Craft Beer?

[Thrak]

Just Googled this Dogfish Head IPA. Sounds perfect. Would love it if Princess started serving it. No more complaints of watered down drinks if they did.

 

Surely Sierra Nevada, which I love, would be a good choice as it shouldn’t be difficult to source in high volume.

 

Please Princess. Up you beer game!

 

I recently did a 28 day cruise with the beverage package. I spent a fair amount of time at the bar and I never saw anybody prepare a "watered down" drink. All drinks were professionally prepared. As I sat at the bar quite a lot I had plenty of time to observe what went on. I've seen this complaint posted before but I'm not at all sure it's accurate.

[neverbeenhere]

The mark up in the "liquor business" make it unnecessary to "water down" the spirits. Perhaps in your local corner bar, but highly unlikely in a corporate operation.

[Geoffa30]

I recently did a 28 day cruise with the beverage package. I spent a fair amount of time at the bar and I never saw anybody prepare a "watered down" drink. All drinks were professionally prepared. As I sat at the bar quite a lot I had plenty of time to observe what went on. I've seen this complaint posted before but I'm not at all sure it's accurate.

 

I find that the cocktail drinks seem watered down as there is generally too much mixer in them. At home, when I make a margarita and use just lime juice and sugar syrup, the ratio of alcohol to non alcohol is effective equal. On the ship, I see the alcohol being poured as it should be but this is then topped up with too much margarita mix in my opinion. Have taken to drinking wine on the ship more now or tequila shots :D

[Thrak]

I find that the cocktail drinks seem watered down as there is generally too much mixer in them. At home, when I make a margarita and use just lime juice and sugar syrup, the ratio of alcohol to non alcohol is effective equal. On the ship, I see the alcohol being poured as it should be but this is then topped up with too much margarita mix in my opinion. Have taken to drinking wine on the ship more now or tequila shots :D

 

OK. In that sense of "watered down" you may well have a point. The amount of liquor in the drink is correct but I have seen some pretty gigantic frozen margaritas that I would have made with more than a single measure of liquor due to the size. I tend to drink straight Bourbon or Rye or Scotch (I want it "neat" do not put ice in my straight liquor!!!) or a Gin and Tonic or Bloody Mary or a Chairman of the Board martini so I don't have excessive mixer and often don't have any mixer at all. Foo-foo drinks may well seem watered down due to excessive mixer to make people happy with a big drink.

 

I loved having the beverage package (a perk - I'm far too cheap to pay for it) but would really like to get a double when drinking straight liquor. Unless one gets to know the bartender this isn't possible with the beverage package. If one does get to know the bartender then he can pour you a double. He just has to charge them as separate drinks a few minutes apart.

[polmcs]

OK. In that sense of "watered down" you may well have a point. The amount of liquor in the drink is correct but I have seen some pretty gigantic frozen margaritas that I would have made with more than a single measure of liquor due to the size. I tend to drink straight Bourbon or Rye or Scotch (I want it "neat" do not put ice in my straight liquor!!!) or a Gin and Tonic or Bloody Mary or a Chairman of the Board martini so I don't have excessive mixer and often don't have any mixer at all. Foo-foo drinks may well seem watered down due to excessive mixer to make people happy with a big drink.

 

I loved having the beverage package (a perk - I'm far too cheap to pay for it) but would really like to get a double when drinking straight liquor. Unless one gets to know the bartender this isn't possible with the beverage package. If one does get to know the bartender then he can pour you a double. He just has to charge them as separate drinks a few minutes apart.

 

With the new 15 drinks per day limit with the PBP, the bar staff are now more willing to pour doubles. They do tell you that it will "cost" you 2 of your drinks allowance. Well at least this is true when on the Ruby.

[Thrak]

With the new 15 drinks per day limit with the PBP, the bar staff are now more willing to pour doubles. They do tell you that it will "cost" you 2 of your drinks allowance. Well at least this is true when on the Ruby.

