CHEERS Liquor Brands

[80sGal]

We sailed on a Sunrise B2B over the holidays and it was our first time getting Cheers.  I figured it would be worth it with the RU2 code I had, at around 130 pp.  Over the week, I asked at least three bartenders to make a drink from the menu but please use X liquor ... like using Patron instead of Sauza and other such substitutions.  My drink, I figured I should get the alcohol I liked ... WRONG.  On every occasion, I was told "We can't upgrade that.  We can only mix it like the menu calls for."   Is that correct?  I thought all drinks under a 20 buck price point was covered?   And upgrading a tequila or rum wouldn't make a 10 dollar difference on a 10 dollar drink.   Our next cruise in May I also used my RU2 code.  Can someone explain this?  How do I get it made with the liquor I want?  Do I need to NOT call it by the menu name and instead say "I want a cranberry and pineapple and orange juice, mixed with X and X ....?   Any help is appreciated!  

[mz-s]

7 minutes ago, 80sGal said:

We sailed on a Sunrise B2B over the holidays and it was our first time getting Cheers.  I figured it would be worth it with the RU2 code I had, at around 130 pp.  Over the week, I asked at least three bartenders to make a drink from the menu but please use X liquor ... like using Patron instead of Sauza and other such substitutions.  My drink, I figured I should get the alcohol I liked ... WRONG.  On every occasion, I was told "We can't upgrade that.  We can only mix it like the menu calls for."   Is that correct?  I thought all drinks under a 20 buck price point was covered?   And upgrading a tequila or rum wouldn't make a 10 dollar difference on a 10 dollar drink.   Our next cruise in May I also used my RU2 code.  Can someone explain this?  How do I get it made with the liquor I want?  Do I need to NOT call it by the menu name and instead say "I want a cranberry and pineapple and orange juice, mixed with X and X ....?   Any help is appreciated!  

 

Some drinks can be made with top shelf liquors. My normal drink is a Woodford Old Fashioned, whereas a normal Old Fashioned is made with Jack I suppose. Mojitos can be upgraded to Patron as well, I've done it. But the drinks made with the mixes, like pina coladas, yeah those can only be made with the well liquors.

[80sGal]

2 minutes ago, mz-s said:

the drinks made with the mixes, like pina coladas, yeah those can only be made with the well liquors

Thanks -- but the drinks I was requesting were ones that I then sat and watched them mix, with the cheaper, lower quality liquor.  They could easily have used the better liquor I requested, which is what confused me.  I considered going to ask at Guest Services but just chose to chill and have fun.  Next time though ... well, that's what I asked here on CC!  

[cruisinpips]

I have never been told this.. I have asked for Grey Goose and OJ, Bacardi for any rum drink, including a Mojito, ANY kind of bourbon upgrade, never been denied! Leaving on a cruise in 2 weeks, they best not start this then!!

[mz-s]

1 minute ago, 80sGal said:

Thanks -- but the drinks I was requesting were ones that I then sat and watched them mix, with the cheaper, lower quality liquor.  They could easily have used the better liquor I requested, which is what confused me.  I considered going to ask at Guest Services but just chose to chill and have fun.  Next time though ... well, that's what I asked here on CC!  

 

That may be a new policy then, like I said I've always ordered Woodford old fashioneds and patron mojitos no problem whatsoever. But if you ask for a LIT, you're getting well liquors - Cheers or not.

[firefly333]

I got patron when I asked. Never a problem with  cheers. 

[Virga]

I've never once been told there was a liquor covered in one drink that couldn't be subbed into another on Cheers.  We ordered vodka and diet mountain dew a lot in the casino on Conquest (don't judge too harshly, it was a keto trip!) and while we didn't request a brand, it was always submitted for grey goose - though admittedly it's not a menu drink.  I do know for sure that I made this request for some menu items on Mardi Gras, as well as calling my own brands for off-menu classic cocktails like Old Fashioneds at Brass Magnolia, Fortune Teller, and Alchemy.  It's possible that they have more leeway at the craft cocktail bars in general.  

 

It's also possible that it has something to do with our finding the ~75c tip included with Cheers to be inadequate, or our frequently expressed verbal gratitude. 

