So I'm buying Cheers. Make me a believer.

[LuckyStar]

On 4/6/2019 at 3:43 PM, Joebucks said:

As you may know from previous threads, I'm not always the biggest Cheers fan. Later this month, I will be going on a 4 day Bahamas cruise on the Liberty with the guys. Ewww, a booze cruise!! We figured there would be no better time to try it out. For previous cruises, it has proven to be a colossal waste for the girlfriend and I. She barely drinks. I do, but nothing to make Cheers worthwhile. I don't drink any of the other stuff included. Maybe a soda here and there.

 

So help me like it. I'm not a mimosa, coffee, milkshake, juice, or water bottle (I stay away from plastic when possible) person. I'm also losing my interest in beer, especially the heavier ones. They just make me feel bloated. What I would normally do on cruises is buy a bottle (whisky or rum), bring wine, and buy a few a la carte drinks. I love having a nice strong drink that will get me a nice buzz without a ton of filler sugars. I usually don't finish the bottle within 7 days.

 

For me, at this point in my life, it's mostly about the bourbon. I love it. I noticed on a previous drink spreadsheet that there was Booker's bourbon. Where can I find it? The newer spreadsheets don't list that anymore. What other places have the good bourbon? What is exclusive to the steakhouse that is good, and is it acceptable to get a drink there if you aren't eating there? I'll probably do some red wines with dinner too. I love Alchemy, but I just can't put away a ton of those. Lots of sugar. It's a treat for me. Maybe 1-2 a day during the shows. The old fashioned is my favorite drink. What other tips do you have for me that will make me a believer?

Well, if you drink enough to justify it, you should be a believer, if not, you overpaid.  It's pretty simple.  Have a great time!

[SandiLynn]

On 4/7/2019 at 10:13 AM, Mistyness said:

We are debating getting cheer's or not for our upcoming Cruise. I am also avoiding almost all sugar. I have started googling some drinks to try without adding sugar or syrup juice etc. Some drinks I'll  just say don't add the extra sugar.  But I wanted a list of drinks to try as my drink preference is changing. I've found many prohibition area cocktail are easy to remove all or almost all of the sugar. The sugar was introduced to help with how bad some of the alcohol was back then.  We don't have that problem so less sugar doesn't change the drink. I do especially for crowded bars have a drink idea ready so that's why I am getting a list together. And an idea of how to make it as I know it will be different than what most people are ordering

Use this to experiment with drinks. If you don't like it you don't have to finish it. You can explore drinks and maybe find a new favorite.

My DH and I drink Titos and diet sprite and a twist of lime.  Low calorie and no carbs. Very refreshing on hot sea days. I would suggest asking for a better whiskey or bourbon and diet mixer to keep away from sugar. Experiment at home to find something you like. The bartenders will make what you like. 

 

I also love the version of the Old Fashion a mixologist made me. I told her I did not want a sweet drink and the drink she made me was soooo good!

 

We get our monies worth with cheers. I do not reach 15, but seven or eight drinks and all the bottled water make it worth it for me. DH will reach 15 most nights but he never is blitzed. 

[SNJCruisers]

On 4/7/2019 at 9:53 PM, mapman_2004 said:

 

“Private” as is in they don’t let the pesky third-world locals onboard? (Did I overreact on this one?)

 

Where’s all the Carnival do-gooders complaining about your waste and how it will eventually drive up prices?  Because I can’t sneak a fifth of rum on, but you can have Carnival pour a dozen drinks down the sink in a week.

The "private" was in reference to staying on board and enjoying the Cheers package while others were exploring the port.  Great thing to do in ports such as Nassau or Freeport.

If some one that has purchased Cheers decides to order 15 different alcoholic drinks and consume all 100% of them or take a sip of each one and toss the rest away, it's entirely their right to do so either way and will not drive up the prices as you hypothesized.

If you care to fill your rum runner with Myers or some other rum of your choice, it's your right to do so, just like it's Carnival's right to possibly find it and throw it away.

[Joebucks]

2 hours ago, sc4125 said:

I always purchase CHEERS on any 4 day cruise I take even though I seldom "get my moneys worth"  I don't always drink more than 3 drinks a day, but I do like the coffee.  Even though most of the time I don't break even, I always think I will.

 

I've only purchased it one time on a 7-day, and quickly realized that wasn't a great idea for me - paying for 7 days is just too much for me.

 

I'm assuming that you will be rooming with one of the guys that is purchasing CHEERS which is why you are trying it?   Otherwise from what you have said about your drinking habits, I wouldn't think it would be worth it.

 

 

 

I agree. I don't really think I'm going to "come out ahead" of this purchase. It would require somewhere over 24 fancy drinks to "break even". Yea, this time I'm rooming with my buddies. Knowing them, I think they overestimate how much they really want. 

