Sharing a soda card

[M&M]

Didn't you check into the policies of RCL before cruising? Their alcohol policy can be found on their website. You also sailed during spring break. RCL is very strict during spring break due to the increased number of college students on board.

 

We have found the drink prices to actually be cheaper in some cases than what we pay locally. The wine is marked up terribly so we rarely buy it.

 

As far as the rest of the charges you incurred, you chose to eat at the specialty restaurants and buy the soda card. You could have enjoyed the free beverages and the food in the WJ and dining room and not incurred any additional charges.

 

Hopefully you will find a cruiseline that meets your needs.

 

Hi reallyitsmema,

 

Yes we did and had no problem on our previous cruises (always at spring break...the only time in winter we can travel). Never a problem before. There were very few college students on this cruise. Judging by the cart full of alcohol they were returning on the last day, there were many others like us who were also caught off guard.

 

Actually the wine & dine card was reasonable ($143 for 5 bottles including gratuity) since we bought it before we went on the cruise. The drinks were high but we bought them anyway. No complaints about paying for Portofino's...it was amazing and recommend it to anybody. Johnny rockets...hmmm...$4 to walk in the door, (that's a nickel and dimer...so is the charge for anything to drink in there...except tap water).

 

You are right though..we could have said no to the many things we were approached to buy...and we did. We just got tired of saying it.

 

And speaking of rules...if they enforced the "no saving of lounge chairs" half as diligently as the alcohol rule there would be more happy campers around the pool. Check it out on your next cruise...at any given time, 50% of those chairs will have a towel on it for the day and no sign of who owns it. Greed is alive and well on the seven seas,

 

PS: One amusing thing we heard from a 10 year old as he was posing for one of the ships photographers on the pier "Hey Dad, Look! we don't have to pay for this". Believe me, there were many who felt like us.

 

Cheers

[beverland]

How strict are they on doing this?? $42 for a whole week is expensive...I don't drink that much coke!!! lol

Remember, this is your vacation, moody. Enjoy it.

 

$42 for a week for unlimited soft drinks is only $6 per day. :confused: Many people spend that much at Starbucks everyday....however, I am not one of them.

 

I just wish they had a $42 per DAY wine/beer card! :D Anyone else feel MY pain?

[Houndmom]

WOW no sharing of soda card and no smuggling alcohol. Someone needs an award ;).

 

I plead the 5th on this subject.

 

 

Hey...I should get an award too...(whine)... I don't share a soda card, I don't smuggle liquor, I participate in formal night...

 

AND

 

...I don't wear jeans in the dining room! :D

 

And now, I'm gonna duck and run. :rolleyes:

[nychelle02]

Don't share the drink card. It's on principle alone.

I never bought a drink card, I think it's not good to drink that much soda, esp when we are going to be eating all the delish food.

 

First cruise I craved the soda I was too cheap to buy. Last cruise I brought a 12 pack on board and no one wanted to drink it all week.

 

If you are like me you can see if you want to buy the soda card or not by doing simple math. Price of a soda al la carte vs. the price of the soda card, depending on how much soda you want to drink.

 

It's a math thing, how did that turn into a moral issue?

[JRsMom]

If you want a soda at dinner, do you have to have a soda card? I thought they were for times other than in the dinning room.

 

I'm too impatient to read all 26 pages to find the answer.:o

 

I don't believe in getting 2 sodas per shot. That is like double dipping in the salsa!!

[PhoenixCruiser]

If you want a soda at dinner, do you have to have a soda card? I thought they were for times other than in the dinning room.

 

I'm too impatient to read all 26 pages to find the answer.:o

 

I don't believe in getting 2 sodas per shot. That is like double dipping in the salsa!!

 

You can use the soda card in the dining room, if you don't have one you can purchase a can of soda for $2.01 (that includes the 15%).

 

Agree with you NO double dipping lol :eek: :D

 

###

[Dockman123]

We don't share our soda card(s) but we do break rules regarding booze.

