Bar Setup

[Hblanton]

I know this has been discussed before, but I remain a tad confused and am wondering if anyone who has sailed this year can provide a real answer.

 

My understanding was that, having gone "inclusive" the in-room bar setup was a thing of the past. I just got my dox for the April 30th sailing, and it says that regular cabins get a 2 bottle set-up and butler cabins get a 4 bottle one.

 

I mean, not that we need it - plenty of bars and in-room drinking will probably be limited, but I am curious what the actual situation is. Also, my cruise is actually 2 separate cruises string together (FLL to Funchal and the Funchal on to BCL) so the ancillary question is do they double the setup?

 

8 bottles of booze...woo hoo! Thats about what the wife and I drink in a year.

 

HLY

[Jymi-B]

Your stewardess will ask you what you want on the firstg day so you can order only one bottle if you want. After that they don't automatically restock, you ask when you want more.

[dougburns]

Our experience so far this year has been that Cat B and above get the 4 bottle setup, but C thru H don't get it and aren't asked what they want. However, all you have to do is ask your stewardess for a bottle and she'll bring it. We were on the first leg of the Voyager WC in Jan/Feb.

[BILLP1]

We just came off the Mariner and were in CAT F. We never asked for anything but Beer which we always had eneough of.

 

Between wine at lunch, drinks at the pool bar, drinks in the lounges ( which were always crowded ) More wine at dinner , drinks at the shows and casino , we never asked for a bottle for our room. I think we were ready for the friends of Bill W by the time the cruise was over...

 

We will be back for another round next April...

[Nevian]

Here Here BillP1,

Back from PG in a balcony 716. Mixers and soft drinks and beer in fridge at embarkation. Renewed daily and I am sure we could have asked for a bottle if required. Bars were free flowing and admit to worst hangover in years.

Lack of free alcohol is not the problem at all!

[Jim B]

We were on the Mariner 01/09/07 in cabin 1071.

We were upgraded to that.

As we opened our cabin door our stewardess was right there to meet us.

She should us a large sheet of paper showing what we could order for our in cabin bar set up. We decided on Grey Goose and Canadian Club. (could of had Crown Royal but I prefer the CC taste). I asked to have the beer in the refrig switched to Bud Light as I really don't like heavy beers any more.

Really was nothing different from or previous cruises aboard Regent/Radisson

except it was really nice to see the lounges being used for cocktail hour. Never saw any abuse of the all inclusive.

[MamaQuack]

We just sailed on March 30. We had #988 & #986, One was butler one was not. Did not matter at all. You can ask daily for whatever you want. We do not drink whiskey but enjoy wine and often had other friends and family members join us in the cabins for a drink. There was plenty of beer and soft drinks too - our son likes root beer which was a little harder to find - but Eduardo at the pool bar was able to order it for him. Our neighbors asked for and received their Crown Royal regularly.

[BILLP1]

My wife drinks Tab (ugh) and we E Mailed customer relations about six weeks before the cruise requesting some for the room. It was there when we arrived in our room and was always replaced as she used it.. Now that is good service...

[Travelcat2]

I read these boards almost daily and did not expect any alcohol set-up in our "D" cabin. However, when we arrived, there was a bottle of Grey Goose (this is what we drank on our previous cruise -- in a Penthouse suite). Also delivered were our favorite snacks (pretzels, potato chips and peanuts).

 

We do not typically drink in our suite, but returned back mid-afternoon from a cruise and ordered food from room service. When we asked for two alcohohlic beverages we were advised that they don't deliver drinks to the rooms. Go figure. . . we ended up eating our sandwiches and heading towards the bar. In case event, we had a great time!

[MamaQuack]

Wow, that is confusing - maybe they thought you were a minor???? Room service would not bring us wine but our butler would bring all we wanted and always some kind of smoothie or milkshake surprise for our kid.

 

Tab? Gosh I thought I was the only one . . . . had to break my habit because it is so hard to find.

[OrpingtonT]

I agree. It has become confusing. Earlier posters had said that they had ordered various alcoholic drinks from room service ( I am talking non-butler suites here) and were always brought their drinks but not always in the measures expected.

 

Now we have two posters saying that room service do not bring alcohol and one saying a bar-set up was offered. There must be a standard procedure and I wonder what it is.

 

My wife and I enjoy a gin and tonic before dinner in our suite and I like to mix our own. Nothing remarkable about that and I hope it is practicable.

