Coffee.

[smillerholmes]

19 minutes ago, EvanBedar said:

I've never associated Starbucks with "quality".  I used to, until I finally learned the secret of the true cup of perfect coffee.  Now Starbucks is to me exactly what 8 O'Clock, Maxwell House, and Folgers are.  They are the muts of coffee.  Huge bags of bean blends, 3, 4, or 5 different beans all poured in together just to create mass.  Then they sit in warehouses, already roasted, for weeks or months until they are sold off to the coffee distributors who then ship them on to grocery stores, cafeterias, yes even cruise ship companies.   Any place where they know their clientele doesn't know much about decent coffee and need to keep their coffee budget cheap.

You know why Starbucks' coffee beans always look so oily?  A lot of people think that is some indication of quality.  Which is ridiculous.

It's because their beans are over roasted which ruptures their interior shell protecting the coffee from the oxygen in the air, exposing the coffee and leaving it with that burned flavor as if it had been sitting on a hot plate with very little coffee in the pot.

I will try one of the specialty coffees at the International Cafe.  I will know immediately if they are using single source, RECENTLY roasted beans, or if they're using some commercial garbage.  If it is the latter they won't get another penny out of me.

 

Ahhh...a fellow coffee snob.  I will not claim my palate to be as sophisticated as yours, but you don't need it to agree with paragraph #1.

[New2cruise2022]

24 minutes ago, EvanBedar said:

I've never associated Starbucks with "quality".  I used to, until I finally learned the secret of the true cup of perfect coffee.  Now Starbucks is to me exactly what 8 O'Clock, Maxwell House, and Folgers are.  They are the muts of coffee.  Huge bags of bean blends, 3, 4, or 5 different beans all poured in together just to create mass.  Then they sit in warehouses, already roasted, for weeks or months until they are sold off to the coffee distributors who then ship them on to grocery stores, cafeterias, yes even cruise ship companies.   Any place where they know their clientele doesn't know much about decent coffee and need to keep their coffee budget cheap.

You know why Starbucks' coffee beans always look so oily?  A lot of people think that is some indication of quality.  Which is ridiculous.

It's because their beans are over roasted which ruptures their interior shell protecting the coffee from the oxygen in the air, exposing the coffee and leaving it with that burned flavor as if it had been sitting on a hot plate with very little coffee in the pot.

I will try one of the specialty coffees at the International Cafe.  I will know immediately if they are using single source, RECENTLY roasted beans, or if they're using some commercial garbage.  If it is the latter they won't get another penny out of me.

 

I rarely drink Starbucks — because the taste to me is ALWAYS that of over roasted beans. But, alas, I’m not too snobby about it. I like it here and there. I also like teas. I think every response is helpful. For me, I am just gauging expectations so I can assign the right values. My whole experience is based on total value — taste, convenience, availability, scenery, availability. Food and drink all have tastes and smells that are impacted by when and where you experience them, and who you experience them with. I’m going to guess that any Starbucks coffee I drink on board will not meet my tastes the same way my go to coffee at home does. But, I will be drinking it with a view of the ocean, the feel of the sun and wind on deck, or after dinner with family and friends I love being around. 
 

All of your experiences and opinions that you were kind enough to share will help my tastebuds and my wallet get the most value out of my personal experience. 
 

Thanks to ALL of you!

[New2cruise2022]

33 minutes ago, ziggyuk said:

 

I already answered that for you in post #13
It is also written here in the T&Cs:
https://www.ncl.com/uk/en/content/all-terms-and-conditions-starbucks-package

Sorry I missed this! Thanks so much!

[cruiseny4life]

10 minutes ago, New2cruise2022 said:

I rarely drink Starbucks — because the taste to me is ALWAYS that of over roasted beans. But, alas, I’m not too snobby about it. I like it here and there. I also like teas. I think every response is helpful. For me, I am just gauging expectations so I can assign the right values. My whole experience is based on total value — taste, convenience, availability, scenery, availability. Food and drink all have tastes and smells that are impacted by when and where you experience them, and who you experience them with. I’m going to guess that any Starbucks coffee I drink on board will not meet my tastes the same way my go to coffee at home does. But, I will be drinking it with a view of the ocean, the feel of the sun and wind on deck, or after dinner with family and friends I love being around. 
 

