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New Cheers program = weaker drinks?

cdnmr

By cdnmr,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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hbrote

hbrote

Posted
Posted
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

 

 

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Shipbound

Shipbound

Posted
Posted (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 by Shipbound
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ryanpatricksmom

ryanpatricksmom

Posted
Posted

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. :)

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kona_wahine

kona_wahine

Posted
Posted

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.

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countrygirlcruiser1234

countrygirlcruiser1234

Posted
Posted (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 by countrygirlcruiser1234
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Retired_to_Cruise

Retired_to_Cruise

Posted
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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.

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rocketship

rocketship

Posted
Posted
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...

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ShakyBeef

ShakyBeef

Posted
Posted (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 by ShakyBeef
typo
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LandlockedCruiser01

LandlockedCruiser01

Posted
Posted
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.

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bptex

bptex

Posted
Posted

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.

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livinthedream99

livinthedream99

Posted
Posted

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!

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splintz

splintz

Posted
Posted

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.

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gtalum

gtalum

Posted
Posted
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.

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pbsteve

pbsteve

Posted
Posted
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.

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  • 1 month later...
bptex

bptex

Posted
Posted

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.

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texas greeneyes

texas greeneyes

Posted
Posted

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.

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