 

Why do we... all of us... look for excuses? Well, I think it's because so many things onboard are ridiculously overpriced. I don't begrudge the cruise line a reasonable profit, but when they charge stupidly high prices, what do they expect? If I could buy a coke for only slightly more than it costs onshore, would I bother with the inconvenience and weight of trying to sneak a six-pack aboard? Hell, no!

 

But if I could find a way to hack into the ship's WiFi internet system I wouldn't hesitate to use it. Their prices for internet access are just abusive! So absurdly high as to be offensive as hell!

 

That's just one example of many overpriced things onboard. That's why we look for excuses to cheat.

 

I say: if they'd lower their prices to the same neighborhood as found ashore, I for one would buy more, drink more, take their shore excursions instead of sometimes booking my own, and take more cruises. The onboard prices, particularly for booze and internet, are not merely high, they're obscene!

 

Cruising is still the best vacation there is. And I still would not share my soda card. But I understand the anger that's used by others to rationalize it. Nobody likes being played for a sucker! :o

 

Maybe I'm wrong, though. We don't go out to bars much anymore and don't drink martinis when we do, but are you guys paying $9 to $11 for martinis when you go out? If so, then I'll have to raise my definition of "obscene". Or maybe you should shop around for a more reasonable bar?

 

Joe (of JoeAndMichael)

There are a couple of ways to look at it.

1.You can look at the cost of all the extas as being obscene and rediculous. You could also look at the cost of cruises being relatively cheap and the extras are your choice if you want to buy them or not. For the people that choose to buy the extras that helps keep the cruise prices down for everyone.

 

2. The option is to raise the price of the cruise and lower the costs on all the extras. The extras will be cheaper but the cost of the cruise will be more. You pay either way. The difference is by going with the cheaper cruise prices people have the option of purchasing the extras. They can do what they need to do to stay within their traveling budget.

[MosaicSun]

With the amount of cokes we actually drank, I paid for each and every coke. Therefore who I choose to share it with is my business. I am not trying to justify anything. Just stating my opinion. In 1 week, I spent almost $600 on that ship...ON ME ALONE (not including what I fed their casino)! I think I can share a few cokes with my partner. Tell me that you never bought a coke and shared it with anyone else.

 

 

I agree with you Fitz, people are getting their panties in a wad over a soda card. Your reasoning is not wrong, it's what everyone else would do, on a day to day basis. Or maybe they are all representatives with the RCI? For some reason, people adopt a 'holier than thou' complex when posting on the message boards. All in all, it's not like you said 'you run up to one bar, get a coke, come back with the card and then I'll go to the OTHER bar, get a coke and we'll do that all day!" Get a grip people!

[curley23]

We don't share our soda card(s) but we do break rules regarding booze.

 

Why do we... all of us... look for excuses? Well, I think it's because so many things onboard are ridiculously overpriced. I don't begrudge the cruise line a reasonable profit, but when they charge stupidly high prices, what do they expect? If I could buy a coke for only slightly more than it costs onshore, would I bother with the inconvenience and weight of trying to sneak a six-pack aboard? Hell, no!

 

But if I could find a way to hack into the ship's WiFi internet system I wouldn't hesitate to use it. Their prices for internet access are just abusive! So absurdly high as to be offensive as hell!

 

That's just one example of many overpriced things onboard. That's why we look for excuses to cheat.

 

I say: if they'd lower their prices to the same neighborhood as found ashore, I for one would buy more, drink more, take their shore excursions instead of sometimes booking my own, and take more cruises. The onboard prices, particularly for booze and internet, are not merely high, they're obscene!

 

Cruising is still the best vacation there is. And I still would not share my soda card. But I understand the anger that's used by others to rationalize it. Nobody likes being played for a sucker! :o

 

Maybe I'm wrong, though. We don't go out to bars much anymore and don't drink martinis when we do, but are you guys paying $9 to $11 for martinis when you go out? If so, then I'll have to raise my definition of "obscene". Or maybe you should shop around for a more reasonable bar?