 

Two things I do know: 1.) I am going to find a way to get some use out of it for Princess Cays. I can't on the island, but I do have a tumbler. 20 minutes at the bar in the morning, and I could have quite a few shots of Wild Turkey Rare Breed on my person. Bring a can of coke, and I'm in business. 2.) I will spend more time at the Alchemy. I used to limit it to the menu. I had one of the mixologists make me his version of a Old Fashioned and it was absolutely incredible. Those guys are good and I'll let them make more of the calls. You don't go to a fancy restaurant and get the best experience by telling the chef how to prepare your meal. Let them do what they are good at!

[sc4125]

52 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

 

I agree. I don't really think I'm going to "come out ahead" of this purchase. It would require somewhere over 24 fancy drinks to "break even". Yea, this time I'm rooming with my buddies. Knowing them, I think they overestimate how much they really want. 

 

Two things I do know: 1.) I am going to find a way to get some use out of it for Princess Cays. I can't on the island, but I do have a tumbler. 20 minutes at the bar in the morning, and I could have quite a few shots of Wild Turkey Rare Breed on my person. Bring a can of coke, and I'm in business. 2.) I will spend more time at the Alchemy. I used to limit it to the menu. I had one of the mixologists make me his version of a Old Fashioned and it was absolutely incredible. Those guys are good and I'll let them make more of the calls. You don't go to a fancy restaurant and get the best experience by telling the chef how to prepare your meal. Let them do what they are good at!

I'm with you on the tumbler in Princess Cays.  I've even been known to do a fill up before heading into a port if I'm just going to be hitting a nearby beach or walking around the port.  Even if you don't come out ahead, I think you will really love the freedom of trying out new drinks - especially at the Alchemy.

[Haagendawgs]

My wife and I just got back. We drank way more than anticipated and I only drank in the morning once and that was a bloody mary.

 

Even on port days we would each end up with a fru-fru drink at around mid-afternoon and then a cocktail to take back to the room. We would grab a drink at the Breeze bar waiting for a table for dinner and then order a couple more with our meal. At this point, you've paid for Cheers for the day.

 

Now we may end up at Alchemy, Red Frog, 88 Keys, Punchline, Ovation theater, etc. and they add up quickly.

 

I'm going through system shock detoxing the last four days.

[Don Kehote]

5 hours ago, Joebucks said:

Thanks for this list! By chance, how did you get it?

 

I keep an eye on John Heald on Facebook - he comes through with the goods more often than he's given credit for!

 

Scotch and Whiskey List Post

 

There's another one from the same day where he brings up the partnership with Dewar's ($30 for a scotch blending class, take home your product!)

[MississippiMom]

Random responses based on our Spring Break ‘19 multi-generational family cruise.

 

Alchemy Bar is where you want to be with Cheers.  On Glory, they had three types of bourbon - Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve, and _____ (Hopefully, someone can fill in the blank with that third similar quality bourbon).  If someone steps up to an Alchemy Bar bartender looking for cheap stuff, they send them to the casino bar.

 

Not all bars are created equal; different brands available.  Don’t settle for the cheap stuff, when you can take your Cheers card to the next bar for what you actually want to drink.

 

In the dining room, you MUST tell your server what brand you want.

[Julie0317]

We are just off of the Conquest and my husband drank Buffalo Trace the most and from the alchemy bar (old Fashioned's most of the time).  I drink Grey Goose or Absolut Citron and sprite zero with lime from most bars and lemon drop martini's from alchemy.  We both hit 15 one day (sea day) and got to 11, 12 or 13 most other days.  We are drinkers though and the pours (even with tipping) were your average measured bar pours and didn't do a lot for us unless we drank quickly and then those 15 go quick.  We had  1 or 2 bloody marys/mimosa in the morning, then a few fruity cocktails while  lying on the Lido deck and a beer here and there.  Grabbed a cocktail for the room to get ready, then wine with dinner and cocktails at the piano bar, show or casino after.  We also got specialty coffee most mornings, several bottles of water throughout the day and power aides here and there.  I did the math and we came out to about $5 per drink at the end of the cruise with Cheers.

Edited April 16, 2019 by Julie0317

[jerrya72]

We weren't going to buy cheers on our last 5 day cruise and we ended up buying it on the fist day and paying more than if we bought it before the cruise. I'm glad we did though because we found a drink at the casino bar we really liked and 17.50 a drink adds up quick. I did a quick calculation and without cheers we would have had a bill over $1,000. 