 

The only issue is if the manager wants to know why you got two drinks at once. It looks like sharing to them. On Emerald I could get away with it as the bartenders (Chris and Darshan) and the manager (Anne Marie) in Wheelhouse were pretty well acquainted with me. :o

 

I was sipping a beer and reading in a chair by a window one day (my wife had a cold and hid in the cabin for two days so I was by myself) and looked up to see the crew eating Pub Lunch at a corner table. I didn't really think about it and went on reading and sipping my beer. After a bit I needed to go check on my wife. When I got up Anne Marie asked, "Are you leaving us, Michael?". I was surprised to find that they had put out a "Private Function" sign in the hall and had locked the door. Later in the cruise I got locked in with them again when I was reading in the front part of Wheelhouse. They just treated me like family. Very nice. It's a long way off but we cruise Emerald again in late 2019 and I certainly hope these folks are still on the ship. They've been with Princess quite a while so I am hopeful.

[erniesnuggle]

Sea Witch wasn't very good. We live in Chico, CA where Sierra Nevada Brewing Company is located so we understand about highly-hopped beer. Lots of folks who hated the Sea Witch brew hated the flavor of hops as they are used to crappy "regular" American beer. That wasn't our issue. We just didn't care for the beer although it was better than most of what Princess offers. We found a few left over bottles of Alaskan Brewing Company beer on our last cruise as the ship had just transitioned from the Alaska run. We snagged some of those to take back to the cabin. For beer we mostly drank Bass Ale or Newcastle on tap. Princess really does have a pretty poor selection of beer.

 

 

We live in Chico as well! We were lucky enough to be married at the brewery before they stopped allowing that. I agree we are definitely spoiled in Chico but there are plenty of amazing beers out there. It is definitely disappointing that there isn't much of a selection onboard. We're planning on bringing extra wine and paying corkage at embarkation, at least we'll know we have wine we enjoy.

 

Sounds like we need to hang out with you at the Wheelhouse someday!:beer-toast: :beer-toast:

[newport dave]

On Crown last June whilst sailing from Southampton, Princess started stocking Bath Ales 'Gem' beer from the local brewery. https://www.bathales.com/our-ales/

 

Safe to say, it went down well, but was out of stock within 10 days of a 14 day cruise.

[SeymourKopath]

I wouldn't say we are ready to jump ship, but it would be very appreciated if they had more beer options. I don't mind New Castle but I don't like drinking out of a plastic cup and it's only available up deck.

We were on the Royal January 9-19. The casino bar was serving Newcastle Ale draft in a glass stein.

[Thrak]

We live in Chico as well! We were lucky enough to be married at the brewery before they stopped allowing that. I agree we are definitely spoiled in Chico but there are plenty of amazing beers out there. It is definitely disappointing that there isn't much of a selection onboard. We're planning on bringing extra wine and paying corkage at embarkation, at least we'll know we have wine we enjoy.

 

Sounds like we need to hang out with you at the Wheelhouse someday!:beer-toast: :beer-toast:

 

Wow! You are the first person I have found here from our town. I've seen folks from Redding, Grass Valley, and Auburn but none from Chico until now.

[jennybenny]

We were on the Royal January 9-19. The casino bar was serving Newcastle Ale draft in a glass stein.

 

 

 

Thanks!! Good to know. I will check the casino on our next cruise! Thank you

 

On the Grand it was only available outside

 

 

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[erniesnuggle]

Wow! You are the first person I have found here from our town. I've seen folks from Redding, Grass Valley, and Auburn but none from Chico until now.

 

I do love it here. See you at the brewery!

[Fuzzyape]

I take it you have never visited Talkeetna and tried the Denali Brewing Company beer then? ...

 

Sadly I didn't get to try Denali Brewing beer when we were on our Alaskan Cruise.

I will say if you do have the chance to befriend the bartenders you are in for a great experience. DW was able to do so at Crooners several years ago. The bartenders treated her so well. I was amazed! Of course on the few cruises we've taken we've always been treated fantastically!