Joe (of JoeAndMichael)

 

Obviously you must not get out of much at all. I travel to SF quite a bit for my business and most places $5 for a beer and $10 for a martini is pretty much the going rate. There are other things one might call obscene, but IMHO, it is not the booze prices on the ship.

[jodytutwiler]

Simple fix for this whole situation- put each individual's picture on their SeaPass Card, bartendars check pic and swipe card. Since the SeaPass card is tied to your account, if you purchased the Soda Card when you got on board, whenever your SP card was swiped for a soda it would be credited as free on your account. If no soda card, you pay by the individual drink just like an alcoholic beverage. One person+one account=not being able to give your card to someone else to use. It's not rocket science...:rolleyes:

 

Of course, then there is always still the ones who will use their card for themselves and still give it to someone else...foiled again! :mad:

[jodytutwiler]

Simple fix for this whole situation- put each individual's picture on their SeaPass Card, bartendars check pic and swipe card. Since the SeaPass card is tied to your account, if you purchased the Soda Card when you got on board, whenever your SP card was swiped for a soda it would be credited as free on your account. If no soda card, you pay by the individual drink just like an alcoholic beverage. One person+one account=not being able to give your card to someone else to use. It's not rocket science...:rolleyes:

 

Of course, then there is always still the ones who will use their card for themselves and still give it to someone else...foiled again! :mad:

[jodytutwiler]

Simple fix for this whole situation- put each individual's picture on their SeaPass Card, bartendars check pic and swipe card. Since the SeaPass card is tied to your account, if you purchased the Soda Card when you got on board, whenever your SP card was swiped for a soda it would be credited as free on your account. If no soda card, you pay by the individual drink just like an alcoholic beverage. One person+one account=not being able to give your card to someone else to use. It's not rocket science...:rolleyes:

 

Of course, then there is always still the ones who will use their card for themselves and still give it to someone else...foiled again! :mad:

[M&M]

Some say the increasing price of the fuel for these huge ships will no doubt one day make them a rare commodity and luxury only for the privileged. But the next time you fill up your car at the pumps, just keep smiling and be happy it doesn't run on soda:

--------------------------------------------------

Compared with Gasoline......

 

 

Diet Snapple 16 oz $1.29 . $10.32 per gallon

 

Lipton Ice Tea 16 oz $1.19 .$9.52 per gallon

 

Gatorade 20 oz $1.59 ... $10.17 per gallon

 

Ocean Spray 16 oz $1.25 $10.00 per gallon

 

Brake Fluid 12 oz $3.15 $33.60 per gallon

 

Vick's Nyquil 6 oz $8.35 . $178.13 per gallon

 

Pepto Bismol 4 oz $3.85 $123.20 per gallon

 

Whiteout 7 oz $1.39 ..... . $25.42 per gallon

 

Scope 1.5 oz $0.99 ...$84.48 per gallon

 

 

Evian water 9 oz $1.49......... $21.19 per gallon!

 

(Evian spelled backwards is Naive.)

 

and lastly:

 

A martini on a cruise ship: 4 oz. $10.00......about $260 per gallon :)

[jodytutwiler]

Simple fix for this whole situation- put each individual's picture on their SeaPass Card, bartendars check pic and swipe card. Since the SeaPass card is tied to your account, if you purchased the Soda Card when you got on board, whenever your SP card was swiped for a soda it would be credited as free on your account. If no soda card, you pay by the individual drink just like an alcoholic beverage. One person+one account=not being able to give your card to someone else to use. It's not rocket science...:rolleyes:

 

Of course, then there is always still the ones who will use their card for themselves and still give it to someone else...foiled again! :mad:

[jodytutwiler]

Apologies for the triple post, site is messing up with posts...

[Robinob]

This is an too much time and energy given to the discussion of soda. Do what ever you want.