All of your experiences and opinions that you were kind enough to share will help my tastebuds and my wallet get the most value out of my personal experience. 
 

Thanks to ALL of you!

And that view of the ocean is all that matters! Ahh...I'll have a big ole cup of Starbucks with you if I can share the view...you'll find plenty of caffeine sources on the ship. They might not be exactly to everyone's taste, but I think you'll be happily caffeinated. 

 

This comes from a guy with an Espresso machine, coffee brewer, and single origin, non-oily beans in my kitchen. I have also been known to drink three day old coffee. Whatever keeps me awake works for me! 

[cruiseny4life]

22 minutes ago, smillerholmes said:

Ahhh...a fellow coffee snob.  I will not claim my palate to be as sophisticated as yours, but you don't need it to agree with paragraph #1.

I wish I had known! We could have traded tasting notes on the Getaway. 🙂

[ziggyuk]

11 minutes ago, New2cruise2022 said:

Sorry I missed this! Thanks so much!

 

I hope the link redirects as it's a UK regional link but they usually redirect per country.

[GeezerCouple]

10 minutes ago, New2cruise2022 said:

I rarely drink Starbucks — because the taste to me is ALWAYS that of over roasted beans. But, alas, I’m not too snobby about it. I like it here and there. I also like teas. I think every response is helpful. For me, I am just gauging expectations so I can assign the right values. My whole experience is based on total value — taste, convenience, availability, scenery, availability. Food and drink all have tastes and smells that are impacted by when and where you experience them, and who you experience them with. I’m going to guess that any Starbucks coffee I drink on board will not meet my tastes the same way my go to coffee at home does. But, I will be drinking it with a view of the ocean, the feel of the sun and wind on deck, or after dinner with family and friends I love being around. 
 

All of your experiences and opinions that you were kind enough to share will help my tastebuds and my wallet get the most value out of my personal experience. 
 

Thanks to ALL of you!

[emphases added]

 

Hmmm... it sounds like there's a chance you might actually "enjoy" the Starbucks on the ship MORE, given how you are describing things!

It's hard to beat a combination like that. 🙂 

 

Have a great time!

 

GC

[dbrown84]

If you happen to be a gambler and have the casino drink card, specialty coffee (as well as water, cans of soda, and energy drinks) are included.  You'd have to go to the casino bar to get it 

[New2cruise2022]

35 minutes ago, dbrown84 said:

If you happen to be a gambler and have the casino drink card, specialty coffee (as well as water, cans of soda, and energy drinks) are included.  You'd have to go to the casino bar to get it 

Tell me more about this drink card …

[Juncti]

Few things to consider, look at the cost of the Starbucks package and then look at the menu for the rough cost per drink. Figure out what your drinks per day would be to break even or come out ahead, then decide if the package is worth it. You might come out better just buying coffee's when you want them. 

 

It's the same math lots of us do for drink packages. Figure out your usage level and drink preferences, figure out the costs, then figure out what package works best for you.

 

Also if you drink a lot of alcohol perhaps the plus upgrade might be worth it when you add in that it also includes Starbucks. Last trip we upgraded to plus and got a bunch of Starbucks, but also a lot of high end alcohol throughout the trip to "get our money's worth" out of it.

 

Find what works for you and go for it. It's your trip to enjoy

[debenson0723]

The advice to price out how much Starbucks you will drink in a day is spot on.  I usually have one a day in the morning and the package would not be beneficial to me (I have read you need 3 to get close to breaking even). So I use my Starbucks app on my phone to purchase my one a day. This option is available on any ship that has a true Starbucks on it and not an Atrium Cafe that serves Starbucks products (such as the Jade). I have used my app on Sun, Getaway, Escape, Bliss, Encore and Prima. These ships all have one Starbucks, which is usually open from 6am to 8pm (maybe later on some ships) but the Prima has 2. The Joy also has 2 plus a cart that is sometimes open. If you don't want to use the app, you can use a Starbucks card.  You will earn 'stars' for your purchase but you cannot redeem them onboard.