 

I will also admit, my cocktail experience is extremely limited, but the difficulties with getting a consistent mix is one of the reasons I drink beer. Every time I'm poured one I get the same product. Just my opinion though.

 

Here's to hoping one day Princess could get some Dogfish or Sierra Nevada and a few more of use would be happy!

 

Counting down the days.

[DiTomCruisers]

Are there any Princess people that care about the beer served on the ships? It seems like even Carnival, as well as RCI, Celebrity, and, most likely other lines actually care about providing craft brews. The Sea Witch line was promising, and, then they took it away - supposedly it was a 50th Anniversary "special"? I don't really care about having a brewery on board, or, even craft drafts (which would be awesome), but, please, just offer up some decent American craft beers! That, or, let me bring beer on board - heck - I'll even pay a "corkage" fee.

Anyone else?

PS - I'm ready to jump ship!!!

 

Just off of the Regal. Lousy beer selection, Heinies, Buds, the usual poor selection. Last year they had some Spatan, Paulander and Warsteiner, not craft, but drinkable. Only crap beer now. The only way they change is for us to write, which I did..

[Thrak]

Sadly I didn't get to try Denali Brewing beer when we were on our Alaskan Cruise.

I will say if you do have the chance to befriend the bartenders you are in for a great experience. DW was able to do so at Crooners several years ago. The bartenders treated her so well. I was amazed! Of course on the few cruises we've taken we've always been treated fantastically!

 

I will also admit, my cocktail experience is extremely limited, but the difficulties with getting a consistent mix is one of the reasons I drink beer. Every time I'm poured one I get the same product. Just my opinion though.

 

Here's to hoping one day Princess could get some Dogfish or Sierra Nevada and a few more of use would be happy!

 

Counting down the days.

 

It's pretty easy for me to always get the same drink experience as I mostly order straight whiskey. :D Bourbon, Rye, Scotch, or Irish (love that Talisker!).

[Hlitner]

I find that the cocktail drinks seem watered down as there is generally too much mixer in them. At home, when I make a margarita and use just lime juice and sugar syrup, the ratio of alcohol to non alcohol is effective equal. On the ship, I see the alcohol being poured as it should be but this is then topped up with too much margarita mix in my opinion. Have taken to drinking wine on the ship more now or tequila shots :D

 

Your post got my attention! I live in Mexico (Puerto Vallarta) a few months a year (for the past 12 years) and routinely drink margaritas. We often entertain in my Condo and my "killer margaritas" are a common offering (normally accepted with a smile). My Margaritas (and most of our friends and quite a few bars do the same) contain zero mixer. They only contain Tequilia, Controy (Mexican Cointreau) and fresh lime juice. When we go on cruises (about 70 - 100 days a year) I sometimes feel the need for a Margarita. Despite having cruised on 14 different cruise lines we have never found any line that made a really great margarita. They cannot do it...without charging big bucks or giving folks a very small drink. So they make them in larger glasses and use some kind of non-alcoholic filler. Tis a shame.

 

Hank

[UpcountryTravelers]

We just came off MSC Seaside (which we will NOT sail again). One of the few pluses was the DRAFT beer available. Including even Stella and Langunita IPA, which is a favorite. So, yes, they CAN do good beers at sea, why doesn't our favorite Princess do so??

[Geoffa30]

Your post got my attention! I live in Mexico (Puerto Vallarta) a few months a year (for the past 12 years) and routinely drink margaritas. We often entertain in my Condo and my "killer margaritas" are a common offering (normally accepted with a smile). My Margaritas (and most of our friends and quite a few bars do the same) contain zero mixer. They only contain Tequilia, Controy (Mexican Cointreau) and fresh lime juice. When we go on cruises (about 70 - 100 days a year) I sometimes feel the need for a Margarita. Despite having cruised on 14 different cruise lines we have never found any line that made a really great margarita. They cannot do it...without charging big bucks or giving folks a very small drink. So they make them in larger glasses and use some kind of non-alcoholic filler. Tis a shame.