[englishmum]

Please could someone spell out what drinks are included in a soda card?Soda to me is what you use as a mixer for alcoholic drinks or some people drink soda water on its own.Obviously in the States the meaning of the word soda is very different from the UK.I am about to cruise with my grandchildren for the first time and was wondering if I should purchase a soda card for them.They are 6 and 8 and drink things like lemonade,orangeade,coca cola,orange juice.When you are in the dining room are any of these type of drinks included with the meal or do you purchase them seperately?In between meal times is there anywhere for children to get included drinks or is this when a soda card is required?I am getting the impression from this thread that a soda card is good for purchasing coca cola only.Am I right?

[tjh2a]

Didn't you check into the policies of RCL before cruising? Their alcohol policy can be found on their website. You also sailed during spring break. RCL is very strict during spring break due to the increased number of college students on board.

 

We have found the drink prices to actually be cheaper in some cases than what we pay locally. The wine is marked up terribly so we rarely buy it.

 

As far as the rest of the charges you incurred, you chose to eat at the specialty restaurants and buy the soda card. You could have enjoyed the free beverages and the food in the WJ and dining room and not incurred any additional charges.

 

Hopefully you will find a cruiseline that meets your needs.

 

Lay-off M&M, I find their comments somewhat true, they do nickle and dime you, period.

 

So your telling me that when you are by the pool and want something to drink your have 4 options, buy an over-priced coke + 15%, an over priced bar drink (which I dont mind having a few on the cruise), or some gross ship water. OR get out of your relaxing and have to get up and go to the WJ to get a free drink. Kind of sounds like what they are preaching.

 

We all know that it is wrong, so why do those people have to way in. Moral or not, people are on a budget when they go on a cruise. $48 dollars to some people is alot of money. Yes, if you factor that into the total cost of everything - travel, excursions, Johnny Rockets - it is not a big percentage, but it is a percentage.

[tjh2a]

Hey...I should get an award too...(whine)... I don't share a soda card, I don't smuggle liquor, I participate in formal night...

 

AND

 

...I don't wear jeans in the dining room! :D

 

And now, I'm gonna duck and run. :rolleyes:

 

And guess what you receive.

[tjh2a]

Simple fix for this whole situation- put each individual's picture on their SeaPass Card, bartendars check pic and swipe card. Since the SeaPass card is tied to your account, if you purchased the Soda Card when you got on board, whenever your SP card was swiped for a soda it would be credited as free on your account. If no soda card, you pay by the individual drink just like an alcoholic beverage. One person+one account=not being able to give your card to someone else to use. It's not rocket science...:rolleyes:

 

Of course, then there is always still the ones who will use their card for themselves and still give it to someone else...foiled again! :mad:

 

You know how much longer that will add to the process actually have them swipe it, instead of here is my card with sticker, fill it up.

 

They could do the picture thing, but that only means that the card holder will have to get it for you. Doesnt really solve the problem. It just makes it alittle more difficult, there will always be a way around it.

[Cruz Doggie Gal]

They probably have it built into the price already. My husband gets one every cruise and he says the fountain coke is pretty watered down. I sneak a sip once in awhile but I don't do caffeine or sugar, so it doesn't pay for me to get one.

[Sugar*Magnolia]

englishmum, soda in the states is Coca- Cola, Sprite and Diet Coke as well (well on board that is the soda you can get). Newly added is Shirley Temples- while cruising my kids drink way too many of them, so I can attest they're recently serving them when you show your sea pass card with your SODA STICKER on it. (if not...oops, it is b/c the bartenders know my kids but I doubt that,lol)

 

As far as lemonade and iced tea, your grand children can get them any time of day in the windjammer and at that age I wouldnt get them a soda-card (thats my personal opinion for that age).

 

As for cruising on a budget as someone mentioned- I budget all year on certain things so I dont have to nickel and dime my own cruise. Im sure many cant afford luxuries and cant spend the extra on the simple things, but it is just what 'we' do so we wouldnt have to unecessarily fall into having to think about what Im spending on a diet coke (I really need to alternate Diet Coke with my $10.00 a Pop Martini's! :p ).