[dbrown84]

4 hours ago, New2cruise2022 said:

Tell me more about this drink card …

If you book your cabin thru the casino, and/or have a playing history with the NCL casino, you get free drinks in the casino (and at the casino bar).  The entry level drink card allows you to get house drinks, beer,wine,sodas, juice, specialty coffee, and boxed waters.  The more you play, you earn a higher level of drink privileges.  So, a lot of casino customers use their casino drink card to fill in for drinks not available with the free at sea drink package.  Personally, I always decline the free at sea package and just use my casino drink card.  There are no gratuities associated with this card. I simply tip the bartender or server a buck or two for each drink.

[DCGuy64]

On 11/2/2022 at 12:37 PM, EvanBedar said:

You know why Starbucks' coffee beans always look so oily?  A lot of people think that is some indication of quality.  Which is ridiculous.

It's because their beans are over roasted which ruptures their interior shell protecting the coffee from the oxygen in the air, exposing the coffee and leaving it with that burned flavor as if it had been sitting on a hot plate with very little coffee in the pot.

Thank you for this. I hate their coffee for exactly the burned flavor you talked about. It's one of the reasons some people refer to them as "Charbucks." If others like it, then that's great. I just can't stand it. My dad has K-cups with Starbucks and when I visit him, I buy my own from Dunkin, Chock-full-o-nuts, etc... Now if NCL featured Italian coffee, I'd be totally onboard with that!

[pcakes122]

On 11/1/2022 at 8:47 PM, EvanBedar said:

I’ll be bringing a french press and a couple pounds of coarse grounds from my local roaster.  A favorite bean, Brazil Cerrado.  Actually just about any bean from Brazil has been great for the last couple years.   
 

With a french press (also referred to as a cafetière) all you need is 🫘 beans ground coarsely, hot 💦 water and your press.   
 

It is the absolute best a coffee can taste when used with a freshly roasted single source bean.  

Room service will deliver (for free in the am) a nice large thermal carafe of hot water that you can use to make your French press coffee. 

[bostonphil]

I love coffee and consider myself to be a coffee connoisseur. When cruising, I drink the complimentary coffee offered in the Garden Cafe.  I find it mediocre but I realize it is probably light or medium while I drink dark and bold at home. 

[Cruising Lynne]

On 11/2/2022 at 1:09 PM, New2cruise2022 said:

I rarely drink Starbucks — because the taste to me is ALWAYS that of over roasted beans. But, alas, I’m not too snobby about it. I like it here and there. I also like teas. I think every response is helpful. For me, I am just gauging expectations so I can assign the right values. My whole experience is based on total value — taste, convenience, availability, scenery, availability. Food and drink all have tastes and smells that are impacted by when and where you experience them, and who you experience them with. I’m going to guess that any Starbucks coffee I drink on board will not meet my tastes the same way my go to coffee at home does. But, I will be drinking it with a view of the ocean, the feel of the sun and wind on deck, or after dinner with family and friends I love being around. 
 

All of your experiences and opinions that you were kind enough to share will help my tastebuds and my wallet get the most value out of my personal experience. 
 

Thanks to ALL of you!

If you don't really like Starbucks, I would give the ship's complimentary coffee a try.

 

On all our recent cruises we have had regular balcony cabins and requested a coffee maker for our cabin. Hubby likes to have coffee at various times of day. Not the best coffee, but it works for us and is complimentary. They will replenish the supplies when they clean your room. I like milk in my coffee so I get some at the buffet to bring back to my room. At breakfast they have the small milk cartons out.

 

You can get  complimentary coffee all day at the buffet, and with any meal in the MDR. If you think you may want ice coffee, it might be easier to make if you bring a large travel cup to make it in. At lunch time you could get chocolate sauce from the ice cream station for an iced mocha. Sometimes I  make coffee in my room that I put in the room's fridge to use for iced coffee later on.  The buffet drink station also has hot chocolate packets, which my husband sometimes adds to his hot coffee. 

 

Also, you can get French press coffee at Le Bistro if you eat there. 

[New2cruise2022]

34 minutes ago, Cruising Lynne said:

If you don't really like Starbucks, I would give the ship's complimentary coffee a try.

 

On all our recent cruises we have had regular balcony cabins and requested a coffee maker for our cabin. Hubby likes to have coffee at various times of day. Not the best coffee, but it works for us and is complimentary. They will replenish the supplies when they clean your room. I like milk in my coffee so I get some at the buffet to bring back to my room. At breakfast they have the small milk cartons out.