[kvisf]

It seems that Regent's communication of how the all-inclusive policy for wine and spirits works in practice is a bit of a work in progress. I can imagine various reasons why the room service department would rather not be ferrying individual orders for cocktails or glasses of wine to the suites: too demanding on staff time, detours from galley to bar to pick up the beverages, etc. On the other hand, if one is ordering dinner from the main dining room menu during dinner hours, it's hard to imagine that they would decline to provide wine to accompany the meal. The only written description of their policy that I have seen says that select wines and spirits are complimentary "throughout the ship." I take that to mean in your suite, too, and not just in the restaurants and lounges. It seems to me that what is happening in practice is this: if you prefer to have a cocktail or glasss of wine in your suite, just let your stewardess know and a bottle(s) will be provided -- cheaper for Regent in the long run than having room service shuttle back and forth, and consistent with the general idea of "throughout the ship." In the case of repeat guests (of whom there are so many posting here), it may also be that they have kept records of preferences for in-suite bar setup from the prior system and are offering them as an enhanced amenity for loyal customers. We will be on the April 27 Panama Canal cruise (our second with Regent) with friends who have taken several more Regent/Radisson cruises, so we may have a chance to get a better idea of how it works, and will report here any illuminating insights.

[Ste. Michelle]

We were on the Mariner 3/13-3/23. We had no trouble having alcohol delivered to the room. (We were in a non-butler suite.)

[Trouper 75]

We are also on the 4/27 Panama Canal trip. I am not sure if we have 'taleked' before but we are always interested in meeting CC'ers for a chat before dinner. Are you interested? Babs & Jim # 771

[Cruisedreamer1]

We were on deck 8 and upon request, the stewardess brought us the liquior list for us to choose 2 bottles of liquior. I also spoke to another passenger who was never offered this list and she was on the same level as we were so you have to ask for it. Also, we enjoyed a wonderful glass of zihfandel at lunch in the Compass Rose (recommended by the wine steward when they did not have a barborossa. I guess I must have raved a lot about it and the steward sent a bottle to our room for our enjoyment!!! The mixed drinks in general at the bars were generous and quickly served.:)

[Cruisedreamer1]

We bought rum on St Martin that was well priced compared to US prices(Appleton's 12 year old rum for $11.99 vs $29).

[HomeLover]

That is the reason I have been spoiled by Regent. I, too, am a TAB drinker. There are actually a lot of us out there. Obviously, or they would have stopped making it when Diet coke came out. You might ask your local grocery store if they can order serveral cases at a time for you if you have a problem finding it.

[Jim B]

Have you noticed that on some RSSC cruises you receive Coke Lite

instead of Diet Coke? DW noticed there is a slight difference.

Reading the side of the can also has slight difference.

[NJBelle]

Hi, it likely depends on where they got thier provisions. Coke Lite is what they call it in Europe (and probably other places as well) and Diet Coke in what we have in the US. It is essentially the same - although I do taste a slight difference (or think I do anyway!).

 

NJBelle

[JoAnne B]

When I arrived in my non-butler cabin, my usual bottle of Absolute and a bottle of white wine were waiting for me. No paper listing choices, although I could have exchanged one (or asked for more) without difficulty. Other cruisers new to Regent did not seem to have liquor in their rooms. Not really sure what the policy is.

 

The bars have the usual far reaceaching drink list, but without prices. I had no trouble getting white port in the Galileo after dinner last night and empty glasses were promptly replaced...which led to a very sound sleep on the first night at sea.

 

Most people seem to feel positively about the change. It is great not to have to worry about signing the chits, especially when sitting in groups. I noticed a few more glasses of wine on the tables at lunch, but no huge change. But somehow it seemed to me to contribute to a more relaxed atmosphere.

 

JoAnne B.

Houston

[alanhotatl]

How do you go about emailing Customer Relations with special requests? I am on the Navigator from Athens to Monte Carlo in May and I would love to request some of the new pear-flavored vodkas from Grey Goose and Absolut. Thanks!

[Cruisedreamer1]

We were on the Easter sailing on the Mariner and had to ask for the alcohol list. A co passenger never asked for the list and never received any alcohol. While on the PG, we asked for scotch and a red wine thinking we would receive a french one but alas received a CA one. The hard booze is a better deal for you if you plan to carry it home like we did on the Mariner.

 

Take some bubble wrap and a the extra large zip lock bags and it will arrive home safely. Just remember the additional weight. NO carry on allowed.

 

While lunching on the Mariner I asked for a type of red wine which the wine stward did not have and he recommended a Zih which was wonderful. When I raved about it, he sent an unopened bottle to our suite with a note to have a wonderful afternoon!

 

The bars are definely used now since the all inclusive is on going. It's nice place to meet people.

[HENKNM]

What Choices Do They Have For Non Drinkers? Any Non Alcholic Beers? Or Virgin Mix Drinks? Were On The PG Jan 08

[Wendy The Wanderer]

They'll make you any kind of virgin mixed drink you like--virgin pina colladas, various umbrella drinks. Don't know about the alcohol-free beer. If you request it long enough in advance, they can probably have some ready for you--talk to your TA about that asap.

[Ste. Michelle]

We book directly through Regent. On our recent Voyager cruise, when I called to make our final payment, I simply asked if we could have a bottle if white wine, instead of champagne when we embarked. When we got to our room, a bottle of California chardonnay, in ADDITION to champagne, was there. So, if you booked through a TA, have him/her make a request. If you booked throught Regent, simply call them.