Bar Tab for a couple, easy or hard to use up?

[cantgetin]

5 hours ago, CruisinShips said:

So you can go to any bar and buy a new, unopened bottle of say Tito’s without a problem?

I can't address that specific product.  You can buy a new, unopened bottle of wine and many liquors.  If purchased from a bar, it goes on your bar tab.  If purchased from the duty free shop, it is charged to "loot."  If they don't have the product you want a one bar, check at another.  Each bar carries different stuff.

[jon81uk]

6 hours ago, CruisinShips said:

So you can go to any bar and buy a new, unopened bottle of say Tito’s without a problem?

 Not certain on Tito’s but on our last trip there was a group drinking Absolut by the bottle at the pool.

[neverendingcruising]

Some of the venues actually have a bottle service menu and in our experience Sip would sell you anything they had by the bottle. They were actually prepared for it on the last night of the voyage because they said it was quite common for people to burn through their bar tab on the last night. 

[schildiams]

Can you use the bar tab for pairings at Test Kitchen?

[CruisingWalter]

On 2/7/2023 at 5:52 PM, Ekposh said:

Anyone done Richards Rooftop Happy Hour? Do they have sailaway party and am I right in thinking it's free champagne every night between certain hours? I'll look to maximise that. 

 

On a side note, I was concerned to read 5 drinks is binge drinking 🙂

 

It's not the best champagne. We went to the champagne happy hour one night, but it wasn't really worth it so we skipped it the rest of the cruise. 

[CruisingWalter]

50 minutes ago, cantgetin said:

I can't address that specific product.  You can buy a new, unopened bottle of wine and many liquors.  If purchased from a bar, it goes on your bar tab.  If purchased from the duty free shop, it is charged to "loot."  If they don't have the product you want a one bar, check at another.  Each bar carries different stuff.

 

This is the advice I give to all my friends who go on VV and may have extra bar tab on the last night. Just buy bottles to take home from the bar. 

[CruisingWalter]

22 minutes ago, schildiams said:

Can you use the bar tab for pairings at Test Kitchen?

 

I don't think so, that's a separate purchase to my knowledge. But I cannot find any specifics on the VV website regarding the Bar Tab and pairings. 

[jon81uk]

43 minutes ago, schildiams said:

Can you use the bar tab for pairings at Test Kitchen?

Yes you can. We did it last trip and it came out of the bar tab just fine. 
 

you cannot use bar tab for the events like Grog Walk, Shot for Shot etc. 

But the drinks with dinner are fine. 
I think the bottomless brunch drinks at The Wake and Razzle Dazzle come from bar tab too.

[FFMilesJunkie]

2 hours ago, CruisingWalter said:

 

It's not the best champagne. We went to the champagne happy hour one night, but it wasn't really worth it so we skipped it the rest of the cruise. 

 

You must have high standards for champagne, because I think most consider Moet & Chandon Imperial to be pretty good champagne and a nice benefit for Rock Stars.  It's hard to find it under $50 per bottle at a wine shop.  They sell it on board close to $100 per bottle. 

[_tacocat_]

2 hours ago, schildiams said:

Can you use the bar tab for pairings at Test Kitchen?

yes, you can.  a good rule of thumb is if you buy it at a bar or restaurant, you can use bar tab.  if it's booked online (like grog walk) or bought in a store, you can't.

[jon81uk]

26 minutes ago, FFMilesJunkie said:

 

You must have high standards for champagne, because I think most consider Moet & Chandon Imperial to be pretty good champagne and a nice benefit for Rock Stars.  It's hard to find it under $50 per bottle at a wine shop.  They sell it on board close to $100 per bottle. 

I didn’t care for the Moet either. Personally I found the slighter sweeter cheap sparkling rose served at the main sail away more to my tastes. 
 

For champagne I don’t think I’ve got expensive tastes or high standards, I just don’t like Moet so much!

[_tacocat_]

1 hour ago, jon81uk said:

For champagne I don’t think I’ve got expensive tastes or high standards, I just don’t like Moet so much!

i think i've just had too much moet in all my sailings. the last few, i've dreaded champagne hour haha then i realized you can just get mimosa/other mixers for your champagne!

[scubagal44]

15 minutes ago, _tacocat_ said:

i think i've just had too much moet in all my sailings. the last few, i've dreaded champagne hour haha then i realized you can just get mimosa/other mixers for your champagne!

 

Blasphemy!!  I guess we can't be friends. 🤣🤣  In my world, the more champagne the better.  😁🥂

 

On the topic of Moet, yes, it is considered a very good champagne.  Whether it's to everyone's particular taste is a separate topic, as wine preferences are extremely subjective.  Personally, I prefer bone dry champagne/sparkling/prosecco/cava, the drier the better, so I do enjoy Moet.  

[jcarter4551]

Wife and I had 700 bar tab. 300 each plus the bonus. We owed 100 at end of trip. But, I was drinking Blantons OFs (18 each - yea insanely good deal) and I drink 15-20/day to her 5-10. we hit club hard and drink at pool. 5 night cruise btw.

 

For perspective, we are doing RC on Saturday with kids for 7 nights and spent 1250/week on beverage package. There will be no blantons. 
 