[James4me]

My question is this....I know Carnival sells beer buckets (4).  If you a have Cheers package then you are charged for 4 beers, but you do get a free beer if you buy the bucket deal.  So are you still charged for 4 or charged to 5 because of the “per drink” clause.  Hope this isn’t confusing 😬

[beerman2]

29 minutes ago, James4me said:

My question is this....I know Carnival sells beer buckets (4).  If you a have Cheers package then you are charged for 4 beers, but you do get a free beer if you buy the bucket deal.  So are you still charged for 4 or charged to 5 because of the “per drink” clause.  Hope this isn’t confusing 😬

You can't get a bucket with Cheers. You will be charged 1 at a time, no freebie.

[SNJCruisers]

3 hours ago, jerrya72 said:

we found a drink at the casino bar we really liked and 17.50 a drink adds up quick.

What was the drink?

[jerrya72]

16 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

What was the drink?

Grey Goose VX 

I was drinking it straight, never been much of a Vodka fan but this was good, i guess it's finished with cognac. The wife was drinking it with cranberry juice which is a waste IMHO but to each their own.

[Joebucks]

I just don't see $1000 worth of value there, even if that is what it "would have cost". I'll definitely try it though. 

[SNJCruisers]

1 hour ago, jerrya72 said:

Grey Goose VX 

I was drinking it straight, never been much of a Vodka fan but this was good, i guess it's finished with cognac. The wife was drinking it with cranberry juice which is a waste IMHO but to each their own.

I figured that was what it was.  At the Alchemy on the Horizon, I tried it "up" and was charged 17.00.  When mixed with other ingredients, they charged me 20.00, but of course it was covered by Cheers.

[mom2tcdx2]

I have to say the closest I ever got to 15, was I think 11.  I really enjoy Alchemy bar so by far the larger number of my drinks come from there, but their slightly more limited hours doesn't really allow me to do a huge dent in the number of drinks allowed in a day.  I however can easily do 2 martinis before dinner, take a third to dinner, and then usually grab another after dinner.  That still then leaves room for a couple drinks in the afternoon etc.  

 

My husband prefers scotch so he often just drinks scotch on the rocks for most of his drinks, with the occasional different martini's thrown in.  

[jerrya72]

32 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

I just don't see $1000 worth of value there, even if that is what it "would have cost". I'll definitely try it though. 

Yea it's definitely not for everyone, we went back and forth a lot but in the end we had a good time so I guess that pretty much all that matters on vacation.

 

Have fun!

[AmBear]

On 4/6/2019 at 5:43 PM, Joebucks said:

As you may know from previous threads, I'm not always the biggest Cheers fan. Later this month, I will be going on a 4 day Bahamas cruise on the Liberty with the guys. Ewww, a booze cruise!! We figured there would be no better time to try it out. For previous cruises, it has proven to be a colossal waste for the girlfriend and I. She barely drinks. I do, but nothing to make Cheers worthwhile. I don't drink any of the other stuff included. Maybe a soda here and there.

 

So help me like it. I'm not a mimosa, coffee, milkshake, juice, or water bottle (I stay away from plastic when possible) person. I'm also losing my interest in beer, especially the heavier ones. They just make me feel bloated. What I would normally do on cruises is buy a bottle (whisky or rum), bring wine, and buy a few a la carte drinks. I love having a nice strong drink that will get me a nice buzz without a ton of filler sugars. I usually don't finish the bottle within 7 days.

 

For me, at this point in my life, it's mostly about the bourbon. I love it. I noticed on a previous drink spreadsheet that there was Booker's bourbon. Where can I find it? The newer spreadsheets don't list that anymore. What other places have the good bourbon? What is exclusive to the steakhouse that is good, and is it acceptable to get a drink there if you aren't eating there? I'll probably do some red wines with dinner too. I love Alchemy, but I just can't put away a ton of those. Lots of sugar. It's a treat for me. Maybe 1-2 a day during the shows. The old fashioned is my favorite drink. What other tips do you have for me that will make me a believer?

Shots, lots of them!-))

[JaxsMama]

21 hours ago, James4me said:

My question is this....I know Carnival sells beer buckets (4).  If you a have Cheers package then you are charged for 4 beers, but you do get a free beer if you buy the bucket deal.  So are you still charged for 4 or charged to 5 because of the “per drink” clause.  Hope this isn’t confusing 😬

Buckets aren't buy 4 get 5 anymore. It's $2 off a bucket of 4.

[Don Kehote]

In the interest of transparency, I have to admit that as much as I'm a fan of Cheers!, I'd only ever do it for a four or five day cruise.  That's about as much continuous drinking as I care to do anymore.

 

We have discussed doing a 3 and 4 day cruise b2b, with cheers on one, and not on the other.  Detoxification time, honestly.