Soda Package Question

jewel825 · August 1, 2018

I have only bought the soda package on Royal Caribbean so I'm not sure how it works with Carnival. On RC, it's fountain drinks only that you can get from a bartender or from the self serve machines when you use the special cup they give you. I bought the package because I preferred fountain drinks over cans.

It sounds like Carnival is only cans which is fine. However, I keep reading that passengers are often served flat sodas from cans already opened and sitting out and warm drinks are poured over ice. Is that really true? If I don't buy the bottomless bubbles and just pay each soda as I go, do they give you the full can then? Or is just whatever fills a glass with ice?

Garth2 · August 1, 2018

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3836/~/bottomless-bubbles-%28unlimited-soda-program%29

djb78 · August 1, 2018

That's partially true.

If you order a soda at a bar that has fountain soda, you'll get fountain soda. But some of those bars don't have some types of soda in the fountain system, so if you order say, a Coke Zero, it will be out of a can. They don't give the whole can, but at the busier bars, they go through the open cans fairly quick.

I've also had bartenders toss the open one and open a new one for me, if they feel it's been sitting for so long.

But you've hit on one of my frustrations. I drink a lot of soda, and I've always bought the soda card. But I'm not really happy with getting warm soda poured over ice. It instantly melts half the ice and gets completely watered down.

So I try to use the indoor bars, where at least the soda is stored at a cooler temp than the outside bars where it sits in the Caribbean sun all day.

In the dining rooms, I've sometimes been brought a cold can and sometimes gotten fountain soda. Not sure if it varies by ship.

Since you prefer fountain soda, just figure out what bars have a fountain system and use those. The bars at the aft corner of the lido deck seem to usually/always give cans.

hockeyguru32 · August 1, 2018

I've done the BB and yes you get fountain at some bars and cans at others. In the MDR always got a can and the can was left at the table for me. I have also asked for the can at the bars that provide them and have never been refused.

NYcruzzer · August 2, 2018

Do you have to purchase BB for the entire cruise ? Is it possible to buy on day 2 and be charged for the remaining days ?

Purvis1231 · August 2, 2018

On my last cruise we were served the entire unopen can each time. I am not sure if this was just on the Dream or if other ships are serving the entire can.

Edited August 2, 2018 by Purvis1231
typo

Purvis1231 · August 2, 2018

Do you have to purchase BB for the entire cruise ? Is it possible to buy on day 2 and be charged for the remaining days ?

You can purchase it on the second day.

CdrescherRBL152 · August 2, 2018

I get BB al the time. At the bars that have cans it is hit and miss. Some bartenders give you out of opened cans. Some fill the glass from a new can. Others give you the full can.

RWolver672 · August 2, 2018

If you buy them individually, they give you the full can.

NYcruzzer · August 2, 2018

You can purchase it on the second day.

Good to know.. If I purchase it on day 2 of an 8 day cruise will they charge me for 7 days ? I tried purchasing online last night for just myself. Wouldn't go through. When purchasing online are you required to buy for all passanger ?

asalligo · August 2, 2018

Yes, what you describe is accurate. We have started to just carry on our own cokes which Carnival allows in your carry-on. Twelve cans per person in your carry-on and you can put twelve for each person in one carry-on. You may also bring more on at each port.

We found that you really only get half a coke when ordering via bottomless bubbles and yes, it is often flat. It is better to order without the package and pay for the whole coke occasionally.

teknoge3k · August 2, 2018

Don't forget you can take your own soda on with you to save the markup Carnival has. You can also buy more in ports. That way you can keep it cold in your fridge and have whatever type soda you want, not just the Coke products.

serene56 · August 2, 2018

Good to know.. If I purchase it on day 2 of an 8 day cruise will they charge me for 7 days ? I tried purchasing online last night for just myself. Wouldn't go through. When purchasing online are you required to buy for all passanger ?

you can not buy for day two etc online its for the entire duration and yes you can buy one person at a time.

(you can also carry on your own 12 pack of cans too for each person)

NYcruzzer · August 2, 2018

you can not buy for day two etc online its for the entire duration and yes you can buy one person at a time.
(you can also carry on your own 12 pack of cans too for each person)

May have been a problem with website..I was successful in purchasing BB, water, and internet online this morning

Schoifmom · August 2, 2018

May have been a problem with website..I was successful in purchasing BB, water, and internet online this morning

They were saying that you cannot purchase for a portion of the cruise (i.e., day 2 onward) online.

NYcruzzer · August 2, 2018

They were saying that you cannot purchase for a portion of the cruise (i.e., day 2 onward) online.

That I figured. I just wondered if I purchase onboard on day 2 would I be charged for 8 days or 7 .. Moot point as I was able to purchase all 8 days in advance.. Trying to keep final bill to a minimum.

NYcruzzer · August 3, 2018

You're not going to be charged for days you didn't have the ability to use (getting charged for day 1 when buying on day 2).

Understood.. I assume I still have to go to one of the bars on embarkation day so they can put a BB sticker on my card ?

serene56 · August 3, 2018

Understood.. I assume I still have to go to one of the bars on embarkation day so they can put a BB sticker on my card ?

depends on the ship. Your sign and sail may be in your mailbox when you board so you do not have access to the card If you prepurchase you will use your boarding pass to get your soda because it will be on that boarding pass

jewel825 · August 3, 2018

That's partially true.

If you order a soda at a bar that has fountain soda, you'll get fountain soda. But some of those bars don't have some types of soda in the fountain system, so if you order say, a Coke Zero, it will be out of a can. They don't give the whole can, but at the busier bars, they go through the open cans fairly quick.

I've also had bartenders toss the open one and open a new one for me, if they feel it's been sitting for so long.

But you've hit on one of my frustrations. I drink a lot of soda, and I've always bought the soda card. But I'm not really happy with getting warm soda poured over ice. It instantly melts half the ice and gets completely watered down.

So I try to use the indoor bars, where at least the soda is stored at a cooler temp than the outside bars where it sits in the Caribbean sun all day.

In the dining rooms, I've sometimes been brought a cold can and sometimes gotten fountain soda. Not sure if it varies by ship.

Since you prefer fountain soda, just figure out what bars have a fountain system and use those. The bars at the aft corner of the lido deck seem to usually/always give cans.

It’s the warm watered down soda that is turning me off from this program. It’s too bad because I really like the convenience of it.