as we wouldn't be drinking that much on days we're in port... It's entirely possible we might have 15-20 drinks in a full 16-hour day at sea...but not EVERY day for sure...

 

I figure we'll probably sign up for the bottomless bubbles program for only $6/day...that much makes sense if you have a good amount of pop.

 

I see that the bon voyage store sells bottles of liquor at inflated prices, but figure ~22 shots in a bottle even at $65-80/bottle still equates to $3-4/drink... Do any of you happen to know if there's a limit on bottles purchased through the store? I figure this way we could have a few in the room to loosen up, then purchase full-priced mixed drinks to lounge with while in public. I figure if each of us could purchase 2 bottles that would last the whole trip...

 

Thoughts? Experience? Just trying to get the best bang for the buck. Thanks! :)

[StaceySteveDMB]

Hi All!

 

 

 

First-time cruiser here going on the Pride for a 7-day cruise of the Bahamas for me and my buddy's 30th birthdays. :)

 

 

 

I've got pretty much all my ducks in a row aside from one...alcohol.

 

 

 

So, I was discussing drinking plans with my buddies (there are four of us) and we're trying to decide the best course of action...

 

 

 

We were looking at the cheers program, but at $58/day and a limit of 15 drinks a day without rollover...I don't think it's worth it... Seeing as we wouldn't be drinking that much on days we're in port... It's entirely possible we might have 15-20 drinks in a full 16-hour day at sea...but not EVERY day for sure...

 

 

 

I figure we'll probably sign up for the bottomless bubbles program for only $6/day...that much makes sense if you have a good amount of pop.

 

 

 

I see that the bon voyage store sells bottles of liquor at inflated prices, but figure ~22 shots in a bottle even at $65-80/bottle still equates to $3-4/drink... Do any of you happen to know if there's a limit on bottles purchased through the store? I figure this way we could have a few in the room to loosen up, then purchase full-priced mixed drinks to lounge with while in public. I figure if each of us could purchase 2 bottles that would last the whole trip...

 

 

 

Thoughts? Experience? Just trying to get the best bang for the buck. Thanks! :)

 

 

You can buy two bottles total per room. We order two bottles each cruise. I bring my own mixers on and save on the soda card, I don't drink soda unless it is with my rum. Each person can bring a 12 pack of soda or water with you when you board. If you are a wine drinker you can bring one bottle of wine per person as well.

 

 

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[Gybson]

Eh, I dunno... I'd rather go legit if possible... Sneaking stuff on is all well and good, but I don't want to get in trouble. :( Besides, don't they scan everything?

 

What makes you prefer cheers? The simplicity or... I guess I just can't make up my mind... $400 for 7 days worth of drinks... Cash for the same would probably net 50 drinks over 7 days at bar rate... Buying two bottles for $130, bubbles program for ~$50, that still leaves ~$220 for normally-purchased drinks before I hit that $400... So figure that's an additional 25 any-time drinks from the bar...

 

If I went balls-out and drank 15/day it'd save roughly $390 over sticker...

 

Decisions, decisions...

[Gybson]

You can buy two bottles total per room. We order two bottles each cruise. I bring my own mixers on and save on the soda card, I don't drink soda unless it is with my rum. Each person can bring a 12 pack of soda or water with you when you board. If you are a wine drinker you can bring one bottle of wine per person as well.

 

 

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Ahh, thank you. That might answer my question then... If I'm limited to 2 for each room that'd likely not be enough to warrant it...

[StaceySteveDMB]

Ahh, thank you. That might answer my question then... If I'm limited to 2 for each room that'd likely not be enough to warrant it...

 

 

You can also save by buying buckets of beer. It is four beers and you get $2 off the price. We always buy a bucket and throw the extras in a cooler or fridge in the room. Even two bottles is a good supplement to what your drinking around the ship.

 

 

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Edited April 29, 2014 by StaceySteveDMB

[Gybson]

That'd be phenomenal to pass along to my buddies, but I, unfortunately, have a wheat intolerance, so I have to stick to spirits. =\

 

I might actually bite the bullet and go with cheers anyhow...

[singbluesilver1]

We're doing cheers, no surprising bar bills at the end of the cruise that way!

 

 

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[StaceySteveDMB]

That'd be phenomenal to pass along to my buddies, but I, unfortunately, have a wheat intolerance, so I have to stick to spirits. =\

 

I might actually bite the bullet and go with cheers anyhow...

 

 

If you get Cheers anyone else in your cabin over 21 also is required to purchase it FYI. Carnival does have gluten free beer also! Estrella from Spain.

 

 

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[JLee1973]

Eh, I dunno... I'd rather go legit if possible... Sneaking stuff on is all well and good, but I don't want to get in trouble. :( Besides, don't they scan everything?

 

What makes you prefer cheers? The simplicity or... I guess I just can't make up my mind... $400 for 7 days worth of drinks... Cash for the same would probably net 50 drinks over 7 days at bar rate... Buying two bottles for $130, bubbles program for ~$50, that still leaves ~$220 for normally-purchased drinks before I hit that $400... So figure that's an additional 25 any-time drinks from the bar...

 

If I went balls-out and drank 15/day it'd save roughly $390 over sticker...

 

Decisions, decisions...

 

Cheers is just easy since the average drink is $10 from the bar. If you plan on drinking from the bars it its just simpler and in the long run cheaper. Last cruise I was on didn't do cheers and got fewer drinks in the bars but still paid what cheers would have cost me.

 

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[hftmrock]

cheers start to make sense if you drink 7 or 8 drinks a day. Obviously you get the best value if you drink 15 but on port days, if you drink 7 or it will still be a better value than paying per drink.

