SO THIS IS THE WINE LIST? HOW OFTEN DO THEY UPDATE IT? CAN YOU PRE-ORDER THINGS NOT ON IT?

[og719]

"Chateau Dansk"...try the '84...

"He saw himself as a crystal pool of clarity, and viewed his life as a troubled glass of misunderstood virtue."

[beachchick]

charleysmom,

I'm sure you were making a little joke, but I wouldn't say good wine is hard to find in Scandinavia. It's just that what you find will be from Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and even Australia. Denmark has the most liberal alcohol purchasing laws and Norway the most stringent (read: expensive) of the Scandinavian countries. In fact, the Norge vinmonopolet (government monopoly, just like it sounds) isn't open on Sunday or in the evening. You will have no trouble finding high quality European wines, but it won't be cheap. Can you bring some from home?

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]beachchick

[charleysmom]

Hi there -

Actually I wasn't totally joking -- I'd read on another post somewhere that it was hard to find good wine on the Scandinavia/Baltics cruises -- but maybe they meant locally made wine. Here in Pennsylvania we have something that sounds like the Norge vinmonopolet but we call it the "State Store" -- sounds like the same sort of thing -- high prices, limited hours, and generally limited selection. Since we're coming from the States we can't really bring any from home (with confidence anyway!) so it's good to know that good wine isn't too hard to find. We really did enjoy buying locally in the Med!

And I'm curious about the "Chateau Dansk"...red, white?

Also, has anyone received a reply from RCCI.

Thanks -- Ann

[Hlitner]

I agree that the wine list on RCL truly sucks! And some of the wines are marked-up 600% which might be considered a crime in some countries (smile). And I do not feel sorry for the waiters since they have made a personal choice to work on the ship> I do feel sorry for my wife and I because we love to travel and are forced to cram ourselves into shrinking airline seats with worse than awful service! Geez. Perhaps we should also feel sorry for the airline employees since they complain they are underpaid!

Hank

[beachchick]

charleysmom,

I had no problem buying wine in Scandinavia. I usually asked at the counter for a reccommendation for a dry white or a rich red, etc. if I needed help choosing. I even found a few American wines of decent quality, but figured I can get those any time, why not be brave and "experiment." The wines I ended up buying were pretty good, but expensive--though it sounds like you are used to the whole state-run thing. I do remember there being many selections from South America--I have no idea if they were any good as I stuck with European wines.

BTW: I've never heard of "Chateau Dansk" or any other Scaninavian made wine; I suspect that was intended as a joke. Of course, there's always aquavit if you want to try a "local" alcohol beverage!

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]beachchick

[sunlovey]

JC, we're a group of 15 wine buffs & lovers for a big birthday celebration-so its a big deal.

and for me its not so much about prices as it is a crap selection. a super market selection-

it won't ever ruin a trip for me, don't be silly. but its a shame they are so lax about replying to a concern from a rather large group of their customers.

[DedeM]

I just wanted to point out something I noticed on our Navigator cruise a few weeks ago.

The wine list in the dining room is limited, true. But in the Vintages wine bar, in the promenade, they had a better wine list. A lot more to choose from, and you can have the bottle delivered to your table in the dining room.

I am not a wine expert nor am I a novice, I'm in between. I didn't find anything unacceptable about their complete wine list.

Ok, oops, I did think that $90 for Veuve Cliquot was steep (we pay $34). That's why I brought 4 bottles on from home. Aside from that, I would have been ok buying a bottle of wine at Vintages.

Navigator of the Seas 5/04

[sunlovey]

DedeM.... We'll be on the Enchantment... I don't think they have Vintages? Does anyone know?

[mconthehighseas]

Vintages replaced the sports bars on Voyager class ships only; so far only on the Mariner and the Navigator.

[url="http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/experiencetypes/experiencetype/experience/home.do;jsessionid=0000kTVafHTH6Dgyf7aXH5zEV80:v2mocc7o?br=R&exCode=40"]http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/experiencetypes/experiencetype/experience/home.do;jsessionid=0000kTVafHTH6Dgyf7aXH5zEV80:v2mocc7o?br=R&exCode=40[/url]

Counting down to the Rhapsody OTS - 12/05/04
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[caviargal]

I am just off the Majesty where my favorite cellar master advised me that a new and improved wine list is due within the next few weeks! He said they are adding over 58 choices and that I will be pleased. He knows my taste and I am looking forward to the new list!