I would say if y’all average 15/day combined, you will easily hit 600-700. 
 

 

[JCLG]

8 hours ago, CruisingWalter said:

 

I don't think so, that's a separate purchase to my knowledge. 

8 hours ago, schildiams said:

Can you use the bar tab for pairings at Test Kitchen?

On my last voyage the pairings came out of my bar tab! We did test kitchen.

[cantgetin]

17 hours ago, CruisinShips said:

So you can go to any bar and buy a new, unopened bottle of say Tito’s without a problem?

I can't address that specific product.  You can buy a new, unopened bottle of wine and many liquors.  If purchased from a bar, it goes on your bar tab.  If purchased from the duty free shop, it is charged to "loot."  If they don't have the product you want a one bar, check at another.  Each bar carries different stuff.

My experience is that anything purchased from a bar or in a restaurant is charged to the bar tab.  This includes Test Kitchen pairings.  Activities that involve alcohol but are not part of a meal being served (like Grog Walk) are charged to loot.

 

Edited March 17, 2023 by cantgetin

[CruisingWalter]

17 hours ago, FFMilesJunkie said:

 

You must have high standards for champagne, because I think most consider Moet & Chandon Imperial to be pretty good champagne and a nice benefit for Rock Stars.  It's hard to find it under $50 per bottle at a wine shop.  They sell it on board close to $100 per bottle. 

 

If that's what they are actually serving during every single night for 90 minutes during the free happy hour, it was ok. Not a champagne I would order, but I'm rather surprised VV would spend that much on a free happy hour each evening. Even for the Rock Star guests. 

[jon81uk]

1 hour ago, CruisingWalter said:

 

If that's what they are actually serving during every single night for 90 minutes during the free happy hour, it was ok. Not a champagne I would order, but I'm rather surprised VV would spend that much on a free happy hour each evening. Even for the Rock Star guests. 

they have a partnership with Moet, I expect they get a very very good price in order to give it away each afternoon.

[curlstravel]

If you can’t drink wine or champagne at happy hour because of allergies, can you get a vodka drink instead?

[cantgetin]

1 hour ago, curlstravel said:

If you can’t drink wine or champagne at happy hour because of allergies, can you get a vodka drink instead?

The nightly happy hour is only for suites....not sure about the substitutions available if any.  

[Jilennon]

On 3/16/2023 at 8:58 PM, jcarter4551 said:

Wife and I had 700 bar tab. 300 each plus the bonus. We owed 100 at end of trip. But, I was drinking Blantons OFs (18 each - yea insanely good deal) and I drink 15-20/day to her 5-10. we hit club hard and drink at pool. 5 night cruise btw.

 

For perspective, we are doing RC on Saturday with kids for 7 nights and spent 1250/week on beverage package. There will be no blantons. 
 

I would say if y’all average 15/day combined, you will easily hit 600-700. 
 

 

 

Somehow this math doesn't work, or I'm reading it wrong.

 

If you averaged as a couple, 20 drinks a day @$18 a drink, the price per day should have been $360 and $1800 for 5 nights.  How was it only $800 for 5 night trip?    

[jcarter4551]

On 4/4/2023 at 9:27 PM, Jilennon said:

 

Somehow this math doesn't work, or I'm reading it wrong.

 

If you averaged as a couple, 20 drinks a day @$18 a drink, the price per day should have been $360 and $1800 for 5 nights.  How was it only $800 for 5 night trip?    

The numbers fluctuate because I don't drink bourbon all day or I would be dead. Most of my drinks at pool are coronas and margaritas so around 9-10 dollars a drink.

I also get casino comps and free drinks in casino - Just came off a 4 night cruise and total bar tab was 821 dollars for 2 people. I copied and pasted the below from our folio as evidence. 

Note: contrary to what has been reported, if I went to casino bar, they comp'd the drinks. I didn't have to be playing.

 

Total Debit 821.10

 

05-Apr-2023 Loot Bar Tab $300 -300.00

05-Apr-2023 Loot Bar Tab Sailor Loot $100 (Promotional) -100.00
05-Apr-2023 Loot Bar Tab Sailor Loot $100 (Promotional) -100.00
08-Apr-2023 Settlement Casino Complimentary Amenities -291.10

08-Apr-2023 Settlement Visa (***************) -30.00

[Travel-and-See]

On 3/16/2023 at 12:48 PM, schildiams said:

Can you use the bar tab for pairings at Test Kitchen?

Yes, and I highly recommend it. I did the zero proof pairings and thought that it added SO much to the experience. On a future cruise I'm going to see if I can get the zero proof cocktails from the bar even when I'm not dining.  (I know Pink Agave and Extra Virgin have a bar where you can order drinks). 

 

The couple next to me did the wine pairings so I got to hear about them as well - this is definitely a great use of that bar tab! 

[Xbox2428]

I've seen in one of the recent videos that prices for Test Kitchen pairing went up from 25/35 to 30/40 now, shame to hear.

 

Anyone knows if they increased drinks prices across the ship? We based our calculations on the prices we found online, but if everything got more expensive we may need another Bar Tab. 

[rebeccac]

I didn't really look at the prices too closely, but I can say that most of DH's cocktails were between $10 and $13 on our 4/9 cruise.