Better to pre-pay beverages?

[RuthC]

Also, at HMC, they charged two punches (2 cans-worth) for each cola, for some reason or other.

The two punches was correct, as it is the "price" of a can. It's getting the full can for only one punch that was incorrect---in your favor!

[pspercy]

 

My husband is a big fan of your standard G & T. I imagine that is exactly the type of standard cocktail included with the card, as long as you aren't picky about your gin. When you're watering it down with tonic and a squeeze of lime, it doesn't need to be top shelf, IMO.

 

 

You're obviously not a GT fan ! Cheap gin is horrible and yes you can tell the difference:D:D

[timothy998]

The two punches was correct, as it is the "price" of a can. It's getting the full can for only one punch that was incorrect---in your favor!

 

 

Wow, then our servers must really have liked us! HMC was the ONLY time we were charged two punches for the entire can. Of course, the kids all were using their proper "pleases," and "thank-you's" onboard, and I believe those simple manners go a very long way no matter where you are. They received similar "service" two years ago in Cancun, where we made sure they knew their "Por Favor's" and "Gracias" at the appropriate times.

[Taxguy77]

The bucket of beer is a bucket of ice with 6 bottles for the price of 5, not a card. Very good for 4 people or who want to stay by the pool with really cold beer for a while.

[Spontaneous girl]

You're obviously not a GT fan ! Cheap gin is horrible and yes you can tell the difference:D:D

 

Now, now...:cool:

 

Yes, I AM a big G&T fan, and if they serve something foul, I'll certainly pay for upgrades. I guess I'll have to see what the house gin is.

 

(Although, let's be frank; no true connoisseur would dare assault a fine gin with a load of tonic, would he?)

[Just4You]

I like the soda card because I can get a Club Soda and don't have to drink an entire can. My husband and I always order a soda in the Lounge before the show starts, in the Piano Bar, Crow's Nest, etc., and it's easier to simply hand over the card to be punched than it is to give your room key and sign a receipt.

 

The coffee card is a good deal if you like the specialty coffee of the day or double espresso, which can get spendy if ordered without the card. I drink green tea, so it's a waste of money for me to use the card for that. I can grab a few tea bags and hot water from Lido deck instead and leave the coffee to my husband.

 

The wine card is a good deal and the house wines are okay, but at dinner I prefer the Pinor Noir from France or Pinot Grigio which isn't covered on the card.

[burny]

I purchased a 20 drink wine card and used it for champaign, red and white house wines.

Every one was excellent in my opinion.

 

Hey,this is the first time that i read that you can use the wine card for a glass of champagne:D. Is that true?

 

Burny

[RuthC]

Hey,this is the first time that i read that you can use the wine card for a glass of champagne:D. Is that true?

 

Burny

It is hardly champagne, but there is a sparkling wine included in the wine card.

[jtl513]

... or Pinot Grigio which isn't covered on the card.

Since when? I've gotten P-G on the wine card ever since they started! :)

[jtl513]

A post today:

 

Yes Pinot Grigio is still available with the wine card at least it was on the Statendam 4 weeks ago and on the Oosterdam in Feb. and the Eurodam in December :) Now what is not offered is Riesling.

[Just4You]

Originally Posted by LAFFNVEGAS

Yes Pinot Grigio is still available with the wine card at least it was on the Statendam 4 weeks ago and on the Oosterdam in Feb. and the Eurodam in December :) Now what is not offered is Riesling.

Yes, you are correct. I forgot the Pinot Grigio was the same as on the wine card. We purchased a bottle at dinner to share with guests and later I found out it is the same wine offered on the card. It's wonderful. There was another wine we tried at one of the wine tastings that wasn't on the wine card but I can't remember the name. It is similar to the Pinot Grigio but a crisper taste.

[rotaryscotty]

Regarding Gin, and don't ask me why I feel the burning need to comment, but if I don't I will possibly explode. Oh well...

 

First let me say that I'm a retired Wine & Spirits Retailer/Wholesaler. I'm past prez of the Kansas Liquor Dealers Assoc. My wife and I have done years of wine dinners and liquor tastings. We have a Martini, or, in the summer, a Gin & Tonic every evening AT 6PM and have done many martini parties.

 

A "Martini":D is always Gin...if you use Vodka it's a "Vodka Martini", or the original name, "Kangaroo". And please don't tell me it's a vodkatini:eek:.

 

We have done MANY blind tastings for those who are "experts":confused: on the quality of gin. They are almost always shocked to find they could not tell which was which. AND IF IT'S WITH TONIC, "FORGET ABOUT IT!!!:cool:"

 

I drink Tanqueray #10 because I enjoy it and respect their quality processing (pure snobbery on my part),and also Hendricks from Scotland, because my heritage is Scottish, and also because they infuse it with cucumbers and rose petals. "Who else but those blessed Scots would think of that?".

 

Top gins often end up being rated average, and one cheap gin, Barton's always finishes near the top. By the way we always blind taste gin right out of the freezer, as you should store them when making martinis. We drink them very dry, and yes..I prefer shaken because of the slight softening of the drink from melted ice, but have no problem with stirred.

