Does the soda package still include juice?

[Andrew9999]

I have read one post which states that the soda package no longer includes juices. It says that this is a recent change (mid-June 2007). I have emailed RCCL to ask them to confirm but I have had no reply after 6 days.

 

Can any recent cruisers please confirm whether the soda package still includes juices? I realise the web site says it does but a recent post states otherwise.

 

If the poster in the thread which says juices are not included reads this, please don't be offended - I am just checking! :)

 

I'm on Jewel on 5 August with 2 children who need to know the answer to this question!

 

Many thanks.

 

Andrew.

[sadie8]

We sailed on the Adventure on July 1, 2007 and juice was included in the soda package.

[reallyitsmema]

We sailed on the Mariner in June and when we purchased the soda stickers I asked if it included juice. The bartender in the WJ said, no it doesn't they just changed that. However, all week my son was able to get juice with his sticker though he stayed away from that bartender in the WJ.

[Andrew9999]

Thanks for the replies.

 

Still seems a bit inconclusive so I suppose I will just have to be patient and see what happens when we board Jewel...unless anyone else can help???

[Andrew9999]

I have finally received a reply from RCCL and I thought I would post it for the benefit of others:

 

Dear ,

 

Thank you for your email.

 

I can confirm that fruit juices are included in the price of the fountain soda package.

 

 

Thank you for choosing Royal Caribbean International.

 

Heather Shears

Customer Service Representative

[Murphy]

My experience has been that it includes orange, pineapple, apple and cranberry juice, but NOT tomato juice. (Yes, this was way back in the good old days when you were allowed a bottle of liquor in your cabin and I wanted to add my vodka to some tomato juice and was told not available!) :p

[Havana Daydreamin]

Apparently, we sailed on the wrong ship last week in our Rhapsody cruise.

 

My daughter purchased a card. A coke sticker was placed upon it. We were told by wait staff, bar staff, agents at the pursers desk that this was for fountain COKE ONLY. It did not include juices. It did not include sprite or 7 up. Coke or diet coke ONLY.

 

Be sure to confirm this before you purchase otherwise, I feel you may be disappointed. The person selling the card did not indicate any of this. Upon questioning it, I was handed more than once a little card telling you that it was for fountain coke only.

 

Was a bit disappointed in it, but we kept it anyway. Would I recommend purchasing it on this basis???...ONLY if you have to have alot of soda.

 

Good luck and hope your ship is as the others have been saying.

[JerseyGem]

Andrew- If you have young kids who need (or want) real juice, bring your own. On RCCL (and some other lines like NCL), the juice is not really all juice; it's juice-flavored fruit punch (that is, loads of sugar, water, dye, etc and some of the original juice). This includes the so-called orange juice at breakfast that is an orange-flavored blend of chemicals, sugars, etc with very little orange. I asked to see the original containers (after DD almost spit out the OJ on the first AM). The OJ, apple, grapefruit and cranberry all contained only a small percentage of the original fruit. You will hear people rave about how wonderfully sweet the OJ tastes when you're out at sea (it's not the sea air, though).

 

I didn't check the pineapple or tomato (and the Bloody Mary's are delicious!) RCCL does let you bring juice- I suggest the juice boxes if you have a small child or a larger container if you have a frig in your cabin (we always bring a cooler if we don't have a frig).

[dad son team]

Apparently, we sailed on the wrong ship last week in our Rhapsody cruise.

 

My daughter purchased a card. A coke sticker was placed upon it. We were told by wait staff, bar staff, agents at the pursers desk that this was for fountain COKE ONLY. It did not include juices. It did not include sprite or 7 up. Coke or diet coke ONLY.

 

Be sure to confirm this before you purchase otherwise, I feel you may be disappointed. The person selling the card did not indicate any of this. Upon questioning it, I was handed more than once a little card telling you that it was for fountain coke only.

 

Was a bit disappointed in it, but we kept it anyway. Would I recommend purchasing it on this basis???...ONLY if you have to have alot of soda.

 

Good luck and hope your ship is as the others have been saying.

 

You really were on the wrong ship. My son got his sticker on our 7/6 Explorer sailing and got any soda he wanted. Shirley Temples and Cherry Coke included. He even got a ginger ale 1 night.

