How's the cocoa

[Holly E]

I am considering purchasing a unlimited soda and more package so that dh can have unlimited cocoa on our Alaska cruise on the Coral in September. I am hoping someone can tell me if it is good cocoa or is it just the stuff in a packet that you add water to. I called Princess but the rep could not answer. :confused:

[Coral]

Our wait staff told us it was powered stuff from envelopes. I can't remember the brand he told us.

 

IMO - when I was cold, it hit the spot and I looked forward to it. I don't drink coffee so it was welcoming many times as a hot beverage. I had no complaints.

 

Princess is odd in Alaska. Sometimes they include hot chocolate with meals free and other times they do not.

[1153rsmith]

I think it is crazy they charge for it to begin with. We have cruised with 3 other cruise lines and it has ALWAYS been out with the self service coffee for free.

 

We are going to pack the packets and just ask for/get hot water and make our own. Now if they made the real stuff with milk, that might be different.

[PescadoAmarillo]

If you get it at a coffee bar, they'll make it with steamed milk, but it still starts as the powdered stuff.

[caribill]

It is made from a packet and you can request it be made with either water or milk.

 

On our Alaska cruise with Princess there was free hot chocolate all day long on deck outside the buffet area.

 

[Colo Cruiser]

Yes.

[Holly E]

Thank you all so much for responding. This is the greatest place with the nicest people. I really do appreciate the info.

 

Happy Cruising

Holly:)

[cdngrl]

my last cruise it was carnation hot chocolate in the packets.

[smellycruzer]

I am considering purchasing a unlimited soda and more package so that dh can have unlimited cocoa on our Alaska cruise on the Coral in September. I am hoping someone can tell me if it is good cocoa or is it just the stuff in a packet that you add water to. I called Princess but the rep could not answer. :confused:

 

The hot cocoa is quite delicious, however it is not specialty by any stretch of the imagination. It hits the spot on cool days on deck. The staff has told me on different occasions when I've asked that it is either Swiss Miss and Carnation.

Edited July 19, 2015 by smellycruzer

[JF - retired RRT]

Unless you drink a lot of what is offered on the bev. pkg., just get a coffee card.

You get 15 "specialty" coffees and unlimited brewed coffee, pots of hot tea and cocoa. The 15 are a punch on the card until you run out, the unlimited is only for that cruise.

The coffee card is a lot less $$ - only $33compared to a per day charge for the bev. pkg.

Ask for whipped cream and cinnamon on the hot cocoa...umm umm good.:D

Edited July 19, 2015 by JF - retired RRT

[pablo222]

On our Alaska cruise with Princess there was free hot chocolate all day long on deck outside the buffet area.

 

All I saw on ruby was free bouillon. I guess this is

for people who don't get quite enough salt in their

ship board food.

[Thrak]

It's typical Princess - sometimes it's free on Alaska cruises and sometimes it isn't. Whether it's from the packet (which it is) or not is beside the point. When you are out on deck enjoying the Alaskan scenery a cup of hot chocolate is wonderful. Our first cruise was a 10 day SF/Alaska on Sea Princess. Sea Princess has the wonderful wide promenade deck that not only goes all around the ship without a deck change at the bow but also is wide enough for loungers. I have a picture of my wife bundled up on a lounger with her hot drink beside her and a wonderful dorky smile on her face as she is soooooooooooooo very happy. It doesn't get much better than seeing her like that. :)

[joydisney]

Is hot water available near free coffee? Or do you need to ask for pot of hot water? -DH prefers his own sugar free hot chocolate packets, we will be on Grand in a few weeks

[cr8tiv1]

On the Coral...I found the best coffee barista just outside the Horizon Court. I saw him every morning (and sometimes twice in a day). He made my hot chocolate: instant powder, steamed milk, whipped cream, and more Hershey chocolate syrup. I used my coffee card for this "free" drink. He would get my chocolate started when he saw me coming. Now that is what I call Princess service. On the day we were in Glacier Bay, he "had to" use a glass cup. Wow...what a beautiful presentation!

[HUNKY]

Whether it's cold or not, I rarely drink coffee.

 

But I LOVE drinking Cocoa-Coffee! Instead of adding water or steamed milk to a hot cocoa packet, use coffee. If you can get it, add a dash of heavy cream - like they use to make whipped cream. Absolutely delicious. Think of it as a hot Starbuck's Frappuccino.

