Liquor inspection

[Boat_Drinks]

A vodka "martini"???...absolute sacrilege in my opinion (my main issue is calling it a martini...a martini is made with gin). But if it floats your boat go for it I guess....;)

 

Aaaah, you are a Martini "purist" - and technically correct. Martini's historically were always made with Gin. Vodka martini's became popular I think around the 1980's, and are usually flavored rather than mixed with dry vermouth.

 

My personal favorite: Grey Goose Vodka with Rose's Cocktail Infusions Sour Apple Mix. Pour over ice in shaker, shake, strain into a chilled martini glass - the perfect drink. :cool:

[Noire]

I know this is getting off topic but those Georgia Peach martini's are sooooo good (and made with Vodka). LOL.

[discjoker]

Aaaah, you are a Martini "purist" - and technically correct. Martini's historically were always made with Gin. Vodka martini's became popular I think around the 1980's, and are usually flavored rather than mixed with dry vermouth.

 

My personal favorite: Grey Goose Vodka with Rose's Cocktail Infusions Sour Apple Mix. Pour over ice in shaker, shake, strain into a chilled martini glass - the perfect drink. :cool:

 

Yum! I have no problems with the drink itself...just the fact that they are called "martinis". As you said, martinis are made with gin. The beverage made with Vodka is not a martini and shouldn't be called as such (especially the chocolate martini...yuuuuucky!). I guess I am old fashioned...no, not the drink. ;)

[dolfan95831]

http://www.rumrunnerflasks.com/ sorry for the error in prior post.

[mthayer295]

We set sail on Sunday for Bermuda on the Dream. We are going with another couple and we are both bringing daughters who are legal drinking age...so we are bringing on two cases of wine. We like nice wine and if you figure it out we are way ahead of hte game with only the $15 corkage fee. The NCL wine list doesn't carry waht we like plus if you consider that the prices are about double the retail price and then you will pay a 15% service charge on teh bottle...you realize that if you like wine that retails for $30 or $40 a bottle you will be better off bringing it on yourself.

[Lancer525]

www.rumrunnersflask.com

 

:-) enjoy

 

Actually, it was www.rumrunnerflasks.com

 

And I think that's an ingenious thing. ;)

 

Thanks for the link!

[mbisson]

Actually, it was www.rumrunnerflasks.com

 

And I think that's an ingenious thing. ;)

 

Thanks for the link!

 

We found some water for sale in Washington State in flasks much like 'rumrunners'. Not really easy to refill, but we've had them for several years. AND IT WAS A WHOLE LOT CHEAPER! (but if you have to buy it online, it doesn't appear to be a bargain)

 

http://www.parkcityicewatercompany.com/

[Lancer525]

Just had a thought here...

 

What about minis?

 

Those little minibottles seem like they could be spread around a carry-on, in socks, rolled up in clothes, and all sorts of places...

 

Not that I would try to evade the rules or anything, but has anyone ever tried minibottles?

 

;)

[*Wink*]

From what I understand from previous threads, anything liquid shows up as green on the xray. It'd probably get through, but if caught, just think of having to fish through all your stuff (underwear) to get those suckers out in the naughty room. :P

[tamarara65]

They actually x-ray the main luggage?

[mbisson]

They actually x-ray the main luggage?

 

 

Yes they do

 

Also carryon luggage (at least in the ports I'm familiar with) goes thru an xray machine much like those for carryons in the airports

[m steve]

I take 2-3 cruises a year but not with NCL. I haven't sailed with them in 5 years. As for other lines, Princess xrayed by bag and had me come and remove a kitchen knife and left the 1.75 of rum in luggage for me to take to my cabin.

[G'ma]

What can't I bring onboard?

 

Passenger is not allowed to bring on board the vessel without the previous written permission of the Carrier any intoxicating liquors, or beverages, firearms, weapons of any kind, ammunition, explosive substances or any goods of a dangerous nature, nor animals of any kind, except service or guide animals, provided the passenger notifies Carrier prior to the cruise of his intention to bring such animal and agrees to take sole responsibility for any expense, damage, injuries or losses associated with or caused by such animal.

