hbrote Posted September 30, 2014 #26 Share Posted September 30, 2014 My last cruise on the Breeze my friend and I took turns buying rounds and we always used the same bartender and tipped extra. By the third day of the cruise my wife was having a hard time with her drinks because they were so strong Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shipbound Posted September 30, 2014 #27 Share Posted September 30, 2014 (edited) My last cruise on the Breeze my friend and I took turns buying rounds and we always used the same bartender and tipped extra. By the third day of the cruise my wife was having a hard time with her drinks because they were so strong Sent from my iPad using Forums Tipping the bartender does make a difference in the strength of your drinks. In past cruises I tip the bartender on the first day of the cruise usually $20.00 or $25.00. The down side in doing that is you have to use the same bartender for the week but I got strong drinks. Gary Edited September 30, 2014 by Shipbound Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanpatricksmom Posted September 30, 2014 #28 Share Posted September 30, 2014 I've never thought that there was a full shot in the umbrella drinks, so I've always gotten a floater shot if I had to pay for the drink. With "Drinks on Us" or "Cheers" I would tell the server to bring a Bacardi straight up as soon as the allotted time passed, and add alcohol accordingly. The classic cocktails for me are always too strong because of the size of the glass. I have to ask for my single in a doubles glass....so I'm a wimp. I can't speak to the Alchemy or Red Frog concoctions, but I'll be trying those in March. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kona_wahine Posted September 30, 2014 #29 Share Posted September 30, 2014 I guess I'm in the minority. I'd rather have weaker drinks on the cheers program. Not non-alcohol, just weaker. If I wanted to get drunk I'd buy long island's. My plan is Miami vice, kiss on the lips, etc. Should be able to drink all day and not be a mess at the end of the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrygirlcruiser1234 Posted September 30, 2014 #30 Share Posted September 30, 2014 (edited) We were on the Breeze recently, and spent a good bit of time sitting at the Blue Iguana bar, chatting with the bartenders and watching them make drinks. In my opinion, every drink that they made, Cheers or not, got a full pour of the shot glass (device) they were issued AND a bit more. We certainly didn't have any complaints about OUR drinks. gary Agree...Just got off the Breeze Sept 21 and our drinks were great on Lido, in Casino and in the Comedy club! oh and we had cheers! Edited September 30, 2014 by countrygirlcruiser1234 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired_to_Cruise Posted September 30, 2014 #31 Share Posted September 30, 2014 No, not at all. We ordered drinks showing our cheers sticker and we ordered without showing our card first and drinks were consistent both ways. I was wondering if the drop in the cheers program pricing coincided with stricter pours. Not implying that cheers passengers received weaker drinks. Again, at least 3 bartenders told me flat out that they were instructed to use the jiggers and pour more accurate shots. I know they used the jiggers in the past but pours seemed to be measured in seconds (time). In addition to beer I found ordering 'Dark and Stormys' and asking them to use less ginger beer resulted in a nice, just-right drink with an inch of empty space at top of glass. When you say that every bar that you visited with the exception of two gave you drinks that "seemed" to have less that an oz. of booze, then you are saying that you are getting short pours, ie. weaker drinks. You seemed to imply that it was due to the cheers program, but now you say that isn't what you meant. SO, are you now saying that all of those bars were purposely shorting all Carnival passangers that bought drinks there. If that is the case, why did you even mention the Cheers program? Why did you even state that your survey of bartenders said the "new policy" required using the proper measuring device to pour? You cannot have it both ways! And you cannot change you story in mid-stream! Just a statement that carnival bartenders in all but two bars are underpouring booze quantity would be sufficent. FOR SOME REASON YOU SEEM DETERMINED TO OBFUSCATE SOMETHING, AND I AM NOT SURE WHAT IT IS OR WHY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdowney Posted September 30, 2014 #32 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Random q re tipping bartender extra. How do you do it. Is it cash? Does it go on your S&S card? Sent from my GT-I8730 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SadieN Posted September 30, 2014 #33 Share Posted September 30, 2014 So the problem with the weak drinks is not that they're now using the measures but were over pouring in the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketship Posted September 30, 2014 #34 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Random q re tipping bartender extra. How do you do it. Is it cash? Does it go on your S&S card? Sent from my GT-I8730 using Forums mobile app I just tip on the receipt they give you to sign for the free drink. So it all goes on the sail and sign... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShakyBeef Posted September 30, 2014 #35 Share Posted September 30, 2014 (edited) Random q re tipping bartender extra. How do you do it. Is it cash? Does it go on your S&S card? Sent from my GT-I8730 using Forums mobile app It can be done either way - write in an extra tip on the receipt, or as we do, hand them some cash with the receipt. Whichever you prefer is fine.:) Edited September 30, 2014 by ShakyBeef typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovefuninthesun Posted September 30, 2014 #36 Share Posted September 30, 2014 I love my Cosmos, and drink them all the time -- including my fair share on every cruise. ;) My experience has been that they are quite strong -- stronger than any I drink at my land-based haunts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anjanu Posted September 30, 2014 #37 Share Posted September 30, 2014 On previous cruises, I order the long islands and after 2 drinks, I'm very tipsy and ready to party. Lately, since the cheers program, all I get now is full and bloated. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandlockedCruiser01 Posted October 1, 2014 #38 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I think Carnival's cocktails tend to be weak whether you buy Cheers or not. I disagree. It's the land-based bars and especially clubs, where the cocktails are always weak. It's like drinking soda or fruit juice with a touch of liquor. The ice in the glass doesn't help, either. I usually stick to beer and shots, unless I want to try a specific cocktail; you can't skimp on "the good parts" where there's no mixing involved. By contrast, the cocktails I had on Carnival were usually "wow!". I could actually taste the liquor. What a concept! Why can't land-based bars do the same? Of course, even Carnival's cocktails seem weak compared to the ones I got from tourist bars in ports. No wonder people there are dancing up a storm even in the bright afternoon sun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bptex Posted October 1, 2014 #39 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Just a thought, if you are drinking something with flavored rum could they have switched brands? Cruzan is 20-25% alcohol where Bacardi is 35-40%. Drinks with Malibu will also have a lower alcohol content. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livinthedream99 Posted October 1, 2014 #40 Share Posted October 1, 2014 We sailed on the Triumph last year using the Cheers Program. Had a great time! We spent time in the Alchemy Bar. After trying some drinks off the menu, and making friends with the bartenders, they made custom martinis for us...no problems with a lack of alcohol! The only time I had a drink seem weak, was a fruity drink at the pool. I just waited a bit, and ordered a shot to add. Perfect! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splintz Posted October 2, 2014 #41 Share Posted October 2, 2014 i have not noticed weak drinks with the cheers program. i like tequila and drink a lot of the classic margaritas that have a double shot of 1800 tequila in it. i did notice on the last 2 ships i have been on the (pride and the miracle) that when i ordered the drink on numerous occasions i caught them putting a double shot of margaritaville tequila instead of the 1800. they are not even close to being equal in quality, price, or taste. i called them out on it and they usually made like it was a mistake and remade the drink. but i think the higher ups in the beverage department are telling the bartenders to do this to save some money on the alcohol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisefirsttimer24 Posted October 2, 2014 #42 Share Posted October 2, 2014 With the cheers program are you able to purchase a round of drinks for your family using s/s card and will it count towards your 15 drinks? Sent from my C6606 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jamman54 Posted October 2, 2014 #43 Share Posted October 2, 2014 With the cheers program are you able to purchase a round of drinks for your family using s/s card and will it count towards your 15 drinks? Sent from my C6606 using Forums mobile app Yes and no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtalum Posted October 2, 2014 #44 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Random q re tipping bartender extra. How do you do it. Is it cash? Does it go on your S&S card? Sent from my GT-I8730 using Forums mobile app You have to sign for drinks, even on the Cheers program. The receipt has a tip line on it. I just give $1 per drink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisefirsttimer24 Posted October 2, 2014 #45 Share Posted October 2, 2014 (edited) Has anyone just given a generous tip at the beginning or the end to keep from having all of the smaller charges on your card? Sent from my C6606 using Forums mobile app Edited October 2, 2014 by cruisefirsttimer24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbsteve Posted October 2, 2014 #46 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Has anyone just given a generous tip at the beginning or the end to keep from having all of the smaller charges on your card? Sent from my C6606 using Forums mobile app Just did this last week, gave the bartender a 20 on day one. I never did manage to hit my 15 drinks... seems the later it got in the night, the more "soda" I drank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisefirsttimer24 Posted November 11, 2014 #47 Share Posted November 11, 2014 I know you can't use your cheers card to get the draft beer pitchers or tunes, but are you able to purchase these and not count toward your 15? Sent from my C6606 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bptex Posted November 11, 2014 #48 Share Posted November 11, 2014 For those that have never worked in a bar it's not that hard to tell if a bartender is over or under pouring. With the industry standard nozzle you get 1 ounce every 4 seconds. A standard shot is 1.5 ounces so if they are taking less than 6 seconds it's a short pour. From a management stand point every bottle of liquor is counted, as are how many shots are sold from each. Yes a bartender could short you and over someone else but with 300 or so customers a day it'd be really hard to keep up with. Plus everything they do is on video. If you complain it'll get reviewed. If they sell a lot more booze than the bar was allocated it'll get reviewed, if they lose money by running out of booze before it's all sold it'll get reviewed. I'm not saying they don't have bartenders cheating people but if they do it'd be easy to tell. I have a hard time believing Carnival would keep cheating bartenders on staff though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texas greeneyes Posted November 11, 2014 #49 Share Posted November 11, 2014 My experience is the same as several previous posters. Frequent a couple of bartenders, tip $1 per drink, with little exception my drinks were "over-poured". Still seeing mixed information regarding gratuities with the Cheers program tho. Tips were NOT included on the 10/26/2014 sailing of the Magic. The bartenders I spoke with we're not happy about it. YMMV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Douglase Posted November 11, 2014 #50 Share Posted November 11, 2014 Not ture drinks are fine. They over poured evrytime on our drinks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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