 

If there is a "rotgut" Gin (commercially and legally made) I've yet to taste it...I've tasted so-so gins, so let me know what the bad brand is. I've found that gin distillers take a lot of pride in their product, at all price points.

 

Anyone wishing to "discuss" or simply toast a drink with us, I'll be on the Carnival Elation on November 16,'09, and then the Oosterdam November 21,'09, along with my wife who writes food articles. We will be celebrating our 40th Anniversary. CHEERS;)

 

"May those that love us, love us,

and those that don't love us, may God turn their hearts.

If he can't turn their hearts, then may he turn their ankles,

so we'll know them by their limp.":o

 

 

 

 

[Flying-Dragon]

One little tidbit we discovered last month on the Westerdam was about carrying over wine cards between ships. We had been given a wine card by a friend who still had 8 out of the 20 punches unused. When we got on board in FLL, we tried to use it and the barman said that it was not transferrable. With a 20 day cruise, we didn't mind buying a new one, but then when I saw that they are all identical, I used some psychology. I waited for a week until it was plausible that I might have used 12 punches on the card from my friend's cruise, and then presented it one evening at the bar. No problem! We ended up getting all 8 unused glasses on that card.

 

So, moral of the story, they can be kept and used on later cruises - just don't make it so obvious on the first day since clearly by 30 minutes after boarding one can't have drunk 12 glasses, and the really want one to buy on board.

 

As it was, we ended up buying two complete cards on board so they did well out of us.

[KBAJ]

Are there any sad, lonely, leftover wine cards out there that didn't get all their punches? I would be happy to take them back to their home and let them fulfill their life work before retiring.... i.e. send me any unused wine cards and I'll toast your health with the each glass I drink on your behalf! Barb in Oklahoma

[sapper1]

Are there any sad, lonely, leftover wine cards out there that didn't get all their punches? I would be happy to take them back to their home and let them fulfill their life work before retiring.... i.e. send me any unused wine cards and I'll toast your health with the each glass I drink on your behalf! Barb in Oklahoma

Check your Bible on the next cruise. It is a fairly common practice for CCers to leave a card with a few punches remaining on it in the Bible for the person who finds it to enjoy.

[May4]

I don't know the brand used, but the type choices are Chadonnay, Pinot Grigio, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, White Zinfandel, and "sparkling".

 

 

Let's see. I believe that the brand for merlot, cab., and possibly Chardonnay is Coastal, a California wine. The white zinfandel may be Delecto. But I'm not positive.

 

By the way, we asked our wine steward on a recent cruise if he had any of the Stonebarn merlot left. He did and we bought a bottle. Big spenders!:p

 

Many of you will remember that Stonebarn was the house wine for quite awhile.

[Willsot]

Let's see. I believe that the brand for merlot, cab., and possibly Chardonnay is Coastal, a California wine. The white zinfandel may be Delecto. But I'm not positive.

 

By the way, we asked our wine steward on a recent cruise if he had any of the Stonebarn merlot left. He did and we bought a bottle. Big spenders!:p

 

Many of you will remember that Stonebarn was the house wine for quite awhile.

 

We were served Stone Barn cabernet on the Westerdam a year ago. In April we were served the Delicato on the Eurodam and I liked it better.

[rotaryscotty]

Coastal wines are pretty average...to me they are one level above the basic box wines.

 

Delicato wines are a great bargain in the "house" category, and above. The Delicato family near Stockton, California go to a lot of effort to put out good wines. I sold them for many years in my store in Kansas, where wine drinkers tend to be very....frugal:o.

 

Does anyone know what reds are available on the Oosterdam?

I'm most interested in Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel (red), and Syrahs (shiraz).

 

Wife and I will be celebrating our 40th anniv on the Oosterdam on Nov. 21.

[ZAMOST]

About to leave on our cruise, and will clearly buy the wine card...there are six of us, and should be easy to buy a 20.

So what do you get for cocktails. Nobody is a connoisseur, so simple drinks would probably be okay.

Thanks

[RuthC]

Check the per drink price of your favorite cocktail, as compared to the per drink price when using a cocktail card, before you buy the card. My cocktail costs less when purchased without the card.

[coffeeclutch1]

Does the drink of the day qualify on the coctail card?

[Protseq]

I don't think that I can knock down 10 glasses albeit 6 ounces in a week!

It is nice too to splurge on a nice quality wine once in awhile.

[canadarocks]

Does the drink of the day qualify on the coctail card?

 

It does, but it isn't the best value for you. Drink of the day is $5.50 and I believe the cocktail card averages out to about $6.50 each. So better to save the card for other drinks than dotd.:)

[clogaltocruise]

We often purchase beverage cards in advance. You pay the 15% gratuity either way. A nice thing about pre-ordering the cards is you have then paid for them and your final bill isn't as large. We sometimes purchase onboard credits and/or casino credits prior to sailing. It just spreads out our monies.