 

and..............

 

* NCL encourages the responsible use of alcohol and accordingly reserves the right to permanently or temporarily revoke the drinking privileges of any guest who violates NCL's Guest Code of Conduct or who is deemed a danger to himself, herself or others by vessel management. Continued abuse of alcohol while sailing and/or violation of NCL's alcohol policy may result in immediate disembarkation.

 

So, knowing the rules, what you do is up to you. If anyone chooses to ignore them, then they should be prepared for any consequences that arise.

[mbisson]

I take 2-3 cruises a year but not with NCL. I haven't sailed with them in 5 years. As for other lines, Princess xrayed by bag and had me come and remove a kitchen knife and left the 1.75 of rum in luggage for me to take to my cabin.

 

Well, if you say I'm wrong-I guess I am, but I'm confused as to what I said that was wrong

[Boat_Drinks]

We set sail on Sunday for Bermuda on the Dream. We are going with another couple and we are both bringing daughters who are legal drinking age...so we are bringing on two cases of wine. We like nice wine and if you figure it out we are way ahead of hte game with only the $15 corkage fee. The NCL wine list doesn't carry waht we like plus if you consider that the prices are about double the retail price and then you will pay a 15% service charge on teh bottle...you realize that if you like wine that retails for $30 or $40 a bottle you will be better off bringing it on yourself.

 

Correct. As the cost of the bottle increases, the corkage fee becomes more reasonable.

[G'ma]

What, exactly, would it take for us, the general cruising public, to make it plain to the cruise lines that we want them to change their alcohol policies?

 

I tend to think that it ought not to boil down to just the "bottom line" but that passenger service ought to at least factor into this.

 

Maybe I am naive, but I think that if I'm paying for the trip, I ought not to be so restricted. Oh well... This is another one of those long lists of things that we won't ever be able to get the huge corporations to listen to us over...

 

Their ship, their rules. Your choice is not to cruise on their ships. They have rules concerning smoking, alcohol consumption by those under 21, dress codes, codes of conduct. Also rules concerning the casino (age), age restrictions in certain areas of the ship for certain venues, prohibitions against diapered babies in the pools and others.

 

Just because you paid for your vacation doesn't mean that you get to do what you want, when you want. You don't get that luxury in your own town; why would you expect it on a ship?

[tamarara65]

Well, you can stay in a hotel and bring a bottle up to your room and not be treated like a teenager at the prom ...or x-rayed as if you were entering a prison.....

[lovetosew]

Instead of just taking the bottles of liquor away from cruisers until the end of the cruise, why not, when they do take it away they issue COUPONS for a free drink or glass of wine from any of the bars on board. I can almost bet that the free drink coupon will lead to more goodwill and higher bar tabs rather than resentment of the experience.

[discjoker]

Their ship' date=' their rules. Your choice is not to cruise on their ships. They have rules concerning smoking, alcohol consumption by those under 21, dress codes, codes of conduct. Also rules concerning the casino (age), age restrictions in certain areas of the ship for certain venues, prohibitions against diapered babies in the pools and others.

 

Just because you paid for your vacation doesn't mean that you get to do what you want, when you want. You don't get that luxury in your own town; why would you expect it on a ship?[/quote']

 

Spot on! Remember folks, you are a guest on THEIR ship. Yes, a paying guest but a guest nonetheless. Since you are a GUEST on THEIR ship you must follow THEIR rules. Pretty plain and simple. As G'ma said above..."Their ship, their rules." No one is forcing you to be there.

[newmexicoNita]

Instead of just taking the bottles of liquor away from cruisers until the end of the cruise, why not, when they do take it away they issue COUPONS for a free drink or glass of wine from any of the bars on board. I can almost bet that the free drink coupon will lead to more goodwill and higher bar tabs rather than resentment of the experience.

That would defete the purpose...

[Lancer525]

Their ship' date=' their rules. Your choice is not to cruise on their ships. They have rules concerning smoking, alcohol consumption by those under 21, dress codes, codes of conduct. Also rules concerning the casino (age), age restrictions in certain areas of the ship for certain venues, prohibitions against diapered babies in the pools and others.