 

(On a side note, since this thread has been resurrected I can not wait to go my June cruise on Explorer just to ask my bar tender buddies if this is an issue for them. Just a matter of curiousity here. No way to know unless you hear it from the horses mouth....Good to have friends on board!! lol)

[gerif]

So your telling me that when you are by the pool and want something to drink your have 4 options, buy an over-priced coke + 15%, an over priced bar drink (which I dont mind having a few on the cruise), or some gross ship water. OR get out of your relaxing and have to get up and go to the WJ to get a free drink. Kind of sounds like what they are preaching.

 

We bring sports bottles (in addition to Diet Pepsi and some bottled water). Fill them up in the Windjammer with beverage of choice (lemonade, iced tea, juice) and ice and take these to the pool or on excursions. No problem, no cost.

[amybear912]

Lay-off M&M, I find their comments somewhat true, they do nickle and dime you, period.

 

So your telling me that when you are by the pool and want something to drink your have 4 options, buy an over-priced coke + 15%, an over priced bar drink (which I dont mind having a few on the cruise), or some gross ship water. OR get out of your relaxing and have to get up and go to the WJ to get a free drink. Kind of sounds like what they are preaching.

 

We all know that it is wrong, so why do those people have to way in. Moral or not, people are on a budget when they go on a cruise. $48 dollars to some people is alot of money. Yes, if you factor that into the total cost of everything - travel, excursions, Johnny Rockets - it is not a big percentage, but it is a percentage.

 

It's not just cruise ships that upcharge drinks... been to Disney World lately, or any amusement park for that matter??? This is the cost of traveling ...

 

I challenge you to spend less at Disney World than you would for the same length of time on a cruiseship...

 

The problem here is that people don't do their research with regards to what they are paying for... take a moment to familiarize yourself with all that your cruise includes... now compare that to any other vacation and cruising is still a great value for the money... But you can't come home complaining about the cost of extras if you didn't bother to find out beforehand what is included and what is not... A cruise is NOT all-inclusive, though it comes close...

 

I don't get this "tired of saying 'no'" to all the extras or people claiming that they are constantly approached onboard to buy things... That's capitalism folks! I have never felt overly bombarded, pressured, or otherwise to spend more money onboard than I was already prepared to spend... I'm either better at avoiding it than most people are OR well, I don't have kids so that means I"m not constantly getting hit with children asking me for this and that...

 

Personally, I don't drink any type of soda so it isn't worth it to me to purchase one... I sure would hate, however, to be paying more to cruise to supplement everyone else's soda consumption... just as some would hate to be paying more to supplement my alcohol consumption... DH does drink soda, but not enough to justify purchasing the card... so we don't... when he wants a soda he just goes and gets one and if I wanted a sip, I certainly wouldn't feel guilty or morally inept about having a sip from his drink...

 

Do I think they care if someone buys a soda on their card and then gives it to someone else??? Hell no! Do I think they pay attention??? Probably not, unless they notice someone who is being particularly abusive of the program... I think those people are quite rare and their scheme is easy to spot... and when they spot such a person, I am sure they deal with it appropriately...

 

The question is... how many of you are paying attention to what your fellow passenger is doing with their soda card??? You care NOW, on these boards, but let's face it, if you're paying attention onboard you A.)wouldn't have the balls to call someone out on such behavior and B.)Reeeealllly need to find a better way to enjoy your vacation...

 

I think part of the reason for the cost is to keep the soda consumption in check... If it were free, you would see half-full glasses of soda laying around, people grabbing a soda for just a few sips and then leaving it... By paying for it, you are forced to decide just how badly you need that soda AND chances are you are drinking the whole thing so it doesn't go to waste...

 

The ship's water, BTW, it NOT nasty... it's better than your tap water at home!

[ivydivy123]

Hi guys... I was wondering what the soda card does and does not cover. I don't drink a lot of pop, but I do drink a lot of juice.