Best Wines? - Premium Drink Package

[George C]

3 minutes ago, canderson said:

Haven't cruised with X since 2014, so cannot speak for the quality of the wine left for embarkation now, but if you read the threads, you should get a decent general idea.  I've heard that a Pinot Noir of some sort is a possible swap, but believe it's the 'house brand' from Celebrity, and again,  you'll need someone who has tasted it recently to judge the quality.  We almost never drank either one, whichever was provided. 

 

In an RS, we have an advantage this time in that we can negotiate in advance what is provided for that first opened bottle of the trip!

In royal suite or above you get your choice of liter bottles of scotch or vodka etc and also get a good bottle of champagne, on last couple of cruises we actually brought the scotch home unopened, I think we can switch the booze for a good bottle of wine , need to ask for our next cruise.

[canderson]

8 minutes ago, George C said:

I think we can switch the booze for a good bottle of wine , need to ask for our next cruise.

Yes, it is true that booze can be swapped for wine.

Just occurred to me -- this will be a B2B, so perhaps we can trade all 4 bottles of booze for 2 really decent bottles of wine?  If they're willing to supply two bottles per cruise of 1L Patron Silver (saw that somewhere in another thread) at $50 a bottle (shore retail), that should get me a nice bottle or two.

[George C]

3 minutes ago, canderson said:

Yes, it is true that booze can be swapped for wine.

Just occurred to me -- this will be a B2B, so perhaps we can trade all 4 bottles of booze for 2 really decent bottles of wine?  If they're willing to supply two bottles per cruise of 1L Patron Silver (saw that somewhere in another thread) at $50 a bottle (shore retail), that should get me a nice bottle or two.

The single malt scotch liter cost closer to 70 . I rarely drink silver tequila 😁.

[canderson]

@George C

Didn't know they offered a decent single malt as one of the options.  More $ to bargain with!  Now we're up to a couple of bottles of 18' Far Niente Cab (I think I've seen that in some list somewhere) even though it would be cradle robbing.

 

[garyl62]

As many have said, the Decoy Cab was a go to for us, but just before the shutdown we also enjoyed a Brodeaux, I believe Clarendelle and we often selected some Caymus.  I think you'll have some good options.  Since you're sailing soon check back and let us know what you find on board and what you selection most often.

[RichYak]

Has anyone discovered any good Zinfandels?

[happy cruzer]

In general, wines served by the glass are not the best.   At most we have found one or two wines that are served by the glass to be a "better" wine.  Of course it is all subjective.

 

If you are picky/discerning about wine, purchasing by the bottle or carry on with corkage fee is the way to get the better wines.

 

the bev package works great for mixed drinks.

[markeb]

1 hour ago, RichYak said:

Has anyone discovered any good Zinfandels?

 

What do you consider "good"?

 

The list I'm looking at has a Hartford Court Russian River Zin for $23/glass or $106/bottle. I've had their Zins, and they're excellent.

[LGW59]

4 minutes ago, markeb said:

 

What do you consider "good"?

 

The list I'm looking at has a Hartford Court Russian River Zin for $23/glass or $106/bottle. I've had their Zins, and they're excellent.

Is this the price per glass/bottle on Celebrity or just in general?  Because that bottle, stateside, is approx $35-$40/bottle.

 

Edited September 29, 2021 by LGW59

[markeb]

9 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

Is this the price per glass/bottle on Celebrity or just in general?  Because that bottle, stateside, is approx $35-$40/bottle.

 

 

That's Celebrity pricing. Agree, it's marked up pretty well. Should be $70-80 if that's retail (2X retail). But it's a very good Zin...

 

(Hadn't done the Total Wine price search.)

[Schmoe38]

1 hour ago, RichYak said:

Has anyone discovered any good Zinfandels?

Personal preference speaking here…..

 

St Francis Old Vines Zinfandel is on the wine list by the bottle.

 

Randy

[canderson]

35 minutes ago, Schmoe38 said:

Personal preference speaking here…..

 

St Francis Old Vines Zinfandel is on the wine list by the bottle.

 

Randy

Nice!  A pretty decent bottle (up to ~2014 anyway, haven't had any more recent than that), and you can score one around here for a bit less than $25.  Normally, I drink beer with something like BBQ brisket, but sometimes BBQ and Zin works, too.

