Is pre-mixed drinks a new thing this year?

[aubreyc1988]

From my experience if you find the drink on the menu of the bar there is a very high chance they have it pre made. That includes the drink of the day but the signature drinks of the restaurants as well.

 

 

 

What I would suggest is to either ask for the drink with a different brand of liquor in it or even order it by ingredients and calling out the liquor and not by name. I would be up front with the staff on why you do it, as they figure it out anyway.

 

 

 

Omg are you serious? Even at the mojito bar?

 

If this really is the case, won't consider sailing Ncl again until they change that, I personally find them doing all the drinks on the menu premade simply unacceptable

 

 

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[GUEST080219]

Omg are you serious? Even at the mojito bar?

 

In sugarcane on the Star yes. The raspberry and all the other signature ones. Same with the martini liberations kind of drinks like the lavender patch in the martini bar.

On the Star the onboard policy was that you get the premade drink when available unless you especially asked for a freshly made one. That is why I hadn't a premade once after day two. It was interesting though as I think some guests noticed that their drink was poured from a jar and the same one when I sat down and ordered was freshly made but I never heard anyone speaking up about it.

[aubreyc1988]

In sugarcane on the Star yes. The raspberry and all the other signature ones. Same with the martini liberations kind of drinks like the lavender patch in the martini bar.

 

On the Star the onboard policy was that you get the premade drink when available unless you especially asked for a freshly made one. That is why I hadn't a premade once after day two. It was interesting though as I think some guests noticed that their drink was poured from a jar and the same one when I sat down and ordered was freshly made but I never heard anyone speaking up about it.

 

 

 

This is something I'd expect from Senor frogs on 1.00 drink day or something.

 

The way I see it, the package isn't free because you pay for it in your cruise fare and with gratuity! And why would I tip someone for pouring something out of a jug? And I agree with the posters that say it separates! Maybe it the jug had some sort of circulator, like those chick fil a lemonade dispensers do, but just sitting stationary like that is just gross

 

I know I'm just preaching to the choir, but I honestly can't believe they have stooped this low! When I was reading pages 1-2 of the thread, I thought maybe people were exaggerating things, then I saw pictures of the jugs lined up at o sheehans, and now I learn even MARTINIS and mojitos are premade? Just WOW

 

I'm usually pretty chill and go with the flow on vacay, but I am so glad I learned this before booking another Ncl cruise! It would have seriously bummed me out if I hadn't known

 

 

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[Sotermarler]

It was interesting though as I think some guests noticed that their drink was poured from a jar and the same one when I sat down and ordered was freshly made but I never heard anyone speaking up about it.

 

 

Im not a big drinker so it took me a couple days to even notice this was the case. No need to not book with NCL again, just find a bar that doesn't have your drink pre made.

 

 

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[ALS1214]

I would still ask to have mine freshly made, if not I'd walk to another bar and order it. If people complain to beverage managers enough they may change it. Also if it is pre made you can always wait a few and ask for a shot of whatever booze is in it on the side. Just a thought.

 

 

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[aubreyc1988]

any updates to this situation?

[sanger727]

any updates to this situation?

 

 

I was on the jade a couple weeks ago. Tons of pre-made drinks being served. At one of the pool bars I asked them to make my drink fresh because the mix looked gross (it had separated)... he just stirred it and said it was fine. So I avoided the outdoor bars because they had drinks with fruit juice sitting out all day.

 

Now, at the inside bars they still had them pre-made but the juice ones were usually kept in a cooler so I was ok with those. They still weren't as good as the freshly made ones so I tried to scope out which drinks were being made fresh or pre-made before I ordered. The only bar where it really didn't bother me was the martini bar. The drinks there tasted fine to me. Now, I did notice that the drinks under the $15 limit were the pre-made ones. All the drinks over the limit were made fresh.

 

 

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[BirdTravels]

any updates to this situation?

 

What situation?

 

Bars premix drinks.

[NLH Arizona]

any updates to this situation?

Still the same. If it is an issue, I wouldn't book any NCL cruises.

[cage keeper]

You can absolutely tell the difference. It's absurd to suggest otherwise.

 

I agree. So I guess I will be ordering drinks not the norm. Or special like with no tripple sec or sugars added. Then maybe they will make it fresh?

[aubreyc1988]

I agree. So I guess I will be ordering drinks not the norm. Or special like with no tripple sec or sugars added. Then maybe they will make it fresh?

 

What about those mojitos? One would think those would have to be made fresh? Maybe $1s here and there to the same bartender would assure them being made fresh?

[aubreyc1988]

Still the same. If it is an issue, I wouldn't book any NCL cruises.

 

Not a huge issue, as Im trying to decide btwen NCL Epic/RCI Freedom for a Med cruise. Epic is 100.00 cheaper even with the UBP perk gratuities, so probably will be going with the Epic regardless of premixed drink situation. A free drink beats a drink you have to pay for any day of my week, but just scoping out the situation :D And seeing if there's any drinks that are not premade/ways to get non premade drinks!

[NLH Arizona]

Not a huge issue, as Im trying to decide btwen NCL Epic/RCI Freedom for a Med cruise. Epic is 100.00 cheaper even with the UBP perk gratuities, so probably will be going with the Epic regardless of premixed drink situation. A free drink beats a drink you have to pay for any day of my week, but just scoping out the situation :D And seeing if there's any drinks that are not premade/ways to get non premade drinks!