CG

RCI(38),NCL(12),Princess(1),HAL(2),Celebrity(3), Carnival(2), Eastern (13),Radisson(2), Star Clippers(1),Home Lines(2), Costa(5),Big Red Boat (6), Dolphin (1), Commodore (2), Others (11)

[mconthehighseas]

Great news, caviargal!!!

This might be why people have not been getting responses to letters to the cruise line - waiting for the publicity people to decide when the debut should be.

I forgot who wrote to RC. Did you at least get a form letter saying your letter was received and being considered?

Counting down to the Rhapsody OTS - 12/05/04
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[Capt. Mike]

Did anyone notice that on the list at the beginning of this thread what the last line says? There is at least 15-20% of your mark-up!

Capt mike

SS Windward 81
Monarch 98
Monarch 99
Monarch 00
Splendour 02
Rhapsody 04
Elation 04
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[caviargal]

I found this thread right before my last cruise on 5/21 so did not write to RCI. It just happened that a former sommelier and champagne bar bartender whom I met 12 years ago on SOS is the cellar master on Majesty. He came to the dining room to visit my table and saw that I had brought my own. Then he told me about the wine list changes. He was very positive.

I will be on Vision June 4th so am keeping my fingers crossed that it will be implemented by then. I'll sneak off a copy if it is and let everyone know!

CG

RCI(38),NCL(12),Princess(1),HAL(2),Celebrity(3), Carnival(2), Eastern (13),Radisson(2), Star Clippers(1),Home Lines(2), Costa(5),Big Red Boat (6), Dolphin (1), Commodore (2), Others (11)

[sunlovey]

I am so incredibly pleased to hear they are updating the list, and that was my initial question, "How often do they update it?" However, no, we did not get the token form response that let's you know they've received your comment/complaint and are working to get you an answer. We got NO response. And that is bad customer service, but sad to say, common these days.

But more importantly, I truly hope that the list is updated fleet wide. Any idea about that? Will they start with just one line of ships and test it or is it across the board?

[FinelyCruising]

Good news. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Since I have been purchasing my selections now for July VOS, I may not have to pack them afterall!

[mconthehighseas]

Got a mass e-mail from RCCL today listing their latest hot deals, but also giving a link to an interview with the wine tender on the Mariner. This is it;
[url="http://www.royalcaribbean.com/emailLinks/lob_nadia.do"]http://www.royalcaribbean.com/emailLinks/lob_nadia.do[/url]

Counting down to the Rhapsody OTS - 12/05/04
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Sunward II 9/90, Adventure OTS 9/03

[4 cruisers]

I saw that and was SO un-impressed!!!! Why bother with an article like that? "The best wine to order is the wine you like" is one of the dumbest quotes I have ever read!!!! LOL!

I'm still hoping the Splendour will have some nice wines in August...if not, we are still packing some and plan to pick some up ashore (though I heard for some reason they weren't allowing you to bring them aboard in Marseille [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]).

This will be our first RCI trip and I'm not very impressed with their website...our pre-cruise tours and stays are still not available and we're down to 69 days before sailing.

Still hoping for the best! We really have never had a bad cruise [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] It really is the good life!!!!

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...until our August 28, 2004 Splendour of the Seas

[LLindaC]

The Wine Mafia, LOL! Just having returned from California, I was encouraged to find that some of the shipping rules had eased a bit. 2 years ago, you couldn't ship to our nutty state, now you can if you are present in the tasting room. However, big changes are on the way and this is going to head straight for the Supreme Court. The wine industry has the best lawyers in the country ready to fight for fair and equal distribution nationally. Yes, the prices are bad on the ship, but it's pretty much what we've come to expect compared to restaurants- at least for Americans. Europeans, Australians and South Americans have better choices and prices (from all I've talked to.)


Grandeur 6/98
Sovereign 3/00
Jubilee 1/02
Voyager6/02
Navigator 1/03
Sensation 4/03
Enchantment 9/03
Mariner 1/04
Enchantment 9/04
Mariner 1/05