Bringing your own tumbler for Bottomless Bubbles?

[Oshawapilot]

Did a search and found mixed information on the topic, not all of it totally recent.

 

I'm going to subscribe to bottomless bubbles for our first Carnival cruise in a week.

 

Having been spoiled by Royal Caribbean's self service Coke Freestyle machines the prospect (from what I've read) of getting stuck waiting in a crowd of people at a bar to get a tiny little glass that contains only half a can of soda sounds really, really crappy to me.

 

I'm contemplating bringing one of my old RCI tumblers with me, or something similar in size that will hold at *least* a full can. I might even try to find something that will hold a little more than a full can actually - I like being able to go sit in a hot tub somewhere for an hour socializing while having lots to drink..and not needing to get out multiple times to repeat the "tiny little glass" routine over and over again.

 

Is this something that is going to be a problem?

[lcpagejr]

Carnival soda is by the "can".... Once you get to know the bartenders...I'm sure they would empty a full can into your tumbler. Not sure if there are any limits on how much soda you can get at once...

[riclop]

Bring it .

[AR Patriot]

My experience on The Freedom is that they filled my large yeti clone tumbler with Bottomless Bubbles, no hassle.

 

 

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[Cuervosar]

I recommend a Camelback. https://www.camelbak.com/en/packs

[harpat0408]

We have found that some bartenders fill the whole cup we bring and others fill the cup with only what’s in the can.

Our cups hold about 1 1/2 cans worth

 

 

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[yogibear]

I have an old tumbler from a trip to Jamaica. Thinking about bringing it as it holds 33 oz:),

 

Karen

[Oshawapilot]

Carnival soda is by the "can".... Once you get to know the bartenders...I'm sure they would empty a full can into your tumbler. Not sure if there are any limits on how much soda you can get at once...

 

I've read that it's technically supposed to be 1 "serving" at a time (to discourage sharing, obviously), but it sounds like serving size is the part open for interpretation. ;)

 

My experience on The Freedom is that they filled my large yeti clone tumbler with Bottomless Bubbles, no hassle.

 

Good to hear, I'll bring the RCI tumbler then - might be good as a conversation piece if nothing else.

 

What are the bartenders like for people ordering "only" soda? On the occasions where I went to the bars without my tumbler on RCI ships (you must have the tumblers to unlock the Freestyle machines) I found that the bartenders often ignored people who were very clearly there only for soda while rushing to serve the (gratuity-earning) liquor drinkers instead. Worse yet is when there's only one single bartender running the entire bar and 15-20 people bellied up there.

[lcpagejr]

I've read that it's technically supposed to be 1 "serving" at a time (to discourage sharing, obviously), but it sounds like serving size is the part open for interpretation. ;)

 

 

 

Good to hear, I'll bring the RCI tumbler then - might be good as a conversation piece if nothing else.

 

What are the bartenders like for people ordering "only" soda? On the occasions where I went to the bars without my tumbler on RCI ships (you must have the tumblers to unlock the Freestyle machines) I found that the bartenders often ignored people who were very clearly there only for soda while rushing to serve the (gratuity-earning) liquor drinkers instead. Worse yet is when there's only one single bartender running the entire bar and 15-20 people bellied up there.

 

Its generally the same on all ships...Most bartenders are great...others seem disinterested. Just belly up to the bar and give them your order. They don't know what your ordering till you tell them!! Until they get to know you lol!!

[AR Patriot]

I tend to get my sodas mostly from same bars. Atrium, aft pool, Havana Bar and occasionally Casino. Depending on where our room is it will mostly be atrium or aft pool. I will develop a relationship with the servers and slip them a tip. I have even been given unopened sodas to take back to my room for later (I didn't ask, it was offered).

 

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[K&RCurt]

I tend to get my sodas mostly from same bars. Atrium, aft pool, Havana Bar and occasionally Casino. Depending on where our room is it will mostly be atrium or aft pool. I will develop a relationship with the servers and slip them a tip. I have even been given unopened sodas to take back to my room for later (I didn't ask, it was offered).

 

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This is the key, for soda or alcoholic drinks. I pick a bar to be my "Go To" spot for most of my beverage orders. On the first day I introduce the bartender to my good friend President Jackson, and that insures exemplary service the rest of the cruise. For soda only I would have them make acquaintance with Secretary of the Treasury Hamilton.

[Joebucks]

Bring your own tumbler? How about bring your own soda!

 

I'm not drinking that much soda that I would want to spend $40 on soda on a 5 day cruise. There is no level of "convenience" that makes me want to spend 1000% markup on what a 12 pack would do.

[Oshawapilot]

Would need multiple cases to last the duration of the cruise between all of us. This isn't a 5 day cruise.

 

And as I've said in other threads, I don't want to be "that person" who carries on everything plus the kitchen sink aboard on embarkation day and then spends hours lugging it around the ship banging it into people in hallways and corridors, the buffet, etc. I don't drink alcohol on cruises so the soda pass is an easy one to justify the price of for me, especially since I'm on vacation, not pinching every penny.