Sorry, I misunderstood your statement: If this really is the case, won't consider sailing Ncl again until they change that and that is why my response was what it was, because they haven't changed.

[aubreyc1988]

Sorry, I misunderstood your statement: If this really is the case, won't consider sailing Ncl again until they change that and that is why my response was what it was, because they haven't changed.

 

It does concern me, but I suppose I've changed my mind. I hope I am allowed to do so. I will say, if RCI was cheaper and I could purchase their package with the overall price being the same, all things being equal, I would do so. But since the significant difference in price of the two identical sailings, that is why I am leaning towards the free pre mixed drinks.

[NLH Arizona]

It does concern me, but I suppose I've changed my mind. I hope I am allowed to do so. I will say, if RCI was cheaper and I could purchase their package with the overall price being the same, all things being equal, I would do so. But since the significant difference in price of the two identical sailings, that is why I am leaning towards the free pre mixed drinks.

I was on the Dawn in December and I don't know if the virgin strawberry daiquiris I had were pre-mixed or not, but they sure were good!

[aubreyc1988]

I was on the Dawn in December and I don't know if the virgin strawberry daiquiris I had were pre-mixed or not, but they sure were good!

 

Since the itinerary im looking at is really port intensive, I'd probably just be drinking minimally, so not a huge factor. As long as they taste good, not a problem. I would love to know if the Epic has the Raspberry mojitos, as they are the only cruiseline i've found that makes them double strained.

[BirdTravels]

I agree. So I guess I will be ordering drinks not the norm. Or special like with no tripple sec or sugars added. Then maybe they will make it fresh?

 

Don't worry. It is the exact same alcohol and the exact same mixers in the exact same proportions. Be happy to be drinking while in the ocean.

[Mr and Mrs C]

Don't worry. It is the exact same alcohol and the exact same mixers in the exact same proportions. Be happy to be drinking while in the ocean.

 

 

I'd have to disagree with that statement. On the getaway in January the mango meltdown that was premixed had hardly any alcohol. I quit ordering them unless I went to the bars where they were made to order, otherwise it tasted just like frozen sugar drink.

 

 

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[sanger727]

Since the itinerary im looking at is really port intensive, I'd probably just be drinking minimally, so not a huge factor. As long as they taste good, not a problem. I would love to know if the Epic has the Raspberry mojitos, as they are the only cruiseline i've found that makes them double strained.

 

 

Well, the positive thing about having the drink package is if it tastes bad you can go up and get something else. I did think a handful of times when the drink was awful.

 

 

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[HockeyChick15]

Definitely pre-mixed on the Breakaway. We ordered from Maltings every night, best bar on the ship for mixed drinks, so they go to know us and we tipped well. We got all drinks from them the whole week and never got a pre-mixed drink. Multiple people commented that our drinks looked better than their drink.

 

 

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[MNcruisingcouple]

We were on the Jade from January 25 through February 6. I don't think I personally ever got a pre-mixed drink. It may have just been because of the drinks I order. My husband did get one Long Island tea that was so terrible he never ordered another one but we aren't sure that it was pre-mixed. The bars we went to most were Bali Hai (mojitos and Mai Tais), Atrium (mojitos and Moscow mules), Maltings (old fashioned), Martini bar (cosmos, lemon drops, vodka martinis), Medusa and Spinnaker. All of these were made fresh in front of us.

 

 

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[Tybug]

Just off the Epic yesterday. Very disappointed in the pre-mixed drinks. A huge difference from the Dawn just a year ago and the Getaway in December. The martini bar was so much fun on the Dawn with the staff hand crafting each drink. 3 - 4 bartenders in there at all times. Last week... only ever had 1 bartender in the martini bar and the signature drinks were pre-mixed. Ordered a bloody mary on our first morning from the casino bar; sat there and watched him make it... pre-mixed (normal) but they added no alcohol. When questioned, they claimed the vodka was in the mix. Went to O'Sheehans; same outcome with the bloody mary. The pool bar had the containers of pre-mix sitting in the sun, not chilled. All were separated, the pain killer mix looked absolutely disgusting. We finally switched to mimosas and wine for the last couple of days of the trip.

[aubreyc1988]

Just off the Epic yesterday. Very disappointed in the pre-mixed drinks. A huge difference from the Dawn just a year ago and the Getaway in December. The martini bar was so much fun on the Dawn with the staff hand crafting each drink. 3 - 4 bartenders in there at all times. Last week... only ever had 1 bartender in the martini bar and the signature drinks were pre-mixed. Ordered a bloody mary on our first morning from the casino bar; sat there and watched him make it... pre-mixed (normal) but they added no alcohol. When questioned, they claimed the vodka was in the mix. Went to O'Sheehans; same outcome with the bloody mary. The pool bar had the containers of pre-mix sitting in the sun, not chilled. All were separated, the pain killer mix looked absolutely disgusting. We finally switched to mimosas and wine for the last couple of days of the trip.

 

that's disappointing to hear - what wines were included? Did t hey have raspberry mojitos anywhere?

[Tybug]

All wines under the $15.00 limit were included. I didn't notice raspberry mojitos, but I don't drink rum so I wasn't paying attention to their offerings.

[Mr and Mrs C]

that's disappointing to hear - what wines were included? Did t hey have raspberry mojitos anywhere?

 

 

I had the raspberry mojitos and same thing, tasted no alcohol. My friend who doesn't like rum and usually drinks vodka drank the raspberry mojitos and loved them.

 

 

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