[Havana Daydreamin]

You really were on the wrong ship. My son got his sticker on our 7/6 Explorer sailing and got any soda he wanted. Shirley Temples and Cherry Coke included. He even got a ginger ale 1 night.

 

I am envious. I wonder if it is something specific to Rhapsody or some sort of new policy. Glad you got what was usually expected!!

[TDOTCRUISR]

I was on the July 1/07 Mariner sailing & was able to order cranberry juice in the dining room every night, no charge.

[montgomeryfamily]

Andrew, what email address did you use to contact Royal Caribbean in regard to this question? Thanks.

[time4agetaway]

We have 2 small children and are bringing juice boxes for port. My best friend said that on her cruise last year (Empress), apple juice was always available in the Windjammer. The soda/juice card doesn't seem to cover apple juice. I don't know many kids who'll drink cranberry juice.

 

We are bringing empty disposable sippy cups for our 3 year old so we can fill them with apple juice at breakfast and lunch.

 

We called RCI to let them know that we were bringing juice boxes just to be sure they don't try and confiscate them. They told us that was fine for port and the room, but not for public areas.

 

Good luck.

[FreewayFortune]

THe last cruise I was on was the Brilliance in March and my pop pass was good for whatever pop I wanted and juice.

[ORANGEinINDY]

You can get a variety of juices 'included' during breakfast, without the soda card. Get a large insulated mug and fill it for the day. (same deal for lemonade during lunch/dinner.

[DEBCAT65]

My experience has been that it includes orange, pineapple, apple and cranberry juice, but NOT tomato juice. (Yes, this was way back in the good old days when you were allowed a bottle of liquor in your cabin and I wanted to add my vodka to some tomato juice and was told not available!) :p

I was able to get my full mug of tomato and orange juice any time of day on our recent Vision cruise. This was for my...............never mind

[IKE]

I would make a copy of the letter you received back from Royal Caribbean stating what is included in your Beverage card and bring it along as proof in case a bartender tells you otherwise. I think the juices should be included as some people and children donot drink sodas.

[Havana Daydreamin]

I am happy to hear that most of you have been able to enjoy juices and the like with your soda card. I dug out the little card that was given to me when I questioned the limitations on Rhapsody during the week of 7/15. Here is the quote from the card.

 

"The soda package promotions is for fountain soda from the Coca Cola Company only."

 

Again, that was strictly enforced anytime we tried to get anything else. :(

 

May you all have better responses.

[Murphy]

I am happy to hear that most of you have been able to enjoy juices and the like with your soda card. I dug out the little card that was given to me when I questioned the limitations on Rhapsody during the week of 7/15. Here is the quote from the card.

 

"The soda package promotions is for fountain soda from the Coca Cola Company only."

 

Again, that was strictly enforced anytime we tried to get anything else. :(

 

May you all have better responses.

 

Sorry for your experience. I would be disappointed if this happened. Here's the description of the package on the current RCCL website:

 

Adults' Fountain Soda / Juice Package:

 

 

This package entitles guests 18 years of age and older to unlimited consumption of fountain sodas (no cans) and juices at all bars and lounges, Windjammer, Main Dining Room and Private Destinations (CocoCay and Labadee®).

 

This package is available for purchase on the day of embarkation at all bars and lounges and may be charged to your SeaPass account. After this package has been purchased, a sticker will be placed on your boarding card allowing you to consume fountain sodas (no cans) and juices throughout your cruise. A complimentary Coca Cola souvenir cup is included as part of the package.

 

Juices that are included in this package are orange juice, grapefruit juice, pineapple juice and cranberry juice. Please note that juices are always complimentary at Breakfast.

 

The cost of the package is $6.00 per person, per day, and is applicable to the total days of the cruise vacation. A 15% gratuity charge will be added.

 

Please note: The fountain soda and juice package is only available for the total amount of days of the cruise and prices are subject to change without notice.

[montgomeryfamily]

Havana Daydreamin, I'm very disappointed to hear of your experiences as I was on the Rhapsody in March (and on the five previous Rhapsody cruises we have taken) and had no trouble getting any fountain soda drink I wanted as well as juice. (BTW, Sprite is produced by the Coca-Cola company, so I don't understand their refusal to give you that beverage).