 

You can get  complimentary coffee all day at the buffet, and with any meal in the MDR. If you think you may want ice coffee, it might be easier to make if you bring a large travel cup to make it in. At lunch time you could get chocolate sauce from the ice cream station for an iced mocha. Sometimes I  make coffee in my room that I put in the room's fridge to use for iced coffee later on.  The buffet drink station also has hot chocolate packets, which my husband sometimes adds to his hot coffee. 

 

Also, you can get French press coffee at Le Bistro if you eat there. 

I have FAS+ this trip. But I really might ask for a coffee maker. I love smell in my room. 

[zzdoug]

3 hours ago, New2cruise2022 said:

I have FAS+ this trip. But I really might ask for a coffee maker. I love smell in my room. 

Here's your hack

https://a.co/d/4xrUJNS

[PATRLR]

On 12/1/2022 at 9:47 PM, pcakes122 said:

Room service will deliver (for free in the am) a nice large thermal carafe of hot water that you can use to make your French press coffee. 

Breaking News:  Apparently free room service in the morning is being changed to a $4.95 charge (for our convenience, I'm sure).  I assume 20% gratuity added, so, $5.95 actually.

[cruiserbear55]

13 hours ago, Cruising Lynne said:

If you don't really like Starbucks, I would give the ship's complimentary coffee a try.

 

  Personally, I think the cabin coffee is about the best on the ship. Far better than the burnt tasting Starbucks or the French Press in LeBistro that'll grow hair in places you didn't know you had places!!

[BirdTravels]

On 11/2/2022 at 4:02 PM, New2cruise2022 said:

Tell me more about this drink card …

You have to be an invited guest or qualify on the cruise. Free house drinks come with a Pearl level status,,, which  requires $25,000 in slot play. 

[pcakes122]

10 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

You have to be an invited guest or qualify on the cruise. Free house drinks come with a Pearl level status,,, which  requires $25,000 in slot play. 

@New2cruise2022 Let me translate since it's clear you are new to cruising and that response was somewhat misleading (it's nowhere near as dramatic as that lol.) Yes, you do have to "cycle" $25K over a YEAR to earn a drink card, but you don't have to SPEND anywhere near that much of your own money.  Slot machines generally are programmed to give you about 95% of your money back so, based on that, you could earn a drink card (and free cruises and other benefits) by outlaying maybe $1,200 IN A YEAR.  It's gambling, so you could lose more or you could win big, but to earn the lowest level free drink card you don't have to spend a lot of money gambling.

 

Just remember when you are gambling to always use your room card or get a casino card from the casino manager so that your play is tracked! Good luck! 😊

[New2cruise2022]

7 hours ago, pcakes122 said:

@New2cruise2022 Let me translate since it's clear you are new to cruising and that response was somewhat misleading (it's nowhere near as dramatic as that lol.) Yes, you do have to "cycle" $25K over a YEAR to earn a drink card, but you don't have to SPEND anywhere near that much of your own money.  Slot machines generally are programmed to give you about 95% of your money back so, based on that, you could earn a drink card (and free cruises and other benefits) by outlaying maybe $1,200 IN A YEAR.  It's gambling, so you could lose more or you could win big, but to earn the lowest level free drink card you don't have to spend a lot of money gambling.

 

Just remember when you are gambling to always use your room card or get a casino card from the casino manager so that your play is tracked! Good luck! 😊

Thank you for taking the time to share. I’m still a few years from retiring so not sure I have the cruising or casino time to get there from year-to-year, but it is certainly more possible given your explanation of cycling. A few (knock on wood) rainy days at sea and I could definitely cycle through at the slots. Haha

[dbrown84]

10 hours ago, New2cruise2022 said:

Thank you for taking the time to share. I’m still a few years from retiring so not sure I have the cruising or casino time to get there from year-to-year, but it is certainly more possible given your explanation of cycling. A few (knock on wood) rainy days at sea and I could definitely cycle through at the slots. Haha

if you happen to gamble on land based casinos and receive a certificate or NCL discount thru that casino, you get a drink card no matter your standing with NCL.  you don't have to cycle thru any $$$ on NCL to earn the card