[cruiselvr1]

I think it is crazy they charge for it to begin with. We have cruised with 3 other cruise lines and it has ALWAYS been out with the self service coffee for free.

 

We are going to pack the packets and just ask for/get hot water and make our own. Now if they made the real stuff with milk, that might be different.

Years ago I ordered a large hot cocoa and it came in a huge cup with only one pkt of powdered cocoa in it. It was horrible! Bring your own packets so you can put the right amount in it.

[JF - retired RRT]

Is hot water available near free coffee? Or do you need to ask for pot of hot water? -DH prefers his own sugar free hot chocolate packets, we will be on Grand in a few weeks

Hot water to make tea or whatever is right next to coffee (one leaded and one unleaded).

[sportsmum]

When we were on the Coral doing the Panama Canal they had really great hot chocolate at the coffee bar by the casino. Other ships have been horrible and I kick myself for buying it.

 

My husband was offered a free drink at the casino a couple of times (guess he was losing big time :D0 and I asked him to get me hot chocolate because it really was good! Rivalled the onshore coffee shops. I could get either dark chocolate or light chocolate and it was made with syrup.

[Colo Cruiser]

Is hot water available near free coffee? Or do you need to ask for pot of hot water? -DH prefers his own sugar free hot chocolate packets, we will be on Grand in a few weeks

 

Yes hot water is available (self serve) in the buffet.

[AE_Collector]

Whether it's cold or not, I rarely drink coffee.

 

But I LOVE drinking Cocoa-Coffee! Instead of adding water or steamed milk to a hot cocoa packet, use coffee. If you can get it, add a dash of heavy cream - like they use to make whipped cream. Absolutely delicious. Think of it as a hot Starbuck's Frappuccino.

 

This is called a Mocha around here. They knew what I wanted when I asked for that at the IC as well.

 

Terry

Edited July 20, 2015 by AE_Collector

[Mary Ann 2]

On the Coral...I found the best coffee barista just outside the Horizon Court. I saw him every morning (and sometimes twice in a day). He made my hot chocolate: instant powder, steamed milk, whipped cream, and more Hershey chocolate syrup. I used my coffee card for this "free" drink. He would get my chocolate started when he saw me coming. Now that is what I call Princess service. On the day we were in Glacier Bay, he "had to" use a glass cup. Wow...what a beautiful presentation!

 

I do this too! One packet in a big cup of steamed milk is not enough so I ask them to add chocolate syrup too! I do it with a soda and more package and never had a problem.

[Thrak]

My wife gets hot cocoa with her coffee card. I normally don't get one for me but we are doing a 17 day cruise so I bought a couple of coffee cards for that one. We have an old one with a few punches left and will use that up first for the "punch drinks" but we do have new ones for the fresh-brewed coffee. We are weirdos. When I get one card for my wife I just drink the ship coffee because we understand that the card is supposed to get fresh brewed coffee for the card holder only. This time it will be odd because we will both have a card and can both get fresh brewed coffee as well as cocoa and snazzy whoop-de-do coffee. (Can you tell I don't drink fancy coffee drinks much? :))

 

Trivia: I have never had coffee from Starbucks. (Yep, I'm the guy... :eek:)

[Van1982]

I'm a mocha drinker and the cafe makes a great one....I don't mind paying a few dollars for my caffeine fix. I find the hot chocolate they serve overly sweet.

[IECalCruiser]

Thank you all so much for responding. This is the greatest place with the nicest people. I really do appreciate the info.

 

 

 

Happy Cruising

 

Holly:)

I would wait until you get on board and see if they have complementary hot chocolate. If not and you only want hot chocolate then consider the coffee card. You can check on board but it should include unlimited hot chocolate for $33.35 rather than $56.36 for the soda and more package for a 7 day cruise.

[scienceteacher]

Whether it's cold or not, I rarely drink coffee.

 

But I LOVE drinking Cocoa-Coffee! Instead of adding water or steamed milk to a hot cocoa packet, use coffee. If you can get it, add a dash of heavy cream - like they use to make whipped cream. Absolutely delicious. Think of it as a hot Starbuck's Frappuccino.

 

I make what I call a "mocha" often at home. It is yummy!