 

Just because you paid for your vacation doesn't mean that you get to do what you want, when you want. You don't get that luxury in your own town; why would you expect it on a ship?[/quote']

 

I appreciate that you took the time to respond, but you sure as heck can lose the attitude. I didn't ask to be lectured...

 

What I did ask, and you totally ignored, was, "what could we, as the general sailing public do, to encourage NCL to change their policies."

 

Oh, and I don't know where you live, but here in South Carolina, we can pretty much go where we want, do what we want, and enjoy ourselves in a responsible, adult manner without some agency or business looking over our shoulder.

[cruzndiz]

There is one reason and one reason only that cruise lines will not allow you to bring alcohol on board.....it's the same reason I don't allow customers to bring their own alcohol into my bowling center: I/they want you to BUY THEIRS!! There is a tremendous amount of profit in the beverage market and there is usually a large portion of customers onboard who will drink at some time or another (if not daily) while on vacation so why run the risk of losing those guaranteed sales? If you want to drink for free, pay $10k or more for a Caribbean cruise rather than $5k. Of course, that being said, I have smuggled liquor onto every cruise I have ever taken;). After all, I know the "mark up"

[mbisson]

What I did ask, and you totally ignored, was, "what could we, as the general sailing public do, to encourage NCL to change their policies."

.

 

Well, we could all stop cruising! But I'm not including myself in "we"...I'm still enjoying it too much to quit

[beachchick]

Absolutely not true. I've tried almost all vodkas, from low-end to high-end and there are great vodkas, good vodkas and really "rank" vodkas. Smirnoff is a little better than "rank" but not quite "good".

 

The taste of vodka varies greatly. The more expensive vodkas are typically much more refined with a very smooth taste, the lower end vodkas have a noticable (and objectionable, IMHO) taste.

 

If your objective is to mix vodka with a mixer that will mask the taste of the vodka, you probably won't notice a difference (but you may have a headache after drinking some of that stuff!). If you drink vodka martinis (as I do) you should INSIST on a top quality vodka, it's an entirely different drink.

 

FWIW, Grey Goose (France) and Ketel One (Holland) are two extremely good vodkas, and reasonably priced.

 

And now back to our regularly scheduled program...... :)

 

So true. My attitude is that life is too short to drink either crappy wine or lousy hard liquor. Even mixed, there's a huge difference in taste between really good vodka and the dregs. (Ditto for pretty much all hard liquor.) It was my sister who convinced me to re-try vodka several years ago. I had only had the cheap stuff I could afford my latter college years--and I hated it so much that I decided it wasn't worth any of my spare dollars. (OTOH, I introduced her to high end rums versus the cheap stuff. So now we're even.)

 

When it comes to alcohol, I'll drink good stuff or nothing (maybe a cup of tea instead). I simply don't drink enough to even consider not insisting on what I prefer (when possible) or something I know is good. We won't be doing the bar setup any time soon because the choices simply aren't to our tastes. We also won't be smuggling (not in rum runners or anything else). That's not a value judgment against anyone who does. It's not my place to admonish, lecture, or flame those who do so--as long as their drinking doesn't negatively affect my actual cruise experience.

 

The cruise line policies do irk me, but not enough to make us stop cruising.

 

OT: I'm a Grey Goose fan too. Have you tried Hanger One (made right here in CA at the old Hanger One on what used to be Alameda NAS)? It's outstanding. Their fruit vodkas are not "flavored," they're infused (steeped like tea, if you will). Delicious! Theirs are the only vodkas I enjoy straight. When I first discovered them (through my sister, of course), it was when she and my BIL actually took me to Hanger One for tastings. They're much easier to find now, including through Bev Mo. They also make some incredibly good liquors. The pear is particularly yummy.

 

Hm, Saturday late evening, must be time for a weekend nightcap beverage treat.:D

 

beachchick

[PunkiC]

Flavored vodkas (even flavored waters for that matter) literally make me gag. I will, however, on your recommendation, beachchick, give Hanger One a try if I ever have the opportunity.