[kona_wahine]

Keep in mind the bottles from Bon voyage are 1 liter, not the standard 750 ml. And I believe you can order more as the week progresses. That sticks in my mind for some reason. Rumrunners can be confiscated, so I wouldn't go there.

[StaceySteveDMB]

Keep in mind the bottles from Bon voyage are 1 liter, not the standard 750 ml. And I believe you can order more as the week progresses. That sticks in my mind for some reason. Rumrunners can be confiscated, so I wouldn't go there.

 

 

I have read you can order additional bottles from room service, however, there are others that have reported not being able to. It is worth a shot.

 

 

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[LandlockedCruiser01]

We were looking at the cheers program, but at $58/day and a limit of 15 drinks a day without rollover...I don't think it's worth it... Seeing as we wouldn't be drinking that much on days we're in port... It's entirely possible we might have 15-20 drinks in a full 16-hour day at sea...but not EVERY day for sure...

You can't roll over your unused drinks, but you can bank them. You said you won't use up all 15 drinks on port days, so you can do this. Buy cans of beer, but ask the bartenders not open them. Stash the closed beers in your cabin in ice buckets (get them from a bar for no charge). Then on sea days, you just consume the beers you "saved up". Your best "interest rate" is Fosters; their cans are 750 mL, which is like 2.5 regular beers for one strike against your Cheers limit. (I suppose you can also order shots, and bank them by storing them in a thermos or something, but that's just too much age-regression to your college years.:)) Remember that it's a hard-and-fast limit of 15; once you reach that number, you cannot even pay for a 16th drink. So bank your beers on port days like I described, if you feel like you'll need more than 15 on sea days.

Edited April 29, 2014 by LandlockedCruiser01

[Sundown331]

I'll do the cheers program on my next cruise. I didn't feel like I drank all that much but when I got my bill it was nearly twice what the cheers program would've cost me.

 

A couple beers in the afternoon, a glass of wine with dinner, a couple drinks at the comedy club and casino and they add up fast.

[GAMOM4]

You can't roll over your unused drinks, but you can bank them. You said you won't use up all 15 drinks on port days, so you can do this. Buy cans of beer, but ask the bartenders not open them. Stash the closed beers in your cabin in ice buckets (get them from a bar for no charge). Then on sea days, you just consume the beers you "saved up". Your best "interest rate" is Fosters; their cans are 750 mL, which is like 2.5 regular beers for one strike against your Cheers limit. (I suppose you can also order shots, and bank them by storing them in a thermos or something, but that's just too much age-regression to your college years.:)) Remember that it's a hard-and-fast limit of 15; once you reach that number, you cannot even pay for a 16th drink. So bank your beers on port days like I described, if you feel like you'll need more than 15 on sea days.

 

Now that is a good idea .... that I wouldn't have thought of ...... the buying the beers and having them not open them ..... that really makes me think it may be worth it for me .....

[goduckies05]

You can also save by buying buckets of beer. It is four beers and you get $2 off the price. We always buy a bucket and throw the extras in a cooler or fridge in the room. Even two bottles is a good supplement to what your drinking around the ship.

 

 

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You can also do that on cheers if you have extra they will let you take unopened beer. It takes 20 min for a 4 pack...

 

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[CJ0226]

Considering our bar bill was roughly $1500 :eek: during our last cruise, I think this next cruise will be a dry one!

[jay49307]

Order the 2 bottles per cabin. It is way cheaper than buying individual drinks.

[lostdart1]

These issues are discussed on every cruise on every Carnival ship every day at 5:30 in the ships library. You can find your answers there.

 

:p:p:p:p

[sjcruiser]

We order two bottles from Bon Voyage, and either buy mixers from BV or bring them onboard ourselves. I also order at least two buckets of beer while onboard for personal use and sharing. We don't drink much, and wind up bringing the extras home, or giving it away the last evening/night.

[Need-a-vacation]

I've been having this very conversation with hubby. Just to help with the numbers, any idea what they charge for a rum and coke? Or for just a shot?

Also, if you order a bottle before through BV, do they charge gratuity or sales tax? Can you take any leftovers home?

 

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[klaner64]

Here's a link to the bar menu/prices.

 

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

 

Another suggestion is getting the Bon Voyage bottles and getting juice to mix onboard with it. There are many kinds of juice available either through room service, MDR or on lido deck there is juice in the morning (ie guava passion, orange, apple, etc). Bring a sipper bottle and fill up to save for drinks later. Otherwise you can pick up soda in the ports. I have never seen anyone not be able to take soda onboard as long as it is not a large quantity.

[Need-a-vacation]

Here's a link to the bar menu/prices.

 

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

 

 

Thanks for the link. So if I'm reading it right, it says Bacardi is 5.75. Should I figure that as the price for a rum/coke or add in the cost for the soda? If you get it straight, is that a 1oz shot? I don't normally order liquor straight so I don't know what's typical.

[pulledporky]

Keep in mind the bottles from Bon voyage are 1 liter, not the standard 750 ml.

 

They are actually 1.14 litres - printed on the bottle (skyy vodka on the Miracle about 5 weeks ago). I thought that an odd number then I saw where Canadians (I think) could bring back 1.14 l duty free, or something like that.

[dd2355]

They are actually 1.14 litres - printed on the bottle (skyy vodka on the Miracle about 5 weeks ago).

 

It must depend on the liquor or the port the ship is sailing from.

 

In January on Paradise (Tampa FL), Jack Daniels Black Label was a 1L bottle not 1.14L

Edited April 29, 2014 by dd2355