 

Hank

 

Your margaritas sound perfect! I usually use 60ml tequila 30ml Cointreau 20ml lime juice and 20ml sugar syrup shaken with ice and served on the rocks. Then topped with Grand Marnier.

[Woobstr112G]

Are there any Princess people that care about the beer served on the ships? It seems like even Carnival, as well as RCI, Celebrity, and, most likely other lines actually care about providing craft brews. The Sea Witch line was promising, and, then they took it away - supposedly it was a 50th Anniversary "special"? I don't really care about having a brewery on board, or, even craft drafts (which would be awesome), but, please, just offer up some decent American craft beers! That, or, let me bring beer on board - heck - I'll even pay a "corkage" fee.

Anyone else?

PS - I'm ready to jump ship!!!

 

You won't hear any arguments from me. I've long thought that Princess has an absolutely horrible beer selection. Some of us like a little bit more than the usual US options or the good Princess standby's of Stella, Becks, Bass, or Blue Moon. All of which are basically pretty boring with little to no taste at all.....:(:(:(

 

Bob

[kluv2cruz]

They do carry a nice selection of various Alaska Brewing company offerings when they are up there. Just off the Regal. Guinness and New Castle were available as draft in the Wheel House. Heineken and New Castle were in the aft bar behind Horizon Court.. and that may have been the extent of the draft beers. No real craft beer. In some of the islands they have "Virgin Island" varieties' date=' and the Island Hopping IPA is OK... if you look at the fine print you'll see these St. John Brewing Company selections are actually made in Portland, ME.[/quote']

 

 

 

Guinness on tap? Or draft in a can with the widget?

 

 

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[fishin' musician]

Guinness on tap? Or draft in a can with the widget?

 

 

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On tap. They had Bodington in large cans.

[Hlitner]

On tap. They had Bodington in large cans.

 

We could have an interesting discussion about the "shelf life" of beer. When it comes to Guinness the shelf life of draught is relatively short. Some experts say the flavor has already deteriorated after 3 months. When I was in Dublin, I noticed that the Draught Guinness I got in local pubs was much tastier than Guinness I have had in North America and elsewhere in Europe. We chatted with a couple of pub owners who explained that in Dublin, most of the bars serve very fresh Guinness (often only a few days old). One Irish cruiser we met (who practically lived on Guinness) told me that he thinks the can (with widget) is generally superior to the old draught stuff served at many bars/pubs outside of Dublin.

 

Of course this is the type of discussion we should have over a pint :).

 

Hank

[charlie murphy]

stella , bass and becks are all inbev beers. blue moon is Molson / Coors brewing. I am sure that these are huge corporate contracts and if given the option of something different these kegs would stay full. I am surprised that given the locations in the world that these ships port they do not support the local beers of the region. London -great beers ( better get a hand pull for those casks) . Ireland ( enough said) , Belgium ( pop those corks baby) , Germany ( every region has a different style) , eastern Europe ( we are talking pilsner) , US west cost vs. east coast (hop heads ?) and every thing between ( thank you brewers of the Midwest !) , Mexico ( cold and refreshing ) What a wonderful world it would be if they just sent a guy off the boat in port to pick up a pallet of local flavor.

[GRAYTech]

What a wonderful world it would be if they just sent a guy off the boat in port to pick up a pallet of local flavor.

 

Never thought of this. All it would take is a phone call "... I need 20 1/2 barrels of local brew..." delivered to the dock.

 

Yeah forget the novelty of an on board brewery. Use the space to put in some coolers and "feature" the regional brews. Oh yeah, cut back on the aluminum can fizzy water, very few will be buying it.

 

Do any of the lines feature regional brews?

[newport dave]

Stella is the Belgian Bud....

 

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