 

I intend to contact Royal Caribbean in regard to this, as the soda package is advertised by Royal Caribbean as Murphy described and is also quite expensive compared to other cruise line companies (Princess, Holland America, etc). I had intended to purchase it on my upcoming B2B on the Rhapsody but will not if these limitations continue to be in effect. I find it disturbing this seems to be an action taken only on the Rhapsody and without any price decrease due to the limitations. This is certainly not what I would have expected from "the friendliest ship on the seven seas".

 

It would be helpful if I had the exact wording which is on the card. And from whom did you receive the card--purser's desk?

[Havana Daydreamin]

It would be helpful if I had the exact wording which is on the card. And from whom did you receive the card--purser's desk?

 

I actually received it twice. Once from a bar staff and the other time when I went to the pursers desk.

 

They were quite willing to refund my package price. We kept it, however.

 

I wonder if it happened on account of the many new people on Rhapsody???

 

It didn't ruin anything, just was a disappointment as it was a departure from what we were accustomed to in the past.

[Havana Daydreamin]

Sorry for your experience. I would be disappointed if this happened. Here's the description of the package on the current RCCL website:

 

Adults' Fountain Soda / Juice Package:

 

 

This package entitles guests 18 years of age and older to unlimited consumption of fountain sodas (no cans) and juices at all bars and lounges, Windjammer, Main Dining Room and Private Destinations (CocoCay and Labadee®).

 

This package is available for purchase on the day of embarkation at all bars and lounges and may be charged to your SeaPass account. After this package has been purchased, a sticker will be placed on your boarding card allowing you to consume fountain sodas (no cans) and juices throughout your cruise. A complimentary Coca Cola souvenir cup is included as part of the package.

 

Juices that are included in this package are orange juice, grapefruit juice, pineapple juice and cranberry juice. Please note that juices are always complimentary at Breakfast.

 

The cost of the package is $6.00 per person, per day, and is applicable to the total days of the cruise vacation. A 15% gratuity charge will be added.

 

Please note: The fountain soda and juice package is only available for the total amount of days of the cruise and prices are subject to change without notice.

 

Yup, that is why it was so surprising when the limitations were sprung on us. I probably should have gone to their website and printed this off and questioned them. But, I was on vacation. Had to keep the smiles going. :)

[I2BZ2W8]

When traveling in August I was able to use my soda card and get half cranberry juice with a splash of ginger ale and just plain juice other times every where! I am not a big soda drinker.

[ORANGEinINDY]

When traveling in August I was able to use my soda card and get half cranberry juice with a splash of ginger ale and just plain juice other times every where! I am not a big soda drinker.

Print the policy from the WEB (if it still says it includes juice) and bring it. If they tell yoou it dosen't include juice, you can either convince them otherwise or geta refund.

[Havana Daydreamin]

It would be helpful if I had the exact wording which is on the card. And from whom did you receive the card--purser's desk?

 

I will try this again. Had a timeout and a no post earlier on this. Better than the dreaded double post, I guess.:D

 

Front of Card

 

Royal Caribbean International Soda Package Information

 

Welcome, I am (blank space for name), representing the bar department. If any of the Bar personnel or I can assist you to further improve your enjoyment of this great promotion. Please feel free to contact us at anytime through any of the bars.

 

See reverse side for the terms and conditions of the package

 

Back side of card

 

Rhapsody of the Seas

The following are our terms and conditions of our Soda Package.

 

To enjoy a soda simply go to one of our operating Bars for a refill or if you have forgotten your Coke Cup we will supply you with a glass. You will get one serve per request.

 

You will need your SeaPass card with a Coke sticker. Proof of ID may also be requested. The package is not transferable. Souvenire cups are not considered proof of purchase.

 

The soda package promotions is for fountain soda from the Coca Cola Company only. Cans of soda or Dr Pepper are not included.

 

We are not responsible for the safe keeping of your cup. Broken or misplaced cups will not be replaced.

 

Viking Crown Lounge, Deck 11

Pool Bar, Deck 9

Solarium Bar, Deck 9

Schooner Bar, Deck 6

Shall We Dance Lounge, Deck 6

Casino Bar, Deck 5

Broadway Melodies Theater, Deck 5

Champagne Bar, Deck 4

 

Please see the CRUISE COMPASS for opening hours.

 

My notes now....I really didn't mean this to be a "mountain out of a molehill" type of thing. It just is an obvious departure from what we have seen in the past and what most of you are expressing as your recent experiences.

 

Have a good day all!