[etiggercruiser]

7 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

The Sommelier in Retreat on Equinox was very knowledgeable and good at finding a wine that Iain liked.     We live in Northern California and wines are plentiful 

 

A couple recommendations were:

 

Cakebread  "Two Creeks"  Pinot Noir

 

Mouton Cadet - Bordeaux Blend

 

Caymus - Cabernet Savignon (over charge $34 listed price but reduced by  CC level discount and    packakge limit).

 

Cakebread Pinot Noir is one of our favorites. We also got a couple of Stag's Leap Cabernet Artemis when we were in Napa. Has anyone found Cakebread Pinot on Celebrity?

[Schmoe38]

4 minutes ago, EmQ-CA said:

Cakebread Pinot Noir is one of our favorites. We also got a couple of Stag's Leap Cabernet Artemis when we were in Napa. Has anyone found Cakebread Pinot on Celebrity?

Cakebread Pinot is currently showing on the Celebrity app for our sailing on Constellation for November 2021.

 

Fingers crossed in anticipation.

 

Randy

[zitsky]

Didn't know you could look at wine lists with the app.  Wish I could use it.

[Schmoe38]

You can actually view the wines being offered in Luminae, Blu, Main Dining Room as well as the Specialty Restaurants. There is no real guarantee that these selections will be on board, but it does give us hope!
 

Randy

[canderson]

20 minutes ago, Schmoe38 said:

Cakebread Pinot is currently showing on the Celebrity app for our sailing on Constellation for November 2021.

 

Fingers crossed in anticipation.

 

Randy

Spotted it in the Luminae glass and bottle lists, but not MDR.  That said, we've always been able to ask to work from both lists on M class, regardless of venue.

Edited September 30, 2021 by canderson

[DaKahuna]

1 minute ago, Schmoe38 said:

You can actually view the wines being offered in Luminae, Blu, Main Dining Room as well as the Specialty Restaurants. There is no real guarantee that these selections will be on board, but it does give us hope!
 

Randy

I assume this is only after you have checked in for the cruise?  All I am seeing for our December 4th Reflection sailing is the dining rooms, restaurants, and hours. 

 

 

[canderson]

2 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

I assume this is only after you have checked in for the cruise?  All I am seeing for our December 4th Reflection sailing is the dining rooms, restaurants, and hours. 

 

 

At the opportunity to 'pick another cruise', you can look at wine lists for current and future sailings of your ship and others by going to the Dining' option for any of them.  If you need screen shots, let us know.  

 

If you have one scheduled, go to your own, Dining, venue, Menu, Wine

[RichYak]

1 hour ago, markeb said:

 

What do you consider "good"?

 

The list I'm looking at has a Hartford Court Russian River Zin for $23/glass or $106/bottle. I've had their Zins, and they're excellent.

I like Seghesio Old Vine, Prisoner and Orin Swift 8 Years in the Desert. Can you share a link to this list that you keep referring to?

[canderson]

3 minutes ago, RichYak said:

I like Seghesio Old Vine, Prisoner and Orin Swift 8 Years in the Desert. Can you share a link to this list that you keep referring to?

See instructions above.  We are using the app on phone.

Edited September 30, 2021 by canderson

[neverlaysup]

It will cost a whole $1.00 extra (if they decide to make you pay), but I really like the Opulence Chardonnay by Grgich winery.

[zitsky]

10 minutes ago, RichYak said:

I like Seghesio Old Vine, Prisoner and Orin Swift 8 Years in the Desert. Can you share a link to this list that you keep referring to?

 

I would love to see some Orin Swift on board.

[neverlaysup]

1 hour ago, markeb said:

 

What do you consider "good"?

 

The list I'm looking at has a Hartford Court Russian River Zin for $23/glass or $106/bottle. I've had their Zins, and they're excellent.

I'm a wine club member at Hartford Court, hard for me to pay that much for a $32.00 bottle (wine club price) of wine. It is nice though.

[canderson]

9 minutes ago, RichYak said:

I like Seghesio Old Vine, Prisoner and Orin Swift 8 Years in the Desert. Can you share a link to this list that you keep referring to?

But oh, be prepared to do a lot of scrolling.  Apart from by-the-glass half-full bottle, and bubbly / white & rose / red, the list order wanders a lot.  There is some country grouping, but nothing more useful.