Edited March 14, 2022 by Virga

[vwrestler171]

When I asked on Miracle in February, I was told if they upgrade, they use less liquor.  For margaritas I asked for Patron gold and was told it would only get 1 shot vs the 2 shots of El Jimador.  

[Elaine5715]

In the dining room they would not substitute Moscato for Brut in a mimosa but would bring me a glass of Moscato from the bar but the orange juice needed to come from the dining room stock, not the bar. 

[ray98]

I was always told a recipe drink was as-is but a call drink could be selected.  So, a Blue's Patron Margarita is what it is, however a vodka and OJ can be selected.

[aka-texas]

What you may have encountered was that particular bar did not have the brand you requested. Usually the Alchemy and Steakhouse bars carry a more extensive list of top shelf liquor. I drink Blanton's and it was only available at Alchemy and Steakhouse. And those bars had a limited number o bottles. when it was gone, it was gone.

[mz-s]

On 3/13/2022 at 10:21 PM, vwrestler171 said:

When I asked on Miracle in February, I was told if they upgrade, they use less liquor.  For margaritas I asked for Patron gold and was told it would only get 1 shot vs the 2 shots of El Jimador.  

 

I have been told this as well. 

[EarloftheSeas]

I've only run into this with frozen drinks.  When I started cruising in 2015, I ordered many pina coladas with Brugal Anejo without issues.

 

A few cruises later, I ran into the 'we can only make it by the recipe issue'.  The solution from a nice bartender: order a virgin frozen-what-ever-you-want and order a shot of any type of rum you want.

 

But no real issue with non-frozen drinks.

[Don Kehote]

The "Only by the Recipe" crowd is alive and well.  Sometimes. It kind of takes the shine off of cheers.

 

Recently, on Valor, I wanted a Pina Colada made with Kraken rum.  Server on deck 10 said, No, you can't have that, I'll make it with Bacardi.  I said fine, whatever, but was disappointed.

 

My wife thought that was a crock, so she walked down to Red Frog, and came back with a Pina Colada made with Kraken Rum...that had a floater on top of it.  

 

The aft lido bar, by the pool, those guys made great drinks too.  I learned that I do NOT like dirty gin martinis at all that day, but I damn well drank it because they hooked me up with it.

[pc_load_letter]

Meh, I got drunk with whatever they were pouring me. I am fine with it.

[Joe817]

6 minutes ago, pc_load_letter said:

Meh, I got drunk with whatever they were pouring me. I am fine with it.

Spoken like a true Carnival cruiser. 

[BubbaD123]

I ordered a lot of Patron margaritas recently on the Valor. Sometimes they were halfway decent, and sometimes I could barely drink them. I imagine it's some sort of mix in those plastic bottles, and not fresh lime juice? I'm not much of a drinker, and don't know the actual recipe, so I'm not even sure if getting a proper margarita is possible on a Carnival cruise.

 

I've had some damn good margaritas from bars, though, before. Any tips on what to request to have the bartenders on the Carnival ships make a proper one?

[crewsweeper]

12 hours ago, aka-texas said:

What you may have encountered was that particular bar did not have the brand you requested. Usually the Alchemy and Steakhouse bars carry a more extensive list of top shelf liquor. I drink Blanton's and it was only available at Alchemy and Steakhouse. And those bars had a limited number o bottles. when it was gone, it was gone.

I believe the Parched Pig on Horizon, Vista, and Mardi gras has Blantons as well.   But nit a lot of bottles.  Then again, Blanton's isn't "massed produced"

[Joebucks]

On 3/13/2022 at 10:21 PM, vwrestler171 said:

When I asked on Miracle in February, I was told if they upgrade, they use less liquor.  For margaritas I asked for Patron gold and was told it would only get 1 shot vs the 2 shots of El Jimador.  

 

What you really mean is they give you a half shot instead of a full shot.

[BubbaD123]

I want me a good margarita. 

[vwrestler171]

12 hours ago, Joebucks said:

 

What you really mean is they give you a half shot instead of a full shot.

No, I watched them pour and it was 2 shots with the El Jimador.